Yesterday morning we had the coldest temperature so far this winter. Our thermometer read zero. It only warmed up to the lower 20s all day. Some of the children still bundled up in the afternoon and took our pony, Stormy, sledding. They hitched him to our two-wheel pony cart and tied three sleds behind that.
Susan, 13, is usually the driver and tries to swerve fast enough to empty the sled of its occupants. It looks like fun and is exciting to watch them from the window. The children tried to talk me into to coming out and getting on, but I wasn't quite so eager to go rolling off a sled into the snow. Watching from the warm cozy house suited me just fine.
Kevin is running a low-grade fever and has a chest cold and a cough. My husband Joe stayed home yesterday from church with him and a few of the other younger children. Kevin wanted to go outside to get a sled ride so badly. We caught him twice sneaking out of the door with boots, no socks, a thin coat which wasn't even closed, and a hat. Hopefully he will keep getting better and the weather will warm up a bit so he can have another sled ride.
Joe has been enjoying his new hobby of ice fishing. Saturday he went fishing with some friends all day. Another day he took Benjamin and Joseph along.
They both enjoyed it. Joseph said it is easier than fishing off the boat because they use small ice-fishing poles. He said you can just drop your line in the hole and pull out a fish. We have had some meals of fresh fish lately and have quite a bit still in the freezer. I think altogether they have brought home more than 200 bluegill in the last week or so.
The house seems extra quiet today. The children went back to school after a two-week holiday break. Joe has also gone back to work. After two quite busy weeks I do treasure the peacefulness around here. It is snowing again this morning. The children made snowmen during their time off. The snow packed really nicely so it was ideal for making snowmen.
On New Year's Eve Jacob and Emma and family stayed here overnight. This was the first time 31/2-month-old Marilyn slept here all night. She is a little sweetie and just smiles and coos. Kevin, 4, was so excited to have Steven, 2, to stay all night. Kevin told Steven to just wake him up if he needs to go to the bathroom during the night, saying: "I have a flashlight and will shine it for you." The two-year age difference doesn't make any difference when those two boys play together. Kevin does look like he feels proud to be the older one since he is the youngest around here.
We did manage to stay up until midnight playing board games. We adults have a harder time staying up to midnight than the children do. They all did a good job of settling down to sleep once we had everyone situated where they should sleep. Together Jacob's family and ours have 14 children.
The children had fun sledding on New Year's Day. Try this warm, hearty casserole which goes good on a cold winter's day.
Skillet Supper
1 lb. hamburger
4 T. shortening
4 medium potatoes
4 medium carrots
2 medium onions
1 c. water
1&1/2 t. salt
Pepper to taste
3/4 c. evaporated or whole milk
Brown hamburger in skillet with shortening. Put vegetables through a food grinder or grater and add to hamburger with water, salt and pepper. Cover and cook slowly for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir occasionally. Add milk and cook uncovered until thick.
Lovina Eicher is Old Order Amish. She hand-writes this column from her home in southern Michigan.
Anyone with cultural or cooking questions can send them to: Lovina Eicher, The Amish Cook, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, OH 45042. Read all of her columns online at www.record-eagle.com/amishcook.
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