MARTHA ANSWERS COURTING QUESTIONS

When I was on before you asked me some courting questions that I haven't answered, so I thought I would this week.

Boys sometimes ask the girl's father for permission to court her, but usually they don't.  When the boy comes to the house and asks to see the girl or when the parents see them together after meeting, at singing, etc. they are pretty sure they are dating.  Before the boy asks the girl to marry, he asks her parents for permission to marry her. 

When singing the young folks usually start singing religious songs: Amazing Grace, Lord's Prayer, religious songs you might sing.  After the adult leave, they sing many of the modern songs that are on the radio. Usually the last song they sing is a religious one.  I asked Erin and Kevin if anyone yodel and they said if they know how to do it.  It's not a common or popular thing though.

When Joseph and I were courting, I use to think a buggy was a buggy-they are all alike, but I found out that's not so.  Buying a new buggy is like buying a new car.  You can get the plain model or you can load it up with all the options. (See www.Amish Stories.net  Amish Buggy Shop)  It's the same with courting buggies.  You can get the plain model or you can add lots of things on it, like the courting buggy above.  A new buggy costs about $8,000. and you can start adding from there.

When Kevin got courting age, we bought a used one for about $5,000.  A lot of the fancy items are what Kevin added or paid to have put on it-the white stripes, the deer license plate, battery heater, and more.  After Kevin and Bridget married, the courting carriage went to Erin who also added a few things to it.  When we got it, we explained that this is the only courting buggy we are getting and all our boys are using the same one.  If two are courting at the same time (which hasn't happened yet), they will have to share it. 

I can't really tell you the difference between the Mennonite and Amish courting buggies.  They look pretty much the same.  There is a limit to what is allowed on courting buggies.  Some Mennonite and Amish are more stricter than others.  There is also a limit in our household of what Joseph and I will allow the boys to put on that buggy.  We feel that when one of our buggies go out that is not just transportation, but represents our religious ways. 

They do not have insulation in the buggies.  We do have a battery operated heater in our buggies plus we have coverings like blanket or quilts that we take along in the winter.

I hope that this has answered your questions.

Be with the Lord,
Martha


JEAN WILL HAVE BEEN ON AMISH STORIES AND NEW YORK STATE OF MIND TWO YEARS THIS COMING FRIDAY. THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL POST THAT DAY.

DO YOU KNOW DONNA MILLER ?

Would you happen to know Donna Miller?  The picture is of Donna Miller and her husband Michael.  Donna use to write a published newsletter titled Kindred Spirits Journal and was the owner of Kindred Spirits Yahoo Group which I can no longer get on my computer. Donna also wrote a book called: Living Frugally in an Unfrugal World.

Kindred Spirits was her desire to help women understand how God's World is relevant to them today.  I still have some of her Kindred Spirits Journals.  She and I use to talk on the computer, but as sometimes happens things come up, we don't communicate as often as we use to  and when we want to talk again, can't find each other.

Martha and I got talking about savings and control on spending money.  That made me think of the book.  In a few weeks Martha is doing a post on savings when she buys groceries.  In Donna's book are many other ways to save, but I would like her permission before I put them on.

Donna and her husband did live in Prince George, Virgina, I don't know if they still do, but my letter was returned.  I tried all the e-mails and blogs that I had for her and I can't get them either.  It isn't my computer-it's like they don't exist.

So I was wondering if anyone knows how to contact Donna?  If you want you can give Donna my e-mail of lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com and have her contact me or give me her e-mail or blog and I will contact her.   At the time I spoke with Donna, I never thought I would have a blog much less New York State of Mind. 

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Marilyn

P.S.
If my memory serves me right, I believe Donna's husband was a police officer. 

JEAN'S-GORHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY

This is the front of the Gorham Public Library where Jean and her children go.  This building was originaly a church and was turned into the library.

This is the computer section

I order a lot of Amish and Mennonit novels from my local library-many of them are sent to my library from the Gorham Library so I had to go see what that library looks like.

How many libraries do you know that have a tree in it? 

This is where you check out your books-and this is not all there is.

The original Gorham Post Office.  I don't believe they use it today-they have another one.  I really didn't expect to find the original post office behind the library-but it's neat.  I asked the librarian if she knew Jean and her family -she said they sound familiar.  Jean said that Michael and Edward use it more than the rest of the family does-although they all use it from time to time.  Michael and Edward go there to get books and use the computers. It is a very small, but beautiful library.  I really enjoyed being there and appreciate their allowing me to take pictures. 

 

Marilyn

MARTHA'S LAZY DAY LASAGNE

MARTHA'S LAZY DAY LASAGNE - Serves 4

6 oz lasagne noodles
1/4 tsp dried oregano
2 cups (16 oz) spaghetti sauce with meat (can also add extra cooked hamburger
1 Cup small curd cottage cheese
1 (6 oz) package sliced Mozzarella cheese

Cook noodles in salted water according to directions on box-drain noodles.  Mix oregano with the spaghetti sauce.  Grease 10" x  6"  x 1 1/2" baking dish (or something close) with Crisco.  Layer noodles on bottom, then cottage cheese, then cheese slices, then sauce.  Repeat.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.  A little more is okay.  Let it stand outside oven 10 minutes before cutting and serving. . 

Hope you enjoy it.  I serve this would a tossed salad and garlic or italian bread. 

Be With the Lord,
Martha

JEAN'S LOCAL LIBRARY IS ON FRIDAY .

MONDAY, MARTHA ANSWERS YOUR COURTING QUESTIONS.

MARTHA-THE MILK MAN COMETH

 

I enjoy being back and filling in for Jean while they move on to their new farm.  Poor, Marilyn, came to our area looking for Old Order Mennonite pictures to put on here and couldn't find any.  Not someone out farming, or riding in their buggies or anything.  She came to our house and I couldn't even let her take  a pictures of our buggies because they were all out.  Joseph had the flat board and the boys had our two buggies.  But, while she was here the milk truck came, which she took pictures of and I will tell you a little about our cow milking.

The first time I came to the barn to milk a cow, the fellows handed me a bucket and told me I had to kneel down and milk the cow.  The bucket was filthy inside, but they told me that's where the milk went and I believed them.  They even had me kneeling and milking the cow by hand until Joseph's Mother came in and wanted to know what we were doing. She saw me and no one had to tell her what I fallen for.  When she sent the boys to get to work-she explained how they really milk cows.

Our cows are milked, twice a day, by automatic milking machines.  It takes about three to five minutes to milk a cow.  Milk goes from the cow to a strainer, then plate heat exchanged  and then into our milk vat (tank) where the milk can be stored up to two days at approximately 39 degrees.  The vat agitates so the milk stays cold and mixed-the cream does not separate from the milk.  This is all done automatic through the stainless steel pipes in our barn. 

The Dairy Milk truck arrives on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.  Milk can only be kept in the vat for 48 hours.  The milk man comes, smells the milk, measures the milk, grades the milk, takes the temperature, reads the charts, enters the amount on the folders, takes a vile of milk sent for testing, and adds the information on his computer.  The viles are marked so that if there is something wrong with our milk, it can be traced back to our farm.  He then turns off the vat, hooks up the hoses and empties the milk from our vat into the truck.  Once the vat is empty, he turns on the hoses and cleans the vat so we can use it again.

From our house, the milk goes to the Processing Plant which is licensed and inspected.  The milk is inspected before it is unloaded from the truck.  Then the milk is processed.  It is really interesting to go to the processing plant.  Joseph and I went there and saw how milk is processed.  Milk can processed to milk that is in the stores, but also cream, cheese, and butter. 

This is sort of a short detail what happens from the cow to the stores.  I know if Joseph were here, he would go into more detail that I have.  I will be back next week to answer some of the quetions that you have for me from when I was here last time.

Be With the Lord,
Martha

VICKIE'S -A STITCHERS STORY

Hi! My name is Vickie, and I am a friend of Marilyn's. I found Marilyn through Richard's blog. We soon discovered our mutual interest.... POODLES! We both own a poodle. Pierre is Marilyn's miniature poodle as you know. This is Mabel, our toy poodle.

I love to cross stitch. My favorite thing to cross stitch is... you guessed it, POODLES! Here are most of my poodle stitches. The French Knot Poodle is probably still my favorite.

The collection will grow of course. ;) I always find another poodle somewhere and then HAVE to stitch it. I have what I call F.A.B.L.E. Freebies Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy! I enjoy finding free cross stitch patterns on the internet.

I also enjoy a bit of quilting. I wanted to share with you the wall quilt I made of her two years ago. I saw a quilt like this three years ago on the internet. Not from a pattern. Made from a poodle lover like me. I have tried and tried to find it again, and cannot.

So I used my book,How To Make An Amish Quilt by Rachel and Kenneth Pellman. I call it Amish Mabel In A Square. I used the Diamond in a Square pattern from the book. I used plain colors (my favorites, pink and purple) as the Amish would. However, I am guessing they have never added a toy poodle in the center of a quilt!! ;)

Thank you Marilyn for asking me to share a bit about myself here. I did forget the most important thing we have in common. The first thing. We are both believers and followers of Jesus Christ. And I am so glad you are my friend Marilyn.

http://astitchersstory.blogspot.com

I would like to thank all of you who prayed for our little Mabel. We are so grateful to God that she has recovered from her pain and suffering due to her slipped discs. This last episode took a very long time for her to get over. We were scared. We know that she will have a flare up of pain again. We do pray it will be a long time from now. We also know that God loves and cares for all His creatures, even little Mabel.

Thank you Vickie, for taking your time to make this post for us.  It is so very kind of you and I appreciate it.

 

Marilyn

MARTHA COMES ON MONDAY !!!

SAUERKRAUT RECIPES

SWEET SAUERKRAUT  (Olive's)

1 c. sugar
1/3 c. cider vinegar
1 lg, can or jar sauerkraut, drained
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c, onion, chopped
1/2 c. green pepper, chopped

Combine sugar and cider vinegar in a medium saucepan.  Stir constantly, bringing to a boil.  Remove from heat to cool.  Pat all moisture out of drained sauerkraut (do not rinse) and place in bowl.  Add celery, onion and green pepper-mix well.  Pour sugar, vinegar syrup mixture over the sauerkraut mix and let sit overnight. 

SWEET SAUERKRAUT (Richard's)

1 large can or bag of sauerkraut
1 tsp caraway seeds
1/4 c. sugar
1 medium onion
1/2 stick butter
3 tbsp flour
1-2 tbsp water

1. Drain sauerkraut.  Add sauerkraut and caraway to medium saucepan and cover with water, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.

2. Melt butter in a small frying pan and saute onions until translucent.  Add to sauerkraut and cover, simmering for 30 minutes.

3. Combine sugar and flour, add 1-2 tbsp of water to make a paste.  Slowly combine with sauerkraut mixture and simmer for 5 minutes.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUERKRAUT

4 slices bacon, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (27 ounce) cans sauerkraut, drained
1 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained (fresh can be used)
1 cup brown sugar, packed

Cook the bacon until crisp in a large frying pan.  Remove and saute the onion in the drippings.  Add the sauerkraut, tomatoes, brown sugar and bacon.  Bring to a boil.  Place in a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.

AMISH SAUERKRAUT SALAD

1 quart sauerkraut
1 green bell pepper
1 small onion
1 cup celery
1 small jar pimentos
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup salad oil
2/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup water

Rinse and drain sauerkraut.  Chop green pepper, onion and celery.  Mix sugar, oil, vinegar and water; stir to dissolve sugar.  Add chopped vegetables, sauerkraut and pimentos.  Marinate overnight.  Drain before serving. 


I loved getting that recipe from Olive.  I called Jean's house and she told me Jean was between houses so I told Olive what recipe I wanted.  Olive said to me, "Do you have paper and a pen ?"  I said I had, but didn't she have to look the recipe up.  Again she asked if I had the paper and pen.  When I said I did she gave me the recipe.  When she got done, Olive said she has made this recipe so many times she didn't have to look it up.  According to Jean, Olive has lots of recipes, she doesn't have to look up.  The funniest thing, Jean said, is Edward, their soon to be adopted son, can do the same thing. It's sort of game between Olive and Edward.  One tells a recipe and the other tries to top it. 

Marilyn

VICKIES-A STITCHER'S STORY WILL BE ON FRIDAY.

MARTHA COMES ON MONDAY !!!

JEAN'S ON THE MOVE AGAIN !!

As the title says: "we are on the move again."  Ever since we have sold our farm, people who were selling their farms or considering it - asked us to see their farms.  We had looked at a couple, but one really is what we wanted and then some.  It is down the road from Joseph and Martha's and had only been built a couple of years ago.  The people that built are Weaverland Mennonite, they drive cars, so that means we have an attached garage to the house, which David said, we can put the buggies in.  They had sold their farm in Pennsylvania to one of their sons, who has been taken ill and it became necessary that they return home to take care of the farm. 

At first they didn't have to move so fast, so they started it at a higher price, but as their son's illness became worse, they really wanted to sell it.  David, his parents, my parents and myself went to see it.  It is bigger than the house we were going to build and has a little bit more land to it.  Also, it has a dawdy house attached, like we were going to do,  you don't notice until you go inside the main house.  The kitchen is bigger than ours and the washer and dryer are on the first floor rather than in the basement, which I like.  Basement is all finished off with a section for the freezer and storing canned goods.  Our barns are just two years.  The bedrooms are larger than our old house and it has more bathrooms.   Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that in the kitchen is an electric stove and a  wood burning stove.  We didn't know it until we bought the farm and Grandmother Olive came in the kitchen.  She lite right up when she saw it.  It's only two years old, so Grandmother is reading the owners manual at home.  I think she can hardly wait to get at that stove. We thought it was a wood burning heater-shows what we know.  

The people kept going down on the price while we discussed it with David's parents, who thought we should buy it, if we wanted it.  I thought my parents would be against it, because my Father is more conservative in purchasing anything-especially a farm like this one.  My parents said, if they hit the right price-buy it.

We went to see it again, this time with Michael, Edward, David, Susan and David Jr.  They are going to live and work this farm, so they should have a say, too. We had a family meeting at home and all agreed we should buy it, if we could except David Jr, but being two. he was more interested in the kittens than the house and barns.

Finally we offered as high as we would go and they accepted it.  The people have moved.  David, Edward, Michael, David's Father and my Father are over there painting the inside. Grandfather Albert is suppose to be supervising, but I think he is painting with the rest of them.   There's isn't really anything wrong with the inside, we just wanted a new coat of paint.  Martha, My Mother, David's Mother, Grandmother Olive, Susan and myself are packing. 

I think the best thing of this is Martha get's her garden land back.  We found out the only reason they sold it to us was we were moving next door to them-they wouldn't sell to anyone else.  So we deeded the land back to them, but they insisted we take back the money we paid them for it.  We still own the rest of they land we were going to build our house on so we should sell that, spring is here and that is a good time to sell.  David says maybe we should keep it as we have three boys in our family-two of them will be marrying age in a few years.

So Martha will be taking over for a few weeks for me, again.  I really appreciate her doing this for me.  She and Joseph have done so much for us as.  We really appreciate that Kevin and Bridget let us live in their new house.  They want David to do some work on the house when we move out-somethings they decided they wanted that the house doesn't have.  David agreed to do it for them-the least we could do-them giving up the house for us.

So I am not leaving, forever.  I will be back in a few weeks, Lord willing.  I am sure Martha will have some interesting posts for you.

Be With God,
Jean


VICKIE'S-A STICHERS STORY WILL BE ON FRIDAY,

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON, THOSE THAT WERE THERE FOR THE MARATHON, THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  ALSO PLEASE REMEMBER POLICE, DOCTORS, AMBULANCE DRIVERS, AND ALL THOSE THAT HAVE AND ARE HELPING THE PEOPLE.

Marilyn

NEWARK ROADSIDE DINER, NEWARK, NY_PART-2

On February 8th, I did a post on the Newark Roadside Diner with pictures of the interior of the Diner.  I also told how my family and myself had been dining there for many years.  Well our dining days there are over-the diner has been sold to Larkin Company out of Buffalo, New York.

The diner's final cooking day was April 7th.  I didn't know that until after it closed or I would have gone there for one final meal.  Larkin Development Group will be moving the diner to the Cleveland, Ohio area for top-to-bottom historic restoration over a six-month period.  It will then be installed in the Larkin District in Buffalo, New York as a diner. 

I am saddened to see it go.  Surely I will miss it.  The diner has been in Newark for over 70 years and I have eaten there all my life.  On the other hand, I would like to see it go to a place where it will be restored and put back as a diner than to be torn down or something like that. When it comes back to New York State, I will drive to Buffalo to eat there.

One of the reporters from Buffalo asked if it were all right to use two of my pictures in one of her articles.  I, was honored, and gave her my permission.  If you wish to see the article go to:
http://www.buffalo.com/grub-pub/blog/new-life-at-larkin-for-newark-diner/       She said she would link back to our original blog so I welcome all the new people visting New York State of Mind.

What I am trying to find out is when the diner is going to be moved out as I would like to be there and take pictures.  I will not go in the restricted area. I will not give anyone a hard time.  I just would like pictures of the diner leaving.  So if anyone should know when it's leaving, please advise.  It is the end of a era in Newark and I want pictures of it leaving. 

The picture above is of the Newark Roadside Diner taken today.  I have never seen that parking lot vacant before.  The top photo is of the front of the diner.

This is a picture of the back end of the Diner
.

This is the right end of the diner

This the left end of the diner.

 

I wanted you to know about  Newark Roadside Diner's future.  Sure hope that you enjoy it as much in Buffalo as we folks did in Newark.  Take good care of it for us.

 

Marilyn

CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

I was driving around on the back roads of our town and came across something I remembered as a child that I had long forgotten.  Christmas Tree Farms.  Having not been out in this particular area in years, I didn't know they were still here. 

As a child my parents, brother and I use go out looking for a tree about a week or so before Christmas.  My Dad took his ax with him and we went out in the country to a Christmas Tree Farm to buy our tree.  We would look over lots of trees before we found the "perfect" one.  Of course my parents helped to make sure we chose one that would fit our house. My Dad and brother would take turns with the ax chopping the tree down.  We paid the man, loaded in our car trunk and took it home.


 

One of these farms could have been the place we went to buy the trees.  I am so use to seeing Christmas Trees on street corners that I had long forgotten about the Christmas Tree Farms.   

 

I didn't find the Christmas Farms or take these pictures until January.  I have some other pictures that I took of things I thought might interest you.  In fact, I have pictures back to November.  These Christmas Tree farms are not Amish or Mennonite owned, at least the ones I found aren't.  If you live near a Christmas Tree Farm, you should go, at least once, and buy one there-especially if you have children.

 

Hope you enjoy the Christmas Tree Farm.

Marilyn

 

 

JEAN HAS NEWS COMING ON MONDAY !!!

JEAN'S FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE

FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE

1 3/4 Cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 t. soda
1 t. baking powder
3/4 t. salt
1 egg
1 16 oz. fruit coctail with juice
1 t. vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup walnuts

Combine all ingrediets except brown sugar and walnuts.  Pour into a greased and floured 9"x13" cake pan.  Sprinkle brown sugar and walnuts on top of batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

This is a great cake to make for your home or pot luck supper.  It also reminds me of Spring.

Be With God,
Jean

JEAN HAS SOME NEWS COMING ON MONDAY.

BEWARE IN CAR REPAIR

I know this has nothing to do with Amish or Mennonite, but I want to tell you what happened to me in hopes maybe this will help someone else.

My car started to make a noise.  As I had to take it to my regular garage for something else I asked him to check it out and tell me what it was.  He told me it was the catalytic coverter would cost around $400.00 to fix. 

I didn't have the money as I was paying for the repair that he just did so I let it go.  The noise kept getting louder.  Well inspection time came.  I had to get my car repaired as my car wouldn't pass because the noise was so loud.  So I went to a second garage to see if they could fix any less.  They told me it was the muffler system and it would all have to be replaced for the cost of $600.00.  Then he wanted to take the inspection sticker off because the car wouldn't pass-this was April 4th and the sticker is good to the end of the month.  I stopped him and he said it would have to come off by the end of the month, it wouldn't pass.  He finally left it on.

Leaving the garage I prayed and asked the Lord, what do I do now.  Then I remember a friend of mine had taken her car to this third garage and they had been a lot less expensive then most garages.  So I went there.  The man looked it over and said he could fix it for $60.00 and bring it back after lunch.  I told him what the other garages wanted and he said he could charge that, too, but $60.00 should about do it.

The total bill came to $68.77.  All it needed was to replace a bracket on the muffler system.  He also replaced one of my tires with a used one and inspected the car. That was the total bill $68.77 with an inspection sticker on good until April, 2014.

I think some garages take advantage of people especially women because most of us don't know much about cars.  There are some exceptions as my friend's daughter-in-law is a garage mechanic, but they live a long way from where I live or I would have taken the car to her.  What is sad is there are a lot of great garages out there-the problem is-you have to find them.

I have the bill hung on my refrigerator door and ever time I go by I thank the Lord for sending me to that garage.  Didn't mean to go on so, but I want others to know what happened to me.

Marilyn

JEAN'S EASTER

People asked about our Easter dinner.  On Easter Sunday, we had just our small family for dinner.  We had sort of a spring dinner.  The men (David, Michael and Edward) cooked steaks outside on the grill.  The steaks were store bought as it wasn't time to slaughter one of our cows.  Store bought steaks are good, but not as well as our own, but I guess we are prejudice. 

We also had potato salad, homemade rolls and bread, vegetable salad, jello fruit salad, and cake for desert.  For dinner that evening, I took the hard boiled eggs and made them into egg salad sandwiches.  We also had potato chips, pop corn, and finished off the cake for desert.

Easter Monday sort of got changed around.  It was suppose to be at my parents, but got moved to Joseph and Martha's because they have more room.  There were almost 400 people there with Joseph's family, my family and David's family.  Now you see why we needed the room.  Next year we hope to have it at our new house.

For dinner we had turkey, ham (one of our pigs slaughtered), and chicken, all sorts of salads, vegetables, bread, rolls, jams and jellies, peanut butter (homemade), cakes,  and pies for deserts.  Later in the afternoon, we had cookies and coffee or tea or milk.  Martha set up the kitchen buffet style.  So we filled up our plates and found a place to sit.  As it was suppose to rain, they had tables, and TV trays in the house and on the porch-plus some tables with chairs set up in the barn.

After dinner as the ladies cleaned up the kitchen, then men went talking in one of the barns and the children played.  When we got done cleaning, we ladies had tea and talked for a while.  Some of the relatives we hadn't seen in a long time.  Before we left, we all had a singing.  We sang religious songs.  It was hard getting everyone in the house, but Martha did it.  We all had a very nice day.

We got home in time to milk the cows.  Our dinner at home was left overs from the dinner that Martha sent home with us.

Hope You Had a Happy Easter.
Be With God,
Jean



I JUST TOOK THE SYSTEM OFF AND WE ARE BACK TO IF YOU COMMENT IT GOES DIRECTLY ON.  I THINK I DELETED TWO COMMENTS BY ACCIDENT-DOREEN AND FIONALINA.  IF I DID PLEASE PUT YOUR COMMENTS BACK ON.  THAT MODERATE SYSTEM WAS FOR THE BIRDS.  I WILL JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFULL ABOUT SPAMS. 

Marilyn

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND-SIX MONTHS OLD !!!!

Today marks New York State of Mind at six months old.  I still remember the morning I found out I had a blog.  Richard and I had discussed my having a blog, but I didn't know how to start and to tell the truth, I was afraid.  On October 7th, Richard gave me the e-mail to go to a certain place and there was New York State of Mind.  Richard had set is all up for me.  He told me to use it and try different things on it.  I was afraid I would wipe the whole thing out-I didn't know anything.  Thanks to Richard helping me through this, I made it. 

Right now we have 39 members, 27,533 pageviewers ,and  100 posts ( I think this one is post 101).  I never thought we would make so much especially in such a short time. 

What is the funniest is that the top posts-that get the most pageviewers- are the wringer washing machine post from last January and Pierre's "The Bark" from December.  Jean laughs and says she is being beaten out by a wringer washer and Pierre. 

I know I made mistakes, did some dumb things and did things I shouldn't have, but I learned.  What this post is for is to thank everyone for sticking with me the last six months and I hope will stick with me for a long time coming. 

I thank Richard, for creating New York State of Mind for me and sticking with me through all my problems and correcting my mistakes.  I thank Jean, Martha, Olive, Doreen, Theresa and all who have contributed to the posts making New York State of Mind.  I also, thank you, who come to read New York State of Mind, some making comments, and those that just come to pageview-you are the ones that really make New York State of Mind and keep it going. 

Now we head toward our second six months.  I am sure I will make more mistakes and do some more dumb things that Richard will have to fix, but I now have more confidence that I can do it, with a little help along the way.  Sure hope you will all continue stopping here, contributing and making comments. 

Marilyn

MENNONITE AND ENGLISHER FARMS

I was out driving around one weekend near where Jean lives and thought I would take pictures of some of the farms.  Some of these are Mennonite and some are Englisher. 

 

Hope you enjoy these pictures,

Marilyn

 

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL POST ON THIS SUNDAY !!!!

Pierre's "THE BARK"

Like to introduce you to my friend Tobi.  Tobi is a dachshund.  He just turned 15 years old.

His human Mother threw him a Birthday Party for his Birthday. 

She even had a special made Birthday Cake that he could eat. There was people food there, too.

He had lots of guests too-Human and Doggies.

His Mother, Shirley, helped him open his Birthday Presents.  He got lots of them even some money.

Tobi thanked everyone for his party.  He was tired when the party was over, so he took a nap. I told my Mom I would like a party on my 5th Birthday in December.  Mom said she'd think about it.

 

LOVE,

PIERRE

JEAN'S MONSTER CHOCOLATE COOKIES

The last time we tried to put the recipe on, it came out wrong.  I and Marilyn both apologize for that.  I am glad she took it off.  Recently a friend of mine gave me this one that has been made and served to our family.  We all enjoyed them.  It was a large recipe, but I cut it down.

Be With God,
Jean

MONSTER CHOCOLATE COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornflakes
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 package (8 ounces) flaked coconut
1/2 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter,and  sugars in a large bowl.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt: gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in the cornflakes, oats and coconut,  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Divide dough into six sections.  Shape each into a 7-in x 1-1/2-in roll.  Wrape each in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Unwrap dough; cut into 1/2-in slices.  Place 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until edges are browned.  Remove to wire racks to cool. 


PIERRE'S "THE BARK" WILL BE POSTED TOMORROW !!!!

JEAN'S SPRING IS COMING

I am doing this post a little early.  When it comes on it will be the day after Easter and we will be having a big family dinner at my parents with all the family.  On Easter Sunday, after meeting, we will have a dinner at our house for just our small family.  Easter Monday is the day the whole family and friends get together for dinner.

There is snow on the ground now, but I hope there isn't any on April 1st.  The men are planning on where the house will be and where the faming land will be for us.  Poor Martha, has to plan where her garden will be this Spring as part of our new house will be sitting where her garden use to be.  Also, we are trying to figure where our garden will be.

Seeing we are living in Kevin and Bridget's house-farming comes first, building our barn comes second and our house comes third.  Getting our crops in is the most important.  The money we get from the sale of the crops will help pay for our barn and house-also last us financialy through the winter. The sale of our old farm is paying for the most of the house and barn.

In a little over  a month Susan's school will close for the summer.  Michael and Edward's school doesn't close until June.  Susan can't wait until they have the end of the school year picnic at the school.  Last year it was really muddy, she hopes it's better this year.  This school year sure has gone by fast.  Susan will be going into third grade in the fall. Michael and Edward will be juniors in the public school, but when Edward's adoption goes through we are thinking of taking them out of school.  As we believe in 8th grade education as out highest, they are two years above that.  Plus, neither of them wants to stay in school any longer than they have to. 

Spring is the time for us ladies to clean the house, open the windows (if the weather allows) to let the air in.  We clean the house from top to bottom, wash the drapes, wash the throw rugs, clean the windows and more.  The men come and move the furniture around for us.  When we get done with ours, we will go over to Grandmother Olive and Grandfather Albert's to help them do theirs. 

This is the time of year we see neighbors we hadn't seen all winter.  It seems the snow and cold has kept us all in more than the other seasons.  Also, it is the season I smell my favorite smell-when the ground has been plowed for the first time of the season.  It's like it is an awaking from the cold winter and the breaking of spring.  Just smelling the soil.  The fall is my other favorite smell of the soil when it gets it's last plowing before winter.  It's like it's going to rest for the winter.  If you don't live on a farm you may not understand. 

Be With God,
Jean


PIERRE'S THE BARK IS COMING THIS THURSDAY !!!!!