JEAN TELLS OF ELMER AND ANNA'S MOVING DAY

The day started when Grandmother Olive did not want to go. Her arthritis was bothering here and she couldn't figure what use she could be.   I tried to talk her into it, but couldn't.  What finally made her give in his Susan and Katie telling it wouldn't be any fun without here there.  Grandmother asked what she could do?  The girls said watch them.  So Grandmother agreed to come which saved the day.

The second thing you should know is Anna and her sister Hannah are complete opposites.  Where Hannah is skinny as a rail, Anna has some meat on her bones.  Anna is not heavy, but weighs more than Hannah.  Anna is taller than her twin sister.  Hannah is a quiet person where Anna says what she says.  Anna likes to clean barns.  Hannah likes to clean house.  Anna likes to work the fields.  Hannah would rather bake pastry.  Anna is a take charge person.  Hannah is a great follower.  Outside of her house, Hannah feels most comfortable behind a counter selling in her store.

So when we walked into Anna and Elmer's old house, Anna was sitting with her head in hands exhausted.  Hannah didn't know what to do.  Hannah said their Mother hadn't arrived yet.  So Grandmother Olive took over.  First Grandmother told me take Anna to our house, give her some peppermint tea and put her to bed.  This was great as Elmer had wanted Anna out of the house so he could put some things into the new house without her knowing.  I had used canning as an excuse and Anna was going to do it, but we arrived at her house before she got to ours.  Anna had wondered of all days why I had picked her moving day to need her for canning, but being polite as she is, Anna didn't say anything to me.  I found this out later.

Grandmother ordered Hannah over to the new house to tell the men where to put the furniture.  Hannah said she didn't know where to tell them.  Grandmother Olive asked her if her house was set up like her Mother's.  Hannah thought for a minute and said yes.  Grandmother said to do Anna's just like it and when her Mother came she would send her over.  She also told her to set up the bedroom and kitchen first.  They were the rooms most needed.  Off went Hannah.

As people came in, Grandmother gave them orders.  The men on loading the wagons.  The ladies on packing boxes.  She even talked Anna into coming to our house for the tea and a few hours rest.  When Elmer came in from the barns, Grandmother told Elmer what happened and told him to get to the new house because over at that house were two buggies and a delivery truck there when we had passed on the way to the old house.  Elmer said it would take days to move.  Grandmother said it may take days to you, but your moving today.

I don't know everything they happened, but on the way to the old house, about five hours later, we stopped at the new house.  Anna saw all the new items Elmer had for her.  I thought she was going into shock.  She couldn't believe all the new items that Elmer had in there.  I will let her tell you about them except one.  He bought her a new wood burning stove.  Someone had to test and no one wanted to be the first one.  Anna was a bit nervous about it so she let Grandmother do the honors.  Grandmother Olive was in her glory.  She had David and Elmer make sure the vents and lines were clear and set up right.  When she got the okay.  Grandmother set up the wood burning stove.  Anna was surprised that she could find her way around her kitchen.   They made some quick rolls to test the oven.  While they were baking Grandmother told Anna to go check her old house to make sure everything she wanted was out of it.  Anna said they couldn't be, but when she got to the house - they were.    Anna and I were laughing wondering what Grandmother Olive had done to get everyone to get everything out of the house that day.

We got to the new house just as the rolls got done, perfectly.  Grandmother Olive told Anna to ask her Mother where anything was she couldn't find.  Anna's Mother knew where everything was.  We all enjoyed some ice tea along with the rolls with homemade butter and homemade jams.  

John, Elmer and Anna's son, had moved his items out of the old house to his house.  So he was planning on staying there.  The only ones staying in the old house were Hannah and her husband.  We all wanted Elmer and Anna to enjoy the first night in their new house by themselves.

So many people had bought casseroles.  Grandmother Olive put one in the oven for Elmer and Anna.  With Anna's permission sent some with John to his house.  We took the rest over to our house to put in our barn freezer.  Anna or Elmer could come and get them as they needed.

As John still has the electric in his house one of the Englisher ladies told him how to bake the casserole in the electric oven.

So we all left.  The next day Hannah and her husband moved to Elmer and Anna's new house to spend the rest of their time here.  A few days later, Anna and Hannah got cooking and invited all of us: Amish, Old Order Mennonite and Englishers to their house for a picnic dinner to thank us for helping them move.  They said it couldn't have been done without Grandmother Olive who blushed and said they could have done it without her.  But they kept saying they couldn't have.

There new barn is going up this week.  Elmer wanted to know if Grandmother Olive would direct the animals moving over like she did the people. Grandmother turned him down.  We all laughed.

I am sure Elmer and Anna will have a lot more to say about their moving next week.  Anna said she has not forgotten about the herb questions she has been asked and will answer them in coming weeks.  Unless I am needed before, I will be back on August 25th.

Be with God,
Jean