ELMER AND ANNA'S FIRST SNOW IN THEIR NEW HOUSE & EDWARD'S SQUASH APPLE BREAD

Well, we had our first serious snow in our new house.  We had no problems with the house although we turned on our gas heat for the first time.  But when the snow started, it kept coming and coming.  All day Wednesday, I kept the area from the house to the barn clear so I could take care of the horses, cows, chickens, pigs, dogs and cats.  The snow kept coming and coming.  I made it to the barn on Wednesday night.

When we got to bed, Anna asked me where our sleigh was - then I remembered it is in the barn at our old house.  This ment we would have to go over there, get it down, and clean it before we could use it.  The last thought I had before I went to sleep was how bad the snow was going to be in the morning when I had to get to the barn to take care of the animals.  Now we have a plow that we hook two of our horses to and I stand in the back to direct them as they plow.  That was in the upper part of the barn at our house.

Anna and I woke up to the sound of an engine drive plow in our driveway.  Anna thought maybe it was some truck going by.  I told her it was a snow plow.  She asked me if I hired a snow.  I told her I didn't hire anyone.  We looked out the window and there was a field tractor in our yard with a snow plow on the front of it and it was clearing our driveway.  Both of us got dressed and I went out to see who it was and why they were there.  It turned out to be Thomas from David and Jean's house.  He, Edward and Michael had gotten jobs cleaning out driveways during the winter.  As he passed our house and knowing my height, he decided to clean the driveway out for us.  I offered him pay, but he refused.  After he did ours, he went next door and did Hannah and her husbands driveway.  Still he refused money.  Anna said she knew one thing he would accept and told him he was staying for breakfast.  So, he ate his second breakfast of the day at our house.

After Thomas left, John showed up thinking he would be helping me shoveling but there was no need.  So John helped me milk the cows and feed the animals.  He had eaten breakfast at home.  So he and I went over to our old house and got the sleigh over to our house.  Thomas, Michael and Edward were each over to our house at least once that day plowing our driveway and Hannah's so we could keep doing our chores.  When Michael came one time, he said Jean had said to clean the snow off the greenhouse as the weight of the snow could damage it.  After he said that, he went out and did it. Once he left, Anna and I kept an eye on the greenhouse.  When it got a great deal of snow on it, I would go clear it off the top.

We believe that during the winter the ground rests.  The snow forms like a blanket over the ground.  Many farmers (Amish, Old Order Mennonite and Englishers) believe that God puts something special in snow that makes the soil better for growing.  What we believe is in there, I don't know.  Whether it is nutrition or some other we don't know.  That is why many farmers, myself included, like to plow under one of the last snows of the winter.  I don't know if I plow it because I believe something special is sent in snow or in tradition.  But I do it.

Late Thursday, the snow slowed coming down.  Thomas was there Friday morning to plow us out and Hannah's out.  One thing we enjoy about Thomas is he can always eat - even if he has just eaten.  He doesn't seem to gain weight.  So Anna fed him another breakfast.  She also sent some baked goods that she had made on Thursday home with him for Jean, David and the rest of the family.  We teased him that we hoped some made it home. He said they would.  They did as Jean called us to tell us they arrived and her family enjoyed them.

Things seem to be back to more normal now.  We got over 10 inches of snow.  The snow is still on the ground and every once in a while we get light flurries.  I guess we are suppose to get more later in this week. We are wondering if we will get a white Christmas.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

EDWARD'S SQUASH APPLE BREAD

3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
3 Cups sugar
1 Cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 Cup water
2 Cups squash (cooked and mashed)
1/2 cup black or English walnuts
1 Cup chopped apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large mixing bowl sift together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar.  In a separate bowl combine oil, eggs, water, squash, nuts and apples - blend well.  Add to dry ingredients and mix well.  Pour mixture into 2 large loaf pans or 3 small ones.  Bake 60 to 75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.