MAYBE THESE BARNS WILL COOL YOU !!

Remember: You don't shovel heat !!

AMISH FARM IN SODUS, NEW YORK

Driving around in the Sodus area and came across this Amish farm.  This is an area where Amish have moved into over the last few years.

JEAN HAS SAUERKRAUT RECIPES, AGAIN

I don't think that I have had sauerkraut recipes on in a while so I thought I would put a couple on this week.

CREAMED SAUERKRAUT

Flour
Sauerkraut
1/4 cup oil or bacon grease

Boil sauerkraut for 15 minutes.  Let simmer.
In frying pan, heat oil or bacon grease.  Get it really hot and sprinkle flour in until it gets crumbly and brown the flour.  Remove from heat when browned.
Bring sauerkraut to boil again and slowly add browned flour little by little until thickened.  You only need enough to thicken the sauerkraut.  Cook for a few more minutes, stirring often.  Serve

This is a great dish with chicken, turkey or pork.

SAUERKRAUT CASSEROLE

1 16 oz package kluski style noodles
1 can sauerkraut - 1 lb size (or homemade)
1 can cream of mushroon soup (or homemade)
1 can cream of celery soup (or homemade)

Cook and drain noodles according to directions.  Add mushroom and celery soups.  Rise, in strainer, the sauerkraut with 1 can water.  (Any less and the casserole is salty; any more and the casserole is bland.) Bake in baking dish at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

JEAN IS BACK

Seems we have finally worked out when who will post what.  Anna or I or Grandmother Olive will be on Tuesday.  We can't guarantee every week.  Elmer offered to give up Monday for us and take Tuesday or Friday, but we decided we would go back to the way it was.  It reminds me of the children.  When you ask a child: "Why did you do that ?" and get the reply "That's the way we always did it."

Grandmother Olive, Grandfather Albert, Bishop Eli's Mother Fannie, Step - Father Amos, Porter and his wife are on a trip out west.  They left a couple of weeks ago.  It all started when Grandmother Olive said she wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.  So she and Grandfather Albert starting making plans.  Fannie and Amos said that sounded interesting - they would be interested in going.  Of course they wanted to go Amtrak so they contacted Porter.  Porter gave them advice over the phone.  A couple hours after hanging up,  Porter called back and asked them how would they like some Englishers with them. So that 's how they all got together.

Bishop Eli, Bishop Joseph and our family wanted to meet Porter and his wife.  We had never met them and just wanted to get to know these people who were going on a trip with our parents and grandparents.  Grandmother Olive was not happy.  Said we were treating them like little children.  Bishop Joseph finally said that he would not let them go until he met Porter and his wife before they left.  So we picked Porter and his wife at Amtrak in Rochester and brought them to our homes for the evening.

Porter said that he had lots of vacation coming and thought this would be a great time to take some.  His wife had never met Amish or Old Order Mennonite.  So we all made her at ease.  He also wanted  her to see what the porter does on Amtrak.  Although he is not working on this trip, she will get to see what he does. She had never been out west or seen the Pacific Ocean either.  Also, he thought it would be better if he rented a car, when needed, and drove them to places they wanted to see rather than have them on buses or subway or trolley cars. It also helps that he has been out west several times before - with his children when they were little and later alone.  They stayed over night at Bishop Eli's house.  Next afternoon, we had them all on Amtrak on their way.  Yes, Grandmother Olive got the room she wanted.

They stopped here and there along the way for a day or two to see places.  Stayed in motels and Porter rented a car to take them where they wanted to go.  Grandmother Olive will have to tell you where they went when she gets back.  We know they went to Yellowstone National Park, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon and more.  When they got to California, I know they saw the Pacific Ocean, the San Diego Zoo and I don't know what all.

We are glad that there is someone with them who knows their way around.  Also know that someone is keeping an eye on them.  We all gave Porter phone numbers to call if something happens to one of them and he needs to contact us.  He hasn't had a need to use them yet.

Be With God,
Jean

ELMER TELLS ABOUT RUMSPRINGA

Someone asked me if I would tell about "Rumspringa" or what we sometimes shorten in our Old Order Amish group to "rummage".  "Rumspringa" is a German word that means running around.  Rummage means to search thoroughly or actively.

As I said last week, when the young men get to age 16, many of them get a buggy like the one above.  Sometimes their parents purchase the buggy and horse for them.  Sometimes they purchase it themselves.  Also some young ladies get one.  Not many of them, but a few do.

"Rumspringa" is time that allows the young folks to see and do some of things in the world that they are not allowed other times of their life.  It is to help them make the decision to stay in our world - to be baptized into our church.  It is not a time for them to be let lose and do anything they want in the world, although, unfortunately, a few do.

In the evenings on church Sundays, the people that hold our church service also have the young folks, age 16 and older, over to their home.  This is a time the young folks, both ladies and men, are together for singing.  After singing, depending on the season they may play volley ball or soft ball.  Of course, there are homemade snacks and soft drinks.  Before they leave, the usually have a few more songs.  Maybe the man, at whose home this is at, will say a few prayers.

Also during the season, sometimes some will just invite the young folks over for volley ball, soft ball, ice skating, skiing, dinners and more.  These are times for the young folks.

During this time young folks do things that we parents are not suppose to know about, but some how we find out.  Some go to movies, buy CD's, buy cars, etc.  I really liked it when one of our son's bought a car and tried to hide it.  How to do you hide a car?  They sometimes park them behind Englisher friends barns.  Sometimes inside an Englisher friends barn.  Sometimes they park in the woods,  Somehow we parents always find out.  Of course, sometimes we find out when they are driving it down the road and pass our buggy.

When Anna and I were "Rumspringa" or rummage age, the worse things our parents had to worry about were smoking and liquor.  Sometimes and I do say this sometimes, young folks have parties where the have music, smoking, liquor and drugs.  Drugs has become a problem in some areas.  Times have changed.

This is also time when young men and young ladies are looking for the right person to marry and spend the rest of their life with.

Do any of our children do things like on that television show?  To be honest, I only saw part of that show once.  I don't see the children in our area doing things like that.  Do we have children that leave our church and homes?  Sometimes.  Usually if they leave, they come back.  I forgot what Bishop Eli said, but it is something like only 10 per cent or 20 per cent of the Amish leave and go into the Englisher world.  So far, our Old Order Amish has not had that happen.  When I say ours, I mean our area where we live.  I am not talking about all Amish groups.  I don't know about the others.

Anna calls "Rumspringa" parents hair pulling time.  No, we don't really pull our hair, but we are very concerned about our children as we are all the time.  But this time is the time of most concern.  We want our children to make the decision of staying within our church and being baptized.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

GAS STATION AND GARAGE SIGNS - SOME OLDIES

I got the idea for these when I was turning around in someone's driveway and saw the sign in pictures 1 and 2.  Thought you might it enjoy them.  Some of these pictures were taken from the car or through the windshield.

PICTURES I TOOK DRIVING AROUND LAST NIGHT

Some evenings I just drive around to see what I can find to take pictures of.  Some evenings I don't find anything.  Last night was a good night and I got some.

Jean's post on Friday is not working out.  It seems she always has something to do or things come up for a post on that day.  Even though I try to get them ahead this is not working.  She, Elmer and I are talking to see if we can work something out.  Maybe we will go back to Elmer for three times a month and Jean on one Monday.  Maybe will go back to one on Monday and the other on Tuesday.  I don't know what we are going to do, as we are still talking.

OLD MISSION PENINSULA BARN QUILTS IN MICHIGAN

Dynnamae n sent us these barn quilts pictures from Old Mission Peninsula in Northern Michigan.  That Peninsula is part of Grand Traverse County.

I thank Dynnamae n for sending these pictures to us.  Anyone else who has pictures of your area, I would be glad to put them on here.  Remember people from all parts of the country and the world view here.  So what may be a common site to you, may be fascinating to someone else.

JEAN AND MARILYN'S MOTHER'S PEACH COBBLER

This recipe comes with a little story.  I always thought this was an Old Order Mennonite or Amish recipe.  I was giving it to Marilyn to put on Amish Stories.  As I was going through the ingredients, all of a sudden Marilyn said wait a minute.  That sounds like my Mom's Peach Cobbler Recipe.  Marilyn got the recipe and read it to me and they were almost completely alike.  So we give both our Mother's credit for this recipe.

You can use other fruits in this recipe besides peaches - just adjust the amount of sugar.

JEAN AND MARILYN'S MOTHERS PEACH COBBLER

1/2 stick butter or margarine
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups sliced peaches (skin removed)

Melt butter in an 8 inch by 8 inch by 2 inch baking dish.  Put sliced peaches in dish.  Combine other ingredients - pour over sliced peaches.  Bake at 325 degrees for one hour.

If you use canned peaches, I use one # 2 1/2 can and reduce sugar to 3/4 cup.

You can also bake this in a loaf pan.

AMISH SCHOOLHOUSE IN GORHAM AREA

To pull in this school there is no driveway.  Elmer told me to drive across the grass where you could see horse and buggies had been.  I trust Elmer as a good friend, but when he tells me things like that with Anna groaning in the back seat, I worry.  Elmer said not to worry as there was a farm down the road a bit and if we got stuck, they would get us out. But we made it through the grass without help.  Once we got in there was a paved driveway around the school.  It was a curve driveway, so going out wasn't as bad as coming in.

First picture is of the school.  Second is of the outhouse.  Third is the swing set (sorry about having the car in that one) and play area.  The last two pictures are for their horses and horse and buggies that some drive to school.  Most of the students walk or ride bicycles.

ELMER HAS A FEW THINGS TO SAY

First of all, I want to tell you the final on how generous you have all been to Marilyn.  The total that all of you gave was $750.00.  We gave $700.00 to the garage and $50.00 to her friends that she owes the loan too.  The total of garage bills was $1,670.21.  With your donations, her friends loan and money that she had, the garage bill is down to $370.21.  Her friend's loan was $500.00, that is down to $400.00.  Again, we thank you so much.  We asked for $200.00 and you were so generous ($750.00).  I know Marilyn has something to say at the end.

Someone asked how Sarah is doing being with child.  She is doing well.  Took a while, but she got over the morning sickness.  I don't know how women going through that morning sickness.  Good thing men don't go through it, we wouldn't know what to do.

When then baby is do is a debate.  The doctor and midwife say in November.  Anna says in October.  So we are saying the end of October or first part of November.  Micheal (Jean's  son) and I would kind of like it if she (or he) was born on our birthday, October 31st.  Only the good Lord knows the date for sure, so we wait.  As long as Sarah and the baby come through in good health, that is what matters.

Anna told me I should maybe stay away from the subject of buggies for a while.  But, I am not taking her advice, like I sometimes don't.  It gets me in trouble sometimes, I hope not this time.

The buggy in the picture above is the buggy Amish boys get when they turn 16 and go through their rummage.  Sometimes the parents give them the horse and buggy on their 16th birthday.  Sometimes the young man has to buy it himself.

When Anna and I were rummage age, girls didn't have such buggies, but with the change of the times some of the girls get one, today.  Not many of them, but some do.

Marilyn took this picture and the light was not the best at the time.  You will note that the young folks in that buggy are not Amish.  That was Anna and my son John's buggy.  When Jean and David found themselves with three son's and two buggies for the boys, John loaned them his as being married, he won't need it anymore.

So, in the picture, is an Amish buggy driven by an Old Order Mennonite young man.  I know the small one in the buggy is Jean and David's  son, David Jr. Am not sure if Michael or Edward are driving the buggy.  I know for sure it isn't Thomas as he is much taller than they are.

So I am not saying anymore about buggies this time.  I did want you to see the buggy the young men, mostly, use during their rummage.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

MARILYN

Thank you, seems so little to say for all you have done for me.  The load you have taken off of me.  I am feeling much better regarding my panic attacks, I still have them but not anywhere as bad as they were.

You all have been so generous to me both money wise and prayer wise.  I really appreciated it.  You all are in my prayers.

Blessings to you all,
Marilyn