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 !!!!!