GORHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT - DAVID VOLUNTEER'S HERE

This is the Gorham Fire Department where David, his father, and Joseph all volunteer.  Kevin, Joseph and Martha's son,
is in training for being a fireman.  David also volunteers for their ambulance.  All are trained for fireman and David is trained for the ambulance.  Some of the Old Order Mennonite and Amish speak in Pennsylvania Dutch when they are in the ambulance so David does not only his medical but can translate or converse with the patient.  As they do not drive, other  Englisher firemen and ambulance medics drive. 

The above pictures are of the front and side of the fire department.  This was on Amish Stories a while back, but I have a few more pictures since then.

This building is on one side of the firehouse. I really liked this building.

Next to the Firehouse is a picnic area.  Jean says it is used for picnics, dinners, auctions, craft sales, etc.  Most of the money from these support the Fire Department.

THANK YOU ALL THE FIREMEN AND FIREWOMEN THAT CAME TO THE FIRE OUR TOWN HAD, GORHAM INCLUDED.  YOU RISKED YOUR LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS AND OUR TOWN.  WE LOST A BLOCK BUT THE REST STILL STANDS,THANKS TO YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU !!!!

FIREMAN'S PRAYER  

When duty call's me, oh Lord,
Wherever Flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever Be its age. Help me embrace a little child
Before it is too late
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate Enable me to be alert,
and oh Lord, guide my every move,
for life is so precious,
please don't let us loose. I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me
To guard my every neighbor
And protect their property And if according to thy will,
That I must give my life,
Then with thy protecting hand my Lord,
I pray thee, protect my children and my wife. Amen

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SPRING IN MENNONITE AREA COMING TOMORROW.

MARTHA'S - STRAWBERRY DESSERT

MARTHA'S STRAWBERRY DESSERT

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 containers (6 ounces each) lemon-favored yogurt
3 pints strawberries, sliced
1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Combine cracker crumbs, granulated sugar and butter in medium bowl, mix well.  Press into bottom of 13X9-inch baking dish.

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer at medium speed 1 minute.  Beat in yogurt until blended.  Pour mixture over crust.  Arrange strawberries on cream cheese mixture.  Spread whipped topping over strawberries.  Chill at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.

Strawberry season will be coming on us pretty soon.  I thought you might enjoy this receipe when the strawberries come.

Martha

FRIDAY THE GORHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT DAVID VOLUNTEERS FOR WILL BE ON.  I HAD THIS ON BEFORE OUR LOCAL FIRE.

MARTHA THIS AND THAT

You folks asked me some questions, so I thought I would answer them and also tell  you how Jean is coming on all the moving. 

How many cows do we have?  We did have over 300 cows, but a little over 100 of them were Kevin and Bridgets. When they moved into their house, they took over 100 of them so we are down to 225. 

What kind of animals do we have besides horses and cows?  We have chickens, pigs, along with cats and kittens in our barn.  We use to have lambs and rabbits, but we sold them and bought more cows.

Yes, we do have electric generators in case the power goes off.  We have generators to run the milkers and one to run the vat ao the milk doesn't get to warm and spoil.  Also, we recently purchased a generator for parts of the house in case the power goes off.  The house ones will keep the refrigerator, and freezers going so we don't spoil any food.

As Marilyn said, we do drink the raw milk at our table.  We do not sell it nor do we give it away.  Every dairy farmer is asked by someone if they will sell the raw milk.  No, we won't.  Even our relatives have asked for it free and we will not do that either,  because it is illegal.  We won't go against the law.  Also, we wouldn't want to be fined or sent to jail. 

Jean, David and family are in their new to them  house.  Right now they are trying to settle the way they want it.  When that is done they will be moving Grandmother Olive and Grandfather Albert into their dawdy house.  The dawdy house has one bedroom and they would like to add another one.  Some of Olive and Albert's older relatives and friends come to visit and they would like to have a room with them on the ground floor.

Kevin and Bridget were very happy to move into their house.  I think David has everything done on their house that they wanted done.  We told them they couldn't take their bedroom set or the dining room set out when they moved.  Bridget got a bit upset, but Kevin said we wouldn't send them out there if there wasn't something at the house.  Bridget went into shock when she saw the handmade dining room table, chairs and china cabinet that she wanted in the kitchen.  Joseph and our son's made that for them.  In the bedroom was a handmade double bed (they slept on singles in our house) with two end tables and dresser that David and his son's had made.  They had a beautiful rose design on them that Bridget wanted, but didn't think she would get.  They were both, so happy. 

It looked funny walking the cows from Kevin and Bridget's to Jean and David's farm.  Then we walked Kevin and Bridget's from our farm to their farm. A couple of cars passed on the way and looked at us in shock.  We would do so many at a time and when they were settled in the barn, go get some until we got them all in their barns. So everyone was on the move.

Jean and David gave us our garden land back, which we returned their money to.  They also decided to keep the rest of the land they were going to build the house on as they have three boys and two of them will be marrying age in a few years-as Jean previously said.  They are going to let the Edward and Michael work it this year.  They will be planting on it  pretty soon. 

So that is our latest news so far.

Be With the Lord,
Martha


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MARTHA'S STORY ON HER BECOMING OLD ORDER MENNONITE, GO TO: http:Amishstories. net  AS YOU GO DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE YOU WILL SEE A PLACE OF MARTHA - PRESS IT .  YOU WILL HAVE MARTHA'S STORY.

OUR TOWN''S FIRE

The day after.

One of the stores that got gutted was Mark's Pizza that was founded in our town in 1982.  They are now a chain.  Mark called two of his closest stores and had them bake and deliver 100 pizzas to the fire so the firemen and firewoman would have something to eat.

These shots are not in order - just to show the different shots I took.  Three fireman and one lady were taken to the hospital.  The firemen were treated and released for smoke.  The lady went into labor.  I have a post coming on for where David, Jean's husband volunteer.  They were here along with 12 other fire companies. from three counties: Wayne, Ontario and Monroe. Our town water pressure got so low, they had to pump water out of the Erie Canal.

God Bless all the firemen and fireladies who risked their lives that day to get people out and to put the fire out.  We might have lost this part of Main Street, but they saved lives and the rest of our town still stands thanks to them.

Marilyn

Nine families lost everything in the fire.  If anyone would like to make a donation to help them, you can make a check to:

James R. Hickey Post 120

American Legion

132 Cuyler Street 

Palmyra, New York 14522

315-597-2412

Put Palmyra Fire on the check.

Any donation no matter how large or small would be appreciated.  I am not out for money, but I know we have many generous people who might like to help.  I get nothing from this, just trying to help others.

AMISH AND OLD ORDER MENNONITE HORSES

                                              ENJOY KENTUCKY DERBY DAY !!!!

JEAN'S TWO YEARS -AMISH STORIES-NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

It is two years ago today that Jean left her first post on Amish Stories - then later to New York State of Mind.  I wanted to do something special, but Jean wouldn't let me, so I am putting on this post.  I put the picture of her old house on as she likes that picture.

She, David and I met by accident-really.  I was driving down their road when I saw their buggy coming out of their driveway.  I thought they would stop at the end where the driveway meets the road, but they didn't.  When I realized they weren't going to stop I went over in the opposite lane and off the road in the ditch just missing a telephone pole.  David and Jean got their buggy out of the road and David came running to my car to see if I was all right.  He saw I was all right but shook up and invited me into their home to calm down.  David stood there to make sure I got the car out and parked it in their driveway.

Over coffee and some of Jean's goodies, I found out that he and Jean were having a strong discussion about something and hadn't paid attention to the end of the driveway.  They decided to continue their trip to the store the next day.  We had a nice discussion and I left assuring them I was all right.

I would go back to their home sometimes as Jean had  a stand out front where she sold vegetables, plants and baked goods.  We would chat and then I would go on my way.  When I met Richard on Amish Stories, he was looking for someone Amish or Mennonite that would share their way of life with us.  After much discussion with Jean, her checking with her Bishop and David-she came on Amish Stories.  When she first came on, it was suppose to be every now and then, but she kept going one week after another. 

Over the years Jean has shared the good times of her life and the not so good times in her life with us.  She has told us about her life, religion, family and more.  Thanking Jean seems so small for all she has contributed.  If it were not for Jean there would be no New York State of Mind because she is the main reason it was started.  When Richard announced he was changing Amish Stories, Jean said she would only give her posts to Richard or myself-so Richard started New York State of Mind for me.

Jean and I have become great friends.  She has fed me at her house.  Kept me overnight when I threw out my back.  Her and David even gave up their bedroom so I would be on the first floor.  At the time I had Rickie, and let him stay in her house.  We have been places together and done things together that I wouldn't get do by myself.  I have been to Old Order Mennonite meetings, and houses.  Met Jean's family, relatives and friends.  Jean is the one that got Martha to tell of her leaving the English world to become Old Order Mennonite.  Her family helped me move from one apartment to the other. She has done much more.

We've been to rummage sales together and just sat and talked.  Two ladies just sitting and chatting over a cup of tea.  There's nothing I can't say to Jean or discuss with Jean and she with me.  She is not only Old Order Mennonite, she is my friend, confident  and sister in the Lord. 



So Jean, I say thank you for all the posts, sharing your life and your families life with us.  Hope we have many more years together doing this on New York State of Mind.  Glad we ran into each other.


Marilyn

If you would like to read Jean's First Post and the last post she had on Amish Stories-please go to Amish Stories as Richard has them near the bottom of the page on the right.  To see first Jean's post on New  York State of Mind you can go to older posts.

SEEING TOMORROW IS KENTUCKY DERBY DAY, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE AMISH AND MENNONITE HORSES ON TOMORROW.

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MARTHA'S COFFEE CAKE

MARTHA'S COFFEE CAKE

1/2 cup oil
1 c. sugar
1 beaten egg
1 t. soda
1 c. sour cream
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla

Mix oil, sugar and egg.  Add soda to sour cream.  Sift together flour and baking powder. Combine dry ingredients with sour cream and oil, sugar and egg.  Add vanilla.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

TOPPING

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. chopped nuts
2 T. cinnamon

Spread half of batter in ungreased 9"x13" pan.  Top with half of the topping.  Spoon rest of batter on topping: then add remainder of topping.

I don't remember seeing any coffee cake recipes on New York State of Mind and thought I would give the recipe for one.   

Be With the Lord,
Martha

FRIDAY JEAN WILL HAVE BEEN WITH AMISH STORIES AND NEW YORK STATE OF MIND TWO YEARS.  A SPECIAL POST.
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