DOREEN MAKES ANNA'S HAM AND BROCCOLI CASSEROLE

Doreen was so kind to send us a picture of Anna's Ham and Broccoli Casserole that she made.  She said " I made Anna's Ham and Broccoli Casserole last night with my leftover Easter ham and it was fantastic.  Attached is a picture that I took of it right out of the oven. I changed a few things because I wanted to use what I had.  I used a can of Cream of Chicken Soup and one can of Cream of Celery Soup, and along with the broccoli I added some mixed vegetables that I wanted to use up, but everything else was pretty much the same.  Please thank Anna for this great recipe."

I did thank Anna for you Doreen.  Anna said she was glad that you tried it and your family enjoyed this recipe as much as her family does.

That picture sure looks delicious.  Thank  you for sharing it with us, Doreen.

THE PALMYRA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT MY APARTMENT BUILDING TONIGHT !!!!!

The Fire Department just left so this post is hot off the press and I mean hot.  My neighbor's apartment ,  kitty corner to mine put some chicken on the stove and fell asleep.  Sam upstairs couldn't wake him up as the man is deaf without his hearing aides and his door was locked - so Sam called the Fire Department as the building filled with smoke.  I didn't know what happened until after the Fire Department arrived and the inside alarm went off.  I can't hear the outside alarm - my hearing is so bad.  I opened the door to see what was going on and I was met by the Firemen. Once I realized everything was under control, I went inside and got my camera.  Top two pictures of the fire truck.  Third is of men directing traffic. Pictures five and six are of the controls on the side of the truck.  Last two pictures are of the frying pan that was on fire and what was burning.  I didn't think I would be doing another Palmyra Fire Department post so fast.  We can say we had a hot time in the old town tonight.

ELMER'S FAMILY CHANGING

First I would like to say I am so glad that Edward was baptized on Good Friday.  I know he has had a hard way, but he has decided the right way, to live his life with the Lord.

I also thank Jean for being on Amish Stories and New York State of Mind for three years.  It was her that got me to get here and do some posts.  She, David and their family are such giving people and do the way of the Lord.

Our son, John, also got baptized at our church on Good Friday.  It was a surprise for us.  Unless you are being baptized that day or have been baptized you are not allowed in our church on Good Friday.  So when John came down dressed for church we wondered what was happening.  When I got the buggy ready to go - he got in it.  Anna told him he knew he couldn't go unless he was baptized to which he replied he could go as he was being baptized that day.  We were both shocked and happy.

When someone John's age is baptized, it usually means that he is planning on getting married in the fall.  After his coming home from Pinecraft early, we were getting the idea he had someone special.  When church was over, John's chores done and dinner, he left in his buggy, we assume to see his lady.  Anna and I were talking about his baptism.  We agreed that after John was baptized, we saw the ladies being done and wondered which one would be our new daughter-in-law.

The next day, I asked Eli, our Bishop and my friend, why he didn't tell us that John was studying for baptism.  His reply - you never asked.  That was true, but we didn't have any idea he was going to this year.  We have very glad that John did decide to.  Eli also said to be ready for a wedding in the fall.  When we asked, Eli wouldn't even give us a hint who John is courting. He said to ask John.  When we did, he just smiled and said we will find out.

Which has led to John wanting to buy the farm he is helping the lady on.  She is a Englisher widow with five children and her family has asked her to move closer to them, where they could help her. They also feel she could get better employment where they are. After much thinking and praying, she is going to put the farm up for sale when her children get out of school next month.  But, she is offering John first chance,  John wants that farm.

As John is the youngest, he is the one who receives our farm.  As is our way, the youngest gets the parents farm and takes care of their parents.  Now Anna and I aren't ready to retire, but we thought about giving John our farm and us getting a smaller one.  It would be sort of his wedding present.  John did not go along with that idea.  If we needed to be taken care of , he would be glad to do it, but he didn't want the farm.  He said he would prefer to start out with a smaller farm and build up to a big one, like Anna and I did.  John really appreciated our offer, but he hoped we understood.  If we said he would have to take it, he wouldn't turn us down, but he would rather start out small.  We offered to build him a house, and barn on the back of our property, giving him some of our land.  But, for some reason, he really wants the farm that lady has.  I asked if the lady he was going with had seen it, she had and approved it.  They felt they could fix it up the way they wanted to.

So John, Eli, Albert (Jean's grandfather), Anna and myself went over and looked at the place.  The decision is that it is old, solid, but needs lots of work.  Albert climbed up into the barn, which Olive told him not too, and inspected that.  I thought the barn would have to come down and a new one built.  Albert said it looks bad on the outside, but is great on inside.  It was built in the 1800's.  Outside it looks like it is falling, but it's not.  The barn was built on a slant because that is the way the lot went.  Inside everything is flat and level.

John and I went out looking at other farms, but he still wants that one.  When young folks get something in their head, you can't talk them out of it.  Anna and I did the same thing when we were his age.  I am the youngest and I didn't take my parents farm either, so I can't get upset with John. I understand.  You want to start and build the farm yourself.

So it looks like John is going to buy the farm the English lady has.  He has the money for it.  We told him that house needs a lot of work between now and the fall.  With plowing, planting, and harvesting - he isn't going to have a lot of time.  Of course, he knows, that all of us will help him when we can.  Somehow it will get done.

This led to Anna and I talking.  Seeing John doesn't want our farm, we are thinking of building a house and barn on part of our property and selling the rest of it.  The idea of the Bed and Breakfast kind of left us.  Working this big farm alone, would be a lot for us.  We know our children would help us, but they have farms and jobs of their own.  First we are going to offer it to the rest of our children - maybe one would want it.  Anna has already picked out the lot and where she wants the house built.  She's not in a hurry or anything.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

REED'S CORNER FEDERATED CHURCH, RUSHVILLE, NY

Reed's Corner Federated Church was founded in 1994.  According to what I could find, in some places it is said to be in Rushville, New York and some in Canandaigua, New York. Also, some say the church is open and some say it is closed, so I don't know.  I pass this church on the way to Jean's.  The cemetery is next to the church.  I am not sure it is owned by the church, but it looks like it.

PALMYRA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, PALMYRA, NY - PART II

PALMYRA FIRE DEPARTMENT, HOOK AND LADDER #1, PALMYRA, NY

On May 3rd last year, we had a big fire on Main Street in Palmyra that took down several stores with apartments above them.  It is also the date we mark Jean's anniversary.  Jean asked instead of honoring her that I put on the Palmyra Fire Department.  So today is the first part.  Tomorrow will be the other half of the Palmyra Fire Department.

The first picture shows where the Fire Department use to be.  The building was originally built as an opera house, then became the Palmyra Fire House for many years.  When they moved the Fire Department to the new building, it became Village Hall.  The next three pictures are of the Fire House.

On April 26th, they had Open House trying to get new men and women to join our volunteer fire department.  I was given free run with my camera.  I have shown the fire trucks (not all were there as some were on a fire call).  Some of the firemen and firewomen.  Also showed the inside of the fire hall, some of the equipment they wear and how they pull lit on.  The last is a picture that someone painted for the Fire Department.  It is a picture of a fireman with his arms around people.

This is the first set of pictures, I will have more on tomorrow, May 3rd.

JEAN HAS A POST FOR HER THREE YEARS ANNIVERSARY AND SOME NEWS

First, I want to say that we are so proud of Edward deciding to join our ways and being baptized in our meetings (church).  We believe that he has chosen the Lord's way.  This was not a decision that he made fast.  He prayed for a long time, took the studies, and spoke with Bishop Joseph.  David and I tried to stay out of the decision making at it was his - not ours.  As we  have communion twice a year, after he was baptized he received communion for the first time.  We are also happy that God sent him, Michael and Katie to our home.  Our hope is that Michael will make the same decision when he is ready, but we will not force him.

Now, Marilyn, wanted to do something special for my three anniversary with Amish Stories and New York State of Mind.  I feel that something more important happened on last year May 3rd than my anniversary, so I wanted her to put something on which she is doing.  She argued with me, but finally agreed.

I am glad to have been on for three years.  It seems like we have become a family.   I know I gave Richard and Marilyn a hard time when I first started and a couple along the way.  I wondered why people would care how we lived.  I didn't think it would last long, but it did for three years.  You have all been interested and kind.  We have gone though a lot of good times together and some not so good times together.  You have been with us as our family grew.  Now, you are like part of my family although I never met you.

I thank you all for reading all the posts that I had on.  I thank you for listening to all we have done.  As I said, you are like part of my family.

Marilyn, Elmer, Martha, Anna and I had a discussion.  They said that people miss me not being on New York State of Mind.  Also, our previous Bishop's health has gotten so bad that he can not help Bishop Joseph any longer, which means more work on Joseph and Martha which means Martha can not post as much as she did.

So after much discussion, we decided that Elmer will do the first three Monday's of the month and I will do the post on the fourth Monday of the month.  I really do miss not putting any posts on.  Now, this month's fourth Monday is Memorial Day, so I will do a post on Tuesday instead of Monday, if that makes sense - at least that is how it is right now.

I have enjoyed my three years and I look forward to continuing on.

Be With God,
Jean

Marilyn:
I am so happy that Jean is returning.  Also, I thank her for all she has done in the last three years.  I did want to celebrate it this week, but she said no.  The anniversary date is May 3rd and she told me what she wanted me to put on that day.  As she said, I argued with her, but she won.  What Jean wanted will be on Friday and Saturday.

She and I have become close friends since she came on.  I can not thank her for all she has done on here and personally.  I have a great sister, in the Lord.

God Bless You and Yours,
Marilyn