BUGGY AND SWISS-GERMAN AMISH FARM ON A BACK ROAD

Here is another Swiss-German Amish Farm.  Elmer and Anna were with me.  Elmer told me to turn down a road.  After driving for a while I asked Elmer where we were going.  He said he didn't know, he had never been on this road before.  We came upon the Amish buggy that I took the picture of it through my windshield.  The second picture is of a rather unusual shape to that house.  In picture six, we were trying to decide what they were building.  Elmer said we will have to come back by again to see.  Next two are of the crops that was planted on that farm.  The last two cow pictures, I don't remember where I took.  I know it was an Swiss-German Amish farm, but I don't remember which one, so I am putting with this farm. Oh, I took these pictures last month.

JEAN'S CHICKEN TREAT

JEAN'S CHICKEN TREAT

1 (1-1/2 lb) boneless chicken breast, pounded to 1/4" thickness (per person)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp mustard
2 tbsp mayonnaise
4 - 5 carrots, thinly sliced
1 medium size zucchini, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced

Place a generous piece of aluminum foil on a baking sheet.  Place chicken down on foil.  Mix mustard and mayonnaise together and spread on each piece of chicken.

Place onions, carrots, zucchini and mushrooms on top of meat.

Sprinkle with garlic powder, sweet basil, oregano, season-all, salt and pepper.  Dot with butter.

Wrap completely in foil package and seal.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes - until vegetables are done to your likeness.

Sometimes I double wrap in aluminum foil and we cook them on the outside grill.  Also, you can change the vegetables in this recipe to whatever you have in your garden or whatever is in season.

JEAN TELLS OF ELMER AND ANNA'S MOVING DAY

The day started when Grandmother Olive did not want to go. Her arthritis was bothering here and she couldn't figure what use she could be.   I tried to talk her into it, but couldn't.  What finally made her give in his Susan and Katie telling it wouldn't be any fun without here there.  Grandmother asked what she could do?  The girls said watch them.  So Grandmother agreed to come which saved the day.

The second thing you should know is Anna and her sister Hannah are complete opposites.  Where Hannah is skinny as a rail, Anna has some meat on her bones.  Anna is not heavy, but weighs more than Hannah.  Anna is taller than her twin sister.  Hannah is a quiet person where Anna says what she says.  Anna likes to clean barns.  Hannah likes to clean house.  Anna likes to work the fields.  Hannah would rather bake pastry.  Anna is a take charge person.  Hannah is a great follower.  Outside of her house, Hannah feels most comfortable behind a counter selling in her store.

So when we walked into Anna and Elmer's old house, Anna was sitting with her head in hands exhausted.  Hannah didn't know what to do.  Hannah said their Mother hadn't arrived yet.  So Grandmother Olive took over.  First Grandmother told me take Anna to our house, give her some peppermint tea and put her to bed.  This was great as Elmer had wanted Anna out of the house so he could put some things into the new house without her knowing.  I had used canning as an excuse and Anna was going to do it, but we arrived at her house before she got to ours.  Anna had wondered of all days why I had picked her moving day to need her for canning, but being polite as she is, Anna didn't say anything to me.  I found this out later.

Grandmother ordered Hannah over to the new house to tell the men where to put the furniture.  Hannah said she didn't know where to tell them.  Grandmother Olive asked her if her house was set up like her Mother's.  Hannah thought for a minute and said yes.  Grandmother said to do Anna's just like it and when her Mother came she would send her over.  She also told her to set up the bedroom and kitchen first.  They were the rooms most needed.  Off went Hannah.

As people came in, Grandmother gave them orders.  The men on loading the wagons.  The ladies on packing boxes.  She even talked Anna into coming to our house for the tea and a few hours rest.  When Elmer came in from the barns, Grandmother told Elmer what happened and told him to get to the new house because over at that house were two buggies and a delivery truck there when we had passed on the way to the old house.  Elmer said it would take days to move.  Grandmother said it may take days to you, but your moving today.

I don't know everything they happened, but on the way to the old house, about five hours later, we stopped at the new house.  Anna saw all the new items Elmer had for her.  I thought she was going into shock.  She couldn't believe all the new items that Elmer had in there.  I will let her tell you about them except one.  He bought her a new wood burning stove.  Someone had to test and no one wanted to be the first one.  Anna was a bit nervous about it so she let Grandmother do the honors.  Grandmother Olive was in her glory.  She had David and Elmer make sure the vents and lines were clear and set up right.  When she got the okay.  Grandmother set up the wood burning stove.  Anna was surprised that she could find her way around her kitchen.   They made some quick rolls to test the oven.  While they were baking Grandmother told Anna to go check her old house to make sure everything she wanted was out of it.  Anna said they couldn't be, but when she got to the house - they were.    Anna and I were laughing wondering what Grandmother Olive had done to get everyone to get everything out of the house that day.

We got to the new house just as the rolls got done, perfectly.  Grandmother Olive told Anna to ask her Mother where anything was she couldn't find.  Anna's Mother knew where everything was.  We all enjoyed some ice tea along with the rolls with homemade butter and homemade jams.  

John, Elmer and Anna's son, had moved his items out of the old house to his house.  So he was planning on staying there.  The only ones staying in the old house were Hannah and her husband.  We all wanted Elmer and Anna to enjoy the first night in their new house by themselves.

So many people had bought casseroles.  Grandmother Olive put one in the oven for Elmer and Anna.  With Anna's permission sent some with John to his house.  We took the rest over to our house to put in our barn freezer.  Anna or Elmer could come and get them as they needed.

As John still has the electric in his house one of the Englisher ladies told him how to bake the casserole in the electric oven.

So we all left.  The next day Hannah and her husband moved to Elmer and Anna's new house to spend the rest of their time here.  A few days later, Anna and Hannah got cooking and invited all of us: Amish, Old Order Mennonite and Englishers to their house for a picnic dinner to thank us for helping them move.  They said it couldn't have been done without Grandmother Olive who blushed and said they could have done it without her.  But they kept saying they couldn't have.

There new barn is going up this week.  Elmer wanted to know if Grandmother Olive would direct the animals moving over like she did the people. Grandmother turned him down.  We all laughed.

I am sure Elmer and Anna will have a lot more to say about their moving next week.  Anna said she has not forgotten about the herb questions she has been asked and will answer them in coming weeks.  Unless I am needed before, I will be back on August 25th.

Be with God,
Jean

JEAN'S: SCHOOL OPENS SOON AND MORE

First, I want to ask if anyone would be interested in Anna, myself and Marilyn coming out with a cookbook?  It is just in the discussing stages right now.  If you would be, what would like in it?  Would you like recipes that have been on New York State of Mind?  Christmas Recipes we had on?  Easter we had on?  All new Amish and Old Order Mennonite Recipes?  Also, if you are not interested let us know.  We know it is easy to get recipes off the computer now days.  Let us know what you think.

It's hard to believe that Susan will be starting back to school on August 11th.  Old Order Mennonite and Amish schools start earlier than the Englisher schools, but they also get out earlier the end of April or first of May in the spring.  Katie will be starting school next year at six years old.  The year after that David Jr. will be starting.  Time sure flies by.

Katie is not happy that Susan is going to school again and she isn't.  She wants to go so bad.  We hope she feels the same way when she starts school next year.  Katie is fitting into our household.  She has learned to speak the German very well.  Also, she is use to no television.  The buggy is her favorite ride over a car. I think that may be do to the car accident her parents passed (died) in.  At church, she has learned to sit and behaves well during meeting - most of the time.  At home, she does her chores, most of the time.  She is a typical five year old, that needs encouragement and to be let know her work is appreciated.

Susan and Katie do many things together including work.  Although Susan does like time with friends her own age.  Susan is looking forward to going back to school.  We will miss her during school hours as I am so use to having her home all day.

We do not think David Jr. will look forward to going to school as much as the girls do.  He would prefer to stay home and help David, Edward and Michael doing farm chores.  David Jr. thinks going to school is stupid as he thinks he can learn everything he has to know on the farm.  We have discussed home school, if he really doesn't like the school, but we hope he will change in the next two years.  We have to watch David Jr. as he feels he can do more than he really can.  He wants to drive the horses and we don't believe he is old enough yet.

We may be getting another Foster Child.  He is a teenage boy.  Katie and Susan say we should get a girl instead to even the number.  Edward and Michael have spoken with the boy while working on service a couple of times.  He is with another Old Order Mennonite Foster Home and he is one of their first Foster Children.  It doesn't seem to be working out.  Social Services said they might have to move him and would we consider taking him.  We asked Edward and Michael what they thought as they knew him better than we did.  Michael said that the boy had been in Foster Home since he was little.  He had gone from home to home.  Not because he was bad, but things happened.  Like one home he was in the Father got transfered out of state and he couldn't go.  Another family someone got sick and couldn't keep him.  Also, some homes treat a Foster Child different from a natural child and the foster child knows it. The couple he is with is a younger couple in their 20's.  They've never had a teenager.  We told Michael he was our first teenager, but he said it was different.  Michael believes this boy needs a home.  A real home.  One that he won't have to leave from.  A home where he is a member of the family not just a Foster Child.   Michael said when he first came to our house, he thought he wouldn't be here long.  He never thought we would adopt him.  It took him a while to realize this really is home.  This boy needs the same.

David Sr. said if we get another Foster child, we will have to finish off the attic as we are running out of bedrooms.  I don't think he is kidding.  We would also have to put in another bathroom or two.  So we do not know right now, if we are going to be his Foster Parents or not, but will let you know.  We all had the family meeting to agree that he is welcome in out home.  Even the girls finally agreed.

Be With God,
Jean

ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEWARK, NY

The Episcopal faith was first practiced in Newark, New York in 1851 at the home of Esbon Blackmar on Palmyra Street (now West Union Street) .  On July 21, 1851, officers were elected for the new church.

Being unable to raise funds for the new church locally, church members asked Mrs. A. W. Marsh and Mrs. Martha Hayes, wife of the pastor, to visit large churches between Newark and New York City asking for aid.  They returned in three weeks with many gifts including the news that Trinity Church, New York City had offered a loan of $500.00.  In August, 1851, the parish was admitted for membership in the diocese. A building was purchased for $350.00 and on September 19, 1852 their first service was held in their new building. By 1892, the church was completely paid for.  That church was there from 1851 to 1901.

In 1900 the need for a new, larger facility was needed.  The Vestry approved the church and rectory.  In June, 1901, the 50th anniversary for the church, the cornerstone of the new church was laid.  The building was completed and the first service was held on All Saint's Day, 1901.  The first Parish House was built in 1917, a gift from the Bloomer families.  During World War II, the Parish House was used by the Red Cross for their relief work.

Again plans were made to enlarge the church and Parish House to include offices and class rooms.  By 1953, most of the money was raised and in 1954 the new Parish House was dedicated.

In recent years, the parish hall has again, become the home of the Red Cross.  The parish also became a part of a regional partnership of congregations.

Most of the information was obtained from an article by the Newark Courier Gazette.

As you can see St. Mark's is a large church, rectory and parish house.  I took a close up for the stone used in the construction of the building.

HOW THEIR GARDENS ARE GROWING

I had a post on when the gardens were planted.  Thought I would show how some of the gardens grow.

PIERRE'S " THE BARK" - MOM TAKES MY PICTURE

Mom bought me a new halter  and took me to the dog groomer's.  When I got home she wanted a picture of me so she could change the picture she has used since New York State of Mind.  I did not want her too. None of her shots seemed to please her.  I finally looked right into the camera.  It isn't the shot she really wanted, but left me alone.  This was hard work,  It also was almost 90 degrees that day, so I decided to take a nap right by the air conditioner.  These pictures were taken on her old couch.  This couch went to Sam upstairs so Mom could have room for her antique couch.