FARMER'S MARKET - VEGATABLES AND FRUIT

The first picture is the entrance to the Farmer's Market.  The rest of the pictures are of the vegatables and fruits that were sold there.

JEAN'S GREEN AND WHITE SALAD

JEAN'S GREEN AND WHITE SALAD

1 medium cauliflower, cut small
1 bunch broccoli, tops only
1 cup frozen peas, thawed (or fresh peas)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 8 oz sour cream
2 cups mayonnaise
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp garlic salt
2 Tbsp sugar

GARNISH:
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
5 slices crisp, crumbled bacon

Mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, salts, and sugar.  Marinate overnight. Next day add cauliflower, broccoli, peas and onion,  Add shredded Cheddar and crisp bacon before servving.

ELMER'S POST ON ROADSIDE STEALING

Marilyn called me to post and asked if there is a great deal of theft at our roadside stands.  It seems to be a problem in her area.  It is here.

Recently I made a wooden box for our roadside stand.  When I made it, I planned to put a lock on it, but Anna told me not too - so people could make change if they had too.  Anna was talking to Jean and Jean said that would be nice to have at her stand - so I made one for her.  When I brought it to Jean, David, her husband, saw it and said I could have made that.  Jean just rolled her eyes.  Seems she had asked David to make one for her and he kept saying that he would but never did.  It would replace the glass jar that they had at their stand.

The day after I brought it to her, Jean called me and asked if I could make her another one.  I said sure.  I thought it was for someone else who might have seen hers.  Nope  Someone had stolen Jean's  Everyone was in the house or in the fields and didn't see who took it - in broad daylight. When they went down to check on it - it was gone.  She could understand them taking the money, but the box, too!

So this time, when I got there, David and I figured out how to screw the box to one of the wooden boards in Jean's stand.  If someone steals, they will be able to take the money, but not the box.  David came home with me and we hooked ours into the boards too.

One night while Anna and I had just got settled in bed for the night, we heard a crash.  I jumped out of bed, Anna said to stay inside.  I looked out all the front windows and couldn't see anything, but I could hear an engine gunning loud.  Finally, I went on our front porch as a car went tearing by.  Took at walk to the end of the driveway and couldn't see anything. 

Anna's sister and brother-in-law live next door and they were out looking, too.  We didn't see anything so we all went back to bed.  In the morning one of our Englisher neighbors came over to our house.  His roadside stand was hit by a car  - that's what we heard.  The stand is in pieces.  He believes it was hit on purpose. 

We Amish and local Mennonites don't report money stolen from our stands.  Our belief that it is God's will.  He allows it for a reason.  We feel that maybe someone who stole the money really needed it and this was the only way to get it - so we don't call the police.

So, when I was telling Bishop Eli about this,  it shocked me when he told me if that happens to call the Police.  He said, too many are happening and after that one where than ran it down could be dangerous.  What if they had hit someone with the car.  Taking the money is one thing.  Running the stand down is something else.

So every night before we go to bed, we remove anything we have for sale in our stand.  Also, we take all the money out of our box.  In the morning, we put all our vegetables, flowers, etc back out in the stand and put some money in the box in case someone has to make change.  We try to keep an eye on it when we are home.  If we are gone, we put it in God's trust and wisdom.

Also, I do not want Anna going out to the stand alone when someone is there.  Jean's house is the same way.  We don't want our ladies out there, unless it is someone we know personally.  It's sad to say, but you can't trust people like we use to. 

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

MENNONITE FARM GARDENS

Here are two Mennonite Farm Gardens.  In addition to the gardens are fields, but I just took pictures of the gardens, this time.

FARMERS MARKET - HANDMADE JEWELRY

In all the Farmers Markets I have been too - this is the first that had someone that was selling handmade jewelry.  As I also hand make jewelry, I had to see this one.  They were a very nice husband and wife couple.  The first three pictures are of the jewelry they made.  Pictures four and five are pictures of their bead cases.  The last picture is of a young lady making her own bracelet.  The couple have it so you can buy one of their handmade jewelry or you can make your own.  They were very nice and enjoyed talking with them

PIERRE'S "THE BARK" - MEET MY FRIEND EDDIE

Usually I don't have meeting my friends so close together - but I have known Eddie for a while, but didn't put him on here.  Eddie is a chihuahua.  His original Mother lived in the apartments here.  She was a small person.  His Mother felt that he was the perfect size dog for her.  I met Eddie when his Mother walked him.  Sometimes, we would walk together. 

Unfortunately she got sick and passed away.  His Mother's Mother (his grandmother) took him and has taken care of him since his mother passed

His grandmother travels a couple of times a year and Tina (Mom's friend) takes care of him.  Mom and I have been asked to care of him when Tina can't.  Eddie is a lover and likes to sit on my Mom's lap and look out our sliding glass door.  He will sit their for hours.

He also likes to play with toys with me.  He also likes my food.  My Mom has to keep an eye on Eddie when he feeds us or he will eat mine and his.  Can't understand how he stays so small.

Top picture is Eddie.  The second picture is of Eddie and I playing at our apartment.

Hope you like my friend Eddie.

Love,
Pierre

JEAN'S POST - You Didn't Know!

Sometimes parents don't know what is going on in their own house.  It all started when I invited all of our children to our house for Saturday dinner.  We had a nice dinner, talked about what we are doing, the weather, and so on.  After dinner Edward said he was going to singing and asked Margaret if she was going and needed a ride and she said she did.  Edward said he would come back and pick her up.  Edward left and went home, and Margaret went upstairs.

David said how nice it was that Edward was taking Margaret to singing.  Thomas was finishing his desert and dropped his fork on the plate.  He looked at Ruth.  Ruth looked at him.  David asked if there was something wrong.  Thomas said no.

After dinner, Margaret, Susan,, Katie, Ruth and myself did the dishes.  Thomas, David and David Jr were in the living room.  After dishes, Margaret went upstairs to get ready for Edward to pick her up.  Soon as Edward pulls up to the back door, Margaret is down the stairs and out the door.  Thomas and Ruth look at each.

Finally David asks if there  is something going on that we don't know about.  Again Thomas and Ruth look at each other.  Thomas asked Susan to watch the children and asked us to come into the other room and closes the door.  All of us sit except Thomas .  He says you really don't know what is going on , do you?  We said no.  Now my mind is racing.  Are they doing something wrong, going some place wrong or what.

Thomas looks at Ruth, She says tell them.  Thomas said that Edward is courting Margaret.  I said it couldn't be - they are adopted.  Thomas said, it is true, but  Margaret has not been adopted.  Then Thomas said, you don't know that.  Know we didn't.

Thomas says they are trying to keep it quiet, but it is kind of obvious with all the times Margaret goes to his house, works in his garden, made the new drapes, cleans his house, and alike.  At our house she is helping do canning and always makes sure there is some for Edwaard's house.

Now that he mentioned it - Thomas was right.  Then David and I started thinking of all the excuses Edward's has to come over to our house.  Edward, of course, is welcome here anytime.  But he comes over to our house more often and times he doesn't have to come over.

David asked Thomas why didn't he tell us.  Thomas said I just did.  But I thought you knew.

We go back into the living room and Susan says did you tell them that Edward and Margaret are courting.  We went into shock - you knew.  Susan says Oh Mom!  Even Sadie knew.  Why didn't someone tell us sooner.  The answer:  We thought you knew.

Thomas said now that we knew, we should tell them.  David and I talked about it for a while.  Then we decided we should tell them..  When they came home, we are usually in bed, but were up that night.  We kind of surprised them and asked them to come in.  When they came in, Edward says You know.  We explained to them how we found up and asked they not to be upset with Thomas.  Edward laughed.  Margaret looked serious.  Edward told her laugh, all this time they were trying to hide it and they all knew.  Margaret laughed.

Edward said when Margaret came and we finally got her to go to singing, he tried to introduce to people.  When she went with that fellow, he realized he was a bit jealous.  Finally one day he thought, he liked her and would like to get to know her better - not as a brother.  So they have been going together about six months.  Margaret during all this has a red face and is blushing.  But, Edward said, do not start planning a wedding.  We are not that far.

David and I sat and talked to them, as parents do. I never talked to two of my children together about courting, being together with others and not alone.  If she is helping, it must be outside and not alone inside.  They didn't care for that.  To respect themselves and each other.  Went went on for a while.  They agreed to what we said.

After Edward went home and Margaret to bed, David and I went to bed.  We decided if you stop and think about it, both have been looking for someone and who would be greater together - if it is the Lord's will.

Them David, stopped and thought for a minute.  If we didn't know about this, what else is going on that we don't know about?

Be With God,
Jean