We're Eatin Crappie Fish!

Oh, I just had to write that title. Bunny is always saying that this thing or that thing is really "crappy" when it's something she doesn't like. But everytime she says it, I honestly have to think for a minute as to whether or not she means "fishy"!

Jacob and his brothers Levi and Glen David went ice fishing this past weekend. Jacob has a Mennonite Cousin, Fritzie who drives them up to Michigan each winter for some ice fishing. Mostly, they just bring home panfish, like Crappies or Bluegills. This year, they went to a different spot than usual. This is a little farther north to a place called Portage Lake.

Well they must have more species of fish or something there, because not only did they bring back crappie and bluegill, but Jacob and Levi both each got a big Northern Pike! They said Fritzie was fixin to catch himself a Walleye, but it never did happen.

Levi said the whole way home Fritzie was pouting a little, kept saying things like, "Boy those Pike sure are beauties! You boys sure got lucky!" Levi said it was about all he could do to hold his tongue and not say, "Luck has nothing to do with it!" Jacob laughed when they retold the story, and Glen David said, "Yeah, but you knew better. You didn't want to walk all the way home!"

I guess fishing trip for men is about as close to a hen party they will ever get. I am sure glad they had fun, and it looks like we'll be having some fish for supper!


God Bless,
Rebekah

Breakfast for Supper

Tonight I had a hankering for some of the mulberries in the freezer. We have some of the biggest mulberry trees around, and I just had the notion to have myself some tonight. I made some french toast with mulberries, garlic and onion cheese omelets, and bacon for supper.

Jacob wasn't too thrilled when I told him I was fixing to have breakfast for supper, but once he smellt that bacon frying, he didn't seem to mind. My word, I think I smacked his hand at least a half dozen times as he tried to sneak himself pieces of cooked bacon off the plate. My stars, he's like a child sometimes.

The kids couldn't believe it when they found out about breakfast for supper. I've never seen Sarah Jo help set a table so fast. Honestly, I think it was the smell of bacon that did it to the kids too. There is just something about the smell of cooking bacon that brings a family together, and feels comfortable, y'know?

Well, it certainly did rile the children up anyway. We haven't had this much chitter-chatter at the supper table in I don't know how long. The funniest is when Lora Lee announced, "It must be upside down day!" We all hooped and hollered over that! Malon said that since we had breakfast for supper tonight, we ought to go ahead and have chicken fried steak and potatoes and gravy tomorrow morning for breakfast! Ha-ha!

It's hard, but sometimes during the winter I start to feel myself get down or a little depressed. I know it's just the winter blues, so a little mix-up every now and again is good, I dare say. And though everyone seemed to jump all over the bacon, for me, my little piece of heaven was having those berries with a little cream over my toast. It was just the pick-me-up I needed.

Breakfast for supper. Now that is a good idea!


God Bless,
Rebekah

Ice Cream Supper

Tonight we had my family's Ice Cream Supper at my brother Marvin's home. I thought perhaps you might find it interesting to learn what an Amish Ice Cream Supper is. First of all, it is a Supper. But, it isn't where we all come together to eat just ice cream. Some Amish families might call it an Ice Cream Social, but in my family we just call it an Ice Cream Supper.

Because many traditional Amish families have so many children, it would be far too costly to have birthday parties for every aunt or uncle or cousin every month. So, instead we have one family supper per month in which we celebrate all of the birthdays for that month.

In my family, there are three girls, (Me, Josie, and Caroline) and four boys (Marvin, Henrie, Ben, and Thomas Jay). We are all married and each have flocks of children, with some still growing.

So, the ice cream supper will include:Mommie & Dawdy, of course and then me and all of my siblings and each of our children. I am the oldest and married first and therefore Jacob Jr. is the oldest grandchild. Josie and Ronny have four children, all boys; Marvin and Mandy have five children, 2 boys and 3 girls, and Mandy is pregnant with number six; Henrie and Eva have just three, one set of twin girls and a new little baby girl; Caroline and Jed have 2 little boys, Ben and Stephanie have a set of twins as well, also two girls, and she is expecting; and then Thomas Jay and Lori Jo are expecting their first. Did you get that?

Mommie & Dawdy
Rebekah & Jacob - 10 children
Josie & Ronny - 4 children
Marvin & Mandy - 5 children, 1 on the way
Henrie & Eva - 3 children
Caroline & Jed - 2 children
Ben & Stephanie - 2 children, 1 on the way
Thomas Jay & Lori Jo, 1 on the way

So, to date there are 7 children, 26 grandchildren and 3 more on the way. That means there are currently 42 family members on my side. Do you see now why we only celebrate birthdays once a month as an extended family? That isn't even talking about Jacob's family! I have many more nieces and nephews on that side too.

Okay, so now that you know WHY we have Ice Cream Suppers, I will learn you HOW we have Ice Cream Suppers. Between Mommie & Dawdy and the rest of us, we rotate who will host the supper each month. After 8 months, the rotation starts over. Caroline is sort of the self-appointed family scribe and therefore, she keeps track of who has Ice Cream Supper which months and makes sure we all know.

The host family will select an evening in the month and they will be responsible for cooking the main dish. Then everybody else brings a side dish and either ice cream or other dessert. We usually have all sorts of cakes and pies and ice cream flavors to choose from. Dawdy's favorite is Butter Pecan and Mommie's is vanilla, so those two flavors are always a must.

We don't usually have any party games or sing birthday songs like many of the English do, but we sure seem to have lots of laughs. Also, because there are so many children, we don't usually buy the nieces and nephews birthday gifts. That just gets to be too much. But Mommie always makes sure she gives a little something for each of the grandchildren. And when one of the women have a birthday, Mommie will get us a new candle or set of dish towels or something. Dawdy usually takes care of the men. That is plenty, and though we don't expect it, it's always appreciated.

The best gift, however, is being able to spend a wonderful evening laughing and sharing stories and eating ourselves silly!

As usual, tonight's Ice Cream Supper was no exception. Both Jacob Jr and Esther Sue have January birthdays, so Gramma (Mommie) gave them each their own paper sack filled with a few trinkets for their birthday. They couldn't wait to get home to open their bags. Jacob had a new pair of gloves and an LED flashlight. Esther Sue was given a little pony toy, and a doll-size quilt that Mommie made. They were delighted.

God Bless,
Rebekah

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Season's Greetings! May this post find all of you well. I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with your families.

Our children woke up Christmas morning to quite a shock. They all enjoyed their gifts, and the little kids are still working on their stocking goodies.

Getting to church today proved to be a little difficult. In addition to the snow showers we are having, the heavy windchill makes things even colder. But the Bontragers had their garage heated up and thankfully the ministers kept us all awake. I think they must have been cold too, as they didn't seem to go as long as they sometimes do. Of course most of the ministers preached of the birth of our Savior and the true meaning of Christmas.

Afterwards at the meal, it was good to finish passing around some of the Christmas cards I still had, and greet friends and neighbors. And we had a real treat when the host family announced the young singles would be doing a short singing for us. Normally the young singles do their singings on Sunday nights. But since it is a holiday weekend, the family talked the singles into singing during the meal instead.

They sang a few of the hymns from the Schwartz's Song Book and some Christmas Carols as well. It was really nice to hear celebrations in song, as Jesus is the reason for the season.

God Bless,
Rebekah

Shh...

Well, it's that time of year when everyone seems to be bustling about for holiday preparations. Bunny had a crew at her house yesterday in the forenoon. They were hanging twinkle lights all around. The children like to look at her twinkle lights from the upstairs bedroom window. Lora Lee says it looks like Angel kisses, and Esther Sue says they look like stars dancing on Bunny's roof.

Jacob and I have finally decided what to get the children for Christmas this year. Here is the plan:

Jr & John Levi - New fishing poles. They have had the same ones since they started school, and Jacob says Lehman-Chucky told him about a good deal on poles at a shop over in Goshen.

Ruth Ann - being 12, Ruth Ann said she just wants some new dresses. I've already sewn her a new one for church, but the big surprise will be that I am buying her a handbag too. I found a nice black one over at the WalMarts and there is a cute black wallet with an embroidered flower on the clasp that I think she will like.

David Jay - We are getting him a basketball. He is always out playing with the neighbor boys and for his birthday last year, Jacob put up a basketball hoop out on the back of the garage. So, now he won't have to use his brother's old ball.

Jed & Malon - are both going to get their own pocket knives. They don't have one yet, and that is about the age the other boys got their first pocket knife. Jake says Varns & Hoover has some really nice ones the boys would love.

Sarah Jo, Esther, Lora Lee, and Gracie - are each getting a new baby doll to play with. They will also each get a new church dress as well, and I am just about done with the last one.

Oh, and the boys are all getting a new knit cap too. So, this Saturday, I will use some of the egg money I've been keeping in the coffee can for Christmas and Jake and I will go into town and do our shopping.

I know not all Amish families do this, but we have the children bring their socks out by the wood stove Christmas eve and Jake and I fill them with treats. Each of the children usually get a candy cane, an orange, a chocolate bar and a package of nuts. They just love it.

I know it is a little vain, but I am so excited, I can't wait!


God Bless,
Rebekah

Plucking Simon

If your husband brings home a Turkey from the shoot, or if you are raising them yourself, here is how to get it ready for your Thanksgiving table.

First, don't be overwhelmed. It really is quite simple. Many people try to dry pluck (like a duck), however you will want to water process like you would for a chicken as plucking out the larger feathers are easier on a warm bird. The only difference between plucking a turkey and a chicken is that a turkey is bigger. I also wear rubber gloves and a full apron when doing this process. Many people don't have a pot large enough for a turkey, but what I use is a big wash tub that I keep out in the back shed. Oh my... I'm starting to get ahead of myself. Okay, here is how to pluck your turkey for your table:

1) fill a large tub or pot with boiling hot water...

2) with gloves on, grab the dead turkey by the ankles and dunk into the tub of scalding hot water.

3) use a big wooden spoon (Jacob actually made me my own wooden paddle for this process) to help saturate all the feathers and keep the bird under water for about 10-15 seconds.

4) Lay the bird on some plastic or a towel and begin plucking by the small handful, being sure to pull WITH the direction they lay on the bird. Be careful not to overdo it, as you don't want to rip the skin.

5) Any "peach fuzz" or tiny pin hairs can just be wiped off after all of the feathers are plucked.

6) Dunk the turkey in cold water to help the bird cool down faster, allowing you to work with it more.


Tips: Sometimes the dye of the larger feathers will remain on the bird after the feathers are gone. This is ok, as you can rinse most of this off with the cold bath anyway. Also, if you are raising turkeys on a farm, etc., whatever you do, do NOT name the turkey(s) first. Sarah Jo has been calling this turkey Simon for quite some time now and heart broken when she saw me give "Simon" a "bath!"

Oh, and if this post made you squeamish, I reckon you daren't ask what I do with the feet or the carunkles! Aye-oh!
God Bless,
Rebekah

Myth: Amish Kids Don't Do Halloween

Most Amish kids probably don't trick-or-treat for Halloween, let alone dress up in a costume. However, I have always let my kids participate. In case I hadn't mentioned it before, my scholars attend public school and not Amish School. Most of the classrooms always have parties. We also have a few English neighbors, such as Bunny that always invite the kids to come and trick-or-treat at their place.

I don't buy costumes or even sew them, but I tell the children each year if they want to come up with a costume, that is just fine by Jacob and me. Mostly, they dress like hobos, or old people, or fat people. They might put a little mud on their face, or some talcum powder in their hair, or stuff a pillow under their shirts. A few times the boys have borrowed a nightdress of mine and usually the girls will dress old, like Mommie. It doesn't really matter, because mostly, they just have fun.

Bunny says living out in the countryside, they don't see too many trick-or-treaters so when my children show up at their door with their empty pillowcases, she usually fills them right up with candy bars, popcorn balls and whatnot.

This year Bunny had on a long red dress and a red cape and some devil ears. It was a good thing she wore the same amount of make up she normally does or else she might have scare't the younger ones.

God Bless,
Rebekah