Mon.-A special thanks to my sister-in-law, Karen, for her generous hospitality, and the gracious way she shares with us. I know she is washing sheets and towels today or tomorrow and is cleaning up the bathroom and bedrooms. Not only is she my sister in law, she is a dear friend I have had for years, before she was even part of our family. Susan and I went grocery shopping today and came home and did a lot of food prep while we washed clothes, etc. When we finally sat down to eat, we watched some 'I love Lucy,' which is a dangerous thing to do if one chokes as easily as I do. The Amarillas that Susan got me last week is blooming at its finest right now. It is white and the window sills are white and the manger scene she got me is white. It's just so beautiful together. Jess had spent the night and she and I had breakfast together before she left for work. She told me about the kind things that were said to her by the cousins this weekend. It's in the 40's and raining. I have some time alone this evening so I've been catching up on my blog writing. I could take down Christmas decorations but I'm just not ready to do that yet. It's nice to know that my two sister in laws, Karen and Linda, will be reading this soon. As well as Naomi and Lindsay. I love you, dear family and friends.
Tues.-Did some wash and had Nathan time. Susan went to work a double shift and Alli went out to Farmville to run errands. Made some rice,beans, and meat mixture as well as cooked and froze a 2 pound bag of northern beans. Tidied up some more. I'm not quite unpacked but hope to be by evening's end. Still getting Christmas cards in the mail and I'm not near ready to put away Christmas decorations. When one is waiting for Jesus to come, it feels like Christmas is tomorrow every day.
Wed.-Had a day alone and organized a cleaning schedule notebook. Every year I have a goal to simplify. I don't know why I have such a hard time getting rid of stuff. I'm also working on developing a face book book club. Lindsay said she'll co-lead it with me. We're making plans tomorrow. I also did some Christmas clean-up. Later, when Phil got home, we watched some 'Murder She Wrote' with Susan.
Called Karen H. to find out the cookbook cover that Cindy gave to Jonathan. It was full of healthy recipes. I found a used one on Amazon and also ordered the Building a House book that he got for Christmas. She had a good time on Tuesday making donuts with her nieces and nephews. I'm so glad she does this. Makes me want to get back to having sleepovers with Serena, Abigale, and Micah. Haven't done that for half a year and we were trying to do it every 3 months.
Thurs.-Got up early and organized my plan of Bible Study and Memory work for 2016. Someone messaged me on Facebook and thanked me for the postings I've put on FB and invited me to their prayer meeting at the Methodist Church in Appomattox. They meet there and pray for their children.
Met with Lindsay over the phone and we planned our on-line Book Club. Nathan came over for a few hours while his mommy cleaned their house for company. Michael and Elizabeth P. are stopping in overnight on their way to a wedding. N loves electronics and balls. He can whip a ball in the right direction with either hand. He hung on to me when it was time to leave and his mommy is smart enough to be glad he likes to be here. Phil and I watched a mystery or two or three or four, actually, before going to bed and we didn't actually see the new year in neither did it occur to us to do so. Philip had a party at his house and Michael and Jessica were there. Susan worked and then spent the night in town with a friend.
Fri.-Happy New Year's Day. I wanted to find a word for the year. Last year I think my word was Simplify. Today, I read something that I want for this year. It's in John 12:21. "...we would see Jesus." Well, we had a nice surprise this morning. Jessica is wearing a ring! She and Michael went over to Philip's to bring in the New Year with some friends and Jessica fell asleep a little before midnight and Michael told her he'd wake her up to bring in the NY. Camera's were rolling when he woke her up and he said something like, "Jessica, do you know what my New Year's resolution is? I want to marry you. Jessica, will you marry me?" And she said, "Yes," and the rest of the day has been somewhat of a dream. News travels fast these days and as soon as immediate family and grandparents knew, it went on face book. What a happy day. (Hold April 9th unless you hear otherwise.)
Sat.-Cleaned the house and watched 'Murder She Wrote' with Phil in eve. Michael bought packing boxes and is seriously cleaning his area over there. Susan had a sleepover with Molly, Mary, Claire, and Jodi, last eve. They came over and made pancakes and left late morning. Susan cleaned her room-we are all decluttering-and later, she, Michael, and Jessica, went over to Meredith's to play 'The Farming Game' and Uno.
Sun.-Reading the book of John. Preparing for 21 day corporate church fast beginning tomorrow. Also starting de-cluttering challenge tomorrow. And ChickLits starts for real tomorrow. It's good today is a day of rest. Gave Jessica her second piano lesson. She learns fast. Barrett came over and Susan and him shot guns and later played Monopoly and Uno. Jessica and I watched 'Shall We Dance?' Michael surprised her with ballroom dancing lessons for Christmas. Now she is even more inspired.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Dec. 21-27, 2015
Mon.-Did wash. Tidied up. Watched all of the Downton Abbey we have with Susan. Fever 100 in eve.
Tues.-Did wash. Watched Murder she wrote with Susan. Wrapped Hertzler and Diffenbach gifts. Made more caramel corn for Hertzler Christmas and caroling.
Wed.-Packed, tidied up, watched some Jessica Fletcher with Susan, went to see Dr. F. and got some alternative meds for lungs and throat, watched more JBFletcher with Phil. Michael, Susan, Philip, Jessica, Erik, April, Chace, and I am not sure who all, went to see Star Wars tonight after dinner at Macado's. It's been raining all day. Tomorrow, we'll start to use the leftover lumber around here to start building an ark.
Thurs.-Packed and cleaned and set off for Pa around 1:00. Unloaded at Joe's and changed a little and met the others right up the road and joined our family and friend's for our annual Christmas caroling in the neighborhood. It was great to see my nieces, nephews, in-laws, Boyers, Laws, and all of the people we sang with and for. We gathered back at Jim and Debra's for food, fun, and fellowship.
Fri.-Merry Christmas! Had a nice breakfast with Joe, Karen, and Jonathan. All of us are staying at their place including Jess, who shared the double bed with Susan. Apparently she checks people's faces while she sleeps to see if they have a fever. She fit right in with everything and everybody. We had lunch at Mom and Dad's. They can still get most of us in there. Usually one family is missing. I'm not sure what they'd do if we were all there at once. After lunch we enjoyed some time out in the warm sunshine. Philip reminded me of his Uncle Johnny. He ran around with a little cousin on his back and played tag with the rest of his cousins. Nathan enjoyed the bridge and the fish, Jackson the dog, and his little cousin and a half, Lydia. What a sweetheart she is. She banged her head and cried and Nathan ran into the house to tell his daddy all about it. He was holding his head and crying a little and communicated that he was feeling sorry for her. After we were outside for probably an hour, we went back in and read the Christmas story and sang songs. But first, we exchanged gifts. Later, Janelle and I walked back up to the field beyond the woods and talked and caught up. In the evening, the kids played board games and the grown ups sat around and talked and we all ate leftovers. I got to visit with Shirley, Debra's mother, for a little while, and that was one of my highlights of Christmas. What a wonderful family is this family. I love them all and appreciate the heritage they've preserved and passed on.
Sat.-Had a yummy breakfast casserole handmade by Karen. Michael, Susan, Jessica, and I, went to BB's and the thrift store. They went to Grandma's for a lunch of leftovers. Phil had a good time visiting with his brother Paul several times this weekend. He and Joe caught up too, when Joe was in from work. In the afternoon, I got a mac and cheese casserole ready for tomorrow and did a load of wash. Jonathan came over with Phil and I to visit his parents and around 4 we Diffenbach's left for my brother Abe's house for our family gathering. It took us awhile to get there because there were so many Amish buggies on the back roads. We had a great family time together, eating, talking, singing, playing Mafia, etc. Jessica loved her time there too. On the way to Elverson on Thursday, we had dropped off a quart of fresh oysters and our corn. Abie made oyster filling. Everything was wonderful. My niece, Kelly, and her husband Armand, and her children, Noah and Gracie were there too. She sat beside me at the adult table catching up. We got 'home' soon after 10.
Sun.-Nice leisurely Sunday morning. Church at 10. Worship was wonderful. You could hear the people singing around you. So many dear friends were happy to see us. After church, we had the Mast Reunion. Uncle Allen was there. We sat with family and friends and ate, talked, and sang. Dennis Mast was there, too. Phil was so happy to see him since we just missed the Christmas caroling at their place. Jessica felt so at home. For all of us, really, it was just a wonderful Christmas weekend. I love my nieces and nephews. And Phil's family and my family show their love in different ways but there IS love all around and we are rich and grateful. We headed home around 4 and got home around 9:40. Susan drove the last mile. She had a great Christmas too. Happy Birthday Dear Lord Jesus. We're so glad you were born.
Tues.-Did wash. Watched Murder she wrote with Susan. Wrapped Hertzler and Diffenbach gifts. Made more caramel corn for Hertzler Christmas and caroling.
Wed.-Packed, tidied up, watched some Jessica Fletcher with Susan, went to see Dr. F. and got some alternative meds for lungs and throat, watched more JBFletcher with Phil. Michael, Susan, Philip, Jessica, Erik, April, Chace, and I am not sure who all, went to see Star Wars tonight after dinner at Macado's. It's been raining all day. Tomorrow, we'll start to use the leftover lumber around here to start building an ark.
Thurs.-Packed and cleaned and set off for Pa around 1:00. Unloaded at Joe's and changed a little and met the others right up the road and joined our family and friend's for our annual Christmas caroling in the neighborhood. It was great to see my nieces, nephews, in-laws, Boyers, Laws, and all of the people we sang with and for. We gathered back at Jim and Debra's for food, fun, and fellowship.
Fri.-Merry Christmas! Had a nice breakfast with Joe, Karen, and Jonathan. All of us are staying at their place including Jess, who shared the double bed with Susan. Apparently she checks people's faces while she sleeps to see if they have a fever. She fit right in with everything and everybody. We had lunch at Mom and Dad's. They can still get most of us in there. Usually one family is missing. I'm not sure what they'd do if we were all there at once. After lunch we enjoyed some time out in the warm sunshine. Philip reminded me of his Uncle Johnny. He ran around with a little cousin on his back and played tag with the rest of his cousins. Nathan enjoyed the bridge and the fish, Jackson the dog, and his little cousin and a half, Lydia. What a sweetheart she is. She banged her head and cried and Nathan ran into the house to tell his daddy all about it. He was holding his head and crying a little and communicated that he was feeling sorry for her. After we were outside for probably an hour, we went back in and read the Christmas story and sang songs. But first, we exchanged gifts. Later, Janelle and I walked back up to the field beyond the woods and talked and caught up. In the evening, the kids played board games and the grown ups sat around and talked and we all ate leftovers. I got to visit with Shirley, Debra's mother, for a little while, and that was one of my highlights of Christmas. What a wonderful family is this family. I love them all and appreciate the heritage they've preserved and passed on.
Sat.-Had a yummy breakfast casserole handmade by Karen. Michael, Susan, Jessica, and I, went to BB's and the thrift store. They went to Grandma's for a lunch of leftovers. Phil had a good time visiting with his brother Paul several times this weekend. He and Joe caught up too, when Joe was in from work. In the afternoon, I got a mac and cheese casserole ready for tomorrow and did a load of wash. Jonathan came over with Phil and I to visit his parents and around 4 we Diffenbach's left for my brother Abe's house for our family gathering. It took us awhile to get there because there were so many Amish buggies on the back roads. We had a great family time together, eating, talking, singing, playing Mafia, etc. Jessica loved her time there too. On the way to Elverson on Thursday, we had dropped off a quart of fresh oysters and our corn. Abie made oyster filling. Everything was wonderful. My niece, Kelly, and her husband Armand, and her children, Noah and Gracie were there too. She sat beside me at the adult table catching up. We got 'home' soon after 10.
Sun.-Nice leisurely Sunday morning. Church at 10. Worship was wonderful. You could hear the people singing around you. So many dear friends were happy to see us. After church, we had the Mast Reunion. Uncle Allen was there. We sat with family and friends and ate, talked, and sang. Dennis Mast was there, too. Phil was so happy to see him since we just missed the Christmas caroling at their place. Jessica felt so at home. For all of us, really, it was just a wonderful Christmas weekend. I love my nieces and nephews. And Phil's family and my family show their love in different ways but there IS love all around and we are rich and grateful. We headed home around 4 and got home around 9:40. Susan drove the last mile. She had a great Christmas too. Happy Birthday Dear Lord Jesus. We're so glad you were born.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Dec. 14-20, 2015
Mon.-Ran lots of errands in Farmville from noon on and didn't get home until 8:30. Got my hair cut, visited Judy, Ginger, Jessica. Ran into Jenny at Uptown. Went to Walmart, Cato, Tractor Supply, and I forget what all.
Tues.-Busy day tidying up, making veggie burger mix, pretzels with wafers and M&M's, watching Monk with Michael. Alli and Nathan came over in the afternoon and we enjoyed riding the gator in this beautiful weather.
Wed.-Made some peppermint marshmallow candy and caramel corn. Watched a movie with Susan in the afternoon. In the eve. Phil, Susan, and I watched some Downton Abbey. Sent Susan a text while she was at the gym and asked her to tell me when she was coming home so I could turn down the music and put some clothes on. She said she burst out laughing and people looked at her in the gym like she wasn't quite right. She bought me a beautiful bulb in a vase whose flower will be white. She said she wants to buy me flowers all the time.
Thurs.-Ran out to Appomattox to pick up our Christmas ham gifted from Jamerson. Also picked up my note cards at the print shop and went to Walmart and Kroger. Gil and Lindsay and their kiddos came around 1 and we had a wonderful day together, talking, eating, drawing, exchanging gifts, etc. Susan got to share with them about her upcoming adventure. Adi sat on her lap playing with her new puzzle game for a nice long time. Emma cut out pastry with cookie cutters and we put them on top of the turkey potpie. Emma snuggled with Philip on the sofa and also pretended she was Mary and held baby Jesus. Adi and I enjoyed drawing together. Freeman got to visit them for a little while but Alli and Nathan didn't get to see them yet due to head colds. Jessica came over in the eve. and got to meet them and spent some quality time with Linds. When they are here, it's like they've never left. What a wonderful family we have.
Fri.-Went to Appomattox with Susan and Bantons and had fun shopping in the little shops. A quote I want to remember:"John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach, says you aren't a failure until you start to blame. What he means is that you can still be in the process of learning from your mistakes until you deny them. " From the book, Mindset, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. 'An Essential Read for parents, teachers, and coaches. ' Went to staff party tonight at New Life.Gil and Lindsay visited Jamie and Ginger and boys and the Atkinsons.
Sat.-Phil and I both have what the others had this past week. Some kind of sore throat head cold thing. I'm writing this a few days late and I forget what we did today. It was nice to be with Gil, Lindsay, Emma, Adi, and Ben. We made some peppermint marshmallows. The family party was held over at Philip's since Phil and I felt sick.
Sun.-Phil went to church. I stayed home. The Banton's stopped in to say good bye before they left. Pastor Bill and Jenny took them out for lunch after church. Had our family Christmas at 4. It was wonderful to have Jessica with us. It was a giving Christmas. I started to list special gifts but was concerned that I'd forget someone. We read a Christmas story and Luke 2. We sang carols. Exchanged gifts. Had a simple supper. And played the Farming Game. It was a wonderful day.
Tues.-Busy day tidying up, making veggie burger mix, pretzels with wafers and M&M's, watching Monk with Michael. Alli and Nathan came over in the afternoon and we enjoyed riding the gator in this beautiful weather.
Wed.-Made some peppermint marshmallow candy and caramel corn. Watched a movie with Susan in the afternoon. In the eve. Phil, Susan, and I watched some Downton Abbey. Sent Susan a text while she was at the gym and asked her to tell me when she was coming home so I could turn down the music and put some clothes on. She said she burst out laughing and people looked at her in the gym like she wasn't quite right. She bought me a beautiful bulb in a vase whose flower will be white. She said she wants to buy me flowers all the time.
Thurs.-Ran out to Appomattox to pick up our Christmas ham gifted from Jamerson. Also picked up my note cards at the print shop and went to Walmart and Kroger. Gil and Lindsay and their kiddos came around 1 and we had a wonderful day together, talking, eating, drawing, exchanging gifts, etc. Susan got to share with them about her upcoming adventure. Adi sat on her lap playing with her new puzzle game for a nice long time. Emma cut out pastry with cookie cutters and we put them on top of the turkey potpie. Emma snuggled with Philip on the sofa and also pretended she was Mary and held baby Jesus. Adi and I enjoyed drawing together. Freeman got to visit them for a little while but Alli and Nathan didn't get to see them yet due to head colds. Jessica came over in the eve. and got to meet them and spent some quality time with Linds. When they are here, it's like they've never left. What a wonderful family we have.
Fri.-Went to Appomattox with Susan and Bantons and had fun shopping in the little shops. A quote I want to remember:"John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach, says you aren't a failure until you start to blame. What he means is that you can still be in the process of learning from your mistakes until you deny them. " From the book, Mindset, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. 'An Essential Read for parents, teachers, and coaches. ' Went to staff party tonight at New Life.Gil and Lindsay visited Jamie and Ginger and boys and the Atkinsons.
Sat.-Phil and I both have what the others had this past week. Some kind of sore throat head cold thing. I'm writing this a few days late and I forget what we did today. It was nice to be with Gil, Lindsay, Emma, Adi, and Ben. We made some peppermint marshmallows. The family party was held over at Philip's since Phil and I felt sick.
Sun.-Phil went to church. I stayed home. The Banton's stopped in to say good bye before they left. Pastor Bill and Jenny took them out for lunch after church. Had our family Christmas at 4. It was wonderful to have Jessica with us. It was a giving Christmas. I started to list special gifts but was concerned that I'd forget someone. We read a Christmas story and Luke 2. We sang carols. Exchanged gifts. Had a simple supper. And played the Farming Game. It was a wonderful day.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Dec. 7-13, 2015
Mon.-Stayed with Nathan and his house while his mommy ran errands so that someone would be there if a package came and a signature needed to be had. Watched the new Cinderella with Susan-"Have Courage and Be Kind," and "I forgive you," were two of the concepts that makes this movie powerful. Watched more Downton Abbey with Phil and in between the noon show and evening show, I cleaned up clutter areas like crazy. Susan helped coach New Life Lion's. They won!
Tues.-Cleaned hard in our bedroom and back room and found the dead mouse that was making its' presence known. Alli and Nathan came over for a walk. He wanted to ride with Phil in the tractor. He likes big machinery.
Wed.-Went out to Appomattox and caught up with Lisa at Granny Bee's, bought a flowy vest at B&L's, browsed Country Charm and Baines, picked up my notecards and cookbooks at the print shop, bought two shirts at The Little Things in Life, found some great buys at Salvation Army, got some dog food and chicken feed at Southern States, went to Walmart, Peebles, and Kroger. Came home, put things away, wrapped gifts, and when Jessica came to drop off some things for Michael who was in bed since 6 and not feeling well, we sat up and visited until after 11. I love that girl.
Thurs.-I had my Christmas moment today. It lasted for a long time. Lindsay called, asked if I had a few minutes, put her phone on speaker, and she and the girls and I shared in their devotional time. They sang all of the verses of "Be Thou My Vision", Adi read Ps. 103:1-6,7, and then they sang "O Come all Ye Faithful." It was so beautiful and overwhelming to hear the girls singing. I sang with them when I could and the rest of the time I was weeping and feeling like a billionaire. What a gift. One of the best Christmas gifts ever. It gives me great joy to hear the truths they are being taught and to hear how well they can sing and read. But most of all, I felt the love. The love of God and the love of Lindsay, Emma, and Adi.
I worked on another area of my bedroom, did wash, and watched Nathan so Alli could get ready for her party. Nathan and I drove the gator over to Happy Valley. He's trying to help me drive now. He wanted to sleep on the floor at home but he just couldn't knock himself out, although he tried, as he rolled from side to side on the red soft blanket Lindsay gave me one year and the cream colored one that Jenny gave me last year. Later, when I went to Alli's party, I suddenly felt sick in my stomach and had to leave. I went right to bed and slept until late the next morning.
Fri.-Rested much today and then went to Peter and Ivona's for their annual work related Christmas party. Kendra C. was there and it was nice to be with her. She helped Ivona with setting up, serving, and clean up, so Ivona could sit down and enjoy the company. We each received take home containers with the food they served generously heaped inside and they sent home a homemade round loaf of hard chewy crusted bread as well. Susan worked today and then helped coach the basketball team. They lost by one point. Nathan pointed at Baby Jesus in the bread bowl, said something, and ran and hid behind a chair in the dining room. I may have to put Him away.
Sat.-Michael and Jessica left early this morning to head to Pa to pick up fruit baskets from Weaver's Orchard and to stop in to see family. It will be nice for Jessica to meet some of the family before Christmas. They'll be back tonight. Took the truck.
Sun.-After church, Phil and I drove to the Abbey in Richmond and delivered a fruit basket to the monks and some apple cider for Brother Nolte. I went out to the Women's Chai Time Christmas party at Uptown in the eve and had a blast.
Tues.-Cleaned hard in our bedroom and back room and found the dead mouse that was making its' presence known. Alli and Nathan came over for a walk. He wanted to ride with Phil in the tractor. He likes big machinery.
Wed.-Went out to Appomattox and caught up with Lisa at Granny Bee's, bought a flowy vest at B&L's, browsed Country Charm and Baines, picked up my notecards and cookbooks at the print shop, bought two shirts at The Little Things in Life, found some great buys at Salvation Army, got some dog food and chicken feed at Southern States, went to Walmart, Peebles, and Kroger. Came home, put things away, wrapped gifts, and when Jessica came to drop off some things for Michael who was in bed since 6 and not feeling well, we sat up and visited until after 11. I love that girl.
Thurs.-I had my Christmas moment today. It lasted for a long time. Lindsay called, asked if I had a few minutes, put her phone on speaker, and she and the girls and I shared in their devotional time. They sang all of the verses of "Be Thou My Vision", Adi read Ps. 103:1-6,7, and then they sang "O Come all Ye Faithful." It was so beautiful and overwhelming to hear the girls singing. I sang with them when I could and the rest of the time I was weeping and feeling like a billionaire. What a gift. One of the best Christmas gifts ever. It gives me great joy to hear the truths they are being taught and to hear how well they can sing and read. But most of all, I felt the love. The love of God and the love of Lindsay, Emma, and Adi.
I worked on another area of my bedroom, did wash, and watched Nathan so Alli could get ready for her party. Nathan and I drove the gator over to Happy Valley. He's trying to help me drive now. He wanted to sleep on the floor at home but he just couldn't knock himself out, although he tried, as he rolled from side to side on the red soft blanket Lindsay gave me one year and the cream colored one that Jenny gave me last year. Later, when I went to Alli's party, I suddenly felt sick in my stomach and had to leave. I went right to bed and slept until late the next morning.
Fri.-Rested much today and then went to Peter and Ivona's for their annual work related Christmas party. Kendra C. was there and it was nice to be with her. She helped Ivona with setting up, serving, and clean up, so Ivona could sit down and enjoy the company. We each received take home containers with the food they served generously heaped inside and they sent home a homemade round loaf of hard chewy crusted bread as well. Susan worked today and then helped coach the basketball team. They lost by one point. Nathan pointed at Baby Jesus in the bread bowl, said something, and ran and hid behind a chair in the dining room. I may have to put Him away.
Sat.-Michael and Jessica left early this morning to head to Pa to pick up fruit baskets from Weaver's Orchard and to stop in to see family. It will be nice for Jessica to meet some of the family before Christmas. They'll be back tonight. Took the truck.
Sun.-After church, Phil and I drove to the Abbey in Richmond and delivered a fruit basket to the monks and some apple cider for Brother Nolte. I went out to the Women's Chai Time Christmas party at Uptown in the eve and had a blast.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Nov.30-Dec.6, 2015
Mon.-Ran a check out to Lynchburg for Phil and had such fun shopping afterwards and decorating some more in the eve. Watched Downton Abbey with Susan and Phil. Michael, Jessica, Tommy T., and Jordan, went out to Liberty to hear the Christmas Jazz Ensemble. Raining.
Tues.-The nice addition makes everything else look dirty and cluttered in my house so I've been working on cleaning it up. Went over to visit Nathan in the afternoon so Alli could feed the animals since it would be a late night for Freeman. Watched some Downton Abbey in the eve.
Wed.-Cleaned up kitchen a little today and made carrot cake and processed the carrots Roger gave us. Nathan and Alli came over to visit this morning. He was a little jealous when I held baby Jesus. Life size. He laid his little head down on the sofa, broken heartedly, and I quickly put Jesus back in the Kenyan bread bowl where he belongs.
Thurs.-Out in town, getting two slow leaks in tires taken care of at Baileys. Jessica picked me up there and we visited at her work place for awhile. Janelle picked me up and we went walking on High Bridge, had lunch at Uptown, and went shopping at Miller's and the store next to it, got my glasses tweaked, bought bread at Flowers, and ate our pumpkin whoopee pies. I also showed her Carousels and she got several outfits for Micah. After I got my car I went to Walmart and came home and tidied up and got to bed somewhat early but hardly slept. A lot on my mind.
Fri.-Worked with Susan in getting photos to be made into cards sent to the Village Print Shop as well as other photos sent to Walmart through her phone app. Did some cooking and cleaning but first Alli and Nathan visited for an hour. I just can't get enough of him and I just want to eat him up. Ran out to Appomattox to take the final copy of the Family Recipe Cookbook to the print shop. The cookbooks and the cards should be ready next Tues. Went to Walmart to get photos and frames. Unfortunately, the majority of the order didn't come through into their computer. Made some sand tart dough and luscious lemon bars and Susan came home from work and we watched some Downton Abbey. Travis Mast and his wife and child are over at Philip's as are some other friends. Susan joined them after 9 and Jessica is coming back here for the night.
Sat.-Had a fun day making cinnamon rolls, sand tarts, and chocolate covered peanut butter crackers with Susan, Michael, and Jessica. Cleaned up the house later in the day.
Sun.-Kid's Christmas musical during church service. Nathan loved it. He wanted more. Phil and I went out to Chinese and saw Levi Hertzler and his fine parents and grandpa Joe. Came home and watched Downton Abbey all day with Phil and Susan except for when Freeman's came over for a little visit. Susan took really nice pictures of Jessica and Michael over at Happy Valley.
Tues.-The nice addition makes everything else look dirty and cluttered in my house so I've been working on cleaning it up. Went over to visit Nathan in the afternoon so Alli could feed the animals since it would be a late night for Freeman. Watched some Downton Abbey in the eve.
Wed.-Cleaned up kitchen a little today and made carrot cake and processed the carrots Roger gave us. Nathan and Alli came over to visit this morning. He was a little jealous when I held baby Jesus. Life size. He laid his little head down on the sofa, broken heartedly, and I quickly put Jesus back in the Kenyan bread bowl where he belongs.
Thurs.-Out in town, getting two slow leaks in tires taken care of at Baileys. Jessica picked me up there and we visited at her work place for awhile. Janelle picked me up and we went walking on High Bridge, had lunch at Uptown, and went shopping at Miller's and the store next to it, got my glasses tweaked, bought bread at Flowers, and ate our pumpkin whoopee pies. I also showed her Carousels and she got several outfits for Micah. After I got my car I went to Walmart and came home and tidied up and got to bed somewhat early but hardly slept. A lot on my mind.
Fri.-Worked with Susan in getting photos to be made into cards sent to the Village Print Shop as well as other photos sent to Walmart through her phone app. Did some cooking and cleaning but first Alli and Nathan visited for an hour. I just can't get enough of him and I just want to eat him up. Ran out to Appomattox to take the final copy of the Family Recipe Cookbook to the print shop. The cookbooks and the cards should be ready next Tues. Went to Walmart to get photos and frames. Unfortunately, the majority of the order didn't come through into their computer. Made some sand tart dough and luscious lemon bars and Susan came home from work and we watched some Downton Abbey. Travis Mast and his wife and child are over at Philip's as are some other friends. Susan joined them after 9 and Jessica is coming back here for the night.
Sat.-Had a fun day making cinnamon rolls, sand tarts, and chocolate covered peanut butter crackers with Susan, Michael, and Jessica. Cleaned up the house later in the day.
Sun.-Kid's Christmas musical during church service. Nathan loved it. He wanted more. Phil and I went out to Chinese and saw Levi Hertzler and his fine parents and grandpa Joe. Came home and watched Downton Abbey all day with Phil and Susan except for when Freeman's came over for a little visit. Susan took really nice pictures of Jessica and Michael over at Happy Valley.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Nov. 23-29, 2015
Mon.-Had a nice morning with Susan. After she went to work, I wrapped Christmas gifts. Guys got home from Illinois this eve. Phil and Philip each shot a big buck and big doe. Freeman didn't see any to shoot but they all seem really happy. Freeman is being given one of the doe for meat. They are on their way to the butcher now. Michael is making the hearts for lunch meat.
Tues.-Dentist and a long nap from 4 in the afternoon until 6 the next morning.
Wed.-Jessica came over. Susan, her, and I, made some desserts, etc. for Thanksgiving tomorrow. \
Thurs.-Big Thanksgiving Dinner at 6. Our meal-Susan's bacon wrapped turkey, orange jello salad, cheesy carrots, and apple fritter cake. Jessica's green bean casserole, gravy, strawberry pretzel dessert, peanut butter pie, shoo fly pie. Alli's sweet potato casserole and Freeman's pumpkin cheese cake. Philip's mac and cheese. Plus, gourmet mashed potatoes, oyster filling, filling, rolls, cranberry jelly, October butter, sweet corn, glazed carrots, seven layer salad, and broccoli salad. We ate in the new addition and set up the food on two card tables. We went around the table and shared what we were thankful for and we also sang a few songs. It was a lovely evening. Nathan entertained us with a dancing.
Fri.-Put up the manger scenes, decorated a centerpiece for the table, had a nice morning with Susan and Jessica, took Nathan for a gator ride, enjoyed a short visit with Alli, went over to Dianna's and caught up with her and had some of her leftover Thanksgiving dinner and then we went shopping at Belk. Wow, she is a fast shopper and can put things together quickly. Came home and had more leftovers. Lydia B came over and visited with Michael and Jessica. Phil and I watched some Downton Abbey. I'm feeling a little sick in my stomach. (Freeman put some finishing touches in the addition and it was nice to have him around. He makes me laugh and he's very smart. )
Sat.-Phil and I got some greens from O'Briens and I decorated the manger scenes, etc. with evergreens and holly berries. Also put up a dogwood branch tree in a crock with Christmas material inside to hold up the branches and then I hung little red plastic pears on the branches and it is beautiful. Then I went over to Janelle's and watched The Vicar of D-something or other. British Humor. Made soft pretzels with Michael when I got home. He and Jessica were working on something in the dining room and I wasn't allowed in in case I would be able to see what they were doing on the computer.
Sun.-Pastor Alvin and Charity and their family were back and it was so good to see them and be with them. Little Abigale likes the word, "Guh." She smiles. And Hannah helped preach, saying, "Love God. Love People. And love your children and give them lots of food." She came up to me and hugged me and said, "Hello, Miss Annette." I felt so honored that a four year old little preacher girl remembered me. I picked out some toys in the gym for Nathan at the toy give away and then Phil and I had lunch at Macado's with Steve, Dianna, Chris, and Amanda. I put up a little tree and Susan baked a brownie cake that had all kinds of other chocolate inside it. Delicious. We enjoyed some Downton Abbey and Susan went over to Philip's for a Thanksgiving breakfast with some friends.Saw some Banton Christmas photos on face book that were 'flops' but they were winners to me. Maybe sending out the least perfect pictures would be the best of all.
Tues.-Dentist and a long nap from 4 in the afternoon until 6 the next morning.
Wed.-Jessica came over. Susan, her, and I, made some desserts, etc. for Thanksgiving tomorrow. \
Thurs.-Big Thanksgiving Dinner at 6. Our meal-Susan's bacon wrapped turkey, orange jello salad, cheesy carrots, and apple fritter cake. Jessica's green bean casserole, gravy, strawberry pretzel dessert, peanut butter pie, shoo fly pie. Alli's sweet potato casserole and Freeman's pumpkin cheese cake. Philip's mac and cheese. Plus, gourmet mashed potatoes, oyster filling, filling, rolls, cranberry jelly, October butter, sweet corn, glazed carrots, seven layer salad, and broccoli salad. We ate in the new addition and set up the food on two card tables. We went around the table and shared what we were thankful for and we also sang a few songs. It was a lovely evening. Nathan entertained us with a dancing.
Fri.-Put up the manger scenes, decorated a centerpiece for the table, had a nice morning with Susan and Jessica, took Nathan for a gator ride, enjoyed a short visit with Alli, went over to Dianna's and caught up with her and had some of her leftover Thanksgiving dinner and then we went shopping at Belk. Wow, she is a fast shopper and can put things together quickly. Came home and had more leftovers. Lydia B came over and visited with Michael and Jessica. Phil and I watched some Downton Abbey. I'm feeling a little sick in my stomach. (Freeman put some finishing touches in the addition and it was nice to have him around. He makes me laugh and he's very smart. )
Sat.-Phil and I got some greens from O'Briens and I decorated the manger scenes, etc. with evergreens and holly berries. Also put up a dogwood branch tree in a crock with Christmas material inside to hold up the branches and then I hung little red plastic pears on the branches and it is beautiful. Then I went over to Janelle's and watched The Vicar of D-something or other. British Humor. Made soft pretzels with Michael when I got home. He and Jessica were working on something in the dining room and I wasn't allowed in in case I would be able to see what they were doing on the computer.
Sun.-Pastor Alvin and Charity and their family were back and it was so good to see them and be with them. Little Abigale likes the word, "Guh." She smiles. And Hannah helped preach, saying, "Love God. Love People. And love your children and give them lots of food." She came up to me and hugged me and said, "Hello, Miss Annette." I felt so honored that a four year old little preacher girl remembered me. I picked out some toys in the gym for Nathan at the toy give away and then Phil and I had lunch at Macado's with Steve, Dianna, Chris, and Amanda. I put up a little tree and Susan baked a brownie cake that had all kinds of other chocolate inside it. Delicious. We enjoyed some Downton Abbey and Susan went over to Philip's for a Thanksgiving breakfast with some friends.Saw some Banton Christmas photos on face book that were 'flops' but they were winners to me. Maybe sending out the least perfect pictures would be the best of all.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Encountering Jesus
I shared the following at the Women's Encounter at our church this past Saturday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Webster defines 'Encounter' to mean: to meet unexpectedly, to meet in conflict; engage in battle, to face difficulties and trouble.
So we could say that today holds the unexpected. We've all come with some sort of expectation but we are also open to meeting the unexpected or we wouldn't be here.
Old lies we've believed will meet in conflict and will engage in battle with new truth.
We will encounter our difficulties and trouble with the help of God and others.
Most importantly, who we are and where we are today will encounter Jesus and He will invite us to come closer to Him and go deeper with Him and love Him more.
When Jesus walked on this earth 2,000 years ago, people would go out to the desert or up to a mountainside to be with Him, and their sin would encounter His forgiveness. Their sickness would encounter His healing. Their hunger would encounter the little boy's multiplied lunch.
A thousand years is like a day in God's sight. So we could say that it was just two days ago that Jesus walked this earth, relating to the poor in spirit, setting captives free, raising the dead, healing the deaf, blind, and lame, cleansing the temple, and eating and drinking with the outcasts of society.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is within us and beside us. He accepts us completely as we are right now. He is as near to us as He was to those who walked beside Him in the flesh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once upon a time, perhaps this past Thursday, (according to our new time table), Jesus cleansed the temple. Merchants were selling sacrificial animals for a large profit right there in the temple courts. Jesus became very angry and He made a whip out of cords tied together and He went whipping about, scaring the merchants, releasing their captive animals, overturning tables, shouting, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!"
The sellers gathered what was left of their goods and dignity and ran helter-skelter from the temple. The disciples remembered the prophecy about the Messiah-that zeal for God's house would consume Him.
Matthew's gospel goes on to say that after the temple was cleansed, the blind and the lame made their way into the temple courts which minutes before had been filled with costly merchandise to purchase in order to have a sacrifice for one's sins and so be made right with God.
These needy ones came to Jesus and filled the temples' emptied courts with their brokenness and the Bible says, "He healed them all."
Zeal for God's house still consumes Jesus.
We are the temple of God, the house of God, corporately and individually. God is overturning tables in our lives-anything of pride, self-righteousness, and the idea that we can do it right on our own and so please God.
He's getting rid of all these things so we can be real; so we can bring that which is blind and lame and broken in us to Jesus, so He can heal us. We come just as we are and He accepts us just as we are and He makes us whole. He doesn't love us any more as He makes us whole. He doesn't love us any less when we see things that are far from perfect in our lives. He knows us. He loves us. He accepts us. This revelation in itself is healing.
Today is all about going along with Jesus' plan to cleanse our temples from pride and self-righteousness so we have room in our temples for what is blind, lame, and in pain in us, so He can heal us.
Don't be afraid. Don't be ashamed. Not one of us is better than the other. We're in this together. He's doing a corporate work and He's doing a personal work also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once upon a time, a few days ago, (according to our new time table), Jesus needed to go through Samaria. He waited at the well to rest while His disciples went into the town market to buy some bread, figs, and dried fish.
A woman met Him at the well and He asked her for a drink of water. He wasn't all give. Sometimes, He was on the receiving end. Here again, He broke several religious rules. For one, He was a Jewish rabbi having an intellectual spiritual discussion with a Samaritan woman. Rabbi's didn't talk to women in public. And, number two, Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. But Jesus loved her and accepted her just as she was. He told her all about herself and invited her to drink of His living water and to worship God in Spirit and in truth.
She was so blessed with her encounter with Jesus that she ran back to the town and overturning her own tables of pride and humiliation, she told the townspeople to come and meet a man who told her everything she ever did. She wasn't ashamed. She was excited! She exchanged the shame of her past for a drink of living water. The townspeople invited Him into their town and He taught them for two days and many more believed in Him because of His words and not just because of the woman's testimony.
I love that He didn't expose her publicly. He revealed her to herself beside a well of real and living water-privately, and He let her tell her story in her own way and time.
Jesus accepted her. Just as she was. And He made her whole. And God used her troubled past to tell a story to a troubled town and many believed in Him.
There is no story that shocks Jesus Christ. No story is too hard for Him. He turns rough stories into Songs of Redemption. Jesus doesn't look around to find the holiest person to go out and tell about Him. He tends to send sinners and those with a list of mistakes to their name to go out and share His message of grace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once upon a time, not that long ago, there was a woman who interrupted Jesus while He was on an urgent mission to heal an important man's daughter. The woman was an outcast in her village. She had suffered with women issues for twelve years and was poor, having spent all her money on doctors who were unable to cure her.
She didn't hang in the shadows this time. She was not too polite with Jesus. She put herself first, saying, "If I but touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed." She pressed in and pushed her way through and did just what she said she would do. Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched Me?"
"What do you mean," the disciples asked. "There are people swarming all around you! Everyone's touching You!"
"Someone touched Me for a special reason. I felt healing virtue (goodness) leave My body."
The woman realized that she had been found out so she told Him her story and He was so kind and dear to her saying, "Your faith has healed you. Go in peace. Be happy. Be whole."
And she was. And twelve years of difficulty were forgotten just like that.
Jesus does not run out of who He is and what He does. Healing this precious woman did not take away healing from Jarius' twelve year old daughter whom He was on His way to heal.
Let's not be too polite with Jesus.
Let's push through the crowd.
Let's lay hold of Him.
Today is our day to say what we want from Him.
Today I hope He feels healing virtue leave His body and I hope we hear Him say, "Your faith has healed you. Go in peace. Be happy. Be whole."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a few days ago, (according to our new time table), Mary Magdelene was weeping outside of The empty tomb. A man came to her asked, "Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?"
She sobbed out her loss and then He said, "Mary."
And she recognized Jesus by the way He said her name and the fact that He knew her name.
And tenderly, He comes to us, outside our tomb of loss and pain and gently asks, "Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?" And as we weep out our answer, He says our name. "Annette." "Jessica." "Alli." He says YOUR name.
He cares about what makes us cry and He reveals Himself to us through our tears so we can see His precious face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was it just a few days ago that Mary and Martha's brother died?
Jesus loved Lazarus but He didn't come when the girls sent word that he was sick.
Jesus showed up too late to heal His friend. By the time He showed up Lazarus had already been buried for four days.
Mary and Martha expressed their bitter disappointment, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, Lazarus would not have died!" Jesus said, "If you believe in Me, you shall see the salvation of God!"
And they expressed belief that He was indeed the Resurrection and the life and that Lazarus would be raised to life some day.
I love how He was not disappointed with them because they expressed disappointment in Him.
Terrible things happen and we cry, "Lord, if you had been here, this would not have happened!"
And He doesn't turn His back on us because we've expressed our disappointment in Him. He doesn't change what He's going to do because we don't quite believe or we can't see that He has a bigger picture in mind. He stands outside our Lazarus grave with us, where we've buried our lost hopes, dreams, and loved ones, and He weeps with us.
He calls our name and shouts, "Come forth!" and like Mary and Martha we cry, "But it's been too long since there's been life. Surely there will be an unbearable stench!"
But, with Lazarus, we come out of the tomb, needing the help of others to unravel the grave clothes that bind us, and glory be, there is no stench! For like Lazarus, we have been made whole!
"Did I not tell you," He says with love in His voice. "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the salvation of God?"
They didn't believe they would see their brother again in this world. Some day, but not today. And He raised Lazarus anyway, in spite of their limited belief. He loved and accepted them and received the faith they did have and met them there and took them deeper in.
And so it is that sometimes, He wants to do more than heal us.
He wants to call forth that which has already died in us,
and surprise us with a Resurrection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are the temple of God, ready to be cleansed, so that which is blind and lame and deaf
in us can be healed.
We are the Samaritan Woman at the well, waiting to hear Him tell us all about ourselves;
ready to drink from His living water and never thirst again.
Ready for our past shame to be a Redeemed story that will set other's free.
Ready to be more aware of His grace than we are of our sin.
We are the woman with the embarrassing personal issue,
insistently pushing through the crowd,
just to touch the hem of His garment so we may be healed.
We are Mary Magdelene, weeping so hard we do not recognize Him in our surroundings,
waiting to hear Him say our name, and ask us gently,
"Why do you weep? Whom do you seek?"
We are Mary and Martha, grieving outside our grave of lost hopes and dreams,
ready for Him to take that which is a deadly stench in our lives
and call it forth to New Life and Resurrection.
From the words of Songs of Solomon, God speaks to us, saying,
"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For lo, the winter is past.
The rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come
And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs
and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell.
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock
In the secret place of the cliffs.
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet
And your face lovely.
Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines
For our vines have tender grapes."
'My beloved is mine
And I am His,
His banner over me is love.'
Today, we're going to catch the little foxes that spoil our vineyard and rob our harvest and steal our joy. Today, we'll understand anew that our Beloved is ours and we are His. He has adopted us and we are not abandoned.
Today, we will encounter Jesus in a deeper way. We will let Him see our face and hear our voice for our face is lovely to Him and our voice sweet.
He will touch what is wounded within us and gently ask, "Do you want to be well?"
He will make clay out of His blessed spit and mix it with the dust of the sweet humanity around us here and place it on our eyes and wash it off with living water and we will see ourselves as He sees us; holy and dearly loved, and oh, so much more.
He will open our ears so we may hear His words of blessing and freedom, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
He will invite us to sit at His table, eating His bread and drinking His wine, receiving His forgiveness, and giving us grace to forgive ourselves and others for the way we've been wronged and betrayed.
He will breathe on our faces with His strong sweet breath and say, "Receive My Holy Spirit. I will be with you always, inside you and beside you, never leaving you or forsaking you. I will never abandon you nor will I abandon the work I've started in you."
So, we need not be afraid. This special weekend to encounter Jesus has come and it will go.
But Jesus is with us always.
Can you imagine what it was like to be John, the disciple, who called himself, 'Beloved.'
When he sat down next to Jesus, he rested his head against Jesus' chest.
We get to do that today and tomorrow and the next day. Forever.
He has a big chest. There's room for us all there.
We are alone with Him there and we are together with Him there.
So lay your head on His chest and hear the heartbeat of God.
Hear His heart cry for you.
Hear His heart's song for you.
"I accept you." Baboom Baboom (heartbeat)
"I love you." Baboom Baboom
"I am with you." Baboom Baboom
"Thank you for loving Me back." Baboom Baboom
"Trust Me. I've got this." Baboom Baboom
"Did you enjoy the sunset?" Baboom Baboom
"You are not alone." Baboom Baboom
"How was lunch?" Baboom Baboom
"How beautiful you are." Baboom Baboom
"Why do you weep?" Baboom Baboom
Baboom Baboom Baboom Baboom
What's He saying to you?
Even when we forget to hear His heartbeat
He holds us near.
His tears drop down
and mingle with ours.
His laughter shakes our being.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Webster defines 'Encounter' to mean: to meet unexpectedly, to meet in conflict; engage in battle, to face difficulties and trouble.
So we could say that today holds the unexpected. We've all come with some sort of expectation but we are also open to meeting the unexpected or we wouldn't be here.
Old lies we've believed will meet in conflict and will engage in battle with new truth.
We will encounter our difficulties and trouble with the help of God and others.
Most importantly, who we are and where we are today will encounter Jesus and He will invite us to come closer to Him and go deeper with Him and love Him more.
When Jesus walked on this earth 2,000 years ago, people would go out to the desert or up to a mountainside to be with Him, and their sin would encounter His forgiveness. Their sickness would encounter His healing. Their hunger would encounter the little boy's multiplied lunch.
A thousand years is like a day in God's sight. So we could say that it was just two days ago that Jesus walked this earth, relating to the poor in spirit, setting captives free, raising the dead, healing the deaf, blind, and lame, cleansing the temple, and eating and drinking with the outcasts of society.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is within us and beside us. He accepts us completely as we are right now. He is as near to us as He was to those who walked beside Him in the flesh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once upon a time, perhaps this past Thursday, (according to our new time table), Jesus cleansed the temple. Merchants were selling sacrificial animals for a large profit right there in the temple courts. Jesus became very angry and He made a whip out of cords tied together and He went whipping about, scaring the merchants, releasing their captive animals, overturning tables, shouting, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!"
The sellers gathered what was left of their goods and dignity and ran helter-skelter from the temple. The disciples remembered the prophecy about the Messiah-that zeal for God's house would consume Him.
Matthew's gospel goes on to say that after the temple was cleansed, the blind and the lame made their way into the temple courts which minutes before had been filled with costly merchandise to purchase in order to have a sacrifice for one's sins and so be made right with God.
These needy ones came to Jesus and filled the temples' emptied courts with their brokenness and the Bible says, "He healed them all."
Zeal for God's house still consumes Jesus.
We are the temple of God, the house of God, corporately and individually. God is overturning tables in our lives-anything of pride, self-righteousness, and the idea that we can do it right on our own and so please God.
He's getting rid of all these things so we can be real; so we can bring that which is blind and lame and broken in us to Jesus, so He can heal us. We come just as we are and He accepts us just as we are and He makes us whole. He doesn't love us any more as He makes us whole. He doesn't love us any less when we see things that are far from perfect in our lives. He knows us. He loves us. He accepts us. This revelation in itself is healing.
Today is all about going along with Jesus' plan to cleanse our temples from pride and self-righteousness so we have room in our temples for what is blind, lame, and in pain in us, so He can heal us.
Don't be afraid. Don't be ashamed. Not one of us is better than the other. We're in this together. He's doing a corporate work and He's doing a personal work also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once upon a time, a few days ago, (according to our new time table), Jesus needed to go through Samaria. He waited at the well to rest while His disciples went into the town market to buy some bread, figs, and dried fish.
A woman met Him at the well and He asked her for a drink of water. He wasn't all give. Sometimes, He was on the receiving end. Here again, He broke several religious rules. For one, He was a Jewish rabbi having an intellectual spiritual discussion with a Samaritan woman. Rabbi's didn't talk to women in public. And, number two, Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. But Jesus loved her and accepted her just as she was. He told her all about herself and invited her to drink of His living water and to worship God in Spirit and in truth.
She was so blessed with her encounter with Jesus that she ran back to the town and overturning her own tables of pride and humiliation, she told the townspeople to come and meet a man who told her everything she ever did. She wasn't ashamed. She was excited! She exchanged the shame of her past for a drink of living water. The townspeople invited Him into their town and He taught them for two days and many more believed in Him because of His words and not just because of the woman's testimony.
I love that He didn't expose her publicly. He revealed her to herself beside a well of real and living water-privately, and He let her tell her story in her own way and time.
Jesus accepted her. Just as she was. And He made her whole. And God used her troubled past to tell a story to a troubled town and many believed in Him.
There is no story that shocks Jesus Christ. No story is too hard for Him. He turns rough stories into Songs of Redemption. Jesus doesn't look around to find the holiest person to go out and tell about Him. He tends to send sinners and those with a list of mistakes to their name to go out and share His message of grace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once upon a time, not that long ago, there was a woman who interrupted Jesus while He was on an urgent mission to heal an important man's daughter. The woman was an outcast in her village. She had suffered with women issues for twelve years and was poor, having spent all her money on doctors who were unable to cure her.
She didn't hang in the shadows this time. She was not too polite with Jesus. She put herself first, saying, "If I but touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed." She pressed in and pushed her way through and did just what she said she would do. Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched Me?"
"What do you mean," the disciples asked. "There are people swarming all around you! Everyone's touching You!"
"Someone touched Me for a special reason. I felt healing virtue (goodness) leave My body."
The woman realized that she had been found out so she told Him her story and He was so kind and dear to her saying, "Your faith has healed you. Go in peace. Be happy. Be whole."
And she was. And twelve years of difficulty were forgotten just like that.
Jesus does not run out of who He is and what He does. Healing this precious woman did not take away healing from Jarius' twelve year old daughter whom He was on His way to heal.
Let's not be too polite with Jesus.
Let's push through the crowd.
Let's lay hold of Him.
Today is our day to say what we want from Him.
Today I hope He feels healing virtue leave His body and I hope we hear Him say, "Your faith has healed you. Go in peace. Be happy. Be whole."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a few days ago, (according to our new time table), Mary Magdelene was weeping outside of The empty tomb. A man came to her asked, "Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?"
She sobbed out her loss and then He said, "Mary."
And she recognized Jesus by the way He said her name and the fact that He knew her name.
And tenderly, He comes to us, outside our tomb of loss and pain and gently asks, "Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?" And as we weep out our answer, He says our name. "Annette." "Jessica." "Alli." He says YOUR name.
He cares about what makes us cry and He reveals Himself to us through our tears so we can see His precious face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was it just a few days ago that Mary and Martha's brother died?
Jesus loved Lazarus but He didn't come when the girls sent word that he was sick.
Jesus showed up too late to heal His friend. By the time He showed up Lazarus had already been buried for four days.
Mary and Martha expressed their bitter disappointment, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, Lazarus would not have died!" Jesus said, "If you believe in Me, you shall see the salvation of God!"
And they expressed belief that He was indeed the Resurrection and the life and that Lazarus would be raised to life some day.
I love how He was not disappointed with them because they expressed disappointment in Him.
Terrible things happen and we cry, "Lord, if you had been here, this would not have happened!"
And He doesn't turn His back on us because we've expressed our disappointment in Him. He doesn't change what He's going to do because we don't quite believe or we can't see that He has a bigger picture in mind. He stands outside our Lazarus grave with us, where we've buried our lost hopes, dreams, and loved ones, and He weeps with us.
He calls our name and shouts, "Come forth!" and like Mary and Martha we cry, "But it's been too long since there's been life. Surely there will be an unbearable stench!"
But, with Lazarus, we come out of the tomb, needing the help of others to unravel the grave clothes that bind us, and glory be, there is no stench! For like Lazarus, we have been made whole!
"Did I not tell you," He says with love in His voice. "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the salvation of God?"
They didn't believe they would see their brother again in this world. Some day, but not today. And He raised Lazarus anyway, in spite of their limited belief. He loved and accepted them and received the faith they did have and met them there and took them deeper in.
And so it is that sometimes, He wants to do more than heal us.
He wants to call forth that which has already died in us,
and surprise us with a Resurrection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are the temple of God, ready to be cleansed, so that which is blind and lame and deaf
in us can be healed.
We are the Samaritan Woman at the well, waiting to hear Him tell us all about ourselves;
ready to drink from His living water and never thirst again.
Ready for our past shame to be a Redeemed story that will set other's free.
Ready to be more aware of His grace than we are of our sin.
We are the woman with the embarrassing personal issue,
insistently pushing through the crowd,
just to touch the hem of His garment so we may be healed.
We are Mary Magdelene, weeping so hard we do not recognize Him in our surroundings,
waiting to hear Him say our name, and ask us gently,
"Why do you weep? Whom do you seek?"
We are Mary and Martha, grieving outside our grave of lost hopes and dreams,
ready for Him to take that which is a deadly stench in our lives
and call it forth to New Life and Resurrection.
From the words of Songs of Solomon, God speaks to us, saying,
"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For lo, the winter is past.
The rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come
And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs
and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell.
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock
In the secret place of the cliffs.
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet
And your face lovely.
Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines
For our vines have tender grapes."
'My beloved is mine
And I am His,
His banner over me is love.'
Today, we're going to catch the little foxes that spoil our vineyard and rob our harvest and steal our joy. Today, we'll understand anew that our Beloved is ours and we are His. He has adopted us and we are not abandoned.
Today, we will encounter Jesus in a deeper way. We will let Him see our face and hear our voice for our face is lovely to Him and our voice sweet.
He will touch what is wounded within us and gently ask, "Do you want to be well?"
He will make clay out of His blessed spit and mix it with the dust of the sweet humanity around us here and place it on our eyes and wash it off with living water and we will see ourselves as He sees us; holy and dearly loved, and oh, so much more.
He will open our ears so we may hear His words of blessing and freedom, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
He will invite us to sit at His table, eating His bread and drinking His wine, receiving His forgiveness, and giving us grace to forgive ourselves and others for the way we've been wronged and betrayed.
He will breathe on our faces with His strong sweet breath and say, "Receive My Holy Spirit. I will be with you always, inside you and beside you, never leaving you or forsaking you. I will never abandon you nor will I abandon the work I've started in you."
So, we need not be afraid. This special weekend to encounter Jesus has come and it will go.
But Jesus is with us always.
Can you imagine what it was like to be John, the disciple, who called himself, 'Beloved.'
When he sat down next to Jesus, he rested his head against Jesus' chest.
We get to do that today and tomorrow and the next day. Forever.
He has a big chest. There's room for us all there.
We are alone with Him there and we are together with Him there.
So lay your head on His chest and hear the heartbeat of God.
Hear His heart cry for you.
Hear His heart's song for you.
"I accept you." Baboom Baboom (heartbeat)
"I love you." Baboom Baboom
"I am with you." Baboom Baboom
"Thank you for loving Me back." Baboom Baboom
"Trust Me. I've got this." Baboom Baboom
"Did you enjoy the sunset?" Baboom Baboom
"You are not alone." Baboom Baboom
"How was lunch?" Baboom Baboom
"How beautiful you are." Baboom Baboom
"Why do you weep?" Baboom Baboom
Baboom Baboom Baboom Baboom
What's He saying to you?
Even when we forget to hear His heartbeat
He holds us near.
His tears drop down
and mingle with ours.
His laughter shakes our being.
Hertzler Doings~Nov. 16-22, 2015
Mon.-Catching up. Resting. Watching Downton Abbey with Susan. Out to Appomattox for groceries and coffee with a friend.
Tues.-Made some things to get ready for Thanksgiving since I'll be sleeping for a half a day next Tuesday since I'll be going to the dentist which reminds me, I need to get someone to take me. I made mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, and crescent rolls and froze them. I froze the rolls before they rose so that when they thaw, they can rise for baking. I made some cranberry jam. I cooked cranberries and threw in some sugar and then added a pack of cherry jelly and it is so good. I mixed it with cream cheese and have been eating it with crackers. I froze two containers and will use it for the rolls on thanksgiving or for a side. I read this wonderful idea that you should take sour dough bread, spread brie and cranberry jam on it, add turkey slices, and toast it like you would toasted cheese. I am looking forward to the day after Thanksgiving. I also cooked a bag of beets and skinned them. And made two bear roasts. I typed up the notes from Encounter because people were asking for a copy. Phil and Susan went out to the Babcock House for lunch. I didn't see Nathan and Alli yesterday or today but I will tomorrow, Thursday, and Saturday. At least those are our plans.
Wed.-Had a nice morning with Susan and a nice afternoon/eve with Alli and Nathan. I made a Christmas gift for Nathan today. It will be a pillow bed once I get four pillows. I bought material and sewed it in such a way that four pillows can fit into it. It has John Deere tractors all over it and I got it at Joanna in Sarasota, Fl. It was 40% off and the material is nice and soft. The way it showed it online was to sew four pillowcases together. Susan asked if I'd make a really big one using body pillows since she and Philip usually end up on the floor on blankets when we watch movies. Caught up with Lindsay a little today. I could just keep the phone on and talk with her all day if it were possible. Some day, there will be something invented and we'll be able to watch a large screen and see what each other is doing and talk with each other whenever we want. I'll be able to watch her homeschool and she'll be able to watch me watch Downton Abbey. Oh, the joys. I think I will start the Narnia Series again. It must be close to winter. I read it every year. I went out to Lowe's before 8 today and got 3 gallons of paint and 2 of primer so Robert can paint tomorrow. Which makes me realize that maybe Gina and her three boys and Alli and Nathan and I might have to come up with plan B.
Thurs.-Gina and her three boys came over for several hours. Alli and Nathan came over. N didn't know what to do when I held the baby. He was broken hearted. But he did really well all in all and the little boys were nice to him. After N went home the sun came out and we went for a gator ride. I held Lucas, 4 months old, and Gina held her twin 20 month old boys, Wade and Mason. She is such a good mama.
Fri.-Fun morning with Susan. We caught up a little and she made up my eyes and then got ready for her weekend away. I cleaned the house, did wash, and went to Adrienne's home. Ashley and Elizabeth came over and we made cinnamon rolls and donuts. Farmville had it's first tree lighting tonight. Had a great time with these sweet girls who love Jesus and are going places with Him.
Sat.-Jessica came over and I showed her how to make napkin plates. Susan had a good time at the VMI ring ceremony and ball last evening and today she is going to their football game. (AB) Phil and Philip both shot a nice big buck in Illinois and Philip also shot a doe. Michaels been working on cleaning up the man cave.
Sun.-Am enjoying the marriage class with Bob and Muryl. Pastor Bill had a really good sermon on gratitude. I had awaken this morning with the thought, "Entitlement and Gratitude stand miles apart. Each begats their own." Did some shopping after church so I wouldn't have to go out tomorrow. A lot of church people go shopping after church. Susan was here when I got home and we caught up some more and then she went hiking with Jody B. I went over to Alli's and watched the new Cinderella movie which is really very good. Nathan was so precious and sometimes he sat with me. I ordered some Christmas gifts from Alli's new business. (Damsel something or other-I can never think of the quip.) Came home and read some of Brennan Manning's Memoir. Dogs were barking like crazy. Restless night. Nearly full moon.
Tues.-Made some things to get ready for Thanksgiving since I'll be sleeping for a half a day next Tuesday since I'll be going to the dentist which reminds me, I need to get someone to take me. I made mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, and crescent rolls and froze them. I froze the rolls before they rose so that when they thaw, they can rise for baking. I made some cranberry jam. I cooked cranberries and threw in some sugar and then added a pack of cherry jelly and it is so good. I mixed it with cream cheese and have been eating it with crackers. I froze two containers and will use it for the rolls on thanksgiving or for a side. I read this wonderful idea that you should take sour dough bread, spread brie and cranberry jam on it, add turkey slices, and toast it like you would toasted cheese. I am looking forward to the day after Thanksgiving. I also cooked a bag of beets and skinned them. And made two bear roasts. I typed up the notes from Encounter because people were asking for a copy. Phil and Susan went out to the Babcock House for lunch. I didn't see Nathan and Alli yesterday or today but I will tomorrow, Thursday, and Saturday. At least those are our plans.
Wed.-Had a nice morning with Susan and a nice afternoon/eve with Alli and Nathan. I made a Christmas gift for Nathan today. It will be a pillow bed once I get four pillows. I bought material and sewed it in such a way that four pillows can fit into it. It has John Deere tractors all over it and I got it at Joanna in Sarasota, Fl. It was 40% off and the material is nice and soft. The way it showed it online was to sew four pillowcases together. Susan asked if I'd make a really big one using body pillows since she and Philip usually end up on the floor on blankets when we watch movies. Caught up with Lindsay a little today. I could just keep the phone on and talk with her all day if it were possible. Some day, there will be something invented and we'll be able to watch a large screen and see what each other is doing and talk with each other whenever we want. I'll be able to watch her homeschool and she'll be able to watch me watch Downton Abbey. Oh, the joys. I think I will start the Narnia Series again. It must be close to winter. I read it every year. I went out to Lowe's before 8 today and got 3 gallons of paint and 2 of primer so Robert can paint tomorrow. Which makes me realize that maybe Gina and her three boys and Alli and Nathan and I might have to come up with plan B.
Thurs.-Gina and her three boys came over for several hours. Alli and Nathan came over. N didn't know what to do when I held the baby. He was broken hearted. But he did really well all in all and the little boys were nice to him. After N went home the sun came out and we went for a gator ride. I held Lucas, 4 months old, and Gina held her twin 20 month old boys, Wade and Mason. She is such a good mama.
Fri.-Fun morning with Susan. We caught up a little and she made up my eyes and then got ready for her weekend away. I cleaned the house, did wash, and went to Adrienne's home. Ashley and Elizabeth came over and we made cinnamon rolls and donuts. Farmville had it's first tree lighting tonight. Had a great time with these sweet girls who love Jesus and are going places with Him.
Sat.-Jessica came over and I showed her how to make napkin plates. Susan had a good time at the VMI ring ceremony and ball last evening and today she is going to their football game. (AB) Phil and Philip both shot a nice big buck in Illinois and Philip also shot a doe. Michaels been working on cleaning up the man cave.
Sun.-Am enjoying the marriage class with Bob and Muryl. Pastor Bill had a really good sermon on gratitude. I had awaken this morning with the thought, "Entitlement and Gratitude stand miles apart. Each begats their own." Did some shopping after church so I wouldn't have to go out tomorrow. A lot of church people go shopping after church. Susan was here when I got home and we caught up some more and then she went hiking with Jody B. I went over to Alli's and watched the new Cinderella movie which is really very good. Nathan was so precious and sometimes he sat with me. I ordered some Christmas gifts from Alli's new business. (Damsel something or other-I can never think of the quip.) Came home and read some of Brennan Manning's Memoir. Dogs were barking like crazy. Restless night. Nearly full moon.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Nov. 9-15, 2015
Mon.-Got some groceries. Made mashed potatoes and apple oatmeal cranberry bars. Made a trifle with Cool whip with the bars and took that and the mashed potatoes to Dianna's for an IF gathering. I think there were 40 women there. We had a huge Thanksgiving meal. And great fun. Even though it was raining cats and dogs. Steve went and got my car for me so Alli and I didn't have to get soaked. We drove carefully on the way home.
Tues.-Catch up day. Working on email, ordering gifts on Amazon and CBD and Melaleuca, blogging, Encounter, etc. Cleaned both bathrooms well. Roger here to work on dining room drywall. Jamie here to give Susan hot water in her shower. Phil cutting holes on floor for heat/air ducts. It's so nice to be getting more room and a new bathroom. It sure is a messy process. Alli and Nathan are coming over and since Corey returned my gator, we'll get to go on a ride. It's not raining any more.
Wed.-Thurs-Busy days with Nathan, Encounter prep, cooking, baking, washing clothes, packing for my overnight with Judy, listening to a very large fan drying out the drywall in the addition. What a beautiful day. I need to get out in it.
Fri-Sun.-Wonderful weekend with Women's Encounter at church and enjoying its' aftermath.
Tues.-Catch up day. Working on email, ordering gifts on Amazon and CBD and Melaleuca, blogging, Encounter, etc. Cleaned both bathrooms well. Roger here to work on dining room drywall. Jamie here to give Susan hot water in her shower. Phil cutting holes on floor for heat/air ducts. It's so nice to be getting more room and a new bathroom. It sure is a messy process. Alli and Nathan are coming over and since Corey returned my gator, we'll get to go on a ride. It's not raining any more.
Wed.-Thurs-Busy days with Nathan, Encounter prep, cooking, baking, washing clothes, packing for my overnight with Judy, listening to a very large fan drying out the drywall in the addition. What a beautiful day. I need to get out in it.
Fri-Sun.-Wonderful weekend with Women's Encounter at church and enjoying its' aftermath.
Hertzler Doings~Nov. 2-8, 2-15
Mon.-Woke up early. Phil took me to Lynchburg Airport. Am spending the week with Naomi at her house in Sarasota. Due to weather, long story short, I missed my connecting flight in NC. Spent 8 hours at the airport but I was able to finish up my session for Encounter. Instead of getting to FL around 11, Naomi picked me up around 7:45 in the evening. I thought of heaven. How we go through all this stuff and then God picks us up and we're at our destination and all of our trials are forgotten because we've finally arrived. Naomi's house is adorable. She is such a great decorator. We each have our own bedroom. I'm going to look at the house next door. It's for sale. Watched my first ever 'Downton Abbey.' Ate muffins and fruit while we watched.
Tues.-Naomi's foot was all bit up from fire ants that attacked her yesterday while she stood innocently on their nest. These are mean buggers. Her foot and ankle are swollen and she's got blisters all over her toes. We went shopping at Target and bought fans, a pillow, sewing tape, etc. Then we went to her cousin Val's shop and ordered the best salad I've ever eaten. We brought it back home with us and watched some more DA. We went to Siesta Key Beach-#1 beach in USA and watched the sunset. I took some beautiful pictures. Then we walked around St. Armand Circle, shopping for jewelry, etc. and then ate at the Cuban restaurant and had another great salad and warm bread and butter.
Wed.-Ate breakfast with DA. Went to a consignment shop, to the beach with an umbrella to shade the sun, went to Yoder's and had fried chicken, potatoes, and salad. Went to the mall and got my ears pierced. We ate Yoder's pb pie and watched more of DA.
Thurs.-Went shopping at Kirklands-Naomi bought a mirror. I got some tractor material to make N a pillow bed. We ate at the Asian restaurant and later had ice cream in Sarasota-hand dipped-coffee and chocolate for Naomi and coconut and white chocolate raspberry for me. We went to a gift shop nearby and it was one of the best. I got Christmas gifts for the girls. Watched more DA after sitting on a beach bench and watching another wonderful sunset.
Fri.-Looked at the house next door. Went to the Beach. Went to Lowes and Target. Had dinner at the mall and watched the new 007 movie. Quite violent. I don't need to see it again.
Sat.-Naomi went to the drive in at Yoder's and got us coffees and sticky buns. Oh my word. We watched more DA and I got packed and Mabe's sister, Sarah, came and she drove us to the airport. I said good bye and they kept on with their day of fixing some things in the house and buying a piece of furniture for 'my' bedroom. Naomi spent the night at Sarah's and flew out of Clearwater the next day. I had uneventful flights and Phil picked me up in Lynchburg and then we went to Golden Corral and Lowe's to get things for the new bathroom. It was great to be in sunny Fl. and it's good to be back home, even though it's cold and rainy.
Sun.-Church. Rest. Freeman came over to shoot his gun and Alli and Nathan came after his nap.
Tues.-Naomi's foot was all bit up from fire ants that attacked her yesterday while she stood innocently on their nest. These are mean buggers. Her foot and ankle are swollen and she's got blisters all over her toes. We went shopping at Target and bought fans, a pillow, sewing tape, etc. Then we went to her cousin Val's shop and ordered the best salad I've ever eaten. We brought it back home with us and watched some more DA. We went to Siesta Key Beach-#1 beach in USA and watched the sunset. I took some beautiful pictures. Then we walked around St. Armand Circle, shopping for jewelry, etc. and then ate at the Cuban restaurant and had another great salad and warm bread and butter.
Wed.-Ate breakfast with DA. Went to a consignment shop, to the beach with an umbrella to shade the sun, went to Yoder's and had fried chicken, potatoes, and salad. Went to the mall and got my ears pierced. We ate Yoder's pb pie and watched more of DA.
Thurs.-Went shopping at Kirklands-Naomi bought a mirror. I got some tractor material to make N a pillow bed. We ate at the Asian restaurant and later had ice cream in Sarasota-hand dipped-coffee and chocolate for Naomi and coconut and white chocolate raspberry for me. We went to a gift shop nearby and it was one of the best. I got Christmas gifts for the girls. Watched more DA after sitting on a beach bench and watching another wonderful sunset.
Fri.-Looked at the house next door. Went to the Beach. Went to Lowes and Target. Had dinner at the mall and watched the new 007 movie. Quite violent. I don't need to see it again.
Sat.-Naomi went to the drive in at Yoder's and got us coffees and sticky buns. Oh my word. We watched more DA and I got packed and Mabe's sister, Sarah, came and she drove us to the airport. I said good bye and they kept on with their day of fixing some things in the house and buying a piece of furniture for 'my' bedroom. Naomi spent the night at Sarah's and flew out of Clearwater the next day. I had uneventful flights and Phil picked me up in Lynchburg and then we went to Golden Corral and Lowe's to get things for the new bathroom. It was great to be in sunny Fl. and it's good to be back home, even though it's cold and rainy.
Sun.-Church. Rest. Freeman came over to shoot his gun and Alli and Nathan came after his nap.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Oct. 26-Nov 1, 2015
Mon.-Came home from Midlothian late afternoon. Did some catching up.
Tues.-Catching up with Susan, studying for Encounter, back on track with Lindsay and food lists, loving the rainy day.
Wed.-Visited Alli and Nathan. Watched movies with Susan
Thurs.-Made food. Visited with Alli and Nathan. Watching Nathan in eve. to give Alli and Freeman a date night at home. He is so adorable. I've missed him. Susan at work. Mike and Tabitha came and we got rid of some things in old house. Yay. Worked on cookbook a little too.
Fri.-Farmville
Sat.-Cleaning, etc. Who would have thought that this fall is my busiest season of all?
Sun.-Church, resting, visiting, getting ready
Tues.-Catching up with Susan, studying for Encounter, back on track with Lindsay and food lists, loving the rainy day.
Wed.-Visited Alli and Nathan. Watched movies with Susan
Thurs.-Made food. Visited with Alli and Nathan. Watching Nathan in eve. to give Alli and Freeman a date night at home. He is so adorable. I've missed him. Susan at work. Mike and Tabitha came and we got rid of some things in old house. Yay. Worked on cookbook a little too.
Fri.-Farmville
Sat.-Cleaning, etc. Who would have thought that this fall is my busiest season of all?
Sun.-Church, resting, visiting, getting ready
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Oct. 19-25, 2015
Mon.-Catching up with wash, Susan, Tom and Kathy who arrived the day we left, food prep, walking, etc. Went to Buffalo Wild Wings with Phil, Tom and Kathy. Susan was our very pretty waitress. Michael and Jessica went to an essential oil meeting.
Tues.-Plumber and son here working on bathroom. Made blueberry muffins and Susan and I took some over to Tom and Kathy. Made some mashed potato soup for supper ahead of time and some baked potatoes for anyhow. Susan isn't working today or tomorrow and it's been nice to be with each other. Gil's birthday is today. I want to bake him a cake. I wish they lived down the road.
Wed.-Monday, the 26th-Been in Midlothian with a friend. Her husband was taken to the hospital with kidney failure, etc. I've been spending the nights at the Hampton and been with her at the hospital during the day.
Tues.-Plumber and son here working on bathroom. Made blueberry muffins and Susan and I took some over to Tom and Kathy. Made some mashed potato soup for supper ahead of time and some baked potatoes for anyhow. Susan isn't working today or tomorrow and it's been nice to be with each other. Gil's birthday is today. I want to bake him a cake. I wish they lived down the road.
Wed.-Monday, the 26th-Been in Midlothian with a friend. Her husband was taken to the hospital with kidney failure, etc. I've been spending the nights at the Hampton and been with her at the hospital during the day.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Oct. 12-18, 2015
Mon.-Today's the first day of a three week fitness challenge that Lindsay and I are doing together with others online. So far so good. Clean eating makes me want to clean house too. Burned lots of cardboard boxes from old house storage and brought in big legos and other toys and washed them up and exchanged them for some of N's toys here in the house. Walked the whole way out the lane and also did my stretches and strength exercises. Ate well so far. Mindful eating seems to be the ticket for me. And mindful grocery shopping. It really helps to have Lindsay as a partner and we are texting each other the things we eat and drink. We sent each other our measurements and before pictures and Lindsay will send them to our coach. I feel kind of drained because I am probably detoxing and I went from 2 cups of coffee to 1 cup of 1/2 caffeinated coffee. The guys are doing a beautiful job with the dining room. Phil is meeting Uncle Paul Mast out in Lynchburg this eve. for dinner. Uncle Paul is buying a load of cattle.
Tues.-Terrible headache last night made it difficult to sleep. Had another great day though and kept with the plan. Took a walk nearly out the lane this morning and then later in the day, walked to the river with Janelle, Micah, and Lucille Zimmerman. The family was here to meet her. Had supper of tortillas, angel food cake, and ice cream. It was good to catch up with her a bit. She headed towards Harrisonburg, the Tobins, around 8:30 this eve. Susan had to work but she got to see her earlier in the afternoon.
Started questions book today.
Wed.-So much going on around here what with the dining room addition, the Lucas's coming, and a big weekend coming up. Went out to Appomattox and had lunch with Jenny at The Babcock House and then we went to the little shops on Main St. and I got Adi and Emma a little lipstick purse and Susan a Christmas gift and myself some more little bracelets. We also went to the graveside of a young man who recently passed away. His grandfather saw us there and came over to visit. It was heart breaking. Jenny and I parted ways then and I went to Walmart and then came home and watched Nathan while Alli cleaned both houses next door. Susan and friend have been doing the yard work. It's been nice having the guys around. Plus Austin Gridley. Philip Boyer was here doing the electrical work. I have another severe headache. Hoping to hit the sack early. Drank half the water I drank yesterday but I still drank 3 quarts and walked quite a bit. I walked out the lane and a little on the road this morning and when I got back, Alli and Nathan invited me to walk with them at Happy Valley so that was a good cool down walk for me. Nathan seems to be a mover and a shaker. I think he will run marathons in the flesh and in his spirit. Michael went out to help with youth tonight and Freeman went out to help with Royal Rangers. Philip is working on his house and Susan had off today and worked at Happy Valley and did her wash and cleaned her room. Lots of busyness around here. I love doing this Fitness Program with Lindsay. We text numerous times a day now. One of these days, we'll see each other.
Thurs.-Phil and I left around 12:45 for a quick New England visit with family. Stopped at a Comfort Inn in Wilkes Barre. Traffic awful.
Fri.-Overslept and arrived at our Banton Family around noon. They greeted us in their front lawn with a beautiful fall foliage welcome. Ben acted as if he sees us every day which was really sweet. He is a happy little guy able to communicate exactly what he wants. Emma's beauty and deepening and her love accepting. Adi is an observer and doesn't miss much. She can do anything she wants including sewing like an expert and she is only 7. Emma is 9 and Ben is 2. Lindsay is beautiful and creative and discerning and wise. Gil is protective and generous, grateful and rich. Lindsay mad delicious lunch of lettuce wraps-roast beef, cheese, tomatoes, and trays of fresh fruit and veggies. I tasted their heavenly honey and then got a clean spoon and tasted it again. She also served black bean hummus which was delicious. Lindsay and I walked around their property and saw the bee hives, the apple trees and other fruit trees, the secret garden, and the basement that the New Life team fixed up for them. Ben sat on my lap on the floor and happily looked through a train book. He is gloriously obsessed with trains and Thomas the tank engine. Phil and Ben were a team and decorated the long sofa chair with Ben's drawings and Phil's pen. We took lots of pictures before we left and it was hard to leave but they are coming soon and that helps. Then we drove through awful traffic and arrived at Jordan and Dianah Hertzler's in Auburn, Maine, around 8. Jordan had a nice supper of hamburgers, Hertzler corn and applesauce, and baked potato cubes. Delicious. We hit the sack and slept well. They have a beautiful home. In the morning, Jordan made a breakfast of bacon, scrapple, potatoes, and eggs. Another delicious meal. We drove both cars and went to LLBean in Freeport and walked around that cute tourist town, sampling and buying bread and jams, sharing and eating whoopee pies-the lemon one was one of my favorite, drinking tea and coffee, looking at jewelry. Stopped at another little town and saw their pottery and jewelry and kitchen store where I bought some loose tea and a large muffin tin. We headed to Brunswick and saw where Jordan works on a military ship and then walked on Fort Popham Beach. I took a nap while the others walked several more miles. I stretched out on some kind of beach wooden thingy and soaked in the sun and listened to the waves and heard voices walking by. We ate out at a cool restaurant and Phil ordered a whole lobster. I was the one who should have been wearing the apron because when he'd break a claw, all this whitish liquid stuff flew out. I had a portabella mushroom burger and I wished I had gotten a real one when I saw Jordan's. We said our good byes in the parking lot and Phil and I drove for about 4 hours and got a motel after a number of 'no vacancies' due to a car race in the area. Phil got us a suite and it was nice and we slept well.
Sun.-Traveled home. About 10 hours of driving. House was cold. Jordan, Tommy, Susan, Jessica, and Michael were all wrapped up in blankets watching a movie. I put a lot of our stuff away, took a warm bath, and went to bed.
Tues.-Terrible headache last night made it difficult to sleep. Had another great day though and kept with the plan. Took a walk nearly out the lane this morning and then later in the day, walked to the river with Janelle, Micah, and Lucille Zimmerman. The family was here to meet her. Had supper of tortillas, angel food cake, and ice cream. It was good to catch up with her a bit. She headed towards Harrisonburg, the Tobins, around 8:30 this eve. Susan had to work but she got to see her earlier in the afternoon.
Started questions book today.
Wed.-So much going on around here what with the dining room addition, the Lucas's coming, and a big weekend coming up. Went out to Appomattox and had lunch with Jenny at The Babcock House and then we went to the little shops on Main St. and I got Adi and Emma a little lipstick purse and Susan a Christmas gift and myself some more little bracelets. We also went to the graveside of a young man who recently passed away. His grandfather saw us there and came over to visit. It was heart breaking. Jenny and I parted ways then and I went to Walmart and then came home and watched Nathan while Alli cleaned both houses next door. Susan and friend have been doing the yard work. It's been nice having the guys around. Plus Austin Gridley. Philip Boyer was here doing the electrical work. I have another severe headache. Hoping to hit the sack early. Drank half the water I drank yesterday but I still drank 3 quarts and walked quite a bit. I walked out the lane and a little on the road this morning and when I got back, Alli and Nathan invited me to walk with them at Happy Valley so that was a good cool down walk for me. Nathan seems to be a mover and a shaker. I think he will run marathons in the flesh and in his spirit. Michael went out to help with youth tonight and Freeman went out to help with Royal Rangers. Philip is working on his house and Susan had off today and worked at Happy Valley and did her wash and cleaned her room. Lots of busyness around here. I love doing this Fitness Program with Lindsay. We text numerous times a day now. One of these days, we'll see each other.
Thurs.-Phil and I left around 12:45 for a quick New England visit with family. Stopped at a Comfort Inn in Wilkes Barre. Traffic awful.
Fri.-Overslept and arrived at our Banton Family around noon. They greeted us in their front lawn with a beautiful fall foliage welcome. Ben acted as if he sees us every day which was really sweet. He is a happy little guy able to communicate exactly what he wants. Emma's beauty and deepening and her love accepting. Adi is an observer and doesn't miss much. She can do anything she wants including sewing like an expert and she is only 7. Emma is 9 and Ben is 2. Lindsay is beautiful and creative and discerning and wise. Gil is protective and generous, grateful and rich. Lindsay mad delicious lunch of lettuce wraps-roast beef, cheese, tomatoes, and trays of fresh fruit and veggies. I tasted their heavenly honey and then got a clean spoon and tasted it again. She also served black bean hummus which was delicious. Lindsay and I walked around their property and saw the bee hives, the apple trees and other fruit trees, the secret garden, and the basement that the New Life team fixed up for them. Ben sat on my lap on the floor and happily looked through a train book. He is gloriously obsessed with trains and Thomas the tank engine. Phil and Ben were a team and decorated the long sofa chair with Ben's drawings and Phil's pen. We took lots of pictures before we left and it was hard to leave but they are coming soon and that helps. Then we drove through awful traffic and arrived at Jordan and Dianah Hertzler's in Auburn, Maine, around 8. Jordan had a nice supper of hamburgers, Hertzler corn and applesauce, and baked potato cubes. Delicious. We hit the sack and slept well. They have a beautiful home. In the morning, Jordan made a breakfast of bacon, scrapple, potatoes, and eggs. Another delicious meal. We drove both cars and went to LLBean in Freeport and walked around that cute tourist town, sampling and buying bread and jams, sharing and eating whoopee pies-the lemon one was one of my favorite, drinking tea and coffee, looking at jewelry. Stopped at another little town and saw their pottery and jewelry and kitchen store where I bought some loose tea and a large muffin tin. We headed to Brunswick and saw where Jordan works on a military ship and then walked on Fort Popham Beach. I took a nap while the others walked several more miles. I stretched out on some kind of beach wooden thingy and soaked in the sun and listened to the waves and heard voices walking by. We ate out at a cool restaurant and Phil ordered a whole lobster. I was the one who should have been wearing the apron because when he'd break a claw, all this whitish liquid stuff flew out. I had a portabella mushroom burger and I wished I had gotten a real one when I saw Jordan's. We said our good byes in the parking lot and Phil and I drove for about 4 hours and got a motel after a number of 'no vacancies' due to a car race in the area. Phil got us a suite and it was nice and we slept well.
Sun.-Traveled home. About 10 hours of driving. House was cold. Jordan, Tommy, Susan, Jessica, and Michael were all wrapped up in blankets watching a movie. I put a lot of our stuff away, took a warm bath, and went to bed.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Oct. 5-11, 2015
Mon.-I spent the day in Midlothian and Richmond, getting my implant rechecked by my dentist and shopping at Home Goods, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, a shoe store, and Joanne Fabrics.
Tues.-Spent this beautiful day at home and took N for a gator ride over to HV in hopes that he would take a little nap while his mommy got their car inspected. He kissed his little leg over and over when she put him in his car seat. He gets goofy tired and does sweet silly things like this and we all fall in love with him all over again. Susan went shopping in Lynchburg and found a few things at Goodwill and elsewhere. We watched 'Ever After' in the evening, but first, Michael watched 'The Truman Show' with us. What a strange movie.
Wed.-Stayed at home getting things done after I went to Dr. F. for some chiropractic care. Cleaned up the butcher shop, did lots of wash, went over to Happy Valley and read a little about Organizing from the Inside Out and I feel hopeful! Also read a book by Joyce Meyers on being fit and healthy while I drank my Chai tea. Did some clean up outside. Made beets, beef, and cabbage egg rolls. Sewed navy lace around my navy pants that were too short a few minutes ago. Also made a belt. Sent pictures to Judy and she sent me a picture of the duvet she made. So beautiful. Talked with Lindsay-or was that yesterday, and made a plan of attack for our Fitness Challenge coming up Monday. Meanwhile I am eating everything in sight and everything hidden as well. Susan had a 4-8 shift and hopes to Red Box a movie and chill out with me again tonight. The guys were working around here all day, tidying up, farming and building. Michael went out to youth in the evening. Our rooster died yesterday. The hens are upset and so are Susan and I. We think he was old. He showed no signs of struggle and he had plenty to eat and drink. Lindsay and the kids were harvesting honey this evening and I called her Wonder Woman but she was reluctant to own that name. Said I was the superhero. HA!
Thurs.-Went walking with Alli and Nathan in the morning and then spent the day in town. Jessica and I went to see Susan at her work place BDubs and then Jess hung out with me while I got my hair cut. We went to Penelopes to check on a Christmas gift for someone dear, went to Carousel Thrift Shop, the bank, the credit union, Sweet Frog, Judy's and then Jess went home to spend time with Michael and I got groceries at Food Lion and some long black pants at Belks and then met Erin at the Japanese Restaurant next to Sunchase and got home soon after 8 and Phil, Susan, and I, had a late movie night.
Fri.-Shout out to my dear sister in law-Karen H! Happy Birthday! You are one of the best things that ever happened to the Hertzler Clan. We love you! Hello to Jonathan and Joe as well! Thanks for all you guys do for us. You are always on the giving end and we appreciate you. XO
Got a lot of odds and ends done today. Walked with Susan, Alli, and Nathan this morning. Susan and I made food. She made spaghetti squash, acorn squash, and Grandma H's sweet potatoes. I made a broccoli beef lo mein and some quiche. Susan went into work this evening. Austin G. and Philip worked on the addition. Phil worked on blueprints. Nathan came this evening and Philip took him on a four wheeler ride which is what Nathan wanted to do first thing. Even though I was ready and waiting for him on the gator. Phil took him for a ride two weeks ago and now the gator is a little slow for him. Phil and I had a sweet time with Nathan. He fed us frozen blueberries and regaled us with his musical rhythm ability. He ate some hot dog, banana, applesauce/mashed potatoes, and graham cracker. He's just so precious and loves to be with us as much as we love to be with him. Tonight, a wrong number caller said to me, "Well, Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life." Thank you, I said. I couldn't stop smiling for a long time.
Sat.-Was at Freeman and Alli's when Nathan woke up and he snuggled for a long time. It's cold and wet today. We decided not to go to the RR Festival with N. Susan and I went to a moving sale and bought at least 20 DVD's for a dollar each. Watched a movie in the afternoon before Susan went to work. I cleaned the house and I forget what else we did.
Sun.-Good church service. Philip bought pizza for lunch and most everyone was sighting in guns at one place or another in the afternoon. Went out to Farmville in the eve. Phil dropped off car at Mark's. We picked up a few groceries so I wouldn't have to go out tomorrow.
Tues.-Spent this beautiful day at home and took N for a gator ride over to HV in hopes that he would take a little nap while his mommy got their car inspected. He kissed his little leg over and over when she put him in his car seat. He gets goofy tired and does sweet silly things like this and we all fall in love with him all over again. Susan went shopping in Lynchburg and found a few things at Goodwill and elsewhere. We watched 'Ever After' in the evening, but first, Michael watched 'The Truman Show' with us. What a strange movie.
Wed.-Stayed at home getting things done after I went to Dr. F. for some chiropractic care. Cleaned up the butcher shop, did lots of wash, went over to Happy Valley and read a little about Organizing from the Inside Out and I feel hopeful! Also read a book by Joyce Meyers on being fit and healthy while I drank my Chai tea. Did some clean up outside. Made beets, beef, and cabbage egg rolls. Sewed navy lace around my navy pants that were too short a few minutes ago. Also made a belt. Sent pictures to Judy and she sent me a picture of the duvet she made. So beautiful. Talked with Lindsay-or was that yesterday, and made a plan of attack for our Fitness Challenge coming up Monday. Meanwhile I am eating everything in sight and everything hidden as well. Susan had a 4-8 shift and hopes to Red Box a movie and chill out with me again tonight. The guys were working around here all day, tidying up, farming and building. Michael went out to youth in the evening. Our rooster died yesterday. The hens are upset and so are Susan and I. We think he was old. He showed no signs of struggle and he had plenty to eat and drink. Lindsay and the kids were harvesting honey this evening and I called her Wonder Woman but she was reluctant to own that name. Said I was the superhero. HA!
Thurs.-Went walking with Alli and Nathan in the morning and then spent the day in town. Jessica and I went to see Susan at her work place BDubs and then Jess hung out with me while I got my hair cut. We went to Penelopes to check on a Christmas gift for someone dear, went to Carousel Thrift Shop, the bank, the credit union, Sweet Frog, Judy's and then Jess went home to spend time with Michael and I got groceries at Food Lion and some long black pants at Belks and then met Erin at the Japanese Restaurant next to Sunchase and got home soon after 8 and Phil, Susan, and I, had a late movie night.
Fri.-Shout out to my dear sister in law-Karen H! Happy Birthday! You are one of the best things that ever happened to the Hertzler Clan. We love you! Hello to Jonathan and Joe as well! Thanks for all you guys do for us. You are always on the giving end and we appreciate you. XO
Got a lot of odds and ends done today. Walked with Susan, Alli, and Nathan this morning. Susan and I made food. She made spaghetti squash, acorn squash, and Grandma H's sweet potatoes. I made a broccoli beef lo mein and some quiche. Susan went into work this evening. Austin G. and Philip worked on the addition. Phil worked on blueprints. Nathan came this evening and Philip took him on a four wheeler ride which is what Nathan wanted to do first thing. Even though I was ready and waiting for him on the gator. Phil took him for a ride two weeks ago and now the gator is a little slow for him. Phil and I had a sweet time with Nathan. He fed us frozen blueberries and regaled us with his musical rhythm ability. He ate some hot dog, banana, applesauce/mashed potatoes, and graham cracker. He's just so precious and loves to be with us as much as we love to be with him. Tonight, a wrong number caller said to me, "Well, Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life." Thank you, I said. I couldn't stop smiling for a long time.
Sat.-Was at Freeman and Alli's when Nathan woke up and he snuggled for a long time. It's cold and wet today. We decided not to go to the RR Festival with N. Susan and I went to a moving sale and bought at least 20 DVD's for a dollar each. Watched a movie in the afternoon before Susan went to work. I cleaned the house and I forget what else we did.
Sun.-Good church service. Philip bought pizza for lunch and most everyone was sighting in guns at one place or another in the afternoon. Went out to Farmville in the eve. Phil dropped off car at Mark's. We picked up a few groceries so I wouldn't have to go out tomorrow.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Lobster/Crab Bisque
My friend, Jen Cronin, used to make this for me when I visited her.
Her daughter, Jordie, was Susan's age.
Teri Mosteller got the two of them to be part of a commercial for the Republican Party
when they were about 3 or 4 years old. I think they both wore bright pink.
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8 servings
1 medium sized onion, chopped-1/2 cup.
1/2 cup butter-1 stick
3/4 cup flour
3 cans chicken broth
3/4 cup dry sherry cooking wine
2 cans (about 6 oz.) lobster or crab meat
3 cups light cream or half n' half
2 T. tomato paste (tiny little cans found in the store)
Salt and pepper to taste
Saute onion in butter in large soup sauce pan.
Stir in flour; Cook until bubbly.
Gradually stir in broth; Cook until thickened.
Stir in sherry and lobster.
Cover; simmer 15 minutes.
Stir in remaining ingredients and heat.
This is some of the best food you'll ever taste.
Her daughter, Jordie, was Susan's age.
Teri Mosteller got the two of them to be part of a commercial for the Republican Party
when they were about 3 or 4 years old. I think they both wore bright pink.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
8 servings
1 medium sized onion, chopped-1/2 cup.
1/2 cup butter-1 stick
3/4 cup flour
3 cans chicken broth
3/4 cup dry sherry cooking wine
2 cans (about 6 oz.) lobster or crab meat
3 cups light cream or half n' half
2 T. tomato paste (tiny little cans found in the store)
Salt and pepper to taste
Saute onion in butter in large soup sauce pan.
Stir in flour; Cook until bubbly.
Gradually stir in broth; Cook until thickened.
Stir in sherry and lobster.
Cover; simmer 15 minutes.
Stir in remaining ingredients and heat.
This is some of the best food you'll ever taste.
Dairy Queen Ice Cream
I made this when the kids were younger and just now found the recipe again!
Tastes so good and creamy and just like Dairy Queen's.
I'm not sure where we originally got the recipe but most likely it was from the Lancaster Farming.
2 Quarts scalded milk-heat milk until little bubbles form around the edges
4 pkgs. knox gelatin-1 T. each
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 pint cream (or more)
1 can Carnation evaporated milk
3 T. vanilla
Bring milk almost to boil. (That would be scalding it.)
Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup water (2 T. water per package of gelatin)
Add to hot milk once it is thick.
Add sugar and salt.
Cool.
Add cream, Carnation milk, and vanilla.
Freeze in freezer.
It does work best if you chill it really well before you freeze it in your ice cream freezer.
I'm pretty sure that I just added additional cream if I didn't have Carnation milk.
You really can't go wrong with cream, sugar, and vanilla.
Something good is going to happen.
Tastes so good and creamy and just like Dairy Queen's.
I'm not sure where we originally got the recipe but most likely it was from the Lancaster Farming.
2 Quarts scalded milk-heat milk until little bubbles form around the edges
4 pkgs. knox gelatin-1 T. each
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 pint cream (or more)
1 can Carnation evaporated milk
3 T. vanilla
Bring milk almost to boil. (That would be scalding it.)
Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup water (2 T. water per package of gelatin)
Add to hot milk once it is thick.
Add sugar and salt.
Cool.
Add cream, Carnation milk, and vanilla.
Freeze in freezer.
It does work best if you chill it really well before you freeze it in your ice cream freezer.
I'm pretty sure that I just added additional cream if I didn't have Carnation milk.
You really can't go wrong with cream, sugar, and vanilla.
Something good is going to happen.
Susan's Famous Peanut Butter Eggs
We originally got this recipe from Lancaster Farming but we've tweaked it a little.
For several years, Philip had an 'egg' business and Susan followed suit for a quite a few more years.
Soften-1-8oz. package of cream cheese and 2 sticks of butter
and mix together.
Add 3 cups creamy peanut butter.
Add a dash of vanilla. (optional)
Mix together.
Add 6-1/2 to 7 cups of 10x sugar.
Mix well. Chill.
Shape into eggs.
Chill on cookie sheets covered with wax paper.
Dip in melting chocolate.
We found that it works best to melt your chocolate in a small crock pot.
If you want to make coconut eggs, you make them pretty much the same.
Forget the peanut butter. Add about 3 cups of coconut give or take a cup.
Add coconut extract along with the vanilla extract.
Dip the coconut eggs in dark chocolate.
You can make butter cream eggs by using butter extract and vanilla extract
and foregoing the peanut butter and coconut and just add enough 10x sugar
to make it formable.
For several years, Philip had an 'egg' business and Susan followed suit for a quite a few more years.
Soften-1-8oz. package of cream cheese and 2 sticks of butter
and mix together.
Add 3 cups creamy peanut butter.
Add a dash of vanilla. (optional)
Mix together.
Add 6-1/2 to 7 cups of 10x sugar.
Mix well. Chill.
Shape into eggs.
Chill on cookie sheets covered with wax paper.
Dip in melting chocolate.
We found that it works best to melt your chocolate in a small crock pot.
If you want to make coconut eggs, you make them pretty much the same.
Forget the peanut butter. Add about 3 cups of coconut give or take a cup.
Add coconut extract along with the vanilla extract.
Dip the coconut eggs in dark chocolate.
You can make butter cream eggs by using butter extract and vanilla extract
and foregoing the peanut butter and coconut and just add enough 10x sugar
to make it formable.
Aunt Rosalee's Beef Taco Bake
I think Aunt Rosalee got this recipe from Campbell's originally.
This is quick and easy and could also be thrown together and put in the crockpot.
1 lb. ground beef
1 can Campbell's tomato soup
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas cut in 1-2 inch pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a skillet over medium high heat, brown beef.
Pour off fat.
In a big bowl, toss the meat, soup, salsa, milk, tortillas, and half the cheese.
Spoon into a 2 quart shallow baking dish.
Cover.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 min. or until hot.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes.
This is another recipe that I double.
This recipe serves 4.
I usually make it in the crockpot and cook it until it's bubbling.
You can use any kind of shredded cheese as well.
It's so good with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and ripe olives
served on the side.
This is quick and easy and could also be thrown together and put in the crockpot.
1 lb. ground beef
1 can Campbell's tomato soup
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas cut in 1-2 inch pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a skillet over medium high heat, brown beef.
Pour off fat.
In a big bowl, toss the meat, soup, salsa, milk, tortillas, and half the cheese.
Spoon into a 2 quart shallow baking dish.
Cover.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 min. or until hot.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes.
This is another recipe that I double.
This recipe serves 4.
I usually make it in the crockpot and cook it until it's bubbling.
You can use any kind of shredded cheese as well.
It's so good with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and ripe olives
served on the side.
Aunt Helen's Beef or Chicken Broccoli Lo Mein Recipe
Michael requested this recipe.
This makes 8-12 servings.
16 oz. thin spaghetti; broken in half
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
2 T. veg. oil
6 cup chopped broccoli
3 cups chopped onions
2 T. minced fresh ginger
8 cloves garlic, minced
Beef (venison) or chicken pieces, sliced thin crossways-as much as you want.
1-2 pounds would be my guess.
6 T. beef or chicken broth
6 T. soy sauce
4 T. brown sugar
2 T. oyster sauce
Cook pasta; drain well. Return to pan, toss with sesame oil.
Or you could put this in a big bowl.
Heat another pan and stir-fry broccoli and onion in hot oil for 3 minutes.
Add ginger and garlic; continue cooking 30 seconds.
Add meat. Cook 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and oyster sauce.
Add sauce and pasta to the skillet or wok that holds the meat.
Continue cooking all ingredients together,
stirring often 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
You could also use rice instead of pasta and snow peas and carrots instead of broccoli.
Philip likes it better without the ginger.
You could also throw in some cashews when you are doing the final heat-through.
This makes 8-12 servings.
16 oz. thin spaghetti; broken in half
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
2 T. veg. oil
6 cup chopped broccoli
3 cups chopped onions
2 T. minced fresh ginger
8 cloves garlic, minced
Beef (venison) or chicken pieces, sliced thin crossways-as much as you want.
1-2 pounds would be my guess.
6 T. beef or chicken broth
6 T. soy sauce
4 T. brown sugar
2 T. oyster sauce
Cook pasta; drain well. Return to pan, toss with sesame oil.
Or you could put this in a big bowl.
Heat another pan and stir-fry broccoli and onion in hot oil for 3 minutes.
Add ginger and garlic; continue cooking 30 seconds.
Add meat. Cook 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and oyster sauce.
Add sauce and pasta to the skillet or wok that holds the meat.
Continue cooking all ingredients together,
stirring often 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
You could also use rice instead of pasta and snow peas and carrots instead of broccoli.
Philip likes it better without the ginger.
You could also throw in some cashews when you are doing the final heat-through.
Oyster Filling
This is Dad's favorite and most often requested dish for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.
Chop one cup each of celery and onion.
Saute in 1/2 stick of butter.
Beat 2 eggs.
Add 1/2-1 cup milk
Throw in some poultry seasoning and salt-my recipe doesn't say how much.
I'd throw in some pepper, too.
Cut up 6 cups of dried bread.
Drain 1 pt. of oysters
Mix onions/celery, egg mixture, bread, and oysters.
Bake in greased casserole at 350 for 50 minutes.
Smells heavenly.
Chop one cup each of celery and onion.
Saute in 1/2 stick of butter.
Beat 2 eggs.
Add 1/2-1 cup milk
Throw in some poultry seasoning and salt-my recipe doesn't say how much.
I'd throw in some pepper, too.
Cut up 6 cups of dried bread.
Drain 1 pt. of oysters
Mix onions/celery, egg mixture, bread, and oysters.
Bake in greased casserole at 350 for 50 minutes.
Smells heavenly.
Corn Fritters
My mother, your Grandma Diffenbach, would make corn fritters in the summertime
when corn was fresh from the cob from our garden.
She would cut it off the cob and 'milk' it to make it creamy.
This recipe calls for 2 cups of fresh corn.
The fritters taste so good hot of the skillet with maple syrup.
2 cups fresh corn
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. baking powder
2 T. cream
4 T. fat (butter, oil, shortening, coconut oil, etc.)
Add beaten eggs, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper to the corn.
Mix thoroughly.
Add cream. (Or milk if you don't have cream.)
Melt the fat in a frying pan and drop corn mixture by spoonfuls into the hot fat.
Brown on both sides.
Drain on paper towels or paper plates or paper bags.
Makes 16-18 fritters.
This recipe was taken from 'The Mennonite Cookbook' and it's the recipe my mother used and I use it as well. I think you could also make it with frozen corn, especially it it's our Incredible Corn. The texture would be a little different but the flavor would be there.
when corn was fresh from the cob from our garden.
She would cut it off the cob and 'milk' it to make it creamy.
This recipe calls for 2 cups of fresh corn.
The fritters taste so good hot of the skillet with maple syrup.
2 cups fresh corn
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. baking powder
2 T. cream
4 T. fat (butter, oil, shortening, coconut oil, etc.)
Add beaten eggs, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper to the corn.
Mix thoroughly.
Add cream. (Or milk if you don't have cream.)
Melt the fat in a frying pan and drop corn mixture by spoonfuls into the hot fat.
Brown on both sides.
Drain on paper towels or paper plates or paper bags.
Makes 16-18 fritters.
This recipe was taken from 'The Mennonite Cookbook' and it's the recipe my mother used and I use it as well. I think you could also make it with frozen corn, especially it it's our Incredible Corn. The texture would be a little different but the flavor would be there.
Crispy Caramel Popcorn
From Esther H. Shank's Cookbook-'Mennonite Country-Style Recipes
8-9 quarts popped corn-Have ready in large greased container.
1 cup peanuts-optional
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2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup butter or margarine
Combine in saucepan, stirring constantly until boiling.
Boil 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in until foamy:
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour over popped corn mixing until well coated. Pour into two large pans-sprayed or buttered-
and heat in 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 min.
Remove, cool, and separate.
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A quick Hertzler version:
Melt one stick of butter in saucepan.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup peanut butter.
Mix until smooth.
Add brown sugar and/or maple syrup
and bring to a boil. We never measure except for the stick of butter.
(Probably 1 cup of sweetener or a little more.)
Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 min.
Remove from heat.
Add a teaspoon of vanilla.
Pour over popcorn and mix.
8-9 quarts popped corn-Have ready in large greased container.
1 cup peanuts-optional
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2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup butter or margarine
Combine in saucepan, stirring constantly until boiling.
Boil 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in until foamy:
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour over popped corn mixing until well coated. Pour into two large pans-sprayed or buttered-
and heat in 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 min.
Remove, cool, and separate.
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A quick Hertzler version:
Melt one stick of butter in saucepan.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup peanut butter.
Mix until smooth.
Add brown sugar and/or maple syrup
and bring to a boil. We never measure except for the stick of butter.
(Probably 1 cup of sweetener or a little more.)
Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 min.
Remove from heat.
Add a teaspoon of vanilla.
Pour over popcorn and mix.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Ada Dienner
2 cups pumpkin
2 egg yolks
2 c. brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
Mix together pumpkin, egg yolks, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla until creamy.
Mix together dry ingredients and add.
Drop by Tablespoon on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 5-7 min.
Sandwich 2 cookies with filling between them.
Filling:
2 egg whites
2 tsp. vanilla
4 T. flour
1-1/2 cup shortening
2 T. milk
1 lb. 10 x sugar
2 cups pumpkin
2 egg yolks
2 c. brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
Mix together pumpkin, egg yolks, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla until creamy.
Mix together dry ingredients and add.
Drop by Tablespoon on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 5-7 min.
Sandwich 2 cookies with filling between them.
Filling:
2 egg whites
2 tsp. vanilla
4 T. flour
1-1/2 cup shortening
2 T. milk
1 lb. 10 x sugar
Cream of Tomato Soup-(from More-with-Less Cookbook)
Saute`~
2 T. butter
2 T. chopped onion
Mix together~
3 T. flour
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
dash of garlic salt, basil, oregano, thyme
Add to butter and onions, whisking until smooth and bubbly.
Remove from heat. Gradually stir in:
2 cups of tomato juice
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Boil 1 min.
In another kettle, heat 2 cups milk on low, before you even start the onions. ;)
If you forget to do this, it's okay to add the milk cold.
Add the warm milk to the hot tomato mixture.
Heat until almost boiling and serve.
I usually double the recipe.
Delicious with toasted cheese sandwiches on a cold, windy, rainy, or snowy day.
2 T. butter
2 T. chopped onion
Mix together~
3 T. flour
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
dash of garlic salt, basil, oregano, thyme
Add to butter and onions, whisking until smooth and bubbly.
Remove from heat. Gradually stir in:
2 cups of tomato juice
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Boil 1 min.
In another kettle, heat 2 cups milk on low, before you even start the onions. ;)
If you forget to do this, it's okay to add the milk cold.
Add the warm milk to the hot tomato mixture.
Heat until almost boiling and serve.
I usually double the recipe.
Delicious with toasted cheese sandwiches on a cold, windy, rainy, or snowy day.
Broccoli Salad
Wash and separate into flowerets broccoli and/or cauliflower.(2 bunches)
Let drain in colander.
Meanwhile, fry up 8 strips of bacon.
Mix up a dressing with salad dressing or mayonnaise-about 1 cup.
Sometimes, I use half mayo and half plain yogurt.
Add 1/4-1/3 cup sugar
2 T. vinegar
Let sit and stir to dissolve sugar.
Mix broccoli, bacon, and dressing together.
I like to add raisins.
You can also add shredded cheese, chopped onions, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, etc.
Depends on what you like.
Let drain in colander.
Meanwhile, fry up 8 strips of bacon.
Mix up a dressing with salad dressing or mayonnaise-about 1 cup.
Sometimes, I use half mayo and half plain yogurt.
Add 1/4-1/3 cup sugar
2 T. vinegar
Let sit and stir to dissolve sugar.
Mix broccoli, bacon, and dressing together.
I like to add raisins.
You can also add shredded cheese, chopped onions, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, etc.
Depends on what you like.
Chocolate Whoopie Pies
1-1/2 cup oil
3 c. sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cup sour milk-(add 1-2 T. vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk)
1-1/2 T. vinegar
1 T. vanilla
1-1/2 cup cocoa
1 T. salt
1-1/2 cup hot water
7-1/2 cup flour
1 T. soda
Mix together vinegar and milk; let set.
Mix soda in water.
Mix everything together, adding flour last.
Bake at 350 for 10 min.
Sandwich 2 cookies with whoopee pie filling between them.
Icing:
2 egg whites
2 T. vanilla
2 T. flour
2 T. milk
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Crisco
Beat egg whites until stiff.
Add rest of ingredients.
(Taken from 'Simply Wonderful-submitted by Verna Stoltzfus)
3 c. sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cup sour milk-(add 1-2 T. vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk)
1-1/2 T. vinegar
1 T. vanilla
1-1/2 cup cocoa
1 T. salt
1-1/2 cup hot water
7-1/2 cup flour
1 T. soda
Mix together vinegar and milk; let set.
Mix soda in water.
Mix everything together, adding flour last.
Bake at 350 for 10 min.
Sandwich 2 cookies with whoopee pie filling between them.
Icing:
2 egg whites
2 T. vanilla
2 T. flour
2 T. milk
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Crisco
Beat egg whites until stiff.
Add rest of ingredients.
(Taken from 'Simply Wonderful-submitted by Verna Stoltzfus)
Cinnamon Rolls
Taken from 'Simply Wonderful'-submitted by Sherry Zook
The recipe is for a bread maker but I mix it up in my mixer with the dough hook.
Therefore, I have changed the order of mixing from the regular recipe.
1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 T. yeast
Mix in mixing bowl and allow to dissolve and foam.
Add 3/4 cup room temperature milk
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter)
3/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
Mix well.
Slowly add 3 1/2 cups bread flour (more or less)
When dough is not sticky but still pliable
it is ready for use.
Roll out dough on a flour-covered surface.
Make a rectangle.
Melt 3 Tablespoons butter and spread on dough.
I use room temp. butter and just use my hands to spread it around.
Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
I like to mix the two together before putting it on.
Roll up and slice 3/4 inch pieces and place in a greased 9x13 inch pan.
I slide dental floss under the roll and bring the two ends together,
crossing them to slice the dough.
Do not have rolls touching each other in the pan.
Let rise in warm place.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 min.
Partially cool and spread with icing.
I usually double or triple this recipe.
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Frosting #1-
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1/2 T. vanilla.
Dash of salt.
1 1/2 cup or more powdered sugar.
Cook butter, brown sugar, and milk for 1 min. It should be bubbling for a minute.
Stir while cooking. Cool until lukewarm,
Add vanilla, salt and powdered sugar.
Beat together and put on warm rolls.
Frosting#2-
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Beat together. It works best if the cream cheese and butter are at room temp.
Cinnamon Rolls are a favorite Hertzler Christmas morning breakfast.
The recipe is for a bread maker but I mix it up in my mixer with the dough hook.
Therefore, I have changed the order of mixing from the regular recipe.
1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 T. yeast
Mix in mixing bowl and allow to dissolve and foam.
Add 3/4 cup room temperature milk
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter)
3/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
Mix well.
Slowly add 3 1/2 cups bread flour (more or less)
When dough is not sticky but still pliable
it is ready for use.
Roll out dough on a flour-covered surface.
Make a rectangle.
Melt 3 Tablespoons butter and spread on dough.
I use room temp. butter and just use my hands to spread it around.
Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
I like to mix the two together before putting it on.
Roll up and slice 3/4 inch pieces and place in a greased 9x13 inch pan.
I slide dental floss under the roll and bring the two ends together,
crossing them to slice the dough.
Do not have rolls touching each other in the pan.
Let rise in warm place.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 min.
Partially cool and spread with icing.
I usually double or triple this recipe.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frosting #1-
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1/2 T. vanilla.
Dash of salt.
1 1/2 cup or more powdered sugar.
Cook butter, brown sugar, and milk for 1 min. It should be bubbling for a minute.
Stir while cooking. Cool until lukewarm,
Add vanilla, salt and powdered sugar.
Beat together and put on warm rolls.
Frosting#2-
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Beat together. It works best if the cream cheese and butter are at room temp.
Cinnamon Rolls are a favorite Hertzler Christmas morning breakfast.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Machamer Fudge
Narrated by Dad-(Phil R. Hertzler):
Mr. Machamer was a gentleman farmer who lived near Birdsboro, Pa. This was a recipe for fudge that he gave to Grandpa and often when Grandpa came in from the barn in the evening and after dinner he wanted something sweet, he would make some Machamer fudge, made out of some basic ingredients which always seemed to be there.
Put a sauce pan on the stove.
Melt 1 stick of butter and 3 heaping Tablespoons of peanut butter.
Make sure these two ingredients are melted and blended together.
Then add 3 heaping Tablespoons of cocoa and 3 T. of wheat germ.
Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and blend with spoon until smooth.
Then add confectioner's sugar until it is firm.
Spoon out into a pie plate or square pan and allow to cool.
Cut into squares and let it melt in your mouth.
If Grandma Hertzler didn't have wheat germ, she would crush Wheaties or Corn Flakes
and put that in the mix. Anything like that would work to take its' place.
Of course, it was good without wheat germ.
Mr. Machamer was a gentleman farmer who lived near Birdsboro, Pa. This was a recipe for fudge that he gave to Grandpa and often when Grandpa came in from the barn in the evening and after dinner he wanted something sweet, he would make some Machamer fudge, made out of some basic ingredients which always seemed to be there.
Put a sauce pan on the stove.
Melt 1 stick of butter and 3 heaping Tablespoons of peanut butter.
Make sure these two ingredients are melted and blended together.
Then add 3 heaping Tablespoons of cocoa and 3 T. of wheat germ.
Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and blend with spoon until smooth.
Then add confectioner's sugar until it is firm.
Spoon out into a pie plate or square pan and allow to cool.
Cut into squares and let it melt in your mouth.
If Grandma Hertzler didn't have wheat germ, she would crush Wheaties or Corn Flakes
and put that in the mix. Anything like that would work to take its' place.
Of course, it was good without wheat germ.
Meats
TROUT
My favorite way to make trout is to put butter on the bottom of a glass pan,
lay the trout skin side down on top of the butter,
sprinkle lemon juice on top of the trout,
spread melted butter on top of the trout,
sprinkle seasoned salt and lemon pepper on top of the trout.
Bake at 350 for 20-30 min. until the meat flakes when a fork is placed
in the thickest part of the fish steak and twisted.
Yum..
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ROAST-beef, bear, venison
I place the roast in a crock pot and spread horseradish all over the top.
That's the ticket.
You can add crushed garlic, onions, mushrooms, etc. if you want to
but the secret ingredient that tenderizes the meat is horseradish.
Buy it in jars in the refrigerated section at the store.
Cook on low all night or on high for several hours until the meat falls apart.
My favorite way to make trout is to put butter on the bottom of a glass pan,
lay the trout skin side down on top of the butter,
sprinkle lemon juice on top of the trout,
spread melted butter on top of the trout,
sprinkle seasoned salt and lemon pepper on top of the trout.
Bake at 350 for 20-30 min. until the meat flakes when a fork is placed
in the thickest part of the fish steak and twisted.
Yum..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ROAST-beef, bear, venison
I place the roast in a crock pot and spread horseradish all over the top.
That's the ticket.
You can add crushed garlic, onions, mushrooms, etc. if you want to
but the secret ingredient that tenderizes the meat is horseradish.
Buy it in jars in the refrigerated section at the store.
Cook on low all night or on high for several hours until the meat falls apart.
Diane Horan's Super Duper Chocolate Chip Cookies
More times than not, Diane makes these for me when I visit her overnight.
We have them with coffee in the evening and then we have them with coffee for breakfast.
And then she sends what is left home with me to eat while I drive.
She mixes the ingredients by hand.
1 cup room temperature Imperial margarine
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. water
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 12 oz. bag of Nestlé's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup broken walnuts
Cream together margarine and sugars.
Add vanilla, water, and eggs, mixing well after each addition.
Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together
and gradually add to wet mixture.
Mix well.
Fold in chocolate morsels and walnuts.
Bake at 350 for 11-12 min.
Grease pan with wax paper dipped in Crisco before each addition of dough.
Bake on bottom shelf.
Let cookie sheet cool before refilling.
Cookies may look under-baked but will be fine when cool.
Drop dough by large tablespoon on cookie sheet.
Remove from cookie sheet immediately and place on foil.
Makes 2 dozen.
Diane is famous in the neighborhood's she's lived in for these cookies.
The UPS man knows about them.
The TV repairman knows about them.
Her kids college roommates know about them.
And now, you know about them, in case you didn't before.
We have them with coffee in the evening and then we have them with coffee for breakfast.
And then she sends what is left home with me to eat while I drive.
She mixes the ingredients by hand.
1 cup room temperature Imperial margarine
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. water
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 12 oz. bag of Nestlé's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup broken walnuts
Cream together margarine and sugars.
Add vanilla, water, and eggs, mixing well after each addition.
Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together
and gradually add to wet mixture.
Mix well.
Fold in chocolate morsels and walnuts.
Bake at 350 for 11-12 min.
Grease pan with wax paper dipped in Crisco before each addition of dough.
Bake on bottom shelf.
Let cookie sheet cool before refilling.
Cookies may look under-baked but will be fine when cool.
Drop dough by large tablespoon on cookie sheet.
Remove from cookie sheet immediately and place on foil.
Makes 2 dozen.
Diane is famous in the neighborhood's she's lived in for these cookies.
The UPS man knows about them.
The TV repairman knows about them.
Her kids college roommates know about them.
And now, you know about them, in case you didn't before.
Crumb Cake
This is a recipe that my Grandma Diffy had and my mother made it many times for my dad.
He really liked it. It's good with milk, or tea, or coffee, or applesauce, or ice cream.
Aunt Rosalee sent it to me. She sent it to all my siblings when she sent it to me in case they would want it too. She has the orginal recipe written in my mother's handwriting.
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1-1/2 cups sugar
2-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
Mix together the flour and sugar and then cut in the shortening until mixture is crumbly.
Reserve 1/2 cup for topping crumbs.
Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sour milk (1 T. vinegar plus 1 cup milk)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour into greased and floured pans-2 round cake pans or 2 pie pans
Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
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I remember the happy smell of these crumb cakes and how delighted my Daddy was
when he'd come home and numerous crumb cakes would be lined up on the counter.
I'm quite sure she always doubled the recipe. (At least.)
Sometimes, she'd make the little crumb cakes in little pie pans.
Whenever I have breakfast at Aunt Rosalee's house, she makes crumb cake
in memory of our mother and she serves breakfast using Mother's pretty
china and glass dishes.
He really liked it. It's good with milk, or tea, or coffee, or applesauce, or ice cream.
Aunt Rosalee sent it to me. She sent it to all my siblings when she sent it to me in case they would want it too. She has the orginal recipe written in my mother's handwriting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1-1/2 cups sugar
2-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
Mix together the flour and sugar and then cut in the shortening until mixture is crumbly.
Reserve 1/2 cup for topping crumbs.
Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sour milk (1 T. vinegar plus 1 cup milk)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour into greased and floured pans-2 round cake pans or 2 pie pans
Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
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I remember the happy smell of these crumb cakes and how delighted my Daddy was
when he'd come home and numerous crumb cakes would be lined up on the counter.
I'm quite sure she always doubled the recipe. (At least.)
Sometimes, she'd make the little crumb cakes in little pie pans.
Whenever I have breakfast at Aunt Rosalee's house, she makes crumb cake
in memory of our mother and she serves breakfast using Mother's pretty
china and glass dishes.
Mock Pizza Hut Pizza
We got this recipe from
The Lancaster Farming and J.Eby from Reading, Pa. submitted it.
2 packages or 2 Tablespoons yeast
2/3 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
2 cups cold water
2 T. oil
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic power, optional
1/2 tsp. oregano
6-1/2 cup bread flour
Let first 3 ingredients stand until bubbly; set aside.
Mix remaining ingredients-water, oil, sugar, and seasonings-in mixer or large bowl.
Then add yeast mixture alternately with flour.
Knead. Let rise until double. (put in a greased bowl, flip, and cover bowl with towel)
Place 1/4 cup vegetable oil in pan-go with less if using a small pan.
Press dough in pan. Do not press up sides.
Add pizza sauce only.
Bake at 450 for 15 min.
Remove and add favorite pizza toppings.
Bake at 450 for 10 more min.
Makes 3 pizzas.
The Lancaster Farming and J.Eby from Reading, Pa. submitted it.
2 packages or 2 Tablespoons yeast
2/3 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
2 cups cold water
2 T. oil
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic power, optional
1/2 tsp. oregano
6-1/2 cup bread flour
Let first 3 ingredients stand until bubbly; set aside.
Mix remaining ingredients-water, oil, sugar, and seasonings-in mixer or large bowl.
Then add yeast mixture alternately with flour.
Knead. Let rise until double. (put in a greased bowl, flip, and cover bowl with towel)
Place 1/4 cup vegetable oil in pan-go with less if using a small pan.
Press dough in pan. Do not press up sides.
Add pizza sauce only.
Bake at 450 for 15 min.
Remove and add favorite pizza toppings.
Bake at 450 for 10 more min.
Makes 3 pizzas.
Hot chocolate-Instant and Real
Instant-
To one medium box of dried milk
add 1 pound Nestlé's chocolate milk powder
and a medium size container of dried creamer.
Mix. Add 1/2 cup to a mug and add boiling water.
Stir to dissolve.
If you want, use a large box of dried milk and 2 pounds of Nestlé's and a larger container of creamer.
You can't go wrong, really.
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Cocoa-taken from The Mennonite Cookbook.
3 T. cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1 quart milk
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 marshmallows
(Vanilla, salt, and marshmallows are all optional.)
Mix sugar, salt and cocoa together.
Add warm water and stir to a smooth paste.
Cook for 3 min.
Mix warm milk into hot syrup.
Whisk in vanilla.
Top with a marshmallow or whipped cream.
Meanwhile, in another kettle on medium heat, warm up 1 quart milk.
To one medium box of dried milk
add 1 pound Nestlé's chocolate milk powder
and a medium size container of dried creamer.
Mix. Add 1/2 cup to a mug and add boiling water.
Stir to dissolve.
If you want, use a large box of dried milk and 2 pounds of Nestlé's and a larger container of creamer.
You can't go wrong, really.
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Cocoa-taken from The Mennonite Cookbook.
3 T. cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1 quart milk
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 marshmallows
(Vanilla, salt, and marshmallows are all optional.)
Mix sugar, salt and cocoa together.
Add warm water and stir to a smooth paste.
Cook for 3 min.
Mix warm milk into hot syrup.
Whisk in vanilla.
Top with a marshmallow or whipped cream.
Meanwhile, in another kettle on medium heat, warm up 1 quart milk.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Gourmet Potatoes-Mashed and otherwise
Gourmet Mashed Potatoes-From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Charlene Fisher
9 large potatoes
1/2 cup milk
6 oz. cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. finely chopped onion
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 T. butter
Peel potatoes and cook in water until soft.
Mash, adding milk, and then add remaining ingredients.
Pour into a greased casserole and bake covered at 350 for 45 min,
or put in Crock-Pot for several hours.
This can be made a few days ahead of time and kept in refrigerator until ready to bake.
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Make-Ahead Potatoes-From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Marilyn Stoltzfus
10 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
6 T. butter, divided
2 T. dried minced onion
1/2-1 tsp. salt
paprika
Place potatoes in large kettle, cover with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover and cook for 25 min. or until potatoes are tender.
Drain and place in a bowl.
Mash with some kind of masher, not a mixer.
Add sour cream, cream cheese, 4 T. butter, onion and salt.
Stir until smooth and the cream cheese and butter are melted.
Spread in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Melt remaining butter and drizzle over potatoes.
Sprinkle with paprika.
Refrigerate or bake immediately, covered, at 350 for 1 hour.
If you refrigerate, allow to sit out at room temp. for half an hour before baking.
I think you could also dice the potatoes and cook them and leave them diced.
To both recipes above, you could make them even creamier by adding a handful
or two of shredded cheese.
Also, whenever I make potatoes, I usually add garlic in some form or another.
I also like to add a pinch of dill weed.
9 large potatoes
1/2 cup milk
6 oz. cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. finely chopped onion
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 T. butter
Peel potatoes and cook in water until soft.
Mash, adding milk, and then add remaining ingredients.
Pour into a greased casserole and bake covered at 350 for 45 min,
or put in Crock-Pot for several hours.
This can be made a few days ahead of time and kept in refrigerator until ready to bake.
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Make-Ahead Potatoes-From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Marilyn Stoltzfus
10 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
6 T. butter, divided
2 T. dried minced onion
1/2-1 tsp. salt
paprika
Place potatoes in large kettle, cover with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover and cook for 25 min. or until potatoes are tender.
Drain and place in a bowl.
Mash with some kind of masher, not a mixer.
Add sour cream, cream cheese, 4 T. butter, onion and salt.
Stir until smooth and the cream cheese and butter are melted.
Spread in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Melt remaining butter and drizzle over potatoes.
Sprinkle with paprika.
Refrigerate or bake immediately, covered, at 350 for 1 hour.
If you refrigerate, allow to sit out at room temp. for half an hour before baking.
I think you could also dice the potatoes and cook them and leave them diced.
To both recipes above, you could make them even creamier by adding a handful
or two of shredded cheese.
Also, whenever I make potatoes, I usually add garlic in some form or another.
I also like to add a pinch of dill weed.
Homemade Sandwich Rolls
1 cup warm water
2 Tablespoons or 2 packages dry yeast
1 Tablespoon regular or brown sugar
Stir together. Dissolve. Let foam.
Stir together the following until melted.
Cool to lukewarm and add to yeast mixture.
If it is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
If it is too cold, it won't work.
Lukewarm is about the temperature a baby likes his bath water to be. :)
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar, honey, or brown sugar, or coconut sugar
2 1/2 tsp. salt
When these mixtures are mixed together well, begin to add bread flour.
Regular flour works but occident or bread flour is nicer.
Add 5 cups of flour and then gradually add more until
you have a nice soft dough but not a sticky dough.
(Recipe calls for 10 cups but add it gradually.
You might not need it all.)
Put into a greased bowl and then flip over so greased dough is top-side.
Cover with a wet tea towel over top of bowl and put in warm place
such as the oven with the light on.
Let rise until double.
Punch down and let it alone for 10 min.
Shape into rolls and let rise until double again.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. until lightly browned.
I like to brush the tops with butter when they are hot out of the oven.
Should make about 32 large rolls.
(When I am making sandwich rolls, I flatten the pieces of dough down with a rolling pin
on a cutting board. Then I let the dough rise. )
Make sure the pans are greased when you put the unbaked rolls on them to rise.
2 Tablespoons or 2 packages dry yeast
1 Tablespoon regular or brown sugar
Stir together. Dissolve. Let foam.
Stir together the following until melted.
Cool to lukewarm and add to yeast mixture.
If it is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
If it is too cold, it won't work.
Lukewarm is about the temperature a baby likes his bath water to be. :)
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar, honey, or brown sugar, or coconut sugar
2 1/2 tsp. salt
When these mixtures are mixed together well, begin to add bread flour.
Regular flour works but occident or bread flour is nicer.
Add 5 cups of flour and then gradually add more until
you have a nice soft dough but not a sticky dough.
(Recipe calls for 10 cups but add it gradually.
You might not need it all.)
Put into a greased bowl and then flip over so greased dough is top-side.
Cover with a wet tea towel over top of bowl and put in warm place
such as the oven with the light on.
Let rise until double.
Punch down and let it alone for 10 min.
Shape into rolls and let rise until double again.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. until lightly browned.
I like to brush the tops with butter when they are hot out of the oven.
Should make about 32 large rolls.
(When I am making sandwich rolls, I flatten the pieces of dough down with a rolling pin
on a cutting board. Then I let the dough rise. )
Make sure the pans are greased when you put the unbaked rolls on them to rise.
Macaroni and Cheese-Baked
Cool 1 1/2 cups dry macaroni in boiling water for 10 min.
Drain.
Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar,
1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp pepper,
2 cups milk, and 1 small egg, beaten.
Mix well.
Put in greased 8x8 pan.
Pour 1/4 cup of melted butter over top.
Bake at 350 for 45 min.
Drain.
Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar,
1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp pepper,
2 cups milk, and 1 small egg, beaten.
Mix well.
Put in greased 8x8 pan.
Pour 1/4 cup of melted butter over top.
Bake at 350 for 45 min.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Lettuce-Tomato with Beef
I got this recipe from 'More-with-Less Cookbook'-Doris Janzen Longacre
Stir together and set aside.
(Usually, I use 4 times the meat and put the following ingredients in a ziplock bag so it marinates well.
But I will write the recipe as is, except for the msg. which I am omitting.)
1/4 lb. beef sliced paper thin
1/2 medium onion, chopped fine or grated
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp salt. (increase if using more meat)
dash of pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
Arrange on platter, 1 head of lettuce, 2 tomatoes diced, 1 cucumber slices.
Leave a well in the center of the platter for meat.
Combine dressing in bowl and set aside:
1/2 onion, chopped
3 T. vinegar
3 T. oil
1/2 tsp. salt
dash pepper
1 1/2 T. sugar
Head 1 T. oil in skillet over high heat.
Add marinated beef and stir-fry quickly just until beef loses it's red color.
Put beef in "well" on salad platter.
Add 1 T. water to skillet, swish, and pour into dressing.
Stir and pour dressing over meat and vegetables.
Serve over rice.
One of Philip's favorite.
Stir together and set aside.
(Usually, I use 4 times the meat and put the following ingredients in a ziplock bag so it marinates well.
But I will write the recipe as is, except for the msg. which I am omitting.)
1/4 lb. beef sliced paper thin
1/2 medium onion, chopped fine or grated
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp salt. (increase if using more meat)
dash of pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
Arrange on platter, 1 head of lettuce, 2 tomatoes diced, 1 cucumber slices.
Leave a well in the center of the platter for meat.
Combine dressing in bowl and set aside:
1/2 onion, chopped
3 T. vinegar
3 T. oil
1/2 tsp. salt
dash pepper
1 1/2 T. sugar
Head 1 T. oil in skillet over high heat.
Add marinated beef and stir-fry quickly just until beef loses it's red color.
Put beef in "well" on salad platter.
Add 1 T. water to skillet, swish, and pour into dressing.
Stir and pour dressing over meat and vegetables.
Serve over rice.
One of Philip's favorite.
Peanut Butter Pie
I have no idea where I got this recipe.
Use an already made chocolate Oreo crust or
crush 25 Oreos and mix with 4 T. melted butter (press and bake 5-7"-350*)
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1-8 oz. cream cheese, softened
Beat until smooth.
1 1/4 cup 10x sugar. Add. Beat.
8 oz. Cool Whip-Add. Beat until smooth.
Fill crusts. Chill 1 hour. Shred a chocolate bar and sprinkle on top.
I used to make this for Uncle Bubba for his birthday gift when he was young
and Dad and I were young, too.
Use an already made chocolate Oreo crust or
crush 25 Oreos and mix with 4 T. melted butter (press and bake 5-7"-350*)
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1-8 oz. cream cheese, softened
Beat until smooth.
1 1/4 cup 10x sugar. Add. Beat.
8 oz. Cool Whip-Add. Beat until smooth.
Fill crusts. Chill 1 hour. Shred a chocolate bar and sprinkle on top.
I used to make this for Uncle Bubba for his birthday gift when he was young
and Dad and I were young, too.
Sweet Potato/Apple/Sausage Bake
One of Philip's favorites taken from 'The Best of Mennonite Fellowship Meals'~
(Mary Hochstedler and Cindy Gingerich)
1 lb. bulk sausage
2 medium raw sweet potatoes
3 medium apples
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon flour
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup water
Brown sausage and drain excess fat.
Peel and slice potatoes and apples.
Layer sausage, sweet potatoes and apples into 2-quart casserole dish.
Combine all other ingredients and pour over layers.
Cover and bake at 375* for 50-60 minutes or until done.
(Mary Hochstedler and Cindy Gingerich)
1 lb. bulk sausage
2 medium raw sweet potatoes
3 medium apples
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon flour
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup water
Brown sausage and drain excess fat.
Peel and slice potatoes and apples.
Layer sausage, sweet potatoes and apples into 2-quart casserole dish.
Combine all other ingredients and pour over layers.
Cover and bake at 375* for 50-60 minutes or until done.
Sloppy Joes
Brown a pound of any kind of burger
and add 1 cup finely chopped onion
while burger is browning.
You can add 1 cup of celery chopped, also if you want.
I never have.
Drain fat off meat and add the remaining ingredients and simmer.
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup ketchup
Simmer covered for about 30 minutes.
I like to add a handful of quick oats and let that simmer for another 5 minutes.
Soaks up the juices and makes for an easier sandwich.
Serve on homemade buns if you have them. ;)
I thank Carolyn Hartman for the basis of this recipe recorded in
"The Best of Mennonite Fellowship Meals."
and add 1 cup finely chopped onion
while burger is browning.
You can add 1 cup of celery chopped, also if you want.
I never have.
Drain fat off meat and add the remaining ingredients and simmer.
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup ketchup
Simmer covered for about 30 minutes.
I like to add a handful of quick oats and let that simmer for another 5 minutes.
Soaks up the juices and makes for an easier sandwich.
Serve on homemade buns if you have them. ;)
I thank Carolyn Hartman for the basis of this recipe recorded in
"The Best of Mennonite Fellowship Meals."
Seven-Layer Salad
Some thirty-odd years ago, a bridal shower was given in my honor,
and all of the guests brought a favorite recipe written out on an index card
for me to add to my collection.
My sister-in-law, Naomi, brought me a recipe for Seven Layer Salad.
I can't find it at this moment, but I love it, because it is written out in her beautiful
hand-writing. Freeman was two years old, when she was killed by a drunk driver,
on Dad's 30th birthday, September 19, 1986.
My brother Abe, chose well twice, and we have long enjoyed his beautiful wife, Karen.
Seven Layer Salad~~
I like to put this right into a large rectangular Rubbermaid container.
Layer in the container:
1 head of lettuce, torn in pieces
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 -1 cup frozen peas
(small amounts of onion and peppers which I usually omit)
Shredded carrots-optional, not part of original recipe
4 hard boiled eggs, diced.
Combine and spread over vegetables:
1 cup salad dressing
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons cream
(Sometimes I add cottage cheese and/or yogurt so I don't use so much mayonnaise.
Sometimes I add a squirt of mustard to the dressing as well. Taste and see.)
Spread 2/3-1 cup shredded cheese over dressing and sprinkle with crunchy bacon.
Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Can serve 8-10.
and all of the guests brought a favorite recipe written out on an index card
for me to add to my collection.
My sister-in-law, Naomi, brought me a recipe for Seven Layer Salad.
I can't find it at this moment, but I love it, because it is written out in her beautiful
hand-writing. Freeman was two years old, when she was killed by a drunk driver,
on Dad's 30th birthday, September 19, 1986.
My brother Abe, chose well twice, and we have long enjoyed his beautiful wife, Karen.
Seven Layer Salad~~
I like to put this right into a large rectangular Rubbermaid container.
Layer in the container:
1 head of lettuce, torn in pieces
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 -1 cup frozen peas
(small amounts of onion and peppers which I usually omit)
Shredded carrots-optional, not part of original recipe
4 hard boiled eggs, diced.
Combine and spread over vegetables:
1 cup salad dressing
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons cream
(Sometimes I add cottage cheese and/or yogurt so I don't use so much mayonnaise.
Sometimes I add a squirt of mustard to the dressing as well. Taste and see.)
Spread 2/3-1 cup shredded cheese over dressing and sprinkle with crunchy bacon.
Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Can serve 8-10.
Chicken Tenders with Apricot Jam and Salsa over Rice
Many years ago, I got this recipe from Taste of Home.
I've lost the recipe so I don't have the exact measurements for anything,
so we're going to wing it.
Take chicken breasts or tenders and dip them in a flour mixture that
has a pinch of salt and pepper in it. Fry both sides until golden in a skillet
with hot oil.
Meanwhile, in a kettle, begin to simmer together a jar of salsa and a jar of apricot jam.
Sometimes, I add a can of diced pineapple.
As the chicken browns, add it to the salsa mixture,
and cook until the chicken is well-done in the center,
about another 20 minutes or so.
Serve over rice.
This is so good and one of our favorites.
I've lost the recipe so I don't have the exact measurements for anything,
so we're going to wing it.
Take chicken breasts or tenders and dip them in a flour mixture that
has a pinch of salt and pepper in it. Fry both sides until golden in a skillet
with hot oil.
Meanwhile, in a kettle, begin to simmer together a jar of salsa and a jar of apricot jam.
Sometimes, I add a can of diced pineapple.
As the chicken browns, add it to the salsa mixture,
and cook until the chicken is well-done in the center,
about another 20 minutes or so.
Serve over rice.
This is so good and one of our favorites.
Quiche for a Crowd
Sometimes, the Hertzler men make breakfast for the men at church
and sometimes, they make breakfast for the women. I think Michael
usually heads up this endeavor.
This makes one very large foil pan full of quiche and takes about an hour to bake.
These are the same size pans we use for the pig roast.
Spray the pan.
Add 1 1/2 large bag of shredded hash browns to bottom of pan
and bake at 425 for about 20 min. until some of the moisture is gone
and the potatoes are starting to brown.
You can lower the temp. to 350 unless you're in a rush.
Layer on 4-8 cups of shredded cheese.
Then add a layer of meat. (5-8 cups)
(ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc.)
Beat together 2 1/2 dozen eggs (beaten)
10 cups milk/half and half
5 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Add 1/2 cup flour in a small amount of the milk to keep eggs from separating later.
(optional)
Pour egg mixture over potatoes, cheese, and meat and bake until firm and golden brown.
It is easier to bake these ahead of time and warm them up if you are serving a crowd.
and sometimes, they make breakfast for the women. I think Michael
usually heads up this endeavor.
This makes one very large foil pan full of quiche and takes about an hour to bake.
These are the same size pans we use for the pig roast.
Spray the pan.
Add 1 1/2 large bag of shredded hash browns to bottom of pan
and bake at 425 for about 20 min. until some of the moisture is gone
and the potatoes are starting to brown.
You can lower the temp. to 350 unless you're in a rush.
Layer on 4-8 cups of shredded cheese.
Then add a layer of meat. (5-8 cups)
(ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc.)
Beat together 2 1/2 dozen eggs (beaten)
10 cups milk/half and half
5 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Add 1/2 cup flour in a small amount of the milk to keep eggs from separating later.
(optional)
Pour egg mixture over potatoes, cheese, and meat and bake until firm and golden brown.
It is easier to bake these ahead of time and warm them up if you are serving a crowd.
Baked Oatmeal
I got this recipe from the cookbook-"The Best of Mennonite Fellowship Meals"-
put together by Phyllis Pellman Good and Louise Stoltzfus.
The summer of my Junior year in high school, I worked for Merle and Phyllis Good
at Dutch Family Festival. I acted and sang and gave lectures on Amish and Mennonites.
It was a wonderful time and my employers were great people. In later years, they overextended
themselves and went bankrupt but through the sales of this cookbook and a number of others,
the Good's paid off their debts. I was always proud of them for doing that.
This recipe was submitted by Miriam M. Witmer.
I usually double it and sometimes add fruit.
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
3 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1. Combine oil, eggs, and sugar.
Add oatmeal, baking powder, salt, and milk.
2. Bake at 350* for 30-35 min.
I like to use brown sugar or coconut sugar instead of regular sugar.
I mix the dry ingredients together before adding them to the wet ingredients.
I add the milk last.
Your dad especially likes this with raisins.
put together by Phyllis Pellman Good and Louise Stoltzfus.
The summer of my Junior year in high school, I worked for Merle and Phyllis Good
at Dutch Family Festival. I acted and sang and gave lectures on Amish and Mennonites.
It was a wonderful time and my employers were great people. In later years, they overextended
themselves and went bankrupt but through the sales of this cookbook and a number of others,
the Good's paid off their debts. I was always proud of them for doing that.
This recipe was submitted by Miriam M. Witmer.
I usually double it and sometimes add fruit.
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
3 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1. Combine oil, eggs, and sugar.
Add oatmeal, baking powder, salt, and milk.
2. Bake at 350* for 30-35 min.
I like to use brown sugar or coconut sugar instead of regular sugar.
I mix the dry ingredients together before adding them to the wet ingredients.
I add the milk last.
Your dad especially likes this with raisins.
Scrapple-Outdoor style
The recipe I am writing down here is the dry mixture you add to the pot of meat and broth.
17 quarts of cornmeal
16 cups of buckwheat
1 to 3 cups salt. (At least a cup to 10 gallons of broth.)
1 box of pepper. (At least)
1/4 cup each of savory and sage.
Can also add thyme.
Can add more of any of these spices if need more flavor once mixed and tasted.
Sprinkle in mixture dry and whisk.
Cook until thick.
Dip into big bread pans and double up aluminum pans.
Chill for at least 12 hours before cutting and freezing.
Party time!
17 quarts of cornmeal
16 cups of buckwheat
1 to 3 cups salt. (At least a cup to 10 gallons of broth.)
1 box of pepper. (At least)
1/4 cup each of savory and sage.
Can also add thyme.
Can add more of any of these spices if need more flavor once mixed and tasted.
Sprinkle in mixture dry and whisk.
Cook until thick.
Dip into big bread pans and double up aluminum pans.
Chill for at least 12 hours before cutting and freezing.
Party time!
Grandma Diffenbach's Pumpkin Ice Cream Parfait
I lost the original recipe but found one that reminds me of Grandma's.
This was a favorite dish at Thanksgiving and she would put it in
her aluminum 9x13 cake pan which I now have.
Spray the 9x13 pan.
Combine 2 2/3 cups crushed gingersnaps with 3 Tablespoons melted butter.
Spread half of the crumbs (1 1/3 cup) in bottom of pan.
Combine 2 quarts of softened vanilla ice cream with the following mixture:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. cloves
Whisk together and then whisk with ice cream and spread in pan.
Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top.
Freeze immediately.
Let thaw for a little while before serving.
Makes 24 pieces.
This was a favorite dish at Thanksgiving and she would put it in
her aluminum 9x13 cake pan which I now have.
Spray the 9x13 pan.
Combine 2 2/3 cups crushed gingersnaps with 3 Tablespoons melted butter.
Spread half of the crumbs (1 1/3 cup) in bottom of pan.
Combine 2 quarts of softened vanilla ice cream with the following mixture:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. cloves
Whisk together and then whisk with ice cream and spread in pan.
Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top.
Freeze immediately.
Let thaw for a little while before serving.
Makes 24 pieces.
Mexican Meat and Bean Mixture for Tortillas or Taco Salad
Brown burger-bear, venison, turkey, or beef. (1 pound or more)
Add some taco seasoning or chili powder and red pepper.
Add onions and peppers and sauté as the burger browns. (optional)
After meat is browned, add a jar of salsa and a can of beans-
black, kidney, and/or pinto. ( or already seasoned chili beans)
Use to make tortillas or taco salad.
If making taco salad, break a head of lettuce in pieces,
toss with French dressing, add shredded cheese.
Crush tortilla or nacho chips and toss.
Add meat mixture and toss.
Optional ingredients-tomatoes and black olives.
To make tortillas, spread meat down the center of a tortilla.
Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
Add lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and sour cream.
Roll up and enjoy yourself.
Add some taco seasoning or chili powder and red pepper.
Add onions and peppers and sauté as the burger browns. (optional)
After meat is browned, add a jar of salsa and a can of beans-
black, kidney, and/or pinto. ( or already seasoned chili beans)
Use to make tortillas or taco salad.
If making taco salad, break a head of lettuce in pieces,
toss with French dressing, add shredded cheese.
Crush tortilla or nacho chips and toss.
Add meat mixture and toss.
Optional ingredients-tomatoes and black olives.
To make tortillas, spread meat down the center of a tortilla.
Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
Add lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and sour cream.
Roll up and enjoy yourself.
Philip's October Butter
I made some October Butter.
Philip thought it was applesauce so he ate it like it was applesauce.
He thought it was the best tasting applesauce he ever had.
But, really, it was more like apple butter.
Here is the original recipe
and then I'll give out my 'tweaks'.
I got it from the book entitled "The How To Book-Canning, Freezing, Drying"
October Butter
(Makes about 5 eight-ounce glasses)
8 medium cooking apples
2 large firm pears
3 cups orange juice
2 cinnamon sticks
2 cups mashed ripe banana
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Sugar
Wash apples and pears. Cut into small pieces, but do not peel or remove cores.
Place in large kettle with OJ and cinnamon sticks. Cook until very soft.
Put through a food mill, discarding seeds and skins. Combine apples and pears with bananas
and lemon juice. Cook mixture gently until it is thick enough to mound on a spoon.
Measure fruit mixture and had half as much sugar as fruit.
Boil gently until thickened about 20-25 min.
Remove from heat and pour into hot sterilized jars.
Seal immediately.
(When I made it, I also added crushed pineapple. I didn't concern myself with the ratio of pears to apples. I used what I had. After I had made the sauce and added the banana and pineapple and cooked it for awhile, it tasted sweet enough to me so I didn't add any sugar. No one complained. This is so good over cottage cheese.)
Philip thought it was applesauce so he ate it like it was applesauce.
He thought it was the best tasting applesauce he ever had.
But, really, it was more like apple butter.
Here is the original recipe
and then I'll give out my 'tweaks'.
I got it from the book entitled "The How To Book-Canning, Freezing, Drying"
October Butter
(Makes about 5 eight-ounce glasses)
8 medium cooking apples
2 large firm pears
3 cups orange juice
2 cinnamon sticks
2 cups mashed ripe banana
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Sugar
Wash apples and pears. Cut into small pieces, but do not peel or remove cores.
Place in large kettle with OJ and cinnamon sticks. Cook until very soft.
Put through a food mill, discarding seeds and skins. Combine apples and pears with bananas
and lemon juice. Cook mixture gently until it is thick enough to mound on a spoon.
Measure fruit mixture and had half as much sugar as fruit.
Boil gently until thickened about 20-25 min.
Remove from heat and pour into hot sterilized jars.
Seal immediately.
(When I made it, I also added crushed pineapple. I didn't concern myself with the ratio of pears to apples. I used what I had. After I had made the sauce and added the banana and pineapple and cooked it for awhile, it tasted sweet enough to me so I didn't add any sugar. No one complained. This is so good over cottage cheese.)
Hot Fudge Sundae Cake
The first time Dad and I ever had this was at Tom and Wendy Brynan's.
We used to have a Bible Study with them and Dad led a study on Revelation.
They often had us there for a meal because Wendy is a great cook and we were
and still are, dear friends.
I got a similar recipe out of 'Simply Wonderful' and it was submitted by Ada Dienner.
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
6 Tablespoons baking cocoa, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cup hot water
Combine flour, sugar, 2 Tbsp. cocoa, baking powder and salt.
Stir in milk, oil and vanilla until smooth.
Spread in an ungreased 9" pan.
Combine brown sugar and remaining cocoa.
Sprinkle over batter.
Pour hot water over all.
DO NOT STIR.
Bake at 350* for 35-40 min.
Serve warm.
Very good with ice cream.
During the baking process, the cake will rise to the top
and the syrup will remain underneath.
Aunt Helen's Pizza Crust Recipe
3 cups warm water
4 Tablespoons yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons oil
Put in bowl and let it sit until yeast dissolves and gets foamy.
Add 3 teaspoons salt.
Begin to mix in-8 cups of flour.
Oil pan. Put oven at 500 degrees.
Roll dough thin.
Bake one at a time in middle of oven.
First add sauce and toppings.
Ideas:
Plain cheese
Sausage and mushroom
Pepperoni
Ham and pineapple
Vegetable-peppers, onions, broccoli, ripe olives
Meat lovers-bacon, ham, sausage, pepperoni
Ranch chicken
4 Tablespoons yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons oil
Put in bowl and let it sit until yeast dissolves and gets foamy.
Add 3 teaspoons salt.
Begin to mix in-8 cups of flour.
Oil pan. Put oven at 500 degrees.
Roll dough thin.
Bake one at a time in middle of oven.
First add sauce and toppings.
Ideas:
Plain cheese
Sausage and mushroom
Pepperoni
Ham and pineapple
Vegetable-peppers, onions, broccoli, ripe olives
Meat lovers-bacon, ham, sausage, pepperoni
Ranch chicken
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Sept 28-Oct.4, 2015
Mon.-Susan went to Pa for a few days. Left yesterday morning. Lisa H. took me to the dentist to reopen the implant and put another part of it on. We shopped first at Ross and then went. I slept the rest of the day.
Tues.-Slept. On a pain med that helps with that. Using ice as well. Raining again. At least 5 days straight. Alli is better. Had a miraculous healing yesterday. Her knee popped back in place. So much relief. Haven't seen Nathan for three days now. Going through withdrawal. Looking at pics on my phone. Susan had plans yesterday to take Grandma and Grandpa to Cabela's to spend some gift certificates Phil sent along. She's spending tonight and tomorrow at Annie's.
Wed.-Took it easy. Started working on cookbook I'm making for each family member for Christmas. I'm putting in favorite recipes over the years and including some of my grandparent's recipes as well.
Alli's helping me with the project. Naomi is heading to Nantucket this weekend and I've been concerned about the weather.
Thurs.-Went to Walmart and the parking lot was full. First I got my prescriptions filled and went to Salvation army and lucked out on the flannel shirt division. She had just put them out. Everyone was cheerful at Walmart and they were smiling a lot. Put they were buying water and Cheezits and other necessities. Susan got home soon after 2. It was fun to catch up with her. She had such a great time in Pa. She's always reminded me of Phil's sister, Anne, and Anne's husband Dave said it was like having two Anne's running around. She enjoyed her time with them and said that he is really funny and she had no idea because he's usually quiet. Grandpa told her she was a treasure in this family. That meant a lot to her. She took them to Cabela's yesterday and they used Phil's gift cards given to them to get some special things such as mugs, a plaque she gave to Phil that says, "A Fisherman lives her with the catch of his life," a camouflage windshield wiper(she thought there were two in the package) (Philip was tickled when she gave it to him), and some other things. Mom got a blue shirt. I think Dad got some wool socks. She found some great buys at Goodwill for herself and the family also. So we both were washing our finds this afternoon. I started cooking food when Michael told me they are calling for 100 mph winds and schools are closed tomorrow, flooding etc.
Fri.-Raining. 50 degrees. Had a nice day at home with Susan. Lucy snuggled with her most of the day. We watched 'You've Got Mail.' I made some incredible banana bread, chicken salad, fried potatoes, stewed tomatoes, and trout. Also made a big batch of meat/bean/rice tortilla mixture. Guys got home early from work because they were finished. Phil picked up an excavator. Turquoise color. Weather models show hurricane heading out to sea. Still a danger of flooding and power outages due to trees falling on lines and high winds. With the ground saturated, the root systems are more fragile, and high winds can blow the trees over. Worked some more on the cookbook. Phil called Dad and got the recipe for Machamer Fudge. Phil and I watched a movie tonight. Only ones at home. Wow, it's really raining hard. Had some fun conversation with Lindsay this morning on fb. Can't wait to see her soon.
Sat.-Chace is leaving to go serve in the military and Michael had asked him if there was any one thing he'd like to do and today, amidst the wind and the rain, Jordan, Michael, and Chace, went down to the river, built a fire, ate breakfast, and made coffee over the fire. Michael went to Jesse Boyer's wedding with Jessica later in the afternoon. Susan didn't get much sleep last night. She woke up when the guys came in this morning and when she let Lucy out, Lucy growled and tore into a skunk that was under our porch and of course she got sprayed. Susan had to shampoo her twice and she still smells pretty rank. We washed Susan's clothes twice too. I did some cleaning and working on the 'Family Recipe Cookbook.' Phil worked around here and later, we watched some Crocodile Dundee all by ourselves. It's not quite 50 degrees. I'm wearing two long sleeve shirts, one of which is my pink camo hoodie and I have the hood up. Susan's working a 9 hour shift. God bless her soul. And her feet. Philip went archery hunting. Freeman worked on the dining room table he's making. Alli and Nathan went to Chai Time. I stayed home to have time with Susan and to pace myself since we're going to church and to see War Room tomorrow and I have a busy week ahead.
Sun.-Went to see War Room right after church on Sunday. It was good. Came home and rested and watched some Crocodile Dundee. Susan was so tired she slept through most of church right in her own bed. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.
Tues.-Slept. On a pain med that helps with that. Using ice as well. Raining again. At least 5 days straight. Alli is better. Had a miraculous healing yesterday. Her knee popped back in place. So much relief. Haven't seen Nathan for three days now. Going through withdrawal. Looking at pics on my phone. Susan had plans yesterday to take Grandma and Grandpa to Cabela's to spend some gift certificates Phil sent along. She's spending tonight and tomorrow at Annie's.
Wed.-Took it easy. Started working on cookbook I'm making for each family member for Christmas. I'm putting in favorite recipes over the years and including some of my grandparent's recipes as well.
Alli's helping me with the project. Naomi is heading to Nantucket this weekend and I've been concerned about the weather.
Thurs.-Went to Walmart and the parking lot was full. First I got my prescriptions filled and went to Salvation army and lucked out on the flannel shirt division. She had just put them out. Everyone was cheerful at Walmart and they were smiling a lot. Put they were buying water and Cheezits and other necessities. Susan got home soon after 2. It was fun to catch up with her. She had such a great time in Pa. She's always reminded me of Phil's sister, Anne, and Anne's husband Dave said it was like having two Anne's running around. She enjoyed her time with them and said that he is really funny and she had no idea because he's usually quiet. Grandpa told her she was a treasure in this family. That meant a lot to her. She took them to Cabela's yesterday and they used Phil's gift cards given to them to get some special things such as mugs, a plaque she gave to Phil that says, "A Fisherman lives her with the catch of his life," a camouflage windshield wiper(she thought there were two in the package) (Philip was tickled when she gave it to him), and some other things. Mom got a blue shirt. I think Dad got some wool socks. She found some great buys at Goodwill for herself and the family also. So we both were washing our finds this afternoon. I started cooking food when Michael told me they are calling for 100 mph winds and schools are closed tomorrow, flooding etc.
Fri.-Raining. 50 degrees. Had a nice day at home with Susan. Lucy snuggled with her most of the day. We watched 'You've Got Mail.' I made some incredible banana bread, chicken salad, fried potatoes, stewed tomatoes, and trout. Also made a big batch of meat/bean/rice tortilla mixture. Guys got home early from work because they were finished. Phil picked up an excavator. Turquoise color. Weather models show hurricane heading out to sea. Still a danger of flooding and power outages due to trees falling on lines and high winds. With the ground saturated, the root systems are more fragile, and high winds can blow the trees over. Worked some more on the cookbook. Phil called Dad and got the recipe for Machamer Fudge. Phil and I watched a movie tonight. Only ones at home. Wow, it's really raining hard. Had some fun conversation with Lindsay this morning on fb. Can't wait to see her soon.
Sat.-Chace is leaving to go serve in the military and Michael had asked him if there was any one thing he'd like to do and today, amidst the wind and the rain, Jordan, Michael, and Chace, went down to the river, built a fire, ate breakfast, and made coffee over the fire. Michael went to Jesse Boyer's wedding with Jessica later in the afternoon. Susan didn't get much sleep last night. She woke up when the guys came in this morning and when she let Lucy out, Lucy growled and tore into a skunk that was under our porch and of course she got sprayed. Susan had to shampoo her twice and she still smells pretty rank. We washed Susan's clothes twice too. I did some cleaning and working on the 'Family Recipe Cookbook.' Phil worked around here and later, we watched some Crocodile Dundee all by ourselves. It's not quite 50 degrees. I'm wearing two long sleeve shirts, one of which is my pink camo hoodie and I have the hood up. Susan's working a 9 hour shift. God bless her soul. And her feet. Philip went archery hunting. Freeman worked on the dining room table he's making. Alli and Nathan went to Chai Time. I stayed home to have time with Susan and to pace myself since we're going to church and to see War Room tomorrow and I have a busy week ahead.
Sun.-Went to see War Room right after church on Sunday. It was good. Came home and rested and watched some Crocodile Dundee. Susan was so tired she slept through most of church right in her own bed. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.
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