Eicher family enjoys signs of spring; coffee cake recipe

Spring officially has begun. Signs of spring are everywhere, and an about 70-degree, warm, sunny day showed us most of winter is behind us.

On March 23, I spent most of my day at daughter Susan’s house. A group of church ladies gathered at her house for coffee break. Now to me, this “coffee break” is similar to brunch. A breakfast casserole, ham and cheese sandwiches, carrots and dip and so many different desserts, coffee and tea made a full menu of a meal. The little children played with toys and the little girls played with dolls and played house while the ladies visited.

I took our horse, Midnight, and our buggy. It was a beautiful morning for a ride. It’s been a while since I drove alone in the buggy. Time alone can be peaceful and time to think. Life surely has changed for us. So often we think, “Why God? Why us?” Then, we correct ourselves because God doesn’t make mistakes. Trust in God with all thine heart … again and again and again. Time will lessen the heartaches.

Daughter Loretta, 20, is washing our supper dishes as I write this. Daughter Lovina, 16, left before supper to go spend the night with sister Verena. I fried chicken for supper, so Lovina took some along for their supper. Along with chicken, we had potato casserole left over from last night’s supper. Fried chicken tasted good again for a change.

Daughter Verena, 23, still is staying with daughter Susan most of the time.

I was cleaning my desk and came across a packet of reader mail that was sent to me in December. I am so sorry to those of you who asked questions about recipes or other questions. I will try to answer those soon. With having two funerals here six weeks apart, my “clutter” was pushed aside, and now we are trying to get back to normal as much as possible.

On Sunday evening, Joe and I were home alone, so we decided to walk down to sister Verena’s for a while. She had been home alone since after church. Those hours can be long if you are alone. We visited with her and talked of memories. Sister Susan still is so missed and so many things remind you of her when you go there. She has many lonely days and wishes more of the family could come visit her. She spent Friday evening with daughters Susan and Verena. Joe and I also went there for supper. Tim and Elizabeth and children joined us there, too.

Son Kevin and nephew Steven spent the night at sister Verena’s house Saturday night. Jacob and Emma picked them up to go to church Sunday morning. Sister Emma also picked sister Verena up to bring her to coffee break at daughter Susan’s this morning.

This week, I’ll share a recipe for coffee cake. Hope you will enjoy it.

Time for me to join the rest — getting ready for bed.

God’s blessings to all.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, “Amish Family Recipes,” is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at P.O. Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply), or email [email protected], and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.