Eicher Family Set Out For Ohio

We have entered the 11th month of this year already. Where did time go?

Every year seems to go faster than the year before. A happy 40th birthday to brother-in-law Jacob, who celebrated on Nov. 1. It is a nice and sunny day, but cold here in Michigan. Our thoughts and prayers are with those in New York and New Jersey who experienced such devastation from last week’s storm.

Yesterday, we finally finished up with our painting. Most of it had been done, but we still needed to get into a few small places, such as behind the stove and refrigerator. While we had everything pulled out, we gave the stove and refrigerator a thorough cleaning.

Next on our list is to clean out the cabinets and wash curtains and windows before the snow starts to fly. We have raked some of our leaves, but most of them have blown away or are gathered in piles by our out-building. Joe and the boys cleaned out the garden and tilled both on Saturday.
That makes gardening for 2012 history now. I still do have some tomatoes and hot and green peppers left from the garden.

Loretta has started therapy. She also has the AFO braces, which are a lot more comfortable than the air cast. She has a splint which she has to wear during the night while she sleeps. Her therapy is weekly, but she does some every day at home. She needs someone to help her with some of her therapy. So far, we are seeing good results from the surgery. We hope she will keep getting her strength back.

We need to get busy packing because tomorrow we leave for Sugarcreek, Ohio. We plan to stay until Sunday. We will sleep at Joe’s Uncle John and Susie’s house both nights. Aunt Lovina wants us to come for dinner at her and her husband Abe’s house on Sunday. She told her children who live close by to come also. We also want to visit with Joe’s Uncle Solomon. And then we’ll visit Joe’s sister Esther and his brother, Benjamin. We look forward to seeing everyone again.

The children are excited about going. Kevin asked if they have cougars or bears in Ohio. He said he hopes they do because he wants to see one. I imagine he would change his mind if he would ever see one up close.

Next week, we have someone coming to look at my grandfather’s clock. It hasn’t worked for quite a few years and we just never got it fixed. It will be nice to have it working again. It was a gift from Joe almost 20 years ago.

Kevin likes a peanut butter sandwich every day when he comes home from school. When I saw the following recipe, I knew he’d like these.
 

Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls

3-4 cups of popped corn

½ cup sugar

½ cup light corn syrup

½ cup chunky peanut butter

½ teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt
 

Divide sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan. Keep at a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter, vanilla and salt. Pour over corn, stirring until well coated and shape into balls.
 

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