Diary of Feb. 7:

4 a.m. — The alarm rings, and it’s time to start another day.

Dustin, Loretta and Denzel, 7 months, come over. Loretta and Denzel lie on the recliner to take a nap since it’s still so early. Dustin leaves for work. Loretta has another appointment with the doctor tomorrow. They want to see if the clots are still dissolving with the blood thinner. She says the pain is gone, and it’s feeling much better. We’re so thankful to get good results.

4:15 a.m. — I make breakfast for my husband, Joe, pack his lunch and fill his water jug with ice and water. Joe goes down to the basement to refuel our coal stove.

Our coal stove in the basement has a jacket around it. It heats all three floors of our house. We have a big vent on top of the stove in the floor that brings the heat up, and our open staircase is right close by, so that sends heat up to the bedrooms up there. We have cold air return vents along the sides of the floor to help circulate the air.

In the 15 years we have lived in this new house, it has worked great. On really cold or windy days, we have propane lights to light, which also throws a lot of heat.

Son Joseph, 20, goes out to the pole barn to refuel that stove. We have heat in there to keep the solar batteries from getting too cold, and it’s also where our phone is. We have a bathroom, kitchen sink and cabinets out there, so it helps keep the water lines from freezing.

4:45 a.m. — Joe leaves for work at the metal shop. I make Joseph’s breakfast and pack his lunch and water jug. Son Benjamin, 23, goes out to do the chores in the barn.

5 a.m. — Joseph leaves for his construction job. They build mostly pole barns. Benjamin doesn’t want breakfast and doesn’t take his lunch to work.

5:25 a.m. — Benjamin leaves and I sit on my recliner with a cup of coffee. Loretta and Denzel are sound asleep. I always feel like I need a little rest after the morning rush.

8 a.m. — Daughter Verena has been here for several days, and I’m always glad she’s here. Everyone is awake and, of course, Denzel needs our attention. We have a lot of fun with him.

I work on answering reader mail. I have been behind since the middle of December. The girls wash dishes and clean up the house.

11:30 a.m. — Daughter Susan brings her three boys here: Isaiah, 4; Ryan, 3; and Curtis, 3. Today is Ervin’s first day back to work at the factory since the six-week layoff. Verena goes with Susan to take Jennifer, 5, to the doctor. Kaitlyn is in school.

No one is hungry for breakfast, so we make lunch for the boys and us. Denzel is so happy to have the attention of his little cousins.

Noon — Egg Dutch, bacon, cheese and toast are on the menu. Curtis loves the Egg Dutch and wants seconds. He says, “Grandma, it’s really good.” Ryan stands beside him, nodding his head, “Yes,” that he thinks so too. So precious!

We spend the afternoon entertaining the boys. We put puzzles together and read books. They enjoy that.

3:15 p.m. — Joe comes home and the boys have fun with Grandpa. Then Benjamin comes home, and there’s no more quietness. He plays tag with them, chasing them around the house. They enjoy it, though.

Dustin is also back from work, and he, Loretta and Denzel leave for home.

4 p.m. — Susan and Verena are back to get the boys.

4:30 p.m. — Joseph is home from work. He showers and leaves because he’s taking his special friend, Grace, out to eat for her birthday. Her birthday was Feb. 6. Last Friday, our family gathered here in honor of her birthday. Joseph got her a decorated cake. We had baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered beets, cheese, peppers, and cake, ice cream and Jell-O for dessert.

Daughter Lovina and I fold the laundry from yesterday that was drying in the basement.

Benjamin does chores, and Joe refuels the stoves.

6:30 p.m. — Lovina makes supper. It’s grilled cheese sandwiches, sausage patties and eggs.

9 p.m. — Joseph is back from town. It’s time to call it a day. Good night and God’s blessings to all!

I will share the recipe for Egg Dutch. This has always been a favorite for us. I remember my mother making it often.

Egg Dutch

5 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

1 heaping tablespoon flour

1 cup milk

Beat together eggs, salt, pepper, flour and milk in a medium bowl. Pour into a heated, greased skillet and cover with a tight lid.

Cook over medium-low heat until eggs are mostly set.

Cut into pieces and flip each one over. Then cover again to finish cooking.

Add shredded cheese on top when almost done, if desired. Bacon bits are also good.

Lovina Eicher is an Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight who lives in southeastern Michigan. Her newest cookbook, “Amish Family Recipes,” is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at P.O. Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply), or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.