Dustin and daughter Loretta are bringing their sons Denzel, 2, and Byron, 1, here around eight this morning before they head to town for an appointment at the dentist. I thought I should probably get this column done before they come.

Daughter Verena is home today, and she is a great babysitter.

I need to wash laundry, as I didn’t get it washed yesterday. We have had rainy days, and that’s not so good for our solar power system.

We didn’t have gas here yesterday, so son Benjamin went to town to get some last night. I will run the generator while I wash the clothes. We have had a lot of dreary days lately.

My thoughts are with nephew Steven, 17.

He is a patient at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He had spinal fusion surgery yesterday and will have a few days in the hospital. Sister Emma is staying up there with him.

I’m sure he misses his dad during times like this. And Emma the support of a husband. Steven also has muscular dystrophy, so his recovery will be more of a challenge.

Tonight my daughters, sister Verena and I are planning to attend a Pampered Chef bridal shower for daughter-in-law Grace (son Joseph’s wife) at her brother’s house. Hopefully, Grace will get lots of free items to fill her kitchen and us ladies get a night out to visit.

We plan to butcher two pigs Saturday. One will be for daughter Lovina and Daniel and the other one for us. I will be glad once this job is done.

Then in a few weeks we plan to butcher 75 chickens. Dustin is raising them for us. Daniel and Lovina, Dustin and Loretta, and our household will each get 25 chickens.

My husband Joe wants to smoke a few whole chickens, but the rest will be bagged and put in the freezer for future use.

We also need to butcher a beef. I’m out of sausage, but I still have some ground beef left. We are planning to butcher just a half beef for us this year, as the house has fewer people.

Our sons-in-law have been fortunate to harvest some deer for their freezers.

We have been enjoying playing the game Life on the Farm this past week. It gets dark so fast, so our chores get done earlier. The game is a challenge to see who can buy 60 cows and save up $10,000 first. The game is similar to Monopoly and can get quite competitive. Why does it seem like popcorn and apples go well when playing games on cold nights?

Verena and Daniel Ray are working on a 1,000-piece puzzle whenever they get a chance. It has all kinds of candy bars for the picture. I told them that would make me hungry for chocolate.

Now I will go wash clothes while Verena keeps watch over the sweethearts!

God’s blessings to all!

Honey Chews

Ingredients

3 eggs

1 cup honey

1 cup sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup dates, chopped

Directions

Beat eggs and gradually stir in honey in a fine stream. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt and fold into egg mixture. Add nuts and dates and stir to blend. Pour batter into a well-greased 9 x 13-inch pan and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes. Chocolate chips can be substituted for the dates. Cut into bars to serve.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight who lives in southeastern Michigan. Readers can write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, 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.