Following are what the children told daughter Verena to write in the column last week. Space did not permit us to add this so we will put it in this week’s column. Daughter Verena stayed with daughter Susan and Ervin’s five children while they went to Florida to spend a week with his parents.

KAITLYN, 8

I do the chicken chores! I check if the water is frozen or not. My favorite chore is sweeping the floors.

Abigail and Marianna are my friends at school. Dad and Mom went to Florida and I miss them. Verena is watching me and Anna is here too.

JENNIFER, 7

I like washing dishes and I like when Verena is here. I like helping Kaitlyn with chicken chores.

My favorite food is pizza and my favorite colors are pink and red.

I went to Dustin and Loretta and saw their baby. Their baby Kylie smells good. I saw Denzel and Byron, too. They gave me hugs and kisses. I was holding the tiny baby.

Kaitlyn and I built a snowman and we named it Unicorn.

My parents went to Florida. Anna is here and she gives us piggyback rides.

ISAIAH, 6

I want to go to town to the pizza place. I like to lead our pony Penny.

When I get bigger, I want to cut down trees. I want to clean out the barn and make a new barn.

I miss my Mom and Dad and I want to see an alligator like they did. My favorite chore is giving my ponies Penny and Peanut hay.

I like it when my Dad takes us out on the pond when it is frozen.

RYAN, 5

My favorite colors are blue and red. My mommy and daddy went to Florida and I miss them and my little baby (junior) Verena is staying with us.

I am missing my two front teeth. I like all my friends.

My favorite food is pizza and chicken. When I am big, I want to be a fisherman.

CURTIS, 5

My favorite colors are green and red. I like Christmas colors.

The horses are out in the field. Alligators are scary and they eat people. My Grandpa Joe is my favorite person.

He goes to bed when it’s dark. A dog came here and bit our rooster and made it die.

The mom chickens were quacking because the rooster died.

My mom and dad are in Florida with alligators. My mommy (Ervin’s Mom) is there too. (A lot of the Amish grandchildren call their grandma “Mommy.”)

May God always protect these sweet little angels as they travel into the unknown future. Our grandchildren have brought us much joy and happiness. God’s blessings to all!

Buttermilk

dressing

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup buttermilk

¼ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon parsley

Directions

In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours to blend flavors. If dressing is too thick, add more buttermilk.

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