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Help from the kids

My husband Joe is back to work after having a 10-day vacation. Time went too fast! We are now once again getting up around 3 a.m.

Joe has been helping Jacob build a wall between their toolshed and barn the last three nights, so that has kept him busy. Church services are set to be at Jacob's for Sunday in a week. Next week, we'll be back helping Jacob's and attending the wedding at my brother Amos's and wife Nancy Jean's. The wedding is for their daughter Elizabeth and groom Paul Graber.

Our garden is doing real good. My corn is tasseling and we've picked our first tomatoes and green peppers. My second batch of radishes are ready and cucumbers are really starting in. It is so easy to make a meal with fresh garden goodies. Looks like green beans are going to be a good crop. We have been having nice rains so that we don't have to water the garden too often.

I went to an Amish garage sale early this morning. Had some luck finding some clothes. What a help that it is not to have to sew all the clothes. Prices of material are so high and it is a real bargain to get a sewn outfit for cheap.

Tomorrow is Benjamin's 7th birthday. He sure has looked forward to that. Also on Saturday, Joe and I will be married 13 years. Daughter Verena, age 8, remarked when she heard about our anniversary: "Mom, I wish I could have been at your wedding. It would have been fun to see you and Dad get married." I thought that was cute; such innocent children!

Joe and Jacob took our Benjamin and Jacob Jr. along fishing in the rowboat out on the lake one night last week. The boys were really excited to pull in their first fish. And it is good to have sisters Verena and Susan home. They enjoyed their trip to the Smoky Mountains. It would be a great trip to take, but not with as many little ones as we have.

The Coblentz reunion was in Berne, Ind. earlier this month. We couldn't go with all the work on our house here. But I heard our Uncle Melvin was there. It was probably hard for him to go alone since our Aunt Esther passed away.

The girls are helping weed the garden now which makes a difference. Loretta wanted to help but she didn't last long since she started pulling the "good weeds" (the vegetables). I imagine she thought it would be faster just to start pulling everything up. I hope to get more weeding done and also get the grass mowed It is a hot muggy day!

Try this recipe for a delicious, moist chocolate cake!

CHOCOLATE CAKE

2 eggs

2 cups brown sugar

1 /2 cup oil

1 /2 cup milk

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 /2 teaspoon baking powder

4 teaspoons cocoa

3/ 4 cups boiling water

Mix everything together well until smooth and creamy. Pour into a lightly greased round cake pan. Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes.