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The children are enjoying their spring break from school, which so far we have been having beautiful days. Temperatures are reaching the 70 degree mark almost every day. They are enjoying taking our pony, Stormy, and the pony wagon for rides again after this long winter interrupted that favorite pastime. Rhubarb and winter onions are starting to peek their way through, hopefully a sure sign spring is here to stay.

While the children are home we want to get the yard raked and cleaned up. We need to plant grass in some more places. On Saturday evening we had a surprise when brother Albert, wife Sarah Irene and seven of

their 10 children arrived. They had come to visit Jacob and Emma to see how Baby Steven is doing. Albert's family lives in another Amish community about 20–25 miles from here. It took them almost two hours to come with two buggies.

We managed to find room for everyone to sleep, even if not everyone ended up with a bed. I fixed some pizza casseroles and we also had corn, salad, and cake for our evening supper. The following morning,

Sunday, we had breakfast casserole, fried potatoes, sausage links, cheese, toast, hot peppers, orange juice, milk, and coffee. After breakfast dishes were washed and we all drove the four miles over to Jacob's in three buggies.

Also some of the children drove with Stormy and the pony wagon and some with bikes. Sisters Susan and Verena joined us there as well. Emma and Jacob's had a delicious noon dinner of barbecued chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, corn, peas, potato salad, pickles, and deviled eggs. The meal was followed

by cherry, apple, and pecan pies for dessert. It was a beautiful day and the children enjoyed the outdoors while at Emma's.

Albert started for home in the afternoon for their two-hour journey back. Before we left for home Joe and Jacob took the boys for a bike ride. By the time we got back to our place in the evening, everyone was ready for bed early as they were tired form an eventful weekend. We hope Albert's had a safe journey back home.

Next on my list today is to get the laundry washed and hung out on the line. It is so nice again today. We were all hanging laundry outside which makes it smell so much fresher.

My sister Susan recently made some pumpkin whoopie pies and sent some over here. They didn't last too long! Here is her recipe:

PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1 /2 cups fresh pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 /2 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1 /2 teaspoons cloves

1 1 /2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350. Stir together brown sugar, oil, pumpkin, vanilla, and eggs. Then blend in flour, salt, ginger, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, and baking powder. Stir all until the batter is smooth. Drop

by heaping teaspoons onto light greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. Spread icing between two cookies and press together like a sandwich.

ICING:

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 tbsp. flour

2 egg whites, unbeaten

2 tbsp. milk

1 1/2 c. vegetable shortening

1 box confectioners' sugar (1 lb.)

Stir vanilla, flour, egg whites, shortening, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Spread onto whoopie pie cookies.

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