LOVINA EICHER: Spring Salads and Grandchildren Fun | Lifestyle

I am writing this on the last day of March. Will April bring us beautiful days? We will accept what we get. My husband Joe was planting peas and radishes in the garden, so we would wait and see if he would grow garden delicacies. It sounds so good.

This spring we had our first meal of dandelion salad. Tasty! With steamed potatoes and fresh grilled ham it was a good meal. I was surprised how many dandelion greens I could already find.

Rhubarb is coming and soon the asparagus will pop out through the soil. Joe has also started seed in the trays and hopes to be able to plant in our garden once it has warmed up.

Everyone is still home because of the coronavirus. Son Benjamin, 20, drove our horse and cart to the bank and then picked up some groceries. There are so many items limited, but we have succeeded so far. Because everyone is at home, many neglected jobs are done. It takes a little more meal planning so everyone is at home all day.

The boys inspected our yard and washed our paved driveway with electricity. Everything looks so fresh and clean. I like to admire the fresh look of everything in early spring. The grass is getting greener every day. One evening we also had a thunderstorm. Another sure sign that spring is here.

Son Kevin, 14, is still doing his job here at home. His daughter Lovina taught him when he needed help. He says he wishes he could be at school. This is his last year of school. I never thought something like this would happen, which I’m sure everyone is feeling right now.

This month, 16 years ago, we moved from Indiana to Michigan. We brought our horses Diamond and Itty Bit. Six days after we were here Itty Bit got her foal and we called her Ginger. We no longer have Diamond and Itty Bit. but it’s hard to believe that Ginger is 16.

At the time, our oldest daughter Elizabeth was only 9 years old. Joseph was the youngest child until Lovina was born in May. Now Elizabeth is the mother of three sweet little ones. Susan was 8 years old and now has her two sweet little ones.

We had so much fun with our grandchildren. Each one is special to us. Abigail, 3, took my flowers one day and put them in a small cup of water. She looked so proud that I loved her flowers. I’m not even sure if it’s flowers or some kind of weed, but that counts. The daughters laughed at this, wondering if I had actually held their “flowers” for a long time. It almost seems like you need more time for your grandchildren. Maybe it’s because you don’t have to be their parent and still sleep when they go home. Whatever it is, I love my children just as much and every day I pray that they will lead a life with God.

Keep each of you safe and sound. God will provide if we believe in him. We know that God does not sin, so there is a reason for this pandemic even though we do not currently understand it. Believe and believe and have faith. God bless and good night everyone!

DANDELION SOUR CREAM SALAD

4 packed cups of young dandelion butter

4 hard boiled eggs, diced

Sour cream dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 1/2 cups whole milk

salt

Put eggs and dandelion butter in a larger bowl, and pour the dressing over them.

Bandage: Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, milk and salt to taste of the jar. Shake until smooth. Any unused dressing can be refrigerated for up to two days.

Variation: Substitute in season fresh green lettuce from the garden and dandelion endives.

Written by Lovina’s Amish Kitchen Lovina Eicher, Ancient Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight years. Readers can write to Eicher at mailbox 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (attach an envelope with the address only provided for reply); or by email [email protected] and your message will be forwarded to her to read. He personally does not respond to emails.