Hard Times

As the school year continued John and I were getting more and more frustrated with David for walking so slowly on the way home from school. We knew better than try to run ahead of him but were annoyed that he made it impossible for us to walk with our friends.

Mom and Daddy were getting concerned that something must be wrong with him, because he was constantly fatigued. They made an appointment with a doctor for the afternoon of the last day of school. It seemed a little funny to start summer vacation having to go to Grandpa Masts, while Mom and Daddy took David to the doctor.

When they came home, we were hoping that the doctor had given something to David to make him less tired, but when we saw Mom and Daddy we knew something was troubling them. The doctor had done a few tests that they were waiting on the results, but they were pretty sure he had cancer in his lymph nodes.

When all the results came in their fears were confirmed David had cancer. They told John and me about it but warned us to not tell David that he has cancer, they wanted him to be as happy as possible as they made plans to take him to a clinic in Idaho.

John, Mahlon and I stayed at Grandpa Masts while Mom and Daddy took David for his treatments. I enjoyed staying with Grandpas. There was so many fun things to do and Vernie was there to keep it from ever getting boring, but often we would wonder what is happening with David. I wished we would have been more patient with him and I was so afraid that he was going to die.

After what seemed like a long time they came home. David had lost a lot of weight, but the doctors were pleased with how the cancer seemed to be shrinking. They had sent a lot of medicine along home and a strict diet that he had to follow for a while. They also suggested that he should be home-schooled because school would probably be too strenuous for his weakened condition.

Giveaway Winner!

Doing this giveaway was so much fun!  Author, Suzanne Woods Fisher contacted me again yesterday and told me to go ahead and choose five winners instead of only one since there were so many entries.

I used Random.org to choose the winners and here are the results

Winner #1  Kate said...


I like to curl up in bed and read, usually before my kiddos go to sleep. My other favorite spot is my window seat on my sun porch but I can't use that year round.

Winner #2 Sarah said...


I like to read in bed every night, but my favorite place would be my parents couch in front of their big picture windows on a sunny day.

Winner #3  Folky Dots....Treasures for the Sweetest People said...


In the corner of the couch with my sewing lamp turned toward my book.

Winner #4 Cara Beth & Kate Too! said...


My favorite spot to read is where I have been reading your blog entries for the last little while...in front of my fireplace.

Winner #5 jennem said...


I like to lay flat out on my giant sofa.

Congratulations to all of you! If you ladies will email me with your address I will give them to Suzanne and she will ship your book to you this coming week.
 
Due to regulations I have to add this fine print to let you know I did not receive any kind of payment for doing this giveaway other than a happy feeling to be able to pass this book on to the winners.

Sailor's Accomplishment

One of our all time favorite desserts is Hot Fudge Pudding Cake.  As a child it used to be a weekly treat during the summer when ever there was fresh fruit available. Mashed strawberries, or peaches used to be perfect when spooned on top of this delightfully gooey chocolaty yumminess.

Today when I checked in at my friend Kathie's blog she had posted the recipe and I knew I had to make it for dinner tonight. As I was ready to start Sailor asked if he could make it by himself. I found the recipe for him, tied a cooking apron on him and surveyed my nice clean kitchen as I gave him the go ahead.

I worked on the rest of supper while he carefully followed the instructions. The kitchen showed signs of a beginning baker once he was done but it was oh so worth it. The dessert was every bit as good as it always is and my little man was as pleased as could be with his accomplishment.

Be sure to check Kathie's blog to get the recipe.

Drowning in Quilts

Our little store and furniture shop were doing well and one afternoon a couple came from D.C. They had read the article in WOOD magazine and thought they would try to find us.  As they looked at the furniture and the many quilts and spent several hours talking to Mom and Daddy they finally left having bought a gallon of maple syrup and several pillows.

Mom and I started with supper when we heard the store bell jingle again and when we looked out the window we saw that it was the same people. Mom went into the store to see what they wanted. I went ahead and finished peeling the potatoes and fried up a batch of green beans and by the time they left I had supper ready.

As we were eating Mom could hardly contain her excitement. The customers had bought six quilts and several pieces of furniture in hopes they could start their own little store in D.C. selling the things that we make.

The rest of the week Mom quickly sewed several more quilt tops and gave them to Aunt Emma and several other ladies to have them quilted. The next week the D.C. people were back and bought all the quilts and wall hangers we had plus a lot of rugs and maple syrup.

It was only the start of our work. Mom would cut and piece as many quilts as she could and hired several girls to help her. Word got out that she was looking for quilters and a lot of the women from church were kept busy quilting. Our kitchen was in a constant disarray as quilt after quilt was made as fast as we could.

Mom got me started sewing wall hangers and every evening after school I would try to sew several of them. As an added bonus Mom paid me a dime for every wall hanger I sewed and I was thrilled to watch my little pile of dimes grow steadily week by week.  The only draw back to all the business we had was that now in the evenings instead of having stories read to us while we ate popcorn and apples we were much too busy to do anything except cut fabric and sew from the minute Mom got up in the morning until it was time to go to bed at night. I enjoyed sewing on my own machine beside Mom's but every once in a while I wished things could slow down a little and we could go back to the way we used to be.

Giveaway Time!

What better way to welcome in a month that promises the start of spring than having a giveaway.  As you may recall I recently told you about a book I enjoyed and was later contacted by the author offering to give an autographed copy of "Amish Peace" to one of my readers.

To enter this giveaway leave a comment telling me where your favorite spot is to curl up with a good book. Mine is on an ancient recliner/rocker in the corner of our "fun" room.

For an extra entry, post a link on your blog about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
The winner will be chosen on Saturday March 6th using Random Generator.

 

Giveaway is now closed and a winner has been chosen.