They are NOT Luddites

Just because one is Amish, does not mean one does not have access to some of the modern technology. I am amazed at the number of cell phones among my relatives, and loads of them have internet accounts (just not at their homes). And the Bishop doesn't seem to mind.

At least I have an excuse for not being on-line as much

I have been spending a lot of time with relatives, and my internet connection is not always available. Oh well. I think I have a good excuse based on the pictures below. (They are not actually my pictures (Thanks Uncle Carl and Aunt Lyd) but at least they do show some of the Frundschaft)

Aunt Lydia, how does one spell "Frunschaft" or whatever that word is for all those Stoltzfi?

Did your book come yet?

No Boring Days

We have all kinds of days in Varanasi. Lots of good days and occasional bad days. But no boring days.

In internship as a new MD, one of our themes was, "Boredom is good" (that meant that no patient was crashing and burning anywhere in the hospital). That makes sense as a Dad, a Doctor, and as someone living in Varanasi. A boring day would be a welcome respite.

In many ways, a good riot in town would be very helpful, because it would mean we would need to stay inside and not have phones or visitors. But we have been pretty peaceful in Varanasi for some time (give or take the occasional bomb or assassination). So I should be careful about wishing too much for a Boring Day in Varanasi, but that could have pretty negative overtones.

No Boring Days in Varanasi.

Nora Grace cried a bit in Church this morning

Nora Grace was sitting beside me in Church this morning, when she got sortof downcast, and curled up into my lap and started crying just a little bit.

"What's the matter?", I asked.

"We have to leave tomorrow," she replied sadly.

And indeed we do. She has had such a delightful time in Big Valley. Up till sundown each night, running uninhibited in the long grass, talking and laughing with new friends ( and a few old ones). And tomorrow we are off traveling again.

I understand.

Where Miriams curls came from??

One of the most common questions I get asked is: Where did Miriams curls come from?

The correct answer is: both sides of the family. And above you will find a picture of my Aunt Zeb (on the right, with her big sister Helen on the left) and also of Miriam, just for comparison.

Zeb's curls caused some problems a few years after this, as the Mennonite Church they were attending required girls to have their hair parted and in braids in order to become a member. As you can see, when she got old enough to become a member, it was difficult for her to get her hair into the required form. Zeb credits my Mom with finally managing to get the curls tamed enough for Church membership.

They don't use Lard anymore

Hartleys Potato Chips have been fameous in Central Pennsylvania for many generations.

For many of those generations they were made by frying them in lard. (Some of the younger lads and lasses might need to look up that word).

Call it progress or whatever overly used word you would like, but they no longer fry them in lard, having switched to the more healthy vegetables oils.

They still taste fabulous, though.

The Three Things I have enjoyed most so far this summer in the US

1. Going to the sink, pouring myself a glass of cool water, and drinking it. (Sortof Lowell's version of a tall cold one).
2. The color green, in all of its hyperactive variety.
3. Watching Nora Grace and Miriam run in the grass. This goes along with all the "normal" summer stuff (at least I used to think it was normal): catching lightning bugs, watching a thunderstorm, feeling dew on bare feet, sitting in the back yard while watching the kids run around as the shadows get longer and longer. It is amazing to watch Nora Grace run flat out, hair streaming out behind her, completely uninhibited. It's like she is a kid for the first time.

Correction on the Ice Cream recipe below

There is only ONE cup of sugar, not two.
And use one container of COOLWHIP, not dreamwhip.

I stand corrected.

Mineapolis Open House on Friday, August 17

Wow, this is really a fast trip to the States.
There are so many people we are not able to see.

Andy and Jodie Larson will be hosting an open house for us on Friday, August 17th, for those in the Twin Cities area.

Andy and Jodie Larson
1700 3rd St. NW
New Brighton, MN
651-636-3303

details pending... :)

There is no actual plain old milk in this recipe

SECRETS REVEALED. WORLD FAMEOUS ICE CREAM RECIPE RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. MOST FATTENING AND DELICIOUS ICE CREAM SCANDALIZES SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.

OK, here is the Krepps family ice cream tradition recipe (Krepps is my mothers maiden name. An enduring memory I have from childhood is being at a Krepps family reunion, all of the Uncles sitting around on lawn chairs yelling "crank harder" at all of the gradeschool and teenage male cousins who were all cranking on numerous homemade icecream tubs).

Krepps Homemade Grapenut Ice Cream:

1 Quart half and half.
2 cans of sweetened condensed milk.
2 cans of evaporated milk.
2 cups sugar.
1 cup Post Grapenuts.
1 tsp vanilla.
1 container Dream Whip.

Mix together, place in Ice Cream maker, and make Ice Cream like you usually do.

(Note: I wrote that off the top of my head, I will need to confirm that this is the actual recipe).

Note: Dream Whip is the secret ingredient that keeps this Homemade Icecream from getting rock hard, like most do.

What did you think Jenni?

I love the smell of gunpowder hot July evening

We made it to see the fireworks here in Minneapolis on the Fourth of July, accompanied by Grammar and Grampa. A good time was had by all.

Sam really trembled for a while, but did pretty good. Nora Grace and Miriam wanted to cuddle and be held the whole time, but enjoyed it immensely.

And we made homemade ice cream before that. Wow. Or to say it backwards, "woW".