This was the second time that someone opened our drive when they seen the children shoveling. We appreciated the kind deeds. It sure made the children’s day.

We were shocked to receive the bad news of the death of Uncle Henry, age 68. He died on Feb. 10 and his funeral was Feb. 13. Aunt Barbara passed away 9 months before. Twelve hours after the family found out Henry had cancer, he passed away. I know the children and grandchildren will have many lonely days ahead. Henry and Barbara had 12 children, 95 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

Uncle Henry’s lived down the road from us when I was growing up. They lived on the same farm as my grandparents did. Joe and I attended the funeral in Berne, Indiana . It brought back sad memories of my own parents death. It gives a person a lonely feeling when you don’t see your parents sitting with the rest of their siblings. Four sisters out of the eight children are left. Time goes on and it is hard to accept the changes in life.

But with God’s help we need to accept them. We know God doesn’t make any mistakes. Our sympathy goes to the family of Uncle Henry.

We were also saddened about hearing of the unexpected passing away of a neighbor lady. We attended the visitation which was largely attended . Our sympathy goes to the family. May God help them through this sorrowful time.

We are glad we are finally done with our beef and pork butchering. A big job completed! We butchered a 1420 pound beef and two hogs with their weight totaling 975 pounds. We processed around 100 quarts of meat and our freezer is filled. How thankful we are for all the meat. It is a lot of work but well worth our time.

Yesterday we attended church at Brother Albert’s in a nearby community. Our children were excited to get to play with Albert’s children after church. They were not ready to come home when we left. We had wanted to go two weeks earlier in honor of Albert Jr. being baptized, but a few of our children were sick so we were unable to attend.

With ground beef plentiful, this is a good, easy recipe to try!

Hamburger-Mushroom Meatballs

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 pound ground beef

2/3 cup dried bread crumbs

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 tablespoons minced parsley

1 soup can milk

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons chopped onions

In a medium mixing bowl, combine hamburger, bread, onions, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper. Blend together. Shape into balls , brown over low heat . Drain. Add soup and milk to the skillet. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.

Update: as of March 1, we are now at 25 percent of the goal for book sets to be sold. This sale will continue through April 15.

All six softcover cookbooks, including the newly released Best of The Amish Cook, Volume III, are now being offered for the lowest price that they’ll ever be offered for: $79 (plus $6 shipping) for all six 200-page titles through March 15. Volume III is extra special, including a short story by Lovina’s daughter Susan, and one by Elizabeth Eicher. There are contributions from all members of the Eicher family.

To order these titles DIRECTLY through Amazon.com go www.amishcookonline.com/books and that will take you to the Amazon store. Photos of the books can seen there. Orders can also be placed by calling . Telephone and online orders will ship same day. Orders accepted by mail by sending checks for $85 to Oasis Newsfeatures, PO BOX 2144, Middletown, Ohio 45042 (allow 2 – 4 weeks for delivery). Additional sets can be ordered for $70. All orders will be placed through and will be filled by Amazon (including backorders). Individual titles are also available for $20, plus $5 shipping. Titles available are:

The Original Amish Cook Cookbook: First published in 1993, this is a classic written by Elizabeth Coblentz and Kevin Williams with recipes, stories and Amish artwork.

The Best of The Amish Cook, Vol 1 : chronological collection of all Amish Cook columns and recipes from 1991 – 1996.

The Best of The Amish Cook, Vol 2 chronological collection of all Amish Cook columns and recipes from 1996 - 2001.

The Best of The Amish Cook, Vol. 3, Vol 2 chronological collection of all Amish Cook columns and recipes from 2002-2007.

The Amish Cook’s Family Favorites & Facts: 2003 by Lovina Eicher and Kevin Williams, collection of recipes, facts about Amish life

The Amish Cook’s Treasury: a book of recipes only from Amish, Mennonite and German Baptist kitchens