To Amish land and back!

February 8, 2007 (12:02pm)
5º F, Sunshine, W wind 10 mph.

Good afternoon,

I think the Amish "Lark Country Store" will have to close until they can be re-supplied. We brought a lot of their inventory home with us yesterday. We totally like going to the store, even if the prices weren’t so low. They also carry many things we have interest in, besides bulk food. Much we do not buy, but still interested. They have many parts and oil lamps, as well as gas lights. Wish I had a supply like theirs when I was still going up to deer camp. I know the mantels and other parts for the gas lights were more expensive, even years ago. Actually the lamps themselves are about the same price we paid for them 20+ years ago. They have one white gas table lamp I keep drooling over each time we go there. It is, believe it or not, made by Coleman, made of stainless steel, but costs about $215.00! Don’t think even Santa Claus will bring that for me.

The supply of kerosene lamps is rather big and varied too. I have a "love affair" with kerosene lamps which stems from the days when Dori and I would be the only ones up and prepare/eat breakfast by the light of a small kerosene lamp before she would go off to school on the bus. It was the time of "Little House on the Prairie" shows on TV! They have lamps of every kind, size, shape, and use. Very reasonably priced too. At least for this day-and-age. One style I have not seen on the market for years is a cast-iron, black, swing away, wall bracket to hold a table lamp. They are still the old-fashioned style from the turn of the century (19-20, not 20-21!) When I used their restroom, one was used to light it - if I had been there at night. Everything else in the room was modern though.

At the moment, the house smells wonderful! Margriet just finished a batch of granola (birdseed) from some of what we bought. The combination of vanilla and cinnamon really plays with my nose and taste buds. Our timing for the ride was perfect as I used the last of granola for breakfast this morning. Now I have new/fresh for breakfast tomorrow morning.

We also picked up a large supply of dry beans of many different kinds. Margriet will mix many of them together for a soup mix that we like very well. Suppose we will need to get some soup bones for me to make soup soon. Suppose I could use a piece of smoked sausage instead. Anywho, we eat soup most days for lunch during the cooler weather, so I have some practice making it. I suspect that in the near future there will be some baking for Margriet on the agenda too. We picked up several bags of flour since it is so cheap there. The only kind of flour they don’t carry is self-rising flour. We did pick that up at a "normal" store on the way home. She could make it too, but chose not to this time.

Of course we had to peruse the candy section too. I always try to pick up some of the old-fashioned candy to take to Bible study. I might have snuck a couple bags in for us to eat too. They really have a nice selection, all bulk, and those that I remember as a kid. They don’t make good candy like that any more. Well actually, the normal stores just don’t carry it.

Wish I had bought gasoline the day before though. Figured it would be cheaper in Green Bay, but was surprised to see that the price had gone up another nickle overnight. Now what pleased me much. The price is about 10-11¢/gallon cheaper than a year ago. Still too expensive!

Over the past couple of days I have taken apart all of the fans we use. Cleaned them and lubricated them, before putting them back together again and into use. Surprising to see how much dust is collected in/on them. One in the bedroom started to make funny noises, so it triggered the action. I need to change the filter in the furnace too. I also hope I will be able to lubricate the fan motor and blower too - now that it is warm outside again. I also sharpened most of our knives. We bought a few pounds of chicken backsides so have a task before me this afternoon, cutting them into serving pieces and the back ready for soup stock. Now if I can keep myself or Margriet from cutting ourselves! Always something to keep me out of mischief around here - even without a "Honey-Do" list.

In a grocery store, of all places, we have seen some remote "weather stations" for sale at rather reasonable prices. We picked on up yesterday. We will put the remote outside for now to see what the "real" temperature is here. Right now it is on the sun porch. The one we got can have several remote sensors, so plan to get another sensor and put it under the house. That way we will have a better handle on the temperature and prevent some pipes possibly freezing. At the moment I have an old indoor/outdoor thermometer. The kind with the bulb and a cap-tube connected to the ready out. It is very old, I think from the 50's that Dad had and gave to me. The real problem is that I need to stand in the closet with my ears between my ankles to read it. I really don’t trust it either. This should be a big improvement.

The ice fishermen are much more pleasant to be around now that the ice had thicken. They can drag their shanties out and also drive on the ice in many places. Not sure what the results are - at least I haven’t seen any fillets come our way. The snowmobilers have a different story. We have a shortage of snow, but we did notice some have been riding in the ditches - at least on the north/south roads. It has been very dry for the past couple of weeks, with high winds. The wind has blown most of the snow into the ditches as it has dried, along with a significant amount of top soil. The mix is about all they can ride on . Makes for much wear on the sleds, but I guess it is better than nothing.

Time to get a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><