June third,
Mein Buch,
Today was our turn to host Church. It was so nice to see everyone; you know that our church doesn't meet every Sunday. We are having a singing in our barn tonight; should be fun, provided that the Lord God watches over those crazy Englischers. Lord knows how much they like to drink und smoke. Two weeks ago, some Englischers got drunk at the Esch singing und crashed an auto about a mile down the road. Apparently Eli Lapp was following in his buggy (he lives down that way, you know?) and Englischer swerved and went off into Uncle Elam Stoltzfus' corn field. Eli jumped out right quick and went to check in him. Well, wouldn't you know that when he got there, the boys were cursing up a blue streak and down another, spitting mad. Well, they got so upset that Elam took 'em back in his buggy and they crashed out right on the front lawn in back of Jacob Beiler's courting buggy. Englischers sure are crazy. You should have seen the look on Jacob's face when he pulled back one of the lap robes for cold and saw three of them all tucked up next to each other. Right strange if you ask me. There's always some alcohol flowing but usually the Plain kids know how to keep it somewhat under control. Well, most of the time.
Gut nacht,
Annie Stoltzfus
June fourth,
Mein Buch,
Today was market day; Mamm made some quilts at the frolic the other week that she thought were good to sell, so we headed out for market with some of Dat's furniture and some produce from the garden. It was a lovely ride; Chester, our oldest horse, pulled the buggy. My brothers were in the courting buggy behind us, the back full of beets, tomatoes, lettuce heads, onions and peppers from the garden. It was a right nice day. We had wonderful-gut time at market; Mary Zook from across the lane came with us und we had fun talking with the tourists. Some of them are hard to understand because of the Englisch words, but we do pretty well. Sometimes we giggle because they dress so oddly. All the bright colors make 'em stand out amongs the dark dresses of our own People. I must say I am amazed that the Englischer women aren't cold all the time. You should see some of the things they wear; the fabric is so thin and there is so little of it that Mary und I wonder if they get numb from the cold air. 'Course, during the summer like now, it's not that cold (it was right hot today, 95 degress, und Mary und I were in black)
It looks like a promising summer; all my little brothers and sisters are now out of school (My oldest younger brother, Levi, just graduated 8th grade; you should have heard him when he got his letter of merit "Ja! No more school for me!" He's definitely not going to miss it, especially mathematics.)
'Nacht,
Annie Stoltzfus
June fifth,
Mein Buch,
Ach, today was a hard day. We had to pick all the peas out of the garden and shell them, pick/wash all the lettuce that has taken over in there, und harvest the lovely squash, cucumbers, und melons, including my watermelon which has gotten to be practically the size of the bottom of the biggest butter churn we own. It's awful heavy. It took most of the day, seeing as the garden planted was the biggest Mammi Zook, Mamm, und us kids have ever attempted. You should see it; it's like our own field, but a little smaller. Everything was so crisp and fresh. Later, Dat wanted to go und have a word with our Bishop Andrew about some of the boys who were supposedly lip-kissing behind our barn last night, one including my older brother Jeremiah. When Dat caught him with his Aldi just sitting back there goin' at it, he got so mad! I wouldn't be surprised if Jeremiah gets the Bann. The whole thing was really awkward for Mamm, who hoped that he'd be good since both he and his Aldi are hoping to join Church together this coming November. Secretly, I'd like to see them married; Esther is a right nice lady. They aren't published though, so not a word to anyone. I don't wanna be a wunnerfitz but I saw Mamm planting some celery behind the calf shed. It's always used at our weddings. It got me to thinking, und I wouldn't mind Esther as a sister-in-law…she's a fine soul und Jeremiah likes her right well. You should see the looks they exchange, even from across the room at the Preaching. It's sweet if you ask me. My birthday is in seven days; I wonder what I'll be doing that day…I turn 17, you know.
Well, gut nacht,
Annie Stoltzfus