wheels of Monterey

While I made rhubarb punch, this team of Percherons passed by the window, pulling a set of wheels. This is early hay. Some neighbors made hay a week ago in April.



As soon as the team pulls the equipment around the corner we'll see the wheels. And have a sip of punch.

rhubard source

Here's the rhubarb au naturel .

My mother planted this--25 years ago would be a total guess but the best I could do to guess when.

Intriguing that the leaves are toxic. I learned from my neighbor to pull the stem you want and it disconnects from the roots. I used to cut them.

Today I made rhubarb punch to take to the funeral.

rhubard cook off

The great rhubard cook off. And the winner is. I think that's clear, isn't it. I mean, wouldn't you rather have the viscous, sticky, adhesive, glutenous glup loaded with nutritous prunes and tapioca? That was from an Apple Creek, Ohio, recipe from the Mennonite Community cookbook.

Steph is holding her fresh-out-of-the-oven entry, rhubarb crisp from the Central Market cookbook. The close-up reveals rolled oats and on the left a piece of rhubarb. Thanks, Steph! That's the one we three (Joel's the third) chowed down on with relish after barbecued chicken from Bird in Hand's Rotary.

I can't figure out where my entry went south. Dorcas is in Grantsville helping prepare for Rachel's funeral. Photos by Joel (t) and Stephanie (b), straight up, untouched and uncropped, no flash. The rhubarb is from the orchard at the east tip of the property.

sister-in-law dies

My sister-in-law, Rachel, Dorcas's next oldest sister, passed away last evening at 9:25 p.m. in the Harrisburg (Pa.) Hospital, as Monroe her husband (in photo) and Dorcas and I and the hospital chaplain attended around the bed.

There was not a clearly defined moment of the final heartbeat, but Nurse Craig quietly informed Monroe as life signs exited the stage one by one. Dorcas put her hand on her forehead as life was slipping away and prayed one of the psalms.

The chaplain offered that we hold hands circling the bed as she (the African-American chaplain in jeans) prayed.

At Monterey we all loved her and called her Aunt Rachel as the children grew up. A vibrant, faithful, creative center of energy, even as her physical limitations increased, here she is at Joel's wedding reception last November. Photo by Lois Maust.

God rest her.