Greetings from Illinois.
“Thanks so much, I’m looking forward to it,” I said as I hung up the telephone. I had been talking with Mom; warm feelings of love and gratitude towards her filled my heart. Truly, she’s one in a million. What would I do without her? Time and again, I remind myself that not everyone has been given the gift of a godly mother living close by and that I may not always live next door to her as well as the rest of my family.
This time, she had called to invite me, along with my sisters-in-law, to come to their house on Friday.
“You may bring your sewing along,” she said. “And I’ll be making lunch for all of you.”
Mom knew that with having two little ones, it was a challenge to get sewing done between interruptions. Sewing is something I’ve always enjoyed doing and as a young girl, it was on my hobby list. Now as a mother, I’ve learned to enjoy it in a new way. There’s something extra-special about sewing dresses for your own daughter or making a sew-together for your precious, sunny boy. Sew-together (as well as sleepers) is what the little boys wear the first year or so. It’s similar to a pair of pants and a shirt only it’s sewn together in one garment.
I debated on what I should tackle at Mom’s house on Friday. Finally, I decided to do some mending and take fabric long to make an apron for Julia and a dress which I wanted to give as a baby gift for one of my cousins. I tried to not get my hopes too high of getting a lot accomplished, yet with my sisters there to help care for the little ones and having Mom making lunch, I was excited to see what could be accomplished.
At 6:30 on Friday morning, when Daniel went to work in the shop at Mom and Dad’s, he took my sewing machine along and dropped it off for me. By 7:30, I had the children ready to go. I put Julia and Austin both into the stroller and loaded up my fabric, patterns, a plate of cookies and other needed items. I enjoyed the short walk to Mom’s house. Julia was in good spirits,,excited to spend the day with her aunts, cousins, and grandma.
I was delighted to get an early start while Austin played with toys. After a while, he was ready for a nap. Soon I had put him to sleep and resumed my sewing once more. At 11:30, mom had a tasty lunch ready for us. Mmmm. I love the taco pizza and this time was no exception. She made a large panful, plenty for everyone to eat their fair share. On her menu she also had another one of her specialties: diced tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers in a vinegar dressing. It’s so easy to put together, yet it adds a tasty tang when served with a hot dish.
The afternoon sped by swiftly. By day’s end, we were all tickled with our accomplishments. I even took the chance of joining Daniel in the shop, watching him build rustic furniture before he wrapped up for the day.
Last week, Mom told me that as a birthday gift for me this year, they’ll buy fabric of my choice for me to make a new dress. Seemingly, mothers don’t get new dresses very often, so I was delighted. Perhaps I’ll have to go to Mom’s house again when I’m ready to start sewing it.
How about trying out Mom’s taco pizza? It’s quite simple yet scrumptious!
TACO PIZZA
• Dough:
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
½ cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
• Meat mixture:
1½ pounds hamburger, fried with onions
1 package taco seasoning
1 pint pizza sauce
• Dressing mixture:
1½ cups sour cream or 1 cup milk, scant
1 Tbsp. sour cream and onion powder
2/3 cup salad dressing
Put dough into 9 x 13-inch pan. Spoon meat mixture onto dough. Next, put on dressing mixture. Sprinkle with peppers, onions, tomatoes or whatever you prefer. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Add cheese and taco chips or white soup crackers for the last five minutes. Serves 15.
Gloria is Amish and lives in a rural horse and buggy settlement in Illinois. Readers with questions or comments can write to Gloria at PO BOX 157, Middletown, Ohio 45042. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.
