The following is an account of the daily activities in the life of Katie Schlabach, a young Amish woman in Holmes County. We published this series in Amish Heartland several years ago, and we've gotten many requests to repeat it. Week one appeared in our January-February issue, week two in the March issue, and week four will be in the May issue.

This story, in its entirety, was originally published in a book, "The Amish of Holmes County," published by Spectrum Publications in 1996. It is currently out of print, but can sometimes be found in used-book stores.

Sunday, May 15

It rained on and off all day. I think my garden plants grew more already. We were all to church with the horse and buggy at Vernon Schlabach's. We have around five miles to go.

At church, at the beginning, we sing two or three German songs while the ministers go upstairs in a room to council and pray over things. There are usually three or four ministers. One has the opening, another one reads the scriptures. Then the other has the main part of the sermon. For the closing, we have prayer and another German song. Everybody stays for a lunch of bread and peanut butter, bologna and cheese, pickles, cookies, coffee and tea. Everybody visits for awhile, and some help with the dishes before we leave for home. We often get home around 2 p.m. The church service lasts for three hours.
The people that have young folks give supper and have a hymn-singing in the evenings. There are between 50 and 100 youth there. Every Tuesday night the ministers and the young folks get together for Bible study.

When we got home from church, Jerry went for the couch, and the girls and I went to Lydia's house. After that, I took a rest, too.

Jerry and the children are playing a game of darts on the lawn. It's quite dark, and they are still at it.

Monday, May 16

After chores, I did laundry again, and Jerry finished choring; then I started cleaning the milk house. I cut some dresses for the girls until Keri got up at 10:30. After she had her breakfast, we went out to help clean the milk house. That was very much in need of cleaning. About this time of year, the milk inspector comes, and we want to be ready for him.

In the evening, Jerry ground feed for the dry cows, and I got my wash in and ironed, and put everything away. I sewed a dress for Keri before supper.
The milk tester was here tonight, so I didn't help milk. But oh, my, it took them so long. It was 8:30 when they came in for supper. I made meatloaf and mashed potato casserole, peas and fresh garden salad. Lydia made dressing, so she brought some over and ate here, too.

Tuesday, May 17

I got some things ready to send with the mail after my morning work. I finished a dress for Heidi and made Keri another one for summer. Jerry made fence in the forenoon, and in the afternoon, he put up our new Martin's box. I want to spade out around it and put flowers in.

I baked and decorated a cake for Lydia's birthday today. We had a little birthday party for her after chores. The children went outside after supper and played "Andy-over." It was dark before they came in.

Wednesday, May 18

After chores, it was bustling around again to be ready by 7:45. Sister Clara and a driver picked Keri and me up, and we went over home to my parents' for the day. I helped mom spring clean her upstairs and closed porch.

Jerry had gone to the Mount Hope sale to buy some straw, but it was too expensive, so he didn't get any. In the evening, he came over (to my parents') and picked us up with the horse and buggy. Heidi got off the bus at their place at 3. Jeremy went to play ball at the schoolhouse in the evening.

Thursday, May 19

It was 42 degrees this morning. I think it was around 40 degrees every morning this week. I did my laundry after my morning work. Keri was in bed again until 10. In the fall, she will start kindergarten, so I don't know how she will get up at 6. Of course, it is just every other day that she has to go.

After I finished the laundry, I baked chocolate-chip cookies before lunch. Jerry went to Horrisberger Implement to pick up some parts this morning. In the afternoon, he helped me spade my flower beds. I planted some flowers again and hoed the new strawberry plants and the early garden.

When Jeremy came home, he wanted permission to go practice playing ball with one of his school friends. He went for an hour. The girls were helping Lydia do some outside work, like washing off her sidewalk and watering her flowers. After chores, Jerry started to trim beside the road with the weed-eater.

Friday, May 20

After breakfast, Jerry mowed about five acres of hay. He wants to put no-till corn in yet. I think the forecast is for rain until Monday. Oh, well, it will also rain on the corn fields and garden things. Keri cleaned the basement and one of the porches. I baked six loaves of bread. I bake most of our bread.
After lunch, Jerry went to our neighbor's to pick up his hay head to put on the chopper. Then I sent him to the greenhouse to get a little more flowers. After the children came home from school, they finished mowing, and I asked permission to use Lydia's mower, and I mowed the inside lawn.

The fifth and sixth grades had a ball game today, and Jeremy is all tired out. They played Winesburg. I can always see when he gets off the bus if they won or not. Yes, they won both games. Heidi was so tired she slept during chores and supper. Then when we were ready for bed, she was all rested up and didn't want to go to bed.

Saturday, May 21
It's Saturday morning, and the children slept until almost 9. It's the only morning they can sleep in. After breakfast of cold cereal, I like a little quiet time to myself. I read a chapter from the Bible and just meditate on things.

I baked a raspberry cheesecake and some streusel cake bars. I also did some ironing and put buttons on the girls' new dresses. Jerry and Jeremy started to clean out the hay mow for our hay this year. The girls also wanted something to do, so I asked them to wash off our buggy again. They did a very good job of it.

After a lunch of beef with macaroni and cheese, I went out to plant my green beans and some more corn. Jerry finished mowing beside the road. After chores, Jerry and the children had a real ball game. They sure enjoy it when Jerry helps them. After their play, we took a walk back in the outfield. We sure could use some more rain again to get things started.