This week on Jean: Jean says thank you , and her husband David contributes on this post regarding the shortage of volunteer fire fighter's.

Jean is old order Mennonite from New York State.Jean and her husband David and family live on a dairy farm, and travel their community using horse and buggy. She tells her story exclusively on Amish Stories.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I greatly appreciate them.  It is so kind of you.  My health is improving slowly.  I have been able to cook a few meals and do some sewing.  Between my parents, my grandparents, David parents, our maude (maid) and David I'm not allowed to do too much.  I have been to some of the rummage sales, though.  I will be writing the next post, but David is doing the rest of this one-so I turn it over to him-but I do want to thank you for being so kind and thought full.  Jean

 David: Times are getting so fewer people are volunteering less for the Fire Department or the ambulance crew.  One of the towns near us is closing their volunteer ambulance service.  They just don't have as many volunteers as they use to.  Also most of the volunteers are free in the evening and night, but work outside the home and can not provide service during the day.  There area is now going to be serviced by Finger Lakes Ambulance.  The difference is that the volunteer ambulance takes what you can pay-if you can't pay they take you anyway.  Finger Lakes Ambulacnnance  is not volunteer-these people are full time ambulance employees so that means Finger Lakes Ambulance charges.  I am not putting Finger Lakes Ambulance down as they have filled in for us if we have our ambulance out on a call and someone else calls in and needs one.  It is sad to see a volunteer ambulance close.

 As yet, we have enough volunteers for day and night.  How long this will last we don't know as some are getting older.  Also our Fire Department is volunteer and we are always looking for more.  Many of us have taken courses and are qualified for both Fire Department and ambulance.  Being that some of us are Old Order Mennonite or Amish, and don't drive, we need one of our volunteers that does drive, but so far that hasn't been a problem.  So if you are looking for something to volunteer for, if your Fire Department and/or Ambulance is volunteer, please consider there.

The Old Order Mennonites and the Amish have approved for us to have cell phones for the Fire Department and Ambulance calls.  So now I can be out in the fields plowing and still get the call.  In fact, I can be anywhere and get the call.  Old Order Mennonites charge the cell phones for our Amish Firemen.  It sure came in handy when we had our kitchen fire.

Our Woman fire fighter does as well as us men at a fire.  She was at the fire at our house.  It is still kind of different for us Old Order Mennonite and Amish that we have a woman on the Fire Department.  It is our way not to allow our wives or daughters to do this-we consider it men's work.  At a fire we all do the work and it does matter if we are working with a man or a woman.  Also, we have gotten two more men on the Fire Department.  They have completed their courses and have worked at the fires.

The worse ambulance call I have been on, of course, was that accident down state where those Amish passed (were killed).  Outside of my own house fire-you always consider that the worse one-it's your house, the worse I have been on was a house hit my lightening.  It was a frame house and burned to the group pretty fast.  Everyone got out of that house, but they lost their house and contents.  Along with houses we also consider a barn fire a major fire.  This has happened a few times, also.  We have also been to business fires-stores, business buildings, etc.  Our village is small, most of our area are farms. Someone asked if there have been an Amish fires that we have been too-not yet and we hope not. Having been in some of their homes, I think they are more careful than other people are.  They keep their chimneys clear, careful of their lamps, watch their wood stoves, etc.  The worse Amish we had was when the man's  barn roof caved in on their cows during that winter.  I mentioned that in a previous post. 

 We don't have any problems with the Amish as farming neighbors or firemen.  One helps another as needed.  They really helped us out both food wise, work wise, chore wise and more when we had our house fire.  They even brought foods they had canned to fill up Jean's shelves. At a fire, we work side by side.  After a fire we have even been known to pray together. 

 I hope I have answered all that you wanted to know.  If you have any questions, please put your questions in the comment section and I or Jean will answer them.  Jean will be back with the next post telling about Susan's school closing for the school year. 

Be With God, David

Potato Doughnuts with Frosting

2 cups hot mashed potatoes (mashed with milk and butter)

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups buttermilk

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 Tbsp butter or margarine melted

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp nut meg

1/2 tsp salt

6 1/2 to 7 cups flour

Cooking oil

In large bowl combine potatoes, sugar, buttermilk, and eggs; stir in butter, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, salt and enough of the flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and pat  to 3/4" thickness. Cut with 2 1/2" doughnut cutter. In a skillet heat 1' of oil at 350 degrees. Fry doughnuts 2 min. per side or until browned. Place on paper towels.

Frosting for Potato Donuts


4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup boiling water

1/3 cup butter or margarine

1 tsp vanilla


Sift sugar, cocoa and salt into a large bowl. Stir in hot water, butter and vanilla. Dip tops of warm doughnuts in frosting.

Makes 4 dozen                                                Enjoy: Jean