The Funny Farm

Brandi at Mountain Morning is having a great giveaway!  I am trying to learn different ways of doing things.  I have been canning, dehydrating, gardening, cooking more from scratch - can't yet make bread but.. This book looks like it would be wonderful!  I sure hope I win!!

We are going camping this weekend with family to Wright's Beach, CA.  It is along the Sonoma Coast of California.  I have never been - looked on internet to find a picture - lol!  I can't seem to download and so I will try to post some pics when we get back.  Hope everyone has a blessed LAbor Day Weekend!

Flossie

Well, canning seemed so scary to me and the more I do, the more I like.  I think like anything else in life we need to stumble and just push through.  You also need to get a routine down. When I know I want to can I run the dishwasher with my jars in while I cut the fruit or veggies.  By the time I cut them and cook them the jars are washed and sterilized - make sure hot dry is on :)

I also leave the canning pot on my stove so it is there and I don't need to find - but please empty the water out between each canning - can reek havok on your pot - lol!

two nights ago I mad Cucumber relish - a little spicy but good - I think I would like a sweeter version but my hubby likes.  I got 8 pints put up - 4 pints = a quart and guess what - 2 quarts made... :)

Blessings,

Flossie

PS  If you have apples or pears, make applesauce or pear sauce.  This is SOOOOOOOOOO easy.  Just cut up the fruit and cook in a stainless steal pot - non aluminum works - add lemon juice (they say from bottle and not fresh - I know there is a reason but I don't but I am following instructions!) and cook until soft.  I use my husband's grandmother's potato mashed to make smaller pieces for my kids.  While it is hot, put into jars and then process according to instructions - water bath is 20 - 25 minutes for fruit.

ALL my kids love both the pear sauce and the applesauce.  Yummy and nutritious!!!

The children and I made 2 AND A HALF QUARTS crushed tomatoes - yippee!!

I am looking for recipes and ideas and as I came across several websites, I thought I would share.  I love to share!  I use to think I was weird but it must be one of my "spiritual gifts".  Thanks God!

http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/JackieClay/

 http://thesimplewomanscannery.blogspot.com/

 http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/

Well, I have been having fun canning some food.

So far I have put up

-  2 quarts whole tomatoes

- 7 pints pear jam

- 2 quarts pears

- 2 quarts Pear Sauce

I know that is not a lot but I am slowly learning and loving it.  I bought an old Sunset Canning book from the library discard shelf for 25 cents!! 

My tomatoes are ripening quickly and so I will try and put up some more whole tomatoes - so easy to do!, maybe some salsa and then tomatoe sauce - yummy!

We also have alot of zucchini and not sure what to do other than freeze it - any ideas? 

We have had some watermellons and that is yummy.

I have lemon cucumbers (not the taste just the look) that I have more than I know what to do with so... I am thinking about making relish - this is a first!  I found this recipe and thought I would try - she also uses the hot water bath method which is what I am trying to master - next year will be a pressure cooker - or steam cooker they call it ?

**********************************************************************************************************

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/cucrel.htm

Cucumber Relish

12 large cucumbers grated

12 large onions grated

1/2 C. kosher salt

Combine and let set for 2 hours.

Add to a large pot:

2 C. vinegar

2 C. sugar

2 T. red pepper flakes

1 t. dry mustard

1 t. turmeric

Heat to a boil and add the drained cucumber mixture. Cook over moderate heat for 15 minutes. Ladle into hot, sterilized jars. Adjust lids and process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool. Check to make sure lids are sealed.

No clue how much this will make :)  I seem to only aver age two quarts - so I guess I will guess and move along :)

Another recipe that might work with my garden....

****************************************************************** 

Zucchini Salsa

10 cups zucchini, peeled and shredded
4 onions, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1/4 cup pickling salt
1 tablespoon pickling salt
2 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon black pepper
5 cups chopped ripe tomatoes
2 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cans tomato paste

In a large bowl combine; Zucchini, onions, green pepper, red pepper and the salt Mix together cover and let stand over night.

Next day rinse, drain well and put into a large pot then add mustard, garlic, cumin, vinegar, brown sugar, pepper flakes, cornstarch, nutmeg, pepper, tomatoes and tomato paste.

Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

Pour into sterilized jars and seal.

Water bath jars if they have not sealed properly.

Note: If you want it "HOT" just add a dozen finely chopped jalapenos

From:  http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/zucchini-salsa.htm

*********************************************************************************************

Let me know if you have any ideas - just learning here!

If you know anyone with cancer or several other diseases, you may have heard talk about PH levels of foods.  Bad cells grow in acidic environments and not in alkaline environments.  As I read on these two classifications, I was fascinated by what foods are acidic and which are not.  Tomatoes are alkaline and breads and meats are very acidic.

Here are some interesting links I found:

http://www.wakeupgethealthy.com/Alkaline_Food_vs_Acidic.html

http://www.essense-of-life.com/info/foodchart.htm

How can you test to see if you are acidic or alkaline ?

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/salivaphtest.htm

This came from the Double Nickel Farm  - Applesauce Bread.  I am going to have to try!  Thanks Jennifer!!

http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/applesauce-bread.htmlApplesauce Bread
Makes 4 loaves
Blend together
2 ½ cups sugar
5 eggs
3 1/8 cup applesauce
1 ¼ cup oil (I use olive oil)
½ cup milk

Sift and Add
5 cups flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
1 ¼ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoons nutmeg(rounded)
½ teaspoons allspice

Mix together then fold in 1 ¼ cup chopped nuts. Make topping mix of ½ cup chopped nuts, ½ cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over tops of unbaked loaves. Bake in four well greased loaf pans at 350 F(176 C) for 50-55 minutes.

(my notes: I found this in a pioneer cookbook…I do not make the topping as it is perfect without. I also use round or fun shapes with a few of the loaves…)

This is by far one of the best recipes for unleavened bread that I have ever tried! The kids consider this a snack and even have it crumbled with vanilla ice cream! I love the smells while baking and especially love that it reminds me of Thanksgiving and Christmas with the flavor!

 Stroll over to Mountain Morning Homeschool to enter a chance to win a quilting book!!

Quilts From Lavender Hill Farm: 12 Projects Inspired by Life in the Country
by Darlene Zimmerman

Author can be found at: http://www.feedsacklady.com/

"This 13-project book delivers beautiful quilts perfect for each month of the year,while drawing you into the beauty and bounty of life at Lavender Hills Farm. The lovely pictures in this book provide instructions for each quilt, while offering breathtaking and inspiring outdoor imagery. Projects incorporate individual techniques, such as piecing, binding, border development and applique." ~description from the author's website

While we were touring the other day some historic buildings, I came across this book for sale.  I kept thinking that I don't "need" it but it definitely intrigued me.  I grew up on wooded property in NJ.  We lived in an area known as the Pine Barrens or they were close.. anyway, I raked many pine needles in my day - between my parents and great grandma there was 10 acres of pine trees to rake!

THE LINK

I read through the book and it is very interesting.  I LOVE to do crafts and this looks like a practical one!  Won't my Mom think I am weird if I ask her to send me some pine needles from home?

:) 

Check this out!  You have only TODAY to enter!!! Hurry!!!

Mountain Mom

Well, I have been slowing down this summer and working through life with God - long story but I will reflect on later. 

We are on Vacation in LAke Tahoe and loving it!  Yesterday we went to Tallac Historical PArk - very neat!  The tours are conducted by people in that time period and it was very interesting to get an overview of the history of this area.

Have  A great Week!

California Appeals Court Reversed Decision

Homeschooling is LEGAL in California!!!!

Yeah!!!  Answered Prayer!  Thank You Lord!

Please now pray for our state on theGay marriage issue and also GAY Day for our public schools!  Not kidding this is a true ruling awaiting our Governor's decision!!  If passed, children will be celebrating the Gay lifestyle each year on May 22nd and being openly "educated" on its "merits"  what about Christian Day!?

Faith You Can Take to the Grave

Rachel Olsen

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father,

now we also may live new lives.” Romans 6:4 (NLT)

Devotion:

Do you avoid stinky things? Me too, but reading the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-46, changed my mind.

Lazarus became very sick. So his sister Martha sent for Jesus to come heal him.  Jesus sent word back promising Lazarus’ illness would not end in death, and God would be glorified. A couple of days later, Jesus had not shown up and Lazarus died.

After the funeral, Martha goes out to meet Jesus, leaving her sister Mary and the other mourners behind. When she sees Him, Martha exclaims, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

Her statement sounds like a complaint about Jesus running late or not answering her request for healing. Perhaps it was, but it was also a statement of faith. Her next statement was too. She said, “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Before Martha said another thing, Jesus assured her brother will rise again.

Martha remembered Jesus saying Lazarus wouldn’t die from this illness.  But Lazarus did die, so she figured Jesus must be talking about the future resurrection day of all souls.  She mentions that.  Jesus explained that HE IS the RESURRECTION LIFE and anyone who believes this will receive eternal life on that coming resurrection day.  He asks Martha if she believes that through Him a person can live eternally even though they die physically.

Martha – who today is known for being too busy in the kitchen to sit with Jesus when He visited – responded, “Yes, Lord, I have always believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” Martha may have taken some heat for fussing over dinner on that day, but on this day she takes the cake for having great belief in Jesus.

Martha left and told Mary Jesus wanted to see her.  Mary had been inconsolable over Lazarus’ death.  The Bible says, “When the people who were trying to console Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to weep at Lazarus’s grave and followed her.” Instead, Mary went to Jesus. 

Jesus felt for Mary as she wept there at His feet over her brother.  Jesus loved Lazarus, and cried along with her. Our Lord can feel our pain.  I am so thankful for a Savior who has walked this dusty earth, feeling the emotions and dealing with the complexities of human life as we know it.

At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus called for the stone to be rolled away and Martha panics over what it will smell like.  To keep it real, I don’t care much for the smell of a dirty, sweaty man.  So I’m with Martha here; I wouldn’t want to smell a 4-days-dead one.  But Jesus responded to her, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”

Pause here and consider, are there areas of your life you have thought “dead?”  Maybe your finances stink, or your career?  Maybe your marriage, or your sex-life with your spouse? Maybe a relationship with a parent, husband, or child?

Once the tomb was opened, Jesus said: “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me." Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" (John 11:42-43, NLT).  Many witnesses to this then believed in Jesus. 

Notice that we may not always get to hear Jesus when He commands the resurrection in own our circumstances.  Sometimes we just have to take it on faith. Furthermore, at first, it may not look or smell much like resurrected life – even though Jesus has summonsed it.  In fact, it might continue looking like a smelly corpse in graveclothes!  But, if we trust and persevere, unwrapping those graveclothes, we will find the miracle of resurrection life has gone forth.

Jesus holds resurrection power – do we hold belief?  If so, we will get to see God and His glory displayed. If so, we will get to remove the graveclothes from the dead areas of our hearts and lives. And, if so, we too will one day rise from our graves.

Dear Lord, I praise You for resurrection power – may it go forth in my life today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

God’s Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen

To read or discuss this passage of scripture, follow this link to Rachel’s blog.

Reflections: 

Are there areas of your life you’ve shut off from God’s resurrection power for fear of how it will “smell” if you open that door? 

Application:

Where do you need God’s resurrection power - pray for it and believe!

Power Verses:

Colossians 3:1, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” (NLT) 

© 2008 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org