A wonderful day

   Today is a lovly Fall day, we are expecting rain, we have dark clouds, it is very cold, yet I am loving it! I am not worried for we are warm, dry, and we have a pot of beans on the stove, we have cornbread in the oven, we have bread rising, and a lovly cake for desert. We also have hot tea, coffee, and milk to drink so we are well taken care of. The animals are all fed, warm and dry. This is a wonderful day!!( As I have been typing it has started the rain. It is a nice rain for books and sleeping! Now that's my kind of rain!)

     I can be happy on this kind of day because I know that Jesus  lives in my heart and I am on my way to heaven. I do not need treasures here below to make me happy. For my treasures are in Heaven.

   In a while we will be having tea together( my daughter, my son and I) . We will be having a nice slice of cake for each of us. A nice glass of milk for the kids, and a nice warm cup of coffee for me. I am going to read them a story, then I get alone time while they play. While they are playing I will be spending my time with my Bible and some much needed prayer time.

   Then after we have all had time to do something we like to do, we will tackle the rest of the laundry! What better way to get the laundry done than with a song and praise on your heart ! God blesses us each day with the breath to rise and start another day!

    I Thank God that He is mine and I am His!

   I Pray that You are as Happy as I am!

2:21 PM - Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

HOOORRAAYYYYYY!!!!!

Our Daughter went hunting today since it is the weekend for the youth hunt, and she got her first deer!!!! Before she left I told her to bring me home some deer steak. Well she did! She just got a small one, but it is like she told me," Mom, you didn't say how big you wanted your steak."

   I am so proud!

  Needless to say she is going again tomorrow, she has one more tag to fill.

8:51 PM - Friday, October 17, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

I challenge you this week:

 I have a challenge for you this week.......... I and some others that I have been chatting with have been taking a break from all of the GLOOMY things that we hear in the news, on the radio, in magazines, and in the newspapers. It is not God's will for us to feel this way. I like to call it a fast. I feel like I have been fasting from these things that became a part of my daily life and didn't benefit me in any way spiritually. I IN NO WAY am saying these things are wrong. Just addicting to the flesh.  So here is my challenge: Take a break from all of these things. For one day? Two? Maybe more? And just see how much better you feel inside when you can read one  or several bible passages instead of all the things in the media. I have felt like  a new person! I was even woke up by God one morning to pray for a certain family in our church. ( which I hadn't had  happen in a very loooooong time!) It actually felt good to be up praying for someone else instead of worrying over me, or the trouble that our economy is in, or other fleshly things.

 I challenge you to try it. Just see how much better you feel. I know it has helped me. 

   Philippians 4: 8 says " Finally , brethren , whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

 If you do take my challenge, please come back and let me know how you feel afterward? I know you will feel better, Spending time with God always makes us feel better!

     I look forward to hearing from you, I hope and pray that you have a blessed day!

3:33 PM - Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

A wonderful Poem

I have just recently noticed  how wonderful poetry can be. And how just a few lines can pack so much meaning into such little space. Here is one that i have come across in my devotion's book. I just loved it! So I felt like sharing it with all of the women in God's family!

                                        Service

Lord of all the pots and pans and things

since I've no time to be

A saint by doing lovely things,

or watching late with Thee,

Or dreaming in the dawnlight,

or storming Heaven's gates,

Make me a saint by getting meals,

and washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha's hand,

I have a Mary's mind;

And when I black the boots and shoes,

Thy sandals, Lord I find,

I think of how they trod this earth,

each time I scrub the floor;

Accept this meditation, Lord

I haven't time for more.

Warm all the kitchen with Thy love,

and light it with Thy peace,

Forgive me all my worrying,

and make all grumbling cease.

Thou who didst love to give me food,

in room or by sea,

Accept this service that I do-

I do it unto Thee.

            Author Unkown 

I just loved this, I hope you like it as much as I do!

Everyone have  a blessed evening.  God Bless You All!!!

5:42 PM - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Pen Pals

12:39 PM - Thursday, September 25, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Our Rabbits

I was asked what kind of rabbits we have and what we use them for. I know that in todays society their are a lot of differant opionions on animals, But I have a biblical opinion of mine. Do not get affended at mine, each person can form their own according to how God directs them.

   I do not know what kind we have. I do know that they are medium size and very tender. Yes you guessed it! We eat ours. My husband and I feel like God put  animals here for our food. 

   Since my husband and I have been married (February will make 12 years)  we have caught fish, hunted dear, hunted rabbits, hunted squirrels ,  we have had cows ,pigs , turkeys, and chickens butchered also. We have tried our best to supply our own fresh meat for our family. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been well worth it. We have never gone without meat. I can probably be safe to say that in the last 11 years I have spent less than  $2,500( that averages to $18.93 a month) on store bought meat.  That was usually spent on cmpany that we had that didn't want to eat what we ate, Because they were afraid that it might have germs since it wasn't from the store. 

The last few years the only things I buy are flour, sugar, salt, cornmeal,beans, and the basic things that we can't do for ourselves. It is so nice to be able to go to the pantry when the roads are to icey to go to town and not have to worry at all what is for the next meal. We try to keep enough food on stock for a month. We eat what we store, and we only store what we will eat. I rotate our food so that it is always fresh. By doing this I only shop once a month which in turn saves on gas.  I bake all of our breads. I make our butter, yougurt, Kefir, cream cheese, and some of our soft cheeses like cottage cheese and mozerella. I make our own Tortiallas if we want tacos or burrito's. We make our own pizza's. We don't fry alot so we don't use a whole lot of oil. I only buy two bottles of oil for a month and usually have half a bottle left. and that is only used to fry some fish once in a while.  We plant a garden in the spring and can what is grown. So we always have fresh veggies even in the winter. I grow some of our own herbs.  So I don't spend a lot on them. I make all of our cleaners and soaps. Including our laundry soap.

  To give you an idea of just how much we do for ourselves I will tell you how much I spend on grocery's and cleaners each month. Are you ready for this? I only spend $150 to $200. That is for grocerys  and everything else that my family might need such as razors, bathroom tissue, you name it. That is all I spend. We are a  family of four. Everyone has told me that it is impossible to spend so little and eat well. We eat VERY WELL!!! It is possible when you have the want to.( Another thing, we DO NOT eat out. It is far to expensive and it isn't near as healthy!)

   What about you ? Are you doing all you can to be self sufficient? Do you have any other ideas on how I can save even more? I would like to hear how others are saving as well.

10:16 AM - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Our Kitchen Table

I thought I would write a quick entry before we get started on our school work. I know I havn't written in a few weeks, but it has been so busy around here. Since so much has been going on and it would take to long to tell you about it all,instead,  I will share a thought that has been on my mind for several days.

     I have been thinking about my kitchen table. We eat around it. We read our bible around it. We pray around it. We do our school around it. We even visit at it with our company instead of in our living room.  Then last night I read Candy's blog at www.keepingthehome.com. She must be thinking along the same lines.

 What does my table mean to me? It is an altar. This is the place where my family can set and visit, pray, learn, read, and just enjoy the life that God has given us. NO, I do not worship my table. But I have made it a place to where we have a place to magnify God. A church has an altar(at least ours does anyway). The altar is a place where God is praised, sought after, and loved.

   Is your kitchen table as special as mine? I greatly appreciate my table. Or should I say my altar unto the Lord?

8:40 AM - Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Calming Down

   My week is finally calming down and we are able to go back to our normal routine! For those of you who didn't know my Sister in Law's mother passed away lst Thursday. She was 46. So I have been keeping my Brother's boys, ages 4 and 9 months. They are such sweet little things. But they did not understand why they had to stay at my house for so long. My Sister in Law is 23 and had to make a lot of decisions on her own. She is the youngest out of two children and her brother didn't know as much of what their mother liked and disliked. But it is all finished, she has been laid to rest in their family cemetary under a shady tree and it is really nice. Not to mention it is just a horses ride from my Brother's house. She will be able to take care of her grave and plant lots of pretty flowers.

     Monday and yesterday I kept my cousins two girls. She has just gotten a job at our local public school and the girls don't start until Thursday. They were really good and helped me to catch up on lots of house work that needed to be done. That was such a blessing!

   Yesterday I also got some Kitchen duties caught up. I made butter. Cultured my buttermilk. I made a new sourdough starter.( With all of the excitment I had neglected my other one.) I made yougurt, and by mistake added 1 cup of culture , instead of 1/2 a cup.  But it turned out to be the creamiest yogurt I have ever made! It is thick just like store bought, but without all of the chemicals and preservitives. So from now on I will be adding one cup of cultures to every batch.

    Well I need to go for now, We are able to get back to our school work today!( WOO HOO!!!!!) We have had such fun so far this year in school. I am ready to settle down again into our school routine.

     I hope and pray that all have a very blessed day and a healthy day!

                                                             Loving to be a SAHM,

                                                                        Holly

P.S. Thank You God  for the strength that you have given me to care for others children when they are in need. I couldn't do it without your help!

And I also thank you for the privalege to home school my own children! I count it as an hohor!

                                    AMEN!

7:44 AM - Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Weather, School, and Canning

Today reached 101. That is hot! But this evening I checked the weather and it was 88 degrees at 8:00 p.m.  with 75% humidity making it a whopping 109 degrees! Can it get any hotter? I can't handle it this hot! ( Thank God I am a Christian or I would have to spend eternity in a place that is even hotter!)

  I made Salsa today, I have enough to fill 10 quarts! I  will have to get that canned tomorrow.  It is  supposed to be cooler tomorrow, Praise God!

  We started our first day of school for this year, it went really smooth, thanks to using my home managment binder, and God! I have never had  a year start off so smoothly! And I even had unexpected company and phone calls! It was such a blessing! My children had such a blast! We just love Home School. This makes our third year of home schooling and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Worth it!!! My children have just blossomed! Thank You God for our freedom to teach our children according to your word!

  I pray that everyone is staying cool and having a very blessed week,

          Holly

8:52 PM - Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Busy Morning!

This has been a busy morning! I jumped out of bed, made it, and got dressed and cleaned my room. Did the chores outside and got ready to go to the dairy to get our milk.  When I got home I had to put dinner in the oven, feed the children and got some tomatoes in the canner. I have just finished two loads of laundry and mopped my floors, so while my floors dry I am going to take some time to set and breathe!! 

  This afternoon I will have to put some beans in the canner and finish my laundry. Isn't it wonderful that I don't have a job? Other wise nothing would get done! I do love being a stay at home Mom and wife!  Even with all of the jobs that constantly need to be done I LOVE to be at home!

  Well I will rush off, I have caught my breath and the floors are dry. I hope all are having as much fun as I am , cleaning and caring for my family!

11:21 AM - Monday, July 28, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

BUsy, just way to busy!

I have been just so busy! I have been canning left and right and yesterday topped it all off! I had to put up tomatoes, take dear daughter to piano lessons, and bake 13 loaves of bread! I made the bread for a pie autction to benefit a little baby that is in the hospital. They will auction it off this evening. I did have fun baking! I love to bake! Then this morning I got up and canned some chicken broth and some tomatoes.

    This afternoon I will take my son to speech , and go to a neighbors to get some milk. It is the best raw milk I have ever had! I have used 3 gallon this week already! She sells it for $4.25 a gallon with the cream still in it. I let the cream rise and make my own butter. I find that my yougurt is thicker if I leave the cream in it though. The kid's love it this way! And it makes the best buttermilk! I thank God that we have fresh milk.

   Has anyone ever read Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon? If you havn't get it and read it! It is a wonderful book. It tells just how some things are made and what is in them. And it is full of great recipies with all natural ingreadiants. I bought my book from Amazon.com. I have been using many recipies from this book and my family loves them!

   Well I better go for now, I hope everyone has a very blessed day! 

9:41 AM - Friday, July 25, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

I am sad to say....

1:27 PM - Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

As Promised, A tour of my home.

As I promised , here is a tour of my home. I will warn you that my home is not fancy, it is not large, but it IS a home.

   God blessed us with this home after we were made to move from a home that we had lived in for two years. We had no idea that our land lord at the time was trying to sell the house. He never mentioned it. One Sunday he knocked on the door and said he wanted to show the house to some people, we were told the next day that we had one month to move. That was a shock, where do you find a house that will be good for a special needs child in just one month?! I went to prayer!! God did not answer my prayer right away. We had to move into a mobile home that was offered us for  a few months . That mobile home was fine until summer hit. Then it was 105 degrees inside with an air conditioner running. My son has really bad asthma and seizures so it was hard on his health.  Needless to say God provided us this house. With a payment that we could afford, and it is our house! We were blessed with a loan to buy it.  I did not want in town at all, But this is where God wanted us. We own two lots so we are able to have a garden chickens and rabbits and still room for the kid's to play. My house is small but it is just my size.( You see I am 29 years old and am only 4 feet 8 inches tall. I weigh 110 pounds.) I do know that my sons seizures and asthma have been much better since moving into this house! God has truly blessed us with it!

   Let the tour begin!

This is the front yard. You can see how small it is. That is all there is.

   That is my son and our dog. The dog was given to my son to help with his asthma, little did we know that he would bark when our son is having a seizure.

   Now to the inside:

   When you walk through the front door, you will see this:

These are the chairs my husband and I sit in .

Here is my piano. I love to play. I am the pianist at our church. I don't know how to play anything but hyms. I always asked the Lord to teach me and he did. But that is all I can play, I wanted to play for God's glory, and his only!

Here is our couch, It is old, but comfy. I got it for $10 at a garage sale.

Here is our T.V. area. And the only window in the living room.

 To the right you can see the door to my sons room.

 This is what it looks like. Please excuse the curtains we have been putting paneling up and are getting ready to do some painting. So I took his curtains down.

 The rooms are so small that I can't take a larger picture for you. Behind where I am standing is the door to our only bathroom. It is so small that I call it our water closet.

It is just big enough for a tub with shower head, toilet, and sink. Only one person at a time in here!

Back out and right across the Living room is the doorway to my daughters bedroom. Her doorway is right by my piano.

Here is what her room looks like.

 This is her closet:

 And back out of her room into the living room I will take you to the kitchen. The living room and kitchen are combined, with a partial wall between.

 I just Love my kitchen!!

  Here is where we eat:

And my Bakers rack:

 To the right of the kitchen is the laundry room/ pantry room:

 And to the left of the kitchen is my husband and I's room:

   And here is a picture of the floors in the living room and kitchen. We have wood Lamenanr flooring and I just Love it!! I wishe we had it in all of the rooms!

   Well there is my home, I told you it was small and not fancy, But it is home. A home filled with the peace and love of God! A home that was given by God! I hope you enjoyed it, I know I had fun posting it!

9:38 PM - Saturday, July 19, 2008 - comments {6} - post comment

IT IS SUMMER!!

Today I have really been busy, I put up a bushel of corn, I have canned 7 quarts of beans, Did laundry , cleaned house and have gotten really hot!!! It is 102 degrees here in Oklahoma and that is HOT!!! This afternoon I am hoping it will cool down enough for me to make some Zuchinni bread.

   Does anyone have a good recipie?

   By the way, my company didn't stay very long, they had to get back early, that was dissapointing. BUt we did have a good visit. But at least we got to spend one day together. Now I can look forward to Christmas when they will be back.

   Hope all are staying cool in this Hot July weather,

                           Holly

4:57 PM - Saturday, July 19, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Canning!

Sorry I havn't been on much, however I have been very busy canning! We have put up Salsa, Purple Hull Peas, Green beans, Okra, Corn, Peppers, and Chicken Broth. Not to mention in between all of this I have been cleaning and getting ready for company. They will be staying for  4 days with us. We only get to see them once a year due to the fact that they are in the army. 

  Well I am off again, I need to go finish up some more beans.

Next week I will try to post some photo's of my house. I will give you a little walk through of my home. And I hope to do a week of photo's of me in femine dress doing my daily tasks.(inspired by Candy of www.keepingthehome.com) I think it will be a lot of fun to do. See you all again soon, and have a very pleasent day!

10:00 AM - Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Thank God For that still small voice!

I thank God for that still small voice that he talks to us with! I was preparing supper and put some bread into the oven to crisp up for Garlic bread. After placing it in the oven I went into another room to continue some of my chores. I felt a need to go back into the kitchen to check the bread, and boy am I glad that I did! My oven was on fire!!!!   I knew that I wasn't supposed to throw water on it or it weould get worse. So I asked God what should I do?! This is what he told me to do: Turn off the burner out of the oven, take out the pan of bread very carefully, then throw baking soda on it. And that is exactly what I did! The fire went out instanly, our bread was saved, and my house is still standing, I don't think my oven is messed up , and I am not burnt! I thank God that he speaks to us!

  I think the reason it caught on fire is that it had a little spilled greese in the bottom that I did not see. I baked chicken Sunday and hadn't used it since then.

God is soooooooooooo good to us!

5:26 PM - Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

BEANS!!!

Today my children and I snapped enough green beans to make 3 quarts! That is nice for one days picking. We also hung up about 40 cayanne peppers to dry.  Then after all of this was done I ground my sage that I had drying, it smelled sooo good. I can't wait to use it in chicken and noodles.

 It is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow , This will really make things grow once the sun comes out!

I am hoping to be able to put up at least 10 more quarts of beans by the end of the month. With the way my plants are loaded I don't think that will be a problem. I will count them when they are all canned and let you know how many we get.

For now though I am off to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I have to take my son to the doctor to have some blood work done and then do  my grocery shopping. This is my big shopping trip. I shop once a month, so you can just imagine the day I have ahead of me. Not to mention it is the 4th and we have a BBQ planned for tomorrow night. But with God's help I will get it all done.

 Everyone have a wonderful Holiday, and please be safe!

9:19 PM - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday Dear America!

Happy Birthday To You!

Thank You God For Our Freedom!!!

4:08 PM - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Sourdough Bread

Here is the Bead recipe that I use with my sourdough starter.

This makes the Best Bread!

  You will Need:

  1 cup starter

  1 and 1/2 cups warm water

  1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt

  1/2 cup sugar

  1/2 cup oil

  6 cups flour ( white or wheat is fine. I prefer wheat.)

    Mix all together and place into a greased bowl. Let rise until double in size. Punch down and knead. Divide into two loaves and place into two greased bread pans. Let rise until about one inch above bread pan. Then bake on 350 degrees until golden brown and sounds hollow when thumped on the bottom of the loaf.  Let cool, then slice, spread butter or cream cheese on it and Enjoy!!! 

3:59 PM - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Sourdough Bread Starter

Here is the sourdough Bread starter that I use.

You will need:

2 cups flour( I use wheat)

2 cups water

1 and 1/2 Tablespoons yeast.

Mix all together in a gallon jug.( Never use metal to stir or store your starter.) Cover with a towel and let set on your counter for 24-48 hours.  Place in Fridge when 24-48 hours has passed. You will know that it is sourdough when it smells like beer.

   YOu can keep this in the Fridge when not in use, but when it is going to be used in bread, you will have to let it set out for 6 hours to proof. I set mine out before I go to bed so that it is ready in the morning.

To feed your starter you just add equal amounts of flour and water, stir into remaining  sourdough and let set out for 24-48 hours. The stronger the smell the better the bread. ( If your sourdough ever turns pink in color or starts to grow fungus of anykind, THROW IT OUT!! )

3:50 PM - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment