| Heritage Acres Farm |
Root Cellar uh, I mean the Hobbit Hole, Re-visited Good Morning! I hope you are all having a lovely start to your Friday! I am excited for the day. On Tuesday, we worked in the root cellar... or what my children are insisting we call the Hobbit Hole for a long while. My Dad came and helped show Shannon how to build some sturdy shelves to store our stockpile. My boys wanted in on the action. And since you can 'work' in nothing less than overalls, that was the choice of attire for the day. :)  The littlest one lest be left out... He even came equipped with his own saw and hard hat. ;)  Shelves were built across the back and down both sides. It is SO wonderful!!! I am so happy to have this finished and ready for use.  Have a terrific weekend. Fill it with your family, laughter, smiles, hugs and kisses, snuggles, sips of hot cider, cozy quilts and love.With much love from me to you... 
06:36 - Friday, October 10, 2008 - comments {12} - post commentMore Apple Goodness... Good Morning! The other day we talked about making Apple Butter, and boy is it tasty. Yum-o! Well, once you core and peel all those apples you had quite a lot of leftovers... being a frugal homesteader, you don't want anything to go to waste right? If you have pigs, I am sure nothing does, or goats even. ;) But, if you are pig and goat deficient as we are... for now ;), here is a couple of different things you can do with all those wonderful peelings and cores. First, you can make your own ACV=Apple Cider Vinegar. My friend Kristin shared with me how she makes hers. Take all your cores and peelings, dump them into a large jar or a food grade bucket. Cover them with water. Cover the jar or bucket with a cloth so it will keep out any flies or pests. Let sit in a dark corner. The apple leftovers will ferment the water, wild yeast will eat up the sugars and in the end you will have vinegar... this process will take several weeks. She says you will know when it is done because of the smell. She posted on the Front Porch, so you can check that out also. 2ndly, you can take your apple peelings and cores and put them in a crockpot or a pot on your stove. Give a generous shake of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, throw in some orange or lemon rinds if you have any... turn on low and let your house fill with the beautiful, rich smell of spiced apples. This can be used several times before it loses its fragrance. Just store in an airtight container in the fridge when not in use. I had a couple of pictures to share with you for both of these projects, but photobucket is unavailable right now. I hope you have a terrific day and thanks to all of you who shared with me yesterday. My Cup Runneth Over...
07:01 - Thursday, October 9, 2008 - comments {6} - post commentAn INCREDIBLE Blessing Good Morning! Mmm... this morning is just delicious. I am savoring it right now... it is still quiet and still and I just finished reading my most favorite blog and now am writing to you dear friends. I wanted to share with you an incredible blessing that has taken place in our lives.My family believes in the power of prayer, we believe that God is ready and waiting for us to 'make our requests known to Him'. We also believe that prayer is not just for Moma's and Daddy's but for children also. A couple of months ago we shared with the children that we had a burden... one being that we desperately wanted to pay off any debt that we owed... (and were trying when Shannon got sick, then hurt and then lost his job). Well, we sat down with the children and shared with them that we got Shannon's hospital bill in and it was VERY expensive. For the week he was in the hospital it was in excess of $12,000... our insurance covered a some and they wrote a little off and the amount was down to around $4000. Still! We honestly didn't know how we were going to be able to pay it all... and then Shannon lost his job. Well, we all took turns praying, asking the Lord to bless. We knew that He had a plan for all of this and we just asked that He take this burden from us... and we expected His answer, whether it be that the amount was lessoned, whether it be that He sent the money, or whether the hospital set us up some smallish monthly payments. The next day I talked with the hospital and asked if anything could be done, shared with them the problem and waited for God to work. After a month or so of correspondence back and forth we received a letter in the mail saying that the hospital cleared ALL of the balance! Praise the Lord!!!! What a blessing!!! What was even more of a blessing was that Shannon and I were able to share this with the children. They were with us when we prayed... they knew of our circumstances, they were praying and they were able to witness God's answer!!! We desire for our children to know God, not just know about God. This blessing was not only shared between Shannon and I but between our entire family. It will be something that they will likely remember their entire lives... they serve a God who is real, who is true and who hears the cry of His people. Praise the Lord from who all blessings flow. Thank you Jesus! I was eager to share this with you... I believe sometimes we are worried about sharing our burdens with our children... now don't get me wrong, some things are not meant for their little ears, but there are blessings that are waiting to be had, faith that is waiting to be strengthened, hearts that are waiting to be touched. I am so grateful to have been able to experience this with my family and we are so thankful to the Lord for His incredible blessings this day and every day! My Cup Runneth Over...
07:29 - Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - comments {18} - post commentCrockpot Apple Butter This recipe comes from my husbands Grandmother and Great Aunts. They are just precious... I love them very much. They are going to share with me the recipe for the crust part of their fried apple pies also! The Apple Butter, I believe is the filling. I put up 9 pints yesterday morning and look to have at least 9 more for today. I hope you enjoy the recipe.**Also... I don't know how a substitution of honey or agave nectar would be in this recipe... I have yet to try it. IF you try it before me, please let me know! :) Crockpot Apple Butter 6 cups Apples 3 cups Sugar Cinnamon Nutmeg Cloves (I added that) Vanilla Put all your apples in the bottom of your crockpot, then layer the sugar and spices. Do not stir. Cook on low all night and in the morning you are ready to puree and jar up your butter. Put your jars in a hot water bath for at least 15-20 minutes. My Cup Runneth Over...
08:12 - Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - comments {4} - post commentA New Day... Hello my friends! I hope you had a great weekend. The picture above is one of the two baskets of apples we picked Friday. A very sweet lady who lives a pasture over from us invited us to pick all the apples we wanted. She said she hated for them to go to waste and I had made her a purse and she said this was a payment for it... boy, did I get it good!! WOOHOO! :) I have a triple batch of crockpot apple butter in the roaster right now and it smells delicious. I have to 'put it by' later this morning. I am also putting up a few more jars of tomatoes, pickling a few peppers, and dehydrating some apples too... and then probably making even more apple something! :D I will post the apple butter recipe later on this week, as well as an awesome idea of what to do with all your leftover peelings and cores... well two ideas rather, one from me and another from a dear friend. :) For those of you who are wondering, Shannon's arm is getting better. The infection has went from all the way up and down his arm to much more localized and right around the area of the bite/sore. So much better, and we PRAISE THE LORD! :) Again, I want to thank you for the prayers! :) My day has a lot in store and I must get going. God bless you all. My Cup Runneth Over...
06:01 - Monday, October 6, 2008 - comments {2} - post commentHappiness Carlie Jean and her cousin/best fwiend Briana. Good Morning my friends! :) I hope that you have had a great week... well, you know how my week has been, but isn't it great that 'His mercies are new every morning'? Oh I am so thankful for that. It is dark, quiet and still around the homestead this morning. Blissful. I am sitting here welling up at how blessed I truly am. God loves us SO much and He has blessed us so much more than we deserve... A former pastor used to tell me when you talk with someone and they say, "HEY! How are you?" And of course you say "HEY, Oh I am just fine, or I'm good." He told me that we are not really telling the truth, because we are not good, the only good in us is Jesus. So his suggestion was that we say something like "The Lord is good." or "Much better than I deserve." something to that effect. I kinda like it. Now, if you ask if I have said that... nope. I oftentimes forget. But... I think I like, Much better than I deserve. That sounds exactly right, I am so much better off than I deserve. :) Today is going to be a fun day. We are going to plant a few things in the raised bed Shannon and Eli built for me. I plan on putting out several varieties of lettuce and again try some cabbage and maybe some onions. I might even try some kale. I have been hearing so many good things about it, that I might give it a go. Shannon's arm is still pretty bad, but thankfully getting better. It is so painful he has a hard time sleeping. Sadly I have been conking out on him by 9:00 pm. I wonder if I could get the Senior Citizen discount if I tell the stores my hours? Honey, I am in bed by sundown, up before sunup and I have supper ready by early evening.... no I am not 55 yet... but I act like it. <~said in elderly voice. ;) Well, I must get busy, I am still trying to catch up on laundry. I am aching for some coffee on this very chilly morning and I need to spend some time with the Lord before the troops wake up. I hope you have a lovely Friday and the rest of your weekend too. My Cup Runneth Over and Over and Over...
06:51 - Friday, October 3, 2008 - comments {7} - post commentWow... You guys are the best... I mean Really! 500 of you came by my site yesterday. That is amazing... and let me tell you I KNOW that there were prayers going up. Not only for me, but for my family. I have chills thinking about what happens when we obey and pray! ~2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.~ Last night, I suggested that Shannon sleep in the recliner so that he could prop his arm on the arm of the chair and not have to hold it up, being that holding it in a certain way was the only way he was getting any relief. It was swollen so big it was hard to the touch... and HOT, oh my it was hot. The red infection area had gone at least 4 inches outside the box that the doctor had drawn. We had another appointment for 8:30 this morning. I had him soak it in as HOT of water as he could stand, afterwards I washed it and then applied tea tree oil. Still he was in a good deal of pain. He laid down in the recliner and started watching Indiana Jones, Temple of Doom and fell asleep. I wanted to be near so I went to sleep on the couch. This morning his arm looks SO much better! We both know, it is because the prayers that have been going up on our behalf. Thank you, thank you... from the depths of my heart, thank you. I was so touched by your heartfelt comments yesterday. To know that we have Brother's and Sister's in Christ all over this world that care enough for each other to pray and lift one another up is truly a blessing. May God bless... each and EVERY one of you. xoxo
07:22 - Thursday, October 2, 2008 - comments {13} - post commentOverwhelmed... Yes, I believe that is the perfect term... overwhelmed...Just a bit of insight... we had to go to the doctor for Shannon yesterday. He has a swollen, red, hot forearm. A bad infection, from who knows where has set up in his arm, from his wrist to his elbow. He was given a shot and two prescriptions. If the infection does not go down, he has to go to the ER. All of this with no insurance, no job, no income... all on top of the list of things that already has happened. I am not trying to be a whiner. I am just a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I'll be alright... I just need to have a little time to pray and maybe cry too. Love to you, friends.
06:55 - Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - comments {23} - post commentThe Craft Festival Reusable Shopping Bags, Quilt Squares, Baby Bibs, Ribbon TailsHi there friends. I sure hope you have all had a nice weekend. This weekend was like a whirlwind for us. Thankfully it is over and we can get back to life as usual! :) Of course you know that the craft festival was Saturday. I worked and worked to get everything finished up. I had several nights of little rest. The show itself was great. I was able to talk to a lot of nice people, I visited with my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins who I don't get to spend a lot of time with... It was fun. As for the sales... I made slightly more than breaking even. And that is ok. :) At least I didn't get in the red, right? :) Plus, I was able to give out my card and hopefully I will get some business through my etsy.  The sight from walking across the bridge... the front of our booth. Homemade Honey Peach Jam... mmmm! My You Pick Pumpkin Patch! Pretty Autumn Set up going into our booth.In other news, Shannon has a meeting with a former employer. One thing is it is just a couple of minutes away from home... LESS GAS! :) It has fairly good benefits, health, vacation, sick time. The bad... well, we are not going to look at the bad right now. We are just going to wait and see what happens. I appreciate all your prayers and support through all our trials. It is so incredibly nice to know that they're are people whom you have never 'met' that are praying for you and your family. You guys are a tremendous blessing to me! Love to you all!
06:43 - Monday, September 29, 2008 - comments {8} - post commentFriday's Chatter Picture was taken at Show and Sell last yearHello Dear Friends, I hope this day finds you well. I am up extremely early with 2 little boys with an upset tummy. I tell you, it certainly helps to get your day started when you wake up at 3:00 AM! WOW! What you can accomplish. I have been washing dishes ( left some from last night tsk, tsk), laundry is going, rooms have been swept and vacuumed, coffee is brewing. It is quite chilly this morning and I LOVE it. I enjoy the weather SO much this time of year. If you haven't already heard, there is a new movie coming out TODAY!!! It is called Fireproof! I can hardly wait to see it. One cool thing besides Kirk Cameron is the Evangelist that came to our church the week my Daddy got saved is in the movie!! If you see it, look for him. His real name is Bill Stafford and he plays a grumpy old neighbor named Mr. Rudolph. He is tall and lanky. That man will hold a special place in my heart... :) In other news, today we will go and set up for Show and Sell. My Aunt who used to do craft shows often has some nifty screens and such for us to use. So we are going over this afternoon to set up tables! ACK! The festival is tomorrow!!! I can hardly believe it! I am so incredibly excited. Please, pray for us! :) I have a lot to do, I cut out several more lined shopping bags last night and I want to get them sewn together today. Have a beautiful day and if you see the movie, drop me a comment, I am eager to hear what everyone thinks! :) My Cup Runneth Over...
04:47 - Friday, September 26, 2008 - comments {12} - post comment |
 DescriptionWelcome to the Journey of our lives here at our place on this Mountain, our Heritage Acres Farm. My name is Chas and here you will find my thoughts, my ideas and my accomplishments of my life as a Christian wife to my Sweetheart of many years, and as a Homeschooling Moma to my 4 beautiful blessings. We are making the most out of what God has abundantly blessed us with! Truly, My Cup Runneth Over... I hope you enjoy your visit here and come back soon! 
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