Well, whatever you call it, the last few days, I've been busy cleaning and decluttering then organizing what is left to either look good or be practical. I cleaned my craft room and put up some plastic shelves to store some pantry items. Mostly the items that I buy by the case from the food co-op. It looks much better in there and I know where things are. Yippee....I still haven't found my rotary cutters though. I hid them a few months ago, from my 14yr old son who I found was cutting everything with them...including leather !!! Now, I can't find them....lol Then I moved into the laundry area. It is in between the familyroom and the kitchen, and everyone has to walk through it, meaning they have to see everything....So, here is what I did, I took the old cabinet doors off the cabinets above the washing machine and dryer and painted the shelves and the background a reddish brown...put some canned goods on them and now it's sort of like a walkthrough pantry... Here is picture of after...I wish I had done a before picture....just didn't realize what I was getting into when I started cleaning out those cabinets...
So I am getting things accomplished...hopefully more functional but yet pleasant to the eye as well. It can be challenging to deal with what you have sometimes. I have too much junk that I need to weed out and an older house, that lacks what I think is character. It's not old enough to be what I'd like, it's that basic 1960's brick ranch house....you just need to add your own personality to it. So that is what I'm trying to do... Then the other corner I have my grain buckets:
The door with the door knob is a bathroom about the size of closet, but it does have a shower with frosted sliding glass doors. We don't use that shower, so I have my laundry hampers in there...it's only a few feet away from the machines. So it will work and my dirty laundry doesn't have to clutter that corner where the buckets are anymore. I did have wicker baskets there but there was always laundry hanging out the sides or thrown on the floor around them....I always had to run there to toss them or hide them when someone was coming over.... Blessings, Cindylee |
I usually don't get a chance to visit yard sales, because around here they are usually on Saturdays, which is the day we observe Sabbath....This weekend I saw an estate sale sign at the end of my road, and it was going on Sunday, too.....so here is what I found:
I bought the slow cooker book for me, but thought my son may like to learn about weaving on this little loom..I had one when I was a kid and loved it. I have wanted to learn to weave myself, and this may get me motivated as well...I'm thinking it might be possible to make a homemade loom, big enough to make placemats, etc.....any one have instructions or patterns for that? I've already got some beans soaking for a pinto bean recipe I saw in the book...it's one very similar to one I already make, but a little different. So we will see if it's the new better version.... The weather here in NE Georgia Mts, looks like it will be pretty this week....so I plan on doing some last minute gardening mostly clean-up and mulching, trimming some limbs, etc. I also, have some rooms to de-clutter....my craft room to start, I couldn't cut out a pattern if I wanted to on my cutting table, it's covered in piles of clutter, and the school/office room..... I also want to make some shelves somewhere or use a bookcase to store my canned foods on. They are now, lining my hallway in boxes... I must have a closet or someplace to store them...!! My craft-room may have to turn into a pantry...I've already got buckets in my laundry area...at least they are white with red gamma lids, goes with my white and red enamel decor...lol. Here is some other things on my weekly to do list: I want to finish my quilt...almost finished and ready to put on my bed by the end of the week!!!! Then I can concentrate on my spinning and knitting..... and making more soap. Animals.....I'm drying up my 2 does in milk...they seem to let off their production the last few weeks, enough to where I think I'll just let them dry up, slowly. They are already bred so I'll be busy with them in Feb. again....my hens nesting boxes need cleaning out, since they are molting anyway. No fresh milk and eggs for me for a bit...boohoo. I have some milk in the freezer for baking with, or soap making, but the eggs I'll miss. Hopefully, I'll get a few every now and then. Oh well, a busy week ahead...I like to see progress and this week, I'm bound to! Blessings, Cindylee |
I love Autumn...nothing better but maybe a Sunday in Autumn. All the warm colors, the crisp air outside, comfy fire in the woodstove...the smell of cinnamon rolls in the oven...and coffee! I just love it! I made the pumpkin cinnamon rolls that Crystal at homemaking homesteader, posted the other day..... http://www.homesteadblogger.com/quiverfull/posted ...they are yummy on a Sunday fall morning. Only thing I did different was I added maple flavoring to the icing.....
I hope you all try them, they are good..... Thanks Crystal for posting the recipe.... Cindylee |
Good Morning... Yesterday the food co-op order came in so it was a busy day. I'm the co-ordinator of our group and it really does take work to do the paperwork, organize and get it going. I've actually, been part of this food co-op for 14 yrs, but had stepped away from it while my mom was ill, because I couldn't be committed to it at that time. I came back this year, and now I am the coordinator again. The gal that took over didn't want it to grow, so she kept it to about 6-10 orders per month, just barely making the minimum and recieving NO discount. Why order from a food co-op if no discount???? Anyway...I've made a commitment to build it up and get us a better discount...already 6% so that's better. I thought I'd explain a little about what it is...if your not familiar with it. The Buying club we are in is Unitied... http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/index.htm . They are not currently allowing anymore groups to get started, but you can call them and ask if there is one close to you already started.
How we currently do ours, isn't ideal, but I hope to make changes to that soon. You join a group, usually for a small membership fee and this usually includes the subscription cost of a monthly catalog. You can purchase anything from grocery items, grains, baking supplies, supplements, household, personal care products and some misc. things like pet, gardening, etc....just about anything you can get in a health food store. Not all things are organic, but much of it is....The thing is it's in bulk or cases, because it's from the warehouse. You eliminate the middle mans markup. You can split the cases with other members or stock up your pantry. Our group hasn't taken advantage of spliting cases yet, but hope they will start to look into that option. Yesterday, I bought a whole case of peanut butter...that's alot of PB, and it will last me along time, but I don't really want 12 jars of it, 6 would have been better for me, because of my space to store it. Also, the initial cost of starting to stock your pantry seems high at first for just a few items. My bill was $350 yesterday for only a eight different items..but all were in case or large pound bags. But once you get on a routine for you, then at the end of the year you will have saved money and are eating healthier for it. I encourage you to look into a buying club in your area...it's a great way to meet people and usually all with a common bond. Saving money, eating healther and sustainable living. Many homeschooling families as well, and many lessons can be found in it. Everyone works at delivery time.... I think I'll go have some peanut butter toast....lol Blessings, | ||
I sure had a full day today. After milking the goats and feeding the other animals, I came in and put my ski headband on, because it is cold!!!! The wind is really blowing out.... I cut back my herbs because tomorrow morning it is suppose to be only 30.... I cut most most of my herbs and started drying them. It smelled yummy while the peppermint was in the dehydrator, but when the chives and parsley went in, it got a bit strong smelling....lol. But all the herbs are hanging, or have been dryed and packed in jars and the seeds are in brown lunch bags ready for next spring. Then I after I cleaned up after lunch, I gave our new puppy a bath....here she is: She's a German Shephard and her name is Laila...means midnight in Hebrew...We sure do love her already. Oh, and after that I dyed some of my own handspun yarn in Kool aid....I used grape and lemonade, because my sons ball team colors are purple and gold...I'll knit or crochet a scarf and ski band from it. The purple isn't really as purple as I'd like it, nor is the gold, gold....it's yellow, but it will work ok. I need to order some good yarn dye, so I can really have fun. I'll try to take a picture of it tomorrow, if the colors are dark enough. I watched a few youtube videos on it, and used the microwave version. For dinner, it was leftover chicken noodle soup from Sabbath, and crackers. I think the kids are asking me for hot chocolate....so I think I'll go pop some popcorn and make them some hot cocoa. The fires going and it's time to sit and chill...I will either spin or knit...... Have a blessed evening.... |
Homemade Hamburger Rolls 1 cup oil ( I used olive oil ) 6 Tbs yeast 3 1/2 cups of warm water 1/2 cup honey 3 eggs 1 Tbs salt 10 1/2 cups whole wheat flour....I used freshly ground spelt and white wheat
Mix and rest oil, yeast, water and honey
Add eggs, salt, and flour
Knead at least 5 minutes, I used my Bosch mixer. Shape immediately into 24 large buns. Let rise for 20 minutes and then bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Easy easy...and better then the store bought ones. You could press, onion flakes, sesame seeds or even poppy seeds on the tops.
Hubby grilled great burgers and we had all the trimmings for the burgers...I made oven fries, baked beans and didn't have time to make the ice cream. My son had baseball practice and they called it an hour early.... Today it's cold and windy and we are having left over homemade chicken noodle soup from Sabbath Dinner. Blessings, Cindylee
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Shalom Everyone! Well, the weather here is suppose to be nice today, but wind and cold front moving in tomorrow, bringing it down in the low 30's the next few mornings. And high's in the 50's during the day. We have had a fire going this week, just to take the chill out of the house in the morning, but not to keep going all day....looks like we have some chores today. I will go out and cut my herbs to put in the dehydrator or hang upside down. I will also be cutting back and deep mulching the herb beds. I have a few more tomatoe plants that did a small second crop and I'll make sure they are picked as well. Here is the list of kitchen herbs I have: chives, thyme, oregano, parsley, different mints, fennel, dill, sage and basil....hmmmm, I think that is it for my kitchen herbs. I'll dry most of them, but the chives, I may freeze whole. Medicinal and Cosmetic herbs: Feverfew, lovage, enchinacia, scented geranium, yarrow, mullein and lavender... Most of these I will cut back and dry the leaves, but the enchinacia I'll just cut back and take seeds from spent blooms, and the scented geranium, I'll cut back and dry some leaves but will put in a pot and take to the basement to keep for next year.
I use the leaves to infuse in oils....like almond or avacado oil to use on my skin. I haven't purchased commercial "beauty" aids in years. Some of these oils I add to my homemade goat milk soap. So this week I have to get some oil, to start my infusions....I also like to infuse lavender in my vinegar that I use to clean around the house. It helps to make it smell better....or use for my hair rinse.
The enchinacia, mullein and feverfew I use in teas, during the cold and flu season. Of course I mix it in with my raspberry green tea.... feverfew is added the the two weeks before my menstrual, to help avoid the hormone migraine I get. But before anyone jumps to do any herbal teas, please do a research of your own to see if it's something you should be using....for example: some are safe while pregnant, others are not... You should always be careful about taking herbal supplements for medicinal reasons, do your own research....there are plenty of websites and books that can help you be safe in your decision making. I better get my day started....I want to make buns for our grilled burgers today. Nothing better then a 100% grassfed burger, with no junk added to the beef and fresh buns! Maybe a slice of vadalia onion...yum! Coleslaw and Kettle chips, or I may make oven sweet potatoe fries....iced raspberry greentea, followed with a homemade pumpkin pie and goat milk icecream.... Wow...I better get a move on it....it's already time for the barn.
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The very first hour of my day I was blessed with 2 qrts of milk, 12 eggs, an abundance of vegetables and blueberries!
I am so thankful for these small things...... Then after this, my daughter called and suggested that we take the boys to a water park. I had lots of work planned for today to start off my week, but she managed to talk me into it. What a wonderful fun day! My work will be there tomorrow.... |
I really enjoy looking around at different bloggers...I'd like to thank everyone for your time and for sharing parts of your lives. It helps me in so many ways...it's encouraging, I learn, form ideas and feel connected. Sometimes the way I choose to do things, is so different from the "norm" of things today, that I sometimes start to wonder why I do what I do.... I didn't grow up around family or friends that did the things I do now. I can't say I had their influence or guidance. I've always been a thinker and meditator, even at an early age. I remember before 1st grade, staring into the mirror at myself, and asking "who am I, why am I here?" I'd wait for an answer and stare into my eyes, waiting for the answer to appear. As I got older, I'd spend hours alone, either in the huge oak trees that were so much fun to climb or out on the old docks on the bay in Florida where I grew up. I'd think for hours or just sit listening to the world around me...the creation. I wasn't in a believing family...infact, the opposite...lots of drinking, foul language, fighting, etc....I didn't confess my believe in Jesus until I was 28yrs old. I lived the next 20yrs growing and learning what it meant to be a Christian. The last 4 years I've been led to learn more of the Hebrew ways...being Torah observant.....I have had many questions answered through these past few years of my own study of the Word and through prayer and understand so much more. Lots of pieces were put in place. Some I didn't even realize were missing. You know what? I got off topic....lol. I just really wanted to say thank you to all you other bloggers that take the time to share your experiences your talents and your love. I really do enjoy it and realized that I've missed being on here each morning, reading glimpses of your lives. It gives me motivation and excitement sometimes when I get caught up in the same ole routine.... Now, as I look at the time...I'm late getting out to the barn to milk...my goaties will be baaaaing, when they hear the door open...lol. May you all have a blessed Shabbath....filled with peace and may you all be refreshed.
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It's been along time since I"ve been to posted anything. Each year about the end of January, I get tired of winter and start to get the dulldrums...(is that a word) I choose not to go outside, because I'm tired of being cold...I get bored and restless and usually end up doing not much of anything. But it's spring now, or atleast it was yesterday. I woke up this morning to a cold feeling 39...the wind chilld was what made it feel so cold. But I know it will only last for a few days and back to the 70's tomorrow afternoon. I was able to work in my existing herb garden and have plans to expand it. I have my small kitchen garden ready to plant some veggies, and the larger garden plot will be turned over this week. I've sowed some zinnias and sunflowers for my cutting garden...and I'm so looking forward to watching them come up out of the ground. Hopefully, last years chipmunk resident has moved to another house or barn, because he ate all my sunflower seeds and what little plants got started he pulled up. My goats are in their kidding season...so far I've been blessed with 7 little kids. 4 does and 3 bucks. I've started milking again and loving it. Even if it was a bit cold out this morning at 6:30am. I will try to update more often...
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I woke up this morning to see the ground dusted in white...what a suprise. It is only a dusting, but still will be nice to look at from inside...it's cold out. First time I felt the house a little cold inside. But I just threw in some more logs and opened that baby up...lol. It won't take her long to heat up the living area. I know Will (my 13yr) must be cold in the basement where he is so deteremined to make his room. Well, I got my quilt frame made yesterday..and then laid out my bottom, batting and middle...that's not easy!!! But I did it...it may not be perfect, but I did it. Why did I start on a queen size for my first quilt???
Anyway...it's rolled up on the frame and I started hand quilting last night. I may not get it done this year...lol. I can see I need to find me a few finger thimbles...those little quilting needles are sharp and pierce the finger deep before you realize it...lol. It will be really personalized with my blood sweat and tears...lol. Tears came yesterday as I was trying to get everything straight and smooth to pin, sweat then too, because the only place large enough was in front of the wood heater, and the blood....well you just read about that. However, I'm excited about it, it looks great on the frame in my family-room...it adds a cozy country touch to the decor....lol. Hopefully it won't stay a decor!
Anyway about my frame...I'll try to take a picture of it later and post it. I bought 2 - 8ft 1X2's for the scroll part and then I found a scrap piece in the barn to cut into 2 - 24 inch pieces to clamp ( C-clamps) on the longer pieces to hold them apart evenly and to keep my quilt taunt. I laid each end of the frame over 2 TV dinner trays...(you know those tables we used to put up infront of us to put our TV dinners on while watching TV...remember those?) the height is perfect so I can sit under the frame and stitch away.
I'm so looking forward to quilting these next few cold months...something to do in my short evenings.
Cindylee |
I'm not sure how I can get these thoughts down in writing, but I'm going to try... Anyone else out there have this dream of returning back to the way it was...? I mean way back..... I may have a misinformed idea of how things were back in the biblical days.... but to live in a small community with family and friends close by.... I know they had their difficulties...the work had to be harder then I can imagine. Just a simple job today would be something complex and time consuming back then. And sanitation, I'm sure was unpleasant....We have so much to help us today in our daily tasks, just maybe too much help. Choices...wow! Just to buy a shampoo or deorderant...look at the choices we have. Then those that are snipping coupons, rebates and watching sales before they even get to the stores....wow! I applaude them....but that's too complicated for me. Just to look at the aisles in our stores now...
I remember that feeling I had when I last looked for a shampoo and besides comparing the prices, we have to look at ingredients, and oh man, the fragrances, are you a sniffer like me? This could be a real challenge and temptation to splurge on that really pretty bottle with the great fragrance. ok, I got off track.... or maybe not....I would love to be able to have just a few changes of clothes...and I love the look of homemade woven linens and cottons that I picture the clothing to be made from. Have you seen "The Nativity Story"....? the movie that came out last year? my kids laugh at me when I tell them I wished that was how we dressed today. Unfortunately, they have discovered Abercrombe, etc...
I love the simple clothing.....how freeing that would be. A choice you wouldn't have to make before you even walked out the door. I have eliminated a few choices in my life, it really started for health reasons, but the simplicity of it, fits well in my current lifestyle. Anyway........ 1) I don't buy shampoo anymore, I use only baking soda in my hair and occassionally rinse with apple cider vinegar. It works ! I was really a sceptic when I first heard aout it. Because I am a sniffer and I love soft hair. But all I do is put a heaping tbls in my palm, wet it and massage into my roots or scalp.. I rinse well and my hair is clean. I also, rub a tiny amount of olive oil in my palm and rub onto the ends of my hair. I usually will add a drop of essential oil to that so I am not missing out on fragrance. I'm in the process of infusing some oils with herbs to give a more pleasing aroma. Like rosemary and lavender. 2) I don't use toothpaste or deorderant anymore. I again use baking soda w/essential oils. 3) I don't buy soap for bathing, I use my homemade goatmilk/olive oil soap for cleansing my body and my face. I use a homemade oil blend w/essential oils for my face and body moisturizer. Again, I did infuse some almond oil w/gardenia flowers this fall and it smells great. 4) I rarely use makeup anymore..but when I do it's mascaria and a little mineral powder on my face to even the skin tone out. 5) I also use the recipes we have all seen for household cleaning. and I make my laundry soap with my homemade lye soap, borax and washing soda. Again, for my linens I will add lavender or lilac to a damp cloth and throw in the dryer. I hang out clothes but not when I'm using the wood heat...I'm not fond of smoky smelling clothes. These steps have saved us money and more importantly we are not inhaling chemicals and the poisons aren't going into our bodies through our skin. You know I think I got of topic again...lol. My son Jacob has awaken and he is trying to get my attention...and he has. Do you have any simple and easy things you have found to work for you ? Living simply isn't always easy...but these few choices have really simplified it for me. Cindylee
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Friday morning...awe, yes! I love to hear it's Friday morning. My day will be busy with the chores that I have to do, but it's also filled with getting my house in order...candles lit, flowers and fresh linens. I love it.. gives me that special occassion feeling. But it also, means that I will be taking it easy from sunset tonight to sunset tomorrow, but mostly I enjoy spending quality time in the Word. I read each day, but I don't always have time to "study" the word...and this is what I do on Sabbath. That is, bottom line, what I look forward too. A new "revelation"...... of course they can come any day of the week...but I usually learn something about the past week, that I need to work on for the future. This week has been a busy week...I've had to deal with a colic horse, finding hay, cleaning one of our vacant apartments, taking my 13yr old hunting each morning at 6:30, normal household chores and my daily animal chores..... milking goats, chickens, rabbit, cockatiels, dogs and the horses....oh yes, being the mom to 5 children even though only 2 are at home. The other 3, keep me concerned....all young adults on their own. I try my best to understand they are in Gods hands, but I still can't help the worry. I am really looking forward to this weeks day of "Rest" . Blessings, Cindylee |
Posted in My Animals
Well, I learned something new...if you have stalled horses, do not feed them only Bermuda hay! As I may have mentioned I had to move our horses from the pasture that they so pleasantly have been enjoying for the past 10 years, to our stalls here at the house. We used to have pasture for them, but not any longer as we have put rental prpty on it. So I've been feeding them lots of hay and a little grain and lots of fresh clean water. I take them out daily to walk them or to lunge them. Hay around here has been scarce because of the drought, and if you get it, you have to pay for it... All I could find this last week was some Bermuda hay...so they've been eating on it for a week...I noticed that my big boy, Nugget, didn't really so interest in his grain or hay the day before yesterday, or yesterday.....and no poop in his stall. I took him out yesterday and lunged him to get him moving, and tried some warm bran mash on him..but nope, not interested. I ended up calling the vet when I noticed he was pawing at the ground. He sedated him and gave him a pain med, and then pumped liquids in his stomach and also a pail of stool softener and mineral oil. This was last night...today I went to a few towns over and got some fescue hay..that is what they are used to and he is eating it. There was a little pile of poop in his stall this morning..but the vet said it may take up to 18 hours for the oil/softener to really work on him. I don't want to be behind him when it does...lol. Anyway...I'm so relieved. I was really nervous yesterday...I know that colic can take a horse down with a twisted gut and bring surgery or even death. I'm still feeding him the warm bran mash...but he isn't showing much interest in that...but he is drinking water and eating some hay today. I took him off grain for a few days. Other then that...all is well here at my place. I'm tired and it's been really cold..today is just gray and drizzly... Blessings, Cindylee |
Today starts a new week...with new chores to add to my normal routine of housework, animals and homeschool. Sunday: 1.
4
8. Repair gate on horse stall and muck out stalls. add hinge and figure out a lock. Only thing holding it is a bungie cord for now. I think I'll get some small chain and clasp to wrap around the post and through the door. That should work for now. Need different screws...the ones I have, have too small of a head and goes through the holes on the hinge. I think I need lug bolts...or something like that.
12. Type up statement for new tenant and lease
Well, that is all I'm planning on today. I know somethings will come up and be added to the list and some things may have to wait until tomorrow, but getting these done will be good...then tomorrow...another whole day. I'm not sure what we'll do as quality time ... maybe watch a movie w/popcorn. I'm already tired and ready for bed...I woke up way to early... 4 AM....I could lay down for an hour, just might do that. I have a busy day ahead...so off I go. Cindylee
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I am so thankful that our Father had loved us so much, even in the beginning of creation, He gave us the Sabbath. He knew we would need to rest and look to see what was good.... This week I welcome it....We had an emotional and physical week with all that is going on with DH's decision to take a job away. We had alot of work that needed to get done before he left and it was really stressful for both of us. Dh is sacrificing alot to provide for the family......and I've made a decision I will do my best here to do all I can to help. Honestly, I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday as he kept telling be what all I needed to do. I selfishly was thinking of all the stuff I already did around here that adding much more to it was not going to happen. I am so grateful now, that I kept those ugly selfish thoughts to myself and didn't burden Dh with them. Since then, I realize that I have to sacrifice too.... I need to give all I can and push myself even more, to help out around here. I have a healthier attitude today...I will take the day and "rest" in my Father. I will worship and praise Him for all He has provided for us and all He will ton continue to provide for us. After today I'll be refreshed and ready because: Tomorrow....starts a new week. I have so much to do. But I will do it without complaining and I will do my very best, even if it cuts into "my time". I did have this idea that I would work on some crafts that I have wanted to finish. And I will, if time permits...but if not, then they'll remain unfinished until my work is finished. I'll do my best to make Dh proud of me. I'm sure thankful of him and so proud of him.....so looking back after this week of work, I can now,relax and really see that "it is all good...." |
Wow, where did the week go? It sure has been a busy week, emotionaly, physically and spiritually....We've had to make some decisions and things will be changing around here and I'm a bit nervous, since I'll be doing much by myself. Our finances have hit a snag...my dh, is in real estate and that has died. We own some apartments and this time of year taxes are due and we'll have some empty apartments to fill. The money isn't there, so my dh, will be taking a job with a company that he used to work with, which takes him on the road for a few weeks at a time. This was all decided this week, and tonight is the day he is leaving...after our son's basketball game. I know he is praying another opportunity would "appear" today so he wouldn't have to leave. The thought of not being here these next few weeks is killing him. The thought is a bit scary for me as well. A lot will have to be done and I'll be doing it alone. My son likes to hunt...I'll be taking him. He'll go into the woods, and I'll sit nestled in the car/truck waiting for him. Very early in the morning 6:30 to about 9:30. If he gets a deer, we'll have to haul it out of the woods ourselves and take it to the processor. Next is the barn chores...milking the goats and feeding the goats, chickens, horses and the small animals. Rabbit, birds, and dogs. For homeschooling I think my 6yr old will continue with our reading, and that will be at bedtime. Thats all we'll plan on. When the next 4 apartments come available, I'll have to paint and clean them by myself. And any minor repairs....others I'll have to hire out. I'll also have to rent them out, which is showing them the apartment and making any decisions that might have to be made....always a negotiation. I am a bit softer then DH, so I pray I won't be taken advantage of. Thankfully, we've downsized Christmas this year anyway..so the only shopping I have to do are the 3 names we drew. Limit on price so that won't be hard..and they all gave ideas. Easy. I'm not sure we are even having a tree this year. If up to me, we wouldn't, but I think I'll ask the kids (boys) how they feel. Grandma has one up and that is where they will open up their present...it'll be just one this year. My 6yr old will be having his birthday the 29th, so I will have to prepare a family dinner for that and do some shopping for him. I sold some eggs yesterday! Yippee...it was exciting to recieve some money to buy their feed with. I sold $11..worth. I sold them for $2.50/doz and $3.00/18....somehow, I got an extra .50...lol. Today, I have to go to the feed store...I'm thinking of changing the way I'm feeding the goats. Seems like I'm spending too much money on them. But I'll have to plan on that and change their diet gradually. Hay is outrages and hard to find around here. I could get orchard blend...but that is 11.50 a sq bale...I can't do that. Bermuda is 7.50, Fescue can't be found and alfalpha..not sure. I get the pellets to put in their feed. Ok, today is the day I usually prepare my home for Sabbath...but I'll be cleaning a apartment and going to my sons basketball game tonight...tomorrow, I will rest. It will be the first day that dh, will be gone....so I sort of expect it to be a weird day. Well....that's my week in a nutshell....here at my little homestead. Blessings, Cindylee |
Well, I think I finally have enough milk to make some yogurt. My 2 does that I milk have not been giving much milk the past month and seems like everyone is using it more and more. That's a good thing... Anyway..to make the yogurt, I will 1. scald up some milk.....about one quart. 2. let cool down to 115 degrees 3. Add 2 tbls of plain yogurt. I use an organic brand that has live cultures...unpasteurized. 4. Pour into a mason jar and cover. 5. I use my dehydrator...but you can wrap in towel and place in a cooler. I've also used a thermos to make the yogurt. Then enjoy it...One of my favorite ways to eat yogurt is with bananas and homemade granola on top. Drizzled with some honey...yum yum.
TO make Granola...I use this general recipe, but I vary it all the time with different fruits, nuts and seeds. 3 c. rolled oats
1 c. shredded coconut 1/2 c. chopped almonds or other choice of nuts 1/2 c. sesame seeds 1/2 c. shelled sunflower seeds 1/2 c.wheat germ 1/2 c. honey 1/4 c. cooking oil 1 cup of dried fruit....I like raisins or cranberries
Combine oats, coconut, almonds, sesame and sunflower seeds and wheat germ. Combine honey and oil and stir into mixture. Spread out into 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Set oven at 300 degrees and bake until light golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir in dried fruit. Remove to another pan to cool. Store in tightly covered jars or plastic bags. Refrigerate. |
Posted in Thoughts
This is the first year we have activily started to observe Hannukah. I started a few years ago, starting to implement the biblical holidays into our family worship time, but really never felt led to do Hannukah. But this year I did....After all Jesus did: Yeshua was in Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukkah, as it is recorded in John 10: 22 - 30.
We aren't doing much, which I think is a personal choice for each family. There are many traditions that the Jewish do, but I don't feel I'm commanded to do. I'm not Jewish so I don't have those traditions, but I have gleaned some ideas from them. We do light the Menorah adding a candle each night....I don't have a real one, I'm using tealights this year placed beautifully on a silver tray. We are enjoying some special recipes...and eating fried foods is one of the things usually done. To symbolize the Holy olive oil that lasted, miraculously, for the eight days when the Temple was rededicated. So, for that we made the easy canned biscuit doughnuts...that was easy and fun for the kids. We've also made a pretty Garland of blue, Star of Davids glued on white ribbon...and today we will make a Tzedukah box...a box to add change to and to be used for the needy. We'll make it this year adding to it all year and will look forward to using it next year for charity. There are five nights left so we'll be doing some other simple things. Many families give a gift each night...I'm not doing that this year, but next year we may..but they will be homemade gifts or something small and meaningful to the individual or holiday. We still do a very small Christmas...because of the rest of the family and my kids are not ready to give that up. I'm doing my best to not make complicated or give them a reason to walk away from their faith, so I'm implementing the new in slowly and the old out slowly. I love this time of year, and always have, but have also struggled with the blues this time of year and it seems like those are lifting as I get away from the Christmasy commitments, worldly ways, commercialism of it....you know all those "bad" terms associated with it. I'm surely keeping it simple..... I don't judge anyone that celebrates it... and I wish all of you that do celebrate it with all the decorations and fun, the best Christmas ever..May it be filled with love and joy. And remember that even if our Savior wasn't born on Dec. 25th...He was born for us and then died for our sins! That is something to be thankful for everyday! Cindylee If you would like to learn a little about the History of Hannukah...here is site, I briefly looked at today: http://www.bethdavidfresno.org/Articles/HistoryOfHanukkah.htm |
Posted in My Animals
Well this Sunday, we got a call from the peple that just bought the place my horses have been on for 8 years. She would like for us to move them, as soon as possible. Well, this put a little stress on my dh and myself. We don't have the pasture for 2 horses here anymore, or the finances to have them boarded. However, we could make some stalls here and dry lot them for a little while. Anyway...about 2 hours later I'm in the middle of shaping my homemade hamburger rolls and we get another call...."the horses got out, my son left the gate open"....so we had to stop what we were in the middle of doing and get the horses safely back in their pasture and out of the danger of any passing cars. We got there and didn't have much of a problem getting them back in the pasture. But we decided then we'd bring them home, even if we had to walk them daily or put them in with the goats for an hour a day. The grass will be gone in no time. Goats don't eat the grass anyway..but does make it neater and cleaner for them. We came home and I finished my rolls,...and then we started working on their stalls. We had to replace a few boards and the floor needed to be scrapped down and new shavings put down. It was a messy and strenuous ordeal... When we went to trailor the horses home we expected a bit of a problem loading, but they both walked on like they did it daily. They seem to be loving the attention we are giving them, but I know they must miss their freedom on that 10 acre pasture. They shared it with only one other animal...a donkey named Jack. He also had to find a new home...the new owners are wanting to put cows in there and felt the horses would be a problem. Anyway... another chore to add to my daily routine..but one I look forward to. I missed my horses. And to smell them....almost as good as a newborn babies neck. And mucking the stalls...that even smells good to me. Better then the chicken coop. phewie!
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