A Christian Woman Thinks (And It's Dangerous)

Making Room for One More

A Week Off

It's time to get this place back in order!

It seems to fall out of order so easily

The kids have the next week off from school.

I have some big goals!

# 1- Get all of the laundry done - all of it!

# 2- Organize all of those clean clothes.

# 3- Prepare for the next six weeks of school.

# 4- Do an all around house clean-up.

# 5- Finish reconstructing my website.  http://candyfoote.com/

# 6- Discipline myself to blog daily.  Well, hopefully daily.

# 7- Keep working on my next three books!

# 8 - Can tomatoes.

# 9- Freeze peppers.

# 10- Wrap and freeze about 300 pounds of beef from the bull that we just had butchered.

Wow!  Did I say vacation was for only a week.

http://candyfoote.com/

Enjoying The Autumn Season

Where has the time gone, its been a couple of weeks sense I have blog. We had out of state company last week. They brought their vintage travel trailer so I could work on their cushions. Plus my own work kept me pretty busy.

I'm still camping out, and it gets better all the time. I just love it up at the Outpost in this beautiful fall weather. I just sit down and let the leaves fall on my face like you would if snowflakes were coming down. Took off my shoes and socks and just ran my feet through the leaves that gathered while reading my Mary Jane Outpost book and getting more ideas. Oh I got a perfect spot for the walled tent that will have a wood stove in it. Can't wait.

Been working on the bath house , so pictures willbe on my next blog.

Its so nice out tonight I might stay out there and pop some popcorn. Sis stayed last night. The wind was up so sounds of limbs falling or maybe animals moving around. DH stayed last weekend but hes more of drop in the sack and off to sleeping were as sis and I like to read or play our tin whistles or do hand shadows on the tent, silly fun stuff. Maybe a spook story from sis, knowing full well I got to make one last trip in those dark woods to get something at the house. And oh was it dark last night, after the lamp is off and your eyes get adjusted to the dark, then comes all those shadows and seeing something and not seeing something. Stars galore, just a beautiful weekend.

This weekend was also chicken butchering again. A few weeks back I dressed out a couple and they were just a little small. The ones today and yesterday dressed out to 3 1/2 to 41/2 lbs. With about 25 more to do next weekend, they should be close to 5+lbs.

It sure is good to know our family will be eating good homegrown food. With another food call on milk from China and chicken too.

Fall Gardening:

Green beans are full of blooms, hope they hold out until we have a freeze. Lettuce almost ready to pick for a nice salad bowl.

More herbs to gather, peppers, sweet and hot dehydrated.

Planted turnips, beets,peas,parsnips,lettuce,garlic today. some will be an ify for harvest.

Gathered more seeds from flowers and gave the Gkids some huge sunflower heads to harvest and make a nice treat. I saved many for the birds too, I just leave those in the garden and let the birds have at em.

Last blog I mention a day trip down to Truman Lake. We are planning to go again this month for a pioneer festival. So I won't show most of the pictures I took and wait tell I have pictures of some of the ol time stuff being used and made.

But first before the lake we went to a Cherokee Nation gathering, even tho I have some Crow in the blood lines , it was still nice to see. Altho no tipi's, I so wanted to see the structures. But they had some heck of a set of drums. This was double drums made form a huge cottonwood trunk.

You know I have to touch it, and I did. Was told by the chief that women are not suppose to touch the drums, but was ok sense it was not being used in a ceremony. I'll be dang if I touched it again. I best watch it

I talked to lady called White Dear, she was awesome to talk to and loved what she was doing, loved her land and all the wild things she has found on her place, plants and critters. She had a display of all her findings on her homestead. Very interesting what one has just out the back door. It was a good gathering.

Then we all go out for BBQ, oh boy was it good, sitting on cedar picnic tables when a big slab of ribs and all the fixins is put before us, we hogged out.

After the eats we go to the lake where the pioneer days will be going on this month.

This is back of a log home, with other buildings made just like the ol time. I could live in this log home.

Heres a house with a history that they move in the area, lots of old cook stoves in the summer kitchen, rope beds, quilts, and a herb garden out back and much more. I could just be content on that porch shelling peas or snapping green beans with a cold glass of lemonade.

Heres a pic,looking out the window in this old one room school house. I just imagine what a school teacher was thinking just before school started for the day or maybe after the kids ran home when school was let out.

I like this picture.

Now on the way home we stopped by an Amish store, I was after some more lye to make more soap. Some young Amish lads were out with their horses and oh was it a sight to behold. I wish I had one of those fancy cameras to get these shots. I don't know what type of horses these were but oh how beautiful.

They started back in that beautiful field, rounding them up.

Then they are heading toward us, I get nervous cuz I want a good picture.

They must have seen us cuz they all turned and ran the other direction. Oh this was indeed a sight. And to hear too. I just wonder if those Amish boys said "Those English"

Well I can't wait to go back and see soap making out in the woods, spinning, weaving, broom making, pies cooking in wood stoves, apple cider press and lots of good ol timin ways. Oh and the smoke house will be going to , hope they got some jerky to share.

The weather has just been wonderful, Fall is here

Until later have a great week and always thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Happy Autumn Blessings

linda

Million Calorie Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

Million Calorie Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

1 lb. softened sweet butter

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons homemade vanilla or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 lb bittersweet chocolate chips

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
• Grease a 10 inch tube pan and lightly flour. I also suggest that you line the bottom with parchment paper and have it come up the side an inch or so, as some batter leaked from the bottom.
• In a large mixing bowl by hand or with a beater, cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
• Then add 1 egg at a time, beating well till incorporated.
• Alternating add the flour and milk stirring by hand with a wooden spoon.
• Add the extracts and combine the cake batter till well blended.
• Fold in the chocolate chips till incorporated evenly in the cake batter.
• Carefully add the batter to the tube pan, smoothing the top to make sure it is even.
• Bake till a tester comes out clean anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Cool the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes then turn it out onto the rack to cool.

He Is Faithful!

He Is Faithful!

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

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He is the LORD our God:
his judgments are in all the earth.

He hath remembered his covenant for ever,
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Psalm 105:7,8 KJV

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Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Hebrews 10:23 NASB

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I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying,
"O Lord, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and steadfast love with
those who love him and keep his commandments."

Daniel 9:4 ESV

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God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

I Corinthians 1:9

Tamales With Roasted Green Chilies And Cheddar Cheese

I haven't tried these but they sound wonderful!

Tamales With Roasted Green Chilies And Cheddar Cheese

Makes 12

2 1/2 cups prepared corn masa
1/2 cup diced chiles
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, or pepper jack
12 whole, pitted black olives
Aprox 30 dry corn husks

Soak at least 30 husks in hot water for 20 minutes to soften. Once
softened, remove from water, separate, and shake off excess water.
Tear some husks 1/4 inch wide to form 24 strips to tie the ends with.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the masa, chiles and cheese.
Take 1/4 cup at a time and place in the center of a large husk. With
your fingers, press dough ball into a 3 inch rectangle. Push one
olive into the center of dough. (This is traditional.) Place another
husk on top. Then roll from the long sides to form a cylinder shape.
Pinch and gently twist the ends and tie, snugly, being careful not to
break the husk tie. Continue until you have made 12 or so tamales.

When ready to cook, place in a steam pot and cover tightly and steam
the tamales for 30 to 35 minutes over simmering water, being careful
that your water does not cook away, add water if necessary. Do not
crowd the tamales too close together. Tamales are done when they feel
firm to the touch but not hard, and the dough comes away easily from
the husk. Remove from pot and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Evangelism

The secretary at the school in our town, invited us to a wonderful event her church was doing.  They  called it the Apple and Pumpkin Festival.  From 11-3 they had pumpkins for the kids, a moon bounce, games, prizes, crafts, pony rides, food, face painting, and clowns making balloon animals.  And get this...it was all FREE!!!!!!!! I'm sure it cost a pretty penny to put it all together.  They had a booth  where they were giving out free gas cards.   Who wouldn't jump on that one right?  Well when you went over to get your gas card they asked if they could ask you a few questions.  Now if any of you have seen the Kirk Cameron evangelism videos on God tube, you know what they asked.  Are you a good person? Have you ever lied?  Stolen?  If you were to stand before a judge would you be found guilty of these crimes?  Would you go to heaven or hell based on that?  I can't remember the whole spin but it was a great, non threatning way for them to talk to people, see where they are coming from and share the gospel with them.    They also had some people walking around with some great optical illusion tricks that went right into sharing the gospel.  I think that church is doing a superb job with fullfilling the great commission.  My girlfriend and her two kids met us there and we made a day of it.  The kids never got bored and they had a blast.  Here are some pics of our day.

THE NEXT TIGER WOODS!

KALEIGH AND BLAKE WITH CHARLIE BROWN

PARKER"S PONY RIDE

FACE PAINTING

BLAKE GOT A STRIKE!

PARKER IN THE MOON BOUNCE

Went to see Nancy Campbell!!

We just got back from hearing Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies speak!

Nancy was very good, her message was wonderful. Gave me much food for thought, which we have been discussing here until late into the night.

Friends Kate and Mark came around, and Mark and Neil were treated to dinner cooked by their two youngest boys, P & B, and our two girls, while Kate and I went out to hear Nancy.

I must say the experience was, for us, slightly spoiled by a long period of enforced 'worship' in the style of the church which hosted the event. I personally don't think this was wise. I was not comfortable with the style of worship, and would think twice about going to see any speaker at this church again. It was a very protracted time, and not very beneficial, at least for me.

However, Nancy more than made up for it.  What a remarkable lady - they are so far from home here in the wet and windy UK, and travelling around - they were delayed in their trip from Gloucester - but what an inspirational lady! 

We came back to find the house relatively peaceful, everyone had eaten pizza and pasta a la kids, and enjoyed themselves playing board games afterwards, and Neil and Mark seemed quite relaxed! So time for bed now, just looked at the time and it's very late!

Mmmmm

Mmmmm!

I made a boiled dinner today.

I let it boil on top of our wood stove all day.

It was soooo good!

What was in it - ham, garden carrots, and garden potatoes.

We had homemade, wholegrain rolls and fried dough (doughdodgers) to go along with it.

We will be having cinnamon rolls with glaze for snack time tonight.

It was the taste of the change of the season.

It's time to change the menu over to cold weather food.

http://candyfoote.com/

a dad gum war zone around here is what it looks like

Yesterday, to my horror, I found 3 dead chickens in their pen.  This morning hubby found 6.  We have thought and thought and looked and checked over the chicken yard high and low. No signs of entry whatsoever.  The only clue is that hubby says he's smelled the faintest hint of a skunk late at night and early in the morning for a few days.  So we started looking at how a skunk might could get in.  There was a small space around the top between the roof and the top of the coop wall that we boarded up.  The only chickens that have been killed are the little bitty bantam Mille Fleurs.  We only have 3 hens and 2 roosters left.  Only 1 of those is from the new batch we hatched last spring.  I'm sad and so mad I could cry and then cuss.  11 chickens total dead within a few days.  I don't think a dinner out on the town is gonna make me feel any better.