This came in my inbox. Something very different! 

Daryoles (Fruit Custard Pie)

Daryoles (dah*ree*YOH*lees) is named after the yellow color of the saffron custard and reliably dates back to early Tudor times.

Butter Pie Crust
1 cup all purpose flour
½ cup (1 stick) cold butter
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup cold water

Cut the butter into the flour with a pastry blender. Sprinkle in the water taking care to only use as much as you need to form pliable dough. Flour your hands, a pastry cloth, and a rolling pin thoroughly. Pat the dough into a circle and place in the center of the cloth. Roll the dough from the center outward in even strokes, taking care not to roll the edges thin, turning as you go to form a 14" circle. Fold in half once, then twice, and transfer to your deep dish pie pan. Place the point in the center of the pie pan and then unfold. Cut the ragged edges off and flute the edge of the pie crust (or press with a fork). Prick to prevent puffing, and pre-bake the pie crust using pie weights (or beans) in a hot oven (400º) for 8 minutes or until hard but not browned. Remove pie weights and cool the pie shell while preparing the filling.

Filling
½ cup dried apricots, plums, raisins, or other dried fruit.
4 whole eggs
½ cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup milk, sweet wine, or fruit juice
¼ tsp almond extract (or vanilla if you don't have almond)
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp dried mint, crushed
pinch of saffron, crushed in a mortar (or a few drops of yellow food coloring)
1 29-oz can pears, drained.

Soak the dried fruit in warm water for 30 minutes. Beat eggs and sugar together; then the other liquids and spices, and flavoring to make custard. Drain the canned pears and the rehydrated dried fruit. Line the pie shell with the pears and rehydrated fruit. Pour custard over fruit and bake for 30 minutes at 350º or until it is all puffed up and browned. Cool completely before cutting. Each pie makes 8 full-sized portions, but can be cut into smaller slices. For dietary purposes each pie provides 4 servings grain, 4 servings meat, 1 serving dairy, 8 servings fruit, 8 servings fat, and 8 servings sugar.

Variations: Instead of canned fruit you can use fresh washed and drained berries flavored with a pinch of ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger, mace, or nutmeg, etc. You can also use peaches, clementines, prunes, quince paste, dates, nuts, and herbs like chopped candied ginger, angelica, anise, basil, or anything else that pleases you.

Happy New Year!

Dear Friends,
Please continue to pray for me.
My current prayer request is not due to another financial hiccup but rather to me hitting the proverbial wall with all the plates of "Things I Do" that I've been spinning and balancing for years- I can't keep spinning them all.
I am wrung-out, worn-out and burned-out.
Mostly by the ministries I am involved in.
I asked for prayer because my husband and parents and I were having a meeting with my pastor.
And I had written my letter of resignation.
I do not know what else to say but that I am still in limbo. Still sitting in God's waiting room . . . . .
I did not resign.
Nor did I yet lose any of the heavy responsibilities I carry.
However, I was able to hear directly from my pastor that he supports me and appreciates me and the work I do. He does not want to allow me to step aside.
I was also able to bluntly say, "Something has to give. I am burning out. I am worn out. I can NOT do all this anymore."
Unfortunately no real resolution was made in how to ease my load.
Mr. Steady has since come up with a plan to speak with pastor about lowering my hours as youth director. And the future possibility of looking into someone else to take over.
I've been asked how I am feeling today.
I am numb.
I feel run over and then backed over.
I am in prayer. I am crying out to God that my steps remain walking in line with His.

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

Miss, Mrs. or Mr. Anonymous left this comment on my last entry about the fire at our neighbor's house...........  

"Why would even think of chasing after fire trucks? They need to do thier job. Not be bothered by nosy neihgbors!!!! It wasnt your business, leave the work to the firemen. "

My answer to that would be that we are fortunate enough to live in a rural area where folks look out for each other and care about our neighbors!  As I mentioned the owner had moved and we had talked with him about keeping an eye on the place for him as he was not there full time anymore.  We were absolutely the only people that had a contact number for him or even knew where he was living now.  He is not the type of guy to have a lot of close friends, but we had gotten to know him pretty well and enjoy visiting back and forth.  Hubby has helped him move farm equipment from field to field and such and he has helped us move big bales of hay for our critters.  Just generally neighborly exchanges.  I also know his sister from going to school together( many years ago now).   Under other circumstances, I would agree that people should not bother firemen, policemen, or other emergency workers..............however, I would ask you if your house was burning, wouldn't you like for someome to supply your contact information or at least try to let you know of the situation? 

I know I sure would hope there was a caring neighbor, not a nosey one, that would take the time to help out!

___________________________________________________

Yesterday was such a nice day here, but, I was not able to be outdoors much enjoying it.  I baked a batch of cinnamon rolls and had lots of laundry to catch up on, I don't think I had done any all last week!  Today was almost as nice.  I baked 2 pies this morning and then did go outside this afternoon.  This was the first time in a long time I was able to do a couple of extra things outdoors.  For a long time any spare time was spent getting ready for the Nativity.  I put up a hay feeder for the goats and got the extension cord put up and the tank moved to use the stock tank heater the rest of the winter.  For hay feeders, I like to wire a hog panel or piece of one, to the outside of the fence.  That way it is easy to fill from the outside and the goats can pull it through the fence.  It works great!

Last evening we went to my cousin's home for our little family (my Dad's side) get together.  We had a nice meal, sandwiches and salads, and lots of snacky things everyone wanted to get rid of after Christmas! 

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is New Years Eve........wow.  We do not usually do anything special and have no plans for this year.  A couple of years ago we had 2-3 couples over for chili and visiting, that was kind of fun.  Maybe we should have planned something this year, but I am tired!

Speaking of tired, it is almost midnight and I think I should be in bed!

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Here's a picture our pastor took of us at church on Christmas Eve.  (WOW!  Do I need a haircut!!  )

I hope you all had a happy and blessed Christmas and that your New Year will be even MORE happy and blessed!!

If you would, PLEASE keep us in your prayers.  Sunday was our last day at the church we have worshipped and served at for the past 12-1/2 years.  It's a 70-mile round trip and we feel that the Lord is leading us to serve closer to home.  We have a few churches 'on the list' to try, please pray that we will be sensitive to the Lord's leading and land where HE wants us.  Thanks.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

FOR TODAY…

Outside my window…Lovely sunshine and clear blue skies letting in the COLD temps.

I am thinking…that I have A LOT to do today.

I am thankful for…New Hope Community Church, where we worshipped and served for the last 12-1/2 years.  Yesterday was our last day because it's a 70-mile round trip and we feel the need to serve in our own community.  THANK YOU to our many dear friends who sent us off w/many tears and well wishes.  We love you, so!

From the learning room…on Christmas vacation until the 4th!!

From the kitchen…left-overs from yesterday's praise team Christmas party and then pasta, salad and freash bread for supper.

I am wearing…NEW Christmas jeans(!), red & white turtle neck; soft, fuzzy house socks my dd#2 got me for Christmas.

I am creating…new fresh bottle of face wash ~ 8 oz. liquid castile soap, 10 drops of tea tree essential oil, 5 drops of rosemary essential oil and 10 drops of lavender essential oil.  This is GREAT for oily/acneic skin.  DO NOT use to remove eye make-up!!  You can also use this for a shampoo or anitbacterial handsoap.

I am going…to the health food store to pick up some more flaxseed oil and Evening Primrose oil capsules.  Later I'm picking up my order at our food co-op.

I am reading…Bible; "Dear John" by Nicholas Sparks that my dd#1 got me for Christmas.  It's SO GOOD.  I am SO impressed that the girl who is the "love interest" in the story is a very strong, very real Christian.  One of the reasons the guy in the story loves her so much is BECAUSE of her strong faith, her morals and her self-assuredness.  What a great "twist" for a secular book!

I am hoping…that we will find a new church where we can serve to best fit our gifts.

I am hearing…the radio and our dog, Maggie's, little paws prancing through the kitchen.

Around the house…enjoying our beautiful Christmas tree for a few more days until we take is down on New Year's Day.  Boo hoo.  I love our tree and all the Christmas decorations.

One of my favorite things:  my way cool new digital camera my sweet hubby got me for Christmas!!  Woohoo!!!  As soon as I learn how to load the pics onto my pc I'll post some!  lol  I do SO enjoy other's blogs w/pics so I'm wanting to add some to my blog, too!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  To pick which church we want to try this Sunday.  Ty & I need to pick out the songs we will sing at my mom's church on the 11th.  We've been invited to do a 'mini-concert' during their service.