I did this for the freezer this morning..

Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 11:49 by haflinger - 3 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I did up seven quarts of zucchini and one quart of blueberries for the freezer. It is so hot and humid here today. I will pick more blueberries and beans and zucchini when the sun goes down tonight..

have a nice weekend.

Thanks for stopping by Sister Brenda

To all of you coupon saving people.....Help!!!.....

Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 10:34 by Sherry - 3 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I am one who buys the cheaper brand whether it is name brand or off name brand.  I once in awhile use a coupon when I have it.  But I never got the hang of sitting down and making it like a business like my dear friend Miki told me.  What are you secrets?  What are some of the sites you use like couponbug.com or coupon.com.  I have noticed their coupons are basically the same.  Do you have any other sites you use?  I need to find ways to save.  I do plant my own garden so I save their. But I need to find ways to save more for my family.  Times are harder now, as we all know.  So, if you don't mind sharing with us all I would love to know how you do it.

Blessings,

Sherry

Raspberry Cobbler?

Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 08:19 by haflinger - 6 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Has anybody made raspberry cobbler? I picked a small bowl of raspberries today. I would like to try to make a raspberry cobbler if there is such a thing..

Thanks for stopping by..

Sister Brenda

Navy Beans?

Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 08:07 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Has anyone ever tripled a navy bean recipe? if so does it comes out good? I'm makeing some with my new slow cooker for Sunday. Now I'm off to find a recipe... Thanks..

Blessings Sister Brenda

Today's thoughts...

Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 12:13 PM by Marcia - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Simple Hospitality.......

Posted on 2008-Jul-17 at 08:09 by In His Hands - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

(This is a reposting from last year.)

( I saw that someone else here at HSB was reading the book.) 

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

I have been reading the book written by Jane Jarrell, titled, "Simple Hospitality". I thought I might share a little of it with you here each day.

I really enjoyed reading this one thing that she wrote about using the letters that spell out the word "hospitalty". So today we look at the H.

H--Hospital For The Soul

Why does one go to the hospital? To visit, maybe, or to welcome a new person into the world. But oftentimes it's because our bodies are broken.A hospital can be a place to go for healing and repair.

So the word hospitable is taken from the word hospital, which means a charitable institution, a repair shop, a hospice, or a shelter. Hospitality is a shelter for the soul, healing for the spirit. So when we open our home in the true spirit of hospitality or when we bring our gifts of hospitality outside of our homes, we are offering hospitality!!

The Bible states it this way: Romans 12:9-13, "Let love be without dissimulation.....v10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;. .vs12, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; vs13, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

So real Christian hospitality isn't an option, it is what God commands.

Tomorrow, we will move on to the next letter "O".

Today I will cover "O" & "S", Since I did not have time to do it yesterday. So here we go!!

O-Obedience

Some may think focusing on hospitality is frivolous or a waste of time. But in reality it is nothing less than obeying God's clear command in Scripture. Hospitality was not Martha Stewart's invention; it was God's!! Romans 12 paints an incredible picture of what it means to truely give our lives to God......In these selfless acts, we serve not only those in need but Christ Himself. Hospitality is obeying God by cheerfully serving others.

S-Simplicity

If we don't approach hospitality simply, most of us won't do it at all. When we exchange the harried hoopla for the heartfelt, everyone is blessed. Can we be comfortable when everything is not perfect, or do we always need to put on a show for people? As one lady states "I don't want to buy your house, I just want to visit." Simplicity brings us closer to having authentic relationships. Our fucus is on our guests, not on the "stuff" that surrounds us.

(All of the above is taken from the book, Simple Hospitality, written by Jane Jarrell.)

Come back Monday for "P" !!

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

I have not forgotten this, I just have been busy around the house. That is why I am a home-keeper. Now Back to the series on Hospitality......

P--Prayer

Hospitality involves prayer. Ask God to show you who and how to show hospitality to. God will show you the when, the how, and the what that someone might need. I may not know what a person needs at the time but God knows!! You should always ask God for His blessing on the gathering you are about to have with someone, no matter how small or large the number will be.

I--Intimacy

Intimacy is sharing who you are and what you are to others. You need this type of relationship with your husband, your family and your friends, but nurturing genuine intimacy takes time and effort.

Cell phones and emails are nice, but we need to take time to sit quietly with a friend sometimes. You never know where they are at or what they may need.. Time plus realness plus genuine caring equals intimacy.

(all of this is taken from the book "Simple Hospitality" written by Jane Jarrell.)

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

T--To Go

Are you ready to take your kindness on the road? Do you have a plan or list of ideas that will work in a hurry?

Keep a few recipes with the ingredients on hand so that you can prepare a meal or a welcoming treat for someone in need.

There is something extra-special about busy people who take the time to reach out and help others.

A--Acknowledge and Appreciate

We all have our own gifts, but what about those who are known for the hospitality? They also need a "dose" of hospitality sometimes. They need to be acknowledged for their kindness, appreciated for the efforts and recipients of the hospitality of others.

Most of us are "takers' by nature and unless we make a conscious effort, we"ll always take and forget to give back. Those who are more "givers", either by nature or intent, often get taken for granted.

In our busy lives, gratitude is often felt yet not expressed.

L--Lifestyle

Hospitality is a lifestyle, a ministry lifestyle. God weaves it into our hearts. We all need each other to make the body of Christ its best. You are making the commitment to a lifestyle of opening up your heart to others on a regular basis.

You will need to start small, perhaps by committing to one act of hospitality each month. Gradually you will see how easy it is and move towards once a week and before you know it you will be asking God to show you someone in need everyday!!

Take time to ask God to show you how He might use you today, this week or this month. You are allowing God to work through you and when He is working , we can not fail.

I will write about the last three letters tomorrow. Don't forget to come back and read.

The Last Part on "Simple Hospitality ......

I--Ideas

When looking for ideas for hospitality, scan your favorite magazines, talk with your friends or keep a simple notebook or card file with your favorite recipes, holiday decorating ideas, party themes, or anything else that spurs your hospitality thinking. Just keep it simple, and honest. Let God's love show through you and that will be all that you need to make any time a good time to visit.

T--Time

We are all short on time for the things that we want to do or need to do. That is why hospitality is such a valuable gift to others. It means we gave them our most precious resource: our time.

Think of things to do for hospitality for others when you are doing for your family. Double a casserole for dinner one night and freeze the one for a family that may be in need, or a mother who may be sick at the time.

When baking cookies for your family, bake a few more to brighten someone's day. Out buying groceries? Cut back on one thing or two for snacks and make up a meal for a new mom.

If your time is limited, begin your quest to hospitality with small things and think about other ways that you will want to show it when your time allows for it.

Y--You

To show hospitality to others, you must first love yourself so that you are capable of loving others. This means taking care of yourself so that you are able to take care of others.When we've taken the time to put our own hearts in order, we are freed to reach beyond ourselves to meet others where they are.

More....Simple Hospitality.....

Short Update

Posted on 2008-Jul-17 at 07:59 by Tracey - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I am home from my second trip, and less than 4 weeks till I leave again. so I will be busy playing catch up, the I will leave again, though this time DS will be coming home from Ga with me.  I have some sewing to do I want to make a summer dress or two for my trip to Ga, and I need to make a few pillow mends, some have ripped, I want to get the new livingroom curtains done, and I have some people who want rice packs.

I also am starting to think about Christmas, that is just over 5 months away, and if it is going to be mostly homemade, I need to get busy on it.  Anyone have any unique easy ideas? I am looking for some new unussual ideas.

Thanks,

Tracey

smoothies??

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 05:41 by haflinger - 4 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I'm looking for info on smoothies.. Now how many out there have a smoothie machine or do u use a blender?

I don't have a clue what they look or taste like..

Thanks..

Sister Brenda

75 Cost Saving Tips....

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 01:09 by HandsNHearts - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Good Cheap Food

1. Buy raw ingredients instead of prepackaged foods. If you don’t know how to cook, learn. You’ll save on food bills, and your body will thank you for it in the long run.

2. Buy in bulk from a local health food store, or place bulk orders directly with mail-order companies. If you can’t meet their minimum order size, go in on an order with another family, or organize a larger food buying club.

3. Avoid the middleman and buy directly from farmers. Look for farm stands, community supported agriculture programs and farmers markets.

4. Eat fruits and vegetables in season, when they are least expensive. (Once, we found organic watermelon for three cents a pound!) Stock up when they’re cheap and freeze or can any excess for later use.

5. Keep up with what’s in your refrigerator and make sure nothing spoils. Once a week, make soup or casseroles to use up vegetables and other leftovers.

6. Calculate the price of food per pound when you visit supermarkets. Doing the math will help you spot good deals.

7. Don’t overeat. When you do, you’re flushing money down the drain.

How to Avoid Rent

8. Find a live-in elder care position and help someone stay out of a nursing home. There’s always someone desperate for reliable help, and often there are no qualifications needed other than compassion.

9. Help renovate a house in exchange for lodging. This is how we came into our current home.

For the rest of the article, click here....Mother Earth News

Piggies on The Homestead and other chat

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 11:56 by HandsNHearts - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

We have a bred sow coming to the homestead tomorrow afternoon and I'm hardly ready for her.  She is due within the month, so we'll work on a suitable section of the barn for her, ready for piglets.  Hmmm....how many piglets might we have here soon?

Our Miss Kitty came up from the barn Tuesday to eat, as she usually does.  She weaned her Easter morning kittens a while back, and has been looking just this side of side-splitting the past couple of weeks, so we've been watching her to see when she might drop her newest litter of kittens.  Well, after her meal, she stretched out, lounging in the sunshine of the front steps, and all of a sudden one of the youngers came running in -- "Miss Kitty pooped on the porch".  Gee...nice.  Upon walking outside, the comment changed, though, to "Miss Kitty didn't poop poop...she pooped out a kitten" complete with lots of eeeewwwwws and a couple of awww, gross.

See the benefits of living on a homestead and homeschooling?  Yeah...neither did I.  I think we need some new lessons in how babies, baby kitties at least, are born. 

Either way, Miss Kitty seemed a bit caught off guard this time around.  This is her 3rd litter...first she had only 3 and none made it to 2 weeks old; then her latest batch, our Easter kittens, numbering 5.  This time, however, Miss Kitty was large enough for way way more....she had 8 total, losing one very tiny weak girl within an hour.  I think she's a bit over whelmed with so many.  She's a great momma, but she's just a bit weird about it all this time around.  She feeds them a short while, then comes out of her 'nesting area' and sits away from them for the longest time.  So far, everyone seems to be doing well, so we haven't intervened.  Guess I'd have been overwhelmed had all 9 of mine come together at once, too.

We will be starting to set up a table at the local Farm Market here, I'm thinking August 1st.  I spoke to the man who runs it and he has no problems at all with our selling baked goods and the like.  Our market is very small....only 3 or 4 set up weekly for the most part, but it's a place to wet our feet with all of this and see how it goes.  Truthfully, it won't take long for word to spread that "that Amish family with all the kids is selling baked goods" and we'll see if it's worth the time and such to get there.  They are open Wednesdays & Fridays, but we'll start with Fridays I think.  Well...with school starting, maybe Wednesdays would be better.  We plan to sell our loaf bread, maybe some quick breads, assorted cookies and some homemade jellies.  I'm not sure about pricing -- what do you think?  I know folks around here jump on homebaked goodies, and loaf bread seems to be a treat to many.  We thought with school starting, the cookies might go well for lunch box treats.  We printed a flyer up to take along as we won't have all these things with us each time unless things go really well...