dish cloths

Posted on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 01:38 by haflinger - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Has anybody made dish cloths with a loom? Just wondering? Was thinking about trying..

Blessings Brenda

Resolutions? Bah Humbug!

Posted on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11:11 AM by Mama - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Hello All!

As 2008 comes to an end I want to list all the blessings  we have had and list my version of "resolutions".

Blessings of 2008:

Dh got a promotion and raise!

We got our first goat herd, all as babies( glad we did that!)

We got our flock of geese and our first batch of birds for meat!

Ds and I went deer hunting for the first time and got 2 deer!

I am learning to knit and loving it!

I realized that  a slower economy isn't so bad for us.  We are already frugal and have the mindset to raise and grow  alot of our food so it just means growing  and raising even more!   

I don't like resolutions as it seems to make a resolution I sit down in December and make a list of  things I think I should do. As I have gotten older I have realized that you see  things need to be changed along the way. That' s when it is most effective to make the change , when you realize that it needs to be done and why. 

The calendar says our new year begins in January.  I always feel that it really begins in the spring when new life is everywhere.  When we feel awakened after a long winter's rest and feel ready to begin all the hard work on the farm that comes with spring.  The new year shines forth then and radiates it's promises to come!

I pray that you can look back at all the blessings of 2008 with a thankful heart and are ready  for God's directions to follow God's chosen path for you in 2009.

God Bless!

Mama

My Husband and my dog....

Posted on Monday, December 29, 2008 at 10:39 by Sherry - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Well first of all I hope all of you had a blessed Christmas.  We did things were very nice and peaceful.  We spent it with just our family and my mom. 

Last Monday we lost one of our dogs.  Something must have stirred up our dogs and they both got loose.  Our older dog came back and surprisingly Panda didn't.  He is usually right behind him cause he herds him up.   He is a Labrador/ Border collie mix.  Black and white, he looks like a small Labrador, short hair border collie.  I just pray that he comes home and or is safe with whoever has him.

My husband went back to the hospital today to have the rest of his thyroid removed.  He won't have the radiation treatment for a few weeks yet.  He will get worse before he gets better.  He will get weak and tired and then they will administer the radiation.  After that then he will be able to get his medication.  They can't do this until he goes through this.  This way his body gets hungry for the hormone or whatever they thyroid produces.  Then he will get the treatment and will be in the hospital again.  Lord knows I am worried and scared for my husband and our family.  I know I am supposed to be strong but it is hard.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.  I just pray after this he will be cancer free and have a long and healthy life.

Blessings,

Sherry

Sad event today and Christmas details

Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 07:32 by Heritage Hill Homestead - 3 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I had come home from church a few minutes after 12 today, hubby fixed dinner (only fair since he didn't go with me!) we finished eating and were sitting in the living room when a big truck went by......I said that looked like a fire truck!  I got up and looked out the window and coming down the road was another fire truck, so sure enough the first one must have really been one too.  Now understand that these trucks were coming from a very small town 5 miles from us, probably about 60 people live there.  They have a volunteer fire department, but I didn't know they went out for anything but grass fires!  So the fact that they were coming down our road and there is only one other house on our road was quite alarming to say the least!!!!  We jumped in the truck and ran down the road to see quite a big smoke.  The hiway patrol car was parked far enough stopping traffic that we couldn't see for certain if it was the house or possibly some outbuilding.  We raced back home to call the owners cell phone.  He didn't answer, but after a couple of calls we found out his sister's last name and I called her to get ahold of him.  He had moved from the house probably a year ago or so and the house was in pretty bad shape and old, so it burned quite quickly.  I went by a little after noon and by 1:30 it was completely burned to the ground along with the garage close by!  So there is much to be thankful for; no one living there, he still had things in it, but probably not much of value, no one was hurt and even that it was a nice day for the firefighters to take care of it.   But still, that house had been there all of my lifetime and it was quite a shock to see it just completely gone!!!  It also leaves us the only house on our road, and it feels kind of lonely all of a sudden!  We are 2 miles off of the blacktop road, and then it is 5 miles on into the little town I mentioned earlier.  There is a house about 1 1/2 miles south of us, and the road a mile north has about 6 houses but the road that connects to it doesn't go through.  So we are pretty much out here by ourselves now.  Just quite a change, and I don't always like change............

Christmas day was unusual as I finished up making candy and got dressing and sweet potatoes ready to stick in the oven along with a pumpkin pie for Friday.  Son, Jarrod lives in Wyoming and we don't hear much from him, but he called in the morning, and we enjoyed catching up with him!  Mom came out and ate lunch with us so she didn't have to eat alone.  She didn't stay long as she was busy getting ready for us all to be at her house the next day.

This is a Christmas to remember!  If you recal I mentioned earlier in the week that I had done nothing to get ready for Christmas.........so we got up and went to do our shopping on Friday morning!  I asked the Lord to help us find things the kids would enjoy and to be able to do it quickly.  The store didn't seem crowded as I thought it might be the day after, and we were able to get our shopping done, get home, wrap the presents and get the food ready and into Mom's by 1:00!  I still can hardly believe it all worked out so well!  God is good all the time!

We had a nice time with family, good food and a relaxing afternoon.

I can't leave without a comment on the weather.  Friday it was almost 70 degrees, at midnight still very nice but lightening was flashing around and we were in a tornado watch, 3 am I woke to hail hitting the window, we got a couple of inches of rain, in the morning there was ice followed by snow!  All of those conditions in about 12 hours!  The old saying about Kansas weather proved true! That is unusual even for us.  One of the weather gals commented that she had seen all four seasons in one day!  I don't think she is from here??

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Spring Thaw in December!

Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 8:43 AM by Mama - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

It is fifty degrees this morning!    A spring thaw in December!  This is unheard of in Pa!  We got a very early snow in November. Then storm after storm now a thaw.  Forecast is another storm coming after the heat wave! I t is a  bad winter but if it is like this anymore we get little breaks from it! 

We are all feeling better finally.  Dh  seems to be reocovered from the Christmas rush at Wal-mart.   Thank God that is over.  It didn't seem like the economy was down too much at our rural stores!       I feel better this morning than I have in a few weeks.  

Today's plan we are going to do some at home bible studies instead of church so dh can still gets lots of rest.  The weather is warm enough we can get some out side things done that we couldn't with  8 " of snow on the ground.    I will trim Indiana's hooves this morninging and try out the new halter system for that.  Some baking, muck chicken coops maybe.  Go get more hay while the weather is good. 

Well better put hte plan into  action! 

Have a blessed Sunday!

Mama

Ritz Mints (recipe and Picture) From Martha Stewart..

Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 08:47 by haflinger - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I've made these before but I used (THIN MINTS AND PUT IN BETWEEN THE CRACKERS..)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ritz Mints This recipe for ritz mints, a delicious holiday snack, is courtesy of Sarah Dimaggio.

Ingredients Makes about 68 crackers. 2 sleeves Ritz crackers 1 (14-ounce) package dark-cocoa-mint-flavored melting wafers

Directions Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a heatproof bowl, set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt chocolate wafers. Stir with a slotted spoon. Dip each cracker into melted wafers, using tweezers or your fingers, until fully coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheets. Let stand until coating has set and is no longer glossy, 20 to 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container up to one week. Tip: Dark Cocoa Mint-flavored Melting Wafers can be purchased at wilton.com or your local baking/craft specialty store.

A Pray for Everyone

Posted on Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 12:49 by HandsNHearts - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Christmas Holly Cookies

Posted on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 10:37 by Heritage Hill Homestead - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

This is the recipe for the holly cookies I made today.  I have been making them every year for a long time. They are simple and pretty, they look just like holly.

Christmas Holly Cookies

30 large marshmallows

1/2 C. margarine

1 1/2 tea. green food coloring

3 C. cornflakes

1/2 tea. vanilla

Red hot candies

Melt margarine and marshmallows in a double boiler, or a heavy pan.

Important! Do not overcook, only heat until marshmallows are melted! Remove from heat.

Stir in food coloring and vanilla.

Add cornflakes,  mix gently and quickly until completely coated.

Drop from teaspoon on buttered cookie sheet.

 Place 1-2 red hot candies on each one.

Makes about 30-35.

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Christmas Eve

Posted on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 10:17 by Heritage Hill Homestead - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Well, I got the Christmas candy made today.  Not as much as I might have made if I started earlier....but plenty I am sure.  Fudge, peanut clusters, peanut brittle, and holly cookies.  

Our donkey Black Jack and our wether goat Snickers went on an adverture this evening.  A friend called last week and wondered if we had any animals they could borrow for their Nativity this evening.  They borrowed a trailer and came and picked them up about 5:30, they just returned them now a little after 9.  The report was they were both on good behavior and it went well.  Always good to hear good things about your "kids"!

We picked up Mom and went to our Christmas eve service at church this evening.  It was such a nice service and really well attended. There was lots of special music and a candlelight service at the end.

I want to wish all of my friends here on Homestead Blogger and friends and family that read this a very Merry Christmas! May God bless you and your families as you celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Way.............behind

Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 11:22 by Heritage Hill Homestead - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

in getting ready for Christmas at our house!!!  I am telling you gals (and maybe a guy or two) that I have done nothing, nothing to get ready for Christmas yet!! 

We concentrate entirely on planning and preparing for the Live Nativity we host.  When it is over, then we work on family Christmas.  Well, fortunately we do not have any other company, so only have to make some food to take to Mom's.  I usually make lots of Candy, not many cookies.........none of that is done.  However, hubby picked up some things today for me to make some candy tomorrow. 

Yesterday I baked all day for the restaurant.  Then last evening,we attended another special event in our area, a Journey to Bethlehem it is called. A walking tour of a Live Nativity, such a blessing!  I have always wanted to go and each year for some reason could not, but last night we bundled up and went and really enjoyed it.

Today I baked most of the day again, orders friends had made for special Christmas goodies. Tonight..........I am tired!

So, that leaves tomorrow, yes I see that it is Christmas eve............to get the candy made.  We actually don't have any gatherings until Friday, so I have an extra day!!  We have some shopping to do yet as well.  We will go to church tomorrow at 6 for a special service.

Friday we go to Mom's and Ryan and Rlyn and families will be there. Then Sunday evening we go to my cousin's for that side of the family.  On New Years day we get together at Mom's again for her side of the family. 

Even at this late date, I am not feeling stressed at all.  Which I am very thankful for! 

Yesterday, the 22nd, was son Ryan's birthday!  His wife, Edye's was the 18th.  They were actually born in the same hospital and spent a day or two together in the nursery...........how romantic is that?! 

I was asked about Heifer International, the donations taken at our Nativity will be sent to them.  It is a project that sends all different animals to families in need all over the world.  Our goal was to purchase a goat, or at least a donation toward a goat for a family.  When a family has a goat, they will have milk for their family, can sell milk, butter, cheese, etc. Have meat from the kids,  sell the kids, or give them to another family for their own milk etc.  This is just an example, they also give cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, honeybees, just about all animals that would benefit a family with food.  They also teach the family to care for the animal gift.  I think it is quite fitting with our little homestead full of all different kinds of animals, and a way for our community to share in this need.

Check out their website.   www.heifer.org

Country and Christmas Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

 I had better get to bed, it is obviously going to be a busy day tomorrow!  We are supposed to get some snow overnight, we just might have a white Christmas............