Saunders Family

Job Follow-Up, So the Lord is Working!

Good day friends and family! I pray that you are all having a wonderful day in the Lord. I thought I would drop by today and give a follow-up on my job situation that I spoke of two days ago.

I did some praying about it, and right now I believe the Lord wants me to continue working where I am currently. I did not think it wise to go somewhere else at this time, because I would have to ask for time off as soon as I got there.

 I do intend on taking the optometric assistant course, Lord-willing.The class starts at the end of this month and lasts until the middle of March. I am praying that the Lord will allow me to find a job soon after completion of the course.

But all I have to do right now is to wait on Him to prepare me for a possible job in this field.But I am looking forward to the start of the class. I used to want to be an optometrist, so this is the next best thing. I do think I will enjoy it.

So the Lord is working!

Well, I hope you have a great day!

TTYL

Shycountrygal

Make your own butter

One day last week I remembered that I had bought some heavy cream over the holidays for Moma's Favorite Cookie, which I am GOING to post the recipe for! REALLY! :)  Well, I thought with this much cream, it would be a good time to show the children how to make butter... well the easy way to make butter.
We pulled out the ole food processor.
Poured in all that cream and turned it on...
There were a few different stages that I told them we would see...
First of all we saw it just as a liquid, as it is as cream.
We would start seeing the cream slowly becoming thicker, until we had it at the whipped cream stage.
They all tried it at this point and sneered... sadly they thought it would taste like cool whip.  Pitiful, huh? I told them at the enormous amounts of 'stuff' added to cool whip and this was so much better, and that we could add a little sweetner if we wanted whipped cream, but we want butter!
Keep it moving, keep it moving...
FINALLY!
BUTTER! :) HURRAH!
Please forgive the skunk stripes down my child's hair... our New Years Party got a bit crazy! :) haha
Mmm... this butter is good, Mom!
We even took the buttermilk and put it in a jar to use later and washed the curds with ice water to help get all the milk off so the butter would last longer.
Now a solid. How crazy are we? Doing school when we are supposed to be on holiday? haha... so is the life of a homeschooler.
I hope you have a great day friends.
From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Heritage Acres Farm

Items For Sale

This new year brings new ideas to me . I have decided to share my sewing talents . All my items are new and re-useable for the buyer  ,which is very frugal . And saves you money in the long run  . I am selling Cloth Dinner Napkins . All different colors and prices .

These are a (pinkish) set of 4 for $4.00 .

These are a Purple turtles set of 6 for $ 5.00

 These  same design 1 set of 6 for $5.00, or if needed I can sell as a set of 8 or set of 4 and split it up to meet your needs.

These are Candy Canes 1 set of 4 for $4.00

Fancy Pants ,a great gift .  (makes 2 dish cloths ,cute instruction card included). I have only the ones w/ green ties for $4.00 each .I will have more colors soon .

These are The Happy Hats ,one size fits most .I have several different patterns to choice from . They are made of fleece for $10.00 each . A good seller in my home town.

This is the last set that I have like this it is for $10.00 .I also have some solid colored hats not as thick ,for $7.00 each. I will be selling some more home sewn items .  I'll post as I make  some more . Please email me (beauty_mark_1973@yahoo.com  or send me a message if you would like to buy any of my items . Shipping will very depending on how much you order .Thanks Very Much ,Shaune

Praise ye the Lord!

I found this passage during my daily Bible reading today. I thought I would share it with you. May you take it and apply it to your own life.

The passage is Psalms 148.

1Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

 2Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

 3Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

 4Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

 5Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

 6He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

 7Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

 8Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

 9Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

 10Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

 11Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

 12Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

 13Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

 14He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

May you have a wonderful day in the Lord!

Shycountrygal

Wish Books...

Oh, those tempting little darlings are arriving daily in the mail ...yep, you know what I mean...SEED CATALOGS! 

What lovely thoughts they do bring to mind, gorgeously blooming flowers, luscious fruits and bountiful vegetables all in a perfectly tended garden  . 

Making a long list of new things to try and some old favorites to replant comes next. 

Then reality sinks in when I actually add up the cost of my wish list ; and the paring down begins.  I still usually end up with more seeds than garden space; but they make nice little gifts to tuck into a card or letter for a fellow gardener, and many can be saved for planting next season. 

I've yet to sit down for my list making this year, and it is just about time to start some things indoors ; but this afternoon looks to be cold and dreary outside- perfect weather for "seed shopping" in my book!

I will probably order from Bountiful Gardens and Seed Savers Exchange this year.  I love The Cook's Garden catalog, too; though mine has not yet arrived.  What are your favorite places to order seeds from?  

Next week I'll try to post a few picks for 2009 from my wish list.  Please share your own favorite seed catalogs, and any "must have" items from your own wish list this year!

With Wishes for a Bountiful New Gardening Year,

Catherine

Frugal Ideas

Dear blogger friends ,I am going to list atleast 10 things that my family and I are doing to be more frugal .  I would like you  to list your ideas as well . We all can learn different things from each other . Tag you are it !!!! Shaune

  1. Use cloth napkins. Instead of just paper towels.

  2. Use cloth dish rags ,Instead of sponges.

  3. Use cloth pads (90% the time).Instead of buying it .

  4. Buy used cloths from thrift stores ( buy under garments new).

  5. Uses bar soap at sink ,it will last longer .Instead of liquid soap.

  6. Hang your towels and wash cloths to dry after bathing . Reuse several  times. Save wear and tear on your towels .

  7. Cut off lights ,etc. that aren't being used .Save lots of money .

  8. Use a cloths line . Instead of always using your dryer .

  9. Make your own cloths detergent ,and frabric softener.

  10. Buy food at salvage stores and plant a garden . Hunt for meat.

   11. Plant your own fruit and nut trees ,add trees more every year.

   12. Can your veggies ,fruits ,bake your own bread ,make your own pizza ,dry your own trail mixes,fruit ,and jerky . Homemake foods are healthier for you  and your family.

  13. We have chickens for fresh eggs .

  14. We feed all the Farm animals the same feed .Instead of paying more for different kinds of feed fo each animal .It's an "All Stock Feed". We feed horses, goats, chickens ,guineas ,turkeys,etc all the same feed .

Another Day Gone By

Good day friends and family! I pray that you are all having a wonderful day in the Lord. The weather here in my neck of the woods has been quite pleasant. The temperature today was in the high 60's and it was partly cloudy. It almost made me think spring is here. It wil be here soon enough though.

This past week has been a bit chaotic for me at work. The former manager stepped down last week and a new one has taken over. The current one isn't actually new though. She was the manager for the past two yeras of my working there. I enjoy working with the new manager though. She's a sweet old lady that makes sure that everyone gets their work done and nothing is left over for the next shift.

But before the old manger stepped down, I gave her my two weeks notice of departure. I was going to leave because of  the way she was handling the buisness. I was always the one stuck cleaning up everyone elses mess. But now that the new manager has taken the place back over, I don't know that I want to leave.

I've actually enjoyed working there this past weekend. Everything was so calm and quiet! Everybody did as they were supposed to, and got along really well. So I've been praying, Lord, what would you have me to do.

My current boss really wants me to stay on, and I told her I would stay one more week till she found someone to replace me. But, if I go somewhere else, I know I will never have someone that is so flexible with my hours. I love the hours that I am working now! I work enough to pay my bills and still have enough time to spend with my family.

But I know I am going to need a better job in the future. But it goes back to the fact that I don't really know what I want to do with my life. Or better yet, what God wants me to do.

I was looking in a local community college catalog today and noticed they are offering a class training you to be an optometric assitant. That sorta sounds appealing to me. I need to call down there tommorow and find out if there are any prerequisites for it. I still need to pray about it though.

Last night our preacher taught from the text of Titus 2. This is where Paul tells Titus to teach the older women how to teach the younger women. Such as being chaste, keepers at home, love their children, obedients to their own husbands. And that part confuses me a bit.

I know what the Bible says about women working outside the home. It pretty much says they are not supposed to. But what about today? I have to work in order to drive a car. My parents can't afford my extra insurance each month. And I need my liscence in case of emergencies and such.

Also, what happens if something happens to my parents and I have to have a full-time job in order to take care of my living needs. Working at a restaruant that only pays 110 dollars a week, ain't gonna get it. And  I don't see any marriage possiblities in the near future either.

I guess I just have to realize that God know my situation and He is going to provide what I need and when I need it. I need to start some sort of classes soon, because the longer I wait, the harder it is going to be to get back into schooling.

So Lord, help me to trust in you no matter what! You know my situation in life and you have put me here for a purpose. Show me that purpose.

I hope you have a great day in the Lord!

Shycountrygal

Saving money

              I have been looking like many others ,on ways I can cut down on my elc. bill.

On fri nights when everyone gets home we leave off all elc we can and have a family night like we do when the lights go out during a storm. 1 night a week has cut our bill some.

I have put all my tv and cable cords on powerstrips that I can switch off after use. I pull out all phone chargers and unplug all my appl. when done.

 I use my fireplace so my furnace doesn't have to run as much.

In the kitchen I use lamp light, I know how to wash dishes and cook without much light.

When we are not home all power goes off except the frig and because of winter the furnace. Come summer I will not turn on my air, as the temp out side warms up I plan on getting us out everyday to get use to the change and by the time the weather is hot I am hoping that I will have adjusted to it.

I bought the spring loaded curtain rod holders to put on the top of each of my door ways around my wash room. I hang up all my shirts fresh from the washer, I hang all the jeans until almost dry then put them in the dryer for just a few minutes to soften. I do dry the towels and wash rags (in the winter) as I think it cuts down on colds if they go through Hot heat after the hot water.

If we are not in a room the light had better not be on as this wild woman will blow her head if she catches you. LOL

In some of my lights I went to those little lights that go into the light fixtures that are above the table (I can't think of what they are), but they work great for when i need just a little more than a night light but not quite a full light. I won't use oil lamps when the grandchildren are here (2 and 3). not worht the chance of the getting hurt. but like I said I will use them other wise.

         I'm wanting a big cast iron soup pot to put on my fireplace to use for beans, stew or soup. I have a teapot by it, to keep hot water for my coffee or coco. plus mosture.

         I would love to hear what your family is doing to cut back during these hard times. Who knows with all of us putting in our input we might all save this year.

My mil is MOM..

Home binders

   I have thought about these now for a couple of years only to start then stop. I have decided to start one again this year but it will be for my life. Some know that I had a brain tumor removed years ago,  but with that came memory loss. I have found that over the past few years it is getting worst so to help me with that I am starting a planner/home binder. 

   I will be putting up most of our own food for this year ,if  me and the garden get along. LOL. I will be canning everything I can get my hands on and freezing/drying the rest. As i learn what I need to grow in order to can what I need, I will need to write this down for next year as I know I will be asking the same questions again.

    I also think the binder would help my family because I wouldn't have to rely on them to tell me the same things over and over. They always say, It's ok but I sure would like to be able to remember myself. Poor hubby has to tell me from time to time how old I am. How odd is that....hard things I can remember but day in day out things I have a hard time. Word recall is hard for me I might be talking and if I'm thinking of something I will blurt it out. Not fun and very hurtful to me and others. I don't relize that I have said it until I see the look of peoples faces change.

   This blog has helped me alot to write down things and keep track. I can reread and fix my mistakes, but with words you cannot. So again I come back to trying to learn to talk slower and try to think as I talk , am I thinking it or saying it, sometimes I can't tell. This is something I would love to get under control but the doctors say it is just part of me now, I hope I can prove them wrong..................With Christ I can do anything...............................................