For Today

Monday June 15, 2009

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook

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I wanted to share this exciting news from my schoolhouse to yours. If you have always wanted to subscribe to this wonderful magazine, or if it's getting close to renewal time, this is for you!  In fact, this is also a great time to add on two years to your current subscription.

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has a beautiful bouquet of gifts for the first 5,000 people who subscribe or renew and it's going on now!

These 19 gifts are from popular companies like Sears®, Franklin Springs Family Media and more (over $400 value) sent straight to you, no strings attached. (There's even a cheesecake mix!) Not to mention, you'll have two years of the greatest homeschooling magazine for only $39 (U.S. only). Also, 50 random subscribers are going to win a free week membership to a participating Curves®! 

If you are concerned about the number of bouquets that are left, please email or call the publisher and she will give you that information before you buy. This offer is completely risk free. You won't want to miss it! Click HERE to take advantage of this offer and enjoy your 19 FREE gifts from TOS!

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I haven't been here, but I bet you can guess where I have been! Most nights, I collapse into bed sporting a sunburn (try as I may to avoid it) and some achy tired muscles. Yes, summer is definitely on its way! The gardens are all planted and mostly weeded. We put in around 100 tomato, 100 pepper, 800 onions, and other assorted vegetable plants. Hopefully, we'll be able to have plenty to put up, share, and perhaps sell at market.

There are many beautiful blooms on the strawberries and lots of green berries, too. We've found juicy ripe ones hiding in there as well.  There's nothing like them! I don't know how many of you have ever grown your own strawberries, but they are incredibly sweet. The other berries all seem to be growing as they should and I think Lord willing, it will be a good year.

The new chickens are growing like crazy as well as the turkeys and the hogs. Everyone is doing well.  My sister bought some new (Alpine) dairy goats (Leland and Sarah), so I've been very excited about the possibilities there! If all goes well, I should have milk for my soap someday.

The ice cream social and parade was a lot of fun. The weather was warm, but beautiful. That's just what you want when you want to sell pie and ice cream. It's hard for me to believe that it's nearly June. I'm sitting here enjoying the cool breeze blowing the fragrance of some sweet smelling white and pink peonies that I cut. They belonged to my grandmother. She had the most beautiful flowers and was the envy of the Garden Club, if not the whole county. Folks still talk about her gardens. She would be happy to know that we're still enjoying them. :-) Soon, we won't be able to have the windows open because it will be too hot and humid.

Well, my sheets and quilt that smell like sunshine sound pretty good right about now. I think I will turn in for the night. I have been enjoying the very early quiet spring mornings when the sun wakes me, however, it seems like before I know it, it's setting again and there are never enough hours to do what needs to be done. There's been no word from my MRI. I'm assuming that "no news is good news." I have been feeling well for the most part and when I have days that aren't so good, I know to slow down. Though I love all of the gardening and such, I'm definitely going to work in some "lazy days of summer" as well before summer slips away. The thought of a nice shade tree and a good book sounds lovely, doesn't it?

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For Today

Wednesday May 20, 2009

 "Is it ready yet?"

This is my little nephew checking for growth just minutes after we planted our 800 (yes, 800!) onions.

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook

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For Today

Monday, April 27, 2009

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook

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It's that time of year when the lovely dandelion is in bloom! Of course, to many, this little darling is just a "weed" and honestly, I used to feel the same way. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."  Luckily, many are discovering the uses of this plant, which is a good thing!

My grandmother told me about her family making wine when she was a child and I can remember her frying up dandelion blossoms each spring, making jelly and eating the greens. The greens are very high in vitamin A (among others) and can be eaten cooked or in a salad with hot bacon dressing. I'll share a recipe for the deep fried blossoms in the future, which are only very high in grease (but yet tasty).

What I'd like to share now is the recipe that I use for Dandelion Jelly. It has a delicate honey like flavor and certainly makes a lovely  unique gift. My youngest son brought me my very first  dandelion "bouquet" of the year this past week, and I realized that it was time to make a batch.

Dandelion Jelly

 2 Heaping cups of fresh dandelion petals (snipped from about 4 cups of whole flowers)

2 Cups boiling water

1/4 Cup lemon juice

4 Cups sugar

3 Ounces liquid pectin

Yellow food coloring (optional)

Gather your (pesticide free) dandelions in the morning and look for large, fully open flowers.

With sharp kitchen shears, snip off the petals into a bowl. This is quite a task! As you can see, I did get some "green" in there, but I did try to remove as much as possible before infusing. The green is quite bitter and you do not want it in your final product. By the way, you will end up with yellow fingers.

Pour boiling water over the petals and let steep from 30 minutes to 24 hours. I left mine for about four hours. Strain through a fine sieve and reserve the infusion. Prepare your jars as you would for water bath canning and have your jars hot and ready to fill.

To make the jelly, stir the lemon juice, sugar and infusion into a heavy  stock pot. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add liquid pectin and return to a boil, continuing to boil for two minutes, skimming away any foam that arises. Add a few drops of yellow food coloring, if desired. Ladle into jars and process in water bath. Makes four or five half pint jars.

Isn't it beautiful? It looks and tastes to me, very much like a lemony honey. Enjoy with biscuits, toast or muffins and never look at the lowly dandelion the same way again!

**I wanted to edit this post to say that I made another batch and followed the directions exactly, except that I used a box of Sure-Jell (powdered pectin) and it worked out perfectly. You might try this if you don't have the liquid on hand.**

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For Today

Monday, April 20, 2009

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook

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For Today

Thursday, April 16, 2009

 "Grow, little luffa, grow!"

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook!

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We just closed the door on the oven and sealed the "tomb" where the Resurrection Story Cookies will stay until morning. This has become a really special tradition for us each year. In the morning, we'll attend church with my sister and her family in the church where we grew up. It will be a nice homecoming.

After services, my sister will be hosting Easter Dinner, and then the children will have an egg hunt if the weather allows. I know it won't be as warm as we wish it would be, but I'm just praying for some sunshine. I have my spiced applesauce prepared (a "must have" at any of our holiday dinners) and tomorrow, I'll make a strawberry spinach salad with homemade poppyseed dressing and a mashed potato casserole. We have a fifteen pound honey ham, green beans and corn on the menu, as well as peanut butter pie, blackberry crumb pie and cheesecake for dessert.

I'm just looking forward to another day to spend with my family. As we drive through town today, one local church had a wooden cross out front with a black sash draped over it. The reality of death and sin was so powerful. But tomorrow, there will be a purple sash to symbolize that He has risen!

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We had a busy day today. We're still working on the house, but we managed to get most of the painting done by this evening. I'm hoping that things will return to normal by the first of the week. I'm looking forward to the fresh new feeling that it will bring.

We have 4-H turkeys in the kitchen. They're so precious! They're three days old now. It's been so cold here that I just didn't want to chance them being outside in the brooder. It's been amusing to observe them. They're much different than the chickens we've had-- so much more curious and active. We also have one that's very noisy. While all of the others sleep, he peeps! He only quiets down when held. I wonder how he'll do when it comes time to show at fair. Perhaps he may end up being a pet. (My youngest has named him George and has already asked if he can keep him.) The boys have been working to get the pens ready for the hogs that arrive tomorrow. Yes, I draw the line at hogs in the kitchen. :-)

My mother has been going through several boxes of family pictures, letters and documents and has found some amazing treasures that she has given to me. I can't wait to share them with you. I've been reflecting on this day, Good Friday, and the sacrifice that our Saviour, Jesus made. Also, I've been remembering my beloved grandmother, who died on this day three years ago. Hers was a beautiful death, and we were all able to be with her, singing hymns to her and holding her hand as she went into eternity. I wrote many things for her while she was alive, all of which she saved, but I also wrote an account of her death, which we read at her funeral. I thought that I would share it with you.

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Ecclesiastes 3

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 I’ve written many things for Grandma in the past, but if I could have written the most fitting way for us to say “Good-bye for now,” it couldn’t have been more perfect than our precious last days together. I know that it was a gift from the Lord, and I will never forget what I witnessed. Tuesday, she took my hand and said, “Something is happening.” She assured me that she wasn’t hurting, but she knew that the journey was beginning. It soon became evident that it was indeed “a time to die” and we were to help her through this season. I prayed for a measure of grace for us all.

Psalm 30:4,5

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Over the next two days, we would all shed so many tears and yet laugh as we reminisced. We would sing, and we would mourn. We held her hand, we held each other up. She asked for us one by one, and we came to her. Each had time to say whatever was in their heart. Likewise, the great-grandchildren went in, and she asked to hold their little hands. Like Jacob of Old, she blessed each one. Sam, the youngest, picked dandelions for her and put them on her bedside table. Those who weren’t able to be present spoke to her by phone. We spoke of Heaven and those who were waiting to embrace her. We visited with dear friends who shared in our sorrow and gave us strength. When we sang hymns to her, our voices were a little off key, and we sometimes forgot the words, but we saw her smile. At times, she mouthed the words, as though she was singing with us. We had those quiet moments with her, where nobody spoke at all, we just took turns holding her hand. A voice on the radio said, “Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Philippians 4:7

 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Each of my family members became heroes, giving of themselves in whatever way they could, without hesitation, to minister to Grandma. I was amazed by their strength. It might have seemed a small thing to place a cool cloth on her head, or hold her hand, but we each felt honored to be able to do it. The grace I prayed for was delivered and we were able to draw strength from the Lord, and from each other to carry Grandma toward the end of the journey. I’ll never forget the sound of Mom playing the piano for her, "Sweet Beulah Land" and "His Eye is on the Sparrow." Then there was Uncle Jim’s loving voice, reading the Bible at her bedside. I heard them both tell her how beautiful she was. Surely this was her children rising to call her blessed.

It came to me that we should wash her feet, so Mom brought the basin in. She whispered in Grandma’s ear, “Mother, we’re going to wash your feet, and it’s an honor to do so.” Our pastor read from the Bible as we cupped our hands, taking up the water. I can’t explain to you in words the beauty that was in that room, but it was not of this earth. We all gathered around her bed, several generations and held hands and prayed together. We asked the Lord to take her home; we knew she was ready, and her body, weary. He was faithful to hear us, and she went home, not long after, with us all surrounding her. I looked up and saw a clock on top of the bookshelf and realized that it was the same one that was delivered to her family home the day of her birth. It couldn’t have been more fitting that it would be keeping time at the moment of her birth into Heaven. I became aware of the radio playing again...”I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Grandma left us with a legacy of faith that will be heard through the generations to come. She was the true Proverbs 31 woman. In life she gave us all so much, much more than could ever be celebrated on one day. But even in death, she left us with many gifts, one of which are the words she spoke as she knew she was about to enter the kingdom...

             "This is the happiest day of my life."

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She is new to blogging and I would love it if you would stop by her "Little Schoolhouse in the Pines"to welcome her and to say hello! If you have a blog at Homeschoolblogger, please add her to your friends list and make her feel at home! Thank you. :-)

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For Today

 Monday, April 6, 2009

   

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook!

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Where do we start first? That has been the question today! When you have a lovely spring Saturday, it's difficult to decide. We have several indoor projects that are currently underway, but we were blessed with a warm sunny day and there is talk of cold weather returning for the first part of the week, so we thought it best to get out in the gardens.

The ground is still too cold yet to plant and too wet to work up thanks to a soaking rain Thursday evening, but there were several things to do and I am the proud owner of my first "dirty manicure" of the season for my efforts. I sure loved the smell of that dirt! I've been waiting several months for that.

The asparagus is growing like crazy! We cleaned out debris, pulled weeds (yes, already!) and took a good look at all of the plants. The berries (red and black raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries) are all growing nicely and we have many new plants coming this year. It's exciting to see all of the new growth.

After the garden work, Mom, the boys and I went to introduce ourselves to some new neighbors that are moving in. We took a peanut butter pie along as a welcoming gift. I hope that they enjoy it. I'm a little tired and sore this evening from all of the work, but it's a good feeling and one that I have been looking forward to all winter long.

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For Today

 Monday, March 30, 2009

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook!

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My, it is so good to be back! I have missed my home here and you, my friends. Many of you have been so kind and have left messages and emails with loving thoughts during my time away. Thank you for your faithfulness and concern for me and for my family.

As for me, I am still dealing with some health issues and a few new symptoms, but all in all, I am ready to take on this exciting time of the year. I can't wait to get out in the dirt! We'll have to work ground very soon, perhaps this weekend, to get the garlic in. We've had several warm days and I find myself out on walks looking over the gardens, daydreaming of what is to come. Just today, I noticed that the woods is starting to look a little green. It won't be long now until everything will be in full bloom! Many of my daffodils bloomed last week, so I have been enjoying them. I am tempted to cut just a few to bring inside.

We began our 4-H season a couple of weeks ago and will be ordering our turkeys on Monday. All of our sons will show them this year, in addition to hogs. I'll also order new laying hens at the same time. I can't wait to get the little chicks; they're just darling. It's a beautiful time of the year. I hope you're enjoying it, too!

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