Everybody has a story

Babar the Birthday Present

We got a phone call last week from some friends who had a lamb that had a mother who wouldn't take him.  He was the smallest lamb I have ever seen.  Smaller than our cat.  I wasn't going to take him, knowing the work involved and figuring he never got any colustrum to start.  Well our youngest has a birthday on Monday, and she said that this would be her present.  So for ten days, we've doctored this guy through scours and constipation, sniffles and a bum leg.  So here's a pic, not of him, but he does look like this:

He's a Barbados Blackbelly Sheep.

And here's what he'll look like when he grows up:

Nice looking pet? He's adorable now, though.

Off to enjoy the sunshine.

Saturday on the Farm

Chickens Make Me Gag!

I have to admit, I have a much stronger stomach than I did when I was younger.  I used to gag at everything and when I was pregnant with my children, it was 100 times worse!  Raising kids and farm animals can toughen your gag reflexes in no time, but I must say, chickens still make me gag.  There is nothing a chicken won't eat, including each other.  Yes, they are cannibals!  Trust me when I tell you that you really DON'T want to follow that hen and try to find out what she has hanging from her mouth and wonder why all of the other chickens are chasing after her!  You just don't want to know!

Chicken Reality!

Of Birthdays, Gardens and Physical Therapy

Yesterday was the Baby's Birthday. It seems impossible that an entire year has passed since God placed her into our home and lives. She has been an incredible blessing that is indescribable. Before she was ever born, God used her to bring about such wonderful things in our family and that has continued. We have watched God's beautiful miracle of life. It is amazing how much this wee one has changed all of our lives and we are grateful to God for her. This past year has wrought many changes. To God be the Glory, for all things come at His mighty Hand!

This has been a rather busy week. I began Physical Therapy. I went Monday , Wednesday and Friday. It does seem to be helping already. I am not sure how long this will take. My prayer is that I will recover without surgery. I know that my God is capable of doing this, should He so choose. It is in His hands.


Thanks to my sweet Husband, our potato bed is planted. He dug up the beds and the trenches today, which was his day off. Due to my injury, he then did the heavy part of every step we completed in getting them planted. What a Guy! We finished hilling them up just as it was getting too dark to see. We will probably be surprised at how they look when the sun comes up. Hubby said that we would have some finishing work to do on Sunday. We plant by the signs and other methods as directed by my Granny Day. She is a wealth of knowledge and we are grateful to God for her being in our lives. Today was the best day to plant according to the signs and Granny's interpretation of them. I feel blessed that she is teaching me. We planted about 30 feet of Red and 30 feet of white potatos. It got too dark to plant the onions and we observe the Sabbath so we will do that the next best day. This is the sign for root crops. I hope to post pictures tomorrow.

May the Lord keep you in His mighty Hand

Featured Blogger ~ Rosie from Rosie's Country Home

This week's Featured Blogger was also nominated by her fellow bloggers.  Please stop by Rosie's Country Home and congratulate her for being this week's Featured Blogger! 

While you are there, be certain to check out her delicious sounding recipes like: Teriyaki Steak & Quinoa and No Yeast Whole Wheat Bread.

Congratulations Rosie!

Please help me choose the next Featured Blogger.  If you have a blogger you'd like to nominate as our Featured Blogger of the Week, send me an email at senioreditor@homesteadblogger.com .  Keep in mind that Featured Bloggers must be at least 18 years of age and their blog must be encouraging, uplifting, and/or inspiring. 

Who knows, you may be our next featured blogger ! 

What projects are you ladies working on????

I just read on Crystal's message boards that several of the ladies are working on crochet projects, knitting projects and yes even sewing projects.  I felt a little like the black sheep of the family when I posted that I am currently working on 3 recipe scrapbooks.  LOL  I don't crochet or knit, and I wanted to finish these projects before starting a new sewing project.  Two of them are for Christmas presents for my SILs and are more than 70% done I would say.  The third one is for a friend and I haven't even started it yet.  I am hoping to get my goodies out tonight and do some work on them though.

I am done with baby quilts for now (which I took pics of and uploaded on the computer and now can not find.  LOL  So I have requests out to the mommy's to send me pics of the babies with their quilts.  When I get them I will try to post for you all!) and will move on to Noah's quilt, and then the sisters and neices aprons for Christmas presents.  I love sewing up aprons.  Many moons ago every woman had several aprons to wear while housekeeping and cooking.  Now a days, I find many of my family and friends don't have one, but when they see mine they want one so badly!  LOL  So hopefully the girls will love their aprons when they receive them.

So, the question is....what projects are you working on right now??? Perhaps you are dipping candles like Chas, or making a new Spring table runner.  Tell us if you are making jelly, or sewing up pajamas (another project for the littles for Christmas this year!), or scrapbooking.  Enquiring minds want to know!

Chicken Cordon Blue

This is a yummy dinner, with a little "wow" value, but so simple to make.

First, you are going to need to set up some "dipping stations" with three small dishes.

In the first, you will beat together 2 eggs and 1/3 cup of milk.




In the next bowl, you will add 1/2 cup of flour and in the third bowl, you will combine 1 1/2 c dry bread crumbs, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp dry thyme leaves and 1/3 c parmesan cheese.


To make dry bread crumbs, just pop a couple slices of bread in the toaster, and toast. let the slices of toast cool, then tear into pieces, and give a buzz in a food processor. Instant bread crumbs. If you need fresh crumbs, skip the toasting step.


Now, you need one package of the thin-sliced, boneless chicken breasts. Depending on how many slices are in your package, that will determine how much of the other ingredients you need. I had 6 slices, so I need 6 slices of ham, 6 sticks of swiss cheese (about 1/2 inch thick, 3 inches long), and 6 toothpicks.


Now take one slice of chicken, layer on one slice of ham, and a stick of cheese.


Roll them up, and secure by sticking a toothpick straight through it. Repeat with all.


Now you are going to start dipping. Take the first roll, and dip it into the egg wash, coating all over.


Second, dip it into the flour.


Next...go BACK to the egg wash, and dip again.


And last, roll it around in the crumb mixture, coating all over.


Place on a baking stone/sheet. Repeat with all.


Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. The cheese will ooze and get crispy in the edges, and the outside will be brown and crunchy.


Enjoy!







Printable Version:

2 eggs
1/3 c milk
1/2 c flour
1 1/2 c dry bread crumbs
1 tsp thyme leaves
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/3 c parmesan cheese
1 package thinly sliced chicken breasts
sliced deli ham (1 slice per chicken slice)
sticks of swiss cheese (on stick per chicken slice)
toothpicks

In a small dish, beat eggs and milk.
In a second dish, add flour.
In a third dish, combine bread crumbs, garlic powder, herbs and parmesan cheese.

Layer a ham slice onto a chicken slice. Place a stick of swiss cheese on top, and roll up, securing with a toothpick. Repeat with all.

Coat one chicken roll in egg, then flour, then egg again, and finally crumb coating.
Place on a baking stone/sheet. Repeat with all.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Enjoy!

* * *

Conni is an army wife and homeschooling mom of three, living in North Carolina. You can find out more about her on her blog: MamaHen

Get It In Gear Girl!!!

I have to admit I have more energy than in previous weeks of this pregnancy, but I haven't accomplished much with that extra energy.  LOL  I am still dragging my feet a little, and I just need to get my booty into gear!!!  I have made a goal to get this house back into working order by next Friday!  I will work hard on it this weekend with a little help from hubs, and finish up the last details and grocery shopping and pantry organizing next week while Noah is in school!  I feel so disorganized and not myself when the house is in disaray, there is laundry waiting, etc.

So, today is Friday and Noah has no school.  He will be helping me in the toy area cleaning up, putting away and organizing.  He is a wonderful help!!!  After that is done, I will dust all the tables and such and vacuum.  Noah loves to wipe down the tables, so perhaps he will help with that as well!  In between cleaning, vacuuming, etc. I will try to get the dreaded laundry caught up today and put away before the weekend really begins.  For me that means, no laundry during the weekends.  We like to have at least one thing we don't worry about on the weekends.

Matthew will help me with dishes since my hip has been bothering me and I just can't stand very long right now.  It's one of the things he honestly doesn't mind doing.  I am thankful for his help, and hanging out in the kitchen usually puts him in the mood to bake.  LMSO  So maybe we will have some muffins or biscuits this weekend from hubs. 

Tonight Matthew has an appointment at 6 with our tax lady.  I have all the paperwork in order on the family's finances, etc. but since he has his own electrician business, he needs to talk to her about what she needs, etc. to figure his side of the taxes correctly.  We are praying for some BIG MONEY on our tax return, because I have a few bills that need to be paid in full soon.  If the tax refund is as big as I am hoping, we should be debt free except for our mortgage by the end of summer, or the end of the year at the latest!

I wrote our picture appointment for Easter pics down on the wrong day....so pics are TOMORROW, not today.  LOL  I am glad I checked with Renea last night instead of just showing up on the wrong day.  LOL I got NOah some cute sorts and polos yesterday, so I am thinking he will wear his choice of them.  

Well ladies, that is the boring antics of our household.  LMSO  Nothing too exciting here this weekend....taxes, coffee with the girls on Saturday morning, pictures that afternoon, etc,  LOL

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.....a beautiful day in the neighborhood.....

I woke up to birds chirping outside my window.....a cool crisp air.......a little boy laughing......a hubby's kiss......oh what a wonderful day!  LOL    Ok, so I wanted to sleep in (but Noah had school), but most of the rest is true!!!  While I was running errands I had the window down from some fresh air and I have enjoyed the sun today as well!!!!!

Noah quickly got ready for school today because I spent an extra 10 minutes in bed trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes....and when he was gone on the bus, I went to WAL-MART!!!  Wally World and I have a love/hate relationship.  I love going there......and spending money.......but I hate going there....and spending money!!!  LMSO  I ended up finding a few winter shirts for Noah for next winter on clearance for $5 each and then found a pair of shorts and polo shirt he can wear for pics tomorrow.

Noah is having Easter pics taken tomorrow.  It is cheaper to have them taken now when they are running a special than to wait until his birthday in April to have his 4 year old pics taken, so I am taken advantage!  LMSO   He better smile is all I am going to say!!!

Noah's bus was LATE today coming home.  I was wondering if they were every going to bring my boy home.  LMSO  I called the school and they had some bus problems and were running late.  When they got here, the bus driver said it was their 3 bus of the day!!  UGH!!!  And since they have 19 kids in kids carseats, that means they moved carseats and had to rebuckle, etc. 3 times today! UGH!

Friday, Matthew is talking to our tax lady.  I already have the paperwork all ready for her, except his receipts and such on HIS business.  So the rest is up to him and her.  I am praying for BIG MONEY< NO WHAMMYS!!!  LMSO  I already have alot of the money allocated for one thing or another, so I am hoping it comes in quickly so I can pay off some bills.  I think by the end of summer, or at least by the end of the year for absolutely sure, we should be debt free again except for the mortgage.  Then we will start putting our extra money into paying off the mortage again!!!  YEAH!

This weekend, I am having coffee (ok I dont' drink coffee, so I will have chai! LMSO) with the girls at the coffee shop.  I don't get to make it often, but when I found out my girlfriend from California is going to be there, I put it on the calendar and told Matthew I needed to go and he was in charge of Noah!!!  LMSO

Well all, I hope you have a fabulous day!!!

Simple Homestead Blessings: Share Yours!

glitter-graphics.com

Spring...are you ready? I sure am!

As we spoke of Spring plans, my family and I decided to write a list of some of the "Homesteading Blessings" we enjoy during this season. I thought we would share them with you, and maybe you could add a few of your own to the list!

Our homestead! Small though it may be, it is home!

Spring flowers that burst forth in the reminder of God's perfect plan for renewal of this Earth!

Laughter, and the funny antics our animals do everyday.  Ever seen a chicken who thought she was a dog?  We have two!

Fresh grass for the livestock.

A cup of tea shared on the veranda.

Outdoor grilling that mean no kitchen clean-ups, LOL!

The old swimming hole that becons as the weather warms.

Children playing on the lawn.

Church picnics that warm us with fellowship and joy.

Easter! The glorious celebration of the resurection of our Lord and Saviour!

Cool evenings that are just right for a brisk walk.

Gardening!

Love shared, and sorrows halved.

Early morning and breakfast served in the wonderful Spring air!

So many more, were I to write them all, I might never finish!

Share yours, won't you?

Until we meet again, may the Lord bless you GOOD!

Bev

Bev resides deep in the woodlands of South Carolina.  Surrounded by her loving husband, children, family and friends,  she thrives on her love of God, family, and the land.

"Homesteading is more than just a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle of Hope and Heart!"