Pen Pals

12:39 PM - Thursday, September 25, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Our Rabbits

I was asked what kind of rabbits we have and what we use them for. I know that in todays society their are a lot of differant opionions on animals, But I have a biblical opinion of mine. Do not get affended at mine, each person can form their own according to how God directs them.

   I do not know what kind we have. I do know that they are medium size and very tender. Yes you guessed it! We eat ours. My husband and I feel like God put  animals here for our food. 

   Since my husband and I have been married (February will make 12 years)  we have caught fish, hunted dear, hunted rabbits, hunted squirrels ,  we have had cows ,pigs , turkeys, and chickens butchered also. We have tried our best to supply our own fresh meat for our family. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been well worth it. We have never gone without meat. I can probably be safe to say that in the last 11 years I have spent less than  $2,500( that averages to $18.93 a month) on store bought meat.  That was usually spent on cmpany that we had that didn't want to eat what we ate, Because they were afraid that it might have germs since it wasn't from the store. 

The last few years the only things I buy are flour, sugar, salt, cornmeal,beans, and the basic things that we can't do for ourselves. It is so nice to be able to go to the pantry when the roads are to icey to go to town and not have to worry at all what is for the next meal. We try to keep enough food on stock for a month. We eat what we store, and we only store what we will eat. I rotate our food so that it is always fresh. By doing this I only shop once a month which in turn saves on gas.  I bake all of our breads. I make our butter, yougurt, Kefir, cream cheese, and some of our soft cheeses like cottage cheese and mozerella. I make our own Tortiallas if we want tacos or burrito's. We make our own pizza's. We don't fry alot so we don't use a whole lot of oil. I only buy two bottles of oil for a month and usually have half a bottle left. and that is only used to fry some fish once in a while.  We plant a garden in the spring and can what is grown. So we always have fresh veggies even in the winter. I grow some of our own herbs.  So I don't spend a lot on them. I make all of our cleaners and soaps. Including our laundry soap.

  To give you an idea of just how much we do for ourselves I will tell you how much I spend on grocery's and cleaners each month. Are you ready for this? I only spend $150 to $200. That is for grocerys  and everything else that my family might need such as razors, bathroom tissue, you name it. That is all I spend. We are a  family of four. Everyone has told me that it is impossible to spend so little and eat well. We eat VERY WELL!!! It is possible when you have the want to.( Another thing, we DO NOT eat out. It is far to expensive and it isn't near as healthy!)

   What about you ? Are you doing all you can to be self sufficient? Do you have any other ideas on how I can save even more? I would like to hear how others are saving as well.

10:16 AM - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Our Kitchen Table

I thought I would write a quick entry before we get started on our school work. I know I havn't written in a few weeks, but it has been so busy around here. Since so much has been going on and it would take to long to tell you about it all,instead,  I will share a thought that has been on my mind for several days.

     I have been thinking about my kitchen table. We eat around it. We read our bible around it. We pray around it. We do our school around it. We even visit at it with our company instead of in our living room.  Then last night I read Candy's blog at www.keepingthehome.com. She must be thinking along the same lines.

 What does my table mean to me? It is an altar. This is the place where my family can set and visit, pray, learn, read, and just enjoy the life that God has given us. NO, I do not worship my table. But I have made it a place to where we have a place to magnify God. A church has an altar(at least ours does anyway). The altar is a place where God is praised, sought after, and loved.

   Is your kitchen table as special as mine? I greatly appreciate my table. Or should I say my altar unto the Lord?

8:40 AM - Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Calming Down

   My week is finally calming down and we are able to go back to our normal routine! For those of you who didn't know my Sister in Law's mother passed away lst Thursday. She was 46. So I have been keeping my Brother's boys, ages 4 and 9 months. They are such sweet little things. But they did not understand why they had to stay at my house for so long. My Sister in Law is 23 and had to make a lot of decisions on her own. She is the youngest out of two children and her brother didn't know as much of what their mother liked and disliked. But it is all finished, she has been laid to rest in their family cemetary under a shady tree and it is really nice. Not to mention it is just a horses ride from my Brother's house. She will be able to take care of her grave and plant lots of pretty flowers.

     Monday and yesterday I kept my cousins two girls. She has just gotten a job at our local public school and the girls don't start until Thursday. They were really good and helped me to catch up on lots of house work that needed to be done. That was such a blessing!

   Yesterday I also got some Kitchen duties caught up. I made butter. Cultured my buttermilk. I made a new sourdough starter.( With all of the excitment I had neglected my other one.) I made yougurt, and by mistake added 1 cup of culture , instead of 1/2 a cup.  But it turned out to be the creamiest yogurt I have ever made! It is thick just like store bought, but without all of the chemicals and preservitives. So from now on I will be adding one cup of cultures to every batch.

    Well I need to go for now, We are able to get back to our school work today!( WOO HOO!!!!!) We have had such fun so far this year in school. I am ready to settle down again into our school routine.

     I hope and pray that all have a very blessed day and a healthy day!

                                                             Loving to be a SAHM,

                                                                        Holly

P.S. Thank You God  for the strength that you have given me to care for others children when they are in need. I couldn't do it without your help!

And I also thank you for the privalege to home school my own children! I count it as an hohor!

                                    AMEN!

7:44 AM - Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Weather, School, and Canning

Today reached 101. That is hot! But this evening I checked the weather and it was 88 degrees at 8:00 p.m.  with 75% humidity making it a whopping 109 degrees! Can it get any hotter? I can't handle it this hot! ( Thank God I am a Christian or I would have to spend eternity in a place that is even hotter!)

  I made Salsa today, I have enough to fill 10 quarts! I  will have to get that canned tomorrow.  It is  supposed to be cooler tomorrow, Praise God!

  We started our first day of school for this year, it went really smooth, thanks to using my home managment binder, and God! I have never had  a year start off so smoothly! And I even had unexpected company and phone calls! It was such a blessing! My children had such a blast! We just love Home School. This makes our third year of home schooling and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Worth it!!! My children have just blossomed! Thank You God for our freedom to teach our children according to your word!

  I pray that everyone is staying cool and having a very blessed week,

          Holly

8:52 PM - Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Busy Morning!

This has been a busy morning! I jumped out of bed, made it, and got dressed and cleaned my room. Did the chores outside and got ready to go to the dairy to get our milk.  When I got home I had to put dinner in the oven, feed the children and got some tomatoes in the canner. I have just finished two loads of laundry and mopped my floors, so while my floors dry I am going to take some time to set and breathe!! 

  This afternoon I will have to put some beans in the canner and finish my laundry. Isn't it wonderful that I don't have a job? Other wise nothing would get done! I do love being a stay at home Mom and wife!  Even with all of the jobs that constantly need to be done I LOVE to be at home!

  Well I will rush off, I have caught my breath and the floors are dry. I hope all are having as much fun as I am , cleaning and caring for my family!

11:21 AM - Monday, July 28, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

BUsy, just way to busy!

I have been just so busy! I have been canning left and right and yesterday topped it all off! I had to put up tomatoes, take dear daughter to piano lessons, and bake 13 loaves of bread! I made the bread for a pie autction to benefit a little baby that is in the hospital. They will auction it off this evening. I did have fun baking! I love to bake! Then this morning I got up and canned some chicken broth and some tomatoes.

    This afternoon I will take my son to speech , and go to a neighbors to get some milk. It is the best raw milk I have ever had! I have used 3 gallon this week already! She sells it for $4.25 a gallon with the cream still in it. I let the cream rise and make my own butter. I find that my yougurt is thicker if I leave the cream in it though. The kid's love it this way! And it makes the best buttermilk! I thank God that we have fresh milk.

   Has anyone ever read Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon? If you havn't get it and read it! It is a wonderful book. It tells just how some things are made and what is in them. And it is full of great recipies with all natural ingreadiants. I bought my book from Amazon.com. I have been using many recipies from this book and my family loves them!

   Well I better go for now, I hope everyone has a very blessed day! 

9:41 AM - Friday, July 25, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

I am sad to say....

1:27 PM - Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

IT IS SUMMER!!

Today I have really been busy, I put up a bushel of corn, I have canned 7 quarts of beans, Did laundry , cleaned house and have gotten really hot!!! It is 102 degrees here in Oklahoma and that is HOT!!! This afternoon I am hoping it will cool down enough for me to make some Zuchinni bread.

   Does anyone have a good recipie?

   By the way, my company didn't stay very long, they had to get back early, that was dissapointing. BUt we did have a good visit. But at least we got to spend one day together. Now I can look forward to Christmas when they will be back.

   Hope all are staying cool in this Hot July weather,

                           Holly

4:57 PM - Saturday, July 19, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Canning!

Sorry I havn't been on much, however I have been very busy canning! We have put up Salsa, Purple Hull Peas, Green beans, Okra, Corn, Peppers, and Chicken Broth. Not to mention in between all of this I have been cleaning and getting ready for company. They will be staying for  4 days with us. We only get to see them once a year due to the fact that they are in the army. 

  Well I am off again, I need to go finish up some more beans.

Next week I will try to post some photo's of my house. I will give you a little walk through of my home. And I hope to do a week of photo's of me in femine dress doing my daily tasks.(inspired by Candy of www.keepingthehome.com) I think it will be a lot of fun to do. See you all again soon, and have a very pleasent day!

10:00 AM - Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Thank God For that still small voice!

I thank God for that still small voice that he talks to us with! I was preparing supper and put some bread into the oven to crisp up for Garlic bread. After placing it in the oven I went into another room to continue some of my chores. I felt a need to go back into the kitchen to check the bread, and boy am I glad that I did! My oven was on fire!!!!   I knew that I wasn't supposed to throw water on it or it weould get worse. So I asked God what should I do?! This is what he told me to do: Turn off the burner out of the oven, take out the pan of bread very carefully, then throw baking soda on it. And that is exactly what I did! The fire went out instanly, our bread was saved, and my house is still standing, I don't think my oven is messed up , and I am not burnt! I thank God that he speaks to us!

  I think the reason it caught on fire is that it had a little spilled greese in the bottom that I did not see. I baked chicken Sunday and hadn't used it since then.

God is soooooooooooo good to us!

5:26 PM - Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday Dear America!

Happy Birthday To You!

Thank You God For Our Freedom!!!

4:08 PM - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

So busy!

I have been so busy! I have been deep cleaning my home and my yard! With all of the rain we have had my onions and potatoes had to be dug, the tops were starting to rot, but the bulbs and potatoes were still good. I wanted to be able to at least use some of them. Everything else in the garden is doing great! We now have ears of corn on our stalks. We should be able to pick cucumbers by the end of the week, and have already been picking peppers like crazy! My tomatoes are starting to turn, and we have small little Okra coming on! I am so excited! We will be able to start eating lots of things before to long. Not to mention my beans are all in bloom! I feel so blessed that we have the garden that we do, so many have lost theirs!

   I have also been working on a Home Managment Binder, It has been so much fun! I ran across the idea after reading a site called Keeping the Home. Candy has so many wonderful ideas! You can read them too at www.keepingthehome.com. I hope you enjoy her site as much as I have!

  Well I need to go, supper is done and my dear husband should be home any minute. I want to make sure the house and kid's are clean before he arrives. He works around filth all day, I don't like him coming home to it . His castle should be clean, and I his Queen love to keep it that way for him!

   I pray that all have a very blessed evening!

5:26 PM - Monday, June 23, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Prosperous Weekend

This weekend was really a busy one. But I did get a lot of things finished that I needed done.

Saturday was my Mother's birthday and we had a party for her yesterday. It was a good time with all of the family together.

Over the weekend I got all of my tomatoes staked( or cages ), my cucumbers started up a fence so that they are not on the ground, my hens put in their pen (They are no longer in the house. I was sad to see them leave the house.), and I also got the boxes finished for my rabbits since they are expecting. I have had a really busy weekend. 

    Today I made a white chocolate pie and finished all of my laundry . All of the house cleaned and swept and vaccumed. Supper is started and all I have left is the garden to weed after the sun goes down.  It has been a wonderful day! It has been hot, about 90 degrees F. but a good day none the less. The children played in the water to stay cool and I kept working and didn't think about it.

    For supper we are having Chicken and rice casserole with Broccoli.

Tomorrow for lunch we are having Spaghetti with Garlic Bread. Tomorrow night for supper we will have either left overs or if there aren't any left overs we will have Fish and potatoes.

This week we will be busy at the church, we are going to have an auction to help pay for the new windows that need to be put in. We are also trying to insulate the walls of the church, it was built years ago and no insulation was put in when it was built. I think it was built in the 40's. My Father is the pastor of it now, and his Father before him. My Father is 47 His Father passed away 30 years ago and was 65 when he passed away. That will give you some idea of how old our church building is. We are trying to bring it up to date. Please pray that God will bless our auction so that we can care for God's house.

   Well it is time for my dear husband to be coming in from the shop, I need to go finish our supper. I pray that all have a very blessed evening!

4:29 PM - Monday, June 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

What a fisherman!!!

My husband went fishing and this is what he brought home from one trip! And to think he did this 6 times this weekend!!!!

We are putting them all in the freezer ! We will give some to the preacher to of course, But what a Blessing!!!!

This should last us a while!!!!

I thank God for a husband who likes to fish!

9:20 PM - Sunday, May 25, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

About myself and my family:

I am twenty nine years old, and have been married for 11 years. I met my husband one evening at church. I was supposed to be paying attention to the service but all I could see were his big blue eyes! Needless to say one year and one week later we were married in the same church that we met in.( His father was the pastor of the church where we met and my father was the evangalist holding them a revival. I am often teased that I got more out of that revival than just spiritual help!)

 One year and two months later we were blessed with a beutiful little girl. I had her at home which was also a blessing. Two years and two weeks later I had our second child at home. God graciously blessed us with a son. our children are now 10 and almost 8. I am so thankful for the blessings God has given me! You see our son was very ill when he was an infant. He was perfectly healthy when he was born, but came in contact with whooping cough not long after. At the age of six weeks old he became very very sick. We had to life flight him to a larger hospital and he was placed on life support. He remained on life support for days.We were told that he obly had four hours to live.God blessed us and he will be 8 years old on May 12th. He was in the hospital for alomost a year, But God has slowly in his own time helped our son grow stronger. We have had a lot of hospital stays and doctors' visits , but HE has life!!!! Through Jesus we have overcome! I thank God for his Healing Power!

 I do homeschool our children now. They did go to public school for a while, then God dealt with my heart to bring them home. I am so glad I did. I missed so much not having them with me all of the time. I love my children being at home with me. I love to watch them grow and to watch them learn. I love it when that little light shines in their eyes when they learn something new.

We are a one income family, My husband is a Cabinet maker. He works very hard to keep our home a one income family. I do my part also. I make all of our bread, I cook everything from scratch, I make all our laundry soap, we have a garden and I can all that my shelves will hold and more! ( I didn't have to buy any canned vegetables through the winter ) I do sew, I love to make our clothes and quilts. I even make my son his own shirts. He loves to pick out his own fabric and watch me make it. When I ask him to bring me his shirts that he wants ironed for church he always brings one that I have made. that makes me feel so good! We dry our clothes on a line so that we only use the dryer on rainy days. I have even learned that you can make your own dishwasher soap! And it works! For Mother's day this year I am getting some chickens so I will get to help my family save even more!!!! I pray that God will bless my little hens and that we can have eggs for eating and for hatching!( We live in town but it is legal as long as the top is closed in.)

Well I have set and gabbed long enough! I better get to the rest of my chores. (I have half my list done, I just stopped for tea and rest.)

If anyone has any ideas on how to make my own lye soap I would like the help. I have never made my own but would like to try.  The easier the better, on the first time around. Then maybe I can try something harder.

I pray that everyone has a VERY BLESSED DAY!!!!!!

10:09 AM - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment