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It's been along time since I"ve been to posted anything. Each year about the end of January, I get tired of winter and start to get the dulldrums...(is that a word) I choose not to go outside, because I'm tired of being cold...I get bored and restless and usually end up doing not much of anything. But it's spring now, or atleast it was yesterday. I woke up this morning to a cold feeling 39...the wind chilld was what made it feel so cold. But I know it will only last for a few days and back to the 70's tomorrow afternoon. I was able to work in my existing herb garden and have plans to expand it. I have my small kitchen garden ready to plant some veggies, and the larger garden plot will be turned over this week. I've sowed some zinnias and sunflowers for my cutting garden...and I'm so looking forward to watching them come up out of the ground. Hopefully, last years chipmunk resident has moved to another house or barn, because he ate all my sunflower seeds and what little plants got started he pulled up. My goats are in their kidding season...so far I've been blessed with 7 little kids. 4 does and 3 bucks. I've started milking again and loving it. Even if it was a bit cold out this morning at 6:30am. I will try to update more often...
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I woke up this morning to see the ground dusted in white...what a suprise. It is only a dusting, but still will be nice to look at from inside...it's cold out. First time I felt the house a little cold inside. But I just threw in some more logs and opened that baby up...lol. It won't take her long to heat up the living area. I know Will (my 13yr) must be cold in the basement where he is so deteremined to make his room. Well, I got my quilt frame made yesterday..and then laid out my bottom, batting and middle...that's not easy!!! But I did it...it may not be perfect, but I did it. Why did I start on a queen size for my first quilt???
Anyway...it's rolled up on the frame and I started hand quilting last night. I may not get it done this year...lol. I can see I need to find me a few finger thimbles...those little quilting needles are sharp and pierce the finger deep before you realize it...lol. It will be really personalized with my blood sweat and tears...lol. Tears came yesterday as I was trying to get everything straight and smooth to pin, sweat then too, because the only place large enough was in front of the wood heater, and the blood....well you just read about that. However, I'm excited about it, it looks great on the frame in my family-room...it adds a cozy country touch to the decor....lol. Hopefully it won't stay a decor!
Anyway about my frame...I'll try to take a picture of it later and post it. I bought 2 - 8ft 1X2's for the scroll part and then I found a scrap piece in the barn to cut into 2 - 24 inch pieces to clamp ( C-clamps) on the longer pieces to hold them apart evenly and to keep my quilt taunt. I laid each end of the frame over 2 TV dinner trays...(you know those tables we used to put up infront of us to put our TV dinners on while watching TV...remember those?) the height is perfect so I can sit under the frame and stitch away.
I'm so looking forward to quilting these next few cold months...something to do in my short evenings.
Cindylee |
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I'm not sure how I can get these thoughts down in writing, but I'm going to try... Anyone else out there have this dream of returning back to the way it was...? I mean way back..... I may have a misinformed idea of how things were back in the biblical days.... but to live in a small community with family and friends close by.... I know they had their difficulties...the work had to be harder then I can imagine. Just a simple job today would be something complex and time consuming back then. And sanitation, I'm sure was unpleasant....We have so much to help us today in our daily tasks, just maybe too much help. Choices...wow! Just to buy a shampoo or deorderant...look at the choices we have. Then those that are snipping coupons, rebates and watching sales before they even get to the stores....wow! I applaude them....but that's too complicated for me. Just to look at the aisles in our stores now...
I remember that feeling I had when I last looked for a shampoo and besides comparing the prices, we have to look at ingredients, and oh man, the fragrances, are you a sniffer like me? This could be a real challenge and temptation to splurge on that really pretty bottle with the great fragrance. ok, I got off track.... or maybe not....I would love to be able to have just a few changes of clothes...and I love the look of homemade woven linens and cottons that I picture the clothing to be made from. Have you seen "The Nativity Story"....? the movie that came out last year? my kids laugh at me when I tell them I wished that was how we dressed today. Unfortunately, they have discovered Abercrombe, etc...
I love the simple clothing.....how freeing that would be. A choice you wouldn't have to make before you even walked out the door. I have eliminated a few choices in my life, it really started for health reasons, but the simplicity of it, fits well in my current lifestyle. Anyway........ 1) I don't buy shampoo anymore, I use only baking soda in my hair and occassionally rinse with apple cider vinegar. It works ! I was really a sceptic when I first heard aout it. Because I am a sniffer and I love soft hair. But all I do is put a heaping tbls in my palm, wet it and massage into my roots or scalp.. I rinse well and my hair is clean. I also, rub a tiny amount of olive oil in my palm and rub onto the ends of my hair. I usually will add a drop of essential oil to that so I am not missing out on fragrance. I'm in the process of infusing some oils with herbs to give a more pleasing aroma. Like rosemary and lavender. 2) I don't use toothpaste or deorderant anymore. I again use baking soda w/essential oils. 3) I don't buy soap for bathing, I use my homemade goatmilk/olive oil soap for cleansing my body and my face. I use a homemade oil blend w/essential oils for my face and body moisturizer. Again, I did infuse some almond oil w/gardenia flowers this fall and it smells great. 4) I rarely use makeup anymore..but when I do it's mascaria and a little mineral powder on my face to even the skin tone out. 5) I also use the recipes we have all seen for household cleaning. and I make my laundry soap with my homemade lye soap, borax and washing soda. Again, for my linens I will add lavender or lilac to a damp cloth and throw in the dryer. I hang out clothes but not when I'm using the wood heat...I'm not fond of smoky smelling clothes. These steps have saved us money and more importantly we are not inhaling chemicals and the poisons aren't going into our bodies through our skin. You know I think I got of topic again...lol. My son Jacob has awaken and he is trying to get my attention...and he has. Do you have any simple and easy things you have found to work for you ? Living simply isn't always easy...but these few choices have really simplified it for me. Cindylee
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Friday morning...awe, yes! I love to hear it's Friday morning. My day will be busy with the chores that I have to do, but it's also filled with getting my house in order...candles lit, flowers and fresh linens. I love it.. gives me that special occassion feeling. But it also, means that I will be taking it easy from sunset tonight to sunset tomorrow, but mostly I enjoy spending quality time in the Word. I read each day, but I don't always have time to "study" the word...and this is what I do on Sabbath. That is, bottom line, what I look forward too. A new "revelation"...... of course they can come any day of the week...but I usually learn something about the past week, that I need to work on for the future. This week has been a busy week...I've had to deal with a colic horse, finding hay, cleaning one of our vacant apartments, taking my 13yr old hunting each morning at 6:30, normal household chores and my daily animal chores..... milking goats, chickens, rabbit, cockatiels, dogs and the horses....oh yes, being the mom to 5 children even though only 2 are at home. The other 3, keep me concerned....all young adults on their own. I try my best to understand they are in Gods hands, but I still can't help the worry. I am really looking forward to this weeks day of "Rest" . Blessings, Cindylee |
Posted in My Animals
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Well, I learned something new...if you have stalled horses, do not feed them only Bermuda hay! As I may have mentioned I had to move our horses from the pasture that they so pleasantly have been enjoying for the past 10 years, to our stalls here at the house. We used to have pasture for them, but not any longer as we have put rental prpty on it. So I've been feeding them lots of hay and a little grain and lots of fresh clean water. I take them out daily to walk them or to lunge them. Hay around here has been scarce because of the drought, and if you get it, you have to pay for it... All I could find this last week was some Bermuda hay...so they've been eating on it for a week...I noticed that my big boy, Nugget, didn't really so interest in his grain or hay the day before yesterday, or yesterday.....and no poop in his stall. I took him out yesterday and lunged him to get him moving, and tried some warm bran mash on him..but nope, not interested. I ended up calling the vet when I noticed he was pawing at the ground. He sedated him and gave him a pain med, and then pumped liquids in his stomach and also a pail of stool softener and mineral oil. This was last night...today I went to a few towns over and got some fescue hay..that is what they are used to and he is eating it. There was a little pile of poop in his stall this morning..but the vet said it may take up to 18 hours for the oil/softener to really work on him. I don't want to be behind him when it does...lol. Anyway...I'm so relieved. I was really nervous yesterday...I know that colic can take a horse down with a twisted gut and bring surgery or even death. I'm still feeding him the warm bran mash...but he isn't showing much interest in that...but he is drinking water and eating some hay today. I took him off grain for a few days. Other then that...all is well here at my place. I'm tired and it's been really cold..today is just gray and drizzly... Blessings, Cindylee |
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Today starts a new week...with new chores to add to my normal routine of housework, animals and homeschool. Sunday: 1.
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8. Repair gate on horse stall and muck out stalls. add hinge and figure out a lock. Only thing holding it is a bungie cord for now. I think I'll get some small chain and clasp to wrap around the post and through the door. That should work for now. Need different screws...the ones I have, have too small of a head and goes through the holes on the hinge. I think I need lug bolts...or something like that.
12. Type up statement for new tenant and lease
Well, that is all I'm planning on today. I know somethings will come up and be added to the list and some things may have to wait until tomorrow, but getting these done will be good...then tomorrow...another whole day. I'm not sure what we'll do as quality time ... maybe watch a movie w/popcorn. I'm already tired and ready for bed...I woke up way to early... 4 AM....I could lay down for an hour, just might do that. I have a busy day ahead...so off I go. Cindylee
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I am so thankful that our Father had loved us so much, even in the beginning of creation, He gave us the Sabbath. He knew we would need to rest and look to see what was good.... This week I welcome it....We had an emotional and physical week with all that is going on with DH's decision to take a job away. We had alot of work that needed to get done before he left and it was really stressful for both of us. Dh is sacrificing alot to provide for the family......and I've made a decision I will do my best here to do all I can to help. Honestly, I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday as he kept telling be what all I needed to do. I selfishly was thinking of all the stuff I already did around here that adding much more to it was not going to happen. I am so grateful now, that I kept those ugly selfish thoughts to myself and didn't burden Dh with them. Since then, I realize that I have to sacrifice too.... I need to give all I can and push myself even more, to help out around here. I have a healthier attitude today...I will take the day and "rest" in my Father. I will worship and praise Him for all He has provided for us and all He will ton continue to provide for us. After today I'll be refreshed and ready because: Tomorrow....starts a new week. I have so much to do. But I will do it without complaining and I will do my very best, even if it cuts into "my time". I did have this idea that I would work on some crafts that I have wanted to finish. And I will, if time permits...but if not, then they'll remain unfinished until my work is finished. I'll do my best to make Dh proud of me. I'm sure thankful of him and so proud of him.....so looking back after this week of work, I can now,relax and really see that "it is all good...." |
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Wow, where did the week go? It sure has been a busy week, emotionaly, physically and spiritually....We've had to make some decisions and things will be changing around here and I'm a bit nervous, since I'll be doing much by myself. Our finances have hit a snag...my dh, is in real estate and that has died. We own some apartments and this time of year taxes are due and we'll have some empty apartments to fill. The money isn't there, so my dh, will be taking a job with a company that he used to work with, which takes him on the road for a few weeks at a time. This was all decided this week, and tonight is the day he is leaving...after our son's basketball game. I know he is praying another opportunity would "appear" today so he wouldn't have to leave. The thought of not being here these next few weeks is killing him. The thought is a bit scary for me as well. A lot will have to be done and I'll be doing it alone. My son likes to hunt...I'll be taking him. He'll go into the woods, and I'll sit nestled in the car/truck waiting for him. Very early in the morning 6:30 to about 9:30. If he gets a deer, we'll have to haul it out of the woods ourselves and take it to the processor. Next is the barn chores...milking the goats and feeding the goats, chickens, horses and the small animals. Rabbit, birds, and dogs. For homeschooling I think my 6yr old will continue with our reading, and that will be at bedtime. Thats all we'll plan on. When the next 4 apartments come available, I'll have to paint and clean them by myself. And any minor repairs....others I'll have to hire out. I'll also have to rent them out, which is showing them the apartment and making any decisions that might have to be made....always a negotiation. I am a bit softer then DH, so I pray I won't be taken advantage of. Thankfully, we've downsized Christmas this year anyway..so the only shopping I have to do are the 3 names we drew. Limit on price so that won't be hard..and they all gave ideas. Easy. I'm not sure we are even having a tree this year. If up to me, we wouldn't, but I think I'll ask the kids (boys) how they feel. Grandma has one up and that is where they will open up their present...it'll be just one this year. My 6yr old will be having his birthday the 29th, so I will have to prepare a family dinner for that and do some shopping for him. I sold some eggs yesterday! Yippee...it was exciting to recieve some money to buy their feed with. I sold $11..worth. I sold them for $2.50/doz and $3.00/18....somehow, I got an extra .50...lol. Today, I have to go to the feed store...I'm thinking of changing the way I'm feeding the goats. Seems like I'm spending too much money on them. But I'll have to plan on that and change their diet gradually. Hay is outrages and hard to find around here. I could get orchard blend...but that is 11.50 a sq bale...I can't do that. Bermuda is 7.50, Fescue can't be found and alfalpha..not sure. I get the pellets to put in their feed. Ok, today is the day I usually prepare my home for Sabbath...but I'll be cleaning a apartment and going to my sons basketball game tonight...tomorrow, I will rest. It will be the first day that dh, will be gone....so I sort of expect it to be a weird day. Well....that's my week in a nutshell....here at my little homestead. Blessings, Cindylee |
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Well, I think I finally have enough milk to make some yogurt. My 2 does that I milk have not been giving much milk the past month and seems like everyone is using it more and more. That's a good thing... Anyway..to make the yogurt, I will 1. scald up some milk.....about one quart. 2. let cool down to 115 degrees 3. Add 2 tbls of plain yogurt. I use an organic brand that has live cultures...unpasteurized. 4. Pour into a mason jar and cover. 5. I use my dehydrator...but you can wrap in towel and place in a cooler. I've also used a thermos to make the yogurt. Then enjoy it...One of my favorite ways to eat yogurt is with bananas and homemade granola on top. Drizzled with some honey...yum yum.
TO make Granola...I use this general recipe, but I vary it all the time with different fruits, nuts and seeds. 3 c. rolled oats
1 c. shredded coconut 1/2 c. chopped almonds or other choice of nuts 1/2 c. sesame seeds 1/2 c. shelled sunflower seeds 1/2 c.wheat germ 1/2 c. honey 1/4 c. cooking oil 1 cup of dried fruit....I like raisins or cranberries
Combine oats, coconut, almonds, sesame and sunflower seeds and wheat germ. Combine honey and oil and stir into mixture. Spread out into 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Set oven at 300 degrees and bake until light golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir in dried fruit. Remove to another pan to cool. Store in tightly covered jars or plastic bags. Refrigerate. |
Posted in Thoughts
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This is the first year we have activily started to observe Hannukah. I started a few years ago, starting to implement the biblical holidays into our family worship time, but really never felt led to do Hannukah. But this year I did....After all Jesus did: Yeshua was in Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukkah, as it is recorded in John 10: 22 - 30.
We aren't doing much, which I think is a personal choice for each family. There are many traditions that the Jewish do, but I don't feel I'm commanded to do. I'm not Jewish so I don't have those traditions, but I have gleaned some ideas from them. We do light the Menorah adding a candle each night....I don't have a real one, I'm using tealights this year placed beautifully on a silver tray. We are enjoying some special recipes...and eating fried foods is one of the things usually done. To symbolize the Holy olive oil that lasted, miraculously, for the eight days when the Temple was rededicated. So, for that we made the easy canned biscuit doughnuts...that was easy and fun for the kids. We've also made a pretty Garland of blue, Star of Davids glued on white ribbon...and today we will make a Tzedukah box...a box to add change to and to be used for the needy. We'll make it this year adding to it all year and will look forward to using it next year for charity. There are five nights left so we'll be doing some other simple things. Many families give a gift each night...I'm not doing that this year, but next year we may..but they will be homemade gifts or something small and meaningful to the individual or holiday. We still do a very small Christmas...because of the rest of the family and my kids are not ready to give that up. I'm doing my best to not make complicated or give them a reason to walk away from their faith, so I'm implementing the new in slowly and the old out slowly. I love this time of year, and always have, but have also struggled with the blues this time of year and it seems like those are lifting as I get away from the Christmasy commitments, worldly ways, commercialism of it....you know all those "bad" terms associated with it. I'm surely keeping it simple..... I don't judge anyone that celebrates it... and I wish all of you that do celebrate it with all the decorations and fun, the best Christmas ever..May it be filled with love and joy. And remember that even if our Savior wasn't born on Dec. 25th...He was born for us and then died for our sins! That is something to be thankful for everyday! Cindylee If you would like to learn a little about the History of Hannukah...here is site, I briefly looked at today: http://www.bethdavidfresno.org/Articles/HistoryOfHanukkah.htm |
Posted in My Animals
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Well this Sunday, we got a call from the peple that just bought the place my horses have been on for 8 years. She would like for us to move them, as soon as possible. Well, this put a little stress on my dh and myself. We don't have the pasture for 2 horses here anymore, or the finances to have them boarded. However, we could make some stalls here and dry lot them for a little while. Anyway...about 2 hours later I'm in the middle of shaping my homemade hamburger rolls and we get another call...."the horses got out, my son left the gate open"....so we had to stop what we were in the middle of doing and get the horses safely back in their pasture and out of the danger of any passing cars. We got there and didn't have much of a problem getting them back in the pasture. But we decided then we'd bring them home, even if we had to walk them daily or put them in with the goats for an hour a day. The grass will be gone in no time. Goats don't eat the grass anyway..but does make it neater and cleaner for them. We came home and I finished my rolls,...and then we started working on their stalls. We had to replace a few boards and the floor needed to be scrapped down and new shavings put down. It was a messy and strenuous ordeal... When we went to trailor the horses home we expected a bit of a problem loading, but they both walked on like they did it daily. They seem to be loving the attention we are giving them, but I know they must miss their freedom on that 10 acre pasture. They shared it with only one other animal...a donkey named Jack. He also had to find a new home...the new owners are wanting to put cows in there and felt the horses would be a problem. Anyway... another chore to add to my daily routine..but one I look forward to. I missed my horses. And to smell them....almost as good as a newborn babies neck. And mucking the stalls...that even smells good to me. Better then the chicken coop. phewie!
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Posted in Thoughts
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Awe...another week has passed and it's time once again for our special day of "Rest"..... our Sabbath! Today, I'll get ready for our family's day of rest by getting the house in order, as much as I can, making sure all neccessary things are done so I don't need to do anything tomorrow.... I like to think of it, as, if we are having quests over...so clean linens, fresh flowers, table is set and house is clean. Even the meals for tomorrow will be thought about, and prepared today, so tomorrow there will be no cooking or atleast kept simple and easy. We Keep the Sabbath on Friday evening through Saturday evening like they did when the commandment was given to Mose's. But really the Sabbath was spoken of before then...and again it's the 8th commandment, and Jesus the Messiah kept the Sabbath, so we feel this must be important to observe. We are not Jewish, so we don't feel we have to do the traditions that they have, but, we do some of them. We light the Sabbath candles and say a blessing. We have a nice meal, and sometimes I bake challah bread and sometimes I don't. Tomorrow we will do what has to be done...feed animals and milk the goats, but then back to the house for a day of rest. I like to cuddle in my warm bed before the day begins and read scripture and reflect on the past week...what lessons did I have? How do I need to apply them? etc.... This weekend I'm going to ask God how I can observe Hanukah, without getting all caught up in the traditions of men. Hanukah is starts this coming Tues. the 4th. Well with that all said, I had better get my day started. I have laundry to finish, beds to change, and bathrooms to clean, before I even start my cooking. So.... May you all be blessed! Cindylee PS...I'm not sure how to reply to comments I recieve on my blog. So for those that have left comments...I want to reply back, but not sure how to....I'll figure it out hopefully, sooner then later.
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Posted in My Animals
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I have 4 milking does...2 Nubians and 2 Snoobians...(crossed Saanens/Nubians),,,,the 2 Snoobians are milking now. I bred my Nubians for their first time this fall...they showed no sign of cycling this past time so I believe they are both bred. Now I'll but my buck with my Snoobians so I will have about one and half to two months between kidding. This way I won't be out of milk for too long if at all. I have some milk put in the freezer but not that much....so I pray that it will all work out like I have figured it to. My nubians have never been milked and are late in getting bred. They are 2 years old and set in their ways...I will be placing them daily on the milk stand to start getting them used to that and me touching them. They don't like that...they'll let me pet them but they don't like their underbelly area touched or even brushed. So for my own record... Sara bred 9/28 due to kid the end of Feb. Becka bred 10/16 due to kid mid March Fawn bred hopefully this week or two, making kidding end of April first of May. I'll dry them up end of Feb... and I'll start milking Sara and Becka about end of March, that's 4 weeks after kidding. |
Posted in Craft corner
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Monday after a Holiday...is always a welcome for me. I love to have special times but I love to return to my normal daily life. I'm catching up on laundry today and we are being blessed with RAIN...yeah! We are in a drought here in the southeast and we sure need it. I won't be able to use my clothes line, but hey, I don't mind the convienence of the drier sometimes. Yesterday we found a website that had a description for a quilters frame. I'm so excited about that...I've been wanting to finish my queen quilt this fall but hadn't because of the need of a frame. I bought a loop for my lap, but really that would have been difficult to work with on such a large quilt. Here is the site: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Quilting-2339/Frame.htm We have the supplies we need to make it, but the wood is outside and I'm sure wet so we will wait for it to be dry out. This quilt has a color theme...of plums and greens, and I'm using the fence post pattern. I think it's pretty, but I have realized I like the older quilts that have no other theme except to keep the children warm. So, the next quilt I make will be just squares of scrape fabric. I'm sure there is a name for those...I'm not really an experienced quilter, but love it and hope to do more of it. Oh yes, I'm saving old blue jeans to make a picnic blanket...one for each of my kids. Maybe useing the red and white check for the backing and just tieing these quilts using red yarn. This winter I also want to learn to hand spin....I will have to learn on a hand spindle for now. I am hoping to go to a beginners class this month. Maybe a lamb will be added to my goat flock this spring....hehe. Or an angora rabbit...that seems more reasonable for now, but I've always wanted sheep. we'll see....... |
Posted in Thoughts
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I haven't mentioned yet, that the path I walk in faith with God has changed in the past few years. I am finding that I want to restore the Hebrew ways into my family's life. Although, they are not on board with this yet, well I'm not so sure they were all onboard with my previous ways either... I don't like admitting this, but my kids always fought against, as they saw it, "moms rules"... I didn't or still don't have a family that excitedly waits to read devotions together or sing worship songs with each other. As much as I'd like it to be that way...that just didn't happen. They did do their bible lessons, in homeschooling, but they didn't "feel" it as in a "now" moment...more like a history book. Yes, this saddens me, greatly ... but I keep praying and holding on to hope that they will turn their ways toward God. I believe they all believe in HIM, but they haven't made Him their Lord yet....they have confessed that they are sinners and I'm sure have felt it then...but it hasn't hit them yet that it's a daily moment to momemt work in progress. One that they have to do their part in too. Now back to my walk.... I wasn't raised in a christian home, or go to church even for those 2 Holidays that people seem to show up at church for. But when I was 29 I went seeking on my own. I always knew I had a purpose...just didn't know what it was. As a small child I remember looking in the mirror glazing into my own eyes seeking and asking "who am I"... anyway, I started reading the Bible on my own and visiting churches. Boy, that was an experience, since I didn't know what each denomination was. Anyway...I confessed I was a sinner and gave my life to Jesus. I grew from then on. Was very fervent in my new life. I became very active in church....was a church daycare director, a pastors secretary and had a womens group. I walked the Christian life as much as I could or knew to. But always felt their was more....So you know when you seek and ask..you find. I was lead to a wonderful lady that shared her faith with me. She was a Messianic Jew...but attended many of the prayer meetings I would go to in town. She was the seed that God gave me. About a year later, I was approached by another wonderful lady that reached out to me from another yahoo group I was on. She responded to something I had asked or said..and shared with me this movement of returning back to the Hebrew ways. Observing the Biblical Holidays and being Torah observant. I didn't now there were others that had similar thoughts. All I can say is Wow...it has made me open up and see things in a richer, deeper and more meaningful way. I felt I got to know our Creator in such a more personal way...and understand HIS ways better. I feel my purpose getting clearer each day. It was a relief to understand why I was always bothered about the Sabbath being observed on Sunday, and no one ever having an explanation for me. The reason being, there isn't a biblical reason to change it from Saturday to Sunday...only a reason created by man. Anyway, I mention this because of the Holidays coming up....I am struggling with the pagan ways of Christmas...always have, even when I celebrated it with passion for the birth of Christ. I always felt an uneasiness about it...now I understand that. My family are still what all the celebration and gifts....they can't come out of it, not just yet. This year I will have a small tree up and will give a few gifts but each year it is getting smaller and fading... I feel such a relief and freedom that I can't explain.... Anyway, anyone else out there that observes Torah or is returning the Hebrew ways back into their lives... ? |
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Well it's Tuesday and I have today and tomorrow to get alot done. And here I am on the computer... I just wanted to say that I wish all of you a wonderful time with your family and loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving! A few things I'd like to get accomplished today: Straighten my craft room...disaster area! has been catch all for months... Straighten up the office/school room Straighten up my bedroom Then clean all those rooms...which inclueds the floors, dust and windowsills. Tomorrow will be bathrooms, livingroom and kitchen and start cooking. I'm not having the dinner here at my house this year, we'll be going to Grandmas house, then myself and the kids will come back here to play games and such. I will have some goodies here and I plan on cooking a turkey just to have has leftovers...etc. Gotta have that turkey sandwhich later in the day and another dessert....Right? Right! Again...just popping in to Wish you a Happy Thanksgiving...! Cindylee |
Posted in In the kitchen
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Easy Goat Cheese Gather 1 gallon of goat milk 1/2 cup of vinegar or lemon juice Bring milk slowly up to 180 degrees...making sure its on a low setting and watch that you don't scorch the milk. Once it gets to that temp. Stir in your vinegar... turn off heat let sit to room temp. While you are waiting for that, line your colander with cheese cloth allowing the clothe to overlap the edges a good bit, so you'll be able to pull together the corners to hang the cheese. Once it's cooled down I place the colander over a bowl so I can catch the whey that pours through the cheese cloth. Cheese stays in the cloth....moist soft cheese. I then add a little olive oil and salt to enhance the flavor of the cheese. I hang it up and allow it to drip about 2 -3 hours. I prefer for it to be a little moist so usually 2.5 hours is about right.... So good for homemade ravioli, lasagna, pizza....or to just spread on crackers. You can add your own creativity to it, but adding fresh herbs...I like a roasted red bell pepper in mine for a cracker/sandwhich spread. Garlic, pepper.... or you can do a sweeter version and add raspberry to it. Unlimited things you can do.... |
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It's been months since I started my first attempt of blogging. I see that I have two friends on my list...I"m not sure even how I got them, but am grateful. I looked at your blogs briefly and realized this could be a wonderful place to fellowship and share and learn from others. My first blog was back in May when I first made my soap. Well, I've made many more pounds of soap since then, and it's fun and addicting. I'm now considering packaging it and selling it to others. Not expecting to make millions, but help to pay for the fun of it. Support the hobby... Since May I have tried and retried many things that are new for me....My family..mostly my older kids just don't understand why I'd want to go back to the old ways to get things I could just go to Wally world for...lol. Why I have this strong pull to do these things, I'm not sure...Well, I'm sure it's of God, but the reasons behind it...not sure. Could it be preparing us for some time of emergency? or is it just the way it was intended for us to live? Both....? or more reasons.... I live in Ga..where we are in a high drought level, and I have to say, I'm a bit concerned about this. That would cause a huge problem for us. But I will trust Abba for his provision in all things. As I was thinking the other day what could help conserve water.....I thought about if the fast food restaurants closed down..the water savings would be huge...Americans would be healthier and may force people back into their own homes to cook and learn the proper skills of life. I know closing down the fast-food restaurants would cause another problem to deal with....unemployment. But looking at those employees (around here anyway) they can't speak English anyway. The help wanted sign I read the other day at McDonalds had the qualifications that you must speak English and Spanish fluently!!....that should go both ways...don't you think? Ok...I"m rambling and may be putting my foot in my mouth...I don't mean to offend anyone, that's was not my intention at all....the topic was really about getting back to the home, self-sufficient living and protecting our provisions. (water and health...actually, closing the fast food restaruants would save us many resources) I better close for now...Blessings and forgive me if I spoke out of line... Cindylee |
Posted in Craft corner
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Thursday, May 24, 2007 It's so hard to get started....But I thought today would be a good day, since I made my first batch of bar soap. I used a simple recipe that was for a small batch...which was wonderful because I had all the equiptment that I needed right in my kitchen. I have been wanting to do this for years, but have always been a little nervous to deal with lye. And honestly, it sounded harder then it was, and maybe working with the larger batches would be more difficult. The recipe I used was for goat milk soap... 1 pound of vegetable lard 2 oz of lye 3/4 cups of partially frozen goats milk Fragrance or Essential oils to flavor...I used lavender in one batch and then I used honey and finely ground oats... Everything turned out good, except the honey seems to be too strong smelling...smells a little like those "Bit-o-Honey" candies. The lavender not strong enough. But the consistancy of the bars felt wonderful. Of course, I won't be able to use them until they finish curing ... 2-3 weeks minimum. The longer the better is what I've read. I mixed this soap up yesterday and let it harden in the molds for 24 hours. For the molds I found a 3 inch pvc pipe in the barn. I cut 3 pieces about 8 inches each. I put vaseline in the inside and plastic wrap w/a rubber band at one end. I filled the molds and placed them in a igloo cooler with towels wrapped around the molds and closed the lid to the cooler to insulate them well. This morning when I took my soap out that I made yesterday...it came out of the mold easily. I had to push a little ..but once it started it just came on out. In a few weeks I'll be able to use some pretty round bars of lavender. and honey & oatmeal soap. Each batch made 7 bars. After those two batches, I had the fever...and I tried another batch using Olive oil, coconut oil, advocado oil w/vit E, and vegetable lard. This wasn't as easy as the first recipe. I now have read that olive oil is slow to trace... This recipe was: 5 oz olive oil 4 oz coconut oil 2 oz advocado oil 5 vegetable lard 2.25 oz lye 7 oz of partially frozen goats milk I stired this for over an hour and it never came to a light trace.
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I could feel that the bowl was cool to touch, so I had an 
I heated the mixture up by pouring it into my stainless steal pan on the very lowest setting on my stove. I stirred it to keep it from scorching the milk. When I could feel it was getting warmer I took it off the heat and got my hand mixer out, beating on low for about 20 minutes. Finally!... a light trace. 
I quickly poured the luscious looking soap into my mold and I guess I will find out tomorrow if it worked. I fragranced this batch with Ylang Ylang and a little orange. I'll try to take pictures of my soap tomorrow....