Heritage Hill Homestead

Looking for?

I'm looking for used ma&pa kettle movies used..Does anybody out there have any they would like to sell?

Brenda

Lavender Mint Goat Milk Soap is Ready!!!

A nice walk around our yard...

We had to get up early this morning so we finished school early Yeah! When we finished school I went out to put some bird seed and decided to take a nice walk around the yard. I love the winter monthes! We have finally put our garden to bed. We did have lettuce, brocolli and cabbages a few weeks ago, but now everything that is left is for the compost bin.

You are going to think I am strange but one reason that I enjoy the winter monthes is the leaves are now gone and I can actually see what is around me. I knew our one neighbor had chickens and a rooster and now I can finally see them. They have a small back yard but keep alot in it...a few chickens, a rooster or two, and  two miniture horses/ponies. I love it when people actually use their yards. You can tell they like their yard.

We are hoping to add to our gardenbeds this coming year. We might add to the greenhouse to? We have thought about moving to a few more acres but then we see we can barely manage what we have. We also don't want to add any debt at all and lots of times when you move you can add debt. Unless we come into some big money we will be in this home for a while:) We want to honor God. I am not sure it would be honoring God by adding more debt?

As I walked around our yard I could see us adding more garden space and maybe some animals someday. (a small hobbie farm?) We only have about an acre and I hope we are using it wisely. We are hoping to plant extra this coming year. I would like to be able to go to the farmersmarket a few times.

Now that it is cold outside it is time to work on a few home improvement projects. If we don't get them done soon spring will be here and then it will be planting season:)

We are working on a place to put our shoes in our kitchen. There was a set of drawers that we removed and we are going to wall that place in to make a cubbie of sorts. We also would like to paint this spring but we will have to wait and see about that. I would like to paint my kitchen cabinets but again that might be a mess so we are just putting that on our to do list:) We are also working in our garage we are adding some cabinets to put somethings away for storage. I would like to add some cabinets in there for some stock-piling:) We have been going to a new grocery store and they always have 10 for $10.00 If I had a place to store some can goods and such I wouldn't have to go to the store as often:)

Well I have written to much and my tea is about to get cold.

Many Blessings to you and yours,

Ma

Out with the bad, in with the good...

How to Make Cottage Cheese...

I got the recipe from Countryside Magazine and it is de-lish!

No-rennet Cottage Cheese

1 gallon milk (I use raw)

1 cup cultured buttermilk

Warm the milk to about 95 degrees F.  Stir in buttermilk and allow to set at room temperature for 12-18 hours.  The milk will clabber, or become thick.

Cut the curds into 1/2 inch cubes and let rest for 10 minutes.  Place the pot into a double boiler-type potand heat at a very low setting until the curd reaches 115 degrees F (I didn't use a double boiler, I just kept it on low for a little over an hour).  Stir often to keep the curds from matting together.  This will take an hour or more.

The curd is ready when it is somewhat firm on the interior of the cheese.  Cook longer if necessary.  Some whey will rise to the top.  Let the curd settle to the bottom of the pot, drain off the whey and place the curds in a cloth-lined colander to drain.  Be gentle, as the curds are rather fragile.

Allow the cheese to drain until it stops dripping (I let mine hang overnight).  Place in a bowl and add salt to taste.  I usually use about one teaspoon of kosher or canning salt per pound.  Stir in about four ounces of half-and-half or cream ( I used cream off the top of our raw milk) per pound if you like a creamed cottage cheese.

I had some for breakfast this morning and it was the best.  Hope it turns out as well everytime I make it.

I have been fighting a cold since Saturday.  I have been consuming a lot of Vitamin C poweder and Echinacea/Goldenseal along with Throat Coat Tea.  I prefer Gypsy Cold Care, but I drank what we had on-hand.

I want to make my own by buying my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Pheasants forever...

The men went pheasant hunting over the weekend. A good time was had by all (except maybe for the pheasants )

Two of the puppies went to their new homes over the weekend. Only 3 to go.

We also had a surprise visit from my best friend & her boyfriend. They were vacationing in the area & came over Sunday after church. We had a really nice visit & went out for Mexican.  (Hey, JD!  the shop teacher with the yogurt was Mr. Lampman )

Visiting old friends & remembering Jr High & High school always makes me so glad I homeschool

Blessings.

Refreshing the wood stove...

Today I spent a couple hours cleaning and working on the wood stove.  The fire was still burning, so I did not clean the window as of yet, but you can see what was done today.   The stove was all rusted from the wet moist weather we had this summer, you know, when Iowa had all that flooding.   Well, I took a toothbrush and scrubbed all of the cast iron details.  I also cleaned up the cast iron pot on top of the stove.  After that, I took some vegetable shortening and a clean toothbrush and wiped down the entire stove.  I had only intended to do the cast iron, but the splatters ended up getting onto the soapstone so I just oiled them completely down. 

It looks nice, now.  The oiled stone brings out it's details... with our home being so dry, the stone had almost turned... flakey white.   You can notice that a bit on the top of the stove by the pot, where the oil has already seasoned into the stone... it is still a bit white.  However, I am still quite pleased with the results as the stone looks better than it has in years and the cast iron is nice and black again.  Along the top edge the cast iron looks a shiny brown color, but that is an error from the flash... it all looks nice and black.   I was a bit concerned about getting the oil onto the stone, but it has not appeared to have altered the stone color. 

Now, I need to get back down there and clean up the tiled areas.   I told the girls before I put up the tree, the fire area is getting a good cleaning and a good spiffing.  We need to redo the tile, you may have noticed the missing tiles in front of the stove.  Hopefully that will get done next summer.  It looks like the stove pipe could use a bit of oil as well!  LOL... too bad my toothbrush has melted into a hard piece of plastic from doing the door of the stove... that was quite warm and melted it very quick. 

Well, I've delayed long enough...

Warmly, ~Melissa

Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures

Great list of family guidelines!!

I'm going to start studying this list - This would be a great list for anyone of us to apply at least some or all!  How this could improve relationships!  This comes from the Duggar Family Site

DUGGAR HOUSE GUIDELINES

1)     Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.

2)     Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.

3)     Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.

4)     Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.

5)     Always use manners and be respectful of others and             their belongings.

6)     Always do what is right, even when others may not, or         when no one is looking.

7)     Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through.        (Romans 8:28)

8)     Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion   and pray for others.

9)              Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.

10)        Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.

11)   Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with      sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.

12)   Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).

13)   Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip!        Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)

14)   Never raise a hand to hit.

15)   Never raise a foot to kick.

16)   Never raise an object to throw.

17)   Never raise a voice to yell.

18)   Never raise an eye to scowl.

19)   Use one toy/activity at a time.        Share!

20)   Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and        organized.

21)   Never let the sun go down on your wrath. 

        (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)

22)   Amendment J.O.Y. -      

        -Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

Funny!

My 3yo likes to sing along with the older girls.  They like the song Emmanuel... the refrain goes like this... Rejoice, rejoice, emmanuel, shall come to .....

My little one starts the refrain... Be Joyed!  Be Joyed! 

Too cute!

Warmly, ~Melissa