Hidden Haven Homestead

Woo Hoo the Winters Wood is In!!

{ Posted by Crystal Miller }
{ 06:42, 2008-Jul-24 } { 2 comments } { Link }
 
After more than a month of working on the project we are thrilled to be able to say the wood is in for the winter!   Tobin and the boys worked tirelessly to cut down trees, limb trees, and clean up trees that had broken during the winter’s ice storm. All in all it is approx. 6 cords of wood. Our place looks great and the wood is in. What a great feeling.
 
Tobin and I were both quite proud of the youngest three kids as they worked to help with this task. Jacob especially has really done a lot of maturing in the last year. He is a hard worker and knows how to put in a man’s days work, not a bad thing for a 14 year old to know. He is even sought after by the neighbor to do work for him. This year Jacob has learned to use a chainsaw (it is a smaller electric one).. he used it to cut up all the small pieces of wood that were brought in (and there was a LOT of them). He made a stand to hold the tree limbs in so he could easily cut them.  He also learned how to drive Tobin’s tractor and use it around the property to bring in wood, move piles of leaves and sticks and any other task Tobin needed his help with. He is proficient with mowers, weed wackers and a host of other tools. Just had to take a moment here and share with you about my boy   Here are some pics of him driving the tractor during one of the wood gathering days. Sierra and Jacob are also helping with the clean up of a tree that Tobin took down..
 
-
-
 
 
Here is one pile of the many piles of tree limbs he cut up…
 
 
And a picture of some of the many, many pieces of wood Tobin split…. by hand... 
-
 
 
This was the first year he mentioned that maybe getting a log splitter in the future might be a good idea!
 
 
Winter may still be a ways off.. but it is great to know we can look forward to warm cozy days and evenings inside while the wind and rain and the snow do their thing outside! 
 
 


~Upcoming Changes~ Coming This Fall !!!!!

{ Posted by FaithfulAcres }
{ 12:32 PM, Wednesday, July 23, 2008 } { Link }
As many of you know we are lordwilling moving to TN come September.
This fall I will be redoing my blogs here to be the following:

FaithfulAcres will be solely my Family Farm Blog: you will find there my Personal Family Posts along
with my Mini Nubian Goats and other farm, homesteading related things.

TheCountryHomemaker will be soley used for my yahoo group and feminine postings.
Anything related to swaps and secret country sisters will be posted herein and also you
can join via the link on the right side of the blog.  All godly homemaking wisdom and homesteady
homemaking type things will be found here.

I will continue to try to update you on what were doing duing this move of ours into simpifying our lives
in order to honor the Lord Jesus moreso with our life and our witness for him.

Love in Jesus our Lord
Linda


Organized Mom Super Set!!!

{ Posted by KimMC }
{ 12:08, 2008-Jul-23 } { 1 comments } { Link }

I just got an email from my friend, Cindy Rushton.  She has just introduced a wonderful new set for those who want (or need) real help getting organized for the new school year. The best part is that this week she is offering two bonuses when you purchase her Organized Mom Super Set:

1. Her entire Organization 911 Seminar Set
2. Her NEW Virtual Seminar Set, Let's Get Organized for the New School Year.

To celebrate, Cindy just sent me permission to give you a sampler of one of her free gifts just for you. I am so excited to give it to you! Here is the link:

Scheduling ABC’s Audio Workshop with Cindy Rushton

Let Cindy take you by the hand and show you secrets to
developing a schedule that works for you and your family!

Download by Mp3
http://tinyurl.com/2cpsb9


Isn't that FUN?

You know the saying that a picture captures a thousand words,well...what about a a gift like this???  And, just think...this is only a sampling of Cindy's teaching. You get tons more with this set.  Take my word for it, you will WANT this set and access to all of the wonderful resources. Grab your set here today:

Click HERE to learn more!!



Simple Meal: Pinto Bean Tacos

{ Posted by Crystal Miller }
{ 12:30, 2008-Jul-22 } { 4 comments } { Link }
 
Pinto Bean Tacos
 
Ingredients Needed:
WW Tortillas
Pinto beans
Hamburger Lettuce or spinach or any type of greens
Salsa
Cheese
 
I made these for dinner last week and they were so yummy! I cooked up 3 cups of pinto beans and then made refried beans from them. Then cooked my pound of hamburger and seasoned it with taco seasonings and mixed it with the refried beans. This made a LOT of taco filling. Fed my crew for dinner and for lunch the next day and still had a little left that was finished up the next day for lunch. This could also be frozen in meal sized portions for smaller families or the recipe can easily be cut down in size to fit your family’s needs.
 
I used ww organic tortillas and had a salad leftover from the night before for the greens, a small amount of cheese, a dollop of organic sour cream and some yummy fire roasted salsa. It was a delicious meal and no one minded eating the leftovers! 
 
Here is a picture of Emily’s taco.. she has to get creative with all her food! Haa.. haa! 
 
 
 
 


It's Getting HOT in Kansas!!!!

{ Posted by The Farmer's Daughter }
{ 03:21, 2008-Jul-19 } { 3 comments } { Link }
   It's afternoon here on the farm.    We woke up to the sound of a hard rain but luckily it didn't last more than half an hour.   Now the sun it out and you talk about warm!!!!   The central air is running non-stop and with more hot weather predicted these next few days, I doubt if it shuts off anytime soon.   A good time to sit indoors and enjoy it!
    This evening the college kids will be home and when  taking "orders" for supper I wasn't surprised when "Fried Chicken" was requested!  (I swear, that's ALL my kids favorite meal!)   So, I now have the chicken breast thawing out.   I also made a Peanut Butter Pie and popped it in the freezer.   I'm trying a new bread recipe (Zwieback Rolls, has anyone ever done them???) and "grandma's corn" and mashed potatoes and cream gravy will finish off the meal.  I love these kind of meals...In an hours time I can have everything on the table and the dishwasher running!!!!
    It doesn't seem as if I've done anything "fun" craft wise since Keith came home (Ok, I KNOW I haven't!!) so yesterday I got around and started a little Halloween NP project from a Notforgotten Farm booklet.   Halloween/Fall is my absolute favorite time of year and this little project is just so darn sweet.   I'm praying I can get the background colors to "blend" (Yes, I know you've all heard me complain about my lack of color sense!) and then it will be made into a little pillow for our Bus Stop.   I love decorating that little building for the changing Seasons.   It's so neat to sit down there with the kids and look at what's on the walls and discuss what that particular Season means to us.   Would you believe the children are just like me and like Halloween even better than Christmas????
     School starts back up in less than a month now and for once I'm ready.....It's been a long summer with all this rain we've had and the children have been cooped up most of the time in this house.   They're starting to getting antsy and talk more and more of being with their friends again.   And of course Keith and I enjoy these "alone days" together too!   I can't believe how many plans we have for the different places we want to visit and the nice restaurants (No more having to eat at  McDonald's when the kids aren't along!! HA) we want to eat at!!!!   Gee, I feel like I'm talking about a second honeymoon or something! HA
    Thoughts of Fall also makes me take another long look at the house.   As I said, we've been cooped up so much that the time has came to do some serious re-decorating around here.    Maybe it won't be anything more than changing the sofa covers or putting up different curtains but it's time for some changes.  I can't wait to see what ideas I can come up with and still keep to my shoe-string budget.   Hmmm, maybe a trip to my shop and bring some of those things in would be in order??????
    With all these thoughts running through my head, it's time to get off here and get something done.   I hope your all enjoying your summer and you too are thinking of the cool days of Fall and all the fun things they bring.   Until next time...Blessings, Sher


Making Kefir From Powdered Cultures

{ Posted by Crystal Miller }
{ 02:00, 2008-Jul-19 } { 8 comments } { Link }


Kefir is a cultured milk product similar to yogurt only thinner and much easier to make and reculture. If you would like to know more specific information on kefir I have an article written by a friend of mine on my site to give you more info. You can read that HERE. It has all the wonderful qualities of yogurt with the good probiotics your body needs to stay healthy.

Kefir can be made in two ways. One is to purchase kefir grains (you can read more about this in the above mentioned article). You soak milk in the grains, strain the grains and put the grains back into a clean jar and fill with milk, let it sit on your counter overnight and the next morning it is ready. I have made kefir with grains in the past. There were a few things I did not care for. One was it was a lot of maintenance. Unless you stop making kefir you have to strain it out daily and that adds up to a lot of kefir to use every day. Also the longer I made it the stronger the taste became and my family was not too thrilled with it. So I purchased some powdered kefir cultures and made it and was so much happier with the results. This is the method I will show you how to make.

I like making kefir because it is so easy! It is much easier to make than yogurt. You don’t need a lot of equipment other than a large stainless steel pot, a thermometer and a few canning jars. I use 2 2-quart jars but you can use 4 1-quart jars if that is what you have.

Besides that you will need one gallon of milk (I use whole milk) and a package of powdered kefir culture. You can purchase your cultures online at Leeners http://www.leeners.com/cheesesupply.html#buttermilk . I have purchased cheese cultures and rennet, kefir cultures, yogurt starter, buttermilk starter and more from them many times. They are a GREAT company with excellent prices and I highly recommend them.

After your cultures arrive in the mail you can gather your needed items together and get ready to make kefir!  This pictures shows the jars with their lids (I buy plastic lids from Walmart or Azure Standard, they are made by Ball), a thermometer, the packet of culture and one gallon of milk.



Pour your gallon of milk into the stainless steel pot and put it on the stove.



Set your oven at medium high IF you will be watching the pot. If not you can set it on low and stir occasionally as it heats up. In any case stir now and again and check the temperature of the milk




As soon as it reaches 86 degrees remove the pot from the stove.   Open the packet of kefir cultures, sprinkle over the milk and stir until dissolved




Now it is time for pour the mixture into your canning jars. I like to use a canning funnel for this job. It is not absolutely necessary but helps keep the mess at a minimum.




Fill both jars to the top




Put the lid on them and let them sit out on the counter for 12 to 18 hours. I try and make this in the later afternoon and then just let it sit on the counter till morning.



When the time is up you can open the lid and there is your kefir! As you can see it is nice and thick.. but not as thick as yogurt. The consistency is more like thick buttermilk.



When you start to run out of kefir it is even easier to make more.

Fill a clean canning jar ¼ full of kefir. Pour milk to the top of the jar. Cover and leave out at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours. And that is it!!
 



Kefir can be used in place of milk or yogurt in smoothies. That is how I like to use it most often. I have used it also in place of buttermilk for baking. But my favorite use is in smoothies.

Here is a delicious and simple strawberry kefir smoothie recipe that is perfect for these warm summer days.

Strawberry Kefir Smoothie
Crystal Miller


1 heaping cup fresh strawberries (frozen will also work)
1 cup kefir
Honey to taste, optional

 

Gather your ingredients together



Put kefir and strawberries into your blender.



Turn your blender on high and mix until all is smooth (taste to see if you want to add a little honey for sweetener at this point).



Pour into a glass



Serve to your eager and appreciative family!  :)

And enjoy!


 

 

 



Mint Ice Tea

{ Posted by KimMC }
{ 04:47, 2008-Jul-18 } { 3 comments } { Link }

This is one of my favourite summer time drinks.  It's so easy to make and is very thirst quenching on a hot day.

Mint Ice Tea

6 cups boiling water

4 tea bags

1 cup packed fresh mint

3/4 cup frozen lemonade concentrate drink  

Pour boiling water over tea bags.  Cover & steep for 5 minutes.

Remove tea bags Cool for 15 minutes and add mint.  Steep and strain.

Refrigerate until cold.



How To Never Run Out Of Groceries Again!

{ Posted by KimMC }
{ 01:33, 2008-Jul-18 } { 2 comments } { Link }

I posted this over on my other blog Around The Homestead and thought I'd share it here to. 

How many times does it happen to us, in the middle of making supper we find we are missing an important ingredient.  We rush to the store for just ONE thing and before we know it other “extras” have found there way into our cart.  Soon the one item has cost you 30.00 plus and a lot of wasted time.

So how do we avoid falling into this trap?

1. Make a Menu List

Write down all of your family’s favorite meals, and include the ingredients.

2. Make a Master Shopping List

You can set this up how it best suites your family.  For ours we made a 3 column chart.  One each for freezer, fridge, and pantry.  We then listed each item we used on a regular bases in the proper column.

We decided how many of each item we wanted to keep on hand.  Beside each item put the desired number of check boxes. 

Now this is the important part.  EVERY time you open something that is on your list check it off right a way.  No you might not NEED it this week but now that you’ve opened that jar of mayo you should buy another one to replace it.  Then when you are getting low you don’t need to make a trip out to buy another. 

Preparing our list this way has saved us a lot of money and time.  It’s stopped the quick trip to the corner store for 1 item.  And since our local store has a minimum purchase amount to use debit that 1 item would always cost us 10.00.  Our other alternative was to drive to the next town for one thing and spend the difference in gas and time. 



Life on Old Crow Farm

{ Posted by The Farmer's Daughter }
{ 09:57, 2008-Jul-18 } { 2 comments } { Link }
Good Morning!
    I was going to start this entry with what all has been going on around the farm but since HopefulHeart77 wants to hear what life is really like here on the Kansas prairie, I decided to change gears.   On that note, here's a brief summery of what our life is really like, not just the day to day stuff.....................
   Kansas....Just saying the word makes my heart fill with pride.    For several years my late husbands job took us across the country and we had to live in other states.   I can't tell you how miserable I was or I longed for my home state.   Once we moved "home" all I could think about was coming back to the land I love.   As most of you can imagine, Kansas really does have "flat lands" and as you drive along you can see for miles.   As I look at those sweeping prairies, I think of our ancestors and what it must have been like to pull covered wagons across those endless miles of grass.   I'm sure it wasn't always a welcome sight to them.!
   In terms of temperature, Kansas really does leave a lot to be desired.   After a quick Spring and Fall we go into endless days of heat and cold.   When I was younger I loved the summer months but I noticed as I've gotten older it's the Fall and Winter I long for.  I suppose a lot of it has to do with the fact we are retired so we don't have to try navigating on bad roads during these snowy winter months.   But in all honesty I think it's because winter brings about peaceful months...Months when you don't have all the outside work there is during the summer and you have the freedom to curl up in front of the fireplace and do all the things you love....Including just being a couple and getting to visit.
   Normally Kansas has rainfall through the months of April and May and come July there isn't a drop to be found.   Not so this year!   I have never seen rain like we have had this year!   It started in April and shows no sign of letting up.   It's really been rough on us as we mow over three acres and it seems as if that is all Keith and I get done anymore...He does the ridding, I do the pushing.   We finished mowing yesterday and at this time are sitting here waiting for more rain to move in.   Guess what we'll be doing Monday!!!!   And, as tough as it's been on us, think of the poor farmers!   I'm afraid crops aren't going to be "record high" this year!
   Wildlife in Kansas......Living on the prairie we certainly have our fair share of coyotes.   Laying in bed at night you can hearing them yipping and once again you imagine what it must have been like for the pioneers knowing there was nothing between them and their campfires.  Scary I'm sure!    We also have a lot of Hawks.   I love watching them soaring the skies as if to say we are intruding on their land....And I guess we are!    We also have snakes in Kansas and if you don't believe me ask Keith.~~~~He swears we have this giant snake living out by our well house and every time he tells the story it grows by a foot!   Since the rest of us have never seen him....... He's always wanting me to go out there and "scary him out of the weeds" and then he'll shoot him.   Of course the next day I can just imagine    the headlines in the daily paper, "Wife Dead, Snake Lives".   No thanks, the snake is welcome to that little piece of land!   It was probably his anyway long before it was ours!
   Neighbors......Well, we don't have any really close ones and if we did they wouldn't neighbor.   I wish I could say people are "neighborly" around here but it would be lie.   I have lived in a lot of places and never have I seen people as stand-offish as they are around here!   For years I've tried to figure out what's wrong with people (Jealousy???  Greed???   Wanting to getting ahead on their jobs???) and I finally just gave up.    I live out here on this old farm and it's become my life.   I no longer worry about having close friends here (Just this week I went to town and two girls both through their arms around me and hugged liked we hadn't seen one another in years.   However, neither one of them said anything about getting together to visit in the future!) and I occupy my life with Keith and the children and doing the things I love.   (Cross stitching, Needle Punch, Hooking, ect...)    I guess when you get down to it, that's all I ever really wanted in life anyway!   And of course I have my Internet friends and my precious Betty who only lives an hour from me so I really don't lack for "friends".  I just miss having people in my home that share the same "loves" I do!
    Ok Cammie, this probably told you more about Kansas than you really wanted to know! HA   If your thinking of moving to our wonderful state just remember....The summers are hot, the winters are cold and the life is good!   Blessings, Sher


Simple Hospitality.......

{ Posted by In His Hands }
{ 08:09, 2008-Jul-17 } { 1 comments } { Link }

(This is a reposting from last year.)

( I saw that someone else here at HSB was reading the book.) 

 

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

 

I have been reading the book written by Jane Jarrell, titled, "Simple Hospitality". I thought I might share a little of it with you here each day.

I really enjoyed reading this one thing that she wrote about using the letters that spell out the word "hospitalty". So today we look at the H.

H--Hospital For The Soul

Why does one go to the hospital? To visit, maybe, or to welcome a new person into the world. But oftentimes it's because our bodies are broken.A hospital can be a place to go for healing and repair.

So the word hospitable is taken from the word hospital, which means a charitable institution, a repair shop, a hospice, or a shelter. Hospitality is a shelter for the soul, healing for the spirit. So when we open our home in the true spirit of hospitality or when we bring our gifts of hospitality outside of our homes, we are offering hospitality!!

The Bible states it this way: Romans 12:9-13, "Let love be without dissimulation.....v10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;. .vs12, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; vs13, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

So real Christian hospitality isn't an option, it is what God commands.

Tomorrow, we will move on to the next letter "O".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I will cover "O" & "S", Since I did not have time to do it yesterday. So here we go!!

O-Obedience

Some may think focusing on hospitality is frivolous or a waste of time. But in reality it is nothing less than obeying God's clear command in Scripture. Hospitality was not Martha Stewart's invention; it was God's!! Romans 12 paints an incredible picture of what it means to truely give our lives to God......In these selfless acts, we serve not only those in need but Christ Himself. Hospitality is obeying God by cheerfully serving others.

S-Simplicity

If we don't approach hospitality simply, most of us won't do it at all. When we exchange the harried hoopla for the heartfelt, everyone is blessed. Can we be comfortable when everything is not perfect, or do we always need to put on a show for people? As one lady states "I don't want to buy your house, I just want to visit." Simplicity brings us closer to having authentic relationships. Our fucus is on our guests, not on the "stuff" that surrounds us.

(All of the above is taken from the book, Simple Hospitality, written by Jane Jarrell.)

Come back Monday for "P" !!

 

 


Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

 

 

I have not forgotten this, I just have been busy around the house. That is why I am a home-keeper. Now Back to the series on Hospitality......

P--Prayer

Hospitality involves prayer. Ask God to show you who and how to show hospitality to. God will show you the when, the how, and the what that someone might need. I may not know what a person needs at the time but God knows!! You should always ask God for His blessing on the gathering you are about to have with someone, no matter how small or large the number will be.

I--Intimacy

Intimacy is sharing who you are and what you are to others. You need this type of relationship with your husband, your family and your friends, but nurturing genuine intimacy takes time and effort.

Cell phones and emails are nice, but we need to take time to sit quietly with a friend sometimes. You never know where they are at or what they may need.. Time plus realness plus genuine caring equals intimacy.

(all of this is taken from the book "Simple Hospitality" written by Jane Jarrell.)

 

 


Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

 

 

T--To Go

Are you ready to take your kindness on the road? Do you have a plan or list of ideas that will work in a hurry?

Keep a few recipes with the ingredients on hand so that you can prepare a meal or a welcoming treat for someone in need.

There is something extra-special about busy people who take the time to reach out and help others.

A--Acknowledge and Appreciate

We all have our own gifts, but what about those who are known for the hospitality? They also need a "dose" of hospitality sometimes. They need to be acknowledged for their kindness, appreciated for the efforts and recipients of the hospitality of others.

Most of us are "takers' by nature and unless we make a conscious effort, we"ll always take and forget to give back. Those who are more "givers", either by nature or intent, often get taken for granted.

In our busy lives, gratitude is often felt yet not expressed.

L--Lifestyle

Hospitality is a lifestyle, a ministry lifestyle. God weaves it into our hearts. We all need each other to make the body of Christ its best. You are making the commitment to a lifestyle of opening up your heart to others on a regular basis.

You will need to start small, perhaps by committing to one act of hospitality each month. Gradually you will see how easy it is and move towards once a week and before you know it you will be asking God to show you someone in need everyday!!

Take time to ask God to show you how He might use you today, this week or this month. You are allowing God to work through you and when He is working , we can not fail.

I will write about the last three letters tomorrow. Don't forget to come back and read.

 

 

The Last Part on "Simple Hospitality ......

 

I--Ideas

When looking for ideas for hospitality, scan your favorite magazines, talk with your friends or keep a simple notebook or card file with your favorite recipes, holiday decorating ideas, party themes, or anything else that spurs your hospitality thinking. Just keep it simple, and honest. Let God's love show through you and that will be all that you need to make any time a good time to visit.

T--Time

We are all short on time for the things that we want to do or need to do. That is why hospitality is such a valuable gift to others. It means we gave them our most precious resource: our time.

Think of things to do for hospitality for others when you are doing for your family. Double a casserole for dinner one night and freeze the one for a family that may be in need, or a mother who may be sick at the time.

When baking cookies for your family, bake a few more to brighten someone's day. Out buying groceries? Cut back on one thing or two for snacks and make up a meal for a new mom.

If your time is limited, begin your quest to hospitality with small things and think about other ways that you will want to show it when your time allows for it.

Y--You

To show hospitality to others, you must first love yourself so that you are capable of loving others. This means taking care of yourself so that you are able to take care of others.When we've taken the time to put our own hearts in order, we are freed to reach beyond ourselves to meet others where they are.

 

 

 

 

 

More....Simple Hospitality.....

 

 



{ Last Page } { Page 1 of 5 } { Next Page }

About Me

Home
My Profile
Archives
Friends
My Photo Album

«  July 2008  »
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 

Links


Categories


Recent Entries

Day in Photo
Norm the Gnome
Baby Chickens
Rainy Day
Untitled

Friends

AmyBeth
HomeSteadyBetty



FaithfulAcres
patintenn
Amber
GoodNeighbors
quiverfull

DandelionSeeds

LaMere7

Soapyspinner
buttercupmama
SherKeith
zoooteacher
KimMC

HisWillingVessel
homesteadingtv