Little House in the Village

It will soon be green bean season here

My green beans are blooming so you know what that means I will soon be up to my elbows in green beans! Nothing tastes like fresh green beans straight from the garden to the table in the same day.  One of our family favorites is to cook fresh green bens in a pot with a piece of ham and some new potatoes, serve it up with a hot pan of cornbread and a fresh green salad and you have one of our favorite meals. Another way we use fresh green beans is by cooking them with fennel and feta cheese;

 1 pound fresh green beans

1 fennel bulb, cut into thin slices

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Fill a saucepan half full with water and bring to a boil. Add the green beans and fennel slices; cook until just beginning to become tender, about 4 minutes. Pour into a colander to drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Return the empty pan to the stove and set heat to medium. Pour in the olive oil and let it heat for a minute. Return the green beans and fennel to the pan. Season with basil, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until coated and warm, and toss with feta cheese.

 Does anyone have any other green bean recipes they would care to share?

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!

Happy Fourth of July to everyone, I hope all of your plans for picnics and get together’s go well today and that you take just a few moments to ponder the freedoms we enjoy here in the country and say a prayer of thanks to all the brave men and women that have served our country in the past and present.

Asking for a few prayers, its been along week

Good Evening, it’s been another long week here and I for one am glad to see the week draw to a close and the holiday to be upon us. We have spent the last few days getting the hay baled, it is done but we only had the two of us my husband and I to do it all. Usually our son in law helps us but his father passed away on Monday night very suddenly and most unexpectedly. He was on 57 years old had a heart attack as he was sitting down to dinner. My daughter and son in law have been busy helping his mother get through the arrangements and all so my husband and I have been taking care of little Noah and trying to support all of them, while trying to beat the rain and get the hay done. They say god never gives us more than we can handle at one time, I guess that is  true but I hope our family has time to catch our breath collectively after this past week before the next thing comes along.

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

Getting Ready for Camp

Next week I'll be going to Preteen Camp with my church as a counselor.  It's the only way Luke would agree to go, and it is so much fun that I didn't want him to miss the experience.  I do dread the heat, though!  My job is to take care of the kids that need medicine.  Thankfully, I don't have to administer it; I just take them on a golf cart to the camp nurse and she does the rest.  I think I can handle that!  This will be my first trip as well as Luke's, and I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for us.  Keep us in your prayers!

Blessings,

Carol

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

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.

I really enjoyed reading this one thing that she wrote about using the letters that spell out the word "hospitality". 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.

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 truly 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 focus is on our guests, not on the "stuff" that surrounds us.

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 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.

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 every day!!

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 cannot fail.

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.

Pay It Forward.........

If you are wondering what this is all about and to join the fun go and check over to seem what Pay It Forward is all about at Forward To The Past

See you over there :)

Had a Wonderful Weekend!

We had the most wonderful relaxing weekend with my niece and  nephew.....they had a great time! We  stayed home the whole weekend well almost:) Sunday was so nice that we ate out along the river:)

We usually stay very busy all weekend but I think we are going to start resting on Sundays...maybe visit family or friends?  We usually don't even enjoy our weekends because we try to get to many things done that  really don't  need to be done on  Sunday. 

I am so glad that we finished our coop but I do believe it will be the last big thing we are going to do for a while. I want to enjoy the rest of the summer enjoying the chickens, swimming with the girls, having cook-outs, bon-fires and ect....

My husband will start his new hours tomorrow...he will go in at 7:00 and get home by 3:30 this will be such a big change for us! He has always worked from 8:30- 6:30 or longer. It will nice for him to get home earlier  and get everything done during the week and then rest a bit on the weekend:)

 Our garden is growing ....I weeded the tomatoes today:) We had a green pepper and a couple tomatoes with our dinner. There is always a lot to do but if we did a little everyday it will get done.

I am hoping to order the girls school books this week. I will get to use my older daughters books this year...  that will  help us save  a little money.  I am already getting excited about the new school year:)

Many Blessings,

Ma/ Renee

The Simple Woman's Daybook for Monday June 29, 2009

Outside My Window…… It is a afternoon morning with a lovely cool breeze blowing from the north. The goats and cows are out in the pasture munching away and the chickens are clucking in the yard looking for breakfast,

I am thinking…….. About the day we had yesterday at the zoo with baby Noah. The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed our selves immensely. Days spent with loved ones are after all the best!

I am thankful for……. My faith, family, and the cooler weather we are having

From the kitchen…… I have a pot of blueberry coffee brewing, and some whole wheat oatmeal bread rising on the counter.  Later on this morning I will be baking some raspberry streusel muffins.

I am wearing………. A pale yellow t shirt and a yellow and white gingham skirt

I am creating……...A new page or tow in Noah’s scrapbook of out visit to the zoo yesterday.

I am going……. To spend a quiet week here at home, my husband has to work the holiday and the kids are going to be gone, I am looking forward to a little quiet time.

I am reading….. Looking  For a Miracle by Wanda E Brunstetter

I am hoping…... for a cooler summer than the one we have had so far!

I am hearing……CNN news on the TV in the living room

Around the house……. The house and yard are all in good shape, my husband will be off from work a couple of days this week and we plan to be baling hay.

One of my favorite things is……..A cold glass of ice tea with a couple of mint leaves in it to sip while I am sitting on my swing enjoying my pond.

A few plans for the rest of the week …… I will be making my soap and egg deliveries early this week as several clients want the eggs to make salads for the holiday. A few errands while I am in town and it will be back home for me.

 Here is a picture thought I am sharing………. 

Good Morning!

 My husband, our daughter and son in law, baby Noah and I all left yesterday morning and took off to the Peoria Zoo, for Noah’s first zoo visit. It is so much fun watching little ones see and experience things them for the first time. We had a wonderful day and packed a picnic lunch to enjoy at the zoo. On the way home they guys treated us to supper out, so we wouldn’t have to come home and cook, it was a lovely day and as my grandma used to say it was a day to make memories.

 So it is Monday morning; and I have plenty to do today, I have laundry soap to make, some raspberry streusel muffins to bake and an hour or so worth of ironing that needs to be done. The critters have all milked and fed and turned out for the day so I guess I better grab a cup of coffee and get busy.

Have a great Monday!

Todays Frugal Idea/ Saving Money on Home Improvements

Attend a home improvement clinic. Want to learn how to lay tile, hang drywall or paint? Check out your local Home Depot for a list of free "How To" clinics, or visit their web site at HomeDepot.com and click on "Know-How," then "Clinics."

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976