We have only one blueberry bush and thus far we have over 7 gallon size bags of berries in the freezer and one fresh gallon bag in the fridge (snack attack food). This little beauty has put out so many berries it's amazing.
There is likely one more gallon on the bush to get tomorrow and then we're done - but BOY oh BOY that's a bunch of berries from ONE bush!
I *thought* I had some pictures of them on the bush but can't find it now!
Well, I *thought* our store logo had been posted before - but can't find it. Since we are not on eBay anymore - and stand alone as a store, I wanted to share our accomplishments with fellow homesteaders here.
We got our final colonies of bees for the spring yesterday. We are hoping to get a good batch of honey this year. There may be only some late summer honey since the hives are new...but we'll see.
We also got news that the loan is going through so we are not moving! Now we have to pray that we have enough for the down payment and that THAT hasn't changed.
On a VERY sad note - My daughter's beloved Maine Coon cat (Bear) got outside when the wind blew the door open. He had only been out for minutes. Our Black Lab thought he was something new to chase....so he gave chase down a steep bank and Bear must have broken his neck or had a heart attack (he weighed 14lbs) on the way down because he was instantly dead within seconds of us being right behind the dog. The dog only smelled him - no marks, no blood, just a pile of lovely fluffy fat cat....oh we bawled and wailed and attempted CPR for about an hour.
Bear had been a 'family member' for 5 years, loved classical music (really, he would run to a room when it played and purr!), head-butt you to pet him, was scared of ceiling fans and was a total security blanket when my daughter needed a good cry or to de-stress. This is a hard pet to lose and our house's dynamics have changed over the last week....
We had two active hives last spring. From them, we robbed over 21 quarts of honey! Wow! They were busy. Even with the late spring frost which killed a lot of the flowering tree blossoms, God still gave a wonderful honey harvest! We added two more hives at the end of the summer last year anticipating a bumper year in 08.
All four hives died.
Yes, Virginia, there is a BEE crisis. That also equals a food crisis.
No gloom and doom for now though, because our two new swarms arrived TODAY! They are now acclimating to their hives and trying to loose their queen from her 'throne' (the box she's kept separately in for transport - *I* call it her throne)...and soon they will be settled in and ready for work.
We made the sugar water food for their starter so they can get started on the frames. It's kind of like giving them 'take out' or 'pizza delivery' because they'll be busy settling into the new home.
We have a month to ready three more hives because three more swarms will be here May 10th! YAY!
We are so excited to be back in BEEsness (sorry - bad pun).
We've beenon a journey here for the last 2+ years. Getting this house has seemed like a roller coaster ride.
As of last Thursday, the loan was going through, no problems, good appraisal, good to go. By Friday, the government changed some things and POOF - we have issues again.
We have to *find* an additional $25,000 to put on the house - by Monday or the whole deal is over.
Now I know we serve THE MIGHTY GOD and if it is His will that we get that $$ - so be it.
We will PRAISE HIM either WAY. But we are ASKING that He suply it, if it is His Will.
If you read this today or over the weekend - would you please pray with us for a miracle and above that, for God's Will.
We had so many sunny warmish days that the last 4 dreary, damp and chilly ones make me wonder if I'll ever get in the dirt!
Since we have more clay than dirt it stays wet for EVER and the forecast only shows one dry day in the upcoming week! *sigh*
On good note - the rain has forced me to work on the bee hives. We lost all 4 hives last year (*cries*) - but not before getting 20 quarts of honey! So this year we are starting from scratch. Since it's been rainy I put all the Hive Body frames together and now they are ready!
Two new bee 'colonies' arrive on Friday! (o: So their 'hotel' is now clean, renovated and refurbished with new frames! I can't WAIT!
Also the bluebirds are building nests in the boxes on top of the grapevines! So I guess spring actually has sprung. I'll get some pictures when it's not wet out.
Birds and bees - it must be Spring!!
Well, that's it so far at the Millers Grain House!
Blessings in the Risen Messiah!
Duet 28:5 - "A blessing upon your grain-basket and kneading-bowl."
Well last I wrote we were potentially moving from our homestead....still may happen but we are settled for a while longer and working to purchase this place.
We REALLY feel that Adonai has taken us through a preparation period to see how things are going to be (economically) for so many in the future....and that we are to minister and help them learn now while it's NOT too bad....so....
We are starting 'Preparation Meetings' very soon. To teach frugal yet healthy cooking, using whole grains (that have longer storage), earning $ from home (saves gas $) and more....they will be in obedience to what we feel we have to do with the lessons learned this past two years...sharing 'stretching skills' with people who may not have had to learn yet. We feel that Adonai wants us to help prepare His people.
We are not 'gloom and dooming' but more facing what any pending crisis (economical, natural, health, etc) as the return of our Lord comes closer as a sort of 'adventure' or 'creative endeavor' to be the best stewards with the time and resources He Blesses us with - and we feel that two years of living on less than $8,000 each year and keeping our family close and happily in tact as a unit, really has taught us some great lessons to share!
Anyway....just finally updating....with some Peace and a sigh of Purpose!
Also (along with the working from home part) we have a new Web Store for Organic Grains/Beans and a Cookbook that I have written!
This is the final basket of the summer! Sad to see it go and we are starting to put the garden to bed for the winter. To harvest the last fresh food is always sad for me. Hope to have a greenhouse by spring to extend the harvest!!
Well, I am enjoying this garden to it's FULLEST! I am braving the heat (it's hot even from 8:00-10:00 AM here!) to get our spoils and preserve like a wild woman!
We will know in about 5 days if we stay here or go (at least for a while) and I intend to make the most of it and reap what we had sown from the spring!
God has GREATLY supplied, almost OVERLY supplied us from our garden. It's not too terribly huge, but it's crowded with a LOT of good stuff! What an awesome God!
We have in our garden:
Lettuce, Carrots, Watermelons, Muskmellons, Squash, Corn, Bush Beans, Potatos, Tomatos (of all types), & Green Peppers
We have to give God the Glory for ALL of this that has been harvested because we really didn't think it would be that much. Once I can shrink the sizes - I have pictures!!!!!!!!!
Well - to help me settle with the potential of leaving - I guess God allowed it through His Hands to let just about everything BREAK in the house this week....the air, the fridge and the water pump...$600 later (which we don't have to spare) all but the air is fixed. Hmmmm....maybe Adonai is trying to give me a gentle nudge to remind me that it's not about my surroundings, but about being in His presence that matters.....
Although in the back of my mind loomes the potential that we could very well be leaving here....this day has been very productive. Here's how it's gone:
Five whole wheat pizza crusts made before 9AM
Weeded the WHOLE garden! Ouch!
Picked another bushel of beans, and tomatos and a few more squash.
Dug up a 5 gal pail full of potatoes. Still 5x that many plants in the ground.
Got a BUNCH of carrots - still a tad too short for my liking - but a success thus far!
Cut a few bunches of grapes as they were too pretty to just leave there...almost ready!
Cleaned the house (praying for God's Will with it the whole time)
CRASHED!
If we do have to leave, the timing is perfect because all the harvesting of what we planted will be done and we loose no food. I guess that's the bright side of things!
Well, I only *thought* things were back to normal....
We may be having to leave our 15 acre homestead in NC....too much history to go into why, but it may be what is needed....so I've been thrown for a bit of a loop for the last few days.
I know that the Lord knows our hearts and that to homestead is at the tip top of our earthly list....and He will provide. Leaving what we've sweated over for the last couple of years may be difficult, but God will give us the homestead of our dreams if we obey...it may just not be in our timing.
So...if anyone reads this - please say a prayer that I be a good and supportive wife and a happy mama during this upheaval. Top this with my first born leaving the home to go off to college and I could be a major downer around here........so I covet your prayers....that Adonai will work HIS Will and that I will be cheerfully thankful that He has my best interest at heart....
I have photos of the garden (now finally growing) and some more bread making that I have yet to get time to put on here. I need to get busy!
Well. busy is just what it's been.
Praise Adonai that more online orders have come in to our grain store and we have been busy filling and shipping!
We have a new rescue kitty we instantly named - James Bond - a fluffy FLUFFY black and white kitty that looks like it's wearing a tux! We have fallen in love with this rescue kitty. Well - we just found out he is a SHE - poor thing now that it knows it's name it's answering to James!
We have painted all the shutters finally. The wildflowers are popping up and the bees are filling the hive supers - honey soon!
I know there's more - but since I've been so very lax (slaps hand) I can't recall it all!
Below is the first installment of my instructional videos. This is just the beginning where you see how EASY it is to use the NutriMill Grain Mill and have the FRESHEST whole grains to cook with.
The rest of the steps to follow ALL the way through making 3 16" Freshly Milled Whole Grain Pizza Crusts are FREE on our website at: Eat Grains
You can also get 20+ FREE whole grain recipes there!
Best Blessings in our Risen Messiah!
Donna Miller (yes, that's my real last name - I am a MILLER!)
Things have been SO super busy around here since last blogging...
The weather has gotten very nice and toasty and we are getting a second spring after the freeze! What an AWESOME Creator to share the bright greens of spring with us twice!
We got a big inventory boost to the grain shop and I've been working on some instructional videos that are now up on youtube - you can search for thewheatguy and find all of them. I'm a little shy of the camera and it's odd talking to it and trying to teach it something!
This below is our exclusive "Ezekiel Grain Mix" based on Ezekiel 4:9 which makes a complete protein (grains and legumes) and a super tasty flour when milled:
Last week we put in 150 feet of corn - but they aren't showing up yet...has me worried, it's been 7 days...but the ground is pretty hard. The potatoes are doing GREAT and the tomatoes totally DIED (some BUG got them)!
Well, the shipment of food and grains is off to Haiti today! It was a long day of delivery, but worth the trip!
Praising Adonai for the returned smells of Spring! Now to get out in the garden and rework what froze over. I think we are going to have to go lay hands on our grapevines and blueberry bush to see if the Father will preform a miracle and produce something from them this year after the 4 day freeze....after they all budded!
The 2800 pounds of food for the orphanage in Haiti came in on Tuesday - another 500 pounds of wheat and oats for the area Co-op and on Wednesday 550 pounds of Organic Grains and Beans came in for our online inventory. It's all in a holding pattern at the moment and we are overflowing with grains here at Millers Grain House!
Yes - my husband's name IS Joseph....we aren't storing up for seven years of famine (yet) but it sure looks like it!! Funny how he is so supportive of my passion for milling and teaching others to mill (as we are actually named Miller) and he's always been about preparation for when the Return of Messiah comes and the need to store for those in need (as he is Joseph) it only dawned on me how all that fit the other day - and it's been over 20 years we've been like this! We serve an amazing Lord! Glad we don't have to have a CLUE and He can still work out His Plan!
I am often humbled by how well pieces fit together in our lives without even our acknowledgement or involvement to make them fit. Often, for me, they fit best when I actually am out of the way and resting in the arms of my Father. I can just know and rest and really that's all I have to do.
Just look at Joseph's Dream...Adonai gave it to him....and the Plan was fine without Joseph having to tweak it! He has prepared the Plan and He's done fine without me worrying, figuring or manipulating - being still, resting is all I have to do. Who am I to think my plan is better.
!!!!! HandsNHearts !!!!! I wanna comment back but.....
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 06:42
.....when I go to your identity on my comments it tells me I can't see your blog or comment unless we are mutual friends. SO...I am adding you....and I hope you see this and add me too - or else it looks like I didn't answer your question! I hate for people to think I ignored them!!! Hope this works!
The goings on of learning a new state and climate, re-starting our homestead in a new state with new adventures (on the untamed 12 acres, only 3 acres are clear) and running our Online and Wholesale Grain/Bean business!
...so I covet your prayers....that Adonai will work HIS Will and that I will be cheerfully thankful that He has my best interest at heart....
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