Hope everyone is staying warm!!

Posted on Monday, January 4, 2010 at 08:27

Please put a 'bug' in the ears of your local church that if they have a fellowship hall and see if they will open it up for over night stay of those who have no heat. There are many who are either homeless, jobless or less fortunate in the utilities than others and a church would do well to open it's doors during this extreme cold to share the love of God with those in need.

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Even in Florida it is colder than usual! My family that is there is not as prepared with wardrobe as those of us higher north are.

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We have had some record temps for the last few days and still have the same snow on the ground as was there 2+ weeks ago - that's the coldest it has been here in NC for a long long time!

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The Snow is stil on the ground!

Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 11:01

The last time it snowed in our area of NC, it was gone in a couple of days. This time, after the 18 inches of snow, we have snow on the ground 11 days later! It is still beautiful and still solid in most places.

Just a quick note to say a gracious 'Thank YOU Lord' for such a beautiful display of this season!

Best Blessings!

Donna

Bulk buying and food storage - Part 2.....

Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 04:16

If you missed Part 1 - just wait....there it goes....do you hear it?

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No don't turn off the little 'player' on this blog, that's it...the Radio Show that I do on Tuesdays....

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Tonight we are finishing this topic (okay,diving into it more, don't know that it's ever really FINISHED!)

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We will discuss saving money with bulk buying and food storage.

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Come take a listen and chat tonight - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millersgrainhouse/2009/12/16/bulk-buying-and-food-storage--part-2

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Hope to see some of my homesteadblogger firends there!

Best Blessings!

Donna

Healthy Whole Foods....

Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 04:13

We have a new social group that has been created for just such a focus: Healthy Whole Foods

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Pop by and see if it's someplace you'd like to join in the chat!

Best Blessings!

Donna

Turkey Pot Pie!

Posted on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 02:54

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Turkey Pot Pie

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Line bake ware with one crust or a pieced together assembled crust for the bottom, mix  first three ingredients together in a bowl and pour over pie crust, top mixture with remaining pie crust (even in strips if not enough).

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Bake until bubbly inside and crusts are golden.

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EnJOY!

Donna - http://www.eatgrains.com

Getting sick of 'left-over' Thanksgiving? Try this...

Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 03:34

Tonight I am STILL using left-overs....yep....even 4 days later.

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We had a small army in our home for Thanksgiving! It was so wonderful - yet I cooked for FAR more people than we had, so we've been eating warmed up 'full Thanksgving meals' for 3 days now...and still more is left in the fridge...

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Here's the twist I'm putting on it tonight...

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Turkey Chowder

• 3 Cups Turkey Pieces
• 6-8 Cups Turkey Stock
• 1 Pint Leftover Creamed Corn
• 2 Cups Leftover Squash Casserol (cream soup base, onions, cheese & squash)
• 1/2 C Sour Cream

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All in a pot and simmer all day!

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Serving this tonight with home-made, fresh-milled bread and a salad!

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For a free whole-grain recipe each month - sign up for my newsletter at:

http://www.eatgrains.com

Giving Thanks this holiday

Posted on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 03:27

While I face my first HUGE family gathering in my own home, I reflect on some people who have lived their lives without close family ties.  It is a problem of our modern world that seems to reach at least a few people within each family.

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Mothers who became single moms out of choice of their own or not, who struggle with keeping food on the table are often suseptable to working so hard to pay the bills that they don't have time or energy to work on the relationships with their children. Also the split itself causes 'issues' with parent/child relationships.

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Fathers who work so long and late to provide for a family or child support- just what is it that society pressures us to feel like we must HAVE as provision? New car? Designer clothing? HDTV?  I know many a husband/father who feels if he doesn't provide these (and more) he is not providing well for his family. Most children would be truly happier to HAVE TIME with Dad than stuf FROM Dad.

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I know with my father gone now, I'd prefer more TIME.

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Later in life, hindsight is perfectly clear.

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If we could do a 'Dickens' on ourselves when we were kids, we might see that single mom of ours in a different light and try to reach out ourselves....or that father working himself to death to pay for new clothes and new bike and let him off the hook a bit and tell him that stuff is not as important as he is. 

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But alas, as children we just don't see ahead like that. What's the excuse now as adults? Really we have none...we have to project into the future and see if our actions are isolating ourselves from others or holding others at bay because we have a wrong perception.

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Do a 'Dickens' on yourself and play ghost of thanksgiving past, present and future  - to avoid being alone one day, and being thankful each and every day - we must do this to ourselves. We parents must teach our children while they are young to do it to themselves, so they can see what to be thankful for, before it's gone.

Fun Friday!

Posted on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 03:12

I do thank GOD that it is Friday!

Friday is a very special day at our home. We clean like crazy and make-ahead foods. We work on work so that nothing looms over the weekend (mentally) and try to tie up all loose ends on Friday! 

When the sun goes down, we celebrate with home-made, freshly-milled pizza and challah. We light candles and enjoy time together after a busy (sometimes frustrating) week.

Today for 'fun' I decided to clean the fireplace glass doors!  Hahaha...what 'fun', now my fingernails are all black - BUT - the fireplace looks great! So tonight we will use it and actually SEE it if we shut the doors!

EnJOY your weekend!

Best Blessings!

Donna

For now it is all quiet....

Posted on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 01:00

The days are gettin darker earlier and the sun gets up when we do now. This time change is one of my favorite times of year.

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As the days seem shorter day by day and the weather gets cooler minute by minute - we look forward to building fires each night, making more food in the crock pot and hot cocoa (homemade of course) for a quick, light evening treat.

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Something about this time of year, even before the hustle-bustle of the holidays near the end of the calendar, seems quieter. It's a time when things in creation seem to go to rest and sleep. Fewer baby animals are born and those who were in the spring are now almost fully grown and more self-sufficient.

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God certainly knows what He is doing by setting His Season's in motion as He does. He planned them from the foundations of the earth for mankind's own well-being. We just have to remember and rejoice in His thoughtfulness of us.

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These quiet times of the year are a good time to hear His Voice.

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Best Blessings!

Donna

Call in Radio Show Tonight 7PM EST: Left-over Magic Ideas!

Posted on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 04:30

Budget stretching and whole grain cooking! Listen live and call in with left-over quandries!

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http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millersgrainhouse/2009/10/27/Left-over-magic-ideas

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7:00-7:30PM Eastern Time Tonight!

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Or...listen later in the archives!

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Grain Mills on Sale!!

Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:19

Just thougth I'd announce this to everyone here ... thought y'all may be looking for holiday gifts or asking on a wish list and saving $ is always important!  (o:

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The following links are to grain/flour mills that the manufacturers have recently put on sale for a limited time or while supplies last:

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Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

My BlogTalk Radio Show: "Store- bought vs. home-made" TONIGHT

Posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 01:49

Each Tuesday Night at 7PM Eastern Time!

Tonight's topic is "Store- bought vs. home-made"

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Follow this link to see how to listen live for free, chat live and ask questions for free or callin and ask!

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Also all the shows are archived, so you can listen, download or share ones you may have missed!

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Hope to see you there!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Profile.aspx?userurl=millersgrainhouse

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Best Blessings!

Donna Miller

Temp drop in NC! Good for the leaf-show....

Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 05:01

For all the 'leaf-peepers'...it's time to get ready!!  God has gotten out the paintbrush once again! Fall has fallen fast here in our part of NC!

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The leaves started changing a tiny bit a week ago and now they are going to go full-out-fantastic since the drop in temps!

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It was a high of 74 yesterday and today, we will peak out at 46!  How's that for a change in seasons?

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Lots of rain for the next few days will keep the colors coming on slowly without leaves dying off so quick.... so....if you're a 'leaf-peeper' it's time to plan that trip in the next week or so!   We'll be out on the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend most likely!!  (o:

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Ah! And tonight a fire in the fireplace!  (o:

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If you want to see what we get to see this time of year - somewhere down lower part of this blog is a slideshow of last fall's colors....and that was even after a bit of a draught...so this year should be spectacular!

Best Blessings and HAPPY LEAF-LOOKING!

I love Mondays...wierd isn't it?

Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 09:30

Mondays are the most dreaded day of the week for many people. The weekend is something most people live for....I've always been odd enough to love Mondays.

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Don't get me wrong, the weekends are very special! 

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Friday sundown to Saturday sundown is a sacred rest days for us. Sunday we prefer to worship, catch up on projects and play. But there is just something about the Monday (get-busy-and-focus) mornings that I truly enjoy.

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So, with that said and shared...I'm off to get busy!! 

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Music is playing in the house, candles are lit and every dish is in the dishwasher! Yay for Monday Mornings!

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Best Blessings!

Donna Miller

10 days of rain on the forecast!

Posted on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 04:11

Should make for a BEAUTIFUL Fall though!  Wet weather makes those bright leaves hang on longer!

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The rain has given me time indoors to get my to do list dented.  Here's what happened yesterday:

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• 3 loaves of freshly milled whole wheat bread
• 1 dozen breakfast cookies
• croutons
• dehydrated 'fake' (eggplant) bacon and potato chips
• cleaned the garage
• organized the pantry spice shelf
• filled a lot of orders for the shop
• 3 loads of laundry (getting folded today)

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I'd like to say that today was just as productive....but...alas I cannot! 

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But Hey - it's Friday! (o:

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Best Blessings!

Busy week with my in-laws here

Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 04:15

....but I always LOVE to have them come for a few days!

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They got to share in some of our 'family traditions' such as Pizza Night (home-made fresh milled pizza crusts) and Bon-fire Hot Dogs (home made fresh milled buns) Muffins and Bread (yes, fresh milled) and touring the foothills looking for signs of fall!

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We aren't really big 'shoppers' so they got a taste of what this part of their family did for fun...walk around the pasture together and talk, play games, yard work and ride looking for bargains.

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I think they actuall liked it!  (o:

On to life as 'usual' - whatever THAT is.....

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Best Blessings!

Donna

A GREAT deal on this electric grain mill! $50 off!

Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 11:23

The L'Equp VitalMill is $50 off!  That's only $129.99!

http://millersgrainhouse.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_45&products_id=106

Just thought I'd share this, because I don't know WHEN the manufacturer will up the price again. They do that...

Projects from the weekend! Fall planting, bees and more

Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 11:15

Well, this weekend was quite busy!

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We harvested all of our potatoes (got about 2.5 bushels!) and the variety was GREAT!  A purple viking that is beautiful and red skinned and gold flesh and whites....

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Then since the ground was all broken up from that harvest, the next day I planed some late bush beans and sweet corn. In a week, lettuce, kale, radishes and turnip seed go in the left-over demolished potato hills.

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Harvested the last bit of grapes and have grape juice tospare to share with our neighbor lady.

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When all the tomato plants DIED (thank you blight!) we ripped them out (with smooshy tomatoes on the vine) and have planted a few (one sad and frail) broccoli plants.

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And misc. other taskes...

• Put a new shop light in the shop
• Wood puttied the bee hives
• Trimmed all the hedges and mowed about 2 acres worth of yard (3 more to go!)

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Now, next weekend, looks like building a coup and finding the baby chicks is in order!!

Two FREE Honey Bee Swarms!

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 01:35

YAY!  Last year we lost all 5 of our honey bee hives.  At about $85 a pop for a swarm with the queen, we were thinking of not having them this year....but we SO miss our honey....

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Today, thank the Lord, our neighbor called and had come across 2 swarms in an apple tree and wanted to know if we wanted them!! Of course we did!

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So dear hubby put on his long sleeves and bee gloves and went to get them!  Now it's time to get the frames and all ready again - and quickly prepare them for winter!

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I'm so excited to have bees back!!

Anyone else have dying tomato plants?

Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 06:50

The fruit is big and about to ripen, but the plant itself is dying!!! ALL OF THEM.

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We've had ample rain and all four of them grew so lush and full in the beginning....anyone else have dying (yet still with fruit on the vine) tomato plants?

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Is there an NC blight going roung?

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Slightly frustrated....

Donna