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Praying for the Sun to Make an Appearance Today!!!Happy Birthday America!!!! Let's all cheer for the Red, White and Blue!!! I love the Fourth of July, and the cookouts, family gatherings, and fireworks. But this year, we aren't sure if there is going to be much fireworks. We might be able to still arrange the cookout, and just eat indoors. But is is difficult to celebrate with fireworks when it is raining!! UGH! The weather reports aren't sure if the rain will stop before sunset and the big firework displays or not. DARN IT! Matthew took off earlier this morning with our Noah, 3 years old, to pick out some fireworks. We always wait until the 4th to buy ours because of the wonderful sales they hold the day of. He alsos picked up some sausage and milk on the way home for our breakfast....sausage gravy and biscuits!! YUMMY! He even made breakfast for us. Matthew never cooked (except for Hamburger Helper) until he met me. LOL Now he is the breakfast expert and won't let me in the kitchen when he is making pancakes or his specialty of biscuits and gravy. The rest of the day we are going to hang out, relax (finish putting away laundry, do a few dishes) and just enjoy having daddy home! Tonight we are going to my brother's house for a cookout (possibly cook in...depending on the whether), and then back to town for the city wide fireworks display. I am looking forward to seeing my family today. We are all so busy, and it seems working schedules conflict that we don't get together more often. Looking forward to seeing how big my neice Megan is getting with her first pregnancy. She is due in October, and I am sure she isn't much bigger than her little frame was before, but maybe a tiny bit. Matthew's family is all scattered this weekend. We made a comment last night that if everyone wasn't gone, we would have loved to get them all together at our house this weekend. Oh well. His parents church is having a 3 day meeting, his sister lives in Washington,DC area and unable to come home, and his other sister, her hubby and 5 year old daughter just started their 5 day trek back to Missouri from California and today. They visited Sea World, Disney, etc. and had lots of fun. I can't wait to hear about their trip!
Thinking about the Fall Garden
Posted by HSB Front Porch
12:43 PM, Jul. 3, 2009 .. Posted in Homestead Garden and Farm .. 0 comments .. Link I know, Summer just started, and I'm talking about Fall already! But, in order to have a Fall garden, some things should be done now- planning, ordering seed, planting seeds to transplant into the garden when it is time, adding compost or any other needed soil builders, etc. In my area, July 1 was the suggested date for planting tomato, pepper, and eggplant seed. I'm a few days behind schedule, mainly because I'm trying to keep up with harvesting the tomatoes that are ripening like crazy right now! Most of the Fall planting for my area comes a little later, since July and August are always HOT Many of the same vegetables that grow in the Spring garden can be replanted for Fall, they like the cool weather and will do well if they have time to mature before a frost gets them. You can probably get a list of what grows well in your area in the Fall either online, from a local nursery, or from your County Extension Agent. Here's a little chart to show when the first predicted Fall frost date is: Zone 3 - Sept 1st - 30th If you aren't sure what zone you live in, here's a map that will show you. With that information you can see how long it takes a particular crop to mature and then count backwards to get an estimated planting date. Of course, it all depends on the weather, and it is good to give your plants at least a week or two of a head-start if your area often has early frosts. I live in Zone 8, and sometimes we don't even have a frost until close to Thanksgiving. Fall is a great time for growing here. Please share what you grow in your Fall garden and any tips you have. Those of you who live in colder climates, please share your wisdom, as this Texas gardener has never had to garden where it really gets cold
Hope you have a great holiday weekend, and maybe next week, spend some time planning (and perhaps planting) for the Fall garden!
Blessings, 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.
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. A morning walkA poem that made my heart happy and I wanted to share. Hope you enjoy! Have a Blessed Day! Morning Walk Amidst the dew of early dawn, Family, Friends and Food for the Fourth (nd an update too)Well I just got notification that my side of the family is having a big BBQ at my brother's house on the evening of the Fourth. I am thrilled since hubby's family is all busy and doing their own thing. His mother and father will be at their church's 3 day meeting, his oldest sister is in Washington and unable to come home but will be home in a few weeks for Grandma's 90th bday, and his youngest sister and her hubby and daughter are in California at Disney! Of course I asked what I could bring and my SIL told me maybe a salad or a dessert. So I plan on taking both. LOL Not sure what kind of salad to take, and I have a simple dessert recipe I will make (it is red white and blue). Hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill sound so good right now. And I know several of the other dishes will be potato salad and baked beans, etc. One gal there doesn't cook, so she usually brings the pop, or ice and sometimes a large tub of icecream depending on what we are all having. We aren't shooting off any fireworks there though. One of the twins is scared of fireworks, 2 of the other kids are with their dad for the weekend and won't be there either. So it is the one if the twin who likes fireworks, and Noah, who is only 3 but loved them last year, so I unless he decides to change his mind, LOL, I think he will be ok with them again this year. After the BBQ, several of us will drive back to town and watch the citywide fireworks display at the lake. We won't buy much this year....maybe some snappers, some smoke bombs, and some other smaller items for Noah. I just can't see spending alot of money on big bangs this year when we have so many things we could spend the money instead. Matthew got called today for a small electrical job. The guy wants an electrical hookup for a camper put in behid his barn by this weekend. So Matthew is running a little late tonight getting that done. He was hoping it was a 10 minute job, but knows things happen and it might take longer. Oh well, we need the money to take care of part 2 of fixing my car's air conditioning. (Part one was putting in a new fan, which he did last night. Part 2 is??? LOL I have no idea. I know the fan works now but no cold air. Maybe it needs freon?? Who knows. That is hubby's job) I have discussed having a yard/garage sale and then canceled it thinking I would just have an auction (a HS friend has an auction business and is going to hold a consignment auction), but now I am thinking I should just open up a Ebay shop, and possibly put some stuff on Etsy as well.I think in the long run I will end up getting more money for the items. I will just advertise that I go to the post office once or twice a week, etc. so I don't have to go every single day. That would be crazy. On days I have many packages, I will ask a girlfriend to watch Noah, or drop him off for an hour at grandma's shop. Speaking of grandma's shop.....she has offered me one of her large display windows to put items in if wanted. I told her I would speak to Matthew, pray about it and get back to her. I know I won't make alot of money from it, because her shop is kind of out of the way, and not many people walk around there either. However, the customers that come into her shop for Speech (She is a Speech Pathologist) might see something and buy it, or order one in a different color, tell their friends, etc. I was thinking of putting some vintage items in the window, and making up some aprons and shaggy blankets to display and sell there. I am getting excited about the opportunity to make some money to help with household items and Christmas, etc. When I get the shops up and running, I will post the addresses here for all of you!!! Matthew (who is the king of putting things off, starting projects and then not finishing them, etc.) has turned a new leaf. I am not sure what happened, but I am not about to ask and screw this up. LOL Projects like Noah's bedroom upstairs that have sat for over 3 years without being finished are now being worked on! He comes home from work and instead of colasping in his chair with the laptop, he asks if there is anything I need him to do! Mostly it is small stuff like, take out the trash, take this box upstairs, etc. But recently he has fixed part of the air conditioning on the car, fixed the leaky roof, replaces a filter on the furnace/air conditioner, and my favorite, bought and hung a ceiling fan in Noah's new bedroom!!! The later was all his idea and he was so pleased to be able to buy the fan with his extra money coming in from electrical jobs. :) Makes me smile to see this part of Matthew blossoming. Noah has been talking up a storm!!! I can't believe in the last couple of months since his birthday screening in April, how much he has developed. He is definately not the same little boy. He is doing better every day. Last night I told Matthew that he had been talking up a storm all day long and learning new words every day. Later on Matthew said, how do you turn HIM off?? LOL We both had a great laugh over that one. The little boy that wouldn't talk earlier except for mom, dad, cookie, candy, etc. little words, is now talking 4 word sentences, answering questions with words instead of sign language, and asking for items instead of pointing and grunting. God is so good to us. I love this little guy. And yes, there are times you want to turn him off still. LOL But most of the time, I love hearing him talk (now not only in English but a little Spanish and Chinese due to a few tv shows he watches) Well, that's all for now. I should go. Excellent Home Making ArticleWhen I read the following excerpt from Managing A Home by Crystal Miller in the Homestead Happenings newsletter this morning, I just had to e-mail her and ask permission to post it here on the Front Porch. Some of our new bloggers may not be familiar with Crystal's newletter or her Country Store, and I don't want anyone to miss out on the blessing of what she has to offer! The article spoke to my home-maker's heart and was both an encouragement and a reminder that I need to be diligent in caring for my home and family. Hope you enjoy the article as much as I did. Blessings,
Home Management and Making a Home
Vanilla Ice CreamI recently made vanilla ice cream and it was delicious!! I wanted to share my recipe with you. You can now find all my ice cream recipes (eggless recipes and non dairy too) and ice cream making directions here: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/makinghomemadeicecream.htm If I have more recipes to post I will be adding them to that page. Vanilla Ice Cream
6 eggs In a big mixer (like a Kitchen Aid or Bosch) mix together (with the wire whip) the eggs and cane juice crystals until light and lemony colored. Add vanilla and mix again. Add cream and arrowroot powder (if using). When all of this has mixed together completely pour it into your 1 gallon ice cream maker container. Add whole milk until you reach the "fill line" on your ice cream maker container. Follow the instructions that came with your ice cream maker or click on the above link for general instructions. Bulk Taco Seasoning MixWe are having taco salad for dinner tonight. I always cook up my hamburger and add taco seasonings to it before adding it to my salad. I realized this morning I was out of taco seasoning and it was time to make more. This is another product that I make myself now. We are not real big fans of the taste of the taco seasonings I use to buy from my health food co-op and I wonder about MSG in it as well (the grocery store stuff definitely is full of yucky things typically). I recently was reading an article (wish I could remember where now.. maybe Dr. Taco mix is so easy to make. It takes less than 15 minutes to make up a batch, the recipe doubles easily. I usually make a double batch but today I did not have enough dried onion, so I settled for a single batch. Bulk Taco Seasoning Mix
¾ c dried onions Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Store in plastic or glass container with a lid. It takes approx. 3T of this mix to equal one packet that you would buy in the store. This recipe makes about 2 cups. I store it in a canning jar in my cupboard.
Featured Blogger~Mama Hen
Posted by HSB Front Porch
09:17 PM, Jun. 29, 2009 .. Posted in Featured Blogger .. 2 comments .. Link Welcome to this weeks Featured Blogger!
Help me congratulate Mama Hen! Great posts Lots of neat ideas Pretty pictures Very nice little home on the web Go by and let her know you enjoy her blog Our Little Miss Gabby is here :)Gabby is here. Click this link to see photos http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/2009/06 But now I need a nap. Overly Blessed today. Thank you all for your prayers. Becky { Last Page } { Page 1 of 5 } { Next Page } |
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