What to do with too much squash!
We have been blessed with an abundance of squash this year, so I have been trying to find some inventive ways of using it. I am in the middle of trying this recipe, but so far it looks beautiful with all its different colors blended together. As of right now it is in my refrigerator after sitting all night, I plan on canning it this evening. I would love to hear other ways you use your squash.
Anyway, here is the recipe.
3 lbs. yellow summer squash, finely chopped
3 lbs. zucchini, finely chopped
6 large onions, finely chopped
3 medium green peppers, finely chopped
3 medium red peppers, finely chopped
1/4 c canning salt
2 c sugar
2 c packed brown sugar
2 c white vinegar
4 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. ground mustard
In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Drain vegetable mixture. Rinse in cold water and drain again. Place vegetables in a large pot. Add remaining ingredients.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling reduce heat and all to simmer for 10 min. stirring frequently.
Immediately fill hot pint jars with mixture leaving 1/2 in. head space. Carefully run a nonmetallic utensil down inside jars to remove trapped air bubbles. Wipe jar tops and threads clean, then adjust two piece caps.
Process in boiling water canner for 15 min.
Wooden Rocking Chair Cushions
My husband bought me some beautiful wooden rocking chairs some time back for our porch. I guess being a romantic at heart, I always dreamed of us sitting and rocking away our years in those chairs. There is only one small catch, we really don't enjoy sitting in them. We have a much softer porch swing that is more appealing. Well I decided even if we continue to sit in our porch swing, I am going to make cushions for our rockers. Buying them new is really expensive, so I am going to try to sew them myself. I am not an excellent seamstress, but I figure I will give it a try. If I can figure out how to post pictures I will try to post before and after pics.
Here's the directions I found on eHow.
How to Make Cushions for a Wooden Rocking Chair
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
- Large sheet of paper, such as newspaper, wrapping paper or brown kraft paper Marker Scissors Sewing pins Fabric Quilt batting Sewing thread Sewing machine Tufting thread Sewing machine
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Step 1
Place a large piece of paper over the seat for which you will be making a cushion. Outline the seat on the paper using a marker in a color you can easily see. Cut out this pattern. Pin this pattern to another piece of newspaper and cut out the same shape, adding a 5/8-inch seam allowance all around. This will be your cushion pattern. Save the first pattern for the quilt batting.
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Step 2
Fold the cushion fabric with right sides of the fabric together. Pin the larger cushion pattern (the one with the seam allowance) to the fabric and cut out carefully. You will have two pieces.
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Step 3
Determine how thick you wish your cushion to be. Using your smaller cushion pattern, cut enough layers of quilt batting to achieve this thickness. Using heavy-duty thread, baste the quilt batting layers together to keep them from shifting.
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Step 4
Measure the thickness of the quilt batting layers and add 1-1/4 inches to that measurement (the 1-1/4 inches is for the 5/8-inch seam allowance at top and bottom). Measure the circumference of the quilt batting layers. Using these measurements, cut a strip of fabric the length of the circumference and as wide as the distance between the top and bottom plus 1-1/4 inches.
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Step 5
Pin the fabric strip to the top cushion piece with right sides facing. Stitch one side of the strip to the circumference of the cushion piece.
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Step 6
Pin the other side of the strip to the bottom cushion piece and stitch all around the circumference, leaving a large enough opening to stuff in the quilt batting layers and position them properly. Insert the quilt batting layers, then finish stitching the cushion together, either by machine or by hand using a slip stitch.
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Step 7
Sew ties into the seam at the back of the cushion to tie the cushion securely in place on the chair.
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Step 8
Use a needle to attach heavy-duty thread or yarn through all the layers of quilt batting and fabric if you want your cushion to be tufted. Cut the thread and tie it securely.
Tips & Warnings
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If this is your first time, you may want to make a practice cushion first, using inexpensive fabric. The patterns and the quilt batting can be reused over again, once you feel comfortable enough to tackle the project using more expensive fabric. The best fabric for seat cushions is upholstery fabric, normally found in its own section in your fabric store. Denim, corduroy and other fabrics of similar weight are also good. To determine how much fabric to buy, take the seat cushion pattern with you to the fabric store. The clerk can help you translate its measurements into yards. Typically, a seat cushion will take about 1 to 2 yards of 54-inch wide fabric
Silkie Chickens
I have been working on making my blog a little more usable this morning, and I am still trying to work out the problems.
I have allowed my blogging to "go by the wayside" because of my lack of time. My 10 year old son had surgery that kept him from walking for several months. This was very interesting to say the least. We have also been finishing up our homeschool year and trying to get our garden in.
I am putting some eggs into our incubator today. In 21 days we should have chicks. We recently found our broody hen eating our eggs, so we had to serve her for dinner (really tried to find a nice way to put this). I am considering getting a few Silkie hens because I have heard they are very broody. At this time we only have Rhode Island Reds and Black Stars. They are very good layers, but not good mothers. I must admit the only thing that bothers me about Silkies is their skin color.
Do you see the blue in the above soup? Yep you guesed it, that is the color of the Silkie's skin.
They are very beautiful birds though, as you can see from the pictures below.
I have been researching these birds, and I have read they are not the best layers, due to their broodiness. They are very docile and good with children.
I would love to hear advice from anyone who raises Silkies.
Could Parents Rights Be In Jeapordy???Please Read!!!
OBAMA WATCH CENTRAL
House adopts plan for 'volunteer' corps
Also requires new evaluation of 'mandatory' service for all
Posted: March 19, 2009
4:58 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a plan to set up a new "volunteer corps" and consider whether "a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people" should be developed.
The legislation also refers to "uniforms" that would be worn by the "volunteers" and the "need" for a "public service academy, a 4-year institution" to "focus on training" future "public sector leaders." The training, apparently, would occur at "campuses."
The vote yesterday came on H.R. 1388, which reauthorizes through 2014 the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, acts that originally, among other programs, funded the AmeriCorps and the National Senior Service Corps.
It not only reauthorizes the programs, but also includes "new programs and studies" and is expected to be funded with an allocation of $6 billion over the next five years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Many, however, are raising concerns that the program, which is intended to include 250,000 "volunteers," is the beginning of what President Obama called his "National Civilian Security Force" in a a speech last year in which he urged creating an organization as big and well-funded as the U.S. military. He has declined since then to elaborate.
WND reported when a copy of the speech provided online apparently was edited to exclude Obama's specific references to the new force.
The video of his statements is posted here:
The new bill specifically references the possibilities "if all individuals in the United States were expected to perform national service or were required to perform a certain amount of national service."
Such new requirements perhaps, the legislation notes, "would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds."
No one, apparently with the exception of infants, would be excluded:
(Story continues below)
"The means to develop awareness of national service and volunteer opportunities at a young age by creating, expanding, and promoting service options for elementary and secondary school students, through service learning or other means, and by raising awareness of existing incentives."
According to a report by Canada Free Press, "'volunteerism' that kept America running since the days of its founding" would be "wiped out with the stroke of a pen."
"It becomes forced labor and like the practice of another era, presses American citizens of all ages and creeds, unknowingly into military service," the commentary said.
"On paper, H.R. 1388 is the 'Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act'; the more innocuous sounding 'The Give Act,' for short.
"The Give Act puts the finishing touches to Public Allies New Leadership for New Times, modeled after Saul Alinsky's 'Peoples Organizations' and operating under Michelle Obama," the commentary said.
"Michelle was also a pioneer in the social entrepreneur movement – leaders who create new approaches and organize to provide new solutions to social problems. Like most things Saul Alinsky, H.R. 1388 sounds noble in stating why wide-sweeping change is necessary," the commentary said.
"H.R. 1388 goes straight to the heart of volunteerism in America, impacting everything from the lemonade stands of neighborhood children, to the residents of senior citizens homes. … The Give Act puts tow-headed school children and silver-haired seniors in the official uniform of the new State, and encompasses every walk of life in main-street America," the commentary said. "Whether you are young or old, or firmly believe that volunteering means you are offering your time to the good of community work, you will be pressed into Obama's National Civilian Community Corps."
Groups of such "volunteers," would, under the legislation, be "grouped together as appropriate in campuses for operational, support, and boarding purposes. The Corps campus for a unit shall be in a facility or central location established as the operational headquarters and boarding place for the unit. … There shall be a superintendent for each camp."
The plan generated this concern from Resistnet.com: "This is the equivalent of brown shirts."
Another portion of the bill talks about a "service learning" plan that will be "a mandatory part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational agency."
A forum participant noted, "I wonder what's going to happen to those who refused to 'volunteer.' Maybe they will be put into a different 'campus..' I guess we will soon find out."
Formal announcements about the plan suggested something far different, picking a provision far down in the 200 pages of legislation to highlight.
According to a Business Wire statement released by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the bill "would formally authorize federal support for establishing the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America as a National Day of Service and Remembrance."
That provision is tucked into the far reaches of the legislation, but Schumer discussed it as if it were the primary point.
"I could not be more proud to work to pass this important provision," said Schumer. "September 11 should not only be a day for mourning – it should be a day to think about our neighbors, our community, and our country. We can take a tragic day in our nation's history and turn it into a force for good."
On the Albany Insanity blog, this concern was raised: "What gives the government the right to require individuals to give three years service under the guise of 'volunteer' service? It is not explicit exactly who is required but I think they get the bill passed and then iron out the details. It talks about uniforms and 'camps.' They revise the word 'camps' and call it 'campus.' There is language about Seniors and Community organizations."
The blog noted, such work forces would be used for "pressing national and local challenges" that apparently could range from weather disasters to economic uncertainty.
At a Republican website, officials noted it authorizes funding for an Education Corps, Healthy Futures Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans' Corps and Opportunity Corps.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from New York. It was approved in the House 321-105, with mostly GOP opposition. It now goes to the Senate.
WND reported earlier on Obama's Colorado Springs campaign speech when he sought a civilian security force as big and well-funded as the military – with a budget of hundreds of billions of dollars.
WND later reported when  the official website for Obama, Change.gov, announced he would "require" all middle school through college students to participate in community service programs.
However, after a flurry of blogs protested children being drafted into Obama's proposed youth corps, officials softened the website's wording.
Originally, under the tab "America Serves," Change.gov read, "President-Elect Obama will expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps and will create a new Classroom Corps to help teachers in under served schools, as well as a new Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, and Veterans Corps.
"Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year," the site announced.
WND previously reported on a video of a marching squad of Obama youth.
Joseph Farah, founder and editor of WND, used his daily column first to raise the issue and then to elevate it with a call to all reporters to start asking questions.
"If we're going to create some kind of national police force as big, powerful and well-funded as our combined U.S. military forces, isn't this rather a big deal?" Farah wrote. "I thought Democrats generally believed the U.S. spent too much on the military. How is it possible their candidate is seeking to create some kind of massive but secret national police force that will be even bigger than the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force put together?
"Is Obama serious about creating some kind of domestic security force bigger and more expensive than that? If not, why did he say it? What did he mean?" Farah wrote.
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Preparing for Spring
It has been some time since I have posted a blog. We have been unusually busy lately; I want to get back to my simple life.
We have been working on our garden today. We are having beautiful weather in our neck of the woods and we are taking advantage of it. In the latest No Greater Joy magazine, Debbie Pearl explained her easy way of gardening. We are setting our garden up similiar to her's this year. I also have some smaller garden spaces that I am using cement blocks to raise up the area. I plan on building a trellis toward the back and allowing my green beans, cucumbers, squash, and other climbing vegetables to climb them.
I recently made our main vegetable plant purchase. I have ordered from Gurney's for the last 2 years and I have been pleased with what they have shipped us.
I also purchased over 200 strawberry plants from them. My son is in the process of preparing a bank we have in our front yard for these plants.
This will be the first year I will be using my worm castings in our garden. I am very excited to see if this will improve our yield.
Well I suppose I should go back outside and help my husband. Have a great day!!!
Could you survive another great depression?
| You Are 57% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression |
 Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you're the type of person who prepares for the worst.
You live a relatively modest life. You don't overspend, and you aren't very materialistic.
You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills.
You can take care of yourself and those you love... which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression. |
http://www.blogthings.com/couldyousurviveanothergreatdepressionquiz/
Need advice on Spirulina
I have researched the benefits of spirulina and am now convinced this is something I should be taking. My question is where do you ladies who take this buy yours? Also, those who take it; have you seen any benefits? Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading and for any comments!
Have a blessed day!
Pics of my little ones, or not so little ones!
Here is a pic of my oldest who is 13. We were at the fair here and he was inspecting a tank they had on display.
Here are my other two, they are 9 and 8. They were riding the dragon roller coaster during the fair.
I always love to show off pictures of my children.
My dad is finally home!!
I posted last week about my dad having a heart attack, and it has been an up hill battle since then. My dad's doctor told him this was the worse heart attack that he had seen, this was right before he was going home of course! One day he would be looking better then something else would happen. For instance, he was struggling with fluid in his lungs, irregular heart beats, etc. We were told these things are "normal" for the type of attack he had, but now we are just praising God he is home and recovering. Thanks to those who prayed for him.
Have a blessed day!
Please pray!
My dad had a heart attack Thursday night. It was completely unexpected and a shock to my whole family. He is recovering and getting wonderful care, but if you wouldn't mind could you please say a prayer for him today.
Have a blessed day!
Our new "president"
I really must vent! I was watching the news last night and I could not help but see how the media really has affected this election. The media is so democratic; and they do not care to hide it.
It really saddens me to think of all of the little unborn children this will affect in the future. I also can't stand all of the other liberal problems this will cause. We have just elected one of the most liberal presidents in the history of America, and I fear there will be a bad outcome to this. We as christians have always needed to pray for our country, but now we really need to fall before God and pray.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
From a biblical standpoint, Obama is not the right leader for this country. The Bible speaks against so many things he stands for. As I have said before, please pray!
Today is our anniversary!!!
Today we are celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. We don't really have any special plans; we are wanting to go out for dinner one night this week.
We will have a very busy day today. We will be attending our church service this morning. We will then come home and eat dinner, then head back to church for Christmas play practice. After that will be our night service.
We met at the church yesterday to work on the costumes for the play. Some of the ladies graciously offered to help out with these. I was very thankful because I was not sure I was going to get them finished.
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful day in the Lord!
My daily schedule
I have been inspired by Crystal to work on my own homemakers journal. This is my daily schedule; my children each have a seperate schedule. I also have added many other things such as daily cleaning lists, our budget, etc. Please keep in mind we are morning people so we do start our day early, but we also go to bed early. I need my sleep! Well here it is:
4:30 - Wake up and my husband and I work out
6:15 - personal quite time, get dressed, chores My chores are make bed, empty dishwasher, start laundry, start bread, prepare breakfast.
8:00 - Eat breakfast
8:30 - The children and I have our Bible time
9:00 - School
12:00 - Lunch
12:30 - Read aloud
1:00 - Go over missed work
1:30 - Fold laundry
2:00 - Clean designated area
This is just our guidline. Sometimes our day runs a little longer but it's not a big deal. I do try to stay on schedule so we can accomplish all we need to everyday. We usually have dinner around 5 or 6; depending on when my husband gets home.
Pics of our new pantry area!
Here are some pics of our new organized pantry. Our pantry is located in our expanded wash room so it is not your typical one. Here is a shot from the front. I was still canning some at this point so you can see the jars at the bottom waiting to be filled. Here is our tomatoes, green beans, corn, pickles, honey, and various jams. We now have apple butter stored there as well.
Here is a shot from the side. This is our spaghetti sauce.
Here is our salsa, apple sauce, apple pie filling, and peaches.
I had hoped to put these on a while back, but I am still learning how to post pictures. We will see if these actually show up.
Have a great day!
Welcome to my kitchen
I found this at Letters from Home and I thought it looked fun.
1. Do you have magnets on your fridge? Yes
2. Do you have a calendar in your kitchen, if so, what's the theme of it? Yes, it's got pictures of my children
3. What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool? My bread machine
4. Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind? Yes
5.What is your favorite appliance? Stove.
6. Do you have an eat in kitchen (table in it)? Yes
7.Do you have a bread box? Yes
8. Do you have a picture of your kids on the fridge? Yes
9. Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJs? Yes, almost every morning
10. Do you have a favorite cookbook that you use? Yes
11. Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed down from your mom or grandma? No.
12. Whats your favorite food? Pasta
13. Whats your favorite thing to cook? Italian dishes
14. Is your coffee pot electric or stove top? Electric.
15. Do you ever make your own bread? Yes.
16. Name one thing that you have hanging on your wall in your kitchen. Pot holder
17. Is there a clock in your kitchen? No
18. Do you have a bowl of fruit sitting on your table or counter? No
19. What type of canisters do you have? Glass
20. Does your kitchen have a theme? Roosters, thinking my walls will soon be green
21. What's for supper tonight? I am thinking of grilling chicken breasts
22. Do you have enough cabinet space? Yes
23. Does your family use paper plates? No.
24. Do you have a good set of china picked up? Yes.
25. Do you wear an apron to work in your kitchen? No.
26. Name one thing, if anything, that you would like to change about your kitchen. I am in the process of picking out a new color for my kitchen.
How about your kitchen?
This -n- That
Life has been at it's usual hectic pace around here.
I am almost finished with our canning for this year. I have a a few apples left that I plan on turning into apple butter.
I am also working on some costumes for our church's Christmas play. I was a little concerned about finding the time to do this, but with 9 weeks left until the play, I figured I would just make a few at a time. I found some cloth at our local Salvation Army really cheap, $1 for 5 yards. This was an exciting find after pricing cloth at Walmart.
Homeschooling has been going nicely. Now that the weather is getting cooler the children do not mind staying inside studying as much. My younger 2 are now taking piano lessons and they seem to be enjoying it. My oldest has been taking lessons for 2 years now. He told me his main goal is to be able to play hymns during church. It was one of those proud mamma moments.
I hope everyone is enjoying these nice cool fall days. We are getting some rain which is a real blessing. It has been so dry lately. Our local rivers are lower than I ever remember.
Well have a blessed day!
Fall cleaning!
We do things a little backwards around here. Instead of spring cleaning we have been fall cleaning. I am a little embarrased to say we have thrown away around 7 bags of trash and gathered around 5 give away bags. We are still in the process of cleaning but I am taking a little break. We are down to the living room which was never that cluttered to begin with, so we are really just deep cleaning it. The rooms that took the longest was our bedrooms. Why is it everything ends up being dumped into these rooms?
One of the accomplishments I am very excited about is our pantry. I will try to post pictures when I can. All of our storage items and can things are now in there. I have always thought shelves of canned items to be so beautiful and now I have this in my home.
I am also going through our pictures. I am getting rid of our photo albums and putting them all into picture boxes organized by years. This will save so much room but will still be accessible for our walks down memory lane. It will also be easier to keep up with as I get pictures developed.
Well I suppose I should get back to work. I hope everyone has a wonderful church service in the morning.
Thought I was finished with canning!
Well I thought canning for this season was finished, but I was very wrong.
A local tomato field opened up and were selling tomatoes for $8 a bushel. I decided to can some more spaghetti sauce, salsa, and just plain tomatoes.
We also found a great deal on some late season apples so of course I picked these up as well. I have been canning apple sauce and plan to put up some apple butter.
I am happy to put up the things God has provided. My husband is working on a better place to store our canned items. Right now I have them stored under everyone's beds, they are just difficult to get out sometimes.
Well I hope everyone has a nice evening.
Reaping the fruits of labor due to the gas shortage!
Wow, it has been a while since I have posted. I have been unusually busy these last couple of weeks, so I apologize. We have been canning and homeschooling, and to add to this I have been directing our local homeschool enrichment classes. These will soon be finished, they only last 5 weeks, and I am ready for a break.
We have been in the middle of this gas shortage, and it has been very interesting. I have watched normally calm, collected people turn into madmen. There has been fights break out, and even weapons pulled. Friends of ours even had their car rammed into while waiting in these 1-2 hour long lines. After even waiting in these lines there is no gaurantee that you will get gas as the gas stations run out so quickly. I never thought this would happen in America, but it is.
How is this affecting out family? Well I must say we are doing much better than others because we believe firmly in being prepared. The children and I have been able to stay home because we have almost everything we need here. My husband has not had to wait in these long lines because of our ability to conserve fuel. Now don't get me wrong, I know the Lord has blessed us tremendously. But we could have chosen to be careless with what He has given us, and not been prepared when we needed to be. Is there things we could have done different, of course! We are still a work in progress, and the Lord is still teaching us thankfully.
Today, instead of searching for fuel, we will be sitting at home relaxing. I will also be putting up some applesauce with the apples the Lord has so wonderfully provided. It is also our baby girl's birthday today, so we will be having her chosen dinner of pizza tonight.
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
You should see the hole in our yard!
I have a huge hole in my back yard, the high side equaling around 24 ft tall. You might ask why we have such a hole in our yard. Well, we are building a root cellar.
I have wanted one for some time now, because we don't have a basement, and I would like a place to store certain items. I would like to store our canned goods there as well as our buckets of foods we buy in bulk. Of course it's also a great place to store root crops and ferment pickles and cabbage.
If you have one and could leave a comment on your success with your cellar I would greatly appreciate it.
My husband will start laying the footers as soon as the ground dries some. We already have some of the block and we hope to pick up the rest soon.
Happy Homesteading everyone!
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