The Needle in a Haystack

Of Rain Barrels and Such

.. This time of the year is hectic... no question about it the slow paced days of winter when you throw some soup on simmer and snuggle under a blanket to crochet or something are gone....

  I am thinking that is why we have winter... to rest up for spring when  the flutter begins again. spring cleaning, gardening, new chicks..

   Of course there are family dinner nights... and 7 year olds who need introduced to perler beads

..and getting excited about Christopher's biology project for an Earth Day expo at college

..its a rain barrel.. and I am excited to put it over by the chicken coop so I don't have to lug water so much....

  Chris and I were working out in the garden the other day and realized it was way past lunch time and we were hungry and tired... neither of us felt like cooking much so I grabbed a couple boxes of cornbread mix ( true confessions... I am deeply in love with Jiffy Cornbread Mix... so anyhooo.. we had some Hebrew National dogs in the fridge and I cut them up and mixed them in the cornbread batter... instant corndogs... dipped in some Zatarans Creole Mustard and we were happy campers!

   Chris was a bit alarmed that this one had ears...

   This is the season of weddings, babies and graduations so my hooks and embroidery machine needs to get flying....

   "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

.. Enjoy the season... and have a fine day..all day long!

Date Night.... Iron Lady

With Chris traveling for 18 hours on Tuesday we knew we would be celebrating our Sabbath on Wednesday. One of the things we like to do is pick a movie to watch together.  This week it was Iron Lady with Meryl Streep .  It had been recommended to us by Dave and Sandi when they came to visit and since we both love biographical things we were anxious to watch it.

  Let me say that Meryl Streep was phenomenal.  Her acting was brilliant!

If the story had been written about a woman suffering dementia and the progression and struggles... it would have been interesting, but maybe not date night interesting... the fact it was to be a  series of falshbacks from Margaret Thatchers life and her dementia I felt was a bit degrading to her. It made me feel uncomfortable veiwing such a personal look at some one so powerful and strong.  I thought how we would feel as Americans if a film had done that to Reagan?  

   We tried these for our movie snack... soooo good.. and fun to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 3, 2012

This was Easter...hmmm probably 1972 I am with my brothers and our Great Grandfather. We always spent Easter at our Grandmother's house and this particular year my Great Grandfather John Bryce came for a visit. He was a very very smart man with lots of business savvy...farmer, landowner, and a special skill of " cruising timber"... type, board feet, price...

Anyhow, I have been having a rough time kicking this cough from my bronchitis. I HATE succumbing to antibiotics, but sometimes in my stubborness I have to admit defeat and give in. Thnakfully I don't have coughing spells like I was having!

 Next week will be3 busy with planting and lots of outdoor work so this week I am making each nights meal double and freezing one for next week.

Taco Pasta Dinner from Tiffany at My LItter    was a real hit around here.  Not only did I freeze a meal, but Christopher was able to take some to heat up after school and before work. Almost all the ingredients were a buy one get one at the grocery this past week so this made it very economical.

 

Sloppy Joes with a modified recipe from Tiffany was another freezer meal. I made these hamburger rolls

to go with them and served with a salad.

Tomorrow is a family dinner with extended family but I will make a sesame chicken for the freezer to keep ahead.

   Look at these sweet little crocheted Easter Eggs I made some last year and think I might have to whip up a few more for Easter baskets this year.

I'll have to take a break from Lucy's Bag Pattern I am working on I am using up cotton scraps to make a "one of a kind"... my only OOPS! is  that it said dc ( double crochet) which I did, but dear Lucy lives across the pond where dc means sc ( single crochet) in America.  It is still turning out wonderfully.

  Prayers for my brother Eric tonight. He was flying home from Dallas ( or hoping to) after an appearance on Glen Beck when twisters hit the area.  He is Ok ..and yes I have heard from him) but flights out are delayed as they check the planes for hail damage so he might have to sleep at the airport tonight... We will pray for those affected...

 ¹⁰ The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
   the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
¹¹ The LORD gives strength to his people;
   the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalms 29:10,11

and ahve a fine day ..all day long

A Busy Day @ End of the Road

Chris gave the chickens some extra room...

..and with that task complete we went to pick up our chick order.

The one in the bowl is Sue and the one directly in front is Dan.  The others are in various states of naming... 

  Here is a picture of part of the seedlings I transplanted into larger cups.  I am not thrilled with the foam cups but seedling pots are on the list for the fall purchase.

WWe have 37 of the 38 Roma tomato seedlings that were hardy enough for transfer.  Today we started cucumbers , greenpeppers and cayennes  We have started weathering off the seedlings and they will hit the ground the week after Easter.

I had to do a bit of weeding in the sugar snaps... easy to do witht he mulch

Dinner tonight was Farmers Breakfast; sausage, potatoes and eggs...

Tonight I am working on a Babushka to wear in the garden  it works up quickly...

he LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

have a fine day..all day long

The Weekend March 9-11

 Besides spending the whole weekend working at the shoppe... here are the other things that filled in the blanks

1. Received the book " Our Sun Heated Green House by Helen and Scott Nearing ( began reading)

2. started a batch of keifer grains ( milk)
3. Continued burning down a brush pile for ash for the garden
4. Made pizza in the outdoor pizza oven again
5. Bought seeds for this week's planting
6. Constructed a pvc hand pump for the well  to use in the event power goes out
7. Bought 2 bamboo fishing poles with bobbers , line and hooks
8. Placed the order for 6 lbs of homemade sausage to be delivered next week

9.  Dinner with Mom and dad in law... always fun!

10. Continued work on an afghan I am making for a couple special someones.

Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ,
that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 2 Thess 3:   12

Hand to work... hearts to God... and have a fine day...all day long!

March 6, 2012 Giving to Others...

Our neighbor had a mass in her kidney resulting in the removal of the kidney last week. She was doing so well she came home from the hospital today and Chris and I really wanted to bless her family with a meal.

 A few years back we really made hte decision to try and let folks know we were thinking of them with small tokens such as a meal during illness, perhaps some cookies for an accomplishment ( like when one of our " adopted children got a new job", new babies, funerals..... muffins for a mother of littles who is plum wore out...

   and it also seemed we were buying lots of tin foil pans and plastic plates to make these deliveries in...

   Lightbulb moment... thrift stores..

  for a buck or less you can buy casseroles, plates, bowls, small pieces of glassware... how much nicer is it to have cookies on a pretty plate instead of paper, or having to wonder who the casserole or dish goes back to.  By purchasing  odds and end casseroles and plates you can simply tell the recipient to 'play it forward".. using the odd piece the next time THEY give a meal.

Tonight was a Chicken Casserole... easy to make and easy to freeze

Chicken Casserole

2 large chicken breast cooked and shredded

1 small bag of frozen broccoli thawed and drained

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 milk

1/2 cup shredded cheese

1 box of Stove Top stuffing ( prepared according to directions)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

place chicken and broccoli in a casserole dish

combine soup, milk and cheese and pour over chicken and broccoli

top with prepared stuffing and bake for 30 minutes..

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  James 5:26

...and have a fine day... all day long

 

Feb 21, 2012... Date night

We got lots of small projects done around here today, spent a bit of time on auctions for the business...and some times getting dinner and snacks planned for our date night ( which we did at home).

 Chris tried his meat searing techniques on a chuck roast.... I would call that a fail... chucks require a slow cooking to tenderize and lossen the fibers... disappointing with a 12.00 piece of meat.

  I tried this  Soft Pretzel Bites recipe from Making Memories for us it was fail . The baking soda taste was really strong...AND I learned a very hard lesson  about baking soda and aluminum pans, I might have ruined this one.. I am not sure... but I do know I am going to start collecting stainless pieces... I know of two folks who have tried this recipe and loved it, so I am not sure if it was the pan..or some other operator error... I ended up tossing them and making chex mix instead.

   Despite our cooking failures, the movie we had picked was awesome!  You can stream it for free off the internet or buy the DVD...  We watched it off the internet projected on the TV.... both of us enjoyed it so much.  Back to Eden , is a true story of gardening God's way, quick, easy sustainable. We had studied this method for a few months now and this movie pushed us over the top to give it a try. We will certainly be keeping you up to date on the " no till " method of gardening.

   Matthew 6:19-20

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . .

..makes you wonder how much "stuff' we really need..

  Think about it...and have a fine day...all day long!

Feb 16,2012

Another busy day around The End of the Road.   After breakfast we headed out to a tree and vine pruning demo provided free of charge by a local Ag agent.  I can not recommend using your local extension office for free or almost free classes. We really enjoyed getting to know some new folks and learned a bunch too.

Peach and Apple tree pruning

 Grape vines ( and yes, this helped make our decision to plant grapes this year)

raspberries, blueberries and figs.

Thanks to Robert and Mary Jane for allowing us at their farm!

It started rainy just as we were leaving  so we were able to do a bit more cleaning ont he spare room.... 3 box loads for the local women's shelter. The room is really coming together.... a nice visit with my friend Shelley and it was time to fix dinner.

Chris decided to cook again... its a new sport of his I could get use to! Tonights menu... homemade chili cheese fries

 We found this fry maker at the market for 3.00... sturdy and well made it did the job perfectly!

The insides were tender... the outside crispy!

I was not idle!  A friend at the shoppe gave us this recipe for Microwave Bread and Butter Pickles...  easy and delicious!

 Billy's Microwave Bread and Butter Pickles

  2 sliced cucumbers

  1 onion ( sliced)

  1 1/2 cup sugar

  1 cup distilled vinegar

   1t  mustard seed

   1t salt

   1/2 t celery seed

   1/2  tumeric

 Place all ingredients in a microwave bowl and microwave on high for 4 minutes

stir and microwave for another 4 minutes

stir, microwave 2 more minutes then pour into sterile jar ..allow to cool and stick into fridge. They are ready to eat when cooled.

...these are delicious!

 

"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 17:20

..have a fine day...all day long!

Feb 15,2012

Guest Post by Chris on Pizza-pa-looza and how to cook a steak.... he really has been doing more food prep the last couple of days...

next up we need a pizza stone and a pizza peel. The pizza was delicious but the center was not as done as the crust.

Beef...it's what's for dinner! Believe it or not, I cooked this in 5 minutes in the OVEN. I'll be perfectly honest, it's not quite as good as grilled....but it's mighty close!

See this link for instructions: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pan-seared-rib-eye-recipe/index.html

It is VITAL that you get your cast iron skillet HOT HOT HOT on the stovetop before putting the steak into it

 

²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ²³ and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

 ²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

   They replied, “Certainly, O king.”

 ²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

 ²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

   So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, Daniel 3:22-26

Chris

   post script.. I told Chris when he picked a verse he had to find one that sort of went along with his post... :)... God IS faithful........all the time...so have a fine day, all day long!

 

Feb 7,2012

  So, Chris and I really have been trying to eat more locally , so when our CSA had a run on turnips we decided to try a turnip soup recipe that sounded like it had potential.  I must confess neither one of us has ever eaten a turnip to our knowledge, but we were willing to give it a try. I roasted the garlic ( I can tell you I am in love with warm roasted garlic on toast), chopped the onions nad turnips... added the chicken stock and simmered away... the turnip tops went into a pot with a ham chunk ( Chris does like turnip greens).... and I made up a loaf of an herb bread.............and we waited.............

    We prayed, we tasted... we headed to the fridge and immediately fried up a pound of bacon....

a delightful healthy turnip soup....not so much....

  The bread was really good though!

GARLIC HERB BREAD

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill weed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

I made mine in the bread machine...

So dinner tonight was homemade bread, turnip greens and bacon...

not as healthy as I had hoped...

We are going to try roasting the turnips next... if that doesn't cut it... turnips are just off the list... at least we tried.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt. Colossians 4:6

Have a fine day..all day long!