The Needle in a Haystack

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

Because he can......

  We are very blessed in our  bread labors these days to have time to explore things we are interested in  pursuing. I happen to be plunged into sewing, seedlings and perfecting baked beans ( yes my dear Mom in law... no more cans!!)... Chris has been planting, mulching..... and making charcoal... Why?  His answer " beacuse I can".

  Blacksmithing is something he has been reading up on for a few years since we went to an Ag fair with some friend sof ours and saw a demo.  He is now taking the steps to set up a forge  over the next year, study with some local smiths and try his hand at some iron works himself.  I am excited for him!  such a useful skill to have!

  The above picture is simply a large pot with oak pieces in and rocks on top with a hot fire underneath. For a first try the out come was great! 

   Our goals for this week:

   1. Make a video  on constructing a hndmade pvc water pump.

   2. start pepper seedlings ( tomatoes are doing great and should be moved to bigger pots next week!)

   3. Dehydrate carrots  to add to soups etc this year.

   4.  I got an order for 8 custom napkins with a strawberry design on them... I am very excited about this project.

   5.  mulch the onions

   6.  try adding dandelion greens to a stir fry

    7.  Continue crocheting bunnies for nursing home bingo

    8.   attempt first baked bean recipe

     9.  Weenie Roast teaching Taylor how to use a flint and steel.. ( yes I will take pictures!!)

    10.  Begin a couple potato towers....

  Hands to work...hearts to God...and 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!

Elderberry Syrup

With cold and flu season approaching  making elderberry syrup was on the list of to-do's this week.  I must say the house smelled HEAVENLY while the syrup was reducing. 
We bought our elderberries at Mountain Rose Herbs We have bought several things from them and the service is great!
   After reading several books and articles on the anti viral properties of elderberry syrup we decided to follow this video step by step.  We strained ours through a jelly bag and have been on a tablespoon a day as a preventative.

HOW TO MAKE ELDERBERRY SYRUP

Info on Elderberries

 

John 19:29

New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.

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

Weekly Goals Nov 14-20

Chris and I usually spend a few minutes on Sunday nights going over the past week and planning hte week ahead. We have a list of quarterly goals that we revisit and then work them into our weekly goals.

Our BIG joint goal is to lay insulation, flooring and set the toilet in the spare bathroom. Orignially we ahd assumed it to be a simple job...after the demolition we realized it is much more exstinsive then we had originally thought.

My Weekly Goals

1. Finish up a Christmas afghan.
2. Make a batch of homemade laundry detergent
3.Read and review a book sent to me for a bloggy review from @ Money Saving MOm
4. Restock the winter Car B.O.B
5. Make Elderberry syrup and cough syrup
6. Plant 4 fruit trees ( these are ordered and probably will not get here in time)
7. finish Bio on mary Mapes Dodge

8. Read 1st Corinthians

9.Finish most of the Christmas shopping

10.Test a sewing machine for some friends of ours .

 

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Psalm 148:1

and ahve a fine day ( week) all day long!

Weekly Goals Oct 17-23

 Satan sure knows how to ruin a day with just a few simple words doesn't her?  I recived a call today that was nothing but a he said she said... and for about an hour Chris and I felt bad and let it worry us... but we realized that it was just satan trying to ruin our joy.. BUT the Joy of the Lord is our strength and we refuse to listen... that happens every day in our lives doesn't it?  Just a little whisper or a little nudge that turns eveything upside down...  Just remember that when you are faced.. its the Evil One whispering in your ear... NOT the Lord.

 

anyhow, how did we do with last weeks goals.

Weekly Goals Oct 10-16th

1.Finish Halloween goodie bag for my nephew Evan

2. Finish first color of a christmas present ghan

3. Crochet a nice winter scarf for a friend

4. Finish a cross stich piece that is a Christmas present.

5. Check the water storage and replenish if necessary

6.  Make another batch of applesauce

7. Make a double batch of muffins for breakfast and snacks

8. Transplant aloe plant

9. Get the car inspected

10. Begin walking in the mornings or evenings again at least a mile a day to start

 

AND  Goals for this week:

 1. Read the book of Ephesians

2. aloe plants

3. crochet two pothlders that will be a Christmas present

4. finish a cross stitch design that is a present

5.work on lighthouse  project

6. salsa

7. peppers canned

8. a secret crochet project

9. list 5 things on ebay

10. plant beets

11. make eye appt

12. make applesauce

13. Pumpkin afternoon with Taylor

14. roast pumpkin seeds

15. I'm going to the firing range on Sat. !!

  This verse spoke to me today...

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden . . . Psalms 68:18

..do I have an AMEN??

  With a verse like that... who wouldn't have a fine day...all day long!

 

A Sick Day

Not me.  Poor Chris is still battling a nasty nasty cold.  all of our plans for the weekend have come to a screeching halt.  I have  tucked him in bed and doses of elderberry syrup are being administered.  There was a pot of chicken and wild rice soup with an extra hit of garlic and cayenne for dinner.  We will continue the elderberry syrup through the winter as a preventative if we are being hit with colds this early in the season.

  Between taking care if the patient and taking care of the animals I was able to cross a couple things off the to do list for the week

 

Weekly Goals Oct 10-16th

1.Finish Halloween goodie bag for my nephew Evan

2. Finish first color of a christmas present ghan

3. Crochet a nice winter scarf for a friend

4. Finish a cross stich piece that is a Christmas present.

5. Check the water storage and replenish if necessary

6.  Make another batch of applesauce

7. Make a double batch of muffins for breakfast and snacks

8. Transplant aloe plant

9. Get the car inspected

10. Begin walking in the mornings or evenings again at least a mile a day to start 

I sometimes ( Ok most of the time... seriously ..all the time) get frustrated when plans change. I am very much a list person ( can you tell) , but on weekends like this when I have to take on my job at the shoope and Chris's ( and seriously I would do anything for my husband.. its just the change thing).. I have to step away and remember

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5  

  Have a fine day..all day long!

Crocheted Mouse and This weeks goals.

I spent what little free time I had today crocheting this cute little mouse as a gift for my neice Violet.

Very quick and easy pattern and you can find it @ Crochetville   I have used it several times for baby and toddler gifts. Something small they can hold in their hands.

  So, here it is Monday . The day we set our goals for hte week and make a menu.   I don't always post but we do always do this on Monday around here. I thought I would share since life has pretty much been work.. although I do need to mention that one of the new ladies at church came up to Chris and asked if she could share a song at the end of service.  WOW, she was wonderful.  We really enjoyed it. Thank you Miss Patricia for sharing!

 So, here we go

Weekly Goals Oct 10-16th

1.Finish Halloween goodie bag for my nephew Evan

2. Finish first color of a christmas present ghan

3. Crochet a nice winter scarf for a friend

4. Finish a cross stich piece that is a Christmas present.

5. Check the water storage and replenish if necessary

6.  Make another batch of applesauce

7. Make a double batch of muffins for breakfast and snacks

8. Transplant aloe plant

9. Get the car inspected

10. Begin walking in the mornings or evenings again at least a mile a day to start

 

Bathroom remodel Goals

Chris and I gutted the guest bath and this week we begin the rebuilding. we hope to at lest get the floor but in.

Bible Goals

Chisel out some time to finish the Bible Study Kristy and I started ( we have one more chapter)

Read the book of Philippians .

 

Menu Plan

Breakfast:

Ham and Egg sand.

pancakes

muffins

 

Lunches

soup

grilled cheese

leftovers

Dinner

Monday : speghetti/salads

Tuesday: Baked Potato Soup and Dill Bread

Wednesday: Homemade Pizza

Thursday: Chicken pot pie/salad

Friday : Family dinner at my inlaws . The word on the street is meatloaf (yum)

Sat.  Soup/ grilled cheese

Sunday: Probably take out as this is an extremely busy day for us.

How about this little gem I read today during my morning study time:

And He shall be the stability of your times . . .Isaiah 33:6

  Good stuff!

Have a fine day......all day long!