Sunday Scripture

"My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places..." Isaiah 32:18

A Relaxing Day

Everybody but a few kids and my brother have all left the house. Well, I'm still here of course. Today has been one of those great days with no demands, pressures, or expectations. It is glorious. Time spent relaxing and chatting and laughing. Life is good. I think we are still full from yesterday, but just in case there are some hungry ones later in the day we will be firing up the grill to make hamburgers.

grace and peace,

julie

Happy Thanksgiving

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord!" 1 Chronicles 16:8

Kitchen Help for Thanksgiving

Here are a few things that I always do the day before Thanksgiving to help make things go smoother for the actual cooking day. First, I clean out my turkeys today. I do not stuff them ahead of time because that is unsafe, but I have them cleaned and put in the roasting pan. Tomorrow morning when I get up I will only have to preheat the oven and quickly throw the stuffing together and stuff the bird. I cook two turkeys so I start my first turkey around 3:00a.m. (Don't worry, I go straight back to bed for a few more hours of sleep)!

Today I will also cut up my celery and onions for the dressing. I will also bake the cornbread and toast the bread for the breadcrumbs. This is a huge time saver. I crumble all the bread and I am ready for tomorrow to assemble the dressing.

Our family loves fresh cranberries. I cook them several days ahead of time so I am not worrying with these on Thanksgiving day. I will only have to transfer them to a beautiful serving dish.

I will also make my sweet potato casserole this afternoon. I will assemble it, but I will wait to bake it tomorrow. I don't think that early assembly hurts the dish at all, but I do want to bake it the day I serve it.

I will also make my pie crusts today. I always serve Pumpkin, Pecan, and Chess Pies. Each of these pies are easy to mix together, but the homemade pie crusts take a bit extra time. I usually already have my pie crusts made, rolled out, and frozen. This year I didn't feel like that so I will go ahead and make them today. I could bake my pies today. I don't think that would be a huge issue, but I really like my pies best the day they are baked so I will wait. Plus if I bake them today, I have to spend extra energy to guard them from the teenagers that prey on food in the middle of the night!

I hope these ideas help make your Thanksgiving more enjoyable. I love to cook Thanksgiving Dinner, but if I wait until the last minute on everything it can become a challenge. I have found that doing these simple steps the day before makes my day a lot more fun.

grace and peace,
julie

Happy Birthday Joshua Caleb

Today our second son turns 15. Josh is always a fresh breath of sunshine in our family. He always has something funny to add to any situation. He is a very good natured person and he is usually more than willing to help on the farm. He loves to be outdoors hunting and fishing. He truly is a great kid!

grace and peace,
julie

Slow and Steady

My motto for my Thanksgiving Preparations has been "Slow and Steady gets you ready." I know it is silly, but it makes me feel better about not buzzing around the house cleaning and cooking everything in sight. While I feel a lot better, I still am dealing with the yucks and little energy. I am so happy that I am not hosting a bunch of people that I would want to impress. I would have to call off the whole deal. I am just hosting my brother and his family which are easy keepers. Love covers a multitude of dirt and things left undone. No pressures...Well there is one pressure...I can't taste anything. How in the world does one go about seasoning all the dishes without being able to taste? This one is a bit concerned about that!!!!

grace and peace,

julie

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Moms

I had my Thanksgiving week planned out to a tee. I was suppose to be preparing scrumptious pies and homemade breads. I was going to finish the cleaning and have everything nice and together for my family. The one thing I didn't plan on was getting sick! We sure were glad there were homemade goodies in the freezer when I was unable to make anything else. Our second son loves Pumpkin Bread and he made sure to thaw it all out and serve it with hot tea when I was unable to fuss about it. Pumpkin Bread did make a nice breakfast, but it was suppose to be served on Thanksgiving morning along with the Banana Bread!!!!~ I am thankful that we are all starting to feel better. I am still looking forward to Thanksgiving, but knowing full well that I won't be as together as I had originally planned. But you know what, not one person around my dinner table is going to be too concerned about all of the other stuff. It just isn't that important after all.
grace and peace,
julie

Thought For the Day

No Momma should EVER be sick....especially not right before the holidays!

grace and peace,
julie

The Sounds of the Farm

As I was waking up this morning, I kept thinking something is missing. I was fully awake, but something just wasn't right. I couldn't put my finger on it. I crawled out of bed and made a pot of coffee. As I sat drinking a hot cup of java and planning my day in my mind, I realized that my wind chimes were playing a beautiful song. I stopped and listen intently. My wind chimes were a gift to me when my dad died. Instead of sending flowers to the funereal home, this precious family sent me a beautiful set of wind chimes. On the card was written, "Every time you hear these, think of your daddy and smile." As I was sitting there this morning thinking of all the times that my dad and I had coffee together in the morning time, I realized what was missing this morning when I first awoke. The sounds of the farm were silent, and they have been silent for awhile now. How many times have the wind chimes made noise and I haven't even heard it? When did our neighbor move the donkeys from the side field and how long had I missed the peculiar sound that they make? And how could you not hear the sound of a bunch of donkeys? And how could you not realize the moment it left? I also realized that our chickens don't make noise any more. I miss hearing the rooster in the morning. Then I remembered the day the rooster made me mad. Then it dawned on me this morning I wonder what else is happening all around me on a daily basis that I somehow miss.... I get so busy with all the doings of life that somehow I miss the listening and living of life. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 seems to fit for me today.

grace and peace,

julie

Fall Garden

Our fall garden has been a bust this year. We started off strong, but we didn't take into account the chickens. Our chickens didn't bother our summer garden so I had no reason to believe that our fall garden would be in danger. However, by the time I realized what the chickens were doing it was too late to salvage much. Apparently chickens enjoy broccoli and cabbage leaves along with collard greens. I don't know why, but our chickens haven't bothered our lettuce too much. We are enjoying bowls of fresh garden lettuce and green onions. I will also be picking some of our spinach and serving spinach salad when my mom is here. The temperatures have dipped into the low 30's and upper 20's here, but I haven't taken the time to cover the lettuce. As of yet, it doesn't seem to be hurting it at all. My goal was to see how long we could eat fresh produce this year. As much as I miss the broccoli and collard greens, we are still able to get by without purchasing too much produce from the grocery store.

grace and peace,

julie

Clearing Continues

Robert is about half way finished clearing our woods. He is leaving the hardwoods in tack. I haven't actually been back there in the last few days. I am anxious to see what it looks like.

He spent yesterday burning a large brush pile while he continued to clear more trees. I am looking so forward to getting this project completed. Michael will be breaking up the soil in the new area this February and planting seed soon after that. We have spent $2000 on hay to feed our animals this winter, and he is concerned that we will still need to purchase $900 more. The reason we have sheep is to make money, and if we keep spending large sums to feed them then we will have to rethink the whole sheep for profit thing. Our goal is to be able to produce enough good grass that we can cut hay here on our own farm. We don't have a square baler or any hay equipment, but that would be a better purchase than to continue to buy hay from other farmers.

I think we went about this whole farming thing kind of backwards. We got the animals before we really had the facilities to take care of them. The fences were suitable for large cows and horses, but not for calves or sheep. Now our animals are all stuck in a small pen off the side of the barn until Michael can finish the fence. This first section should be completed by the end of this weekend. Each new day brings about some other farm lesson for us to learn around here. Not a bad way to spend your days if you ask me.

grace and peace,

julie

In the Kitchen

Groceries have been bought for the next two weeks, and now it is time to head into the kitchen and start my pre-baking. For the entire week of Thanksgiving, I am responsible for the company's breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I generally do a large lunch/dinner whenever we have company and then everybody snacks around in the evening time. The one meal that causes me frustration is the breakfast. It usually requires me to get up EXTRA early to prepare enough whatever to feed everybody. This year I have decided to make some things that can be prepared ahead of time. I tried a new recipe this morning for a french toast type casserole that is made the day before and baked the next morning. Unfortunately, it wasn't good. Truth be told, it was down right nasty! So we won't be putting that on our menu. The other issue that I have with my family that is coming is that they don't eat eggs! That eliminates all of my great breakfast casseroles with eggs. So...

I am heading into the kitchen this morning to make pumpkin bread and banana nut bread to freeze for Thanksgiving morning breakfast. I am also starting to make homemade wheat bread to freeze for a quick breakfast. If you have any great non-eggy type recipes, please feel free to share them!!!

grace and peace,

julie

Take Care of the Pennies and the Dollars Will Take Care of Themselves

When my mom first graduated high school, she worked in a lawyer's office. The lawyer was an older Jewish man that always said, "Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." My mom used to tell me that when I was a child. To this day whenever I walk past a penny on the ground I pick it up and hear that saying. His point was that when we watch and are frugal with our pennies, that the dollars will start to add up all on their own.

Yesterday I was at the grocery store. It was late and I was purchasing meat for our family for the next two weeks. Catfish was on sale and I decided I would treat our family to a Sunday afternoon dinner of Catfish and the works. Any good southern woman worth anything knows that you don't serve catfish without also serving coleslaw. I hate to make coleslaw. I don't know when this aversion to making coleslaw started, but I just don't like to make it. I was picking up the last thing on my list and I was headed to the produce section to pick up cabbage for the slaw making. I had to walk past the deli section of the store, and I knew full well that their coleslaw was good. I NEVER by deli salads, but I was tempted to purchase it this time. I gave in to my temptation and got a container of coleslaw without even looking at the price. This afternoon when I pulled out that container I glanced down and my eyes about popped out of my head when I saw what that small container of coleslaw cost. I am not joking when I say that a little container of slaw cost $5.02. That was more than I spent on one package of fish! While the slaw was good, it wasn't THAT good. I figured I could have made a much larger container of slaw for about $1.50.

I was shocked. I was tired and I gave into convenience. I wonder how many pennies and dollars I have wasted giving into convenience. While I do not do this often, I am sure over the years I would be amazed at how much money has been wasted. I do know that there are times that convenience is worth the high dollar amount paid, but last night I was just being lazy. I just wanted to share my new found discovery and encourage all of you to skip the deli coleslaw and go home and make it fresh!!!

grace and peace,
julie

Sunday Scripture

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Thanksgiving Preparations

I have spent the last several hours thinking and planning out the next two weeks of menus. I will be heading out later this evening to do the grocery shopping. Once that chore is complete, then I am ready to enjoy the holidays. I was looking for notebook paper to write down all of my thoughts, and I happened to stumble upon the notebook that I did all of my planning in last year. This was truly a blessing from the Lord. I was able to quickly look at all of my meals that I cooked last year and then I just adapted a little bit for this year. What a time saver!!! I believe I will keep this little notebook tucked away for future uses.

grace and peace,
julie

Poll

Just a reminder to cast your vote for your choice of political party. Don't forget to post any comments you may have for one party or the other. Here's an interesting article by Andrew Davis comparing the two parties.
God bless,
Michael

Friday Evening Thoughts

This is our first Friday without football in quite awhile. It almost seems odd, but in a nice sort of way. The funny part is that some of the kids went with Michael to watch a local football playoff game. Go figure... Not me...no way....no how.... I have sit outside in the freezing cold and rain enough over the last few weeks. I am not about to do it unless one of my own children are playing. I am planning a hot bubble bath, an evening with a good book, and time to chill with my daughter. She likes to read too so I guess we will both be curled up together enjoying some quite time. I might just brew me up a nice pot of coffee and beg one of my boys to concoct something chocolate for our evening at home. This is the life for me!!!

grace and peace,
julie

Important Decision

My wife and I have been members of the Republican party since we were first old enough to vote. I came from a family that was mutually Republican where she came from a Democratic household. With these being the two dominant parties, we've never honestly considered a third party. But the time has come for change (not the kind of change being touted by the President elect).
While it is a no brainer that we do not identify with 90% of the Democratic party's platform, we have become more and more dissatisfied with the Republican party's non-adherence to what used to be their platform. Many of our elected Republican leaders have drifted further and further from upholding our constitution and show no signs of correcting this behaviour.
Therefore, we are in the midst of deciding on a new political party and would like your opinions as we make this decision. There is a poll posted to the right, please vote and then post your opinions and/or experiences with either party. We have narrowed it down to these two parties and aren't considering any others. If you are not familiar with either or them, follow these links for more information Libertarian Party or Constitution Party. I will be following up with more posts on politics as we look to become more active in our community, state, and national policy decisions.
God bless,
Michael

A Few of My Favorite Things

With all the organizing and cleaning that has been taking place in our home the last few weeks, Missy is having a hard time finding her favorite spot. She still isn't allowed in our bedroom and now the boys' upstairs bedroom is off limits. She tries her best to sneak in our daughter's room every chance she can get, but Hope is vigilant and keeps her out as much as possible. No one can blame Hope for not wanting Missy anywhere near her things. When Missy was a puppy, her favorite things to chew were anything belonging to Hope! Let's just say Hope has never really found that soft spot in her heart for our beloved Missy.

Missy finally found her favorite thing. She loves to find Seth laying in the floor and then she lays right on top of him. It is one of the few things that keeps Seth still for any length of time. He loves it when she snuggles him up!

grace and peace,
julie

Organizing Continues

I pulled our almost 15 year old son to help in Jacob and Seth's bedroom yesterday. I turned my back for just a minute and I found him playing with his four year old brother's toys!! Even with all the toy play, we did manage to get quite a bit accomplished in there. We still have a lot of office equipment to move out of the room. About 2 years ago, we moved the boys out of their adorable baseball room down to the basement to sleep with their older brothers. At the time, Michael was working full time at home and needed an office. We were out of rooms so the younger boys wanted to sleep with the older boys and we combined them all. Job situation has changed and we no longer need a home office. The younger boys are excited about heading back upstairs to their own room once again. The cleaning will continue for today. I REALLY need to repaint the room, but I think I will first try washing the walls. Did I mention that I don't like to paint???

grace and peace,

julie