Preserving more than fruit

I spent almost all of last week with my mother-in-law, Ellen, making jams and preserves. She has both apples and pears on her property but something had been stealing more than their fair share, taking a bite or two, then leaving the rest behind for her to find on the ground. Squirrels? Raccoons? She decided to just pick the fruit when it was not quite ripe yet, a day or two before the thief animal wanted it, save it in the fridge and make jam with it. Most of it wasn’t yummy enough for eating plain, but cooking it made it delicious. 

We had 4 of these buckets overflowing with apples, and nearly 3 full of Asian pears. 

It was a LOT of peeling and slicing, some at Ellen’s house and some at mine. 

(So, enjoy the variety of kitchen pics!)

The beautiful thing is that goats, chickens and worms (all of which I raise!) love the scraps that are left behind. Peels, cores and even the bruised parts that we picky humans don’t want were all put to use on my miniature little farm. 

All we did on Tuesday was peel and slice, then peel and slice some more! 

But on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we were able to actually create beautiful new things also.

We ended up with four types of jams, 76 jars total, all different sizes and styles. 

Because that is how you do it on “the farm”, lol. 

Use what you have!

I have been planning to write about my adventures with fruit for several days now. Not surprisingly, God has brought the Fruit of the Spirit into my morning reading twice in the last few days. Isn’t it lovely when He reminds us of the connections that He already took the time to make between our regular daily life and our call to a life that is pleasing to Him? 

Even our modern, city dwelling, grocery store buying selves know that fruit has to grow. It has to start small and become more.

That is what I want to remind you about the fruits of the spirit too.

Even when they are small, in you or the annoying people around you, remember that the fruits of the spirit aren’t done growing. Some days it will feel like the enemy has snuck in and stolen the whole crop. Don’t get discouraged. Just find a different plan- maybe you need to “harvest” early!

Share your fruit with those around you, my friends.

Patiently help them ripen theirs.

The more you share, the more you will have.

I promise!

Little hands

I haven’t had much to say the last couple of weeks. After being sick, I remained tired.

 No surprise :) 

Staying home, and safe, and away from germs...the days started to run together and I might have lost my mind, just a little. 

Thankfully, I have really good friends to help bring it back! 

We went fishing, and enjoyed fellowship with other humans while still staying a safe distance apart. 

Suddenly, and I do mean suddenly, because I don’t know how this happened, I had a 17 year old son. 

 Things began to open. Canaan went back to work. Andy’s schedule was fuller again. 

My garden took all of my time, both the vegetables and the flowers. 

Then, this last weekend, we had tiny little enthusiastic voices and feet and hands come over and it was beautiful. 

Their love for, and joy inspired by, God’s creation almost matches mine, and that was so much fun for me to spend time with! 

And yes, I am aware that makes me have the maturity level of a 3, 5 and 7 year old.

I don’t mind. 

I am the only one who talks to my plants, so I have even them beat on that one. 

 Squash and zucchini were delicious for dinner and there are more ripe and ready already. I meant to send some home with them, but of course I had a seizure 15 min before they left and my brain wasn’t fully functioning as they loaded the vehicle :( 

Looks like we will be eating them here instead. 

None of them like raw tomatoes (!) but they enjoyed picking them for me. 

The cucumbers weren’t as plentiful yet, but we had enough for the weekend. 

Oh, the simple things. 

 This verse remains one of my theme verses. 

When you choose it, when you make the decision to give thanks wherever you are, whatever is taking your time or attention...well, giving thanks becomes easier and easier. 

When you are giving thanks often, then Philippians 4:4 becomes easier and easier too.

So, several weeks later, here is the same reminder as always. 

Choose to be thankful. 

Choose to celebrate.

Choose JOY. 

Be blessed my friends, and give blessings to others as you go. 

Home made

My blog about body wash got "pinned" about a year ago. I get comments on it all the time. The sad thing is, I haven't made it, that recipe, in over two years. Actually, probably more then that. And Andy made the last batch of the more recent recipe we used. So people ask all these questions... and I can't remember. I try. Really I do. Lots of other commenters have amazing advice to add also. So I pass that along. But in all actuality, I am a failure.
 So I have this desperate need to offer something useful. The sad thing is, it isn't even mine. The recipe belongs to Autumn. Or at least the original. See...

 I jotted it down in a hurry on the back of a piece of paper. Actually, ironically, on the paper that has the recipe for the wet laundry detergent I use to make. Strange, isn't it?

Very basic materials. 

Mix them together. 

Store in a really, really old Tupperware. One that you never plan to use for food again, so it doesn't matter if it tastes like soap. (perhaps one with a busted lid?)

I case you can't read my hand writing:

(and if you can read my handwriting, I am impressed)

2c grated soap

1c Borax

1c Washing soda

Can add 1c Oxiclean if you want.

(I do)

Use 2-3 Tbsp per load

But it seems that my child has skin that will react to ANYTHING! 

So, Fels-Naptha is out. 

 Could we wash clothes with Ivory? 

 It works for us. 

Obviously, the Ivory detergent doesn't look all pretty and yellow like the container in the picture. I forgot to take a picture of it. Sorry.

How it actually works is:

Canaan and Zion's clothes are washed in the Ivory detergent. Nothing else. Occasionally some Shout or Resolve before hand. They are boys, and they are rough on clothes, but I think that their clothes hold up quite well. And I buy at least half their stuff used! You definitely have to pre-treat grease though. 

 I must admit that I like some scent. I use the Fels-Naptha for Andy and I, and then a nice big cup full of Snuggle. 

Laundry is cheap. And easy. And does a wonderful job.

Unlike the body wash, I actually make this one on a regular basis!

Whew, I feel better, writing something that I actually do. I can answer questions about this one. Although, I can't think of how there could be any. 

Except perhaps if Autumn will be mad at me for sharing her recipe! 

Blessings, 

A few things I love

 Our wireless transmitter died. Again. I kept trying to breath new life into it. But we had to finally accept defeat and let it rest in peace.
 I am pretty sure this is the third one we have had in my blogging history.

 After just a few days without "full" internet I am always so glad to get it back. But I am always so far behind too. I already have a hard time keeping up with the blogs I want to read and comment on. And the blogs I haven't had a chance to write- well, those are lost forever. Because my brain only holds a thought for so long. Then it is gone. That is why I write a blog in the first place! So that those crazy thoughts can be corralled and organized. When I don't get a chance to write them down...

 Ah well.

 But, a few things I love:

1) That when we got home yesterday the first thing my boys did with our purchases from the thrift store was lay on their stomachs in the middle of the kitchen floor and play with them. Immediately. Anyone want to know what our purchases were?

 Books!

 2) Thrift stores in general! Large parts of our "curriculum" come from them!

3) When I open the peanutbutter, Daisy automatically thinks it is for her. That is both a love and a hate. We give her PB to cover the taste of her meds, which are a constant need, and will be always. But the fact that as soon as she smells PB she comes running: that cracks me up.

4) The fact that, although I am not sure where the money is going to come from, braces do exist and Canaan will be able to have them. There was a time when teeth that were so crowded that they wouldn't even descend were a humongous problem. Now the dentist simply gives a recommendation that you go visit their friend down the street. (or perhaps shop around and see who is cheapest?)

5) Cherry Tomatos straight from our garden. One of the few successes, making them even more delicious.

6) That beautiful art that can come from trash. Beauty is all around, as long as your seek it. My friend Casey has started using his amazing talent for more then just playing with his kids and decorating his own home. He is creating art for others and I can't help but pass him along to others. He takes paper, shredded and expected to have no further use, and turns it into beauty.  His art is amazing and it stands for one of the things I believe in most. Appreciating EVERYTHING around you and finding Joy in it.

 Please my friends, seek the beauty.

Blessings, 

Green, Greener, Greenest

This year we took on something new.

 We have always dabbled a little, experimented perhaps you would say, in gardening. Cherry tomatoes have been successful several times. We had a few straggling squash one year. Some volunteer potatoes after a science experiment.

 But this year we went all out.

 Found a raised bed at Goodwill. Filled it with organic soil. (definitely the expensive part!) Planted seeds.

 When Dane and Ellen were here in late Feb. we had the help of the masters. Dane is passionate about his garden. He helped the boys get their first few seeds in the ground, and gave me some pointers for scheduling the rest of the planting. 

 Just a few weeks later we had the first showings of peas

and spinach.

We were gone for the wedding at the end of March, but when we got back, it was time for some serious business. And when Andy takes a project on, he does not go half way. 

Ever.

So we added on. 

And I forgot to take pictures for the entire month of April. 

But things were growing! 

May 10th

Peas

 A view of our extended bed - and the "fence" we had to add to keep Daisy out. She thought that cucumbers and orange peppers were very comfortable. Smash.

 An additional bed. Potatoes and herbs. 

With another lovely "fence", and a slight sun shade so the herbs don't get too much sun. 

 Isn't Thyme simply beautiful, however fragile, and perishable, it may be.

Take that as you wish.

 Little green Cherry Tomatoes

 Our first batch of spinach was a flop, but crop number two, planted immediately after the wedding was looking good on May 10th. 

 However, when the boys planted their carrots, the packet of seeds was spilled in unexpected places. 

Off to the left in this picture, in what is supposed to be spinach territory, is a huge patch of carrots. 

I took some more pictures today, just to show what can happen in 10 days - 

 The tomatoes are going crazy, but more importantly, the squash and zucchini are huge! 

The poor little okra look dwarfed. 

 The cucumbers are blooming

 Andy found some onions in the back of the pantry that had started sprouting. He planted them. They keep sprouting. 

 I have had every intention of looking up if there is any point in them being there - but so far that hasn't been high on my priority list. I just let them sit there and sprout. As long as they don't take too many nutrients from my peas and cucumbers they are welcome to stay. 

 My beautiful herbs

 Potatoes pushing through with power.

 But that poor little spinach... It just doesn't seem to make any progress. 

 The carrots in the spinach area? Looking wonderful. 

Slightly haphazard (perhaps because they were spilled?!!) and definitely in need of thinning, but growing strong.

The carrots in their own place? A little slower to grow, but they are trying. 

 Last but not least, our beautiful peas. 

(I always show a picture of this one, partly because it is on the corner and easiest to get to with my camera, but as luck would have it, it seems to be the strongest and healthiest too!)

They gave us our first "crop" of the year. 

Not enough for a meal, but some really good snacking!

(Some sneaky hands that will remain unnamed may have snagged a few before the photographer could get a picture) 

Through it all, my love affair with "weeds" remains strong. 

The things that grow wild, and sneak through the fence from the neighbor's yard. 

 How much more can you ask for? 

These lovely little faces may not provide sustenance for my body, but what they provide for my soul cannot be measured. 

Especially when my boys come and find me with the specific goal of bringing me out to see these beautiful little pieces of sunshine. 

Green, greener, greenest...

Yellow and white too!

 I'll keep you posted on our adventure in organic gardening. I read that fish tank water was fabulous for them. All that natural nastiness was perfect fertilizer. So we gave it a try last night. It was the perfect inspiration to finally clean the frog tank. 

 But then I got to worrying if firebelly toad water was going to be a negative instead of a positive! So far, so good. From last night when we gave the water 'til today when I took the pictures no damage done. 

 Now I will just have to go wondering through the wide world of Google to see if anyone has any ideas about what, or shall I say who, is eating my okra leaves. And how to get them to stop - without poison. 

 What a grand adventure this is! 

 (and we have the peas to prove it!) 

I hope you are having a very green May also!

Blessings, 

Antiques

Andy and I both bought Antiques today.

My new friend Kirsten and I escaped for a few hours this afternoon. A small mommy escape, just girl time. There are some adorable antique, boutique, and even thrift stores in the small town just 20 minutes north of us. We shopped, ate fried pickles, and talked each other's ears off.

 I found these amazing turtle bookends. Heavy brass. Early 1930's. Who knows what they say though.... Anyone want to interpret the Korean for me?
 Spur of the moment purchase.

$20

Andy has been talking about his purchase for years. And years. Perhaps his entire lifetime. I have always said "someday". It seems that this is the year of "someday". (If you recall, the dog was a "someday" thing too, and sure enough just a few weeks ago she joined the family)
 Anyway, Andy bought himself an antique today too.

100 x $20

Andy says that this picture is unfair. We actually have a lot more parts then shown here. They are just not currently on the vehicle. In case you can't tell, it doesn't even have wheels. Or an axle. They all exist. It's just that none of them are actually attached to it. And lots of the parts are not precisely in working order. Or at all in working order. For instance, the motor. 

 I had agreed to the project. He had brought home several rubbermaid containers of "extra parts" a few days ago, partially filling the garage, and getting me use to the idea. But today when the trailer with that thing backed up into my garage, well, I almost didn't take it well. 

 I have had time to cool off a bit since then, or perhaps a better term would be "warm up". I have looked at some of the fun parts: the cool rear windows that roll down at an angle, the round tail lights that are just classy and the fender skirts that "dress it up" a little. In a year or two when everything is sanded, painted, rebuilt and upholstered... she will be beautiful. Something like this - 

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe - 

Probably not red for us... but since he changes his mind every two seconds, we'll just see when the time comes. It's still a looooong way from needing painted! 

 Antiques. 

 I really want something pretty to display my depression glass in. An antique glass front cabinet. However....

 I think I'll stick with a finished project. It will be awhile until Andy is available to help with any woodworking around here! 

Blessings,