Garlic is IN!!!

It's been a busy week here. I've been attempting to get some indoor things settled before the cold weather sets in. And there are so many things to get done outdoors...I could spend entire days out there, I think. One thing I appreciate about the 'blog world' is that it seems to keep us all accountable...in a way. At least aware of all the things there are to do to prepare for winter. It seems never ending and by the time winter's cold sets in, you really need the break.

The other day we were 'fixing' up a fence for Miracle to come back home. She loves to ram fence, and we do not have good 'goat' fence...so we had to reinforce it. Lydia and I. She never used a circular saw before, so I let her. I thought we did alright. Of course, Mr. says it looks like the Clampetts from The Beverly Hillbillies live here! But hey...we're talking about goats!!! Big goats...ramming goats! And it works!

 

 

 

Finally, after preparing the patch a while back...Lydia and I got the garlic planted! We set 145 bulbs...with room for a bit more. It started to drizzle. The template sure made things faster and the dibble and we got a method down and it just moved along. I did till it all up again, by hand...or should I say by foot...or both?  I used the garden fork to turn the patch over again. It was quite the workout! Invigorating to say the least. Of course I feel it now...but it was worth it. I was driving Lydia crazy with my straight row obsessions...but she handled it great, after she calmed down! LOL She's a bit more freestyle than I am. I need straight rows...I just do. We had to do a row patch over because the template moved crooked and I told her it would plague my long winter's nap knowing those garlic bulbs would shoot out of the ground willy nilly. SO...she let me fix it while she went ahead and kept planting. Good girl!!!

 

You can see from all the weeds growth that I let most of my garden 'rest' this year. It managed to grow some tall weeds. It couldn't be helped, Dave's Mom was with us again recuperating from a hospital stay. She's more important and God always provides!

We are having Thanksgiving dinner here again this year. It always turns into a crowd, even if some just come for dessert. This year it will be different though. Our entire dinner will be gluten-free. We are excited because for some reason, even though cooking GF takes a bit longer, we really enjoy it. So, we're working out the menu. Most of the meal will be cooked that day. Not much can be prepared ahead, as far as I know, maybe the cold stuff.

Speaking of GF...can I just say that Bob's Red Mill Brownie mix is YUMMY!!! I have seen recipes for home made brownies the last couple of days that we can try soon. As I said, this GF way of eating is fun. Lydia and I work in the kitchen together much more than ever and we enjoy ourselves. She enjoys it...which makes me happy, I like help in the kitchen and we get to spend time together.

On top of having the meal, I will be going through the house with a major cleaning spree. That's just what I do whenever I am having guests. With my strange limitations, and never knowing when that dratted fibromyalgia will start flaring, I started tearing things apart already. I can hear Flylady warnings whenever I think about tearing too much out!

Still, I have plans for winter too. That basement that has always been out of sight, out of mind...well, my aim and my great hope is to finally tackle it this winter. The wood stove is going and it is toasty warm down there. I have so many things to sell on Etsy...craft type things to get rid of. I'm sure some other artist can use them. If I do anything extra, I sew. Yet, I have plans to make a sign here or there. I'd like to make one that says, "Maranatha" and some other scriptures...or one word phrases that stimulate thought toward God and the heart posture. I'd also like to get some of my photos in order and use that Cricut my Mom gave me.

I wanted to mention, Quinn over at Reformation Acres has a giveaway for a wonderful product. It is from a family business called The Haven Enterprises. They work with wood and their hands to bring God's Word to life in your home. I, like Quinn, place God's Word around my home to have family and guests ALWAYS be mindful of the Lord, no matter where they are inside. Soon, I will be adding signs outside too. I want to be working on that this winter for spring. The Haven Enterprises makes trivets and cutting boards, all the way up to beautiful door post scripture, and I imagine something home-sweet for just about anywhere in your home as they do take custom orders. Simply the way God arranged it to be for a family...with Papa at home...if possible. The best way! What a blessing!

This is something I've been really considering a lot lately. What can I do here at home to bring Dave home or at least make it so he can be home more? I think plenty! With being more frugal in many places, to asking God to bless the work of my hands or to use my brain and this blog to not only help other women at this stage of life, seeking the Lord and seeking the Old Paths and learning all that that entails. I am right now taking a course on how to do just that. How to make it so my blog can not only be an outlet for me to share, but also something to bless others and make a difference.

I'll keep you posted on how it all works out! It's almost a 12 week course and I will be learning many ways to use my blog to bless and help others and get 'out there'...if that is the Lord's will. I have lots of ideas...LOTS!!! So...hopefully I will be able to learn a lot and pass it on  to others.

What are your chores to prepare for winter? Do you have winter plans?

May God bless you as you plan to settle in for winter in your Home-Sweet. I pray He blesses the work of your hands and grants you lots of strength to get done all you need to do. All for His glory! Amen

Passing Days...Routine...and All That Good Stuff!

I've been thinking about the routines of my life lately. To many, my life would be absolutely boring. But to me, I find that the regular pattern of the day is a comfort.

First off, quiet time with the Lord and jotting down chores and things on my to-do list. I made my own list in a print shop and it's quite handy for me.

Afterwards, I enjoy the rhythm of the way I let my birds out in the morning: first set of ducks, big chickens, walk around to little chickens - let them out, go to Mama and Papa Ducks and 8 babies and let them out...saying 'Hello' to the goats along the way...over to the pigs for feeding...working on fattening them up! Then inside for a bit of warm coffee.

 

(I just noticed how dirty these girls let their faces get! They simply adore rooting around! And if I throw them weeds...well, it's Hog Heaven!!)

After my wakeup coffee, it's back outside to do the goats' feed and hay and check bunnies and make sure everyone's water and hay and food is fresh. Maybe rake up goat area or chicken area...and back inside. As the days get shorter, the timing changes...but the routine is so predictable...and I like it that way!

I am trying to find the time to do some things extra inside the house. I'm not milking anyone right now, so you'd think I'd have more time to accomplish something. Au contraire!!! How  in the world did I get so much done when my children were little...and 4 of them no less? They're all grown now, with Baby Lydia just turning 19 years old on the 17th...the baby!!!...and I haven't a nicker of time anyhow...all day long! Why? Maybe because I'm older and slower?? Still, no interruptions...well, that's not necessarily true all the time. Yet, with the new year coming and the past year's assessments...I am going to reassess my time management. I cannot get that all figured out.

Alas...there are some things around here that must be done in a timely fashion, or I'm out of time for the year!

So, right now...it is garlic planting time. Can you guess what this is?

Or how about the same thing this way...

Well, this may give it away...

 

The book explains how to go from planting garlic to making garlic powder. We followed Mr. Kimball's method last year and got good results. This template Dave made for us should speed up the planting guide process...I just don't want to have to fuss with a tape measure. So, Dave made me this template according to Mr. Kimball's specs. He also gave me a bonus that I did not ask for...a planting dibble which will save time measuring out the correct planting depth for each clove. Hurray! So, the plan is to plant Monday. Seems that will be the next best day. Mr Kimball's site is called The Deliberate Agrarian and you can find it here.

Today was nice, but too windy for garlic planting and we also had plans to work in the small chicken coop and make our littles happy. Happy chickens...happy eggs...it's all good (and yummy)!

We had our first frost last night. Sad to see things wilty. Almost time for the earth to rest...according to God's routine plan set in motion in the beginning. The sun, moon, stars...planting times, plucking up times...according to Solomon in Ecclesiastes. So...I plucked up my wilted pepper plants. Lots of hot peppers to dehydrate. Not sure what I'll do with them after that, but I know the guys like them on everything. I had good results with my peppers this year. I'd like to get them in earlier next year. They did good though with all the rabbit manure and goat manure I put in the holes. My raised beds have beautiful soil in them. They loved it!

I couldn't resist taking a photo or two last evening when the sun was floating down toward the hill for the night. The sunbeams on the geraniums I potted quickly this year looked so pretty...and I am a geranium fan to say the least! 

I'll share:

 

I cannot help myself...a few more red geranium photos...

 

Truly one of my favorite flowers. I am not quite sure why...they just are!

Well, gonna go get some shut-eye...it's been a long day working outside. 

Hope to blog the garlic planting with my new template and dibble! I'll be sure to snap pics...put them up soon!

God bless you as you imitate Him and glorify Him with your Home-Sweet routines!

Honey!

Bees 'bearding' in early Spring 2013

This past few weeks Dave has been bringing the honey supers into the house to store until he extracted the honey. He worked on making another extractor and I must say this one worked much better than the last one he made. It was faster and held more frames. Good for him!

He managed to extract all the frames over the weekend and spent the last couple of days bottling it up. His bees worked hard this season and for losing 7 out of 10 hives over the winter and having to build back up to 10 good hives, they did well. They managed to give us 20 gallons of honey this year! Not bad for 10 hives, some just starting out.

I am amazed at how much time and effort goes into beekeeping. Dave puts a lot of care into his bees. Over the coming year he hopes to be able to afford some more equipment that will make extracting more efficient time wise. Maybe even start a few more hives.

Speaking of efficiency and good time management (ahem)... I spent the last 3 days trying ever so hard to come up with home made labels for the honey jars. Thank God for Lydia...she has much knowledge on how to use these computer programs. I can do a lot, but she just blips through things, even if she's never used the program before. Ahhh...the young mind!

I was not having much success with the Avery brand labels we purchased to make the labels. I even telephoned them, which did not help at all. *sigh*...  So, I searched on Google and found a tutorial on how to make labels on Microsoft Office Word and lo and behold between Lydia and I, we came up with a label.

Although...I could not import them into the Avery template. Frustration!!! So, I printed out 8 labels on regular paper, cut them out and glued them on the Avery label page with a glue stick. I then put the labels in the printer and copied the page I made onto the other labels. What a fiasco! But it worked!

I think next year we'll have them made at a printer...or I'll just practice all year and be ready next fall! I bet my sister Angie would be good at it!! How 'bout it Angie???

More pictures tomorrow!

Do you know about bees? The most amazing thing of all to me is God's handiwork in the bee. From egg to Queen to workers and drones, the hive and making honey...the whole creation and work of a hive...screams of God's Creation. This was no accident! God alone gets the glory for the bee and her hive! Amazing!

God bless your Home-Sweet with hands and minds that are blessed with the necessary skills needed for the task at hand!

Miss D...if you read this...we miss you and love you and are praying for you. Please call us!

A Little Bit About What God Has Done and Is Doing In Our Lives...

I've been thinking about what I mentioned Saturday about how our understanding of God's Word has changed over the past six years. How we came to walk a deeper walk with him. It all began with some heart wrenching family issues. Not our immediate family, but some loved ones. As the pain unfolded...and intensified, other scriptural issues became important, very important. What do we actually believe? Are we in agreement with those around us? Are our leaders leading us on the Narrow Way? What are we following? Where are we going? We just came to the point where we had to decide if Jesus really meant every word He said. Did He? Did we believe He did? We said we believed it, but were we living as though we did?

As we began to read the Bible in light of this sad, horrible situation around us and the supposed Scriptural response of those leading us, we began to ask questions...some things began to materialize that we had overlooked or had misread or had not been taught properly or at all. Then, as we read and prayed and prayed and read, and talked and talked about these things...we studied and prayed some more...we realized we were very, very wrong! Just reading Matthew 5, 6 and 7, or what is also called 'The Sermon on the Mount' opened our eyes to some serious error we had believed/been ignorant of.

I cannot touch on them all in one post. I'll weave them here and there throughout future posts as topic and time allow. I will say this...I have personally (and ashamedly) gone from being a worldly, women's liberated, right-wing, modern churched, politically minded, warmongering, domineering over my husband, immodest woman in many ways...clothing, high heeled, hair and makeup...to a new understanding of God's Kingdom rule for His daughters.

God's Kingdom rule for His daughters is modesty...in every way...gentleness, quietness...a hidden woman, created to be helpmeet to her husband, head covered/veiled (whether she has a husband or not), meek, God glorifying keeper at home (if possible). A heart attitude change coming forth in distinctive Christianity...distinctive because living in God's Kingdom now should be distinctive. As an older woman, it is important that I am an example of what a righteous Sister/Daughter/Mother/Wife is...of course I'm still growing, but I try to seek God's Word always when instructing a younger sister in the Lord.

In essence, we have seen our error and upon seeking the Lord, the early Church/early Anabaptist/Kingdom teachings are the closest (that we can see) to the way Jesus left His body to function here on earth until His return.

So in simple terms, we have adopted what some would consider a 'plain' lifestyle or fellowship in the 'plain circles'. Kingdom living, if anyone wanted to label it. We are just trying to live out what we understand the Word of God to say. Not applying culture or man's interpretation to it...just taking the Word at face value asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit to show us the way. All of it. And it has led us to wonderful life changes in practically every way. Not that they're all easy...but Jesus never said it would be easy. It was actually very hard to admit that we'd been wrong and to have God turn our entire world upside down. So many changes have taken place in our lives...too many to tell in one post!

I will share more in the future. We actually do not have much like-minded fellowship in our area, we do not live where converted Amish or Mennonites are, nor are there any truly Kingdom minded believers, as far as we know. If, perchance anyone in our area reads this and is of like-minded heart, we would be happy to meet to fellowship together.

Still, we do try to get away and go to some home-church meetings in Lancaster County whenever possible. What a dear, dear group of Brothers and Sisters we have met from all over the globe! A true blessing to see the Kingdom of God lived out in reality!

More to come on these and other thoughts! What is the big deal and what does the application of Kingdom Living look like? Is there anyone else online living this way? Side links to other plain, Kingdom Living blogs to come.

May God bless you and yours as you seek to glorify Him in Spirit and in Truth. May His Word of Truth lead and guide your path as a lamp and a light. Amen

Monday: Bland With A Little Sunshine Here and There!

 

 In Such an Hour 

                       Sometimes, when everything goes
                                 wrong:
                       When days are short, and nights are long;
                       When wash-day brings so dull a sky
                       That not a single thing will dry.
                       And when the kitchen chimney smokes,
                       And when there's naught so "queer" as
                                 folks!

                       When friends deplore my faded youth,
                       And when the baby cuts a tooth.
                       While John, the baby last but one,
                       Clings round my skirts till day is done;
                       When fat, good-tempered Jane is glum,
                       And butcher's man forgets to come.

                       Sometimes, I say, on days like these,
                       I get a sudden gleam of bliss.
                       "Not on some sunny day of ease,
                       He'll come . . but on a day like this!"
                       And, in the twinkling of an eye,
                       These tiresome things will all go by!

                       And, 'tis a curious thing, but Jane
                       Is sure, just then, to smile again;
                       Or, out the truant sun will peep,
                       And both the babies fall asleep.
                       The fire burns up with roar sublime,
                       And butcher's man is just in time.
                       And oh! My feeble faith grows strong
                       Sometimes, when everything goes wrong!

In no way do I want to blather on about my boring day and try to make you think it was in any way exciting. There was not much unusual about my day today. The animals did everything they do every day...the house needed picking up from the weekend. It was rainy and blah with tornado watch reports from the laptop until I could tell nothing was going to happen weatherwise. Praise the Lord! Who would ever have thought of tornadoes in New York? Times they are a'changin'!!! (See Matthew 24-watch and pray!)

We did have high wind, and pouring rain...but by eventide the sky was pink and blue and the gray storm clouds had passed on.

The highlight of the day was an attempt at gluten free cream of potato soup and gluten free biscuits. I say 'attempt' because it was actually an experimental meal...so far I have had gluten free success, but today I say...'not so much'! Nay...the results were anything but palatable. Back to the drawing board!

The girls and I had lots of fun at attempting gluten free biscuits...a recipe searched for and found on the internet...they looked good there, but somehow the end result here...well, it did not look like the picture on the web page. I thought maybe somehow if I slathered them with butter after they came out of the oven it would help the poor whitish pucks but nay, the butter immediately absorbed into the very dry orbs and did not even give the appearance of being buttered. Like water on a spot in Death Valley! No trace of any buttery goodness! Nothing! Dry as the bones in the valley spoken about in Ezekiel! Dry!!

The creamy potato soup was also very bland. We had bacon bits we made from our oversalted bacon from last year's pig slaughter (an experiment we'll not allow to happen this year!), dried onions (which really came out of the cupboard as an afterthought, I should have fried fresh onions in butter before the roux was made), cheese topping, lots of salt and pepper...and although everyone else thought it was alright...it just did not come out the way I had hoped. The soup sort of matched the day...bland day, bland soup.

Still, nothing could take away from the laughter, the conversation, the joy of being creative together in the kitchen. What is it about cooking together that makes it so enjoyable? My Nettie was here, Dena and Lydia were helping too and we just had such a time making those awful biscuits and laughing about the outcome! It was honestly a ray of sunshine on an otherwise rainy, drizzly day. The smiles and the conversation, the cooperation, the blessing of being together, doing what women do, kitchen fellowship. It just made my heart happy - all of our hearts happy.

We continued to laugh over the meal as we ate it. And Dave is such a good sport, he says he'll eat anything...he wanted to make sure I gave him some in his lunch tomorrow. What a good guy! What a trooper! He must have been really hungry is all I can say!

As far as my Home-Sweet Handiwork button up top goes, I am looking forward to putting some things up I'm working on. Hopefully tomorrow. I am working on miniature pumpkins, the white kind, I like them and each year find some to display. I love the pale, milky white skin and also the milky orange ones. Those make good pies! I thought it would be fun to crochet some and then maybe I'll give sewing a few a whirl with some retro fabric I have around. Then there's this new Cricut my Mom gave me when I was in Illinois a couple of weeks ago. It's brand new and never been used! Can't wait to try it out!

So, as a little diary/dietary post, today wasn't so bad. Very routine, but a day the Lord has made nonetheless...and I wanted to get on here and remember it for the smiles in the kitchen we had, to look back and remember a sunny spot on a rainy day.

How was the day in your Home-Sweet? I hope you found laughter amidst the hum-drum, smiles in the routine and joy in the everyday-ness of your day. Most of all I pray you found your Savior overseeing it all and His nearness and blessing throughout all your times-which the Word tells us...are in His hands! Praise Him!

Sunday - Lord's Day Thoughts

We heard a message this morning on Family Devotions/Family Worship and how important they are. Father leading out supported and aided my Mom and the children seeing their unity and receiving a blessing from all of it. The whole family growing in the Lord together.

I read this week about a woman who got rid of her TV several years ago. We do not have cable or satellite. I once heard a brother preach a message on TV and why he does not have one and just made a statement that said, "I will not entertain myself with the world." That said it all for me.

Whose world is it? Jesus said Satan is the god of this world. The world is under his sway. He is a liar and the father of it.

We are called to be separate. Separated from the system, the influence, the teachings, the lies, the darkness, the hatred, anger, antichrist behavior, from the music, the entertainment, the mindset, the gnosis...SEPARATE!!!!

Just for the sake of being separate? No, without being separated UNTO CHRIST there is no real eternal aim. God has set the standards for His Kingdom...and one of them is to be separate. To be 'in' the world but not 'of' it. We, as God's people, living His Kingdom rules, are to have nothing to do with the evil deeds of darkness.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

So, I warn you, if you have not already figured it out, to take part in TV Land...any of it...is to be taught the standards of this world, it's ways and systems. And there will be no end to the base education it will feed you or your children or grandchildren. It will continue to get worse and worse. Soon all of mankind will once again do 'what is right in their own eyes'...and TV will feed right into that mentality and encourage it.

I didn't want to do an exhaustive post on TV today, I wanted to share two videos that I thought were good on the Father's role as a Watchman for his family. It is by Bro. Denny Kenaston and they totally hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. So, without further ado...here they are!

The Father is a Watchman 

Pt. 1

The Father is a Watchman 

Pt. 2

These should at least stir some thoughts and conversation. 

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  James 4:4 

How can we argue against the Word of God?

 

Thoughts and Ramblings On Where To Go From Here...

 Because

by Fay Inchfawn

PSALM CXVI.)

    Because He heard my voice, and answered me,

    Because He listened, ah, so patiently,

    In those dark days, when sorrowful, alone,

    I knelt with tears, and prayed Him for a stone;

    Because He said me "Nay," and then in- stead,

    Oh, wonderful sweet truth! He gave me bread,

    Set my heart singing all in sweet accord;

    Because of this, I love -- I love the Lord!

I've been thoughtful lately about how to continue my little slice of Blogland. Thoughts about how to make my blog more useful to others, what topics to discuss and what direction to take. I know I'd like to be more diligent in blogging, that will take some doing, some planning and attention. So many things tend to take my time around here, away from other things I intend to do and the day slips by. I'd like to share more recipes and handiwork. I'd like to share books I'm reading and books I've read. Teachings I've heard and lessons I've learned. Sites to visit where one can grow in grace and truth. These are some of my desires and some of the things I've been considering for this Home-Sweet place.

There are some topics I've not discussed fully due to worry about how some would take it, how they would perceive my motives. I've been very careful about that. My personal things. Careful and at the same time prayerful lately about how to share some of the things we've come to know as truth, scriptural things, not bizarre things, but nonetheless, not 'popular, modern day Christianity' things. Early church things, book of Acts things, Biblical things. Things the way Jesus said them, things the way He laid them down at The Sermon on the Mount. Things He showed us in His Word, examples He set and meant for us to follow. Hard sayings and tears and suffering and sorrow...yet in it all beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Those kinds of things. Beloved life teachings and the working out of them that produce good fruit, as they should. The struggles of fleshing it all out in this life and in this wicked world where we are to remain unspotted.

So many things have happened to us since my post about my first trip to Lancaster, our search for truth in Christ and where it has led us today.  The beautiful, wonderful people of God, citizens of His Kingdom in Christ, brothers and sisters in the Lord that we've had the privilege to meet and grow to kinship and brother and sisterhood and love and communion in Christ. The areas He's changed in our lives, the things He's added and the things He's taken away.  Hardships and sorrows mixed with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

How have we handled certain things? How have the people we know and love handled what God has wrought in our lives? This many years later, what have we learned? Where is God taking us? Are we fully obeying Him?

So many questions roam through the hallways of my mind, of our minds. Yet one thing we know for certain: we would never go back to the way we were, ever. There is no way we could, in the light of what we know now about God and His Word and His Son, Jesus Christ and His Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness and the Wicked One...and the whole world under his sway and where it's all going. There is just no way we could ever go back. No way. We have decided to follow Jesus...though none go with us, still we will follow. Though none go with me...still I will follow. I say all this with trembling because as I type, I know so many who I thought would make it, and yet have gone down a forsaking path...God have mercy and draw them back to Yourself...please!!!

I suppose I could start with 'What Happened Next...' and go from there. Maybe I will. Whatever I do here, I pray it will always be to further the Kingdom of God and to glorify His Name.

A lot has changed for us over the years. Many do not understand what we've done, how we've changed and instead of asking, they avoid us and have gone away and left a void. Still God has mercifully filled that void with sweet fellowship with like-minded believers from all over the world who we share convictions with and consider our brethren.

Well, with all that said, I think I'll start at the beginning and go from there and keep this blog going as long as the Lord allows. I'll continue to share my happenings and ramblings and doings and goings-on. Everything I do is linked to, nay controlled by my convictions in Christ. We'll see how it all works out here on the blog.

I just thought I'd post an update on my thoughts of late...where I'd like to take this blog. Perhaps nothing will change and I'll keep sharing in the same manner as I've done in the past, yet there are things I'd like to speak about that I shied away from and I think it might be time to be more open about my life, our life now that what God has done has lasted all these years and is not showing any signs of stopping, only growing and becoming more and more tangible and fulfilling and heart stirring. Until we're with Him in glory! Onward Christian Soldiers...

Praise Him for direction and confidence in Christ and His love and blessings on us and our Home-Sweet...and yours as well! Count all your many blessings...see what God has done in your life and be thankful to Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good. Always and in every way for His Glory! Amen.