Crafty Tuesday ~

Having set aside every Tuesday as my "crafting" day has opened the door to a multitude of ideas on how to spend them. I am never without inspiration or a long list of what to, need to, like to projects. I am thinking it would be much help to me if I already had the decision made on what I was going to tackle. Some of my crafting time is eaten away in trying to decide what I am going to do and gathering needed items. So I've started a list of project ideas and a organized schedule of sorts to help me out.

In the Sewing Room~

One thing for sure that I will be working on each Tuesday is the "BOM- Block Of the Month" challenge I started a couple of weeks ago. See my first square here. The squares are promised not to be hard, but for a novice machine quilter they are proving to be a little more of a challenge to me. None the less I was pleased that I only had to remove one line of stitching to finish the 2nd block in this series. It's called a "Wonky Pound Square"

Crafting in My Kitchen ~

Is another area I try to create in each Tuesday too. This week I decide to try something new in my yogurt making adventure. Each batch in the past I have added a pkt. of cultures purchased from where I get my cheese supplies from. They are not overly expensive, but the fact that we are making yogurt on a weekly basis now means we are going through them like a wildfire. In reading from other sources, many use a few tablespoons of plain cultured yogurt from the store. In keeping with eating fresh I didn't want to add something processed to my natural untampered goat's milk. So my maker makes 7 servings at a time. Lon and I eat one apiece, giving us 3 days worth of homemade yogurt. So I decided to use the 7th serving to start my next batch today. Following my usual recipe instead of adding the culture packet. I add a couple of tablespoons of the last batch we made. Setting it on the counter to incubate into some yummy goodness. It will take about 8 hours or so to finalize, so I will have to let you know how my experiment turns out. At face value it would be a frugal way to keep us in yogurt and not have to spend money that could be used in another area. Fingers crossed.

The other kitchen creation today was making some more foaming hand wash. I had found a recipe on line back before Christmas. It is an easy 1-2-3 craft. Using only 3 ingredients, talking about frugal! I scented this batch again with Lemongrass essential oil, adding some Tea Tree E.O. for antibacterial help to the container before blending. It turns out great and cost mere pennies to make. Here's the recipe if you want to make some yourself. If you have an old foaming pump bottle they can be used with this blend.

Foaming Hand Soap

1 part Castille soap ~ I used 2-4 tsp.

3 parts distilled water

25 drops Essential Oil of choice ~ I used less, till scent was right for me

I put soap in first then added enough water to fill a 9oz. recycled foaming pump bottle. Added essential oils and shook gently to blend.

Kitchen Capers on Monday ~

I decided to add a regular baking session to my Monday's Home Blessing time. We are trying to eating all of our breads without the added chemicals and preservatives found in store bought. Choosing instead to use whole grain flours, fresh eggs, our goat's milk and other simple ingredients.

I love baking breads, the feel of warm dough, the heavenly aroma, and the rich taste on the tongue. I am still learning, but my loaves and buns are coming out better with each batch. Having a sourdough starter I have been trying different recipes that can use "the cup of throw away" required each time I feed it. This week I pulled out a new recipe called "Clay's Multi-Grain Sourdough Sandwich Bread." A long name for a wonderful loaf featuring a blend of hearty grains.

It rose beautifully and baked to a lovely brown color. Soft and full of yummy holes makes you think it is store bought except for the mess in my kitchen. Plans are to use it for toast on some of our morning breakfasts and slicing it for eating with meals or even making a sandwich.

Though our favorite way to eat sandwiches in on the easiest recipe for buns I have ever come across. I've made 2 batches so far and Lon has labeled them "The BEST," living up to their name as "Beautiful Burger Buns." They are a breeze to make in the bun pan we bought this Christmas. Though the recipe calls for 8 buns and my pan only holds 6. I had to improvise with 2 English muffin rings to finish out the dough. After baking these yesterday I have to decided to increase the bun count by adding a couple more rings to divide the dough into 9-10 portions. They rise a lot and the buns are soft, buttery and delicious, but a little too large for me. So making more should bring the size down to a better portion just right for hamburgers and lunchtime sandwiches. It was quite a productive day for me that took me right up to dinner time to complete. I was tired, but pleased as punch at the results.

Making my list for next Tuesday,

Deborah

Busy with Changes

Much has been happening around the place lately. Good changes are always welcomed. Even if they keep us going from dawn to dusk. Every change that makes our choring easier, helps keep our days in some sort of order or just make us smile is beneficial. Regardless of the initial effort it takes to put things into action, they are a plus for our future.

We have been working half-heartily at getting our bodies in better shape since moving to the farm. It was one of the reasons we moved here in the first place. To have the opportunity to raise and grow our own foods. We have made small strides with only occasional back-stepping. But our resolve hasn't changed. Last year's garden showed a good harvest in some of the crops grown. Failures in others due to the lack of summer rains and scorching heat. Never the less we are more determined to have another one this year. With an expanded area and several new crops we want to try. I have been pouring over the seed catalogs for the past couple of weeks. Studying the options before us in order to have a continual garden from Spring through Autumn. Our desire is to raise all of the fresh veggies we now enjoy. Having plenty to then can or freeze for our Winter table. What few we were able to put up last year tasted nothing like what comes out of a can or frozen package. I admit we are hooked on fresh eating. Just like our fresh eggs and goat's milk. The thought of going back to store bought, would have us giving up these items for good. There is no comparison, a fact I wish I had know about earlier in our lives. Where would our health be today if I had?

So we have set up a challenge for ourselves for the rest of this year and beyond. To progress our eating habits to a made from scratch and fresh to the table cuisine. This choice will require the removal of ALL processed food items from our cooking or meals. I don't know if you are aware of the number of processed items that sit in your pantry, freezer or fridge. But the number can be staggering when one really takes a look at what you put in your body. Better yet take a sneak at what other people are putting in their grocery carts. To get a feel for the amount of ready made, instant items we have chosen to eat for food. If you feel really bold trying reading the labels on the back of packages already sitting in your home. I've come to term them as "instead of food". Very little real food is in them for the money we pay.

I have believed for a long time that the good LORD has provided us with every food item in their natural state. That we need in order to stay healthy and lead productive lives. Without all of the artificial colors, flavors, fillers, enhancers, added vitamins and preservatives.

Which raises questions for me ~

Why does our food need fillers - is it not complete when grown?

Why does it need artificial flavors and enhancers- will it not taste good in it's original state?

Why does it need artificial colors - did it's natural color disappeared when picked?

Why does it need added vitamins - when they were all present before being harvested?

Why does it need preservatives - when food is designed to be eaten fresh.

What are we preserving anyhow with the chemicals we are ingesting? Foods can be stored with out any of these, they have been successfully for many generations before us. Why not now? I know many won't agree with me on this issue. "Convenience foods are necessary" is the chant of the day. "I don't have time to cook real food." "I'm too busy to shop for fresh foods or I can't afford it." So we settle for imitation instead? We spend hundreds of dollars on doctor bills and pills because we are rich? It is a sad state of life when we believe without question the advertising designed to separate us from our hard earned money and help us to our grave faster.

Is it easy, nope! Can it be done? Yes! Commitment is the key to success. We have taken the first of many steps towards this worthy goal. There are many things we will miss because we have gotten used to eating them. But with time they will no longer be something we desire to eat. It will take some effort to plan our eating and to gather simple recipes. But we feel the benefits far out weigh any inconvenience we may face. I have already noticed that grocery shopping is a breeze, now that I only visit the produce, meat and dairy sections of the store. With the plans we have set up for the future and some already in motion. It will become even easier for us to do this. My only grocery store visit in the near future will be for pet food, a few cleaning supplies and a few items we can't grow on the farm. I don't think Lon is quite ready to give up his coffee, nor I my herbal teas just yet. We feel confident that our health can only improve with this decision. Our taste buds are already thanking us. AS I have been cooking fresh for the past 2 weeks. Lon would probably tell you we've never eaten better too!

Bread baking has been something I have enjoyed in the past with fair results. It has been something I've wanted to do on a weekly basis for many years. Since we started our new eating habits, it has become an essential part of my kitchen activities. AS I no longer buy bread of any shape at the store. Finding a few trusted recipes is the key to baking your family's daily bread. One in particular that gives me a lot of flexibility is a whole wheat roll. I've used it to make our hot dog buns, which we won't need any more - processed meat. But the most tasty thing I've done is to make large rolls that serve as our sandwich bread and hamburger buns. I've baked them plain, with added grains, and/or seeded tops. One recipe gives us enough for one week's worth of sandwiches. I've been experimenting with artisan loaves for our supper meals. That are so yummy hot out of the oven at mealtime. I've been trying different recipes for a sliceable loaf for making toast too. And just this week I receive my order of English muffin rings, so now I can make them as well as the bagels we enjoy eating. They are fresh, hearty, full of yummy goodness with nothing else that I can't pronounce. You just can't beat fresh bread!

Plans are to raise some chicks to sell come Spring. We had moved our Rhodies to their own pen with a gentleman caller, so we could ensure that they laid only pure RIR eggs. Today we started keeping them out of the collection basket to set aside till we have enough to start incubating. It shouldn't take long to get a clutch ready to hatch. They will keep on the counter at room temperature for about a week to 10 days and still be viable for hatching. It will increase our work load some once the fuzz balls are here, but we want to make them available for others to raise if should they desire to. Plus we need to raise a few for our own replacement hens. Will let you know how things progress.

Looking forward to tastier meals and good health,

Deborah

A Rainy Friday Again

Rainy days are to be expected during the Fall season from time to time. I have read where the amount of rainfall can affect the color intensity in the leaves of deciduous trees, like maples, populars, oaks, dogwood, etc. The ones in the yard are starting to really turn now and I love to glance out the window to see their bright colors. This is our second spell of rain in a week's time, and the second Friday in a row. But I am not complaining at all, going through the drought last year makes one appreciate the heavenly water when if flows. The chickens on the other hand looked like a bunch of wet feather dusters as they wandered around in the sprinkles this afternoon. I am not sure if they were enjoying their impromptu shower or just happy to be out of the pen to look for yummies under the leaves.

The first hunting trip of the season ended as Lon pulled into the driveway today. He saw 2 deer, but was unable to get either of them bagged for the freezer. Although he came home empty handed, I believe he had a good time any way. Just like I suspected he would.

With the rain falling at a steady rate and the temperatures dropping with the brisk winds. It felt like a perfect day for a hearty pot of soup and fresh baked bread for his welcome home meal. A warm welcome composed of a bowl of hot soup, bread and a fire in the fireplace, you just can't beat that on a blustery day like this. I have been making soup on a weekly basis since the beginning of September. The majority fixed for our family lunches on Sunday's. I checked out 2 books from the library a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed looking at all the recipes they offer. Many I hope to try over the next 2-3 months, as I plan to make a soup meal one day a week during the Fall/Winter seasons. Tonight we had one that I had copied off of the Food Network home page of the "Barefoot Contessa", entitled Lentil Sausage Soup. It uses several different veggies and spices that blended into a very savory soup. It makes a large pot and was so yummy that I don't think we will mind eating it again for lunches this next week. The projected forecast is calling for the lows to dip down to 32-34* for a few days and soup will be the answer to staying warm and fed.

Bread making is becoming a regular activity in our home as of lately. I have always been fascinated by the idea of fresh bread coming out of our oven and straight to the table. Anyone who shops at a grocery store with an in-store bakery knows the tempting aroma that is piped throughout the store to draw you towards a purchase of a hot loaf not on your list. The catch is they usually want a price for the bread higher than the list of so-so ingredients that is used to bake it. I have purchase a few when on sale, but often wondered what it would really cost to make them. Trouble is when looking at the list of ingredients I can't pronounce most of them or find the rest to duplicate what I hold in my hands. But I do have in my kitchen a bread maker, used not as frequently as I had hoped when first purchased.






This renewed interest in eating whole foods has me searching my recipe files for easy breads to make. One in particular that we have been enjoying and I have been having good success with is an Oatmeal bread. A hearty bread full of whole grain oats, great for sandwiches and makes the best toast for honey. I've tweaked the recipe some, which I usually don't do. As I try to follow the recipes as written at least for awhile before I venture out with changes. But this bread is so forgiving and it has turned out well for this okay "want-a-be" bread maker. My collection of bread recipes has been growing since I bought the machine, for oh . . . . we won't say how long ago. ;) But my big thrill this week was when The Bread Book I had ordered came in the mail. The copy I picked up at the library a week ago was a delight to look through. I knew right then I needed one? or should I say wanted, even had to have a copy of this book. With it's indepth teaching aids and numerous recipes to fill my home with the fresh baked goodness that makes your mouth water. So now I have an arsenal of temptations waiting to be tried out. If anything should flop I know the backyard birds or our chickens for that matter will hungrily gobble up my oops!

Yesterday I went back to Walmart to check out the clearance bins of yarn in the craft department. After seeing them last week on a quick stop with Lon, I knew I would need to come back and check out the prices and options for future projects. I found 3 different colors to make some home needs and give aways. I also found two small leaflets with about 6 or so beautiful afghans to make. Right now I am committed to finish a specific project for the "Covered in Prayer" ministry at my church. So these new ideas will have to wait till I an free to start one or two. Maybe, better yet I should finish the lap quilt that I started last Fall first.


Dropping by JoAnn's Fabrics on the way to buy groceries created even another project or two for my craft basket. When I get the chance I day dream over the pattern books and make my list of favorites, then sit in waiting till they put the specific brand on sale for $.99. I missed the Simplicity sale last week, but I was able to snag 2 McCall's patterns for the same $.99 price this week. I chose a Autumn craft pattern with a friendly stuffed turkey and table decor and plan to make 2. One for siting next to our fireplace this Thanksgiving and one for Leah to set out at her house. That is if she doesn't carry it around like one of her babies. Picking out the fabric was both fun and challenging, with trying to choose the colors from all of the options available. The other pattern was for a old fashion cloth doll that is stated to be a part of a series to be featured in the McCall's pattern books for the next year. Each one teaches a new doll-making skill to go along with the project featured. I can just see Leah surrounded by all the new dollies, what memories we will make together. Having birthed only sons kept me from being able to play dollies with a little girl. God knows my heart and has been so gracious to give me the chance to play dollies, have tea parties and other girlie things with a precious granddaughter instead.

I have missed her this week as she only came on Monday to stay with me. Illness caused her mommy to be out of work for a couple of days and she stayed home instead. I usually do not have her on Thursdays and Fridays. So an inspired plan came to mind on the trip from one store to the next and took form as I "kidnapped" her from the daycare yesterday. But before you call children's services, I had permission for the escape. Delight shown in her eyes and from the sound of her squeals I believe it was a good plan. We didn't have much time together before her mommy got off work, but we squeezed out of it all that we could. I think I wasn't the only one who missed her this week, after returning home today Lon mentioned that they needed to bring her over for a visit soon.


Deborah