July's End

Ah. Another July comes to an end.
I think that will come as a surprise for me for a while.

A few things have come to pass during this month.
I found a monarch EGG on a milkweed leaf. That is cool.
It hatched today.
I sent the kids out to find some fresh milkweed to feed the new baby. It's smaller than my pinky nail.

I am in the process of pickling some beets. I love pickled beets.

The kids are husking some corn out on the deck.

I have a recipe up for Marilla Cuthbert's Plum Puffs. I bought some plums at the Farmer Party today. Hopefully I will get to make the puffs before all the plum are plum et up.

Baby is in his highchair working on some carrot puree- Coreless Red Nantes from last summer.

Joe's fishing the river.

I'm listening to Pandora Internet Radio.
How cool that they know just what I like to hear.
Jason Michal Carroll is singing 'Where I'm From' or "From Whence I Come" if you are opposed to Dangling Prepositions.

Quote of the Day:
"Git.Out.Side."

Well, I better go attend to some of these small people.

XOXO
Joce

Who am I?

I asked God today to show me who I am in Christ.
This is a good way to start the day- to remember who I am. What I am. My state of being as a child of GOD.
What can I expect from myself as far as holy living goes? What if I start to feel bogged down by life? What if I start to forget my true value (God likes me and thinks I am cool) and start to focus on trivial things (like if people like me and think I'm cool).

Well, after praying about it, God directed me to this:

Romans 6
11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

For me, the sin that reigns pretty often in my mortal body is anger. I get really fired up sometimes. It's a physical thing, I feel it in my mortal body. But, I see in the verse above that I am not to let that sin reign in me. Instead, I am to offer myself to God- offer the parts of my body to him as instruments of grace. And then! Sin will not be reigning in my body, because I am using body for good.
If I remember to have my body doing God's work, there is no time for it to be doing sin's work.
And that brings me back to Crazy Love and true religion.

James 1
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

If you are busy looking after God's creation, especially his people, there is no room in your body or in your life for sin.

It seems that when you are having trouble with your own self, it is in your best interest to look outward instead of inward. That's God- always doing things opposite of human wisdom. You would think if you are having trouble with self esteem or anger that you should focus on yourself and try to straighten things out. But God suggests getting over yourself and doing what he commanded- love your neighbor, baby.

Remember who you are. Remember what you are here to do. And everything else falls into place in God's perfect plan.

XOXO
Jocelyn

Janet

She’s with Jesus, happy, free

She’s waiting there for you, for me

Her heart is blessed and she sings

Heaven with her praises, rings

Her favorite hymns are on her lips

As she looks for you, hands on hips

Do not fail to meet her. Ponder

Count the cost to make it yonder

As you rest in this maple’s shade

What on this earth would you trade

To meet her in that lovely place

Surrounded by God’s precious grace

She walks beside the crystal sea

Waiting there for you, for me.
 
XOXO
Jocelyn

Pick one

I base my opinion about the Bible on what I believe about the world.

I base my opinion about the world on what I believe about the Bible.

Don't Worry.... : )

So, a certain friend of mine is expecting number four. Number three is almost one. Number two is three. Number one is five. She has been feeling some worry about the future. How is homeschooling going to go? How is three months with hubby away for training going to go? How is four kids five and under going to go?
Well, I don't know. But I do know that God knows. And He cares. And He's got it covered. Every day, He's ready. He's got it. So. If you are worried about tomorrow- let God have today. And when you see His hand today, you won't have too much trouble trusting that He also holds tomorrow.

I was reading along in my Bible this morning, and Jesus had something to say about it, too. He puts it so well, I guess I'll just let Him say it.


Do Not Worry


25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

XOXO
Joce

Taking Him Seriously

An Eye for an Eye


38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
 
This goes so against my grain. It seems like this method will enable lazy people. It could cause people to treat you like a doormat, really USE you. I don't like to feel USED. You know? What the heck was Jesus talking about? Maybe He didn't mean it literally. Maybe He didn't really mean it at all. Maybe He didn't know so-and-so (fill in the blank here) who would take folks for everything they've got.  And then, I got to thinking (under the direction of the HOLY SPIRIT, I'll betcha).
 
Imagine what must go through someone's mind when, upon scheming and forcing you to give them your time, money, or possesions, you happily give them even more than they tried to force from you.
You know who I'm talking about. We all have a family member or friend who manipulates to get more. That's all they think about- how to get you to pay for their meal, or spend more time with them, or give them the CD you just bought. Biblical example: Jacob, the heal grasper. I am talking about heal-graspers here.
 
Most people either flat out refuse them or grudgingly allow the person to pry it from their death-grip.
I personally fall into the second category- I will give people what they want, but I will make them ask for it straight. I want them to know that I know that they are manipulating me to ge their own way.
What would go on inside their head if someone were to say, "Yes, you can borrow (ie. take with no intention of returning) that CD. Oh, and here, this is the one they just came out with this year. It's my favorite." Or, "Oh, you don't have any cash on you? Do you need a $20.00 just in case you need something before you get paid?" Or, "You need some help with your floors? Can I do your dishes while I'm here?"
 
If you willingly give more than someone tries to take from you two things happen.

Number 1: They are no longer able to manipulate you. You are GIVING to them, instead of them TAKING from you. I know I feel a lot better about GIVING to people than I do about them TAKING from me.
I feel better.
 
Number 2: (This one is more important, I think.) Instead of feeling like the low-down dirty scoundrel of a schemer that they are, they feel blessed, ministered to, fulfilled. They feel loved.
They feel better.
 
Instead of breeding contempt on my part and guilt on theirs, there is generosity and love. Wow. Contempt and guilt versus generosity and love. Hmmm. Maybe Jesus did mean it literally.
 
Give.
 
XOXO
Joce

In the oven...July 2010

Honey Oat Farmhouse Bread:
2 T Yeast
1 C warm water
2 T Salt
1/4 C honey
6 T butter
2-3 C warm water
2 C oats
6-8 C flour

In a bowl combine yeast and 1 C water. Dissolve for 10-15 minutes. Add salt, honey, butter, stir. Add oats, flour, and water, (a bit of each at a time for easy mixing). Knead for 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, cover with tea towel. Let rise till doubled in size. Form into 4 loaves, let them rise for a while- 30 minutes or so, and then bake at 350 for 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Of course.

Zuccini Bread
Sift:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 C whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Beat:
3 eggs
1/2 C vegetable oil
1/2 C melted butter
1 C brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Combine wet and dry mixes, add:
4 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Pour into greased pans (I used 1 8X8 and 2 tiny loaf pans)
Bake at 325 45-60 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out with crumbs.

And for dessert...

Berries with Sweet Cream:

2 C heavy cream
5 eggs yolks
2 t vanilla
2/3 cup raw sugar- divided

In a sauce pan combine 1/3 C of the sugar with 2 C cream. Heat on medium low. Separate 5 eggs, give shells and whites to pigs (or whoever will eat them in your house). Don't forget to stir the cream! Combine yolks with the other 1/3 cup sugar. When the cream mixture starts to steam, turn it all the way down and slowly add half of the hot cream to egg mix (drizzle in the hot cream while frantically whisking the eggs). Then, add the egg/cream mix to the cream still in the pan in the same fashion (drizzling/frantic whisking). You must do the drizzling/whisking or you will end up with weird scrambled eggs that no one will eat. When everything is back in the same pan, turn the heat back up to medium low, stir gently for 3 minutes. Turn it off. Add the vanilla. Pour into clean quart jar, and refrigerate for a few hours. Then. Put some berries in a bowl. Pour the cream over the berries. Get a taste of heaven on earth.

XOXO
Joce

Blueberries 2010

Blueberries.
18 pounds in buckets.
1 hour.
12 pounds in the freezer.
1 hour.
5 quarts preserves.
2 hours.
1 pie.
1 hour.
-------------------------------
18 pounds.
5 hours.
Blueberries in my belly today and all year long.

XOXO
Joce


For reference:

Blueberry Jam
without added pectin

9 cups crushed berries
6 cups sugar

Yield: About 7 or 8 half-pint jars

Please read Using Boiling Water Canners before beginning. If this is your first time canning, it is recommended that you read Principles of Home Canning.

Procedure: Sterilize canning jars. Wash berries before crushing. Combine berries and sugar. Bring slowly to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Once sugar is dissolved, cook rapidly to , or almost to, the jellying point, depending upon whether a firm or soft jam is desired. As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking. Remove from heat and fill hot jam into hot, sterile jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; adjust two-piece metal canning lids. Process in a Boiling Water Canner.

NOTE: If seedless jam is preferred, crushed berries may be heated until soft and pressed through a sieve or food mill; then add sugar and proceed as above.

Blueberry Pie
(filling)


4 cups fresh blueberries

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon lemon juice (or 1 teaspoon citric acid in 1 tablespoon water)

In a saucepan, combine 4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, water, cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 3/4 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes or until thick and clear. Add butter and lemon juice.

Where to pick?
Hill n Hollow

Supper Tonight

Chicken that used to be tough as nails and is not anymore Marinade:

Ingredients


1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

3/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup lime juice

2 tablespoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

2 tablespoons dried parsley
 
Cheesy Rice:
 
3 cups cooked rice
 
1 can mushroom soup
 
1 cup shredded cheddar
 
1 cup shredded mozzarella
 
butter
 
onions pureed to hide
 
garlic also pureed for hiding purposes
 
spices
 
Cook the rice.
Then, melt butter in a larege saucepan. Saute onions and garlic. Add the soup, and some milk, oh- and some sour cream too if you have it. Then add the cheeses- melt. Then spice to taste. I used some garlic salt, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Add the rice.