"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/PATTwildstripes.html

So, the PATT is 94 rows three times.  I just finished row 84 of the FIRST time.  WOOHOO!  Flying through it, eh?!? 

I printed out the PATT on 4/22/2006, the day I ordered the yarn and needles.  More than three years later, I'm again determined to finish it.  Posie is going to enjoy it in the truck since she asks for a blankie when she's cold.  When I actually finish it, I will visit http://www.alittlefabricstore.com to pick out the backing for it.  Sweet!

I won't post about it again until it is completed.  With so many pressing projects, I HOPE this one will be priority one!  I have a sweet cardi, that dreamy afghan, a crazy scarf, a baby hat for a gift, and a secret going all at the same time.  WHY!?! 

Tonight we're having stew and crackers.  I'm using axis deer meat.  It smells so good.

Here's the line up for the rest of the week:

Saturday-roast, baked potatoes, brocolli

Sunday-crockpot lasagna, salad

Monday-beans, cornbread, salad

Tuesday-bbq, slaw, beans

Wednesday-baked turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies

Thursday-chili, rice, salad

Friday-sausage and potato casserole, peas

Wow!  An extra day, to boot.  No need to think about a menu plan until next Friday afternoon.  WHEW! 

Last week we planted some broc, cauliflower, and chinese cabbage plants in the garden.  The summer bell peppers are still producing and the green beans for fall have come up.  Hubby tilled the areas that weren't being used and got things ready for more veggies.

Yesterday I planted 18 lettuces.  I THOUGT all of them were romaine, but it turns out that 12 of the 18 plants were bibb lettuce.  It'll still be wonderful salad in several weeks.  I also purchased 18 early jersey wakefield cabbage plants.  They will make a pointed cabbage that has a butter taste to it.

We need to get a row of carrot seeds planted and some mustard greens and turnips.  We're also putting in a row of purple onions over the weekend.  I think the peas will be planted, too.

Yum is growing!

Last evening began the celebration of Yom Kippur.....I like to think of it as the Day of AtOneMent.  Yes, it is usually written atonement.  But, since Jesus has redeemed us, we can be AT ONE with God!  That's the best reason to celebrate!

Here are some favorite Bible verses to read at this time of year:

"'Come now, and let us reason together,'  Says the LORD, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.'

'If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.'

Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

-Isaiah 1:18-20

"For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.  Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would not longer have had consciousness of sins?  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins....but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 'THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:   I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM.'  He then says, 'AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE,'  Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin."

-Hebrews 10:1-4, 12-18

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation...For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.  Otherwise, He would have neede to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."

-Hebrews 9:11, 24-28

"'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.'"

-John 3:16

"THEREFORE having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

-Romans 5:1-2

Yes!  I made the Apple-Honey Challah that I posted about a few weeks ago.  It was wonderful.  I even made the absolute best ever french toast this morning with the left overs.  My family said I have to make it every year (and more often if I love them), heh. 

I got the recipe out of Martha Stewart's "Living" magazine.  Since I tweaked it into french toast, I'm calling it MY recipe now. 

Apple-Honey Challah French Toast

1 stick unsalted butter, plus more for bowl, pan, and plastic

3 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour, plus more for surface

3/4 cup warm water

2/3 cup honey

2 large eggs plus 3 egg yolks

2 tsp. active dry yeast (one envelope)

2 tsp. coarse salt (I used kosher salt)

1 1/2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 in. thick slices (about 1 3/4 cups)

What I did to make this for breakfast today:

On Friday, late morning, I ran to the store for the kosher coarse salt.  I hadn't realized that I was out, but it meant fresh GS apples, too!  Whew.  The others were a little droopy. 

Got home and reread the recipe.  YIKES!  Martha!  This recipe requires the bread to rise THREE times!  I hadn't planned for that even though I'd read it a few weeks ago.  I needed to be 45 miles away by 4:15 p.m. to drop off an invoice and pick up a check.  So, this was a little stressful.  But, I was determined to have a happy new year by celebrating Rosh Hashanah.  So, this just had to be baked! 

I melted 4 Tbs. of the butter in my smallest saucepan over medium-low heat and let it cool.  While it was melting, I got out all of my measuring utensils and a couple of bowls.  I measured out the dry ingredients into various bowls so I could make sure I had everything ready at the right times.  I don't normally do this, but when I'm following a Martha recipe, I usually go all out.  Heh.

When the butter was ready, I put 2 Tbs. of it into my medium sized glass mixing bowl.  I added the flour, water, 1/3 cup of the honey (which I had to heat up in the microwave as it was a bit crystalized,) the eggs and yolks, yeast, and salt to the bowl and mixed it until a dough formed.  Then, I turned it out onto my counter top.  It was floured before the blob of dough plopped onto it and made a big puff of flour go into the air.

After I needed it about 10 minutes, it became very smooth.  I buttered the largest sized bowl and put the dough into it.  I brushed a tablespoon of the butter on the top and covered it with plastic.  I put it by my kitchen window for an hour and a half to let it rise.  It was about double in size, but not quite.  It smelled SO GOOD already!  While I was waiting for this to happen, I made sure to clean everything up so I could use the counter top again and I cleaned the kitchen cabinets.  Even though I used the oven timer for the whole recipe, I was a bit nervous about leaving the dough unattended.  I guess because I was in such a time crunch the whole day. 

Next, I refloured the countertop and plopped the dough out again.  I patted it into a rectangle about 8 1/2 x 14 in.  I had peeled, cored, and chopped the apple during the rising time.  Now it was time to spread the pieces on top of this rectangle I'd made.  Then, I kneaded them in and put the dough back into the bowl.  I used the last little bit of melted butter to brush on the top and covered it with the plastic.

This time it had to rise again by the warm window until it was almost double.  That took another hour.  I'm glad I used the timer, or I'd have been sidetracked, I'm sure. 

I followed the directions to preheat the oven after the hour timer went off.  But, next time, I'll wait 'til later to do this because it was just wasted energy.  My oven preheats quickly and it didn't need to be ready until right before the hour was up.  The scary thing is that you bake this bread with the rack in the lowest position.  EEK!    But, don't worry, it does turn out fine.

I had a 9 in. round cake pan ready and buttered when it was time to turn the dough out again.  I rolled the dough into a rope (about 24 in.) on the floured counter top.  I tried coiling it into a circle, but it seemed "too big" to me and I stretched it out a bit more and recoiled it.  Next time, I'll coil it too big anyway and not change it.  Part of the beauty of this bread is the fact that it is supposed to puff up and look like a crown.  I think my stretching it made it come out a little "shorter" than it would have the first coil.

I put the coiled circle of dough into the pan and covered it with buttered plastic this time before putting it by the window to rise for another 45 minutes.  It was almost double in size again. 

Just before the timer went off, I heated the remaining 4 Tbs. of butter and 1/3 cup of honey in my little saucepan until the butter melted.  I brushed the dough with half the honey-butter and baked it for 35 minutes.  It came out a little more golden than the picture in the magazine, but it was firm and beautiful!

When I took the challah out of the oven, I brushed it with the rest of the honey-butter and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes.  Yes, I had the timer on for this, too.  I had to be able to "plate" it and head to town as soon as the timer went off.  The recipe said to "turn out loaf from pan, and let cool."  I basically did this, but not on a wire rack.  I put it on a pretty plate with flowers painted around the edges and we scooted to town ON TIME!  Hallelujah!

So, we enjoyed a few pieces of challah while we watched the CBN Rosh Hashanah celebration on the web at my parents' house.  Then, I brought the rest of the loaf home.  Hubby and Scooter each tried it when they got home yesterday from an out of town trip. 

Now, for the french toast part.  I sliced up the rest of the loaf this morning.  Cracked a few eggs in a bowl.  Added a little milk.  Dipped the slices into the mixture and toasted them in a hot pan.  Plated the toast and added powdered sugar and/or syrup depending on individual taste preferences.  It was enjoyed by all! 

I may use my brother and sister-in-law's Christmas recipe for the french toast next time.  They use day old french bread and dip it in eggnog.  I think this apple-honey challah will taste even better made that way.

YUMMY NEW YEAR!

Blessed [happy] is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the eat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

-PSALM 1:1-3, NIV

Psalm 27

I just received the newest issue of "Living" in the mail.  It includes a recipe for Apple-Honey Challah which makes one 9-inch round loaf.  I can't wait to make it for Rosh Hashanah!  Oh, YUM! 

The recipe calles for butter, bread flour, warm water, honey, eggs and yolks, active dry yeast, coarse salt, and tart green apples (I'll use Granny Smith, I'm sure.)  It will need to rise a couple of times, so I'll have to plan for this!!!

The picture is just gorgeous!  I can't wait to share it with my family!

We're working on our ability to be steadfast in our daily structure right now.  Patience is coming alongside.  There's no need to blog right now as it just gets in the way.

Maybe later...

It's getting too hot and dry for our garden.  Even watering it daily, the plants are withering up.  I plan to pull out the squash plants this afternoon, LATE.  It's been 100+ for a few days now.  The peas have dried nicely due to the heat.  So, they can be shelled in the evenings while we sit in lawn chairs once it's cool enough.

The garden has been a blessing.  Some of the tomato plants will stay.  Others will be pulled up.  The peppers can be babied through to fall.  The melons are getting ripe enough to pick.  More peas will be planted for the fall.  We plan to plant smaller for the fall.  The big garden on the hill will have peas and pumpkins.  The garden in the backyard will have a few tomatoes, the babied peppers, brocolli, cauliflower and cabbage. 

Canning has been a big undertaking as it hit when I didn't have any of the kids or Daddy around to help out.  But, I did have fun doing it this year.  I have also realized that the fall won't offer much time for canning.  So, having a garden sized for daily fresh veggies will be quite enough.  If we do happen to have a bit extra, I can handle it.  But, I'm not in the "putting food by" mode for the rest of this year.  I may end up putting up some cabbage, but that will be it except for drying peppers and peas.

WHEW! 

Thank You, God, for all the wonderful food You've provided this year!

I put up 12 pints of this recipe recently.  It is SOOOOOOOOOO good!  I used 1 1/2 cups sugar and used the celery option.  But, I just realized after looking at it that I forgot the garlic listed in the celery option.  RATS!  Maybe next time.  I found this recipe in Ball Blue Book of Preserving.

Corn Relish

Yield:  about 6 pints

2 quarts cut cooked corn (about 9 large ears or 18 small ears, learned this the hard way after shucking 18 large ears!) 

1 quart chopped cabbage (about 1 small head.....if you're from Texas, think VERY SMALL.) 

1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium.....just chop 1 cup of onion, don't guess.)

1 cup chopped sweet green peppers (about 2 small.....again, measure.)

1 cup chopped sweet red peppers (about 2 small....measure.)

1 to 2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons dry mustard

1 tablespoon celery seed

1 tablespoon mustard seed

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon turmeric

1 quart vinegar

1 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepot.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.  Pack hot relish into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.   Remove air bubbles.  Adjust two-piece caps.  Process 15 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

Recipe Variation:  To make relish without cabbage, substitute 1 cup chopped celery for cabbage.  Add 1 clove garlic, minced.  Follow directions in recipe.

NOTE:  I didn't water bath mine.  After 20 minutes simmer, I packed it into the jars, got the air out, tightened the caps, and turned them upside down on hot pot holders.  This sealed every jar.  I do this with my tomatoes, too.

I've been canning a lot lately!  At times it is an exhausting process.  Other times I enjoy it.  Today hasn't exactly been one of those days.  Sis is sick on the couch.  Daddy and Bubba have been out of town for a while.  Scooter is worn out.  Howdy is rowdy.  And, Posie is being nosey.  She's into everything while I'm trying to get things done.

I was almost through making six quarts of "hamburger dills" when I noticed the size of the mustard seeds that I use for various recipes.  They are so tiny.  I was reminded that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.  I thought to myself, "I have more faith than the size of a mustard seed."  It really cheered me up.  And, I was able to get through the canning and look forward to all the cleanup.  I also realized that getting through the days of canning, laundry, sick kids, rowdy kids, moody kids, traveling husband and/or kids, gardening and homeschoooling all require faith to get through.  Just knowing that faith the size of a mustard see can move a mountain or more really helped me realize that I have to remember that I have more faith than a mustard seed in the first place.  So, these challenges are nothing for me to handle with God's help!

WHEW!  What a small thing to do. 

I think I'll try this recipe since I have so many cucumbers that "got away" from me.  They are big.  I'll take the seeds out before I use them for this recipe.  And, I'm going to have to make some adjustments as the original recipe is based on onions from up north.  Texas 1015's are huge and would over power the recipe.  I'll tweak it a bit and find out what works for our family.  We like relish on hot dogs or sausage wraps.

CUCUMBER RELISH

25 or 30 medium cucumbers

20 onions

1 qt. vinegar

6 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. mustard seed

1 1/2 tsp. celery seed

Chop the cucumbers and onion in blender, but do not overload blender.  Add water to cover the vegetables.  Drain in a colander.  Add 1 handfull of salt to vegetables.  Let stand for 2 hours.  Drain and squeeze out with hands.

Mix the vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, and celery seeds well with the cucumbers and onions.  Bring to a boil for about 30 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium for about 10 minutes.  Pack in jars and seal.

I got this recipe from my friend, Janet.  She cans lots and lots of veggies every year, so I trust her recipes.  I've never tried this one, but we have okra coming in daily and I needed to get some put up.  I made one quart by cutting the recipe in half and using a quart jar instead of two pints.  It should be ready on September 18th!

DILL PICKLED OKRA

2 lb. young okra

celery leaves

4 cloves garlic

4 sprigs dill

2 c. water

2 c. distilled white vinegar

2 Tbsp. salt

Scrub okra and pack whole pods into sterilized jars.  In each jar, insert a few celery leaves, 1 garlic clove (peeled) and 1 sprig dill.

Bring water, vinegar and salt to a boil.  Pour the boiling liquid over the okra and seal jars.  Process for 5 mintes.  Let the okra stand for about 1 month before using.  Makes 4 pints.

I made these a couple of days ago.  I use a recipe that my friend Gloria gave me years ago.  It's super easy and a family favorite.

ICEBOX PICKLES

7 c. medium cucumbers, sliced fairly thin

1 c. white vinegar

2 c. sugar

1 Tbsp. pickling salt

1 tsp. celery seed

1 mustard seed

1 c. sliced onion

Boil the vinegar and sugar together one minute after it comes to a boil; cool.  On the cucumbers and onion, put 1 tablespoon pickling salt.  Let it set for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.  Put in colander and drain.  Add the celery seed and mustard see.  Pour vinegar and sugar over cucumbers and refrigerate.  It will keep indefinitely.  Can also be frozen.

EEK!    I just realized that I also put in 1 tablespoon of pickling spices the other day in my busyness.    Hmmmmmm.  Well, whatever I made is a new recipe.  If it goes over well, I'll make a note of it. 

Hebrews 10:36 NIV

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

James 1:4 NIV

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anythinng.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anthing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We finished our study of Romans this afternoon.  We've decided to study Proverbs next.  Wise choice. 

I'm also reading In the Footsteps of the Rabbi from Tarsus, by Dr. Jeffrey L. Seif.  It's excellent.

Psalm 119:165 NIV

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Neh. 8:10 NIV

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Our garden has been in full gear for a few weeks now!  We've been eating yellow squash, spaghetti squash, scallopped squash, zuchinni, and green beans for a while now.  Almost on a daily basis we have a couple of baskets of produce to bring in the house.

I've put up 9 pints of yellow wax bean pickles.  I'm going to begin canning green beans, too.  We only have a few tomatoes that have ripened enough to eat so far.  But, there are literally hundreds of pounds more to be ready soon.  And, they will probably all be ready at the same time!

It looks like we'll have corn on the cob by the end of this week.  Oh, YUM!  We picked two baskets of potatoes this weekend and had some with green beans.  I also made a pot of parslied potatoes last night.  MY FAVORITE!  We're picking them earlier than planned, but a gopher had a heyday in them and ate quite a bit without us knowing he had set up residence.  We have a couple more baskets to pick soon.

The okra looks like it will be ready in a week, or so.  The purple hull peas will soon need picking, too.  The onions will take a bit longer.  The garlic will be quite a while.  

Cucumbers are straggling in, but I think I have enough now to make icebox pickles.  Cucumber salad has been a hit with Hubby as the evenings have been quite hot lately.  He's hoping that I'll get a better recipe for dill pickles this year.  We haven't liked the ones I've put up in the past.  

The cantaloupe and watermelon are vining all over the place.  I can't wait to have a seed spitting contest!   

Yesterday, Hubby and I planted some sweet potato slips.  We're hoping this project works out.

Thank You, God, for our garden.

John 15:8-12 NIV

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:13-14 NIV

You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command:  "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Galatians 5:5-6 NIV

But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that count is faith expressing itself through love.

Acts 1:4-8 NIV

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave tehm this command:  "do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will baptized with the Holy Spirit."  So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"  He said to them:  "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Philippians 2:5-7 KJV

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon himthe form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 3:16-17 NIV

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

1 John 3:11-18 NIV

This is the message you heard from the beginning:  We should love one another.  Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him?  Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.  Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.  Anyone who does not love remains in death.  Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.  This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

John 13:34-35 NIV

"A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Matt.  28:19-20 NIV

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age."

It is raining today.  It is so peaceful.  The day is moving slowly and quietly.  We've cleaned out two drawers and the closet in our room.  There is another large pile of clothing, books, cds, and cassettes for others who come to our garage sale next week.  I can't wait to find new homes for things we no longer use or need.

Posie has been "reading" books.  Howdy has enjoyed splashing.  Sis completed more math and visited with her friend on the telephone.  Bubba and Scooter have helped Daddy and have enjoyed the quiet.  We hope to learn a new domino game this evening.

I myself feel a nap coming on........

Lev. 19:13

"Every one of you shall reverance his mother and his father, and you shall keep My sabbaths; I am the LORD your God."

Prov. 1:8

"Hear, my son, your father's instruction, And do not forsake your mother's teaching."

Prov. 6:20

"My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother."

Oh, my goodness!  I've been studying Hebraic education for quite some time.  Several years, in fact.  But, I just looked up what a typical "yeshiva" calendar year/daily routine would look like and we're definitely slackers!

YIKES!

"THE wilderness and the desert will be glad,

And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom;

Like the crocus

It will blossom profusely

And rejoice with rejoicing

and shout of joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They will see the glory of the LORD,

The majesty of our God.

Encourage the exhausted,

and strengthen the feeble.

Say to those with anxious

heart,

'Take courage, fear not,

Behold, your God will come

with vengeance;

The reompense of God will come,

But He will save you.'

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

And the ears of the deaf will be

unstopped.

Then the lame will leap like a

deer,

And teh tongue of the dumb

will shout for joy,

For waters will break forth in

the wilderness

And streams in the Arabah.

And the scorched land will

become a pool,

And the thirsty ground

springs of water;

In the haunt of jackals, its

resting place,

Grass becomes reeds and

rushes.

And a highway will be there,

a roadway,

And it will be called the High-

way of Holiness.

The unclean will not travel on

it.

But it will be for him who

walks that way,

And fools will not wander on

it.

No lion will be there,

Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;

These will not be found there.

But the redeemed will walk

there,

And the ransomed of the

LORD will return,

And come with joyful shout-

ing to Zion,

With everlasting joy upon

their heads.

They will find gladness and

joy,

and sorrow and sighing will

flee away."

Isaiah Chapter 35, NAS

"For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. 

And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.  And it will come about when you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, that you shall observe this rite.

And it will come about when your children will say to you, 'What does this rite mean to you?' that you shall say, 'It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'  And the people bowed low and worshiped. 

Then the sons of Israel went and did so; just as teh LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did."

Exodus 12:23-28

Today we are relaxing!  Howdy had an excellent reading lesson!  It was awesome!  Sis is working on a math lesson.  Posie is playing and laughing, and dancing.  Daddy has Scooter and Bubba with him on a big boys' trip.  So, we'll celebrate Passover quietly at home without them.  We're going to watch The Prince of Egypt this evening after supper.  We won't be eating lamb.

"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"  John 1:29

We have a different perspective on the sacrifice of Passover.  We remember being slaves to sin and that the LORD will see His blood on the doorposts of our hearts and Passover us! 

A wonderful cd for Passover music is Nashville The Prince of Egypt!  My favorite song on the cd is "Slavery, Deliverance and Faith," sung by Clint Black.  I found it at our local library last week and we've enjoyed it ever since! 

"NOW we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 'THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED THEE FELL UPON ME.'

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 15:1-6

We had lots of friends over this weekend.  The first family came a bit after lunch on Saturday and we butchered 31 or 32 chickens and a couple of turkeys!  It was long and fun work. 

Just as we were finishing up, the other family came with all the fixings for hamburgers for all of us.  All of our kids had fun well into the night while the six grownups enjoyed the evening in the backyard. 

What a blessing spontaneous laughter can be during the spring!

"Consider this:  You do not support the root, but the root supports you." 

Romans 11:18b

"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." 

Ephesians 2:19

"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised."

Acts 1:4

"They called the apostles in and had them flogged.  Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

Acts 5:40

"Anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue."

John 9:22

"'Do you see all these great buildings?' replied Jesus.  'Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'"

Mark 13:2

"I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars-I will make them come and fall down at your feet."

Revelation 3:9

"From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 3:15

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:2

"He must  hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."

Titus 1:9

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."

Proverbs 18:22

"When I see the blood, I will pass over you."

Exodus 12:13

"The whole land of Canaan...I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you."

Genesis 17:8

"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."

Proverbs 4:13

"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

1 John 3:18

Verses from Our Father Abraham:  Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith, by Marvin R. Wilson

"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."

Proverbs 4:13

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 1:7

"But beyond this, my son, be warned:  the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.  The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." 

Ecclesiastes 12:12-13

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

"I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." 

Psalm 16:8

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make Your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

"'May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with out fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.  And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.'"

I Kings 8:57-60

"For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nulify the things that aer,

that no man should boast before God.

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

that, just as it is written, 'LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.'"

     I Corinthians 1:26-31

When Peter and the apostles wouldn't keep silent about Jesus, they found themselves being told to "hush up."  I was reading about it in Acts chapter 5:27-32 NAS.

"And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council.  And the high priest questioned them,

saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.'

But Peter and the apostles answered and said, 'We must obey God rather than men.

'The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hangining Him on a cross.

'He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

'And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.'

Then, I read from verses 33-42.  What amazed me was that a Pharisee (perushim or Chaberim, the first meaning distinct or separatists, the second which they chose for themselves meaning associates) actually acknowledged for all time that these men would either disappear on their own, OR would be proven to be telling the Truth.  Guess what?!?  It has become obvious by this Pharisee's own accurate observation that one of those options was the Answer and that it was that they were telling of the Truth!

"But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and were intending to slay them.  But a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

'For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him.  And he was slain; and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

'After this man Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away some people after him, he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.

'And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action should be of men, it will be overthrown;

but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.'

And they took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

By his own counsel, Gamaliel explained to the rest of us that these men did speak the Truth as Christians HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED! 

Father, help our children to be alert and self-controlled in all they do.

"Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and  they shall not escape.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 

For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 

Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NAS

After kicking around the idea of making orange jelly, I've decided to make more marmalade instead.  We looked up information in the encyclopedia that made me realize it'd be a whole lot cheaper!  Oranges have pectin in the white fibers of the peel.  That'll save me a bunch of $ since pectin in a box is running close to $2.  That little box doesn't go very far. 

I may add a bit of pineapple to a batch.  But, that will depend on how many oranges we have left to put up.  I will be adding sugar this time.  I'm thinking it's going to take all week to do all of them.  I just hope I have plenty jars.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/blog/

The Hillbilly Housewife shared some YouTube entries that she found recently on cooking during the depression era.  Clara, a woman who grew up during that time period, made them for the rest of us to encourage us to be healthy even on a frugal budget.  I'm so glad to know that she is continuing to help others at her age.  Makes me excited to grow old and share what I'm learning.

In the fall of 2005, My Love bought me some of the most scrumptious wool I'd ever seen.  Hanks and hanks of Manos del Uruguay came home from Austin in a bag from Hill Country Weavers.  I "knew" what it would become "soon."  But, after beginning the afghan of choice, I ripped it out and balled it up again.  Then, it would "soon" become a shawl using one of Elizabeth Zimmermann's charming patterns.  I'd almost finished it, but couldn't figure out the trim work.  It, too, turned back into balls of wool.

In December of last year, I realized that BIG projects aren't for me, BUT I do finish small ones.  I'd finished several dishcloths from a book called Color-Splash Dishcloths by Evelyn A. Clark.  There are 15 designs to knit in the book that I purchased from Wal-Mart years ago.  Most of them are nine inch squares when using a size 8 needle and cotton worsted weight yarn.  Looking at one of the dishcloths one day, I realized I had a way to finally make an afghan!

I am using my precious wool and a size 13 circular needle to make bigger squares.  These will be stitched together when I have enough for the afghan.  I finished the first in December, another in January, and today I finished the third.  I'm hoping to knit one square each month and then learn to crochet them together before the end of the year.  What a cozy Christmas it will be!  

It's February and we're getting ready for Thanksgiving already!  The turkey chicks will be here in a couple of weeks.  I can smell one baking in the oven already.  The dressing will be moist with apples, onions, and celery.  The gravy will be giblet-FREE!  The fresh veggies from the garden will be steamed and colorful.  And, there will be homemade cranberry sauce on the side.  I made it this morning!

Cranberry Sauce-

1 qt. cranberries, washed and picked over (I used a 16 oz. bag that was in the freezer.  I let it thaw out over night in the fridge.)

1 c. water

2 c. sugar (I used a bit less.)

I put the cranberries in a pot.  Added the water.  Cooked them until tender.  The original recipe suggested pressing the juice out and discarding the rest of the fruit.  I just mashed 'em up in the pot for a more "organic" feel.  The sugar was added and then I boiled it for a few more minutes.  I filled two pint jars and put them in an open water bath for about 15 minutes.  They both sealed!

The color is beautiful!  I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

I wonder what life was like at home during the "Great Depression?"  I'm writing that in quotes because at some point, it may no longer be called the Great Depression.  It may have just been the Big Setup.  Heh!

I think it might have been similar to our life without blogs and e-mail.  I'm sure that had we lived in that time at this very location, we'd have had the same gardens, the chickens and turkeys, the two silly dogs, maybe an extra horse, possibly the bottle fed baby deer, and no H/AC.  We've done without the H/AC since September of last year.  So, it isn't different there.  We have watched the television and used electric appliances, however.  Hmmmmmmm.  We have some things to give up in our quest to relive the time period. 

I know we wouldn't have had the freezer that sits in our garage.  I'm fairly certain we'd have had a much smaller way to keep anything cold for any length of time.  I'm going to research what that would have been this week.  I am canning fruits this week that have been stored in the freezer.  We are also looking at recipes to put meats and veggies in jars as well.  I used to can veggies quite often, but got into the habit of depending on the freezer.  I want to pull as much out of it as possible to can or dehydrate. 

We also have huge time savers in the laundry department.  I'm not rushing to give up the washing machine anytime soon.  But, we rarely use the dryer.  I do need additional clotheslines as we are a fairly large family and need more room to dry our clothes.  I need to make some more liquid laundry detergent as it does seem to be much cheaper than even my favorite Arm and Hammer liquid.  But, when?

I want to find yeast free recipes that would mean breads/crackers could be kept a bit longer.  Hmmmm.  I'm not sure of a method for storing these.  But, the search continues.

We do know a bit about learning in the time period.  It was mainly the 3R's.  YEAH!  That's how we learn at our house.  Many of the books we use are from the time period!  Interesting that those who got an education at the time were much better educated than children today.  Hmmmmm.  Makes you wonder, who gave it it's name?