Wake up call for us all!
Good morning; and isn't it good to be loved by Our God?
Blessings to you and may He shine all glory on you this morning!
~~~~~~
Last night I watched television with my husband and I almost left the room a couple times because some stuff is almost too much to hear; but, we must stay tuned in and aware about what is happening all around us and happening very quickly.
Nothing is new.....it has all been happening for probably more than a hundred years; but, we are coming to the wind up; and the spring is ready to snap!
After a dose of the news.....FOX; by the way is the only news we watch and listen to....then Hannity, then we watched and listened to The Conspiracy. It was a drop open the mouth time and some what un-real. I would lean towards someone having to many drugs and having their brain cells fried if not for footage that showed things happening and the people had their faces seen. Faces that most of us know and have seen many times. Clintons for some and obama was there too.
Plans to depopulate from the over 7 million people down to 5 million. A real Holocaust and done through the foods and meds that we take. One being that H1N1 nasal and vaccine garbage.
Not only are we to be affected and taken out this way...."THE CULLING PROCESS"; but also through poisons in the foods. They will take the lives of us that are already weakened in the immune systems; and the plan is to add ingredients that will sterilize. Crop dusting, lab made illnesses...and the list just went on...
Have you shook your head yet; or perhaps are saying..."OH MY GOD!"? I did both last night. Then I prayed and asked God to intervene once again for all that is happening.Whether we believe it in ourselves or not, the evidence is seen and also are the signs all showing.
I sometimes feel like we are in a room with a really horrifying movie on and the television won't turn off.
The truth of the matter is~~~~it is happening; it is not a movie; it is not a dream.....it is reality and one that we better be ready for.
The good news?
Jesus loves us and as our God He promises that He will never give us more than we can handle. I believe Him and I more than trust Him. He never promised that we would never have to go through trials and some tribulation; but, He does promise that we will not go through the GREAT TRIBULATION.
Folks, it is time for us to receive the wake up call and draw ever near to Our Savior. Without Him how will we ever make it through?
This coming New Year I will be concentrating on them that want to walk close to The Lord. Them that have a real desire to make Heaven their home and Jesus their Lord, them that have a real desire to know Him. There is no more time to keep trying to convince true heathens. They do not want to serve Him and they only want to try and undo what God has done in others lives. They are cold and among the walking dead.
There are so many lost that are seeking and I want to be real to them. To lead them to the Fountain of God; leave them at His feet and look for others that are thirsty and hungry. I pray that God leads me and gives me all the courage and things needed to go out and do the work that is set before me.
Will you deny your selves and follow His lead also? We are needed now and the cry of the lost and dying world is waiting.
To Him be all the glory for the things that happen according to His way. In Jesus name!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Nifty little house hold helps
Niffty little helps
Thinking about painting; but, just are not looking forward to all the mess? Try this and see if it helps....Take a rubber band and place around the can....from the bottom to the top; then just run your roller past it or the brush and it works just like the professional paint drippers do.
~~~~
How about standing on a ladder with nails in your mouth so that you don't have to crawl up and down for more? Try this....attach a magnet to the top of the ladder and the nails will stay there until they are needed.
~~~~
I love my candles; but I do get a little uptight when they drip all over what ever they have in reach; so try this.....place the candles in the freezer, that ought to remind you where they are when the lights go out too; but, best of all....they do not drip.
Another nifty little trick.....soak the candles over night in salt water and when you need them....they won't drip.
~~~~
Hate that old plunger or snake? Try this....
1/2 c. of baking soda
1/2 c. of vinegar
after 1/2 an hour, dump a pan of boiling water down the sink, tub.
Not all clogs can end with a happy slurp...you might have to plunge or call the plumber.
~~~~
Tired of all the plastic grocery bags?
Bottle them.
Cut the bottom off from the 2 liter
cram all the plastic bags in and just pull one out of the neck when you need it.
Attach the bottle to an area where you want to keep it; or use a string through the top like a bucket and hang it some where.
You can also make a nice cover to go over it.
~~~~
Smelly and dull garbage disposal?
Throw a tray of ice cubes in it and a citris fruit.
It gets all the built up grime and smell off from it.
~~~~
Dull scissors?Take a piece of tin foil, fold it in about 5 times....length wise and cut into the tin foil about 20 times. It works!
Thinking about painting; but, just are not looking forward to all the mess? Try this and see if it helps....Take a rubber band and place around the can....from the bottom to the top; then just run your roller past it or the brush and it works just like the professional paint drippers do.
~~~~
How about standing on a ladder with nails in your mouth so that you don't have to crawl up and down for more? Try this....attach a magnet to the top of the ladder and the nails will stay there until they are needed.
~~~~
I love my candles; but I do get a little uptight when they drip all over what ever they have in reach; so try this.....place the candles in the freezer, that ought to remind you where they are when the lights go out too; but, best of all....they do not drip.
Another nifty little trick.....soak the candles over night in salt water and when you need them....they won't drip.
~~~~
Hate that old plunger or snake? Try this....
1/2 c. of baking soda
1/2 c. of vinegar
after 1/2 an hour, dump a pan of boiling water down the sink, tub.
Not all clogs can end with a happy slurp...you might have to plunge or call the plumber.
~~~~
Tired of all the plastic grocery bags?
Bottle them.
Cut the bottom off from the 2 liter
cram all the plastic bags in and just pull one out of the neck when you need it.
Attach the bottle to an area where you want to keep it; or use a string through the top like a bucket and hang it some where.
You can also make a nice cover to go over it.
~~~~
Smelly and dull garbage disposal?
Throw a tray of ice cubes in it and a citris fruit.
It gets all the built up grime and smell off from it.
~~~~
Dull scissors?Take a piece of tin foil, fold it in about 5 times....length wise and cut into the tin foil about 20 times. It works!
Will barry finally have too? Let's see what Judge Carter does.
Judge Orders Early Discovery In Obama “Natural Born” Lawsuit
Judge David Carter, Central District of California, has ordered early discovery in a lawsuit questioning Barack Obama’s eligibility to hold the office based on his “natural born” citizenship status.
The issue of early discovery means Obama’s lawyers must produce documents, including his hospital records, birth certificate, name of doctor, and all of the signatures, proving his natural born status within 30 days.
Here is a copy of the court records ordering discovery.
The exact line for the order for discovery can be found at the top of page 2 in the document. The answer is between #1 through #4 and reads:
Unless there is a likelihood that upon motion by a Party the Court would order that any or all discovery is premature, the Court encourages the parties to begin discovery before the Scheduling Conference.
The order for discovery gets the evidence and prepares it as exhibits for the court date.
Current Hawaiian governor Linda Lingle, a Republican, sealed access to Obama’s birth certificate last October, effectively barring anyone but Obama himself from obtaining a copy.
Lawyer Orly Taitz, who is leading the suit, ecstatically proclaimed she can have Obama out of office in 30 days at a recent Tea Party rally:
Posted in Defeat Obama Central.
Tagged with David Carter, early discovery, Natural born citizen, Obama, Orly Taitz.
103 comments
By NewsGuy – September 15, 2009
Judge David Carter, Central District of California, has ordered early discovery in a lawsuit questioning Barack Obama’s eligibility to hold the office based on his “natural born” citizenship status.
The issue of early discovery means Obama’s lawyers must produce documents, including his hospital records, birth certificate, name of doctor, and all of the signatures, proving his natural born status within 30 days.
Here is a copy of the court records ordering discovery.
The exact line for the order for discovery can be found at the top of page 2 in the document. The answer is between #1 through #4 and reads:
Unless there is a likelihood that upon motion by a Party the Court would order that any or all discovery is premature, the Court encourages the parties to begin discovery before the Scheduling Conference.
The order for discovery gets the evidence and prepares it as exhibits for the court date.
Current Hawaiian governor Linda Lingle, a Republican, sealed access to Obama’s birth certificate last October, effectively barring anyone but Obama himself from obtaining a copy.
Lawyer Orly Taitz, who is leading the suit, ecstatically proclaimed she can have Obama out of office in 30 days at a recent Tea Party rally:
Posted in Defeat Obama Central.
Tagged with David Carter, early discovery, Natural born citizen, Obama, Orly Taitz.
103 comments
By NewsGuy – September 15, 2009
MENTALLY RETARDED ARE RUNNING THIS GOVERNMENT
The mentally retarded are in the leadership of this government!
If that is not politically correct enough for anyone; GET OVER IT!!!
My husband had the news going at 6 AM and what was the first thing I had to hear?
That the moron that got on the airplane.....known to be associated with the creep that shot up the military base recently, both known for terrorism....how in the hell did he get on the airplane????
UHH GEEE, UHHH DUHHHHH; seems to be the only thing coming from the big boys and girls that are in that department of the government and last but not least...monkey ass obama is wanting a full investigation to see how it happened. AGAIN!!!!!
This little twerp carried a bomb making explosive powder onto the plane in his underpants!
But, by all means....someone that is on a list as a known terrorist; should definitely be able to get on an airplane. No problem at all.
Hmmmmmmmm.....a man and woman made it in to a closed party at the White House,
before that there were several government men and women that made it into a government building, went into a public restroom and there they assembled a bomb. No one came to see why they were there and what they were up to, a psychologist that clearly had shown that he was warped was just transferred; and there he shot and killed military personal....the list just keeps going on and on.
Mentally retarded is all that there is to say to all of it.
If that is not politically correct enough for anyone; GET OVER IT!!!
My husband had the news going at 6 AM and what was the first thing I had to hear?
That the moron that got on the airplane.....known to be associated with the creep that shot up the military base recently, both known for terrorism....how in the hell did he get on the airplane????
UHH GEEE, UHHH DUHHHHH; seems to be the only thing coming from the big boys and girls that are in that department of the government and last but not least...monkey ass obama is wanting a full investigation to see how it happened. AGAIN!!!!!
This little twerp carried a bomb making explosive powder onto the plane in his underpants!
But, by all means....someone that is on a list as a known terrorist; should definitely be able to get on an airplane. No problem at all.
Hmmmmmmmm.....a man and woman made it in to a closed party at the White House,
before that there were several government men and women that made it into a government building, went into a public restroom and there they assembled a bomb. No one came to see why they were there and what they were up to, a psychologist that clearly had shown that he was warped was just transferred; and there he shot and killed military personal....the list just keeps going on and on.
Mentally retarded is all that there is to say to all of it.
Friday, December 25, 2009
forget the electric heating pads when you have this....
Forget the electric heating pads and the sock like rice packs you toss in the micro-wave when you can heat a rock or two. I started doing this when we first had a woodstove....like 34 years ago and now do it again that we are out here in the boonies. I just have flat rocks on my woodstove and they are forever hot when needed. Out here we lose the electricity a lot and I have to have my heating for my back....I started tossing them in my Granddaughter's bed before she would climb in; and now she does it on her own. Her Poppi's (Grandpa) socks and the rocks.
They hold the heat for a long time and we can depend on them when ever.
They hold the heat for a long time and we can depend on them when ever.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
IT IS DIET TIME~~~BIG TIME!!!!
OH I AM HEADING TOWARDS A SUPER DIET!!!
WOW!!!!
That is about all I can say!
I had my husband go get my nurse uniforms, scrubs and other clothes that I wore to work 5 years ago before i got hurt so that I could mail them to one of our girls that is a CNA now. I totally got depressed when I pulled the clothes out of the box to wash them. It probably didn't help that while I was staring at them in disbelief that my husband pops out with..."where did that skinny girl go!"
I held them up to myself and then with still disbelief...I said, "that is it! If you want goodies and all kinds of junk, then eat it in your truck!"
I am still trying to get it into my head that those clothes I wore 5 years ago are mine. Size 14-16 and now I wear a sz. 24.
So, I will enjoy the remainder of this year, I will eat the Christmas cookies, drink a hot buttered rum and share the candies and hot cocoas and then on the 1st of January...it is on!!! I have been on diets and some work...some do not. The one that I am going to go on and stay with it for the 1st 50 pounds will be the Atkins diet. That one is a good one and I lose fat and lose it fast.Then I will switch to Ally and mostly fruits and vegs. By that time my stomach and mind will find themselves again and I will stay on a well-balanced diet. Hoping and praying that by the following December 2010; I will be back into at least a 16.
Goodness!!! Surprizing how fast and easy it is to gain weight and as many pictures that we tear up, how many cakes we throw out to the chickens and dogs, how many times we scream and throw a pair of pants across a room, or open the door...screaming that the scale is a rotten liar...it doesn't change the fact that we are just FAT!!!!
My excuses are running out.
1st I was hurt and not mobile for 2 years.
2nd I deserved to pamper my self.
There are no 3rds and so ons......what is on is a major diet starting January 1st.
WOW!!!!
That is about all I can say!
I had my husband go get my nurse uniforms, scrubs and other clothes that I wore to work 5 years ago before i got hurt so that I could mail them to one of our girls that is a CNA now. I totally got depressed when I pulled the clothes out of the box to wash them. It probably didn't help that while I was staring at them in disbelief that my husband pops out with..."where did that skinny girl go!"
I held them up to myself and then with still disbelief...I said, "that is it! If you want goodies and all kinds of junk, then eat it in your truck!"
I am still trying to get it into my head that those clothes I wore 5 years ago are mine. Size 14-16 and now I wear a sz. 24.
So, I will enjoy the remainder of this year, I will eat the Christmas cookies, drink a hot buttered rum and share the candies and hot cocoas and then on the 1st of January...it is on!!! I have been on diets and some work...some do not. The one that I am going to go on and stay with it for the 1st 50 pounds will be the Atkins diet. That one is a good one and I lose fat and lose it fast.Then I will switch to Ally and mostly fruits and vegs. By that time my stomach and mind will find themselves again and I will stay on a well-balanced diet. Hoping and praying that by the following December 2010; I will be back into at least a 16.
Goodness!!! Surprizing how fast and easy it is to gain weight and as many pictures that we tear up, how many cakes we throw out to the chickens and dogs, how many times we scream and throw a pair of pants across a room, or open the door...screaming that the scale is a rotten liar...it doesn't change the fact that we are just FAT!!!!
My excuses are running out.
1st I was hurt and not mobile for 2 years.
2nd I deserved to pamper my self.
There are no 3rds and so ons......what is on is a major diet starting January 1st.
What do you think about these? I will have mine fnished by the middle of January.
I will make the curtains for the 2 windows near the fire place and the blanket for the rocking chair.
Both are made with denim material and mine will have more blue and gray than these do.
I do mine all hand stiched for a couple reasons~~It exercises my hand that I have problems with and it helps by being comforting; plus they just look nicer when they are hand done.
This will be the first curtains that I have had in our little cabin in the 4 years we have lived here. Not that we didn't have any; but, because it kept me from seeing what was happening all around us; and at night it is eautiful with the moon and the stars.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Gone With The Wind
No matter how many times I watch this movie...Gone with the wind...it is just as good.
To me it shows how selfishness gets us nothing; and messing people over to get ahead for our selves is a waste of time; and it still never brings happiness to the soul. Scarolette was a horrible woman and continued to stay in love with someone else's husband. When she had no man, no husband, no child......where did she return too? The place she came from. I believe if there were to be a sequel....she would still be just as nasty and ruthless. After 3 marriages, widowed 2 times, lost their little girl....she still had learned nothing.
Then the wife showed her compassion even knowing how she felt about her husband. On her death bed, she asked Scarlette to take care of her baby and ...yes....her husband.
The movie just shows that it is not how long we live our lives; it is how we live the life we have.
Scarlette will always be the woman that was a shrew and {{right now I can't remember the wife's name}}; but, she died trying to bring new life into the world because she loved her family. She showed forgiveness towards someone that hated her and would have taken her husband in a split second if she could have.
To me it shows how selfishness gets us nothing; and messing people over to get ahead for our selves is a waste of time; and it still never brings happiness to the soul. Scarolette was a horrible woman and continued to stay in love with someone else's husband. When she had no man, no husband, no child......where did she return too? The place she came from. I believe if there were to be a sequel....she would still be just as nasty and ruthless. After 3 marriages, widowed 2 times, lost their little girl....she still had learned nothing.
Then the wife showed her compassion even knowing how she felt about her husband. On her death bed, she asked Scarlette to take care of her baby and ...yes....her husband.
The movie just shows that it is not how long we live our lives; it is how we live the life we have.
Scarlette will always be the woman that was a shrew and {{right now I can't remember the wife's name}}; but, she died trying to bring new life into the world because she loved her family. She showed forgiveness towards someone that hated her and would have taken her husband in a split second if she could have.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
This is our tree for Christmas
I know she doesn't look very Christmas dressed yet; but she will.
I just don't want to cut one of our trees down for Christmas; so we will use one that I rescued from among the spalt piles and replanted in hopes that they would survive. I will deck her out on the 23rd with mini clear lights and pink rose garlands. I will probably put a bulap bag around her base and container pot, or maybe even a crazy quilt with Christmas colors. Then on the 27th I will take off al her jewelery and hope that the heat from the lights don't traumatize her.
I could also go far enough on the 16 acres and cut down some tree; but, I just don't want to kill one for my joy.
After we are all done with her; I will have Adam haul her down to the end of the property where we have the trailer and have him plant her.
I thought about using the little fake one that I have used for the past 4 years because the cabin is so small; but, I like the smell of the trees; so she will be getting her dressing pretty soon. She will be pretty and we will enjoy it for a couple days. I will enjoy all my trees that are growing so nicely in a couple of years.The end property will be all ready for someone to live there again by Spring. Flowers and trees everywhere, a nice patio and a picnic area with a little picket fence and a garden spot.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Cedar bolts for shingles
Cedar Bolts
OK so this is what we do for our living. Well my husband does and then I just tag along and do what I do best...save and use every scrap and piece. Why not? Waste not , want not!
He is such a perfectionist and he never sends out product unless it looks exactally like he would want something that he bought to be like; and that is why he is so wonderful...
However, he was throwing away a lot of shingles. So me being the dollar squeezer that I can be, started pulling them off the conveyer and stacking them. When he asked what I was going to do with "the garbage"; I smiled and said..."sell them for undergrade." Of course he smiled and then said.."that will never happen and it is a waste of time." Was I wounded? NOPE!
I bundled them and what was not even good enough to consider a #3 or #4, I made into kindling and burning bundles. After there was enough for a small pick-up load....I told him.."let's head to town." He loaded them and laughed. I loaded up the rescue puppies and took them in also so that I could find them homes.
After he unloaded the cedar bundles and me with the puppies, I told him that I would call him before the last one sold so that he could come and get me.
He hadn't been gone for more than 15 minutes and every bundle was sold. All 16 of them and I collected names for when more came.
How is that for a woman not knowing what she is talking about?
When he turned around to come and see if it really happened; he left this time with a smile and a pocket of cash!
I have been doing this now for 2 years and it is nice to see that all of his labors get rewarded. Of course a dinner out for me is nice too! I did work hard after all...LOL.
The bundles sell for $15.00 each and the kindling and wood packs go for $3.50 and $4.
I also sell cedar shavings by the garbage bag full for dog and cat bedding. I use tons of it for the dog kennels.
Nothing gets wasted at the mill.
CORN COB JELLY
Corn cob jelly
An unusual, yet very tasty jelly can be made from ordinary corn cobs. Yep, plain ol’ corncobs! This jelly has a beautiful reddish color and passed the ultimate taste test—my kids. A good friend gave me this recipe which I immediately came home and tried.
12-14 red corn cobs
6 cups sugar
2 pkgs. Sure-Jell
Start by gathering a few dozen red corn cobs. Most field corn varieties have red cobs. I’m not sure if the red cobs do anything for the flavor, but they do add the nice red color to the finished jelly. I went out just hours behind the corn picker and gathered up a good supply. Ask around about gleaning. A lot of farmers and workers allow you to go and gather what they have just left behind. Heck! Offer them some home-made jellies.
Simple fixins for corn cob jelly
Take a dozen or so of the cobs and break them into thirds. Put the pieces into a large pot and cover with water. It should take about 9-10 cups of water. Cover the pot and boil for 30 minutes. While the cobs are a-cooking, get your jars and lids ready. After that time, drain and strain the liquid through a cloth, such as an old tee shirt.
Take 6 cups of the liquid and put back on the heat. Bring to a boil and
add 2 packages of Sure-Jell. Next,
gradually add 6 cups of sugar.
Return the pot to a boil, stirring to prevent sticking or scorching. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and ladle into the clean and ready jars. Snugly apply the lids, cover the filled jars with a towel and allow them to self-seal. This recipe makes about 5 pints.
An unusual, yet very tasty jelly can be made from ordinary corn cobs. Yep, plain ol’ corncobs! This jelly has a beautiful reddish color and passed the ultimate taste test—my kids. A good friend gave me this recipe which I immediately came home and tried.
12-14 red corn cobs
6 cups sugar
2 pkgs. Sure-Jell
Start by gathering a few dozen red corn cobs. Most field corn varieties have red cobs. I’m not sure if the red cobs do anything for the flavor, but they do add the nice red color to the finished jelly. I went out just hours behind the corn picker and gathered up a good supply. Ask around about gleaning. A lot of farmers and workers allow you to go and gather what they have just left behind. Heck! Offer them some home-made jellies.
Simple fixins for corn cob jelly
Take a dozen or so of the cobs and break them into thirds. Put the pieces into a large pot and cover with water. It should take about 9-10 cups of water. Cover the pot and boil for 30 minutes. While the cobs are a-cooking, get your jars and lids ready. After that time, drain and strain the liquid through a cloth, such as an old tee shirt.
Take 6 cups of the liquid and put back on the heat. Bring to a boil and
add 2 packages of Sure-Jell. Next,
gradually add 6 cups of sugar.
Return the pot to a boil, stirring to prevent sticking or scorching. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and ladle into the clean and ready jars. Snugly apply the lids, cover the filled jars with a towel and allow them to self-seal. This recipe makes about 5 pints.
Rose Hip tea and other goodies
Now a lot of us have the wild roses all over our property and they are so pretty and fragrant during the Spring and Summer; beautiful to look at when they are all in bloom. But, do you use the hips when the rose is all done for the year? 
Vitamin C-rich rose hips can be found in dried form in most health food stores, but why not gather your own? You’ll save money and you’ll know where they came from and the conditions in which they grew. Furthermore, you’ll be adding to your own self-sufficiency by locating and gathering a nutrient-dense food source to nourish yourself and your family.
In spring they produce lovely pink blossoms. As the petals fade, a green hip, or hypanthium, begins to swell at each blossom’s base. From mid-September into October when they are fully red and ripe, and before frost tinges their foliage with autumn color making the hips harder to see, I gather bagfuls for making soup, wine, syrup, jelly, and tea.
Most wild roses will have four- or five-petal blossoms that are either white, yellow, or pink. Five-petal pink blossoms cover the wild roses in my area in spring.
If you live, as I do, in a temperature zone that’s too cold to grow citrus fruit, rose hips are an excellent alternative food source of Vitamin C. All roses are edible, but we are most familiar with the rose’s tasty cousins—fruits such as plums, apples, blackberries, and raspberries—all of which have small, rose-like white or pink flowers before setting fruit. A rose hip is merely the fruit of the rose plant.
Unlike their popular fruiting cousins, rose hips don’t have much flesh beneath their skins. Instead, they are filled with tiny seeds covered with silky hairs. The skin of the hip, often tasting like an apple, is where most of the food value and nutrition lies.
Vitamin C-rich rose hips can be found in dried form in most health food stores, but why not gather your own? You’ll save money and you’ll know where they came from and the conditions in which they grew. Furthermore, you’ll be adding to your own self-sufficiency by locating and gathering a nutrient-dense food source to nourish yourself and your family.
In spring they produce lovely pink blossoms. As the petals fade, a green hip, or hypanthium, begins to swell at each blossom’s base. From mid-September into October when they are fully red and ripe, and before frost tinges their foliage with autumn color making the hips harder to see, I gather bagfuls for making soup, wine, syrup, jelly, and tea.
Most wild roses will have four- or five-petal blossoms that are either white, yellow, or pink. Five-petal pink blossoms cover the wild roses in my area in spring.
If you live, as I do, in a temperature zone that’s too cold to grow citrus fruit, rose hips are an excellent alternative food source of Vitamin C. All roses are edible, but we are most familiar with the rose’s tasty cousins—fruits such as plums, apples, blackberries, and raspberries—all of which have small, rose-like white or pink flowers before setting fruit. A rose hip is merely the fruit of the rose plant.
Unlike their popular fruiting cousins, rose hips don’t have much flesh beneath their skins. Instead, they are filled with tiny seeds covered with silky hairs. The skin of the hip, often tasting like an apple, is where most of the food value and nutrition lies.
Nutritional powerhouses
Known mostly for beauty in the garden and as a floral declaration of love, roses don’t usually come to mind when we think of either food or nutrition. Yet, all parts of the rose, and especially the hips, are storehouses of Vitamin C and other important nutrients.
Compare the nutritional content of oranges to rose hips and you will find that rose hips contain 25 percent more iron, 20 to 40 percent more Vitamin C (depending upon variety), 25 times the Vitamin A, and 28 percent more calcium.
Dry rose hips on an old cookie sheet for a couple of weeks until completely dry. When ready to store, they should be darker than their fresh counterparts, hard, and semi-wrinkley.
In addition, rose hips are a rich source of bioflavanoids, pectin, Vitamin E, selenium, manganese, and the B-complex vitamins. Rose hips also contain trace amounts of magnesium, potassium, sulfur and silicon.
Known mostly for beauty in the garden and as a floral declaration of love, roses don’t usually come to mind when we think of either food or nutrition. Yet, all parts of the rose, and especially the hips, are storehouses of Vitamin C and other important nutrients.
Compare the nutritional content of oranges to rose hips and you will find that rose hips contain 25 percent more iron, 20 to 40 percent more Vitamin C (depending upon variety), 25 times the Vitamin A, and 28 percent more calcium.
Dry rose hips on an old cookie sheet for a couple of weeks until completely dry. When ready to store, they should be darker than their fresh counterparts, hard, and semi-wrinkley.
In addition, rose hips are a rich source of bioflavanoids, pectin, Vitamin E, selenium, manganese, and the B-complex vitamins. Rose hips also contain trace amounts of magnesium, potassium, sulfur and silicon.
Finding and gathering rose hips
Wild roses grow throughout the world. There are literally thousands of varieties worldwide and most have been part of the human diet.
Rose hip tea is a tasty, nutritious beverage that can be made from fresh or dried hips. This cup was made from freshly gathered wild rose hips.
Many enthusiastic gardeners never see the development of colorful hips because as soon as blossoms fade they are snipped off to tidy up the garden. Blossoms must be left on the plant to naturally fade and fall for hips to develop.
The most abundant source of Vitamin C-rich rose hips is from wild hedgerows and thickets. Here hips can be gathered in ample quantities for cooking and storing. As most roses have thorns, gloves are helpful although not essential when gathering hips.
Wild roses grow throughout the world. There are literally thousands of varieties worldwide and most have been part of the human diet.
Rose hip tea is a tasty, nutritious beverage that can be made from fresh or dried hips. This cup was made from freshly gathered wild rose hips.
Many enthusiastic gardeners never see the development of colorful hips because as soon as blossoms fade they are snipped off to tidy up the garden. Blossoms must be left on the plant to naturally fade and fall for hips to develop.
The most abundant source of Vitamin C-rich rose hips is from wild hedgerows and thickets. Here hips can be gathered in ample quantities for cooking and storing. As most roses have thorns, gloves are helpful although not essential when gathering hips.
Rose hips as food
Once you locate your rose hip source there still remains the question of turning them into something we deem not only edible, but tasty too. Rose hips can be made into a variety of appetizing, healthy dishes. Turned into jelly, syrup, and wine, they make delightful gifts.
Rose hips may be used fresh or dried. To dry them, discard any with discoloration then rinse in cold water, pat dry, and spread on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. It takes a couple of weeks for them to dry. They will be darker in color, hard, and semi-wrinkly. Rub off any stems or remaining blossom ends. Pour them into jars for storage in a dark pantry or cupboard.
One of my favorite ways to use rose hips is to brew them into tea. For tea they may be used fresh or dried. For fresh brewing, steep a tablespoon or two of clean hips in a cup of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey and enjoy. To make a tea of dried hips, use only two teaspoons to one cup of boiling water and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once you locate your rose hip source there still remains the question of turning them into something we deem not only edible, but tasty too. Rose hips can be made into a variety of appetizing, healthy dishes. Turned into jelly, syrup, and wine, they make delightful gifts.
Rose hips may be used fresh or dried. To dry them, discard any with discoloration then rinse in cold water, pat dry, and spread on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. It takes a couple of weeks for them to dry. They will be darker in color, hard, and semi-wrinkly. Rub off any stems or remaining blossom ends. Pour them into jars for storage in a dark pantry or cupboard.
One of my favorite ways to use rose hips is to brew them into tea. For tea they may be used fresh or dried. For fresh brewing, steep a tablespoon or two of clean hips in a cup of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey and enjoy. To make a tea of dried hips, use only two teaspoons to one cup of boiling water and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
My favorite syrup for pancakes, waffles, and vanilla ice cream is made from freshly gathered rose hips. Rinse and pat dry the hips and place them in a saucepan. Barely cover with water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Cool and strain the mixture, pressing the liquid off the hips gently with the back of a spoon, being careful not to break them open and release the seeds. If this happens, merely strain the seeds out. The resulting liquid may be frozen in batches for future use in soup or jelly, or turned into tasty syrup. The solids left over from straining can be fed to chickens or tossed onto the compost pile.
In late summer, rose hips ripen to bright red and are ready for gathering.
To make rose hip syrup, add one part honey to two parts of the heated, strained liquid. Stir to dissolve the honey and refrigerate. After refrigeration, the syrup will thicken slightly. Rose hip syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Reheat the syrup for use on pancakes and waffles. Use it warm or cold to top vanilla ice cream.
Heated syrup may be canned by pouring it into hot, sterile jars and processing in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. For every 1,000 feet above an elevation of 5,000 feet, add one minute to the processing time.
In late summer, rose hips ripen to bright red and are ready for gathering.
To make rose hip syrup, add one part honey to two parts of the heated, strained liquid. Stir to dissolve the honey and refrigerate. After refrigeration, the syrup will thicken slightly. Rose hip syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Reheat the syrup for use on pancakes and waffles. Use it warm or cold to top vanilla ice cream.
Heated syrup may be canned by pouring it into hot, sterile jars and processing in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. For every 1,000 feet above an elevation of 5,000 feet, add one minute to the processing time.
For a refreshing spring tonic punch, simmer rhubarb in rose hip syrup until soft. Strain and adjust sweetening as needed. Chill, and pour over ice for a refreshing, healthful libation to clear out the winter cobwebs. Add a sprig of fresh spearmint or lemon balm as garnish. Rose hip syrup may be used to sweeten and flavor herbal or black teas, as well.
A favorite dish of the Swedish is rose hip soup. They literally consume rose hips by the tons each year. To make approximately four servings you’ll need:
3 cups of freshly made or thawed unsweetened rose hip liquid
3 cups of freshly made or thawed unsweetened rose hip liquid
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. corn starch
4 Tbsp. sour cream or yogurt
as a garnish minced mint
In a saucepan, heat the liquid and add the honey and lemon juice. Remove ½ cup of the heated mixture. Into this, whisk the cornstarch until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture back into the pan and bring to a high simmer, stirring, until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Add a dollop of sour cream or yogurt to each serving, topping with minced fresh mint, if desired.
In a saucepan, heat the liquid and add the honey and lemon juice. Remove ½ cup of the heated mixture. Into this, whisk the cornstarch until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture back into the pan and bring to a high simmer, stirring, until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Add a dollop of sour cream or yogurt to each serving, topping with minced fresh mint, if desired.
If you make your own wine, the following recipe for rose hip wine is one of the healthiest and most lovely in color. You’ll need:
After a hard frost, autumn color makes the hips harder to see.
4 pounds of fresh rose hips
After a hard frost, autumn color makes the hips harder to see.
4 pounds of fresh rose hips
3 pounds of sugar
1 gallon boiling water
1 tsp. black tea
1 tsp. baker’s or wine yeast
Rinse and drain the hips. Place them in a primary fermenting vessel such as a clean food-grade plastic bucket that has a tight-fitting lid. Pour in one gallon of boiling water. Add the teaspoon of tea and all the sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let the mixture sit tightly covered for 24 hours. Add one teaspoon of baker’s or wine yeast and let the mixture ferment for seven days, covered, stirring once per day with a clean spoon.
Strain off the rose hips and pour the liquid into a one-gallon glass jug (an old wine jug works great) and fit with a fermentation lock or balloon. If you use a balloon, be sure to release the gases occasionally or it will burst. Place the jug in a warm spot until fermentation ceases. Siphon (rack) the liquid off of the yeast solids into a clean glass jug and refit with the fermentation lock or balloon.
Racking will usually reactivate fermentation for a short time. When fermentation ceases completely for several weeks, siphon the wine into clean wine bottles. Cork the bottles securely or use wine bottles with screw-on tops and store in a cool spot for six months or longer. There will usually be a glass or two of wine left after bottling. This you can enjoy right away.
Rinse and drain the hips. Place them in a primary fermenting vessel such as a clean food-grade plastic bucket that has a tight-fitting lid. Pour in one gallon of boiling water. Add the teaspoon of tea and all the sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let the mixture sit tightly covered for 24 hours. Add one teaspoon of baker’s or wine yeast and let the mixture ferment for seven days, covered, stirring once per day with a clean spoon.
Strain off the rose hips and pour the liquid into a one-gallon glass jug (an old wine jug works great) and fit with a fermentation lock or balloon. If you use a balloon, be sure to release the gases occasionally or it will burst. Place the jug in a warm spot until fermentation ceases. Siphon (rack) the liquid off of the yeast solids into a clean glass jug and refit with the fermentation lock or balloon.
Racking will usually reactivate fermentation for a short time. When fermentation ceases completely for several weeks, siphon the wine into clean wine bottles. Cork the bottles securely or use wine bottles with screw-on tops and store in a cool spot for six months or longer. There will usually be a glass or two of wine left after bottling. This you can enjoy right away.
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Precautions
Wherever you gather rose hips, be sure they have not been treated with herbicides or pesticides. If wild roses grow on your property or you gather from your garden roses, you can manage them to your satisfaction.
Wild roses, despite their beauty and usefulness as perimeter plantings, food, and wildlife habitats, are considered by many to be a nuisance. They do spread by suckering, and a single plant will become a thicket eventually. If you have enough property to sustain several thickets where they can grow without interfering with your other operations, you will have an ample source of nutritious hips to nourish yourself and your family throughout the year.
Precautions
Wherever you gather rose hips, be sure they have not been treated with herbicides or pesticides. If wild roses grow on your property or you gather from your garden roses, you can manage them to your satisfaction.
Wild roses, despite their beauty and usefulness as perimeter plantings, food, and wildlife habitats, are considered by many to be a nuisance. They do spread by suckering, and a single plant will become a thicket eventually. If you have enough property to sustain several thickets where they can grow without interfering with your other operations, you will have an ample source of nutritious hips to nourish yourself and your family throughout the year.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
What is a woman to do?
Yep, it is that time of year when all the hidden away cookie sheets and recipe box is hidden way in the back of the cupboard so that we can ignore them for the year. The sweet tooth comes back and we just convince ourselves that ""IN THE UPCOMING NEW YEAR"" we will start back on some diet. I have been looking over what cookies, breads, candies I will do for this year and they all look so inviting...and soooooo very fattening. I decided on the family tradition of nut rolls and then I will add in some of the ones that I have not made for years.
Coconut Pecan Bars ~~ Raspberry strippers ~~ Biscotti~~
Irish Cream Fudge ~~Marshmallow Mud Bars ~~
Toffee ~~ Taffy ~~ Chocolate Snowballs ~~ Gumdrop Bars~~
Lemon Bar Cookies ~~ Oh Henry Cookie Bars........
Then I plan on making the Christmas tea that will probably last me until next year unless I can talk one of the kids into taking some home. I plan on making Adam some eggnog and I won't be tempted by it; because I just can't stand it.
I am assuming that the kids will have other plans this Christmas since they have plans with other relatives and their in-laws. I do plan on sending them packages of the goodies though.
I have some Secret Sisters that might just get some too and perhaps I will fill a goodie box for my sister and her husband. Her birthday is on the 29th. I am just in the mood for baking this year. For the past 5 years I couldn't because of an injury that kept me from lifting anything heavier than a coffee cup. Since te surgery I feel that I can handle trying it again this year. WHAT IS A WOMAN TO DO? Have I convinced myself that pigging out with all the goodies is OK because it is for the sake of the holidays??? OH yea! I am Ok with that...LOL
I haven't had a drink for 25 years and I am so cold that I shocked my husband when I asked him to go into town and get what we needed for a HOT BUTTERED RUM. I made my own mix and it actually turned out wonderful.
MIX:
2 cubes of butter
16 oz. bag of brown sugar
16 oz. bag of confectioners sugar
1 qt. of vanilla ice cream
All that was left to add was 2 T. of rum
& the boing water; 2 T. of mix w/a dash cinnamon/nutmeg.
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then just freeze what you don't use.
With all the snow and ice on the ground....I was so cold when I had to go tend to the animals.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The 12 days of Christmas according to Believers
Be Blessed this CHRISTMAS
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two Turtle DovesThe Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three French HensThe Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four Calling BirdsThe Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five Gold RingsThe first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six Geese A-layingThe six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven Swans A-swimmingThe seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight Maids A-milkingThe eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies DancingThe nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten Lords A-leapingThe ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers PipingThe eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve Drummers DrummingThe twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
I love this blessing from The Lord
The Lord Bless and Keep You(Numbers 6:22-27)
God had promised Israel during Moses' leadership that one day He would raise up another leader like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). This promise is announced as fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus (Acts 3:18-26). Certainly Jesus is like Moses in many respects; for example, as Moses led people out of bondage in Egypt so also Christ Jesus frees us from bondage to sin. Also, Moses chose to leave the luxury of Pharaoh's palace and suffer hardship with his people, and Jesus chose to leave heaven and dwell on earth as a man. But it is important to understand that while there are similarities, there are also great differences. The Book of Hebrews emphasizes some of these differences such as the fact that Moses was God's servant but Jesus is God's Son (Hebrews 3:1-6). Let's consider an event in the life of Moses when the Lord spoke to him and told him to give Aaron, the high priest, some instructions. The text is found in Numbers 6:22-27:
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, "Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I shall bless them."
According to Jewish writings, this benediction was quoted daily in the temple as well as in the synagogues. The words of this blessing, given through the mediator Moses, become even richer when we consider them in relationship to our new mediator and leader like Moses, that being Jesus Christ. In the light of the new covenant, which is a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6) we, as Christians, Born-again Believers, have much to rejoice about!
The Lord's Blessing
"The Lord bless you..." (Numbers 6:24a). The blessings of God, spiritual and physical, ought never to be taken for granted. This benediction recognizes the source of all good things as being God (cf. James 1:17). No doubt the people under Moses' leadership thought of the blessings God had promised them if they would continue to obey Him faithfully. He had promised that "if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments..." that "... all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you." (Deuteronomy 28:1,2).
Then the blessings are described. They would be blessed in city and country; in their offspring and the offspring of their flocks and crops and in protection from their enemies. The Lord would make them "abound in prosperity" (Deuteronomy 28:3-14).
Jesus' blessings for us today emphasize the spiritual rather than the physical. While He gives certain assurances in the physical realm, His sacrifice on the cross had to do with restoring us to spiritual life and giving us spiritual bread and water so we need never hunger or thirst again (John 6:27-35).
Jesus makes a point that the world often overlooks. He could have made it His business to provide physical blessings the way Moses had (vs 31, 32) but Jesus was providing something better. This is because those who emphasize their physical needs and desires over their spiritual needs will only grow hungry again and ultimately perish whether they have something to eat or not. But those who partake of the bread of life will live forever.
The Lord's Keeping"...and keep you." (Numbers 6:24b). The idea of "keep you" is divine protection. In Moses' time, this would refer to protection from hostile invasions and drought and things chiefly of a physical nature. However, again the emphasis shifts in the New Testament and deals more with spiritual protection. One good example of this is the figure of speech that Jesus uses to describe His relationship with His disciples. He is the "Good Shepherd" and we are His sheep. He knows His own, and His own know Him. He lays down His life for his sheep so that they may be protected from the robber or the wolf. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him, and as long as they do, He keeps them safe promising them eternal life (John 10:1-16; 27,28).
The Lord's Shining Face"The Lord make His face shine upon you..." (Numbers 6:25a). The Lord's face is depicted a shining in several places in the Bible. It shines with a tremendous radiant glory, instilling awe in His creatures. We recall how even Moses' face once shined after communicating with the Lord.
However, there is more to it than that. The blessing asks the Lord to make His face "shine upon you." This suggests a pleasure or warmth of association with the Lord. Awareness of God's presence brings comfort to the faithful.
We also recall how Jesus was transfigured in the New Testament. Peter, James and John were awe-struck when the beheld the Lord. The Bible says, "And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light." (Matthew 17:2).
Paul, in encouraging faithful living on the part of Christians and a warning against being lulled back into the world, later wrote "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:14).
The Lord's Graciousness"...And be gracious to you;" (Numbers 6:25b). Certainly God favored the faithful of Moses' era with mercy and blessings. Our God is a God happy to give good things to His children. The nation of Israel never did better than during those times when it was loyal to God. Neither will our own nation, and the same thing applies to individuals.
The supreme example of God's graciousness is not found in the sun or rain or crops or physical prosperity. We thank God for these things; but as wonderful as they are they pale when compared to the favor God bestows upon us through His Son Jesus. It is this inner wealth that is most important; the blessings of spirit which God abundantly gives. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
The Lord's Countenance"The Lord lift up His countenance upon you..." (Numbers 6:26a). This phrase suggests the opposite of "hiding His face from you" which the Bible also uses (Isaiah 54:6). It suggests His interest as well as His readiness to help. It is a look of approval that the Lord gives to those who live by faith.
The Lord watches His people today as well. Again, it is a look of approval that the Lord gives His people. He knows what we endure for His namesake. He will not forget our work and love (Hebrews 6:10) and will one day welcome the faithful home with the words; "Well done!" It is a wonderful thing to know that the Lord approves of the way we are using our talents, opportunities and lives.
The Lord's Peace"...And give you peace." (Numbers 6:26b). This peace denotes stability and calmness. Isaiah wrote, "The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God, the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock." (Isaiah 26:3,4).
Jesus is our Rock, and gives peace as well. A solid foundation is needed for stability, and there is none sounder than that of the Living Word of God. Jesus promises peace, and since He is the Prince of Peace we can be sure of His promise. In this mad, crazy world, we are sorely in need of this calm assurance and peaceful confidence. Your friends, family and neighbors need it as well. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6,7).
God had promised Israel during Moses' leadership that one day He would raise up another leader like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). This promise is announced as fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus (Acts 3:18-26). Certainly Jesus is like Moses in many respects; for example, as Moses led people out of bondage in Egypt so also Christ Jesus frees us from bondage to sin. Also, Moses chose to leave the luxury of Pharaoh's palace and suffer hardship with his people, and Jesus chose to leave heaven and dwell on earth as a man. But it is important to understand that while there are similarities, there are also great differences. The Book of Hebrews emphasizes some of these differences such as the fact that Moses was God's servant but Jesus is God's Son (Hebrews 3:1-6). Let's consider an event in the life of Moses when the Lord spoke to him and told him to give Aaron, the high priest, some instructions. The text is found in Numbers 6:22-27:
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, "Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I shall bless them."
According to Jewish writings, this benediction was quoted daily in the temple as well as in the synagogues. The words of this blessing, given through the mediator Moses, become even richer when we consider them in relationship to our new mediator and leader like Moses, that being Jesus Christ. In the light of the new covenant, which is a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6) we, as Christians, Born-again Believers, have much to rejoice about!
The Lord's Blessing
"The Lord bless you..." (Numbers 6:24a). The blessings of God, spiritual and physical, ought never to be taken for granted. This benediction recognizes the source of all good things as being God (cf. James 1:17). No doubt the people under Moses' leadership thought of the blessings God had promised them if they would continue to obey Him faithfully. He had promised that "if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments..." that "... all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you." (Deuteronomy 28:1,2).
Then the blessings are described. They would be blessed in city and country; in their offspring and the offspring of their flocks and crops and in protection from their enemies. The Lord would make them "abound in prosperity" (Deuteronomy 28:3-14).
Jesus' blessings for us today emphasize the spiritual rather than the physical. While He gives certain assurances in the physical realm, His sacrifice on the cross had to do with restoring us to spiritual life and giving us spiritual bread and water so we need never hunger or thirst again (John 6:27-35).
Jesus makes a point that the world often overlooks. He could have made it His business to provide physical blessings the way Moses had (vs 31, 32) but Jesus was providing something better. This is because those who emphasize their physical needs and desires over their spiritual needs will only grow hungry again and ultimately perish whether they have something to eat or not. But those who partake of the bread of life will live forever.
The Lord's Keeping"...and keep you." (Numbers 6:24b). The idea of "keep you" is divine protection. In Moses' time, this would refer to protection from hostile invasions and drought and things chiefly of a physical nature. However, again the emphasis shifts in the New Testament and deals more with spiritual protection. One good example of this is the figure of speech that Jesus uses to describe His relationship with His disciples. He is the "Good Shepherd" and we are His sheep. He knows His own, and His own know Him. He lays down His life for his sheep so that they may be protected from the robber or the wolf. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him, and as long as they do, He keeps them safe promising them eternal life (John 10:1-16; 27,28).
The Lord's Shining Face"The Lord make His face shine upon you..." (Numbers 6:25a). The Lord's face is depicted a shining in several places in the Bible. It shines with a tremendous radiant glory, instilling awe in His creatures. We recall how even Moses' face once shined after communicating with the Lord.
However, there is more to it than that. The blessing asks the Lord to make His face "shine upon you." This suggests a pleasure or warmth of association with the Lord. Awareness of God's presence brings comfort to the faithful.
We also recall how Jesus was transfigured in the New Testament. Peter, James and John were awe-struck when the beheld the Lord. The Bible says, "And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light." (Matthew 17:2).
Paul, in encouraging faithful living on the part of Christians and a warning against being lulled back into the world, later wrote "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:14).
The Lord's Graciousness"...And be gracious to you;" (Numbers 6:25b). Certainly God favored the faithful of Moses' era with mercy and blessings. Our God is a God happy to give good things to His children. The nation of Israel never did better than during those times when it was loyal to God. Neither will our own nation, and the same thing applies to individuals.
The supreme example of God's graciousness is not found in the sun or rain or crops or physical prosperity. We thank God for these things; but as wonderful as they are they pale when compared to the favor God bestows upon us through His Son Jesus. It is this inner wealth that is most important; the blessings of spirit which God abundantly gives. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
The Lord's Countenance"The Lord lift up His countenance upon you..." (Numbers 6:26a). This phrase suggests the opposite of "hiding His face from you" which the Bible also uses (Isaiah 54:6). It suggests His interest as well as His readiness to help. It is a look of approval that the Lord gives to those who live by faith.
The Lord watches His people today as well. Again, it is a look of approval that the Lord gives His people. He knows what we endure for His namesake. He will not forget our work and love (Hebrews 6:10) and will one day welcome the faithful home with the words; "Well done!" It is a wonderful thing to know that the Lord approves of the way we are using our talents, opportunities and lives.
The Lord's Peace"...And give you peace." (Numbers 6:26b). This peace denotes stability and calmness. Isaiah wrote, "The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God, the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock." (Isaiah 26:3,4).
Jesus is our Rock, and gives peace as well. A solid foundation is needed for stability, and there is none sounder than that of the Living Word of God. Jesus promises peace, and since He is the Prince of Peace we can be sure of His promise. In this mad, crazy world, we are sorely in need of this calm assurance and peaceful confidence. Your friends, family and neighbors need it as well. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6,7).
Sunday, December 6, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
hello and Merry Christmas to you!I am not going to be all politically correct and just say Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings. I am going to say what I have always said and that is~~~MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I don't believe that Jesus was born on December 25th; I just know that He was born and that is good enough for me. I also don't buy into the "it is a pagan holiday"; it may have been a pagan holiday and the pagans may still go out and do their demonic garbage; they might even dance naked around a tree and have an orgy; but, to me...it is a day that us as Believers have set aside and call it Jesus's Birthday.
Some other wonderful things have happened in the month of December. I have a Granddaughter that blessed us all on December 24th, 1998, I was born on December 26th, and I have a sister that was born before me on December 29th...we are the same age for 3 days. I also have a baby boy that is in Heaven and waits for us. His name is David Shane Halfmoon and he was taken home to be with the Lord on December 18th.
So~~I will continue to let the light of Christmas shine in our lives in December for it is the season of love and light. It is a time when those that may not see one another for a year all seem to get together and celebrate life. It is a time when hearts are happy and merry~~So, for now I just will forget all the political junk and say God bless each and everyone of you this Christmas season. A wonderfulseaso of the heart.
I think I finally remebered how to get back here!
Hello and somone let me know if I am back on here.
I wrote all of my passwords and info. down so that I would remember how to come back here and I think that I have finally figured it out again. My Granddaughter and husband threw away all the doodled on papers....ummm; hello!; those doodles are my information and my way of remembering and knowing what and where to go once I get back on the internet.
I wrote all of my passwords and info. down so that I would remember how to come back here and I think that I have finally figured it out again. My Granddaughter and husband threw away all the doodled on papers....ummm; hello!; those doodles are my information and my way of remembering and knowing what and where to go once I get back on the internet.
Monday, September 14, 2009
looks like no matter what the time of the day or night...
Looks like no matter what the time of the day or night that the television is on; there will be something showing the times are getting worse.
It is sometimes hard to stay above the garbage stench when the country is being murdered piece by piece by a mad man and his team.
It is the channels that we watch; so, I guess I have just found something new to do with my time; because eating dinner with any thing that has to do with obama and the way that he is destroying our nation just ruins any appitite that I may have had. By the time is he out of office I should be a skinny minni....lol....that is a lie! See, he is rubbing off on me.
Adam, my husband is still over at the saw-mill and it is after 10PM. Thank God that we still have a job to cling to to pay the house and mill payments and I just pray that others find what they need to survive this hard time.
Well, still no dashund puppies. She is at the 64th day now. Knowing her, she will be the one that crawls behind something and has them when we are all fast asleep. Not Kelli the rat-terrier; she always comes and gets me. As soon as I get seated with her, the show begins.
The wet and chilly weather is doing a number on my body today; or is that aging?
Whatever it is I hurt.
Still have not figured out the ring yet. I got notice the other day that I had been put in; but, my Urban Title still isn't up.
It is sometimes hard to stay above the garbage stench when the country is being murdered piece by piece by a mad man and his team.
It is the channels that we watch; so, I guess I have just found something new to do with my time; because eating dinner with any thing that has to do with obama and the way that he is destroying our nation just ruins any appitite that I may have had. By the time is he out of office I should be a skinny minni....lol....that is a lie! See, he is rubbing off on me.
Adam, my husband is still over at the saw-mill and it is after 10PM. Thank God that we still have a job to cling to to pay the house and mill payments and I just pray that others find what they need to survive this hard time.
Well, still no dashund puppies. She is at the 64th day now. Knowing her, she will be the one that crawls behind something and has them when we are all fast asleep. Not Kelli the rat-terrier; she always comes and gets me. As soon as I get seated with her, the show begins.
The wet and chilly weather is doing a number on my body today; or is that aging?
Whatever it is I hurt.
Still have not figured out the ring yet. I got notice the other day that I had been put in; but, my Urban Title still isn't up.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sanitary napkins for women
Before the 20th Century, most women used cloth pads or “rags” during their menstruation. Disposable pads didn’t become common in America until after WW II. Among rural and low-income women they didn’t catch on until the 1960’s. As with diapers, there have always been people who prefer cloth to disposable. Disposable pads do not biodegrade very quickly. Plastic diapers and sanitary napkins are likely to be two of the most common artifacts that future archaeologists will find when excavating landfills from the 20 and 21 Centuries. I wonder what kind of commentary this will be on our present lifestyles? Only time will tell.
To make your own sanitary napkins you need the following supplies:
A sewing machine with a zigzag stitch.
Flannel: Old flannel shirts & baby blankets work beautifully but new flannel works fine too. Be sure to wash it in hot water before using to prevent shrinkage.
Thread
Snaps or Safety Pins
Scissors
The Outer Pad:
Begin by printing both of the patterns and cutting them out. The Inner Pad is a large oval. The Outer Pad is actually 2 patterns in 1. With the long straight side extended, it is the topside. You will need to cut 2 of these. With the long straight side folded in, it is the bottom side. Place the straight edge on a fold of fabric and cut 1 of these. Look at the pictures for examples. Make 1/2-inch hem down the long straight side of each of the 2 top pieces. Straight stitch or zigzag stitch this hem, as you prefer. Now arrange the 2 upper layers of the outer pad over the lower layer. The front hems should overlap slightly, or by about 1/2-inch.Zigzag stitch around the outside twice. If desired you may straight stitch down the dotted lines shown on the picture to the right. This allows the inner pad to fit more securely inside the outer pad and also makes folding the wings a bit handier.Some women apply a snap or button to the wings at this time. Place them at points “A” in the illustration. Velcro is not advisable because it has a tendency to chafe. Personally, I don’t like to go through all the work of applying snaps or buttons so I use a safety pin instead. Large diaper safety pins work beautifully for pinning the wings together. To the right you will see a picture of the pad pinned closed. The wings fit around your underwear just like disposable pads with wings. Some women wear the pad with the pocket seam facing down, next to their underwear. Other women prefer the pad placed with the seam-side next to their skin. Try it both ways to see which you prefer.
The Inner Pad:
The inner pad is the absorbent part of the sanitary napkin. It slips inside the pocket of the pad. The beauty of this is that you can use as many inner pads as necessary for the rate of your flow. During heavy times, or overnight, use 3 or 4 Inner pads. For a lighter flow use only 1 Inner pad. For a panty liner, use the outer pad without an inner pad. The reason you use several layers instead of 1 very thick layer is because several thinner layers are easier to wash and have a shorter drying time. Additionally, the many exterior surfaces of the pad layers makes them more absorbent than a single thick pad would be.
For the inner pad you want to cut at least 3 layers, maybe 4, depending on the thickness of your fabric. Use the same pattern for all of the layers. Use flannel for the 2 exterior layers of the inner pad. Use 1 or 2 layers of flannel or terry cloth, cotton quilt batting or another absorbent material for the interior layers of the inner pad. I used old flannel shirts, a flannel baby blanket and an old towel for my fabric. The towel was ripped and had a few holes. I used it as the interior layer of my inner pads. The flannel baby blanket was the exterior of the inner pads, and the flannel shirt was the outer pad, the part with wings.After cutting out your layers for the inner pad stack them neatly. Zigzag stitch around the edges twice. Trim the edges if desired. I used dark thread in the picture so you could see it against the light flannel. Make 2 of these inner pads for each outer pad. They are very easy to cut and stitch, so you may want to make a few extras for heavy days. After completing each part of the pad, slip the inner pad inside the pocket of the outer pad. Pin it in place and see how it feels. You will be surprised at how comfortable it is.
Washing and Maintenance:
When you make your own pads you have to wash them instead of tossing them into the garbage. Keep a small bucket of water with a lid in the bathroom, preferably out of the reach of children and pets. Add a spoonful of vinegar if desired. Remove the inner pad from the outer pad. Soak the used pads in the bucket of water. Drain the water into the toilet before washing the pads. The water can also be used to water house plants because they like all the extra vitamins and minerals. Make sure you use cold water so that the stains will come out. I wash every morning. Some women stash all of the used pads in a pillowcase or plastic bag and wash them all at once when their period is over. I don’t do this because I have a washer in the house and I find it more sanitary to wash them every day. They can drip dry or machine dry.
If you do not have a washing machine, then they may be washed by hand. Run cold water over them in the bathtub to remove most of the blood. Place the pads in a medium bucket or tub. Add a little soap and cold water. Using a clean plunger, plunge the pads until they are as clean as you can get them. Plunge for a good 10 minutes for the best results. Rinse the pads well and squeeze them dry. Hang each pad by it’s own clothespin and they should dry pretty fast, even in the winter.
If you like, you can iron the pads, but do not use starch on them. Be careful not to use fabric softener either because it will make them less absorbent.
A No-Sew Alternative:
If your sewing skills are lacking, or you simply do not want to go through the trouble of sewing your own pads you can try this instead. Purchase absorbent terry-cloth dishtowels. Wash them before using. Fold them into rectangles about 3 or 4-inches by 10 or 12 inches. Use safety pins to pin them into your underwear at both narrow ends (the front and the back). These are a bit bulkier than home-sewn pads. They are quite comfortable though, and are a legitimate alternative. They may be washed the same as home-sewn pads. I’ve also seen washcloths recommended. Fold them into thirds, or quarters (long ways) and fit them into your underwear. Apparently they stay in place without pinning because of the friction between the terry-cloth and underwear. For heavier flows fold together 2 or more wash cloths.
About Fabrics:
When I made these, I used fabrics I already had in the house. You may purchase new fabric instead if you like. Use a sturdy double-napped flannel if you go this route. It will last the longest and give you the best results. Cotton quilt batting is very nice filler, but you can also use additional flannel, which is less expensive. Wash everything before cutting or sewing. Flannel will shrink. After sewing, wash the pads again before using. This helps them hold their shape better. Men’s flannel shirts and flannel baby blankets make excellent flannel for your own menstrual pads. They can sometimes be found for 25¢ or 50¢ a piece at yard sales, which makes pads very cheap to sew at home. Brightly colored fabric is less likely to show stains than solid colored or light fabric is. I prefer to use patterns and dark colors for this reason.
About the PatternI created this pattern free hand after measuring commercially available, disposable pads. My pattern is a little bit wider and longer than some patterns available on the Internet. This is to accommodate the average woman, who is a size 14 or larger. Standard pads and liners are created for a size-6 woman. Pads made from this pattern are less likely to leak because they are large enough to fit properly. If you are a smaller woman, or prefer slightly smaller pads, there are several other patterns available online.
To make your own sanitary napkins you need the following supplies:
A sewing machine with a zigzag stitch.
Flannel: Old flannel shirts & baby blankets work beautifully but new flannel works fine too. Be sure to wash it in hot water before using to prevent shrinkage.
Thread
Snaps or Safety Pins
Scissors
The Outer Pad:
Begin by printing both of the patterns and cutting them out. The Inner Pad is a large oval. The Outer Pad is actually 2 patterns in 1. With the long straight side extended, it is the topside. You will need to cut 2 of these. With the long straight side folded in, it is the bottom side. Place the straight edge on a fold of fabric and cut 1 of these. Look at the pictures for examples. Make 1/2-inch hem down the long straight side of each of the 2 top pieces. Straight stitch or zigzag stitch this hem, as you prefer. Now arrange the 2 upper layers of the outer pad over the lower layer. The front hems should overlap slightly, or by about 1/2-inch.Zigzag stitch around the outside twice. If desired you may straight stitch down the dotted lines shown on the picture to the right. This allows the inner pad to fit more securely inside the outer pad and also makes folding the wings a bit handier.Some women apply a snap or button to the wings at this time. Place them at points “A” in the illustration. Velcro is not advisable because it has a tendency to chafe. Personally, I don’t like to go through all the work of applying snaps or buttons so I use a safety pin instead. Large diaper safety pins work beautifully for pinning the wings together. To the right you will see a picture of the pad pinned closed. The wings fit around your underwear just like disposable pads with wings. Some women wear the pad with the pocket seam facing down, next to their underwear. Other women prefer the pad placed with the seam-side next to their skin. Try it both ways to see which you prefer.
The Inner Pad:
The inner pad is the absorbent part of the sanitary napkin. It slips inside the pocket of the pad. The beauty of this is that you can use as many inner pads as necessary for the rate of your flow. During heavy times, or overnight, use 3 or 4 Inner pads. For a lighter flow use only 1 Inner pad. For a panty liner, use the outer pad without an inner pad. The reason you use several layers instead of 1 very thick layer is because several thinner layers are easier to wash and have a shorter drying time. Additionally, the many exterior surfaces of the pad layers makes them more absorbent than a single thick pad would be.
For the inner pad you want to cut at least 3 layers, maybe 4, depending on the thickness of your fabric. Use the same pattern for all of the layers. Use flannel for the 2 exterior layers of the inner pad. Use 1 or 2 layers of flannel or terry cloth, cotton quilt batting or another absorbent material for the interior layers of the inner pad. I used old flannel shirts, a flannel baby blanket and an old towel for my fabric. The towel was ripped and had a few holes. I used it as the interior layer of my inner pads. The flannel baby blanket was the exterior of the inner pads, and the flannel shirt was the outer pad, the part with wings.After cutting out your layers for the inner pad stack them neatly. Zigzag stitch around the edges twice. Trim the edges if desired. I used dark thread in the picture so you could see it against the light flannel. Make 2 of these inner pads for each outer pad. They are very easy to cut and stitch, so you may want to make a few extras for heavy days. After completing each part of the pad, slip the inner pad inside the pocket of the outer pad. Pin it in place and see how it feels. You will be surprised at how comfortable it is.
Washing and Maintenance:
When you make your own pads you have to wash them instead of tossing them into the garbage. Keep a small bucket of water with a lid in the bathroom, preferably out of the reach of children and pets. Add a spoonful of vinegar if desired. Remove the inner pad from the outer pad. Soak the used pads in the bucket of water. Drain the water into the toilet before washing the pads. The water can also be used to water house plants because they like all the extra vitamins and minerals. Make sure you use cold water so that the stains will come out. I wash every morning. Some women stash all of the used pads in a pillowcase or plastic bag and wash them all at once when their period is over. I don’t do this because I have a washer in the house and I find it more sanitary to wash them every day. They can drip dry or machine dry.
If you do not have a washing machine, then they may be washed by hand. Run cold water over them in the bathtub to remove most of the blood. Place the pads in a medium bucket or tub. Add a little soap and cold water. Using a clean plunger, plunge the pads until they are as clean as you can get them. Plunge for a good 10 minutes for the best results. Rinse the pads well and squeeze them dry. Hang each pad by it’s own clothespin and they should dry pretty fast, even in the winter.
If you like, you can iron the pads, but do not use starch on them. Be careful not to use fabric softener either because it will make them less absorbent.
A No-Sew Alternative:
If your sewing skills are lacking, or you simply do not want to go through the trouble of sewing your own pads you can try this instead. Purchase absorbent terry-cloth dishtowels. Wash them before using. Fold them into rectangles about 3 or 4-inches by 10 or 12 inches. Use safety pins to pin them into your underwear at both narrow ends (the front and the back). These are a bit bulkier than home-sewn pads. They are quite comfortable though, and are a legitimate alternative. They may be washed the same as home-sewn pads. I’ve also seen washcloths recommended. Fold them into thirds, or quarters (long ways) and fit them into your underwear. Apparently they stay in place without pinning because of the friction between the terry-cloth and underwear. For heavier flows fold together 2 or more wash cloths.
About Fabrics:
When I made these, I used fabrics I already had in the house. You may purchase new fabric instead if you like. Use a sturdy double-napped flannel if you go this route. It will last the longest and give you the best results. Cotton quilt batting is very nice filler, but you can also use additional flannel, which is less expensive. Wash everything before cutting or sewing. Flannel will shrink. After sewing, wash the pads again before using. This helps them hold their shape better. Men’s flannel shirts and flannel baby blankets make excellent flannel for your own menstrual pads. They can sometimes be found for 25¢ or 50¢ a piece at yard sales, which makes pads very cheap to sew at home. Brightly colored fabric is less likely to show stains than solid colored or light fabric is. I prefer to use patterns and dark colors for this reason.
About the PatternI created this pattern free hand after measuring commercially available, disposable pads. My pattern is a little bit wider and longer than some patterns available on the Internet. This is to accommodate the average woman, who is a size 14 or larger. Standard pads and liners are created for a size-6 woman. Pads made from this pattern are less likely to leak because they are large enough to fit properly. If you are a smaller woman, or prefer slightly smaller pads, there are several other patterns available online.
Friday, September 11, 2009
It appears that thhings will get worse before they get better.
I try real hard to not touch on the subject of the moron in the White House and all of his clones; but, as I hear the news and the arrogance that leave his lips and the mouths of his team; I just have to say ~~ LOOKS LIKE THINGS WILL GET WORSE~~.
More people are losing ther jobs, more families are having their children placed into the Public systems throug the foster child programs; and what a lie when they actually believe that those group of people are there to help their family. These are not children that are being removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or parents that beat them and use drugs. These are children that the parents love and are counting on the state to help them until they get back on their feet after losing their jobs, and then losing their homes and vehicles....thank you obama for the change!
As being a foster parent for 10 years; I have seen the lies and the manipulation by state and goverment officials which finally ended in us taking our nicely printed license and telling them that we no longer needed to help tear apart families. That is not why we began taking children into our homes.
Now, as I hear the stories of young men and women that are going to the offices of CPS and signing the voluntary papers to place their children; I am so upset. I have seen that picture and witnessed the outcome of that before.
It is a lie and a well planned one at that. Another reason we stopped taking someone else's children into our home. It may sound all nice and neat; but, it is not. It becomes a battle for families to get back their children once they are in the system.
I have been in the court rooms where the parents were begging the judge to give them back their child(ren). I have testified to the way that the system has more or less mis-lead the parent(s). This is just not good.
Just recently a young couple with 5 children were told to choose which 2 they wanted to get back and allow the other 3 to go to new permanent homes; {{because they were just not ABLE to care for them all}}. As the mom and dad cry at such a decision to make...........my heart breaks as we hear them talk. What do we say? What is there to say? They followed the plan that was given to them when they voluntarily placed their children. They got new jobs, they got a home, they got a vehichle and made sure that they had insurance, groceries and beds for the children...only to be told that after the government/state did a plan to re-place their children; they found that:
the dad had had 2 driving while intoxicated, had written a bad check and had spent time in jail.
the mom had a dirty UA for a job drug test...for pot........these were not recent incidences.
the 2 bedroom house with the girls sharing a bed was unacceptable
the crib for the 1 year old in the parent's bedroom was unacceptable
The 2 jobs combined was not nearly enough to raise their family on
the stinking list just went on and on. Bottom line...."THE GOVERNMENT CAN HANDLE THIS!" THE STATE CAN RAISE AND FIND HOMES FOR YOUR CHILDREN" and so on. I am disgusted.
let's not forget that the 4 year old had told the new foster home that daddy had spanked her. That is a huge no-no!
What will it take for people to finally say.."ENOUGH! WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYMORE!!!"?!
More people are losing ther jobs, more families are having their children placed into the Public systems throug the foster child programs; and what a lie when they actually believe that those group of people are there to help their family. These are not children that are being removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or parents that beat them and use drugs. These are children that the parents love and are counting on the state to help them until they get back on their feet after losing their jobs, and then losing their homes and vehicles....thank you obama for the change!
As being a foster parent for 10 years; I have seen the lies and the manipulation by state and goverment officials which finally ended in us taking our nicely printed license and telling them that we no longer needed to help tear apart families. That is not why we began taking children into our homes.
Now, as I hear the stories of young men and women that are going to the offices of CPS and signing the voluntary papers to place their children; I am so upset. I have seen that picture and witnessed the outcome of that before.
It is a lie and a well planned one at that. Another reason we stopped taking someone else's children into our home. It may sound all nice and neat; but, it is not. It becomes a battle for families to get back their children once they are in the system.
I have been in the court rooms where the parents were begging the judge to give them back their child(ren). I have testified to the way that the system has more or less mis-lead the parent(s). This is just not good.
Just recently a young couple with 5 children were told to choose which 2 they wanted to get back and allow the other 3 to go to new permanent homes; {{because they were just not ABLE to care for them all}}. As the mom and dad cry at such a decision to make...........my heart breaks as we hear them talk. What do we say? What is there to say? They followed the plan that was given to them when they voluntarily placed their children. They got new jobs, they got a home, they got a vehichle and made sure that they had insurance, groceries and beds for the children...only to be told that after the government/state did a plan to re-place their children; they found that:
the dad had had 2 driving while intoxicated, had written a bad check and had spent time in jail.
the mom had a dirty UA for a job drug test...for pot........these were not recent incidences.
the 2 bedroom house with the girls sharing a bed was unacceptable
the crib for the 1 year old in the parent's bedroom was unacceptable
The 2 jobs combined was not nearly enough to raise their family on
the stinking list just went on and on. Bottom line...."THE GOVERNMENT CAN HANDLE THIS!" THE STATE CAN RAISE AND FIND HOMES FOR YOUR CHILDREN" and so on. I am disgusted.
let's not forget that the 4 year old had told the new foster home that daddy had spanked her. That is a huge no-no!
What will it take for people to finally say.."ENOUGH! WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYMORE!!!"?!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
approaching 9/11
Heavenly Father and Lord over ALL,
Once again we approach that dreaded date of 9/11. I pray You prevent the destructive forces of terrorism directed against our nation. Provide protection from evil attacks and stop the aggressors that attempt to bring destruction to our nation and its people. May Your Hand of protection keep us safe. Speak Lord and our nation will hear You. I stand against the spirit of fear that accompanies the cowardice acts of terrorism. Allow our fear to turn to trust in You. May knowledge of terrorist planned attacks be revealed to those who provide our national and international security. Help those in power to act swiftly to avert all danger, protecting American lives and property. Make known to us all when something will happen, that there will never be another surprize attack on us.Lord, provide strength, courage, and wisdom to our protectors. Thank You Lord for all the men and women and their families that are scrificing their lives for that freedom that we have here in our Nation. Give wisdom and insight to our government and everyone involved in the elimination of terrorism. Provide instruction in the development of effective and efficient anti-terrorist strategies that will give us an advantage against our aggressors, allowing this country to remain safe and secure. I also pray that You enter the hearts of the instigators of terrorism, so they recognize the evil of their ways, and repent and denounce their cowardice acts of destruction against humanity. Without repentance, may they reap the consequences of their actions through Your Divine Justice. May the fear of our retaliation be greater than their hatred of democracy. Guide us in efforts to seek out and erradicate these merchants of death. Reveal to us the names of those responsible and in allegiance with terrorist organizations. Enable our military to become swift, powerful, and accurate in any action of retaliation. Help them keep the innocent safe as they stop these evil/wicked people. While also remembering that vengence belongs to You.
Lord, help us to understand lifestyle changes that might be necessary to ensure our protection. Grant patience and tolerance to us in adapting to the safety precautions and measure that we might experience. Enable us to realize that the cost of inconvenience is a small price to pay for the safety of our families, our friends, and our loved ones. Keep us ready and from being caught unaware of what is happening within our own nation.
Forgive me for the ill thougts that I hold for this President and his entire administration. Help me to seek love and a want to pray for the errors instead of feeling bitterness and the anger that rises up in me. Lead me now to the still waters that I may find that rest and assurance.
Lord, go to them that lost so much on that horrible day 9/11 and lift them that they may find peace and rest in their minds and hearts. Erase all the terror from the minds of them that were affected and there. Take what was made wrong and make it right. All in accordance to Your will and Your awesome ways. Help us as Americans to never ever forget and alert our minds, ears and eyes for such things that they will be taken care of before they ever come to life on this Nation’s soil again.
In Jesus name! Amen.
Once again we approach that dreaded date of 9/11. I pray You prevent the destructive forces of terrorism directed against our nation. Provide protection from evil attacks and stop the aggressors that attempt to bring destruction to our nation and its people. May Your Hand of protection keep us safe. Speak Lord and our nation will hear You. I stand against the spirit of fear that accompanies the cowardice acts of terrorism. Allow our fear to turn to trust in You. May knowledge of terrorist planned attacks be revealed to those who provide our national and international security. Help those in power to act swiftly to avert all danger, protecting American lives and property. Make known to us all when something will happen, that there will never be another surprize attack on us.Lord, provide strength, courage, and wisdom to our protectors. Thank You Lord for all the men and women and their families that are scrificing their lives for that freedom that we have here in our Nation. Give wisdom and insight to our government and everyone involved in the elimination of terrorism. Provide instruction in the development of effective and efficient anti-terrorist strategies that will give us an advantage against our aggressors, allowing this country to remain safe and secure. I also pray that You enter the hearts of the instigators of terrorism, so they recognize the evil of their ways, and repent and denounce their cowardice acts of destruction against humanity. Without repentance, may they reap the consequences of their actions through Your Divine Justice. May the fear of our retaliation be greater than their hatred of democracy. Guide us in efforts to seek out and erradicate these merchants of death. Reveal to us the names of those responsible and in allegiance with terrorist organizations. Enable our military to become swift, powerful, and accurate in any action of retaliation. Help them keep the innocent safe as they stop these evil/wicked people. While also remembering that vengence belongs to You.
Lord, help us to understand lifestyle changes that might be necessary to ensure our protection. Grant patience and tolerance to us in adapting to the safety precautions and measure that we might experience. Enable us to realize that the cost of inconvenience is a small price to pay for the safety of our families, our friends, and our loved ones. Keep us ready and from being caught unaware of what is happening within our own nation.
Forgive me for the ill thougts that I hold for this President and his entire administration. Help me to seek love and a want to pray for the errors instead of feeling bitterness and the anger that rises up in me. Lead me now to the still waters that I may find that rest and assurance.
Lord, go to them that lost so much on that horrible day 9/11 and lift them that they may find peace and rest in their minds and hearts. Erase all the terror from the minds of them that were affected and there. Take what was made wrong and make it right. All in accordance to Your will and Your awesome ways. Help us as Americans to never ever forget and alert our minds, ears and eyes for such things that they will be taken care of before they ever come to life on this Nation’s soil again.
In Jesus name! Amen.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
canning fowl home grown or wild
BONED BIRD
For canning, one- and two-year-old fowls are better than younger ones. After picking and washing the birds, cut the skin between the legs and the body ... bend the legs until the hip joints snap . . . slip your knife under the ends of the shoulder blades ... cut up to the wings ... pull the back and breast apart ... remove the entrails ... rinse the meat ... dry it ... and chill it for 6 to 10 hours. Don't salt the poultry.Steam or boil the fowl until it's about two-thirds done. Next, remove the skin and bones. Pack the meat into hot jars, leaving an inch of headspace, and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a pint (or 1 teaspoon to each quart). Skim off the fat, then reheat the broth to boiling and pour it over the meat, maintaining the inch of headspace. Finally, adjust the caps. Processing should take an hour and 15 minutes for pints, and 15 minutes longer for quarts ... both at 10 pounds of pressure.
HOT-PACKED BIRD ON THE BONE
After preparing and chilling the fowl as directed for boned bird, boil, steam, or bake it until it's two-thirds done. Separate the birds at the joints as for frying, then pack them into hot jars and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pint (or I teaspoon for each quart). Cover the birds with boiling broth, leaving an inch of headspace, and adjust the caps. At 10 pounds of pressure, processing should take an hour and 15 minutes for pints, and 15 minutes longer for quarts.
For canning, one- and two-year-old fowls are better than younger ones. After picking and washing the birds, cut the skin between the legs and the body ... bend the legs until the hip joints snap . . . slip your knife under the ends of the shoulder blades ... cut up to the wings ... pull the back and breast apart ... remove the entrails ... rinse the meat ... dry it ... and chill it for 6 to 10 hours. Don't salt the poultry.Steam or boil the fowl until it's about two-thirds done. Next, remove the skin and bones. Pack the meat into hot jars, leaving an inch of headspace, and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a pint (or 1 teaspoon to each quart). Skim off the fat, then reheat the broth to boiling and pour it over the meat, maintaining the inch of headspace. Finally, adjust the caps. Processing should take an hour and 15 minutes for pints, and 15 minutes longer for quarts ... both at 10 pounds of pressure.
HOT-PACKED BIRD ON THE BONE
After preparing and chilling the fowl as directed for boned bird, boil, steam, or bake it until it's two-thirds done. Separate the birds at the joints as for frying, then pack them into hot jars and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pint (or I teaspoon for each quart). Cover the birds with boiling broth, leaving an inch of headspace, and adjust the caps. At 10 pounds of pressure, processing should take an hour and 15 minutes for pints, and 15 minutes longer for quarts.
processing and canning of venison
Canning wild game meat using the “Raw pack” method.
First, for safety reasons, please read and follow the instructions for your specific pressure canner. This post is not meant to cover step-by-step instructions for every canner or every situation.Canning is a great way to preserve your game and unlike freezing, it will last for years. Since it is already cooked you can make great meals at a moments notice without having to thaw and cook your game.You will have some options as to what size jar you want and it will increase or decrease the canning time slightly. You can use quarts, pints or half pints or a combination of both as long as you cook to the time for the largest jars. I base my jar size on how much meat I have to can, how much time I have and how
many jars of a particular size I still have in the pantry.I prefer wide mouth jars as they are easier to fill and empty, plus they are much easier to wash. Most canners will hold 7 quarts and 16 pints with no problem. Some canners say they will hold more pints, but since different companies make different diameter jars you will need to experiment with different brands and sizes.Because each canner load can take a couple hours from start to finish I try to only do full loads to maximize my time and output. Having done this for a while I have learned that I need 13 lbs of meat for 7 quarts or nearly two pounds per jar. I also use 13 lbs of meat for 16 pints, which equals ¾ lb per jar with a little left over. If I am doing less then 16 pints then I figure how many jars and multiply by ¾ lb then I add ½ lb just so I have enough meat prepared. With these numbers I know how much meat to set aside during the butchering process or how much to thaw out when I am ready to can.I usually decide if I am canning during the butchering process and if I am not planning to make burger then I start with the low leg meat and work my way to the best cuts. This way when I am done with the canning meat I can make roasts or steaks out of the rest. If I am making burger and only doing a little bit of canning then I will start with the best cuts I have available after steaks and roasts. A great thing about pressure canning is that the ligaments and tendons in pieces like the lower leg are cooked away during the process and you are left with a tender meal from a very tough piece of meat.
I start by cutting the chilled meat into 1- 1.5 inch square pieces. If I am doing multiple canner loads then I only cut enough for the first batch. Once the first batch is cooking I 
will continue cutting for the next batch. Now I place the canner on the stove and add a couple inches of water. I turn the stove to a medium setting to start warming the water.Once the meat is cut it is time to fill the jars. I find it is easier to keep the rim of the jar clean by using a canning funnel. I fill ¾ of the way they with a rubber or plastic spatula I poke the meat around to remove air pockets. Then I add a little more meat. Do not pack the meat in and make sure to leave 1 inch of headspace. With the Raw pack method you can add a teaspoon of salt to one quart of meat, but do not add any liquid. I choose not to add salt or spices, as I don’t know how I will be preparing the meat later. Now I place the 
lids in a bowl of hot water to set for a few minutes.Once the jars are filled you will need to wipe the rims of jars with a cloth and then place a lid and band on the jar. Do not over tighten the bands, only finger tight. When all the jars have lids I then place them in the canner. Make sure you have a rack to keep the jars from sitting directly on the bottom. If you are doing quarts you will have six in a circle with one in the center. When doing pints you may have a circle of seven with one in the center. Then you will stack another eight on top of those. Make sure to stagger them so the second row is not sitting directly on the jar below it. With the center from the second row you can often stagger it with a bottom one from the side.Now I turn the stove up to high and put the lid on the canner. Make sure your seals are seated correctly and that the lid is on properly. Depending on the stove, it can take a few minutes for pressure to build and for the steam to escape. I let it steam for a few minutes before putting the weight on the vent. It may take
a couple minutes for the vents to seal. If everything is sealed it won’t take long for the pressure to rise. Once the pressure gets to about 8 lbs I start turning the stove down, letting it settle on 11 lbs pressure. I have instructions that state both 10 and 11 lbs so I use 11 lbs. Once it is up to pressure you will want to check every so often to make sure maintains throughout the process.Timing will start once the canner is up to pressure. There are a few time variables based on Hot pack, Raw pack, size of jars and elevation. Here at basically sea level with a Raw pack I follow these guidelines. Quarts – 90 minutesPints – 75 minutesWhen the correct time has passed, remove the canner from heat and allow it to cool down. Do not manually relieve pressure as it can lead to bad seals or cause a jar to crack. After about 30 minutes, or once it has depressurized, I take off the weight to release steam. Once all the steam is released I open the canner and remove the jars. I use a gripper made for canning, but I know some use oven mitts or the like. I place the jars on a towel on the table to cook and finish sealing.Now is the moment of truth. Did I put in too much meat? Did I clean the jar well enough? Will it seal? If everything went as planned you should start to hear the lids pinging as they seal. I try to count them, but sometimes I miss one so I need to manually check the jars. After a few hours I will tap the lids with my finger. You will quickly learn which ones sealed and which ones didn’t by the tone. Once they have cooled over night I label the lids with the date and type of meat and then I put them back in the box for storage. Typically they go into a pantry, cupboard or closet that does not get too hot nor too cold.Canned meat can be used in almost any recipe that calls for meat. It can be shredded for tacos, added to stews, used for French dip or Hoagie sandwiches, or even eaten right out of the jar. When hunting or especially steelheading in the winter it makes a great treat after warming near the truck heater.
will continue cutting for the next batch. Now I place the canner on the stove and add a couple inches of water. I turn the stove to a medium setting to start warming the water.Once the meat is cut it is time to fill the jars. I find it is easier to keep the rim of the jar clean by using a canning funnel. I fill ¾ of the way they with a rubber or plastic spatula I poke the meat around to remove air pockets. Then I add a little more meat. Do not pack the meat in and make sure to leave 1 inch of headspace. With the Raw pack method you can add a teaspoon of salt to one quart of meat, but do not add any liquid. I choose not to add salt or spices, as I don’t know how I will be preparing the meat later. Now I place the 
lids in a bowl of hot water to set for a few minutes.Once the jars are filled you will need to wipe the rims of jars with a cloth and then place a lid and band on the jar. Do not over tighten the bands, only finger tight. When all the jars have lids I then place them in the canner. Make sure you have a rack to keep the jars from sitting directly on the bottom. If you are doing quarts you will have six in a circle with one in the center. When doing pints you may have a circle of seven with one in the center. Then you will stack another eight on top of those. Make sure to stagger them so the second row is not sitting directly on the jar below it. With the center from the second row you can often stagger it with a bottom one from the side.Now I turn the stove up to high and put the lid on the canner. Make sure your seals are seated correctly and that the lid is on properly. Depending on the stove, it can take a few minutes for pressure to build and for the steam to escape. I let it steam for a few minutes before putting the weight on the vent. It may take
a couple minutes for the vents to seal. If everything is sealed it won’t take long for the pressure to rise. Once the pressure gets to about 8 lbs I start turning the stove down, letting it settle on 11 lbs pressure. I have instructions that state both 10 and 11 lbs so I use 11 lbs. Once it is up to pressure you will want to check every so often to make sure maintains throughout the process.Timing will start once the canner is up to pressure. There are a few time variables based on Hot pack, Raw pack, size of jars and elevation. Here at basically sea level with a Raw pack I follow these guidelines. Quarts – 90 minutesPints – 75 minutesWhen the correct time has passed, remove the canner from heat and allow it to cool down. Do not manually relieve pressure as it can lead to bad seals or cause a jar to crack. After about 30 minutes, or once it has depressurized, I take off the weight to release steam. Once all the steam is released I open the canner and remove the jars. I use a gripper made for canning, but I know some use oven mitts or the like. I place the jars on a towel on the table to cook and finish sealing.Now is the moment of truth. Did I put in too much meat? Did I clean the jar well enough? Will it seal? If everything went as planned you should start to hear the lids pinging as they seal. I try to count them, but sometimes I miss one so I need to manually check the jars. After a few hours I will tap the lids with my finger. You will quickly learn which ones sealed and which ones didn’t by the tone. Once they have cooled over night I label the lids with the date and type of meat and then I put them back in the box for storage. Typically they go into a pantry, cupboard or closet that does not get too hot nor too cold.Canned meat can be used in almost any recipe that calls for meat. It can be shredded for tacos, added to stews, used for French dip or Hoagie sandwiches, or even eaten right out of the jar. When hunting or especially steelheading in the winter it makes a great treat after warming near the truck heater.Enjoy!
Hope she doesn't have kittens
Captured bobcat.
Bobcats are common in Washington and the Seattle area and can become problem animals. They are noted for killing pets, such as small dogs and cats, but are also well known for killing poultry, other captive birds and small mammals. Bobcats can pose a threat to human safety, especially when a female is raising kittens. Bobcats are also susceptible to the rabies virus.
Kapsoon has 2 huge bites. One on each hip. Think about it! A cat that can bite a German shepherd and get away with it.
We had some neighbors stop by last year and told me to make sure not to leave my little dogs outside for a minute with out supervision because they had seen the thing stalking the Boston-ese.
When you live in the woods ~~~ you have to take what lives here too; however, we do not have to lose our animals to them.
There are twin fawns here and they would be easy to catch by these big cats.
Kiona our Granddaughter said that she saw a big cat and I just told her to stay near the house.
I think I know now who got the goat kid last April. There was the goat minus its head. Awful!!!
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