Elisabeth, you are so pretty in this picture. I had to post it. You look so pretty in your little hat. I bet you just came in from playing outside. We love you little Elisa-pup!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Pretty Little Elisapup!
Elisabeth, you are so pretty in this picture. I had to post it. You look so pretty in your little hat. I bet you just came in from playing outside. We love you little Elisa-pup!
Duck Dinner
Well, we finally tried duck meat a couple of weeks ago. I slow cooked these skinned ducks in the back room in our turkey roasters for a few hours. When I walked in the door from being down at the barn that afternoon, I couldn't believe what I was smelling.... one of the most delicious fragrances I've ever smelled before. If you have never had duck meat, you are missing out. It is absolutely delicious. It smells and tastes better than turkey. I thought it would be a strange meat since you cannot find it in the supermarkets much. No, it is such a deliciously rich meat only people like the French would have something so wonderful in their markets as they truly know how to eat.
Mind you, I only ate about half of the meat here. : ) When my husband has more time he will leave the skin on. I can't wait to try it. I made a wonderfully rich stock with the leftovers and the fat in the pan and had a delicious soup a couple days later.
Mind you, I only ate about half of the meat here. : ) When my husband has more time he will leave the skin on. I can't wait to try it. I made a wonderfully rich stock with the leftovers and the fat in the pan and had a delicious soup a couple days later.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
This Little Piggy Stayed Home
Like I shared, I would take more pictures of our little piggies. Here are some pictures I took the very day we got them as well as some the next day when Matthew put up some electrical wire.
Nestled close together in their sleeping quarters
You can see how little they are compared to daddy. He's putting a feeder in for them. They are the size of medium/large dogs right now. Within 2-3 months, they will be nearly 200 lbs and ready for the table.
Inspecting their boundaries. When they hit their little noses to the electrical wire, they yelp and run away like little doggies.
You should see this now, it's really a pig trough. They have burrowed the ground throughout the whole area like no rototiller can.
Elisabeth is watching the piggies. Hannah has other things on her mind.
Here they are digging down deep around a post
I think this picture is cute. Look at their little, curly tails.
Plowing the ground
A happy pig has lots of mud on his nose - so we heard.
: )
Nestled close together in their sleeping quarters
You can see how little they are compared to daddy. He's putting a feeder in for them. They are the size of medium/large dogs right now. Within 2-3 months, they will be nearly 200 lbs and ready for the table.
Inspecting their boundaries. When they hit their little noses to the electrical wire, they yelp and run away like little doggies.
You should see this now, it's really a pig trough. They have burrowed the ground throughout the whole area like no rototiller can.
Elisabeth is watching the piggies. Hannah has other things on her mind.
Here they are digging down deep around a post
I think this picture is cute. Look at their little, curly tails.
Plowing the ground
A happy pig has lots of mud on his nose - so we heard.: )
Just Look at That Face
Oh, little Leah. Just look at that face. You are so cute! You have your first tooth already and love turning over onto your tummy. You are the most content baby we have had. I thought you would be as you were so quiet for so many hours in my belly. We love you little sweetie!
Just Because
Just because you are so cute (though you look sad in this picture),
I have to take lots of pictures of you...
Getting bigger...
Pretty eyes. I didn't know a boy could have such pretty eyes. : )
Momma's boy! We won't tell a soul. ; )
Elk
Here are some pictures I took of the elk across the highway from where we live. I took these with a close up shot from our kitchen window. I like this first picture as it looks like a painting when you enlarge it.
See the big bull? You can probably see his rack if you click on the picture.
See the big bull? You can probably see his rack if you click on the picture.
Helping Mommy Knead Bread
Here's our little Hannah helping mommy knead some bread. Good job little Hanni! You're such a good, little helper.
Our Big Order
A couple of months ago I happened upon a place called Azure that sells quality bulk foods online in central Oregon. Don't mind that this picture was taken in our mud room.
Here is what I purchased:
Here is what I purchased:
250 lbs of quality food
15 pounds of the best peanut butter I've ever had for only $23.
25 pounds of rye berries for under $12.00. It makes the best bread.
This is the darkest, brown sugar I've ever had. It doesn't take much on the oatmeal.
Yummy barley malt syrup. I put a little on my homemade muesli sometimes. Put a little in your bread dough and it makes your bread delicious too.| GR104 | Imported White Basmati (Jasmine) Rice | 5 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $6.45 | $6.45 |
| SW063 | Eden Barley Malt Syrup | 20 ozs. | 1 | 1 | $5.20 | $5.20 |
| DF067 | Raisins, Flame | 5 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $8.85 | $8.85 |
| NB067 | Nat Value Pnut Bttr Cream Salted Nat | 15 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $23.00 | $23.00 |
| GR061 | Wheat, Hard, Red, Organic | 25 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $10.10 | $10.10 |
| SW120 | Dark Brown Molasses Sugar, Natural | 16 ozs. | 2 | 2 | $1.95 | $3.90 |
| GP034 | Whole Oats w/Hulls, Org.(AnimalFeed) | 45 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $10.50 | $10.50 |
| FG453 | Stahlbush Spinach, Cut | 3 x 10 ozs. | 1 | 1 | $4.60 | $4.60 |
| HS727 | Dropper for 4 oz. Bottles | 1 4 oz. Dropper | 2 | 2 | $0.80 | $1.60 |
| CE068 | Oats, Rolled, Regular | 25 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $10.40 | $10.40 |
| QP054 | Pears, In Season, Organic | 3 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $2.90 | $2.90 |
| GR057 | Azure Farm Rye BERRIES, Organic | 25 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $11.20 | $11.20 |
| NU054 | Walnut Pieces (bakers) | 5 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $22.00 | $22.00 |
| DF024 | Deglet Noor Dates, Pitted | 1 lb. | 1 | 1 | $2.80 | $2.80 |
| BP035 | Coconut, Chipped | 2.5 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| QP138 | Apples, Fuji, Organic | 3 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| QP050 | Cabbage, Green, Organic (random weight) | 1 random weight | 1 | 1 | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| QP165 | Carrots, Fresh, Organic #1 | 5 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $4.50 | $4.50 |
| QP262 | Leeks, Fresh, Organic | 1 lb. approx. | 1 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.00 |
| QP139 | Potatoes, Russett, Organic | 5 lbs. | 2 | 0 | $2.30 | $0.00 |
| FL060 | White Flour, Morbread | 50 lbs. | 1 | 1 | $24.55 | $24.55 |
| CH066 | Parmesan, Grated (Romano) | 1 lb. | 1 | 1 | $5.15 | $5.15 |
| Sub Total: $169.20 Total: $169.20 | ||||||
Just look at the price of peanut butter: 15 lbs for $23. Where else can you find something like that? And it's only peanuts and salt. And it's all creamy unlike Adams peanutbutter where you have to stir it for several minutes. The rye and wheat berries I make fresh bread from every day. It is DELICIOUS! Their produce is wonderful and all organic. Why would I want to pay .99 cents a pound for regular apples locally here when I could get the same thing from Azure but Organic? And all the boxed, garbage cereal I used to buy each month... I now make Muesli with dates, walnuts, coconut and raisins. We have hot grain cereals throughout the month along with oatmeal as well. I then buy milk at the store and cheese for our lunches, some few vegetables each week. We haven't spent anymore than we normally do each month ordering from Azure and it's only going to build up here. I can't wait to place my order again at the end of this month.
Friday, April 9, 2010
We Got Our New Pigs Today!!!
We got our first, little feeder piggies today. They sure are big! They really squealed when Matthew and the woman (pictured above) who dropped them off for us took them out of her trailer. I will write some more later... time to go down and feed our little pigs. : )
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Turning 40
I will be 40 years old this Saturday. I can't believe it. While I'm not into the 40 and fit or over the hill themes, I take life very serious. It is very short. The reality is we will all die.
Where am I at right now? I am finding a new way of life and living. It has nothing to do with me turning 40 but where the Lord has led our family. I recently read a book called "Real Food" which opened my eyes to what I already have resided in my heart regarding eating well. Many of the practices she writes about regarding eating nutritiously come from the Weston A. Price foundation. I can clearly see that the Lord has been leading us down this road these past few years. We grow our vegetables each Summer to freeze and consume them throughout the rest of the year. We've already raised and slaughtered and consumed the best Angus beef you could ever eat. Tomorrow we will be getting a couple of feeder pigs to put in our freezer in a few months. We've traded duck for freshly caught fish and hope to trade our homemade laundry soap for honey from our friend the bee keeper. What we do not grow or raise I will look into trading or purchasing during the Summer at local farms or farmers markets.... talk to the people as well and see where God leads. Like I said, it is a way of life more than just nutrition.
God intends for me to work in the fields helping my husband plant and gather our food. This is the way of life, so much better than wasting time on an eliptical machine. We eat butter and coconut oil and many cholesterol ridden foods as they've always done before. Did you know that cholesterol actually helps repair damage to the heart and blood vessels? Doctors use cholesterol in heart patients during surgery. See for yourself and read the book. It is a compilation of stunning medical facts and things that have been concealed through the government and the American Medical Association. Heart attacks were nearly unheard of before the early 1900's.
I have been on low fat diets, I tried the Atkins diet. I remember Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda and all the fads from old to new. I will not try the new one called the Gluten free diet. God intended for us to eat bread and one of my greatest pleasures in life is to grind wheat or rye for bread each day for my family. It's full and healthy and ever so rich, in more ways than one. God intended us to eat meat and the richness of the land and to work and live and bear children and worship Him. He made us to endure hardships and even persecutions. This is life. He's doing a work in me on the inside that will continue reveal itself on the outside. I cannot believe where I was just 5 years ago.... I can't believe where He has brought me thus far.
I have nothing in my past to share of that is good. My entire family has forsaken me because of my beliefs and ways of life. If they could see me now, they would "really" think I am nuts. I thank God for my husband though who is just like me. We strengthen one another as iron sharpens iron. We have purpose and such a short time to accomplish all that we wish to accomplish.
What do I see ahead? What are my hopes and dreams? To continue to raise our children in the ways of the Lord. To have the Lord build what was stolen from me or wasted by myself. All the years. That I could look back on my death bed and say that alas, my days of youth were spent foolishly but I thank You Lord that you gave me increase in my latter years as you did Job. In between I see farming and God building community around us where ever He may have us. I see us milking our own cow for the first time and making cheese from our own cow, yogurt, butter, ice cream and all the delicatessies of life. Watching Matthew chop wood for the first time, the girls making their first loaf of bread and their first Thanksgiving meal. I see holding my first grandchild and missing having a baby - "Oh, how quick it went", I will say. I see the five good years of health I've prayed for that my husband and I may have when our last child leaves our home. The quietness returned but a little sad and empty not having children to run throughout our home. Holding my husbands' hand again while we walk outdoors. And one day holding my husbands' hand and sharing with him how much I love him when he parts to be with the Lord. I don't like to think about this but this is what's real. I don't want to waste my life. And then it will be my turn. I see my tears knowing it went too quick. Only one time to live on this earth before I depart to be with the Lord.
I pray Lord that these things can be fulfilled. That our children can obtain a Godly inheritance. My heart cries out to You Oh Lord. May we worship You more Lord. May You Open the eyes of others to see Oh Lord. Our time is short. Our time is short. Oh Lord, I pray that they will not continue to bury themselves in the worldly enticements of the day. But that they will look upward to You Lord. That they will not listen to the noise of the world but they will listen for You in that quiet place Oh Lord. Help them Lord. They know not what they do. Help them Lord.
Where am I at right now? I am finding a new way of life and living. It has nothing to do with me turning 40 but where the Lord has led our family. I recently read a book called "Real Food" which opened my eyes to what I already have resided in my heart regarding eating well. Many of the practices she writes about regarding eating nutritiously come from the Weston A. Price foundation. I can clearly see that the Lord has been leading us down this road these past few years. We grow our vegetables each Summer to freeze and consume them throughout the rest of the year. We've already raised and slaughtered and consumed the best Angus beef you could ever eat. Tomorrow we will be getting a couple of feeder pigs to put in our freezer in a few months. We've traded duck for freshly caught fish and hope to trade our homemade laundry soap for honey from our friend the bee keeper. What we do not grow or raise I will look into trading or purchasing during the Summer at local farms or farmers markets.... talk to the people as well and see where God leads. Like I said, it is a way of life more than just nutrition.
God intends for me to work in the fields helping my husband plant and gather our food. This is the way of life, so much better than wasting time on an eliptical machine. We eat butter and coconut oil and many cholesterol ridden foods as they've always done before. Did you know that cholesterol actually helps repair damage to the heart and blood vessels? Doctors use cholesterol in heart patients during surgery. See for yourself and read the book. It is a compilation of stunning medical facts and things that have been concealed through the government and the American Medical Association. Heart attacks were nearly unheard of before the early 1900's.
I have been on low fat diets, I tried the Atkins diet. I remember Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda and all the fads from old to new. I will not try the new one called the Gluten free diet. God intended for us to eat bread and one of my greatest pleasures in life is to grind wheat or rye for bread each day for my family. It's full and healthy and ever so rich, in more ways than one. God intended us to eat meat and the richness of the land and to work and live and bear children and worship Him. He made us to endure hardships and even persecutions. This is life. He's doing a work in me on the inside that will continue reveal itself on the outside. I cannot believe where I was just 5 years ago.... I can't believe where He has brought me thus far.
*****************************************************
I have nothing in my past to share of that is good. My entire family has forsaken me because of my beliefs and ways of life. If they could see me now, they would "really" think I am nuts. I thank God for my husband though who is just like me. We strengthen one another as iron sharpens iron. We have purpose and such a short time to accomplish all that we wish to accomplish.
What do I see ahead? What are my hopes and dreams? To continue to raise our children in the ways of the Lord. To have the Lord build what was stolen from me or wasted by myself. All the years. That I could look back on my death bed and say that alas, my days of youth were spent foolishly but I thank You Lord that you gave me increase in my latter years as you did Job. In between I see farming and God building community around us where ever He may have us. I see us milking our own cow for the first time and making cheese from our own cow, yogurt, butter, ice cream and all the delicatessies of life. Watching Matthew chop wood for the first time, the girls making their first loaf of bread and their first Thanksgiving meal. I see holding my first grandchild and missing having a baby - "Oh, how quick it went", I will say. I see the five good years of health I've prayed for that my husband and I may have when our last child leaves our home. The quietness returned but a little sad and empty not having children to run throughout our home. Holding my husbands' hand again while we walk outdoors. And one day holding my husbands' hand and sharing with him how much I love him when he parts to be with the Lord. I don't like to think about this but this is what's real. I don't want to waste my life. And then it will be my turn. I see my tears knowing it went too quick. Only one time to live on this earth before I depart to be with the Lord.
I pray Lord that these things can be fulfilled. That our children can obtain a Godly inheritance. My heart cries out to You Oh Lord. May we worship You more Lord. May You Open the eyes of others to see Oh Lord. Our time is short. Our time is short. Oh Lord, I pray that they will not continue to bury themselves in the worldly enticements of the day. But that they will look upward to You Lord. That they will not listen to the noise of the world but they will listen for You in that quiet place Oh Lord. Help them Lord. They know not what they do. Help them Lord.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
I've Got Too Much To Do
I've Got Too Much To Do
I've got research to do and books to read, notes to take and lists to make. I can't watch tv, I've got too much to do!
I've got diapers to change and bottles to make, bruises to kiss and milkshakes to make. I can't watch the newest movies, I've got too much to do!
I've got wheat to grind and muesli to make, dinner to prepare and homework to create. I can't watch the news, I've got too much to do!
I've got hymns to sing and babies to kiss, dances to dance and the door to answer. I can't listen to the newest music, I've got too much to do!
I've got gardens to rake, spinach to pick, vegetables to wash and meat to prepare. I can't go out to dinner, I've got too much to do!
I've got dresses to make and skirts to fix, shirts to sew and aprons to create. I can't go to the mall, I've got too much to do!
I've got soap to be made and chickens to sell, turkeys to slaughter and eggs to gather. I can't go on vacation, I've got too much to do!
I've got kids to home school; papers to make, letters for tracing and eggs for counting. I can't send them to public school, I've got too much to do!
I've got butter to make and yogurt too, laundry in the machine and more to be folded. I can't go to the store, I've got too much to do!
I've got the Bible to read, a recipe or two, a book from the library and a piece of mail too. I can't read a magazine subscription, I've got too much to do!
I've got farming to learn and orders to be filled, supplies to reorder and customers to tend to. I can't go back to college, I've got too much to do!
I've got kids to wash and hair to cut, nails to trim and ears to clean. I can't go to the beauty salon, I've got too much to do!
I've got friends to write and kids to go to bed, toys to pick up and a baby to hold. I can't go out for a drink, I've got too much to do!
I've got life to live in fullness and joy. I can't waste any more away. I've got too much to do.
Written by Me : )
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
New Teeter Totter
I couldn't help but see a teeter totter for the kids when I saw this stump and piece of lumber sitting out in front of our barn. So, Matthew did a little bit of modification to make it a little safer and here we go...
I've tried it too!
Feeding our Ducks
Here's Hannah feeding our ducks in the barn before the head outside. We have lots more (we're hatching and selling) but these some of our youth size Pekin ducks.
Catching Chickens
Daddy takes the girls down to the barn each day to do "chores". : )
Here's one of the coops where they are gathering eggs.
Here they are trying to catch one of the chickens
And again...
Looks like Elisabeth caught one!
And another one.
Flying away
Going to get just one more
Life on a farm
Such tough chores
Here's one of the coops where they are gathering eggs.
Here they are trying to catch one of the chickens
And again...
Looks like Elisabeth caught one!
And another one.
Flying away
Going to get just one more
Life on a farmSuch tough chores
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Our Little Leah
Here are some beautiful pictures I took of our little Leah today.
This one is my favorite
She's found her hand, so the pacifier will start going to the wayside
Looking out the window
Excitedly looking at mama
Hmmm, I wonder who you will be?
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