Contemplating Future Home Plans

In my previous post, I wrote about plans for my vegetable gardens in raised beds and how I envision it coming together.   We have some "need to do" projects for our house that will be tackled some time this Spring, Lord willing.  Between putting a new roof and new windows in, that also incorporates a new door and windows for the Sunroom.

The area here will be framed out, replaced with French doors in the middle and a window on each end where the stationary panels are.  To the extreme right, there are 4 panels that will be replaced in the same way--framed out and 4 windows installed.

When looking for houses here in GA to purchase, we decided to look for foreclosures or houses that "need work" so that we could get one for the lowest price possible, paying it off early and doing the majority of the work for ourselves. Our ultimate goal was to become "debt free" as quickly as possible.

Why?  That will be a good topic for another post.  😉

Regardless, making plans to fix things takes time, effort, and money.  Fixing things the least expensive way possible (like a broken dishwasher) is what we've done for years.  If my husband cannot tear it apart, go get the pieces needed, and get it running again in a few hours, then there is truly something wrong with the item.  We have purchased older lawn mower/tractors with attachments for less than a fraction of what it would cost new.  With that, though, there is always something that breaks or wears out.  We replaced so many things on that mower, but it worked for us.  My husband sold that mower when we moved to GA.

We have felt that it is so very important to have goals when our over arching theme is frugality.  There are definitely some "need to do" things that frugality may need to be put by the wayside for quality, but in those cases it is very few times that happens.  However, planning, goal setting, working on those things little by little, ensuring safety of everyone in the home, and being good stewards is what we strive for in our lives.

The choice to live more frugally is simply that--a choice.  Please remember there are all kinds of levels of frugal choices out there.  For many it is a matter of taste or product preference.

We frequent yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, auctions, ebay, facebook flea market groups, and craigslist for a lot of our needs.  When we need to buy something new, we wait until the money is available.  We need to "put off" the "I need it now" mentality relying on credit at every turn because eventually that credit will be used up and there will be no money to pay for emergencies.  This takes personal discipline.  Yes, things happen and you need to dip in to the emergency fund.  That's when you tighten the belt, stop going out for expensive meals, and get the emergency fund back to the level it needs to be.  (I'm saying this to myself just as much as to my readers.  If I don't follow my own advice I'm a hypocrite and I don't want to do that.)

When making plans, we look around and make lists of things we need.  Right now we need some office furniture, some other pieces that I'd like to have for plants, a hall table for a lamp to sit, some clothing items, any craft items dealing with knitting or crocheting, clothing needs and anything else we can think of--all gets put on a list.  I don't bring the list with me when I go to all the above places, but I keep things in mind when I am looking.  I use to make an inventory of everyone's clothing with color, size, type and what I need to look for to get that person to the next size.  That began seasons ahead of when they needed those items.  I had bins in the attic with the next couple of sizes up for each child.  When the oldest son grew out of something it went in to the bin for the youngest.  That was then, now the oldest tries passing off his old clothes to the youngest and he gets laughed at because the youngest has tastes of his own as well as his own size.  LOL

Frugality with making home plans is all encompassing, reaching in to every part of our lives.  We need to be frugal in this area in order to be sure we have resources in this other area to fix it properly or to fill a need that could be filled inexpensively.

One of those things each of us have to personally decide for ourselves is "how far are we willing to take this frugality thing?"  For me, I've tried every kind of paper towels on the market, but I always come back to Bounty.  This is my own personal preference, so I try to find it the cheapest way I can, buy it in bulk or with coupons and don't worry about the money I "could be" saving.  We've purchased generic items and things from Aldi just to try it before buying more than one of that item.  We've found that it's about an 85/15% split with regard to Aldi items.  We usually like just about everything we try from there, but occasionally we find something that just doesn't taste good to us.  Once again, it is purely personal preference, so trying new products that are cheaper than what we've bought in times past has become commonplace for us.

All this to say that in order to be able to afford making changes or fixing things that are broken, we have been frugal in many areas, pushing the envelope in many ways to creatively free up more money.  One of the places I began looking for ideas for greater frugality was The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn.  This book encompasses 3 of her other books that just compilations of her newsletters.  I know many of the ideas in there do not include many couponing ideas, blogging for money, affiliate links, ibotta, or any other new ideas that have come out since the book was published, so keep your eyes peeled for technological advances in saving more money since this book was published.

I realize I may have been preaching to the choir with some of my readers, but I'm finding there is another generation of younger folks who have not heard or understand these concepts.  I'm finding myself in an interesting position that I've never been in before now--one that teaches and guides others in the neat things I've learned.  I'm not the end all for information, of course, but sharing information may help someone who stumbles across my blog.

How are you planning for your future home fixes?

Have a Blessed Day!

Considering the Future

My husband and I are beginning to consider what our lives will be like once our young folks sprout wings and leave our nest.  We are looking at downsizing our home, even though we just moved here last year.  We are looking at possibly having more property, even though it means more work to do the things we'd like to do.

We're realizing that we are limited with how much activity we can participate in at church living almost an hour away.  The special things that happen on days other than Sundays and Wednesdays simply cannot be attended because it isn't just a short jaunt over to the church or to a Couple's Night with our dear folks in our Sunday School class whom we've grown to love.  So we pray.  We'll find out soon enough what the Lord's will is for this as we lay this at His feet.  There is a lot to consider and even still, we consider the necessity of selling our current house when the time comes too.  Lots to consider.

We're realizing that we will be physically limited with how much we can accomplish on a daily basis due to the fact that our young folks will be out of the nest.  I mentioned to my husband that we could get him a good tractor (not to be confused with "new") with accessories that would help him do the work that is needful without needing one or more of the kids around to do it.  But, the other things, like putting up fences or things like that, if course we'd ask the kids to come help.

We're realizing that we'll need a house with 2 master bedroom/bathrooms just in case there is a need for one of our parents to move in with us.  Additionally, we're looking at building an apartment over a garage just in case our oldest son needs a place.  That will give him his own space and as much autonomy as possible.

We've talked about "puttering" with our days on the property.  We've talked about having a garden and having fruit trees and selling the produce.  We've talked about going to different festivals with things that we make to sell.

It's a sweet thought for us to have things like this in mind for our future.  I don't want anything ornate, but simple and all one level, but nothing too big.  I want to be able to have family and friends over to love on them.  I want to bless others and serve the Lord with my husband.

"Ponder the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established." 

(Pro 4:26)

In Christ,

Sharing Our Gifts

Many times when one would read a title such as that, one would think of getting a gift of money or a present.  I am talking about sharing ourselves, our talents and our time.  Some of those things require a bit of our money, but usually not giving directly to any one person a monetary amount.

Throughout the time I have spent as a parent, I've tried instilling in my kids that we need to give of ourselves, even in the smallest of ways, to help in any way we can. Many times in the beginning, I've just taken my kids with me in whichever service project we were doing and expected them to help, or I gave them things to do like wiping tables, serving drinks or something like that.  As they grew in their own walk and personal likes and dislikes, they've shown that they love helping, but in their own ways.

It has been a humbling experience for me to lend my voice to the Sherwood Baptist Choir.  I am truly stretched and challenged with my own musical abilities, along with my deafness that brings additional challenges all it's own to just about everything I do.  I have always been a soprano, but due to a 3 month long bout of a variety of colds and flu a few years ago, I went from a soprano to an alto.  This is a challenge when I've learned a vast majority of songs in soprano, so much of my work has been to relearn all these songs.  It helps to stand next to some strong alto voices in choir so I don't start singing the soprano part.  The video below has been written by our Music Minister and Choir/Orchestra director Mark Willard.  He is the main vocalist with some very talented folks accompanying and singing with him.  This song is called "Hope is Rising."  From my understanding, we will be having a *Live* worship on October 9th featuring this song as well as many other favorite classic hymns.  This has been hard work for me in this time also since I've had bronchitis since 2 weeks after my knee surgery in July.  I'm excited to be a part of this, to just simply lend my voice to the choir in praise to God.  What a blessing!

This is another video to show the choir, orchestra, and a very talented and beautiful lady who is singing "I Am."




I count it a privilege to lend my voice in a very small way to the choir wherever I am planted.  Praise God!


This is what I've learned:

*When you model serving and encourage them to help and find some place to share their gifts and abilities, be prepared for when they do something unexpected.

Each of my kids have a wonderful singing voice.  As a part of their music training, they've been in the choir with me until our move to Georgia.  I've given them a choice of whether or not to join the choir and express themselves that way, but they've gone other directions.  My daughter loves working with the kids and that's the direction she's going.  My youngest son is working in security and he's enjoying that.  My oldest son is looking in to the golf cart ministry and I'm sure he'll find a niche there.

*Be prepared for them to tell you, "Mom, I'm not interested in that any more.  That's your interest."

Yup!  I heard it and it crushed my heart because they've all got beautiful voices.

*Be prepared to watch them shine in their chosen place of serving.

The happiness is unlike any other.  They're beginning to learn what it means to serve in an area where God may be leading them.


Other areas of service are available if we just keep our eyes out and ask God to show them to us.  What do I mean?  I've been told I have gifts in the kitchen.  For me, though, I just love to bake and bless people with yummy things from my kitchen.  Couple that with including children to help chop things, cleaning up, and serving those things and you have a family that serves.  This is a love of my own and I'm encouraging my kids to help me, even as they get older.  They each may have had their own special part of what is presented, but they know it is something they've helped to produce.

What are we producing this week?

All kinds of pumpkin bread done in Pampered Chef bread tubes to serve when company comes.  I have a lot of pumpkin to use.  :)

I'm gradually gathering zucchini to shred and freeze for future things like cakes, breads, and things like that.

What are we going to do in the future?  We're going to keep our eyes out for ways we can serve others with our gifts.

Remember, no gift is too menial or minor when it is done in the service of your God!

God Bless,

Humbled and Content

Tonight as I read blogs of my friends, I read things about contentment, emergency surgery, gardening, essential oils, Proverbs 31 women, and the list continues.  There are many many people on my subscription list from all over the world, all walks of life, and all stages of life.  I am so very thankful.

As I read about everyone's flower gardens, I allow myself to dream.  I dream of all the beautiful arrangements, flower and vegetable beds, and yard sale finds I hope to find in the future.  It truly is a blessing to visit everyone's blog to get such wonderful ideas of how I can redo the blank slate in our front yard, side yard with overgrown weeds, bushes, and trees, the enclosed back yard with the pool and deck.  I dream....

I want to start with my mail box.  I know this seems rather silly, but my mailbox in PA looked like this:

My mailbox here will resemble this with the Black-Eyed Susans, but a little different due to life circumstances.  We had to throw up a quick mail box, so we bought the materials locally, nothing decorative, but simple.  It filled the need.  So now, I'm looking at it as a blessing.  It is a basic box with wood to hold it up.  I've seen mailbox wraps to make it pretty with the changing seasons, so I'll consider those when I see them again.  I like Mary Englebrett designs, so we'll see if I can find something along that line. ;)  It will probably be a while before I do anything along that line because I wait until I can find it at the lowest price possible. :D

Along the front of our house is a lovely railing.  In some places it needs to be replaced, but it is simple and I love it.  

(The railing in the above picture along the front porch.)  

The railing pictured here shows what I mean.  It also shows the blank slate of the front yard.  We're going to have fun planting and watching things grow.  :0)

We'll replace the bad parts with new, repaint it and put up some window baskets.   The ones pictured below are the ones I'd like to put on the railing.

These are the ones from our PA house that we planted about 4 years ago.  

I'm excited to gradually get my flowers back and add to my collection.  For now, I look back at pictures from my flower beds in Pennsylvania.

For now, I am choosing to be content with empty whiskey barrels, no veggie garden, and the blank slate.  We are still getting doctors testing done, establishing ourselves in practices in the area and getting to know the seasons.  We're researching many things about the area too, with regard to flowers and growing, pest control and things like that.

I am humbled that so many folks have taken an interest in our daughter's story in God of Wonders Beyond Anything and Everything I Ever Knew or Understood and Resting on the Promises, in His Wings of Love.   We are currently in the midst of neurological testing, EEG, Neuro-Psychological testing, MRI/MRA and getting appointments for all those, as well as establishing ourselves with a new dentist.  Why all this testing?  Why now?  Well, in Pennsylvania we were told that once something came up, to pursue testing then.  We've had rudimentary testing done on her, but nothing extensive, giving us a picture of her brain.  So the Dr's down here in Georgia are using this opportunity to get all that done.  I'm thankful for that too.  Now we can see what's going on and if there is further treatment needed for her. There is no need to worry.  Nothing is "wrong" with her, we're just taking this opportunity to get all the testing done that we can so that we can get a better picture of her brain.

As for me, I had an MRI of my right knee done and found I have a complex tear in my miniscus, degraded cartilage (bone-on-bone), and arthritis.  The Dr plans to "clean house" addressing all the issues in one surgery.  The therapy is to just walk.  Wonder of all wonders, it's amazing!  The very thing I've been wanting to do for such a very long time, but can't due to this hurt knee, I can now do after my surgery.  Hooray!  Remind me of that when I am trying to get out of bed or a chair after my surgery and it hurts.  ;)

God has lessons for each one of us, on our own levels, adjusted to each of our own needs.  I am so very thankful He loves me to prune and grow me more for Him.  

God is Good!  

Blessings,

Almost a Month and Lots Happening

As I showed in my previous post, we had concrete floors.  Now, we are pretty close to having them done, minus the threshold pieces.  It looks so much nicer than bare concrete!

The living room floor after flooring installed.  It's lovely!  

From the other side of the room.

Photo Bombed by Biscuit

Getting Gus acclimated to the pool...or just having fun putting him on the inner tube.  LOL

Biscuit's turn! 

A graduation celebration dinner at church.

Visiting with Grandparents and one special uncle.

"And these alligators are found in the Flint River?  I guess we shouldn't swim in there!"

Beautiful daughter with her sewing machine.

The living room window that needs a treatment of some sort.  I'm not sure what, but since this window is so huge, it will probably be something simple.  We have new pillows that I found at the local W*lmart on a 2 for $12 deal, so I couldn't resist adding more color to the room.

I just love my drive home!  This area is so beautiful!  (Sorry for the bug splat on the windshield!!)

The view out my front door.  This is such a quiet neighborhood, it is almost like living in the country!

The morning this picture was taken, I was on my way to get my blood work done and to talk with my Dr about the Trim Healthy Mama Plan (THM) life changes I've been making, as well my right knee.  I found out that my right knee is "bone-on-bone" and it gets worse when I ride/drive for long periods of time.  The verdict?  Less riding/driving, less walking, more THM cooking, and more swimming.  With my blood test results back, I know that I can rest assured that THM is working!  I've lost 35 pounds, my Triglycerides decreased by half, my A1C is 6.1 and my fasting is 105.  I've not seen those wonderful numbers in YEARS!  You betcha I'm sticking with it! 

Strong young men hard at work, replacing worn out steps and putting in new concrete.

One side of my office is going to be a sitting area and I think I have a pretty good start with these wonderful pieces I found at a yard sale and an online facebook flea market group.  The wing back chair is a reclining chair.  The side table is an antique from the 60's or 70's, the lamp I just loved, so I bought it for a good price....and.

...the magnolia swag that I thought was so pretty.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll finally be able to get some curtains up on the dining room window, my oldest son's window, the office, and hopefully our bedroom.  With everything being so busy, I'll be able to sit down long enough to get my sewing machine out to work on some stuff.  I also plan to keep my eyes peeled for more furniture for the sitting area.  I love decorating "on the cheap."  

Have a Great Day!

God Bless,

No, I'm not Wonder Woman!

I was reminded a few minutes ago, that I needed to not only grant others grace, but to grant myself grace.

You see, two of my three young folks are off to a training weekend with Civil Air Patrol.  Their chores were done yesterday before we left, but inevitably with dogs, you have fur--especially in the early Spring.  Wait a minute!  What am I saying?  There's hair A.L.L  T.H.E. T.I.M.E!!!!   Needless to say, vacuuming up the hair in the corners and where dust bunnies decide to gather is an essential job to do daily.  The mopping/swiffer wet jet is done two or more times a week with an off white tile floor.  I was planning to swiffer wet jet after vacuuming, but my lower back and hips started to ache.  Do I continue or do I take something for the pain, go sit down and have my coffee and rest my back for a bit until the pain goes away? 

I decided a blog post about granting oneself grace would be good.  I started re-reading a blog post by my friend, Lisa, and realized that she covered it well too, but from her perspective as a homeschooling mom who has returned to school.  Whatever your circumstance, whenever you push yourself too far without granting yourself permission to sit down for 15 minutes, you are setting yourself up for pain, resentment, and you miss out on possible precious moments with loved ones or with the Lord.

I like to take the FLYlady approach to getting things done around my house:  You can do anything as fast as you can, in 15 minutes.  In that 15 minute time frame you may not be able to complete the mountain of dishes in your sink and on your counters, or completely tackle the ever increasing "Mount Washmore" in your laundry room, but you'll be able to take baby steps.  Disclaimer:  If you look at the FLYlady website and read about her system, you'll notice that she promotes getting dressed to the shoes with your hair and face done every morning.  As I type this, it is 6:19AM.  I've been up since 5:00AM and I'm sitting here in my pajamas with my hair done...or rather tossed up in a barrette and side pony tail.  I thought I'd get some blogging done while I have my morning coffee and devotions, then get my painting clothes on--minus the shoes, and get my entry way and hall way edges painted before the kids get up at 7AM.  LOL  I like the quiet.  There isn't any grumpy people to deal with.  LOL

This is my work today.  I have never used this dark of a tan before, but I liked the rich coffee & creamer look to it.  This is only the first coat, so of course it will need more than this.  It is coming along, though!  My plan is to paint all the trim white.  It was a mauve color, so we're changing it up a bit.  The flooring will go in last and it will be the same type that we used in our bedroom.  I just didn't want to put the flooring in first, then slop paint on it.  LOL  The first door to the right is where my office/sewing area is.  It will be painted next, Lord willing.  I've not firmly decided what color to do in there yet.  I'd love to do a nice soothing blue, but I'm thinking it might not be a good idea.  I might get super creative and do a base color and a stripe across the room with an artistic touch.  This is what the kids and I had done in the boys' Pennsylvania bedroom:

The stripe was so much fun and creative!  And, if you notice, I tried duplicating it in the valances with the stripe on the bottom.  We tried bringing in some desert sand colors, then balance or offset with the blue marbleized fabric for the main valance color.  I've been watching Fixer Upper and it seems that muted grays and whites are often used in that show, so everyone is emulating JoJo's designs, or at least trying to.  I'm not one to go with current trends, but I use my home as my color palate.  I try to find timeless pieces that are beautiful to me and colors that I love to decorate with.  If I can't find those timeless pieces, I make do with something functional--like the side table in the picture above--it doesn't go with the bunk bed, but it's functional.  LOL  I frequent yard sales, facebook flea market groups, estate sales, and I try to go to auctions to find things that will work for a specific area.

There are so many different things I'd like to do to my GA house, but I have time constraints and I need to save for the other things I'd like to do--like a new front door to let in more light.  I've also been drawing out raised garden bed plans and other ideas for the front yard are swirling around my head too.  We'll see what happens with it all.

Almost two weeks ago, when I wrote the introduction to this blog post, my dining room and living room were being painted.  I have finished and I promise that I will update with finished pictures, but I wanted to get one with everything in place--including the new ceiling fan and scriptures I've found for the wall. I promise I will take pictures and post them!

No, I'm not Wonder Woman and I've never claimed to be.  I am a woman who is saved by grace from the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am also a woman who needs to grant grace to myself more often than I do.  I need to love myself enough to push myself enough to get the needful done, but rest when I need to, to just be, pray, read, recharge, so I can get up refreshed and ready to tackle the next 15 minutes.

God Bless,

Plans Are Meant to be Broken

It has been a few weeks since updating my blog posts.  My husband has a new job here in GA and I'm trying (and failing) to get in to a good routine.  It seems that every time I think something is "just right", it turns out to not be so.  Every day is another challenge.

My plans have been to get up with my husband, ensuring he has a good breakfast and a cup of coffee to start his day. That plan was thwarted by nature.  My husband didn't want nature to call when he was doing his job, so I needed to rethink things.  I have, with the suggestion of my husband, procured granola bars and mixed nuts along with W*lmart brand energy packs instead.  I was making Trim Healthy Mama muffins in a mug for him daily from the cookbook, but it interfered with his needs, so it was scrubbed for his breakfasts.  Now he doesn't have breakfast, but has granola bars throughout the day, stopping off for an occasional burger at a fast food place when needed.  I know, not the ideal, but only he knows his routine and days, so it works for him.  The eternal conundrum in our home, however, is keeping the young folks from devouring what was meant for Daddy's lunch bag.  For the first time I've had to put a note on the box telling them they cannot have it.  But, they CAN have the Trim Healthy Mama muffins in a mug!  So, I think it's a good trade-off!  :0)  (Yes, I've been doing the Trim Healthy Mama plan since October 2015, but I'll have to leave that for another day.)  Dinners are still "on plan" though, which is good.

Here we are a month after my husband started his job and I still do not feel as if I have everything down pat.  I have a schedule, with many predictable-every-week-they-come-at-the-same-time-regardless, but it's just the other things that show up that are not predictable that throw me off.  We've had appointments for my oldest son to have entrance exams for a local technical school, other non-predictable appointments showing up, as well as activities that just adding those things make me feel so very exhausted.  This past weekend, while an absolute blessing for my two younger kids, started with homeschool group where I taught a class on edible essential oils, then went to make sure my kids ate, Sam's Club, then drop one off at one house, and another at someone else's house, get gas on my way home, then the 45+ minute drive home.  By the time I got home I was spent!  Exhaustion doesn't quite encompass it.  My body said that I should have gone home after homeschool group because my body was prepared for that, but not the extra running.  LOL

{Needless to say, I'm beginning to think that it is a good time to start keeping an eye out for property closer to all of our activities, but that remains to be seen.}

I hope to have things quiet down soon.  Tomorrow I hope to do some cleaning while my oldest son has (more) testing taken care of.  I feel like I've failed daily to get the basics done.  Oh! Let's not forget the flea infestation, the extra vet visits, the extra monetary expense and the heart wrenching that I feel when my doggies are going after yet another flea.  Yes, the vet in PA forewarned me about the fleas down here.  Ugh! We've NEVER had issues with fleas!  Whew!

So, here I am, exhausted, on the brink of being comatose with sleep, with mountains of clean blankets, rugs and furniture completely covered with Borax for more than 24 hours, a back yard that has been covered in Diatomaceous Earth, dogs and kitty have been through flea baths, and everything.  It is done and I am thankful!  But, the work continues tomorrow!  We'll be spraying for other not so savory bugs.  The traps and bait are purchased and I'm ready!

For everything, I am thankful.  I am spiritually challenged by so much pain and suffering by so many people lately.  I am thankful for the opportunity to pray for the folks who have come to me in a variety of ways to approach God's throne on their behalf.  I don't believe I've ever felt so burdened for people I've never met. (See previous post)  What a privilege to pray for all these folks!  The Lord is working on me so greatly, molding me, pruning the unnecessary, giving me gut wrenching--heart wrenching situations where I'm needed in a variety of very important people's life (not just my family, but a beautiful little boy with special needs).  I'm thankful for this! I've been challenged to ask God to show me where He needs me to join His work.  He's been a wonderful gentleman and shown me in some blatant ways.  He's also shown me ways to share our story and our faith.  What a blessing!

While I feel so very overwhelmed at times, feeling like a failure, God is faithful to redeem my time, placing me right where He needs me to be, to show His loved ones His unfathomable, always faithful love to those who need it the most.  I feel honored, and embarrassed at the same time. Honored and humbled that he would choose me. Embarrassed that my own selfish attitude has gotten in the way of His work. Lord, forgive me!

How many times are we letting those opportunities slide by when God places them right in our laps?  (You don't have to answer.)

God Bless,

Chicken Bone Broth

A couple days ago I made "Fotato" Soup out of my Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook.  It was the 2nd time I made it and based on the popularity of it the first time (they licked the skillet clean!), I doubled the batch.  I wanted to ensure that my husband had something yummy and soothing in his stomach when he got home from work (more on that another day).  I found that I didn't have any chicken broth, so I sent my kids to get some at the local store.  I was glad for them to go so I could get the cauliflower chopped up and ready to go while they were gone.

When I saw the broth sitting on my counter, I thought to myself, "I've made this before!  I can do this!  Why should I use this store bought junk instead of knowing what is going in to my food?!"  So, I took out the only bit of meat I had in the house with bones in it--a 6 pound whole chicken--to defrost.  We had it for dinner last night and whatever was left--carcass and all--went back in to the roaster to get all yummy and delicious with lots of garlic, Himalayan Pink Salt, thyme, sage, and some pepper...and of course lots of water filled to an inch within the brim of the 18 quart roaster.  I turned it on to 225­­°F and from 5:00PM to around noon today the carcass and leftover meat simmered and made some lovely golden bone broth for my family.  

When I do broth, I have 2 different ways that I can do it.  This time, since there was so much of it, I chose to do both.  I had a limited amount of freezer containers and didn't want to go to the store to buy more.  I had 4 quart containers and 3 pint containers, which meant labeling with contents and their date of being frozen.  This way everyone knows that these will need to be used within 6 months of the date on the container.  I let them sit on the counter until they are cool and then line them along the inside of my freezer door where they fit perfectly.

With the other amount of broth, I had to get the pressure canner out along with unearthing the canning lids and rings (quite the challenge when things were not exactly put away because a place for them had not been established yet.  Oops!)  So, finding the lids and rings, we got everything moving, sterilized, and in to the pressure canner with only a couple inches in the bottom.  

They spent 3 hours in the pressure canner at 10 pounds of pressure to ensure there is no food poisoning to occur.  We will label these with their contents once they cool by tomorrow morning as well as their date, like the ones with the freezer container.  I make sure to leave them on the counter over night to cool so that they seal.  If they don't seal, I can pop them right in to the refrigerator without skipping a beat and saving the lovely contents for the next meal.  

I've made broth with chicken breasts before.  I usually simmer the chicken for 2-3 hours, then freeze.  Very few times have I pressure canned it, but this time I did.  

My plans for further collecting bones to make in to broth are to go to the local butcher and see if they will sell me bones with very little meat on them for my bone broth.  I'm going to try to process this once every couple of weeks to make sure we always have bone broth, chicken, ham, beef, and whatever else I can find.  If/when I get the bones from the butcher I'm going to freeze the bones, so I can put them in to my roaster, fill it with water and let it cook for a couple days.  I'm going to get more organized so I can make sure the broth is done in the canner by a certain time so we don't have to worry about missing church.  Yes, I messed up.  But, we were able to reclaim the time by having some card playing time while the younger 2 finished their school work.  

Now on to garden planning!  Oh!  And I'm getting an idea of what to do for my canning pantry!  

What do you do for food preservation?

God Bless,

Bitten by "the" Bug

This is one of those bugs that shows up in the most unexpected ways.  This morning we stayed home from church because I caught a virus/bug from the Dr's office when I took my youngest son in for his eczema.  The thing started by the next morning with the water works in the form of a runny nose, then proceeded from there giving me what I figured were hot flashes...well...because I've been thrown in to that time of my life due to my surgery last year.  No biggie.  I started the roller coaster ride of feeling good, then needing to sleep, then feeling well enough to make dinner, then mid way through fixing dinner, feeling like I was hitting a wall again and needed to sit down and rest.  Whoa!  This was a FAST acting virus!  My husband started coming down with it on Friday evening and as of Saturday, started with chills.  Considering one of our pastors has a brand new baby, among others in our congregation, we decided it was best to keep this bug home until it worked through our family.

But, that bug is nothing new.  Everyone catches those "bugs."  The type of bug I'm talking about is that of a bent and twisted creative bug.  A little history about me, for those of you who do not know:  I could be sitting somewhere, like this morning, looking at something and thinking, "I need to make something to go with that!"  This morning it was this bag that spurred on my inspiration:

I love the colors, the durability, the style and size of this bag.  I just need it taller to accommodate my tall needles.

So, I decided this morning that after I finish this project:

...and tying off the ends from that one and this one:

I'll begin my newest bag.  It will likely have much of the same colors in it as the one I'm replacing, but be a little bit different.  :0)  I'm going to knit this one instead of crochet.  

This bag was 100% crocheted, including the straps.  I really like the straps, so I may do those in crochet again because they're sturdy and they didn't curl like my knitted purse did. When the handles curl and you put them on your shoulder, they roll off your shoulder.  When I put this bag on my shoulder, the straps don't roll and it stays on my shoulder.  

Disclaimer:  I don't use a pattern for my bags, so each one is vastly different from the next.  I'll be sure to post pictures of my progress.  Perhaps I'll line this one too, just like my purse. 

I'm not looking for another purse, just another bag that I can fit my knitting in to and my Bible for Sundays that won't roll off my shoulder.  LOL  It makes carrying this purse a little awkward and cumbersome.  I thought of crocheting a shoulder pad for this purse around the strap so it would move up and down, but stay on my shoulder.  I don't know how well that would work.  I may still try that and re-felt it, but for now, I'm going to begin thinking of the newest creation while I finish up the last 2 table runners.  :)  

Editing to add that I started casting on!  This is what 100 stitches freshly cast on looks like~

So far I think I'll make a rectangle and start with 10 rows of garter stitch.  I'll see then how it looks with the size and how big I need it.

"Through wisdom is a house builded[sic]; And by understanding it is established; 

And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious 

and pleasant riches." 

(Proverbs 24:3-4) ASV

How are you creatively filling your home with precious and pleasant treasures?

God Bless,