The Joys Of Family and Hearth

In celebration of National Coffee day, I thought I'd post about my new coffee pot. We have had every type of pot, and yes we even have a Keurig , but my most favorite thing for coffee I have found so far is a .............................french press~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it!!!! Now we are on a slow journey to self sufficiency . This little gem is a start. It's eliminated a need for a coffee pot on my counter, uses no electric and is easy to use and clean! :) This along with my breakfast blend coffee is a perfect start to my morning!!! :) From Our Home to Yours!

Through a friend I bought a very large bag of corn. 70 ears to be exact! :) Besides my own free child labor, I recruited Ashley's friend to help us along! :) All 70 ears shucked and ready for the boiling pot!!! :) Aren't they pretty!!! :) I actually used my turkey fryer to boil the corn in. I was able to put a lot more in and in this pic it's on my kitchen floor, from there I would lift out the draining insert and go to the ice bath in my kitchen sink. :) All 70 ears drying. :) Cutting it off the cob. Kernels laid out to dry a little more.. 5 Cups put into freezer bags. We got 6 bags, at 2 servings per bag.. The hardest lesson I'm learning about this path to self sufficiency is that, it takes a whole lot of food to have enough for my family. The corn will basically get me 12 meals. Where and how are you all buying for large families? From Our Home to Yours! : ) Blessings!!

This recipe is scaled to feed 12. :) 4C chopped onions 1/4 C butter 5 lbs peeled and cubed potatoes 10 C boiling water 8 cubes chicken bullion 2 fresh head broccoli-steamed then chopped Sea salt and Pepper to tastes 6 C Shredded Cheddar In large stock pot throw in butter let it melt then sweat down the onions. This will start your house smelling Yummy!!! Then add, potatoes , water, and bullion. Cover bring to boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender. add broccoli when it's done steaming. :) Once potatoes are tender and after you've added the broccoli, take out half of the soup and add to food processor or blender and blend. This will make it nice and thick. Only to the potatoes and broccoli, try not to take a whole bunch of liquid. :) Put blended mix back in pot, give a good stir, heat can be medium to low now, add the cheese! Serve with warm crusty bread, or a salad! Super delicious!! :)

Yesterday, we went to the Wild Outdoor Expo. What a fun time. Everything outdoor related was represented. Kayaks, fishing, hunting, water dogs, hunting dogs, survival dogs, shoot a 22, shot a shotgun, 3d bow and arrow trail, climb a rock wall, learn about conservation, (shiver) learn about NJ snakes... Civil War Encampment and so much more.... Jake and Matt shooting a .22. They hit every target!! :) Matt going for that deer!!! Here's his turkey!!!! :) Bella just wondering! :) Isn't he pretty??? EEEWWWW GROOOSSSSS EEEKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomahawk throwing!!! End of day, ready to go home!!! :) And to end it all, we stopped by Aunt Lisa's where, there was go cart riding, dirt biking riding, and playing on the farm. From our home to yours!! :) Then we all went out for pizza!! :)

My husband and I wait for a lot of things. We are cheap! LOL .. I'm actually a big one on finding things second hand. So that means cheap or free!!! We have been looking for a roof top carrier for a couple of years now. With our growing family and the amount of stuff it seems we take along. We needed something. Last year we invested in a hitch mounted thing that goes on back of the suburban and it usually carts our large cooler. Good investment for the amount of raw milk we bring back from PA. However, a roof top carrier is what we need to keep all our junk out of the suburban , to make some more room for Mr. Darcy while traveling. :) While yard sale shopping two weekends ago, hubby spotted a roof top carrier out for garbage!!! He pulls over, checks it for cracks, and throws in back of suburban . We take it home, clean it up, the only thing missing was the key for the lock. NO PROBLEM!!! Hubby takes key thingy off, take it to lock smith and for $21.00, we have this: Price from S...

James 1:~My brethren , let not many of you become teachers knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement. That's a big statement. When we become teachers of the word that we shall receive stricter judgement. When I think of that, I think of all the people I teach, my children being first and foremost, my friends and any unbeliever I come in contact. What am I teaching them? Are my children being taught God's holy word, completely or is becoming "bible time" and "we've got to get this done". Is my life mirroring God's teaching? Or have I become caught up in what others think about me? Is the unbeliever convinced that I love Jesus with all my heart based on my actions or am I just another hypocrite? James 3:3~Indeed we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and turn their whole body. Am I obeying God in this way? James 3:7-9 ~ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by ...

I can't believe it's been 10 years since the terrorist attacks on our country. 10 years of husbands with out wives, wives without husbands, children without mothers, children without fathers, grandparents lost. I think about all the babies that were born that year, that fathers never got to see. They are now 10 years old. My heart still aches for them all. I remember it being a beautiful Tuesday Morning. At that time I had a 6 yo, a 3 yo, and a little chubby 10 month. We left our home to travel to church for a MOPS meeting. I loved MOPS. Mothers of Preschoolers a place of encouragement, and many moms sharing our joys and trials of parenthood. I remember pulling into the parking lot with my kids, and since I'm an avid talk radio junkie, I had been listening to the station. They announced that they believed a small Cessna plane hit the World Trade Center. The newscasters at that time were assuming it was a small private plane. I remember feeling like wow, that's bad. Unlo...

I'm starting a fitness program. Right here at home. I'm scared! It involves running or in my case very slow jogging.. but still....oh yeah, and you sweat! I hate sweat, almost as much as I hate running. But I need to do it. I am on a mission to become a healthy mama. I guess I am already a relatively healthy mama, but I want to become a more healthy mama! ;) So this program is really cool. It starts out slow.. I like slow! 3 days a week. I can do that!! Right now Week One:Day 1 5 min warm up ( brisk walk) 20 mins of walk for 90 seconds, jog for 60 seconds. 5 min. cool down. When you are as overweight and as out of shape as I am jogging for 60 seconds is hard. There were points where I just closed my eyes, and hoped I would hit anything!! Having a 16 year old daughter with me to encourage me, and exercise herself, along with counting down those seconds was AWESOME!!!! God I love that kid!!! I know I slowed her down a bit, but she didn't complain. I will keep you posted as...

Well I'm going to start off with the most exciting news first, for the first time ever my oldest daughter is attending school! As in "real" school. She's been homeschooled since she was three years old. It's been a blessing and a gift to teach her and watch her grow up to be an amazing young lady. She was accepted into the vocational school program last March and today is her very first day!!! :) Her goal is to gain knowledge that she will be able to use to work from home. We have encouraged all our children to be entrepreneurs . She is studying Design and Visual Arts, She will learn graphic design, photography, screen printing, web design and more! :) I look forward to see how the Lord is going to use her. Another blessing is that her friend was also accepted to the program. So at least they will have each other ! :) So since Hurricane Irene, my darling husband has been out of work. No power at his job at all. Let's say he kinda had a forced vacation. Having...