Going To Go Get Wheat Seed!

Colorado mountains and streams...... mmmmmmm in my mind and I won't forget the daily readings my honey read us.

Today we are going to go buy our wheat. We started off yesterday and the tire on our truck blew out. Not fun. We had to come back home, because the place was closed. Today we are going to try again. This is such a special time of year. We are praying each step of the way that the Lord would help a good planting, a good stand on the wheat and protection for the winter until harvest next year. There is more to being a farmer then most think. It is labor intensive and long hours, but worth the type of living we like. Our boys say "we don't really have jobs". Ha! I like that one. I love working along side my husband. He has taught me so much about the word and farming. I feel like I get mini sermons everyday. I am so blessed to have a man that washes me in the word! I love the verse Ephesians 5:26 says, "to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. Wow that is so powerful. I so want to live holy. He is a good man and I will love him forever!!!

Well off I go to get my wheat. It is neat to know that I feed people after we sell our wheat in the spring. Maybe you are one of those people. When you eat your bread think of me! Smile!

Blessings,
Linda

It Was Cold Last Night

Oh my, it was cold last night. We have not had any frost yet, but it was a little cold. I love not having to have the furnace or air conditioner on! I am getting the quilts and warm blankets out. I still have tomatoes, green beans and corn to pick. I better do that today, do you think?

I have a sweet friend that is having a giveaway on her blog. I think you will like this giveaway. Go on over and tell her I sent you!!!!!!! She has a heart shaped pumpkin. I wonder how she did that?

"Crockpot Apple Butter a Giveaway" from A Merry Heart Journal You will love her blog.

She makes you feel so welcome!!!!! Stay awhile on her blog and look around.

Blessings,
Linda

National Good Neighbor Day!

Here is my gift for my neighbor. I think it turned out so cute!!!!!! I will be using this idea in the Potter's Shed when we have company. Wouldn't this be so pretty with about three of them going down the center of the table? My flowers are so bright and beautiful now. They always look so pretty in the fall. We have been having some very nice rains and cool nights. I love it!!!!

Pick out your pumpkin from your pumpkin patch or from a Farmer's Market.

Using a sharp knife cut out a top on the pumpkin.

Clean out your pumpkin. Use a jar that will fit inside the pumpkin. Fill jar with water. Either pick your flowers from your own flower garden or get some from the florist. I also tied a ribbon around the jar. I think it topped the bouquet off. I love the way the pumpkin turned out. I am sure my neighbor is going to like it. It will be fun to surprise her today!!

Oh by the way, I tried to get this done for Monday. I have to have the post in before 1:00 in order for it to go up for that day. I went to go use the camera and you guessed it, it was out of battery. Grrrrr! I just kept moving and didn't let it get me down!

Wish you were all my next door neighbor!!!!!!! Smile

Blessings,
Linda

GETTING THE POTTER'S SHED READY FOR FALL!

I love the fall time! I can entertain with the nice crisp evenings and mornings. It is so much more pleasant, then the hot hot summers we have here. This is my little Potter's Shed that I have talked about on my posts. It used to be a mower shed, but I looked at it and it had wonderful possibilities. It is so beautiful in the evenings when the moon is out. The stars are just brilliant in Kansas. We live far from a town, so we really can enjoy the night time. I hope all of you are having lots of family time with your family. I love to make our favorite Pumpkin Bread recipe. I will get it up for you. I can't do it today, because I have to go to town to pick out my fabric for the quilting group I am in called the A Dozen Quilters. I have never done this before, but I am enjoying it a lot.

The last two days we have been canning our tomatoes into Stew Tomatoes and Pizza Sauce. We are up to 100 quarts and we are tired. Still have so many more today. I am waiting on permission from Ball Blue Book to see if I can legally put the recipe up on the internet. I hope it doesn't take forever. For those of you who would like to can and never have, I will tell you it is so easy. Really! really!

Blessings, Linda

Canning Our Tomato Soup Base. It is so easy!

It has been so busy at our house. The tomatoes are overflowing. We have been freezing a lot of produce this summer to save on time, but we also like to can a soup base. The recipe is found in the Ball Blue Book. It is called Stewed Tomatoes. If you have never canned it is not hard to do. Buy the book and follow the pictures and recipes, that show you exactly what to do.

Gather all your veggies, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, garlic, and celery (not in the picture) are used in the recipe that we use.

BBB Stewed Tomatoes

4 quarts chopped (or sliced) peeled, cored tomatoes (about 24 large)

1 c chopped celery

1/2 c chopped onion

1/4 c chopped green peppers

1 T sugar (optional)

2 tsp. canning salt

Combine all in large non-reactive sauce pot. Cover and cook 10 mins. stirring to prevent sticking. Ladle hot vegetables in to hot jars leaving 1 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust 2 piece caps and process in a water bath pints 40 mins, quarts 45 mins, start timing after the water comes to a boil.  Makes 7 pints or 3 quarts.

My book has been used so much. It is from 1998. It is well worth it to buy the book, if you are going to can your produce. I saw the book yesterday and it was $6.35. The recipe I used is called Stewed Tomatoes. We use it as a base for our Chili and Vegetable Beef Soup. We love it and you always have a fast meal when unexpected family or friends come.

We use a food processor and chop all the ingredients. Put everything in a

large saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes. I get it real warm.

Fill the jars with a 1/2 inch space at the top.

Process pints 15 minutes, quarts 20 ,minutes, at 10 pounds pressure in a steam pressure canner.

                                                      Let jars cool.

Makes me feel good to have them all stored on the shelf for fall and winter use. If you want to make our Chili Soup recipe: Take one quart jar of stewed tomatoes, 2 cans of mexican chili beans, one can of tomato soup, 1 lb. of cooked hamburger and one package of chili seasoning. Simmer over medium heat. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with crackers and cornbread. It is wonderful.

Vegetable Beef Soup: One quart of stewed tomatoes, add 1 lb. of hamburger, carrots, potatoes, green beans, corn, peas and 2 tbs. of barley. MMMMMM Good!

Blessings,

Linda

A Wonderful Chocolate Cake!!!!!

Hello Sweet Friends,

When we were up in the mountains, we wanted to make this wonderful cake from one of our favorite blogs!!!!!! Amanda has the most wonderful recipes. Go to her website!! Now mind you we are at an altitude of 85 hundred feet. We now think that we needed to have less batter in our pans. I think that you will get a kick out of our video. Tressa has no idea what she is going to find when she opens up the oven. We had a really good laugh. Hope you enjoy.

Tell us what you think! (smile) We would love to hear from you.

This is our wilderness cake. Here is our cake when we got done. Amanda's looks a lot better then ours, but I will tell you this cake is to liveeeeeeee for!!!!!!! It is so nummy and the frosting tastes wonderful.

I could only eat one piece. We shared it all over the canyon. You have to try it.

Blessings,

Linda

God Was So Real In the Mountains

Our time in Colorado was so wonderful!!!!! The weather was perfect. Even when it rained it was great. We had family time every day. Phil read us from the The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer and Bible. We were truly blessed.

The area that we were in was 8 to 9 thousand high. It was hard to get enough oxygen at times. We went hiking every day and the girls made wonderful meals. I needed the time to get away and the time with my family was so special.

Here is a picture of my two precious girls and husband. Oh, that is me also.

This made me not want to walk any further!

This creek was right out the front of the cabin. I listened to it all day long and night.

It was so beautiful!

I love to get down on the ground and look at all the little life that is right in front of you if you look. When I lived in Alaska this is what I loved about the woods. I will write later and show some of the things I did while I was up there. I sewed every day!!!!!!! I loved it and came up with some really fun patterns. It will take me a bit to get them all ready. It truly was such a wonderful time and I will tuck the memories in my heart.

Blessings,
Linda

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN YEAR ROUND FUN

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN YEAR ROUND FUN COOKBOOK

Kids in the kitchen Year Round Fun is the sweetest cookbook! I found it when I was on our trip to Cottonwood Falls. It is jammed packed with wonderful recipes, that you can do with your children or grandchildren. I love all the Gooseberry Cookbooks and this one is know exception. I am taking this cookbook with me, because we are going to leave tomorrow for COLORADO for a vacation. Oh my, you can not believe how excited all the girls are here in this house! Poor husband, with 3 ladies getting ready packing and packing. I am taking my sewing machine and fabric. Ha! Can you imagine the van. We will make sure Mr. Phil will get his suitcase though! We are going stay in a cabin with electricity. There is a creek in front of the cabin and the smell is soooo wonderful. So woodsy. Yes, just what we need. I guess there is a black bear sharing the space. mmmm. My youngest is so excited she can’t stand it. She just squeals with delight around the house! I am hoping I can find some quilt, scrapbook and yarn stores. I need this vacation, so bad. I will try to put up some pictures on my blog. I hope I can do that.

Any way back to the cookbook. I am going to take it and come up with some menus, because when we come back we will be having Grammie and Poppa Camp with alllllll my nine grandchildren. This book is just perfect. I love it. The recipes are real simple and any child would love them.

While I am gone I will be designing some new patterns. One for sure will be a new apron. Remember the little jar in a few posts back? Well I will be finishing four new patterns using the little jars.

Also, did you know that Gooseberry Patch has a blog? I just found out about it. I think it started in Aug. I think you are going to like it!

Please pray for our safety. Thank you so much. I will be checking if there are any comments on my blog. There is a coffee house down from the cabin, so I can keep posted. I am so excited myself!!! We have a house sitter to take care of the horses, chickens, cats, bunny, dog and iguana so we don't have to worry about anything!

Blessings,

Linda

My Blogger Friends are so Precious!

THE WINNER IS:

AMY FROM Keep'n The Sunny Side

I love her blog!!!! It gives you lots of smiles

Yea!!!!! You get the little pumpkin!!!!

Now you know meeeee! I can't stop at one winner. My grand-daughter Ellie spent the night last night. Poppa always has to sleep on the couch when she comes, so Ellie and I can talk and pray together and make memories for a life time! She picked all the winners. We picked 4 more just for the fun of it! I will be sending a little gift to you, so you can get ready for fall. I hope you enjoy!

#2 Dena from Swaddle Cottage

thank you for coming over!!!!

#3 Cathy M. from the Thin Line

thank you for leaving such a sweet comment!

#4 Heather from The Finicky Frog

You have to go get some pumpkins to paint polka dots on them!!

#5 Crystal at Making it a Home Mommy Style

It is never to late to sign up! Thank you for coming over!

Okay, I will be getting in touch with you all. You will have to send me your address. Just email me with it. I will be sending info out to you all about your win. Thank you for making my holiday so special!

This morning I was up cleaning up the house after the Farmer's Market and I heard someone driving up the driveway. It was our oldest son and his 3 son's. They said," We came to fix breakfast!" Now is that precious or what? I am a blessed Momma for sure. The house is buzzin with children. They are all in the kitchen making salsa.

Have a super Day FRIENDS!!!!!!!!

Blessings, Linda

THANK YOU FATHER FOR FALL THYME!!

I have so enjoyed the cooler weather how about you? Last night we had a wonderful rain to clean all the pollen from the air! YES!

I went to my cupboard and brought out all my white dishes. I love that I have white. That way I can change my decorations easily.

Talking about decorating. I have been painting the last two day’s and making tags for my pumpkins. The pumpkin patch was full this year. My grandchildren loved peeking under all the big leaves to see what they could find. There were wonderful colors. We planted a seed package of gourds. That has truly been fun to see all the different shapes. I have all my paints out and I am painting the pumpkins and getting ready for Farmer’s Market tomorrow. After I get them all tagged I will put up a picture. Here is what I have done this far. It is just toooo fun around here at Prairie Flower Farm.

Wish I could have you over. I would give you a pumpkin. Ya know, if you comment I will have a little giveaway. A polkadot pumpkin! I will only do this through the weekend. I’ll do a drawing on Monday morning! It will have to be just a little white pumpkin! Thank you for coming by!

Blessings to you!

Linda

MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES, I WANT TO PASS ON

PHOTO BY Bill & Vicki Tracey from Rochelle Illinois, usa

The town of Juneau, Alaska, built on the side of the mountain.

Yesterday I wrote on the two forums that I am on about what I would love to relive with my family for one day. The response was so precious. Ladies were thinking back in time on their favorite days. and writing me back. I would love for you to respond to me if you don't mind. I don't care how long it is.

I just turned 57 this year. I don't feel like I am old, but I am not young either. It has been 15 years since I have been to Alaska. I have not been back home and I still want to go at least one more time. If I could go I would want to take all 18 of my immediate family with me. I would show them all the things I did growing up homesteading with my parents and siblings in Alaska. I would have them all walk the road I used to walk every Sat. and we would walk to the Mendenhall Glacier and sit at the counter and eat chili with oyster crackers. We would then climb the mountain behind the glacier and look out at Auke Lake where as a child my family would go ice skating. In the evening we would build a big fire in the middle of the lake for light and I would teach all 9 of my grandchildren how to ice skate. The next day we would drive out to Eagle River and have a picnic on the beach and look out at the ocean. Then all of us would get into a big boat and go salmon fishing , so they could possible see a big whale like I did as a child. Maybe it would bump our boat to tell us that he new we were there. I wasn't scared then, but I sure think I would be now. I would still want my children to see a whale though. We would go out into the fields and pick a huge bouquet of lupins, Alaska cotton and fireweed, (maybe that is why I love flowers, we had lots of beautiful wild flowers in Alaska). We couldn't miss getting a large coffee can with rope tied on each side just like my Gramma did for me and then go to the woods to pick a million blueberries. I would love to see the blueberry stains on my babies faces!!!! I would show them lots more things like, have them swing in the highest swing my daddy made for me, so they could touch the sky, we would go on the beach and lift rocks to find the little sea animals, fish on the side of the dock for herring and come back and cook it on an open fire, we would gather tadpoles from other lakes and bring them back to the pond my Grandpa gave me, walk in the rain by the Governors' Mansion and pull at the trees to bring down a ton of rain on us and so many other things. Before we left we would all have to go on a huge ferry ship (like I did all the time growing up), we would all sleep on the sleeping deck snuggled in sleeping bags and we would look up in the sky and see the big dipper (seen on the Alaskan flag), the Aurora Borealis and the Milky Way, way up in the sky doing their Alaskan dance. I would relive with my family all the wonderful memories I had living in Alaska. It is my dream and I have it in my mind and I trust that one day I can have it in real life.

I am a huge memory maker with my children and grandchildren. I didn't have the easiest upbringing, but I guess I choose to keep the good memories in my mind. I think that is why my husband and I have so many Grammie and Poppa Camps with all of our grandchildren. So that they will one day want to come to the farm and bring their little ones and walk their children through some of their childhood memories that they had growing up here on our farm.

These are just a few of my memories. I would so love to hear a memory you would want to relive with your family or maybe just a dream that you have.
Blessings, Linda

Blessings,
Linda

LOOKS LIKE A NEW APRON TO ME!

I just love this fabric. When I saw it, I saw an apron all the way. Can't wait to get started, after I finish up a few orders. I can see the apron in my mind. I hope it turns out the way I want it to.

Hope your end of summer is going well. We will start school after Labor Day. I will miss the summer time.

Blessings,
Linda

DID YOU EVER BUY ONE OF THESE PATTERNS?

Do you remember this pattern? It was called Country Friendship Jumper by

Peace Creek Collections

The last few days I have been thinking back about what we have been able to do over the last 25 years. I had to do a bio for The Girlhood Home Companion. It is kind of fun to go back and remember all the memories. The ladies I met from our patterns were to precious. They had lives that I loved to hear about. Children stories and family life. It was really a wonderful time in my life.

I thought just maybe I could meet some of the ladies again, that used to buy our patterns when we first started Peace Creek Collections. It was a very special time in my life. How styles change over the years. It still was fun though. I used to enjoy getting the special phone calls from ladies. They would share what was going on in their lives. I have so many memories tucked in my heart. Did you ever buy one of our patterns? It was so long ago that we did the jumpers and dolls. I plan on bringing back a few of the doll pattern, because I think people might be interested.

We still do the Quiet Books and they do real well. In the future I would like to design some baby quilts. I have one that I never published called Grandmas House. It needs to be worked on and put in our store. Lots of things I still would like to do.........

Guess I have been doing the memory lane thing these past days. Mmmmm..... I like memories!

Joy Christmas Angel

and A Special Piece Vest

Wow fun to go back and reminisce..... I really would like to meet you again, if you ever ordered from us! Even if you didn't buy, but remember our patterns, I would like to meet you or if you have any kind of comments I love to read them!

Blessings,
Linda