God Is So Precious!!!!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies, 

When I got home I was exhausted, still had stuff to do, but was kind of dragging! I usually am one that has a lot of energy, but not tonight. Did my chores.......

found this precious little one down in the milk house..... when I went to check on everyone! He was running around on the ground all by himself! 

At work I help run the front line when the lady isn't there to do it. I was going to work out with my sweet man on the grill and when I got to work found that I was going to be on the front lines again. I enjoy it, because I can interact with the kids. While I was out there a young man, that I know, who came up and said. "Is there anything I can pray for you about? I thought and said, yes, please pray that the Lord would provide the "things" that we need (the farm house needs new shingles on the roof and we have been praying about it). He said he would pray. It was a treat to my day. When we got home there was an order from Keepsake Quilting. Amazing! Thank you God, sooooo much! It wasn't a real big order, but it was from the Lord and I will tell the young man tomorrow! Another faith builder!!!!!!

Then I went outside, because my sweet man came in and said the sunset was beautiful!!!!!! The picture doesn't show it, but the sun was red.....and I mean pure red. It was so so beautiful. God was whispering....... I love you everyday with my beauty! I noticed, wish you could have also.....or maybe you did!

I came back in the house and looked at my emails. There was a email and on the subject line it read something that got me so excited. I clicked it open to see what was going on.  There's a Prairie Flower Farmgirl who's husband has been without a job for 14 months. I had put the prayer request up on my blog way back last April. I had not mentioned her name, but asked all you ladies to please just pray. Well....today they found out that her sweet man GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!! They had lost their home, she had to give up her new pup, had to leave their church family, sold all of their furniture and some wood pieces that would have been handed down to her daughter. They moved in with their daughter's family. Hard stuff, but they knew that God had not left them. That He had a plan and they needed to trust Him. It was hard, but as you ladies know, God never wastes anything He allows in our lives. Precious gift they received today......now they can sleep well. Praise the Lord and thank you ladies who prayed way back then for this precious family! The last things she said, I know God has a plan for us, He gives us a hope and a future! Jeremiah 29:11-14. I was so excited when I heard that God had answered their prayers! I asked for permission to tell this story. She said yes and that she knows that they are not alone. So many are without jobs now and who knows what is in America's future, if we keep going as we are. Such a faith builder story. She wants you encouraged! If any need prayer, email me or write a comment! God is doing something very precious here with all of us! Can you imagine HEAVEN?????

Hugs to you precious ladies, 

Linda

Peaches and Cream Scones Recipe! Easy to make!!!!!!

Good evening sweet ladies,

Today at work I was walking by all the dishes that were needing washing. I bumped one pan......you guessed......there was about 5 that went sailing. I tried to catch them before they went on the floor and because of the force my first finger on my left hand was jammed by the edge of the pan. It cut under my nail and bruised the end of my finger. The whole thing is black and blue and hurts......so I am typing very softly. It will be a short post. Tonight I have been so tired and have thought since I got home that it is Wednesday. Bummer!!!!!! It is not. Told my friend Susan I had only 2 more days. Notta! Oh well, after tomorrow.......I WILL have two more days.

My Tressy made these Peaches and Cream Scones at the bakery yesterday! They were delicious! Easy to make. She use our favorite recipe Coffeehouse Scones, plus she added fresh peaches to give it a whole new flavor! She divided the dough in half. Made a circle out of each. Cut some fresh peaches and added a little sugar to taste. Place the syrupy peaches on top of one of the circles. Then add the second circle to the top of the peaches and first circle. Press the second circle a little down a little into the peaches and bottom circle. Cut scone circle into 8ths. Take a few of the cut up peaches and press on the top of each little scone. Place on pan and bake. Use the time and oven temp the same as recipe. As you are waiting, take 1/2 c. pwd. sugar, a few tablespoons of cream and some cut up peaches. Mix it and when the scones come out of the oven, drizzle a little of the mixture over each scone! You will like them...... if you like fresh peaches!!!!!!!! You could also serve some slices of fresh peaches with! NUM!

Tomorrow the head boss will be coming to the kitchen. It will be a little nervy. Please pray that we will know what the right thing to say if he asks us questions! I like HOME better, I don't have to answer hard questions!!!!! Heehee! 

Hugs to your day tomorrow! I am writing this on Tuesday night! 

Linda

Busy Evening!

Hello Sweet Ladies,

Here is a pic of Vitaliy and Ian on the first day of school. V is on the left. He is enjoying school and doing very well. 

It is Monday night and I am writing this post. We are celebrating Vitaliy's birthday at our son's families home, exciting day for V. For some of you who do not know who V is, he was adopted by our son's family a year ago from Ukraine. He has been living in America for almost a year now. Josh and Tonya left 1 year ago to go and pick him up. A sweet gift for our family! His Momma put trick candles on his cake and he had never seen such a thing before. He was so cute to watch as he tried to blow them out. The other grandchildren had so much fun giggling and laughing as he would try. The surprised look on his face was priceless. He has had only one birthday cake in his life time. It was a special night for him. He got lots of tools!!!!!! He will be bringing them to the farm I am sure! He loves taking things apart here on the farm. 

Are any of you getting ready for fall? I have been noticing and pinning some pretty things for fall on my Fall Thyme (click) on my Pinterest. Even though this week is still warm, I am trying to get some things organized to make up, so I will be ready when it is time to decorate. I want this look at the entrance of the Potter's Shed. Simple, but so beautiful I think! Maybe a burlap ribbon around the pitch fork would be pretty. 

I will be collecting a lot of fall leaves at the college to do this one. They have beautiful trees that have tons of leaves on the grass each year. I also was able to get some bittersweet! I will be going back to get some more, wanted to last night but my time ran out! 

Do you decorate with anything special during Autumn? I love garlands, white little pumpkins, leaves and bowls. I tried to grow little white pumpkins two different times this last summer. Since we have not had a hard winter, the bugs have not died off...... so there are lots of squash bugs. I thought I had finally found something that would kill them, but it didn't continue to work. It did at the beginning though. 

I have to say that today I could not believe all the precious emails and comments you all sent to me. Thank you precious ladies for taking the time and sharing such kindness.  So many wrote and said they understood my first choice would be to stay home. Some wrote of your heart desire to also be at home when you had to go out and work. Some wrote of still having hard times. I was glad to hear that other's felt the same as I did. You were all so so sweet and your encouragement was a blessing. Just wanted to say thank you! I have said before, those who come to Prairie Flower Farm are the sweetest ladies ever!!!!!!

Hugs to your day, know that you are loved......a lot......by myself.....but mostly by Jesus!!!!

Linda

Thankful For RAIN and His Provisions!!!!!

Good Morning precious sweet ladies,

I haven't been able to blog for a few days......I have missed you. We have been blessed with rain....and with that it has changed our farming schedule. We have been so dry for so long and we got used to living a certain way. Now that it has rained we have had to drain mud holes, clean pens and we have enjoyed every minute of it. 

WE thank you ladies for praying for rain for our farm and Kansas.......we got it. Five inches total!

 HE gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields: Job 5:10

It has been wonderful! We are thanking Jesus big time. My sweet man and I stood in our yard and gave thanks for His mercy!!!! Our prayers were answered and we were so so happy to finally have a real soaking for our crops and garden! When you don't have rain on a farm, it makes the work so much harder. We will be seeing grass growing again for our livestock!!!! Even the animals were happy. The ducks were splashing in the mud puddles! It was a joyous time to watch! 

I went out to check on the chickens that are every size in different pens. One of the cages had a rush of water go through it. I found one dead teenage chicken and two that were all soaked. I ran holding them both in my hands... into the house. I started blow drying them with a hair dryer, I know that sounds funny, but it works. Smile! Sometimes they look like they are going to die when they get wet and cold, but if you warm them up.... they come out of it just fine. I took some cracked corn......took about two cups, laid it on a tea towel. Then I tied the towel up and put it in the microwave to get it warm. I placed it in the bottom of a little bucket, set some straw on the top. Then I  placed the two little cochin chickens on top of the straw... so they could get all warmed up....... 

and it worked! They started chirping and opened up their eyes. They both really looked bad when I brought them in the house. I was so thankful they came out of it!  My sweet man and I then went out and worked on the cages. We needed to make them a little safer for the next rain that was to come yesterday in the afternoon. 

It rained again, two more times. Another inch!!!!!!! Praise the LORD!!!!!! Now that is a lot of rain in two days. We can't wait to see what the garden is going to do in these next few days! The tomato plants have been putting on tons of new blossoms in the last week or so. The weather hasn't been as hot and it has given the plants a break. It will pay off now with the rain. Amazing! 

I have to say here that I have not forgotten the states that are still in drought. I know we could still be there, and I would appreciate it if those of you who still need prayer......please leave a comment so we can still be praying for your needs. I know there were many times I got discouraged when the weather that had rain would just go around us. I had to fight it and just keep having faith that one day the Lord would bring the rain! Don't give up ladies......know matter what your discouragement is at this time of your life, keep trusting HIM! He has not left you!

The soybeans will hopefully start growing bigger seeds in their pods now. Yahoo!!!!!!  All that to say.........we are extremely thankful! Thank you so much ladies also for praying for us! We talked to a farmer friend who said he got down on his knees in the field yesterday morning to see the rain gauge. He said that when he saw 5" of rain..... he started crying.....then he started praising God. What a sweet gift rain can be for the farmer....... when he has been in a drought! Everyday we are so dependent on the mercy of the Lord for our existence. The precious thing is....... He always picks up the pieces and does amazing things..... even when it doesn't rain! WE know, we have seen it.....many times....the key is to always be looking! He is still a miracle God!

Hope your day is a blessed SONday.......and that you see He is taking care of your needs.......even when it doesn't make sense! I know some of you are walking some very very hard times. I am sorry. My prayer for you today is that you may know............ without a shadow of a doubt....... 

that He Loves YOU.......so do I!

Linda

P.S. I could use a little prayer. The other night I received a fb comment. I have taken the info and placed it before the Lord. They said I was negative about my having to work outside the home. I have to admit that having to go outside the home was VERY difficult for me as a Mom. I tried to always be thankful to God for providing a way for our family to make a living. It still was something I had to walk through.......with the Lord and sweet man, to become what Christ wants me to be. I think the Lord allows all of us things in our lives to make us more into His image. We would not need Him, if He didn't place certain things in our lives. I felt that the Sunday before we were to go to work the Lord gave me victory in that area. You will find in my blog that I am not a perfect person. I will not spell every word correctly, I will not always use perfect grammar.......it is my journal.......it is me.....in the raw! By placing my HEART here many times on the line.....some will like what I say and others will not. I am not trying to please man.......it is my journal. In the three years I have been blessed by so many of you, with encouraging words, thank you! If I have offended anyone by my "complaining" I ask for forgiveness.  Sometimes my heart is ugly, but I do know so many of you take me before the Father. I know that is why when I go to work now......I am free and have Joy! All of us have a journey, with sorrows, and pain. You have shared with me. I truly care and love you precious ladies and take you before the Throne Room of God.......so you will also have victory and JOY in the hard things the Lord has allowed in your life. Life is hard, that is why He gives us each other......to bear one an others burdens. 
I was not going to write about this, but then I thought maybe I had offended you ladies. Thought it was better to bring it in the light and let you know I do care about if I offend you! 

Pizza Dough......A Favorite Thing To Make!

Hello Sweet ladies!!!!!!!!

Every day or every other day... Monday through Friday, we (my girls and I) make up all the pizza dough for the pizza station at the college bakery. Taylor our youngest daughter mixes it in our huge mixer with 25 to 50 lbs of flour at a time. We flour our wood baking table and let the dough rise for about 45 minutes. Sometimes it has been known to go off the edges a bit, if we don't pay close attention! I enjoy working with the soft dough.  

If Tay has time we both work together or I will just cut it and weigh it into 20 ounce pieces. A favorite thing for me! 

Then I take each piece and shape it into little balls of round dough for each pizza. 

I then take and lay them on an oiled pan. Five down and 3 across. We put them on shelves and put them in the freezer until they are needed. I hope I never tire of making the rounds of dough! Smile. The dough smells wonderful and the pizzas are beautiful. The college kids are enjoying the new way we are doing the pizzas this year. 

At home we also make our own pizza dough, not with the same recipe. I had some ask for the recipe we use. I got it HERE. It is a wonderful dough and so easy to make up!!!!! We only let it rise about 45 minutes, instead of the 2 hours that the recipe asks for. 

Olive Oil Dough
From Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Makes 4-1lb loaves.

2-3/4 cups lukewarm water
1-1/2 tablespoon granulated yeast
3/4 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Mix the yeast, salt, sugar, and olive oil with the water in a 5-quart bowl, or a lidded (not airtight) food container.

Mix in the flour without kneading. I used my stand mixer with dough hook, but you canuse a spoon.

Cover (not airtight), and allow to rest at room temperature until dough rises and colapses (or flattens on top), approximately 2 hours.

The dough can be used immediately after the initial rise, though it is easier to handle when cold. Refrigerate in a lidded (not airtight) container and use over the next 12 days.

To bake my pizza (I made a personal size pizza) I took a handful of dough and had to use some extra flour (it was a bit on the sticky side for me) and spread it out. I topped with my toppings and then slid the pizza in the oven that had been pre-heated with the pizza stone in it - to 500 degrees. I baked it for about 15 minutes. While I like this crust, I will be trying my friend Mike's recipe next. The one thing that makes this a good one - is that I was able to have it in my fridge and just pulled it out to make when I needed it. Convenience food at it's best!

We use our tomatoes, green peppers, onions, garlic and basil from the garden for the top! Oh, we also use mozzarella cheese on the top also. 

Let me know please if you try it and what you think.

Tonight I went to the garden to finish digging up the rest of the potatoes. It was relaxing to be outside after being inside all morning and afternoon! We have about 50 lbs.....it will be wonderful through the winter months. I still have to dig my sweet potatoes........that will have to wait!

Tonight I was listening to Francis Chan on Youtube click, as I was putting up this post. I love listening to sermons when I get home and early in the mornings. I put one on as we get ready for work. I have been doing that for sometime and it is really nice. Anyway Francis said, "do you know that God loves you more then anyone else?" Our parents, loved ones........ANYONE! I started to think on that thought. Amazing, if you really think about it. I know my parents loved me a lot, yours loved you.......but God loves us more. He knows what is best for me. I know this......but to really think about it was so encouraging~ 

Need to go out and pick weeds for Willow.......she doesn't like the prairie hay.......silly girl! 

Thank you for being such sweetie ladies!

Linda

Hugs to Your DAy!

Hellos sweet ladies, 

Thought you would like to see two of the babies. I have 5, but wanted to show you the different sizes. The one on the left is an Araucana and the one on the right is a little black Cochin Banty. So tiny! Just showing you, sweet babies. 

 School started today so everyone was back.......lots of new faces.......and lots of hugs from old faces. It was fun to welcome them back.  I also helped my sweet man on his line. That was nice and made the time go by fast as we were serving together. I enjoy when I can be with him, it is a special gift for sure. 

We did work up the lane this afternoon so the horses can go into our son's pasture. We so badly need rain still, but the pasture will be a blessing for the horses.  I know so many need rain also, so please keep praying!!!!!! 

Hope all of you have a blessed day tomorrow. I will be working out front swiping cards. It always makes the day go really fast when I have that job! 

Hugs to your day!

Linda

How Was Your Day?

Hello Sweet Ladies, 

The other night I went to take this pic..... so you could all see. It was so beautiful! I came into the house to download the pic's and the battery was dead. Thought I would show you anyway. The clouds were so huge and very very pretty! 

A few hours later this was to the west. The sky was red and the sun was on fire. Really beautiful weekend the Lord gave us! 

Tonight I came home and went straight to the Potter's Shed to clean.......this is what it looked like last spring. I love to entertain here and the weather is changing.....really fast to being cooler in the evenings. We want to invite the staff at the kitchen to our farm......really excited to do that. Plus there are lots of young families with children that we also want to get to meet......plus college kids......plus whoever else the Lord lays on our hearts that need some love and encouragement. So that is something you can all pray for us about.....who does He want us to have. I swept and cleaned up and it was so nice to be back home on the farm. I will be buying some new CHRISTmas lights to put up and other things so we will be ready! I will show as I get it fixed up again.

Well sweet ladies......it is time for me to call it a night! Tomorrow morning will be here before I know it! Please share with me your day......I love hearing from you!!!!!!! 

God bless you and hugs, 

Linda

Happy SONday! Love you!

Good Morning......sweetest ladies in the world!

Yesterday I worked on the yard with my granddaughter......we needed a table between our metal lawn chairs.....this was a cage I bought at the Yoder Auction....needed to bring some chickens home and forgot to bring cages.......it is old oven racks.....perfect for outside. I was going to put the flower pot on the top.....my daughter in love said why not inside........perfect.......she thinks of the neatest things. I am going to sit with my sweet man in the evenings.....and have this between. Didn't it turn out cute? 

Today is SONday.....the day of rest......now that I go off to serve for the Lord in the caf. every week day....I appreciate my day of rest......like no other time in my life. He has been teaching me some things that had He not moved us out from the farm.......I would not be serving Him in this way. Praise Him that He let our family go together! A gift! Let me explain.

A week and a half ago I was content......to just stay on the farm and not even leave except for SONdays, when we went to church (some want to know what denomination I attend.... I am a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ and I attend a Bible teaching church nondenominational). We had to go for inservice at the college and I was having a real hard time knowing I was going to go back out into the world. Now don't get me wrong......I love to share my faith of Jesus. I love Him.....He has set me free from my sin.......I have a story of what He has done in my life. One of those things is to help me love my sweet man......to learn to come under his protection.....to serve him.....to be his helpmate. I will tell you that when I was young I was very independent and didn't understand submission or want to. Still have days when I don't.......it is the hardest thing for women because of the curse back in Genesis. But as I was growing in my understanding of the Word......I wanted what God had for me. Well going outside my home I was afraid of what my home would look like when I came back Home each day. We work as a family on the farm and enjoy each other and are content to do that. Well, I have to say this last week was a blessing. I work with ladies who do not know my Jesus......they notice our family and say things.....they know we love Jesus.....and my prayer is that they will want Him also. I have two young ladies that I am praying for. They were like me.....not that they are bad.....they just live as the world lives......and I know it will bring nothing but pain.......they share with me. All that to say......I am thinking different.....I have always loved hospitality, but now I am thinking more of inviting the poor....the hurt.....we have a huge opportunity this year to open up our farm.......to serve the staff in the kitchen......and the kids at the college. Please pray with us to not miss it! To be available to the Lord to do His will and not our own. We ask for strength. Being on your feet and running for 8 hours is tiring. Even our girls who are young......walk in the door when they get back to the farm and take naps! I don't to much to do! It is also emotionally draining. Lots of drama goes on at the caf. We pray every morning before we go in that God would be our strength......that lives would be changed for His glory and that He would use us to tell of His story. We are trusting the Holy Spirit to do His work and we will be available to love those He puts in our path for Him. Now that I really know that this is what He is calling us to, my heart is content. I always loved the fact I was a "stay at Home momma", but now that we have raised our girls.....it is time that we go out and the fact that the Lord has tailor made this missionary job for our family.......I am okay. We will watch and see what the Lord will do. I am still my sweet mans helpmate. I get to work along side him a lot more now. The girls are doing the bakery......and I help when they need me. I am also helping others in the kitchen.....so I rub shoulders with all the other ladies in the different stations. We can talk as we work, may my words be a healing balm for their broken hearts......I share my Jesus.....they listen.....and some hug me, that is a good sign. The Holy Spirit is working thru me wooing precious hearts to Himself. That takes this Momma's heart and makes me encouraged! I have also had to go on the front lines to take the kids meal tickets........and the students remember me.....I am building relationships.......some are so career orientated, I talk about family.....raising children in the admonition of the Lord.....they listen. Trusting......because I can......He has a plan......I am only a small part of it, but I am a part. I am going with a Joy this year. Not sure what it will all look like......but one thing I do know......He is hearing our prayers......and they will be answered. We are having a farm party for the staff.......football and baseball guys came to us and said they want to help us on the farm. Now that is a God Thing!!!! The farm has had to be let go.......roofs need to be repaired......limbs need to be picked up from years of storms........never would we have thought! We are also going to have the guys build a deck on the refuge cabin......they will have retreats!!!! Can't believe the Lord is blessing us so! To see the farm as ministry......he has used it the last 2 years.......oh my.....He will continue! The RA girls at the college will also be using it for the girls that they have under them.  They will come to our Home.......our Farm.......one thing they will see.......is Jesus......He lives here!!!!!!!! 


Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 
                       Matt. 8:19.

I love you all and thank you for your notes and emails......they bless my heart and it makes me love you all the more! You are precious sisters......I thank my God for you all the time!

Linda

Today Is Filled With Farm Life!

Good Day sweet ladies, 

What a sweet day we are having back on the farm today......got up.....out the door (in my night clothes and flip flops.......livin it up) to open up the milk house early to let everyone out! Very cool and just a little sun. So nice to work in though.  As you know it has been so hot this summer..... so having the weekend nice will be wonderful and I will get a lot of things done. 

Last night I took this pic when I let the girls out of the milk house........preciousness......gift from my Heavenly Daddy! Thanked Him......I know I am where I am to be at the college.....first and foremost we are serving Him......missionaries. Some of the sweet details of my day were evident that He was working in my life.....perfecting me to be more like Him. There are so many young ladies.....that are making decisions that will affect their lives right now. Asking God to use me as an older woman. He did. Praising Him. 

Here are few of the new chickens under the trees.......they love scratching  for bugs!!!!!! 

I let the new pullets and few roosters I got from the Yoder Auction out to run around for their first time. If I see they get in the garden.....they will have to go back to their pen. Love to watch them scratching around. 

They can be so silly hoping around! 

Making pizza.......family is coming to the farm.......hope you have a a sweet day......I will......I will be surrounded by grandkids......now that is a sweet thing!

Hugs from the farm, 

Linda

We have a winner!!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies, 

Well guess what??????? WE have a WINNER of the Sandhill Plum Jelly! I always wonder what sweet friend it is going to be. We had 75 votes. I always use Random Generate and the number that it picked was 18! I always hurry and see what name that number goes with and it was 

Susan Montgomery 

(she doesn't have a blog), but she said:

My favorite jelly is wild plum. I would love to try yours :D Glad your first day was successful.

Love and hugs

I wonder what kind of wild plum she has. I will ask her.

First I have to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the fun that you left for me on blog and answering what kind of jelly or jams you liked. Some were very interesting!!!!!! It made my week go by fast!

Also thank you for the fun you also left today on my fb and blog.

It wasn't hard to be at work as much as I thought it would be. One reason was they put me out on the front line with my sweet man serving. I was his "helpmate" today. He was cooking hamburgers.....then I would take them and hand out the hamburger and dish out fries to the students so he could keep grilling. Some of our girls that we have had in our life since we started working there..... knew that it was our anniversary today. It started traveling around the caf. The kids made it fun for us! You were so very thoughtful though and that meant a lot to me!

When I got off work I looked at my emails......this was what I found. He had left a comment on my blog.

Jason StubbsAugust 16, 2012 2:38 PM

Happy Happy Anniversary!!!! To the two greatest people I personally know. Thanks for loving all of us kids and giving of yourselves. Thank you for showing us what it takes to make a marriage work in this day and age. I love you both so much and hope and pray that you both have 38 more wonderful years together. I know that the Lord will continue to bless because you have both been so faithful. Love you Mom and Dad

Your oldest Jason

You guessed it.......this Momma cried. This is our son that was in the picture of our wedding. Frosting on top of the cake. I told him when he called this morning that I was glad he was at our wedding.......he said, "me too". He has truly been a gift. He believes in "Life". I am blessed! 

 I can't believe that I have been at school for almost one week, went by so fast. Thankful!  Oh my, will Saturday ever be special. Waking up to the sunshine coming through our bedroom window, jumping out of bed and walking around the farm.....I will be HOME and it will be wonderful! Want to plant some fall lettuce and spinach. It will be nice to be in the garden. 

Hugs to you!!!!!!! You are such precious ladies, God knew I needed you in my life! You make me smile, laugh, cry, pray...and give Praise.......thank you,

Linda

A Special Day Today.....of What The Lord Can Do!

Hi all you sweet ladies!

First I have to say thank you to those who have wished us a Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!! We were married at 9:59 (don't ask me why.....we were young?) in the morning 38 years ago on the farm we live at. Don't freak by this picture! If you would like to see our story, I have written it  the last few years on my blog. It is a story of redemption! You may go Here August 2010, and Here August 2011. I am not proud of my past, but am thankful for a gracious Heavenly Father who sent His Son to redeem my life and my sweet mans! My whole family has come to Christ thru repentance and salvation......to think He took one young lady a precious sweet man and used our lives, because we said "yes"....I am forever humbled!  If we let Him, He loves to make all things new and washes us clean by Jesus' shed blood! I love my sweet man and he loves me......what a blessing! It will be a special day.... even if we are at the college!!!!!! 

Okay.........I finally have the recipe for you for the........ 

Tressa made these up and it was a hit with the college kids. It would be wonderful for a special dinner also! It might look hard, but it is not! Apples should be available at the stores for fall! Sometimes cheaper also. 

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Crust:

2 cups unbleached flour

1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:

3 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

2 T. sugar

1/2 tea. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping:

1 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 c. unbleached flour

1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 (1 stick) butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium blow, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9 x 13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned. 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. /Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, 1 T. sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with homemade caramel and serve cool. Enjoy!

Found the recipe HERE

The recipe asked for carmel topping, but we don't care for that. We like making our own using this recipe we found some time back in a MaryJane Farm Magazine. 

Holiday Caramels

1 cup cream

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Line an 8" square pan with 2 sheets of crisscrossed parchment paper.

2. Combine cream, sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a heavy 3 to 4 quart saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat and cook , stirring, until the mixture reaches 245 degrees on a candy thermometer.

3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and nuts (optional). Immediately pour into prepared pan, and allow to cool at least 2 hours or overnight.

4. After carmel has cooled, remove from pan and cut into 4 equal lengths; then cut each length into 10 equal pieces.

5. Wrap each piece in a 4" square of waxed paper, or store between pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container. 

I made the Sandhill Plum Jelly tonight! Oh my is it wonderful! I will announce the winner when I get home. You all can still sign up whoever hasn't until noon central time!!!!!

Hugs to your day! 

Linda 

Have a Sweet Day!

Good morning sweet ladies, 

This is going to be a fast post......and no pic's. 

I was so excited when I got home last night. Did my chores.....took care of all the different age chicks........and hens. Then got a call from a sweet friend who needed help. She had a sn......ke (some people are very afraid of them) in her kitchen cupboard. She lives out in the country and when it starts getting cold......they come house if you have a hole. Never had one......never want one! Any way we got the house fixed up and a little visitin done! She had beautiful flowers all fixed in old pots and it looked so pretty. Have you ever heard jam and jelly vincas? I had not, but they were so pretty. Didn't get a pic......I will try. Long story short......didn't get to post the Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe for you. Oh my.....talk about delicious and looks so beautiful. The kids really liked it yesterday! It will be a favorite this year. I will get it Lord willing tonight up on a post. I am also going to take pic's of the new dining area, so you can see what we get to work in. Very beautiful! I am working out front now and don't have to wear my silly uniform. That is a blessing! I don't have to wear a hat either......another blessing.......smile! 

I am typing this as my sweet man drives us to work! We can make it work!!!!!!!! 

Hugs to your day sweet ladies and I can't thank you enough for the prayers......I know that you are. My heart isn't getting as torn as sometimes it has. I have JOY......truly...it is amazing me. I totally "feel" and I am not one that thinks you have to feel to obey, but it has been different this last two days. God has been so evident in my heart!!!!!!!! Please keep my girls covered. Thank you! You truly are all precious!

Linda