Hi......miss you all!

Hello sweet ladies,

I used pumpkins on our SONday table........they are the cutest pumpkins!!!!!!!

We bought a bushel of peaches..... so I made peach cobbler.......so nummy, plus we are eating them plain and with cream poured over the top.......that is my favorite way to eat them. Do you can or freeze yours? I just did a half a bushel and put them in the freezer on yesterday afternoon. They will be great for smoothies this winter.

OH MY......school is now in session!!!!!!! There are over 200 freshmen and I am right in front when they walk in the door! PIZZA! They are eating me out in about 1 minute and I am trying to be prepared with more after they clean out my station....not! It is a little on the impossible side. Today I will be making some in the regular oven. Then I will be ready to put them out immediately after they come!!!!!!! I hope it works. Glad we have all the kids that we do have.....it makes a difference on our hours! 

Here is a recipe like the one we use at the college but smaller proportions. If you would like to try it. It really is a good one! 

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!

Hope all is well with you......miss blogging.....with the wedding preparations........I am coming and going! I hope to get back on a more regular schedule! Miss you and your comments. 

Hugs to your day and God bless, 

Linda

The Sanctuary......in the making!

Hello sweet ladies.......

this is what we have been busy working on..........

getting ready for the wedding has been fun......but makes us all so very busy!!!!! This will give you an idea of what we are building......we are now almost ready to get the floor put on. We have some old dead cedar trees that we are going to have cut into lumber for the floor. We are excited about using some of the trees here on the farm. The Lord has been giving us some dry weather for the last few days......helping us as we try to build the unit. It will be beautiful when it is all finished.......I will keep you posted a few more times......I will save the best for last.....when we have the wedding! We can hardly wait to really start decorating.

I have been working on roses like this for the last few days.......I made them using rolls of burlap that I bought at Hobby Lobby! I have seen some flower done up, but not like the way I did them.....I like the way they turned out. I will do a tutorial on how I made them.....soon! 

It is looking like a wedding is happening in our home! It is going to be pretty!

My running October beans are looking so pretty! A blogger friend gave me seeds so I could try them.......they are so different and very beautiful! 

Hugs to your day.........and may the Lord bless,

Linda

It is Raining.......again!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies,

Here on the farm we are getting more rain this afternoon (Tue). We had all weekend without, but here we are today and it is raining..... again! We are soooo grateful, don't get me wrong......having the last 3 years of drought... we will not complain, but we could use some dry and warm days to help with the soybeans. Today my sweet man prayed.....asking the Lord to hold back the rain if we didn't need it.......it rained......He knows best! 

SONday morning before church I went out and picked a whole basket full of green beans. Today after work before the rain came my sweet girl and I went out to pic some more. 

They are beautiful. They will be so nice during the winter months. I love picking produce......doesn't matter what kind......it always relaxes me. It is a wonderful feeling to be outside. Then the rain came.......I put on my rain coat and out I went again to keep on picking. I can't always go out in the rain here in Kansas because there is usually thunder and lightning with it. The rain was beating down on my coat.....it sounded so nice! 

The girls came out to the garden later to help me pick the rest of the beans when the rain stopped.......we will have a lot to can! There are tons more that are little that still need to grow. We ended up getting 1 more inch of rain. Thanking Jesus!

Had to take a pic of my chicky girl! Thought she was adorable against the mint. The wheat is growing in my straw.....that doesn't bother me, I pull it for my chickens. They love it! 

Also wanted to show you my sweet potato flower. Have you ever seen one before? They are so so pretty. I love seeing when they start blooming. Means the potatoes are ready.....we have had so much rain the dirt is muddy. I will have to wait to dig them.

This last Monday our family started back to work in the kitchen at the college. It is going well. The athletic kids are here the first week and then everyone else plus the new freshmen come the second week. We are going to be real busy when that happens! 

They have a new verse for the year. I love it! I am praying it for the college and for my family during the new year. You may join me in praying for the college if you would like. They would so appreciate it. I put this up on my fb and I have ladies that are joining me! So excited to see what the Lord will do!

Hope you are doing well, just wanted to say hello!

Hugs and God bless YOU!!!!!!!!

Linda

Have a Blessed SONday!

Hello sweet ladies,

Yesterday when I woke and the sun was coming up out of the east.......the creek bed is flowing with very high water because of all the rain. 

Every morning there is a huge thick cloud of fog that runs the whole top of the creek. It is breath taking I think. I love early mornings when the you can still see the sunrising and the dew heavy on the grasses. 

Yesterday we worked on the fence that goes up to the pasture. We needed to get it worked on so the horses can have some new grass to eat. The girls, myself, sweet man and Tyler (Tay's fiance) all went. While out there our daughter Tressa said, "look Mom, there are tons of pollywogs!!!!!! She wasn't kidding. We both brought some home so we could watch them.....somethings just never get old! When I lived in Alaska the summer was my favorite time to go to go and find pollywogs at different lakes in Juneau. Loved it......my Grandpa even gave me a pond so I could put them in it. Did you ever collect anything when you were young? I asked ladies on my fbook and they had precious memories!

Well this week is suppose to be full of rain just like last. Birch and Aspen are waiting for dry days. They had two dry days this weekend.....but starting tonight more rain in the forecast! 50% chance.......that means rain here in Kansas now a days! Love Birches face all wet.....he has adorable curls all over his body. God has blessed us and we are out of the drought. 

The soybeans are another blessing here on the farm......my sweet man and I walked through them yesterday.......we prayed......asking the Lord to bless and protect our crop. We so need new shingles for our farm house roof.......asked if He would help us! He loves it when we come to Him! They are beautiful! Some were up just below my hip. Some not! They have some time to still grow......the rain has helped.....now they need some sun and warm.

Hope your SONday is a sweet one! 

I am going out before church and pick some more green beans......need to start canning them for the winter months. 

Hugs to your day....and if you have a memory.......please leave it in the comments. We would love to read about it!!!!!!

God bless you! 

Linda

Summer Vacation Coming To An End.......The Lord has Good Planned For Myself and Family!

Good morning sweet ladies,

well as of today my summer vacation is over.......doing a catering today at the college to welcome all the professors back.....that means a smile on my face and I will have to be friendly!!!!!! Heehee! I have been so blessed this summer. Wedding planning.....working on the farm.....playing in my garden.......$600.00 "given" to us to fix up the refuge cabin what more could you ask for? I am one that can stay on the farm and never have to leave....I proved it this summer.....but God doesn't want to keep me just here! Good thing!

This morning my precious Lord gave me this verse.........."Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 2: 7 I know that I can trust Him with my life.....going outside the Home for me is not easy......but since I have I have grown. He has given me more children to love......and that has filled this Momma's heart to the max.......wonder what He has for us this year.......we will see the story written before our eyes! Please pray for our family.....I know so many of you do each and everyday.......and THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Wanted to share the recipe for these Buttermilk Biscuits......they are so nummy and so easy to make up! Spread a little butter and drool over the top some honey.........eat.......so good!

The one thing I am so thankful for is that I am HOME early in the day from the kitchen.......so I can still have time to get lots done on the farm. I can still have little sweet peas out in the afternoon......so we can still have our God chatter. 

Not the best pic......but you get the idea of what she does when she gets out of her car! Yesterday another little one came to bring me her duck, so he can have some friends! She gets out of her families car and hits the farm like a bolt of lightning. All the cats try to take cover.......Not! 

She loves to sit in front of the gate where the teenage chickens are........she also gets to gather eggs from the big Hen House! We are so thankful for this little one that comes to fill our day with so much fun! We met her family at the college.....they were parents for guys of two of the dorms. A sweet gift......for me. I am stationed in front of the front door......she would take off running to me to give me my hug and kiss every day! Sweetness!!!!!!! They are not working at the college this year......praying the Lord will give me another little one!

She holds the kittens just like a baby doll. So fun to watch her. She loves her chicks and I think they love her also! 

Well, hugs to your day and may God bless you so good!!!!!!!! 

Linda

Remember Marian in Prayer Please!

Good morning.......sweet ladies,

We have been having so many storms........with the storms we lose internet service. Some parts of our day we have it and other days we don't. It has been hard to not be able to post for sure! WE have received so much rain out of the storms though. Lots and lots of rain. It has kept me so busy in the garden and caring for the farm outside! I have enjoyed it! A lot!!!!!!

Yesterday was a sweet day. I have spoken before of my sweet friends Marian, Rosa and Grandma Yoder. I think I have also asked for prayer for Marian before because of the cancer she has been battling for the last few years. She has been living with a family where the Momma of the home is a nurse. It has helped Marian immensely getting her medications on track so she could stay on top of the pain.

I have a book called "If Teacups Could Talk" by Emilie Barnes (looks like there are some used ones for 1 cent).......this is her recipe......I have made it many times and it never fails! It is so so good! Hope you enjoy the Lemon Curd recipe!

 Yesterday we had a morning planned for a tea party! I took a basket that had a checked red and white tea towel laid in the bottom and over the sides. I tied a gingham ribbon on the handle and then filled the basket with some sweet dishes, tea cups, a bowl of fresh blueberries, coffeehouse scones, some with blueberries, homemade lemon curd, whipped fresh cream and specialty teas. Marian and I are so alike. Wish I had taken a pic. We like simple pretty things......I knew when I fixed the basket up it would make her smile. It did. She was so tiny when I walked in the door and saw her. I had seen her just a few weeks before, but not prepared for her weight loss this time. God please have mercy in this situation and may more with my follers! Thankful our bodies are not the real us! 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

 

I was prepared to pray scripture over her.......I could barely get through it. Sad is the only word for it, but in the midst we found joy! We laughed, we cried and we knew that we could trust our God with her outcome, but we are praying for a miracle!  This is not the end of our stories......we have a day when the Lord will come and take us all to His Home as we have trusted Him to do. 

Cancer is mean, yesterday I realized again just how mean it was. She and her sweet sister Rosa left in the afternoon to go to the Oklahoma Cancer Center......they could use prayer please. Rosa also.....they have lived together all their life....caring for foster children......adopting two girls.....and now caring for their aging Momma (Grandma Yoder). I asked Rosa how she was doing.....life seems to be crashing in on her. She said, "I am wanting to learn all that the Lord has for me to learn." Precious answer! They are teaching me much as I walk this with them. 

Hope this isn't a downer post for you all. I just had to journal my thoughts. 

Hugs to your day and may the Lord give you peace in whatever it is that you are walking. 

Linda

We are on day 5 on weaning Denali from his Momma Juneau. It is a pitiful thing to watch for sure! He is doing so well now though. When we put Juneau in the round pen, that little stinker put his head through the holes and she would position herself so he could nurse. We had to change our plans! 

Getting the Farm Ready!

Hello sweet ladies,

I have been so busy......can't believe our summer vacation is almost up! I only have another week and we will be back at the college........

so I have been cleaning out the hen house and the Milk house where the little chickens are. That always makes me feel good before starting work. It will be really hard to keep up if I don't get organized at the beginning.

We have a new little girl who is Birches best friend now! Her name is Aspen. Adorable lamb! Birch has been really sweet with her. Not butting her at all......that is a good thing!

I have been very busy in the garden. Putting in fall crops. It is doing wonderful because of all the rain we had. The beans are doing great. 

I also put in two rows of potatoes. The patty pan is coming up and dried beans that a sweet blogger friend sent to me to try. They are heirloom beans. 

My pickle plants are doing beautifully. Last year they hardly did a thing because of the drought........so see.....we have been busy on the farm!!!!! I will hate to leave everyday, but God has blessed me so much this summer......I will not complain!

The girls are laying very nicely......put in about 20 new girls into the big Girly pen today!!!!! We will see how they do!

Hugs to your day, I have so missed blogging. My life will be normal again......I am sure!

Linda