IT IS SATURDAY.......AND MY DAY IS FULL....AND YOURS?

Good morning sweet ladies,

Chicken on the stove cooking..........getting ready to make some rolls in the breadmaker. I love my bread machine....well not love, but like a lot!!!!! I do all my mixing and rising in it and then shape my breads and bake in the oven. It is such a much nicer bread that way. I don't like the way a bread maker bakes bread. To hard on the sides!

This morning I got to watch the sun rise..........beautimussss! One of my favorite things on Saturday and Sundays. God does such a wonderful job painting the sky..........just for us.........so we won't forget..........that He is the giver of good GIFTS~ I love Him so much!

Take you CHRISTmas tree outside for the birds. Hang pinecones that have been dipped in peanut butter and rolled in birdseed! Easy and so fun for the birds!

Every morning Shelby basks in the sun......it is funny to watch. She closes her eyes as she stands on one leg and enjoys the warmth of the sun. She also spends a lot of time cleaning her feathers, while she stand on one leg........pretty to watch. 

Are these the sweetest. The little coffee pot is only about 4" tall. Going to use it tonight.........company is coming........for dinner......out in the Refuge Cabin!

My sweet man and I went out for the evening last night, for dinner and a trip to Hobby Lobby..........now that is a nice night out wouldn't ya say? We went to pick up the pictures we needed for a order. Now when I say an order I have to tell you it was a special big order. The Lord always provides the extra just when we need it! I have a story that I want to share with you, but with company coming today for dinner I will have to save for another time! God is so in the details!!!!! Look at these adorable dishes. They made my brain spin with new colors and design! Then I found a new basket that I want to hang in the "GIRLIES Coop"! I am saving my egg money for a bigger basket just like it! Going to put it down in the Milk Barn for the Cochin Girlies so one of them can have a nest to sit in and hatch some babies for Prairie Flower Momma!!!!! Spring will be here before we know it! Now is the time to prepare! 

Well, I am off to a basket ball game.......one of my sweet grand kids are  playing......then back home to finish up baking bread and making two soups. 

Oh and making a Pineapple Cake for dessert. Can't wait for them to be surprised when we open the door to the Refuge Cabin.......and the CHRISTmas lights shine.......and they see a table that has been prepared before them! Love loving on people........it makes us think about a time when we who are in CHRIST.......get to go to the most wonderful banquet! Jesus thank you that one day you are going to come and get your Bride.......we will be waiting!!!!!!!! 

Hugs and may God bless your day........I am praying for your needs ladies.......thank you for those who email me. I am telling Jesus.......He is listening.........and if you haven't talked to Him for awhile.......do so today He would love to hear from you!!!!

Linda

P.S. I have a question.........one of those "get to know ya" questions.

If you could have a day and sew, knit or craft.......what would you chose to do with that day?

A Blessing Happend Tonight!!!!!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies,

I feel like I am loosing IT! You will understand when I tell you what happened tonight when I got home. It was a little bit warmer then it was yesterday, which I was very thankful. It was blowing so much yesterday and so cold I didn't go to check on the Banties. I just let my sweet man take care of them for me, he doesn't mind helping me when it is so nasty outside! 

Anyway tonight I went down to the Milk Barn after all the "Girlies and Roosters" came in for the evening. I started counting and the chicks and roosters on the ledge............ looked so cute so I thought I would take a pic for you! Certain ones like to roost there every night. Some are turned backwards. They like to cuddle. Sometimes they will pile on top of each other to stay warm. Chickens are so fun to have and watch.

After I counted them I saw the Black Cochin Bantam sitting on the barrel I have in there to keep the food protected. Then I saw the Mottled Rooster who was not to happy with the two kittens that had cuddled up in the nester box.  They live in there during the night and stay toasty warm! 

Then I looked over and there was two Mottled Cochin Girlie Hens sitting .........WHAT?????????? The one on the right was MISS MILLY! I am not sure who was killed other then it must have been one of the Cuckoo Maran Hens. All I know was that evening when I found the hen all hurt, I was really upset. Anyway Miss Milly is still alive and well. Like I said, "Loosing IT!!!! 

The other sweet thing that happened today was the family who had the dogs that killed the hens? They brought over two huge bags of cracked corn! Now was that sweet or what? Talk about a blessing! I am happy!!!!!!!!! 

One more day of baking in the bakery! Can't wait! I have a full weekend ahead. A family we know, who also follows my blog are coming to the farm. We have a surprise for them. Can't wait!!!!!! I will journal about it this weekend! 

So glad you enjoyed Katie's Story.......I keep reading.......it is such a precious story of grace! 

Hope all are well. Some of you really are getting some snow! Please share! We really want some on our farm!

Hugs sweet ladies and may the Lord bless you!

Linda

Brrrrr.......it is so cold!

Hello sweet ladies,

Hope all is well with you. It is so cold in Kansas, even the kitchen at the college is cold! The girls and I like to stand in front the oven at the kitchen and warm up!  The weekend will be different. Warm! 

I just want to say thank you for all the sweet notes and comments you all have left here and on facebook. Very nice of you all! The family who has the dogs have been so kind to us. They feel horrible that their dogs have done what they have done and they wanted to pay for the damages. Of course we said no. They are doing all they can to make sure this will not happen again. 

Picture from Here

Aren't the chickens beautiful?

I saw this pic on pinterest..........I have a gate like this. Not fancy on the top, but still will be fine for this look. I will make sure the gate will be a part of the new chicken pen! Can't wait for summer. The little Bantam Cochin Girlies are laying up to 3-4 eggs a day. I am sure they are going to be good setters. I will sneak some of the big Girlies eggs under their tummies so they will sit on some big eggs! Oh, almost forgot to tell you, the ducks are laying eggs also! So excited about that also!

Cherry Pepsi Float Cupcakes

Recipe Here

Today Tressa made Cherry Pepsi Float Cupcakes. Thought you might like the recipe. We didn't have Cherry Coke at the bakery so we made ours with Pepsi. I couldn't resist making a heart and taking a pic! It's the craftin' in me! Perfect recipe for Valentines Day don't you think? For our frosting Tress made a butter cream frosting and added chopped thawed frozen cherries . The frosting was wonderful! Instead of the maraschino cherries she used the thawed frozen cherries. They were delicious, especially when you bit into the cherry! 

On the way to work I am treating myself to Kisses from Katie. I want to share with you the story that I read this morning. Katie loves Jesus and she is encouraging my heart!  If you want to buy.......go here!

The night in 2007 was cold and rainy. I was walking out of the supermarket on Main Street in downtown Jinja, on my way home. Then I saw him. Huddled on the street corner, drenched and shivering, was a little boy. At that moment, all I really wanted to think about was getting home, getting dry, and crawling into my warm bed. But a voice inside told me to stop. I took the little boy inside the supermarket to dry him off a bit and bought him some biscuits and juice. I gave him my sweatshirt, a small wooden cross I carried in my pocket, and some change so he could get a ride home. As he left, he called out, “What is your name?” “Katie,” I responded, “Auntie Katie.” “Me, I am Daniel,” he shouted and disappeared into the wet, chilly night. About a year later, I walked into the supermarket to buy food for my family and got caught in a big hug. Two small brown arms wrapped around me as a child’s voice excitedly proclaimed, “Auntie Katie!” I looked down to see Daniel. Beaming. “Wait,” he urged me. He hurried to the nearest street vendor and bought me a popsicle with the little pocket change he had. He then dug his little hand in his pocket and pulled out the small wooden cross. Looking at me with a wide grin, he spoke words that pierced my heart: “I have never stopped praying for you every day.” To this day, I think of that story and stand amazed at the goodness of our God and the enormous things He can accomplish if I am obedient to His command to stop and love the person in front of me. That rainy night, I really just wanted to hop on a piki and go home. But I stopped, because that’s what my heart told me to do. I only gave him a sweatshirt (I’m sure I have eight more). I only gave him some cheap biscuits (I can eat biscuits anytime I want to). I only gave him enough money for his ride home (probably less than the equivalent of fifty cents). But Jesus gave him hope that night. And he remembered. He didn’t just remember my face; he remembered my name. He prayed for me. He prayed for my safety and for the opportunity to see me again. I blessed him just one cold night, and he blessed me every day after that for an entire year.

This story blessed my heart. I don't want to miss in my life what the Lord wants to do! I was reminded of this this morning. Sometimes when I have to get up so early and be somewhere else other then my home.......I just cry! Yup.......a baby, but when I read the Word of God or read a story about someone who loves Him.....it encourages my heart to keep on with the race set before me. Hope you enjoyed this story....... if you are a Momma with little ones and you are tired.....swoop them up in your arms.......pray over them.....ask God to give you the strength to pour His Word into their hearts.......you won't regret it! Or maybe you are older.....and life has dealt you with some hard stuff........don't quit......trust Him with your life......ask Him to give you someone......just like He gave Katie, Daniel to encourage. He will, supernaturally because He has someone He wants us to love or encourage.........for Him. A good place to be!

Well I love you sweet ladies........and I continue to pray for you. Thank you for being a part of Prairie Flower Farm.......you are such an encouragement to my life! 

Hugs from our farm, 

Linda

She didn't make it!

Hello Sweet ladies,

Miss Milly 

Well when I got home tonight I realized that when I went into the big coop that the full size Mottled Hen that I thought was hurt was not. It was Miss Milly and when I went to check on her, she was dead. She died when I was at the bakery. I am very thankful that I do still have the Mottled rooster and another Bantam Mottled hen. I will separate them this spring from the flock and they can hopefully have some babies. The hen is not as beautiful as Miss Milly was, she was a prize! That is part of having free range chickens during the day and living on a farm. The owners I hope will be keeping the dogs at their place. They are different dogs then the ones that came and really killed a lot of my ducks and chickens. Hard day!

Fresh Cherry Pie Filling

Recipe Here

I pinned this recipe on my Pinterest the other day........just so I would be ready when our sour cherries came in at the bakery.........they did!

We are trying to cut costs at the bakery.....so we are making more things by scratch,  just to help us get through all the price increases. It has been wonderful for us to learn different ways we can do that. Great for the girls!  I found this cherry pie filling recipe and made it today. Easy and very very good. The cherries were really nice to work with and the pie filling turned out wonderful. Our boss said we were saving money! Good thing! 

I made what I call Cherry pie for the kids........even though I don't have to make a  ton of pie crusts. It is very economical and fast.  I use an oblong  pan..........spoon the pie filling into the bottom of the pan about 2" deep. Set aside.

Then I make a wonderful pie crust that we found last year while working at the bakery! It is the best. It is a Simply Recipes recipe called Perfect Pie Crust. Super easy and really easy if you have a food processor.  Found here.  Lattice the top and sprinkle a little sugar on the top then bake for about 20 minutes. For my sweet man I surprised him......gave him a piece with a sliver of ice cream on the top........he was pleased........with me!  

Cherry Orange Graham Muffins

Go here for Recipe

Tressa also used some of the cherries to make these wonderful muffins for tomorrow morning for breakfast. We made a streusel for the top of butter, brown sugar and whole oats. Sprinkle that over the top of each muffin.  There are so many good blogs out there with super recipes. They have been helping us with new recipes in the kitchen .  Plus we feel like we are getting paid and an education all at the same time. 

Hope all is well with you..........trusting that you had a good day today!

God Bless You!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs from our farm to your HOME!

Linda

Met a Blogger Friend Today!

Hello sweet ladies, 

Today I was serving on the line and a young man came up to me and asked if I had a blog and was my name Linda. I said yes and he said that his momma was there at the college and wanted to meet me. She later came up and told me who she was. When we were in Lawrence a year ago she read on my blog that I was going to Lawrence. She said there was a really neat shop there and it was worth it to go. We did go to the shop and while we were there a girl from Sterling that used to go to the college where we are working came through the door. We hadn't seen each other for years!!!!!!! A gift........to me.......from the Lord!!!!!  Anyway today Kelli and I had such a neat time getting to know each other. My boss let me have some extra time to visit. I am thankful, I have a precious boss! It was a really special day for me! Some day maybe I can meet you!!!!!!!

After work had to go to my Momma's nursing home and work out some of her care. She is doing the same, just hard to think about her not always being here one day. Life sure can be hard. She has Alzheimer's, but I am so thankful, she is so healthy. So grateful I have her, even if it is hard......she gives me smiles sometimes, that makes it all worth it!!!!!!! God uses her life to bless others even if she can't talk!

Valentine Pennie Pockets

Click here 

Isn't this the cutest? Think these would be so sweet to make up. Not hard either! Hope you enjoy!!!!!!

Tonight got home and two dogs had been on the farm. They have never bothered the chickens, but they hurt one of my big Mottled girls. She is wounded with an open wound on her back, my Phil thinks she might be okay. It doesn't look good to me! They also got one of my roosters. Looks like they really got his tail feathers, but he is alive. Found him about a forth of a mile across the field, poor guy........not nice dogs, they must have chased him! Hardest thing about living out on a farm and then letting your chickens go free range.

Hope you all had a good day.........think of you often while I am baking!

Hugs from my farm,

Linda

We Have A Winner For The Fresh From The Farmstand Cookbook!

Good evening Sweet ladies,

We have a Winner..........it is 

Cathy Beaman! 

Congratulations!!!!!!!!! Thank you for signing up! 

Cathy does not have a blog. I like it that ladies can still 

sign up even if they have a blog.

We had exactly 200 enteries!!!!!!! 

Thank you to all who signed up for the party!!!!!!!! I am truly so thankful. It feels to me like we really are having a special time together. You are all so friendly! 

I just found out tonight that  the Peach Melba Crisp recipe that we made a the bakery, was a Prairie Flower Farm girl's recipes in the Fresh from the Farmstand Cookbook! If you would like to order click here . The other fun thing is that she lives in Argentina and was one of the sweet ladies that signed up for the Tea Party Across the Miles. Amazing isn't it, small world! Thank you Janet for telling me!  

What a fun day we had on the farm today! Real relaxed, filled with older son's and their families! That means grandkids........and that means lots of running in and out of the house, needing food, like every half hour and lots of hugs. Smile! It really was so nice just to have a calm sunny day! 

I spent some time moving the little chickens down to the milk barn which was a very relaxing thing to do. They were not quite sure whether they liked it down there or not. I put two lights over the and a blanket to make sure they are toasty warm.

They kind of hovered to the bottom of the cage. Not sure about all of the space! They will get used to their new surrounds. 

Ellie and I went out to be with her horse.........look what we found in the Potter's Shed........a nest.......some girls have been busy laying in a comfy place. 

Some of you sweeties asked for the soup recipe......so here it is. 

Our Family Chicken Soup

Chicken pieces or a whole chicken

10 cups of water

3 chicken bouillon cubes

4 cut up whole carrots 

2 cut stalks of celery with leaves

2 or more cups of rice

2 tea. salt

1 tea pepper

1 tea. celery seeds

Boil chicken and bouillon cubes in water in a large soup pot until it is cooked. Cut chicken in small pieces. Add back to broth. Add carrots, celery, rice salt (to your taste), pepper and celery seeds. Cook until veggies and rice are done. This is the easiest recipe and very very good! We always make homemade bread and fix sandwiches when we make this. It is an easy dinner for when you have company. We can chicken so I always have it to take off the shelf for my soup. I also can lots of broth so I use that and add water. 

We have a little book that we put in the Refuge Cabin for when the first set of girls came to the cabin. Later today I went out to the cabin to pick things up after all the girls left. I sat.........and read in the little book.......and wept. Then I started thanking the Lord for his mercy and grace in our lives to allow us to love these girls, in His Name. Last night I had prayed over the girls before we left them to eat their dinner. I had asked the Lord if He would to give them a time of peace with Him on their retreat. As I read each note, I was overwhelmed with gratitude, to my Heavenly Father........who has strategically placed us at the college. It isn't the way I would have liked it, but ladies, I am a missionary........with my sweet family......on a huge mission field!  I have been reading Kisses from Katie and the sacrifice she has made so that families in Uganda can know the Truth, has encouraged me in my walk.  I don't have to leave my country to do that. God has used her to share Jesus!  Well, He is using me and He can use you.......right were we are? Especially mommies raising and training their children for the Glory of God! I get to see hundreds of young people each day.......getting to serve them, asking how I can pray for them, how their classes are going......when do they have a test......so on and so on. I don't want to miss what the Lord has for our family. What a treasure that He has allowed us to do it all together. Now that is a gift!

Hugs to you precious ladies who the Lord has so graciously given to me.......to love for Him. I hope you know that! Thank you for making my days smile! I also thank you to all who pray for our family each day! What a precious gift you have given us. 

Tonight the family was watching the Broncos and Patriots game.......this came on and it caught my attention!  I was working on this post when it came on........you will like! The end is so precious! 

Have a wonderful SONday! 

Linda

Hi.........It Is Saturday And Beautiful Outside!!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies, 

OOPS............I forgot a few steps on the Peach Melba Crisp. Sorry for the troubles I caused. Had time to change it for you!

Thank you Gooseberry Patch for another wonderful cookbook. We 

Just want you to know I am working on the Gooseberry Patch and Prairie Flower Farm Giveaway today!!!!!! We had so many wonderful entries and I will be tallying them all up so they can be put into random.com. It works so well to do it that way!  I will let you all know later today or tomorrow! Thank you! thank you! thank you, to each one of you who took the time to enter. I learn just a little bit more about each of you and love it. Your gardens sound wonderful. I wish we could have a Prairie Flower Farm Day on the farm. Sit and drink pink lemonaid and share all day long about our gardens. Dreamin.......but dreams do come true you know. I am telling Jesus about my dream........He loves to make those true for His children.

He painted the sky........the girls enjoyed!

My girls and I had so much fun getting the cabin and food ready for the girls who had a retreat in the cabin last night. When they arrived the sun was just going down. My sweet man had a fire going and we had built a long couch out of bales of straw. It was so fun to see their faces when they got out of their van. Precious. I have served all of them at the college, but didn't know what girls would be coming. One girl grabbled me and hugggggggeeeeeddddd me forever! Thank you Jesus for hugs!! 

We served our family recipe of Chicken Rice Soup. 

I put the ingredients  for Honey Sandwich Buns in to my bread machine, after I got home and had them ready by 5:30, love that bread maker. I only do it on the dough setting, then cook what ever I am making in the oven. EASY and very fast! Made a plate with sandwich meats and cheese.......another plate with veggies to go on their sandwiches. It was simple, but that makes it fun for me to entertain! 

We made a chocolate single layer cake in a round pan. Cut it into 8ths and served a wedge, spooned strawberries/sugar and the syrup, whipped fresh cream and ganache over the top. YUM! They said they liked it.........a lot! It was super easy to make also. 


They donated money to the refuge cabin!!!!!!! Talk about sweet! Hope we can get some insulation on the inside of the cabin now. God provides........I was not expecting that! 


Well, I am off to work on the party! Hugs to you all and trust you are having a sweet Saturday! I am, later in the day I am moving the baby chicks out. They are not welcome in the house anymore! 


Thank you again for being a part of our party!!!!!!!!! YOU are the best part of having one! You make it so special and that is a blessing to me!

Hugs from the farm, 

Linda