Household Helps, Menus / Recipes, Why?

Honey Anyone?

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Proverbs 24:13 (ESV)  My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

Exodus 3:8 (ESV)  And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Matthew 3:4 (ESV)  Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

I have been looking forward to having bees for several years.  In fact, I even bought the kids a book on bee keeping for Christmas one year.  They knew it was more for me, I was just trying to rope them in to my dream.  Last year, I was thrilled to be able to buy my own bees and set up my hive.  Although they died this spring and I am trying to built upon an old hive in the woods, I was able to harvest the honey out of my original hive and scrape out the wax.

It took a week for me to complete the process and a week without being able to use my kitchen island, yet I would say it was worth it.  Oh how sweet it is.  I am praising God for His most delicious and creative creation.

Here is what fun I’ve had in the last week:

First, I scraped the frames into a plastic bin.  The frames that had honey I scraped into a colander over a large bowl.

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The combs that did not have honey I put into an old crock pot and turned on low to melt down.

 

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Once the honey dripped out of the combs in the colander I strained the honey that was in the catching bowl through a small mesh hand held colander into a half gallon jar.

 

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I cut the top off of an empty 1/2 gallon cardboard container of almond milk and cut up an old white t-shirt rubber banding the piece of shirt to the top of the container.  I then poured the melted wax out of the crock pot into the container using the shirt as a strainer for any of the paper comb that did not melt.  When it all cooled I cleaned out the pot discarding the waste comb and cut open the box to find a beautiful clean block of beeswax.

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The kids want to know what I’m going to use it for and I told them it will be used for either candles or lip balm.  They are opting for the candles, I’m opting for the lip balm.  A friend of mine from TX gave me a wonderful lip balm las week she made out of beeswax, essential oils and coconut oil.  I’m hoping to get the recipe from her when she returns back home.

When I can taste the sweetness of the honey, and smell the aroma of the beeswax, I no longer fear the disease that has consumed my life over the last year.  Nature is amazing.  God is amazing!

memories

Graduation Day

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A blessing that will be remembered for many years to come.  Celebrated with our closest friends, church family and a few of our immediate family members.

I remember our sons first day of school and I also remember his first day of homeschooling.  We both were excited at the new adventure, yet we were also a bit nervous over what the years would bring.  It wasn’t always easy as I not only prepared lesson plans for one class, but all of them.  At times I felt like I had lived under a rock over my 40+ years.  We learned together in most subjects and I wondered if I was doing a good job.   There was always worry….  There were a few years that we put almost 100 miles a week on the car driving from sports activities, volunteering opportunities,  to music lessons.   I used to tell my husband that being a stay at home mom is not easy and I will not know how well I’ve done my job until our children turned 18 and I see the end result of who they become.  After all, there is no evaluation at the end of each year, there is no paycheck handed to you and there are no promotions.

At this point, I weep with joy over the end of our adventure as I see a once little boy become a young man.  He is first and foremost a Godly individual who wants to serve the Lord in all he does.  He is polite, happy, easy going (most of the time) and he is incredibly smart.  He graduated last weekend with a near 4. GPA, and he is also at a sophomore level in college.   Well, I can praise God for leading us through this part of our journey between mother and son and thank Him for His glory that saw us through the difficulties.  We could only have done it with the power of prayer and strength from Him whom we trust.

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A selfie with mom!

 

 

memories

Garden Spot

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It’s been a long couple of weeks with our oldest graduating from High School.  We’ve had yard work, basement organizing, garage cleaning, food prep, High School Road Rally organizing, etc.  Yes there has been more, however, this is the A list.  All that being said, my health has been up and down.  My latest blood draw came out a complete mess and shows I’m still very sick with many co-infections, yet the Lyme results are actually getting better.  I am praising God for this news!  I was surprised to find that last week when my doctor gave me a B12 shot due to my B12 being so low,  I felt like the energizer bunny the following day.  My aching body felt better and I had the energy to finish out the week without debilitating exhaustion (at least 4 days).  Note to self:  schedule the monthly B12 shot around events!!

So, we made it through last weekend with no obvious issues.  Now, I am enjoying a clean house, lots of left overs and the quiet that follows the commotion of such an event.  Today  my mom and I took my daughter to a movie and out to dinner.  Two of her favorite things, and two of my favorite things to do with her.

I thought about my blog and how behind I am, realizing that there is much to report on.  The hydroponic system was completed yesterday and I put in the tomatoes this morning. Thought I’d show you how everything is looking thus far.  The hydroponics, the Garden Tower, the bean pots and the herbs.

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The bees died this spring but a hive was discovered in the neighboring farmers woods so we took two of the boxes with empty frames and placed them on top of an old hive.  This is a complete experiment to see if we will harvest any honey in the fall.

The trip out to the old hives had me in a panic, so I prepared by suiting up and brought one of my dearest friends with me to help me with the lifting as my strength still has not returned.  The highlight was riding on the farmers tractor as I had never done this before.  Before Lyme, I prayed for a farm, now I’ll take an Urban Farm.  Although the tractor ride was GREAT!   Can you say oompa loompa?  ha ha

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Who doesn’t love a farm cat!  (I looked for ticks before I petted her… Isn’t that sad?

I did also look at the white suit when we returned out of the woods and was shocked to not find any ticks.  Another blessing!

 

memories, Why?

On our way…

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We are on our way….

Here is the Garden Tower –

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Here are the bees –

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Yes, if you look closely,  you will see real bees after I had just shaken them into the hive and if you look even closer I did paint the bee hive with little additional bee friends.  🙂

The hydroponics just arrived today.  We will get that going next week…. to be continued…

 

 

Lymes

Trembling and Falling Down Before Him

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Luke 8:40-48

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Seeking out physicians to find the cure.  I can relate.  Falling down before him.  I can relate.  Healing by the touch of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I can relate.  To have faith and go in peace.  I can relate.

Psalm 91:1-6

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Dwelling in the shelter of the Lord.  I can relate.  Crying out “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  I can relate.  Finding refuge under his wings.  I can relate.  Not fearing the terror of the night nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.  I can relate.

Through the grace of the Lord I will be healed.  Through the strength of he who carries me, I rest in peace.  Through the words of truth, I find wisdom.  Through prayers of thanksgiving I find hope.

Friends, I pray that you find healing today and in those yet to come.  I pray that you find peace in the Lord and in knowing that through Him all things are possible.

Have a great week!

 

Celtic Fun, Why?

First of 2014 and Last As A Youth

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The first Highland Games of the year… The last Highland Games of our sons youth!

He began competing on bagpipes exactly 10 years next weekend, and this week he will turn 18. In those 10 years he has worked hard to become a grade 1 piper (next step is professional). This is his first year as a grade 1 soloist and after yesterday it looks as though he’s on his way to great things.

All the years of traveling around, the hours of practicing, the hours of driving, sitting and waiting at his lessons has now affirmed we made the right decisions in helping him achieve his dream.

Before our birthdays my mom used to (and still does) remind us that we would never be that age again and that we had only another hour to be such and such an age. For some reason I thought of that and reminded my son yesterday that this was his last games as a youth. Thinking I was being silly, it didn’t really mean anything to him until he won piper of the day. It was fun seeing his expression when he thought of the fact he finished his career as a piping youth with an achievement he’d only hoped one day to accomplish. (Too bad he had left the games and was not personally handed the award… We received several texts from friends telling him.).  Oh well…. There is always next weekend, and about 5 more this year!!  Yes, it is possible to do this more than once.  🙂

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Our daughter also pulled off a great first games showing by taking two firsts.

I’d say it’s a good start to another year!  🙂

Why?

Garden Tower Project Planted

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This morning my husband and I began discussing the day over his coffee and my meds.  As we talked about all of the projects to begin working on, we decided that the two of us would go out early to get what we needed and also pick up some groceries for the weekend.

One of the items on our list of items to pick was worms for the worm composting Garden Tower.  I told him about the place I bought them a few years ago and he gladly drove me on my little adventure.  We were able to get our groceries and worms all in one shot.  While there, we had the opportunity to meet and talk with Will Allen from Urban Farming.  We spoke to him for at least 20 minutes while we discussed his ideas for his own Garden Towers.  I had noticed there were 4 or 5 of them in the green house and we began talking about farming, animals, bees (which he offered to help me with…. woo hoo) and aquaponics.  I had taken a tour of the facility with the kids a few years ago, however, my husband had yet to see it. I walked him through two of the green houses and was able to show him where the tilapia help with the feeding of the plants above.  So impressive.  So important.  Meeting Will was a great adventure and made my day.  What a nice man with such a vision for good health and sustainable farming.

Anyway, we came home after our errands, had lunch and went out to plant the Garden Tower.  I planted cabbage, kohlrabi, fennel, lettuce, spinach, bok choy, and kale.  I also did my starter plants and put them in the house in the “greenhouse”.    Now I just have to wait a little longer for the hydroponics to arrive and by then my starters will be ready for planting.   The kids also rebuilt the “old” garden so that hopefully the rabbits will not be able to get into it and they made it half the size it once was.  This is where we will plant the carrots, beets, radishes, watermelon and the cantaloupe.  Hopefully!

I’m not sure how I’ve had the energy… well… I have an idea but I’m not sharing until I see if it’s short lived or if I may have found something that is working.  I’ll know soon enough!

Happy Mothers Day to all those who are moms.

memories

The life of a cat…

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Spring flowers are blooming, the grass is green, and the birds are sweetly chirping…now that could be the reason for the 4:00 wake up calls by “the” cat.  It just has to be that he hears the birds and since they are awake we should be too.  Especially when he knows breakfast will be served upon our feet hitting the carpet.  There are no meows, only a high pitched chirping whine, every five minutes.  Seriously you would think he was dying.  We used to listen to him for two hours before hiking downstairs to feet them (since we usually make their food), now, we put the dishes upstairs along with a can of food and we feed them as soon as the one cat begins his chirping.  Usually we can fall back asleep…not today!

I’m awake, yawning of course, sitting here laughing at how quiet the house is now that their bellies are full.  This of course sparked my thinking that I needed to dedicate a blog post about our sweet ones.  Oh the life of a cat….

“Look mom, I can roll into a ball and look like a basketball.  Just don’t try to bounce me though.”

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“Whatcha reading?”

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“Uh oh… the only place to go from here is out of the frying pan and into the fire…” Busted!

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“I’ll keep Raggedy Ann company mom, don’t worry.”

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“Come on…get out of there so we can play,” said the instigator.

“Nope… find someone your own age to torment” said the quiet one.

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“How sweet it is that my lap is so blessed” said mom.

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memories

Mind dump…

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I find that at the moment I am at a loss for words and find writing difficult.  It’s for no other reason than because I am in a whirlwind of thoughts.

1.  Our oldest is graduating!  The plans for graduation are slow yet in the process.  There is ALOT to do and so little time.

2.  So much to do before the graduation!  The yard, the garage and the house seem overwhelming at the moment and I’m not sure how helpful it is to have “mom” and “wife” sitting in a chair directing while “husband” and “kids” do all the work.  After all, I usually am the one tearing things apart and organizing.  My husband can usually count on a day of absolute insanity cleaning.  Rearranging an entire room, pulling everything out of the garage for cleaning, or cleaning out the basement and hosting a garage sale.  Not this year…. illness has not been our friend.  Oh my, how will it all get done…fairies?  Elves?

3.  Spring planting of the new “gardens”.  Yes, new and yes plural!  We have ripped out the fence of the garden I now fear and are considering plans for that area.  One garden tower has arrived yet it still needs the dirt and the worms and then the seeds to be planted.  The 10 pot hydroponics system has yet to come and prayerfully it will not until some of the chores are done and the other garden is up and growing.

4.  Treatment and doctor decisions.  I have taken another spiral downward after a short reprieve.  So, after 10 months of searching for the doctor who treated/cured one patient who I admire for their courage, I found him!  So, the question is whether or not we work from here on his protocol that he has written in a book I read in a day, or do I travel across the country to meet him in person.  In speaking to one of my two doctors, it has already been agreed upon that what his treatment plan is makes sense and although I have come close to addressing the issues he explains, we have not to the degree in which he would.  So, the call was made this morning and I await a call back to see how this may fit into my search for healing.

5.  Bees…. Oh the hive must be looked at and I must find the time.  Maybe Thursday… If they are getting ready to swarm then I still have time to order another batch of bees, if my queen is dead, then I still have time to order another one to take over.  If the drones are ready to succeed their queen with another, I should at least limit their choices.  I need to also join the Bee Keepers Club so that I can have a mentor… I really do not know what I am doing and last years hive production was very low with very little return.

6.  School is almost done…yet it is not yet complete.  There are still things that have to be accomplished and I need to reserve my energy to make sure the spring awareness of summers approach doesn’t distract.

Wow, that actually felt good to get out.  Kind of a mind dumping.  Sorry all of you had to be a part of it, however, I really and honestly have nothing else to write about.  Thanks for listening to me ramble.  It really did help.  😉

memories

Reflection of a Week Passed

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Once again, I pulled myself out of the mire and squirmed in pain through church so that I would be touched by the Lords mercy.  To be reminded that He is almighty, strong, worthy, righteous and Holy.  Through His sovereignty, he guides me when I need Him the most.  The muzzle of His hand covers my mouth in times of persecution so that through quiet reflection He will be glorified and praised.

Psalm 119: 41-48 (ESV)

Waw

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
    your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
    for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
    forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
    for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
    and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
    which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
    and I will meditate on your statutes.


Proverbs 31:10-31