SunflowerHill

oops

I started off my day by tarring the roof of the bathhouse/now storage house.  I can't afford to reroof it this year so I got some thin roofing tar and rolled a nice layer of tar on top of the asphalt shingles.  It all worked out really well.  Then I ran to a neighboring farm and got some wheat.  Now I was ready to tackle my "tomato soup to die for".  I make several quarts every year.  It is so yummy.  Well I was at the second to the last step of the recipe...............1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of salt...........................I really must have been preoccupied with something in my mind because I poured out 1/2 cup of salt!!!!!!!!!!!  I finished up the last step and put it to simmering.  Just before I laddled it into the jars I tasted it............. I could have sat down and cried as I came to the realization of what I had done.  Then I remembered that if you slice a potato and put it in whatever you have salted too much, the potato will absorb the salt.  but 1/4 of a cup of salt is a lot of salt to absorb.  So I sliced 6 potatos and put it into my soup.  It did absorb a lot of the salt, but not enough.  I canned it anyway because I didn't have enough ingredients to make another batch and add the two batches together.  I will mark a big S on the lid and will only use these bottles when I make a casserole.

                 TOMATO SOUP TO DIE FOR

6 medium onions, cut in chunks

1 bunch celery, cut off bottom then cut into inch-long slices (wash after cutting with plenty of water, the drain)

8 quarts fresh tomatoes, washed and cut in wedges.  Place onions and celery in 16 quart pot.  Add an ich of two of water and cook while preparing tomatoes.  Add tomatoes and cook until tender.

Put all contents of pot through a food mill, Victorio strainer, or attachment for Kitchen-Aid...I use and old fashioned colonder and some elbow grease. put pot back of medium heat and add:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup salt

In a separate saucepan combine:

1 cup butter (unsalted, real) melted

1 cup flour

Add butter-flour mixture to soup.  Stir will. Simmer 10 minutes and put in quart jars leaving 1-inch headspace.  Pressure cook according to where you live.  Check your pressure canner book for detailes.  I do mine at 15 lbs  and the time for all is 30 minutes. 

any questions let me know.

fire

Scripture Gleanings

As I come to the end of a wonderful Sabbath Day,  I want to share more of my gleanings from the Scriptures.  Isaiah has always been a challenge for me because he prophecies for his day and for the last days in the same prophecy.  Then some times he speaks Messianically.

So these are my thoughts, the things that come into my heart.

In the last days (now) man shall not acknowledge God

No matter our wickedness, the Lord's hand is stretched out to us continually

Be humble

Concerning war:

Take heed fear not

Be quiet

Be not faint-hearted

Fear not others, fear the Lord

His hand is stretched out still

He willingly forgives

Repentance and forgiveness are had at a cost (pain of heart)

Serve willingly

See with my eyes

Hear with my ears

Understand with my heart

My heart to be converted and healed

Seek God

His hand is stretched out still

Put my trust in the Lord

Protection from the Lord will be ours in the days of distruction.

Scripture study

There is so much comfort in the Scriptures.  They nurture our spirits.

Praise the Lord

He is my comforter

He is my salvation

He is my strength

He is my song

He is my joy

He is my living water

I will trust in Him

Believe in Christ and in the infinite atonement

Worship the Father with pure hearts and clean hands

We are saved by grace

Look forward to Christ

Talk of Christ

Rejoice in Christ

Prophecy of Christ

He gives remission of sins

Christ is the Holy One of Israel

Worship Him with all of your might, mind and strength and whole soul

More pictures

I hope I don't bore you with my pictures of my crafts and such.  I am just having so much fun learning how to use this camera and all of the things it can do.  And then learning how to actually post the pictures, well............! 

I should have turned it over and showed the levi side too. Oh well.

I made two of these for two granddaughters.  Then I made this one with the squares I had left over.

These three afgans are made with scrap yarn.  They are different from the other one I showed you in that these are crocheted with one strand and the other has two strands, one being a neutral color.

This one is a lot bigger.

On this one, just for fun, instead of weaving the ends into the afgan I pulled them all to one side and cut them like a tied quilt.

I started early this year to make doilies for all of my daughters and daughter-in-laws for Christmas.  These are not starched and stretched yet. I have nine done and and seven to go.  I have also been visiting our local thrift store for candy dishes which I will send with the doily.

This past week I made  soup starter  with a lot of vegies from my garden and canned it.  I also made a delicious leamon loaf.  I got the recipe from mommaofmany.  The first time I made it I accidently omitted the milk.  It was still delicious so I made it again.  Can you tell which one is which

Thank you mommaofmany for this recipe.  I wish I knew how to link this back to her so others might check it out.

OOPs I think this picture is too large.  Can you tell what I have been doing in my leisure time.  Let's see corn, beans, salsa, soup starter and tomatoes, and all from our garden.                                                   I am so thankful for the Sabbath, a day of rest.  My spiritual batteries are recharged each Sunday at church.  The scriptures nourish me in the afternoon. Time is spent with my family, either here at home or via the phone. Prayer and meditation are needs that fill my soul. And sometimes a little relaxing time on the computer rounds out my day.  My meals are usually fixed on Saturday and just a little clean-up is required.  I truly want to worship the Lord each Sabbath ( and all week through) and keep His Day holy.

Scripture gleanings

It has been such a busy and satisfying day.  A day to praise the the Lord and give thanks for so many blessings.

The Lords hand is stretched out to us continously

Take heed

Fear not

Be quiet

Be not fainthearted

Be willing to forgive

Be willing to serve

See with your eyes

Hear with your ears

Let my heart be converted and healed

Understand with my heart

Seek God

Fear not others

Fear the Lord

His hand is stretched out still

Put my trust in the Lord

photo

In checking my blog today I discovered that I forgot to post a picture,  This is one of my "coat of many colors" afgans.  I made salsa to day while watching two grandsons.  I have so many things that have to be done, I have so many things that need to be done, I have so many things I should do and then I have soooo many things that I want to do.  I consider this pure contentment, and happiness. But first and foremost I want to serve Jesus and do His will.  Many blessing to all of you.

scriptures

I have desired to make the scriptures a part of all I do, all I am.  I desire to have them written in my heart.  As I study each day I glean what I feel will help me in my journey of this earth.  The scriptures speak to us individually.  We are all at  different places in our earthly journey.  "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of god and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

God gives us promises

God is merciful

The promises of the Lord are great

The Lord is our King

The Lord is our light

They who are not for me, are against me

God will fulfill All His pormises

Lay aside our sins

Cheer up your hearts

Remember ye are free to choose

Reconcile yourselves to the will of God

Remember that it is only through the Grace of God that ye are saved

Remember the power of the atonement

Remember the power of the ressuretion

Praise Him

New week

The summer has flown by and harvesting and canning is in full swing. Years ago, when there were so many around the table 3 times a day, I decided that I needed a plan to help me keep track of my bottleing and freezing.  For example, I usually needed 250 quarts of tomatoes for a year.  So I would can 300 quarts to give me a little extra. At the beginning of a new canning season I would take inventory and if for some reason I had a 100 quarts left then I would only bottle 200 quarts.  I used this method with all of the things I canned.  Of course I never needed to inventory jelly and jam , we always needed more I have a few pictures of the beginnings of my canning season and the loooong table that has so many memories ingrained in it.  With so many girls that liked to bake and cook, this table was a life saver.  Can you picture 10 and more sitting around the table rolling out cookie dough and cutting out their cookies

Another view.  I have only bottled 28 quarts of tomatoes so far and 7 pints of corn.

This is the afgan I am almost finished with that is for Azure.  She is still on oxygen, and dd is now breast feeding her.  She may be able to go home from the hospital in 5 days.

This is an afgan that I made from scraps of yarn with a solid yarn with it.  I have a lot of fun making these.  Several of my grandchildren have requested one

The garden was slow getting started this year, but now it giving us enough and more.  We have been giving away corn, peppers cucumbers, green beans and potatos. Thanks for stopping by

Scripture Study

The Scriptures are so important in my life, I am so grateful for them. As I read I jot down things that touch me and that I think I need to be more aware of in my life.  Isn't it wonderful how the scriptures speak to us individually.

My scripture gleanings for today.

Rejoice in the Lord

Search the scriptures

The Lords infinite atonement

The ressurection of the Lord

I will be judged by the holy judgement of God

The Greatness and Justice of God

His law must be fulfilled

Endure the crosses of the world

The Greatness of the Mercy of God

The Greatness of the Holiness of God

Hearken unto His voice

He commands all to:

1. Repent

2. Be baptised

3. Have faith in Jesus

4. Endure to the end

Do not wast the days of my probation

Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel.

Love truth

Be humble

 Pray continually

Give thanks continually

Let my heart rejoice.

busy day

Today was a busy day and a sad day.  My grandson left for home today.  Some 800 miles away.  I already miss him.  Here is a picture of him standing in front of the grapes and under my clothes line.

Lots of grapes.  I make grape juice each year.

Some how my pictures got mixed up Above is what was on my agenda for today.  I bottled 14 quarts of tomatoes, 4 pints of beets, 6loaves of bread, and yes those are purple potatoes.  We planted red and purple potatoes. Fun. Also a picture on one row of my grapes. I have 3 rows.  I bottle grape juice each year, yummmm.

I am having so much fun taking pictures and posting them.  I hope you don't get tired of this.  I want to show you my bathroom that I remodled last year.  Rustic is the word for the way we have been remodeling.  Hence a rustic bathroom.

I goofed again in spacing the pictures.  I made this holder from pruned branches from my fruit trees. Boy do I have a lot to learn about posting pictures.  I'm going to quit for now.  I have already lost the entire post once

scriptures

My scripture gleanings:

Open our ears

Be not rebellious

Turn not back

Obey

Pray

Be industrious

Remember the Lord

Follow after righteouness

Thanksgiving

Law written in your heart

Fear not man

Awake, put on the strength of the Lord

Enter in unto the Lord

more pictures

Thank you all for your prayers. Little Azure is still on oxygen, but holding her own.

Canning season is upon us.  I am knee deep in tomatoes, green beans, beets, corn, cucumbers.  In years past I have canned hundreds of quarts of fruit and vegetables each year.  But now that is not necessary, but it has taken me a couple of years to get my numbers down.LOL  Tomorrow my dear grandson is going home.  He has been with us since the first of June.  We will sorely miss him.  He has been such a big help to us of this little farm.  It sure will be quiet around here.LOL

One piano and pictures

Other piano and more pictures

More pictures and my library corner.  I constructed this L shaped nook because I wanted to have a special library area.

Behind this little wall is the door to my handicapped sons room.

May all of you have a blessed day.

update

Prayer

It is wonderful to be able to turn to all of you sisters and ask for your prayer support.  Daughter (no. 13) had her 2nd baby early this morning.  The baby was breech and 4 weeks early.  The doctor decided to do a C-section.  The baby was stressed and had an irregular heart beat and was not breathing right, so they flew her to the nearest hospital with a neonatel unit.  It is 100 miles from here.  DD will have to stay in the hospital until Monday then she will go to the other hospital and stay with her baby.  Its a girl, her other is a boy. Thank you.

My Scripture gleanings for today:

Keep the commandments

God is merciful

Delight in the scriptures

Ponder the scriptures

Delight in the things of the Lord

Ponder them continually

Trust in the Lord

Be mighty in prayer

Learn and glorify the name of God

Liken the scriptures unto myself

Be not ashamed of the gospel

Wait for the Lord

Garden walk continued

This is the third try. one of these days I will learn how to do it right.

These are some of my raised beds

This is the other side of the corn.

This was supposed to be the strawberry bed.... next year.

Yes, that is a deer fence that goes around our 120 fruit trees.  Other wise there would be no fruit trees.

Tomatoes and potatos.  These are the highlights of my garden.  I hope you enjoyed the walk.

A walk in my garden

I am having so much fun with this new camera, thanks to our daughter.  Would you like to take a walk with me through my garden? Walk this way.

this is the coop for the chicks when they are pullets.

Now we walk through the picket fence gate,oops no picture.

This is the big coop. Below is the corn, yum,yum.

scriptures

Learning Gods word is a life long conquest.  "Line upon line and precept upon precept". How blessed we are to have such easy access to the scriptures. There was a time not so long ago that people could only hear the word and not read and study it for themselves. Where much is given much is expected (this if for me to internalize).

My daily scripture reading gleanings:

Serve God

Redemption comes though the Holy Messiah

I need a broken heart and a contrite spirit

Remember the merits, mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah

Intercession by Christ

He is the Holy One

There is opposition in all things, good-bad

I am free to act for myself, free to choose

I need to repent for wrong choices

Be faithful

Choose eternal life 

I am trying again to post these pictures.  This is my baking center.

Oopps! Below is my cook stove.  I use it all winter to cook on and heat this part of the house.

This looks out some of the windows in the kitchen

One of the three rugs I crocheted for the kitchen.  I used up a lot of my scraps.

This rug is in front of the sink.  Now I will post this and see if it will stay posted without those bland boxes.  Thanks for your patience.

sabbath

I need the LORDS Day.  I look forward to it and prepare for it.  I always try to have our meals (we only eat breadfast and dinnner) prepared in advance.  These preparations help me in my attempt to keep the Sabbath Day holy.  I do not believe that my Father would ask me to do something that was not important to Him and good for me.  As a young mother I tried to set an example for my children, but with 10 children even the Sabbath involved a lot of work, especially on our small farm. Getting us all out of the door so we could be to church on time was sometimes challenging.  But there is a season for all things, and now with only 2 of my 18 children at home, I can spend more of my day in worship.  I believe it is often the spirit of the law that we need to live. 

Yesterday I froze corn and peppers.  My tomatoes seem to be rather slow this year.  I will be doing more pickled beets next week.

My scripture reading gleanings:

Keep covenants

Keep His commandments

Have Faith

Remember Him

His will be done

Be united in all things

Become one with Him

Put on the armor of God

Seek righteousness

Seek the Golry of God

He fulfills His promises