Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Words of Our Founding Fathers, Samuel Adams Speech Saturday


"Britain is now, I will suppose, the seat of liberty and virtue, and its legislature consists of a body of able and independent men who govern with wisdom and justice. The time may come when all will be reversed; when its excellent constitution of government will be subverted; when, pressed by debts and taxes, it will be greedy to draw to itself an increase of revenue from every distant province in order to ease its own burdens; when the influence of the crown, strengthened by luxury and a universal profligacy of manners, will have tainted every heart, broken down every fence of liberty and rendered us a nation of tame and contented vassals; when a general election will be nothing but a general auction of boroughs, and when the Parliament, the grand council of the nation, and once the faithful guardian of the State, and a terror to evil ministers, will be degenerated into a body if sycophants, dependent and venal, always ready to confirm any measures, and little more than a public court for registering royal edicts." -Samuel Adams
To be continued...or go here to read the whole speech!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Smell of Fresh Granola!

My favorite cold cereal is Homemade Granola! I just love it! I use to make it a lot as a teenager, and it would hold me over till lunch, unlike some of my siblings who preferred the store bought "cardboard" or "air" cereal!
I had not made this granola in years till about two months ago! Now I have made it like 4 times since! Princess S. and I have been eating it! Hopefully Princess A. will get to like it too!

This morning I made a batch, and boy, did the house smell Good after it came out of the oven, to cool! Yum!


Here is the recipe I use:

Granola

Mix together in a large bowel:
6 c. oats
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. wheat bran
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1 tbsp. vanilla or 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

Melt in a pan:
1 c. butter (2 sticks)
1/2 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. sorghum
1/4 c. oil

Pour liquid ingredients over dry and mix all together.
Bake on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for about 20 mins. or until brown (stirring ever so often to keep edges from getting too done).
When done set on a rake to cool and add raisins or nuts (optional).


It makes about a gallon!

Hope you enjoy the recipe and a more healthy breakfast or snack, too!

God Bless!

Canning Apples...Part Two, And Finished!

Well, I worked up the last of the apples, yesterday and finally have them all canned! PTL!
Here is the picture of before I started the peeling and slicing! This time I peeled and sliced most of them, before I started the cooking. That way, I was not having to stop and peel/slice more while my canner was not quite full! That worked a lot better.
I took a picture of the apples cooking in the syrup this time!
The apples float to the top as it cooks and it will run over if too full, once it starts to boil! It does not take long for the apples to get hot and soft too, so this part goes fast!
Finished! Yippee!
Canned 17 qts. yesterday so that brings us up to 36 qts!!
That gives us a lot of apple pies over the year!
Wow! We got more then I thought we would! Must be because we canned almost every apple, instead of eating a bunch!
I hope a lot of other people canned a bunch of apples this Fall.
God Bless!

Monday, October 26, 2009

~Music Mondays~ "In The Hands of God"


I was so upset to miss Music Monday last week! Ack! Too busy to blog almost! Today I was canning the last of the apples, then went to a committee meeting with husband tonight, for the farmer's Cooperative! So I am almost to late again! I did listen to some of my music I have saved on the computer, and wanted to share this song today! It is a very comforting song, I think. Makes you think about God's care and love for us and how mighty and strong He is! Praise His Holy Name!

Hope you will join us next Monday at Shawntele's blog, Saved by Grace for more uplifting music, to start your week off right! Praising the Lord!

Oh, Shawntele shared a Newsboys song this week too! So, if you are a Newsboys fan, you will enjoy this! =)

"In the Hands of God"

by the Newsboys

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Canning Apples...Part One!

Okay, I think this is my first step-by-step blog post! Yippee! And sad since I have almost 200 blog post! Oh well!

As I mentioned, the other day, we went and picked up two bushel boxes of Gala apples! So yesterday, I canned a bushel of them! It took most of the noon and afternoon, since I did them by myself and had to do other things along, of course, but they turned out very pretty and I am soo happy to have that many done, and to think I have about that many more to can! Praise the Lord!
The apples before I started:

I just washed them off in the sink, (since I was going to peel and boil them)
The peeling and slicing by hand took the longest, since I do not have one of those neat cutters, or and Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer!
Well, at least I only had two bushels! =)


The clean jars and lids, and some apples in the jars, as I filled them:
I some how forgot to take a picture of the apples boiling in the Extra-Light syrup! Sorry! But you can see the pans in the picture above! I followed the Ball Blue book, of course, but used less sugar then they said, and lemon juice to help keep them from turning so brown!
The apples in the hot water bath:
The finished/cooled jars of apples!

Uh, and here is what is left to do! =) Not quite another bushel, so hope to get at least 14 (+?) more!

I hope to have another post as a follow-up, after I am done with all of them! Hope that will be soon!

God bless!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Ooo! Look Goodies! =)

I know I am very plain and simple, not hard to maintain, that is for sure! Lol! So what i find exciting may not intest anyone else, but that is the good thing about a blog, right? You can make a big deal about stuff and either people read it or not! Oh well, having blabed (is that a word?) all that, I just had to make a post about our day!

I got up early, fed and dressed the Princess' and we rode over to the mennonite community with some friends. They had a huge apple order come in and we went to get our apples! I am very happy with ours!=)

We got two bushels of Gala's for $13 a bushel!!! I would have gotten more, but probably enough for me to work up by myself and money is just tight, as usual!

While we were there, (they had the apple pick-up, at the mennonite market), we went into the market to get a few things. I love the things they have in the market, but not the prices! =( I did get a few things that I thought would be great for a healthier diet: Veggie, Wagon wheel noodles, cous cous, and seasame seeds! Also not so healthy, but for a snack(s): chocolate covered raisins! And some tortilla chips and red creme soda! (Hey I had to treat the girls?)!

We had some of the wagon wheel noodles for lunch, when we got home! We love them with some Italian dressing on them!! YUM!
For supper, I have leftover chili that I made for King Ed last night!
He sweetly rated it a half star and ate 2 bowels of it! =)
As a homschool update, Princess S. has 22 pages left in her math book and has finished her Language Arts except a little writing practice in the back of the book!! Looks like we have a Graduation Party coming up!!=) =)

The Words of Our Founding Fathers.... John Adams


"It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives."
--John Adams, Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1756

Monday, October 19, 2009

The Words of Our Founding Fathers, Samuel Adams Speech (part 13)

For Christmas last year, someone gave us the "John Adams" HBO series!
I had never heard about it but we watched the whole thing on Christmas afternoon and the next day, I believe! It was great! I have been wanting to watch it again....in a way...then again, it is one of those shows that is hard to watch right now, with everything going on in the country! Well, Sat. night, I got it out, (finally, but with a little dread!), and we have watched the first two parts now!
If you ever never seen the show, I Highly recommend it! And if you have older children, it may be good for them to watch it too! That and "It's a wonderful life" and "Mr. Smith goes to Washington"!
Please read the words of our Founding Father's! There is much wisdom and guidance to be learned! And we all really need to learn the truth, for ourselves about these great men and how our country was born and how it got to where it is now!

"As the administration of government requires firmer and more numerous supports in proportion to its extent, the burdens imposed on us would be excessive, and we should have the melancholy prospect of their increasing on our posterity. The scale of officers, from the rapacious and needy commissioner to the haughty governor, and from the governor, with his hungry train, to perhaps a licentious and prodigal viceroy, must be upheld by you and your children. The fleets and armies which will be employed to silence your murmurs and complaints must be supported by the fruits of your industry." -Samuel Adams

To be continued.... or read the whole speech here!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cooking on a Wood Stove

My family bought a small "Baker's Choice" wood cook stove right before we moved to TN. Actually, I think Dad did some bartering for it!
We used it in the small 10"/50" trailer house that we lived in. We soon learned we needed more and found someone, believe it or not, right down the road who had bought one for Y2K! This was a Large Pioneer Maid and I loved it! They are my favorite to this day! =) I wish we could find one or afford one now!
Here is a picture of my family's Pioneer maid, with my sister beside it:


Last autumn, (I believe it was) King Ed found us a small "modern maid" cook stove down in GA. for sell and went and bought it for us. We brought it in the house finally and have it set up for the winter! the other day he got it going to see how well it will do. It did great! I had decided to make a huge batch of rolls that day, so used it for keeping the dough warm to raise. Here is that picture:


It has been great for keeping the chill out on evenings that have been cool! The girls have enjoyed helping bring the wood in! It is great to have them grow up around this.
Last Monday, I put a pot of pinto beans on the stove, since he had it going, and boy did that smell good, with a big ham bone in it! I also tried the oven out on the rolls and it did great! I hope it helps our electric bill this winter and will not be soo worried about the electric going out now!
God is Good!

"Preparing for Our Children's Future" Has a Blog Button!!

Hey Everyone! Hope you will check out the new blog button on my sidebar and maybe add it to your blogs! My dear friend made it for me, since I am still learning all this "tech" stuff! =) Big Hug and thank you to her!

Here is what the button looks like:

Photobucket

What do ya'll think about it? Does it fit the blog?

Thanks!

God bless!

~Hannah

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Suggestions for A Weekly Post

Hello Dear Blog Friends!

I am wanting to start sharing some "Days in our lives" post on my blog, maybe once a week, and would like to hear everyone's suggestions for what to call it!
Also if this maybe something you would like to do, too, let me know!

The Words of......Joseph Warren


"Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. Our enemies are numerous and powerful; but we have many friends, determining to be free, and heaven and earth will aid the resolution. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves."
-Joseph Warren
1775 — Boston Massacre Oration

Monday, October 12, 2009

~Music Mondays~ "Something Beautiful" and Family Visits

Hope you will join Music Monday over on Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace"!

Living so far away from family has it ups and downs! Growing up, I really missed getting to see grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My Dad's parenst finally got us to help them set up a trailer house that they could stay in when they came to visit and they welcomed other family and frinds to stay there when they would come to visit! I loved getting to go over and spend the night there with family! It was a great "get away"!
One summer, my aunt and two younger cousins came down for a few days. The night I got to stay with them, my brother, A. went too. We got to watch a show! And the next morning while the cousins slept in, I listened to some Christian music cds! One was Jarsofclay's "Eleventh Hour"! I fell in love with it as soon as I heard it!
This morning, my Aunt and youngest cousin got to drop in for a quick visit this morning. They brought my Grama and her husband, too! =) =) =) ! Was wonderful to see them again! And a privalege to feed them breakfast!
So today, on "Music Monday," I am sharing one of my favorite songs (from that album), since I am remembering past times with family!

By Jars of clay
"Something Beautiful":

Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Words of Our Founding Fathers, Samuel Adams Speech (part 12).



"To unite the supremacy of Great Britain and the liberty of America is utterly impossible. so vast a continent and of such a distance from the seat of empire will every day grow more unmanageable. The motion of so unwieldy a body can not be directed with any despatch and uniformity without committing to the Parliament of Great Britain powers inconsistent with our freedom. The authority and force which would be absolutely necessary for the preservation of the peace and good order of this continent would put all our valuable rights within the reach of that nation." -Samuel Adams


To be continued.....or read the whole speech HERE!

Friday, October 9, 2009

The Words of Our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin Friday's


"In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will now and then peek out and show itself...."
--Benjamin Franklin

Monday, October 5, 2009

Ramblings and ~Music Mondays~ "More Love, More Power"


Wow! Monday again! Where does the time go??? Would love to find it! =)
Hope everyone had a good weekend and has a blessed week ahead! I look forward to how much Princess S. gets accomplished in her school books this week! And pray that a lot of signatures are gathered this week for the agricultural Cooperative that husband is trying to get started in this county! I have a lot to do around the house and get ready for company and a birthday party next week and hopefully another Big meeting for the agricultural cooperative!
This weeks song is "More Love, More Power" I love the lyrics to this song! That is my daily prayer "More of You in my Life"!!! Reminds me of some of the older spiritual songs that I enjoy too!
If you would like to join in on the great music, visit Shawntele's blog, Saved By Grace!

Artist: Jeff Deyo

Album: Saturate

Title: More Love, More Power

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Thinking about my Blog!

I was looking at my strange blog again last night(and my facebook page!) and told my husband, I must be the only 2o something year old who has faces of the Founding Fathers all over her blog and pages! LOL! Maybe I should start writing some more about preparing for our children's future, The Conservative Homeschooler, our homeschooling and activities, etc?
I am also wanting to start writing about how I grew up, maybe once I get started I can get some books done some year? =) ? Who knows! Homemaking and homeschool sure keeps one busy (and trying to keep up with a young, active husband!=) ), but it is a good busy!
Anyone want to share their thoughts on my blog? Suggestions?!
God Bless!

Starting a Farmers Agricultural Cooperative in TN.

Wow! A lot has been going on here! Besides preparing for winter and doing Fall projects, homeschool, etc., I have been helping a little with a huge project that my husband has been working on for several months!
This month that project is in full swing and Praise The Lord it is starting out really well! The project is to start a Farmers Agricultural cooperative in this county that will give tons of jobs to this county and surrounding counties and maybe take off across the country! It really amazes me to think about all the people who have a job, by just having a processing facility in the area and anyone who wants to grow stuff can grow as much as they can handle, and sawmills can make crates and pallets, and it just goes on and on! Really, anyone who wants to work Can!
We hope to have a processing building where produce can be delivered by the farmers/growers, it can be crated and then shipped to farmers markets, wholesalers, etc. The processing building would be run off of a solar energy, which we would install since we happen to be in the solar installation business! We have already installed a lot of solar stuff and one big system for a house, my husband has the experience in electrical, and a lot or engeinering etc. I am really enjoying learning about the solar and believe that it will play a huge part in future energy. The prices for solar systems are very high, but if more companies made and distributed solar, I think it would go down a lot.
Anyways, last Thursday night was the first meeting. It was just husband and I who set it all up, which was a lot of work! We introduced this idea and the effort to the people of the community. About 50 people were there and they were very excited and engaged! PTL! By the end of the meeting 4 people volunteered as the steering committee and we picked one as the head chair of the committee. My husband had a meeting with the head chair yesterday, they are having another meeting Mon. And we hope to have a huge Charter membership drive over the next week or so and another meeting for gathering members and signatures of support. Right now we have to have all the support that we can get to make this happen!
Prayers that this all works out the way God wants it to are appreciated!
And if you know of anyone near this area who would like to support this effort please let them know about it!
Here is an article that my husband got published in the local paper for the last meeting, if you would like to read it!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

The Words of Our Founding Fathers, Samuel Adams Speech Saturday


"Ye abandoned minions of an infatuated ministry, if peradventure any should yet remain among us, remember that a Warren and Montgomery are numbered among the dead. Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, What should be the reward of such sacrifices? Bid us and our posterity bow the knee, supplicate the friendship, and plow, and sow, and reap, to glut the avarice of the men who have let loose on us the dogs of war to riot in our blood and hunt us from the face of the earth? If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the animating contest of freedom--go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!" -Samuel Adams
To be continued....Or visit this link for the whole Speech!