QUITE A DEAL!!!!!

I STRIVE TO BE A PROVERBS 31 WIFE--'THE HEART  OF HER HUSBAND DOTH SAFELY TRUST IN HER AND HE SHALL HAVE NO NEED OF SPOIL,' (vs.11). HERE ARE PICTURES OF TWO AMAZING DEALS WE GOT EARLIER IN THE FALL!

FIRST, WE GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL BAGS OF RUSSET POTATOES FOR $1.99/10LB. I DECIDED TO CAN THEM--HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT--THEY TASTE REALLY GOOD AND ARE SO CONVENIENT!

NEXT IS A THRIFT STORE FIND--AN ATTRACTIVE EXTRA LARGE COOKING POT! I THINK I PAID LESS THAT FOUR DOLLARS AND IT'S PRETTY ENOUGH TO SERVE IN! I FELT SO GOOD ABOUT THIS ITEM!

DON'T YOU LOVE A GOOD BARGAIN? I KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, GIVING AND RECEIVING GIFTS. SO, PLEASE SHARE YOUR BEST BARGAIN OR MOST ECONOMICAL, USEFUL GIFT IDEA IN YOUR NEXT COMMENT.

Blessings, LORI

JUST SAY CHEESE!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make cheese? Well, I have. So I tried it. I used a simple recipe for Farmer's cheese requiring no special ingredients or tools. I was amazed at how easy this was!

FIRST PICTURE: The curds just after I took them out of the cooking pan. I am using my old jelly bag for a cheesecloth--it's not dirty, just stained from years of making black raspberry jelly!

SECOND PICTURE: Me squeezing the excess water out of the cheese. It's kind of like dry cottage cheese at this point. In fact, I can imagine using this same recipe and adding a bit of cream or something, skipping the next few steps and making cottage cheese. Don't know for sure if that would work or not, but I 'd like to experiment with it.

THIRD PICTURE: A nice loaf of Farmer's Cheese. This is a very mild tasting cheese, much like mozzarella. I enjoy it and treat myself to a chunk of it about every day.

There are no pictures of the last step, but after we gathered the curds into the loaf we pressed more water out by placing the cheese between two slanted cutting boards and weighting it with an iron skillet. About an hour later, we had some nice cheese!

I saved the whey--water that was left after the curds formed. I used it to make bread the next day and honestly, it was the nicest bread I can ever remember making and the family says so too! I guess there are a lot of uses for whey and I am also using it to water my compost pile. Very interesting experience with cheesemaking!

FINAL ASSESSMENT: I enjoyed this process and would definitely do it again.

I am currently enjoying lettuce from my own garden as well as new potatoes. My pea pods are almost ready and a few strawberries are appearing. It's been fun to make lots of home food these past few weeks with the bounty of gardens and laying hens. I'd like to be more self-sufficient, but it does take work!
BLESSINGS, LORI

A SURE SIGN OF SPRING!

WHILE I WAS OUT FOR MY WALK YESTERDAY (TEMPS IN THE 80'S), I SPOTTED THESE FIRST DAFFODILS OF SPRING GROWING ALONG THE ROADSIDE. THEY APPEAR IN THE SAME SPOT EACH SPRING. IT'S A BIT OF A STRETCH TO PICK THEM SINCE THEY ARE ON A SLOPE LEADING DOWN TO A WET SPOT NEAR A ROADSIDE DITCH. BUT I MANAGED.

I FELT LIKE I WAS LONGING FOR SPRING AND JUST NEEDED TO BRING SOME OF THE SUNSHINE INTO THE HOUSE. I ASKED MY DAUGHTER TO PUT THEM IN A VASE. SHE CHOSE A CANNING JAR AND I THOUGHT THE EFFECT WAS WONDERFUL. PARKED HERE BY MY FAVORITE COOKBOOK HOLDER, I THOUGHT THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY SIMPLICITY!

Part 3 of how we're surviving the economic downturn--aka--job change!

We are doing well. I already spoke of "tithing," and "tightening our belts." We seem to see the Lord bringing jobs our way just when they are most needed. So far, the jobs Clint does, including the evangelistic preaching/pulpit supply appointments are all 'on call' or 'as needed' types of jobs. Still, just when it looks like we are going to have a slim week, a call comes in for him to assist somewhere.

Yesterday at church a gentleman got up and gave a wonderful testimony of how he had received a huge bonus and a raise this week. This came right on the heels of a guest speaker at the church the week before feeling led to pray for and bless the heads of homes in the church concerning better jobs and higher incomes. If you think this is unusual, remember we live in Michigan and the economy here suffered to a greater degree than the rest of the country. If you can't identify, try to imagine magnifying your situation or what the recession meant to your state and then understand how it felt to live in Michigan during the worst of the downturn. This man's testimony was an encouragement to us all.

As well as that our family has been blessed with wonderful extra blessings in the form of material items the last while, it seems. All we can say is, "Praise the Lord!" Blessings, LORI

A HOPE AND A FUTURE--part 2

THE SIGNS OF SPRING IN THE ENGLISH GARDEN--AND HOPE AND A FUTURE! Just a little update...I want to continue the story of how we're surviving against all odds with the sudden reduction in income! I hope this post encourages you. Here's part two of "A HOPE AND A FUTURE" Proverbs 24:10 says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

I often remember that one in difficult times! Our past experiences of life prepared us for this step of leaving a secure pastorate with no plans for the future. Years ago when our children were small and we were attending Bible school, I learned how to economize in drastically reduced circumstances. We put some of these principles back into practice in the last few months. I didn't use my dryer at all this winter except for a quick "fluff up" of clothes that had been dried on clothes bars in the house or on the clothesline. Yes, it's possible!

We ate very inexpensively. It's like the Lord prepared us a few months ago when Rhiannon and I were shopping one day and got some incredible deals on meat--enough to last us most of the winter. It all went in the freezer. I also raised meat chickens last spring not knowing what was coming--which meant I didn't have to buy chicken. All of last year's canning was on the shelf as well. This enabled us to buy only the temporary type groceries that I can't make myself--staple type foods.

In addition to those things, I got a job that I'd been desiring for years. This was a move of God that came at the perfect time--something I couldn't have predicted. Clint has also been working part time jobs and just when we need more money, he gets a call, it seems. God has been very good to us and come through for us in amazing ways. But part of that is also that He has taught us principles in His word that make it possible to live frugally and wisely. We still give of the money we do have to His work. This is like a seed and He returns us a harvest in various forms. Long ago we learned to tithe and I'd recommend it to any believer! I believe that the principles of giving have helped to see us through. More updates later....lots of exciting things going on in our lives....Blessings to you! LORI

MORE GARDEN PICTURES!

Here are a few more pictures of the garden in recent days!




I am keeping busy with weeding, though I never get ahead of it all! Still, things are really pretty right now. I hope you enjoy seeing the flowers.

We have been really busy around here with the care of the lawns and also just the extra activities of summer. Our big ladies' tea party, "Elegance on a Shoestring," will be held next week and that's keeping me hopping. I will be taking lots of dishes and food to the church about next Wednesday!

Ladies were asked to hostess a table, decorate it and invite guests. I will be making tea and we will have a chocolate fountain. We are also having a few special children's tables. The ladies from the church are bringing dishes to pass--light, fancy tea foods were suggested. Then we will go into the sanctuary for the "I got it at a garage sale fashion show." Several ladies, both young and old are planning to model outfits that they purchased from garage sales, thrift stores, or made themselves. The entire evening is designed to be an "economy beating," event, proving we can have fun and be elegant even in an economic downturn. All the food will be donated, costing the church $O. Mabye I'll be able to post some interesting pictures after the big event next Thursday. We even plan to have a clothing, purse, jewelry exchange. Ladies are asked to bring an unwanted item and then feel free to take one in exchange giving everyone a chance to get something new for nothing! Sound like fun? Details next week! Blessings, LORI