WOW this homemade liquid dishwasher soap lasts a LONG time!

 SIX months ago I made up this $3 batch of homemade liquid dishwasher soap..... I am just now finishing it up!  That means that it cost me a grand total of 50 cents a month!  I run the dishwasher at least once and a few times a week I run it twice a day.  I have been using this recipe for several years, but I never kept track of how long a batch lasted till now.  I am officially pleased by not only how well it works but how long it lasts.  

A penny saved is a penny earned! 
Have you tried this recipe, yet?
Hope it woks well for you!


Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Once upon a time the grass was green....

 This picture was taken by my front porch back in late May.  Oh, my how different things look now.  It is sad this drought so many of us are going through.  I was just looking through pictures tonight on my camera and was struck by the beauty we had this spring.  In the background you can see the large wind turbines that are a part of one of the nations largest wind farm.  I should take some pictures of the current "blonde" grass (as my husband calls it).  I guess that sounds much better than dead.

I will sing a song of thanksgiving.... today we did get some rain!  Not sure how much, but there was wet stuff coming down to the parched land!!  Praise God!!

What is it like in your neck of the woods?  Is the grass green or "blonde"??   We have lost so much.... hoping that things are still alive in root systems and will come back.  This kind of year really teaches me to not take for granted rain!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Homemakers Creed (printable)

Being a HOMEmaker is truly a act of love from the heart.  It has nothing to do with "paid employment" status.  Whether you are full time at home or spend some of your time in the world of paid work you can be a HOMEmaker!  I saw this creed posted today by Time-Warp Wife and knew I had to share it.  ENJOY!  To print it off to hang on your fridge click here.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

We are blessed!

 Happy 4th of July from our house to yours!  We are truly blessed to live in the USA!  We are taking some time today to thank God for our nation and pray for our nation.  The flag flies proud on our homestead!

We live a simple life.... a life that this wonderful country allows us to do.  We have freedom to attend a wonderful church and welcome friends into our home for Christian fellowship.

We are raising our four children to experience dirt under their fingernails and pride in their heart for a job well done.  We are small business owners, we work hard.  We also raise a garden, fruit, pigs and chickens.  We play hard, too!  We choose to learn and grow and appreciate.....

This 4th of July I take time to be thankful for our great land.  A country that though far from perfect is a wonderful place to live and raise our family.  May God bless America!

Today my 13 year old daughter, Robyn, and I spent a fantastic afternoon together in our farmhouse kitchen.  We cooked and baked and talked.  What day of celebration would be complete without some special food??  Robyn made lemon bars and homemade chocolate chip cookies that she used to make ice cream cookie sandwiches.  I whipped up 2 cheesecakes with fresh blueberry and strawberries on top.  The sausage is browned and ready to put into the crock pot tomorrow with the baked beans.  Simple TIME spent with my daughter building memories, growing our relationship and teaching valuable kitchen skills. Nothing in life is sweeter than TIME with loved ones!!!

Enjoy your 4th of July!!

Vintage Images from here.

There was a day.....Uncle Sam encourages SELF SUFFICIENCY??

We have come a long way from this.... but we are doing our part!  I have been collecting 32-35 eggs a day from our own back yard flock.  YUMMY!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Life with homestead animals.....

takes emotional detachment.  We butchered our 4 pigs today (we do all the butchering and processing our self) and tomorrow we will finish it all up with the sausage making.  Last night when I fed my four pigs for the last time I really had to deliberately not let myself get sad.... I have really enjoyed having them around all summer and since their pen is right next to the garden they have kept me company all season long.  Each one had a distinct personality and style.   The kids loved the job of spraying them down with the hose on hot summer days.  The pigs each had their own way of playing in the water.... one always wanted to drink it... one would run through it like a kid running through a sprinkler, one would just stand there and let you spray him down all day and the final one would just flop down and splash in the water!  I'm telling you they were a hoot!

I kept reminding myself last night that the whole reason we raised them was for our winter meat but I left the barn without a skip in my step.....  today I detached and did my job.  Now my freezer is full of farm fresh meat and I will be oh so thankful every time I prepare our dinner.... for now I MISS them... so I guess I'm not so good at emotional detachment after all.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

 The garden is really starting to produce!  Time to start "putting up" the harvest.  We love cucumbers, but you can only eat so many of them fresh out of the garden.  I have tried several times to can pickles but they have always turned out a mushy mess!  So this year I decided to give refrigerator pickles a try and we LOVE them!!!!!  I have made 2 gallons in the last 2 weeks and my kids eat them like candy.  They are a hit that will definitely become a "putting up the harvest" tradition.  These pickles will store well in the fridge for a couple of months.  I will keep making them and hopefully we will have pickles till thanksgiving! 

Refrigerator Dill Pickles
**** I combined 2 recipes and I don't measure exactly.... feel free to modify as you wish.

Ingredients:
washed and sliced cucumbers  (however many you have)
salt
ice
Onion slices
Pepper slices (banana or green)

To make the liquid:
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 - 1 tsp garlic powder (depending on how much garlic flavor you want)
1-2 tsp dry dill weed (we really like the dill flavor so I use 2 tsp).... I buy dry dill weed at rural king.... they have spices cheap!!
1-2 tsp salt (again, this depends on how salty you like your pickles)


Directions:
1)  Wash and slice cucumbers and put them in a PLASTIC bowl.  It is important that you don't touch  the pickles with anything metal... only plastic or glass!!!

2)  Sprinkle liberally with salt and cover cucumber slices with ICE and let soak for 2-5 hours.  (this makes the cucumbers crispy)  I just leave this sitting on the counter for a few hours.

3)  Drain and rinse.  Drain and rinse again.

4)  Put slices in jars (you can use whatever you have).  Add in onion slices and peppers (optional).  You can also add garlic cloves instead of using garlic powder in the liquid.

5)  Fill jars with prepared liquid to cover cucumber slices.  If you need more liquid just mix up another batch.  It will save for later if you have too much.

6)  Let sit in fridge for 3 days and then EAT and ENJOY!!  The longer they sit the better they taste!!!  They will keep in fridge for a couple of months... not that any will last that long around here!!  LOL

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Farmer's Market here I come!!

Tomorrow will be the FIRST day for a local 2011 Farmer's Market and it will be the first day of my first season as a vender!!  I am very excited and a little nervous.  I will be selling produce from our garden (as soon as we have some) and flowers from my many flower beds.  However, I am specializing in Baking Mixes and Seasoning Mixes.  I LOVE to cook and bake from scratch and I believe that eating whole foods is best for our bodies and for our families.  I want to help others enjoy whole foods by helping them with some of the work.

Pray for me!  I really want this to be an opportunity to meet new people, develop new skills and also earn some income for our family.  I want to continue to be a stay at home housewife/mom so a job like this is perfect.


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Babies on the way!!!

25 Baby Chicks to be exact! They will be here the middle of April.... really ready for spring, now!!
We haven't had any chickens since last fall and I'm ready for farm fresh eggs again. Nothing compares to an egg collected right out your back door. Here is a picture of my old flock... so much enjoyment!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Using my secret weapon is key on days like today....

We are doing some home improvement projects in the kitchen and dining room right now..... wonderful projects that my handyman husband is blessing us with. Today we will be putting down bamboo hardwood!! Needless to say, not much cooking has been going on this week. We have been living on cold sandwiches and cereal for a week. However, I just can't handle it anymore and the secret weapon is coming out! CROCK POT!!!!

I can plug in that baby in the living room and tonight we will enjoy a HOT meal!! mmmm yummy!

Here is one of our favorite recipes:
It can be eaten served over rice instead of as a sandwich. This recipe is in the March edition of my Simple Family Supper menu plan kits.

Savory Chicken Sandwiches

***Efficient cooking*** Crock Pot or Stove top

Ingredients: 8 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 envelope onion soup mix ½ tsp garlic powder ½ cup prepared Italian salad dressing 1 cup water

Directions: 1) Place Chicken in crock pot 2) Mix together remaining ingredients and pour on top of chicken. 3) Cover and cook on HIGH 5 hours or on LOW 7-9 hours 4) Remove Chicken and shred meat. Return to cooking juices. 5) Serve on buns. Label and freeze extra meat and cooking juices in a freezer bag.

Side Suggestions: baby carrots, baked beans, salad, fruit

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

You know you are a country girl when.......

You totally ENJOY a romantic Valentine's Day afternoon spent with your hubby out working in the barn!! LOL!! I spent the afternoon with my husband (and middle son) out rebuilding our chicken coop. We totally enjoyed our time together.... I know it is crazy, but hey, we are just country folk!! There is something so wonderful about working together and creating something that will benefit our family. We are both DOING people so working together suits us both just fine.

I have had chickens for six years and over that time our chicken wire has rusted and we had some holes... something got in and destroyed my flock... very sad day! Now, thanks to my husband's great uncle we are getting a new one year old flock! Yea! Our coop is totally fortified and ready to keep them all safe and sound. When I say fortified I mean it! This week I will once again have chickens.... I have really missed them! I am also missing my barn cats.... saw four mice yesterday... haven't seen live mice out in the barn in three years.... where oh where did my barn cats go?! I HATE mice!!

I'll post pictures of my new flock as soon as they are settled in.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

You know you are a country girl when.....

.....You know what this is and are EXCITED when your husband gives you one!!! :) What is it?? This beauty is a HEATED base for me to set my galvanized chicken watering fount on top of to keep the water from freezing!!!! Now my girls will always have fresh, unfrozen, water to drink! Keeping water available to them in this COLD is hard work and now my life just got a lot easier!

Thanks, Chris!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

My new TOY!! Well, really it is work , but FUN work!

Last Thursday this All-American pressure caner was delivered to my door. I am in canning HEAVEN!!! This baby holds 14 quarts at one time!!! LOVE it. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! (no this is not a paid endorsement! :) I just LOVE it!! )

I waited TWO years to take the plunge... finally dove in and ordered what I know will last me a lifetime. Spending large chunks of money has never been my thing, but I am very pleased with my decision.

So far I have canned apple sauce and venison with this baby. Canning meat is NEW to me, but I just have to say that we really like it. We have decided to can some of the meat with every deer we get. Talk about EASY meals.... fast soups, stews, meat and gravy, beef and noodles, pot pie..... I'm all for SIMPLE!!!! When I canned the meat I added onion powder, garlic powder, salt and white wine vinegar. The vinegar takes away all 'game' flavor. This canned meat tastes just like beef.

She will be busy again tomorrow as I can up the last bushel of apples I have to process. Do you can?? What is your favorite thing to 'put up'?? For some reason seeing the beautiful jars lined up on the basement shelves brings me such incredible satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

My real life 'Pioneer' style day!!! Plus fresh SAUSAGE recipes

I have always thought I was born in the wrong century. Thank God he gave me a sister and husband that feel the same way.... we can be 'pioneers' together. So, how did I spend my weekend?? Saturday was spent in a modern way.... going to yard sales... hundreds of them around town. Saturday was our local town festival and half of the town had a yard sale! FUN time scoring deals! My sister, Melissa, and her two kids spent the night Saturday and my sister and I got things organized for our big PIONEER day Sunday.

Pioneer day: BUTCHERING 2 pigs!! We started first thing in the morning and processed 2 pigs and had everything packaged and cleaned up by 2pm... not bad! We had an extra set of hands this go round and it made a huge difference. I had a GREAT time yesterday with my husband, sister, brother in law and his friend butchering these pigs. We chat, we laugh, we have a good time.... makes me think this must have been what it was like in the old days when neighbors helped each other. Many hands does make light work!

We made 60 pounds of sausage! We first grind the meat, then add the seasonings (in batches of 10 pounds of meat) and finish it with a second grinding. We package some as patties and the rest in 2 pound packages. No sausage I have ever had from the store tastes as good as home made and we do not add anything artificial or any nitrates. Making sausage is something you can do even if you don't do the 'pioneer' thing like us.... :) just have your local grocery meat department grind up a sale pork roast to get fresh ground pork... mix in the seasonings (recipe below) and enjoy!! It does taste best after it has had time to season... it will taste better after it has been in the freezer for at least a week. Warning... the 'spicy' sausage gets spicier with time!

Indiana Farm Sausage (Spicy)
Ingredients:
10 lbs lean fresh ground pork (or turkey)
1 TBL onion powder
1 TBL salt
3 TBL dried sage
2 tsp dried marjoram
1 TBL red pepper (could use less to reduce spice)
1 TBL black pepper

Directions:
In a small bowl combine all the seasonings. (we mix up batches of seasonings ahead of time to make the process faster on butchering days)

Mix the seasonings in with the meat (I just use my gloved hands to mix and mix)
We then grind the meat a second time (but you can skip this step if you are using store ground meat). We make some into patties and freeze the rest in packages.

Breakfast Sausage (mild)
Ingredients:
10 pounds fresh ground lean pork (or turkey)
3 1/2 TBL dried sage
1 TBL salt
1 TBL ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
5 pinches ground cloves

Directions:
In a small bowl combine all the seasonings. (we mix up batches of seasonings ahead of time to make the process faster on butchering days)

Mix the seasonings in with the meat (I just use my gloved hands to mix and mix)
We then grind the meat a second time (but you can skip this step if you are using store ground meat). We make some into patties and freeze the rest in packages.


Well, I need to get off this computer... more 'poineer' life is calling... grape jam and tomatoes need to be processed! I do love my MODERN dishwasher and washing machine... both of which need unloaded! Oh, and I am very thankful for our electric meat grinder... that would have been a lot of hand cranking!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

New Chicks on the way!!!

I got rid of my OLD flock of chickens (so old they had given up laying) a few weeks ago with the intention of waiting till spring to get in a new flock. Ha! I missed them SO much!! I have had chickens for the last 5 1/2 years and LOVE them... crazy, I know! My husband kept telling me to go ahead and order chicks now.... it will be warm enough for the next couple of months to get them off to a great start and by spring we will have fresh eggs. So...... I ordered them! 25 hens... variety of breeds will be here in TWO weeks!!!!

The first time I mail ordered baby chicks it seemed so weird that they were coming via the mail!! The post office holds them and calls for me to pick up right away. I'm so excited... we are going to have babies in the family!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Our Quiet Counrtry Life is not so Quiet anymore...

I live in the middle of some of the most fertile farm ground in the whole world. Nothing but corn and soybean fields stretch for miles and miles. You can see in the background of the picture how there is just field after field! It is beautiful! (I know that some would disagree, but I LOVE being able to see so far with NOTHING in the way!)

Things are in the process of changing. Not only will we be living in the middle of corn, but also now surrounded by WIND farms! Wind Turbines (hundreds of these HUGE things) will be put up all year. They have started construction and our little quiet community is bustling with dump trucks, semis, excavators and trucks.... the roads are destroyed and they work around the clock (with stadium type lights) as long as the weather cooperates. You can go here to read a news article. It is a great thing for the environment and the farmers that own the land are making great money leasing space in their fields. However, we only own 3 acres so no turb1nes ON our property... thus no monetary profit, just a lot of CHANGE!

I am struggling a little with this. Please pray for us. My husband really is not liking this and we are hoping the the value of our property does not go down. I feel bad for being upset... wind energy is so good for our environment, but it is totally changing our area!! I will post pictures as these HUGE things start going up..... Right now it is all ground work and closed roads.


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

A close call with coyotes!

Country life is full of excitement..... sometimes just not the kind you want!
Hubby and I were woke up at 2:30 in the morning to sounds of our dog barking on the front porch (right by our bedroom window). His bark was then joined by at least the yips of 3 coyotes, and some fighting sounds. I JUMPED out of bed and ran to the front door..... the coyotes ran off.... but I couldn't find our dog, Copper (a small ratterier) . I called and called and called.... nothing. Quiet.... I went back to bed and couldn't sleep. I was SO mad, so SAD! About an hour later, I had just drifted back to sleep and much to my relief Copper was at the front door barking!!! He seems fine! Praise the Lord... Ethan would be crushed to loose HIS dog. From now on, no matter how nice it is, Copper MUST come in to sleep in his cage. This is a good reminder why we don't go too far from the house after dark. We have never had them be so bold as to come to the front porch!!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Remodel update

The sun is shining!!! We have been blessed with a new day. "His mercy is new every morning!" Praise the Lord! Resting in HIS grace and mercy to cover my many blunders and ACCEPTING the strength HE gives keep going another day! Choosing Simplicity: Knowing where my strength, hope, joy, peace, love and grace come from! I can ONLY do it with Him!!!!

The remodel project is coming along! If you have noticed my lack of posts, it is because I am busy with LIFE! Last night we ate IN our dining room on the TABLE! It might not sound like much, but TWO weeks without sharing supper at the table is a LONG time for us! We enjoy our "Simple Family Suppers"! Sharing time together over supper is a high light of my day. The dining room is almost done for now... I just have to finish painting the trim. I will post some pictures soon.

As I type I hear the dryer running... IN the NEW laundry room!!!!!!!!!!! The laundry room is down to the trim and hooking up the laundry sink!!!!! Next we will tackle the second bathroom. I am so proud of my husband... he has worked on this EVERY night and weekend and gotten so much done in a short time! I don't feel like much help, but I have done the painting (and been the gofer!). Today I am painting trim and sealing tile grout.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Seedlings and Chocolate Banana Muffins

Yesterday I finished buying all my seeds to get my garden veggies and flowers started inside by my BIG south window. Right now I have two flats of lettuce and spinach growing.... they won't make it to the garden... we will EAT it all first!!! Lettuce and spinach are easy to grow year round in a sunny window. My mouth is watering just thinking about FRESH greens! I will be planting the veggies and flower seedlings in mid March so they will be ready for the first part of May. I won't put tomatoes out till more towards the end of May.

I am "thinking" SPRING!! Today is a rainy day.... that is ok, it is rain, not snow! The temps are going to FALL and tomorrow's high is only in the low 20's..... It is still February on the calendar, but in my heart I am choosing SPRING! That is one great thing about growing your own seedlings... getting into the soil WEEKS before we can work outside in the "real" garden!

Today is "Home Day" for the little boys and me..... it is the only week day morning that we don't have anything going on. No pre-school, no speech, no "mom's group" Bible study... Just a wonderful day to be home! We do "home-school" pre-school for about 30 minutes but other than that the boys just ENJOY playing with each other while I tackle house work. Tonight we have church. I am going to make up the following recipe to share with the women's Bible study.
I found this recipe on Home Makers Cottage.

Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

1-1 /2 C flour
1 C sugar
1/4 C baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/3 C mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium)
1/3 C vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
1 egg
1 C miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, combine bananas, oil, and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350-degrees

Well, I am off to FIND my kitchen!!! With all the remodeling going on my kitchen counters have been PILED on!! YUCK!!!! The re-model is progressing. Last night Chris tore off the ceiling tiles and together we hung dry wall on the ceiling. Tonight he will tape and mud the joints and then we will stomp it! I am so glad to have a fresh ceiling! I am NOT a fan of square ceiling tiles!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Tour Tuesday.... remodel eddtion

Remember Tour Tuesday?? It has been a long time, but here is one!

Pictures of our Weekend project! It is on-going... a few more weeks till it is all done, but we are making BIG headway!!!

Here is Chris teaching Ethan (almost 6) how to grout. Ethan is a "Hands on" guy.... He will learn the trade! It will be a good trade for him to know how to do even if it isn't how he provides for his family someday. Chris is a patient instructor!

Now Ethan is doing HIS part of grouting the wall tile on the end of the kitchen island! It has been tiled for over a year.... finally FINISHED with grout! Looks great! Now, on to tearing out the TROUBLE tile in the dining room.... this was already here when we purchased this place six years ago.... NEEDED to go... Bad!!! Chris had lots of help.....(ok, not really!). Wes hauled out all the chipped tile and dumped it in the trailer! He is really getting stronger... sorry, I didn't take any pics of my Wes..... oops!
After putting down the new sub floor, Chris framed in the new COAT closet and pantry. Robyn is helping him with some electrical work.Dry wall going up on the coat closet and pantry. The door in the middle leads to the current laundry room/storage room..... soon to be a SECOND bath/laundry room!!! Yee-Haw!! TWO bathrooms!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather