Butter..Yummie Butter

Per request...a bit about making butter...

First we have to skim the cream from the milk. We have found it is best to let the milk sit, in the fridge, for 24 hours - that gives us the best cream.

Here's our evening cream...mmmm This will set out till morning becoming cultured or slightly soured. We purposely leave lids off because if you don't the "gases" can not escape and the bacteria from the air, which is needed to culture, can not get to the cream.

Using a modern woman's best friend to shake the cream....it takes about 45-60 minutes depending on the cream and if it's been cultured or not. Cold cream doesn't make good butter.

Butter in a pool of buttermilk...which is nasty by the way...although some claim it's really good! We personally think that someone in our house is just saying that it is good to be "different" - If you tasted it you would agree...yuk!

So here is the time-consuming part...butter washing! It's actually very relaxing and takes about 20-30 minutes. Washing the butter consists of of putting in cold water and "squishing", not smearing, the butter with a slotted spoon to the bottom of the bowl, then poor off that water and do it again and again and again and again until the water runs clear. Now you have to get as much water out as possible - I seem to always have a bit of water left. Now salt and put into mini containers to mold. Set the containers in the refrigerator overnight and then I usually take the butter out of the mold and freeze in freezer paper.

The taste is far superior to anything you can purchase at the store. One draw back is that it doesn't seem to do well for frying There is a weird smell - so it fries fine but the smell is strong...but we just use bacon grease...and I wonder why my jeans don't fit!

I've used it in cookies and breads - anything calling for butter in baking and it works fine.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you enjoyed a bit of old fashioned culinary art...

Special Day...Special Girl

Last week was our sweeties birthday. She is a delightful girl...she loves deeply, trusts deeply~! If she counts you as a friend you will have a friend for life...she will love you to the very end with no strings attached...she's a keeper!

She only saw one gift for her on our "gift" table and was completely content and happy about it...it made me so proud of her! Little did she know that a really special gift was on it's way to her and would arrive a few days after her birthday...a special doll just for her.

As you can see her new "friend" is always with her. It's adorable watching her and her new friend - it warms my heart and shouts in the face of your typical cheap toys...NO they don't have to play with "pop" culture toys and YES they can play and learn to be the mommies they will need to be...so be it!

So sweet!

Reading to her friend...hmmm bonus as reading class just got more fun!

A Room With A View...

A room with a view...this is what I see out my kitchen window. This is a blessing as our new lifestyle requires me to spend a lot of time in the kitchen...I'm a blessed woman!

Update of Dave...

Well, after much concern and worry we still have no idea what is plaguing my dear husband. I can tell you that the boils and blisters have now "melted" into red blotches and patches. He is not in any kind of pain and they don't itch...strange but true. The Dr. still has absolutely no idea what this was and his best guess is that at first he did have blood poising and then he had a sever allergic reaction to the first set of antibiotics that he was on...weird!

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your rod and staff shall comfort me" - you've all heard this verse...we have also - but it means so much more now!

As I was pondering the events of the last week this verse came to me and it struck me that we had walked through the shadow of death valley...but that the Lord put his "rods and staffs" around us to comfort us...can you guess what I think those rods and staffs were? YOU, all of you who prayed and encouraged and held us up when we felt like that we had been forgotten, all of you who held fast to the promises of the Lord, all of you who prayed with out ceasing...YOU were the rod and the staff that comforted us as we walked through that dark and dreary shadow of death...thank you for being the rod and staff for us - thank you a million times!

May the Lord continue to use each and every one of us as rods and staffs for there are many walking in the shadows of death and need comfort!

Hugs and until next time - God Bless!

For anyone who has been reading our blog you can see that we are going through some trying times. It was a really strange experience to feel like I was leaving my wife and family, for we feared that MRSE had not responded to the medicine I was given to fight it. Even stranger, I was under the impression that I was only days away of having that great mystery in my life answered. God why have we not seen your power in our lives? Were did we miss up that we never became the people I see promised and talked about in the New Testament. Where were the people with power from on high? Where was the greater things that we can do than Jesus because He went to the Father? Where was the say to this mountain go into the sea and into the sea it goes?

For me my struggle with this skin issue is more than simply asking God to heal me. As much as I would like God to supernaturally heal me, I want His Holy Spirit. I prayed the morning I was to go to the hospital most earnestly. I prayed for healing but I also sought God for His Holy Spirit as I have so many times.

I find it odd that the thing we can fake as from the Holy Spirit. In plenty we find those things in church. We can fake speaking in tongues. We can fake words of knowledge and prophecy. In some churches we have these things in abundance. I am not saying they are fake, but in sharp contrast we do not have in abundance or at all those things we can not fake from the Holy Spirit. Where is the power from on high? We can’t fake a life long cripple being healed or the autistic child being restored to his right mind. How many demons has the average church cast out? How many of us can ask the Father anything as Jesus says and the Father will do it for us? Let alone skipping stones in the ocean with the mountains.

My prayer to God has been that I feel like Cain. For even Cain knew what the consequences of killing his brother was. It wasn’t that someone might kill him. Cain said his punishment was too much because he would be cast out of the presence of the Lord. In my life I do not have the presence of the Lord as I read is available for New Testament believers. So my prayer is that the Lord would not cast me out of His presence. I believe that God has had His Holy Spirit on me, but I don’t see the evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit in me.

Many may be taken back by my comment and say that I should have more faith. But I am still left with a life that doesn’t match up to that which was promised to the believer. I can no longer sweep this under the rug.

My prayers are constantly asking God if He is no longer able to trust anyone with His Holy Spirit, for I only see those things we can fake and not those things we can not in peoples lives including my own.

My prayers are constantly asking God if it is possible for a man of today to walk with God as Enoch. Can a man be such a man for God to call him a friend as God did for Abraham? What about Samuel, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Elijah, Ezekiel, Paul, Peter, John or how about Stephen a man filled with the Holy Spirit and who did miracles? Can a man in our time be a man who can be above average like those men? Scripture mentions and almost makes it a given of believers.

My prayer has been for many years not to see an angel or have a visitation from the Lord. Nor do I want to die and go to heaven for 30 minutes and come back all fired up because I saw heaven. I want to be what scripture says I can be because I believed God’s Word and put my faith in God’s promises. I want to be the man I read about in Scripture that seams to be missing in our churches today. But at last I know I am only suffering from grandiosity. I actually think that God could make me that kind of man someday and use me in a great way for His Church.

Joy Comes In The Morning...or Late Evening...

You'll remember the heartbreak we had a few days before Christmas as we lost our first calf.

Since then it seems as though we have been tested, like Job.

This last week we have been in constant fear of Dave's life....what started out as a simple infection in his finger spread like wild fire - he is now covered in boils and blisters all over his harm, back, neck other arm and his torso and they don't seem to be ceasing...the antibiotics are not stopping it! We were very fearful that he was dying of MRSA.

Our local Dr. could not figure out what was wrong with him - said it was strange and unusual but he would treat him for MRSA.

Friday night we decided that we should go to the ER as the sores were aggressive and growing fast - my heart was torn in two - I was not prepared to say good bye to the love of my life....and the thought of raising my children without their daddy was more than I could imagine...

Joy filled our hearts after THREE ER doctors came to look at him and said..." we just don't know what this is....you have us puzzled as it looks like MRSA but its not acting like MRSA...it's acting like so many things wrapped into one...BUT WE ARE SENDING YOU HOME AS WE ALL AGREE THAT YOUR LIFE IS NOT IN DANGER...keep taking the meds and get to a dermatologist asap"... The main doctor kept apologizing for not knowing what was going on - she will never know what relief and joy we felt as we heard the words "not life threatening"...thank you Lord...beginning of our joy and hope restored...and a nice end to my birthday - knowing that he will be around next year as I will be "20"...shhhhh I mean "40"....

We are home and still struggling with why...friends have put it into focus for me - I've been reminded of and have memorized James 5:15-16 and have recited "God has not Left you" over and over and have been reminded that there is war in heaven and sometimes the messenger can not get through to Gods people like for Daniel.

It makes me realize that we need to be steadfast - in season and out of season - the Lord was serious about this! It reminded me that life is short and we need to be of purpose and prayer...so many actually die without hearing the true gospel...so many don't believe that Satan is crouching around every corner looking to see whom he can devour, shake of course, and steal the joy that was once there...people of God "Hold Fast" and preach the Word of the Lord.

Please continue to pray for my husbands healing...I miss his hugs and so do the children - we still have no idea if it's contagious so we are being careful...

Okay now comes the part we are praising the Lord for....because joy really does come in the morning - we are filled with it this morning as we think about our newest member "Dutchess". She was born last night and is the cutest thing you ever saw...full of life and happiness!

Labor was difficult for Rosie...Dave had to help pull the calf out - but both mom and baby are fine and we even milked Rosie for the first time this morning...phew Dave got a workout there...Ropes are a marvelous invention! You see a cow produces 10 more milk than a calf will ever drink...can you imagine that? Poor Rosie was very very very full...and not very happy to being pulled away from her calf. But once she realized the rope was her "friend" and that it lead to snacks, she held still long enough for the milk machine to do its job...

Meet Dutchess...and praise the Lord for his goodness to us...No that is not Rosie the mom...that happens to be Ruthie who is very very very protective of this new calf...she actually lead us to the birthing "room" in a thicket of trees...she would not leave Rosie's side and stood over Dave watching, nudging, mooing...it was sweet! We call her "Auntie Ruthie" now.

skooooooooo

Well, this is a delightful day for sure. I've relaxed so much and am not so stressed about "perfection", so much so that I can really enjoy this precious moment in time...time that will be gone all too soon...

Little Man loves and often asks to please "do skooooooo"...A dear friend of mine encouraged me to visit this wonderful web-site and try these age appropriate, downloadable, FREE, "tot-school" lapbooks.
If you google "tot-school" - you'll find http://www.totschoolbycarisa.com/ - This blog has really interesting insights on schooling tots and some great lapbooking ideas as well as lapbooks ready to print!
Enjoy...

Rain Drops Keep Falling....

Rain - you'd think that my children, being used to Northwest weather would not be so excited about the rain that is falling...but alas they are!

Probably not because it's raining but because of how much it is raining and it is leaving huge puddles to wade in...they are having a "splash" of a time...and it's better than watching a movie on a rainy day...

Thanks for stopping by...enjoy the rain - it won't last right?

Burgermeister Meisterburger lives!!!! by Oliver

Remember this guy? He is the guy who makes a stupid law and outlaws toys. He is the Burgermeister Meisterburger from the Christmas special "Santa Clause is coming to Town". I remember watching this show as a little kid and recognizing a dumb law when I saw it. I knew it was a dumb law to out law toys.

Well in the show the Burgermeisters pass away and people move on. But in reality our Burgermeistes are just now making themselves known.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is a US law signed on August 14, 2008 by President George W. Bush. The legislative bill was known as HR 4040, sponsored by Congressman Bobby Rush.[1] The law—public law 110-314—increases the budget of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), imposes new testing and documentation requirements, and sets new acceptable levels of several substances. It imposes new requirements on manufacturers of apparel, shoes, personal care products, accessories and jewelry, home furnishings, bedding, toys, electronics and video games, books, school supplies, educational materials and science kits. The Act also increases fines and specifies jail time for some violations.

Under this new law it will be a felon to sell any children's new or used clothing or toys without a certificate they are lead free! That is right. Second hand stores are saying this will put them out of business. Small companies who make children's clothes are saying they can't afford the $50,000 to have their products certified. Retailers are already calling 2009 the year of bankruptcies. Now lets just make it more difficult with a stupid law.

Take a nice look at our new Bergermeister Meisterberger. It will be more difficult for struggling Americans to clothe their children and give them toys. Especially the less expensive second hand items. Another fine example of Democrat taking care of us little people. Will Bobby remember to go after garage sales next? Stay tuned.

Here is a link with some comments and the link from there for the original story. http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=317394

Garlic...Wonderful Garlic

Garlic has so many benefits - except one...the after odor. But we were treated today to a yummie dish that included lots of garlic.

We were delighted to discover that there is hope for America...there may not be many families who love the Lord and who are striving to raise Godly men and women...but when you meet one there is hope restored and joy filled!

We got more acquainted today with a family who are saying "no" to the worlds ideals and views and saying "yes" to scripture and raising "plants and pillars" fit for the Lord....It was refreshing to be sure!

Here's one of the side dishes she made us:

Small Whole Potatoes - put into a baking pan, sprinkle salt and drizzle with olive oil or butter(she used butter) - cook at 350 till potatoes are almost done, 45 minutes, then add whole garlic cloves and cook for another 20-30 minutes...my oh my this was delicious...the garlic with a bite of roasted potato was wonderful!

I liked this so much that I made it for our dinner meal...yum!

Thanks for stopping by...till next time! Be encouraged - read your Word!

From A Child to A Young Man...not a Teenager!

As our son was approaching the age of 12 we were inclined to listen to the CD, "What to Expect From a 12 Year Old" by Dr. S.M. Davis purchased from Vision Forum. It was very educational and an eye-opener for both us and our son.

We had no idea just how many young men and women ages 12 and sometimes younger accomplished more than most of us could in a lifetime. We were inspired and excited that what we've been thinking all along, "no teenagers in our home" was not a pipe dream but a real possibility.

What a shame that this used to be the normal process of things, not from child to teenager to adulthood - no, it used to be child to young adult to adult! Teenager is a new word. Think about it, what do you think of when the word "teenager or teen" is spoken? What do you think of when someone says "young adult" - there is a difference, a respect, a responsibility, and a purpose.

During the CD the speaker goes over six main points. We asked our son to write down the six main points of the teaching and to "grade" himself from 1-5. He gave himself an average of 3 on most points - meaning he realizes he has work to do...

The things you should expect from a 12 year old are:

Having a mature sense of responsibility, purpose and destiny

Making wise choices in the company they keep

Have a burning desire to gain truth and wisdom

Fully obedient

Constantly respectful

Committed to do the will of God thus having good fruit

The eve before our son's twelfth birthday we sat down together with tea/cider and discussed these points and what it means to have a pure heart. After our discussion we presented our son with a "covenant ring". This ring will serve as a reminder that he entered into a covenant with the Lord and his parents. That he will strive to be a trustworthy and pure man.

Many would say, "it can't be done" or "good-luck trying that" or "well, that was of olden times", or "yeah, that won't work today"...but I say "with the Lord ALL things are possible"! The Lord promises in his very word that our sons are a blessing not a curse, that they are like olive shoots, that they are a crown to their father...as long as we seek after and obey His commands and don't break off the yoke or comforting bonds set for His people...so yes it would be impossible without the Lord...but He is our Lord and we are His people. So join us in rejoicing over our young man and encourage him as he walks this wonderful journey to manhood.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

If you look closely you'll see the guitar "dude" on the pie - Our son announced he wanted apple pie not cake this year...and chocolate ice cream...strange combination!

Happy Birthday to our young Man of 12 years old. As tradition, out for breakfast with dad, then home for games and to open presents. Then lunch of junk food and a movie. The day ended with pie and ice cream and some more games...a fun day for a fun "man".

Little man's first cone filled ice cream...needs more practice!

Merry Christmas To All...

Merry Christmas to our family and friends. You are all dear to us. We've had a wonderful celebration which started yesterday. We spent some time with some friends that have walked with us through many ups and downs, happy times and sad...we enjoyed fellowship, food and ended with Christmas carols which opened up our hearts to hear from the Lord...it was the most beautiful Christmas Eve we've ever had.

Here the children are with their Christmas Eve gifts...jammies and of course cereal from our dear friend "Jack"...

Christmas Confessions....I hope you will still associate with me after reading this...It's true my children are the Milkman's...hahahaha!!!! We were able to enjoy our first glass of raw milk from our girl today...it was so good - just like drinking ice cream!

My very own "milkman" - I'm a lucky girl!

After breakfast we opened stockings and then filtered to the front room and opened gifts, one at a time! We enjoyed a relaxing time watching the movie Wall-e. Since the children all, yes all, got throwing knives we ventured outside to try our hand at hitting a target - not as easy as it looks! Before dinner we played a few games our favorite being - "dress up dad". The children absolutely enjoyed this. Our dinner was delightful as it was foods mostly from our hard work in the garden and canning. We ended our wonderful day by making a little candy village...that was so much fun! We have lots of candy left - yuk! Now we are watching the movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth"...so far my opinion is "hmmmmm yawn" - we'll see...

First BB Gun

What a costume...so much fun!

We all feel like this was the most wonderful Christmas we've had.

Grief

Grief comes from many sources...loss of a animal is ours this morning. As we labored with our favorite cow Ruth and waited with anticipation and excitement we talked about how much delight we will be getting from our newest member of our little farm. Alas, it wasn't to be as the sweetest little calf you ever saw was stillborn. We were devastated and tired and worried for our Ruthie. This morning is bittersweet as yes we have a cow to milk but no dear little calf to give it to.

We have cried over this precious animal and have wondered why...our hearts are broken.

As my husband was feeling the devastation he said something very sad. He said, "Here I am bawling over losing a calf and people happily abort their children every day...and go out for coffee afterwards"

We are moving forward and in the days to come put this pain to rest and look forward to the next birth from Rosie-girl.

The Lord never said life would be easy here...but He did say He will comfort us in our time of need so we are expecting His comforts today as we heal from this blow.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings...

Hugs...

Mom and Dad learning to chill out...

Merry Christmas to all....My husband does everything with "artistic" flare. I knew when I asked him to help me make some snow people they would turn out spectacular! Didn't he do a marvelous job!

Generosity...James 4:17

Generosity is not something we are born with...we have to learn it and then practice it till it becomes second nature. There are those who "give", but not with joy of heart or thanksgiving that they have the ability to give. I know of only a few families who portray what true giving is. In one particular family charity and generosity is probably the characteristics you would see most. In the past few months I've been able to watch as their oldest son is learning to be generous. This Christmas he blessed us with a gift, which he bought with his own money...from his heart! Yes, I am using it as our main tables "center piece" - as a reminder of James 4:17.

I doubt he will ever know how much this gift will bless us....you see we always purchase "cold" cereal for Christmas morning since we eat hot breakfast all year long. This is precisely what is in those packages on my table - our Christmas morning breakfast! How do I know that? Well, this young man has a sweet little sister and she, with her big blue eyes looked up at me and said, "Mr. Griffin do you want to know what your gift is?" and with the biggest grin she announced "CEREAL" - Only the Lord knew that we'd be having our daily warm breakfast and foregoing the cold cereal this season...See how much the Lord cares for us...see how he worked it all out through a young man who is learning what James 4:17 means! Generosity, charity and good will should be the flavor of Christmas not the horrid packages and gifts and stress that it has become!

May you be blessed this year by someones generosity towards you! Thanks for stopping by...and by the way yes I am "Mr. Griffin" to this endearing little sweetie and I will miss it when she grows out of calling me "Mr. Griffin"...it's just the sweetest thing in the world!