Sourdough bread in 5 minutes a day

I love bread.  It really doesn't matter what kind.  Farmhouse, honey oat, Artisan, Whole Wheat, White... I have even learned in my life as a mostly grown up to enjoy rye and pumpernickle. 

And Sourdough?  Oh sourdough, how do I love you?  Let me count the ways...

I am also learning the art of food fermentation.  Yogurt, Water Kefir, soaked grains... the many uses  of sourdough starter!  Oh I've made muffins and pancakes and more pancakes and waffles and pancakes.  Did I mention the pancakes?  (Today IS National Pancake Day, people!) 
Except... I have NOT had much success with sourdough bread.  It just didn't come out... right.  It didn't rise, it was WAY too crusty.  Don't get me wrong, I love crust... just not enough to chip a tooth on it.  So sourdough has elluded me... until today! 

Another thing I love?  Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day.  This is the ONLY way I can have fresh bread in the summer.  It is just too busy a time of year to be on a bungy cord attached to the kneading and rising and punching and rising and shaping and rising and baking... gesh.  I have bett-ah things to do! Like swim in a pool, feed chickens, tend look at pigs (Five-Oh raises those), milk goats, make chevre and weed gardens!  Oh and raise children.  Ha, almost forgot about those hungry growing buggers blessings from heaven.

Wait, wait, what?  You've never heard of Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day!?  Oh ma gosh.  It's SOOOO easy.  You mix up, like, 4 ingredients, put it in a non metal bowl, let it rise, stick it in the fridge and pull out a softball size ball of dough everytime you want artisan bread.  Or you can make it into pizza, or cinnamon rolls or well, anything that's made with dough.  You get the idea here?  You see the broad scope of possibilities?!

You're welcome.

Next comes the inspiration that just shot down out of the heavens and into my head this morning.  (Thank you Jesus!)  What if... stay with me here people... what if I combined the sourdough starter with the ideas of Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day!?  And so that is exactly what I did with mah bad self.

Sourdough Bread in 5 Minutes a day
1 1/2 c Sourdough Starter (my starter is fed 1/2 flour, 1/2 water quantities at a time)
2 1/4 c warm water
1 tsp active dry yeast (you need a little of this yeast in order to get a good rise from the 'fridge)
1 Tbsp kosher salt
6 c flour (I used organic white)

Mix it all up.  I used my kitchenaid mixer, but absolutely do NOT leave your dough to rise in a stainless steel bowl.  It messes with the wee yeasties.  Transfer over to a ceramic or plastic container.  Your dough should be a slightly sticky mass.  Allow to rise for 6-8 hours or so. (You can't really go wrong here.)  Stick it in your fridge.  When you are ready to bake follow the baking instructions found here.  Or get creative.  Today I made calzones and cinnamon buns! 

UPDATE: I followed the directions in the link for making an artisan loaf. I handled it minimally, just gently shaped.  And I let it sit out for about 1 - 1 1/2 hrs before baking. And baked it at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes.  It was the BEST loaf of artisan bread I ever made in. my. life.  And that says a lot.  The picture above is that very loaf.  Delicious-o!

(free sourdough starter)

Enjoy! 

Orphans Calling

This has been sitting heavily on my mind the past 12 hours or so.  I am grieved.
It is something I heard yesterday... from a Christian...

"My daughter and son-in-law (both "devout" Christians) want but can't have children... and they don't want to adopt and inherit another person's mess... I guess not everyone is called to adopt." 

I don't know about you... but this sits heavily on my soul.  This makes my heart hurt.

What if God said that about YOUR mess?! 

Hanna?  She's a complete train wreck.  I don't want to inherit THAT!  Let's turn away from that! Out of sight out of mind!

What if HE said that your mess was too big for Him to adopt YOU!?
Thankfully, our God NEVER abandons us as orphans.  He is involved!  He has adopted US as his own children.  He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Eph 1:5)  We can cry out to Him, "Abba! Father!" He makes our mountains of messes into tiny little molehills. Walls come crumbling down. Evil, diabolical rulers fall at God's command.

Did you know that if less that 10% of the Christian population adopted, there would be NO orphans. Only 1 in 10 of us need to adopt. Christians, caring for orphans is NOT a calling.  It is commanded.  You can not cry out for the unborn and then abandon the resulting child.  Turning your back on the orphaned is the SAME thing, the VERY same evil as cutting an unborn child from the womb of it's mother.  Stop using the vast excuses of the enemy and step up!  BE the Church.  Care for the fatherless.

So how do you care for orphans?  
1. Adoption, Foster Care or Orphan Hosting (New Horizons for Children)
2. Fundraise or donate to people who are adopting or hosting.
3. Advocate. Pray. Stop allowing our American self-centered comfy Christian culture to sit and do nothing.

Do you think I'm being dramatic?  Here only a handful of the Bible Verses on Caring for Orphans...
Psalms 82:3-4 - Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

 

James 1:27 - Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

 

Galatians 4:4-6 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

 

Psalms 68:5-6 - Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

 

Psalms 10:18 - Defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

 

Psalms 10:14,17-18 You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

 

Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

 

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 - He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.

 

Proverbs 31:8-9 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

 

Matthew 18:5 - And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

 

Matthew 25:40 - I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

 

Hosea 14:3 - In you the orphan finds mercy.

 

Exodus 22:22-23 - Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.

 

Romans 8:14-16 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

 

Job 29:12 - Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.

Our First Herd Sire!

Kalamalka Pirate's Blackbeard!!!

 

Isn't that a great name?  I wish I had a website to link to the Crandall's who bred Blackbeard.  Laine Crandall was a lovely person to correspond with while figuring out if this was our guy.  Blackbeard's sire, Pirate, is Little Orchard bred.  They have excellent lamanchas and I am super excited to see some little goat kids out of this guy!  Blackbeard will be owned by Jocelyn and boarded on our homestead for part of the year with the promise of breeding rights.

Super excited to have found our first buck!  Can't wait to have him here!

Here is his full brother's Pedigree!

This is his Dam, Kalmalka V&V Lily. 89+EEE

Lilly's udder before milking.  She's the first one with the spots.

 

Blackbeard's Sire: Little Orchard SC Pirate 88VEE
(Maternal brother to the #1 lamancha buck on the ADGA sire summary list,

+*B Little Orchard BR Pure Thrill 91VEE.)

 

 Blackbeard's Sire's Dam (Grandma): SGCH Little Orchard PL Pure Joy  EEEE92

 

Growing goats

My goats are growing and getting sleeker and healthier.  But my worry over them does not seem to be any less.  I keep worrying that one of them are going to die on me!  I am such a newby and EVERYTHING is a learning experience at this point. 

This week goat sprains were an item of learning.  Minnie sprained her knee.  It grew to the size of a tennis ball.  I immediately was SURE that they were both CAE positive and were going to die within the week.  I am only slightly dramatic in real life.  But as a goat owner I am a bit of a freak drama queen worry wart.  So after a bit of settling down by Jocelyn and Charleen, my goat friends, I got put on my big girl pants barn boots and got to work.  Apparently goats can take aspirin when they have a sprain.  So I bought baby asprin.  Which Minnie devoured.  She loved the stuff.  I also learned that willow is nature's aspirin.  Thankfully we have 2 willows.  A weeping pussy willow (which was already quite pruned from Minnie) and a regular pussy willow.   Minnie got a couple of knee hose downs with cold cold well water and in 3 days she is nearly good as new.  Still a bit swollen, but she's not bothered by it.  Thank God!  And now I am educated on goat sprains.

Now.  Enjoy some pretty goats' pictures...
 

Tilly, who would NOT stay still.  Would not keep her legs back.

"Nice width and height, especially at the escutcheon."

 

An afternoon stroll with my goats through the back field.

Minnie the Milker.  She's a great milker for being such a little thing.  A wonderful guinea pig goat.
 

BrightStar Chantilly Lace

DISCLAIMER!

This post is mainly for my own reference.

 While, some of you goat lovers might enjoy this, I fully realize

that this is a complete bore to the rest of you.

Deal.

BrightStar Chantilly Lace

 

CH Marshmeadow Sky Sequined Veil  (Tilly's Mom) 87VE+V

This is Tilly's Dam as a yearling milker. She ended up an ADGA Champion (that's the CH in front of her name.) To be a Champion you have to win 3 Grand Champion awards under at least 2 different judges at ADGA sanctioned events. So pretty much, she won 3 goat beauty contests. LOL

When we saw Veil at BrightStar Farm, where I bought Tilly and Minnie, she was a shadow of her former glory, poor old lady. Age. It happens to the best of us. I was so happy to find this picture when I searched her Pedigree name. Those Googles, they sure are helpful!

 

Tilly's Sir is Brookwood Bastile Andre 86VEV bred by Brookwood Lamanchas.  BEAUTIFUL goats.  If you look at the website anything with Bastille in the name is related to my Tilly.  Likewise, anything with Prowler.

I have high hopes for our Little Tilly.  I hope she is the start of something great!  I hope she is a great doe birthing mother.  I hope she is a great milker.  I hope she nurtures a love of goats and animals in my children.  I hope she doesn't purposely tip over the water bucket like Minnie. 

Mostly, I hope God may be glorified in this goat raising endeavor.  I am realizing that He put this pastoral yearning in me.  I feel peace while taking them for walks through the trails in our fields. (We don't have a pasture yet.)  I feel joy and purpose when filling a milking pail with substance that will nourish my family.  I feel fulfilled when I make cheese to fill my children's bellies.  This IS the abundant life.  And I give thanks.

Matthew 7:11

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Please Welcome...

The newest additions to our family (farm)!

Minnie

and...

Tilly!

(They are LaMancha Dairy Goats.)

More adventures in homesteading coming soon!

And a little Bible Verse that made me chuckle.

Proverbs 27:27

You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.

LOVE each other

In the past 12 hours 2 verses have come to my attention, through my SOAP Ephesians study, and through Erasing Hell, by Francis Chan...

Ephesians 1:15-16
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you remembering you in my prayers. 

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

Francis Chan (Erasing Hell) gives this commentary about Matthew 5:21-22
Have you called your brother a fool lately? On a blog? On facebook? Have you tweeted anything of the sort? 
So often these hell passages become fodder for debate, and people miss the point of the warning.  Jesus didn't speak of hell so that we could study, debate, and write books about it.  He gave us these passages so that we would live holy lives.  Stop slandering one another, and live in peace and brotherly unity.  Jesus evidently hates it when we tear into our brothers or sisters with demeaning words, words that fail to honor the people around us as the beautiful image-bearing creatures that we are. 

Wow, God.  That was timely.  You see I have felt pretty attacked lately by fellow believers whose views vary slightly from mine.  I have not slandered in retort.  BUT OOOOOOH how I have WANTED to.  I have really really wanted to.  I have written the words in my head.  Put together with the Ephesians verses this is the heart change I have come away with.

~Love ALL saints.  Even when it's not easy.
~Give thanks for each other.  EVEN when you don't want to.
~Pray for each other.  Prayer keeps the enemy at bay.  We need to lift each other up, instead of cutting each other down. 

Dear Lord, I am guilty.  I may not have vocalized it, but I have thought it.  Lord help me to have a tender heart.  Help me to lift my fellow Christians.  Help me to Love all Saints.  I give thanks for each of your children and the different ways you have sculpted us.  Help us each to hear YOUR voice, YOUR call, and obey YOUR will.  Help us to be a reflection of your heart.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Footnote:  There is a difference between cutting each other down and holding each other accountable...
One is done in frustration and anger.  One is done in love.

Erasing Hell

Because Francis Chan could not put it any better, here is an excerpt from Erasing Hell that sums up what I have been learning through GOD's Word. 

Jesus chose strong and terrifying language when He spoke of hell.  I believe He chose to speak this way because He loves us and wanted to warn us.  So let's not miss the point:  He spoke of hell as a horrifying place, characterized by sufferring, fire, darkness, and lamentation.  I believe His intention was to stir a fear in us that would cause us to take hell seriously and avoid it at all costs. 
I was a bit surprised at how many harsh statements Jesus made about hell.  It probably caught me off guard because I am so used to people emphasizing His words of blessing, not His words of warning.  Some of His words may have shocked you, but I would like you to consider the following thought:
We are bound by the words of the Creator, the One who will do what is right.  The One who invented justice and knows perfectly what the unbeliever deserves.  God has never asked us to figure out His justice or to see if His way of doing things is morally right.  He has only asked us to embrace His Word and bow the knee, to tremble at His word, as Isaiah says (66:2) 
Don't get so lost in deciphering that you forget to tremble. 

I HIGHLY recommend this book.  It is BIBLICALLY referenced and has just left me in trembling awe of God.  It has made Hell, a place that I have mostly ignored, a place of reality in my faith.  Instead of pushing me away from God it has drawn me closer.  Hell is a scary place.  And our God loves us so much, that he gave us THE way out.  Jesus. 

See also:  Matthew 18, Matthew 25, Mark 9, Luke 16, Matthew 10:28, 2 Peter and Jude...  and oh my there are so many more...

Choci Creama

This is my Swiss Great Grandmother's recipe for Choci Creama (Chocolate Cream)  It is delicious and a favorite recipe at Christmas time.  Bonus: It's gluten free (as long as you use gf chocolate chips.)

Beat 2 eggs and 2 Tbsp sugar until creamy and lemony colored.
Melt 8 oz chocolate chips (I use the microwave, just check it often so the chocolate doesn't burn.) Stir melted chocolate into egg mixture.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but not more than 2.
Cream 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, until you have... Uhhh, whipped cream. ;)
Fold Egg/chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Your arms will hurt from all the folding.
Can be eaten immediately or refrigerated.

Enjoy.

Speak Truth

Ephesians 4:14-16
...speaking the truth in love...

Luke 11:33
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.

John 8:11
...And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."


As Christians we are not called to be popular.  We are called to speak truth.  We are not called to keep our faith to ourselves to hide it deep within.  We are called to be a light.  Even if it is an unpopular light.  If fact the world may even hate you if you are a Christian.  (1 John 3:13)

I will not sugar coat my faith.  People are dirty, rotten sinners and I am one of them.  Compared to the purity and holiness of God, I am as dirty as the most rotten and vial of murderers that have ever walked this earth.  By comparison we are all.  Thankfully, I have salvation.  I am saved because of my faith in Jesus Christ.  My sins are washed clean as soon as I repent.  And I am set free.

Christ brings us all to conviction in our sins at different times.  Otherwise we would completely give up.  Can you imagine being convicted of all the sins you do in just one day?  It would be quite discouraging.  But we have a gentle Lord, he changes us.  Sometimes it is immediate, and as is my case, sometimes it is gradual and gentle. 

Here is the thing, people.  Sin is sin.  It is what it is.  It is not a gray scale.  It is Black.  It is darkness and it is there.  We can not say that a sin or sins do not exist, with the thoughts that without them, more people will come to Christ.  Hatred is Murder.  A lie is a lie, even if you think that is for the better good... to save feelings from being hurt... even to bring more people to Christ.  Sexual perversion is sin.  They simply are.  I could go on and on about all the sins in this world that separate us from God in his Holiness.  Here's the thing, if it was not a part of God's beautiful plan at the Creation, before the fall, then it is not of God.  It is Sin.  And it is of Satan.  And it keeps us from God.

The beauty in all of this is that God redeems the mess that our self gratifying flesh has gotten itself into.  God redeems it all through the beauty and perfect sacrifice at the Cross.  Christ is our redemption.  He didn't just die on a cross.  He toke the wrath, the wrath of GOD... all of it.  The wrath that was due to us because of our sins.  Christ, perfect and blameless and not deserving an ounce of that wrath, took it ALL.  For us sinners.  Love perfected. 


Then he beat death and rose from the grave.  He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us.  Through the Holy Spirit we are molded.  And made a new creation.  A continuous process of beautification.  It becomes not about me, but about Him.  It becomes not about you... but about Him.

If you have not accepted that Christ is the Son of God, the Savior, or you would like more information on God and Christ, I encourage you to contact me or to find a Bible believing Church. 

I am preferential to the Free Methodists... ;)

May God bless you as deeply as he has blessed me.  And more.

Someday When I'm Old and Gray

A week and a day ago my superhot husband and I celebrated our 7th year of wedded bliss.

Not 2 minutes ago I had my sweet little 4 year old, Annie snuggled up in my lap. 

Annie: "Mama, can I twy on yours wedding wing?"

Me:  Sure honeygirl.

And so, I slipped the ring off my finger that her father gave me almost 8 years ago.  And slipped it onto her little ring finger. 

And as it sat there on her tiny finger, it struck me.

Someday this little girl is going to be a big girl...

and then that big girl is going to be a teenager...

and then a young woman...

And someday a young man is going to slip a ring on her not so little anymore finger.  And ask her to marry him.  TO MARRY HIM!?  My little girl will be a young woman, who a young man asks to marry.   

And so I told Annie this. That one day a man would come who would love her and he would give her a pretty ring much like the one on her finger and he would ask her to marry him.  Just like her daddy asked me to marry him with that pretty ring. 

And it was then that I realized that THAT man...

THE MAN.  My daughter's future husband.

right now...

RIGHT NOW...

is a little boy. 

And I hope that his Mama and Daddy are teaching him to be a good man...

a pure man...

a man of God. 

And then I realized that I have to do something about this.  I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!!  I mean, my baby can not just marry ANYONE... what if... what if...  

Here's the thing...
I NEED to PRAY for these things. 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 
~Matthew 7:7

Especially, if I want my girls to marry men who are as good and noble and trustworth and honest and Christ/family oriented as their father.  For I am blessed.  And I pray that they will be as well.

Pray for your children, and as was revealed to me today, pray for their spouses who are children right now too.

BIG

I'm going to share with you a couple verses from the Old Testament.  They were preached on today in church and I thought the message worth sharing.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
 ⁹ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

This translation does not really encompass all the meaning of this passage.  Jabez literally means He who makes sorrow.  His mother did not just birth him in pain, but she bore him in sorrow.  Can you imagine baring a child and naming him "sorrow."  Makes you wonder what kind of event brought about such a birth...

BUT here is what we can learn from these verses.  Look at verse 10.  Jabez whose life literally started out as sorrow, still rose above his name.  Not only did he rise above his circumstances and live 'more honorable than his brothers.'  But Jabez CRIED OUT TO THE GOD OF ISRAEL! 

And what do you think God did? 

God granted his request.

Jabez is not unique.  It doesn't matter if your life started out as sorrow.  It doesn't matter if your DAY started out as sorrow.  Live honorably.  CALL out to Him!

Rant

Frustrated. 

I would like a bit of meat. 

Not the fluff we are being fed. 

Being a pastor is not a career people.  It is a calling.  SO listen to and follow God or get off the box.  

The end.

UPDATE:  Today at church one of our pastors did a sermon that had conviction to it.  I think it applicable to my above rantings.  Anyhow, here is the verse that our lady pastor quoted. 

Ephesians 5:14-17
¹⁴ ...
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Usually I underline parts of a verse that I find to be vital.  In this case, it should ALL be underlined.  I feel that these verses speak to the culture of church that Americans have created.  It saddens my soul.  We are all asleep.  AWAKE SLEEPER!  Be Careful, be wise, make the most of EVERYTHING. 

Stop doing ___________ as if it matters for eternity.  (Insert: Blogging, Watching Ball Games, Watching TV, manicuring your lawn to perfection, sewing, Facebooking ect ect ect...) 

I am not saying that I am a perfect Christian.  Or even close to it.  I just expect the leaders in our church to not be more consumed with this world than I am.

Christians WAKE UP!

A good reminder for all of us.

I think I need to find this little poem as one of those wall word thingies...  I am totally reposting it from someone's facebook status but I thought it a good reminder for all of us.  Because we all need to be reminded of the power of our words to hurt or heal.

A careless word may kindle strife;

A cruel word may wreck a life.

A bitter word may hate instill;

A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way;

A joyous word may light the day;

A timely word may lessen stress;

A loving word may heal and bless.

I've been a busy girl...

SO, it would appear that I haven't posted in about OOOOOOOOOOO 3.5 months.  And you all missed A LOT.

So.  Here's the down low on the past 3 months.

We went camping.  Alone.  As in without Chris.  Just the kids and mommy and a bunch of other kids and their mommies.  Surprisingly, It was lovely.

We came home and I was exceedingly tired.

EXTREMELY DEEP IN MY BONES TIRED. 

Not regular camping tired.

So I packed up the shorties and headed out to the local stuff marts and bought some stuff and some beer and some pregnancy tests...

...turns out I didn't need the beer...

...and I only needed 1 pregnancy test.

SO.  Baby Cole isn't the baby anymore...

BUT HE IS!!!!

Okay, so I'm still coming to grips with the whole "God doesn't make mistakes" thing and the whole "Babies are a blessing" stuff and the whole "Natural Family Planning really works" spiel.  But really, I'm excited.  I am!  And also?  I have exceedingly low Vitamin D and Vitamin B levels... really, I do. The Midwife told me so.  I even got a notice today...  in the mail... in case I forgot in my general state of BLAH.

Which I did. 

SO, then my baby Cole turned 1. 

And about a month later he started walking.

And a day later he started running...

And climbing...

And about 2 weeks ago, we started Kindergarten homeschooling.

And then 1.5 weeks ago, my husband left for 3 months of training in the Polygraphs. 

And a week ago, we started a lovely Kindergarten/PreK Waldorf-ish homeschool co-op group at my house.

And 4 days ago, I threw up while brushing my teeth.

And 2 days ago, I mopped my kitchen floor for the first time in 17 weeks.

And today, I found Baby Cole in the bathroom sink... still can't quite figure out the dynamics of THAT.

And just about 37 minutes ago, my dog got sprayed by a skunk. 

SO, that's what I've been doing. 

Want to know what I have NOT been doing?  Harvesting.  Canning.  Cooking in general.  Great blog name.  Betcha thought you were going to get all kinds of harvesting, canning and cooking in general information.  Heh.  Guess again.

How about you?  What have you been doing?

Wait for the Cake

Hard to imagine that it's been 5 years.

Today my Gracie-girl turned 5... FIVE!!!  That's a whole hand!  Or foot!  Where did the time go? 

James 4:14 

For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishes away

Dear Lord, Thank you for bringing this verse to mind.  I need help remembering to cherish these little ones before the vapor vanishes away.  Help me to raise them so that we are glorifying to you. 

Lord, thank you for giving me a husband who brings these home to his special birthday girl.

Thank you for providing for us with enough that we can give her this...

My cup runneth over...

Amen.

And now for what you've all been waiting for...

The BEST (Gluten free) Carrot Cake EVER!!!

Really it is!  People RAVE over this carrot cake... they don't even know it's gluten free.

1 c rice flour

1/2 c tapioca flour

1/2 c potato starch flour

2 cups sugar (I use 3/4 c raw sugar and 1 c white sugar)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp xanthan gum

1 tsp ground cinnamon

4 eggs

3 c finely shredded carrots

1 cup cooking oil

Combine all dry (First 8) ingredients. 

In a separate bowl beat 4 eggs.  Add the shredded carrot and oil.  Mix until well combined.

Add the dry mixture to the wet and mix until thoroughly combined.

Pour batter into 2 greased 9 inch round cake pans.  Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. 

Cool for 10 minutes.  Invert cakes and cool completely before frosting.

Yummy Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

1 stick butter (softened)

1 lb powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and butter until blended.  Slowly add powdered sugar.

For extra fanciness use chopped pecans around the outer frosting. (See photo)

Photo Friday

Yes, I grew it myself.

Actually, I bought the plant at the StuffMart.

Yes, I'll tell you my secret... coffee grounds.  PLENTY of coffee grounds... 

I'll do what I have to do to oblige the roses.

Can you can-can?

This is year 3 for me... how about you?

Special Delivery

Look who came in the mail today...

How does your garden grow?

So I started this blog to write about my adventures in gardening... and thus far I have been writing more about Spiritual Fruit that about Garden Vegetables... Don't get me wrong, I am all about the Fruit.  But I am going to head on over to the garden today and give you a peek.

Kale (please send recipes...) amid marigolds, onions, pepers and eggplant.

A repurposed tomatoe cage.  My neighbor's husband welded together old calf fence.  THIS is one heavy duty tomatoe cage.  Brandywine Heirloom Tomato plant growing inside amid lettuce, onions and dill. 

My pretty peas...

I actually had a bunch of fun garden photos like this but silly me I took them in RAW mode and now my computer is being stubborn and won't share them with you all.

What's in your garden?