Cannon Ball!

Fair warning - this is a photo-heavy post :-)











































SPLASH!!!!!!

I Love Technology

Isn't technology great?

I mean, yes, it can lead to some serious laziness. "Convenient" everything.

But this morning, I love technology.

Because after 81 days, I got to see my husband's face.....from the other side of the world.

My children got to see their Daddy, for the first time in nearly 3 months.



Wouldn't you love this technology too?

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

1 c raisins
1 c water
¾ c shortening
1 ½ c sugar (or the same of crystallized honey/sucanat)
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 ½ c flour
½ t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
½ t ground cloves
2 c rolled oats
½ c chopped nuts


Simmer raisins and water for 20-30 minutes in a small saucepan. Drain raisins, but save liquid in a measuring cup. Add enough water to make ½ c liquid.

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix in liquid.

Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Stir in oats, nuts and raisins.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a baking sheet/stone. Bake 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Cool and enjoy!

(The ones in the photo were made with the dry honey)

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

I like to use organic ingredients around here. I do so as much as possible, but one thing I can never seem to find, is organic Ricotta cheese.

So I make my own!

This is so unbelievably easy, and is about as fresh as you can get! I love the buttery, creamy smell this sends around the kitchen.

You need:
1 Quart whole milk
1 cup Half and Half
pinch salt
2 Tb lemon juice

First, take a large colander and set it in a larger bowl. Line the colander with a double layer of damp paper towel, or cheese cloth.



Now, in a stainless steel, or enameled saucepan, bring the milk, half and half,and salt to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.


As soon as it comes to a nice boil, remove from heat immediately - you know how milk likes to boil over! Stir in the lemon juice. The mixture will immediately begin to form curds. If it doesn't form after a half a minute or so, add another teaspoon of lemon juice.

(I know these are hard to see, but what can I say? Milk is white!)

Pour the mixture into the colander, and let it drain 15 - 30 minutes, depending on how dry you want it.


This recipe will make approximately 1 *full* cup of Ricotta cheese. You can easily double it as well.


Use it right away, or put it in the fridge, covered to be used the next day.

How does your Garden Grow?

Well, when we moved into this house a month and a half ago, my poor little garden looked like this...





And now..............








Here a Cuke,


There a Cuke,


Everywhere a Cuke...


...Cuke




Larry has lots of cousins here......and so does Bob.

Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns is one of my favorite music groups.

These might give you an idea why. Their songs have real meaning, and strong messages. They aren't just "fluff."

"In the Middle"

What I like about this song, is it reminds us, that no matter where we come from, and where we think we are, there is SO much more we need to grow, to learn, and to mature. "Deep water faith in the shallow end."

"Slow Fade"
Actual Video

This song reminds us to continually be on guard. The tiniest step backwards, may take us over a cliff. When you think you are standing, you should take care, lest you are actually sinking in the sand.

Homeschool Curricula for Sale!

I have a variety of homeschool curricula for sale.

See it here:

http://countryclassroom.blogspot.com/2009/06/curricula-for-sale.html

Making Jelly with a Friend

My friend and I went a-pickin' again this morning, and came back to give her some lessons in making jelly.

Here she is crushing the berries in the pot...


Straining the rich juice from the berries...


Little mama wanted her Mama, while Mama stirred the jelly.


Jarring the jelly


Hot, hot, hot!


"Mrs. Q" made 12 jars of wild blackberry jelly today! YAY!!!!!

Dilly Dilly

I've been busy today, and posted several times. Here is my closing post of the day, hehe!

Today, I picked these lovely beauties from my potted garden...


And then I added those to a bag-full of wonderful cucumbers that were gifted to me by my dear former neighbor.

And I decided to try a new recipe....

Kosher Dill Pickles

So here is what was accomplished today: 10, 12 oz. jars of wild blackberry jelly and 8 quarts of kosher dill pickles. Of course, I won't know how these pickles taste for a good 2 months. But, I was treated with the "sounds of success" - the "tink" sounds of jars sealing upon completion of processing.

Today's Product

More blackberry jelly ......I got an "order" from Afghanistan, so I need to make LOTS more! LOL

One Cool Dude

I don't care what anyone else says, I think this is one cool dude!



Last year, we actually ordered a package of praying mantis egg sacks, (Here) and had little babies running all around the flowerbeds. We loved watching them grow - of course, that is the ones that the chickens didn't love eating....

Don't these look like little "aliens?"





How cool!