Bad Back

Date: 2012.05.17 | Category: Crafts | Response: 0

Well I did have some crafty pictures to share but unfortunately I threw my back out and am on bed rest. Will post when I can.

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

Happy Mother’s Day

Date: 2012.05.13 | Category: Crafts | Response: 0

This image is from Manduka’s Facebook page

Yummy Granola

Date: 2012.05.11 | Category: Food | Response: 0

I made homemade yogurt in my crockpot the other day and it actually came out pretty good. I will definitely do it again as it really was a do it and forget about recipe and it will be done for you in a few hours, the watching actually, it is longer because you place in your stove overnight.

It was a lot simpler than the stovetop method.

I just added 8 cups of milk to the crockpot and turned it on low. After about 2 hours I checked to make sure the temp was getting near 180 degrees. It was close but not quite yet, another hour later and it was at 180. This makes sure you get rid of all the bad bacteria but keep the good.

Then turn off your crockpot and let it sit for a bit until the milk cools, to about 110 degrees or less. You don’t want to overheat your live culture. At this point I preheated my oven to 200. I then added 1/2 cup of yogurt, you can also get starter at any health food store. Just make sure your yogurt has live cultures in it, it will say on the container. Mix it in with your milk.

I turned the oven off here. I thought a little heat would help it. I then wrapped in a small woolen lap blanket and stuck it in the oven. I didn’t plan it to well and had to take it out in order to cook something for dinner, it still came out great. I put it back in the oven after dinner and the oven went below 325. I let it sit overnight. In the morning I had scrumptious yogurt without a lot of fuss. Sure beat the stovetop method I had been using for so long. You can use anything to wrap your pot with, even a big beach towel will work.

In the morning I placed in 2 cup canning jars YUM!!

The yogurt was not a thick as I normally like it, but after sitting in the fridge it thickened up nicely.

So since I made the yogurt I needed more granola and since I didn’t want to order it from Stark Sisters, like I usually do I made some myself. It wasn’t the first time but this time it came out great! Even DH ate it right from the oven and as cereal.

Fruity Granola

I mixed together 4.5 cups of old-fashioned oats, 1/2 cup each of slivered almonds, pecans and walnuts, 1/4 cup of chia and a 1/4 cup of flax seeds – about a cup each. I then added 1/4 cup each of dried cherries, raisins, mixed fruit (which had apples, cranberries, raisins and other things), dried apricots and shredded coconut. I then added 1/2 cup of honey, 2 tablespoons molasses and a 1/4 cup of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). The honey was actually a bit more than a 1/2 cup, probably almost 3/4. I whisked the wet ingredients together and then dumped it on top of the dry ingredients. With my hands I mixed all this yummy goodness together.

I placed on a greased cookie sheet into a 325 degree preheated oven. I baked it for about 50 minutes. Every 15 minutes I would stir, well actually I used a flipper and flipped over the granola. The only thing I would do difference it take it out after 35-40 minutes as 50 minutes was just a tad bit to long, for me anyway. Hubby loves it the way it is.

I hope you enjoy!!!

Hugs!!
Namaste!!!

Wednesday Daybook

Date: 2012.05.09 | Category: Family, Home Life, Journaling | Response: 0

Simple Woman Daybook

Click on above image to be taken to The Simple Woman’s Daybook page.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… it is overcast

I am thinking… how sad it is that the bigotry of some will forever be stamped in our (NC) constitution

I am thankful… for family

In the kitchen… defrosting a turkey for dinner later this week

I am wearing… pink pj bottoms and a purple tank top

I am creating… a crocheted pillowcase

I am going… nowhere

I am wondering… if Amendment 1 can be revoked

I am reading… Isaiah 58

I am hoping… for a nice weekend

I am looking forward to…this weekend

I am learning… the true meaning of Jesus’ love

Around the house… quiet

I am pondering… love one another

A favorite quote for today… Matthew 25: 41-46

One of my favorite things… family

A few plans for the rest of the week: finish cleaning out the den

A peek into my day… quiet, I have a headache and allergies are overwhelming.

Family

Introducing the Chicas

Date: 2012.05.07 | Category: Family, Home Life | Response: 0

I thought I would walk around and take some pictures today. I especially wanted to introduce you to the new chicks on the block.

Baby blackberries YUM!

We have a nice patch of blackberry bushes. It looks like this year we will have a bumper crop. Last year not so much. These lovelies, once ripe, will be made into a crème fraiche tart, blackberry ice cream and if enough left over, jam.

Wild strawberry

We have a lot of these growing throughout our yard. Unfortunately they don’t have a lot of taste, but it is pretty walking throughout our yard and seeing the red dots among the green grass.

Green pepper

Not sure why my pictures turn? We have three pepper plants two have peppers already, YUM I can’t wait.

Now for the new girls on the block.

Numnu, Lucy, and I think Marilyn

Doodles

Lucy says Hi!

The chicas

Doodles, Numnu and yet to be named.

Lucy

Lucy had the reddest head of all the chicks when we first got them, hence her name. Now she is the lightest. I heard they love cereal and I had a bunch that had gone stale. Cereal and our humid weather are not friends. Wow where they right. They loved scratching in it and when they found fruit pieces they would chase each other to steal it.  It was fun watching them.

Hugs!!

Namaste!!

<sm>remember to clicky to enlarge</sm>

Thinking Positive

Date: 2012.05.06 | Category: Books, Health | Response: 0

Today I was planning on attending an Episcopal church in Burlington, unfortunately my body had other plans. That is one thing about Meniere’s and Fibromyalgia, I can never make plans and rely on my body to let me fulfill them. It is something I have learned to live with. It is still hard not to get depressed or feel sad after getting my hopes up, I can only hope that next Sunday I feel well enough to attend the service.

From my last post you noticed that I started doing an at home Bible study/reading. I also bought a wonderful devotional.

I am a big Jane Austen fan so finding A Jane Austen Devotional made me very happy. It is a wonderful devotional book, cloth covered, that uses excepts from Jane’s books to relate to the teachings of the Bible. There then is a Bible quote to read and meditate on. So far I am really enjoying the messages.

One that I read last week is still stuck in my head, it is the first chapter called Being Generous. After the Jane reading the author gives a little talk and this Bible passage is quoted – Matthew 15:18 what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Since it has been on my mind all week I am going to take this week and only post (on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere), say and think good things this week. If anything negative starts to seep forward, I am going to meditate it away and think about something good or beautiful.

Do you plan on doing something positive this week? If so, what is it?

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

P.S. If you are interested in purchasing the book, if you use my link above Amazon gives me a little reward, which helps to keep this blog going. TIA!!!

Busyness

Date: 2012.05.04 | Category: Crafts | Response: 0

That is how this week has been, just something every day. I really need to take a picture of the chicks and their hutch and run. In the early morning when I go out to let them run, I bring my coffee and sit for a bit with my coffee. It is so relaxing. I think I am going to get an outdoor set for that area or move my bistro set out there. I think it will be perfect to take my journal and Bible for my morning sit and meditation.

Bible, did I say Bible. Yes I did. I know many of you know I took my buddhist vows a few years ago, but ever since we have been in NY something has been telling me to start reading the Bible and do a Bible study. It got louder and louder that I couldn’t resist it anymore. On our way back from TN/NC border the Bible urge was so strong I just had to listen to it, so I had hubby stop at Lifeway and let me off while he ran to Tractor Supply for the Have-a-Heart trap (remember for the post the other day?).

Even though Lifeway is a Baptist run business I figured that didn’t matter. During one of my house purges and getting rid of some books I didn’t use anymore I got rid of a bunch of my Bibles. It went to a wonderful guy that has a great ministry helping out folks who are/were addicted. However, it left me with my confirmation Bible my parents gave me (I didn’t realize I still had my four translation Bible) so I needed another one because I didn’t want the King James Version. I don’t know why I just didn’t. I ended up with the HCSB and so far I am enjoying its translation.

Then something even stranger happened. I went online and started searching dominations that do not discriminate and most especially don’t discriminate against LGBT. I found an Episcopalian church and found out the days of their Bible study and their Sunday worship. It was fun to find out that a lot of my friends and acquaintances also go to this church. So this Sunday will be my first day there.

Now, can you tell me what this is?

What is this?

I am busy crocheting something, do you know what it is? I am having fun doing this, yup the Happy Hooker here. LOL Thanks to Debbie Stoller for that nickname to crocheters. All those wonderful colors will also be crocheted into something else. I am loving this yarn, it is 100% cotton and it is crocheting up really soft.

Thanks to Lucy from Attic24 for getting me back into the swing of crocheting. The last time I crocheted was when I made this little basket back in March of 2009. She has some lovely designs and I love her use of colors. OMG some of the pictures had me mopping up my MacBook because I slobbered all over it.

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

Daybook

Date: 2012.05.01 | Category: Food, Friends, Home Life | Response: 0

I am taking part in The Simple Woman’s Daybook – May edition.

I have been following this lovely lady for some time now and I have enjoyed all her different events.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… it is chilly and windy

I am thinking… I hope the weather stays this way

I am thankful… for my sweet kind, caring husband

In the kitchen… homemade pasta for dinner

I am wearing… grey pants with small purple flowers and a purple tank

I am creating… a knitted t-shirt

I am going… to stay home today

I am wondering… how humid the week is going to get

I am reading…the Bible – Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1

I am hoping… that dinner turns out well

I am looking forward to… my chickens laying eggs

I am learning… how to compost

Around the house…things are finally getting organized after son 2 and DIL moved out

I am pondering… the simpler life

A favorite quote for today… Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened -Dr. Seuss

One of my favorite things… My husband’s compliments on dinner

A few plans for the rest of the week: make granola, write minutes for meeting, knit on shirt, make a few spring throw pillows

A peek into my day… made homemade pasta, yogurt, cleaned and organized freezer, swept kitchen floor, made dinner, did a load of laundry and hung outside to dry. Let chicks out of their hutch into the run and fed. Cleaned out fridge and dumped into compost. Empty indoors compost bin outdoors.

Spinach Pie using Rhonda Hetzel’s recipe from her wonderful book Down to Earth and my homemade ricotta.

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!

Making Cheese

Date: 2012.04.30 | Category: Food | Response: 0

This weekend was really nice. Kris and I ventured out west to the NC/TN border. We went looking at a handyman special house with two acres and a barn. Unfortunately it needs a lot of work and I mean a lot. One corner is completely rotted out. Inside the house at that corner it sags downwards and in the corner you can see outside. The property is gorgeous and the little valley it sits in is really beautiful. Unfortunately they would have to come down considerably for us to even think about it.

It was nice riding through the countryside and not taking any highways once we saw the house. We meandered through western NC stopping for lunch in West Jefferson. It was a small bakery/cafe called Sweet & Savory and the food was really delicious. I had a reuben with broccoli slaw while Kris had the Uptown, which is roast beef with horseradish. He also had the roasted red pepper soup which was soooo good.

Unfortunately Kris ended up feeling sick a few hours later so we headed for home instead of spending the night in Elkin. I was sick last week and it must have been his turn. Thankfully he didn’t get violently ill like I did, and he was up to driving the back roads home.

We thought something was getting into the chicken coop and eating their food, as something has been devouring it. I had stumbled upon a baby opossum and we thought maybe he was the culprit. Whatever is doing it, isn’t hurting the chicks. Kris wanted to head for Tractor Supply in Burlington before they closed at 8 to pick up a Have-a-Heart trap, and we actually made it from Elkin to Burlington in under two hours. I was impressed.

Sunday I puttered around the house and Kris finished up the chicken run. He did an excellent job on it and now they are very happy chicks.

Tonight we are going to have a Rhonda Hetzel from Down to Earth’s dishes for dinner. It is her Silverbeet/Spinach pie, or a quiche but she uses phyllo dough. I don’t think I am going to use phyllo instead opting for a pie crust. I didn’t have a change to make bread so I bought a nice loaf and we will have salad with it.

One of the ingredients in her pie is ricotta so I made my own today. It was one of the easiest things I have ever done. I searched on the Internet and finally settled on The Italian Dish‘s recipe. She has two different versions listed. Since I had buttermilk that is the recipe I used.

Ricotta

9 cups of Milk

1 cup of Buttermilk

1 teaspoon of salt

2 1/2 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar.

Heat the milk and buttermilk until it reaches 185 degrees. Add the salt and vinegar and let sit for about 5 or 10 minutes.

Curds to the left.

Using a slotted spoon place the curds into a strainer that is lined with cheesecloth (I didn’t have cheesecloth so I used a brand new cotton handkerchief). Let this sit for another 5 or so minutes.

Ricotta Straining

Take the cheesecloth and squeeze any remaining liquid out. Place in a container and refrigerate. You can use immediately.

Ricotta with whey

The left over whey will be added to the chicken’s pellets and I’ll use some for baking.

Right now I have yogurt being made in my crockpot. This is a first time for that. I have traditionally made it on my stove and then put it on a heating pad overnight and let it setup. I’ll let you know tomorrow how the yogurt comes out.

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

Bair Family

Date: 2012.04.23 | Category: Family, Genealogy | Response: 0

Lecta Bair 1875-1962

Daniel Lemon Bair 1862-1946

This is my husband’s great-grandmother Lecta Bair (1875-1962) and his g-grandfather Daniel Lemon Bair (1862-19460. I love that he is holding a chicken. Even though they lived on a farm, Daniel worked on the PA RR.

Genealogy in this day and age is a wonderful thing compared to just a few years ago, well okay 10 or 15 years ago. Someone else is also working on the Bair family and they posted pictures of Lecta and Daniel Lemon (her husband). Unfortunately I do not know who they are but I would love to contact them and give them credit for these photos. They are the only ones we have of them. There were actually 4 our 5 different people that had the Bair line listed but only one was a Bair, the others were looking for different members of the family that cross over with the Bair’s. It has been fun searching for them. I am also working on the Carter family for my professional genealogy test that I will be taking sometime within the year. That means a trip to Utah so I want to make sure I am good and ready before I go ahead and set up the exam. Even though I have been doing genealogy for ages there are still a few holes that I need to get better at. For example; going to a church and actually reading the old notes, or going to a courthouse and doing the same. I will be doing that soon when I go to Rockingham County to search for the Carters.

It is fun when I am doing a family because I try to envision their house and what life was like during that time. I use Google earth or Google Maps to give me satellite and street views. Unfortunately this is only in the now and I would love to see it back then. If only they invented a time capsule that could go back. Maybe one of these days I will be lucky and stumble upon some old photographs. That is going to be hard because my mother-in-law had/has all these things and where she stored them ended up with moisture and a lot of things got moldy. So bad that she was deathly ill for a while. Thank goodness she is better, but a lot of the old papers had to be thrown out. She did give an old photo album but they are mostly of her first husband’s side of the family.

When I look at Lecta and Daniel’s photos I don’t see Grandma Dot T. at all. I definitely can see the boys, well at least Cubby whom I met. I have seen pictures of Ralph Sherman and he definitely looks like Cubby’s brother.

For a hint on genealogy – don’t forget to look at draft registration cards. They performed registration for WWI and WWII. I was able to get some wonderful information on Andrew and Ralph Bair.

Remember if you need help or would like me to search for you please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!!