Bringing Emma Home

This week our youngest daughter is continuing her high school education within the confines of our home once again. It's been six years since we homeschooled but what a blessing. I'm so happy she decided she wanted to do this again. It adds another dimension to my daily routine and I'm delighted. She is actually teaching me some things. How beautiful.

When Asked...

Some thoughts about a definition of what I do...homekeeper/homesteader.


I love being at home and serving my family. It is very important to me. What else defines my life?

I am a Bible-believing Christian. I have loved my God and King Jesus Christ since I was about seven years-old. I love my husband with every breath and am crazy about my girls and my family. I desire to have a simple life and serve God with all of my heart. To me, this all describes my homekeeper side.

My homesteader side is a bit different. Asked about this tonight by one of my daughter's friends I described it like this: "Some might would think doing everything about the house, day in and day out would be boring. I don't think so. I like to make things from scratch every chance I get because it's healthier and I know how the food is made. I like to make other things in the house like soap because I can. I'm an intelligent person and I enjoy stretching my brain and finding new things to learn."

At the Holt House here are some of the things we do ourselves:

We grow a good portion of our veggies in the back yard.
We purchase what we don't grow at both the farmer's market and local farms.
We preserve our harvest by canning, freezing, fermenting and drying.
We participate in animal husbandry (chickens) for manure and eggs.
We recycle paper, plastic, aluminium and glass.
We compost all food scraps.
We watch carefully our consumption of water and electricity
We make our own soaps.
We purchase most of our foods in bulk.
I sew what I can by hand.

This description, by today's standards, is much more than just saying I am a stay at home wife and mother. I'm just sayin'.

Most Every Morning

My dearest asks me most every morning what I have on my to-do list for the day. The normal answer is "normal routine" which means: cleaning, cooking, gardening, straightening, laundry, running errands and/or creating a new project.

What I forget to say is even though my days being a home keeper are routine I feel the utmost satisfaction in doing so. Keeping the home for four of the most terrific people in the world (I count four even though my eldest has a place of her own she still considers this home), is what I know the Lord God has put in my heart to do.

Slipping on my apron in the morning places me in my workplace. Achieving my daily goals and welcoming my family home from school and work gives me pleasure. Having my door open for hospitality is what the Lord asks of me. Taking care of the flock and the kitchen garden outside where I can have more than enough is not only by the sweat of my brow but frugal for our household.

Most every morning...some would see the life of this home keeper as dull and uninteresting. I call it happiness.

Doing the chickens, gardening, creating, preserving, housework, sewing, cooking, tidying, writing, taking care of my family makes a day long but very satisfying. Even though the list is endless, it's there to complete for God's glory.

Today I met with a bunch of beautiful ladies. Some from my church, some were sweet new faces. In conversation with today's prayer partners I learned to some my ideas of living from scratch is idyllic and to some it's too much time and too much work. I realise I am somewhat different from your typical stay-at-home mom or housewife and my perspective on the Holt House is all about having a safe haven for my family.

If my husband looks forward to crossing the threshold of his home at the end of the day to see my smiling face and if my children know coming home is much better than some other alternative I'd say my efforts speak for themselves.

Yes, housework is monotonous, gardening and canning is tedious and time consuming and creating your own curtains is a challenge. But working willingly with my hands is something God placed in my heart to do, therefore I will do it and I am satisfied.

We need to teach home economics again in the old fashioned way. Our daughters and sons need to know how to take care of themselves in the most basic fashion. For some reason basic homekeeping has a stigma related to this ages old talent. It's no longer being taught at home because homekeepers are quickly becoming a thing of the past. However, right now in this economic disaster the basics are needed.

Keep the faith!

A Mother's Influence

Mothers, be faithful.

Don't get discouraged.

Pray for your children, and do not forget to talk to them:
your words will settle down in their hearts.
They never can, they never will forget them.
They may appear not to heed what you say;
they may put on an appearance of thoughtlessness and levity,
which look as though your words were disregarded;


but persevere---


those words are there, and never will be forgotten:
but may be called up in years to come when you are dead and gone,

and like seed cast in the earth, germinate and produce fruit

that shall flourish in immortality.




-Jabez Burns, Mothers of the Wise and Good

Holt House Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I've never called myself an excellent cookie maker. Quite the contrary, as a matter of fact. Both my husband Dan and youngest daughter Emma make delicious cookies. Whenever I put my hand to the task of baking cookies in the past they've always slid out of the oven a massive disappointment.

Until today. Today I made the most delicious oatmeal raisin cookies I've ever tasted. Here's the recipe:

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 handfuls of raisins
3 cups quick oats

** Very important** Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter, sugars, vanilla and add eggs one at a time while mixing. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and fold into butter and sugar mixture. Mixing slowly, fold in oats and raisins.

Spoon out balls as big as a walnut onto oiled cookie sheet or parchment paper. Bake for 8 minutes. Take out of oven and let sit for five minutes before placing on cooling rack. These cookies are soft and chewy.

AUGUST BLUES

I absolutely love the season of fall. It's mid August and already I'm dreaming of evenings by the fire pit, sipping cider and wearing my alpaca sweater. It must seem strange as I live in Northwest Florida...and lately it's one hundred degrees outside most days; most folks in the south vacation just down the road from where I live and yet I dream of living somewhere with four seasons instead of two.

Yes, this is my opinion we only have two seasons in my neck of the woods: hot and cold. More hot than cold normally, although last winter was very nice--longer than usual--and our last frost was mid March.

I have the August blues. I'm dreaming of fall and winter time when it's so hot and humid I dare not venture outside unless it's early in the morning or about dark. School is about to start and upon our shopping trip last week I purchased (for myself) four sweaters and a wool suit. I didn't realize until I returned home every item I purchased for myself I could not yet wear. I purchased cinnamon sticks in bulk last week, whole nutmeg, and have already made one peach cobbler.

I am resigned to sit inside with my lovely air conditioner unit turned to the "on" position until the weather outside decides to lighten up a bit, dream of making pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce and enjoy watching my dear girls prepare for the upcoming year beginning next week. Maybe Dan will humor me and cut me some wood.

HomeKeeper Mission Statement

I have read recently in other home keeping blogs it is good to have a mission statement. When I first read this I thought to myself it may be "overkill" for me. I am not a novice at being a wife and mother--why have a mission statement?

Then I thought about it again and realized it does help align my thoughts as to not only what my purpose is but to appreciate everything God has and is doing within my heart.

So here goes: My homekeeper mission statement:

To love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love all my neighbors as myself; seeking Him faithfully and consistently.

To be a committed encourager, lover, help-meet and inspiration to my husband Dan and fulfilling this role all the days of my life.

To exemplify Godliness and grace to my children, teaching God's character, His Truth, and the fruit of the Spirit in all situations inside and outside of the home; to listen and guide whenever needed.

To express hospitality, demonstrate charity and provide warmth to all who cross the threshold of our home.

To live life to the fullest, fulfilling all God has for me and utilizing all talents and wisdom He has imparted within me.

Family Update

Update on our family:

Dan is providing for our family at his full time job. When he isn't there he is working around the house and keeping "stuff" working. He took the girls to the Blue Angels show earlier this month and is cycling regularly-either on the road or on his father's day gift--trainer.

Kristen is working full time and preparing for a new semester this fall at the local college. She is on her own and enjoying herself very much. We are super proud of her accomplishments. She doesn't think she will be deported with the Army this year and we're happy about this.

Katelin enjoyed her USNSCC firefighting summer training at Camp Perry in Ohio. She has turned in an application at the local volunteer department; waiting to hear can be a bore. She and her friends have spent many hours tubing down Coldwater Creek this summer; she is working on her petty officer 1st class assignment (USNSCC) and should go up in rank next month. Kate will apply to Texas A&M this fall.

Emma is so excited about summer she doesn't want it to end. She spent two weeks at Ft. Benning doing public affairs training and wants to visit her grandparents soon. She loves to hike and spend time outdoors with the family.

As for me I am enjoying working in the garden, playing with the chickens and putting up veggies as well as hiking and picking blueberries. However, I am SOOO looking forward to fall!

Processing Peas

It has been a while since I blogged. In the midst of a hot summer I only go outside in the mornings and late afternoons. Mostly, I've had my hands either shelling peas or sitting beside the canner on my back porch processing them.

Our garden did not have the harvest I expected this year. The beans didn't produce as much but the peas did amazing! We had zero crop of onions, (probably my fault), but the okra! The okra! Everyday I have a mess and of course everyday I'd eat fried okra if it wouldn't contaminate my body with toxins and free radicals.

We've discovered the chickens love watermelons. This isn't a good thing since ours are just getting some size and they're having a hayday.

It's an education for me to process and store this much food. I have purchased a few bushels from our local farmers to fill the need we were unable to fill. Our family of five (I give some to our eldest daughter who lives on her own) consumes about 50-60 quarts of veggies throughout the winter. We didn't harvest enough green beans but we'll have plenty of peas (purple hull, zipper and cream). I'm also having fun processing peaches and look forward to some great pears.

Happy summer everyone!

Guinea Fowl article borrowed from Homestead.org

Guinea Fowl: Something Different in the Garden by Victoria Varga
An exotic and perhaps odd-looking breed of poultry, the Guinea Fowl, is fast becoming not just the friend of the poultry farmer, but a friend of the avid gardener as well. These solid colored birds, weighing in at no more than 4 ½ pounds apiece, hail from the Sub-Saharan regions of West Africa. The domestic, modern stock has originated from the wild breed of Guinea Fowl (‘nuneda meagris’), found as far south as the Eastern Cape Horn Regions of W. Africa. These domesticated fowl are found now in every region of the world. These unusual birds are quite interesting in that their increasing role on the farm has taken on many purposes in today’s diversified livestock community. In addition to egg- laying and breeding stock production, one of the foremost uses for these animals today is for pest and rodent control. Guinea fowl, both male and female, are particularly adept at rooting out vermin such as mice and rats, and are even known to chase down and kill snakes. As well as keeping pests out of their environment, Guinea Fowl have been incredibly successful at ridding forested properties/farms of many types of bugs, particularly the deadly Deer Tick, which can carry Lyme Disease resulting in paralysis and death amongst other forms of livestock. This purpose in particular, has given the Guinea Fowl a widespread and excellent reputation, allowing the breed to rise above its former meat production-only function. Although raised for meat and considered a delicacy in Europe, the Guinea Fowl seems to, through their display of intelligence and multifunction, have risen above the stature of ‘meat-bird’. These normally docile but alert birds have a surprisingly acute awareness of predators within their habitats, and will alert the farmer to any henhouse intrusion, day or night. A distinct and rather operatic call will be sounded upon any strange intrusion. Many Guinea Fowl breeders will attest to their “watchdogs’” ability of being able to distinguish between family members and strange and unfamiliar faces. Guinea Fowl have been used for both pest control and as farm ‘watchdogs’ for decades now, and one of their relatively newer uses has been to the gardener and small crop grower. Guinea Fowl have proven most successful in organically controlling pests by eating most bugs in the garden, while leaving the green foliage virtually untouched. This has garnered the Guinea Fowl not just the praise and welcome of the farmer, but that of the gardener as well. Slugs, bugs, and other thugs are their specialty and Guinea Fowl have demonstrated once again, their versatility and ability to earn a reputation of wonderful uses. Guinea Fowl can be kept either free-ranged, or free-run in the company of other poultry. They will usually group together if more than one of them are kept, even in a henhouse/run situation. Females often select their mate and then remain steadfast companions until death or separation. Males tend to be more vocal than females, making a sound that is described as the world “buckwheat”. Both the male and female are very similar in stature, and distinction. The only difference lies in the male possessing a slightly larger red appendage on his head; at first sight, males and females are difficult to distinguish apart from one another. Guinea Fowl today come in a variety of colors, and Guinea Fowl breeders and enthusiasts are always breeding and looking for the newest genetic colorations. Their plumage is almost solid in color, with fine dappling of white or cream specks. Variations in overall color range from browns, blues, violets, creams, whites, grays and charcoals. Chicks are called “keets” and can be hatched as with other fowl, by a reliable incubator, by Bantam mothe,r or a sitting hen of another variety. Their eggs are small, like the Bantam variety, and are hatched out in the standard 28-day cycle akin to other chickens. The suggested grower feed for the little keets is a medicated Pheasant/Turkey starter, and precautionary care with regard to warmth, drafts, and a dry environment as with other young birds is imperative. Keets display themselves as very alert and hardy and seem to develop independence much more quickly than other chicks. If you are interested in keeping something a bit different in the coop, & would like to eradicate the possibility of ticks and other harmful pests in the farmyard or garden, perhaps a pair of Guinea Fowl would be a successful addition to your own spread. Guinea Fowl will certainly be a conversational addition to any farm, and with their many successful uses around a country acreage, should result in being a hard-working member of the farm operation team.

My Grandmother's Recipes

More family recipes:

Info: Grandmother's recipes were written as she explained how to make my childhood favorites. This is my paternal grandmother, Louise Parsons Blankenship's exact words as given to me over the phone after I was married and missing her delicacies. I added some measurements (my experiment) as she sometimes forgot to give them to me...She passed away a few years ago and I miss her very much.

Grandmother's Ice Box Rolls

1 package yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup warm water

Dissolve until bubbly


1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups warm water
1 1/4 tsp salt
5-6 cups all purpose flour

Cream shortening and sugar together. Add warm water and salt. Add yeast mixture and add flour to right thickness. Roll out on floured surface. Divide into balls and place in refrigerator.

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.


Grandmother's Fried Apple or Peach Pies

Need: all purpose four, wax paper, biscuit dough and wash pan full of apples or peaches

Stew wash pan full of peeled and cored peaches or apples in water adding 1 cup sugar and 1 TBS cinnamon
Roll out biscuit dough on floured surface. Cut into squares 4 inches by 4 inches or so. Stuff biscuit dough with filling and fold over, closing with fork. Fry in hot oil using cast iron skillet. Top with powdered sugar.

Grandmother's Tea Cakes

2 1/4 c all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar
1 fresh egg
3/4 c butter
3 tsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together first and add egg, salt and vanilla. Sift together flour and baking powder separately and add to butter and sugar mixture a little at a time. Add milk as needed and roll into one inch thickness. Bake at 350 degrees until done.


Grandmother's Pie Crust

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 c cold water
1/2 c crisco or butter

Mix together and roll out on floured surface.

Family Recipes

Per a request for my brown sugar pound cake, I've decided to post a few of our family's family recipes. These recipes are handed down from past generations. Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Pound Cake
By: Aunt Carole

2 sticks of unsalted butter
1/2 c crisco
5 cups brown sugar
5 whole fresh eggs
3 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt or 1/4 tsp
1 c milk
1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter, crisco and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Sift together all dry ingredients. Add alternately the dry ingredients and milk, starting and ending with flour. Beat fast and hard. Add vanilla. Pour into greased and floured tube pan. Bake for approximately 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees.
Note: It will need to sit in the cake pan on a rack for about 20 minutes before you flip it to cool. If you flip too early it will separate. This particular cake will be dark brown if you use dark brown sugar.

Topping

You can top this cake with simple powdered sugar or a pecan/vanilla topping as follows:

1/2 c butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 TBS milk
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 c powdered sugar

Mix together well and pour on top of hot cake.


Holt House Monday Night Meat Loaf
by: Aunt Carole

1 or 2 lbs of extra lean ground beef or bison
1 TBS garlic salt
1 onion chopped
2 TBS worcestershire sauce
1 chopped large red bell pepper
12 to 15 saltines processed or chrushed
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp thyme

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with large spatula or the old fashioned way by hand. Place in a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Cover with ketchup or other preferred sauce.

Granny's Cheesecake

Crust:
1 1/2 to 2 cups graham crackers
1 stick of butter
1 TBS cinnamon
1/4 sugar

Cake:

2 16 oz Philly Cream Cheese boxes softened
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup whipping cream
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 whole eggs
2 egg yolks

To make crust: melt butter and combine in a large bowl all ingredients. Press into 9 x 13 pyrex dish. Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix softened cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add half and half and whipping cream. Increase speed, adding sugar and vanilla. Beat eggs separately and add add to cream cheese mixture. Pour into chilled crust. Bake for 50 minutes. Let cake sit for 20 minutes before serving.

MeMaw's Banana Pudding
Large Batch

4 or 5 ripe bananas
1 large box Nilla Wafers
1 large container Cool Whip
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1 16 oz sour cream
3 cups cold milk

In an extra large bowl layer bananas and wafers, filling bowl at least 1/2 full. In a mixing bowl, prepare vanilla pudding as box directs. Fold in sour cream and mix well. Remove from mixer and add cool whip, mixing by hand until thoroughly combined. Pour over bananas and wafers. Place inside fridge until ready to serve.

Family Time

How the time flies as our children grow. This past Memorial Day, our family stepped out to visit a local historic park and had a nice meal together. We started the day picking green beans together. Not everyone was happy about rising at 6 a.m. on a holiday, but we got to the job and were able to continue a day spent together.

It occurred to me as we went about our day together, (all five of us as our eldest daughter was able to get away from her busy schedule and spend the time), this time will be remembered. I consider this a blessing.

Even when our teens get antsy about not being able to be with their friends or rather "special friends," it is important to be adamant about taking time together as a family. Teens (mine especially) have a tendency to only think of themselves and what's important to them at the time. Keeping them mindful of the significance of being with family and how seldom (we five) are having fun for a whole day, isn't easy. It's like a mini vacation in our home town. Once my children "get over" having to do what we ask, they lighten up and enjoy themselves, saying they had fun.

Please don't misunderstand! My girls enjoy our family outings but when their previous plans don't happen because of parental veto--it can get rough!

Time together when the children get older becomes fewer...but when it happens it is a delight. Listening to the small talk and teasing amongst the three of them is amusing. Watching them explore and play together makes me giggle as I did when they were toddlers. We can still see them as young children from time to time. Expressions from that little girl in braids I used to see everyday reappears when the stress of school and work goes away. I get to see what beautiful, unique and extraordinary people they are. I look at my husband and I pause...It presses me to believe...as unbelievable as it is...God has blessed me with these.

Lunch Ideas

Some creative ideas for healthy lunches are sometimes difficult to think of in the morning as everyone is dashing off to school and work. Thinking ahead is paramount for offering healthy lunches for your family.

Roast a turkey breast, beef roast or ham to have an alternative to sandwich meat. I also like to make chicken salad to have on hand as well. This is a frugal lunch meat alternative although it takes time to cook the meat. Baking two loaves of bread a week is wise with one loaf for the family to consume during dinner and breakfast with the other loaf specifically for lunch.

Hummus is a Mediterranean dip made from chick peas, extra virgin olive oil, lemon or lime juice and spices. My children and hubby loves for me to make this wonderful dip. I put it in a plastic container along with a separate container with flat bread and tabouleh (Lebanese) salad. You can do this with any favorite dish they like and send the extras. During the winter you can purchase cute thermos bottles and send your home made soups to enjoy or left over spaghetti.
It is so much better than the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which can get monotonous.

If the little darlings enjoy fresh veggies make their favorite dressing and send some carrot or celery sticks. One of my daughters loves cherry tomatoes while the other hates carrots. I send home made apple sauce instead of carrots for Miss Picky. Both love grapes and kiwi fruit and orange slices so I keep fresh fruit available at all times.

I send small cloth napkins with my girls to school to keep cost down on paper napkins and towels. I also purchased inexpensive stainless spoons at Sam's Club at the beginning of the school year for carting back and forth to school. They bring them back with their plastic ware along with the cute 9 x 9 napkins. Also I put cute little notes in their lunches to encourage them from time to time. Because they're in high school they no longer take a lunch box to school. It's just not cool. So I find cute paper sacks. Sometimes you can get stores to give you a higher quality paper sack (small size) with their logo which can be interesting conversation for the teens. They like the Cracker Barrel logo or the local health food store stamp.

My husband can heat his lunch at work so I send left overs in a divided dish (microwave safe) or for example some of the roasted turkey with green beans and fresh made bread. I also send a container full of pumpkin seeds or walnuts and cashews for his desk to munch whenever he feels the need to snack. Nuts and seeds are better than high sugar or high fat snacks which can be easily accessible and high in protein. Home made pies and cakes that are low in sugar are good for snacks as well as long as you don't send half of the cake at once. Smaller portions keep temptation down.

Keeping lunch important will keep your family happy and healthy. Happy planning!

Home Building pt 2

Building your home God's way is a constant job. Consistently working to do the job at home and for those of us who work outside of the house it can be overwhelming. I've had friends tell me they would like to run away from home because of the dread they feel when thinking of all the work to be done around the house.

This is just an encouraging reminder God has given us virtues to deal with our job/lives as keepers of the home: patience, diligence, prayer, petition, purpose and the ever needed endurance. Patience to wait upon the Lord when petitioning; diligence to carefully carry on with the task at hand; prayerfully bring worship, needs and concerns to the Father; petitioning husband, parents, pastor and those you trust when waiting for answers from the Lord; purpose driven, knowing you are in the place the Father placed you; and the endurance to complete the task of being the virtuous woman God wants you to be.

We all would like to know our efforts are appreciated and noticed. However, this may not always be. Service to God and family often happens without consideration of yourself.

As we go throughout the day, it's easier to keep in mind God gives grace that is more than efficient for us. The job of building your home and building the next generation is fulfilling for anyone.


She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27

Lunch

Digging into my 1949 The American Woman's Cookbook, edited by Ruth Berolzheimer this morning I found an interesting writing about the importance of the lunch time meal and preparing lunch boxes. I thought I would share some interesting facts and discuss the importance of preparing a healthy lunch for your family as they go on their way every morning.

Today's school lunches are (in my opinion--to put mildly), lacking in good nutrition. As our county school board has to make difficult decisions about where money is spent for our children, unfortunately their daily lunch suffers for the reason of cost. Lunch comes from frozen boxes loaded with carbohydrates, high fructcose corn syrup (HFCS), saturated fat and the drinks! Oh! At our local high school they've taken all HFCS sodas and replaced them with diet drinks! As if this were the best choice! Maybe milk is offered but let's not get started on the problems with affordable milk. Soap box indeed!

In light of this I make my daughter's lunches typically every day unless I've run out of an essential item during the week. I keep ten dollars in their high school lunch account just in case this happens. Once in a while a lunch of fried chicken sandwiches and french fries isn't going to hurt but...certainly not every day.

This is what the book states about boxed lunches back in 1949: As much care is needed in selecting and preparing the food for the lunch box as for the other meals served to the family. If the lunch is inadequate or lacking in food essentials throughout the year, the individual's whole nutrition will be seriously affected, and their work will suffer. The lunch box is one of the three meals, not just a "snack," and should possess the following characteristics: 1. It should be abundant in amount for a hungry, healthy individual. A little too much is better than too little. 2. It should be chosen with regard to nutritive needs of the individual, and in relation to the whole day's food. 3. It should be clean, appetizing, wholesome and attractive.

This cook book I'm quoting from was published by The Culinary Arts Institute in Chicago and previous editions published by Butterick. This edition was edited by several individuals directing the College of Home Economics at Cornell University.

The importance of the section I copied is the fact a person's whole nutrition will be seriously affected if their food is not healthy. Educated nutritionist who edited this cookbook for individuals who were studying home economics stressed the importance of a healthy lunch. I believe it's time to take back our children's (and husband's) noon time meals. Not only is it more nutritious but it demonstrates love and servitude and definately easier on the pocketbook.

My husband and his proposal brownies

My husband Dan and I have been together for eighteen years. He is a very kind, gentle man who stands a foot taller than myself, (I am what they call vertically challenged), with a smile to light up his face, and I am very happy to say the light is often shared with everyone. He smiles and sings often at home. There is something to be said about being in a family that breaks out into song...often.

A Brownie for You

One of the reasons I fell in love with my husband is his willingness to help. Because I am "vertically challenged" he reaches to the top of the cabinets, hangs pictures, changes light bulbs, and will on occasion hang a curtain or two. If he is anywhere in the vicinity when I reach for something above my head he will step behind me without my notice, reach and ask what I need.

When we first married he made brownies for me one night. I asked him about his recipe and he told me the story of what he calls his "Proposal Brownies." He said one night he made brownies for some of his female friends and was, indeed, given a marital proposal.

"The dickins, you say!" was my response. He tells me it happened more than once. So... I wonder if he waited to feed me brownies after the wedding... just to see if I loved him for more than his culinary arts!

Dan's Proposal Brownies

6 TBS cocoa (dutch processed)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (preference only if you like chewier brownies)

Mix dry ingredients first. Mix softened butter and cocoa together and add eggs one at a time. Add sugar and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into oiled baking dish of choice (we use a pie pan) and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

We often double or triple this recipe because they go very fast!

Home Building

Priorities are an important aspect of life. God is very specific in stating in the Word He must come first, husband second, family third and then so on. This is easy to understand and comply. Titus 2: 3-5 teaches women what God expects of us:

KJV-- The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; ⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Psalm 127:1 ¹Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.

I read this as to say If we follow the Lord first in our home building (keeping) we will succeed with our goals.

There have been times in my home where I was busy and my family was busy so things got out of order. When this happened many of us had frowny faces. I know that sounds corny...but it happened. It happened when I was busy with things outside of the house and it took over my sense of priorities. I was consistently trying to please others who did not live inside my house. I'm not saying everything we do outside of the home is bad. It is not. It's our sense of priority which becomes askewed. If any work (ministry, job or organization) takes you away from your priority of your husband and family it can wreck havoc on your peace. To rectify the situation I waited to the end of my commitment and did not resume the job.

In a practical exercise think about how much time you spend on your home verses outside affairs. If you are spending most of your time away from God, family and homekeeping duties maybe you need to reconsider where you spend your time. I truly believe God asks us as wives and mothers to put our husbands and family first in our quest to minister. Our children's perception of what we do and why we do it makes a heavy impression. They learn from their mother...we are their first teacher. If we spend too much time away from our husbands they can question our commitment to them.

Proverbs 31:28-29 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her saying, "Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all."

The Basics of Real Food and Apple Pie

About ten years ago I read a book about the importance of eating real food. I admit I was very inspired and endeavored to change my family's diet. At the time my youngest two had no problem with the change but my eldest...to this day would rather eat out of a vending machine than a nice variety of veggies.

Throughout the years I have had children come and go through my front door, eat at my table when visiting my daughters. I've had many questions about my daily routine; many comments on how things are done in their own homes. The one comment which has made me stop and think more than once was a young friend of my youngest daughter. He stopped in the kitchen, gazed the room as I was working on dinner. They proceeded to living room and I heard, "Does she cook like this every day?" Oh, my heart hurt for the young man. His question was one of wonder towards my daughter. When she answered "yeah, most times," he said..."Wow."


Does She Cook?

I believe many know what the right choices are when speaking of preparing meals. Many know carbohydrates are to be eaten for energy, veggies and fruits for nutrients, dairy for good digestion and calcium, water for hydration. However, many of us homekeepers labor in cleaning, organizing, taxi, and meal preparations come last. The thought about preparing a meal as 4 or 5 in the evening approaches and one may think..."what am I going to do? It will have to be take-out tonight." Or as you drive toward home after a long day out..."How about ____________?(enter name of favorite fast food restaurant).

Obviously, such things happen to us all. I am no exception. The problem lies with this incident happening once or twice per week. This is not a healthy choice and has more than one consequence. Not only does it wreck havoc on our bodies but the check book as well.

Home cooking cost much less than pre-prepared boxed, prepared deli, fast food and any restaurant fare. Plus, you can make it more tasty, healthy, and comforting. Sitting around the table eating meals together offers so much more than eating a hamburger in the car on the way to a class or extra-curricular activity.

A typical home cooked meal for a family of four will cost less than eating out anywhere else. Plus the cook knows exactly what is going into the family's diet.

If you've never considered these thoughts before I ask you to think about the perimeter of your local market. The perimeter is where the healthiest of items will be. Produce, dairy, meats and breads are on the extremes where you might would want to graze about the isles of prepackaged foods inside. Better yet, try your nearest greengrocer or farmer's market for your fruits and veggies. If you have a local butcher most times their meat will be better quality and can be cut to your liking.

If the concern over your cooking ability is what's keeping you from preparing home cooked meals I will say this...practice! Practice in the kitchen and your family will thank you...even if you burn the pie.

Pamela's Apple Pie

2 Crust:
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 c unsalted butter
1 TBS sour cream
5 tsp cold water

5 apples peeled and chopped
lemon juice from one lemon
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 TBS cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp corn starch (for thickening if needed)

To prepare crust in a food processor: Add all dry ingredients into food processor. Add butter and pulse 5 or 6 times. Add sour cream and pulse a few times. Add water a bit at a time until the dough becomes thick and beginning to ball up. Take out and half dough. Place one half on a clean, floured surface to roll out with rolling pin. Make circle with dough and lay in pie pan. Brown in oven at 350 degrees. Bring out to cool.

Pie filling:

In a medium sized sauce pan place all ingredients on medium heat. Mix with spoon occasionally. Filling should thicken within twenty minutes or so. Pour into browned pie crust.
Roll out second crust and cover pie, pinching the sides together.
Bake in oven for twenty minutes.

Meal Planning and Scratch Pancakes

Monday mornings are the most busy for me. I don't usually do much housekeeping during our weekends; I spend my weekends with my family and friends. This being said, Mondays are not only my re-organizing day but also cleaning and cooking for the week. I typically cook items used throughout the week: i.e. bread, condiments and sometimes meats on Mondays.

I spoke last month about the importance of a monthly meal calendar and it is one of the most useful organizing tips I have ever tried. It doesn't take much time and it helps so much with shopping. As I sat down with my calendar for May and checked off some of the happenings for this latter part of the month, I thought the topic today should be about meal planning.


The Week Ahead

As you look ahead for the week, think about what your schedule holds. Do you have to be out? If so, what days? What days do you plan to be home all day? For me I'm home all day unless I must go out to the farmer's market, grocery, family appointments, post office, pay bills or have scheduled lunch with friends. Since I typically do most of my shopping at once, days out aren't the most common. So meals in the slow cooker are good for the days I will not be about the house.

The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker
Making one large meat in the beginning of the week gives you more opportunities to make other meals with the same meat or utilizing the freezer for safe keeping will save some dollars. If you roast a chicken on Monday you can shred the left over meat on Wednesday for chicken salad. Other examples for thinking ahead: soak dried beans or peas on Monday for Tuesday night red beans and rice; soak the rice Tuesday morning in kefir to maximize the nutrients.

Some homemakers bake one weekend a month although I've never done this myself. One friend of mine does this and freezes pies, cakes and loaves of bread for surprise guest, meals sent for sickness and funerals and she feels good about setting aside favorite family items.

Family Time
Canning and freezing your garden bounty also prepares food ahead of time. Our family (my in-laws and brother and sister in-law), put up about one hundred and fifty quart jars of green beans last year. Each family received a large portion because we all pitched in and picked, shelled and canned together. We do this every year and enjoy the family time working together. The end result of such hard work? I just walk to my pantry and pull out beautiful quart jars, only having to heat and season as I wish.

Happy cooking!

Here's another favorite weekend family recipe:

Dan's Scratch Pancakes

2 c whole wheat flour
1 3/4 c milk
2 heaping TBS baking powder
2 eggs beaten separately
]1/2 stick or 1/8 lb melted butter
3 TBS brown sugar
1 tsp sea salt

Combine in one large bowl all dry ingredients first.
In a separate bowl whisk eggs, melted butter, and milk and pour slowly into dry ingredients. Mix slowly and let sit while heating pan. We use a cast iron flat pan with a handle which makes flipping the cakes much easier. Cake batter will rise in the bowl and make fluffy pancakes. We top with pure maple syrup or tupelo honey.

Exercise

One of my biggest mountains is finding the time to exercise. I have always been a very active person, however the past few years my energy level doesn't want to be consistent. Today, I am writing to encourage myself.

I'm not writing about weight loss. I'm writing about staying active and exercising. Activity is very important to keep the body working in the way God created. When the body does not burn calories and the lymphatic system doesn't function as it should, weight gain happens and we have a tendency to get sick--which disables us to go about our work.

I believe God made us to work. Proverbs speaks plainly about the value of hard work. As a matter of fact, 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

So today I'm making a pledge to myself...I will get back on my bike. I will walk everyday. I will find something I enjoy and make time for myself.

My days are very full but somehow--just like God finds time for me to read the Word--the time for exercise will come.


FARM UPDATE
By the way, the garden is doing very well; the tomato plants are growing although I had to pull off yellow leaves yesterday. This is my first tomato plants to live so...I'm not so sure this is normal. Anyone know?

My three youngest hens, white Easter egg layers are not mixing well with the ten three month old pullets. Everytime I have them out with the other "in betweens" they are attacked. I'm not sure what is going to happen and if they will ever be accepted. I'm praying they will get along. I'm currently gathering 4 or 5 eggs per day.

The turkey, Theopholis, attacked my alpha rooster Big Red (seen above in photo taken last fall with daughter Emma). He stomped on his left foot and he's limped for two weeks. He's just now back on it but he's gingerly stepping. I'm having to keep them completely separate. Theo stands in front of the pen and stomps his feet at Big Red. It is a sight to see. I had no idea turkeys fight in this way...stomping. It seems effective?

We Sea Cadets will be away for drill weekend so I will pick back up next week with the blog. Have a great weekend and stay safe.

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Trimming the Budget

In difficult economic times it is best to trim the budget if nothing extra is coming in to make up the difference. Currently, gas prices are on the rise as well as electric bills, grocery cost and...everything else.

At the Holt House we're doing everything we can to save a dollar. I thought I would share with everyone some of the things we're doing...even though some of these things are not popular with everyone under this one roof.

Unplugging

According to experts, unplugging small appliances can cut your energy bill up to 40 percent! So unplug the mixer and the computer...and the television...and the lamps. We are also making sure all lights are off when we leave the room and keeping the A/C off unless temps rise making us all sweat. Most times during the spring and fall a box fan in the window is enough to pull a nice breeze. This is another incentive my teenagers and their friends do not like.


Scratch

Whenever I can I will try to find a scratch recipe for items purchased at the grocery. Not only is this healthier than the boxed alternative but is frugal. I haven't purchased bread at the grocery in years. Needless to say, I spend time on Tuesday mornings baking bread but I know it is not only more frugal but much better for my family than the plastic loaves at the market. I haven't purchased eggs in a long while either because the ladies outside do a nice job providing; during the molt my dear friend who also has chickens keeps me supplied as I will for her. We have also made laundry detergent together and plan to make hand soaps.

Diggin' in the dirt

Having a kitchen garden makes a big change in your life. Not only is it such a money saver, it keeps you fit, more aware of the health of your patch of ground, and gives a Godly perspective. I can't tell you how many times when I've worked in the garden and thought of the parable Jesus teaches about seed sowing.

Thinking differently

Being a teen of the 80's, it never occurred to me to think twice about whether or not I wanted to get into my car I should consider the price of gas. Gas was $.90 per gallon! If my parents allowed me to go somewhere, I went. It wasn't the cost of driving I had to have permission for...it was the other factors: where I was going, who I would be with and what we would be doing.

For years Americans took for granted the availability of the automobile. If we need something, we get into the car and go...If we want to drive across town to see something interesting, so be it.

With oil prices fluctuating so drastically, at my house this is not the case anymore. We have to think differently now. Getting into the car takes more thought. For instance if I am shopping, I try my best to do it in one day making several stops. If it is necessary to drive into the city, all stops in the city will be made that day as to not have to drive the twenty miles again that week. If going out, the route needs to be considered.

Years ago I was taught thinking frugally was thinking in poverty. Hmmm... that can be right on some level but wrong on others. I believe God wants for His children to trust Him as their provider but at the same time be good stewards of all He has given. In the past, I was guilty about shopping without thought of was was listed on a price tag. If we needed something, I bought it without thought of "Is this a good deal?" This is no longer the case and I am proud to say our changes have given us more peace of mind.

I've never been afraid of hard work. I've not always been able to work as hard as some but when it comes to supporting my husband and children with being more organized, willing to work for the common purpose for the good of the family, and doing so with joy in my heart--I know He is guiding me.

When God guides, He provides!

Recipes

Two of our favorite Holt House recipes:

Holt House Wheat Bread

Sponge Method: only takes one rising before baking

7-8 cups fresh whole wheat flour for those who mill their wheat I use 2 parts hard red, one part hard white

2 TBS instand yeast

2 1/2 cups warm water

1 tsp honey

1/3 molasses or sorghum (preference)

2 tsp salt

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

In a medium size liquid measuring cup combine instant yeast, tsp honey and warm water. Let sit until it activates with bubbling.

When activated combine two cups whole wheat flour and yeast mixture. Sit for fifteen minutes for sponging. Combination at fifteen minute mark will be bubbly.
Add oil, molasses, salt and additional flour to the mix and knead. If using electric mixer, you should knead for eleven minutes or until the dough begins to be elastic and forming a ball. Add a bit more flour to take any stickiness out.

Place dough on a clean, slightly floured surface and shape into two separate loafs.

Butter and oil both loaf pans. Let rise in a warm, dry place with either a cloth or oiled plastic wrap covering loaf pans. If your oven has a proof setting it will take about an hour to rise to the desired level.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool on baking racks.



Holt House Cracked Wheat Skillet

1 lb desired meat sauté (chicken, lamb, beef)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
2 carrots
1 red bell pepper
2 onions (leeks or scallions preferred)
2 garlic cloves
1 cup water
1/2 cup cracked wheat
1 TBS thyme
1 Tsp cumin
1 Tsp marjoram
Salt and pepper to taste

In separate bowl, soak cracked wheat in one cup of water until soft. Sauté meat in skillet with garlic and oil. Add cut up herbs, vegetables and sauté until soft. Cover and simmer on low for twenty minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Drain cracked wheat and add to mixture slowly, folding in.

Serve with flat bread, or cut up pita. Serves 6.

A poem

I don't know the author of this beautiful poem but I want to post this in lieu of Mother's Day this weekend. When you read this tears will form and a lump with appear in your throat...when this happens, call your mom and tell her you love her if you can. Thanks for sharing this Aunt Carol.

Mother

When you are young, she is cookies and milk after school.

She is a comforting hug after a bad dream in the middle of the night.

She is the cold rag on a feverish forehead.

A calm strength when you are frightened.

By the time you are a teenager, she is nosy and bossy.

She has more advice than Dear Abby.

She is old and out of touch.

She insists you go to church and prays daily you will not stray too far from the principles she has taught you.

She is the first to jump to your defense when someone criticizes you, and the first to tell you when you are wrong.

Years pass. You are a young woman and it is your wedding day.

She is more than your mother; she is your friend and she rejoices at your happiness.

The proud look on her face tells the world how much she loves you.

When she becomes a grandmother, the advice she gave you when you were a child suddenly takes on new meaning.

She never tires of hearing about her grandchildren’s antics or accomplishments, and she relishes in relating stories about them over and over to anyone who will listen.

When she holds her grandchild in her arms, you see the same look of love on her face that was there for you when you were a child.

More years pass and time begins to take its toll.

Her hair is now gray and her face lined with wrinkles. Her eyesight and hearing are failing.

Her body is bent and her step unsure.

She is forgetful and frail and then one day … she is gone.

She is memories of comforting hugs in the middle of the night, cookies and milk after school, the proud look on her face the day of your wedding, the loving way she held your child.

She’s gone, and yet she is with you because when you look in the mirror, you see the woman she molded, as well as the little girl who still longs to run to the comfort of her mother’s arms.

Now it is your turn to do the things she did, and when you do them

You remember her love and realize that at last you know her secret.

A mother is mortal, with imperfections and failings.

She cannot solve the problems of the universe, nor can she protect her children from every danger.

She can only try.

You wish with all your heart that you could tell her “thank you” one more time.

And you can almost hear her whisper, “Thank me by loving your children as much as I loved you.”

She has given you something priceless, the legacy of her love.

Having a Place for Everything

Every mother knows having a certain place for your personal things is important. If you're like me one of the first things I do after rising and stretching is brush my hair. When I go to my dresser and my hairbrush is missing, even though it isn't an earth shattering event...it makes me angry. Whether your children are children or teens, when they move your things about and don't replace them it's enough to make a big deal out of something small. Right?

It's important to have a place for everything in your house. Even the scissors have a permanent resting place in my house, although that's not to assume everything is nice and neat at all times...I do work here. But when the scissors, my hairbrush, my conditioner, or my husband's tools aren't in the proper place it causes issue with me.

I know it sounds like I'm on a soap box and truthfully, I'm not. I am stressing when you know where everything is where it should be most days will continue on smoothly and without hitch. But watch out if my hairbrush decides to walk away from it's drawer...!

I explain it to my children like this..."Put this back when you're finished!" But what I should be saying is this..."Have respect for others and replace the (insert object(s) here: tweezers, scissors, sharpies, etc.) where they belong."

When organizing have a special place for newspapers, magazines, receipts, books, laptop, cameras, small tools, old snapshots, stamps, etc. I mention laptop because mine is constantly moving about the house at odd times. My girls do not have their own and have decided mom's computer must move about the house where she cannot find it when needed. As you may see, this is another issue I'm dealing with daily.

My family recycles religiously. Old newspapers, periodicals, catalogues and junk mail all get filed in a large waste basket in my office. Receipts are filed, books do lay about the house and it's my personal issue because I always have more than one I'm studying or reading for pleasure.

For things you no longer need, make a stack and take to your local helping hand. There is also a new online service called freecycle. You can sign up through Yahoo and most cities and towns have one. You list things you want to give away, and those who want it will show up and pick it up on your porch; finding things you need for free is the perk without throwing stuff away in a landfill.

Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

The importance of organization part three

Scheduling

In my twenty years of homekeeping it took me a long time to understand the importance of keeping to a schedule and planning certain tasks. Now I take great pleasure in seeing my family flourish with consistency.

Consistency is vital in homekeeping and most business managers will tell you consistency is key to success...from recipes at restaurants to retail products. Even psychologist quote consistency in parenting is a valuable tool in providing discipline for children and teens.

I have a monthly meal calendar I fill out the last week of the month with full dinner plans and on weekends breakfast is filled in as well. I also have a weekly chore plan posted for the children along with a laundry list. The laundry list has the days of the week listed for each child plus the parents for when they will do their laundry. This way there is no problem knowing who is utilising the laundry room what day.

All of this scheduling is posted in the most visible place in our home...the fridge! My to-do list and an ongoing grocery list is located here as well.

In my homekeeping binder I have master copies in protective sleeve for easy keeping.

In doing these simple management steps my children know what's for dinner, know when specific chores need to be completed and my husband can write down what is missing from the pantry.

Speaking of the pantry, I keep an updated pantry list for our grocery shopping days. This list is very good for keeping up with what is needed and where to get the best price. I break some things down by where we get them: some bulk items at Sam's Club, some at other places, etc.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and your ideas for scheduling at your home.

The importance of organization part two

Being Virtuous and Excellent
Is it possible?

Proverbs 31:10 says being virtuous is worth more than rubies. What a nice thought. How does one be perfect in their moral character?

I know I'm not perfect and never will be. The Scripture states it's difficult to find a woman of noble character. My question is, Lord how do I attain such virtue?

The answer is...we don't have to. The Holy Spirit does this for us. We can strive for excellence in our daily lives but only He molds us into the character He wants us to have...Godly character. Our worth is not measured by what we do or what we say. It is measured by what Christ did for us on the cross.

By understanding who she is, the Proverbs 31 woman excels in her daily life by providing food, clothing and shelter for her family. She is not concerned for the weather, (something for me to consider during hurricane season), feeds not only her family but her workers, and provides for the poor. She works late into the evening and rises early before dawn so she must be in good health. Her husband and family call her blessed.

This makes me understand that once we place our total trust in God everything else falls into place.

Striving for excellence in our homemaking is something we must do. Everything we do we must do for the Lord. Your relationships will improve with the encouragement you receive from the Lord.

Start your day in the Word. Take each day as it comes with a to-do list in hand and mark the completions one by one. You'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas about daily organization. Please leave a comment. Tomorrow we will continue with scheduling and menus.

The importance of organization part one

I have read many, many text and periodicals on the importance of being organized throughout my married life. Before this event I couldn't have cared less but I have learned, however, if one stays home or lacks a paying gig outside the home, it is difficult to stay on task without organization. But what keeps us on track of staying organized? If you have a plan what must you do to complete it with consistency? Joy.

Let's just say this upfront--there is no one perfect except for Jesus Christ--and so many of us will miss our own deadlines, forget the to-do lists, skip making supper, forget the clothes are on the line when it rains, etc. It's perfectly normal to do so.

In one of my most favorite books, The Joy of Housekeeping by Ella May Miller, given to me years ago by my husband's grandmother (it may be out of print), she writes one very important aspect about staying home: accept your role.

It may seem archaic, it may be like acid in your veins to think this way because it's contrary to popular culture, but I think she has a point. All of us desire to be happy and to be at home during the day without a paycheck at the end of the week can let you believe (by society's way of thinking), you are no longer an important part of society.

Believe me when I say this: I have felt this way before and I know I am not alone. I still deal with it when I go out to dinner with friends and I sit there thinking about valuable comments to make or witty jibes...do I really have something to say? All I do is stay home, do the laundry, cook meals, see about the children and feed the chickens. These people I'm with are professionals... Okay, I do host a Bible study on Wednesday nights and I have had a career once or twice before...but now?

Getting back on track here...Ella says housekeeping is pretty much what you make it...either a burden or a source of satisfaction.

We are who we are and if we're guided by God to stay at home and be a homekeeper I believe it's where we should be. That being said it's more than important to remember who we are in Christ. When we remember this important fact we keep our identity in Him and it doesn't matter if the only witty stories I have are about very, very flat bread or cute chicken stories.

Keeping organized is a very important aspect to staying home and running a household. But the most valuable trait is your joy in being the homekeeper.

Beautiful April

April in Northwest Florida typically is very wet and windy. This April, however, seems to be more like our March weather. March was not typical this year with even a few frosty mornings.

This being said, our garden is still under construction. We will be planting green beans, peas (two types) and cucumbers. We will also have some long island pumpkins which will be a new crop for the Holt House.

The azaleas are still in full bloom and the herbs are flourishing.

Beautiful April!

Currently, I am learning how to make flatbreads. This event has happened twice with the first try being successful and the second, well not so successful. I will endeavor to perfect the flatbread and will blog when this happens. Maybe I will even celebrate with a photo.

Since this is my first try at a blog, I am learning and in this endeavor would love to hear back from anyone who is relatively new to homesteading.