Monday, December 17, 2012

Prepping for the Holidays


                                     


The most wonderful time of the year , not only do we hear that but we feel it too. Despite the stress of getting our lists completed, our hearts lift, we sing more, smile more, even celebrate more. While Christmas isn't the only time of the year that we do kindnesses for others, dig into our pockets to share with others, extend our hands to those who may need a lift, it seems to be the time we extend ourselves more and allow ourselves to feel good about our good deeds and mentally lift our spirits. Perhaps the phenomena lies in the true reason for the season, the birth our Savior , Christ. As we honor His extraordinary accomplishments and strive to follow in His footpath often we look to the New Year with hope that we will do better to improve ourselves in the New Year. Merry Christmas to everyone and despite our stressful lists, lets try to Be Joyful!
Happy New Year!

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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Garden Pinks in Autumn

Although our views are mostly hues of Autumn now , my garden pinks insist they be represented still! Their resilience is to be admired, much like our own. HPS!
Despite dropping temperatures, this old fashioed, fragrant beauty still blooming!

Dur to the mid week UNEXPECTED heat, this Climatis decided to bloom again!

These ever blooming Rugosas make me feel like I can grow roses, tho we know its all them and not me.  

So many floral projects can be made from hydraneas in Autumn..they continue to give!

Clematis Angela, great for fall planting. Flower heads are apx 4-5 inches

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Tomato Sauce Making Time

Its tomato sauce making time at our house .  We have a wonderful hand powered machine that helps us process the tomatoes much quicker than the old peeling and par boiling the skins off. Wash the tomatoes, quarter them and push them thru the top. the strainer does the rest. Send them thru 2 or 3 times to get all the tomato's goodness. Next the pure tomato puree goes in the freezer until it's time to make sauce. additional smaller containers are turned into tomato basil soup. No jar sauce for this family. The sauce takes all day to make but it's so good
All day Sauce recipe:
Saute
1 large chopped onion
5 chopped garlic florettes
2 oz olive oil
Add 4 c frozen tomato puree (canned tomato sauce works
Add chopped red pepper
Add a pinch of sugar
1 whole carrot
1c dry red wine
Bring to a boil then simmer 2 hours
Add 1 pkg pork neck bones
Bring to a boil again then slow simmer
21/2 to 3 hours stir occasionally
Last 30 mins add 1 tsp red pepper flakes , 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil, and fresh chopped parsley. As it thickens and the flavors combine , the sauce is delish! Remove neck bones and pour over your favorite pasta.




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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

How to make yard ghost family


To make the mom ghost and these 8 baby ghosts is simple and easy.
Needs: 1.5 inch pvc pipe (hardware store) cut 8 pcs 36 in lengths and one more piece apx 50inches (for mom ghost)
Mom Ghost is made from an old sheet draped, then covered in a white trash bag due to rainy days
16-  13 gal white trash bags (2 per baby ghost)
several newspapers ,masking tape , scissors
18  rubberbands
Baby ghost head: roll newspaper sheets into balls, continually taping to form round balls apx 9" round
drape first trash bag over head, hold under the ball with a rubberband; this will become the dress.
To make arms, drape the second bag over first bag, again place rubberband in same place to hold dress on. Now cut the front and back of top bag to form 2 arms. Later you will tie the bag ends to each other to look as if they are holding hands. Holding hands also helps support and hold the ghosts together on windy nights.
Insert 36" pvc pole from bottom up into ball to act as a body. Secure ball to pole with masking tape. Take ghosts outside, push poles into soil ; tie hands together as if holding hands. The kids in neighborhood will love them. This year the ghosts circled the tree, but they have been know to just dance in the garden in a straight line.




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