Pickle Making

Let the pickle making begin! I was able to make a half-gallon jar of refrigerator dill pickles today and three quarts of regular kosher dills. We haven't tried the refrigerator pickles before so we'll see how they are after they sit in the fridge for three days. The recipe says to wait at least three days and that they get better the longer they are in there. I hope we like them because they are super easy to make.
We weren't sure that we would be able to have a garden this year because of the weather so we are extra happy and grateful to be getting these.
This may seem so obvious that you wonder that it took me so long to realize it, but when I was working in the garden earlier this year planting seeds and plants, it dawned on me that we plant and God does the rest. It's all up to Him. We can't control the weather or anything else. We do what we can and then it's up to Him to give the increase.....or not. He gives life. Period. This is very humbling. And awe-inspiring. And freeing. We've worried and worked so hard in trying to plant around the difficult weather, all of the insects, and everything that wants what you plant. We think, "I'm just not working hard enough or smart enough. Or I've missed something that I should have seen." When I think about it, this applies to everything I do, doesn't it? Everything I do as a wife, mother, grandmother, or friend. I do what I can, planting the seeds, and He does the rest. It's all Him. They are all His. "But, Lord! I've tried so hard!" We can't give the increase. Only He can. And He will. He will.
My daughter-in-love pointed out that it is the same with birth. You do all you can to be healthy and prepare. To be informed and make good choices. And then..... the outcome is in His hands. His precious hands.
Keep planting those seeds and watch for the increase.
Nancy

Fresh Garlic

We dug our garlic last week and the bad news is that several of the tops rotted off when we had all of that rain. The good news is that not all of them did! I was able to make two braids and we have quite a bit without tops to use for food and medicine. There are so many things that garlic is good for. It really is a wonderful herb. And, oh so delicious!
I'll try to put a picture of the braids on here as soon as I get them hung up. They are heavy so I need to put something stronger up to securely hold them.
I hope you will think about planting your own garlic plot this fall. It can be as small (or as large!) as you want. Come next summer you will have your very own fresh garlic!
Nancy

Updates

We have had a two-day break from thunderstorms so we are trying to get some things planted in the garden. Hard to believe that it's almost July and we are still trying! This is a first!
I will be cutting some wonderful broccoli tonight and for that I am very thankful. It won't be long before the onions are ready and I noticed some flowers on the tomato plants. We replanted the green beans and they are coming up and also the pickling cucumbers. We still have lots of plants that we started from seed and the seed potatoes are holding on. A big part of the garden washed away so it will take a little bit to get it back in shape. I'm drooling just thinking about fresh vegetables! Lord willing, we will have some yet!
The boer goat kids are getting big! I want so badly to keep the four does to breed again, but we will have to see. I have them advertised for sale because the car is being repaired again. I am planning to wean them very soon either way.
We will be drying Clarabelle up very soon and giving her a rest. So, for a little while we will only be milking two cows. If you look closely at the heading picture you will see Clarabelle. We are still milking just once a day and it is working out very well.
Hope all of you are enjoying summer.
Nancy

Hands To The Plow

We plowed with Millie the other day and she did so well! It really was a blessing to have her respond to the lines when we guided her. She has so much to teach us. Jack held the lines at first and drove her and I guided the plow. Then we switched and Jack drove the plow while I led Millie where we wanted her to go. It was so good that we got to try each side of it, and we could both understand so well the message that our daughter-in-law shared with us soon after that she had heard at church. (We were amazed and delighted at him using this as an illustration today, as others in agriculture were that I have shared this story with.)
The minister spoke about keeping both hands on the plow and not looking back. He told of a family that he had known well. They were a very close and strong family. They were very active and a blessing to many. Then they went to the wife's high school reunion. She saw her old friends and some of her old life. At first she just took one hand off of the plow to look back at that old life that she had had. Then she decided that she wanted it again; let go of the plow completely, and turned back. The children lost their way, and the family fell apart. It was disastrous.
The minister's eyes teared up as he recalled it; remembering the results of her going back. I wish there was a happy ending, but the family was destroyed forever.
When I've looked at that field with so much left to plow and the endless days ahead that it will take to produce anything; I've been tempted to look back. When the storms have come, and the crops are failing, and I lose an animal that year; I've been tempted to turn back. Don't look back. Let's keep both hands on the plow, holding it even tighter when the going gets rough, so we don't look back. We will finish one day and it all will be worth it.
And, if you ever find that you have been looking back, or even if you have actually left off plowing to turn back; go pick up that plow. It's not too late. It's still there waiting for you. There may be some rough spots to work out at first, but when you get through them; the going will be easier.
And Jesus said unto him,"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
Nancy

Hopeful Things

I've noticed something very exciting going on lately. Everywhere I go people are talking about getting chickens, planting a garden, and canning food. I think that is a very hopeful thing!
Nancy

Journey To Simplify-Part Seven

I had been making my own bread by hand for years but had kind of slacked off when we were busy living today's lifestyle. I had always purchased the flour, but now I started grinding wheat for flour and making bread again. I had learned that most of the nutrients have been lost within just 72 hours after grains are ground and I wanted my family to get all of the nutrition and the fiber from whole grains. I sewed clothes for my family and myself and planted a garden. The man that owned the property saw that we were digging a garden spot and said that we would never be able to grow anything in "all that sand". We brought in river bottom dirt and aged turkey and chicken manure and dug it in. We used the double-digging method so we dug it in two feet down. He was pretty surprised when he saw the garden. I also planted an herb garden with medicinal herbs and edible flowers. I dug a garden pond to sit by and stocked it with water plants and pretty fish. We planted some apple trees, including a Wealthy apple tree. I had bought this kind of apple years before from an older man that had an orchard, and had made LOTS of applesauce, pies, jelly, turnovers, and anything else apple. That kind of apple makes the BEST pies and applesauce! It used to be very popular and was Minnesota's state apple.
We made our holiday celebrations more home-centered and held boat races in the irrigation pond. There were different rules for the races each time but they always had to be homemade. It was amazing what people came up with! Everything from robotics and model rocket power to rubberband power. At times we would put a limit on how much could be spent on materials and other times the boats had to be made from materials that were already on hand. It was such great fun! In the winter we would build a bonfire by the pond and go ice skating. I remember jumping in the pond to swim in the summer and feeling all of the day's stresses and pressures fall off of me. We enjoyed watching the Kildeer pretend to be wounded to lure us away from her nest, the Blue Heron that would come each year, and the white Pelicans that were oh so beautiful as they flew over together in the most graceful patterns.
To be continued.....
Nancy

County Fair

The county fair started off with bull riding last night. That is one dangerous profession! I noticed that many of them kneel after a safe ride and give thanks. That was very good to see.
Our granddaughter won a fiddle contest again recently. She did so well! She had to wait two years to be in this one because of other commitments, but this is the one that kind of started the whole thing. She is getting ready for the State Fair contest right now so she and the young man who is accompaning her brought their instruments to the fair last night and practiced. That was a highlight for me! I could never tire of hearing her play. This young man won the banjo contest at the same gathering the other day and is self-taught. He plays the guitar when accompaning her.
I read that the garlic seeds are like miniature cloves (you can tell when you take a close look) and take two years to make a regular clove when planted. I have lots of them and want to try it. They were very easy to take off of the flower. We'll see what happens!
Hope you're enjoying summer!
Nancy

Green Beans And Garlic For The Pickin'

Put 8 quart bags of green beans in the freezer last night and picked that many more again tonight. I also dug the garlic. I always get SO excited about the garlic! It is such a blessing. I love smelling it when I'm digging it. I'll clean it up and then hang it in the laundry room to dry. There were some cloves left in the ground last year and they went to seed so I'm trying to find information on saving it. Does anybody have experience with this? I don't knoww if you can grow garlic from seed or not.
I apologize for the lack of pictures. I have tried to tranfer them from my camera and for some reason it's not working. I won't give up, though!
Hope you're finding joy in your work today!
Nancy

Catch-Up

Sorry it's been so long. Things have been mighty busy around here!
I tried to put some pictures of some garage sale finds (treasures) on here but blogger isn't working right. I'll try again later.
We have had heat indexes of 110 degrees lately and that has made gardening very challenging. But, then, the weather the last three years has been challenging. I picked my first handful of green beans a few days ago and that was exciting! We have large green tomatoes that we are keeping our eyes on, just waiting for them to start ripening!
We'll be taking a steer in tonight. Remember Marty? I hate to see him go, but will enjoy the meat. After eating homegrown, chemical-free, hormone-free, pasturefed beef, we really notice the difference when we eat the other.
I hear thunder in the distance so maybe we will get some much-needed rain and, hopefully, some cooler temperatures.
Hope your day is going well and your gardens are flourishing!
Nancy