Thursday, November 18, 2010

STARTING OVER

Well it has been a whole year since I ventured into the blog world to document anything in our busy world. Life has been filled to bursting with both blessings and trials. This year has seen the pain of death and the thrill of starting over in a new home, in a new place. My dear hubby is still serving in the Middle East. This tour is turning out to be a very long one. 2 and 1/2 years by the time it is complete. I will breath a huge sigh of relief when at last it is over. He is soon to retire and be home with his family safely tucked in each night.
We have finally realised our dream of living out away from the hustle of town. We have moved into a beautiful 160 year old home. It is a blessing to look out each morning and watch the deer grazing in the back field. There is room for the Little's to play, the Middles to wander, and Mama to grow lots of good things to eat. We hope to spend many years loving and playing here is this amazing old home. I can only imagine those that have come before me. The joys and sorrows that this old place must have witnessed. It has certainly left a nuance of character that is like a hug on a cold day.
I do hope to start blogging again on a regular basis. Life just gets busy sometimes. But is is a great way to reflect and count the many blessings that our dear sweet Jesus has bestowed on us. I way to make sure to think about what we should be cherishing and treasuring. Our sweet Lord first and foremost. Family, friends, and the small things in life that remind us just how temporary it really all is. And the promise that we can all live on together forever in his love.
Sometimes I loose track of all that and get hampered in my walk. Things that I should just brush aside turn into huge mountains that I can't seem to get across. I can only say Thank You Lord for clearing my vision and letting me see what I need to see. Life is sweet with him in it.

Blessings,
Dawn

Monday, November 23, 2009

Thankgiving and Gratefulness

For the first time in several years I will have all of my children home for Thanksgiving. While the children were growing up I never realized just how wonderful that was. I would be trying to get dinner on and they would all be around my feet. I remember thinking that we should just go out to eat and it would be easier. All those times that I got frustrated with them for being in the way. Now, I am so excited that I am going to have to say Excuse Me a hundred time Thursday as we all jockey around the kitchen. And I am ashamed that I ever considered not having them all with me. My oldest son joined the military at 18. His first duty station was Germany. As a new private coming home for the holidays was just not going to happen. As his time in Germany drew to a close we thought we would once again be able to be together. That was short lived when he got sent to Iraq next. This is the first time in 5 years that I will have all 7 of them home for Thanksgiving. I am so thankful and yet it is bitter sweet. We are a military family. My husband is a soldier as well. He is currently serving in Kuwait and he will not be with us this holiday season at all. In the spring David, my oldest, will be on his way to Afghanistan. He will be there for at least a year. It will be several more years before we are all together as a complete family at the holidays. I will never again take for granted the happy chaos of the holidays. Even the silly arguments about who will sit where are now dear to me. They really do grow up so fast and our time with them is fleeting. Enjoy them. Love them. And most of all be thankful for each and every day with them no matter how stressful. They are a gift from God in every way.

Blessings
Dawn

Monday, November 16, 2009

THE AMAZING DOO


We recently had a opportunity to purchase our grandson a tractor to play with in the yard. We have a large yard for the children to play in, but we really didn't have many toys for the younger children. Doo loves helping me in the yard and garden so when I saw this I had to get it for him. He has gotten so much fun out of it. Although we have to be careful because steering is not something he is really good at yet. It was a real splurge for us, but I love watching him on it. Grandchildren are amazing.

Shopping in Shipshewanna


I recently took my dd Lisa to Shipshewanna, IN to shop at
E & S sales. It is a very large bulk store that I shop at once a month. It is a 2 and 1/2 hour drive so I don't usually take the children with me. Lisa is such a huge help to me that I wanted to have a day with her to reward her for her help. Lisa tends to get car sick. So while I was in the store she stayed in the van. I came out of the store and she was grinning. Not your normal grin. That I just did something that I shouldn't have done grin. I asked her why she was grinning. She told me that she has just broke a going to Amish country rule. She had taken a picture of an Amish person. She told me that she just couldn't help herself. That this huge man on this tiny pony cart and pony just tickled her so much she had to take a picture. Since it wasn't a face on picture I let her keep it. It was kinda funny if you look at it in that way. I explained to her that it was a pony cart and use for children and short runs. I think she likened it to a full sized man on a child's bike of play toy.


Monday, November 2, 2009

Changes Comming

For a very long time now my husband and I have wanted to move. We were both raised in rural enviorments and wanted to go back to our roots. We have the knowledge and heart for the country. We just didn't have the money. My husband is a career military man. We have lived many places over the last 24 years. Of all the places that we have been stationed Kansas was the most like what we had grown up with. I think that we were to young when we were stationed there to recognize what we had. My husband is now stationed in Kuwait where he has been for about a year. He won't be home until this time next year. The next year will be all planning and preparing. We are looking for a homestead. We currently live in Indiana but we are not set in stone here. Being from a military background we are prepared to move to where ever we find what we want. I have been looking as far as Nebraska. We have been to Tennessee to see what is there. It is beautiful. Indiana has many rural areas also as it is mostly a farm state. I am praying for direction in this matter. I know that the Lord will direct us. I am excited though. I do love change. It is all new and exciting. Only this time we will be putting down roots. What ever the Lord has in mind for us will be wonderful. I know that he knows so much better than me. I think now I am just mature enough to listen.
So, if anyone out there in blog land knows of a cheap homestead for sale. Or land that has potential, let me know. We don't want anything fancy. We don't mind hard work. We just want to live as close to the land as we can and free ourselves from all of the (stuff) that the world says we have to have. So with that in mind, keep us in your prayers.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

THE AMAZING DOO


I just ran across this picture while looking for a different picture. This little guy is my first Grandchild. He is named after his Uncle David who is named after his Uncle David who is also named after his Uncle David. As you can imaging it gets very confusing around here. At some point in time someone started calling him Davey-Doo. And then we all got lazy and just started calling him Doo. He is an amazing little man who is constantly reminding me that God is Good! He turns every bad day into a good one with just a smile. His Hello Nanny! is enough to melt my heart every time. He is real and I know that he loves me just because I am Nanny. Recently he got a new brother who we needed to name as cute as Doo. So keeping with tradition let me introduce you to Boo.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Amazing Bread Recipe

I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but I do have to admit that it came from my old stand by Amish Cookbook. I have so many friends asking for the bread I thought I would post the recipe. I will add that I think the outcome is more based on the quality of flour that is used more that the recipe. I only use Wheat Montana Unbleached Unbromated Flour. It is a high protein flour that I have only found at Bulk Amish Grocery stores. I know that you can order it online and it is available in smaller amounts from Walmart. I buy in 50lb bags because is is more economical. I also mix it half and half with 100 percent whole wheat flour. So here goes.


3 cups warm water

3 tablespoons yeast

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon salt ( I use sea salt)

3 cups of flour


Place above ingredients in a bowl mix and allow to form a (sponge). It takes about 20 minutes.


While this is working in another container


1 cup hot water

1/2 cup honey

1 cup oil.


Stir honey into hot water and mix until disolved. Add oil.

Mix this into the yeast mixture once it has made a sponge.

Mix well


Begin adding flour 2 cups at a time and stiring in. I usually end up adding about 6 to 8 cups of flour. Once a stiff dough it formed turn out onto a floured sufface and knead for about 6 minutes adding flour as needed. The book says it will take about 10 cups all together. I have found that the higher the protein content of the flour the less it will take. I have honestly never measured the Flour. I knead the dough for about 2-3 minutes and let it rest for about 3-4 minutes and then knead it for 3 more. I should stretch well without tearing when you are done.

Place in a well oiled bowl and allow to double and a half. I have found if I allow it to rise at its own rate without rushing it with warmth from the oven I get a better more even raise. I does take longer, but I just do other things for a while. Once it has doubled and a half I punch it down and divide it into 4 loaf pans forming the loaves on the counter first. I allow it to get a little more than doubled and bake it for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. This bread is amazing. I have tried many recipes looking for a loaf that my family will eat and enjoy like store bought. This is as close as I think I can come. I also slice it on an electric meat slicer so I get nice even pieces and place it in bread bags that I buy at the same Bulk Amish Store. They are about 3.00 dollars for 50 and I do reuse them several times. I also use clothes pins instead or twist ties to save money. This bread freezes really well so I can do all the baking one day a week and pull it out of the freezer as needed.