Easy as Pie!!!

The intro: Now I know what some of you will say.....pie? easy? Well for me, pie is VERY easy. It makes a bit of a mess but it is easy. I have heard horror stories of pie experiences, but I can say that I just haven't had it happen. With few exceptions (which were me not follow directions because I was off in lala land) my pie crust always turns out the same. I can tell you that it was from the careful instruction of both my Grandmother and my Mother. So, I am going to try and share the secrets with you, so you can make a fail proof pie crust every time.

The soothing wisdom: Now, I want you to know that my pie crust turned out even in the beginning, but didn't always look as good as they do most of the time now. That is something that just comes from practice and in some cases just how important it is to you. My grandmother made a great pie crust and wonderful pie, but hers didn't always look the best. It didn't bother her to piece together dough to make the top......... my mother on the other hand makes beautiful pies, and amazing fillings. Now, both of these pies severed the eater well....... they both filled the tummy in the most scrumptious way. I loved my grandmother's pie......I loved the homey look of it, the very laid back "do it everyday" way she prepared it.....but I loved it most of all because she made it. My mother's pie you could take anywhere and get glowing reviews before it is even cut.... something to be proud of and I love it........ it is just very perfect and not all of us can live up to that..... So, what I am saying is... pie if prepared correctly doesn't have to look like it came out of the bakery. Grandma nearly ALWAYS ran hers over.....she would say "my mom always said the best pies are the ones that run over" and maybe she was right......she had over filled them with the good stuff everyone loves. They just don't look as pretty. So don't stress. If it doesn't look great, and it bothers you, here is the fix. Don't show anyone the pie.......just cut the pieces and serve. Who will know???

About my recipe: You will find recipes for pie crust that have list of ingredients long, and short. But I have found that the tried and true recipe for me is the most simple of all, and the one my mother used, my grandmother and my grandmothers mother....... It may have went back farther than that. So here is what you need to make my pie crust.

(I plan to blog one day my ideas and feelings about food and how I handle whole foods, organic, all natural, and so on. But for today, I know that Crisco has hydrogenated oils. Remember I have only been educating myself on food for the past 5 to 7 years so, this is a relatively new thing for me. With that said that was what I was taught to make pie with, so I know it works and I like the results. The lard is completely safe as far as natural goes, and depending upon where you get it, it could be all organic. If you buy the stuff that does NOT require refrigeration, the stuff in the green or red tub in the super market, you are buying hydrogenated lard. Simple as that. SO be careful what you are buying if that is important to you. I am still working on a recipe that uses butter. I know I can figure it out if I keep trying, but so far.........not the same, not even close, not even ok. SO, if in the future I figure it out, I will let you know.)

The ingredients: Crisco shortening......or Lard there is no subtitue. Only Crisco or Lard.

flour.....basic all purpose works just fine

water

and a little salt if you like

(if you are making a 2 crust pie...or a filled pie....you will want a little milk, a little butter, and a little sugar)

That is it! Now how easy is that. You will find that some people tell you vinegar, egg, and a lot of other stuff, but I just don't find it helps make a better pie....... so why waste the ingredients. In fact if you want an All American Flaky pie crust, it doesn't help at all. Now if you are a Martha Stewart follower, and I can say I have watched my fair share of Martha, so no offense. She doesn't like FLAKY pie crust. She likes her to be firmer. That is why she says fills the shell with dry beans. If you don't want a FLAKY pie crust do not use my recipe.

The how to:

Here are the 2 rules to my pie crust make it quick and DO NOT touch the dough.

The reason you don't tough the dough is this, we want the fat (crisco or lard) to stay in pieces and not incororate into the flour, because when they melt they will leave air pockets(awwww the flaky.......) that forms the flaky layers we are looking for. Your fingers are warm and they will melt and incorporate the fat into the flour.

Turn on your oven to 425 degrees. Here is the rule of thumb for the amount of flour/to fat. You will use 2 times the amount of flour to fat. But know that I do not like to make more than 2 pie crust at a time. I just can't get the same consistency I want with bigger batches. So for a single crust(like for a pumpkin pie): 1/2 cup fat to 1 cup of flour. For 2 crust (like for a fruit pie): 1 cup of fat and 2 cups flour. Now you need to have a fork or a pastry cutter. I have done it both ways but I really like the pastry cutter because it makes it go faster. You want to use your fork or cutter to push down on the fat into the flour , you are just cutting it up into pieces. You will read in other recipes to make it the consistency of corn meal....."NO WAY" those are too small of pieces...... I try to make mine more something like peas. Some small, some a little bigger but none bigger than the biggest pea you have ever seen. Ok, you can do that, it is simple. Don't make it something it isn't, you are simply cutting up some lard or crisco in some flour.....that is it. Ok, now here is the somewhat trickier part. Fill up a 1/4 cup (for the single crust, 1/2 cup for the double crust) measuring cup with cold water. You don't need ice, just run the tap and get the coldest water you can from there. Pour about half of that into your flour mixture, what you want is for this to all come together in a ball quickly. You will not be "stirring" this mixture for a long time. If there is still flour loose and it is really dry add more water, you do not want a sticky mixture and you don't want to be mixing and stirring. It should remind you of a lumpy sort of play dough. About that consistency. Not sticky but not dry. Just not nearly as well incorporated. You will see lumps of crisco that is OK, that is good. Now put some flour on the counter about 1/2 a cup. Now, you are not going to knead this dough.....not at all...... the same goes for this rolling out process, do it fast and don't mess with it. If you are making 2 crust use your fork to plunk (don't you love that word) a little more than half the dough on to the flour. Now, you want to flip the dough over so that both sides are coated with the flour. Take your hand and rub a little flour on your rolling pen. If you don't have a rolling pen, you can use a glass, but I will warn you it is much harder. Now roll the dough away from you then to your left now check and make sure that the dough is not sticking to the counter. If it is gently lift it up and flip it over and be sure there is flour under it. Now roll in all different directions until the dough will fit your pie plate, (the dough will be a 1/4 of an inch thick or so, you shouldn't be able to read through it that is too thin....) be sure to keep checking to be sure there is flour under your dough and a dusting on top you dough so it doesn't stick to the counter or your rolling pen. You can tell if it is big enough by turning your pie plate upside down and holding it over your dough....is there a good inch and a half or 2 inches beyond the plate. There needs to be to accommodate the sides of your plate. Now I am going to try and save you all kinds of problems with getting this dough into your pan. This is the best way to transport your crust to the pan. Lay your rolling pen on the dough right in the middle of the pie dough, wrap the side of the pie dough that is closest to you up to the top of the pen, now hold onto the handles of your rolling pen and put your thumbs on the dough.......lift the dough and carry it to the pie plate and lay the loose edge on the furthest edge of the pie plate and in a kind of rolling motion roll the dough into the plate. If it breaks piece it together carefully, it's okay, its not going to show and no one will know. Just gently press the pieces together to bond them. Now fill your pie or bake it for cream pies and such. If you are putting a top crust on you pie you will need to do the same thing roll it our and put it on the rolling pen and roll it on to the top of the pie. Now use your finger to press off all the excess dough that is past the most outer lip of your pie plate. (You can save this and roll it back out cover it with some melted butter, and cinnamon and sugar, roll it up and cut off 1 or 2 inch rolls, put them in a pie plate and make PIE CRUST cinnamon rolls. I loved them when I was a kid, and I still do. So if you have children these are a good afternoon snack, or one to keep you or hubby out of the pie until after dinner) For single crust: take off the excess dough and finish your edge by making pinches around it, or with a fork. Unless I am baking the crust with a custard or pumpkin pie filling in it.....in other words if I am baking the pie crust empty, I sprinkle white sugar on it, to make a nice crunchy finish to help it stay crunch when the hot filling is added later. For 2 crust pies: To close the pie, is something that can be all your own. Some people use a fork and mash it closed. Some people do all kinds of fancy things, but for me I have my own family technique. We lay our both first fingers down on the crust and then use our thumbs to push up a bit of dough between our thumbs, then move to the other side of the raised dough, and lay our finger down push up bit of dough. Whatever you decide to do, just try to seal the top and bottom crust together. Here is my secret to a beautiful finish on your pie. Use a fork to poke holes in the top of your pie. You can make designs, make letters to tell the kind of pie, it really doesn't matter, you are just venting the steam that will come when the filling gets hot. If you don't vent the top, the filling WILL make it's own vent and make and ugly torn hole with spewed filling running everywhere out of it.......NOW Pour a little milk in a cup. (Important tip: try not to get milk or sugar on the decorative sealed edge of your pie, it will burn) Now use your finger or a pastry brush to lightly coat the whole top of your pie dough (0nly for double crust) now take out a stick of cold butter and slice pats as thin as you can off the end of the butter. Place these on your pie about a thumbs width apart all over the top of the pie. Now sprinkle sugar all over the top. Put your pie in the oven, if it is a single pie crust you can leave it at 425 until the bottom is lightly brown, if at some point the decorative edge starts to get brown and the bottom isn't, you can put some foil lightly over the edge to prevent it from over browning or burning. If it is a double pie crust with filling leave it at 425 for 20 minutes or so then turn it down to 375. The same for the double crust as the single if the top isn't browning and the decorative sealed edge is browned, you can loosely cover it with foil. Be sure to watch pies carefully you don't want a burnt crust. When the top is golden brown and the contents are bubbling through the vents, it is done.

What to do with it: Here are a few things you can do with your pie crust to feed your family and to take to parties. If you want specific recipes. Let me know and I will either, do another blog and post the recipes, or I can email them to you if I have your email.

cheeseburger or meat pies - one way to do this is to use the left over spaghetti meat, and top with cheese. Or thicken some left over soup or stew and bake it in a pie shell

Quiches - if you are living on a farm, chances are you have eggs. So, add some of you favorite ingredients to your eggs and there you go. If you have never had a quiche, it is kind of like having an omlette in a crust. So the same kinds of ingredients you like in an omlette you will like in a quiche. ham and cheese - broccoli and cheese - chicken and broccoli you get it. I can get you a quiche recipe if you need it, but a good source of recipes for me is allrecipes.com

tarts - this is simple an open top thin pie. However there are so many things you can do with a tart. Look for it and google it and search allrecipes.com. You can make main dishes, side dishes and desserts in a tart

mini pies or turnovers - same goes for these guys.....if you look at my picture that is what I call turnovers. That term can be used for a "fried" type of pie, but mine is just a mini individual sized pie. These happen to be fruit, but you can make them with whatever ingredients you have. It makes serving a breeze, NO CUTTING! But they take some practice cutting and moving them and not over filling them.

These are just a few ideas, I am sure if you do a little searching you will come up with some I haven't thought of and if so, I would love to here about it.

The homespun lesson: You know this makes me think about my Grandmother. She is one of the greatest spiritual influences on my life. She sure wasn't someone to tell you a great sermon, but she lived one everyday. She rarely told me what I was doing was wrong she just showed me the right way...... She prayed out loud some time "Lord give me strength" when my Grandfather was being particularly trying. (I will save Grandpa for another day) Though you might think she was just being funny, she wasn't at all. She really was praying. I saw her stop before and mumble...... I know she was praying...... She wasn't a fancy dresser at all, but I thought she was beautiful. She over flowed always with a selfless love to anyone who found their path to her door. She didn't speak eloquently, in fact she had a language that was all her own. She "wrenched" her dishes in the zink, she worshed her clothes, and there were many others. Fact is she was raised in a small shack with new paper wall paper, miles outside of Kansas City. Caring for her younger siblings when she was just a small child herself. She would carry water up a hill with her sister tied to her dress and her baby brother's gown tail under the bed post for safe keeping while she was away. To say she was backwoods raised would be an understatement. But the lessons of life and of God I learned from her were nothing she was taught in a school, or even at church. They were lessons she learned walking a sometimes rocky road leading only by Jesus, and hours spent at his feet in prayer. Though I treasure the physical knowledge of pie making such......the spiritual gifts I learned are worth more to me than any other. Love others with every fiber of your being, be who God made you, and Love Jesus more than anything else.......simple but life changing.

God bless!

New Beginnings

When I started my blog a while back, I wasn't really sure what I wanted it to be a blog about. I knew I had so many things I wanted to say, and share. (For those that know me, I am sure you are SHOCKED and amazed, lol) However over the last week or so, I have now discovered what I want to share. I have realized that my generation, or at least a great percentage of them were not blessed with the knowledge of how to do things from scratch, or from homemade. I know now how blessed I was learn all those things from my grandmother and mother. How to till a garden, how to plant and harvest, well, just about anything this Missouri soil will allow. I was taught how to sew, crochet, how to make my own cleaning products (grandma was a vinegar fan.....) I learned from friends how to make soap, grandma taught me how to smoke (meat that is....lol , she would die if she thought you thought otherwise...), not to even begin to mention how to cut up a chicken, or meat in general, how to make bread, pie, the list is long. I have teared up several time the last few weeks thinking that all this wealth of knowledge I have taken for granted is so valuable. I assumed that everyone KNEW this stuff. I assumed that people just chose NOT to do them. I am learning that just isn't the case. I grew up in a home where when you made something you would would NEVER say, "I made it from scratch" or "its homemade" the assumption was it was homemade, and if it wasn't you should be ready for the ribbing you were going to get.

Now before you give up on my blog because you aren't interested in learning about how to make your own soap, chop up a chicken, or make a pie, I want you to know there is more to it. I am not here to make any person feel bad that they don't want this life style. NO, I will be sharing stories about how I learned these thing, interesting facts I have acquired along the way about why or how something may have come about. If you already know this stuff, I want you to know that I am well aware that MY way isn't the only way, and I have only learned these things through the graciousness of others. So please read and feel very free to share your experiences. I am a sponge, I always have been. I spend the biggest part of my day seeking out new things, learning keeps me motivated.

I guess the biggest reason I am doing this is for some dear people ( one very special one) I know who are trying to live a simple life in a complex world. They want to provide for their families, and teach their children themselves. In this economy it isn't easily done. Some want to provide for their families a more safe source of food, without all the added preservatives, chemicals and other things. So, I decided it is time to put it all down, for whoever might find it useful. SO, if you are someone who wants to know just for a back up plan, in case something ever happens, it for you, if you are someone who just wants to read my adventure and see what God is doing for me, read on, if you are wanting to be self sufficient or are trying your hand at homesteading, this is a good place for you.......... I hope and pray that this is direction I am supposed to take and that God will bless everyone who reads, and he will use it to benefit many.......... Next post will be about PIE CRUST........... It won't be just a recipe.....it will be the fine details like my Grandmother shared with me. Thanks for looking!

The Rooster War!!!!

For those of you who know me very well, there are few things that I won't do, or at least try to do. I am not AFRAID of too many things though I don't like some things, like snakes, lizards, mice, rats, things of that sort, but I don't think I am too afraid of them. I just think they are creepy.... BUT I am afraid of full grown CHICKENS!! Yes, I know, it isn't exactly a farm animal one would think I would be afraid of, though I have almost decided it is birds in general. I have been bit by a dog and a rabbit, I am still not AFRAID of them, though I do watch out in certain circumstances. I have been butted, and horned, nibbled on, stomped on, and drug around and probably something else horrible I can't think of by a goat, and I am certainly not afraid of them. I have been knocked down by a sheep, pinched by a goose and ducks....... I am not afraid of them. Until tonight, I can't say that a chicken has ever done ONE thing to me..... I even had a rooster I really love call Sunny! He followed me like a dog, he drank water while standing on my feet as I filled up his water bowl. He ate bread from my hand....... BUT I was ALWAYS afraid of him. I jumped all the time, the chickens......I don't know what I was really afraid of....it is something about the way they look at you with one eye, and all run at you at one time.... I just creeps me out. AND I AM AFRAID. Tonight while doing chores for my neighbor, I turned on the garden hose that I had placed in a barrel. The barrel is used to fill various water containers for all the rabbits and other birds in their barn. Apparently the water pressure from the water coming on shot the hose backward and out of the barrel.....this in turn shot water all over a group of chickens eating under the rabbit cages and behind the cages ( another wonderful trait of chickens....they pick at poop all day if given the chance....ooooo!!!) Well, the chickens were already worked up and flopping around and clucking and making a fuss because the resident buck rabbit is having some kind of crisis whenever anyone comes in the barn. He is dumping his food and water, running around and causing all kinds of commotion....(I told him the other day, you would think he were a dairy goat for all the drama he are stirring up....good grief), So a combination of the water, and the rabbit caused the biggest in charge rooster to come running.....I ignored him....most of the time you if you go about your business and ignore them they just go away. (small brain, short memory)...... BUT not today!!! While I had both my hands over my head with a container pouring water into a bowl for a rabbit, it jumped up and attacked my leg.... for those of you who know, this was a BUFF.... a HUGE Rooster for those who don't know. He did not spur me thank goodness, but his claws were enough to let me know he was UNhappy. He fell off and I met him with my boot the next time...... He thought better of trying it again, but danced around and puffed up, so I grab a HUGE fishing net from the wall and carried it with me will doing the chores. (He didn't know that it probably wouldn't have hurt him, but it looked pretty big and really scary to him) He went on his way pecking the ground....... I finished the chores and hang the fishing net back in its place grabbed the carton of eggs and went on my way. As I went around the barn from across the yard came a lesser Rooster, a red one.....neck puffed wings out RUNNING at me..... I put my boot up only to have him ATTACK!!!! He pecked and spurred and flogged...... I shook my foot and threw him off, only to have him come right back at me.... so I hit him with the egg carton...(I am sorry for you animal lovers.....remember, I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE....lol Only protecting myself) ..... He fell backwards and I figured that was the end of that, OH NO!!!! He jumped up and landed on my arm.....pecking and drawing blood with either his claws or his beak not sure which...... I began not to hit him with the egg carton but to BEAT him with the egg carton....eggs flew everywhere. ALL the chickens in the yard were starring and clucking and horrified. I continued to BEAT on him until he fell of my arm, I threw the egg carton at him and went, (no I RAN) to my van. When I looked back....he was all puffed up with that egg carton.....YES, he won!!! Now, to say the least, my ego was hurt. BUT as I was driving home, I thought, you know, that stupid rooster couldn't have KILLED me..... BUT I COULD have killed him. He couldn't have even wounded me enough to warrant a trip to the ER.....well, not likely. ( I wont dwell on that, the fear is rising....lol) How very silly to be so afraid of something so small. In all rights, chickens can be very LOVELY birds. I enjoy watching them peck and chase bugs.. (another of those unliked animals) I like to watch their social inter action. Why would I be so afraid of them, is it there is no real personality for me to read behind that EYE..... or the fact that they race to you all in one group making me think of the horror film "The Bird". I just don't know, but it is certainly unfounded. SO, I resigned myself to change my mind and not be AFRAID..... I can dislike, them for their unlikable behavior, or the poop on my front porch, or the stinky hen house...... but I shouldn't be AFRAID. The more I contemplated that, the more I realized that we as humans just do this, we find something small and make it SO much bigger than it is. We find fear where there should be none. We can make a toothpaste cap a DEAL breaker. The creator of the Universe has adopted me, "WHOM SHALL I FEAR?" A rooster?? A flock of chickens??? A mission to reach a person or person who are different that me??? To tell someone the reason that I am who I am????? For the most part, our fears are mostly unfounded. I know there are real threats, there are real dangers...... I guess what I am saying is, I KNOW God can and will take care of me in those situations. I may feel fear, (that is a human response used to get our full attention) but I wont let it paralyze me, or keep me from doing what I set out to do. SO, why would I let small thing in my life??? It is something to contemplate for sure. Tomorrow I have to face the roosters....... Even now, I don't look forward to it, but I WILL do it...... and I will try not to FEAR..... God is a BIG GOD....SO much bigger than anything I can imageine. AND for sure and for certain much bigger than a ROOSTER.......LOL.... I will let you know how it turns out. (I hoping for the small brain short memory.....)

Joy in the midst of sorrow......

The storms are past here for the time being....... What an unsettling time it has been the last few days. As a person who is very aware of my feelings and most generally the feelings of others, I can't help but be overwhelmed at this time. It is a strange mix of emotions..... I am so very happy my family, are safe and well, I feel blessed and awestruck at the power of nature. On the other hand, I am distracted, lost in endless thought about the tragedy that looms just down the highway. Not more than an hour away, so many families are hurting, are trying to make sense of a situation, that just doesn't make sense. I was even put on the spot the other day. Someone ask me why I thought that God let things like this happen? I was quick to answer, "because he wants us sometimes to take stock in our lives, to count our blessings. Because he wants us to think outside of ourselves, to help meet the needs of others. Sometimes he uses it to make us take a look at relationships, with family, friends, and most of all with him. He will use all things for his Glory. I don't understand it, I just believe it." Even though I DO believe it, I do with ALL my heart and soul. It doesn't take the away the sadness I feel, it doesn't take away the questions, or the shock. No, the only thing it does, is give me a place to go with all of it. I can't imagine not having a relationship with the Creator and Savior of the world during a time like this. It truly is what separates us from the rest of the world. HOPE.......... Knowing that the God who created us DOES have a plan, DOES love us, DOES hear us, and most importantly HE DOES want what is best for us. That is how we can have JOY in the midst of sorrow, HOPE in the face of Hopelessness. Yesterday as I walked out to the barn, grass still wet from ALL the rain and storms, I was lost in thought. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bloom on my peas, so exciting, then I realized the lettuce was twice the size it had been the day before. Then I noticed the green beans we huge and the broccoli had heads......the chicks had grown, and so had the grass....ugggg. Life had not stopped, the sun peeked through the clouds and I realized the SUN/SON still shines. I just had to remember, the JOY, the HOPE, the LOVE was still there, growing. I am still praying, I am still doing my part to help, maybe even more so, but I have JOY. That doesn't mean I am not going to shed a tear at a sad story, or feel heart sick over another tragic moment, what it does mean is I can share it with the Lord and do what he has called me to do in spite of it....... Have joy in the middle of the tragedy, and know that HE is still there.....and he ALWAYS will be........

Potatoes in MY peas!

A few weeks ago, prior to the flood that had us held up in the house for a week. My peas were starting to get pretty tall. I wanted to weed them really good and hoe around them once before they got so big they bloomed and I might knock the blooms or fragile new pea pods off. There are 3 nice straight rows, not to many, just a few to eat right away. My plan was to plant some more in the fall and maybe can or freeze them. As I made my way down the row I pulled up many different kinds of weeds, some i recognized, some I didn't, but I knew they weren't peas. The sun was hot that day but I enjoyed the work, listening to the goats, and tiny frogs. Smelling the wild flowers, feeling the breeze was a refreshing in the warm sun. As I made my way down the row hoeing and weeding I found a plant I recognized. It was a potato! I didn't plant a potato there.... Well, at least not this year. I did have potatoes in this spot last year. I must have miss one, and now here it was growing in MY pea patch. I started to pull it up. The gardener in me wouldn't let me, however I thought about it. I couldn't see pulling up a perfectly good plant. It wasn't really hurting anything. BUT I thought about going back and pulling it up, it didn't belong there. This was a PEA patch after all. Then God used this to remind me about many times in my life. There are so many time, when I start a project, mind you, it is always a GOOD thing. I start the project and suddenly it takes a different path or someone or something I didn't plan ends up in the middle of MY project. Those things that show up, have always been sent by God. The true thing that was supposed to be my project in the first place. Instead of God putting a potato in MY pea patch, I had put peas in God's potato patch. Why is it that we plan, then expect God to show up and make it all great!! Why are we surprised when he doesn't show up, or throws something unexpected in our plan? Now I am not suggesting that God didn't want me to plant my peas in the place. I am quite sure God did not care that my peas were there. I am not even sure he put the potato there, but I am completely convinced that he used the potato. The potato was to remind me not to make any plans or start any projects without checking with him first. My life is HIS garden anyway, I am only caretaker. I did leave the potato, as a reminder.... I hope you plant your peas in HIS pea patch. God Bless!

Holy or Lowly??

As I have grown up I had always heard that Christ was born in a barn because he wanted to come lowly. I suppose I agree with the idea, that God wanted to present his wonderful son in a humble understandable package to the average man. I can see that it is a contrast to the idea of a king, born in a golden palace surrounded by those subservient to him from birth. Wrapped in fine linen, laid in a glorious cradle, sung to sleep by his loyal subjects. Definitely a sharp contrast to his actual birth. Or is it? I would purpose that the place of his birth was not only lowly, but also HOLY. He was born in the presents of HIS creations the way he made them, simple and exactly the way he made them. I am sure their knew the presents of their creator. I am sure they stood in awe with gentle bleats and soft noise to praise his sweet little name. He was in the fresh open air of the earth he created, wrapped with love by a young mother that he knew before her own birth, and laid in the golden sweet straw of the manger. He was worshiped by the angels, made just for that business. Worshiped also by the Shepherds in tune with the nature that surrounded them and with out great education understood this event. There in that barn, it WAS a holy place!
I still find God so easily in the barn, where his creations still function the way he made them so many thousands of years ago. They still know their place in the scheme of things, and no matter what happens they plug on, doing what they were created to do. They don't fight his will for their life, a goat doesn't try to be a dog, or cat a chicken. They are most generally happy and content being the creature they were made to be..... they are exactly how God made them, living as he intended, showing us his perfect plan in there very existence. With that said I would argue that for me a barn is not a lowly place, but a HOLY place. For if all those present are projecting the perfect plan of God, in just the way God made them, how much more Holy can you get.....

Here are several online definitions of Holy: (just for reference)
ho·ly (hl)adj. ho·li·er, ho·li·est

1. Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred.

2. Regarded with or worthy of worship or veneration; revered: a holy book.

3. Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly: a holy person.

4. Specified or set apart for a religious purpose: a holy place.

5. Solemnly undertaken; sacrosanct: a holy pledge.

low·ly (ll)

adj. low·li·er, low·li·est

1. Having or suited for a low rank or position.

2. Humble or meek in manner.

3. Plain or prosaic ( Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull)in nature.

Pray with out ceasing.....

As I walk the well beaten path from the house to the barn, I notice that a wild rabbit has braved our yard. I watch it as it nibbles on the grass. It sees me and franatically bounds away. I say he braved the yard, because of our large white Great Pyrenees, Belle. She is just on the other side of the fence and would love to chase the little rabbit. Then you would think that our barn cat Cecil would detour the bunny from coming into the yard as well. I smile and think to myself, thank you for the sweet greeting this morning. I make it to the barn door where I am greeted with an ankle rub by the before mentioned Cecil. We greet each other in the familiar morning ritual, that always end with him pawing at my hand at the feeder wanting his food faster than I can get it out. The familiarity and warmth of this ritual makes me stop and say thank you for always staying the same. The world around me changes, the rules change, the people change, but you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank you. I finish the chores and make my way to the garden. The trees are nearly leafed out, wow the green is so vibrant. You know that God could have made all of this in black and white, but he didn't he chose to give us the gift of color. As I think about the way my day has started, I am reminded of the verse "Pray with out ceasing" I think I use to believe that meant to ask God for forgiveness all day, to ask him to help you stay our of trouble, or even to ask him for things all day. I suppose there might be sometime that it is called for, or maybe there are people who are call to that. BUT for me I believe that it is more of an acknowledgment of GOD all day. In the breeze in a hot day, or the song of a sweet bird when you are feeling low, the colors of a fantastic sunset, or any of the number of moments in the day you can feel or see his presents. A continual breath of thanksgiving, of loving him in our praise. That is pray without ceasing to me. Just a thought for you. Hope you see him in everything in every way ALL DAY! God Bless!

Logan's really blessed weekend!

For those of you who really want to know what is going on with Logan, here is the scoop.
On Friday April 23 Logan told me on his way to school he had a headache. Logan as a rule never has anything wrong with him. Maybe some seasonal allergies from time to time, but nothing big. So, I thought no big deal. In fact he ran in a track meet the night before and got home late, so I thought he was probably tired, and maybe a little dehydrated. SO, I said drink a lot today and take some Motrin, as he ran out the door. I didn't think much about it, and went on with my day and the goat OB observation. Goat didn't cooperate and was hanging on to those babies, so I just kept watching, Nichelle and her room mate came over for dinner and I fixed dinner then went to the track meet to watch Logan run. When he was done he told me he had the worst headache all day and he needed something for it and a drink. I took him home he ate and I gave him some meds and he played UNO all of us. He went to bed and I went out to deliver the goat babies. I ended up pulling all 3 of them around 2 a.m. I took a shower, checked on mom and babies and went to bed for a much needed sleep. 3:45 a.m. He came to me almost in tears telling me I had to help him get rid of this headache. I gave him more meds, and put hot towels on his forehead. I changed the hot towel several times. I went out in the rain at 6 to check the goats, and when I got in he was pretty sound asleep. SO, I went to town to do some errands and start dinner. My parents were come over for dinner and to go Nichelles performance. He got up and told me his head was killing him, so I go him more meds, still wasn't worried. I thought with all the seasonal pollen, maybe he had a sinus headache, or a migraine. Mom and Dad came and Logan went to bed. Kind of strange as he really likes to do stuff with them. I check to see if he had a fever, the wasn't one. We ate dinner, and his headache got worse. It was getting close to time for us to leave for the performance and I checked his temp again and it was 99. I decided that we should take him to urgent care. Chad and I talked about it on there way there, we decided urgent care was best as there was no need to clog up the ER for a headache. When we got to urgent care they put him in the pediatric department. This seems so funny as he is 5' 10", and he weighs around 150 lbs. He is only 15 but we all kind of thought it was funny. Logan was having a little trouble at this point talking to us because he couldn't stand to hear it or to think much. His jaw had started to hurt really bad and he wouldn't open is mouth much. They took his temp and it was around 101. They talked about meningitis, but decided that since his neck seemed ok, it probably wasn't that. (THIS IS NOT CORRECT!!! YOU CAN HAVE MENINGITIS WITHOUT YOUR NECK BEING STIFF!!!!) (If you EVER have a VERY bad headache and a SUDDEN fever with no other symptoms, you need to see and ER doctor RIGHT AWAY) That day they gave him some antibiotics that they use when you have meningitis, and 2 liters of fluid, and 2 doses of morphine..... This STILL did not make his headache go away and around 9:30 they sent us home with the IV port still in place and told us to come back the next day so they could do blood test and see how he was doing. That night we gave him Ibuprofen or Tylenol every three hours all night. The next day we took him back at 10, he wouldn't eat anything much as his jaw and head still hurt too much. I really was starting to get worried at this point. They did a blood test and this white count was worse, if we didn't give him meds ever 3 hours the pain got worse and the temp started climbing. They decided to give him another 2 liters and more of the IV antibiotics. I questioned at this point if we should go to ER and have the CT scan they said they wish they had. Did he need to be in a hospital??? They said no they thought it would be fine to do the meds then go to our pediatrician on Monday. I said ok, but I was still nervous. They did the treatment and he felt sick from the meds. His headache was not gone, but they sent us home to see the pediatrician Monday with the IV port in. I talk to my sister that night by phone, she is ER doctor, and she was worried and wished we had the CT scan and even a spinal tap. That night Logan had swelling come up between his eyes and his left eye lid swelled and drooped. I called the nurse to talked to the DR and they told me it was ok not to come in unless he couldn't move his eyes without pain, his headache was worse than it had been, or his fever went up to 104. So we made him sleep in my bed, and continued the meds through the night. First thing we took him to the pediatrician, who was very worried, and believed we needed a CT then a spinal tap. SO we went to the ER where they agreed and did the CT right away. There we found that Logan had an infection in his sinus that had went through the bone and into the lining of his brain. They started him on more IV antibiotics and fluids. They decided then he would need a team of doctors to figure out what to do. Quickly they decided that since the antibiotics had been given to him before a spinal tap was done and we found something on the CT that we would not need to do the spinal tap. This was good news for all of us, Logan was really worried about that. They took him to do an MRI and an MRV. The MRI was used to be sure the infection that got near his brain had not gotten in his vain and caused a blood clog. I am not sure what else would have happened if that were the case, I just realized that would be bad. So they called in a Neurosurgeon, because in the beginning there was a belief he might need brain surgery. They called in an ENT and ear, nose, throat specialist to fix the sinus problem (the sinus was blocked and could drain), and infectious disease doctor, and a pediatric intensivist. They took him to the PICU where they decided on a plan. They did so many blood test, took xrays and watched him closely. The first step was to drain the sinus so the so the source of the infection would be gone. The neurosurgeon decided because the infection close to his brain was so small it wasn't worth the risk to take it out. We would just monitor it very closely and work on meds to get rid of it. They did the surgery and made the new outlet, which we will have to monitor to be sure it doesn't close up. They were able to get a sample to get a culture from, drain and clean, so that part is done. He woke up so fast, and did so well, that they moved him to the pediatric floor. He had a PIC line placed today ( kind of like a long term IV, they put it in the upper part of his arm and run a catheter up his arm into a large blood supply line in his chest). He has to stay here until the culture comes back, maybe tomorrow, for sure by Saturday. Then we will go home and the home health company will come and teach me to infuse the antibiotics he will need for the next 5 to 8 weeks. He will have to finish school from home.
SO, I say all of this to say, that as always GOD is watching out for us. He planned this out weeks ago. I quite my job 3 or 4 weeks ago, to do something different, maybe take classes, or take care of my child. Chad was scheduled for vacation and had enough people to cover for him so he didn't HAVE to go in if something happened. Logan had a VERY bad headache that made us take him to the doctor. He had a headache, and not BRAIN DAMAGE or WORSE! The infection didn't make it to his brain. He recovered from the surgery in record time. I could continue on and on and on. I have found that God prepares things for us when the worst is going to happen. For instance, when the goat couldn't have her baby I called my goat midwife friend (lol) it was 11:30 p.m. and her husband was out of town and she was sewing. She was free to come over. She not only helped me take care of the situation, she taught me what I needed to know so I wont be afraid if that ever happens again. I mean what are the chances.... God even cares about my animals. I know he heard the many, many prayers I said over that goat that night. And as my friend told me "how can God give us more faith if he doesn't answer our prayers". It is so easy to trust your kids in his hands when you know how he cares for everything in your life. Our God is good, and he shows us his nature and his love for us in the worst of situations. We are so grateful that he makes all the advanced arrangements, and know just what we need before we even need it. How could we ask for anything more.... Thanks for your prayers and concerns!

Morning Concert

A tiny stream of light slowly floats across the greenest grass, it inches upward highlighting the flowered trees. The light reveals a pair of birds, singing a new spring song, and the rustling of there frantic work, harmonizes nicely with the swaying of the grass in the gentle breeze. The ponds water joins in lapping against its muddy shore, along with humming bees already busy with their days work. Tapping the rhythm of the morning are the hooves making their way from the barn eager to taste the cool fresh grass of the morning. Soft purring of the resident cat seems to blend it all together, as the sun finally makes it through the barn window, this day has begun, the way they have for the thousands of years before, with a song to wake the day. This concert was created for his glory, to be enjoyed by the residents of the beautiful earth..... (and all creation sings his glory)

Panic before an event even happens, is a waste of energy and makes you look stupid!

Living in Missouri, I learned a long time ago, the weather is unpredictable! Period! The best you can do is just be prepared for anything and go on with your life. However, the weather persons still continue to do the predicting and they continue to be wrong. This in and of itself isn't the funny, it the people who listen to them that cause the comedy.
I guess in case you don't live in Missouri, I should catch you up. We have a wide variety of weather here. In the last month we have had negative temperatures, snow, a little ice, 60 degrees, rain, sun, clouds, 50 mile an hour winds, and well you get the point. A few years ago we had an ice strom that wiped out power for weeks, so now you say ice and people turn blue and start running around looking for things, who knows what they are looking for, but .... anyway.
For a week the forecast has been for a little ice followed by anywhere from 6 inches of snow to a foot. Everyone started the panic that ensues when they forecast such a storm. The storm was supposed to be here Thursday afternoon, through the night and into Friday. Thus, on Monday different organizations, and events, started canceling...... Yes, you read right!!! I was amazed at the confidence that people placed in the forecast. By Wednesday when I went to the store, to get bread..... it had begun. The hording of water, bread...... carts full of bread! Why a whole cart full of bread....???? It makes no sense to me.... We talk about prison being a place where you are fed bread and water???? Are they preparing for a prison??? BUT the funniest thing I have found is the dog food. Last storm, I went to the store to get a few things I needed, one being dog food. I buy one bag every two weeks for our Great Pyrenees, Belle. I went to the isle to get the dog food, and there was NONE, well that isn't exactly true there were a few bags left, little bags, broken bags, specialty foods. What is wrong with people..... why does a snow storm make you by carts full of dog food...??? Do they not feed their dogs unless it snows??? Is it that they themselves think that they may need to eat it should they be snowed in their house for.... 24 to 48 hours.... ( about the longest I can imagine anyone in this area would be stuck in their house). I guess I am out of the loop. I saw this Wednesday when I went to the store again, carts full of dog food....
So, Thursday came no snow, Thursday night came, NO snow..... Friday morning came and we have a 1/2 inch max.... it is still falling, but we will NOT get a foot of snow...
I say all of this to tell you I learned this lesson long ago..... I don't know what tomorrow will hold!! The weather man does not know, you do not know. I do not panic before an event happens! I know that I have enough food in my house to last us for..... who knows weeks maybe. It might no be food we are always excited about but it IS food. I know that I can't control the weather, or what MIGHT happen with it. I do know that I know the one who no only knows what tomorrow holds, but also controls it.... this is peace my friend!!!! No matter what might happen, and bad things MIGHT happen, he is still in control.... What shall we fear!!! I still buy a loaf of bread, and dog food if I am going to run out in the next day or two, but I will not panic..... Have a good one.