What's Cookin'

Well, it's 10:30 at night. What do you think is cooking?

Beef stock, for one. I'm following the prescribed rules of my Food Bible (Nourishing Traditions, and I'm worse at following it than I am the Real Live Bible), and making some hearty, tasty broth. Everyone does this overnight, do they not? My favorite way is to use a crockpot or big roaster thingy. Since I'm using a big bunch of soup bones, I'm using the roaster thingy. You know what I'm talking about, right? Like a crockpot, only metal, rectangular, and with a thermostat instead of misspelled relative temperature options? Sorry, it's late, and I get a little crazy when it's late.

Anyway, I put the bones in water and a bit of vinegar (helps draw calcium and minerals from the bones into the soup - not sure what it does to me when I use it in salads) and let them sit an hour before heating it. Then I turned it up "high" (not 'hi' - 450' to be exact) until it boiled. I skimmed off the impurities, but there weren't many. These might not be beef 'knuckles', perhaps. Then I turned it to simmer, where it stayed for the day, and will stay for the night, and maybe some of tomorrow as well. I'll remove the bones (and MAYBE give them to our naughty dog), tear up the meat, and strain the broth. Maybe I'll let it cool and remove the fat somewhere in that process. Then I'll put in more of all the lovely garden abundance and try not to eat it all in one day, like the last time I made it. Perhaps I'll have enough to freeze for later. Wouldn't that be fantastic?

I ALSO (because I am so amazing tonight) have chicken broth in the makings. And haven't even tripped a circuit yet. I roasted a chicken in the crockpot, and the uneaten parts (minus the feathery skin - gotta love home-processed poultry) are simmering with an onion and some garlic. I'll treat it like the beef stock tomorrow - remove bones (and likely give them to the naughty dog)*, separate meat, strain broth - then add veggies and some sort of starch. I'm undecided if it'll be barley, rice, or homemade noodles. The noodles are grand, but Organique hasn't eaten wheat yet (that I know of - her under-the-table expeditions might have introduced her to it by now), so I might forego those. I'll use potatoes with the beef, so not the chicken.

I even washed and dried diapers tonight, too.

But before I start floating away with all this inflation-of-ego, I better go make sure I set the dishwasher to ACTUALLY wash, because I'm pretty sure I forgot that.

*okay, I wouldn't really give the dangerous, splintery, cooked-chicken bones to our dog. Probably.

Garden Stew

There are few things in this world that make me feel the way I felt about my Garden Stew the other day. It was a delightful mixture of satisfaction with a (hard) job well-done, joy that everything was completely free of dangerous chemicals, -- and that with a minimal pricetag -- and the happy tastebud-dance-inducing deliciousness when I sat down to eat with my family.

To make it, I spent a few hours digging potatoes, picking corn, carrots, and onions. That was hard work, lemme tell ya. I need a potato harvester, but I'm pretty sure I could buy organic potatoes for sixteen decades for the price of one, so I probably will do without. Then, I removed a couple packages of grass-fed stew meat (beef) from the freezer.

I did not put the tomatoes in it, but they looked nice for the picture. :)

I made it in 2 pots, because I'm lusting after a new, GOOD stockpot, but I have to drive to town to get it on a weekday, which I haven't done. Maybe Thursday. My current stockpot was $11 or less, and the bottom is approximately the thickness of tin foil. It bows outward when heated, and causes the center 1 1/2 inches to burn. Even if all I'm cooking is water, it'll burn. I swear. So - I've had it. I also don't like using 2 pots. It's hard to make sure all the meat is fairly apportioned, let alone the salt and potatoes and whatnot.

When I was done, after patting myself on the back enough to make myself choke, everything in it was 'good' for me, and except for the beef and seasonings, it was all grown right here. I was really impressed with myself, which is probably not a good thing. It's not like my toilets get scrubbed, or the floors mopped while I'm tending to my silly garden for months. And it's only by God's grace that plants actually grow and all. And that they didn't succumb to the wind.

This corn had an interesting kernel. I'm not sure why. This is a hybrid sweet corn. It was planted somewhat near my open-pollinated popcorn, though... And bizarre kernel or not, it was SUCH a wonderful addition to the stew. I'm all inspired to go make more today.

I'm not even sure what to say about this carrot:

Peeling it wasn't exactly a job well done.

Another Perspective

A majority of my favorite homeschooling, mothering, keeping-sober-at-home blogs have posted their firm views against Governor Palin being elected to the vice presidency, and all the conservative political ones post their firm support.

Which makes this perspective an interesting one, at least. It's not so much perspective as it is a report, but it's definitely not in either of the above camps.

The Sunday AM celebrations have been just worship, with some intercessory prayer, but no preaching or teaching. This morning after an extended time of worship, Dutch Sheets, our pastor, shared an exhortation, as he called it.

I believe you are aware that Dutch was used by the Lord to call prayer before the 2000 Bush election that was so close. He said this morning that this election is perhaps even more critical than 2000, because of the Supreme Court. If the right political posture is not elected, we stand to lose decades of progress and the repurcussions are enormous.

Last year Chuck Pierce and Greg Hood prophesied that in 2008 we are not electing a president, but the vice president. Dutch said he could get no release in his heart to back Huckaby. even though pressured by many in the body of Christ. Huckaby is a good man and a strong believer, but he was not God's choice at this time.

Dutch also told us that he knows a man who gave McCain a prophetic word, that McCain had made a vow to God when he was at the bottom during his POW days, and now God was calling in that vow. McCain was visibly moved by this word.

Dutch was traveling to Texas on Friday, and when he landed in the airport, his wife called and told him to get to the TV asap. He watched McCain introduce Governor Palin, and said he began to weep, even though he knew nothing about her. (we have had reports of many others including Newt Gingrich).

He asked what the significance of this 44-year-old woman was, and he saw the clock said 4:44. He asked the Lord what that was, and the Lord said, "Ezekiel 44:4." "He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD; and I fell on my face. NKJV North gate, representing Alaska.

A few years ago Dutch and Chuck Pierce went on a 50-state tour prophesying over the state their part in God's purposes for the U. S.

At the meeting in Texas that evening Dutch was relaying his experience about the Governor to Chuck, who said, "Do you remember what the word was the Lord gave us for Alaska ?" The Lord had shown them that Alaska is the alpha and omega state. It is the place where things begin and end.

You may realize that some of the Alaskan islands are on the other side of the Dateline, meaning that the day begins and ends in Alaska. The Lord said that Alaska is a gateway for the Ancient of Days to come into the nation. The Lord told Dutch (back in Alaska ) to tell the people of Alaska to look forward into their destiny. (Is this the DESTINY referenced in the circulating video clip from the Wasilla ASG, insinuating a prior prophecy?) Alaska has an assignment to open doors and a place where prophets and intercessors were trained. It turns out that the Governor, who was raised in a Pentecostal Church, according to our newspaper, founded the prayer movement in Alaska .

We will be having the last of our 90 days beginning in a major gathering Sept 11th. The significance of this is that Chuck Pierce had prophesied that there would be 7 years of war and Sept 11 marks the end of that time and the entering of the 8th year. Someone said that 44 = 4+4 or 8.

Dutch asked why he and Chuck were in Texas for this announcement, and the Lord reminded him that the word for Texas was that it is a prophetic state - that the Lord's purpose for Texas is this prophetic function.

Dutch then decreed that she will enter the White House. Now, if you don't know him, he is a very cautious man, has his feet firmly on the ground, and never goes off "half cocked" when it comes to prophecy. He said that he believes, as of Friday, the U. S. has come into a new level of alignment with the Lord and His purposes.

By the way, the Governor will be the 44th Vice President. He continued to declare that she will be the Margaret Thatcher of America, including that she would be President one day. Many other things came forth.

I believe we especially need to rally prayer for the family and children of the Governor. They will be targeted by the enemy and I believe we need special prayer for the oldest daughter. Please take this seriously in your prayers.

Any thoughts?

UPDATE: this from dutchsheets.org, found when I googled this guy:

IMPORTANT CORRECTION FROM DUTCH SHEETS
There has been an email circulating with quotes from Pastor Dutch regarding Senator McCain and Governor Palin. This was NOT an email sent by Pastor Dutch. Someone took notes during a Sunday service and sent out this email. There are several inaccuracies within its content that warrant this statement.The comment about Sarah Palin starting the prayer movement in Alaska is incorrect. She did not start the prayer movement, however, she is a woman of prayer. Pastor Dutch did not state that she is Pentecostal; the media has published that.The comments regarding the vow made by Senator McCain while a POW are not correct. Pastor Dutch was told that someone sent Mr. McCain a letter that was prophetic in nature and asked if he had made promises to God while a POW. It was very personal in nature and his response was not disclosed.Lastly, the statement about Sarah Palin being the 44th Vice President is wrong. If elected into office, Governor Palin would be in the 44th administration but would be the 47th vice president.

From The Rock, Water Flows

Our area is full of secret little attractions that aren't exactly advertised with neon signage. And okay, maybe they wouldn't really be called "attractions" by most. I like them, though.

Occasionally we take the luxury of spending fuel and driving around some of these places.

I had never been to this area before, and drove Hubby crazy having him stop the car every five feet so I could take a picture of some little fancy.

I just loved the stream here, fed from springs.

The sign gave it such a wonderfully vintage feel.

Seasonal Laundry

During the warmer months I use my laundry line to dry most of our clothes. In our warm, dry summers sometimes the first garments hung up are dry before I finish hanging the last.

Of course, with the change of seasons comes a change in my laundry routine. The bright heat gives way to conditions that are better suited for tumble drying, and our clothes are soft instead of stiff and hard:






Oh, you thought I meant with the dryer, indoors? Oh no; that will come, but not yet.

Happy 7th Birthday!

Big Sister is 7 today.

I can't believe it (I never can).

We're hopelessly at a loss as to what to do as a celebration; being sick derailed my house-reclamation plans, and what energy I did have left was spent remaking a room for the girls.

I painted the 'computer' room very girly, and then surprised them with the news that we'd be moving their beds and dressers (and not the rest of the junk) into there. It's the east bedroom, which gets the morning sun, but that will be good... right?

They slept in it last night, and Hubby finally installed the computer in their old room last night. This computer desk is the only thing that doesn't look like a whirlwind of destruction hit it. There's no other furniture in this room, but even so the carpet is showing only in spots...

I've been a mother 7 years now, and 7 is my favorite number. What a blessing. My heart is full of gratitude.

She is a wonderful sister, a great daughter, and is learning to be such a big help. She loves her baby sister to death, and (usually) treats Little Artist with kindness. She is a delight.

Ugh.

Well, I was planning to blog about the crazy weekend we had with my folks visiting, who brought my step-brother's kids Vcitoria (almost 7) and Colin (a VERY busy 2). But then I had sixteen piles of laundry (give or take) that took all my attention on Monday, and then I got involved painting this computer room on Tuesday (it's going to be a girl-ish room for the kids... shhh!), and THEN I got whatever bug my folks seemed to have before leaving. And then my kids had yesterday (it's easy to paint when they stay in bed). About five p.m. I started feeling it. Hubby came home from work and fell into bed, and I'll spare you the details of my eternal overnight suffering. I seem to be the worst of us at this point, and the girls are doing much better, so I hope it's short-lived.

If and when I recover, I'll try to post something worthwhile. :)