Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Now for a little more on our future plans. As I've said,
we have two spots we have plowed up, preparing for a garden. But in our front yard, we have already planted
some plum trees and some blueberry bushes.
No, this picture is not our plum tree. It's just a picture of an apple tree I put here for this post. Our trees and bushes haven't even been in the ground a year yet, so they don't look anything like this yet. We are thinking and praying about planting apple trees. Just not sure. A lot of hands on physical care must go into them to help them produce well and at this time, we are not sure we can handle it. Speaking of apples, this is where I can mention my canning experience I've learned and am still learning. A neighbor, about a mile away has an apple tree that produces good every year. I have been allowed to pick quite a few for my family the last two years. When we(the boys helped me) picked our first bunch, we were unsure of what to do with them. My husband suggested I make apple butter and can it. At the time, I had never tasted
apple butter, let alone can it. I had really never canned anything. As you can tell, we are really set to be a smashing success with this farming/homesteading deal, not. There is a reason I mention the word "pray" and all of it's tenses, you know, "praying, prayed, etc". We ain't gonna make it without it!
Now moving along with my husbands suggestion with the apple butter. We did have about ten pds. of good apples, so I thought why not learn how to make apple butter and how to can, in the process. I Googled the recipe for apple butter. I would sometimes be lost without Google. I wasn't able to find exactly what I was looking for in a recipe without anything I didn't want, so I sort of ended up designing making my own recipe. My ole timer husband bought the canning supplies I would and need taught me the canning
process(with the apple butter anyway). To my surprise, my canned apple butter "was" a smashing success. I have sold some, but mostly given it away as gifts. Because of the many request I have for it, out side of our home, and as much as my family likes it, I usually can't keep enough made to meet all the demands for it. I have even been told I need to go into my own business with it and that it taste better than the apple butter sold at the Cracker Barrel restaurants. To me, those are huge compliments. Of course I realize this is just the opinions of a few people, lol.
Without hesitation, I do give the Lord all the credit and praise for the wisdom and knowledge He gave me to make and can my apple butter. It has been a blessing to see the smiles on peoples faces when they receive our gifts of apple butter. Although, I am not able to make it as often as I'd like to, I will continue to as often as I can. We do enjoy being a blessing to others. We pray God is using us with this blog to be a blessing to those who read it. We know we are nothing with out God, and all we do is only through the strength, power, wisdom, and knowledge He alone can give us. We hope as we give updates with what we are doing, you will see God working through us and in our lives. We want you to be encouraged to pray and learn to rely on God for your everyday life. My life verse is James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." I have so much to learn but I know by the grace of God and seeking Him everyday, He will bless me and I will learn. Have a great day in the Lord.

In Christ,
Stephanie