Country Kids

Friday, March 5th

As you may know, depending on how long you've been visiting our blog, I have mentioned our branch that runs across our land. And I've posted some pictures of it also. Well,
the weather is warming up nicely right now, so we got out yesterday and did some things.
First we had to get some hay(dead grass) and spread it in the appropriate places in our chicken
pen. We found two more eggs yesterday(you'll not hear me complaining), in the same spot and at the same time. This was a first for us. It looks like our hens are getting more serious with their egg laying so I thought we might need to accommodate them with better laying material in more places. The boys are "egg"cited over the hens now laying, and look forward daily to taking their turn to go look for eggs.
We are putting more thought into getting goats now, so I decided for us to walk around the area where we plan to put them. This means they will be fenced in around where the branches are. The pictures I had posted were of the first branch we come to on our land. Yesterday we crossed it and went to the second one. This is where I made these pictures. It was really pretty. I don't think these pictures do it justice. I made more, but it seemed my batteries wanted to run down
so some did not turn out. But we skipped a few rocks, and had a little fun. Boys and water, water and boys. They go together like peanut butter and jelly, Orieo's and milk, etc.
Just like with the chickens, we are now excited about goats. We have to get our fence up first, and from what I have heard, because they are related to deer, not just any fence will do. So we are having to carefully plan for the fence. They also must have some type of shelter for use when necessary, so we've got that to put up also.
It definitely takes much work to get a farm going and to keep it going, and I know we are just beginning to learn. But, that's one reason we have decided to start this whole thing. With the Lords help, the benefits will far out weigh the disadvantages.
Until later, keep visiting those prayer closets. I a sure you we will be visiting ours.
In Christ,
Stephanie

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

Another Day, Another Egg

Tuesday, March 2nd , 2010

In the same place around the same time, we found a second egg, hooooraaaaay. Except this time, we "saw" our hen today sitting, or should we say "setting" in this same spot looking suspicious. She didn't appear to be just sitting for her own entertainment, so we thought another egg was probably on the way. John Paul ask if he could get the egg today, so here is. Benjamin ask if he could take this picture. Yes, I'm talking about our 31/2 yr old. I let him hold the camera,
then I helped him to focus and then I guided his
little finger and we snapped this picture. I thought he did good.
Then I took the one of John Paul holding the egg up close for me. Don't worry, unless one of us finds a super fantastic egg we feel just must be shown off on our blog, we won't be boring you with every egg we collect, lol.
Do you see the learning experiences presenting themselves here? We are learning about chickens and egg laying, "hands on", and Benjamin, our 31/2 yr old, is getting hands on learning with how a camera works. And these are just a few of the things they are learning.
Among many other reasons, the learning experiences was something I was attracted to when we began praying and praying some more about whether to home school or not. I knew I had much to learn myself, and I thought it would be wonderful to learn right along side of them.
Although I will say, they are doing a very good job of learning a lot and leaving me in the dust.
But, that's okay. I thank the Lord He has blessed them with their intelligence and I pray they will use it for for His service. I will catch up with them in time. I know with having a farm,the Lord will have plenty to teach us. Gotta go.

In Christ,
Stephanie

What are we doin'?

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Since I posted the picture of our fist egg, I remembered I/we, have not explained some of our purpose with our blog.
As you know from our blog address, some of our reason for our blog is to share a little of the country life with you for those who enjoy that kind of thing. Over a year ago, Joseph and I were discussing how there is so much of the old ways our kids have no idea about. I'm talking about good educational stuff that one might mostly learn by being in the country. You know, hands on. We furthermore discovered we must decide to draw our own line of how far we want to go back. After doing some "research" via the internet, magazines, etc., I was made aware we could go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back and and be labeled "backwoodsmen". This would mean, no electricity at all, having and depending on a wood burning stove for a lot, growing and raising our own everything as far as what we eat, and I could go on, but I think you get the picture. This is tooooooo far for my husband and we do only have five acres and you only do so much with five acres anyway. So as of now, we've decided to just take our humble rural residence and our five acres and find a happy medium.
As I mentioned in our last post, this ordeal is taking alooooooot of prayer and then more prayer. I sometimes find myself praying for encouragement to continue with what we are doing.
Our first goal was to have a tractor. We've been living here for almost 22 yrs with no tractor. We finally got a tractor only about a year ago. That was a BIG answered pray. I never heard of anyone having a farm with out a tractor. So we got our tractor. As you can see in the picture, Matthew is the main driver of it, with Joshua in training. Next was to have chickens for meat and eggs, and we are sloooooooowly getting there. With the help of our tractor, we hope to have two spots (they have already been plowed twice)for a decent garden in a matter of months. We have other plans also, but as for now I must go. Our devotions, the Lord helps us put out our due this week so I must get to work on them if they are going anywhere. I do want to continue explaining what we are doing and why. As you know, we are concentrating on prayer and how it can be powerful if we would just use it. As I continue writing about our purpose with our future farm, I am excited to let you know how prayer has and will play a huge part in it coming together. I have to remember the verse, " I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Phil 4:13 I can get so discouraged with it at times. Did I mention I am sometimes impatient?
In Christ,
Stephanie

CONGRADULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!!!!! IT'S AN "EGG"?

Monday, March 1st, 2010

For those who know from earlier post, "we have chickens"! What you didn't know, not that anybody cared, was I was very anxious for us to find the first egg one of our hens might lay.
Here it is! I found it about 4:15 this evening under a tree, in the pen, in some dead leaves. I was soooooo excited.
I was almost as excited as I have been over the last 19 yrs of my life, each time Joseph and I received the news of a new expected baby. For most of you who know me, you know this means I was thrilled. I know, it's just an egg. What can I say, so far I am liking our progress with our country/farm life vision. Now about our future gardening, goats, and cows. After much prayer and then more prayer, only time will tell. More on this in a coming post.

In Christ,
Stephanie

Monday, March 1st, 2010



John Paul was in a silly
mood(I know what's new?) last night and wanted to make a silly face
for me with these glasses. I had to take a picture.
I thought it would be good for laughs.

Monday, March 1st, 2010

This is one of many pictures I have been anxious to share. It is a real meadow located in Bakersville, California. Spring begins this month, and this picture makes me think of Spring.

For those who keep up with our blog, as you know, with our blog we are encouraging our readers to pray, pray, pray.
God has given us, as His children
a powerful tool called prayer for asking and receiving and we are encouraging those who will to use it to achieve better homes, better families, and a better America, and that is putting it mildly.
My point with this is, I chose at the beginning of this week, to practice what I preach, and I begin asking God for some things. I was going to make a list, and mark them off as they were answered, but within the next 24 hrs, before I could start my list, God answered some, and two
were considered miracles. God is so good.
I have now made a list of some other items in need of prayer. I do enjoy marking them off as God answers them. I hope we all are in a regular routine of talking with God and making your request known to Him. As His children He wants us to come to Him with our worries, problems, and request. He loves us and is anxious to pour His blessings on those who seek Him.
Just a reminder: We need to be careful to thank the Lord for our answered prayers and to give Him praise for each one.
If anyone would like to share any answered prayers, we would love to hear from you.

In Christ,
Stephanie