Fun Facts Friday!!

by Steph // Friday, October 7, 2016 // Comments off

It’s FRIDAY!!!

And just BEAUTIFUL here!

We have been praying for anyone and everyone in the path of the hurricane, and do not take our beautiful weather for granted.

After bringing home a bushel of apples on Sunday, our snacks have been all about apples!

Apple cookies are always a hit – and naturally gluten-free!

If you follow along on Instragram, you know that Grant bought a new (to him) truck!

Addie also bought a new (to her) car! Grant’s car!

Which made me do a happy dance, because I am not running up and down this ridge twice a day on the days Addie works anymore!

Grant also started a new job this week, but not until Wednesday.

How I loved having him home two days! It was like the good ole days of this past spring!

Speaking of Grant, he is Clyde’s favorite. No, really, he is!

I will have to get back to you on how I feel about that -ha!

Eliza looks pretty good in Grant’s hard hat, wouldn’t you say?

THIS was a great article, and had me yelling “YES! Yes! YES!!”

Soup season has hit in full force this week. It has been warm here, but not anymore! It was 39 this morning! We have been running our LP stove to take the chill off of this big ole house in the mornings!

We also have been dressing warmer for bed time! Which makes two certain someones very cute and cuddly!

Do you all make homemade chicken stock? I sometimes make a HUGE pot of it, with chicken carcasses, veggies, onion, garlic, peppercorns, kombu, and a splash of apple cider vinegar – but most often I just put the chicken bones back in the crock pot after we cook a whole chicken in it, cover it with water, and run it on high for a whole day. Either way the stock is SO YUMMY and the key to delicious soup!!

I love to just drink a warm cup of it too! Sounds strange I know, but it is very good for you!

I found a new recipe we have been making called one pan dinner. The name says it all! We actually need two pans of one pan dinner – but two pans I have! So I make two!

It is just boneless chicken breasts, a veggie (I used green beans this time), and some cubed potatoes. I just add a little sauce of some kind – this one had lemon juice, olive oil and spices. I have done an apricot glaze as well that was delicious. Cover the pan and bake at 350 till done! So many variations you could make of this simple meal! The meat, potatoes and veggies turn out so moist and tender!

We have a porch off of our master bedroom – partly enclosed (and unfinished!) and partly not enclosed. The last week or so we have a visitor who has been living under there – and he is not a pleasant one because he STINKS! Yes, it is a skunk. We keep seeing him run the farm after dark. I sure hope he is not a she and having babies under our porch!

Well, Friday means cleaning and grocery day!! The house is spic and span, and my grocery crew is getting grocery right now. I have these three cutie pies home with me, and I best get them some lunch! But when they are being so good you almost don’t want to interrupt, if you know what I mean!

I see big naps for two little ones today as we have had a busy, busy week this week!

Our calendar is bare for the weekend and this coming week – and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Doesn’t that sound delightful?!

Hope you all are having great FRIDAY!!! Enjoy the weekend too!

Special Guests

by Steph // Thursday, October 6, 2016 // Comments off

This past Sunday we had special guests at our church – a group of children visiting the United States from China. These children and their leaders are in our area for one week, but will be driving across the United States on a one month tour before they head back home. The children are staying with homeschooling families from our church and one other church this whole week and are getting a taste of what school is like when done at home.

We had the privilege of hosting a bon fire last night for the children and their host families! We were SO excited to watch the children experience something new – a farm, a bon fire, smores, horses, and even star gazing through our telescope. We were told on Sunday that the children were missing the kind of food they eat in China, but I really think they enjoyed the new things they tried last night!

There were several that are from Guangzhou, which is where Eliza is from, and also where all adoptive families go to finalize the U.S. part of their adoption paperwork while in China. This man was from Guangzhou. He was running a drone and showing it to Lane, Tate and Eliza. He also had the most impressive camera I have ever seen! He told Blake and I, in broken English, that this area is the most beautiful place he has ever seen in his life! He said he has taken “many, many” photos because it is just so beautiful. We agree! It is so beautiful in our neck of the woods!

My little army did a great job helping get ready for last night! They had a good time too. Especially our little social bug. I saw him often hand in hand with one of our guests, dragging them somewhere. He is just TOO cute!

Eliza enjoyed herself too. I did swing her part way through the night, and got her back on track. She did SO good!

This ray of sunshine was a celebrity. He had his photo taken more than once I think!

I posted a few very short videos on IG stories of the children talking to each other. Hearing their language just tugged at our hearts so much! I have always said I left a piece of my heart in China, and I think my sweet hubby left his whole heart there as well. It is hard to explain what that feels like!

We certainly were blessed last night by having this farm full of people – and such special ones at that. It is something we will not forget!!

Happy travels to you, sweet children!!

An Afternoon at the Apple Orchard

by Steph // Tuesday, October 4, 2016 // Comments off

Two years ago Blake and I took the three youngest to Ferguson’s Apple Orchard on a Sunday afternoon.

Eliza has photos of that day in her scrapbook, and shows Tate those photos all the time!

They were both asking to go back there this year.

We thought it was a great idea!

Sunday we took all the kiddos and headed there after church.

Sunday was GORGEROUS!

Perfect weather, perfect temperature, perfect sunshine, perfect blue skies!

Which made the orchard VERY crowded!

But it was still worth being there.

Tate and Eliza were SO excited!

SO patient in the long lines, and very kind!

And having the time of their lives!

There was a petting zoo,

and a John Deere tractor to climb in.

There were pedal tractors to ride!

And a corn maze to go through, and try to find Charlie in!

We split up in teams to see who would get there first!

We found him!!

Where is our other team?!?

There were all kinds of fun things for a Mama who brought her big camera!

And also a playground and spinning apple ride that I did not get photos of!

We took a wagon ride up the hill to pick apples!

The smell of diesel from the tractor was strong, the sun was bright, and there was a lot of dust flying at us – but our sweet baby was still smiling!

You have no idea how much that means to us!

Where the views were AMAZING!

There were big kid pedal tractors too!

Several hours later, we were on our way back home, much to Eliza’s dismay, with a promise that we would go back again next year, Lord willing!

We thought the beautiful day would have us fighting the bees – but, honestly, we did not see even one! Instead, though, we were fighting these tiny little flea like knats, and a few of us were getting bit and bit and bit. We changed, bathed and showered right after we got home from the orchard, but yesterday morning Tate and I especially were covered in welts. My poor boy! The bugs just love his sweet skin so much!

Bugs or no bugs, our afternoon at the orchard was blessed. Tate kept saying, “MOM!! I never this done before!” “MOM! My first time done this!”

Oh my heart! Another first. What joy it is for us to have firsts with our little ones. We missed way too many – and I am SO, so thankful that we are not missing them anymore. So glad you loved the apple orchard, Tate Owen!

A Recipe//Two Ways To Make Squash

by Steph // Monday, October 3, 2016 // Comments off

Fall has arrived!

I am not sure what I love more about the season changes – the change in the weather and landscape – or the change in the food we eat!

For us, fall means soup, quick breads, muffins, roasted chickens, roasted veggies, baked yams, and squash. YUM!

We have two favorite recipes for butternut squash. I thought I would share them both at the same time!

First, though, I always bake my squash some before I use them in a recipe.

Just wash the squash off, prick it with a sharp knife in several places, place it in a pan with a couple inches of water on the bottom of the pan, and bake it at 350 degrees for about 40 – 45 minutes or until somewhat soft.

Remove the squash from the oven, carefully cut it in half (it’s hot!), scoop out the seeds, peel off the rind, and cut the squash into cubes.

I accidentally cooked this one too long! It is much softer than it should be.

Now for the recipes!

Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Bake

1 large butternut squash, partially cooked and cut into cubes
2 large apples, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/4 cup butter
Sauce:
1 cup of orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar (we use coconut sugar, and only 1/4 cup)
1 TBSP of flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
(we add 1/2 tsp cinnamon for extra flavor)

Place squash, apples, and cranberries in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients, and pour over top. Dot top with butter. Bake at 350 degrees 30 – 40 minutes until squash, apples and berries are soft and tender. We double this recipe for our family!

Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup

four carrots, peeled and diced
one onion, diced
three cloves of garlic, minced
2 TBSP oil (we use coconut oil)
two large butternut squash partially cooked and cubed
8 cups of chicken stock or veggie stock
Herbamare* and pepper to taste

Saute the carrots, onion and garlic in the oil in a stock pot for several minutes until softened. Add squash and stock. Simmer over medium heat until squash and carrots are fully cooked. Add Herbamare* and pepper to taste. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until it is smooth, or carefully put part of the soup in a blender and blend – blending in parts until all soup is blended. Be sure not to try to blend all of the soup in the blender at once, as it is very hot.

*Herbamare is a seasoning blend that we LOVE. It is similar to Mrs. Dash.

Enjoy!!

Have you all ever cooked spaghetti squash and used it as noodles? This is a favorite for us! Maybe I will share that recipe soon!

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Strengthen My Hands

"…Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." Nehemiah 6:9

Fun Facts Friday!!

Special Guests

An Afternoon at the Apple Orchard

A Recipe//Two Ways To Make Squash