More Good News Bad News

Our garden in winding down and I'm kinda glad. I'm tired of all the freezing and canning. However, my cousin Tony planted his garden late and he is just now harvesting the produce. When I got home from work last Thursday, there were three washtubs full of tomatoes, a bucket full of eggplant and another bucket full of scallions, produce from Tony's garden. I shared some of the produce with Shannon and Lisa, and started eating. On Sunday, I went out to the back porch, and I just couldn't bare the thought of eventually throwing those tomatoes away, so I thought I would just can them for Tony. He is always so kind to take care of our house, dogs, and fish when we are out of town, so I thought I would surprise him with canned tomatoes.

I carried the very heavy washtub into the house and sat it down in the middle of the room between the stove and the sink. I had a large pot in the sink filling with water. I turned off the water and grabbed the pot of water with both hands and twirled around quickly to put it on the stove, except I forgot about the washtub full of tomatoes I had just placed in the floor and fell over the washtub. The water in the pot went all over the stove and counter top and my telephone received an unprepared baptism. I ended up on the floor with the remainder of the water landing on me, topped with the pot! What a mess!!

Now the telephone won't work. Bob thought if he dried it out, it might work again. So, he put the telephone in the warming oven overnight. Nope, it still doesn't work.

The good news is I have a very clean kitchen counter, stove, and floor. And, Tony has 9 quarts of tomatoes and I don't have any broken bones!

Good News Bad News

The good news is my computer is now working.

The bad news is instead of being a brunette, I'm a blonde. I had the wrong cord plugged into the computer and the battery went dead. Now that the right cord is plugged in, the computer works. Three employees at Staples sure had a good laugh yesterday. And today several people at church were laughing thanks to Bob.

I can't believe I was so stupid.

Storage Dilemma Solved!

We were blessed with an abundance of produce from our garden this year. We are looking forward to when we will be picking peaches, pears, and cherries from our newly planted orchard. Until it begins producing, we are fortunate to live in an area that has these available for a very affordable price.

I have spent many hours canning and freezing this summer and now I have a dilemma. Where do I put all these jars? We were freezing peaches, but with all the corn and green beans, and blueberries, our freezer is full. So, I started canning peaches, as well as pears, and tomatoes, pickled okra, grape jelly and grape juice. My kitchen counter and the dining room table was full of these beautiful jars. Bob built shelves at the top of the basement stairs which I quickly filled with tomatoes early in the season. Bob said he would build more shelves in the basement. But when? He has to repair the barn roof before winter, a priority, and he leaves next week for evangelistic meetings in Rochester for two weeks, and when he returns, he starts evangelistic meetings in one of his churches. Which takes us to the middle of November and I can't have all these jars on my counter and table until December. I had to solve the problem myself.

So I started looking around my kitchen. Maybe I could store them in my kitchen cabinets if I re-arranged them. So I took a look. Nope, that wasn't an option. Where was I going to store these jars?

Then I had a bright idea. And my idea was behind this door in my dining room.

When you open this door, there are stairs that lead to my office. But, we rarely use these stairs. We use the staircase in the foyer. So my dilemma was solved. The stairs would serve as my temporary pantry until Bob has time to build my shelves.

Once I wash the sticky off the jelly jars, they will be placed in my new pantry too!

I think my freezing and canning days are numbered at this point in the season. But, I'm looking forward to sharing my summer labor of love with family and friends.

Grapes! Grapes! Grapes!

Bob and I picked 230 pounds of grapes on Friday. Now, Sunday morning, we have to begin processing the grapes into juice.

We had to wash the grapes and remove the grapes from the stems. We were told that you can just put the stems and grapes all in the steamer, but, I was afraid that the stem might give the juice a bitter taste. So, I took all the grapes off the stems.
Shannon and Madeline helped too!

Bob was in charge of the processing. We were very thankful for our new (to us) commercial stove and oven which we have in our mud room. It kept the biggest mess out of my kitchen.

Shannon and Madeline came over around noon to help with the grapes. So we decided to roast hot dogs and grill corn for lunch. As you can see, we forgot to keep an eye on the corn.

Too, busy checking out the garden.


So we had to go and pick some more corn.


And try again.


This time it turned out perfect.

After lunch, Shannon helped Bob set-up scaffolding in the barn so he can

repair the collapsed roof damaged from last winter's heavy snowfall.

Shannon was scared, but not as scared as I was and I was standing on the ground.



I don't think it is a good idea for Bob to try and fix this by himself.

We went back to make the grape juice and ended up with 75 quarts of juice.

Madeline helped by labeling '07 on the top of each jar.

After we finished the grape juice, Shannon and I worked on finishing the curtains for her bathroom make-over. She should have pictures for us soon. The curtains are really cute.

Madeline had fun making play-dough cookies too!!


We had a fun time together and a very busy Sunday.

I'm so thankful that God gave me children and grandchildren.

Sharing time together in love and work, and making memories!!

Spoiling Grace

I was so excited to have Grace Friday, Friday night, and Sabbath. Grace enjoyed picking grapes with grandma and grandpa on Friday. Then when we got home she helped can peaches. Grace was a very good little girl and Grandma enjoyed rocking her Friday evening. She was perfect at Sabbath school and church, too! After Sabbath lunch, Grace had to go back home. We were all going to go canoeing, but the weather didn't cooperate. It was cold, windy, and rainy. So, we decided to go canoeing another time.

Fortunately, the rain stopped, so Ryan and the boys started a bonfire and Lisa popped some popcorn and we had vespers outside. Of course we were bundled up with coats and blankets. Lisa led songs and gave a devotional and Ryan told a children's story. The children did a charade and the adults had to figure out which Bible story. It was hard!! What a wonderful way to end the Sabbath.

Happy Birthday, Natalie!!!

I remember the day well. It was a Sunday and I was busy doing the laundry and your brother and sisters were running around playing. The day was beautiful. Your dad wanted to go fishing. I kept telling him I didn't think it was a good idea for him to go fishing. He questioned me about if I was having any contractions, which I answered, No! He then asked if I felt any different than I did the day before, which I answered, No! He was convinced that I just did not want him to go fishing. Although I didn't feel like I was in labor, I had a feeling. . . why else would I want to be doing laundry on a beautiful Sunday?

Soon after lunch, I began to have an uncomfortable feeling. But, I continued doing work around the house for a couple of hours. Soon I realized that it was time, and made the announcement. There was a scurry of activity getting bags ready for the kids to go to Grandma Nan's house and to pack my bag. Yes, I waited until the last minute to pack the bags.

On the way to the hospital, I had to stop at J.C. Penney's to buy new slippers. While waiting in line to purchase them, the contractions became so strong that I wasn't sure I was even going to make it to the hospital. I asked the lady in front of me if I could go in front of her because I was in labor and this was my sixth baby. I was quickly escorted to the front of the line. I made it to the hospital, but not by much. A healthy beautiful baby girl was born less than thirty minutes after we arrived.

Natalie was the name picked for a girl. We were really expecting a girl, because we never picked a boy's name. A middle name hadn't been picked-out. We consulted with the kids for suggestions. Rachael suggested Suzanne and the others agreed. So, Natalie Suzanne was placed on the birth certificate.

Natalie,

"You're always there

with love to share,

showing kindness everywhere.

You brighten days

with smiles and fun,

giving joy to everyone . . ."

I love you,

mom

Baby Natalie

Grandma Annie, Francie and Baby Natalie

Natalie's third birthday party!

Natalie and Jodie

Natalie and mom

Natalie and Francie ready for Thanksgiving

Natalie Loves Pigs

Making cookies.

Great Grandpa Orval and Natalie

Natalie loves her brother.

Sisters and Brother

Natalie's baptism in the Eel River at Redwood Camp Meeting

Eigth Grade Graduation - California

High School Graduation - Washington

Picture to be added

College Graduation - Michigan

Special Friend

Beautiful Bride and Handsome Groom



Natalie and her sisters.


Huge Wedding Party

What a blessing you are to me. So special, so beautiful, so precious, so loved.

A Very Sad, Sad Day

Last night after I had prepared and placed in the freezer 16 quarts of corn, I decided I should 'really' pay bills. So I went to my office and turned on the computer, and started to enter the on-line banking site when my computer screen went black. I tried to scroll, I tried to enter, I tried lots of the other keys too, but nothing brought back my screen. So I checked to make sure I was still plugged in. Yes, I was. So I unplugged and re-plugged everything from the wall out. The light on the power strip was on, the lights on the Internet box were on, but my computer was not on.

When Bob came home, I told him my dilemma and he said it sounded like my computer crashed. But how would he know? He just recently learned how to turn it on. But then whenever Bob says something, believable or not, he is usually right. So, did my computer really crash? It's less than six months old.

I had also planned on adding pictures to the blog I had written yesterday, but I can't find my camera. I have looked everywhere; my purse, my lunch bag, my crochet bag, at work, at home, where could it be?

Why is this happening to me? I wanted to write a sweet blog about Natalie since today is her birthday and of course I wanted to include pictures. The pictures I wanted to use are on my home computer that no longer functions as a computer.

I was having so much fun with my new blog spot. Since today is Thursday, I won't have access to a computer until next Monday.

This is a very sad, sad day.

I was in Grandma Heaven!

When I arrived home from work yesterday evening, I was greeted by four smiling dirty little faces, lots of hugs and kisses, and a quick goodbye from Bob as he rushed out the door hoping to meet his evening appointment on time. Lisa and the kids had come up for the day to freeze corn and green beans and I was delighted to find them still there when I arrived home.

It had been a rainy day so the girls had been cooped up in the house. The boys, however, had been picking the corn (yes, in the rain) and husking it all day. My 'everything in its place home' had been transformed to look like four little children lived there. It was great! It brought back many fond memories of when my children were all at home and all the fun times we had together in a 'not everything in its place home'!

Baby Grace is toddling around now and she is just precious. I was her favorite person last night and enjoyed every minute of it. I can still hold a little one on my hip and go through all the necessary steps to freeze corn including a few fancy steps to miss falling over the bundt pans, wooden spoons, and rolling pins that the girls had been playing with and a few concord grapes that had managed to find the floor during supper.

Hannah was quite sure that it would be O.K. for her to spend the night at grandma's house because she had brought her pajamas, just in case.

Hannah, "Ma-maw, it's been a long time since I have spent the night at your house."

Me, "Another time when ma-maw doesn't have to go to work."

Hannah, "O.K. ma-maw, another time."

Oh, how I wish she could have stayed.

With it still raining, Lisa had little Ryan drive the van into the garage so we could load everything without getting soaking wet. Earlier in the day, Lisa, grandpa, and the kids had gone and bought peaches and apples, so the van had three bushels of apples and a bushel of peaches. Then we added three big ice chests full of corn and green beans ready to put in the freezer, some potatoes and onions from the garden, 24 ears of fresh corn, two little girls, two little boys and a very tired momma. Now they were on their way home.

As I shut the garage door and walked back into the house, I just thought about all the blessings I had just received and asked the Lord to keep them safe as they traveled home.

Requested Recipes

Gluten Stir-Fry

1 cup vital wheat gluten flour
1 cup water

Mix the flour and water in a bowl until it forms a soft and spongy ball. You don't want it hard and watery.

In a large pot bring 4 cups water, 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/2 chopped onion, 1 teaspoon garlic salt and 1/2 teaspoon oil to a boil.

Cut the gluten in small pieces ( I use scissors) and place in the boiling water. Let boil for about 10 minutes uncovered and then reduce the heat and simmer for about 50 minutes. Drain.

(You can save the broth and use for gravy. Use 1 Tablespoon flour for each 1/2 cup of broth to thicken for gravy.)

Dip the gluten in flour and fry in a small amount of oil. As soon as the gluten is browned, add chopped pre-steamed broccoli, pre-steamed carrots, (or whatever vegetables you like in stir-fry). Pour 1/4 cup soy sauce over the gluten and vegetables (these are all in the skillet) and stir to cover, then add 1/3 cup brown sugar and stir to coat the gluten and vegetables. The brown sugar will melt and the gluten and vegetables will appear to have a glaze on them. Serve immediately over brown rice.

The gluten freezes well.





Wild Rice Salad

1 - 6 oz box Long Grain and Wild Rice cooked without the butter and seasonings and cooled (you want this to be cold before adding to the salad)
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (I usually use more spinach)
1/2 green pepper, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 cup fry chik, cubed (I like the Morningstar chik strips found in the refrigerator section of the store)
10 cherry tomatoes cut in half
1/4 cup slivered almonds toasted in 2 tablespoons sugar over low heat (stir and almonds and sugar over medium heat - the sugar will begin to melt and coat the almonds - remove from heat and the skillet when done because you don't want the nuts to scorch and you might want to make extra to snack on while you make the salad, the coated nuts are really good!)

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss with Poppy Seed Sweet and Tangy Dressing. If you can't find the poppy seed sweet and tangy dressing, just use poppy seed dressing and add a little sugar and lemon juice.

Loved or Spoiled?

Last night when I got home, all I wanted to do was sit down and relax for a little while and then start working on my office (I've been trying to organize and decorate my home office for three months). But when I drove in the driveway, I saw Bob's truck and glanced towards the garden and there he was picking green beans.

As I entered the "mud room", there sat two five gallon buckets full of green beans that he had already picked. So I knew I would be freezing green beans for the next several hours. What I didn't know was that there was a half bushel of pears waiting for me on the kitchen counter, which I quickly discovered upon entering the kitchen, meaning I would also be canning pears.

I quickly went upstairs to change my clothes and put on my canning and freezing apparel. Upon returning to the kitchen, Bob was there to greet me with a big smile and comment, "We've got three five gallon buckets full of green beans!" I was speechless!! We spent the evening freezing green beans and canning pears.

Bob called me at work today to let me know that he won't be home this evening but he's going to be picking up more pears for us to can this week. Six quarts just isn't enough!! He also let me know that Lisa and the children were at the house helping freeze green beans and corn. It is so thoughtful of Lisa to come and help and I'm so thankful that she did. I sure hope they are still there when I get home.




Just a few weeks ago, Matthew went with us to Camp Cherokee for pastors' retreat. We enjoyed having him with us. And, Matthew surprised me with a very special gift. A quilt he made last school year. He spent several hours a week working with the Dorcas ladies during his lunch break at school stitching by hand this beautiful quilt. He had put it away trying to decide who he would give it to. This is truly a gift of love that I will treasure forever. I have it displayed in my office at work and look forward to using it this winter when I get chilled.

I have other gifts of love that my children and grandchildren have given me which are also very cherished, some of which are displayed in my office.

My husband prepares the soil, plants the seeds, waters the garden, pulls the weeds, picks the produce and helps me freeze the vegetables and I get all the ooh's and aah's from everyone that eats them.

And, my children and grandchildren shower me with gifts and love.

So I ask you, am I spoiled or loved?

Cooking Class Success and More!

Yesterday I spent the day preparing for the Roosevelt Cooking Class which took place in the evening. Bob helped by making sixteen loaves of bread in the morning. We are sure thankful for our new Bosch that Rachael and Derrick and Lori and Todd gave us about a year ago. We use it at least once a week.

My menu was wild rice salad, stir fry gluten, green beans, corn, bread, and peanut butter pie.

The evaluations from those attending was great!! Their top favorite was the wild rice salad followed by the stir fry gluten. There were 46 people attending. That is a lot of people for that little church. Some of the people had to park on the side of the road because the parking lot was full.

Bob had to go out in the garden and pick corn, green beans, tomatoes, and pumpkins for the class.

When I told the people that I had frozen 100 quarts of green beans and the same amount of corn and will be doing more this week, they wanted to know how two people could use so much? I told them that Bob planted extra corn and green beans so we could freeze some for our children in Michigan. Several asked if they could be adopted.

I plan on taking the frozen food to all my children in Michigan this November.

The Lord has blessed us with an abundance of produce this summer and we are so thankful that we are able to share it with our children and grandchildren.

Our children in New York have been enjoying the produce all summer. Shannon has come over to help with the freezing and canning this summer and it has been a lot of fun to have her help and to have Madeline running around having fun and helping grandpa in the garden. I wish all my children could come and visit more often.

And, I'm so sorry that my California children haven't had any produce from our garden and I don't know how to get them any. They're just too far for transporting frozen food. Maybe they will come and visit and we can enjoy it together in New York!!