Honeysuckle Wreaths

We’re on the move today. After a busy weekend, we’re buckling back down for a full week.

On the list of projects this week is to work on making wreaths for my home out of honeysuckle. The picture is of the gathered honeysuckle that we have collected.

Today, we are going to boil and strip the vines and form them into the wreaths that we are making. I’ll post a picture tomorrow of the project and it’s progress (of course, to be totally finished they will have to sit and dry for quite some time).

We’re also putting a fresh coat of paint on the benches that our friends the Blackwell’s, made for our kitchen a few years back! They have been used and used and used and are in need of some love!

It’s always hard to make plans for a week. There are always so many new things to learn and old things that I love to do…it’s hard to choose the projects that I’m going to work on.

I’ve been emailed a few questions regarding sour dough which we will be further addressing in tomorrow’s post.

First, can you use whole wheat flour in place of white flour? SURE! In fact, that’s all we are using and it is great. It does turn out a heavier product but we think that it actually tastes better.

Second, (and this was my miss), are you supposed to screw the lid on tightly? The answer here would be no. We’re trying to “catch” the yeast that is naturally in the air. We need to get some air to our mixture.

Prayer Requests:

The Greenlaw Family is feeling under the weather.

Paul, who has been very hard at work over the weekend and today.

Our sales interviews, scheduled for tomorrow night.

My son, Joshua, who is suffering a bit with allergies.

My cousin, Joe, and his wife who are having car troubles.

Today, I’m Thankful For:

A beautiful weekend!

My Mom visiting and making us a wonderful roast and apple cobbler! (I’m going to include her recipe a little later in the post!)

My Sister In Law, Melissa and her baby are doing really well at home.

Krista Lawrence seems to be doing much better.

The energy I have to get my work done around the house inspite of having been up a good bit of the night!

Tracy’s Task:

Today, I’m cleaning out the deep freeze to get it ready for summer fruits, veggies and meat sales! This is a great time to defrost and get rid of anything that you know you won’t use or just don’t recognize anymore! If anyone has any tips for keeping the inside organized, I would love to hear them. I’ve tried to put plastic boxes in it to hold all meats, or all fruits, etc. but the cold makes them brittle and they eventually break.

What I’m Learning:

First, the apple cobbler recipe:

Apple Cobbler
Serves 6

6c sliced tart baking apples
1/4c granulated sugar
1/2c water
1/2c brown sugar
1/2c unsalted butter, softened
1/2c milk
1c flour
1t vanilla
1/2c chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine apples slices, granulated sugar and water. Place in bottom of a buttered 9″ square baking dish. Cream together the brown sugar and butter; add milk, flour and vanilla. Mix well; fold in nuts. Pour over apples. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Second, it is very possible to make your own dishwasher detergent with equal parts of baking soda and Borax. It only takes 2T for each load.

I’ve been trying this and it works great! If you miss the “fresh scent” then you can also add a few drops of orange essence oil to your mixture but this is not necessary.

You can also use white vinegar in place of Jet Dry for your rinse agent. I’m going to run the numbers tonight and I’ll let you know the cost comparison.

Today’s Scripture Meditation:

Who controls your life and your world?

I pray that you may meditate day and night on the one true God.

Ps 104:31-34

“May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works–he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.”
(NIV)


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