Christmas Blessings

"For unto us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his
   shoulders.
And he will be called
  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:6-7

  "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.
   So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."  Luke 2:1-7


Christmas Blessings to you all!
  


 

Dad's Lunch Bucket

Some folks may call it a lunch pail, a lunch box, but my dad always called it his lunch bucket.  He carried it everyday along with a thermos of hot coffee to work at the Sintering Plant in Saxonburg, PA.  For many years of cold winter mornings and hot summer days, the lunch bucket would make it's trip to Saxonburg from Meridian.  When we moved to the farm, the commute was longer and there were barn chores to do when he got home.  We all chipped in, of course.  Since my dad worked shifts, the three of us siblings would do the afternoon chores...bottle feeding the new calves, throwing down hay bales and making sure the water hadn't frozen over and the electric fence was on.  The several times the cows broke out, my dad was always working midnight.  He would come home to a worn out family who had been chasing cows all over kingdom come, laugh and go to check the fence and head for bed.

He did the majority of the work around the farm.  He worked two jobs and really loved the farm work best of all.  I believe it helped him relieve the stress of working at the mill.  The farm gave me the opportunity to watch and learn.  To work along side of him burning calves horns, mending fences, cleaning out the barn, working the top of the hay mow in July, and helping in the garden.

After years of constant use, the clasp on the lunch bucket broke, there was certainly no need to get a new one.  A big ole paper clip would fix it.  It would work until he retired.

When my mom was moving, I claimed the lunch bucket.   This is just one way we keep dad in our thoughts at Christmas.

All-wise God,
Thy never-failing providence orders every event.
   sweetens every fear,
   reveals evil's presence lurking in seeming good,
   brings real good out of seeming evil,
   makes unsatisfactory what I set my heart upon,
   to show me what a short-sighted creature I am,
   and to teach me to live by faith upon thy blessed self.

--a portion from Peril, from The Valley of Vision

Frosted Friday

The sky was beautiful and clear--full of stars last night.  Driving home from a meeting last night, I could see the frost forming when I looked at the bright parking lot lights.  It was almost as if it was "raining" frost. This morning, everything looked as if it had a light coat of snow, but it was frost!


Frosted hedges




Frost on our Burning Bushes

It certainly made things a bit chilly for hanging out some sheets.  Even the clothesline was covered with frost!

O LORD,

No day of my life has passed

   that has not proved me guilty in thy sight.

Prayers have been uttered from a prayerless heart;

Praise has been often praiseless sound;

My best services are filthy rags....

...I appeal from the throne of perfect justice

   to thy throne of boundless grace,

Grant me to hear thy voice assuring me;

   that by thy stripes I am healed,

   that by thy stripes I am healed,

   that thou wast bruised for my iniquities,

   that thou hast been made sin for me

      that I might be righteous in thee,

   that my grievous sins, my manifold sins,

      are all forgiven,

      buried in the ocean of thy concealing blood....

...Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,

   sparkling like crystal,

   flowing clear and unsullied

   through my wilderness of life.

--an excerpt from The Broken Heart, from The Valley of Vision



Post-Thanksgiving Family Time

Neither my husband nor I grew up with guns in the house.  My husband's previous profession required him to be ready to use a handgun at a moment's notice.  He also had to be familiar with rifles. 

I've taken a women's handgun safety course promoted by the local sheriff's department.  ( I have a certificate and everything!)  Alas, still no gun.

My husband was given my father-in-law's .22 rifle, that no one knew he had, when his mom passed away this summer. 

We share a common problem with our eldest son and his family--groundhogs.  We lent the gun to him to use to try and clean up some of his problems.  It is with great pride that I can report that my daughter-in-law actually hit a groundhog twice (she doesn't think she killed it right away).  The funny part of this story is that she called her dad and my son in tears that she didn't kill it.  Her father said that it was so sad that she didn't kill it right away and the poor thing would suffer and he understood her soft heart towards animals.  My son told her she was wonderful and that it was a groundhog--and she needed to call me.  When I heard her news, I told her that she was amazing and that I had never shot a critter and that I was so very proud of her.  I also told her that it was a groundhog--they will eat your children--and have destroyed everything you have ever planted.  She did OK.  I bought her more ammo.  She has also become a legend among the men at church.

The day after Thanksgiving, our son invited us and our younger son to come out to enjoy some shooting.  My husband brought his "professional" weapon for us all to shoot as well.  Our target:  A very large pumpkin!

It was a great bonding time for the boys and their dad.  He was able to give some great tips and make sure we were doing everything safely.  And, realized that I was using my left eye.  It was no wonder I couldn't hit anything!

My youngest son admiring his shot.



My husband shooting and my eldest son watching.



Our target...and yes, I actually surprised myself and hit the bulls eye!  It is amazing how much better I did when I used my right eye!!!

My youngest son put and apple on top, but it was my husband that blew it away!  As you can see, some of us need a bit of practice yet.

We had a great time and hope to enjoy this family fun more often.

Happiness Arrives in the Mailbox

It is not even December and Johnny's Seed Catalog has arrived!

It used to be that my mom would say that the Sears or JC Penney Spring/Summer catalog would arrive on the coldest day of the year.  (It is not that cold today...yet.  The wind is picking up and the weather people are forecasting a wee bit of snow.)

Being that I still have the remains of Thanksgiving that need to be dealt with, this lovely catalog filled with colors and great ideas arrives today to tempt me away from my chores.

Even though we have had plenty of rain and our yard is still very green, it is nice to see some color.

Right after Christmas cards, decorating, baking, more cleaning and presents purchased and...well you get the idea...sometime in January, I'll get my list started for next season's purchases.


O God of the Highest Heaven,

...O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
   of my hopes, and my vocation.
Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
   hold converse with thee,
That henceforth I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all.
--an excerpt from Regeneration, from The Valley of Vision

Family Farms

When I pulled this article from the Drudge Report, I knew it was going to be sad.  Indeed, it is a sad day for America when the small family farms continue to be sold at an alarming rate.  A source of family traditions and rural wisdom that is rapidly disappearing.  It won't be long until the "old ways" are only remembered by a few...and that is when we just might need them.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

My God,
...Thy bounteous goodness has helped me believe,
   but my faith is weak and wavering,
   its light dim,
   its steps tottering,
   its increase slow,
   its backslidings frequent;
It should scale the heavens but lies grovelling in the dust.
...Lord, awake faith to put forth its strength
   until all heaven fills my soul
   and all impurity is cast out.
--an excerpt from, Faith, in The Valley of Visions

What is Reformation Day?

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 31, is Reformation Day.  What does that mean for us?

Here is a good article by Robert Rothwell, Associate Editor of Tabletalk magazine.  In this piece he explains what Reformation Day is and how it came to be.

Wishing you a blessed Reformation Day.

Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?

and

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.


and

I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.


by Martin Luther
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther.html#ixzz1cD4yMMrV

It's About the Gospel

With Reformation Day just around the corner, I wanted to share this link to The White Horse Inn and an article written by Michael Horton, It's Not About Luther, It's About the Gospel.

"The Reformation isn’t over. Not by a long shot. What we need most right now is not the rehabilitation of Luther, but the rehabilitation of true proclamation. We need it now, even in Protestantism-perhaps especially in Protestantism, more than ever." -- Michael Horton

Potatoes!

As you may have guessed, most of what I have learned about gardening was 'caught'.  Dad didn't say much or explain much so I just learned by watching was he was doing.  That being said, there is a great deal of the technical stuff and the doing it correctly stuff, I just don't know.  Potatoes is one example. 

When I was a young teenager, dad and I planted a ton (well, it seemed like it) of potatoes on a large plot of ground on a neighbor's farm.  He wasn't using it as it was rather small and in an odd area.  So, I learned how to plant potatoes.  Dad dug the trench and I cut the potatoes and put them in the ground.  We then hilled them over.  That was the extent of my learning about potatoes.  Since my dad worked shifts, often times things happened when I wasn't around.  I do remember going out to hill up the potato rows again after a time, but I didn't ever learn when to harvest and what to look for.

Potatoes are not that difficult to grow.  They have few bug issues.  We have had fleas in the past as well as Japanese beetles, but this year we were pest-free.  An older neighbor told me that I needed to wait until the vines were dead before I dug the potatoes.  This season, with our later planting schedule, it seemed as if it would be frost before our vines would die off.  As it would happen, the vines died off just in time to have several days of soaking rain.  It was a big concern that our potatoes were rotting in the garden.

I waited several days, hoping that the ground would dry up enough to dig them up and not have to fight with muddy potatoes.  Of course, the ground was still pretty soft and wet.  But, right or wrong, the potatoes were dug. 

The experts that may read this will see that this is probably not a potato fork.  I understand that there are such animals out there.  But I just use what I have.  I'm not sure what this tool really is, but for me the handle is rather short.  (And yes, those are weeds, too.)

My fears were not unfounded.  Many of the potatoes were rotting in the ground, which is so disappointing.  I love digging potatoes, you never know what surprises you will find from under the ground.  Perhaps I should have dug them even before the vines were dead.

I think this one looks like a turtle!

Between the rotten and green potatoes (I didn't get out to hill them a third time and the sun got on the potatoes that were coming up and they turned green), we lost about one fourth of our crop.  Still, I was able to gather a heaping bushel basket that I'll probably can pretty soon.  The potatoes are curing in the garage out of the sun and where it is cool.  There were so many weird shaped ones, that I'm not sure we will have any normal ones for baking.

Canning the potatoes makes it easy for quicker dinners.  Sure, there is time that has to be spent initially, but when it is dinner time, it really cuts down on the time.  I've used mine for making mashed potatoes and home fries mostly.  It certainly is easy enough to put them in a pot of boiling water and have cooked potatoes.  It is handy to have them for soups and stews, too.

If you are interested in canning your potatoes, here is a place you can explore,  Or you can look here.  (I found this site a while ago and found it helpful to read through the comments.)

O, LORD,
Thou knowest my great unfitness for service,
   my present deadness,
   my inability to do anything for thy glory,
   my distressing coldness of heart.
I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable,
   and loathe and abhor myself.
I am at a loss to know what though wouldest have me do,
   for I feel amazingly deserted by thee,
   and sense thy presence so little;
Thou makest me possess the sins of my youth,
   and the dreadful sin of my nature,
   I cannot think or act but every motion is sin....
...Help me to be diffident, watchful, tender,
   lest I offend my blessed friend
   in thought and behaviour;
I confide in thee and lean upon thee,
   and need thee at all times to assist and lead me.
O that all my distresses and apprehensions
   might prove but Christ's school
   to make me fit for greater service
   by teaching me the great lesson of humility.

--an excerpt from Need of Grace, from the Valley of Vision

What a Beautiful and Busy Fall Day!

We have enjoyed some lovely days lately.  The trees are turning such vibrant colors, too.

Today my husband and I did a bushel of apples into sauce.   My daughter-in-law offered to pick up some apples for me at an orchard we used to frequent when we lived in that area.  Their prices are a bit better and they offered her "blemished" apples at half the price!  My husband wanted me to mix some apple varieties to get a different flavor.  The orchard owner suggested Jonamac.  She called my husband to see what he thought of the variety.  Since I have never tried this apple, the owner gave my daughter-in-law an apple to try and another variety so she could compare.  She gave her recommendation to my husband over the phone.  I'm sure the orchard lady never did an over-the-phone taste test!  The Jonamacs were combined with Cortlands and we think it tastes pretty wonderful.  Also, my husband is a big fan of "red hots".  These were located at the nearby store and added to help with a bit of flavor and a lovely pink color.  It just takes a bit to get them to melt.  The count for the day is seventeen quarts and a pint (for my dear neighbor) and a wee bit for dinner.  Trying to decide if I should do more.  My total for this year is 27 quarts with just a few left over from last year.

This looks like a fun site to check out different apple varities.

For those of you looking for a website that might offer some help in canning and/or freezing, I found this site that may be helpful.  She seems to have a great deal of information on everything from canning equipment to recipes to try.  (I do miss Granny Miller!)

So often the initial reaction to painful suffering is Why me?  Why this?  Why now?  Why?...{then}.  He comes for you, in the flesh, in Christ, into suffering, on your behalf.  He does not offer advice and perspective from afar; He steps into your significant suffering.  He will see you through, and work with you the whole way....  This reality changes the questions that rise up in your heart.  That inward-turning "why me?" quiets down, lifts its eyes, and begins to look around.

You turn outward and new, wonderful questions form.  Why You?  Why You?  Why would You enter this world of evils?  Why would You go through loss, weakness, hardship, sorrow and death?  Why would You do this for Me, of all people?  But You did.  You did this for the joy set before You.  You did this for love.  You did this showing the glory of God in the face of Christ.  As that deeper question sinks home, you become joyously sane.  The universe is no longer supremely about you.  Yet you are not irrelevant.  God's story makes you just the right size.  Everything counts, but the scale changes to something that makes much more sense.  You face hard times.  But you have already received something better which can never be taken away.  And that better something will continue to work out the whole journey long...

Finally, you are prepared to pose--and to mean--almost unimaginable questions:  Why not me?  Why not this?  Why not now?

--David Powlison

Back at It...

...Tomato soup that is.  There were a few poor tomatoes that needed a home.  Since it is raining, again, my husband was here to help with the cutting and squeezing. 

I found a similar recipe to the one I use online only it had beets in it.  (They call it a "vegetable juice cocktail", but we use it as a soup.) Being that my husband was being so helpful and that he loves beets, we decided to run a pint of our beets through the food processor and dump them in with the other veggies.  We thought that it might be a bit more purple, but it wasn't.  We'll see how we like it when we open a jar.

We were able to can another 11 jars today for the winter.  We are both so thankful to have our canning shelves getting full.

Father of Mercies,
Hear me for Jesus' sake,
I am sinful even in my closest walk with the;
   it is of thy mercy I died not long ago;
Thy grace has given me faith in the cross
   by which thou hast reconciled thyself to me
    and me to the,
   drawing me by thy great love,
   reckoning me as innocent in Christ though guilty in myself.
Giver of all graces,
   I look to thee for strength to maintain them in me,
   for it is hard to practise what I believe.

--an excerpt from Grace in Trials from the book, The Valley of Vision

Apples to Applesauce

It ended up that I did have help for applesauce day.  Between my husband and I we were able to get done in no time.  We cut them up and cooked them until they were soft enough to go through the Victorio. (Believe me it is an ancient one. We paid $19.00 for it when we bought it probably 30 years ago. It's a bit rough around the edges, but she gets the job done.)

We scoop the cooked apples into the hopper and turn the handle.

Out comes this lovely pink sauce.  This goes in the big kettle to be heated before adding to the jars.

This is what half a bushel of applesauce looks like in a pot.  The black canner is heating up for the jars to go inside.

Here is the finished product!  Ten quarts of beautiful applesauce...plus a little for lunch and a bit for the dear lady next door.

O God, the Eternal All, help me to know

   that all things are shadows, but thou art substance,

      all things are quicksands, but thou art mountain,

      all things are shifting, but thou art anchor,

      all things are ignorance, but thou art wisdom.

--an excerpt from Purification, from The Valley of Vision

Apples!!

The plan for tomorrow is for this half bushel of Cortlands:

to become several jars of this:

It is calling for a much cooler day tomorrow...a great day for making applesauce!  The house will be filled with warmth and the delightful scent of freshly squeezed apples.  Almost the perfect day!

Since I'm kinda slow and I'll be by myself, a half bushel is very doable and still not be overly tired and get some other things done, too.  There is another half bushel waiting for me after this one is done.

I'll let you know how things go.

Thy will is in all thy provisions
   to enable me to grow in grace,
   and to be meet for thy eternal presence....
...I entrust myself to thee, for thou hast redeemed me.
I bless and adore thee, the eternal God,
   for the comfort of these thoughts,
     the joy of these hopes.
--an excerpt from Comforts, from The Valley of Vision

Somethings I Would Rather Not Do Twice

A couple of weeks ago, I made a large batch of tomato soup.  This is a rather involved process which includes the gathering and steaming of various veggies like carrots, celery and peppers.  There are herbs to be gathered and added as well such as parsley and basil.  Of course, the tomatoes need to be gathered, in our case bought (which is a sad tale of our tomato crop).  I get rather bothered when I have to buy something that is in my garden, but won't ripen or is being eaten by critters.  I digress.  These tomatoes are to be washed and cut and then run through my Victorio Strainer.  I do love this machine.  Tomatoes and apples are no match for it and it makes life a bit easier. 

When I cook, I make a mess (generally).  This also occurs when I can only on a grander scale.  This is because canning includes the use of very large pots and the aforementioned Strainer.  The walls of the kitchen have been splattered with apple and tomato debris most every canning season.

During the making of the soup, I decided I was done.  I don't care if the tomatoes decide to ripen, I'm done with the day-long process and clean-up.  I had hoped that what I had made would suffice.  It would seem to my husband that it was not enough for the winter.

Well, guess what I did today.  Those are seven pint and a half jars, plus a pint of tomato soup peaking out from under their covering.  The pint and a half jars are from Classico spaghetti sauce.  They are mason jars and work great for just the two of us.  We've been collecting them for a couple of years with the help of some other folks.

Sometime ya just do what ya should do.  I'll be glad this winter that I took the time.

Just a side note...one of my Amish friends wrote me a letter last week saying she canned 64 quarts of peaches! and she wasn't done yet!  And she has five boys under the age of seven.  I've never canned 64 quarts of one thing.  She is amazing!!

I am guilty, but pardoned,

   lost, but saved,

   wandering, but found,

   sinning, but cleansed.

Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,

Keep me always clinging to thy cross,

Flood me very moment with descending grace,

Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,

   sparkling like crystal,

   flowing clear and unsullied

   through my wilderness of life.

--an excerpt from The Broken Heart, from The Valley of Vision



 

James Madison Quote

I found this quote on Agraian Nation:

"The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent. It follows, the greater the proportion of this class to the whole society, the more free, the more independent, and the more happy must be the society itself."



—James Madison

Thanks, Herrick Kimball!

Muslin and more

The weather is a bit cooler in the evenings, which makes it much more comfortable to quilt.  I was able to get a project out that I've been working on for some time the other night.  It felt so good to have the thimble on my finger.  There is a comfort to having the the soft touch of muslin in my hand.  With no known babies approaching, perhaps I can actually finish this quilt this winter!!

With our garden being late, we are dealing with some of nature's issues of this growing season.  The tomatoes  aren't coming along...plenty of them, but with the rain, they split and rot.  The beans are done along with the beets and carrots.  Still waiting for the potato vines to die off and then we can dig those beauties.  We continue to harvest peppers and broccoli, too.  Even with the drought of July, God has been faithful, we have more than enough to share.  It won't be long until it is apple season.  My favorite.  Can anything compare to the scent of fresh applesauce throughout the house?  My husband would say an apple pie would be even better.


Lord, grant that my religion may not be occasional and partial,
   but universal, influential, effective,
   and may I always continue in thy words as well as thy works,
   so that I may reach my end in peace.
   --an excerpt from The Mediator, in the Valley of Vision

Summer Updates and Good (and not as good) Reading

While visiting The Midland Agrarian, I saw that he had posted a link to an interesting blog, The New Agrarian.  One of the posts is The Eightfold Agrarian Way.  There appears to be a great deal of wonderful reading on his site.  I hope to indulge as time permits.

Life seems to have consumed me of late.  A new grandbaby in Minnesota, needing to do more chores by myself, which at this stage of my life requires much more energy than it should and a great deal more time, trips to doctors (ugh), and reading.  So I regret that I have not written for so long.

My reading has included recreational, The Help and The Hunger Games.  While I enjoyed The Help and can't wait for the movie, The Hunger Games I could barely read.  It saddened me--scared me-- to think it could really happen.  I can't even think about reading the other books in the trilogy.  My theological reading includes, The Wages of Spin, Critical Writings on Historic and Contemporary Evangelicalism, by Carl Trueman, and The Letters of John Newton.  I'm in a small study that is looking at Newton's letters.  I was unable to make the first meeting, but the second study, was like no other I have attended.  Newton's writings have challenged my thinking in a profound way.  One quote:  "The Lord appoints occasions and turn in life, which try our spirits.  There are particular seasons when temptations are suited to our frames, tempers, and situations; and there are times when he is pleased to withdraw, and to permit Satan's approach, that we may feel how vile we are in ourselves.  We are prone to spiritual pride, to self-dependence, to vain confidence, to creature attachments, and a train of evils.  The Lord often discovers to us one sinful dispositions by exposing us to another.  He sometimes shows us what he can do for us and in us; and at other times how little we can do, and how unable we are to stand without him."

Thanks to my husband's skill at carrying five gallon buckets of water from the spring all the way to our garden--no small distance!!--during that hot, dry spell, our garden is doing pretty well.  I do this every year--why do I let it upset me, when God has provided every year for us despite heat and drought.  In fact, some plants are doing a little better than I would rather.  The watermelon and cantaloupe have literally taken over the west end of the garden growing over the bean row and the onions.  The tomatoes are a jungle...if they would only ripen.  The deer have kindly removed the top leaves from the green beans, which makes them so much easier to pick.  They were not so kind to my edemame--no crop this year.  The beets are canned, thanks to a very helpful neighbor for laboring beside me and keeping me from turning the entire kitchen purple.  The green beans are coming in now.  There are carrots that need to be canned or frozen.  I'll need them for tomato soup.  We have so much basil, which  means we have a great deal of pesto in the freezer.
The Japanese beetles were not near as bad this year, so the grapes look great, too.  The rainfall from the spring must have helped the apple trees.  Every road side tree is covered with apples.  I only hope my apple guy will have a good crop as the applesauce is running low.

These last few days have been lovely and easy to enjoy.  Not much heat or humidity.  Nice low temps at night for great sleeping.  Although, I don't think summer is over.

"Let us as Christians fill our various situations in life,
     escape the snares to which they expose us,
     discharge the duties that arise from our circumstances,
     enjoy with moderation their advantages,
     improve with diligence their usefulness,
And may every place and company we are in be benefited by us."
--from The Valley of Vision, Sixth Day Morning, The Gospel

Sunshine--At long last

It has rained for most of the last month.  Our yard has areas that are laying with water and are unable to be mowed.  The sun has arrived today with great delight to everyone in Western PA.  People are cutting grass, working in flower gardens and generally enjoying a long awaited beautiful spring day.

My clothesline is also happy.

As Mr. Rodgers would say, "Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood!"  And it is.

"Show me your ways, O LORD,
   teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long."
Psalm 25:5

Meet Hazel

This is Hazel.  She is all ready for this year's mowing season.  She's been washed and waxed.  Her 54 inch mowing deck has been cleaned.  The hoses fitted and everything that is supposed to have grease has been greased.  Her oil has been changed and filters cleaned and she's full of diesel fuel.  All thanks to my husband.

She and I spend many pleasurable hours together during the grass cutting season.  She has a "tool holder", which is used for holding water bottles, sunscreen and any snacks that might need consumed during our mowing sessions.

You will be pleased to know that on this very first outing, she and I were able to run down a mole and grind the thing up in her newly sharped blades.  (Pesky things make a mess out of our yard.)  This is Hazel's second mole kill.  The first one I had to drive in circles in the front yard, no less, to track the little bugger down.  (I probably looked like a crazy woman!)  Finally got him before he could sneak down a hole somewhere.  I wonder if they make decals--moles with a red circle with a line through it.  It would certainly make her look pretty tough up against the other lawn tractors in the neighborhood--even the other John Deeres.  At any rate, knowing that there are many more of these little buggers roaming under our lawn, at least there is one less critter to do damage.

Looks like the early spring is going to be great for growing grass.  We certainly have had enough rain in this neck of the woods.  It is difficult to find a dry day to get the grass cut.

I'm looking forward to many peaceful, thought-filled hours with Hazel in the coming months.

Oh, and that is my husband's 1977 Ford pickup in the background.   It is the only vehicle we ever bought new.  Ole Bessie may not be as pretty as she once was, but the heater works and she's paid for.  Nasty on gas mileage though.  She gets to sit in her little parking spot a great deal of the time lately.

Raw Milk Uproar

Another unbelievable move by the Federal government:  A sting operation to crack down on Amish farmers selling raw milk.  A stink operation?!?  It is the Amish!  This is, yet again, another example of government overreaching and waste.  What did our ancestors do before pasteurization??  From what I am finding, pasteurization did not begin in the US until 1947.  Not that long ago.  

From this report, the customers are very pleased with their product and are up in arms with this government intrusion.

Our children were raised on raw milk.  They all now lead productive, healthy adult lives.  (I like to think that raw milk is not the only reason.)  Once you've tasted fresh, raw milk the other stuff tastes like there has been water added to it. 

With everything else going on in this country, why does the government feel the need to "control" raw milk to such an extreme?  Big Food?  Big Milk?

It is Ready for Ada...finally

Ada is now over a year old. 

Since my only daughter was expecting her first child, I wanted to make a special quilt.  Emily loves the reproduction 30s and 40s fabrics.  So I chose some of those.  Em also likes "random".  This means that, unlike her mother, she prefers the abstract.  She does not like the standard quilt block designs.  Being someone who needs a pattern for any project no matter the difficulty, this presented some problems for me.  The first was working outside my comfort zone for most of the piecing of this project.  Triangles are easy, right??  RIGHT??  Well, not for me, it seems.

It wasn't long into my quilting career that I discovered that my piecing abilities were shabby at best.  But give me a piece of plain muslin marked with a beautiful design, and I'm in my element.

This project was begun not long after we heard about the upcoming blessed event.   Once I came up with a pattern, I was able to get the thing pieced.  I really thought it would be easy enough.  So much went wrong and I nearly threw the thing away twice.  Then came summer and garden and outside chores.  It is rather uncomfortable to quilt in the summer...so warm with all that fabric in your lap.  Hence, the delay.

It was my hope to have it done by Christmas, but that didn't quite happen.  But, today it is done!!

Here are some pictures of my progress:

Since this is just a small quilt, I like to do it in a big hoop.  The pins are basting pins that hold the whole thing together while it is being quilted.  Here I'm working on the outside border, which is a Celtic braid.  Emily and her husband had been to Ireland, so I thought the border would be appropriate.

Here is a view of the "random" triangles and leaf design down the center panels.  The hoop needed to be moved to work on another area.

This is the binding that is being pinned on to the edges.

 Sewing the binding to the edge.

Now the binding is turned to the back side to be sewn by hand.  (The corner really is quilted.  It just didn't show up on the picture.)

Done!

I hope that Ada enjoys her quilt.  It was certainly a joy to stitch for her.  One blessing about quilting is that it is easy to pray for the person receiving the quilt.  My stitches were made with prayers that Ada will come to know Christ at an early age.  

Emily's next baby is on the way, so I need to get to work.  The next quilt will not have this much quilting.  At least I don't think so.  It doesn't look like it will be done before the big arrival in July.  I have started marking it, though.  At least that is a start. 

Let those that are united to me in tender ties

   be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.

Let not those of my family who are amiable, moral, attractive,

   fall short of heaven at last;

Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience,

   soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word,

   be not finally blotted out,

   but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.

--an excerpt from The Family in The Valley of Vision

Signs of Spring

It seems spring is slow in arriving this year...or is it just me feeling a bit elderly?

On a walk around the garden lately, I did see some signs of spring...

 
Yep!  That is rhubarb making it's appearance.  Not real impressive, I know, but still ya have to take what you can get.  Can't wait for rhubarb crisp!!

Some of my bulbs are up and the croci have bloomed adding some much desired color.

 There is our little bit of color. 

It is obvious that this winter has left quite a bit of tree shrapnel in the yard.  There are pine cones, branches and bark all over the yard.  Going to be quite a bit of work this spring cleaning up.

Blessed Creator,
Thou hast promised thy beloved sleep;
Give me restoring rest needful for tomorrow's toil.
If dreams be mine, let them not be tinged with evil.
Let thy Spirit make my time of repose a blessed temple of his holy presence.

Help me when I helpless lie,
   when my conscience accuses me of sin,
   when my mind is harassed by foreboding thoughts,
   when my eyes are held awake by personal anxieties.

Show thyself to me as the God of all grace, love and power;
   thou hast a balm for every wound,
     a solace for all anguish,
     a remedy for every pain,
     a peace for all disquietude.
Permit me to commit myself to thee awake or asleep.

~ an excerpt from "Sleep" from The Valley of Vision

The King's Speech

As usual, I stumble on things.  Not only around the house, but on the Internet. 

Here is a delightful and insightful piece by William H. Willimon entitled, Voice Lessons.  It is written as he reflects on the movie, The King's Speech.

The Lost Tools of Learning

This piece written by Dorothy L. Sayers was found by way of The White Horse Inn.  You are invited to learn and enjoy, as I did.


I long to fill all my time for thee,
   whether at home or in the way;
   to place all my concerns in thy hands;
   to be entirely at thy disposal,
   having no will or interest of my own.
Help me to live to thee for ever,
   to make thee my last and only end,
   so that I may never more in one instance love my sinful self.

--an excerpt from, Devotion,  in The Valley of Vision

Seed Ordering

Color has been arriving by mail over the past couple of weeks by way of seed catalogs.  These bright and cheerful  items come during the bleekest days of winter.  Not only do they arrouse interest in the planning of the garden for the coming year, but they are a delight to they eyes.

Inside these pages are all sorts of new varities that, while they may not tempt me, are amusing to read about. 

I'm just not in to purple vegetables that really weren't made to be purple, if you know what I mean.  Purple peppers??  I'm just not interested. 

The "Flower Section" of these booklets are bursting with color and are a delight to the eyes.  While I enjoy growing a few flowers, I don't have the time and engergy to give them the attention the poor things deserve.  I have a few favorites that are low maintenance.  These tend to be my go-to staples.  Maybe I'm in a flower rut.

Our garden is divided into two sections.  The first section will have been in use for seven years, so we are giving it a "rest".  We are still not sure what that is going to look like.  We have been counciled by friends to plant a green manure on this section.  Which is all well and good, but I don't want to plant something that will reseed itself and become an invasive weed that drives me nuts the next year.  My husband and I still need to do some other checking, but we would like to plant something and then till in under before it becomes a problem.

This also presents the issue of trust.  This will mean that our garden will be cut in half.  Some things that take up a large amount of space will have to take a break for the year.  Vegies such as sweet potatoes and perhaps corn will be purchased at our local farmer's market.  With the economic situation looming, we are considering making the garden section that we will be working this coming season a bit larger.  Our kids laugh that the garden keeps getting larger and it is just the two of us!  We do want to plant, not only for ourselves, but to share with others as well.  Trust comes in knowing that we need to do our part in planting and caring for our crops and that God is resposible for the outcome.  (Of course, that is the case every season, but with a smaller area, it will be more of a test.)

So, until the ground is ready, I need to sort through my seed box to see what I need to order for the spring planting.  Who knows what new thing will strike my fancy to try...if we have room!



"Sow your seed in the morning,

   and at evening let not your hands be idle,

 for you do not know which will

   succeed,

whether this or that,

or whether both will do equally well." 

--Ecclesiastes 11:6  (NIV)



There Is Much To Learn

It seems I don't get out much.  Not only does that apply to my physical body, especially in the winter, but to my spiritual mind as well.  I fear being swept up in bad doctrine.  I may hear something that may delight my ears, but is not True.  My concerns come from a fear of not knowing what I believe in a well-grounded way that I can communicate it properly and that do not discern truth from error correctly.  I have my "go-to" guys, R.C. Sproul, T. David Gordon, and others.  No doubt there are many sound men of God of which I am unaware.

While contemplating a couple of books for a book club, my friend suggested a book, Christless Christianity, by Michael Horton.  I have heard of Michael Horton.  I've even heard of the White Horse Inn.  I do believe I may have listened to it in the car at one time.  (CAUTION:  CONFESSION OF EMBARRASSING IGNORANCE ALERT!!)  I had no idea what the history of the White Horse Inn was, what these guys were about or even who they were or what their backgrounds were.  Alas, The White Horse Inn website complete with audio.  There is opportunity to have all questions about The White Horse Inn answered.

The first broadcast that I listened to was, "The Great Commission Survey".  (Check out the upper right hand side--if you scroll down it was the last one.)  For this survey, one of the producers of the show asked some folks at a Christian convention some interesting questions.  The answers are remarkable in that they display the mindset and ignorance of the average Christian today.  Some of my answers surprised me.  It is amazing how one can be sucked into the catch phrases of the day.

The broadcast was thought provoking and has given me cause to repent and desire to know more about how I can effectively communicate my faith.  I have much to learn and it looks as if this is another place to satisfy my weak knowledge.

May I be daily more and more conformed to thee,
   with the meekness and calmness of the Lamb in my soul,
   and a feeling sense of the felicity of heaven,
   where I long to join angels free from imperfections,
   where in me the image of my adored Saviour
      will be completely restored,
   so that I may be fit for his enjoyments and employments.
--an excerpt from Retrospect and Prospect from the Valley of Vision

Color!

Some of these winter days have been cold and gloomy.  The usual Western Pennsylvania winter.  It was nice to see that my "Christmas" cactus came through with some color for me!

Even though it is not much, I'll take it!  What a nice bright color to make these days seem less oppressive.

I've often wondered why this plant is called a Christmas Cactus.  Mine has never bloomed at Christmas--Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter and other days in between.  This one may have been Groundhog Day!  It seems to be several plants in one.  Different parts bloom at different times and one part blooms a very pale pinkish-white.  Plants are amazing.

THOU MAKER AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS,
Day and night are thine,
heaven and earth declare thy glory;
but I, a creature of thy power and bounty,
have sinned against thee
   by resisting the dictates of conscience,
      the demands of thy law,
      the calls of thy gospel;
   yet I live under the dispensation of a given hope....
Render my obedience to thy will holy, natural, and delightful.
Rectify all my principles by clear, consistent,
    and influential views of divine truth.
Let me never undervalue or neglect any part of thy revealed will.
May I duly regard the doctrine and practice of the gospel,
   prizing its commands as well as its promises.

--a portion of, To Be Fit For God,  from the Valley of Vision

Dorothy L. Sayers

Rabbit holes.  It seems I fall into them regularly when it comes to the internet. 

While trying to find information about one professor at Grove City College, I stumbled on this Q & A with Dr. Janice Brown, an English professor at the college, about Dorothy L. Sayers.  Although the session is dated from 2007, the information was valuable to me as I attempt to learn more about this British author (even if it is by accident).

The book that Dr. Brown mentions in the interview is available at Amazon.com and you can find it here.

There is even a DLS Society page. 

Enjoy checking out the "Rabbit Holes"


“None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can't teach people that -- they have to learn by experience.” --Dorothy L. Sayers

Frosting

Yesterday morning just a hint of snow had fallen. It left the pine trees with the appearance of having been frosted. 

There is just a hint of green under the big pines. The way it is snowing right now, that won't last much longer. The weather man is calling for 3-6 inches. We'll see, of course. He has been known to be wrong once in awhile.  It may be that, Hazel, the John Deere will see some action tomorrow morning.  At any rate, it is a good night to settle in with a good book or movie.

It's the Big 448!!

Happy Birthday to the Heidelberg Catechism! 
Here is a brief history taken from the Christian Reformed website:

The Heidelberg Catechism was composed in Heidelberg at the request of Elector Frederick III, who ruled the Palatinate, an influential German province, from 1559 to 1576. An old tradition credits Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus with being coauthors of the new catechism. Both were certainly involved in its composition, although one of them may have had primary responsibility. All we know for sure is reported by the Elector in his preface of January 19, 1563. It was, he writes, "with the advice and cooperation of our entire theological faculty in this place, and of all superintendents and distinguished servants of the church" that he secured the preparation of the Heidelberg Catechism. The catechism was approved by a synod in Heidelberg in January 1563. A second and third German edition, each with small additions, as well as a Latin translation were published the same year in Heidelberg. Soon the catechism was divided into fifty-two sections so that one Lord's Day could be explained in preaching each Sunday of the year.

The Synod of Dort in 1618-1619 approved the Heidelberg Catechism, and it soon became the most ecumenical of the Reformed catechisms and confessions. The catechism has been translated into many European, Asian, and African languages and is the most widely used and most warmly praised catechism of the Reformation period.


Here are two examples of the Catechism:

Lord's Day 1
Q & A 1


Q. What is your only comfort


in life and in death?


A. That I am not my own,^1


but belong—


body and soul,


in life and in death—^2


to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.^3


He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,^4


and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.^5


He also watches over me in such a way^6


that not a hair can fall from my head


without the will of my Father in heaven:^7

in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.^8

 Because I belong to him,


Christ, by his Holy Spirit,


assures me of eternal life^9


and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready


from now on to live for him.^10


^1 1 Cor. 6:19-20


^2 Rom. 14:7-9


^3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14


^4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2


^5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11


^6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5


^7 Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18


^8 Rom. 8:28


^9 Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14


^10 Rom. 8:1-17




Lord's Day 10

Q & A 27


Q. What do you understand


by the providence of God?






A. Providence is


the almighty and ever present power of God^1


by which he upholds, as with his hand,


heaven


and earth


and all creatures,^2


and so rules them that


leaf and blade,


rain and drought,


fruitful and lean years,


food and drink,


health and sickness,


prosperity and poverty—^3


all things, in fact, come to us


not by chance^4


but from his fatherly hand.^5


^1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28


^2 Heb. 1:3


^3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2


^4 Prov. 16:33


^5 Matt. 10:29

© 1987, CRC Publications, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Reprinted with permission.