Encouraging Hearts and Home 10.29.2020

Best Keto Mug Cheesecake, Coffee Milk Buns, British Style Pub Pickled Onions, and Simple Life Gift Ideas are this week's featured posts! 

Hello and Welcome!

We were in the path of the storm that came south from our neighbors to the north! 

We got a foot of snow about a week earlier than our usual, but from what we have been told, there is always a pretty good snowfall before Halloween. When I looked back on my memories feed on social media, it turns out that we did get a sizable snowfall last year before Halloween...

Encouraging Hearts and Home 10.22.2020

Almond milk or juice, Coiled Paper Coasters, DIY Fabric Rose, and Pork Loin with a Baked Applesauce are this week's featured posts.

 Hello and Welcome!

Tonight we got our first snowfall! That means that summer is really, really gone! I say that jokingly because we were away so much, that I did not get many of the outdoor chores done, that I had wanted to get done this summer, I guess there is always next year! 

I have been working on a solar lighting/flower garden at the end of the root cellar in our side yard. It is almost complete and I will share it next week. Walking to our door at night proved to be a bit of a problem. There was a light in the driveway, and a light at our door, but nothing in between. Then I got the idea for solar lights between the flower pots. I love how far solar lights have come in the last couple of years. Making it easy (and economical!) to be creative in your yard.   

Encouraging Hearts and Home 10.15.2020

Cheesy Ditalini, Fermenting Food in Mason Jars, A Family Time Capsule, and, Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Carrot and Apple are this week's featured posts.

Hello and Welcome!

Breakfast is on my mind. Our weather here in Montana is changing and the mornings are quite cold. They are also dark. I for one look forward to daylight savings time and getting back that hour of daylight, just as we need it most, for coming home!  

If your family is a hot cereal kind of group, you may enjoy the following:

It pretty much cooks it'self Oatmeal. 

If you are more a grab it and go, group:

Super Fruit and Veggie Squares.

And for those who prefer their oats in a cold form:

Inspired by Pop-Tarts! Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Granola.

Options! It is always nice to have options in life and at breakfast...

Encouraging Hearts and Home 10.08.2020

Pumpkin Cheese Ball, Using Salt in the Laundry Room, How to Make Christmas Tree Napkins, and Self Sufficient Living are this week's featured posts. 

 Hello and Welcome!

I cannot believe another week has gone by. With my job working at the organic farm and canning for our own household in the evenings after work, I am amazed at how much I am getting done. I never planned out exactly how I wanted my retirement years to go, but I think not working, after so many years of working was a bit harder on me than I thought it would be! I do believe we feel best when we are accomplishing things important to our heart's desires. Feeding my family (and apparently another family as well) healthy organic food is part of what I hold dear. 

Home-canned plums from our own trees!

The jars you see in the sink are plums I canned from our own plum trees! This is exciting only because when we purchased our property last year, the fruit trees had not had any care or maintenance in many years. These jars are quite gratifying! I canned 28 quarts of plums, and will also fill the food dryer, plus there should be enough for a batch or two of jam. Now to have that kind of luck with the apricot tree!

Encouraging Hearts and Home 10.01.2020

New recipes from Slices of Life, Apple Oatmeal Cake, Brown Paper Bag Flowers, and Easy Instant Pot Pumpkin Oatmeal are this week's featured posts!

 Hello and Welcome!

I have to say as I write these words that I am so glad September is over! Not because of anything bad that had happened, or horrible weather, or even that I gain some weight (I didn't it was a thought of what COULD make for a bad month, LOL!). 

No, I am glad that  September is over because we are done working 7 days a week! This coming Friday will be our first weekend off in four months, and we have a lot of catching up to do. There are pears to can, a cat to pet, complete the installation of the woodstove, a couple of cords of wood to stack, a bit of weeding, and of course, those pantry shelves need to be replenished. 

These delicious recipes are on my list to get my home kitchen back up to speed after four months at camp!

Maple Pecan Granola, one of my favorites! No refined sugar with plenty of whole foods to get the morning started right. 

Honey Almond Granola. 

Honey Almond Granola, because it is always a good idea to have a choice first thing in the mornings!

5 Ingredient Banana Bread.

It is time to make another batch of Whole Wheat Self-Rising Flour! The perfect starting point for pancakes, banana bread, brownies, and a whole lot more! 

Encouraging Hearts and Home 09.24.2020

How to make a face mask, DIY Gifts in a Jar, How to make Ginger Beer, and Coconut Cream Pie are this week's featured posts!

Hello and Welcome!

We have been busy with the installation of our woodstove for winter use, and have hit a bit of a snag, the pipe! With delayed shipments going to stores, sometimes what you need, simply is not available. We have now moved on to plan B, ordering it online and hoping it is shipped out as promised! 

Next weekend will be our last at camp, and while I will miss the serenity of the forest, there are so many chores waiting for us right here at home, it will be a pleasure to get to them. 

At work, I have been canning applesauce (so far 75 quarts) and making Peach and Lime jam (24 6oz jars). Tomorrow will see me making a Pear Caramel Sauce to can and a few trays of Peach Fruit Leather to use up the last of the peaches. 

And wouldn't you know it, as soon as is possible, I need to get started canning for my own pantry...and with that, how has your week gone? Getting to the end of season chores that seem to be waiting for us all? 

Encouraging Hearts and Home 09.17.2020

A beautiful Apple Torte, Remedies for 9 common ailments, DIY Japanese Knot Bag, and Apple Oatmeal Bars are this week's featured posts.  

Hello and Welcome!

We have been busy around these parts! My husband has also been working hard to get the wood stove installed before winter arrives...

The heat shield is made of Hardy Board covered with corrugated tin. The platform base is set to be covered with a layer of Hardy Board, then a layer of tin. From there the stove may be set in place. Once the stove has been placed, the piping can be installed. We also have 2 cords of wood coming, there simply was not enough time to cut, split, and stack wood.....

Encouraging Hearts and Home 09.10.2020

DIY Bottle Cap Pumpkins, Instant Pot Potato, and Leek Soup, Grace Tinley Scarf, and How to Dry Hydrangeas are this week's featured posts.

Hello and Welcome!

As it turns out, we will have a very busy few months ahead of us! We have been asked and have agreed to continue hosting at the campground weekends only for the month of September. We also have to get our little wood stove that has been purchased, cleaned up, and installed! Plus take delivery of two cords of wood, and get it stacked and covered...And with the added expenses to get this final project completed we have taken on temporary jobs for the next few months. 

That is our strategy, to work additional job(s) in lieu of payments for needed items. We were very lucky, each of us found a job on the same day. Plus our new employers were understanding of our weekend schedule for the month of September. When September closes, there will be fruit on our trees that will need to be processed and a few gardening and yard chores to get done, like I said a busy few months for us...

How about you, how do you handle the need for extra funds in your household?