The Front Porch Swing

[Beekissed]

Can I come visit for a minute.....Stephen has to be at work at 2:00, but I wanted to say hello......A cup of tea would be soooooooooo nice......When he has to be at work this early......guess who can't go back to sleep.....makes a long day! HEY YOU SIC/BF! I love you!

SIS!!!!

I've missed you!!!!!

Where ya been so long? Tell me every little thing!

How's them big, beautiful chicks of yours? I love you so very much, you know that?

 

[LOVEIGEE]

Yes, I do BF........had to put buck-a-roo in the basement......made me late for work this morning......went out to get in the car.....and guess what I heard? Cock-a-doodle-do! In the basement until Stephen can make a trip to NC........What is this I hear about your nights getting cool.....are you kidding? Already? I love you so much SIS

 

[OHhappychicks]

I've been thinking about these things myself. Every time you talk to someone about giving money to those ministering to the poor of these countries, they always come back with the same thing..."I can't afford to give money away, as me and my family are just struggling to get by"~I hear it from my own family. Those kind of comments make me give a loud~but internal~snort! Really? Do they really "struggle" like those people struggle? Do they even know what that word means?

No one in America is poor compared to the poor of those countries. Even our homeless have better garbage to glean out of the dumpsters, they have soup kitchens, they have homeless shelters, etc. Over there? Nuttin'.

I too used to think I couldn't afford to help others but God opened my eyes to my own excess and that's when I really started increasing the efforts towards frugal living. I was already pretty frugal, but He showed me more ways in which I could cut expenditures and even ways to not spend at all. Then it became a way to honor God, as we are to do all things as if we are doing them for Him.

Here awhile back a BYC member was very insulting towards me and accused me of always thinking about money, money, money when I was stressing trying to save money on chicken feed.....well, I do. I do think about it every time I dish out feed to my chickens... that a family could live on for about 3 days...or more.

If we don't think about these things, if we turn a blind eye to these people, what does that say about us and our ability to love our neighbor? How can we continue to consume without a thought of those who have nothing to consume? Do we really need that pair of shoes? Can we get the same thing at Good Will for $3.99 instead of buying it for $35? Can that extra money be funneled towards people who are spreading the gospel and ministering to these countries and people who have never heard it before? I bet it can.

TW is right....our chickens eat better than millions of people out there and should that make us feel guilty and driven to make a change? You bet it should.

This reminds me of a verse and a very specific set of criteria~a set of questions that Christ will ask at the Judgement Seat~ that can indicate where our heart lies....

Matthew 25:35-40
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

I asked my kids this when we were on vacation: When is the last time we ever truly gave someone food, water or clothing? Was it once or have we formed a habit of it? When did we take anyone in and give them shelter? When did we visit the sick or imprisoned (for Christ's sake)? I think there is an opportunity to do all these things by supporting an honorable mission group who ministers to the poor in these 2/3 world countries, if we cannot go there ourselves.

It doesn't have to be much, just what we have extra. If we never stop spending on ourselves, our kids, our pets and our hobbies, how will we ever have any extra? Chicken math? Really? It's not a joke, it's never been a joke to me and I've never found it to be funny. That's why I subtract before I add, that's why I eat them instead of rehome, that's why I am constantly trying to cut feed costs....because there are better places to spend the money God has given me in this life.

I've been thinking about this a lot and I can do better. I WILL do better. And I will get back to living my life in light of eternity, with the thought of laying up treasures there instead of here. The devil is very good at distracting me from that purpose and he dangles the things I want in front of me...even chickens. More chickens, better chickens, etc. At the end I just want to be told "well done, thou good and faithful servant" and I'm just not sure self-indulgence is the way to hear those words from my Father.

Just ponderings.....sorry...didn't mean to rattle on and do my soul searching out loud but just felt led to do so.

Reading thru the posts of the last couple of days, and I just got to this post. I find it interesting how many of us think the same thing. Simplifing, get back to what life is all about. The Lord spoke to me about this just yesterday. Our Pastor brought a great message on how we Christians are forgetting what living for Christ is all about. I had to admit, this was me. In the process of trying to be more self-sufficient, which is good, I'm too focused on being more self-sufficient. I'm not sure I'm making sense. I'm getting a bee hive, I wanted pygmy goats, I'm supposed to be getting a GP guardian dog, and while there is nothing wrong with these things, they seem to consume me. I told DH on the way home from church, we are getting to focused on these things, and less on the Lord. I'm not going to get the goats, and I'm having second thoughts on the dog, as these would just keep us busy building shelters, training, more expense for feed. We are so busy right now, we are having a hard time keeping up. Adding more stress to the pot is not the answer. Not right now. Our enemies biggest weapon I feel is keeping us too busy and to full of desires of the flesh, that we don't have enough time for Him. If someone offered me what I want out of our home and land, It would be gone in a heartbeat! I love where I live, but as I get older, wanting to cut expenses. I would be happy on a small place, big enough for a few animals, and a house just big enough for me and DH and to accommodate my kids and grandkids when they come home. I could live in a camper and be happy. Bee, once again, you've spoken the truth. "Well done thou good and faithful servant" has been my driving force in serving my Lord, but I'm afraid I've fallen short, especially in the past year or so. So Bee, I will pray for you to do better, and please pray for me to do better!!

 

[Triple Willow]

Speaking of broodies, I got a little grossed out today. My broody hatched out a clutch of eggs last week then two days later she started laying, an egg/day for three days. The eggs were gathered the day she laid them. Usually she lays large eggs but those were jumbos. Well I decided to break one this morning to see if they were double yolkers or what. Ohhh me oh my, NO they weren't double yolkers!

Here is what landed in the skillet...

The 2nd and 3rd eggs...

 

[OHhappychicks]

Mamma hen and her new brood

Awww!! We have lost 3 hens in the last couple of weeks, well 2 really, as this past saturday, I was getting in my car and saw something fly from the back of the barn. I looked and it was one of the silver spangled hamburgs I thought was gone. She has been missing for almost 2 weeks. Come to find out she has a little nest in cozy little bin in the barn!!!! She just fits in it and is about 3 feet off the floor. It is dark, so when you look for her you can't even see her. So, all of that to say this, I HOPE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE SOON!!! Sooo Cute. Is the hen a speckled sussex?

 

[OHhappychicks]

I finally have time to post. My daughter left today taking a ton of chaos and confusion with her. She came last Thursday with my younger granddaughter, Jayla and two of Madi's friends from MO to celebrate Jayla's birthday. She was also accompanied by 3 Chihuahuas. I spent 4 days in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up. The kicker is Jayla is scheduled to fly back here on Friday for a two week stay. She wanted to spend her birthday on Friday with her sister and since my daughter has no backbone and cannot say no, the drove 12 hours to bring them here for 3 days. Jayla wanted to be home to go to summer school for 4 days before she comes for her visit; I did not raise my daughter. She was raised by adoptive parents. We have only recently been reunited. Honestly, I would have been embarrassed if I was the one to raise her. She says her girls and dogs are all she has but she does them no favors by constantly spoiling them and waiting on them. At 16 and 18 they have never had a job and any responsibility . I think she feels that if they learn how to survive without her or she says no to anything she will lose them. Madi says her Mom is crazy and that she hates her. We have a lot of work to do with this young woman . I love Madi and think we can bring some peace and love into her life. At home she had no structure. Now I really understand where a lot of her problems stem from.
The dogs spent their time chasing my cats, trying to get into the room with mamma cat and her litter and peeing everywhere, Tomorrow, Madi says she will scrub the carpets and her mom was "stupid" to bring them here. She is a different girl when it is just us. Sweet, cooperative and willing to help. At home she did nothing but fight with her parents and get in trouble. She will have a hard time getting in trouble "down on the farm"
Sorry for my rant. I just needed to release some steam.
On a happier note we are going to pick wild grape leaves to can to make dolmades with. Both girls like the way I make them and I think it will be fun to do some canning with them. Don't think they know I stuff them with ground lamb! We went through about 30 of them in 2 days. My eyes are getting droopy so it is off to bed tonight.

So Glad things are working out for you!

 

[Triple Willow]

@OHHappyChicks... I agree. I have got to simplify several areas in my life. It is time, past time.

 

[enola]

Speaking of broodies, I got a little grossed out today. My broody hatched out a clutch of eggs last week then two days later she started laying, an egg/day for three days. The eggs were gathered the day she laid them. Usually she lays large eggs but those were jumbos. Well I decided to break one this morning to see if they were double yolkers or what. Ohhh me oh my, NO they weren't double yolkers!

Here is what landed in the skillet...

The 2nd and 3rd eggs...

OMG! HOW did she manage that? ???? If that happened to me I would NOT be hungry any more!

 

[Beekissed]

Reading thru the posts of the last couple of days, and I just got to this post. I find it interesting how many of us think the same thing. Simplifing, get back to what life is all about. The Lord spoke to me about this just yesterday. Our Pastor brought a great message on how we Christians are forgetting what living for Christ is all about. I had to admit, this was me. In the process of trying to be more self-sufficient, which is good, I'm too focused on being more self-sufficient. I'm not sure I'm making sense. I'm getting a bee hive, I wanted pygmy goats, I'm supposed to be getting a GP guardian dog, and while there is nothing wrong with these things, they seem to consume me. I told DH on the way home from church, we are getting to focused on these things, and less on the Lord. I'm not going to get the goats, and I'm having second thoughts on the dog, as these would just keep us busy building shelters, training, more expense for feed. We are so busy right now, we are having a hard time keeping up. Adding more stress to the pot is not the answer. Not right now. Our enemies biggest weapon I feel is keeping us too busy and to full of desires of the flesh, that we don't have enough time for Him. If someone offered me what I want out of our home and land, It would be gone in a heartbeat! I love where I live, but as I get older, wanting to cut expenses. I would be happy on a small place, big enough for a few animals, and a house just big enough for me and DH and to accommodate my kids and grandkids when they come home. I could live in a camper and be happy. Bee, once again, you've spoken the truth. "Well done thou good and faithful servant" has been my driving force in serving my Lord, but I'm afraid I've fallen short, especially in the past year or so. So Bee, I will pray for you to do better, and please pray for me to do better!!

It's like you are speaking from my own heart! Some years back I too was wrapped up in self-sufficiency...had it going three ways to Sunday with sheep, bees, chickens, an orchard, collections of tools, canning implements, scads of jars, etc. Then the Holy Spirit revealed to me that self-sufficiency is a fallacy and we are to be dependent upon God and not ourselves in times of crisis...and in times of plenty. It's good to get in food, wood and such for a year's living but storing up for hard times that may be coming in the future? I'm thinking we are not to do that, but use our time and resources to help others who have nothing now, in real time.

That focus on self is dangerous and you are right, the devil has many tools that seem like a good thing to us but only distract us from our primary purpose here.....to follow Christ and spread the gospel. Everything else needs to take a far distant back seat to that. You are so right about adding more stuff adds more stress, takes our time from the Lord's work, and it's like a millstone around our necks because once we obtain it, then we have to maintain it.

I've been distracted here of late by this chicken life and even added to it a duck life, was even adding a GP life to it, much like yourself. The Holy Spirit has whispered to me that I am putting down roots in a place that is not my home and I will be leaving soon, so get busy on my Father's business and leave that worldly stuff to the world. Just occupy... but not try to increase my holdings.

I love it that so many of us are feeling that same quiet call at the same time...it's a conformation that we are on the right path and are being gathered to the same purpose! I will most certainly pray for you and I love it that you are praying for me too.

These are perilous times and the devil is seeking whom he might devour, so it is good for us to look out for one another, pray for one another, edify one another. I love you ladies!

 

[OHhappychicks]

Home canned grape leaves
I use the small to medium size wild grape leaves gathered when they are young and very tender. The reverse side of the leaf is shiny not fuzzy, The fuzzy ones can be poisonous. Wash the leaves thoroughly. Remove the stems and roll them in stacks of 10 or 15 leaves. Roll into rolls and tie with string. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil and add 1/2 cup salt. Drop bundles into boiling water for 5 - 10 minutes. Remove from water. Cool slightly. Pack into sterilized pint jars and seal in a water bath 10 to 12 minutes. Cool and check seal.

Dolmades
​

1 pound ground beef or lamb
1 large onion grated
1 1/2 tb mint leaves, chopped
1 1/2 tb parsley, chopped
1/4 cup raw rice
1/2 tsp dried dill weed or 1/2 tsp dried fennel
Salt and pepper to taste ( I usually micro a small amount before I add the rice to taste for seasoning)
Mix meat, onion, salt, pepper and rice. Add seasonings. Shape in oblong balls. Wrap in grape leaves.
I use a baking dish that will fit the amount I am doing snugly. I cover them with chicken stock and bake them at 350 degrees covered in foil for about 45 minutes. You can remove the foil during the last 10 minutes. They are also served cooked in tomato sauce like cabbage rolls or covered in Avgolemono sauce ( a Lemon -egg sauce.
If you use commercial grape leaves it is better to bring them to a boil, drain water and stuff.
I cannot make enough of these for a party. They go so fast.

yummmmmm!