Thursday, January 31, 2013

End of January 2013 greenhouse report

The transplanted tomatoes, green peppers and jalapenos look great.  This weekend we are going to get the bottom of the buckets cut off and the holes dug around the greenhouse in preparation of transplanting the tomatoes in about mid February.
The cut and come again lettuce also looks good and is ready to use.  I didn't take a picture but the cucumbers at the back of the other planted pan are looking great and will be needing to be trained on the trellis soon.  That's another thing we will do this weekend.  Install the trellis.  Jeff is also going to run the water to the greenhouse so I can just step outside to get water instead of carrying it.  It will be easier to water the tomatoes when I get them planted along the one side of the greenhouse as well.

This has been fun so far.  I am going to try to keep a diary of sorts of my greenhouse/garden project this year.  I have tried many different types of gardening and I love them all.  I have don't the Ruth Stout method, a greenhouse growing in the ground, growing in raised beds in a greenhouse, plain old in the yard gardens and now container gardening in and outside of the greenhouse.  There is merit in each method.

Crocheting up a storm

I sat down and learned the star hot pad pattern.  It is easy.  Then I just went to town crocheting hot pads.  So far there are 18 hot pads in this pile.
This pattern is quick and easy.  I can make a couple of them as we sit watching tv in the evening.  They make nice little gifts.


This is a fancier hot pad.  It took more time and wasnt quite as fun to make but its really pretty.  I made two of this pattern with different colors and one of another pattern before I found the star pattern and went to town with it.
Here is the pattern I used for the star hot pads.
http://www.freecraftunlimited.com/flower-hot-pad.html

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Well I did it now

I was moderating my comments and somehow instead of publishing them I deleted them.  Boo  I wanted to visit Elizabeth plain and simple but now have nothing to click on.  I'm sorry I messed up.  Please feel free to leave a comment again and I will do better next time.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

An answer for you.

A reader asked me where I got the pans for my greenhouse.  The answer is I got them at Lowes.  They are cement mixing pans and are about 2x3 feet.  I found some smaller ones but these are the ones I wanted.  I think they are at least ten inches deep. 
Thank you for the question.
If I remember right they cost around $13.00 each.  I am thinking I want to buy 6 more to put on the floor for another level of growing places.  I can put things down there that aren't harvested as often and just need a place to grow such as beets.

Honey~Real vs Fake~ How to tell the difference

Monday, January 28, 2013

Greenhouse update

 This pan isn't as productive as the other two.  Along the back are cucumbers.  I planted two tomatoes there for now.  I will put them somewhere else later and replant something else in that space.
 I bought my tomato, green pepper and jalapeno plant this weekend.  I planted most of them in this one planter.  I will put the tomatoes somewhere else in a couple of weeks.  Most likely large pot I will sit on the floor of the greenhouse.  The peppers can stay in this planter.
I just watered this planter so it doesn't look all that good but the lettuce is coming along fine.  In fact its ready to cut.  Its cut and come again kind so should be good for a while.

I plan to plant an entire planter with just beets.  I may also plant green beans along the back edge of one or two planters.  We plan to place cut up cattle panels along the back side of the planters for climbing plants to use.  So far I have already learned to use more soil in each planter because the soil packs down as it is watered and ends up not being as full as I thought it was at first.

A little history lesson

Us older people need to learn something new every day...




Just to keep the grey matter tuned up.



Where did "Piss Poor" come from? Interesting history.



They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot.



And then once it was full it was taken and sold to the tannery...



if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor".

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot...



They "didn't have a pot to piss in" and were the lowest of the low.



The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature

Isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.



Here are some facts about the 1500's



Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May,



And they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell,

brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.



Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.



Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.



The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water,



Then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children.



Last of all the babies.



By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.

Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"



Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.



It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals

(mice, bugs) lived in the roof.



When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.

Hence the saying, "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.



This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings



Could mess up your nice clean bed.



Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection.



That's how canopy beds came into existence.



The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt.



Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery

In the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing..



As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, It would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way.

Hence: a threshold.



(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)



In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.



Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables

And did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers

In the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day.



Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.



Hence the rhyme:



“Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.



When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off.



It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon."



They would cut off a little to share with guests



And would all sit around and chew the fat.



Those with money had plates made of pewter.



Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death.



This happened most often with tomatoes,

so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.



Bread was divided according to status..



Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.



Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky.

The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days..

Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.

They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around

and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up.



Hence the custom; “holding a wake."



England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people.



So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave.



When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive.

So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell.



Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be,

“saved by the bell" or was "considered a dead ringer."



And that's the truth.



Now, whoever said history was boring!!!

I dont know if this is all true but they make sense.

Pretty hot pads

I have been in the mood to make pretty hot pads instead of always making the practical ones.  These hot pads can only be used to sit hot dishes on, not to take them from the oven as there are too many holes.  In the last few days here are some of the pretty hot pads I have made.  I keep thinking of new color combinations to use.

As you can see there are more star type hot pads than the others because the pattern is very easy and quick.  I used cotton yarn for these because I have learned that the acrylic yarn melts too easily.  It never used to but it does any more so I have begun using cotton yarn for all my pot holders and hot pads.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn

Today is a special day. 

 Its Kaitlyns 10th birthday. 

♫ ღ ♪ Happy Birthday To YOU! ♫ ღ ♪


Happy Birthday To YOU! ♫ ღ ♪ ♫ ღ ♪

Happy Birthday Dear Kaitlyn.!

♫ ღ ♪ ♫ ღ ♪ Happy Birthday To YOU! ♫ ღ ♪





We love you Kaitlyn, from meema, papa, tia Mollie, tia Joy and tia Hannah!!!

Waist high gardening

A few weeks ago we built shelves in my greenhouse using the shelves from the storage trailer which we are cleaning out in preparation of selling it.
I wanted to do the waist high gardening method in the hope that it wont hurt my back so much.  We gathered all the materials needed and now have two of the containers planted with carrots, cucumbers and lettuces and spinach.

I thought I would share what the greenhouse looks like right now.



Bath wrap

I made this wrap for Kaitlyn.  I actually made her a white one that had bright pink stripes but it was too big so I made another one for her.  I thought the girls would like to put these on when they get out of the bath to walk to their rooms to get dressed.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

No photos

For some reason I cant get any photos to upload to my blog.  I have a few posts I have written and when I get to the part of putting the picture in it doesnt work.
Hannah said I'd better explain because folks might get upset when there are no new posts.
Sorry folks, I dont know whats wrong or how to fix it.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, Jan. 15, 2013

Date: January 14, 2013 8:37:26 PM CST


BUNNY WILL NOT HAVE INTERNET UNTIL AFTER JAN. 25TH.
I’m leaving Wed., Jan. 16th, for South Africa to go on a mountain retreat with several couples.

It’s time to withdraw and just be with God so I can be refreshed.


I’ll be in the USA on Jan. 25th and will keep you informed of what is going on via this blog and on Facebook.

I look forward to seeing many of you during my tour.

Eric Dry and Linda Stanley will be “running the show” along with our Mozambican staff while I’m away.

Keep their safety in your prayers.

My travel schedule is intense during my 8 weeks stateside, so I will need travel mercies for sure!


Keep our kids in prayer, as all 59 school age orphans who live with us start school today.

Our 4 and 5 year olds will start pre-school next week.

God’s Blessings to each and every one of you!

Thank you for your prayers for us.

And THANK YOU for being our friends!

Blessings,
Bush Bunny Brenda and the Balama Gang

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Father of the year

My friend Jen over at double nickle farm is having a contest.  Its for father of the year.
To enter and read about it please visit her blog at : http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/2013/01/father-of-year-contest.html

Let me know if you win.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Meatless sausage

4 &1/2 cups of Oatmeal


5 tablespoon of dry egg powder reconstituted with 5 tablespoons of water

1 & 1/2 teaspoons of ground sage

1 & 1/2 heaping teaspoons of fennel

1/2 teaspoon ground rosemary

3/4 teaspoon parsley

1/2 heaping spoon of onion powder

1/2 teaspoon of celery salt

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 heaping teaspoon garlic minced or powder (we like garlic)

2-3 cups simmering beef stock (I made mine from bouillion)

Mix all the ingrediants up.

Form into patties

Easy fry in a ppan with a little oil (Just to tinge them a bit brown)

Add the beef broth.

Get it to boil and then turn it down to simmer a full 20 minutes

Pour off broth

Add oil to the pan and refry the patties til they are a nice color

Thats it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HReSTeVbaxM&list=UUPt5uAXcHkIlonoB5wN5exg

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, Jan. 6, 2013

Date: January 6, 2013 5:16:44 AM CST


UPDATED SPEAKING TOUR SCHEDULE FOR 2013
Know I am looking forward to seeing many of you on this tour.

Check the updated schedule below to see where you might rendezvous with me.


If you need further details, contact me or our office: linda@orphansunlimited.org

TEXAS

Sunday, Jan. 27th, 9 a.m., LEHRER METHODIST CHURCH, Garwood, TX

Thursday, Jan. 31st, NOON LIONS CLUB, Eagle Lake, TX

Sunday, Feb. 3rd, 10a.m. EMMANUEL FELLOWSHIP , Gonzales, TX

Sunday, Feb. 3rd, 6 p.m. COLUMBUS BAPTIST CHURCH, Columbus, TX

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. ROCK ISLAND EVANGELICAL CHURCH, Rock Island, TX

Wed. Feb. 6th, Private presentation, San Antonio, TX

Thurs. Feb. 7th, CONCORDIA SCHOOL OF NURSING, Concordia University, Austin, TX

Friday, Feb. 8th (meeting pending in San Marcos, TX) place and time to be announced

Sunday, Feb. 10th 10 a.m. NORTHPOINT CHURCH, New Braunfels, TX

Sunday, Feb. 10th, 6 p.m. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, Sequin, TX



KANSAS, LOUISIANA, FLORIDA, OKLAHOMA, OHIO,

Tues. Feb. 12th to 15th, private presentations, Wichita, Kansas

Sun. Feb. 17th, HINESTON TABERNACLE (a.m. service), Hineston, LA

Friday, Feb. 22nd , 9a.m., SEACOAST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, Jacksonville, FL

Sunday, Feb. 24th, 10:30a.m., THE SANCTUARY, Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday, Feb. 26th, NOON, THE ROAD SHOW RADIO PROGRAM, Tulsa, OK

Wed., Feb. 27th, 7pm, worshipping at VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTER, Tulsa, OK

Sunday, March 3rd, FAITH COMMUNITY CHAPEL, Leesville, OH

Mon. March 4th INDIAN HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 8:15 a.m.

Tues. March 5th Leesville Woman’s Meeting

Wed. March 6th, Leesville Children’s meeting 7pm

Sun. March 10th, 10:30 a.m., OASIS ASSEMBLY OF GOD, Norwalk, OH

Sun. March 10th, 6pm Home Church at Routh’s home, Norwalk, OH



ALASKA

Tues. March 12th to Monday, March 18th in Cordova, Alaska.

Sunday March 17th, a.m. service, LITTLE CHAPEL, Cordova, Alaska



TEXAS

Sunday, March 31st 10 a.m., All Around Cowboy Church, Sealy, TX
April 2nd, fly out to Mozambique!


FIRST WEEK OF THE NEW YEAR

Our one goal this week was to complete the Teen Boy’s Dorm, so they could be settled in before school starts Jan. 14th.

Rains caused a few setbacks with the painting, but all will be finished tomorrow.

The metal chimney is hung in the kitchen and the 6 screen doors are being made.

On Monday, the boys will clean the new site and pack up the old dorm for the move on Tuesday morning.

This is a 2 year project coming to completion.

PTL! The complex is BEAUTIFUL and the boys are very excited about their new home.

It’s a relief to have it finally finished.


Wood is scarce and expensive, so we opted to make their study room and dining room tables from concrete.

With teenage boys, the more INDESTRUCTABLE, the better.

21 NEW ROCKET STOVES IN PROGRESS

Each of our widows houses is receiving the new “Rocket Stove” for more fuel efficiency and faster cooking with less smoke.

Now that the bricklayers have completed the dorm, they are busy installing a Rocket stove in each of our widow’s homes.


90 GOATS AND MORE ON THE WAY!

The 65 females have been busy this year, producing 24 babies. Thirteen boys and 11 girls at present count.

The females were very young when purchased in June, so all have now had their 1st babies and are pregnant with their 2nd.

Yesterday, our 6 goat herders wrangled goats for 2 hours so they could be dewormed.

Worms are the biggest killer of goats (blood suckers that cause severe anemia), so a good deworming program is the key to health.

It’s a 2 hour job as each goat has to be weighed (using a girth tape measure), and the right amount of dewormer drawn up into a metal tip oral syringe, as goats have VERY powerful jaws. (You must know where to put your thumb when inserting the syringe, or lose it).

I’ve learned much this year while studying “goat raising” and from the experiences of treating the sick ones.

The program will flourish in 2013 as all the females have the capability of producing 2 or more offspring/year.

Thank you for helping us get this program “up and running” to give starter herds to orphans who want to raise goats for a living.

The rains are pouring down almost daily. All the fields are planted and now we pray for God’s blessings for the crops to give a maximum harvest.

Ten more days and I’ll be leaving Moz. (16th) for a Christian retreat in the mountains of South Africa.

Time for this bunny to take a week off to “rest and refresh” with God in His beautiful creation.
Blessings,

BBBrenda and the Balama gang







Friday, January 4, 2013

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, Jan. 1, 2013

Date: January 1, 2013 6:52:41 AM CST



DE BUNNY GOT HIT BY THE MALARIA BUG AND WAS OUT OF THE BALLGAME FOR THE WEEKEND

So if you were wondering why I didn’t write, now you know.

Thanks to many prayers and good treatment, I’m back to “normal” Tee Hee.


LINDA STANLEY RETURNING TO MOZAMBIQUE!!!!!!

This is super exciting news as God has healed her eyes and all other ailments and she is free to fly!

She will return with Eric Dry on Jan. 12, and I will fly out on the 16th.


TWO BABY GOATS BORN AT YEARS END

One boy, one girl. The girl was born late on News Year’s Eve, and she is a cutie.

The herd now numbers 90 GOATS TOTAL!

I dewormed their mothers today and all is well with the herd. We plan to deworm the entire herd this coming Saturday provided the rains hold off.

Worms are the BIGGEST cause of death in goats.

God tell us in Genesis that He gives us authority over all things that CREEP, so I’m going to eradicate all the CREEPS from the herd before I leave.

DORM BOYS DUE TO MOVE INTO NEW FACILITY THIS FRIDAY IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED

We are having heavy downpours today, but if the crews can finish the last detail work, their complex will be ready by Thursday.

My thanks to Eric, our massive team of Brick Layers, Carpenters, and Manel, our top handyman for making this vision become a reality ON TIME!

THAT is something you don’t see happen often in Mozambique (something occurring on time). Tee Hee.
WHEN BUNNY’S HEAD FUZZED FROM MALARIA, DON’T GIVE HER KEYS

Today I pulled a good one.

Was opening doors in the children’s warehouse, as we have a truck load of school supplies leaving for Meluco County early tomorrow.

De Bunny got distracted and set the keys down in the room and then locked the padlock. OOPS!

This is one of our best MASTER LOCKS but the spare key had been lost. DOUBLE OOPS!

So sent the guard to find MARIO, one of our carpenters. We soon had him sawing through the burglar bars so the guard could scoot in to get the keys.

All is fine, but Eric will have a bit of welding to do when he returns home. (Smile ERIC)
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU

BUSH BUNNY BRENDA IN BALAMA