Preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner

Today is pie baking day here.  I have been looking forward to Thanksgiving for several weeks.  I love turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy and all the rest of the great foods we get to eat.  We will only have four at our table this year but we will cook the traditional meal just the same.  Just not as much.

Today Hannah and her friend Flor are coming and I think they may want to bake the pies.  I'm also trying to decide if we should bake the turkey today and slice it and just warm it up tomorrow.  The advantage to that would be we wouldn't have to get up so early tomorrow and I can make broth from the carcass to use in the dressing and gravy tomorrow.  If I am careful and cook and cut it properly it should retain the moisture.  I'll talk to Hannah and Flor and see what they think.

My big task for today is to clean off the dinning room table.  Its a mess because its where I cut up my old jeans for squares and use the computer and just about every thing else.  At the other end of the table are some cotton snowflakes I crochet drying and starching.  You can see where I am going here I'm sure.   It's a mess.

Here is a turkey cooking chart in case any of my dear friends need it.

I remember years ago cooking my first turkey and how scary it was.  It turned out fine and in the last few of years I have learned to save the carcass to make broth.  I used to take the turkey carcasses home when we had thanksgiving at our old church.  I think some of the ladies thought I had a screw loose.  But I just added a few carrots and onions and cooked those carcasses in a big ole pot for several hours and then I had the best turkey broth I could want and it is basically free.  So many people throw away their chicken bones and beef bones and turkey bones.  If I don't have time to make the broth right then I just put the bones into a bag and keep it in the freezer.  I also save carrot scraps, onion scraps, celery scraps and so on the same way.  Then when I'm ready to make some broth I just roast my bones in the oven, then either put them in a big pot filled with water on the stove along with the vegetables and a splash of apple cider vinegar or I just put them in my crock pot and let them cook for several hours.  I then strain the broth and cool it.  Its keeps for a few weeks in the fridge if you leave the fat on top.  If you want to remove the fat and are not going to use it right away its best to freeze it or can it.  Remember its dangerous to freeze items in glass so use plastic containers or even zip lock freezer bags.

OK, back to the pies.  This year we are just making one or two pumpkin pies and one pecan pie.  But while I was at the chiropractor I was talking to the ladies up front and they mentioned German chocolate pie.  Oh my that sure sounds good.  I will ask for their recipe next time I go in and maybe I can make that at Christmas time.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving and what are you thankful for?  I am especially thankful for family.  Even though I don't get to spend the holiday with them, I know they are well and safe so that is the most important thing I have to be thankful for.

               Happy Thanksgiving

New benches

As you can see we need to trim and tack the lattice around the bottom of our new porch but this post is about my new benches.  I ordered four benches to be made by my Amish friends.  They didn't think they would have them done in time for Thanksgiving but I was able to pick them up today.  Just in time.

I am very pleased with them.

The picture shows two benches put together.  They are six feet each.  We now have plenty of seating on our new porch.

Have a happy thanksgiving y'all.

Thankful

I am so thankful for God sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and yours.  All we have to do is ask him to come into our hearts and forgive us our sins.  We can then follow him and read the bible (I recommend the King James Version).  Life is so much better when you have his love.

I am thankful for family.  I love my family very much and wish we could spend time together more often.

I am thankful for friends.

I do wish people all over the world would quit fighting and just live.  Our country has gone haywire it seems.  Even after this last election people continue to riot and the president encourages it.  Why would he want that to be his legacy?  I don't remember people rioting when he took office. 

The world is so full of sin.  I just have to remember that I am not of this world and godless people will act like godless people.

I pray your Thanksgiving will be happy and blessed and that you will be able to spend it with loved ones and that the violence in our world today is not in your corner and that you are safe.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Independence Day

Folding napkins

I watched a video from one of my favorite you tubers Mrs. Volfie at our half acre homestead on how to fold napkins for thanksgiving then I tried it.  I purchased a package of 24 napkins from the Dollar Tree for $1.00.  I think they turned out pretty cute.

Happy Birthday Kaleena

Today is my second daughters birthday.  Happy birthday Kaleena, I love you.

Gift list

OUR CIRCUIT RIDING PROFESSOR URGENTLY NEEDS NEW BIKE:


Evangelist Alberto Pessute travelled 4,500 miles (7500 km) as a circuit rider teacher on his 50 cc motorbike this year in order to teach 3 Bible Schools (100+ students) and start the 2 churches in Namuno county. He just called to ask for emergency help, as his motor bike “bit the dust” about 9 miles (15Km) out in the bush as he was coming back from teaching at one of our bush churches today. We knew the bike was near it’s limit, but had hopes that it would last through December when the Bible School year was over and the 2 Namuno churches were able to be independent of his teachings.



$750 is needed to provide him with a new bike so Teacher Alberto can wrap up his teaching year.



NEW BORN BABIES:

•BABY BOTTLES: (6 pack) $7

•FORMULA: (1 can) $6 or (12 pack) $72
ORPHAN CHILDREN:

We have over 1,750+ orphans living with a grandmother or aunt who lack the basics to live a healthy life. No matter how small, each gift does make a difference.
Each orphan is in need of the following:

•PLATE,CUP,SPOON SET: $3/each ($30 provides for 10 orphans)
•FOOD: (1 sack of corn) $20

•BEANS: (1 sack of beans) $32

•CLOTHING: (4 shirts and 4 pants or skirts/year) $30/child/year

•BLANKET: (one blanket per child) $15

•BLANKETS: (bale of 25 blankets) $375

•BED and GRASS MAT: (each set) $7

•SPONSOR AN ORPHAN: (Provides an orphan with food, clothing, school material, school uniform, and medical care in one of our Christ centered foster homes.) $30/month or one time gift of $360/yr.

*WIDOW’S KITCHEN START UP KIT: (2 cook pans, wash Basin, bucket, 5 gallon water container) $30

•FLASHLIGHT: (and set of batteries) $5 (no electricity makes it pretty scary to go to the outhouse at night without one)

•SCHOOL BACKPACK: (for the kid’s school supplies) $8 each.

GIFTS TO PROVIDE A FUTURE:

As our orphans grow up and leave our “nest”, they need a helping hand to get started.
We have almost 100 kids needing Young Farmer Kits so they can start their own farms.

Each of these kids is eligible to enter into our 2013 Goat Rearing School, and receive a “starter goat herd” once they graduate.
•PREGNANT GOAT: $60 each

•YOUNG FARMER STARTER KIT: (includes farming hoe, machete, and seeds for corn and beans) $15

•DUCK: $10
CLEAN WATER:

(a gift of life to a whole village)

•DRILL A WELL: $8,500

•AFRIDEC HAND PUMP: (for a well) $2,500

•REPAIR A WELL KIT: $100

BRENDA’S BACKPACK OF MEDICAL MIRACLES:

(Donate the cost of basic medications that saves lives in remote areas)

•WOUND INFECTIONS: (treats 60 children) $40

•MALARIA: (saves a child from certain death) $7

•DYSENTERY: (treats 60 children) $40

•CONJUNCTIVITIS: (buys a 12 pack of ointment that treats over 60 kids) $60

•VITAMINS: (buys 1000 tablets to treat post malaria anemia that kills many children, includes iron) $40

•HYPO PACKETS: (For malnourished children; buys a baby a week’s worth of high protein cereal) 50 cents or $100 buys 22 lbs. (10 kg) of Hypo and provides 17 children with 4 months of high protein food. ( Dixon, Zito, and many of our babies and malnourished toddlers were saved because of this high protein instant cereal that must be bought in South Africa). We use about 200 lbs. ($900) (100kg) of it a year.
Baby Dixion

MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thank you for giving to our children as we celebrate Christ’s birth on earth.

Bush Bunny Brenda and the staff of Orphans Unlimited, Inc.

LOVE GIFTS TO:


ORPHANS UNLIMITED, INC.

11152 WESTHEIMER RD., PMB 391

HOUSTON, TX 77042
LOVE GIFT TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED in RSA

Standard Bank-Hatfield

(branch code) 011-54515

Name: Orphans Unlimited

Acct. # 017743036
PERSONAL NOTES TO BRENDA

brenda@orphansunlimited.org

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:

LINDA FERGUSON

linda@orphansunlimited.

Kastyn says happy 4th of July

Isn't she a cutie?  Why yes she is.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to my dad....Bob




And to my step-dad......Don

And to my husband......Jeff

And to all the other dads out there.  May your day be blessed and may you spend it with those you love.

(Eph 6:2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Memorial Day History

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

General John A. Logan

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B8172- 6403 DLC (b&w film neg.)]



Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.



In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.





She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.



There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.



To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."



The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.



But what may be needed to return the solemn, and even sacred, spirit back to Memorial Day is for a return to its traditional day of observance. Many feel that when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in with the National Holiday Act of 1971, it made it all the easier for people to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. As the VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."



On January 19, 1999 Senator Inouye introduced bill S 189 to the Senate which proposes to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May". On April 19, 1999 Representative Gibbons introduced the bill to the House (H.R. 1474). The bills were referred the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Government Reform.



Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com

To date, there has been no further developments on the bill. Please write your Representative and your Senators, urging them to support these bills. You can also contact Mr. Inouye to let him know of your support.



Visit our Help Restore the Traditional Day of Observance page for more information on this issue, and for more ways you can help.



Source: http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Lights on the square

This is how they decorate the square here.

Here is another view.

Its really hard to catch the effect.

I wish we had gotten a better pix of the gazebo. Its amazing. What is really cool is that its something like fifty some degrees outside and you can walk around the square without freezing to death.

Whats Christmas all about?

I am not Torah observant, but I agree with this cartoon.






Click on picture for larger image.

Hope your Thanksgiving was happy.

GOD IS WELCOME IN MY HOUSE。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */________/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門｜ •
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,
choose you this day whom ye will serve; Joshua 24:15


Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

When Christians banned Christmas

Although many may say that Christmas is for Christians, history shows that instead of embracing the “holiday,” Christians throughout the years have stood against it. Even the very men that founded America fought to outlaw its observance.

In the 1640’s, the English Parliament discussed enacting a ban on Christmas because they believed that it was directly contrary to Christianity. One of the main reasons that the Puritans believed this was because the holiday was a mixture of “pagan revelry” and Catholic mandates. Being strongly against the ways of Catholicism, many Puritans forbade the attendance of mass in England, from which the name “Christmas” was derived.

In 1647, parliament not only passed a law banning Christmas, but also Easter, Whitsun and all of the special “saints” days instituted by the Catholic church.

When the Puritans (also known as pilgrims) came to America on the Mayflower, they carried with them a desire to worship God in spirit and in truth, and to reject the ways of England. They continued to stand against the mandates of the Vatican, which they viewed as idolatrous. They also despised the way that many celebrated the Vatican-mandated holiday of Christmas by indulging in all sorts of drinking and gluttonous feasting. The Puritans believed these acts blasphemed the name of Christ.

continue reading by clicking here: http://missionarytoamerica.wordpress.com/articles/when-christians-banned-christmas/

Friday fun

This morning I have some banana pineapple bread baking in the toaster oven, one load of laundry washed and one in the washer and one more to go after that.
Its only 8:40 am and its already hot outside.

Yesterday I picked the okra and put it in the dehydrator whole. I washed the pods and poked a hole in each one. Usually I wash and slice the okra and lay it on the trays but I read somewhere that they dry them whole and sell them for lots of money. Hey I can give it a try. I have also been making some zucchini chips. Some I dipped in oil then salted and some lemon juice and salt. We like the lemon juice and salt ones. I think with a dip they would be really good.

On Saturday we are going to Alvin to see our friends. Sammy gave his heart to Jesus last Sunday and he is getting baptised this Sunday so of course we wanted to be there. We are close enough that it is possible so we don't want to miss it. They are having a church dinner after the morning service. I am bringing cheeey potatoes and a loaf of the banana pineapple bread if I can keep every one from eating it.

Next Saturday the Alvin church is having an appreciation day for the police, fire, ambulance and other emergency personnel. Outback steak house donates the food and they just serve and treat the folks with great love and serve them. Its their way of thanking the public servants for the job they do.

Last year I gave every one there a bar of soap so this year I want to give something different. I have not decided what yet, but I better get on the ball.

What are your plans for this long weekend?

Happy Fathers Day

I am blessed to have a dad and a step dad. I couldn't find a picture on my computer of my step dad but he is great, just like my dad.

Happy Fathers day to both of my dads. I love you.

Memorial Day thoughts.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all. I found this unusual Christmas tree today and thought I'd share it with you. Maybe I can do something like this next year.
We woke up to frozen water lines this morning. When it got light out Jeff went out and switched out the hoses. He said there is about a foot of hose that wasn't wrapped for winter. He said he will change to the smaller hose and make sure its wrapped really good. Its always something isn't it?

Joy

Joy, we didn't forget you but you are pretty good at figuring things out so I will just say this.
You will be blown away. He he

Mary did you know? Buddy Green