Nice Cold Nip in the Air

With the nip in the air, I felt it called for a good pot of beans to be cooking today.  I love it when I get home from work and the house smells so yummy.  I believe I will make a pan of cornbread and fry some potatoes.  As my Grandad Roger always said...."A king couldn't eat any better than this."  A nice cup of coffee or hot tea will set the evening off.

  

And yes I like my cornbread made in an iron skillet.   I am making myself hungry just thinking about it.

Chicken in the Pot

Well,  I couldn't wait any longer.  I made chicken and dumplings and they were divine!  I had such enjoyment getting to make a wonderful homemade meal and then the pleasure of sitting down with my husband to eat it.  Comfort food is so necessary and I consider chicken and dumplings definitely a comfort food. Next, I'm going to bake an apple pie.  I believe my friend, Laura made an apple pie this weekend but forgot that I was her friend.

This weekend was beautiful and I enjoyed every moment of it.  I only wish it would have lasted a bit longer.  The weather was perfect.  We got a lot of things done around the place to get it prepared for the winter.  I got the rest of my apples put up and ended up with 8 gallons in the freezer.  I will make pies, breads, applesauce, and anything else I can think of to make out of apples.  I bet I managed to make a fresh apple cake too.

Apple Cake

Ingredients

Cake
• 1 c vegetable oil
• 2 c sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 c flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 c chopped pecans
• 3 c peeled and chopped apples
Frosting
• 1/2 c butter
• 1 c brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 c evaporated milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

For the cake
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13? pan. Combine oil, sugar, and eggs. Stir in flour and baking soda. Add vanilla, pecans, and apples. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 2 hours. Then prepare frosting.
For the frosting
2. Boil all ingredients in a small saucepan for 2 minutes. Set pan in bowl filled with ice water. Beat icing until of spreading consistency. Spread over top of cake.

WAY BEHIND

I am way behind in posting  on my blog.  UGH!  Life has busy moments and somethings have to take priority.  I have had to play catch up on housework, gardening, and yard work.  Doug is continuing to heal and is now able to do a whole lot more.  He still tires easily and strength/stamina is not where he wants it to be but he is getting there. We give the glory to our Heavenly Father.

I have dehydrated tomatoes and apples.  They are so yummy!  Most of our garden items we put in the freezer or gave away to wonderful friends and family who so willingly pitched in and helped us.

I'm ready for some fall weather.  We have harvested 10 chickens and I am ready for a good pot of chicken and dumplings  
                                          .  

I am working on knitting some dish rags for Christmas gifts.  I know that it may be a little early but I'm trying to get some finished in all my spare time.

Hope this post finds every one well.

Late Summer Babies

They have hatched! My baby birds have hatched and flew the coop!  They were so cute and I enjoyed having them to help they get a start in life.  My fern did suffer from housing them but oh the joy they brought us.

These pictures are hard to see but three of the four hatched.

Doug is doing better every day.  We went back to Springfield for his follow-up visit and got a wonderful report.  The vertebrates are aligned and the ligaments are strong enough to hold the neck in place.  All the praise goes to our God.  We thank everyone for all their thoughts, concerns, texts, and prayers.  It has given us strength for each day.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Today was extremely hot again.  Our grass is quickly dying, which means the mowing has slowed down extremely.  I am trying my best to keep the chickens cool and fed.  I have changed them over to a layer feed and they do not like it.  I told them they will have to eat it or do without.  They are begrudgingly eating it.

The tomatoes are still coming on but have slowed down considerably also.  I am still enjoying their sweetness.  A tomato that actually taste like a tomato is beyond delicious.  Summer will soon given into fall and cooler temps will adorn us.  At this moment, I would take a few cooler temps.


Doug is healing well and recuperating nicely.  He needs to build up his stamina but that will come in time.  I thank God that he has been so blessed.

School is coming along nicely and I am already one week into it.  It is hard to believe.

Summer is Gone

Summer for me is gone....I start back to work on Monday.  I am a little excited and a whole lot nervous. I will be leaving Doug for an extended period of time for the first time in a month. I know that everything will be ok but my human nature is to fret just a little.  I have prayed and know that only God is in control on any given day, so there is no need to worry.

He has made tremendous progress in a month.  I only expect him to keep gaining ground.  God has answered our prayers and is continuing to heal.

The homestead has fared well during this time.  Good people, family and friends, have come and helped pick the garden, mow, and feed.  We have been blessed and able to give a lot of vegetables to sweet family and friends.  I have been able to preserve a few tomatoes, peppers, and pickled some cucumbers.  Our cantaloupe was the sweetest I do believe I have ever tasted. My corn was not the best but we were able to salvage it and dry it for the chickens.  They sure have loved it. :)

Still God is good to us and taking care of us as always.

This is something I would really like to have....just a thought.  Maybe one day.

Sunday Blessings

This post will not be long.....Just want to say how blessed we are.  Doug and I got to got to  church this morning! WOW is all I can say.  It was wonderful seeing all of our church family and feeling the awesome power of our Sweet Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I don't want to ever not give Him praise for His miracle working power and healing that has taken place in Doug's life.

One more sweet blessing.  In the photos below a sweet mama bird has chosen my fern to call home and raise her young. How special am I?!