Marveling at the Wonders of New Life...Spring Chicks!

Marveling at the Wonders of New Life....

Our latest family project is raising chicks. We bought our six little chicks from my friend Joyce's young sons. They're making a little business of it. We've had the chicks for a week and a half now and all are healthy and strong. I recommend buying from someone locally.

We've got the chicks in our garage now that it's getting warmer and they're getting bigger. It's amazing how much they've grown in such a short time. These photos were taken when we first got them. It's another great hands-on homeschooling project. I hope the little critters will reward us with some eggs, too.

They are a "straight run" meaning that there are girls and boys. The girls will be our hens. They should start giving us eggs in about 6 months. The boys will be the roosters. At 8 weeks, they'll either be in the soup pot or sold.

My friend Nancy told me that I could hold them by the head for a moment and they would either pull their feet up or put them straight down. The ones who pull their feet up are hens and the ones who put them straight down are roosters. We tried it and found we had three of each. Nancy tells me that the test is 99% accurate. We'll see, won't we?

Well, that's enough for tonight. I've got to be up bright and early to work on a mailing for the Shepherd's Guide.

Blessings to you!

Laura
Adding a Few Feathers to Our Nest


Too good not to share!

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This post was featured!

A Return to Loveliness

I've Struck It Rich!

At a yard sale, that is!

I have an adorable nine year old boy who is oh so hard on the knees of his jeans. He has two hard and fast rules that he lives by. Rip out the left knee first; and, make sure the rip's so big it's hard to repair! Because of this, I'm always on the lookout for jeans at yard sales and at thrift shops. I have tried repairing his jeans; but, by the time I see them, they're ripped from seam to seam most of the time.

Praise God! I went to a yard sale today and found 6, count them 6, pairs of nice jeans for him. They were only twenty-five cents a pair! Woo Hoo!

I cannot tell you the number of times that I've needed or wanted something and God has filled that need or want through a friend or a yard sale. He is so very good. I feel like Father God's just taking tender loving care of His little girl. He is.

To top it all off, He spoiled me by showing me a McCalls Country Canning candle for only $3 that sells for $20 in the store. I snatched it up. I love this brand. I found the first one partially used at a sale last Autumn. I just finished burning the one I got for Christmas. It filled the whole top floor of my house with the fragrance of shortbread in the oven. I disappointed my gang a few times when they thought I was baking. I was really wanting another candle. This one is Sunflower. It smells so fresh and clean. I'm going to burn it this afternoon. He is just so on time!

Thanks God!

Laura

So completely blessed and cared for.

By the way, you can buy the McCalls Country Canning Candles at Wilkinson Pharmacy in Carthage or go to http://www.mccallscandles.com/ to find a store near you. You can also look at yard sales like I did!


Good Morning Monday

When Times are Tough! Lentils & Rice

A couple of years ago, our family was going through really tough times. Praise God He's faithful and brings us through when we lean on Him. This was one of the recipes I used at that time. It's quite filling. I relied heavily on things such as cornbread, yeast bread, and biscuits to help fill tummies at our house. I made cornbread with this recipe. We had unexpected company one night. I served this to four adults and eight children and had just enough. This recipe would serve eight amply. Hurrah for leftovers!

Lentils and Rice for Tough Times

4 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

4 t canola oil

1 1/2 c dry lentils, rinsed

1 1/2 c brown rice

6 t chicken bouillon or 6 cubes

1 t dried oregano

1 t dried basil

8 c water

In a soup pot, saute the onion and garlic in the canola oil. Add the remaining ingredients and bring it to a full boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 to 50 minutes. The water should be mostly absorbed.

Blessings,

Laura

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Related Posts:

• Five Days of Frugal Eating
• Chicken Bone Soup
• Cowboy Beans
• Be Encouraged Be Strong

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Blessed Among Women in My Own Generation

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Love, it's what makes the world go 'round, or so they say. Who are they? I wonder. Perhaps it is. After all, the Bible states that God is Love. A scientist might say things about gravitational pull or "An object in motion tends to remain in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." I'm no expert about things like that. I'm not even a scientific novice. I'm just me, Laura, a poor gentile woman who has been saved by grace by my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ, the living Son of God.

I've thought often of the immeasurable love God has for me. Mary, Jesus' mother spoke of having been blessed among women. I have been blessed among women in my own generation.

I married my high school sweetheart almost 23 years ago. We've loved and lived through very tough times together. We're holding out for the better, the richer, and health!

I have four healthy children. That's twice the average number in America. I have a double portion. ~smile~

Even though I didn't grow up in a Christian home, I was chosen for God's pleasure. We all are. I just chose to respond and say yes to Father God even though I was so frightened. I think we, as Christians, forget how frightening God can be until we learn of and experience His loving forgiveness. Ah, being frightened of God...sounds like another post for another day.

Blessings from God to you all,
Laura
Loved of the Lord

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Beans in My Cupboard...

I've got beans in my cupboard. Don't you just love beans? You can do so very many things with them! My family's favorite is homemade refried beans. They think that mine are far better than those you get in restaurants. I have to agree...must be the garlic! ~smile~ We're garlic lovers at our house.

There's a little Mexican store down the street called La Tiendita that sells fresh hot corn tortillas on Fridays and Saturdays. Goodness they're delicious when they're hot and fresh! The ones in the grocery store just don't compare. Someday I'll try making my own. For now, it's La Tiendita for me. It sounds so good, I think I'll go plunk down my $2 plus tax and get a big stack and make up some refried beans for tonight.

Here's my refried bean recipe. It makes enough for my family of 6 with plenty of leftovers.

4 cups of pinto beans (2 lbs.)
1 small onion, chopped
3-5 garlic cloves, chopped
2 T canola oil

Put the beans in a colander. Sort out all the uglies and broken beans. Then rinse them well in cool water, continuing to look for bad ones.

Now put everything in a your Crock Pot. Cook on high for around 7 or 8 hours. If you have a smallish Crock Pot, you'll want to halve this recipe. If you run out of time, you can put them on the stove to finish them up. You can also just cook them on the stove for 2-3 hours. You want them good and soft. Now add salt to taste, usually at least a tablespoon. Don’t put it in until your beans are soft, or they’ll be tough.

Now, put 3 or 4 ladles full of beans and juice in a large skillet. I spray mine with cooking spray first. Over medium heat, mash the beans until they have the consistency of refried beans. If you want to, add some shredded cheddar, Pepper Jack, or Monterrey Jack cheese. Now they’re ready to wrap up in warmed tortillas for burritos or use for dip with chips.

You'll be so glad you tried this.

Laura
Happy at Home



Photo Credit: Roxy Jones via Pixabay

Why Isn't This Blogger Blogging?

I attended our homeschool moms' support group meeting last night. One of my friends commented that she can always tell when I've been really busy because I don't write on my blog. Yep. She's right. It seems that the last few weeks have been crazy busy.

I've written an article for The Kingdom Business Journal which was published online this month. Go take a look if you like, it's free. I've also been working for The Shepherd's Guide, a yellow page directory of Christian businesses. It's all been data entry type work. I've spent quite a bit of time on it; but, I think I'm finally going to be able to purchase a grain mill. I'd love to hear your recommendations. I'm looking at the Wonder Mill pretty seriously.

I've also had my house torn apart because the carpet cleaner came last week. I was ready for him upstairs. When he told me he'd do the finished basement for only $20 more, I had to take him up on it. School was put on hold while we pulled furniture etc out of the rooms and got the floors ready for him. Of course, I've been trying to sort things out before it all just gets stuffed back in the kids' rooms! Ugh, I feel like I'm in chaos because of these extra things I've been doing. Can anyone relate?

My oldest son has spring break next week. I'm thinking about doing some spring cleaning. Then, I suppose I'll be having a spring yard sale soon. We'd like to get some money together to buy season passes to our zoo for our family. My little ones haven't been to a zoo yet. Wouldn't that be a great new experience? Just that is motivating. Well, I'm off to get busy.

God bless!
Laura
Busy at Home

Something to Think About...Words Matter

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Words matter for so many reasons. Think about it. Our very world was spoken into existence by God with words. "Let there be...and it was good." God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. The peoples were divided at the Tower of Babel by their language, their words. They couldn't understand each other. Jesus is the Word in the flesh. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." 1 John 1:9. This was confirmation that Jesus is himself God. The Word of God is referred to as a two edged sword, as the sword of the Spirit. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 Words Matter to God.

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"Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted forgiving one another just as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you." Ephesian 4:32 With our words, we can bless or curse. We can encourage or discourage. We can hurt or heal. We can love or hate. We can show empathy or judge. We can share the hope we have in Christ Jesus or we can share hopelessness. The word says that the power of life and death are in the tongue. Proverbs 18:21

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Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All fruits of the Spirit. All available to us through believing and confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior. All available to us by repenting of our sins, by turning to Him daily, hourly, and moment by moment as needed for a fresh filling of His strength, hope, power, and love.

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Jesus said that all the commandments were summed up into two. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and (love) your neighbor as yourself."

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Love God and love others. Everything we need for success in life and relationships wrapped up in a few words.

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Words Matter.

Just Something to Think About....

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Laura

Thinking about my words....

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May I suggest?

Marriage Advice from an Older Woman

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 Friday
Show and Tell Friday - Flaunt it Friday - Frugal Friday - Feathered Nest Friday - Home Sweet Home - Grace & Truth - Fridays Unfolded - Sweet & Simple Fridays - I'm Lovin' It Party

Tuesday
  A Return to Loveliness - Roses of Inspiration -  Tuesdays with a Twist - Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays - Titus 2 Tuesdays