Deep Roots at Home

Feeding the Orioles

2013-05-25T01:03:16Z

Orioles eat fruit and can be attracted with orange halves placed on platform feeders, a deck railing, or nailed to a tree. While it is too late now to put out oranges to attract orioles just returning from their winter range (around April 1st in the South and April 15th to May 1st in the northern half of the country), it is never too late to draw the ones already here and to learn what you can do for next year!

Let me show you how our neighbors across the road attract and feed the orioles every year. They allowed me to take pictures of their wonderful feeding stations. I expect they see mainly Baltimore and Orchard orioles.

Our friends have a simple, but effective way to bring feathered visitors to their front yard. Several short lengths of 1″ x 4″s board with two 2 1/2″ nails driven through each are wired onto the top of a stout tree limb about 9 feet off the ground. They use a small ladder to add and remove the oranges.

I like the rustic, natural look.

If you live by a moving water source flanked by trees such as a river, stream, or creek, you probably have orioles nearby. At the edge of our hay field we have a farm ditch that serves as a run-off for the rains, and there are many orioles that live in the trees on the banks. They are never far from moving water. Often when driving by under the overhanging limbs, we see a flash of orange!

Orioles don’t nest in bird houses, but you can encourage them to build their fascinating pouch-like hanging nests in your yard if you have willow, sycamore, oak, poplar, cottonwood, or similar trees. Offer nesting material such as pet fur, hair, or 4-6-inch lengths of yarn or thread for the birds to weave into their nests.

Female taking nesting material (source)

Male Baltimore oriole cleaning out the nest (source)

The color orange attracts orioles. Flowers in orange hues, such as these trumpet lilies, will catch their attention and welcome them. Place their favorite foods – orange halves, grape jelly, or mealworms – nearby.

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There are some colorful feeders specifically designed to help attract orioles, but you don’t need to spend anything more than the price of an orange to enjoy these marvelous birds.

You might wish to make a less expensive feeder similar to these with heavy gauge, malleable, copper wire and a pair of stout pliers. I think it is a cool summer project for your students.

Another neat idea is to take a garden rake and affix the orange halves along the whole width of the head of the rake! The oranges should be changed periodically. As for grapefruit, you can try it, but I have read you’ll catch more orioles with oranges than with grapefruit :)

Orioles are shy birds that may not venture too close to busy areas until they are used to the setting. Maybe you have a window that can allow you to view without scaring these gorgeous birds away.

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Or sit a-ways-away on your front porch as our bird-loving neighbors do and enjoy them with binoculars! Happy bird-watching!

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?“ ~Matthew 6: 26

Do you feed the birds in your backyard? Do you have orioles?

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

This post contains an affiliate link.

~ Jacqueline

‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up #87

2013-05-22T13:40:31Z

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Did you ever think that speaking to someone about Jesus was something you couldn’t do or that you had to say just the right words? Well, don’t you believe it! If you have compassion for those who don’t know the Lord (as Jesus did in His day) but are hesitant or afraid, I want to share this story with you to give you the courage and boldness of a lioness!

“When he [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” ~Mark 6: 34

“If you have never heard of Edward Kimball, then you are not alone. Many people have never heard his name before, and therefore do not know the very interesting story of the chain of events he started many years ago.

Edward Kimball

“The story begins in 1854, when Kimball, who taught a Sunday school class, went to visit a 17-year-old boy from the class. The boy was working in a shoe shop in Detroit. The boy did not know Christ and seemed to have little interest in the Sunday school that he was forced to attend. So Kimball hesitantly set out to talk with the boy and to let him know that he was worried about him, and that he needed Christ. (This is evangelism.) In the basement of that shoe store that day the boy was led to Christ. The 17-year-old boy’s name was D. L. Moody. We now know that he went on to become one of the greatest evangelists in the world, and he shared the gospel with 100 million people. Moody also founded the Moody Bible Institute and the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. His name is well known in the Christian community, even today, more than a hundred years later.

“However, Kimball’s spiritual dominos were just beginning to fall. The rest of the story goes like this:

• Sunday School teacher Edward Kimball helped lead Dwight L. Moody to Christ;
• J. Wilbur Chapman attended a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic meeting in Chicago in the 1870’s and received personal counseling and an assurance of his salvation from Mr. Moody. He later became a friend and coworker of D. L. Moody, hiring a former baseball star named Billy Sunday as an advance man for him;
• Billy Sunday held an evangelistic campaign in Charlotte in 1924 and a men’s prayer and fellowship group, known as the Charlotte Businessmen’s Club, grew out of those meetings. It was this group that invited Mordecai Ham to Charlotte to hold evangelistic meetings in 1934;
• Mordecai Ham preached a sermon where a 16 year-old young man now known as Billy Graham went forward and received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.

“It is pretty amazing that one can trace Billy Graham’s ministry back to that shoe store basement. But that is God, and that’s how He works. We know that nothing is impossible through God. What we do not know, however, is what would have happened if Edward Kimball would have walked passed that shoe store.

“The most amazing part of the story, even if it had just stopped with Moody, is that it all began with a layperson. Kimball was a Sunday school teacher, not a pastor, and not a great theologian in his day. (He admitted to being hesitant and feeling awkward.) But the Great Commission is not a mandate for only “professionals.” Every Christian has a stake in evangelism. After all, we may never be the next Billy Graham, but we may end up being the next Edward Kimball.” (excerpt from Inherenttruth.com)

Ladies, I encourage you to speak with boldness and with a humble spirit ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words. But let me carefully say that by boldness I do not at all mean brashness. Boldness is simply having the courage to open our mouths when we ought. The Scripture makes it clear that when we should speak it must be with gentleness. If our Savior described Himself as gentle and humble in heart, how much more should we be so?

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” ~1 Peter 3: 15

“…that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,for which I am an ambassador…” ~Ephesians 6: 19

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Welcome!

No matter where you are in life’s journey as a woman, wife, or mother, it is my desire and goal to build up hearts and homes to the glory of God and that you will be encouraged in your high calling as a daughter to the King.

How have you built up your home this week? If it was through teaching your children, gardening, putting up food, learning about pregnancy or parenting, cooking, crafting, keeping your home, loving your husband, or something else the Lord has been showing you? Please come and encourage other Proverbs 31 women by linking up this week. Share as many posts as you would like!

Enter the direct link to your post into the Linky Tool below.
A link back to Deep Roots At Home is not necessary but certainly appreciated!
Enjoy the learning and community

I do ask that you find someone who has not gotten a comment and leave them a blessing! Everyone loves comments!!

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

~ Jacqueline

‘Perpetual ‘ Vanilla Extract ~ A Gift That Will Last Forever

2013-05-22T04:00:56Z

Well, I think the title should really read, “The Gift That Keeps On Giving”! No thing on this earth lasts forever, right?

This last weekend we were privileged to be involved in the wedding of a dear friend who we love very much. For her bridesmaid’s shower, my daughter wanted the gift to appeal to her practical nature as well as her love of baking aromatic breads and pastries. We felt a large bottle of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract was in order.

We had fresh Madagascar (planifolia) Vanilla Beans on hand so we set out to make our lovely bride-to-be an elegantly packaged, unique, and useful gift that would serve her well for many years to come.

Why pay more for store-bought vanilla extract when you can make your own for way less? All you need is 2 ingredients: vanilla beans and alcohol.

What you will need:

~8-10 vanilla beans, split lengthwise to expose the vanilla seeds
~80 proof vodka to cover the beans
~a bottle with a stopper or lid that seals tightly (ours is 20 oz. bottle)

Directions:

Simply add the beans to your favorite bottle, cover with vodka, and cap tightly. Place the bottle in a cool, dark place for at least 8 weeks, shaking it whenever you think of it. As time goes on the liquid will become dark amber, and the smell and flavor will grow stronger.

What makes it perpetual? The alcohol basically preserves the vanilla beans, making their rich flavor last and last. Like fine wine, the extract gets better with age. The shelf life is basically forever. When the vanilla extract is ready… use it like normal when baking. When your vanilla gets down to about half full, top it off with more alcohol and shake it up. You may want to add a few more vanilla beans every few years to intensify the flavor, but what I’ve read says even that is not necessary.

Have fun adding a creative tag and some raffia to this unique gift… then wait to hear the oohs! and ahhs! when it is opened

Also, now may be the time to plan ahead to make Vanilla Extract for holiday baking this fall.

Here and here are places we have have ordered vanilla beans and been happy with their quality.

Other ideas: Use the beans to flavor your sugar or your coffee. Just add a few whole beans to whatever containers you have and leave them for weeks to infuse it with rich vanilla aroma and flavor! But don’t throw them away after they have done their magic! You can use them over again or put them into your vanilla extract bottle when you top it up! What are some other ways you have used vanilla beans?

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

~ Jacqueline

Character-Building Book Resources for Raising Boys ~ Part 2

2013-05-21T03:51:37Z

After writing Part 1 of what will become a fairly long series (eventually), I realized I better do it in bite-sized pieces because I don’t want to wear us all out, AND because there are so many wonderful books to share! I hope you find this helpful and as much fun as I do

In our post-modern culture, we have become addicted to ease and entertainment; this has really stripped boys of a lot of defining elements they used to go through on their way to becoming men. It has fostered generations of educated yet often unproductive and weak-willed men.

Bob Schultz’s books have been key for our sons, and I want to recommend them to you, as well.

Boyhood and Beyond. This is a ‘life book’, and it is timeless! While using stories about such things as dirty diapers, turkey hunting, camping across the country, Robby’s rocket, and the invention of hook and loop tape, Mr. Schultz gives practical wisdom for becoming a man. It covers topics such as authority, forgiveness, and honesty as well as learning to overcome things like fear, laziness, and temptation. It motivates boys to build their lives on a foundation of strong moral principles.

In Created For Work, Mr. Schultz uses homespun, highly engaging stories from real life to teach young men (and boys) what it means to be good workers, and most of all, makes it something they desire for themselves. All young men should be on the road to developing a healthy attitude toward work. God is looking for young men who are not afraid to work hard, to get their hands dirty, who can follow instructions, deal honestly, think critically, respect authority, and cheerfully get a project done well in a reasonable time. That is the backbone of strong families.

Practical Happiness offers tremendous counsel to young men who, behind their brave and independent exteriors, are searching for answers. Short, captivating stories are crafted in such a way as to lead young men toward a life of contentment that can only be found by seeking the heart of God. It will not be found in what they have, what they do for excitement, or where they go, but in their attitude and response to life, especially when it is not going their way.

On June 13th, 2008, Bob Schultz died unexpectedly of heart failure. Our family was terribly sad, for we felt we knew this wonderful man. In his final book, Bob Schultz delves into God’s purpose for battles and conflicts in our lives.

Everyday Battles offers perspective on how to find God in the heart of daily decisions. Written for young men, this book will help anyone who desires to experience a vibrant, moment-by-moment walk with God.

These books can be read aloud or read in a group. There are discussion questions at the end of every chapter.

Are you ready and willing to do the hard work of raising young contenders for the faith, men of valor and virtue, men who have vision and embrace manhood? We have a loving Lord who will help us to do just that when we ask for wisdom to accomplish it!

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

~ Jacqueline

‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up #86

2013-05-21T03:53:00Z

I am in hopes of making you all aware of the music in the sidebar. This example, entitled ‘Home’, is a sample to encourage and cheer you:

Home means different things to different people, and no one’s experiences are the same, even among siblings.

There wouldn’t be enough time in a whole week to find enough images to capture what home was like in different times and places for all of us. No matter how dysfunctional our homelife has been in the past, the important thing is to ask the Lord to give us wisdom for the days ahead and to trust that He has a purpose in it all for those who love Him.

The rule we must follow as we seek to have a peaceful home is this: ”I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” ~Ephesians 4: 1-3 and 29-32

Interspersed between the images are quotes I found at realsimple.com in no real order at all.

Early Morning Coffee, Alfredo Rodriguez, 1954

~Home is being around people who can drive you absolutely crazy one moment and make you feel like a million dollars the next. It’s knowing that no matter how hard times get, someone is there for you. ~Lexi W., Winnemucca, Nevada

Mother’s Devotion painted by Johann Meyer von Bremen, 1813-1886

~Whether I’m in my husband’s warm arms or smelling the sweet smell of my newborn baby, home means always having someone to nuzzle with before drifting off to sleep. ~Natalie P., Chattanooga, Tennessee

Polishing the Urn, Daniel Ridgway Knight

~When I was growing up, my household was rocky. My extended family and friends knew what I was going through, and they were there for me. It was in their homes that I received the love, the support, and the sense of security that helped make me who I am today. ~Jeanine R., South San Francisco, California

~The delicious scent of dinner in the oven, the wonderful sight of my girls playing together, and the annoying sound of Barney singing in the background. ~Kristin R., Haddon Heights, New Jersey

Breakfast in Bed, Mary Cassatt

~The sensation of peace on a cozy, rainy Sunday; the feeling of relief when you pull into the driveway after a long trip; a quiet kiss on the head of a baby asleep in my lap; and the warmth of my husband’s arms. Home has been many places for me over the years, but its comforts are defined by simple, blissful moments like these. ~Sarah Bernard, Somersworth, New Hampshire

Washing Line by Helen Allingham

~Home is a place you can feel comfortable cooking breakfast in your pajamas. ~Danielle H., Folsom, California

Cooking in Pajamas: Portrait of My Mother, Jessica Summers

~Home is where the rags of your life are turned into quilts, lemons become lemonade, and a few extra pounds are simply welcomed as “more of you to love.” ~Sherry B., Four States, West Virginia

~Home means sanctuary. ~Beth K., Tampa, Florida

Upbringing by Henriette Browne, 1867

~My husband and I lost our home to Hurricane Ivan in 2004. We purchased a 29-foot RV, parked it next to the shell of our house, and called it home for two years while we rebuilt. We laugh, because although we now have a big, beautiful new house, we just can’t seem to part with that little RV. Home is where you happen to be, even if the circumstances aren’t stellar. ~Gina M., Gulf Breeze, Florida

New Kids In the Neighborhood, Norman Rockwell, 1967

~A place that evokes a sigh of relief as I walk in the door. ~Courtney G., Arlington, Virginia

Playing School, Harry Brooker, 1891

“A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded.

Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing as the making of a beautiful and happy home. He who does this builds a sanctuary for God and opens a fountain of blessing for men.

Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home, into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty, is strong–inspired for noble and victorious living. The children who are brought up in a true home go out trained and equipped for life’s battles and tasks, carrying in their hearts a secret of strength which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world’s severest temptations.” ~J.R. Miller

If you would like to share what home means to you, it would be fun to hear your thoughts. What is ‘home’ to you?

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Welcome!

Since this link-up is centered around encouragement, it would be wonderful if the recipes that are linked-up are healthy. Something that is not only delicious but also nutritious to the body, an encouragement to living a healthier life. So, I’m requesting that you be mindful of the recipes that you link up.

Enter the direct link to your post into the Linky Tool below.
A link back to Deep Roots At Home is not necessary but certainly appreciated!
Enjoy the learning and community

I do ask that you find someone who has not gotten a comment and leave them a blessing! Everyone loves comments!!

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

~ Jacqueline

Goat Chevre Bites ~ Cranberry & Toasted Almond

2013-05-16T16:31:38Z

One of the blessings of springtime and the lush grass pastures on the homestead, after the does (Mamas) have birthed their kids, is a bountiful supply of rich goat’s milk that can be made into thick, creamy chèvre.

According to the Journal of American Medicine, “Goat’s milk is the most complete food known.” It contains vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein, and fatty acids that are utilized by your body with ease. In fact, your body can digest goat’s milk in just 20 minutes. It takes 2-3 hours to digest cow’s milk.

Excerpt from “The Maker’s Diet” by Jordan S. Rubin… (source)

We are blessed to live close enough to a small family homestead where we have a goat share.

Before we started getting our share, I would buy Trader Joe’s ‘Silver Goat’ chèvre logs (below left). The goat cheese logs from TJ’s are very tasty, but the raw chèvre patties (below right) we receive each week from our friend’s homestead are even better; it helps a small family maintain the diverse rural lifestyle they love and that our country needs more of, plus we get an excellent product.

Hands down, my favorite mid-day power snack is goat chèvre, and I am guilty of eating more than my fair share of this wonderful food. Mixed with a bit of raw honey and loads of healing cinnamon, I feel I can totally enjoy my snack without all the guilty feelings. It is also amazing mixed with fresh or dried herbs spread on a baguette.

Today, I decided to get a little more creative. It took about 10 minutes plus toasting the almonds.

Ingredients:

10-12 oz. of goat cheese (or TJ’s chèvre log)
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped a bit finer with a knife
1/2 cup lightly toasted almonds (also pecans go nicely)
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon (cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar)
1/4 tsp. sea salt (optional, it just adds minerals and makes it taste even richer)

Directions:

Mix dried cranberries, toasted almonds, sea salt, and cinnamon together well and spread on a plate.

Make little 1″ balls of chèvre by rolling firmly in the palm of your hand. Press/roll them in your cranberry/ nut mixture, and that’s it! I found some pretty little papers to display and serve these melt-in-your-mouth wonders in.

So is raw goat’s milk (and cheese) healthy? Absolutely!

NaturalNews.com writes, “In western civilization, most milk consumption is in the form of pasteurized and homogenized cow’s milk. Although such milk is portrayed as being healthy, it actually can lead to impaired health, including allergies, tooth decay, colic in babies, arthritis, heart disease, and even cancer. A much better choice is raw milk, and, though generally more difficult to find, the best raw milk of all is raw goat’s milk. As the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) states, “Goat’s milk is the most complete food known.”

“And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.” ~Proverbs 27: 27

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

I purchase my cinnamon in bulk at the Bulk Herb Store.

~ Jacqueline

Do You Have A Homemaker in Training?

2013-05-15T13:42:17Z

(source)

What sweet memories I have of my mother training me to peeling potatoes. I know teaching me brought her pleasure. Each day she would pull out the potato peeler from the kitchen drawer, and she would show me how to do it. My little hands soon learned how to grasp a potato in my left hand and the peeler in my right.

She used one of those old metal peelers that have a sharp blade that kind of wiggles over the sides of the potato as it removes the brown skin from its surface; I’d get the knuckle of my finger peeled, too, sometimes. You were left with a smooth, white, firm potato that you had to then cut into smaller pieces with a knife. Those many potatoes that were peeled and cut each day went into a pot filled with water, a dash of salt, and was brought to a boil on the stove. Even today, I still prefer using a knife and cutting by hand instead of using the more speedy Cuisinart processor to cut vegetables.

My mother trained me to make boiled potatoes because my Dutch Daddy loved potatoes, and they needed to get done. He loved them so much that we had a big pot, sometimes twice a day. Modeling my mother’s hard work and happiness in the kitchen developed much of those same ways in me as a young child. I just wanted to please her.

Sometimes we would race to see who could peel potatoes fastest! And sometimes we would cry when the starchy water from that pot of potatoes would boil over and run down into the ring that housed the burner since we didn’t have smooth top stoves in those days. But mainly, we worked together, and I knew I was her main helper. She needed me as the oldest of four and let me know she appreciated me in many little ways. I saw that she was tired, but she didn’t rub it in or manipulate me with it.

I need to tell my Mom more often just how much I appreciate the things she taught me. As I look back, I know I must have left her with more to clean up, yet she made me a part of her day as best she could.

Training in obedience need not mean correction or discipline; it does means easy-going, ‘teachable moments’, caught here and there, as you teach your child in how to be capable at life skills.

From the youngest years, when you cook a meal, have your little girl standing beside you as you talk her through every step of the process. Make it worth her while, too, with a taste of your productivity and some pretty music playing to accompany you. If you do the laundry, shop, wipe down the counters, or any number of daily activities, and you don’t involve your children, then you are possibly not TRAINING UP your children as effectively as you could.

When you train a child to enjoy a ordered room, she will always enjoy a ordered room. When you train up a child to work (with laughter and enjoyment of that child), he will feel the satisfaction of a job well done. When you train a child to be on time, to be kind, to work as a team, to use time wisely, and to notice what needs to be done without being asked, he will likely become that responsible and productive adult.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” ~Proverbs 22:6

Although we did our share of spanking for foolishness, the norm should be ‘Train Up’…not ‘talk until you’re blue-in-the-face’, not using ‘time-outs’, or threatening and repeating. Those later things train in resistance and avoidance. Train her (them) how to peel potatoes or any other number of things. It starts with showing and laughing and working side-by-side and allowing mistakes and practice and more practice.

So take your little daughter, wash her hands, and ask her up into your lap when you make your next sandwiches or PBJ’s. The first time, ask her to watch you and tell her that you want to teach her how to do it, too, because she will be your best helper soon. She will imitate you. It will slow you down considerably, but her joy in helping will be immense; and more important, she will be in training to love to work with her hands.

For working with the easily distracted or “less than diligent” child, Doorposts makes a “Go to the Ant” chart. We used this when our children were young, and it helped so much for understanding what God said about a certain behavior.

(I am not an affiliate of Doorposts but have been blessed by their products)

Here are some Scripture verses and a quote that will help you and your child to transform your mind during these young years of Training Up:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” ~1 Corinthians 10: 31

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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” ~Colossians 3: 23-24

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“It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.” ~Benjamin Franklin

And if you are blessed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner.

(portions adapted from No Greater Joy Ministries)

~ Jacqueline

GF Dandelion Fritters and Greens~ Spring Tonic

2013-05-13T06:56:06Z

As one of nature’s wonder plants, dandelions appear in the spring just when most of us are in need of a detox.

Dandelion is an excellent liver cleanser and blood builder, and the herb (fresh or dried) is useful in unloading our bodies of unwanted sluggishness due to built-up toxins.

Get brave in the kitchen and try your hand at making some dandelion fritters from these sunny flowers and the greens from the young, tender leaves of the plant. This must be left over from my hippie days in college, but it is truly one of my favorite meals!

While dandelion flowers do not have as much nutritive/medicinal value as the leaves or roots, they are still excellent for you (and considered a heart tonic in herbal medicine). We fry them in coconut oil (and that is so good for you, too!). This is one way to enjoy fried food without the downside

Their mild and slightly bitter flavor is curiously addictive!

If your yard is as full of them like ours, collecting is a great beginner job for your very young children as you teach about herbs and foraging.

Ingredients:

60-70 Dandelion flower tops
3 eggs, preferably organic and free-range
1 cup organic milk
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 c. whole wheat flour and 1/2 c. fine ground cornmeal (preferably organic)
OR substitute 1 c. Brown Rice flour or your favorite GF mix can be used for a GF alternative)
Virgin Coconut oil- enough for 1/8-1/4″ in your hot cast iron skillet.
add optional herbs (see below)

Directions to make this old-fashioned treat:

~Gather Dandelion tops during the morning when they have opened up their bright and cheerful faces to the sunshine. Leave 1/4″ of the stem as a handle. Harvest only from a non-chemically treated area.
~Rinse in cool water and pat dry on a paper towel.

~Heat your cast iron skillet and melt coconut oil for frying, a little deeper than if you were making pancakes.

~For the batter, combine egg, milk, and flour in a bowl and mix to remove lumps. At this point, if you prefer sweeter fritters, add a little maple syrup or honey, or cinnamon and a tsp. of vanilla extract. For savory fritters, you might add fresh or dried parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, or even cilantro or parmesan cheese. In addition, we like to use a 1/8 tsp. of cayenne powder for a kick of flavor.
~Prepare a skillet on the stove with coconut oil over medium heat. I prefer my cast iron.
~Holding one of the flowers by the greens at the base, twirl the flower into the batter until covered in batter.
~Place it into the skillet, petals down, and continue until the skillet is full. We like them slightly crispy. Flip over to brown the other side. When finished, remove from the pan and serve hot. I keep them warm in the oven to serve the family all at once.

~ You might also snip off the stem and the base of the flower and sprinkle the petals directly into the batter, then make just like pancakes.

~For a sweet treat, drizzle with maple syrup or raw honey. We even add honey to the savory ones! Serve with sausage and sauteed greens for a marvelous old-time breakfast.

So if you want a sunny way to start your day, there is fine dining to be freely had from God’s pharmacy!

“The miracles of nature do not seem miracles because they are so common. If no one had ever seen a flower, even a dandelion would be the most startling event in the world.” ~Anonymous

~ Jacqueline

‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up #85

2013-05-09T19:03:33Z

Are you going through a very difficult time and feeling like you are doing battle? May I pray for you, friend? Sometimes it is helpful to write out the problems and lay them down before the Lord at the foot of the cross. If you would like, write your troubles and worries as a comment, and let’s pray for each other. There is great power in prayer!

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” ~ Matthew 18: 20

We need each other! It just struck me that we are not alone and can encourage one another in this journey~after all this IS ‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday!!!

May I ask for personal prayer right now?

I hesitate to share what has been happening since people generally don’t speak much of spiritual warfare today. This last 3-4 months have been highly unusual for us. There are too many things to mention here, and some I can’t mention because they are too personal, but here are some things I can share.

It started with a toilet leaking under the tile where we couldn’t see it from the wax ring. Then our second refrigerator going out and not being able to be repaired. We still don’t have it replaced because that model which fits a tight spot has been discontinued. We have had unusual health problems; I’ve had bronchitis almost all this new year, and my daughter lost 10 pounds with a 4-week, serious case of strep throat.

My husband has taken on a full time volunteer spot (10+ hours/day) to help a worthy ministry. There is a deadline he has pledged to help them meet, and we will know the outcome in 4 weeks. He is not making an income for our family (with our blessing) during this time but needs to very soon! Our daughter is his secretary 7-10 hour/day and has been an invaluable help, but may not be able to anymore if she gets worse. As of last night, the strep has returned, and she is again on a new antibiotic. She and her brothers are due to leave for St. Louis Wednesday at 6AM to help at the Family Economic Conference and CHEF of Missouri. My husband and I will follow on Thursday, so if you are planning on being there, look us up!

As many of you know, we had a direct hit of lightning to our home, and it charred many switch boxes and took out the solar hot water, computers, electronics, and phones. Repairs are underway now, but many must wait until the deadline is past. The current actually came in through the modem and into my mouse and threw me out of my chair 3 feet! I didn’t say anything about it at the time, but I felt the evil one was threatening me directly because of this post: “Why Have We Stopped Protecting Our Daughters?“.

Besides my husband traveling 3 hours north each week to care for his father, our dryer motor burned out and may have been from the lightning, so we’ve had a week of doing laundry elsewhere. When the repairman got here, he also found a dead starling had flown into the vent and fell down into the exhaust pipe. The flap on the vent had stuck open! Yuk! The smell was terrible.

We get to cut hay here as soon as we return (5-9 days), and the deadline of May 31/June 1 looms closer. I thank the Lord no one is dying, and we have a safe home, running water, food, and each other. I want to bring Him the sacrifice of praise: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” ~Hebrews 13: 15

The Bible tells us that, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” ~Ephesians 6: 12

Then do we give way to fear and defeat? No! Instead, we reach out for Jesus’ nail-scarred hand, cling onto it, and take courage for the journey despite the trials while here on earth knowing He is holding us and guiding us all the way!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~Isaiah 41: 10

Let us then pray earnestly for one another and bear each other’s burdens in prayer. We do not need to know each other personally, but since we are daughters of the King, we are all His children, and he hears us when we come before Him! We are woven together through Christ into one big family, and we are not alone.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” ~Ephesians 6: 18

~ Jacqueline

Joys of Foraging~Edible Wild Free Food

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(source)

In the early days of foraging, our ancestors had to learn the hard way about such things as the laxative properties of certain plants and to eat only the stems of rhubarb and not the poisonous leaves. Through trial and the occasional fatal error, we sorted the edible from the inedible, the useful from the harmful.

Today, I hear that foraging is the next big food trend.

Kerri Conan blogs for The New York Times and keeps a sharp eye on food trends: “When you see ramps (also known as wild leeks) featured in Bon Appetit, you know wild foods are moving into the mainstream.” She thinks the renewed interest in the humble act of foraging is due (ironically) to the “increasing sophistication of the American palate”.

(source ~ what is a ramp?)

Through the years I have read about and experimented with eating wild flowers, berries, nuts, and greens that we’ve found on our land, but often distracted with a busy life, I have not taken it too seriously.

Still, there is a feeling that we would do well to know about these natural foods should there ever be an emergency and the grocery shelves bare like Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.

We should be interested, at least a little bit, in what we were given early on: “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” ~Genesis 1: 29

Fairly Common Edible Plants We Should Know:

~~Purple Dead Nettle and Henbit~~

Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpurea) is similar to Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). Both are edible. Anne-Marie Bilella from Belle Vista Farm in Georgia tells us a little about them and what they are good for.

Purple Dead Nettle

Henbit

~~Purslane~~

Alison from Mama’s Weeds has used Purslane in salads, as we have. I love her title: ‘If You Leave Your Purse Layin’ Around, It’s Gonna Get Snatched’!

We (including my husband) love sweet, tender, very healthy purslane, and it is totally undetectable in smoothies! It can become quite invasive, so I would NOT plant it in a garden setting although many do! Yes, you can find seeds for your garden ;0

purslane

~~Dandelion and Violets~~

Dandelion and violet lemonade sounds so healthy and yummy and is pretty as a sun-tea on your porch! Blissville Living is written by a lass affectionately known as Wonderwoman, and she is brewing some lemonade right now. If there is nothing else wild and weedy in your yard, at least you might find a few dandelions, one of the most health-giving plants on earth….just reject those that might be sprayed!

wild violet, (viola sp.)

~~Daylilies~~

Wonderwoman also shows us how to make Free Food: Daylily Greens. If the new leaves are higher than 6″ when harvested, they will not be tender, but I can imagine that if prepared correctly (butter, salt and pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar?), they would be delicious.

daylily

Don’t forget that you can also eat daylily flowers! This photo was taken at a birthday party where we all enjoyed the delicate, mildly sweet daylilies. They are surprisingly delicious

~~Lamb’s Quarter and Mulberries~~

Kelly Morris at The Morris Tribe shares about the free, organic produce they find right outside their back door.

Lamb’s Quarter ~ Nature’s “Mineral Tablet”

The health food store shelves are full of pills, including mineral tablets. But nature provides an excellent alternative-one that you take advantage of by eating. This is lamb’s-quarter, a spinach relative found worldwide in the wild. It probably grows in your garden even if you don’t plant it. Used raw in salad or in juice mixes, 100 grams of lamb’s-quarter (about a cup) contains about 80 mg of vitamin C, 11,600 IU of vitamin A, 72 mg of phosphorus, 309 mg of calcium, and small amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron. These figures are slightly lower when you cook the lamb’s-quarter for a spinach replacement, or in soups, egg dishes, or vegetable dishes. You could nearly survive on lamb’s-quarter alone! Source www.motherearthnews.com

lamb’s quarter

mulberries

I have to agree with Kelly that Lamb’s Quarter is one of the easiest to harvest and most healthful weeds in our backyard, and we love it right off the plant or added to a green salad.

(source~ Leslie Land In Kitchen and Garden)

As for mulberries, check them out for small worms before you pick. On our trees it seems to vary year by year; if there was a hard freeze the winter before, you may find them worm-free.

~~Clover~~

White Dutch clover and pink varieties often grow in grass. You can make clover jam, and don’t forget how good Red Clover Tea is in combating PMS and bad cholesterol.

For a good source of whole, organic Red Clover Tops reasonably, go here.

~~Nettle~~

Lastly, Ariana (And Here We Are), an American living in England, writes about Nettle foraging with her family. I know we have this herb, too, and in an accessible place, so I must add it to a soup or stew still this spring. You don’t taste the stingers once it is cooked.

Nettle is loaded with health benefits for use in a wide variety of homemade medicinal remedies ranging from ointments, tinctures, and herbal extracts. If you can’t or don’t want to harvest your own, you can get the dried herb here and here.

If you are new to foraging and want to learn more, I would recommend picking up a book or two about it. Foraging is FREE fun, and we practically have a whole year ahead of us of tasty pickings!

Disclaimer: Please note that the author of Deep Roots At Home is not advocating eating any foraged plants without doing your own extensive research. Please take time to study before you harvest. Respect for nature and consideration of others – animal or human – that may use wild food resources is fundamental to sustainable gathering.

Several helpful field guides for identifying and doing beginning research are:

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~ Jacqueline