Paratus Familia Blog

Custard Creams and our new Teatime

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 01:57:00 +0000

As most of you know, tea is a regular occurrence in our home. For over 30 years, Sir Knight and I have had tea in the morning before starting our day and come together again in the evening for another cuppa.

Our lifestyle has changed so drastically in the last few years that we've had to come up with a new rhythm for our daily lives. We still begin our day with tea (now in the snug) and come together for tea in the evening, however, our evening tea has now taken the place of "dinner". When the children were small, Sir Knight and I needed a few moments of quiet, without kids, to reconnect at the end of the day. Now, as our lives have changed so have our needs. Our quiet start to the day, teacups in hand, has become our cherished time together, and our evening tea has become a family affair.

Our evening "tea" has truly become tea in the best sense of the word. Our teatime now includes a full dinner, followed by cups of tea, conversation and a sweet end to a savory meal. Every evening, after a full day at the butcher shop, we gather around a gracefully set kitchen table, and enjoy a family meal together. While we eat, the kettle boils away with water to heat the pot and then again with freshly boiled water for our evening tea. As soon as our meal is finished, we whisk the dishes away and replace them with teacups, a full teapot and our evening nibble - the best part of the day!

Although three of our children are grown, tea time seems to call them home. More often than not our table is full and the kitchen is alive with good food and better conversation. Although changed, the ritual of teatime has grown with our family and remains ingrained in our very fabric.

One lightly perfect tea time treat that often graces our after-dinner tea table is Custard Creams. Custard Creams are a melt-in-your-mouth shortbread sandwich cookie that comes together quickly and is a delightful tea accompaniment. These cookies do require an ingredient not commonly found in American kitchens, however it is readily available online - custard powder. My favorite is Bird's, which can be ordered from a number of online sources, it's fairly inexpensive and worth keeping on the kitchen shelf.

Custard Creams

Cookies

2 2/3 C Flour

1 C Custard Flour

1 1/2 C Butter

1 C Powdered Sugar

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

Filling

1/2 C Butter

1 C Powdered Sugar

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Directions

For the cookie:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift the flour, custard powder and baking soda into a bowl. Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar for about 3 minutes in a stand mixer.

Add the sifted flour, custard powder and baking soda to the butter mixture and mix well.

Roll the dough on lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thick. Cut with round or square cookie cutter.

Bake in center of oven for 8 - 11 minutes or until just starting to brown on the edges.

Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the filling:

Mix the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until creamy (it will be very stiff). Sandwich the buttercream between two cookies. Repeat until all of the cookies have been used.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week (if they last that long).

Our best life is lived around the table, with cups of tea in our hands and laughter on our lips. May you too, live your best life.....

Miss Serenity.....

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:21:00 +0000

Today, Miss Serenity turns 22. Her life has been a blessing and an adventure. She is all go, no stop. She expects everything out of herself, yet loves and accepts her people with an unmatched fierceness. She is strength and she is vulnerability all wrapped up together.

Serenity has a remarkable, seemingly incongruent, combination of personality traits. She is strong and tough - doing jobs that many men would struggle with, yet melts with one glance at a newborn baby. Children flock to her like she's the Pied Piper while grown men are intimidated by her very nature. She can (and does) do anything that God puts in front of her to do, but willingly and respectfully relinquishes those jobs should a more capable or experienced person step in to relieve her. She is careful to listen and slow to take command, but always is the first to volunteer for the jobs that nobody else wants to do. She works hard and plays hard and is loyal to a fault.

Serenity is a great favorite among her siblings. What's her's is theirs, including not only her things but also her time. She's the fun and adventurous one, always up for a road trip or a hike or a swim in the creek. She brings life to whatever room she walks into.

For all her outward frivolity, Serenity wades into the deep end of the waters of life. She searches for truth and thinks deeply about her purpose and about how God can and will use her. She thinks about how her actions will affect those around her and how they will affect her future. She poses intelligent questions and then spends time engaged in rousing discussions, first forming conclusions and then acting according to the dictate of these conclusions. Serenity is true, both in thought and in action.

Sir Knight and I have been blessed and honored to be Serenity's parents. We praise God for the great gift He gave us in her......

Snow. Snow. And more Snow!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 04:01:00 +0000

It is nearly March and we are buried under 7 feet of snow! And it just keeps snowing!

This year we got a late start for snow. November we had a skiff, but nothing to write home about. December brought us a white Christmas, but we only had about a foot of snow, with bare ground under the trees. January had us almost believing that we were going to skip a real winter this year. I actually had a table and chairs set up under some trees so we could enjoy the unseasonably dry and warmish weather. And then February hit!

For the last three to four weeks we've had storm after storm after storm roll in. It hasn't been uncommon for us to accumulate a foot and a half of snow overnight and another foot to a foot and a half the next day! Sir Knight and I have been delivering packages to our few neighbors because the roads have been too treacherous for the Fedex and UPS drivers to maneuver. In fact, we've delivered so many packages that our UPS driver gave the kids UPS hats, making them official!

Dragon Snack in her UPS swag!!

We live roughly 14 miles outside of town. Our road is a "main" gravel road and is maintained by the county, however, with only 5 families living this far out, we are at the bottom of the road to-do list. One day last week, both Sir Knight and I made it home only by prayer.....neither one of us have EVER driven on a road that bad!! Talk about faith building!! Thankfully, the county had gotten them plowed by the next morning so that we were able to make it in to the butcher shop. Even in the summer our road can be a nightmare. We've lovingly named it "the AlCan of the lower 48". Our's is a road where nice cars come to die.

Our forecast seems to indicate a warming, dryer trend....perhaps meaning no more snow in the immediate future! Now, we'll wait and see how the spring thaw treats us......so much snow to melt, with the creeks already full to overflowing.....hopefully our bridge will be able to withstand the rushing torrent!!

Ah....life in the mountains!!

Product Review: Boundary Ebulb

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

As most of you know, we lived off-grid for the better part of 20 years. One of the benefits of that lifestyle is that once we had a solid, working alternative energy system in place, we never had power outages! Unfortunately, we can no longer say that is the case! Since we've been back on grid power, we have encountered power outages with alarming regularity. For the most part, they don't affect us much....we still have an outhouse and a generator for pumping water (not to mention abundant water via year around creeks and a bubbling spring), along with a root cellar (should be need it), however, it is still inconvenient not to have good, reliable household lighting. We're never completely without light - we still have numerous oil lamps (3 hanging in permanent locations, and many table lamps), along with battery operated LED lighting sources. But really, we all know that electric lights are the best, most convenient lights available.

A couple of years ago, I saw an ad for a lightbulb called an ebulb (emergency bulb), that had an onboard battery that charged when in use and came on automatically when the power went out. Too good to be true?? I read and read and read reviews, mostly good, some bad, and decided I'd really like to give them a try. What I was kind of stuck on was how they turned on after the power went out. It didn't make any sense that I could put a lightbulb in my kitchen light, have the power go out and still flip the light switch and have the lights come on....it seemed a little hinkey.

I wrote the date that I charged the bulb on the box

Finally, after one power outage too many, I ordered some bulbs. They have a charge on them when they arrive, however, it is advised to charge them for eight hours before storing them away. I began charging some bulbs, but a few others went directly into lamps for every day use. The idea behind the bulbs is that you screw them in to existing lamps or light fixtures (either with a switch on the wall or on the lamp itself), they charge while in use and then, in the event of a power outage, the bulbs use their reserved battery power to provide lighting for the duration of the power outage.

When I first put the bulbs into my fixtures, I noticed that the light was very bright and very white. While I prefer a softer white lightbulb, I think these will be perfect during a power outage when you need light, not ambiance. The bulbs are also slightly larger than a standard bulb, making it difficult or impossible to fit in some standard light fixtures. I had no problem with a majority of my lamps, but one was just too small. Of course, the minute I had the lights in the lamps, I had to turn off the light switch and see if the bulb came on.....it didn't. Not to be deterred, I ran to the fuse panel and turned the breaker off.....nothing. I was more than a little disappointed. I knew the lightbulbs worked with the little hanger with a switch that they had come with, but really, I wanted a lightbulb that would work in my existing fixtures with the flip of a switch.

Okay...weird, but you can turn these lights on with your hand!!!!

The hanger with the switch that the bulb screws into

Now it can be hung (or used as a trouble light)

I began reading online reviews again, and realized that the reviews truly were a mixture of "these work like a dream" and "they only work with the hanging switch, not in the light fixture". It then occurred to me that since I tried them out right away, they may not have had enough of a charge to make them work correctly. We left them turned on in the lamps, used them like a regular light bulb and forgot about them. A week went by and I thought I'd give them another test run. This time, I asked Sir Knight to flip the breaker for the snug (where I had two light bulbs in lamps). He did. The lights went out, and then almost immediately, switched back on. I had light were there was no power!!! I turned the switches off and the lights went out....and then I turned the switches again....and LIGHT!!! I was amazing!!

We now have a Boundary ebulb in every room. We've only lost power once since we've had the bulbs, but immediately when the power went out, the lights came on. In fact, it happened so quickly that I didn't realize the power was out!

In reality, we haven't put these ebulbs to the acid test yet. We have charged them all for at least 8 hours (I bought 12 light bulbs, so we have a few in fixtures and the rest are charged and on a shelf). At this point I have no idea how long the batteries will last in an extended power outage (one of reason we bought so many bulbs). I have read that they last anywhere from 3 hours to 12 hours, so only experience will give us a true picture of long-term viability.

Sir Knight is in the process of creating a light bulb "charging station" so that we can charge a number of bulbs at once. That way, if the power is out for an extended time, we can charge a lot of bulbs when the generator is running. Also, he'd like to made sure we could use solar panels to power the charging station, making the ebulbs a long-term solution to off-grid lighting.

At first flush, the ebulbs seems to be solid solution for occasional power outages. Only time will tell if they are a viable off-grid lighting solution. I'll keep you posted!!

Note: You can purchase these ebulbs from Boundary, or Amazon, Home Depot or Walmart among other retailers.

Update: Family

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 03:42:00 +0000

There have been so many changes over the last number of years in our family that I'll do by best to bring you up to date. Here goes......

Sir Knight.....Sir Knight is now a full-fledged butcher, processing more animals in a day than he used to be able to process in a week. He and Master Hand Grenade work together every day, side by side, processing hogs and beef and the occasional goat or lamb. Business has grown steadily in the 3+ years we've been in business. We have struggled and learned and improved....and we march steadily forward. Last June, Sir Knight had an accident (potentially life changing) that left him in an eye patch. I'm thinking he totally rocks the pirate look!!!

Rockin' the eye patch

Maid Elizabeth.....As I've mentioned, Maid Elizabeth sold her home where we used to live and bought a home directly across the creek from our butcher shop. Our town is very small, and finding a job was a major challenge - a faith building challenge! After a couple of false starts, Maid Elizabeth interviewed, tested and was offered a job as a 911 dispatcher for our county. It has been the perfect position for her. She is particularly good in emergencies and her medical training is a real bonus. She has become an indispensable member of the emergency services team.

Dispatching....

Master Hand Grenade......Master Hand Grenade is working, working, working. Not only does he work at the butcher shop 5 days a week, he also works at our local grocery store another 2 days a week. He's working steadily toward a number of long-range goals and has already achieved a few. One great joy has been watching him mature and grow - what joy it brings!

The guys

Master Hand Grenade on a walk

Miss Serenity.....Miss Serenity also moved here with us. She worked as a Wildland Fire Fighter, moving up the ranks quickly - first becoming the crew boss and then Forman. Last summer, one of her crew members lost his life in a local river. The effect was profound in Miss Serenity's life and it left her wondering how she could make a real impact on young lives. With this in mind Miss Serenity applied to work as a cadre at a residential military academy for troubled youth, and was immediately hired. She is now working with her second round of cadets and seems to have been custom designed for this job. She speaks into the lives of broken "children" (they range in age from 15-18) every day, with characteristic Miss Serenity wisdom.

Miss Serenity ready for work

Talking a cadet through a water challenge

Princess Dragon Snack......Is almost 16!!!! Can you believe that?? I know I can't! Dragon Snack is still in school, of course, and on top of that, she works at the butcher shop with me. In addition to school and work, she has another job - she is a barista in a local coffee shop! She is full of fun and whimsy......with Dragon Snack, there is never a dull moment! Her short term goal is getting her drivers license and her long term goal is to have horses and live somewhere that doesn't resemble Narnia in the winter!!!

Princess Dragon Snack and her love

At one of her two jobs!

Master Calvin.....I no longer have littles.....Master Calvin is a teenager! Yes, really! He, too, is doing school and he has become his Grandfather's right hand. Right at the moment he is doing little but shoveling snow. Lots and lots of snow! He is keeping us shoveled out, as well as shoveling out the neighbors. He's not complaining, however. He is steadily adding to his dirt bike fund!

Master Calvin thinks it's time to move up!!

And me.....I am working, and learning - constantly. I am learning there is no such thing as "menial labor" - that every job is worthy as long as you are working for your Father. I am learning that my only job is obedience. I need to obey Jesus in whatever He brings for me to do today - and that is enough.

The girls and I

And that, my friends, is a quick family update!!

Semper Paratus

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 06:23:00 +0000

It seems as though the world has continued to spiral out of control, gaining speed and momentum, with no signs of stopping. Although we are no longer off-grid, we continue to strive to be "always ready", making our home as functional and prepared as possible. We completed a number of projects this year (never as many as we'd like) and have many more planned for the coming year.

One of the big things we did, was retrofit our old "gas house" into a chicken coop and filled it with 20 hens and a rooster! The gas house had fallen into disrepair and had collected years of dirt and debris, but it was in a good location and the perfect place to begin to rebuild the basics of a homestead. After cleaning out the muck and the mire, we found that the gas house floor had rotted through. After replacing the floor, we insulated the walls and the roof, put new sheeting up and painted the entire inside (including the floors and the roof) with two coats of deck paint. We built laying boxes, turned the big door into a dutch door and installed a window and a chicken door. We built an interior dividing wall and screened it with with welded wire, to divide the "people side" from the "chicken side". After finishing the inside, we fenced an outdoor area and finished it with a metal roof. It has been amazing to see how much time the chickens spend outside, even in the depths of winter, just because they have a covered outdoor area!! A real surprise has been how many eggs they lay, even in the dark days of winter. We've been getting between 9 and 12 eggs a day throughout January and February, and that's without heat or a lamp in the coop!! I've been so impressed!!

Putting in a new floor

Adding a window

We insulted and then put galvanized roofing in the "chicken side" of the coop for easier cleaning.

A dividing wall and the beginning of nesting boxes

On the way to pick up chickens!!

The "ladies" enjoying their new roost

Another major undertaking we managed to complete last summer, was moving our wood cook stove. After living here for 3 years, we found that the cook stove wasn't in the best location. The stove was in the corner of the kitchen, which at first flush, seemed to be perfect. However, we found that the location was inconvenient. There was no counter near the stove, so cooking was challenging. On top of that, the heat distribution was less than adequate. The heat went directly upstairs, cooking the children in their beds, and the living room was always slightly chilly. After a few years, and lots of thinking, we decided to move the stove. The first thing we did was move everything!!! And then we lived with it for a month or so. Installing a wood stove is not small task, so we wanted to be very sure before we actually plumbed the stove in. After living with it for a month, we knew it was going to work really well, so we called a friend and asked him to come help with the installation. It took another couple of months before he was able to install the stove (in the beginning of November) but what an amazing transformation it has been!! The kids now sleep in comfortable bedrooms, the living room is toasty warm and the wood cookstove is perfectly positioned between the living room and the kitchen, right next to the counter!!

The wood cook stove in it's new location

It works so much better here!!

Pizza night...baking the bottoms before I put them in the oven

A drying rack above the stove (of course)!!

Moving the wood cook stove was life changing, in more ways than one....not only is our heat more efficient, moving the stove also paved the way for us to move the table into the kitchen! I haven't had an eat-in kitchen for years, and I love it! The kitchen just seems so much more inviting and homey with a kitchen table tucked into the corner. Not to mention it is easier to fit lots of people in the kitchen than it was when we had the table in the other room. Yay!! And then, I had an entire room to play with.....and finally, I was able to get my own "snug"!! It has been wonderful!! We installed the propane fireplace, a couple of down filled chairs, a footstool....and suddenly, we have the perfect spot for reading and talking and just being. It has been life-changing. Now, Sir Knight and I have tea in the snug every morning and spend our evenings reading quietly by firelight. It has been a wonderful addition to our life.

The kitchen table in its new location

The snug in all its glory

The door into the kitchen

The snug also doubles as an entry-way (here, the door is open)

As the world continues to spiral, we continue to pray and built and plan. We do what is put in front of us to do each day and trust God with the rest. And He continues to guide and direct our path.

The Emperor's New Clothes....

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 04:51:00 +0000

I'm beginning to wonder.....is the Emperor, perhaps, naked???

Our world has been turned upside-down. Every state in the nation is under lockdown, the world is in a frenzy and the prognosis for our future is nothing shy of apocalyptic. The Coronavirus has brought us to our knees.

I've watched with wonder, as our nation and its citizens respond to this pandemic. First, we responded with disbelief and caution. People bought a few more packages of toilet paper, a gallon or two of bleach and a couple bottles of hand sanitizer - just in case. As the news outlets grew more and more vocal the politicians became more and more involved. Soon cities, counties and states called special meetings. Emergency measures were enacted and the news cycle grew. Twenty-four hours a day....pandemic....death.....pandemic.....death....economic collapse.....depression......pandemic....death.

And we responded. Toilet paper is gone. Hand sanitizer is a thing of the past. Gloves, face-masks, bleach....it's all gone. The food supply chain is breaking down, jobs are collapsing, lives are being irrevocably changed....and yet....?

I have to admit, I live in the middle of nowhere. I'm not near a city center. I don't live near the West Coast or the East Coast. I'm not in Detroit or New Orleans or New York City. I live 15 miles outside of a tiny town, on the top of a mountain. I'm well outside of mainstream America. But....I have a LOT of family in the original epicenter of this disease in the United States. None of them are ill. None of them know anyone who is ill. None of them know anyone who knows anyone who is ill.

I'm not denying that we have been exposed to a devastating illness. I have a dear friend that is married to a surgeon who is in the thick of the battle. People are sick and people are dying. However, I'm not seeing the widespread devastation that I keep hearing about on the news. Is it real? Is it hyped up? I wish I knew!

As I sit here, on my mountaintop I do wonder, if perhaps, the Emperor has new clothes....or is, indeed, naked.

The Emperor's New Clothes

A vain emperor who cares too much about wearing and displaying clothes hires two weavers who claim to make the most beautiful clothes and elaborate patterns. The weavers are con-men who convince the emperor they are using a fine fabric invisible to anyone who is either unfit for his position or "hopelessly stupid". The con lies in that the weavers are actually only pretending to manufacture the clothes. Thus, no one, not even the emperor nor his ministers can see the alleged "clothes", but they all pretend that they can for fear of appearing unfit for their positions. Finally, the weavers report that the suit is finished and they mime dressing the emperor who then marches in procession before his subjects. The townsfolk uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear unfit for their positions or stupid. Finally, a child in the crowd blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is then taken up by others. The emperor realizes the assertion is true but continues the procession.

Hans Christian Anderson
1837
(from Wikipedia)

Actionable Intelligence

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 17:19:00 +0000

Watching the news is a lesson in frustration. The media has cried wolf for so long that if this pandemic truly is "the end of the world as we know it", we're not going to believe it until it's too late. There is no truly "actionable intelligence" coming from news reports or social media. One side says that the sky is falling and the other side says "move along, there's nothing to see here". Wisdom is in short supply.

We have seen (at least according to media outlets) lots of "stocking up" on key quarantine and hygiene essentials. Many people have been caught unawares, and are worried, even to the point of hysteria, that they don't have enough to get they and their families through this crisis. I have a few thoughts on the concept of preparedness and Christianity.....

I absolutely believe that God is the author of life and sustains us from even before our very first breath. It is His providence that sees us through each day and provides hope for the future. However, He did give us biblical principles to live by and preparedness is one of many.

When God spoke to Noah, He told him to prepare for judgement. He gave him very specific instructions about building an ark, loading it with life sustaining food and preparing his family for the trials of the days ahead. Now, if anybody had a reason to doubt, it was Noah. For over 100 years, Noah works on the ark. I have no doubt there were many naysayers and hecklers, but Noah persevered. Noah built a boat in a world that had never seen rain, never seen a flood, never had even seen an "act of God". What faith! God could have saved Noah and his family by "Divine Intervention", but instead, He chose to have Noah prepared.

The story of Joseph may be an overused example of preparedness, but it is without a doubt a perfect picture of God's faithfulness through preparedness. Once more, God could have chosen not to allow the famine, but instead He readied His servant Joseph to care for His people. What would have happened to the people Egypt and the surrounding areas had Joseph not heeded God's voice?

The example of the ten virgins in Matthew, although directly relating to the returning of the bridegroom, is instructive in discerning the wise from the foolish. The wise virgins brought with them their lamps and their oil, conversely, the foolish virgins brought their lamps, but lacked the foresight to bring oil. My desire is to be known as wise rather than foolish!!

Another thought is that God always starts with something. When He made man, He started with dirt. When He made woman, He started with man. God instructed Elijah to have the widow feed him. She explained that she had only enough flour and oil for one loaf for she and her son, and then they would die. Elijah instructed her to feed him first and that her supplies would last. THEY DID!! She had something and God multiplied it. Even Jesus, with His very first miracle, started with something. He didn't just conjure up wine for the wedding, He started with water. Later, at the Sermon on the Mount, He started with a few loaves and fishes, and fed 5000 men; not counting women and children. He used what was available and multiplied it. Those examples, at the very least, should spur to have SOMETHING. God, in His sovereignty, will use what we have - but we need to start with something. We don't have to panic about not having everything we think we need, but we do need to make an effort to acquire SOMETHING.

And then we get into the Proverbs. They are a goldmine of preparedness advice:

Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the any, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise. It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 21:20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

Proverbs 27:12 (this one is even mentioned twice)
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

Proverbs 30:25
Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.

Proverbs 31 is one of my favorite chapters. It is like a job description for a Godly wife. A couple of verses really speak to me when it comes to preparedness. 31:15 "She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls". 31:21 "When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in Scarlett". 31:25 "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come". The Proverbs 31 woman provided food for her household. She did not wait for someone else to provide for her. She was not afraid of the cold, because she had already made sure that her household was well clothed. She laughed at the days to come. I think this is my favorite verse. For a woman, the only way that you can laugh at the days to come is if you feel that you have taken care of what needs to be taken care of. When you have laid in supplies, a part of you says "bring it on!". Then you truly can laugh at the days to come.

As Christians, it is our responsibility to be wise stewards. How can we be a beacon of hope in a dark world, if we, ourselves are dependent upon the charity of others? How can we bring glory to God if we are stealing or cheating to survive? We must be like the prudent man who sees danger and takes refuge rather than the simple man who keeps going and suffers for it.

Good Home Treatment of Influenza

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:01:00 +0000

All the way back in 2011 I wrote The Prepared Family Guide to Uncommon Diseases. Actually, more than writing, I merely compiled easily obtained information and attempted to put it in a coherent format to help my family and others in the event of a medical catastrophe. Over the years I have referenced it from time-to-time, but thankfully, have never really had to put it into use. Although I don't want to add to an already heightened concern, I do believe it may be time to pull this book from the mothballs.

The recently emerged Coronavirus has the entire world on edge. And it does appear to have the potential to be a global game-changer. Although my book covers everything from the Bubonic Plague to Starvation, the real gold is in a section that I had nothing to do with. It is a special section in the back of the book called "Good Home Treatment of Influenza". It was written by Grattan Woodson, M.D., FACP - author of the Bird Flu Preparedness Planner and the Bird Flu Manual.

As I researched the Wuhan virus, I discovered that "coronavirus" is an umbrella term for a number of different viruses, Avian Influenza and SARS included. Armed with that knowledge, I grabbed my book from the shelf and flipped to the special section on Influenza. I spent the next few days reading the information and making a list of necessary supplies.

What follows are but a few excerpts from the book.....As always knowledge is key to preparedness.

The Great Bird Flu Pandemic
It is in the nature of all influenza pandemics to cause widespread illness and death. As during seasonal flu, the vast majority of those sick with pandemic flu will be treated at home by their family members and friends. This guide was written for people taking care of mildly to severely ill influenza patients in their home who have no formal medical training.

A pandemic will last between 12 to 18 months and over that time about half the people on earth will become sick. Most will be mild to moderately ill, but some will be very sick. This guide will help you take care of these people at home using simple methods and do not rely on prescription drugs, medical equipment or medical training.

At times during a severe pandemic, hospitals could become full of sick and dying patients, running out of space for new patients. Access to doctors may become limited. Medical supplies and drugs could be in short supply. If these things happen, people like you with no prior formal medical training may find yourself caring for terrible ill loved ones and friends, who under normal circumstances would be treated by the doctor in the hospital. Home care, while not up to the standards of hospital care, can still be very effective. The simple methods found in this guide are those that have the power to keep patients from dying from the common, preventable causes of death from influenza such as dehydration.

What is "good home care" for the flu?
Good home care is nine parts common sense and one part simple medical practice. Taking care of someone with flu will be a familiar task for those who have nursed family members back to health in the past as it relies on simple common treatments and techniques.

The Flu Treatment Kit
Providing good care to family members and friends sick with influenza is a task that will be easier with a good supply of select over-the-counter medications, some medical equipment, and a few items from the grocery or hardware store. These items form the basis of the Flue Treatment Kit (FTK).

The Flu Treatment Kit (items for one person)
Grocery Store Items

Table salt: 1 lb. (for making Oral Rehydration Solution, gargle and nasal wash)
Table sugar: 10 lbs. (for making Oral Rehydration Solution ORS)
Baking soda: 6 oz. (for making Oral Rehydration Solution and nasal wash)
Household bleach, unscented: 2 gal. (for purifying water and cleaning contaminated items)
Caffeine containing tea, bags or dry loose: 1 lb. (for treatment of respiratory symptoms)
Two 8 oz. Plastic baby bottles with rubber nipples (for administering ORS to severely ill)
Two 16 oz. plastic squeeze bottles with swivel nozzles (for administering ORS to the ill)
Two kitchen measuring cups with 500cc (two cups) capacity (for measuring lots of things)
One set of kitchen measuring spoons 1/2 tsp up to 1 Tbsp. (for making ORS and dosing)
Fifty soda straws (for administering fluids)
One composition-style notebook (for keeping a medical record on the patient)
Teakettle (for steam therapy)

FTK Items found at the drug store

Petroleum jelly 4 oz. (for lubrication of tubes, suppositories and skin treatment and protection
Cocoa butter, pure, 2 oz. (for making suppositories and skin treatment and protection)
An accurate bathroom scale (for weighing)
Two electronic thermometers (to measure temperature)
Automatic blood pressure monitor (to measure blood pressure)
Humidifier (for increasing the relative humidity of the air breathed by the patient)
Pill cutter (to make it easier to reduce the dose of the medication if desired)
1 box of Nitril gloves (100) (to help reduce contamination and spread of the virus and bacteria

Non-Prescription drugs

Ibuprofen 200mg (Motrin) 100 tablets (for treatment of flu symptoms)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25 mg. capsules, 100 capsules (for treatment of flu symptoms)
Robitussin DM Cough Syrup or its generic equivalent (12 oz.) (for treatment of cough)
Acetaminophen 500 mg. (Tylenol) 100 tablets (for treatment of flu symptoms
Loperamide 2 mg, 100 tablets (for diarrhea and abdominal cramps)
Meclizine 25 mg., 100 tablets (for nausea and vomiting)

FTK Items found at the hardware store

N-95 masks, 20 (2 boxes) (to reduce diseases spread to and from the patient)
50 gallon sturdy plastic garbage container with top (used to store clean water for drinking)

Adventures with Sourdough

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 02:39:00 +0000

For years I have wanted to master (or at least have some success) with naturally leavened bread. Of course we love the flavor of "sourdough", but my real reason for wanting to successfully leaven bread with wild yeast was so that I would be able to nourish my family with the "staff of life", even if I didn't have access to commercially produced yeast. Although quick breads are easy and don't require yeast, there is nothing to compare with fresh-from-the-oven, honest-to-goodness bread! Besides, once I set my mind to something, I HAVE to see it through....even if it takes me years! And so began my adventure with sourdough.

I attempted sourdough many times while we lived in "Little Shouse on the Prairie". I had read that wild yeast was present in the air and lent a flavor all its own, depending upon where the yeast was gathered, thus the distinctive "San Francisco Sourdough" we've all come to associate with traditional sourdough bread. In that vein, I mixed flour and water in equal portions and left it for a number of days, stirring occasionally, in an attempt to gather yeast and make a starter work. As many times as I tried, that's how many times I failed. My starter would become a watery, gray mess that smelled bad and had no life. I got busy and regular bread was good (and I could make it!) and I gave up on sourdough....for the moment.

Last Thanksgiving we invited some folks that were new to the area to join our Thanksgiving celebration. As a gift they brought two gorgeous loves of still-warm sourdough bread. Oh, my goodness! It was wonderful! It was light with an airy crumb and delightful crust. I was inspired! And so began a new adventure with sourdough.

I read article after article after article and finally came up with a game plan. I made my starter, faithfully fed it (something I hadn't done before) and, after 8 days, proclaimed it ready. I started with a simple loaf from King Arthur Flour. It was good but not exactly what I was looking for. I tried sourdough pizza crust (again, good, not great), and another, lighter loaf recipe. Next, I stepped up to sourdough English muffins (amazing!) and then tried my hand at a sourdough sandwich loaf. Each loaf has been better than the last, and in the months since I began my quest I've only become more and more convinced that sourdough is amazing - definitely worth the time and effort!

I must preface my recipes with the fact that I am a simple, country cook. Most recipes I've found have been rendered in grams and ounces. What I've known as "sourdough" is in fact called "levain" and there are a number of specialized articles of equipment that are apparently required to make a decent loaf. Well, I threw all of that out the window and winged it....as I usually do. I've created recipes using simple cups and tablespoons and teaspoons. These recipes have worked wonderfully for me....and I do hope you'll give "sourdough" a go.....it truly is amazing!!!

Starter

What you'll need:
Flour (whole grain or unbleached white)
Water (filtered, if using treated city water)
Bowl (glass or ceramic - not metal)
Spoon (wood or rubber - not metal)
Tea towel

How to:
Day 1: Mix 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of (warm) water. Mix vigorously, stirring down the sides and incorporate everything. Place a clean tea towel over the bowl and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

Day 2: Discard half of the mixture (really...throw it away - this allows you to property feed your remaining starter). Add 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of (warm) water to the remaining starter. Mix vigorously to incorporate. Cover with towel and allow to (again) sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

Day 3: Repeat instructions from day 2 (including throwing away 1/2 of the mixture).

Day 4: Repeat instructions from day 2 (including throwing away 1/2 of the mixture).

Day 5: Repeat instructions from day 2 (including throwing away 1/2 of the mixture).

Day 6: Repeat instructions from day 2 (including throwing away 1/2 of the mixture), but let sit for 12 hours....then repeat. You'll feed once every 12 hours on day 6.....

Day 7: Repeat Day 6 instructions (feed once every 12 hours).

Your starter should be full of bubbles and ready to bake with on Day 7!!

Keep it going:
You can leave your starter on the counter (if you plan on using it every day, or almost every day) and feed it once a day (1 C. flour/1 C water). If you plan on only using your starter a couple of times a week, you'll want to keep it in the refrigerator. To keep it alive in the refrigerator, you'll need to use and feed it. At least once a week, pull your starter from the fridge. Allow the starter to warm to room temperature. Use however much of your hydrated starter your recipe calls for. After removing the starter (for your recipe) add 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of water to your starter and stir well. Allow to sit on the counter, covered with a tea towel for 8 hours or overnight and then cover and return to the fridge. If you don't want to use your starter for the week, discard a cup or two of the starter and add the 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of water, stir well, allow to sit on the counter for 8 hours or overnight and then return to the refrigerator for another week. One thing I keep in mind is that the starter should be almost as thick as pancake batter. If it gets too thin, I add more flour. The flour is what feeds the starter.

My starter

Sourdough English Muffins

Day 1:

Ingredients
1 C. Sourdough starter
5 1/2 C. flour
2 C. Milk
2 T. Sugar
1 1/2. tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Baking soda
Cornmeal for dusting

In large bowl, combine your frothy starter with 4 cups of flour and the milk. Stir to incorporate. Cover with plastic.

Allow to sit on counter for 8 hours or up to 24 hours.

Day 2:

Add remaining ingredients. Pour dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for 4 to 5 minutes. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thick.

Cut with a biscuit cutter and transfer to a parchment lined cookie sheet that's been dusted with cornmeal.

Allow to rest for 45 minutes.

Heat skillet or griddle (on medium heat) and cook muffins for 6 - 8 minutes (or until golden). Gently flip and cook on other side. Cook for another 6 - 8 minutes. Muffins, when done, will become lighter.

Cool slightly, split with fork. These are wonderful warm with butter and jam....or toasted.

Makes 15 - 20 muffins.

The starter, flour and milk

Resting

Slip with a fork

Amazing!!!

Sourdough Sandwich Loaf

Makes 2 large loaves

Levain
1/2 C. Sourdough Starter
1/2 C. Milk
1 1/4 C. Flour

Dough
All of the Levain
5 1/2 - 7 C. Flour
2 Eggs
2 Egg yolks
2 1/2 C. Milk
2/3 C. Sugar
1 T. Salt
8 T. Butter (softened)

Day 1:
Mix levain ingredients in a bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.

Day 2:
Place all ingredients in a mixer, except for salt and butter. Mix on low speed until it comes together in a shaggy dough.

Let rest for 30 minutes.

Turn mixer on low and sprinkle with the salt and knead for 3 - 5 minutes or until dough comes together.

Add butter gradually, mixing well after each addition. It will be very greasy, but the butter will eventually be absorbed into the dough.

Knead for another 10 minutes (add additional flour as needed to make a supple dough).

Place dough in a lightly greased bowl.

Cover tightly and allow to rise at room temperature for 2 hours.

Place in refrigerator overnight.

Day 3:Divide dough into 6 pieces and form into balls. Allow to rest on a floured surface (cover with tea towel) for 1 hour.

Roll each section into an oval and roll out with rolling pin and then roll jellyroll fashion.

Rest for 10 minutes.

Roll into an oval again and roll like a jellyroll.

Transfer 3 rolls to a buttered bread pan. (I used 1 large pan, 1 regular and 1 small).

Cover and let rise for 6 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for an additional 15 - 20 minutes.

Cool on wire rack.

The levain

Shaggy dough

Jellyroll style rolls

After rising for 6 hours

Oh my goodness!!!!

And here you have naturally leavened bread!

Reflections of Eternity

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:03:00 +0000

As I looked through my kitchen window while making tea the other morning, I saw the most glorious sunrise. Mist was lying low along the conture of the snow covered fields, snow clad trees were backlit by the orange glow of the rising sun and steam rose from the sun kissed creek. I was overcome with the sheer beauty of God's perfect creation.

I have often looked at the world around me and pondered 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then I shall know even as also I am known." Gazing out my window, I thought of the scene before me, imagining I was looking through a glass darkly. How glorious would that view be in Heaven, when I was "face to face"? If I am only seeing a shadow now, what will my eyes behold when I finally see clearly?

It's easy for people to imagine the wonders of Heaven, even with our imperfect understanding. We may not be able to fully grasp its glory, but we know it will be magnificent, glorious beyond our wildest dreams.....most perfect. It is this Heaven that people speak of when they say things like "They're in a better place". It is this Heaven that comforts people when they look at the brokenness of this world and long for the perfection of the next. It is easy to imagine the glory of perfection - to know that the beauty of this world is but a poor reflection of a glorious eternity.

But what about the other side of the looking glass? Have you ever pondered the ugliness of this world? The sin, the hate, the death, the agony? What if, just as Heaven will be more glorious than anything we could possibly imagine, Hell is more horrific than our human minds can possibly comprehend? What if the anguish, the sorrow, the excruciating torment we see all around us was but a dim reflection of what is to be?

I stood in my kitchen gazing across the beautiful landscape with tears in my eyes. How very foolish I have been. I have been quick to talk about the wonders of Heaven, but never mention the unspeakable nightmare of Hell. I have held my tongue when I should have spoken. Have I, by not speaking, consigned some to a Hell worse than anything I could possibly imagine? Is the evil of this world but a dim reflection of the next, reserved for those who have refused to bend their knee? God forbid that I hold my tongue! If I am but seeing through a glass, darkly, I cannot comprehend what will be that reality, but I know, with everything in my being, that I wouldn't see one lost to that eternal, vile darkness.

My tongue has been loosed. I will speak His truth. I now understand that Heaven will be Glory, beyond my imagination. And Hell is a darkness I can't begin to fathom.

Artisan Pizza Crust

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 03:54:00 +0000

Yep....all these years and we're still indulging in Friday Night Pizza and a Movie! Certain family traditions become so ingrained that they become the stuff of legends...and Friday Night Pizza is one such tradition.

I have made the same pizza crust recipe since my children were little. It is light and fluffy, flavorful and bready. It makes wonderful bread sticks as well as both thin and thick crust pizza. It's tried and true. However, I was itching to make something a little different. I wanted to try my hand at a chewy, Neapolitan style crust. I'd read numerous recipes and they all looked a little fussy.....pulling the dough together the day before, allowing it to raise overnight, stretching instead of rolling....It seemed much more labor intensive than my simple Light Pizza Dough.

Finally the time came to spread my wings and try something new and Artisan Pizza Crust was born. I found a recipe I could finally get my head around and changed it into something manageable for me. Most recipes I found weighed ingredients rather than measured them, something that I'm sure all good cooks do, but I'm not one of their number. I changed grams to cups, teaspoons and tablespoons (to the best of my ability) and then, quite frankly, I added things until I thought it looked right. The dough does rise overnight but comes together quickly and is wonderfully workable. The stretching is easy, as well as the shaping of the dough. And the crust....oh, the crust.....chewy, flavorful, chewy....perfect!

I quadrupled the original recipe, however, you can just as easily adjust it back down. I found this recipe makes about five 12 to 14 inch pizzas. I make all different sizes based on the pizza stones I have.

The recipe seems complicated, but isn't...it's definitely worth the effort.

Artisan Pizza Crust

DAY BEFORE

8 C. + 4 T flour
1/2 tsp. yeast
2 tsp. sugar
1 T + 2 tsp. salt
3 C. + 3 T warm water (I always add more after I've mixed dough together if the dough is dry and shaggy)

- Mix the dry ingredients then add the water. Stir until just combined. If the dough looks dry, add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water. Dough should be well hydrated but not soupy.

- Cover the dough and allow to rise for 24 hours (leave on the counter).

PIZZA TIME

- Pour dough onto well floured surface. Divide into 4 or 5 sections (I made 5 pizzas). Using one piece of dough at a time (and making sure the surface and your hands are well floured) stretch the dough into a long piece. Fold 1/2 the dough back into the middle, then fold the other 1/2 of the dough back on top of the first fold. Turn the dough and stretch the other direction and fold back over itself. Form the dough into a ball with the gathered side down and place on a floured cookie sheet or a floured bowl. Repeat with the other sections of dough. Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rise 45 minutes.

- Preheat oven to 550 degrees (or as high as your oven will go).

- Please pizza stones into the oven while it heats up.

- Place ball of dough in the middle of a floured surface. With finger-tips push dough down to form a circle (make sure not to touch the edges of the dough....that will become your crust). Once the dough is large enough, place it over your fist and pull and stretch (making sure not to touch the edge), until you've reached your desired size (I did 12 to 14 inch pies).

- Place your crust on a piece of parchment and continue with the other balls of dough.

- Put on toppings, making sure not to put any on the edge.

- Trim the parchment to the size of your pizza.

- Use a peel to slide each pizza onto a hot pizza stone in the preheated oven. Bake for 7 to 14 minutes. I bake 4 pizzas at once, changing racks at 7 minutes so the pizza's are even - done both on bottom and top.

The dough having risen for 24 hours

Stretched, made into balls and on its 2nd rise

On parchment and ready to go into the oven

Fresh out of the oven and slid on a cookie sheet to slice

Oh, that crust!

That's it!! It sounds more complicated than it is....and the few extra steps are worth the effort. I'm thinking an outdoor pizza oven is sounding good!!

Returning to the God of our fathers....

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 05:17:00 +0000

As a little girl, I learned about Jesus at my parents' knee. I listened as they talked of spiritual things and sang as they lifted hymns up to heaven. I prayed simple, childlike prayers and believed with a simple, childlike faith. I went to church and Sunday school, said grace before dinner and prayed before bed. I was a Christian......or at least I was to the best of my knowledge.

I grew up and grew away......I would have adamantly acknowledged Christ as my Savior....believing in Him with everything in me, however, the choices in my life did not reflect that belief. I lived for myself, with an occasional nod to my Creator. I wanted to be both a "Christian" and like everyone else in the world. I worshiped the God of my fathers.....but I hadn't made Him my own.

As with all prodigals, I was brought low by my choices. When the scales finally fell from my eyes, I fell to my knees and sought God....truly sought Him for the first time. Rather than relying on my fathers' faith, I began to earnestly seek the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

And I have never quit seeking Him.

Through the years I have walked and I have stumbled, crawled and walked again. God has gently brought me along, refining and remaking me. And as He has continued to mold and shape me I have begun to question....never God, but every ritual and contrivance of man. Why do we sit in pews, pass out grape juice and crackers and have "communion" once a month? Why does every church I've ever been to follow the same script.... Announcements, Prayer, Praise & Prayer, Worship (3 songs), Prayer, Sermon (1/2 hour), Communion (if its the first Sunday of the month) Hymn (1st and last verse), and then Prayer? Why do we sit in the same seats, chat with the same people and get involved with the same programs? Why do we look like every other church in every other town in every other state? And why are we just as lost and hopeless as the world around us? The answer? Man.

Man has created rituals and systems and programs with which to measure holiness. However, rather than holiness they create emptiness - which brings me back to the question......why? Why do we "worship" the way that we worship? Why do we follow conventional form and function rather than search the scriptures to find how the first "church" followed Christ?

We're returning to the God of our fathers.....therein lies the reason we follow the rituals and contrivances of man. Instead of seeking to follow the Christ of the Bible we are following the forms and conventions of the Roman Catholic Church, from which the Protestant Church was born.

The first church was a church of simple faith. They gathered in homes, had everything in common and their numbers grew daily. They broke bread together, ministered to each others needs, worshiped, shared news and were filled with the Holy Spirit. They became the body of Christ, bound by chords of brotherly love.

That simple faith was slowly and completely replaced with the pageantry and ritual that is the Catholic Church. Simplicity gave way to the worship of saints, a human priest once again became a go-between between man and God, and the sufficiency of Christ was replaced with penance and purgatory. And thus the world was thrust into an age of darkness.

The Protestant Church was the rebellious child of the Catholic Church. They wanted throw off the conventions of their Mother church, but never completely shed the deeply ingrained rituals associated with their faith. And the older the Protestant church becomes, the more they become like their parent.

Our quest for holiness should lead us to the simple faith of the Bible not to the rituals of man. We should seek to return to the simple faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob not the pageantry of man-made religion. We should ask why....and then we should search the scripture for the truth.

We have to return to the God of our true fathers.....not the God of our church fathers. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

Life in the Highlands

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:16:00 +0000

I'm a little slow. I think I may have mentioned that before. I've noticed over the years that change affects me in a huge way. After major life disruptions, it takes longer and longer to get my feet back under myself.

We're closing in on 3 years. Three years since we sold "Little Shouse on the Prairie". Three years since we've lived off-the-grid. Three years since we began building a butcher shop. Three years since we've had a stable, consistent income. And now, just now, I'm beginning to feel like myself, not just someone treading water. I'm beginning to be able to focus on things other than just surviving. I am once again expanding my horizons and opening my home to new friends. After nearly three years I'm finally able look beyond myself and again minister to those outside my immediate family. After nearly three years, life begins anew.

The adjustments of our new life have been unexpectedly difficult. Our relationships have changed and grown, as have our expectations. Our challenges have been different, but no less "challenging". We have been surprised by what we don't miss!

Master Calvin (He isn't actually smoking a pipe!)

Princess Dragon Snack getting a little reading in!

The weather in the Highlands has been a breath of fresh air. Our Shouse was situated in the middle of a windswept prairie, where the harsh winters were only rivaled by the blistering summers. Wind was our constant companion, creating untenable weather conditions and embracing us in a real-life "man against nature" reality. And summer, with its blistering heat (and constant wind, of course), did little to offer a soothing balm of relief. Our new home in the Highlands is a constant source of joy. The winters, although filled with snow and cold weather, offer almost no wind and crisp, clear days with skies so blue that the contrast against the Sub-apline Firs are positively breathtaking. Summers are warm but not hot and the cool of the evening revives even the weariest of souls. I traipse down tree -lined avenues, cross bubbling streams and wiggle my toes in sweet meadow grass. Every walk ministers to my soul and every perfect winter day brings with it the joy of life.

Getting ready for our Thanksgiving feast (Miss Serenity and Sir Knight)

Our living room...in anticipation for a crowd

The newly remodeled scale shack/guest house!!

The new kitchen (with an extended counter and built-in refrigerator)
The oil lamp is a gift from a friend!!!

Serenity Cottage has a queen sized bed!

And a cozy wood stove!!

Our business has brought us the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We didn't fully understand what would be required to launch a butcher shop (something with which we had no experience). The money and energy and effort threatened to overwhelm us. We made many mistakes and learned many lessons. We struggled and we triumphed. And now, after nearly three years, we are gaining confidence and customers. It is beautiful indeed.

Sir Knight with his helpers, Miss Serenity and Maid Elizabeth

An amazing prime rib, produced by Sir Knight and Master Hand Grenade

Sir Knight and Princess Dragon Snack

What an amazing life we lead. God has walked us through this life, brought us through the wind and the fire and placed our feet on this good and fair land. Life is hard and sweet, full of struggles and sunlight. And God, in His infinite wisdom, has placed us in the middle of it. This is life in the Highlands.

Charity Gone Wrong

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 23:26:00 +0000

The Real World Consequences of the Misapplication of "Compassion"

San Francisco. Seattle. Denver. Cities littered with drug needles, human waste, used condoms and the detritus associated with the hopelessness of third-world countries. And yet this is the United States of America. Or was.......

Over the years, as our country has been increasingly influenced by progressive elite idealists, we have been forced into a kind of Situational Justice. Right and wrong, good and bad, has been replaced by a politically driven narrative that preaches "charity" and "compassion", but in fact leaves a post-apocalyptic waste land in its wake.

When I was a child, my family lived on Vashon Island, an island in Puget Sound - about a 15 minute Ferry boat ride from Seattle. My father had been born and raised on Vashon and my mom hailed from West Seattle, moving to Vashon when she was in high school. Our family had (and still has) deep roots in the area. When I was 8, we moved to the outback of Idaho, but spent every family vacation in Seattle or on Vashon. I remember being so excited when we descended Snoqualamie Pass knowing we were almost there! Back then North Bend seemed way out in the country and Issaquah far removed from Seattle. By the time we were on Mercer Island, I was mesmerized, and crossing Lake Washington over the Floating Bridge (through the tunnels) was fantastic. As we'd get closer to downtown, I could smell the salt water and I never failed to breath deep of its heady fragrance. As we drove, I marveled at one of the things I loved most about the city....it's amazing beauty. I loved the ivy-covered walls and the manicured parks. The thick underbrush and myriad shades of green were truly worthy of the name "The Emerald City". It's beauty was unparalleled.

That was then. Now, my beautiful city has succumbed to the misapplication of compassion and the consistent use of situational justice.

Progressive Socialists love to tell you that they are all about the "little man". They tout "compassion" and "charity" and "equality" as their core values, however, the implementation of their vision produces nothing resembling their "Utopia". Unless of course, their utopia includes rampant disease, pervasive drug use and violent, mentally deranged human masses. Which apparently it does, because that is what we have achieved.

We keep hearing the buzzword "homelessness". We also keep hearing about the homeless crisis and about how these poor people have no where to turn - they have been driven to the streets by an oppressive society ruled by White Male Nationalists. They commit crimes, but they have no choice - society made them do it. Money must be spent. Charity must be given. Compassion must prevail. And justice must be dispensed based upon individual situations.

It turns out, we don't have a "homeless" problem. We have a drug problem. And we have a drug problem, because we have encouraged it through our misapplied "charity". And once we have them hooked on drugs, we must have "compassion" and the only way to show them "compassion" is through "situational" justice.

We have encouraged our country's drug problem by not holding people responsible for their own actions. We have chosen to support generation after generation of people unwilling to take care of themselves or their own, destroying their self-worth and killing their souls. We have given to them without expecting them to contribute to their own lives. And in the process, we have destroyed a nation. We have given "charity" to the detriment of generations.

Work is good for the soul. By not requiring people to work, we have contributed to a population that feels hopeless and useless. And as a result, our people have increasingly turned to drugs to dull their pain. And to make ourselves feel better, we give them more....more money, more drugs, more chances. We call it "compassion" but in reality we are kin to the great destroyer. We are killing people with "kindness". We are not "compassionate" when we give people "safe" places to shoot-up. We are not "compassionate" when we give money to someone sleeping on the street so they can get another hit. We are not being "charitable" when we allow situational justice to be the law of the land. We are killing ourselves.....we are killing our families....we are killing our nation.

I read once that "charity is a finely-tuned instrument, and many there are who wound both themselves and others for want of skill in using it". I couldn't agree more! We have wounded both ourselves and our children with the wrongful use of charity. We have done by far more harm than good.

Charity, compassion and justice, when used correctly, are the beautiful hallmarks of a Christian nation. When they have been twisted, however, they become ugly, hateful tools of destruction. We have a responsibility to use these tools wisely or they will be the very instruments of our demise. And it would appear that our path is clear......

Summer Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 03:37:00 +0000

We have been so very busy this summer. With the amount of snow we get in the winter, we spend our summers trying to do all of our outside projects while getting firewood in, working in the garden and trying to prepare the butcher shop for the upcoming hunting season.

This summer our big projects have been expanding our wood shed and remodeling our guest house (formerly Miss Serenity's cabin). We have so many, many projects that we'd like to tackle, but those two were most pressing.

Our wood shed is roughly 10' x 15'. We fill it to the brim with wood, however, we have learned that we need a bit more to comfortably make it through a winter and we'd like a lot more, just in case we have a really cold extended winter. Last winter we made a hoop house using a cattle panels and covered in a tarp to house extra wood, and it worked well, however, we really wanted something more permanent. In addition to extra wood, we wanted to be able to put our garbage cans under cover and have a place for a few conveniently located tools. We decided to follow the same roof line and double our storage space by adding another bay to our existing shed.

Once we started, the shed project only took a couple of weekends and a few evenings. We were able to mostly use what we had, buying just a few 2x4's and two sheets of OSB. The finished project looks nice, like it had been planned that way all along! Now we just have to fill it with firewood and call it good!!! It will be amazing to have the sheds full of wood, the tools under cover and the garbage out of the way.

Our expanded woodshed

Ready to fill before winter

The guest house has been another story all together! Last fall we moved Miss Serenity's cabin to our house so she could be closer when she was home. Many changes have taken place over the last year and Serenity no longer needs her cabin. She decided that her life had taken her in a different direction and that we needed to turn her cabin into a guest home (our house is compact, so hosting guests is a challenge).

The cottage when it first came up our mountain, with it's original paint job!

And so, Serenity Cottage came into being. I have spent hour, upon hour, upon hour scraping and painting and cleaning, transforming the former scaler's shack into a warm, inviting guest cottage. Serenity Cottage is not yet finished, however, we are well on our way. We scraped and painted the exterior in a dark green to blend into the woods and finished the trip in black. All of the windows were removed and painted black (what a huge job!) and then replaced in a different configuration. Originally the windows hinged from the bottom with a chain on the top allowing them to open from the top about 4 inches. That didn't allow for very good airflow. I ended up putting new hinges on the windows and attaching them on the sides versus the bottom. Now the windows swing open wide, allowing for a wonderful crossflow!!! That alone made a huge difference. After painting the windows I scanned and painted the walls (Manchester Tan) and the baseboards (black). Next came new flooring. What a huge difference that has made! I scrubbed the floors (first, on my hands and knees with hot, soapy water, then with fresh, clean water), then I patched and leveled the bad spots. After sanding the patches, I swept and mopped the floors again, let them dry, and began to lay new floors over the old. I had already taken up the old toilet, so I lay the flooring over the entire bathroom floor. Rather than plumbing the cottage in to the septic, we are keeping it a "dry" cabin. We'll put a port-a-potty in the bathroom, but we'll run a water to the kitchen sink (at least in the summer). Once the floor was finished, Sir Knight cut trim to join the wall with the roof (the old ceiling had been taken down by Miss Serenity) and I put insulation in before we screwed the trim to the wall.

The cottage has been taken off its wheels and is ready to be trimmed around the bottom

Cleaning the original 1967 linoleum floors

The newly reinstalled windows, now opening all the way!

The bathroom, minus the toilet....ugh!!!

The view from the bedroom window

And from the kitchen window

The view from the cottage porch

Done with the first row of flooring

Almost there!

And the floor is finished!!!

Looking toward the kitchen and bathroom

The barnboard trim

So much better than the walls just ending with a large gap between the wall and roof

The wood stove waiting to be cleaned up and installed

The cottage has been truly transformed. Our next task is to expand the kitchen counter (which will cover a mini refrigerator and create a breakfast bar) and install a wood stove. We're putting in a queen sized bed, a double hide-a-bed and a couple of bar stools (at the new bar). Soon, we'll be ready for our first guests!

We're still busy, busy, busy getting these projects done, but we are getting closer! I've noticed the leaves beginning to turn brown with the heat and sun, and know that the cooler days of fall will quickly follow. Hopefully, by the time the air turns crisp, our wood shed will be full to overflowing and our guest cottage will be ready to welcome its first guests. And the business of summer will give way to the quiet unfolding of winter.

Socialism.....the Greatest Pinterest Fail of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 02:36:00 +0000

japanese-pancakes-266949

We've all seen them....the amazing pictures of perfection that populate the pages of Pinterest. Photo after photo of picture-perfect living rooms, outdoor adventures and drool-worthy culinary creations. Pinterest serves to inspire our senses....but in reality, more often than not, it does little more than set us up for complete and total failure, followed by abject self-loathing. Our living rooms never look quite as perfect (people actually live in our homes), our adventures are rarely as exotic or romantic (we have limited budgets and children in tow) and our culinary endeavors are more likely to mimic those of our mother's than the French chef that inspired the chocolate raspberry macaron with vanilla bourbon glaze. And yet, in spite of knowing these truths, we still haunt the pages of Pinterest, looking for inspiration, beauty and a new, better way of living our lives.

I, too, wade through the pages of Pinterest, looking for small-space storage solutions and tea-table inspiration. I search for recipes and tiny-home layouts and permaculture tips. I am inspired and encouraged and, more often than not, humored by the outrageously perfect scenes promoted in the name of "simple" living, knowing that simplicity has very little to do with perfection. And, I take great delight in wandering through page after page of "Pinterest Fails" - the aptly named before and after pictures, taken by real people attempting to re-create the perfection depicted in the Pinterest photos, only to fail miserably, and have enough good humor to post their failures for the world to enjoy.

Not too long ago, I stumbled across a recipe entitled "Scottish Pancakes". These pancakes looked AMAZING! They were thick and perfect - light, golden and impossibly fluffy. I was instantly intrigued. I'd never seen anything like these cakes of perfection and I immediately clicked on the link, knowing I HAD to attempt this recipe. I read through the recipe, one and then twice, somewhat confused. The recipe itself looked like a fairly standard pancake recipe - flour, baking powder, milk egg, etc., nothing out of the ordinary, but the pictures were extraordinary. I couldn't quite reconcile the photo's with the recipe. The crumb and consistency were more consistent and dense than a standard pancake. The shape was tall and perfect, which to me indicated the use of a mold. The texture looked spongy......so many things didn't make sense! The ingredients and method should have produced a regular pancake....but those photo's....those were anything but "regular" pancakes!

And so, I read the reviews. Page after page, person after person, gave these "Scottish Pancakes" 5 star reviews. "These look amazing", "Sheer Perfection", and on and on and on. How could this be, I wondered? I read the recipe again, even more confused than before. Back to the reviews, only this time, I noticed something.....none of the reviewers had actually made these pancakes. They were giving the recipe 5 star reviews based on the photo alone! Every last reviewer had reviewed the photos and not the recipe....imagine that.....giving a recipe review based on a photo and NOT based on the flavor, texture and accuracy of the recipe itself?!

Months later, I happened upon another "Scottish Pancake" recipe that looked the part - golden brown, fresh from the griddle, drizzled with syrup - a typical pancake as we know it - and underneath the photo, another photo of the remarkably different "Scottish Pancakes" that had originally caught my eye. The recipe went on to acknowledge the original photo was most certainly not that of a Scottish Pancake, but a Japanese Souffle Pancake....a very different beast indeed, one rich with beaten egg whites, butter and vanilla and, lo and behold, baked in a ring mold! Had any of the reviewers of that original recipe tried to make the mile-high, light and fluffy "Scottish Pancakes", they would have failed every time.....those pancakes could not have been made with that recipe. Period.

As of late, the news has been full of liberals, both old and young, those anchored in the political system and those just finding their footing, exhorting the beauty and progressive nature of a "New Socialism". They paint a picture of perfect social harmony, with no extravagant wealth and no abject poverty, where harmony is achieved by proper government oversight. They sell a world of safety and tolerance and inclusiveness. Their picture is that of perfection - the reclamation of Paradise Lost. And the reviews come in fast and furious...."Amazing", "Everything we've ever needed", "Our Brave, New, Tolerant World". However, the recipe is flawed, and not one of the "reviewers" has actually tried it! There isn't one person on the American political stage that has actually lived under a socialist government! Not one!!! And yet, their reviews of such a government system are glowing - all 5 stars! Their perspectives are flawed, to say the least. They've lived lives blessed by the privilege of a free-market economy, all the while espousing it's evil. They are reviewing a recipe they've never tried.

The Socialism being sold is just a repackaged version of every form of socialism ever tried. No matter what picture you post with the recipe, the recipe doesn't work. There is no world in which redistributing wealth (from those who work, to those who do not) has ever produced social harmony. Ever. The recipe does not produce the desired result. Nor will it ever! It can't. The ingredients are wrong. If you use those ingredients, in any order, with any method, they will produce Cuba and Venezuela and East Germany. Every. Single. Time.

In reality, liberals are using the picture of a principled, free-market economy (what our formerly Christian nation looked like) and saying that is what Socialism looks like. It doesn't. It can't. Socialism can't and won't produce a thriving, free, sustainable culture and economy. Socialism doesn't encourage tolerance or safety or financial stability. It can't sustain justice, equality or freedom. Socialism is nothing more than a failed social experiment.

Socialism truly is the greatest Pinterest fail of all time.

The Traditions Continue....

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 02:48:00 +0000

It has been three years since the last Highland Hunt! Three years!!!! A new home, a new business, a new group of people - and finally, Sir Knight and I mustered the gumption to host another Highland Hunt!

Actually, our Highland Hunt was the second shoot we hosted this year. Our first shoot was our church's Men's Retreat shoot. And since we got the tent out of storage and gathered tables and chair, we thought we should take the opportunity to have friends and family over and host the Highland Hunt in the true Highlands!! Although we didn't dress up as we usually do, we did cook up a feast and had an incredible afternoon of fun, fellowship and firearms!!

And now we pick up where we left off!!

Getting ready for the men's retreat

Clays and shot stacked high

A thing of beauty!

Master Hand Grenade, Miss Serenity and Sir Knight, ready to roll

The dessert and drinks table

A few of the shotguns (and Dragon Snack in the background)

The calm before the store (it had been raining and we hadn't put the chairs up around the fire-pit yet)

Some of the vehicles

They even let us girls shoot!!!

Sir Knight and Master Hand Grenade at the Highland Hunt

Miss Serenity killing clays!

Master Hand Grenade

Master Calvin blasting clays (with Sir Knight manning the clay thrower)

Serenity and Calvin shooting together (we ran two clay throwers)

Hand Grenade, Calvin and Sir Knight at the pistol range

My boys!!

The Stuff of Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 01:09:00 +0000

Every once in a while you have a perfectly normal day, but in that perfectly normal day is the stuff of memories. Today was just such a day.

Another 8 inches of snow fell overnight, insulating us in perfect silence. The beauty of the forests dressed in white is awe inspiring, setting the backdrop for a positively Currier and Ives winter day.

After the boys (Knight and Master) headed off to the shop, the children and I got to work on school and cleaning. We had our chores finished quickly and the school load was light so we thought of a few fun things to do while we watched the snow fall heavily around the house. Snack and I decided to try our hand at homemade marshmallows since we hadn't done that before, and it sounded like a fun afternoon project.

Freshly cut marshmallows

Next time I'll use a smaller pan so that the marshmallows are thicker

While the marshmallows set up we whipped up a batch of Welsh cakes to have when the guys got home from the shop. It turned into regular celebration when my parents (my Dad had been plowing snow ALL day) joined us for coffee, tea and Welsh cakes. Such festivities!!!!

Snack, shoveling away

Snack and Calvin digging a tunnel

In between baking and merry making, the children spent their afternoon digging snow forts and walk ways.

Hot cocoa with freshly made marshmallows

Our perfectly normal day was truly the stuff of memories!!

Homemade Marshmallows

3 T unflavored gelatin powder
1/3 C cold water
3 C granulated sugar
1 1/2 C water
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 C cornstarch
1/3 C powdered sugar

Soak the gelatin in the 1/3 of a cup of cold water in a small bowl and set aside to swell for 10 minutes.

In a large saucepan dissolve the sugar in the 1 1/2 C of water over low heat, stirring constantly.

Add the swollen gelatin and dissolve.

Raise the temperature and bring to a boil.

Boil steadily, but not vigorously, for 15 minutes without stirring.

Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl, or mixer and add the vanilla and beat the mixture until very thick and white.

Spray a 9x13 pan (or 9x9 for taller marshmallows) with non-stick spray and pour the mixture into the pan.

Let set completely - about 2 hours.

Cut into square and dust with the mixture of cornstarch and powdered sugar. *

* I found it easier to use a dough cutter to cut the marshmallows rather than a knife. Super easy with no mess!

Welsh Cakes

2 C flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
pinch salt
1 C butter, cold
1/2 C sugar
2/3 C currents (optional)
2 eggs
4 T milk

Whisk together the dry ingredients (except sugar). Using a pastry cutter, cut in the butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Stir in the sugar and currents (if using).

Make a well in the center - add eggs and milk. Using a fork, mix until the dough comes together.

Roll the dough out until it is the thickness of your little finger. Cut out with a round, fluted cookie cutter. Heat griddle (medium). Spray with cooking spray (or butter), unless you are using a non-stick griddle.

Bake approximately 3 - 4 minutes. Flip over and cook for another 3 - 4 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar (or slather with butter and jam). Serve warm.

Preparing for a Power Outage while living On-Grid

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 23:34:00 +0000

It's funny how things change! For eighteen years, we lived off-grid, doing everything the hard way. Winter was like a challenge course, one that if you persevered to the end, it meant that you got to do it all again the next year. I never would have thought that we would once again be living in the world of grid supplied electricity, and truthfully, it has been like a breath of fresh air. Grid power is so inexpensive compared with generator power! For roughly $25 to $50 dollar a month we run an entire household (plus additional living quarters for both Master and Serenity) compared with $50 - $75 dollars a week to live off grid (and that's just for fuel for the generator - not including heat or hot water). We take showers when we want, flush the toilet every time, water the garden without thinking......we just enjoy first world living at its finest. But, there is one thing that we weren't prepared for......power outages!!

Living off-grid we rarely had a power outage. We knew our system inside out and were intimately involved in every process of producing our own electricity. Now, like a majority of American's we are merely consumers rather than producers. We are far removed from producing our own electricity, therefore we never know when to expect to lose it. And lose it we do.....a lot.

We live in a very, very, rural part of America. And we live about 15 miles out of the nearest town on a gravel road. There are only about 3 other families that live "out here" and because of that, we are low man on the totem pole when it comes to repairing failed power lines. In addition to living "out" we are also in a snow belt. We get roughly twice the amount of snow (or more) out here than we do in town at our butcher shop. We truly do live in Narnia......where it is "always winter and never Christmas".

It will be fun to see our roof slide again!!

And here we have Narnia

As with the rest of the Northwest, we are experiencing a large snow-producing weather system. We have gotten roughly 18" of snow in the last 24 hours are are expecting an additional 21" before Wednesday. And so, I prepare. I am expecting the power to go out, at least for a while. Of course it may not, but you know me - I'd rather be prepared and have the power stay on than do nothing and be without power with no preparation.

Without a generator backup (we do have one, but won't use it unless really necessary) or solar panels and batteries, our preparations look different than when we lived off-grid. Knowing that we have a winter weather advisory, there are a number of things I do, just in case.

Today I've spent the day making sure I'm caught up on everything that may require water. I've done all the laundry, gotten children in the shower, done the dishes a few times and filled pitchers and coolers with water. I have a large military water cooler with a spigot that is perfect for kitchen use. It holds enough potable water for our needs for at least a day. I also have another large stainless steel thermos (its huge, really) that I fill and put on the bathroom vanity for bathroom use. We do have an outhouse, however, we'd really rather use the toilet in the house. In anticipation of no power, I fill the bathtub to the tippy top and put a pitcher nearby, which enables us to use the indoor plumbing by filling the back of the toilet with water out of the bathtub. Used appropriately, this method lasts for quite awhile. The bathtub also provides us with water to heat to keep up with dish washing. We also have a large number of Water Bricks on a shelf in our bedroom, in case we need even more potable water. If we run out of potable water in all of our vessels, then we start the generator for a few minutes to fill everything. In a worse case scenario we have (my parent have) a hand pump for our well, along with two year around creeks that we can draught water from.

Water at the ready in the bathroom

Bathtub full of water

Potable water at the kitchen sink

Pitchers full

The cooking/heating part of our life on grid is about what it was like when we lived off-grid. We still have a wood cook stove, so meals are easy, and heating is the same, only easier. Our house is very well insulated and heating our home, even during the coldest of times, takes nothing more than a few dry pieces of wood. We also have a propane stove/oven, which requires no electricity, making cooking when the power is out no different than when the grid is up.

Our little wood cook stove

One of the biggest differences to off-grid living is lighting. When we lived off-grid, we used LED lighting and were easily able to keep the lights on, even with minimal battery back-up. Now, we have no batteries so lighting is a little bit trickier. Our off-grid lighting is what it was when we first moved off-grid - oil lamps! I have kept our favorite oil lamps and make a habit of keeping them cleaned and full in the winter (when we are most likely to experience power outages). I have them placed around the house so that they are easily pulled into service when we need them. I also keep a hurricane lantern by the door to take to the outhouse should we need to. I spent the morning charging our rechargeable batteries. I have a number of electric candles (which I find make a house cozy, while providing just enough light to keep us from tripping over things) and flashlights that take AA batteries. It only makes sense to make sure they're fully charged while the electricity is on rather than find out they're dead when you can't charge them. I also take some time to make sure the electronics are charged. It's nice to be able to put music on when the power is out, and perhaps watch a movie on the computer. I even have a converter that has a car adapter so that computers (or larger electronics) can be charged - that can be pretty handy.

Hanging oil lamp in the dining room

Hurricane Lanter

Car adapter power converter

When it comes to food and supplies, I don't head to the store, but I do head to the container. I sent the kids out earlier to bring in toilet paper and tissues. They filled gallon jars that were getting low (salt and oatmeal, powder milk and baking cocoa) and brought in water containers. We shoveled snow (its easier to shovel now and then after another big snow) and took care of animals. We filled the hearth with firewood (just so we don't have to head back outside) and made a fresh batch of hot chocolate mix. And now we can just watch it snow!

Electric candles

Just the right amount of light!

We still prepare. It just looks different. In some ways it is much easier and in others I feel vulnerable. We'll keep working and get to the point that we have backups for our backups, but these things take time, and money. We'll get there. But ultimately, you can take the off-grid out of the girl, but you can't take the girl out of the off-grid!

Stay safe. Stay warm. Be prepared!!

Nonessential Functions

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 05:11:00 +0000

Over the years, I have come to realize that it takes me longer than I think it should to regain my bearing after a major life change. Every time we welcomed a new child into our family it took at least a year for me to feel like "me". When we would move, I would regain my equilibrium in about a year and a half. I functioned well and accomplished what I needed to accomplish, but I shut down all nonessential functions and concentrated on immediate and essential concerns only. It takes time for me to emerge from "fight or flight" and settle into a fully rounded, fully functioning lifestyle.

It is now a year and a half since we've moved and opened our own business and I'm just beginning to get nonessential functions back on line. This blog has been nonessential. As much as I have missed sharing our lives with you, it wasn't a necessary function and so it has been woefully neglected. The blog, along with myriad other pleasures in life, have taken a back seat to trying to keep my head above water in wholly uncharted territory. And, at this point, I can't say with any certainty that I will be writing with any regularity - but I will write when I am able. I promise!!!

Right now, we are in our "slow season" at the butcher shop and I can't tell you how thankful I am!! One of the most challenging aspects of our new life has been learning how to integrate our home life with our work life. I've had to learn how to school the children and run a business - at the same time. I have found it incredibly challenging to work at the butcher shop and still school the kids, manage our home and be a good wife and mother. The learning curve is steep.

The butcher shop was extraordinarily busy from late August through the beginning of January. The kids became accustomed to doing school in the office and then helping on the cutting room floor. Calvin (Master Calvin) learned to debone meat, help skin and weigh hamburger for wrapping. Snack (Princess Dragon Snack) became adept at wrapping and labeling meat, along with answering phones and taking cut lists. Elizabeth (Maid Elizabeth) and Serenity (Miss Serenity) ran our slaughter team, along with our pastor, and were more often than not covered in blood from head to toe! Our butcher shop is truly a family enterprise.

Connor skinning a lamb

Sabin working on a cow (in her fire fighting greens)

Knight (Sir Knight) and Master (Master Hand Grenade) ran the cutting room floor masterfully and gained a reputation for top-notch work. Although we had a few challenges, with equipment and suppliers, and we dealt with a few unhappy customers, our first year in business was very rewarding. Truth be told, it was harder than we had expected it to be. I was ill-prepared for the customer challenges involved in a service industry. Most of our customers were very happy with our work, some singing our praises, but we did have a few that were decidedly unhappy - and that was hard to take. We are learning and we are pushing forward and we are trusting that God has us exactly where He wants us.

Our first year and a half has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. We have been humbled and we have been exalted. And we are exactly where we should be.

Thank you for your patience and your understanding as I navigate these uncharted waters. I hope to write soon. All the best, Enola (Enola Gay).

The Business of Butchering

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 04:20:00 +0000

What a year this has been!! Our butcher shop has been open for almost a year - November 20th will mark our 1 year anniversary. It has been a year of ups and down, of learning and struggling, but mostly of getting our feet under us.

Although we started off slowly, with crazy busy times thrown in for good measure, we have continued to have just enough work to keep us going. We have had return customers and customers that have been referred by our other customers. And as fall has drawn closer our calendar has begun to fill. In fact, just today, I scheduled 8 beef to be slaughtered, along with 2 pigs!

Last week, our county fair came to a close and we were called upon to slaughter a number of the animals. We filled our cooler with 14 additional swine and 4 additional steers - and this week, the animals just keep on coming.

As we work our way through the domestic animals in our cooler, we are also butchering wild game. Our area is the gateway to incredible wilderness, known for an abundance of game, so we've established a "Hunter Hotline" allowing hunters to get ahold of us after hours so that we can get their game into the cooler. We've already processed 6 elk, and hunting season has barely begun.

In anticipation of our busy season, we made a huge order to the butcher supply that we use. Butcher paper and hand-wrap plastic arrived by the pallet load, along with roast netting, knives, and aprons. "Not for Resale" tape and polyester freezer labels are stacked deep and we have 72 milk crates due to be delivered this week. We are ramping up for what promises to be a busy year.

We have learned so much in the past 10 months. We've refined our systems and tuned our methods. We've learned what works and what doesn't. We've learned our plant's strengths and its weaknesses. An unexpected weakness that we found was our rail system that comes through the door onto our cutting room floor. We purchased a rail system that had been removed from a university's Meat Sciences department. It was designed and built by the same university's engineering department and had served the university well for years. We have used it for 10 months with no problems, until.....a huge beef, weighing 800 pounds a HALF came through our doors. Apparently 1600 pounds of beef flesh was just too much for our 3/8" flat bar - it crumpled under the pressure! We had to do some fancy footwork to get the beef in the door and then we had to remove the bent flat bar and replace it with 1/2 flat bar!

The bent rail

Butchering the huge steer!

The phone is ringing off the hook and we are putting animals in little white packages just as quickly as we can. We truly have been blessed beyond measure in this business of butchering!

Beyond the Green Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 04:22:00 +0000

It hit me at Mile Marker 38. Brown. The Mile Markers where brown. I was home. Really and truly home.

For years I had been a wanderer in a strange land. I drove city streets and suburban by-ways, reading blue street signs as they flashed by my window. I deftly merged with multiple lanes of traffic and maneuvered round-abouts with ease. For thirty years the blue and green highway markers defined my world, a world both semi-rural and urban. A world far from the road-signs of my youth.

From time to time I would venture into the mountains where the trees grew tall and the streams ran cold and I would be come overcome with an indefinable longing. A longing for what, I did not know. I would drive past roads marked with numbers rather than names and grow quietly contemplative, filled with a deep yearning in my soul. I would drive, and think, and dream, not quite knowing what caused such disquiet in my very being.

And then, last week, as I was driving home from town, I noticed Mile Marker 38. Mile Marker 38 - almost camouflaged in the trees, in a gorgeous shade of brown. At that moment, I knew I was home. I realized that the yearning that had plagued me for so many years was gone - it had been replaced by a deep sense of contentment - of belonging. As I drove past Mile Marker 38, I saw another brown sign, then another, announcing Road 100 and Bear Creek Cutoff - and in that moment I knew that a longing in my soul had been realized - a longing to live where the signs are brown and the grass is green. It was a desire to live past the green signs of the interstate and blue signs of bustling towns and sleepy hamlets. I had had a deep longing to live where the pavement ends, where you wave at every car you pass and where the roads are announced in brown - a longing to live beyond the green signs.

Now, here I am. And I am home.

Shall we Reacquainted Ourselves??

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 03:48:00 +0000

I'm so very sorry for my silence over the last few months. I have been hoping and waiting for a "new normal", but I've learned that, for now, there is to be no "new normal". Our lives have taken such a drastic turn of direction that I seem to be constantly running to catch up. This is not a bad thing.....just not what I was expecting!! My "new normal" is that there is no "normal". Please bear with me as I adjust and re-adjust and adjust again. This is a great adventure!!

A few pictures to catch us up!! As some of you know, we now live in "open range" country. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it means we live way out!!!! A curse because we are constantly running over cow pies - my least favorite sound ever - and we have to fence to keep these destructive critters out! We spend our summers opening and closing cattle gates every time we leave our house! I'm telling you, that gets OLD!!!

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this summer!!! 50 years!!! Our family is not one to have huge parties - we're rather quiet folk - so we just had a simple gathering in the back yard with our closest of close.

A backyard celebration

The ever-present gramophone

All set up for tea and cake

Almost ready

The one unique thing we did to celebrate their anniversary was have a cake made to look like a stack of stones. Why stone you ask? Because we wanted to remember and be reminded. So many, many times in the Old Testament, God directed His children to stack piles of stones so they would remember what He had done for them. He instructed them to tell their children and their children's children what He had done. He instructed them to stack stones as a memorial to His providence and care for His children. And we stacked stones with my parents. The stack of stones in their cake represents the mighty work that God has done in my parents lives - the trials that He has brought them through and blessings He has poured out upon them. As we visited and laughed and drank tea, my parents told us of His mighty works. They remembered His goodness. They told their children and their grandchildren and we remembered.

Sir Knight and Master Hand Grenade

Our joyous, intimate celebration

Sir Knight cutting the Stacked Stones cake

Master Calvin churning ice cream

We haven't been the only busy ones this summer - Miss Serenity has been spending her days fighting wildfires! She spent many, many hours on the fire line, along with unending hours digging hand lines around potential fire sites. She worked hard and had the honor of being assigned to a specialized task force that was stationed for initial attacks on fire within a 3 hour radius of her location. She was on the dozer crew and worked 15 hour days for 21 days in a row! Such an experience!!

The girls and I recently took a 10 hour road trip and saw some incredibly beautiful country! On the way home, we stopped at a wooden suspension bridge over a particularly amazing river. What views!!! And the bridge itself is a work of art! It was a much needed pit-stop!!!!

Princess Dragon Snack walking across the bridge. It swings as you walk!!

Incredible engineering

The water is so clear!!

And this is what we picked up on our road trip! Now the butcher shop office will be nice and warm!!! After freezing our toes off last winter, this will be a life-saver!!!

The butcher shop is doing well. It has been steady, but not busy, through the summer and now we've begun our busy season. Over the weekend we picked up 14 pigs and 4 steers at the county fair, along with 2 steers, a lamb, 3 pigs, 3 elk and a few other things already hanging in the cooler! We have a full house!!!

I hope this summer has been a blessing for all of you. Until next time......

Do We Still Choose Independence??

noreply@blogger.com (Enola Gay) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 01:22:00 +0000

".....Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transit Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shown, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security......"

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America