Serenity in the Suburbs

What Will My Sons Say About Me When I Am 90?

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:10:00 +0000

I am still "hibernating," but I saw this video on Sharon's blog, and thought I'd like to share it here. Though this style isn't my typical listening fare, as I listened to it, my heart was truly touched. It also made me wonder...if I live to be 90 (I don't really think I will, but if I did), what will my sons say about me?

As I move out of my homeschooling "career" in just a few short months, and watch my young adult sons move away from home, I realize that the time I have to impart any last bits of full-time-motherly-wisdom to their hearts is growing desperately short. The message of this song is a message I dearly long for them to take with them when they go.

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Hibernation...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year! 2012 will be a year of a GREAT MANY changes for me and my household, Lord willing! Bryan will leave our home in March for a 3 month internship out in New York. He'll return in mid-May just in time (like, with 24 hours to spare) to attend his college commencement ceremony, and then, two weeks later, will turn around and head back out for a summer internship and possibly a year-long apprenticeship. Amongst the unknowns is the likelihood that, from here on out, he will return to this home only to visit, but not to live. I know it will be bittersweet, but I am happy for him, and I pray that God will bless him and that, in the coming years, He will grant Bryan the desires of his heart...land to farm, sheep, cattle, and chickens to raise, customers to buy the good food he provides, and a family of his own to love and raise for the Lord.

Nathan will leave us in August of this year to go away to college and study electrical engineering. This, too, will be bittersweet and will have its own special anxieties, but, as I am with Bryan, I am happy and excited for Nathan. He has grown up with tremendous challenges, and, with the most beautiful heart of acceptance and obedience to the call of God upon all areas of his life, he has walked with his Lord and has come out the victor in the strength of Christ! I am so incredibly proud of him! Because of Nathan, I have learned so much about submitting to the Lord's will, even when that means suffering and sadness. I know that God has him in the palm of His hand, and I'm excited to see where He takes Nathan in the coming years!

I began blogging in March of 2009. I had a story to tell (it's a free ebook, now), and the story has come full circle. I've said hello to new friendships through blogging, said goodbye to others who've gone from the blogosphere, and have enjoyed reading everyone's stories and the sharing of lives. Yet, I have to admit, I'm tired these days! God has brought, in the last 3 or 4 months, big changes to our lives in our church, our friendships, and our responsibilities to extended family. It's been emotionally draining in so many ways, and I'm in need of a time of some "bloggy-hibernation" now. Inspired by the posts written by Laura Booz titled, "Social Media, Behave!," I've decided it's a good time to re-evaluate what all I'm doing online. For the month of January (and maybe February, too), my desire is to use the creative and physical time and energy I've spent at here at Blogger on the things that are pulling me right here in my own home and in my community. I hope to come back after this month's time of rejuvination, if things ever slow down here! I'll try to visit your blogs now and then to keep in touch while I'm hibernating for a while! Some of us communicate via phone and email...that is always welcome!

Again, Happy New Year! And now...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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You've Been Processed...We've ALL Been Processed

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:28:00 +0000

If you've ever watched the video, "Food, Inc..," you know a little bit about what's behind industrial agriculture's love affair with government subsidized corn. Those of you who've seen this movie might think you know more than a little bit. But "Food, Inc.." is just the introduction to the repulsive world of processed food and the money that motivates this "kingdom." It's a good introduction, nonetheless.

An even more thorough treatise of the world of subsidized corn and soybeans can be found by reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma," by Michael Pollen. I highly recommend this fascinating book!

While you're waiting for your trip to the library to get it, watch this little clip from "Processed People." If you don't believe that you are being used by a money-grubbing "system" that wants your money for the rest of your life and steals your life from you in the process, well, I can't help you.

God created food for us to eat. Precious little of what is in your local supermarket bears any resemblance to real food. Know what you're eating. Seek out locally grown, fresh, real food. Remember, every time you pass a grocery store item across the scanner and it makes that little "beep," that's a vote. That's YOUR VOTE for the kind of food you want sold in your community. Vote wisely.

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My Journey to Honest Food: Danger in Industrially-Raised Meats

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:05:00 +0000

For several years now, I have known something about meat raised in our modern "industrial agriculture" system. Because of what I know, I no longer eat this kind of meat. Except on rare occasion, I only eat organically-raised meats, and the vast majority of the beef that I eat has eaten nothing but grass its whole life (chickens eat lots of stuff besides grass, of course).

What is it that I know? Here's a starter video that will share some of the scariest fallout of modern industrial agriculture:

God created food for us to eat. Precious little of what is in your local supermarket bears any resemblance to real food. Know what you're eating. Seek out locally grown, fresh, real food. Remember, every time you pass a grocery store item across the scanner and it makes that little "beep," that's a vote. That's YOUR VOTE for the kind of food you want sold in your community. Vote wisely.

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'Twas the Night After Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:49:00 +0000

It's been an incredibly busy, non-stop-kind-of-week, but wonderful. We've had plenty of extended-family time, and now the last of the Christmas gatherings are over and my house is warm and quiet...with the exception of the Bears vs. Packers football game on TV! We have 2 Packer-Backers and 2 Bears Fans in our home. So at least we're even!

My sweet husband replaced our broken Keurig coffee maker with a new and improved model! And my darling sons gave me gift cards to Caribou and Jamba Juice...my two favorite "to go" places...along with sweet cards thanking me for helping them to achieve so much in their lives. I was so touched, and blessed by their words, affirming the years and years of work that has gone into parenting and homeschooling them. Bryan will be leaving home in mid-March, and Nathan will be off to college in August. The remaining months of my career as a homeschool mom will, no doubt, fly by at lightening speed.

Our day began with breakfast and then a beautiful church service, with Scriptures and traditional caroles/hymns of Christmas. We arrived home around noon, ate lunch, and then opened gifts. We liked doing things in that order!

Soon we will be off to visit our friends in North Carolina, and Bryan will take time out of that trip to go to Virginia and Polyface Farm for the second-half of his "application" for a summer internship there. It is in God's hands, and we are grateful that He is in control!

I hope you've had a joyous Christmas, and will continue to rejoice over this most marvelous gift from God!

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Norweigan Girls' Choir ~ Personent Hodie

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:41:00 +0000

Merry Christmas Eve!

Personent Hodie. One of my favorite Christmas carols, first published in 1582, but possibly penned as early as 1360! Enjoy this rendition by the Norweigan Girls' Choir in Oslo, the video part of Rick Steve's European Christmas:

Lyrics (Latin/English):

Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus,
et de virgineo ventre procreatus.
On this day earth shall ring
with the song children sing
to the Lord, Christ our King,
born on earth to save us;
him the Father gave us.
Refrain:
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o,
Id-e-o gloria in excelsis Deo!

In mundo nascitur,
pannis involvitur
praesepi ponitur
stabulo brutorum,
rector supernorum.
perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

His the doom, ours the mirth;
when he came down to earth,
Bethlehem saw his birth;
ox and ass beside him
from the cold would hide him.
(Refrain)

Magi tres venerunt,
munera offerunt,
parvulum inquirunt,
stellulam sequendo,
ipsum adorando,
aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.

God's bright star, o'er his head,
Wise Men three to him led;
kneel they low by his bed,
lay their gifts before him,
praise him and adore him.
(Refrain)

Omnes clericuli,
pariter pueri,
cantent ut angeli:
advenisti mundo,
laudes tibi fundo.
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

On this day angels sing;
with their song earth shall ring,
praising Christ, heaven's King,
born on earth to save us;
peace and love he gave us.
(Refrain)

The first page of Personent hodie in the original version of the Piae Cantiones.
Personent hodie is a Christmas carol originally published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, a volume of 74 Medieval songs with Latin texts collected by Jaakko Suomalainen, a Swedish Lutheran cleric, and published by T.P. Rutha. The song book had its origins in the libraries of cathedral song schools, whose repertory had strong links with medieval Prague, where clerical students from Finland and Sweden had studied for generations. A melody found in a 1360 manuscript from the nearby Bavarian city of Moosburg in Germany is highly similar, and it is from this manuscript that the song is usually dated. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personent_hodie )

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Beautiful Christmas, Simple and Traditional

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:37:00 +0000

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

I want to share one of my favorite Christmas videos, "Rick Steve’s Christmas in Europe." These two brief clips share my favorite part of the show (each is about 5-1/2 minutes long). I love the peacefulness, the simplicity, and the picture of the family generations coming together, and sharing the Scripture reading of the birth of Christ. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Rick Steve’s Christmas in Europe ~ Part 9

Rick Steve’s Christmas in Europe ~ Part 10

May God bless you and your families as you focus on the beauty of God’s plan for His children,
and all that "Emmanuel" means to you.

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Just a Little Silliness...

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:20:00 +0000

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A Sweet Young Lady...

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:48:00 +0000

I've just recently discovered that a sweet young lady-friend of mine has a blog! I always enjoy the blogs of Christian young ladies, and this one is bringing me much reading pleasure today, so I thought I'd share it with you! "Phia" is in the middle of deciphering the seemingly mysterious "Twelve Days of Christmas" for us. Here is the opening of her first post in this series:

"It has always been a puzzlement to me as to why 'My True Love' was so inconsiderately generous ... I mean where is one to store 23 fowls (not including 8 cows!), and 50 surplus people?? That isn't even taking into account that one is responsible to feed them all ...

*dink-dink*

It wasn't until yesterday evening that my curiosity was satiated, when Mum read to us from a book titled, The Real 12 Days of Christmas

{by Helen Haidle}.

It begins by explaining that in England, sometime during the sixteenth century, any religion, other than the proclaimed state religion, was forbidden. Thus, over the next three centuries, the individuals who refused to adhere to this law developed creative ways to teach the children their beliefs."

Visit her blog, Simple Delights, to continue reading (this series begins with post date 12/13/11). I think she's a great writer, and I know...I KNOW...that she loves and serves Christ with all her heart! She's a blessing to me, and she's got some great healthy-raw-food-cooking talent to boot. I hope you enjoy her writing as I do!

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My Journey to Honest Food: Meet Trina!

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:35:00 +0000

I came across this on another blog, and decided to order it. I'm so happy that I did! Since I'm working my way into and through the "Nourishing Traditions" methods of cooking and other "simple foods" books, I liked how Trina started the same way, and has shared how she's worked this more time-consuming but oh-so-worth-it-way-of-cooking into her busy life.

Learn more at Trina's blog.

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Winding Down...

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Aaaaaahhh...Monday morning. Finally!

Not words I would typically speak, especially coupled with a post title of "Winding Down." But today is a nice Monday morning for me. It's the Monday morning after a weekend of hosting. We had a Ladies' Christmas Tea on Friday, and then our monthly all-church fellowship gathering yesterday following services. It's LOTS of fun! We clean up (a team effort) pretty quickly on Sunday night, after the guests have gone home and before bed, so there's no mess to wake up to.

So it's nice to wake up Monday morning, pour a cup of coffee, and just listen to the quiet for a while. I am done "hosting" now for the season, other than a small family dinner on Christmas Day, not much more than any other Sunday. I am officially "winding down." It's a lovely feeling!

I got up today at 6:30am to give Bryan a good breakfast and a loving send-off to the college this morning. It is the first day of "Finals Week" there, and he is taking three exams today. It is his biggest exam day of the week. He has tests tomorrow and Wednesday, too; then he'll work (he's a student assistant for one of his professors) on Thursday (no tests to take, just helping to grade tests this time), and on Friday he has a luncheon and evaluation time for his role as a Student Ambassador at the college. Then he'll be on vacation! So we figure that by Wednesday, when the last exam question is answered, he'll be "winding down."

Nathan has a normal school week with the exception of a final exam on Wednesday for the Calculus course he takes at the college. He also takes a computer programming course there, but I believe they did a "final project" this last week, rather than an exam, so I think that's done. Like Bryan, after the exam on Wednesday, he will be "winding down."

The only thing that isn't yet winding down is the knife sharpening business. That old phone is still ringing (it just rang now, in fact!) so I'll need to rouse myself to start returning the weekend's worth of email and phone inquiries, and set up appointments for customers. Thanksgiving was really busy, with everyone cooking so much, but we seem to be pretty steady even now with calls. That's a blessing for Bryan's future farm...cuz it's going to take a lot of cash to get that started!

I wish you peace and joy this Monday morning, my friends!

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Tea Talk with Ruth...12/8/11

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:03:00 +0000

Click the graphic above to join me and our lovely hostess, Ruth,
for Tea Talk each Thursday!

I'm having...Caribou Blend coffee in my white everyday mug.

I'm feeling... Pressed for time. Asking God for help to just pace myself evenly with no wasted minutes the next 5 hours...I have a gathering here tomorrow but I leave the house at 2pm today, and won't be back until almost midnight, so I have to finish everything now.

On my mind... Mary and Martha. Though Martha's tasks were a reality, Jesus said that Mary chose the better thing to focus on...Him. I have many tasks, but my goal is warm and cozy fellowship for my guests, not "entertaining" my guests. There is a vast difference, and the tasks involved with hosting events -- especially in a time crunch like the one I'm in -- can cause a hostess to lose sight of the goal: that the name of Jesus would be lifted up, and that God would be pleased.

My theme verse for December:

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'” (Luke 2:10-14)

My silly dog, who always likes to come to Tea Talk.

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Friday (on Sunday!) FarmGirls@Heart...The Tree Farm (Part 2 of 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:12:00 +0000

"There is rhythm to being a farmgirl. It is the rhythm of working hard when there is work to be done. It is the rhythm of finding joy in the "doing" of the work. It is also the rhythm of slowing down to enjoy each moment."

~Rene Groom

To join the Fun of Friday FarmGirls@Heart, please include a link to my blog in your post, or grab one of my FFG buttons for your posts and to place in your sidebar! You can grab code HERE.

I'm a couple of days late posting this...my apologies! Fellowshipping with dear friends as we share a precious family tradition...old to us, one-year-new to them :-)

This was our trip, the day after Thanksgiving, taken with Christine and her family up north into Wisconsin to visit our favorite Christmas tree farm, CaPaul's. We each found just the right tree, took care of business, then headed back home, stopping at the "Mouse House" for goodies and Cracker Barrel in Janesville for dinner.

Meanwhile, back on the "ranch" this past week...

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Tea Talk with Ruth...12/1/11

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000

(First of two posts today)

Click the graphic above to join me and our lovely hostess, Ruth,
for Tea Talk each Thursday!

I'm having...Green Mountain's Island Coconut coffee in one of my new, everyday mugs.
I'm feeling... Like I'm well on my way to a finish-line in terms of a heavy, burdensome administrative load this week.
On my mind... Lots of little things, a couple of big things; thinking a bit about what I'll do with my life once Nathan is graduated and gone to college and I have an empty nest. Many ideas have come, most have gone, but three remain and the possibilities swirl around in my brain!

My theme verse for December:

“'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, (Luke 2:10-14)
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'”

My silly dog, who always likes to come to Tea Talk.

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A Thankful Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Creator Lord,

through whom everything

in this earth grows--

sweet bananas, fat plantains,

sour oranges, dry yams,

rice, corn, and peanuts

from which this good soup is squeezed--

who let the sharp red peppers grow that keep us

healthy and burn stomachs clean;

who let fresh water burst from the ground,

good, fresh water....

Bless for us this meal,

our loving God and Father. Amen.

--Prayer of a young Ghanaian Christian

(Extending the Table...A World Community Cookbook
by Joetta Handrich Schlabach; pg. 75)

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Precious Christmas Gifts that Change Lives

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 07:31:00 +0000

Here in the United States we are living through what I find to be one of the more disgusting times of the year...the shopping frenzy that begins the day after Thanksgiving and will continue until the New Year. Personally, I like to shop for Christmas gifts for my family and friends online as much as possible, or to make gifts when appropriate.

I know some people who have, for one reason or another, dismissed Christmas pretty much altogether. I comprehend their stated reasoning, but it saddens me, nonetheless, and I cannot agree. Outside of Revelation, where else in Scripture do we find the Heavenly host appearing, thousands of them perhaps, and singing praise and glory to God in the highest except at the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem? The angels celebrated the birth of Christ...and I do, too. I completely understand the disgust at the commercialism of Christmas, and the materialistic sewage that permeates everything around us. I hate it, too. I know Scripture doesn't speak to us of decorated trees and frosted cookies. These are the cultural traditions of men. But this is the time of year when the unsaved world finds themselves "celebrating" a day that exists because Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. We have a unique, once-a-year platform to share with those around us precisely what Christmas is. My family feels that our participation gives us an opportunity at this time of year to reach out to a world that is desperately empty and seeking, to people who are trying so hard to find that "meaning" in Christmas that they perhaps knew 40 or 50 years ago but that is now lost, and they cannot find it because all they have are the stores and the stuff...and they are longing for something more. We have the opportunity to show them something else.

So, about 5 years ago, we made a change in our Christmas, in order to bring the focus back to where it should be, and to demonstrate to our unsaved relatives, in a tangible way, a different kind of Christmas. May I say, it has made an impact on everyone. Instead of getting caught up in shopping for gifts at the malls, we decided to give gifts that would change lives, in honor of those for whom we bought gifts. We purchase and give the "gifts" in the name of Jesus, praying that He would bless the actual receiver of the gift (a stranger to us in this life) as well as the loved one in whose honor we purchase the gift. Here are three of the life-changing gift options that we like to give as Christmas gifts to our family and friends, as well as to our own children:

For Christian relatives and friends:
Give the gift of partnership in providing God's Word to unreached people-groups, in their own native language, with Wycliffe's Gift Catalog. Bob Cresen, President of Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA, writes, "You will find 18 opportunities to be involved in sharing the Good News this Christmas— the Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ. That wonderful message still needs to reach many people in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America who, much like the people of Bethlehem on that first Christmas night, are still waiting to hear the Good News message. What an incredible privilege God has given us to bring them the message of salvation in the language that speaks to their hearts!"

For both saved and unsaved relatives and friends:
Help Operation Smile provide life-changing surgery for children with facial deformities...this is a dramatic Christmas gift to give in honor of your own loved family members, and is one of my favorites! One year, we purchased one complete surgery for a child for $240 and "gave it" to each member of our extended family (there were 8 family members and friends who "received" this gift...our budget at that time was $30 per person/couple). Other times, we've purchased a smaller portion of a surgery, and have given that as the gift.

OR...
Give the gift of partnership with Heifer International in providing the way for a lifetime of food, income, self-sufficiency, and community for people in need. What fun for your loved ones to open your gift card and find out that, thanks to you, they've given a water buffalo to a needy family in Africa!

Each year we give a gift of a Heifer animal to our children as one of their Christmas gifts.They love to learn what kind of animal they're getting each year! More imporatnatly, they've learned the truth of the old saying, "'Tis better to give than to recieve." Heifer makes "giving" just as much fun as "getting."

If you and your family are looking for a better way to "do" Christmas, don't just throw away the entire holiday...throw away the world's intrusion on it, and get back to a practice of using what you have to bless someone in need, to give of your abundance (if you live in the US and have a warm home and food this November/December, then you have an abundance compared to the rest of the world...watch some of the videos I've provided) and change the life of another soul you will never meet this side of Heaven. Ask God to use your gift to open that person's heart and mind to the Good News of Christ's coming to Earth to save them, and ask Him to send a believer to that person to share this wonderful news!

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Friday FarmGirls@Heart: The Tree Farm (Second Post Today)

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:42:00 +0000

~Rene Groom

To join the Fun of Friday FarmGirls@Heart, please include a link to my blog in your post, or grab one of my FFG buttons for your posts and to place in your sidebar! You can grab code HERE.

I'm so excited! Today we will bring Christine and her family with us up north into Wisconsin to visit our favorite Christmas tree farm, CaPaul's. We will hike into the rows of evergreen trees with our saws, and pick out just the right trees. Then we'll let our teenage and college age boys get down on the ground and saw through the trunks, and then carry them to the shaking and netting areas. We will sip hot apple cider, and visit the touristy "Cheese Haus" down the road. Then we'll get back on the highway for the 3 hour drive home, which will be lengthened by a wonderful stop for dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Good fellowship, good fun, good food, all with good friends. What a gift!

Here's how to join the fun:

1) Grab an FFG (Friday FarmGirls) Button for your blog and post it in your sidebar so others can join with you. I have 6 styles you can choose from, and you can get code HERE.

2) Write your post and publish it on Friday...be sure to put your FFG Button at the top of your post, and link it to my blog ( http://www.illinoislori.blogspot.com/ ) so your friends will know where to come to join in each week.

3) Add your name and the URL of your post to the "Mister Linky" provided at the end of my post each week.

4) Leave me a comment, and visit the blogs of the other participants listed and leave them comments as well. If you visit and leave comments, you'll be visited and receive comments...it's as simple as that!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 06:01:00 +0000

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My Journey to Honest Food: YOU Will Make The Decision

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Can the American Family Farm survive? YOU will make that decision. Every time you run a barcode across a grocery store scanner at the checkout lane, and it makes a little "blip" sound, that's a vote for the kind of food you want your store to sell.

Does a rural farmer in another country feed his family this week, or do they starve and lose everything they have to a corporate giant here in America? YOU will make that decision. Every time you run a barcode across a grocery store scanner at the checkout lane, and it makes a little "blip" sound, that's a vote for the kind of food you want your store to sell.

Does the power of the American pharmaceutical industry continue to grow and take over more medical schools, veterinary schools, medical "research," and thus negatively impact your health and the health of your family with greed for money as their motivation? YOU will make that decision. Every time you run a barcode across a grocery store scanner at the checkout lane, and it makes a little "blip" sound, that's a vote for the kind of food you want your store to sell.

Will you put food that God created on your table with praise and thanksgiving to Him, or will you put genetically-modified, disease-causing "food-product" on your table, with all the baggage of the worldwide fallout from the practices of corporate agriculture attached to it? YOU will make that decision. Every time you run a barcode across a grocery store scanner at the checkout lane, and it makes a little "blip" sound, that's a vote for the kind of food you want your store to sell.

Can the small, American Family Farm survive? YOU will make that decision.

Please watch this film trailer, and then click the links below it, as you have time,
to view the short episodes of this important film:

As you are blog-hopping this week and weekend, stop by here and click to view some "Webisodes" from The Farmers' Film. Take the time to learn about what is happening here and around the world as a result of American demand for cheap food. Our appetites and demands come at an incredibly high cost. I do not believe God will accept "ignorance" as an excuse when we stand before Him to give an account of our actions. We must know what our choices are doing to our brothers and sisters here and around the world.

Please...share this post on your blog or other pages. Help spread this message.

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Mmmm...More Good Things Using Pumpkin!

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:35:00 +0000

We receive emails from Dr. Fuhrman.com, and the last one was this recipe...sounds SO good!

Pumpkin Smoothie

Pumpkin Smoothie
Serves: 2
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup vanilla soy, hemp or almond milk
1 frozen peeled banana
4 pitted dates
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 ice cubes
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a high powered blender. Process on high until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy!

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Friday FarmGirls@Heart: Novel Ways with Pumpkin

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:03:00 +0000

~Rene Groom

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From the good folks at Mother Earth News comes this recipe:

Grilled Pumpkin with Rosemary and Sea Salt

"My backyard grown sugar pie pumpkins are finally ripening up in spite of the steady rains we've been experiencing here in the Pacific Northwest. A few of the pumpkins ended up being somewhat small and weren't worth the effort to process into pumpkin puree. So, what to do with these little guys? I wanted to do something new and, not having grilled pumpkins before, I was quite excited to give it a try.

During grilling, the sugars in the pumpkin caramelize. The combination of sweet and salty, coupled with crisp rosemary, will give you a different way of thinking about pumpkin. After trying this, you just might find yourself dreaming of expanding your pumpkin patch next year.

Make sure you use sugar pie pumpkins or the equivalent for this recipe — you really don't want to eat a jack-o-lantern type pumpkin as they are stringy. If you aren't growing your own sugar pie pumpkins you should be seeing them available in stores and farmers markets this month or, better yet, make a fun trip out of it and head out to a U-pick pumpkin farm. Don't forget to pick up a few extra for making your own pumpkin puree for pies and breads later in the year."
Grilled Pumpkin with Rosemary and Sea Salt
Sugar pie pumpkins (preferably on the small side)
Olive oil
Fresh rosemary, chopped
Sea salt

1. Heat grill to medium-high.

2. Wash and cut the pumpkins vertically into 3/4 inch slices. Remove the seeds and stringy parts. Brush both sides of each slice liberally with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and rosemary.

3. Place the slices on the grill for about 5 minutes a side or until dark grill marks appear. Turn and grill the other side until you can easily pierce the pumpkin slice with a fork. You want to make sure that the pumpkin is tender.

4. Since some of the salt tends to fall off during the grilling process, serve with a small dish of additional sea salt.

Source: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Relish/Grilled-Pumpkin-With-Rosemary-And-Sea-Salt-Recipe.aspx#ixzz1e52RRPZz

From Food Network .com comes this yummy soup:
Thai Pumpkin Soup
Soup:
3 cups coconut water
3.5 ounces coconut meat
10.5 ounces sugar pie pumpkin, seeded and cubed into 1-inch squares
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
3/4 tsp salt
3 black peppercorns
1 clove garlic, chopped
3/4 tsp curry paste, or more to taste
2 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup almond milk

Garnish:
1 recipe Marinated Portobello Mushrooms, below
1/4 cup coconut cream (not to be confused with coconut milk)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Blend all soup ingredients together in a high-speed blender, in batches if needed. Blend until the pumpkin is completely puréed and the soup has a silky texture.

To serve, pour soup into warm soup bowls. Place 2 teaspoons of the marinated portobellos in the middle of each bowl. Decorate each soup with coconut cream, cilantro and scallions.

Marinated Portobello Mushrooms:
1 tbsp shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp water
1/2 tsp ginger, minced
1 portobello mushroom, gills removed, cut into small dice

Combine the shoyu, olive oil, water and ginger in a small bowl. Add the mushrooms and marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Drain mushrooms and use as directed.

Yield: Makes 4 servings.
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Pumpkin-Recipes.aspx?page=4#ixzz1e54fRbKz

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Tea Talk with Ruth...Nov. 17, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:52:00 +0000

Click the graphic above to join me and our lovely hostess, Ruth,
for Tea Talk each Thursday!

I'm having...Green Mountain's Pumpkin Spice coffee in my plain white mug.
I'm feeling... Grateful to God for the many answers to prayer we've received this last week...a perfect internship with incredibly knowledgable and successful organic lamb producers for Bryan, acceptance and a HUGE scholarship offer to a top engineering school for Nathan...and more opportunities now in view on the horizon.
On my mind... so many things on my "to do" list, so little time in which to get them done!
Also on my mind... Knowing that Bryan will be gone next spring and summer, we're figuring out how to transition his very successful home and market business so the customer base isn't just dropped. Brother Nathan could take it, but he may have a great summer job offer coming, Lord willing, at an engineering lab. More prayer :-)

My theme verse for November:

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD,
‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’

(Jeremiah 29:11)

My silly dog, who always likes to come to Tea Talk.

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Journey #5 Into Nourishing Traditions...Sprouted grains (Part 1 of 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:11:00 +0000

To see a complete, tutorial-linked list of all the step-by-step lessons in my Journey Into Nourishing Traditions, simply click the photo-icon above.

Want a button for your blog's sidebar so you can quick-click your way here for the latest lessons? Grab code HERE.

Oh boy, I'm out of bread now! My last batch of 6 loaves has been consumed...so off to my NT cookbook to look for bread recipes.

Uh-oh...there's a fly in this ointment...seems there's a digestion problem with today's wheat, even organic, fresh ground, which is what I have. Sprouting seems to be the answer! This will take a while for me to wrap my brain around, which is why I have a 2 part post on this. Guess I'll just bake a couple loaves of my regular whole wheat bread instead of my usual six, just to get me through the next few days while I learn this new stuff!

I've read the NT recipes, and read the commmentaries, and I understood everything there. But then I went to the instructions about how to sprout grains (pp 113-114)...and I found them lacking. For a complete novice like me, I think Ms. Fallon needed to be a little more detailed.

A little aside here: isn't my bookmark pretty? A sweet young lady known about bloggyland as "PollyWolly" made it for me! She chose colors that would match my blog, and the teapot charm because she thought it went with the Thursday Tea Talk posts I do for Ruth's meme! She made sure it was long enough for my NT cookbook. Here is a closeup photo of the darling charm...thank you, Miss "Polly!"

Now...back to my problem with figuring out the procedure for sprouting grains...

Fortunately, my source of much "Nutrition in the News," Mike Adams (aka "The Health Ranger") from Natural News sent just the video I needed today!

It's only 1-1/2 minutes long, and gives the visual demo of what Fallon says in NT. Now I get it!!!
I need to purchase some screening for the top of my quart jars before I can get sprouting, so I'll post part 2 of this in a few days. In the meantime, here's the video:

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Yeeee-esssssssss!

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:18:00 +0000

It's been a whirlwind of a last few days. Let's see...here's what's happened:

Made a dinner for a friend in need
Attended an all-day "Young Adults" Conference (homeschool-related) with my sons
Learned that a sweet young lady from Georgia, whom I just love, is being courted! (PTL, Joanna!)
During the conference, Bryan took an interview call from a prime farm at which he was praying to land an internship for the spring semester...and learned that they decided to accept him! So he'll be off to New York in March through May!
Hosted a party...a BIG party on Sunday...did we have 100 here? Had to be close...I'm not sure
Learned this afternoon that Nathan has been accepted at Illinois Institute of Technology...and has been offered a little over half-tuition scholarship!

Yeeee-esssssssss! We're going out to Famous Dave's to celebrate tonight. I'm so tired, I might just fall asleep in the restaurant! Praising the Lord for His goodness and blessing upon my boys.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6)

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Still, Quiet Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Illinois Lori) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:51:00 +0000

I love Tuesdays. On Tuesday, we get to sleep in a little bit. Bryan's first class isn't until noon, so I can enjoy having him here with us for breakfast. Nathan and I do not have to go anywhere for anything on Tuesdays (at least this semester), so there is no rush to get out the door.

Today is the perfect day to be a Tuesday. This is the view out my kitchen window:

I didn't sleep in today. Instead, I got up, emptied the dishwasher, put a kettle of water on to boil for oatmeal and tea, and then I built a fire in the fireplace and lit some candles. I enjoyed a steaming hot cup of tea, and enjoyed this still, quiet morning with the Lord...and my dog :-) When the boys finally came downstairs, this was the atmosphere of our home:

Soon, my still, quiet kitchen was filled with sounds of happy chatter and clattering dishes accompanied by smells of bacon and pancake syrup. The dog took her place by the table to wait for the fatty bits of bacon which we always toss her way.

I will keep the homefires burning all morning, and will encourage Nathan to bring his laptop down here, by the warm fireplace, so he is not holed-up in his room on this wet, grey day.

Yes, I do love Tuesdays.

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