keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[keljonma]

50 this morning. Sunny and our high is supposed to be 76.

It should be a perfect day for the Family Fun Block Party! DH and I have decided to meet there after he gets home from work. I have errands to do in Jefferson, and dh drives past Jefferson to get home, so it just makes sense to meet there.

Housework today - I have to clean out the small bedroom (empty boxes, recycling stuff) so I can bring more stuff from storage here to filter through.

Have a great day!

 

[keljonma]

9/6/09 - Sunday

Foggy and 46 this morning, but the forecast calls for a high temperature of 79 today. It looks like we will be partly sunny, as rain moves into the area later today. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for the week. Since the weather has been pert near perfect for the past week, DH is a little bummed that there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, which is his day off.

We had a great time at the Family Fun Block Party yesterday, which was held in the Village Green next to the Jefferson United Methodist Church. The weather was just perfect! There was a lot of great food and quite a crowd as well. It was great to see a number of families from the community attending. Attendance was free. The meal cost $3 for adults, $1.50 for kids under 12; but the most a family paid for a meal was $10. The menu was roasted ox plain or barbecued, roast barbecued chicken, several types of baked beans, pasta salads, potato salads, and veggie side dishes. For dessert there was cheesecake and an ice cream bar with various toppings. For the kids, there was face painting, 3-legged races, corn-hole toss, football toss, and a bouncy house. The Way Home, the gospel/bluegrass singing group from our church performed as well as The BAR Band (Born Again Rockers).

All the food was donated by members of the church. Dave and his family donated and cooked the ox (grass-fed, locally-raised), and it was very tender and delicious! Pat made a wonderful spaghetti and veggie salad that was terrific - tons of veggies from her garden and some homemade vinaigrette, which reminds me, I need to get the recipe! Gladys made some of her famous potato salads (two kinds - one was German-style with bacon and Very Yummy!)

We sat at a picnic table that was only partially shaded. So my face was in the shade but my back was warmed by the sun. A perfect spot to sit, in my opinion.

Pastor Meredith asked if I would be willing to speak at the Rotary meeting at the end of October. But I told her I didnt think I could. She also said she knows of a woman looking for someone to do some weed whacking for her, and wondered if I would be interested. I laughed - I havent done any weed whacking in about 10 years, because it is one of those things dh *likes* to do. So I told her I would think about it and let her know.

John and his son, Ian, joined us for a while. They are thinking of getting chickens in the spring, and are doing their planning now. They have never had chickens before, but had lots of good questions. Ian asked for my email address so we could chat about chickens more. I told Ian I have some books I can lend him but I have to find them in storage first.

Sophia and Pat sat with us for a while. Sophia and her dh, Paul, are getting ready to go on vacation and asked us to care for their chickens and rabbits while she is away. However, I declined. Instead, Pat said she would do it. She really wants a small flock of chickens, but Ron, her dh, is against the idea. Pat is hoping that if Ron sees how little work is involved in taking care of chickens, he will change his mind. By the way, Paul built the chicken tractor from the plans in Backyard Homestead, and it is really pretty nice, and sturdy. They have been moving it around their property every other week or so, but are thinking that it will go into the barn during winter for wind protection. However, the birds will still have access to outdoors, if they wish to go out, as there is a small run attached to the barn. Sophia says that all the rabbits and chickens are inside the barn this week, so that Pat wont get soaked when she goes to care for the animals.

Pat and Ron invited us to their place for Labor Day picnic. I am thinking of some side dishes to take. I think I will attempt to make a loaf of Herb-Garlic bread as well. I think were having burgers, and Pat is making corn on the cob, yellow squash and onions, and a blackberry pie; all the produce from her garden. She said she has some potatoes to use up, so we talked about dehydrating potatoes. Pat hasnt ever tried that, so I think I will take her my dehydrator tomorrow.

Their son, Matt, works for Orphan Relief and Rescue in Liberia. Matts team just added a chicken house to one of the orphanages. The kids take care of the chickens and gather the eggs. Last year they raised pigs in the woods at another home. The hope is that the homes have an additional source of food and a source of income (selling piglets, eggs, etc). Matt had mentioned recently that the garden at this home did not do as well this past year because of a shortage of bees. I am hoping to put the idea of a Kenyan Top Hive into his head tomorrow so that he can do some research before he goes back to Liberia. Matt has been in the States since July, visiting with family and traveling for fund raising for the mission. This is Matts last month in the States before he returns to Liberia.

Closer to home, the landlords friend still hasnt come to clean up the downed trees and take out the dead ones. There are a bunch of woodpeckers in the area, so that may be why he hasnt come to remove the dead trees. Yesterday morning, a couple woodpeckers were tapping on the house, and it was so loud, that at first I thought someone was knocking on the door!

Well, I best get a move on, as I want to get to the 8:30 service today.

edited for typos

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Sounds like you had a great time yesterday! The roasted ox sounds delicious!

I'm going to have to pull out my copy of Backyard Homestead and read up on this tractor you mentioned!

 

[punkin]

It does sound like you had a great time yesterday, and the food - what a bargain! I've never had ox before . . . I would like to try it sometime.

We woke up to rain this morning, but now it looks like it is moving on.

 

[TanksHill]

Wow, that sounds like the perfect community event. I wish we had something like that around here.

Sounds like you have great friends. Have a great day and have fun tomorrow.

 

[Henrietta23]

I love community events like that! Almost as much as I love German Potato Salad with bacon......

 

[keljonma]

I'm going to have to pull out my copy of Backyard Homestead and read up on this tractor you mentioned!

I think it was the Poulet Chalet. Paul borrowed my copy of the book to make it. He said the plans were pretty easy to follow. He used materials he had at his farm to make the thing.

It does sound like you had a great time yesterday, and the food - what a bargain! I've never had ox before . . . I would like to try it sometime.

Punkin, the ox was very delicious and tender. I plan to ask Dave (when we see him on Saturday) how he prepped and cooked it. You are right, the food cost was extremely reasonable. There was a family there with 2 parents, 1 grandma, and 8 kids; without the max limit on price of a meal, this family would have paid $21 - and it only cost them $10 to feed their entire family! I understand from Pastor Meredith that a couple families did not pay more than a dollar or two to feed their families because they are in dire need.

The TASTE AND SEE events are designed to be open to anyone wishing to attend, have a family-safe place for fun, and food at a reasonable cost. (The food at carnival we held last March was $1/person up to max of $5/family.) I believe there is another event being planned for late fall. There was some talk that it would include some canning and food preservation demonstrations. But I haven't heard an update on that yet, so am not sure what will be involved - except safe family fun and food.

Wow, that sounds like the perfect community event. I wish we had something like that around here.

Sounds like you have great friends. Have a great day and have fun tomorrow.

Our church held the community event, Gina. I think the original idea came from the Bishop at the regional conference held in January. But there is no reason why any group or church couldn't accomplish the same thing if a small group of people is willing to act as steering committee and there are enough volunteers willing to donate food, time, games, and money to make it a success. Our church usually gives away pencils, crayons, stickers, small matchbox type cars, and inexpensive jewelry for game prizes.

Ron and Pat are very dear friends, and we had a great time visiting with them. The weather was just perfect! I took homemade baked beans with onion and bacon and German style Potato Salad. Pat is still using up some canned salsas and relishes from last year's harvest - they were yummy! She also bought some locally-made canned honey mustard sauce that was really good and had a good kick on the burgers! We also had fresh veggies from her garden, including grilled corn, and potatoes drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, cracked black pepper and fresh basil. Pat made a blackberry pie with blackberries from her garden.

I love community events like that! Almost as much as I love German Potato Salad with bacon......

We had a great time. I don't make the German style often enough, according to dh! It is one of his favorites too.


Sept 10, 2009 - Thursday

Busy past few days, baking bread and goodies for lunches. Still fiddling with the stove/oven. I have completely given up on using the broiler.

The weather has been warm but rain the past few days. Last night it was raining while the sun was out, but there were too many darks clouds to the east of us to see any rainbows.

Today was just perfect. DH is off work today so we ran errands and went fishing. I caught trout, sunfish and perch, but we didn't keep any. DH was feeding the fish today, not catching any.

Neither of us slept well last night, so we came home after fishing and took a nap for a couple hours. Titan kept hearing noises all night long. Then someone in the neighborhood starting honking a horn about 3:30 am - they were actually just holding it down for a few minutes at a time. I think they finally stopped about 5:30! Then the neighbors' radio clock alarm went off and it was so loud we could hear it clearly. They left it running for about half an hour while they got ready for work; they never turned the volume down, either!

DH works tomorrow but is off for the week-end.

As it seems to always turn out these days, the days we have plans, we get several invitations to do stuff. This Saturday is the 2nd week-end of the new Habitat for Humanity build. Last week-end dh worked, so we didn't get a chance to go then either. We will miss most of the morning work schedule because it is also our Experiencing God covenant group gathering at church. We haven't met since July, so it will be good to hear how the rest of the group is doing. I know Jean (in her 70's) fell a few weeks ago and injured her face and right shoulder, arm, wrist and hand. She also broke her glasses. I saw her at church on Sunday, and she looks better, but seems to still be in quite a bit of pain. I am making pumpkin pie with real whipped cream (on the side) for the brunch.

We were also invited to meet dh's cousin at The National First Ladies' Library in Canton on Saturday. http://www.firstladies.org/ They are opening the Jackie Kennedy exhibit. It sounds like there will be a great speaker, so we really wanted to attend. However, it will be over with by the time we are done with our covenant group gathering. We think we may try again (another exhibit) sometime near Thanksgiving.

I borrowed this book from our church library. DH and I are beginning the Bible study (6 week class) next Wednesday and are looking forward to it. It is a wonderful book reminding us only people and God's Kingdom are eternal. Everything else is temporary.

John Ortberg When The Game Is Over, It All Goes Back In The Box.
http://www.christianbook.com/game-over- /pd/253501

The week-end of Sept 18-20, dh will be at Men's Koinonia Week-end I have taken some great library books out, so I will have a chance to catch up on reading.

Choosing The Amusing by Marilyn Meberg. I love this woman, who is a very inspirational (and funny) Women Of Faith conference speaker. This specific book says God presribes a joyful heart as the medicine we need to combat the broken spirits and dry bones that cause us to live our days in quiet dread. From the back of the book:

Marilyn Meberg has survived the loss of a husband and a child. Yet she continues to believe that laughter is the best medicine. She enthusiastically introduces Jesus as the Great Physician, the one who generously dispenses laughter, love, and joy to all who come to him for health and healing.

The scripture for this book is Proverbs 17:22 - "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."

A Nation Of Farmers by Sharon Astyk and Aaron Newton. The SubTitles are: Defeating The Food Crisis On American Soil and How City Farmers, Backyard Chicken Enthusiasts, Victory Gardeners, Small Family Farms, Kids In Edible Schoolyards, Cooks In Their Kitchens, and Passionate Eaters Everywhere Can Overthrow Our Destructive Industrial Agriculture, And Give Us Hope For Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness In A Changing World. This book is on my MUST READ book list. On Mother Earth News' Books For Wiser Living Recommendation List. This book was recently acquired by my local library and I am the lucky first person to check it out!

 

[punkin]

Kel,

You have alot of good book suggestions that I may put on my must read list. I'll check my library's catalog for them.

You also mentioned Pumpkin Pie. That has to be one of my main reasons for liking Fall.

I may get to do a little fishing Saturday morning. A very good friend of ours has invited us to his camper on the lake. The weather Saturday is supposed to be gorgeous.

 

[BeccaOH]

Kel, you should see my to-read pile. I love getting book recommendations. I'll find the book and put in the pile. But too often it just stays there. I read so much in my job that I don't have much time for reading other things. :/

I'm sorry you have loud neighbors. My loudest neighbor is my own rooster, and I'm thinking this guy needs to go because of his extreme mating drive. The girls are a mess and I don't need a roo over my eating egg layers.

Love the ideas of things your church is doing. Wish I could get support for those kind of events at my church, but our leaders are already stretched on time and our budget is in the red.

 

[keljonma]

Punkin, I have a few other books out of the library that I am also reading. Because of the move, and putting my books in storage, I got way behind in reading at least 2 books a week. Now I am trying to make up for it..

Autumn is one of our favorite seasons. Pumpkin pie is one of our favorite pies.