Honey Happenings

This post is a few weeks behind but was such a exciting event we just couldn't pass it up.

James started his two bee hives this spring. He was told he wouldn't get any honey this year. He purchased his first set of bees but unfortunately the queen didn't survive and the hive was dying. He then was able to get a swarm from another local bee keeper and added that to his first hive.

He then ended up getting another swarm and starting a second hive but that one didn't really start doing well until late summer.

His first hive has flourished. It has grown stronger and stronger and he was actually able to get almost an entire super of honey off it at the end of summer. Praise God.

Even after he got the super of honey he didn't have anyway to extract it. Then again, he was blessed and was able to purchase this honey extractor for an amazing price from a man who has also proven himself invaluable in giving advice as well. The honey extractor was even delivered near our home as he was vactioning near our home and brought it with him. Praise God again.

This is a picture of one of his fully drawn and capped honey frames.

This is the cappings getting scrapped off in to a wax melter tank that he was also able to purchase from the same man for an incredible price.

(He is using a precision scrapper, called a kitchen fork :-) because we haven't anything else to decap the honey with yet.)

This is a frame after being decapped and it is ready to go in the honey extractor.

I failed to get pics of the extractor working or the kids taking turns sitting on the base to keep the extractor from walking/wiggling away, but it was sure cute.

And this is the honey he got from the hive that shouldn't have given him any, that almost didn't make it, with equipment he didn't have until he needed it. And we are living in the land flowing with "milk and honey". Praise the Lord.

:-)

Sand and Stone

Author Unknown.
A story tells that two friends were walking through
the desert. During some point of the journey, they
had an argument, and one friend slapped the other
one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt,
but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:

Today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis,
where they decided to take a bath. The one who had
been slapped got stuck in the mire and started
drowning, but his friend saved him. After he
recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

Today my best friend saved my life.

The friend, who had slapped and saved his best
friend, asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in
the sand, and now, you write on a stone, why?
"The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us,
we should write it down in sand, where the winds of
forgiveness can erase it away, but when someone
does something good for us, we must engrave it in
stone where no wind can ever erase it.

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve
your blessings in stone.-- Unknown

Saying goodbye to a homeschool hero

A true hero for the homeschooling cause, as well as, a hero in the Christian community has passed. His name is Chris Klicka. Please take a moment to pray for his family as they grieve the loss of this great man. If you feel lead you can follow the link and read about his passing but bring your tissue as his wife tells about his final moments with them.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisklicka/journal

Carri

Another Yummy Recipe

TOFFEE COOKIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with foil and oil foil. Line evenly with saltine crackers (roughly 45?). In a large saucepan, melt 1 cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar and bring to a boil (over medium heat). Boil for 3 minutes, (my gas stove only takes about 2 minutes - mixture will almost start to pull away from sides of pan) stirring constantly. Immediately pour mixture evenly over crackers. Put in oven for 5 minutes. Remove, tap down floating crackers and immediately sprinkle a bag (or 2 cups) of chocolate chips over top, let melt and then spread across top. You can also sprinkle chopped walnuts on top if you like. Chill to let it set up. Cut up however you wish, or break into pieces.

These cookies are amazing. The children and I were able to whip these up in just a few minutes and they are soooooo good. I lost the link to the blog were I got it but if I come up with it I will post that as well.

Blessings,

Carri

A Housewife’s Love Chapter – 1 Corinthians 13

If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family – I am just another housewife.

If I'm always producing lovely things – sewing, art; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving to my family – I am nothing.

If I'm busy in community affairs, teach Sunday School, drive the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family – I gain nothing.

Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes – over and over again.

Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.

Love doesn't envy another wife – one whose children are "spaced" better, or in school so she has time to pursue her own interests.

Love doesn't try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as a mother.

Love doesn't scream at the kids.

Love doesn't feel cheated because I didn't get to do what I wanted to do today – sew, read, soak in a hot tub.

Love doesn't lose my temper easily.

Love doesn't assume that my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating.

Love doesn't rejoice when other people's children misbehave and make mine look good.

Love is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children.

May the Lord help us to love one another completely and self-lessly, as He has loved us first

As I read this today it brought me such conviction I just had to share it. This orginally came from "A Mother's Heart" by Jean Fleming then it was forwarded to a group I belong too.

Be Blessed,

Carri

Butternut Squash Soup

This soup was just yummy. We have a bunch of butternut squash from our garden and this is the first thing I tried to make with it and it was really good.




INGREDIENTS
6 tablespoons chopped onion
4 tablespoons margarine
6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, saute onions in margarine until tender. Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
2. Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.



Of course we doubled the recipe. Seriously, my husband hates most soups and he even had some leftovers of this for lunch today.

Blessings,

Carri

Just one of the things I love about homeschooling

Today was one of those crazy, crazy mornings. As I worked with Bethany on her reading, she was struggling with the /i/ sound. We had to work and work on it. Meanwhile, Madison who can sometimes struggle with perfectionism was upset over her inability to do long multiplication. She just started that today, with Math-U-See but she didn't understand the lesson. Jedidiah is loud as he is cutting many teeth, which means even when he is happy he is loud. I notice his diaper needs changed and he is on his way to the pantry to put my car keys in the 50 lb bag of flour. (Boy am I glad I caught that before he was succesful). I am in the process of making bread because we are completely out and it has to get done today.

During the midst of this I know that my daughters need me. They need me to teach them. Madison is upset because she needs help and she is independent. Bethany is upset because she is five and cute and used to things being easy. This isn't easy so she is frustrated. I explain to Madison that this is my job. I am the teacher and I am here to help her whenever she is stuck. Her tears cleared up, I asked her to give me a few minutes to get the other situations under control and then I would give her my undivided attention. She said okay but I could tell she wasn't happy to have to wait. I explained to her that I could keep working with her, while her brother was troubled over his diaper, Bethany was asking for help repeatedly, the bread was making noise in the mixer and Eliora needed direction to keep her busy, or she could give me a few minutes while she worked on something different and I would help her momentarily. She smiled and said she would wait.

I addressed all the pressing concerns. Madison and I spent time on her Math. She got it!!! And I got to teach her patience, love, prioritizing, Math, and that we aren't always perfect all the time.

What I got in return was to, grow in my patience, to once again be reminded that stressful times will pass, to learn to lean on my savior even more, see my daughter grow, get her new math concept and a note to the teacher.

Thank you very much for helping me get a better grade,


Yours truly,


-Madison-

I feel like the most blessed woman on earth sometimes. And this is just one thing I love about my life and homeschooling.