Thankful Thursday, January 19, 2012

Today I am thankful for sunshine in the middle of winter.  I grew up with mostly grey skies from November through March, with very few blue skies in between, which leads a great many people into depression.  But having sunshine, even in the cold, at least every 2-3 days, makes winter bearable.

Wordless Wednesday, January 18, 2012

And So I Begin Again

Life has been crazy.  Fun, wonderful, frustrating, sad, joyful...everything life usually is, I guess.  I just haven't been focused on blogging.  But I think I'm ready to begin again.  I hope. 

So what has happened since I last posted?  The best thing is My Man finally joined me and we have been enjoying being a family again!  We're a full-time family, and we love it this way.  What does that mean?  Nobody goes off for hours at a time, day after day, using up their life energy working for someone else.  We work, yes, but at "home" (wherever that may be), together whenever possible.  And NO, I am not sick of being with him night and day :)


The Man Cub is now a toddler, getting into all sorts of mischief, like every mud puddle he can find.  He took his first steps barefooted in the barn.  He is nearly weaned, but I'm not going to force it.  Mornings are his crawl-into-bed-and-take-over-Mommy's-body time.  Of course, Daddy would prefer that to be HIS time to do the same... ;)  ANYWAY, back to the boy.  He isn't talking much yet, in OUR language, but knows several signs and has just the past couple of weeks been attempting to say some words.  He got his first haircut (by ME, naturally) on the New Year, and of course I saved a fuzzy blond curl.  The Man has been so good about setting up a routine for bedtime, and so the Man Cub is usually in bed by 8pm, which is great!  Although, he seems to have a built-in alarm clock for midnight.  And sometimes 2:30 and 4:30 as well, but he's getting better about going back to sleep.  But once he's up after 5, it's into bed for snuggles and milk. 

I have finally been able to use my sewing machine!  Whoohoo!  I haven't made anything for ME yet, too busy making gifts for others, but I'll get around to it eventually.  I also started crocheting again.  I haven't done that in YEARS.  Now I'm temped to buy pretty, soft yarn in all my favorite colors.

We stayed at the farm through the harvest, and then moved on, intending to head somewhere much warmer, thus avoiding "winter".  Well, we weren't too successful at that!  But we are in a good place for the winter, trying to learn new things while working here.  It's cold most days, and there has been snow, but we also get a lot of sunshine, which is a huge blessing!  I grew up where it's pretty much grey cloudy skies from November to May.  I don't know where we'll go after this, but we're not in a hurry; we want to enjoy this.  It is wonderful to be able to see different parts of the country. 

Hope to make it back here soon!

The Desires of My Heart

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  ~ Psalm 37:4 

Today, as I was out in the garden weeding in preparation for planting, it hit me, "I'm exactly where I wanted to be.  God gave me the desires of my heart!"  I cried a little bit when I realized how good God has been to us in this way.

About five years ago my husband and I were seriously talking about selling our house (prices were up then) and buying some farmland for cash somewhere in the Midwest.  "What a wonderful way for our children to grow up!"  we thought.  We dreamed of having a little (or big) farmhouse, a huge garden that would provide for our produce needs throughout the year, an orchard where we would pick fruit, and acres of grassy fields to feed the animals we wanted to own: cows and goats for milking and eating, chickens for eggs and eating, pigs for eating, etc.  Of course we didn't have any real experience with any of that, other than very small-scale.

Life has a way of not turning out how you expect, that's for sure.  What seems like such a simple choice can have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.  Not only OUR choices, but the choices of others.  We never had the opportunity to sell our house, and so we have no way to afford that dream farm, even though prices are really low now. 

But, as I said at the beginning, I was in the garden weeding.  Me.  In a garden.  Preparing to plant what will provide food for us in the coming months. As I worked, the sounds of the farm life were all around me.  Turkeys, roosters, guinea all competing to see who could be loudest.  Cows in the distance mooing for whatever reason cows moo.  Sheep and goats baa-ing, pigs snuffling.  All of them free to roam and eat the food that God created them to eat. 

And you know the best part of it?  My son was playing in the dirt beside me.  The child that God gave to me is exactly where he should be at this time in his life.

And then I cried because my husband isn't with us.  He is missing out on his son's life, watching him learn and grow, teaching him about man things.  He is missing out on the good, honest work that comes from living on a farm, and is instead stuck in a city full of strangers, trying to extricate himself from all that has entangled him.  He is missing out on eating real food that will help make him healthy and strong.  But I continue to have faith that he will one day be with us again, hopefully never to part. Because my husband is the desire of my heart.

I've heard it said that God works in mysterious ways, and I'm pretty sure that's true, because He sure doesn't tell me what He's up to, or how He's doing it!  None of this surrounding me today is mine.  I don't own any of it, except the few things I brought with me.  None of the responsibility is mine.  I don't have to worry about the prices that the cows will bring, or of the grains that are being planted in the fields, or if the roof gets a leak.  But yet I'm here, reaping the benefits of such a place.  Yes, I'm working for it, but if I were honest (and I do try to be!) I don't do nearly enough.  But I'm learning something new everyday.  I didn't have to start a farm from scratch and learn how to do everything on my own, the hard way; I'm getting to jump into a fully-functioning farm and learn from experts!

Almost none of my life today is what I thought we would have just a few years ago, but I know that God is taking care of us, and is blessing us.  And as I realized today, He does care about those dreams, and can fulfill them in ways we never imagined.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.  ~ Romans 8:24-25 

Psalm 34

A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Knowledge Is Power: Part 1

I first remember hearing this phrase on Saturday mornings while watching School House Rock.  Yes, the original shows from 30+ years ago.  Obviously, the show was not the originator of the phrase, but they sure used it!  Back then I don't think I really understood what it meant, but it was forever etched into my mind:  Knowledge is Power!  I have used the phrase myself over the years, and I have come to realize that there are many facets to its meaning.

First, let's look at what these words actually mean.  I am so excited to have found websites to search for the definitions of words from Webster's 1828 Dictionary!  (click on any of the links)

KNOWL'EDGE, n. nol'lej.

1. A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas.

We can have no knowledge of that which does not exist. God has a perfect knowledge of all his works. Human knowledge is very limited, and is mostly gained by observation and experience.

2. Learning; illumination of mind.

Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.

3. Skill; as a knowledge of seamanship.

4. Acquaintance with any fact or person. I have no knowledge of the man or thing.

5. Cognizance; notice. Ruth 2.

6. Information; power of knowing.

7. Sexual intercourse. But it is usual to prefix carnal; as carnal knowledge.

POW'ER, n. [The Latin has posse, possum, potes, potentia. The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force.]

1. In a philosophical sense, the faculty of doing or performing any thing; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something; ability or strength. A man raises his hand by his own power, or by power moves another body. The exertion of power proceeds from the will, and in strictness, no being destitute of will or intelligence, can exert power. Power in man is active or speculative. Active power is that which moves the body; speculative power is that by which we see, judge, remember, or in general, by which we think.

Power may exist without exertion. We have power to speak when we are silent.

Power has been distinguished also into active and passive,the power of doing or moving, and the power of receiving impressions or of suffering. In strictness, passive power is an absurdity in terms. To say that gold has a power to be melted,is improper language,yet for want of a more appropriate word, power is often used in a passive sense, and is considered as two-fold; viz.as able to make or able to receive any change.

2. Force; animal strength; as the power of the arm, exerted in lifting, throwing or holding.

3. Force; strength; energy; as the power of the mind, of the imagination, of the fancy. He has not powers of genius adequate to the work.

4. Faculty of the mind, as manifested by a particular mode of operation; as the power of thinking, comparing and judging; the reasoning powers.

5. Ability, natural or moral. We say, a man has the power of doing good; his property gives him the power of relieving the distressed; or he has the power to persuade others to do good; or it is not in his power to pay his debts. The moral power of man is also his power of judging or discerning in moral subjects.

6. In mechanics, that which produces motion or force, or which may be applied to produce it. Thus the inclined plane is called a mechanical power, as it produces motion, although this in reality depends on gravity. The wheel and axle, and the lever, are mechanical powers, as they may be applied to produce force. These powers are also called forces, and they are of two kinds, moving power, and sustaining power.

7. Force. The great power of the screw is of extensive use in compression. The power of steam is immense.

8. That quality in any natural body which produces a change or makes an impression on another body; as the power of medicine; the power of heat; the power of sound.

9. Force; strength; momentum; as the power of the wind, which propels a ship or overturns a building.
10. Influence; that which may move the mind; as the power of arguments or of persuasion.
11. Command; the right of governing, or actual government; dominion; rule, sway; authority. A large portion of Asia is under the power of the Russian emperor. The power of the British monarch is limited by law. The powers of government are legislative, executive, judicial, and ministerial.

Power is no blessing in itself, but when it is employed to protect the innocent.

Under this sense may be comprehended civil, political, ecclesiastical, and military power.
12. A sovereign, whether emperor, king or governing prince or the legislature of a state; as the powers of Europe; the great powers; the smaller powers. In this sense, the state or nation governed seems to be included in the word power. Great Britain is a great naval power.
13. One invested with authority; a ruler; a civil magistrate. Rom.13.
14. Divinity; a celestial or invisible being or agent supposed to have dominion over some part of creation; as celestial powers; the powers of darkness.
15. That which has physical power; an army; a navy; a host; a military force.

Never such a power--

Was levied in the body of a land.

16. Legal authority; warrant; as a power of attorney; an agent invested with ample power. The envoy has full powers to negotiate a treaty.

17. In arithmetic and algebra, the product arising from the multiplication of a number or quantity into itself; as, a cube is the third power; the biquadrate is the fourth power.

18. In Scripture, right; privilege. John 1. 1 Cor.9.

19. Angels, good or bad. Col 1. Eph. 6.

20. Violence, force; compulsion. Ezek. 4.

21. Christ is called the power of God, as through him and his gospel, God displays his power and authority in ransoming and saving sinners. 1 Cor.1.

22. The powers of heaven may denote the celestial luminaries. Matt.24.

23. Satan is said to have the power of death, as he introduced sin, the cause of death, temporal and eternal, and torments men with the feat of death and future misery.

24. In vulgar language, a large quantity; a great number; as a power of good things. [This is, I believe, obsolete, even among our common people.]

25. Power of attorney, authority given to a person to act for another.

Wow!  That's pretty deep!  That's all I am going to post for today.  I encourage you to read through the definitions, and Please leave a comment telling me what "Knowledge is Power" means to you.  Next time I will talk about what it means to me.  

Long Time No Write

A month.  It has been One Whole Month since I was last here.  So much for my good intentions to post frequently!  I think I lost my focus...  Well, actually, I've sort of been on vacation, and life just isn't normal on vacation.  Not that my life is normal by most standards.  Sometimes I wish for more "normalcy", but that just doesn't seem to be the path that my life is taking.

So what have I been doing these past 30 days?  Well, I've been eating anything and everything, and it's time to stop.  I haven't been taking walks regularly like I should, so it's time to start.  I've done a bit of hand sewing, which was fun, and I intend to do some more.

My man-cub is the sweetest thing ever and drives me crazy sometimes.  Love him so much!  He wants to walk, no run, but isn't quite ready yet.  He can really zoom around in his walker, and he's a speed-crawler.  He follows me around everywhere, and he panics if I leave the room and he can't see me.  In fact, earlier today I ran upstairs to do something super-quickly, and when I turned around he was nearly halfway up the stairs!   Of course, he can leave the room anytime he wants, but not me! 

My man didn't come on this trip with me, and of course I'm missing him more than words can say.  We talk every day, but it's just not the same as really being there.  Reunions are a wonderful thing, though, no matter how long the separation.  Even if it's only a matter of hours.  And I'm looking forward to wonderful!

I've been mulling over a post since before Easter, but haven't given it serious thought lately.  I need to take some time to focus on that so I can get it put down here.

Curry for (my) Company

Recently I had the opportunity to make a curry dinner for a friend who had never tried curry previously.  She liked it and suggested that I blog about it.  I took pictures of the meal in progress, but you will just have to use your imagination for the preparation stage.

Firstly, you may be asking, "What is curry?"  From Wikipedia,

Curry ( /ˈkʌri/) is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of spiced dishes, especially from Pakistani, Indian or other South Asian cuisines. Three spices found in most curry powders are turmeric, coriander, and cumin; a wide range of additional spices may be included depending on the geographic region and the foods being included (meats, fish, lentils, rice, etc.).^[1] The word "curry" is analogous to "soup" or "stew" in that there is no particular ingredient that makes something "curry."

As you might guess from that description, the possibilities for flavors and combinations of ingredients in curries is practically endless!

For this particular dish, I started with a green curry paste made by Mae Ploy.  They also make red and yellow.  The ingredients are:

• green chili
• lemongrass
• garlic
• salt
• galangal (I had to look this up; it is related to ginger, but with a different flavor)
• shrimp paste (shrimp, salt)
• kaffir lime peel
• coriander seed
• pepper
• cumin
• turmeric

I looked at the online prices for this 14 oz container and they range from $2.31 to $5.19.  I paid $2.50 at an authentic Asian grocery store.  If you are at all interested in cooking Asian foods and trying something new, I recommend locating an Asian or other specialty ethnic store (oftentimes one kind will carry food from other cultures in addition to their own) near you.  They are a delight to the senses to wander through, and you should pick up something new to try!  Many have fresh produce in addition to their dry, canned, and frozen selection.

I like to follow recipes, at least the first time I try something new, but I'm not afraid to change things up a bit, to suit my tastes of the moment or what I have on hand.  The basic recipe on the curry container follows. 

• Stir-fry 50 g (≈ 1/4 cup) of Green Curry Paste in 1 tbsp soybean oil (I avoid soy, except for soy sauce, and prefer olive or coconut), then add 1 cup (240 ml) of coconut milk.
• Add 200 g (≈ 1/2 lb) of fresh meat and keep cooking.
• Add another 1/2 cup (120 ml) of coconut milk and 1/2 cup (120 ml) water, heat until boiling.
• Add 100 g (≈ 1/4 lb, or a little over 1/2 cup)vegetables and cook until the vegetables soften.
• Add 1 1/2 tsp sugar.  Taste and season as required.  (I don't even remember reading this step until now!)

Suggestion: For a milder flavor, half portion of the curry paste should be used.  (I agree with this!  If you are new to curries or just aren't sure about spicy foods, then definitely use less curry paste and work your way up to full-strength!)

For measurement conversions, Google is my friend!  Gram is a weight measurement, but most cooks don't employ the use of a scale in their kitchen.  Recipe Goldmine has conversions for common baking ingredient, but for this I used Online Conversion and cook az.  You need to know the approximate density of the food if it isn't on their list.  For example, curry paste is, not surprisingly, not on their list, so I went with peanut butter.

(Now, right here I had more typed, but my little man-cub decided to close my computer, and apparently not everything I had typed was saved.  Drat!  So, to start over...)

I started by putting a glug of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat.  It was probably a bit more than 1 tablespoon, but why dirty a spoon over something like this, right?  This curry paste comes in a plastic bag inside the container, so I simply cut a corner off and squeeze out however much I want, which in this instance was about 1/4 cup (but remember my suggestion to use less unless you are prepared for mega flavor!)

Most Americans are used to adding seasonings partway through the cooking process.  However, in many cultures the spices are the heart of the dish, so they are added first.  Heating them releases their scent and flavor, and adding it to the oil helps it blend throughout the rest of the ingredients.

 After the curry smell starts filling the air (and your nostrils), add about 2/3 of a can of coconut milk to the pan (I always have a taste off the spoon, too - yum!)  When it is heated, I added the meat: I cut up two chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.  You can use any meat you want, though, or even go meatless if that's the way you roll.

When the meat is cooked, add the rest of the coconut milk and some more liquid.  I prefer to use my homemade chicken stock for extra flavor.  I also use more than 1/2 cup because I like to add more vegetables than the recipe calls for, and you need to make sure there's plenty of liquid in the pan to cook the vegetables without them sticking.  (I have even made curry soup by putting a LOT of extra liquid in the pan.)

This particular meal I cut up a small zucchini, a small yellow crookneck squash, an onion, a potato, some grated carrot, chopped mushrooms, and tomato.  You can really use any vegetables you have on hand, such as bell peppers, cabbage, and even fruit like apples!  Use your imagination!

I like to put curry over rice, so I had a pot of white rice cooking while I prepared the curry.  I have grown very fond of my rice cooker, but it's actually very easy to cook in a pan on the stove top.  Simply rinse your rice a couple times, and the cover the rice with about an inch of water (or more chicken broth!) An easy way to measure that is to put your finger into the rice and measure from the top of the rice to the top of the liquid the same distance as between two knuckles.  Put the pan on high, and once it starts boiling put a tight lid on (preferably clear) and reduce to low so it simmers.  It will only take about 15 minutes to cook, so be sure to check it or you might end up with rice stuck to the bottom of your pan.

As I said at the beginning, I had already started eating before I thought to take pictures, so here is my plate partway through the meal.

I hope that if you try this sometime you will tell me how it turned out, if you liked it, and what you did to make it your own special recipe.