During the cold winter months, I drink tea, coffee, hot chocolate...you name it, I drink it! I'm not a big plain water drinker so this is how I stay hydrated. (In the summer, its iced tea and coffee, decaf of course.)

We had several boxes full of tea and I decided to sort through them the other day. I picked out a bunch to take to the auction hall so I have some there and while I was at it, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite teas on here.

Plantation Mint...my absolute favorite! I like teas with strong flavor and this one certainly has that! It's taste very strongly of mint and is delicious! Add a tad of sugar and you have an amazing cup of tea!

Raspberry Royale...I am not a huge raspberry fan but I do like this tea. It isn't quite as strong as I like my tea but its still delicious!!

English Teatime...this is a good one. I like this with a bit of milk and sugar.

Herbal Orange...I love oranges and this tea is great! The orange flavor is strong, just the way I like it. It has that tangy, citrus flavor and when you add a little sugar, the result is amazing!

Earl Grey...I did not like this tea when I was younger, but I like it now. It feels like silk in your mouth. To me, it is not a tea to be drunk in large volumes like some of the others but it's a good one for teasing the taste buds!

Green Tea...I don't drink a lot of this, but my dad is a fan of iced tea so we make this up often for him and I usually will have a cup of it before putting the rest in the fridge to cool. It's a good one for when you want to concentrate on something other than the flavor of your tea!

My friend, Kristina, gave me this candle yesterday. The scent is Sugar Cookie and boy does it ever smell good! When I was burning it to take these pictures, Seth asked, "What smells like cookies?" Sorry, no cookies in the oven!

Here's a link to the Mally's blog. (I mentioned them in an earlier post with the video about Mexico) There is an interesting debate coming up on Tuesday with Answers in Genesis between Bill Nye, The Science Guy and Ken Ham, Answers in Genesis CEO. Grace provides a link to the site where you can watch the debate live. http://tomorrowsforefathers.com/gracenotes/?p=12268

The temperatures here are supposed to rise slightly for the next couple days....twentys during the day and slightly colder at night. Smoke and Lena are double blanketed and with Bannie's chunkiness, it's like he has two blankets on! They are all toasty warm. We were expecting some baby bunnies any day but it looks like the does may not have gotten bred.

We are keeping busy at the auction hall. I haven't had time to work on editing the second book. Once this auction is up and running I'll have a chance to get some work done on it. We'll be working tomorrow and most, if not all, of next week.

This is a recipe I have had since I took cooking class a few years ago as one of my classes in school. Everyone who has tried it loves it. It's a big hit with my brothers. This can be made as individual cookies or a pan cookie. In this post, I'm making a pan cookie.

1 1/2 C. white sugar and 1 1/2 C. brown sugar

Add 4 sticks(2 cups) melted butter

And 4 eggs and 1- 1 1/2 TBL. vanilla and mix well

Add 1 tsp. salt and 2 tsps. baking soda and mix.

 Add 5 C. flour

Mix well to form dough

Add chocolate chips and mix

Spread onto cookie sheet or, for individual cookies, drop by a tablespoon onto cookie sheet.

Bake at 375* for 25 minutes or, for individual cookies, bake at 375* for 12 minutes or until edges are brown.

You'll be a famous when you start making these!!

My mom's friend, Carolyn, noticed that I was using wooden utensils in my recipe posts so she got me this set of bamboo utensils. I used one of them in this recipe...you can see it in some of the pictures. They work great! Thanks Carolyn!!

Time to get out the hot chocolate! I had forgotten we had all this cocoa mix until Mom and I were looking for brown sugar back in the pantry cupboard and found it. The idea for this picture immediately popped into my head and I just had to doll up the box and snap the picture. Usually when we want hot chocolate, we just put some cocoa and sugar in a cup with hot water and that's that. Lydia was so excited to have packaged hot chocolate to drink!

It's been cold here...it's supposed to be 12* by Friday. Yesterday was 10* but it felt a lot colder because the wind was blowing hard. It's pretty cold today too. I think it's about 6*.

There was a new lamb born sometime during the night on Sunday. A little white ewe. We heard a lamb bawling so I went over to check and see what was going on. Sometimes when we hear that it's because the mother has abandoned the baby and it's cold and hungry. This little girl was with her mother, but she seemed just a tad wobbly so I caught her to make sure she was warm and had a full belly. You check their warmth by putting your finger in their mouth and hers was nice and warm. I watched her nurse and mama seemed to be taking care of her so I left them alone.

Knocking at the Door

Mary B. C. Slade

 
Who at my door is standing,

Patiently drawing near,

 Entrance within demanding?

Whose is the voice I hear?

 

Lonely without He's staying,

Lonely within am I,

While I am still delaying,

Will He not pass me by?

 

All thro' the dark hours dreary,

Knocking again is He;

Jesus, art Thou not weary,

Waiting so long for me?

 

Door of my heart, I hasten!

Thee will I open wide,

Tho' He rebuke and chasten,

He shall with me abide.

 

Chorus:

Sweetly the tones are falling:

"Open the door for Me!"

If thou wilt heed my calling,

I will abide with thee.

Approx. 1 gallon of clean snow

Add 1 C. white sugar

Vanilla to taste...I used about two teaspoons.

About 2 C. of milk(I only used about 1 3/4 C) and mix thoroughly.

Completed Snow Cream

Yum!!

We've had more lambs born in the last week or so. There's a couple sets of twins and one single. I got some cute pictures of them this afternoon.

I visited the horses and cows while I was out there and got some pictures of them too.

The Ninety-Nine

                       William G. Schell                         

 
The ninety-nine within the fold,

Are safe from fears and storms of night,

But one is on the mountains cold,

Twill perish there how--said the sight!

 

The ninety-nine are safe today,

They're all at home, so fully blest,

But one is wandering far away,

Upon the mountain's snowy crest.

 

The ninety-nine with care are fed,

And the rest within the Shepherd's fold;

But one is starving, nearly dead,

Upon the mountain bare and cold.

 

The Shepherd dear, aloud doth weep

Because one lamb afar doth roam;

The ninety-nine He'll safely keep,

We'll seek that lamb and bring it home.

 

Chorus:

Go search it out, and bring it home,

No more in darkness let it roam:

You'll find it there in dreadful plight,

Oh!go and bring it back tonight.

I've been writing a lot the last week and I am now on Chapter 11 in the third book...page 79. I don't have a title for it yet, but I'm having fun writing it! It seems the words just flow from my pen. I'll sit staring off into space for 20 minutes, trying to come up with something that sounds good, then suddenly I have an idea and I'll write furiously for 20 minutes, then sit staring blankly for the next 20! In this chapter and the few preceding it, danger lurks around every corner. I've said this before but I just have to say it again...I'm really excited about this book! I find myself glued to it every time I read back through the story. With my first two books, they had a series of small climaxes, but this one has one climax, and it won't be reached until the end of the book so I think it has a little bit more suspense than the others. There is different events but they all concern the same thing, finding the lost mine. At this point in the story, T.C. and Robert have disappeared...what are they planning now? When will they reappear? Will they continue to cause trouble for Amy and her friends?

I've started working with Monica on the illustrations. I think she'll do a great job and I can't wait to start reviewing the rough drawings. Xulon is going to be starting editing here shortly and if everything goes as planned, we should have a published book in a few months. I'll keep the blog updated on the progress.

I am going to start editing the second book even though it will be awhile before it will be published. I was reading through it and found a few interesting spots so I'll probably post a few excerpts over the next month or two. Here's something to wet your appetite!

Excerpt from Book #2-Chapter 13: The Last Clue

   Abruptly he changed the subject. "What're you pickin' that stuff for?" 
   "Tonight." Amy answered. 
   "I see. Aren't you gonna ask what I've been doing?" Clint's eyes twinkled. 
   "What have you been doing?" Amy asked promptly.       Clint laughed. "Well, I did some checking on this Evans fellow. The owner of the furniture store is David Evans' son. I also found out that he has been in prison several times for theft. Based on all that I learned, I think we can safely say the Evans' I found out about and the man that was here today are one and the same. He's probably after the valuables his father gave Nathan, figuring he can get away with it all at the same time. Oh, and you were right, Anders. David and Nathan were involved in a bootlegging operation many years ago."        "Wow!" Amy shook her head. "I'd say we'd better be careful. We're dealing with a man with a record of theft and obviously he hasn't reformed." 
   Clint nodded. "Right. So all of you be careful. Now," glancing at his watch. "It's lunch time and I'm starved!"       
   Amy laid the things they had cut in a basket and started for the house. "These will look so pretty and brighten up the house, won't they?" she commented to Anders. 
   He wrinkled his nose. "Smelly stuff!" 
   After lunch, Clint managed to send Harry on an errand to town. 
   As soon as he was out of sight, the five hurried to the staircase.    Clint joined them a few minutes later. "So this clue is supposed to be on this staircase?" he asked.
   Amy nodded. "That's what the last clue said. We've already checked the back staircase and we checked under all of these spindles." 
  "Well, I guess the first thing would be to take this rug off. Give me a hand." he bent down and began rolling up the rug that covered the stairs.    "What are you looking for?" Amy asked. 
   Clint shrugged. "I don't know, anything."

   When the rug was rolled up and laid aside, Clint stood to his feet. "Okay, we don't have much time before Harry gets back, so each of you take a section of the staircase and search it thoroughly, the wall, step, banister, anything." he instructed. 
  They set to work with a will, determination etched on the face of each. Amy knelt on a step near the top and began carefully studying the wall, tapping every few inches. She found nothing there and turned her attention to the four or five of steps that she was to search. Remembering what Anders had thought about a hinged step, she carefully checked each step to see if there was a hidden compartment. 
   Again, she found nothing. "Boy, I sure hope the others are having better luck than me." she thought as she turned toward the banister. 
   A moment later, Roseann cried eagerly. "I think I've found it!"

The Savior is Waiting

Text & Music: Ralph Carmichael

Tag Text & Music: Harry D. Clarke




The Savior is waiting to enter your heart

Why don't you let Him come in?

There's nothing in this world to keep you apart

What is your answer to Him?

 

If you'll take one step

Toward the Savior, my friend,

You'll find His arms open wide.

Receive Him and all of your darkness will end

Within your heart He'll abide.

 

Chorus:

Oh, time after time

He has waited before

Now He is waiting again

To see if you're willing

 To open the door

Oh, how He wants to come in.

 

Tag:

 Into my heart, into my heart

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;

Come in today, come in to stay;

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

With lots of help from my dad, I got the video of the music program the youth at the Dunkard Brethren Bible School put on the last day uploaded. Click here to see it.

Carleton did a great job teaching this class and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Here is a list of all the students so you can put a name to a face. The names are listed in the order we were standing in the video. (The order is slightly different in the beginning picture)

Top, left to right: Will, Christina, Marci, Jolene, Keri, Alyssa, Loraine, Jacob, Jeremy and Jesse.

Middle, left to right: Samuel, Jed, Janelle, Priscilla, Rebekah, Karen, Kari, Philip, William and Christian.

Bottom, left to right: Jonathan, Alisha, Julie, Janelle, Melody, Maria, Me, Corina, Dylan, Mark and Michael.

Today I went to my doctor. I had a ct scan on Dec. 30th and Dr. Salibi's physician assistant showed us the scan from the day I fell and the most recent one...you could see a definite difference. They said I can start weaning myself out of the brace. I can take it off at night and then just go by how I feel during the day. My muscles are used to relying on the brace to support everything so if I totally rely on them they'll rebel! I'll wean myself out of the brace for the next 3 or 4 weeks. They said I can be back to riding with the brace on and taking it slow for awhile ;P My next appointment is in three months. I took the brace off as soon as we got home, but put it back on after a little while because I needed to go outside and my muscles were starting to protest! I'm going to take it off tonight and then see how my back feels tomorrow. So, in about a month or so, I should be completely free of my turtle shell! When I was still in the hospital, Dad said we had to eat turtle soup at least once before I got my shell off...it hasn't happened yet! He still has a month!  

Thanks for all the prayers and support these last three months!

My great-grandmother brought this recipe with her from Lebanon. I have been making Jibin since I was about 10. It is a great snack cheese and is very simple to make. It is great on salads or just plain, with a sprinkling of salt. It never lasts long around our house! I made this batch for my back doctor, who is also Arabic.  The recipe I have written out below is for one gallon, but you can easily increase the recipe by simply increasing the amount of milk. The rennet, water and time stay the same. That is one of reasons it is so simple to make. The same amount of rennet will do from 1/2 a gallon to 2 gallons.

Heat a gallon of milk to 120 degrees, or until you can stir your finger around in it three times and it feels just slightly too warm to be comfortable.

Stir 1/2 tsp. liquid rennet into a 1/4 c. cold water. (I used a 1/3 of cup this time...no reason, that's just what I happened to measure out...it isn't important to be exact on the water because you will just drain it off later with the whey.)

Stir into milk gently, but thoroughly and let set for five minutes

At the end of five minutes, stir gently with a wooden or plastic spoon. Curds will have already formed. Wait another five minutes and stir again, then let sit for 35 minutes.

After the 35 minutes, stir gently to break up the curds.

Pour into a colander lined with cheese cloth(I am not using cheese cloth, but it is similar...I don't know what this material is called or where I got it, you can get cheesecloth at most grocery stores, use a double layer) and let sit for ten minutes.

After the ten minutes, flip over and let set another ten minutes. During this time you can press gently on the ball of cheese to remove an excess whey. Cheese should still be slightly rubbery. It may be more or less than the twenty minutes depending on how big or small of a batch you are making.

When the cheese is finished draining, rub with Kosher salt on both sides(you can use sea salt, but Kosher taste better in my opinion), place in a sealed container and store in the refrigerator.  My great-grandmother covered it in water to store it, but I personally prefer not to do that. I find it tends to make the cheese mushy.

Now your delicious Jibin is ready to eat!

I worked at the auction hall today with Dad and Mom texted me about noon saying a large box had come in the mail for me. I was puzzled as to who it could be from. I wasn't expecting anything and my birthday was past so.....? Mom asked if I wanted her to open it to see if there was a note, but I told her it was a good opportunity to practice patience...the box would wait until I got home. She and Lydia agonized over it all day.
So, when I got home, I opened the box. To my surprise, there was a pair of cowboy boots, a horse tote bag, a hair clip, a picture of a horse and a girl and a card with a check for $100!!!
I read the card and discovered it was from Polly, a lady we gave our halflinger mare, Mitzie, to a year ago. Polly had been the original rescuer of Mitzie when she was practically abandoned in a pasture. She had donated  her to the Fowler Center, a camp for handicap kids. When the Fowler Center decided to sell their horses, Polly let us have Mitzie. So, after enjoying Mitzie for just under three years, we gave her back to Polly and her daughter, Clare for them to enjoy.
In the card, Polly says Mitzie is doing well and is enjoying her life with seven pasture buddies.
Thank you, Polly and Clare, for thinking of me!! I will enjoy all your gifts!

2/3 C. butter, melted and 2 1/4 C. brown sugar. Mix well.

Add three eggs and beat well.

Add 2 1/4 C. flour, 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Mix well to form dough

Add 2 C. chocolate chips. I used grated Almond Bark, which is a chocolate substitute.

Place in a greased 10" x 15" pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 min.

Cut into bars while still warm

A warm cookie, straight from the oven and a glass of milk...the perfect afternoon snack!

The finished product!

He Giveth More Grace

Text: Annie Johnson Flint

Music: Hubert Mitchell

 

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase,

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

 

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

 

Chorus:

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known unto men,

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

As I said in my earlier post, we had to leave Maggie to go to the auction hall today so we couldn't check on her regularly. Grandpa left the hall earlier than us so we asked him to check on her when he got home. He called us just shortly after we had left the hall to tell us that she hadn't made it.

We got her last April and enjoyed nine months with her. Levi learned a lot from her and she added her flavor to our small herd.

This was a shock....Maggie was a relatively young healthy girl and we certainly didn't expect to loose her, but the Lord has a reason for everything. Our barn will feel empty for awhile. We will all miss her and so will the other horses. Bannie especially. He looks out for all his girls.

Yesterday was pick up for our auction...we have to be at the auction hall until six, then we always go out to eat on pick up night every month so we didn't get home until almost nine p.m. Mom went out to feed the horses and found Maggie down and thrashing. It didn't take long to determine she had was colicking. Dad started walking her while Mom got the ban amine shot and called the vet.  He said if her heart rate was over 60 she was in deep trouble...her heart rate was 118. The vet said to just keep walking her and keep her as comfortable as we could, but he didn't think she would make it until morning. Because of the amount of distress she was in, he thought it was a twisted intestine, which the only thing that can save them, if that is the case, is surgery. Mom and Dad walked her until one a.m. This morning she was down when they went out to check on her, but she got up and seemed sort of interested in eating some hay. She's not out of the woods, but she is improved slightly from last night. We have to be at the auction hall again today so we won't know how she is until we get home tonight.
Also this morning, one of the goats...Libby...didn't seem really interested in eating and her udder is building quickly so we should have babies tonight or tomorrow. She looks like she has at least twins. We're hoping for doe babies.
Thursday we had another set of twin lambs born. I haven't gotten out to see them yet. The lambs will start appearing rapidly now!

My friend Karen made me a lovely western quilt for my birthday with horses, cowboys and cowgirls appliqued on it. The quilting is lariats. It is the product of many hours of work. Thank you Karen!!  It is going in my hope chest, or rather, my despair barrel, as my brothers so kindly say!

I'll Bear You Up

Dear child of mine, I know your heart,

I feel your pain, I hear your cry.

The sun will shine, the clouds will part,

Beyond the rain, the clear blue sky.

 

Let go of fear and you shall see,

Safe in my care to victory.

Good-bye to tears, look to the skies,

I'll meet you there and set you free.

 

Chorus:

I'll bear you up, up, up on eagle's wings,

I'll draw you closer unto Me.

When you release all earthly things,

I'll give you sweet, sweet victory.

We had twin lambs born on Sunday, the first of the year. The white one is a ram lamb but I'm not sure if the brown one is ewe or ram. I'm glad the sheep waited to start lambing until this cold streak was over. We've had weather in the 30's the few days so it was perfect weather for getting little lambs on their feet. I got some good pictures of them this afternoon and our alpaca, Chico.

While I was outside with the camera I went back to the pasture where Grandpa, Dad and the boys were splitting firewood. They had quite a pile done already.

The kittens were banished to the goat barn a few weeks ago as they were beginning to cause problems in the house. They are still very friendly and seem to be enjoying their outside world.

We took Belle, one of the goats to a friends house yesterday to be bred so we just have two, Shiloh and Libby, right now. Libby should be kidding any time. Shiloh still has a little bit to go yet. Belle will be due about five months from now.

 

And Can it Be That I Should Gain

Text: Charles Wesley

Music: Thomas Campbell

 

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain--

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shoudst die for me?

 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray--

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shoudst die for me?

 

No condemnation now I dread;

I am my Lord's and He is mine;

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shoudst die for me?

I'm back! The youth that attended Bible School put on a music program on Saturday night and my family came down for that and we headed back that night. We got home at two a.m.

Last week was quite an adventure. I had tons of fun, learned a lot, made memories and new friends and altogether, enjoyed the week immensely.

The week did not start out as planned. Dad took me down to the Aeschliman's house ,where I would be staying for the week, on Saturday instead of on Sunday as was the previous plan because of a severe snow storm that was supposed to hit on Sunday. Classes were supposed to start on Monday, but due to severe cold, -50 wind-chill at times and a level three snow emergency (illegal to be on the roads) we stayed home Monday and Tuesday. Classes started on Wednesday and we were kept busy doing catch up the next three days. On Wednesday we did extra classes after supper and we did classes Saturday morning as well. The teachers did a great job of combining classes and we got most of the material in in the time we had.

Thursday night we had volley ball at a local school gym. I didn't play because of my back, but I enjoyed watching and taking several hundred pictures.

Friday night we had pizza brought in for supper and played games after that. I usually do not like group games very much but I enjoyed myself that night. There was lots of laughter and fellowship.

As I said earlier, we had three classes Saturday morning to finish up, then the rest of the day was spent recording our singing, practicing and setting up for the program which started at six. The program went well. My family came a little early and brought a surprise with them....my best friend Kristina. It was nice to have her there. I will be posting a video of the program soon....I have some editing to do before it will be ready.

Below are some pictures of Bible School. There were 31 students, 19 of whom were first year students and 4 teachers, or as one of the men who had a devotional said, we really had five teachers....old man winter being one of them! That was a lesson of patience and accepting whatever the Lord sends our way.

Some good news....I got my manuscript review back from my publishers today and it was very positive. The only things they pointed out that need editing were things like punctuation, capitalization  and some occasional miss spellings. I expected to have a whole lot more than that to work on so I was very pleased with their report. They will begin editing it shortly now...that will take about 4-5 weeks, then once I get the drawings from my illustrator, it shouldn't be too long until it's published. I'm expecting to have it ready by May-June.

Since we moved the auction back a week I have next week free sooooo.....I'm going to the Dunkard Brethren Bible School in Ohio for all of next week!! Dad and I are leaving today. We were going to go church as a family tomorrow, but they are predicting severe weather so Dad is taking me today. Every day of my time therewill be filled with classes, study time, mealtime, snack time and some time for fun too! In the evenings we will be going to a gym to play volley ball(I'll just be watching that and taking lots of pictures of course!) I'm staying with my friend, Keri, and her family while I'm down there. On the last day, Saturday, all the participants in the Bible School put on a music program for friends and family. My family will probably come down for that. 
There will be lots of people and activity. Usually the Bible school is for 18 and older unmarried youth, but this year they are letting in 17 year olds and some young married couples so the spectrum of participants will be wider.
While I'm gone I will not be doing any posts, but I'll do a long post when I get back with lots of pictures!!!

I hope everyone is staying snug and warm during this cold snap. :) We've been having below zero temperatures. Monday and Tuesday of next week the highs are negative numbers. Brrrr! Next week there are a couple days that the highs are below zero and one day that the wind chill will be -50 degrees. Hopefully the goats and sheep don't decide to birth while its this cold.

I have been following a blog by the Mally's. They are a Christian family that have several areas of ministry. Recently they went on a missions trip to Mexico and on their return, made a short video about Mexico and the needs of its people. Click here to read Grace's post.