The Have-More Plan A Little Land and a Lot of Living

A great freebie
The 50-year-old Homestead Classic!
This is the book that encouraged thousands to go "back to the land" to find a better life after the Great Depression and World War II.

For a free PDF click on the link below.

The Have-More Plan
A Little Land  And A Lot of Living

Tomatoes...

Last night after work I did two canners of tomatoes.  I just hate to see them go to waste.  I consoled myself by saying I’m sure this is the last of the season.  We may get a few more fresh but I’m sure the last of the canner loads.    At that both DH and #1 Son said the temperatures were on the rise and our warm weather may hold a bit longer.  Well okay…

I have saurkraut in my garage.  I’m waiting for it to finish up so I can bottle it.  Then just grapes left on the vine and the harvest should be put by.  We had a really late frost here in the spring so all of the fruit trees were hit.  Our only fruit that made it were the grapes.  They will become juice. 

The house seemed a bit sad and empty this morning after all the weekend family and fun.  Our dear D-i-L and grandaughters made it home safe and sound.  Their sweet daddy, our #2 Son, picked them up at the airport.  The visits are so wonderful and it is so hard to have them so far away, but there is no place like home and I know they are all enjoying their own beds, toys, pets, etc…  

And Papa and I are already looking forward to the next time our car turns south to head down and see them.

Hope you are having a beautiful fall day.

a little bird

Yom Kipper

Yom Kippur, also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days  ("Days of Awe").





 Translation: I will exalt You, my G-d the King, and I will bless Your Name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will laud Your Name forever and ever. Hashem is great and exceedingly lauded, and His greatness is beyond investigation. Each generation will praise Your deeds to the next and of Your mightly deeds they will tell; The splendrous glory of Your power and Your wonderous deeds I shall discuss. And of Your awesome they will speak, and your greatness I shall relate. A recollection of Your abundant goodness they will utter and of Your rughteousness they will sing exultantly. Gracious and merciful is Hashem, slow to anger, and great in bestowing kindness. Hashem is good to all; His mercies are on all His works. All Your works shall thank You, Hashem, and Your devout ones will bless You. Of the glory of Your kingdom they will speak, and of Your power they will tell. To inform human being of His mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of His kingdom. Your kingdom is a kingdom spanning all eternities, and Your dominition is throughout every generation. Hashem supports all the fallen ones and straightens all the bent. The eyes of all look to You with hope and You give them their food in it's proper time; You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Righteous is Hashem in all His ways and magnaninous in all His deeds. Hashem is close to all who call upon Him - to all who call upon Him sincerely. The will of those who fear Him He will do; and their cry He will hear, and save them. Hashem protects all who love Him; but all the wicked He will destroy. May my mouth declare the praise of Hashem and may all flesh bless His Holy Name forever and ever. We will bless G-d from this time and forever, Halleluy-ah!
Just to bless you.

Full Fun Family Weekend

What a wonderful weekend.  Thursday through Monday we PLAYED.  All but one were able to be here to play and party.  #2 Son was not able to make it due to work schedule but he sent his family.  #1 Son and family came as well as some additional friends.  What a great time.

Papa set a tent up in the backyard for naps (his).  :-)  We had little girls lined across the living room floor on sleeping mats with cozy covers.  It was close to midnight but they finally settled down for the night.  And then  the happenings started again in the morning.  

Family is so delightful.  Today we are all going back to our normal schedule. Which is both good and sad to see the the family time come to an end.  But everyone needed to be back in routine as well.

Hope your weekend was great and that you had a bit of fun and family too.

a little bird

Sweet Rosh Hashanah

Blessed and Happy New Year.
a little bird

Camping

Beautiful photos are public domain not mine.

But they are of our beautiful mountains and camping area.

We went camping for the weekend.  This was our fist time all summer...  We are campers and love to head to the mountains but DH worked almost non-stop all summer so camping wasn't on the list.

We finally got a weekend off.  #1 son called to say they were going to work on their house, so we took two granddaughters (2 years and 4 years old) camping too.  I can remember loading my two young sons up and going camping alone when DH just couldn't get away.   Let me tell you boys are MUCH different than girls!!  With boys you need a stream and some rocks.  Throw some swimming trunks in and you're packed!!

Little girls are a very different event.  Now mind you they get just as dirty and can roast a marshmallow or hot dog just the same.  But they require 'crafts'.  So we painted, we painted beautiful pictures, the table, legs and hands oh my!!!  Good thing all were washable.  At least that's what the  package said I guess we'll find out.  We collected - pretty rocks, beautiful fall leaves, and of course pitch.  They need to know all the cool stuff just like boys.

We made brownies. had a tea party, made individual pizzas.  So today we brought home two dirty little girls that were well loved, well fed, and well entertained.  We also brought home tons of dirty clothes, a dirty camper, a dog that smells a bit like fish and two tired grandparents.

Fun was had by all.
a little bird

Why can foods?

Excerpt from the: Complete Guide to Home Canning, "Canning can be a safe and economical way to preserve quality food at home. Disregarding the value of your labor, canning homegrown food may save you half the cost of buying commercially canned food. Canning favorite and special products to be enjoyed by family and friends is a fulfilling experience and a source of pride for many people.

Many vegetables begin losing some of their vitamins when harvested. Nearly half the vitamins may be lost within a few days unless the fresh produce is cooled or preserved. Within 1 to 2 weeks, even refrigerated produce loses half or more of some of its vitamins.

If vegetables are handled properly and canned promptly after harvest, they can be more nutritious than fresh produce sold in local stores. (emphasis mine)The advantages of home canning are lost when you start with poor quality fresh foods. "  end excerpt.

Home canning is a way to preserve the best quality and highest nutrient value of your food.  If you purchase from the farm market or the nursery.  Call them they will fresh pick for you so you can have the produce put up the same day is was picked.  Happy canning.
a little bird

A bit of the Garden, Pasta Sauce and Sauerkraut

Pasta Sauce 

The Recipe is on page 3-14

I made a big batch of this sauce on Saturday it turned out yummy.  

It is meatless spaghetti sauce.

Beautiful Cabbage!!!

This is an antique kraut shredder.  It works wonderfully -  use with care. 

Red Cabbage for Sauerkraut

Yes you really can.  I didn't mix the two colors but kept them separate.   

It shreds perfectly

3 tablespoons salt to 5 pounds of cabbage

We had 35 pounds of cabbage.

These are just a few more pics of the garden.  My DH does all the garden work really.  I help here and there but he makes sure it is weeded, tilled, and watered.  My job is putting it by.

He does a beautiful job.  The cabbage were amazing!

Hot Peppers

White Grapes

Concord Grapes

Miss Chessie -  My Helper

Making sure all is done in order.  She has some corn silk on her nose.  

She must have been checking things over very thoroughly.

Labor Day

Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.
In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white or seersucker.

When I was growing up it was the LAST day of summer.  School started the day after Labor Day.  We were not high society but it was the last day that we wore white until Memorial Day.  The white shoes were put away as were white pants and skirts.

It was 40 degrees here this morning.  Fall is coming.  It is my favorite season.  I love the harvest, the colors, smells, etc.  September, October, November and December.

My agenda for today is:
Sauerkraut, laundry, vacuuming, and picking up school supplies at the back to school sales for Operation Christmas Child.  If you too need to buy school supplies this is the very best sale time!!

It is great to have a day off so I can get a few things caught up at home.  Hope you have a blessed day.
a little bird

National Preparedness Month

Since its inception in 2004, National Preparedness Month is observed each September in the United States of America. Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security, Preparedness Month encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. FEMA's Ready Campaign educates and empowers Americans to prepare for, and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

If you would like more information.