Easy Breezy Squash Casserole

Yes, here it is the first squash casserole of the season- and I have a feeling not the last!

Easy Squash Casserole

6-8 good size yellow squash
1 large videlia onion
butter
bread crumbs
salt
pepper
sage
cheddar cheese

Slice squash and thickly dice onion. Boil until tender and drain. Pour squash and onion into a large casserole dish and dot generously with butter. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and sage. Top with bread crumbs and cheddar cheese. Bake until bubbly.

What are you doing with your squash? Send ideas soon I'm drowning in squash!

Monday Meditations

Now is the time to get things done...
wade in the water,
sit in the sun,
squish my toes
in the mud by the door,
explore the world in a boy just four.

Now is the time to study books,
flowers,
snails,
how a cloud looks;
to ponder "up,"
where God sleeps nights,
why mosquitoes take such big bites.

Later there'll be time
to sew and clean,
paint the hall
that soft new green,
to make new drapes,
refinish the floor-
Later on..when he's not just four.

Irene Foster
"Time Is of the Essence"

Simple Summer Menu

Homemade Tuna Salad-
in a tomato flower

Sauteed Green Beans

Whole Wheat Parmesan Cheese Toast

Tip-for a heartier tuna salad add finely chopped: celery, green pepper, purple onion, boiled egg, and walnuts.

Yum, yum- easy and cool!

Happy 4th of July Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies

Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies

2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt

Beat softened butter with sugar until very creamy. Add egg and flour mixed with baking power and salt. Mix briefly and then add the vanilla. Beat one final time. At this point you can either drop the cookies onto a baking sheet or put them through a cookie press. If you would like to roll them and cut them into shapes they need to be refrigerated for several hours.

Bake at 350-375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until light brown.
Decorate if desired and enjoy!

We love to make these cookies because not only are they very versatile and easy to make- we always have the ingredients on hand- they are only slightly sweet. If you like a really sweet cookie you can decorate these with icing or sugars to your hearts content or you can leave them plain and they still taste good. We've also been know to add chocolate chips:).

Coming soon- tips on baking with whole wheat flour.

The Other Side of The Story

"Martha takes a most prosaic view of this proceeding, in which she detects malice prepense on my part. She says I shall now have one mouth the more to fill and two feet the more to shoe, more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure or visiting, reading , music and drawing.

Well! This is one side of the story,to be sure, but I look at the other. Here is a sweet mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God; and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in Christ's name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother's heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh, how rich I am, how truly how wondrously blest!
excerpted from Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss

Necessary Business

Yes, this is a picture of our front yard. This was not an easy way to learn that a septic tank should be pumped out about every 3-5 years. Ours had never been pumped out and consequently the field lines had to be replaced- ouch!

Anyone have any good suggestions for natural additives to keep septic systems healthy? It was recommended that we give our system a good dose of Ridex every month. I'm sure there has to be a more natural cheaper solution.

What a mess, but what a lesson in gratefulness- for indoor plumbing that works!!

Now This Guy Understands A Few Things

Have you every read anything by Joel Salatin?

One of the things we love about Joel Salatin's books are his understanding of the systems God has built into creation. Not only does he understand plant and animal life systems designed by our Creator, but he farms in harmony with those systems with such precision that his yields and profitability far outweigh conventional practices.

His books are written in a simple style at times almost like a journal, but they are chock full of wisdom and experience from a seasoned farmer who knows there are no short cuts to good quality homegrown food. He is not afraid to tell you his mistakes and is meticulous about documenting his procedures.

Here are a few excerpts:

"The more we study the advantages of seasonal production, the more satisfied we are that we have made the right decision not to be suckered into the demands of year-round production. Nature provides seasons for a reason. Each has its assets and liabilities. Producing in sync with the season provides the greatest profit."

"When we look at the big picture, the cycles of nature are here for a reason. As we begin tapping into them, and using them for our benefit, positives occur in many areas: social, economic and physical. To fully utilize the season requires forethought, discipline , and seasonal hard work. Solomon pointed out that there is a season to plant and harvest. As soon as we refuse to plant or refuse to harvest in season we pay a price."
from Pastured Poultry Profits by Joel Salatin

Wow, what a breath of fresh air. His philosophy seems to be lets look at the farm through God's eyes and see what we can do to make it run as efficiently as it can. End result- better food; better production models.

Even though we don't farm on nearly the scale as he does much of his wisdom can be applied to the small cottage farm. And even if you don't farm at all you can learn a ton from reading his books.