Storms, Trees, Power Outages

By January 19th we had 12" of snow and a thick coating of ice on everything.  It was beautiful!
But we lost power for 3 days and had a wonderful time with family bonding, becoming more skilled at using our wood cookstove and thriving without electricity.

 Then on January 24th in the late evening a wind storm came that "blew" us away.  Trees came down everywhere, including our property and our neighbors.  One of their trees came down across the street into our trees and when it came down it took all the utility lines and the power pole with it.  We had "live" lines in our front yard, drive and on our street.  We were safe in our home for just over 24 hours.  We were able to get out the back to do our animals and DH was able to go to work via the neighbors drive.  But we had the adventure of watching power poles being put in and restored.

Today we were assisted by Travis (our Yakima farmer/produce man) and his brother, Troy Heine, Tree Master.  They are both great Tree-men, bonded and licensed.  Troy specialized in Fine Pruning and can take care of anyone beautiful and ornamental trees with great care.  Contact 509-654-6054 or troyheine@live.com

Please call them if you need any tree removal or tree care!

Wildcraft Wednesday

I have a few Herbal blogs that I really like that you might like to check out.
Woodwife's Journal
Common Sense Homesteading
Mind Body and Sole

They do a Wildcraft Wednesday that has links to others herbal preparations, including mine.

 

If you go to my post Making Autumn Herbals you can see that there herbals preparations that support the upper respiratory system.   This is not just because it's that "season", but because I have been caught by some "walking pneumonia" type bug, that has lasted over 2 months now.  The naturopath did a full blood screen and the main problem is low white blood count, possibly from immunizations when I was a child.  In addition to the Autumn Herbals I am taking additional Vit. C & D, Fish Oil, homeopathics for deep seeded virus.  Plus acupuncture, cranial, massage and Epson salt/essential oil baths.

The reason I share this is because, even those of us in the healing field have opportunities to learn and be challenged by ailments. I have improved, relapsed and improved again.   It is giving me a new prospective, understanding and patience.  I am learning to set new priorities and to reach out to others that can support my healing.  My family has (is) learning to do more and support me better.

So all of this is a growing experience for all of us in a good way.  My health and strength is much better and I am on the road of recovery.  May you have a slower, more peaceful December with lots of joy and love!!!  I am!

Do You Have the Right to Choose the Food You and Your Family Consume?

According to a ruling by Wisconsin Judge Patric Feidler, you do not.  Don't Have Right to Choose
This ruling was made September 9th, 2011.  A fitting day for our Country and for the rights of Wisconsinites and Americans.

  Five days later, Judge Patrick Fielder resigned, effective September 30th, 2011.  Steps Down
Only to go to work for Axley Brynelson, LLP, which defended Monsanto against a patent infringement case filed by Australian firm, Genetic Technologies, Ltd. (GTL) in early 2010.

Conspiracy or not?   I think not.  After reading Omnivore's Delemma, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Everything I Want to Do is Illegal, and many other informative books and DVD's, the conclusion I have come to is; There is a Conspiracy!  It is to control many aspects of our lives.

What we can do about it?
- Plant a garden
- Have some of our animals
- Buy local foods
- Wildcraft
- Preserve our foods
- Network with like-minded folks who are doing the same.
- And continue to educate ourselves, watch the "real", accurate news, and teach our children and others.

Then the best part of all is to enjoy our lives, love our family and friends, look for the good and eat delicious foods!!!

Join Me on a Sourdough Adventure

I have made Whole Grain Artisan Breads, but haven't really gone on the Sourdough Adventure yet.  Not until this week.  Now I have challenged myself to not only re-activiate a starter, but to use it in many ways over the next few months.
 
I grew up in the outskirts of the Bay Area, California. My mom had a sourdough starter going and made us dollar sized pancakes from it.  It was an occasional treat. We had beautiful, tangy, Sourdough French Bread available to us.  It smelled and tasted so delicious.  That was before my conversion to Whole Grains 25 years or more.  Though I still love that San Fransisco Sourdough.

So now I am experimenting and going to learn the "how-to's" of Sourdough Cooking.

I found a free starter from Calr Griffith's 1847 Oregon Trail Sourdough Starter that they so graciously mailed to me.  I have also subscribed to GNOWFGLINS Sourdough eCourse and printed off the course to work through as my text course of study.  The 1 1/2" binder is full and even my grand-daughter couldn't believe that Grandma was going to have to do that much school-work.

Today is day 4.  My starter is just this afternoon starting to smell sour.  Before it "stunk".  It is bubbly and glutenous. My plan is the keep feeding it till day 7, then on day 8 make Tortillas.

Do you make Sourdough?  Please share your experiences and knowledge.  I will post my progress.

Secret Sauce *Updated*

 ~This post was oringially made in 2009.  It is now the time to make it again.  Do you have a few peaches, tomatoes, along with the apples and onions?  If not you can used some canned peaches and tomatoes, instead of fresh.  It will still tastes great!~

Our family calls this delicious sauce, "Secret Sauce". Who would have thought; peaches, tomatoes, apples, onions, mixed together would make something so tasty?

We love it on; scrambled eggs or omelets, potatoes, over meatloaf, hamburgers or polish dogs, over chicken while it's baking served with brown rice, on grilled meats, etc..... We use it like catsup and LOVE it!!!

In 2007 I read, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A book I highly recommend! In the back are some wonderful recipes, including Relish, Sauce and Chutney - All in One Day by Janet Chadwick. I made and changed it to suit our family's tastes and into one sauce that we use it almost daily.

This is a wonderful condiment that friends and family love to get as a gift. We usually double this recipe, but you'll need a big pot. I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do!


Farley Family Secret Sauce
Makes - 13 pints






In a large pot add;
5 pounds apples, peeled and coarsley chopped
4 pounds tomatoes, pureed
2 1/2 pounds onions, chopped
4 cups apple cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
1/3 cup sea salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
Simmer, uncovered, over medium heat until the apples are soft and the mixture is thick. Stir occasionally. This can take up to 3 or 4 hours.

In another pan add;
4 pounds peaches, peeled and sliced
4 1/2 cups sugar
8 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/3 cup water
Simmer, covered over a low heat till soft. Stir occasionally. Until fruit is very soft and this mixture is thick. If the peaches don't turn into a mush, puree in blender.

Add peach mixture to tomato mixture. Continue to simmer on low until it is the thickness that you want. Be sure and stir occasionally to prevent scorching. This can take a couple of hours.

Ladle into pint jars, place lid and ring on. Water bath for 20 minutes.

~The reason these need to be cooked separately is the apple/tomato mixture takes longer than the peach/sugar/spice mixture. If you add all the sugar the tomato mixture will scorch.

Enjoy and let us know the ways your family likes to use this Secret Sauce.