Thursday, May 30, 2013

Here it is! Hide It Cake Recipe

 
After receiving several requests I'm posting my Hide It Cake recipe, so called because you have to "hide it" to keep it from being eaten up in less than a day!  This was given to me by a local farm wife and she serves it at harvest time to the workers. When my husband worked for her husband at harvest he got to try it and begged me to get the recipe and make it.  It is like a pecan pie in cake form and highly addictive! I am writing it out as it was given to me.

Hide It Cake

Cut 1 stick of butter (I used coconut oil and it turned out fine) in small pieces in large bowl.  Add 1 cup quick oats (I used 3/4 cup regular oats and it turned out fine) and pour 1 1/2 cup boiling water.  Let stand for 20 minutes.  Add 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar and 2 unbeaten eggs.  Mix well.  Stir together 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt.  Add and mix well.  Add 1 tsp vanilla, mix well and pour in 9x13 greased pan and bake @350 for 30 minutes.

Topping

1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup coconut
2 beaten eggs
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans or other nuts
4 tbs milk or cream

mix all-together and smooth over the top of cake as soon as 30 to 40 min is up (I found you have to bake the cake long enough for the top to support the topping so 30 to 40 is what it takes).  Put back in oven for 20 min or until golden brown on top.

And here is how I store all my baked goods

Saturday, May 11, 2013

An aquaponic system can provide a healthy food source, forever!

Here is a very interesting article over at Survival Mom about aquaponic systems and how they can produce food for your family.  I find this idea facinating and would love to try it!


Many people are familiar with hydroponics, the method of growing plants in mediums other than soil, often under artificial light. A well-balanced hydroponic system can produce large amounts of produce, and not surprisingly, many amateur pot farmers are dedicated hydroponic enthusiasts!

Aquaponics adds another element to these systems, live fish, so not only are you growing produce with their important nutrients and micro-nutrients, but you’re growing fish as well for a continual source of protein.

Read the rest HERE

Friday, May 10, 2013

Breezecatcher Clothesline Review - Save Tons Of Money!





As you all know my family is on so tight a budget it squeaks.  I do every thing I can to save money from baking our own bread to buying almost everything second hand.  But there are some things that I always buy brand new (underwear, shoes, socks) and some things I cant find used.  

One way I save lots of money is hanging my laundry out on a line to dry.  I do on average three loads of laundry a day.  That is 21 loads a week an that doesn't include the weekly wash day of the bed linens.  Hanging your laundry out not only saves tons of electricity (see- money) but also your clothes last longer.  A dryer is quite wearing on clothing. Also there is nothing quite like the smell of lined dried clothing, especially bed linens.  Did you also know that sunlight is a natural germ killer?  Its true! So as soon as it is warm enough to dry anything outside I am doing it.    

Unfortunately in our new yard we have very little non shade space, and much of that I wanted for my garden! I couldn't go with the standard line strung between two poles.  What I needed was a rotary clothes line.  The ones that kind of look like an inside out umbrella   They save space but still allow for tons of clothes to be hung up!



After researching several companies I contacted the Breezcatcher Clothesline company.  They were incredibly awesome in sending me one of their rotary driers for review!  When they gave me a choice of products I was happy to see how affordable they are.  My model only costs $170.50 and when you consider it will last for years that's a good deal!


What I thought

When I first received my Breezecatcher Clothesline  I was amazed at how manageable it was at only 14 pounds.  I could easily pick it up.  At first this concerned me because I needed it to be very tough and durable.   I was thinking that it couldn't handle a full day of linen washing that is 6 beds of sheets, heavy blanket and other miscellanea.  But I underestimated this great product!  Check out this pic!


Installing it was straightforward and cheap.  You do need a bag of instant mix concrete but that's about it.  We had it up within 1/2 hour.  Then after two days to let the concrete really set it was ready to use!  Yay!  Is it sad that I get excited about hanging my laundry out?  Who cares!

The first thing I noticed when using it was how great the rotating feature is.  Instead of me having to move all around, taking my laundry basket with me, I can just stand in one place and turn the arms.  It turns as smooth as butter and the lines they sent are super tough and don't stretch at all.  This is a feature I was very aware of since I have used laundry lines that sag horribly with even a small amount of weight.

After hanging out several loads my Breezecatcher Clothesline still rotated with the breeze and my clothes dried nice and fast.  Taking clothes off the line was even better because I didn't have to move around with my basket. My model comes with the below features


Bonus!

Right now Breezecatcher is running a great deal for free shipping on orders of $100.00 or more in the US!

Connect with Breezecatcher



Sunday, May 5, 2013

Our New Puppy Bremmer


We recently got a new dog for our family.  He is 3/4 boarder collie and 1/8 mcclean 1/8 springer spaniel.  Both his parents were on site and very nice dogs with great personality.  He is really strong willed and smart. He already know sit command and we are working on down and roll over.  After our recent problems with bad things happening at our house due to strangers we decided our 5 year old golden retriever is just not a good alert dog.  He slept through the fire and the crazy druggy who came on our property.

We named the puppy after my great grandmothers black lab Bremmer.  I used to visit her almost every week and she lived out in the country.  While the grown ups chatted I would go outside and explore the fields with the condition that I would keep Bremmer with me.  Like most labs he was very good with children but still big enough to scare away any unwanted attention from strangers.

Our new Bremmer's herding instinct is strong and I'm hoping we can teach him to herd our chickens!  I have a friend who's dog does that!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Mothers Day - Remembering to Love my Littles while they are mine



So often I have been encouraged by older women to really appreciate these years when my children are small.  I often mentally scoffed, thinking about how nice it would be when they grew up.  Most of the time the days seemed to grind by with one crises or the endless tasks that come hand in hand with motherhood. Some days are good and some are bad but all are busy! The last year, however, my perspective has changed.  Part of it is because I have an almost 16 year old daughter and when I look at her I think "She grew up so fast, how fast will my other three grow up?".  

It made me suddenly cherish these moments when they are still little.  When they still come to me with their hearts open and I can show them the beauty of this world we live in. I love children and the world would be much less fun and exciting without them in it.  Every day is a new and wonderful adventure with a child.  The first snowfall of winter, a butterfly floating on the breeze, kittens, rainbows, bubbles.  All these mundane things to an adult are miracles to a child, and they share their wonder with us.  It is a great gift.




I went to have my youngest son registered for kindergarten today.  As school age has approached I have realized that a huge chapter of my life is now going to be over.  I have had babies and toddlers in my home for 15 years.  Now I will be a stay at home mom with no Little's around!  Part of me is excited because I have lots of plans, but another part is terribly sad.  

Mothers take this moment to remember how very short of a time you will be the world to your children.  That soon the babies grow up and the chubby hands and wet kisses will be gone.  One of my favorite book series are the Anne of Green Gables.  Once Anne is grown the books are a beautiful look at motherhood and reading them uplifts me.  Two of the most poignant quotes are below.

Anne stooped repentantly, gloatingly over them. They were still hers . . . wholly hers, to mother and love and protect. They still came to her with every love and grief of their little hearts. For a few years longer they would be hers . . . and then? Anne shivered. Motherhood was very sweet . . . but very terrible.
~ Anne of Ingleside, [ch. 31; pp. 194]

Dear God, . . . help all mothers everywhere. We need so much help, with the little sensitive, loving hearts and minds that look to us for guidance and love and understanding.
~ Anne of Ingleside, [ch. 6; pp. 33]


My Baby Went To School Today

Somehow the sunlit world is gray
A small boy went to school today.
So often in these last few years
Of healing hurts
And drying tears…
Of picking playthings off the floor…
Of running often to the door,
To see if he were safe at play,
The awful fear that he might stray
On eager, fearless baby feet
Into the crowded city street.
One thought has been a placid pool.. .
He’ll soon be old enough for school.

He was old enough today,
Yet all the sunlit world is gray.
So soon my rooms grow orderly,
With no small boy to bother me.
But quiet rooms are lonely things
When in their walls no small boy sings.
A quiet yard’s a lonely place,
When it has known a small boy’s face.

Today he joined the world of men.. .
He’ll not be wholly mine again.
Today he braved life’s rise and fall..
Dear Lord, he seems so very small!

Somehow the sunlit world is gray…
My baby went to school today.

-author unknown


My Hands were Busy

My hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
The little games you asked me to,
I didn't have much time for you.
I'd wash your clothes,
I'd sew and cook,
But when you'd bring your picture book
And asked me please to share your fun,
I'd say, "A little later son."
I'd tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tiptoe softly to the door...
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play.
No good-night kisses, no prayers to hear;
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands, once busy, now are still
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back to do
The little things you asked me to.