keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[FarmerDenise]

You did all that already. I have to get a move on and get caught up to you.
I only posted on SS, read some emails, fed the dog and the chickens, gathered 4 eggs (one pullet egg, whoo hoo!!), put dishes away and refilled the dishwasher and had 2 cups of tea.
Talk to you all later.

edited to add, fed the cat and made labels for my wine vinegar

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Hmm lets see, I posted on SS, drank two cups of coffee, gave kids cereal for breakfast, posted on SS, deleted/edited a morning post on SS, fed animals, posted on SS, cried a little, went to friends house to get water and a shower, visited with friend and drank 3rd cup of coffee, came home fed goats some hay, cooked grilled cheese for lunch, friend showed up and we unloaded DH's truck....

I still need to unload water and clean feeders/waterers today plus clean the ferret cage, wash dishes, and I'm sure there's other things I need to do.

 

[keljonma]

Denise, you are hours behind me.... you have all day to get caught up.


Well I finally got showered and dinner started. I still haven't decided if we are having BLT sandwiches or BLT soup, but I have mise ready to go for both. I will let dh decide.

I just think I need to be "doing" since I am not working and I don't have any children or animals.

QA I wish we were closer - I'd help ya with the water and animals.....


edited for typos

 

[delia_peterson]

BLT soup? Do you have that recipe posted on here somewhere? And you HAVE been busy today! I am a complete slacker compared to you!

 

[keljonma]

delia, I have 2 BLT Soup recipes. Both are perfect for using excess greens, lettuces, and tomatoes from the garden. This is the one I made today.

BLT Soup
Serves 2 - 4, depending if it is part of meal or is the meal

2 1/2 slices bacon, diced
1 T butter
1 3/4 c iceberg lettuce, julienne cut 1 1/2 to 2 inches long
1/4 c and 1 T all-purpose flour
1 3/4 c hot water
1 1/2 tsp broth powder base or soup base
1/4 c and 2 T chopped tomatoes
1/2 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 pinch ground cayenne pepper
1/2 c hot half-and-half cream or milk
1 T mayo
dash salt, optional

In a heavy 3-quart saucepan cook bacon over medium heat until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Do not drain fat.

Add butter and heat until melted. Stir in lettuce and saut 2 minutes. Blend in flour with a wire whisk. Stir over medium heat until well blended and evenly cooked, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add hot water, broth, tomatoes, nutmeg, and red pepper. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and gently boil 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Add cream and mayo, mixing well. Heat to simmering, stirring frequently. Serve hot, garnished with crumbled bacon bits.

---
Here is the other one:

Lettuce, Bacon, Tomato Soup
Serves 2 - 4, depending if it is part of meal or is the meal

1 head lettuce, washed (Boston Lettuce type is recommended in recipe, but I use what I have)
salt
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 T butter
2 c stock
dash black pepper
dash sugar
dash nutmeg
2 c milk
1 - 2 egg yolks
2 T heavy cream
1/2 c chopped tomatoes
2 1/2 slices bacon, diced, cooked and drained
croutons

Blanch the lettuce in salted water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Chop the leaves. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the onion for 5 minutes or until soft. Add most of the shredded lettuce, leaving some aside to be used for garnish before serving.

Pour the stock over the lettuce and onions and bring to a boil. Season with salt, pepper, sugar, and nutmeg.

Allow the soup to cool slightly before putting it in a blender. After it is smooth, return to the saucepan. Stir in the milk and gently reheat, simmering for about 5 minutes.

Lightly beat together the egg yolks and cream. Spoon a little of the hot (not boiling) soup into this mixture and blend thoroughly. Pour the egg mixture into the soup and simmer gently until the soup thickens. Do not allow the soup to boil, or the eggs will curdle.

Just before serving, stir in the chopped tomatoes and cooked bacon. Top with some of the shredded lettuce and croutons.

 

[delia_peterson]

Thank you! It sounds great! Now I know what I am having for dinner tomorrow night!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

QA I wish we were closer - I'd help ya with the water and animals.....

The help most certainly would be welcomed! I wish you were closer, too.

Could be arranged, ya know!

 

[keljonma]

Believe me, QA, I am still praying on the housing issue.

 

[keljonma]

50 this morning and foggy. We are supposed to reach 71 today and the sun IS trying to chase the fog away.

Last nights Back In The Box class was pretty good. Barb, our class facilitator is also our church Senior Ministries Coordinator. I have worked Christian Caf and funeral meals with Barb, but this is the first time I have taken a class with her. Laurie, our churchs Small Ministries Coordinator and our Experiencing God facilitator is taking this class too, as well as a couple from our church who couldnt make this class, and some people from another church in the county.

Each session (there are 6) has a quote from John Ortberg that pertains to the lesson. The quote for session one: Life, no matter how we play it, will not go on forever. When the game is over, its all going to end up in the same place. As an ancient Italian proverb put it: Pawn and king alike, they all go back in the bag.

Barb started right off by telling us that each class is divided into specific sections: class discussion, dvd viewing, class discussion, Bible exploration, dvd wrap-up, and a personal section. Then there is a section of work to be done on our own after class. Each of the sections done during the class is a timed segment. So last night we had 3 minutes of discussion, watched the dvd for 20 minutes, had dvd discussion for 5 minutes, and Bible exploration for 5 minutes, dvd wrap-up for 3 minutes, and personal section for 5 minutes. The at-home portion isnt timed, however, it is only a couple pages long (big gaps for writing answers). So with some small talk before class, the opening and closing prayers, class was right on schedule. We start at 7 and end at 8:30.

More church related stuff.
The Council For Dynamic Rural Ministries is presenting a Month of Revival in Ashtabula County. We missed the first revival, which was last Sunday. I heard that Corey Brooks presented a musical concert and testimony with special guest Abbey Gregory at Monroe United Methodist Church. The revival started at 4 pm and a potluck followed. I heard at last nights class that Corey Brooks was outstanding, so I am sorry we missed it.

The rest of the schedule looks like this:
Sept 20 - Second Revival Sunday at Stateline UMC at 4pm. Pastor David Miller will bring the Word with Pastor Pat Seger singing. Followed by soup and sandwich.

Sept 27 - Third Revival Sunday at Plymouth UMC at 4pm. Gene Seger will bring the Word with GloriOs singing. Followed by soup and sandwich.

Oct 4 - Fourth Revival Sunday at Gageville UMC at 4pm. District Superintendent Rev. Dave Scavuzzo will bring the Word with GloriOs singing. Followed by an International Dinner. Suggested donation of $5 benefiting G.O. Ministries.

Oct 11 - Final Revival Sunday at Cherry Valley UMC at 4pm. Pastor Aletta Burkholder will bring the Word with Josh Woodard singing. Followed by soup and sandwich.

I admit I stay in my own little world quite a bit, so with the exception of Josh Woodward and G.O. Ministries, this is all Greek to me. Joshs great-grandmother is a member of our church who helped with Christian Caf until she got too ill. Now a meal is delivered to her. Josh has sung a number of times at our church, and he has a very beautiful voice.

For the local churches, I havent been to any of them. We have driven by Cherry Valley, as it is quite close to the farm, and we passed it often on the way to the Amish store. My ds dgf has taken pictures of this church, which is beautiful in country simplicity with old stained glass windows..

ServeFest is scheduled for Sunday, October 11. This program is designed to allow people to become Jesus hands and feet to show others in the community that they are loved. A short list of ways we will be ministering.
Do yard work
Do housework
Cut firewood
Shovel or plow snow
Help or do gardening jobs
Work at the Habitat House build
Write letters for people
Make & share a meal with a shut-in
Clean out gutters and downspouts
Make small simple clothing repairs
Make small simple home repairs
Paint a house
Pick up litter in the community
Make cards
Build ramps
Do small simple errands
Pray for members of the community
Clean up around Harassments (the biker bar where the church holds alternative worship)
Serve free hot dogs & drinks at the two local groceries
Make jams, applesauce, etc to give away
Read books to others
Teach a craft - sewing, knitting, quilting, crocheting, canning, etc
Offer free oil changes
Offer haircuts
Offer massages
Visit residents of Jefferson Healthcare & Austinburg Rehab centers
Provide free childcare for someone while they are working at one of the sites
Provide a meal for the workers at one of the sites

Looking at the list, I see that many of these are being done throughout the year by our home ministries team. I pray we have a great turnout of volunteers.

Back at the home front...

We are doing laundry tonight. Then packing up dhs bag for his Koinonia week-end. It is supposed to be in the 40s at night this week-end, so I think he might need a heavier blanket than the one he intended taking. I better get out the bigger duffle bag. Our friends, Ron and Pat, are our spiritual sponsors for Koinonia. DH doesnt have to be at Rons place until 5:30 Friday night. DH is off work Friday through Sunday, but will only be home Friday morning and afternoon. So if I pack his clothes tonight, we can do something fun Friday morning.

Tonights meal will most likely be some sort of potato soup, as I see I have some potatoes I need to use up quickly.

 

[delia_peterson]

I wish there were more churchs with ministries like yours. :/