keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[keljonma]

delia, I think there are churches out there that are very involved in the community. I think I am the only one posting so much "church stuff" in a journal.

You could just move to NE Ohio....where we have great churches because the economy stinks!

 

[delia_peterson]

delia, I think there are churches out there that are very involved in the community. I think I am the only one posting so much "church stuff" in a journal.

You could just move to NE Ohio....where we have great churches because the economy stinks!

Thats why I read your journal everyday! And dont tempt me..I may pack up my chicks,dogs and cats and move!
I have visited so many churches here by me, some more then once...and still have not felt that "welcome". But I pray everyday and know I will find it soon!

 

[TTs Chicks]

Wow - you are really busy! I also envy your time spent doing things with the church. There never seems to be enough time between work, kids, chickens, dog, cat, house . . . . ya know life I really need to make going a priority again.

 

[keljonma]

delia, our kids and grands are living in Texas...so while we don't have any plans at the moment, there is nothing to say we won't be back in Texas one day. I'm sure you'll find a church home, as there are a number of wonderful churches out there.

TT, I found life so much easier when I follow Christ. When our two were youngsters, we were not as active in the church as we are now.

 

[delia_peterson]

I know I will find a church home here...I am determined! And I will never move again....I lived in Louisianna (DD lives in Sulphur)for a while year before last, and while I enjoyed it, I also missed my home and friends here. But the churches there were like yours.

 

[keljonma]

9/18/09

Well, we didn't do laundry last night after dh got home from work. He is battling a cold, and just wanted soup, some Airborne, and some rest. I made a potato-roasted garlic-carrot soup and some buttermilk baking powder biscuits to go with it.

DH has been sick a total of 5 times in 32 years. But this cold is the second time he has been sick in 6 months. I am sure it is related to working at the hospital.

This morning we woke to 45 and fog. However, the sun broke through and we did reach 72.

After breakfast, we dropped books off at the library, bought some small stuff (toothpaste, toothbrush, puffs, cough drops) for dh's week-end, went to the bank, bought some water, did the laundry, stopped at the farmers market and headed back home for lunch.

At the farmers market, Mr. Smith had some beautiful peaches, so I got some ($7/peck). I also got a small spaghetti squash and a small pie pumpkin for $1 each. I really wanted some more garlic, but none of the stalls had any, not even the CSA stall.

We saw a small home with a barn/shed for rent on the way home and called about it. The home is a newer mobile home with 2 bedroom, 2 bath that sits on 2 acres. It is in the general area of the farm, so dh would be closer to work and we would be closer to church. There is one neighbor to the east of the home and a farm field to both the west and across the street to the south; there are woods to the north. Except for being a mobile home and not being completely fenced, it was like the situation at the farm! I called the owner, and she said the current renters are just moving out, so it would be a couple weeks before she would be ready to have new renters move it. She said we could look at it late next week at the earliest. But the amount she wants for a security deposit, 3 months rent plus a pet security deposit totals about $2000; so we won't be moving there unless God wills it.

We drove by Zook's to see if they were home. Mrs. Zook is the daughter of the Amish man we used to buy eggs from. We saw his chickens in her yard today, but we did not see anyone home. So I will try tomorrow or Monday to get eggs, as we ate the last of the ones we had this morning for breakfast.

When we got home from all our errands, we had some more of the potato-roasted garlic-carrot soup for lunch. And if I can remember what I threw in the pot, I'll write down the recipe. I thought it needed more garlic but dh said it was perfect. We ate the last of the biscuits at breakfast, so we had popcorn with our soup for lunch.

Then dh took Titan for a walk and then took a nap while I put away the clean clothes and packed his bag. Then before I knew it, it was time for him to get up, shower and for us to drop him off at Ron's. DH won't be home until Sunday night.

Afterwards, I did some grocery shopping - Sparkle had USA-grown bananas on sale for 29 cents/pound, and garlic from Gilroy, CA was 5 bulbs for $1.29. The Hillandale unsalted butter was on sale for $1.29/pound, so I got 4 pounds. I also got a 5 pound bag of Idaho potatoes for $1.99.

I had some more of the potato-roasted garlic-carrot soup for dinner. Now Titan and I are spending a quiet evening at home.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

If you come down this way this weekend, I can send you home with 2 dozen eggs....in exchange for work!

 

[keljonma]

My Potato, Roasted Garlic, and Carrot Soup

1 bulb of garlic
4 additional cloves of garlic
2 tsp garlic powder
4 carrots, peeled and quartered
6 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
9 cups water
1 large onion, peeled and diced
2 tsp dried rosemary
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp dried chives
2 tsp kosher or sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
3/4 c milk
4 T unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
4 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese

Trim the ends of the cloves of 1 bulb of garlic, wrap in foil and bake at 375 until garlic is tender and can be easily pierced with a fork. Or you can peel and separate all the cloves before roasting if you prefer. If baked whole, plop out the roasted cloves, dice them and put into the soup pot.

Put all the rest of the ingredients into the soup pot except the milk, butter, flour, and cheese. Bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender.

Meanwhile, make a white sauce by melting the butter and whisking in the flour. Cook over low heat until well mixed and flour dissolved. It will be really thick. Whisk in the milk, again making sure all lumps of flour are gone. Add some of the broth from the soup, and, if necessary, keep adding until the consistency is more like a sauce. Make sure there arent any flour lumps. Slowly stir the white sauce to the soup pot.

Heat until the soup is hot and stir in the cheese. Serve.

 

[keljonma]

If you come down this way this weekend, I can send you home with 2 dozen eggs....in exchange for work!

It is a deal. I will see you tomorrow morning.

 

[Farmfresh]

Soup sounds YUMMY! Thanks for sharing the recipe!