The Secret

Growing up in a moderate home and being surrounded by the expanding city of wealth and abundance, I struggled to find balance in a place that I did not belong.
In my later years, we moved to the country where I embraced and marveled at the open fields and country roads. I reconnected with the people and the lifestyle of my ancestors. Throughout my journey, I have come to realize that even in the times that were scant, I have learned skills that have brought about depth and character. The blessings have included; learning to plant a garden, raising and butchering an animal for our yearly provision, grinding wheat and turning it into a loaf of bread, milking a cow and turning it's cream into homemade butter, heating our home with fire wood, taking raw fleece and spinning it into yarn and the list goes on... For some, this seems backwards or even an impoverished lifestyle. Like the manna provided in the wilderness, there is abundance with less. There is joy when you are in need. There is completion when embracing Him in all life's circumstances.

Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (KJV)

A Prayer of Faith

My dad had been diagnosed with cancer and his prognosis did not look hopeful. They had given him only months to maybe a year at the most.

One evening the dreaded phone call came, my dad was in the hospital and not doing well. In fact there was not any hope for him to live.

I quickly made arrangements to fly home to Phoenix. Some friends of the family greeted me soberly at the airport. On our drive to the hospital they tried to soften what I was about to see. When I entered the room of the hospital my dad was blown up twice his size. His gown had been cut to give his bloated body more room to expand. His skin was oozing liquid as a tumor was wrapped around the main aorta of his heart.

There are no words for the emotion that swept throughout my heart and soul. I unexpectedly dropped to my knees and began to pray out loud.
The doctors later came in and informed us that he would not make it through the weekend.

While sitting next to his side, I picked up a Bible and it opened to James, chapter 5verses 14-15 "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him." (ASV Bible)

My extended family was Catholic but it did not matter to me who anointed him with oil but that he was anointed. My heart of hearts reached out in obedience but knew that this anointing would not guarantee his survival. The one thing I did know for certain was God's words were loud and clear, that it should be done.

I spoke with my mother and she agreed and called a priest. We stood and prayed and watched his body slowly return to his normal size.

On Monday morning a Jewish doctor was doing his rounds and peeked in to see us all sitting in my father's room. We were helping my dad eat and regain his strength. I will never forget that doctor as he stood in the door and shook his head and repeated, "Miracle, miracle!" and silently vanished into the hospital hallway.

I was able to speak with my dad about the importance of excepting Christ as his personal savior. We prayed together and I later witnessed him telling others how the room lit up when he prayed.

I often reflect on the reason that God granted this miracle. My reason was because I did not want to see my dad leave but I believe God's reason was he wanted to bring another safely home.

My dad passed away a year later. I am comforted to know that I will see him again in eternity. What a grand reunion it will be!

The Last Flight

We looked across the darkened horizon as the bright lights approached. The twin engine plane was moving at such a low altitude that we stopped and watched with anticipation. As it passed over head, we could only hear one of the engines and the other was struggling as it resonated with a low grumbling sound. The pilot looked to be approaching a near by private airport within the city limits. His plane faded into the distance and we filed the event into the back of our minds. Without further thought, we returned to the routine of our evening farm chores. It was not until later that night that we heard that the plane had gone down and pilot had been killed. The event played on fast forward through my mind. I wondered, had he cried out to G-d for His infinite help? Did he have the assurance of his eternal destination? We all seem to be focused on the immediate, never anticipating that within a moment, it could be our last flight.

James 4
14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.(KJV)

The Bowl and the Saucer

An old Swedish custom is to leave a cup or plate from the last visitor untouched. The meaning behind this little and often times unknown custom is to never sweep anyone from your home. The plate or cup is washed and neatly put away as a new guest arrives.
Our little Border Collie Cassie was put to sleep yesterday. The sadness has left us feeling empty while the memories fill a treasure chest of pleasant memories
The last cup and bowl that she ate and drank from are washed but remain untouched on our kitchen counter. A gentle reminder that as our Lord takes away, He provides something new.

2 Corinthains 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; (KJV)

Thanksgiving

November fifth is butchering day at Rise 'N' Shine Farm. I will miss my feathered friends. They follow me around the farm like dogs. Although, I believe Rufus (A White Holland) and his girlfriend will stay and reside as part of the farms ambiance. Rufus won his way into my heart at two days old when he would drop his wings, strut and turn in a circle. His daily dignified dance has captured my attention and won a place in my heart. He has never been forceful with his demeanor like some of the other males, but proudly displays his presence with a dignified honor.
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is around the corner. After raising turkeys, we truly know the depth of the meaning of Thanksgiving. I have not been sheltered from the process of life and understand it's deeper significance. I often times correlate the nurturing, care, love and sacrifice that goes into raising an animal with the life of our Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord for blessing me with joy and understanding and for the gifts that you have richly bestowed upon me. Thank you for your sacrifice and for loving me enough to save me and bless me with a heavenly home to spend with you in eternity. I am truly thankful.

Romans 10:9 (KJV
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The Finer Things in Life

We had a wonderful day of gathering together with some ladies and one gent for a workshop on sprouting grain and making homemade bread, biscuits, sweet rolls and pizza. We topped it off with learning how to make homemade butter from the inspiration of my Great Grandmother Emma's prize winning homemade butter.
As the conversation spun it's web into homemade goodness and the shift of healthy living alternatives, we were all in agreement that the small farm could be kept sustainable for the future health of our rural and suburban families. The reality that big farms have had to use pesticides and the worlds alternatives in competing to produce more to stay in existence. The trend to purchase grass fed meat and organic veggies has put the small farm back on the map with the possibilities of squeezing it's way back into a sustainable crevice.
We still have a way to go for those who are seeking to purchase our small farm products. We are still competing with the Walmart mind set of more bang for our buck with out the considerations that the small farmer and his or her passion does not pay for the increase in organic feed. A quick example would be a regular bag of turkey feed would cost $11.95 and an bag of no GMO turkey feed is $18.00. When finishing twenty-six Thanksgiving birds the last two months of their lives, we are going through a fifty pound sack of feed every other day. This gives zero profit for no hormone, no pesticide, no GMO farmer. It does not take into consideration for the time spent changing newspaper like diapers for sanitation and the health of the baby bird. No paycheck for their daily care of feeding and watering and shoveling manure. There is no compensation for the gas that is spent to purchase organic feed that often times cannot be obtained at your usual local feed dealer. Yes, it has to be a passion to free range a bird and patiently herd it back from across a fence and from the nearest neighbors tree. You can bet your bottom dollar, that I will be thankful at our Thanksgiving feast.
There still can be a more with less exchange when you are not paying for doctors visits and your food cravings decline because you have shifted to eating real food just like Great Grandma. This took place long before the drive through was installed for our convenience or for our slow demise.
A new appreciation for healthy food needs to be talked about and discussed with our children. They need to learn to appreciate the finer things in life.
Spend a day helping do chores with your local farmer.
Ask if you can attend butchering day.
Learn where your food comes from, what it eats and the care it is given before it ever reaches the convenience of your table.
Teach your children to understand the depths of how their Great Grandparents lived.
Encourage them not to forget their roots and teach appreciation as they move forward in this face paced world. Convenience like greed has a much higher price to pay.

Cheryl's Turkey Dressing

Ingrediants:
Cook down giblets (heart, liver & gizzard) Chop and add broth to ingrediaents
4 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 cup melted butter
4 quarts or 16 cups of homemade dried & cubed bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste
Whisk 2 eggs
Warm Chicken or turkey broth

Directions:
Add the above ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Add broth to desired consistency.
Place in a Pyrex baking dish.
Cook at 350* for 20 minutes covered and 15-20 minutes uncovered to brown sufficiently.
This recipe makes enough dressing to serve with a 14-18 pound turkey.

My Two Scents

Each night, I journey to secure the chickens and turkeys from visiting predators. When I was gathering the remnant of straying turkeys from the back of their shed, I spotted a mound of freshly unearthed dirt. My natural assumption was that it was the usual visiting ground hog. I fetched and baited my live trap and set it next to the shed. The next morning when I went to check the trap, I could see from a distance that the trap door had been tripped. With much certainty, I neared to view what I thought would be a ground hog but to my surprise, I had caught a skunk. I stopped dead in my tracks and approached with caution. This was not the usually variety that we see, but a white skunk with a black underside. I quickly processed the event and decided that he was probably trying to dig under the shed to reach the turkeys food, but to no avail. We had diligently buried wire to prevent such measures. Like raccoons, skunks carry rabies. This was not something , we wanted to hang around our farm. I gathered as much information and contacted other locals that could tell me how to dispose of this perfumed critter. I was told to approach it at night with a flash light to blind it and cover it with a heavy blanket. Next, to fill a tub with water or take it to the creek and drowned it.
We set out that night with all our gear in hand and our prepared water filled barrel for his demise. After blinding him and covering him, we slowly and carefully drug him to the barrel. Upon lifting him in the air and lowering him to the water, we discovered that the cage did not fit the rounded water filled brim. Defeated, we left him in the cage and returned the next night for plan B. This time, we decided to back the truck up over the top of the cage and let the exhaust slowly lull him into eternal sleep. The next morning, we arrived to dispose of the poor creature, we were surprised to find a happy and much alive skunk. I was exhausted by the emotion of trying to rid myself of this helpless creature, so I did what most would do. We set him happily free. We watched as he tipped his head and listened to our voices, then slowly moved from his caged existence and quickly scurried into the neighboring wooded terrain.


How to Catch a Skunk
Shine a flashlight in their eyes at night. It will blind them. Pick them up by the tail. This prevents them from spraying. Put them in a box with a lid that is kept in the dark for transport.

Skunk in a live trap
Shine a flashlight in their eyes as you are approaching. Cover with a heavy blanket. Re-locate miles from your home or take to the nearest body of water and immerse the trap for six minutes or better.

Little Known Facts
The scent gland is sold to high end perfume companies to help hold the scent.

De-Skunk Shampoo
In a plastic bucket mix the following ingredients
1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 cup of baking soda
1 to 2 teaspoons liquid soap
for very large pets one quart of tepid tap water may be added to enable complete coverage.
Wash pet promptly and thoroughly, work the solution deep into the fur. Let your nose guide you, leave the solution on about 5 minutes or until the odor is gone. Some heavily oiled areas may require a "rinse and repeat" washing.
Skunks usually aim for the face, but try to keep the solution out of the eyes - it stings. If you have any cuts on your hands you might want to wear latex gloves for the same reason.
After treatment, thoroughly rinse your pet with tepid tap water.
Pour the spent solution down the drain with running water.
NEVER, ever, store mixed solution in a closed bottle, sprayer, etc. Pressure will build up until the container bursts. This can cause severe injury.

Notes
1) Clean plastic mixing containers and utensils are preferred. Metals encourage auto-decomposition of the peroxide.
2) Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution is usually sold in pint (500ml) bottles, so you'll need two. The 3% grade is often marked "U.S.P.", meaning that it meets the standards for medical use and purity as set forth in the United States Pharmacopoeia.
The use of other strengths/grades is not recommended unless you're a chemist, and even then a trip to the 24-hour drugstore is much better than a trip to the emergency room.
3) Use baking soda, not baking powder. "Arm and Hammer" is one popular brand. Baking soda is also called: Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, U.S.P., Bicarbonate of Soda, and Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate. Do not confuse any of the above with Washing Soda, which is Sodium Carbonate. Washing Soda is about 100 times more alkaline than Baking Soda and can cause skin burns to both you and your pet.
4) Two preferred brands are "Softsoap" and "Ivory Liquid". As far as auto-decomposition of the peroxide is concerned, the surfactant package in these two is fairly inert. Heavy-duty grease-cutting brands such as "Dawn" are less inert, and hair shampoo is probably the worst.
5) Once mixed, the peroxide slowly breaks down into water and oxygen gas. Thus it gets weaker with time and so it should be used promptly. The exact rate depends on temperature, pH, and catalysts such as trace amounts of metals (iron, etc.) in the soap and/or tap water.
How much pressure will the complete decomposition of 3% hydrogen peroxide produce in a closed container ??? It depends on how full the container is. Assuming negligible solubility of Oxygen in water, a bottle half-full of peroxide will develop about 140 psi. A bottle 3/4 full would develop 420 psi. This can do a lot of damage.
Highly pure hydrogen peroxide decomposes very slowly if kept cool and in a dark place, a few percent a year. The more dilute solutions usually decompose faster (due to impurities in the dilution water) and have a trace of stabilizer added. So why aren't the bottles in the store bloated or bursting ? Look carefully inside the cap... you'll see some very tiny holes in the cap liner to let the oxygen gas escape. A good reason to always store bottles upright.
Look for an expiration date on your peroxide. If you're using stuff which has been sitting around in your medicine cabinet for years, buy fresh peroxide.
6) Tepid: lukewarm.
7) All brand names mentioned in this website are trademarks of their various owners.