Homemaking Mondays: Putting Things By

 

Hello!
Do you enjoy putting things by?  I do! 

There is a joy and satisfaction of having food put up for your families needs. 

Food that you know what is in it, and food that is healthy for them. 

I have been making lots of jam.  Some for us and some for our community market. 

I know jam isn't considered healthy...but it is a great ingredient to homemade meals. 

I use the recipes on the Bernardin Pectin wrapper most of the time.

Although I combined a couple recipes for the new jam I made this year for the first time. 

It's blueberry/nectarine and it's SO good!

I would have made more, but my kids and I have been eating

 too many of the nectarines that were leftover from this. :)

 

 I have also been grinding up some pork loins that I found on sale at the grocery store. 

I look forward to this sale that comes around every few months.  

Just $1.99/lb for this meat!  

I pull out my meat grinder...and this time my girls helped me grind it up. 

Some will be used for sausage, some for tacos, some for chili and anything else I can think up. 

I also put some into chops to enjoy as well.  Our new favourite way to eat them is diced with Jill Winger's maple glazed pork chop recipe.   (Prairie Homestead Cookbook)

Pictured below is some of what we did today. 

So a little bit of effort and a great savings! 

I have been blessed with a nice freezer where I can freeze lots of food. 

We have rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries, herbs/onions, vegetables, 

and some meat in our freezer. 

What kinds of things do you have in your freezers?

 

Then with an abundance of fresh dill and cucumbers around we made some refrigerator pickles.  

I haven't combined enough ingredients for making dill relish..but that will come soon. 

I've never made refrigerator pickles before but oh they are so delicious and easy! 

 

If you've never tried refrigerator pickles I encourage you to try them!  

I made some with regular vinegar and some with apple cider vinegar. 

Both were delicious!

 

 I love being able to take the abundance of food available and stash it away for later. 

In a world where people take some things - like getting food for granted 

I want to make sure that we have what we need.  

We do live in the Yukon and there are times, especially in the winter where we can't always just go to town...and we live a ways out of the major city. 

Thank you for dropping by!
Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Home Making Mondays: Washing Space

 Hello!
Today I'd love to share with you about my washing space.  

We have moved into a new home and it has it's own room set aside for laundry. 

This in new to me, but it's also a wonderful blessing. 

It has a full sized washer, dryer, and a sink.  

The last place we lived the washer/dryer were in the bathroom. 

It worked just fine there, but it's nice to have a place in the house

 set aside just for this task.  I know that this isn't a common thing in most homes.

The washer and dryer here are extra capacity (compared to my apartment size before).

Now I can wash twice as much laundry at once and 

it takes no time at all to do the regular laundry.

There are two little windows in this room and the natural light is so nice. 

There were no shelves in the room so I took a board we had, 

put a couple cloths under it and balanced it on the backs of the appliances. 

I now keep my clothes pins (which I can use on the indoor clothes line 

that hangs above the appliances), my laundry soap and the makings for laundry soap,

the dryer clothes and my paper towel supply on the shelf. 

Yes, I haven't gone paperless in this house. 

There are still things I use it for...but less all the time. 

My most used item I make from paper towels is homemade wet wipes.  

Not for babies, but for quick clean ups.  

I mix rubbing alcohol, a couple squirts of dish soap and water 

then layer folded paper towels into the solution in an old yogurt container.  

Works great to clean up quick messes.

I also have all my cleaning supplies in the laundry room.

As a house warming present to me, I bought

some new micro fiber clothes at Canadian Tire.

Then I also splurged on some new laundry baskets as some of our others were 

quite damaged.  Thankfully there was a big sale so it was an easy splurge.

There is a special joy in having these things to help us in our homemaking days. 

Sometimes just a new cleaning cloth is all it takes to make the task nicer.

 It has had me thinking of this special aspect of homemaking.  

There is a blessing in this task. 

Something special as we care for the basic need our family has for clean clothing.

Many people speak of this aspect of homemaking as drudgery...but

in reality it is all in how you look at it.  

Serving our families needs to come from our heart and our desire 

to serve the Lord in what He has for us to do.  

Take time while you clean, whether it be laundry, scrubbing your floors, windows, 

kitchens, or bathrooms. 

To think on things above...on scripture, on praying for the needs of others, or 

planning for the needs of your family that are coming up. 

There is no need to grumble or complain... take joy in being part of this important

need your family has. 

Awhile ago I purchased this cute sign that sits in my laundry area.  

It makes me smile when I walk in to start some laundry.

It was made by a single mom who was making signs to help 

provide for her children and still be home.

I'd also like to share with you this sweet printable that I found on a ladies blog a few years ago. 

I have it printed off, coloured a bit and pinned up in my laundry room as well.  

Mine is water stained now, but helps me to think on the things of the Lord as I work. 

You can find it on her post HERE about laundry.

Do you find joy in doing laundry? 

Do you have a special room or cubby for laundry?

Just remember to take joy in the task, 

 think on the things of the Lord as you work.  

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Simple Delights

 

Hello! 

I'd love to share some simple delights that I've had in my life this past week.

We buy fresh eggs from one of our neighbours and were gifted this sweet tiny egg! 

It was oh so tiny and we made a little nest for it in a little pot until we used it. 

When it was cracked out for "splat" or fried eggs...it 

had the tiniest little yolk you have ever seen! 

My son totally enjoyed it and said it tasted really good.

 

My children along with some friends have been exploring the water around our place.  

We live on a little marshy lake that connects to a larger lake.  

 

We have a couple canoes to use and have been amazed by God's incredible handiwork.

Through the massive clouds and thunderstorms, to the still serene water.

 

There are lots of birds in the little marshy lake by our place.

Lots of ducks of all kinds, and little sand pipers, swallows, and 

even a couple eagles that come through on occasion. 

It is amazing when the eagles show up.  The entire marsh seems to erupt in swallows!

They swarm the eagle and eventually encourage it to leave. 

If you click on the picture below you will be able to see 

the tiny swallows all in flight around the eagle 

perched on a dead tree in the middle.

 

In one of our trips out on the water we discovered this old beaver lodge.  

One of the many evidences of the abundant life around the area. 

 

We've been out walking in the woods behind our place and found great cranberry picking spots. 

So we'll be checking back closer to fall time to see how they are coming along. 

My daughter and sons have been finding the tiniest of frogs as well.  

God has amazed us in the big and small things of His creation! 

Psalm 104:

104:1	Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
104:2	Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
104:3	Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
104:4	Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
104:5	Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
104:6	Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
104:7	At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
104:8	They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
104:9	Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
104:10	He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
104:11	They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
104:12	By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
104:13	He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
104:14	He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
104:15	And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
104:16	The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
104:17	Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
104:18	The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
104:19	He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
104:20	Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
104:21	The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
104:22	The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
104:23	Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
104:24	O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
104:25	So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
104:26	There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
104:27	These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
104:28	That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
104:29	Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
104:30	Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
104:31	The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
104:32	He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
104:33	I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
104:34	My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
104:35	Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

I had to share the whole Psalm...how awesome is the God of all creation! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

A New Place to Call Home

 

Hello! 

Here is our new place that we call home.

It is still in the area from where we moved from...so we get 

to stay in the same great community we have come to love. 

This place is place is in a marshy area that was flooded when the water level rose.

So we can definitely say that we have waterfront property.  We just rent so we aren't going to be doing anything grand around the place.  We have cleared some of the algae from close to the house.. and the kids have fun catching frogs that live there. :) 

It is really nice to know that we can go canoeing anytime.  

The water is shallow, but it's still great! 

The birds and the beavers have been so wonderful to watch!

We are surrounded by mountains and the expanse of water allows us a better view of them.

Right now the wildfire smoke obscures them from view much of the time...but that will change over time. Thankfully the water helps us breathe when the smoke gets really heavy.

 

There is a wonderful porch off the kitchen and we really enjoy sitting out there watching the sun set. 

The little freezer beside the picnic table is now up on the porch along with the bbq. 

It's a lovely big house!  My girls now have rooms of their own and I love to see them personalizing their spaces. The boys are sharing and it's working well for them as they have almost always been together. There is a separate office for my husband as well. 

 

I absolutely love this wood cook stove and am eagerly awaiting cooler weather to get it fired up! 

It's a Pioneer Maid and I can foresee it getting lots of cooking time in.

 

We were able to bring our greenhouse along.  Not much in it this year...and since there was no outdoor shed the plants have to share. 

 

I love that there are some little shelves around the windows in the kitchen.  

On one of them I put a painting my daughter did and added a couple little vases and some chamomile from the greenhouse.

I grow lots of chamomile for tea.

 

I also harvested some wild arnica that was at the end of our driveway. 

I put it in oil and it'll steep for a few weeks.

 

I also started some Moroccan mint from cuttings.  As soon as it's rooted well it'll be potted up to supply us with lots more mint for tea.  We also have spearmint and chocolate mint in the dining room window.

 

This is one of my favourite little cubbies in the new house.  

My comfy chair and sweet stool give me a lovely place to enjoy tea, 

write in my planner and gaze out the window at the ducks and their ducklings. 

 

Another of my favourite spots is this wooden bench just outside the kitchen on the porch.  

I have my potted daisies and some chamomile.

 

The Lord has been so good.  He truly blesses us with things we do not deserve. 

We are all getting settled in and it's feeling like home.  

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Monday: God Answers Prayer

 

Hello! 
I know it's been quite some time since I have posted.  

My family has been in the throws of answered prayer.  

Our family was having to move and we had no place to go to...until 7 days before we had to be out.  The Lord provided us a place to move to...but there was a two week interim between. 

The Lord Jesus provided all the details.  

The storage for our things, the care for our plants and animals. 

Even some great neighbours to help move the greenhouse and furniture to our new place.

It has all been a blessing although it didn't all work out in the timing we had in our own minds. 

God knows best!  

We ended up spending our couple weeks camping at a local RV park.  They had some private tenting spots and it was a huge blessing.  Yes, laundry, showers, and they even froze our cooler packs overnight for us so we didn't have to buy ice! 
SO if you are ever in the Yukon, I highly recommend the Caribou RV park.  

The couple running the place are so friendly and make that place very inviting!  

So here are some pictures of our camping adventure. 

It was quite a different kind of housekeeping during this time. 

Our one truck was our "chuck wagon", and stashed all the odds and ends that had been left in the house as well. All the extra coats, laundry and what not. 

There wasn't a grate over the firepit so my husband pulled out a camp stove from his stash for me to use.  It was very helpful so I didn't have to always be standing in the smoke holding the frying pans over the fire.  We ate a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers. Lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

 

We ate lots of bannock and local eggs. 

I love that fresh eggs unwashed can be kept at "room temperature" so it freed up space in the coolers. 

When we moved out everything that was left in the fridge and freezer went into our coolers. 

 

We had our camp spot spread out a bit with two tents.  One for my husband and I along with our boys.  Then another for the girls and the dog.  

We had a couple camp foxes that came up in the middle of the night to sniff around...and eventually tease our girls and the dog in their tent.  It would come up and stick it's head under the overhanging tarp on the tent and peek in the screen.  Poor Sophie our dog would loose all control.  Then the fox would come around the front of the tent and wait for my daughter to come out.  The fox must have thought it great fun... my daughter... not so much.  My husband bought slingshots and we used pine cones as ammunition.  

My husband pulled out this great big tarp for us as it was quite rainy for a few days.

It was weighted down in one section to allow for drainage... and on a fun note when it was raining heavily it made for a great rinse station. :)  

 

The boys found lots of dead little trees in the bush and built themselves a cool fort. 

 

There were some great walking trails behind the campground and we enjoyed discovering where they went.  There were lots of birds and undergrowth to explore and learn about.  

Funny thing is that many of the birds were up in the trees and were hard to see.  BUT... you could sure hear them, especially in the middle of the night!!! 
Also a note...it never got dark as we are in the Yukon and 

the sun doesn't actually set at this time of year.

 

Of course we needed to have some of the kids favourite toys come along. 

Moosie loved his camping time to! 

 

At the park was a common use cabin where there was wifi available.  

It had a great old usable stove and lots of old artifacts of the gold rush times.

 

 

I loved the inviting red gingham curtains.

 

So, even though it was an unexpected time.  

We are very thankful for the Lord's provision and care for us.  

Thanks for dropping by! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer