…offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God… Romans 12:1-2
Snow. Beautiful North Idaho Snow! And what’s the first thing the kids want to do after going out to play in it? Make Snow Cream of course! And why not, with this super simple recipe!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of sugar
1 cup of milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
6-8 cups of clean snow
Sprinkles (optional)
Mix together the sugar, salt, milk and vanilla until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Add in the snow cup by cup until mixture becomes smooth and scoopable. Top with sprinkles and serve immediately!
After 3 years of being on the market our Home in Kentucky has SOLD!
Just when we were ready to give up. We thought we were following the right path, we thought we had been led to sell our home and move to North Idaho, but was it all just a distraction?
Where we just dreaming? Chasing something that would never become reality?
Those were our thoughts and conversations the last year we were on the market. It seemed like every deal, every offer we’d get, something would always go wrong.
The final offer came and we’d decided that if it didn’t work out, if something happened and the deal just didn’t go through, that we would revisit our plans and prayerfully reconsider what we wanted to do moving forward.
But it Happened. It really SOLD! And not just sold but everything seemed to work out just perfectly.
“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand”. Proverbs 19:21
The Easiest Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
5oz can of chicken breast
½ cup mayo
1 tbsp sweet relish
1 chopped green onion
1 small garlic clove, minced
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
¼ tsp pepper
¼ onion powder
Directions:
1. Mix together all ingredients.
2. Serve plain, with bread, or crackers. Enjoy
Everybody has their favorite way to make mashed potatoes but this recipe is by far the tastiest and the creamiest I’ve tried.
Ingredients:
3lbs potatoes (cubed)
4 tbsp butter
½ cup sour cream (add more if needed)
1 clove garlic
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Directions:
1. Place cubed potatoes and garlic clove in a pot and cover with water.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Cook on low for 20 minutes.
4. Drain water.
5. Add butter, sour cream, salt and pepper.
6. Mix on high until creamy or your desired consistency.
7. Serve and Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 package yeast
2¼ cups warm water
3 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
5 – 5 ½ cups of flour (finely ground)
Directions:
1 .Dissolve yeast in warm water, add sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups of flour. Beat until smooth.
2. Stir in remaining flour ½ cup at a time, until a smooth dough ball forms.
3. Knead for 10 minutes.
4. Lightly oil bowl. Cover and set in a warm place, let rise 1 ½ – 2 hours until doubled in size.
5. Punch down and divide in half.
6. Shape each into a loaf and place in oiled loaf pans.
7. Cover and allow to rise an additional 1 hour or until doubled in size.
8. Preheat oven to 375.
9. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and hollow when tapped.
10. Transfer from loaf pans to a wire rack and allow to cool.
11. Slice and enjoy!
To go along with our last post ‘Our Homestead Secret’ here is a list we have printed out and posted with our important things to keep in mind!
| 1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.) 2. Water Filters/Purifiers 3. Portable Toilets 4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses. 5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) 6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much. 7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots. 8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks. 9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar 10. Rice – Beans – Wheat 11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,) 12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly) 13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking. 14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.) 15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric) 16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. 17. Survival Guide Book. 18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.) 19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc. 20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry) 21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene) 22. Vitamins 23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item) 24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products. 25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms) 26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil) 27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item) 28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal) 29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many). 30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels 31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months) 32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST) 33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST) 34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit 35. Tuna Fish (in oil) 36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room) 37. First aid kits 38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates) 39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies 40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food) 41. Flour, yeast & salt 42. Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first 43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators 44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.) 45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts 46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns 47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times) 48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels) 49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc 50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient) 51. Fishing supplies/tools 52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams 53. Duct Tape 54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes 55. Candles 56. Laundry Detergent (liquid) 57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags 58. Garden tools & supplies 59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies 60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc. 61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) 62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax) 63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel 64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc 65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats 66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered) 67. Board Games, Cards, Dice 68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer 69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets 70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks) 71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water) 72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc. 73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave) 74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels) 75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase 76. Reading glasses 77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers) 78. “Survival-in-a-Can” 79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens 80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog 81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO) 82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky 83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts 84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras) 85. Lumber (all types) 86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from) 87. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s 88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc. 89. Lantern Hangers 90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts 91. Teas 92. Coffee 93. Cigarettes 94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,) 95. Paraffin wax 96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc. 97. Chewing gum/candies 98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing) 99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs 100. Goats/chickens http://www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm |
Okay, so we’re gonna share a little secret….we’re preppers!!
Not weird, antisocial, really paranoid preppers; although I’m sure some people would argue with that, but preppers out of necessity.
Like, a hundred years ago when everyone had to be a prepper.
People back then had to prepare for the seasons. They would plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. They had to can, pickle and preserve.
If they didn’t…they starved!
Here at the Pilgrim Homestead, it’s that type of prepping that we do; well it’s what we want/try to do!
I guess you could say, that’s our goal.
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
We’ve had a few experiences that we wish we would have been prepared for.
A few years ago, there was a big ice storm that hit our area. We were without power for over a week. We didn’t homestead at that point and had maybe a week’s worth of food for our family.
Next, a major snow storm took out power for over a week. Another was a tornado that took power for days. More flooding and power outages. And recently it seems as though we’re losing power or water at least once a month.
If we were prepared with certain skills, along with enough food and water we would have been more comfortable during these disasters.
I hate to admit it but when some of these disasters hit, we just packed up and got a room in the next town.
This got us thinking….
What if we didn’t have the money for that?
What if we couldn’t get out and we were forced to stay in our home for an extended time?
We had a fire place, but no wood!
We barely had flashlights and no candles.
What if we couldn’t get to Wal-Mart, or anywhere else for that matter?
When the lights went out, we were completely helpless!
So that, along with some other things have prompted us to be more prepared.
We got to thinking…with all the uncertainty in the world there are any number of things that can happen that we should be prepared for.
Natural disasters, economic hardship or collapse, terrorist attacks, etc, ect.
If you think about it, it’s really just a smart way of living and if nothing ever happens, you’ll have a few extras. BUT if something does happen, you’ll know that you’ve done all you could to see that your family is taken care of.
Here are some steps we took to better prepare ourselves:
1. Started homesteading, raising animals, hunting and planted a garden.
2. We stocked up on flashlights, oil lanterns, batteries and candles.
3. Bought a generator to run our freezer if the power outage last for more than a day.
4. Learned simple survival skills, things like making fire and cooking without electricity.
5. We converted our heating and cook stove to propane and always keep a few extra tanks on hand.
6. When we go to the store we always buy extras and shop sales.
7. We also bought books, lots of books about living off the land, survivalist skills and how-to.
We want to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and take a look at the world and ask yourself, IF…
If something does happen, am I prepared?
While making dinner tonight I reminisced about our first milk cow and dreamt about getting another one.
Her name was Goldie. She was a beautiful Jersey-Guernsey Mix. A great starter cow. More like an oversized puppy than a cow. She was spoiled, and demanded our attention, which often included just a hard scratch on the head and she was happy.
Goldie was four years old and bred, when we got her. She had always been hand milked and like I said, very tame.
I remembered our first time milking Goldie. We had milked goats before and assumed it would be practically the same.
Udders, Teats, Grab, and Squeeze…. No Problem!
So we brought her home late one evening after she had already been milked. We settled her in for the night and the transition seemed to go well.
That night I could hardly sleep. It was so exciting!
We had waited so long and finally had gotten our very own milk cow!
The next morning, I got my bucket, my cleaning solution and rags. All the kiddos were up and followed me outside for our very first milking.
We were really farmers now!
I sat on a stool, cleaned her up, and grabbed a teat.
Gave it a firm squeeze…AND…Nothing!
I tried again, just like I had done on our goats.
I squeezed, moving my hands around switching positions from one way to another. Some squirts would come out and as soon as I thought I was on a roll, Nothing!
Minutes turned into hours and I started to cry.
My husband helped.
My kids helped.
After 3 hours of begging this cow to give us some milk, we stopped!
We were defeated.
We tried and failed miserably!
We took our hard earned half-gallon of milk into the house and savored every drop.
My hands were tired! I had used muscles I didn’t know I had. At that point I was afraid that I hadn’t milked her out enough and she was going to dry up.
I thought ONLY US!
This stuff only happens to us.
We bought a perfectly good milk cow, get her home and she dries up.
Really?
By that evening, all of my excitement had turned to dread and I wasn’t sure if I could handle this again.
We did fine!
And Goldie did just great!
It took us (as a family effort) a full hour to milk her out completely but we got the hang of things quick. She really let it go!
She had given us well over a gallon and a half.
I guess she was just stressed. Or maybe she sensed that I didn’t have a clue…either way we were blessed to have her with our family for a year.
She gave us many, many gallons of wonderful, healthful milk that we miss so much.
So, my daughter’s been reading a book called Doughnut Day, where a mother and daughter take the day to make doughnuts together. Needless to say, upon finishing the story, she had a craving for some ‘momma time’ in the kitchen.
Here’s our recipe:
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups of flour
¼ cup of sugar
3 tbsp of softened butter
1 tsp salt
½ cup of kefir or milk
1 egg
1 pk yeast
½ cup of mixed flour and water (1/3 cup of flour and 1 cup of water)
Olive oil for frying
Glaze:
3 cups of Powdered sugar
½ cup of water
4 tsp vanilla
We made half our batch glazed and the other half powdered sugar.
Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Timothy
Up until now all of my children had been born two years apart. I’ve had five beautiful children. Three were born in a hospital, then we had the last two at home, unassisted.
I’m the worst at keeping track of my cycles. Which in my defense, I’m not regular. For the past twelve years I have either been pregnant or breastfeeding.
So needless to say, it’s hard to keep up with, or maybe I’m just lazy. Either way I don’t track it.
So here I am in the middle of August feeling a bit different knowing I had a cycle in June, sometime around my daughter’s birthday and was pretty sure I hadn’t had one since then.
So I took the test.
Yep, we were pregnant and here we go again!
I was happy, my family was happy and that’s all that mattered.
I estimated my due date to be March 26th. I have never had a baby to come early or on time, so that date didn’t mean much to me.
I handle my own prenatal care. I monitor my diet, my weight, baby’s heartrate, and our overall wellbeing.
I take my prenatal vitamins, maintain daily physical activity, along with regular Chiropractic visits.
Although I had done this before I reeducated myself on natural childbirth and how to handle different situations that could arise.
In January we decided to have an ultrasound to get the measurements of the baby along with the sex.
It’s a boy!
Another BOY!! We were happy. Four boys.
March came and went. We waited.
I kept reminding myself that no one had ever stayed pregnant forever, so I just continued to pray for a fast, and healthy delivery; healthy momma and healthy baby.
Finally, April 11th, 9pm. I had a contraction. Just one, but it was real. I knew time was close. I went to bed to rest while I still could.
April 12th, 6am. Another contraction. I was still in bed but quickly got up. Went to the bathroom. There was blood, just a small amount but it was a start.
9am. Another one. It was a bit stronger than the others. It was at that moment when we finalized his name. Timothy Adam Davis “God Honoring Man”. 1 Timothy Chapter 2.
11:15am. Another contraction, then they all came;
12:05pm
1:25pm
2:30pm
3:05pm
3:10pm
3:15pm
3:25pm
I was on the birthing ball between contractions and would stand during them.
I went to the bathroom to get more comfortable and wanted to get there while there was still time.
Once there my husband prepared our things. My music, birth ball, birth stool, essentials oils, towels, plastics, absorbent pads, and cord clamp.
I seemed to be more vocal and more relaxed with this birth. I was confident already having had two unassisted births, I knew getting scared was the worst thing I could do and would cause me more pain.
So I swayed and danced. I squatted, I reclined on the toilet, I was on all fours.
I do believe the pain was more intense than I had experienced with the first two, but I moaned and prayed through it.
At some time after 4pm I felt it was time to push, so I did. I pushed more this time compared to the others. But I felt it was needed.
6:40pm Timothy Adam was born. He was healthy and beautiful. I was healthy, tired, but healthy!
My husband and I waited a few moments before calling in the children. We just looked at him and praised God! We thanked the Lord for watching over us, for leading and guiding us!
My sweet baby nursed, while I delivered the placenta which took another two hours. We cut and clamped the cord an hour later. My husband took Timothy to clean and clothe.
Thinking back on this birth, I still praise God for His hand being on us.
My recovery, again was amazing! The birth was perfect!
The Pilgrim Homestead 