Love Wins

He's back.

 Rick Warren and his wife experienced a nightmare from hell. 

Their son committed suicide. 

This is what he learned from his experience. 

http://saddleback.com/mc/Archives/

Their son suffered for years, the family suffered as a result of mental illness along with their son for years. 

But Rick's response? Hope. 

Roll of Film

Thinking about photography

 I remember having to choose which type of film to put into my camera. Black and white so I could capture the shapes or color so I could have it more natural (additionally, as time went by I could choose my film speed as well) 

Sweet Kimberly 

Me, when I was about 8 years old. 

Whichever I would choose, after I took the pics I had to take the film out of the camera and down to the grocery store, wait a week and then go back to the store to pick up my prints. It would cost about $3.00 for the roll of film and then about $3.00 to develop the pics. 

It was a highlight to pick up the 
envelope that was filled with memories. 
There were much fewer images back in that day so each image was special. 

Now I use my cell phone camera and take many shots, 
I see them right away,
 it's fun and I really like it. 

 Looking back, when I used film
 there was a certain magic. There was a greater cost 
and a higher anticipation. 

Ahh, happy memories about photography. 
I'm glad I lived it.  

Listen ... Kodachrome by Paul Simon

Kodachrome

They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth. Psalm 71:5

Raw Berry Chia Jam

Organic blackberries and blueberries,

 raw honey and chia seeds for thickening.

We went berry picking on a rainy, southern morning.  

My berry pickers 

Wow! These blackberries were huge! 

I decided to make sugar free, pectin free, 

raw fruit freezer jam. 

{Kinda sounds like something Dr. Seuss would make}

I found several recipes online. 

I tried one and then another. 

I will list my adjusted recipe at the end.

I mashed the berries rather than the recommended processing. 

I did not soak my chia seeds because the berries were bursting with juice. 

The recipes called for lemon and maple syrup. 

I used lemon and instead of maple syrup, I used raw, unpasteurized honey. 

It took me no more than 20 minutes to process 6 cups of fresh berries. 

The chia seeds jellied in the jar. 

The jam isn't just a condiment, it's a real food available for peanut butter and jam sandwiches  oatmeal or smoothies. 

Ready for the freezer. 

Raw berry chia seed jam. 

Mix together:

6 cups of mashed berries {3 pints of mashed berries}

3 tablespoons of lemon juice {1 tablespoon per pint}

Honey to taste. 

{Could be as much as a 1/4 cup per pint, more or less per jar. Depends on the sweetness of your berries.} 

Then I mixed in:

9 tablespoons of chia seeds {3 tablespoons per pint}

Add more if your jam is not as thick as you would like. 

And I was done. I put them in the mason jars and froze them. 

MMM... good! 

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

– Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

Value of chia seeds

http://www.livestrong.com/article/283610-nutritional-value-of-chia-seeds/

UPDATE:
I thawed a jar and it is not thick enough for jam anymore. I imagine I could add more chia seeds to thicken it. I am using it on oatmeal and adding it to my smoothies instead. 

Still Working on Stock

I have struggled with my meat stock but I am happy to report that lately I have had lots of success. 

I roasted a pastured raised chicken.

 I deboned it for our meals. (2 meals)

Using all the bones and extras, including the juices from the bottom of the roasting pan, I refrigerated and soaked the bones over night in water with a bit of vinegar till the next day when I cooked it for a few hours. 

After the cooking I strained out all the chicken parts, refrigerated the stock overnight and the next day ... look what I found .. all this beautiful gelatin! Wahoo!! 

{From Web MD}

Gelatin is a protein made from animal products.

Gelatin is used for weight loss and for treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Some people also use it for strengthening bones, joints, and fingernails. 

Gelatin is also used for improving hair quality and to shorten recovery after exercise and sports-related injury.

In manufacturing, gelatin is used for preparation of foods, cosmetics, and medicines.

How does it work?

Gelatin contains collagen, which is one of the materials that make up cartilage and bone. This is why some people think gelatin might help for arthritis and other joint conditions.

{http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1051-GELATIN.aspx?activeIngredientId=1051&activeIngredientName=GELATIN}

Capstone 2013

Lunch Today

Saxapahaw is a charming place. 

We had local grass fed beef sandwiches, mmm. 

Tried a Recipe

Here is a Pinterest's recipe 

I tried it at home with what I had in the fridge 

It was OK. 

Maybe it was the russet potato, but it was dry. 

All that cheese, bacon and butter was not enough. 

It takes a long time to cut the slices and fill each one of them, by the second potato I was rapidly losing interest. 

I will probably not make this again. 

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

Psalm 95:6 
Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/20-encouraging-bible-verses-about-worship/#ixzz2Y6WTNwIo

Garden Flowers Gathered

    

Emilee, Rebekah, Hannah, Susanna and I actually used something we found on Pinterest. Flower arranging. We had a kitchen full of flowers from our gardens. Big daisies, mums, chrysanthemums and a variety of other flowers which made our house smell like a flower shop. 

 Following the directions from a flower arrangement tutorial, we worked step by step to create beauty. Well, God had already made the beauty, we arranged it in vases to capture the beauty in our homes. 

First, we made a scotch tape grid on top of the vase. 

Second, we arranged our greens around the outer grids. 

Third came putting in the primary blossoms in the center grids but allowing them to lean. 

Fourth was filling up empty spots with secondary flowers.

Lastly, a sprig of green towards the top to create balance.

 Look at what beauty .. 

Susanna, Hannah, Emilee and Rebecca. 

And yes, of course, their lovely floral arrangements. 

When we finished our arrangements, using china from the 1950's we chatted over tea and scones. 

Lovely day. Thank you ladies for joining me. 

A friend is someone who reaches out for your hand and touches your heart.