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. 

Compassion

Have you ever been aware of your compassion meter? 

As individuals we decide who we think needs compassion. 

Generally, we have compassion on the person or creature we think deserves it. 

Surely, this sad little one merits our compassion. 

We see the loneliness of the old folks 

and feel like they merit our attention and compassion. 

Which of us aren't so sorry for that poor, caged dog? 

We have compassion because our heart strings have been tugged. 

In our minds, we see the injustice. 

It's not their fault they are suffering. 

Natural disasters are a valid reason 

for our compassion. 

Then we look at other pictures. 

There is a shift from compassion. 

We question the validity 

of the suffering, 

and ask 

"why are you asking me for my help?

I'm not sure you really deserve it"

What about the rebellious teen? 

Is she just annoying and selfish 

or does she merit compassion? 

Then there is the person that is bankrupt because they won't live within their means. 

They are just getting what they deserve, right? 

The drunk is homeless, the rebellious teen is ruining her life and the undisciplined spender goes bankrupt. 

It's there own fault. 

I wonder if they merit compassion.

Then there is this thing called the law. 

It was laid out at the beginning of time 

by the Creator of everything.  

He has determined what is good and right. 

He has created us. 

God, the Creator, calls us to live within that law. 

The deal is, live within the law or die. 

wow. 

That is harsh. 

Have you been able to live within all the laws? 

Do you even know what they all are? 

The 10 commandments maybe? 

No? 

I guess you are dead then. It's only a matter of time. 

Here is one law I'm sure you know, you must not lie.  

I'm pretty sure you have broken that law. 

We are in the position of death. 

It's what we deserve.

 You either keep all the law or you die. 

That's the deal. 

Unless .. there is some compassion for us

 despite our failures. 

We know Jesus, we know He died so we could be made acceptable, merit-able. 

My point in writing this is that what if you and I give others the same un-merited compassion that we, ourselves have received?

That would be world changing. 

I have been shown my compassion meter lately 

and I think it's out of whack. 

I think I need to get an adjustment through recognizing my own neediness. 

Not because I deserve it but because our Creator is compassionate to even those that don't merit it. 

Even to me. 

Flower Arrangement Tutorial

I found this tutorial and wanted to share it .. 

BEGINNER BLOOMS: THE MARKET BUNCH

It’s the day we’ve all been waiting for!  The step by step tutorial that will take your market bunch of flowers from ho-hum to perfection!

From the very first day I started the spring series, beginner blooms, I know you guys were waiting for the day we could arrange a whole case full of varying blooms to create a striking arrangement out of the regular bunches that you buy in your grocery store.

There is a secret that you haven’t known about all of these years, that makes this so easy to conquer.

You’ll notice that this is a different type of vase than we have been working with, for the vases that start narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, this is definitely a trick you’ll want to employ. 

First, There are some important things to remember when you’re purchasing flowers.  Make sure to get a bouquet that has 2-3 main types of flowers, one filler, and greenery.  Single flower arrangements are much more difficult without smaller blooms and greenery for all of the in-between area.

Second, Remember the first couple rules we learned at the very beginning!  Cut your stems to 1.5 times the height of your vase, remove all of the lower leaves, and ensure that the stems are all going toward the same imaginary center point.

I did this in these little candlestick flowers, but here is the trick to a full and round looking arrangement – make a grid of tape on the top of the vase.  I cut one piece of regular scotch tape in half length-wise. Then, create a foundation using your greenery, and using only the outer holes in your grid.

Next, use whichever flower would be your focal flower.  The tiger lilies are the largest and most dominant, so I chose those.  Make sure that each dominant flower stem is placed equidistant with one sticking straight up to begin creating the overall shape. Once you have an outline for your shape and size created with the dominant flower, start adding in your secondary flowers (mine here are mums and daisies).

Try to make sure all of the secondary flowers are sticking out of the vase about the same amount, and that some stick more perpendicular to the vase, extending over the edge of the vase.

Once all of your secondary flowers are in, go back through and fill in any blank spots with a filler flower.  This is usually something that is sort of a flower, sort of a green.

Last, add in just a couple touches of greenery in the top of the arrangement.

Ta-da! It’s as easy as that.

Give me your thoughts! Will you give it a try?

Have a BEAUTIFUL Thursday!

Here is the website http://www.houseofearnest.com/beginner-blooms-the-market-bunch/