Snowflake...



Snowflake, our little doe, is barely a year old...
and was even younger when we found out she was pregnant

we weren't particularly happy as she is so young yet...
and just a wee thing...
but, the males from up yonder mountains who belong to others...
and were running wild, don't reason such matters


so, our little Snowflake, who wasn't any the wiser, carried a young one...
for a short few months

and almost a week ago...
she miscarried the kid

we were sad for the loss of the kid, which was a female...
but, we are happy Snowflake seems to be fine

we are taking advantage of her milk flow...
and she is giving us about 1 to 2 cups a day
not much, but she is very cooperative...
and is standing still for the milking all on her own


this little doe is showing promise of good, creamy milk

I kept her milk in the fridge for just one day
one day and...

knowing goat's milk is naturally homogenized for the most part...
I was pleasantly surprised...
to see a good half inch of cream sitting on top of the milk



I spooned it to see just how thick it was...
and it was thick



Snowflake, you cute doe, you...
you're a keeper

but, let's wait till you're a bit more grown-up to kid around, again, eh?


Who ever goes to war at his own expense?
Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of it's fruit?
Or who tends a flock and does not drink the milk of the flock?

Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel
should live from the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:7,14

May your day or night find blessing in the milk of God's grace.

On Such a Day...



My husband picked sorrel hibiscus/roselle and cut the calyxes from the stems...
then cut out the seeds from inside the calyxes

we will dry most and use some for tea in the evenings

some I will make jam with, next week



in the meantime...
we have rain

and...

because we have a whole library of gardening books...
sitting on a table...
brought down from David of floridasurvivalgardening.com ...


that means...
book time, as in reading



in the hammock...
and for once, just letting my hair down

to take up the first book on my list...
The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening of 1978 edition by the editors of...
Organic Gardening Magazine


a real pleasure, indeed, until the sun shines again

and speaking of light, it was said of Jesus Christ...

The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spake to me,
He that ruleth over men must be just,
ruling in the fear of God.
And He shall be as the light of the morning,
when the sun riseth,
even a morning without clouds;
as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear sunshine after rain.
2 Samuel 23:3,4

May your day or night be filled with the morning light of the Lord.

Saturday Homestead Postcard...


Where goats love eating their favorite treats of bananas


May your day or night find grace in the Lord.

Saturday Homestead Postcard...


Where feathers and eggs just seem to...
well...go together


May your weekend find grace in the Lord.

Chocolate Day, with Avocado...


If you want to make me happy...
just give me chocolate...
which starts out as beautiful colorful pods, by the way


and then...
couple the chocolate with avocado fruit...


and that makes me doubly happy

for a fine dessert worth the last rites of dinner...
this healthy, no need to feel guilty, recipe calls for:

1 quite ripe large avocado (or two small ones), diced
2 oz melted semi-sweet dark chocolate bar
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp raw honey
pinch of seasalt

put it all into a food processor (or blender) and puree
spoon into whatever serving containers you want...
chill in the fridge for at least an hour...


and I promise...
this absolutely delicious mousse won't taste like avocado...
because even though I love avocado
I love my chocolate mousse to taste like chocolate

so, there you go...
no need to hold back on splurging with this dessert


May your day or night find sweetness in God's grace.

The Colors of Fruits...


It wouldn't surprise me if the Lord gave fruits their lovely colors...
so we could enjoy them by sight as well as by tastebuds


the guava trees are winding down for the season

and while the chickens milled around my fruit bucket looking to steal one away...
although it was still empty at this point...
they do know I put freshly picked fruits in there



it's safer to hang the bucket out of their beaky reach as it's filled



a few were already spoken for by tiny bird beaks...



and quite a few found their way to the ground while no one was looking
you'd think the chickens would feast on those instead of what is in my bucket



I had to make two trips for the guavas



as I put this bucket down...
there beside it, was a little mango tree coming up

after we've eaten a fruit...
we often throw the seed out anywhere we can throw them...
because more often than not...
it will take root and grow



which is what happened with the Mexican Sun Flowers growing behind the cottage



the sunflowers threw out their seeds and did a better job at sowing them...
than I did



they've grown bigger and thicker with lots more flowers...



than the first time seeds were put into the ground



the doves enjoy the guavas...
and I found the nest of this pair in the cherry tree right below this tree

these birds know what they are doing
that is what I call...
local food close to home



the tomatoes have not stopped coming as yet



I take my fruit bucket and a couple of bags...
trekking down the path, passing banana trees...



and the cocoa orchard



and it looks like some cocoa pods may be close to harvesting time



as far as the tomatoes go...



I've been freezing them for future use when there aren't so many to pick after this crop


and you probably already know...
the tomato is a fruit...
not a vegetable

how delicious

to see a tomato vine reminds me that Jesus Christ said...

I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5

truly, a wonderful thing

May your day or night find fruit in the grace of God.

What I'm Not Doing Today...


Because work has gotten a bit hectic this week...
my post is short today

and...
I won't be doing this...



nor will I be hanging around in this...


May your day or night be relaxed in the grace of God.

Turmeric Veggie Breakfast Firstfruits...



It was a bit exciting for me when my husband dug up the turmeric rhizomes...
that I had grown from one little tuber root in a pot


I couldn't believe so many came from so little in a few months time


these wonderful tubers, also called curcumin, pack some pretty nice nutrition...
and used around the world as a natural dye and as medicinal treatments
and as I can attest...
can give yellow dyed fingers for a day when handled without gloves


I love to use these in my cooking as a nutritional spice in dishes from rice...
to vegetable and meat dishes
turmeric is used in making curry and brings alive just about any dish you cook up 


when the homestead gardens are overflowing with veggies...
I often use them with minced turmeric as a sauteed breakfast meal
I find that eating a full dish of veggies in the morning...
gives a long lasting feeling of having eaten well for the day


using whatever comes up in the garden...
I peel and mince the turmeric and throw it into the pan with some butter and onions...
stirring over medium heat till the onions are getting soft...
then, start putting in the veggies...
from the hardest vegetable first


and sauteing a couple of minutes...


putting in each vegetable according to their softness...
to cook everything evenly


all it takes after that...
is a sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper...
sometimes a bit of grated parmesan cheese...
and I like to top it off with some raw figs from our trees

in this case, I had cauliflower and it's leaves, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, garlic

best kind of breakfast for me
and speaking of the firstfruits benefits of our homestead...


If in Christ we have hope in this life only,
we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death,
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
But each in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits,
then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end,
when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father
after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
For God has put all things in subjection under his feet.
1 Corinthians 20:19-27

May your day or night find grace in the Lord.

Saturday Homestead Postcard...


Where new mama hens take good care of their newbie chickies


May your day or night find merciful care in God's grace.

Blushing Tomatoes...


our tomato plants have done well these past couple of months...
they were loaded with tomatoes when we got back to the homestead from our trip
the ones we do not sell, we eat


I like to clean them off with a clean, dry cloth just to get any dust and dirt off...
and then, the nice ones get separated from the blemished ones...
and a few get put aside for the chickens

although the imperfect tomatoes are just as good...
customers prefer the ones without blemishes...
perception seems to be what counts


the rest go to my kitchen to be made into tomato sauces and bean soup broth


with just enough water to cover the bottom of the crockpot and pre-heated on high...
the blemishes get cut off and stems removed from the tomatoes


the tomatoes are then placed into the pre-heated crockpot to simmer for about an hour or...
until the skins start to peel away

it will only take a few minutes to soften the peel by stovetop...
but, I like to keep cook my tomatoes in a crockpot to simmer safely while I do other things...
and I like the way the tomatoes come out the long way in a crockpot


after simmering, the tomatoes are removed from the crockpot...
the juice in the crockpot from the simmering is saved...
once the tomatoes are cooled,...
the skins are removed and the tomatoes pureed in a blender


the tomato puree is put into containers along with the left over juice from the simmering...
and a bit of sea salt stirred in...
then it's refrigerated for the week's soups and sauces 


here's looking at gorgeous, blushing tomatoes

May your day or night find grace in the Lord.