Sausage Making

For the first time since we have been married, Jason's parents made sausage with us! It is a German tradition around here but it also just makes sense for families that hunt and store meat throughout the year.Kill and harvest your meat
Cut it all and mix in pork. Pile it on the kitchen counter and season it.

Send it through the grinder once and then twice for fine ground meat.

Using a sausage stuffer and beef casings (not appealing substance but very resourceful!), turn the hand crank to fill casings.

Tie off links with string.
Hang out in the smokehouse until desired 'dryness' is achieved.

ENJOY all year long!!!!!
(Jason and I also wrapped 20 pounds of ground meat in 1# quantities to use in regular cooking.)

...these gifts from Thy bounty...

All Saint's Eve Costume Party! Personalities include Abraham & Sarah, St. Sebastien, Michael the Archangel, Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Gemena, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Patrick, St. Agnes, Veronica, Fr. Andrew Dun Lac and others.

The First Fruits of our winter garden!! (and some late producers from summer)

Grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, turnips & cabbage

Fresh venison, warm on the bone still!

This is how Jason and his dad 'clean' & skin the dear they kill

Baptism Birthday

HAPPY SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY ANNE CATHERINE!!


3 years ago today, our first born was baptized in water and The Spirit. It was particularly poetic today as I watched my two little ones dance around in the cool rain falling from the heavens.




Thank God for the grace that led us to the waters of baptism.

Swine Flu Hysteria like you've probably never seen before

When I got this in my email today, I thought it was particularly amusing considering our recent bout with the H1N1 flu. Also, we rented the Winnie the Pooh movie the other day... Anne wasn't sure what to think about this picture. Jason and I got good giggle.


Jason is well now and we are still flu free!

Recovery?

So... Jason recovered from the flu

-but got an ear infection (undiagnosed but almost positive)

-started antibiotic (ZPAC)

-felt relief

-went to ER because his throat was swelling shut (reaction to the antibiotic)

-off the antibiotic

-Feels better

-goes to school (40 kids out of 100 out with the flu)

-Ear pain starts up again.

-Wants me to schedule a Dr. appt for him or get a prescription for Amoxil...



YIKES!



HOWEVER: Praise God that me and the kids haven't gotten sick yet.

The Flu

PRAYERS NEEDED Jason has come down with the flu and is having a rough time go it. I am doing a crummy job of helping him AND taking care of the kids - - let me rephrase that - - - I haven't been able to help him at all.

Also, having the flu isn't ANYTHING like you see in the Little Bear episode. What with friends coming to visit you and all, bringing stuff and hanging out in your room. And Mother Bear diagnosing it from a sneezing spell. Seriously, I think Anne wants to get the flu so she can have the kind of fun day that Little Bear had. Oh Boy.

Growth & A Rainbow

My thriving 'sproutlings'. We transplanted this squash to our raised beds in the garden last weekend and we will probably move our tomatoes & broccoli this weekend. We dug and filled our new plant beds while the kids were napping and there was something very satisfying about working next to my husband that afternoon. Turning up fresh earth, sweating and building something...together.

"...and after the rain had ceased, there appeared in the sky a radiant, colorful bow. A sign from God..."