Just Had to Share This!

This is the cutest (and healthiest) idea I've seen in awhile!

Unless, you are doing Keto!

I found it on facebook, reposted from

Homestead Survival

who

reposted it from ~

The Paleo Cupboard

You can find the complete recipe, plus instructions on how to cut the watermelon there!

*Update*....... You know, every once in awhile, I think old blog posts need to be updated! According to the dates here, it has been six years since I last wrote a blog.  Yes, 6!  Unbelievable!  Where does the time go?

We've added to the family and we have lost family members.
Still, life goes on.
 (More later, as I continue to update.)  

I have plans to start "vlogging"  and at this time I am doing a lot of research, planning and working through my doubts and fears.  I hope many of you are still around or that we will be able to rekindle old friendships. I have missed being online, other than facebook.  You can find me there as Cheryl Terry.  My header, that sweet Beth Zimmerman made years ago, is the same on facebook as it is here.  So, I am easy to find!  Don't let my mouthy opinions scare you off.  I really do try to tone it down a bit. :)

Prayerfully, once the new vlog is up and running, the name will be "the Prairie Maid, embracing life's splendor!"  Or maybe "Life 101".  It is still a work in progress at this point.

The overall plan is to post via YouTube three days a week and do a related post here, at least two days a week.  Recipes and lengthy posts are more adaptable to blogging.  And trust me, no one wants to see my mug on YouTube for very long at a time!  Still, videos can be useful at times.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting here, letting everyone know what has been happening and our plans for the future.  I am hoping (planning on) being on YouTube in about 4 weeks.

Any advice, is always welcomed and appreciated!

Until then,
 
 Enjoy the summer!

Blessings,

Cheryl

P.S. If anyone sees this, be sure and say hi in the comments and bring me update on what is happening with you and yours!

Storms Continue, but the Garden is Loving It!

If you live on planet Earth, you already know Oklahoma has experience yet another tornado or two....maybe three in the last couple of weeks.  One of which has been updated to an EF-5 with a width of 2.6 miles wide, making it the widest tornado ever documented.



And it seems like we are now living in a Rainforest atmosphere!  (Weird)

 

But, what you probably don't know is how this (awesome) weather is effecting the garden!

 

 So, here are a few pictures and most of these are a week old and need to be update (but it's raining...AGAIN).

 

Kentucky Pole Beans 2 weeks ago......

 

 

The same beans, 8 days later!

 

 

Another view of the green beans.

All of the plants are doing amazingly well.  They are loving this energy charged weather!

Here are a few other pictures from the "treehouse" area ~

One of my Rosemary plants with a couple of garden friends.

The big o'orange frog is home to a periwinkle this year instead of his normal fern plant.

 

 

The new Mandevilla plant (I hope that's spelled correctly).

This is looking toward the garden from the treehouse area.  You can see the herbs in the washing machine tubs are going crazy with new growth!  To the left of the tubs, you can see the tomato and pepper plants.

My sweet sister painted the bird house as a gift many moons ago!  The wrens love it!

So, as they say ~ Every cloud has a silver lining!

Just have to look for it ~

Please continue to pray for those who have suffered due to the storms!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Scattered Thoughts from Tornado Alley ~

This is a photo of the tornado that hit Shawnee, OK on Sunday.

Dealing with devastating heartbreaks, heartaches....is difficult. Difficult to watch, difficult to be a part of. All of your prayers are appreciated, even coveted. We are strong, but we are wounded, we are Oklahoma.....and we will overcome.

The death count continues to swing up and down, but of the nine children who died, seven drowned. My heart cries for them, for their families.

There is devastation everywhere you look.

Standing cooking breakfast this morning, I looked out the kitchen window. It's still storming....severe T-storms......we are no longer setting on the dryline, in front of the storm, we are behind the front.  The temperature has dropped, from 83, yesterday, to a chilly 54 today. Thunder shakes the house. I shutter.

It has been raining nearly non-stop for about 14 hours. And the lightning continues. I wonder if we will be able to do chores ~ animals still have to eat, there's milking to do, eggs to care for......is the garden flooded? I bite my tongue.

These are such trivial matters compared to those who have lost so much.....

some having lost everything.

I friend's daughter (who is the mother of three) asked the question, "to all those that believe God has a plan.....how was THIS part of it????? So upset. Holding my angels closely tonight, and every night because life is short."

She is right, life is short - it's fragile. Often we take it for granted. But in the end, it comes from God.

I don't know the why of all of this, anymore than Job understood the devastation that came upon him and his family.

But God knows.

It isn't my job to question. It is my job to listen....to care....to show compassion.....to love.

Why do we build libraries and new football fields, yet forget to build shelters to protect our most precious possessions, our children? Is is because we think we are bigger than the storms, that they won't come? Is another state championship, worth more than one child?

Of course not.

One family farm experienced the loss of seventy-five horses and many of those that survived were splattered with blood.....but, at least nine children died, people are still missing. Homes are gone....so much emptiness...

"My Grace IS sufficient".

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2Co 12:9

We see the hand of God reaching out to those who are hurting.

Within a few short hours of the tornado, one television station reported cars lined up for miles, with people bringing donations of food, clothing, money.....in cash alone, $35,000 had been donated by neighbors and friends of those who were hurting. At eleven that night, the station asked people to wait until morning before bringing donations - they were so backed up, it would take until 3:00 a.m. to deal with the cars already in line.....and it was flooding out.

Two oil companies, both gave $1,000,000 each.

Oklahoma Thunder gave $1,000,000.

Kevin Durant and his family gave $1,000,000.

The Shoe Warehouse donated 1000 pairs of shoes to victims.

Churches are feeding both victims and the rescue workers.

Dogfood and animal crates are being donated.

Oklahoma University open their empty dorm rooms to those in need of shelter.

Students at Roosevelt Elementary in Ponca City - Instead of their field trip to the State Capital today, they voted to use the money to purchase supplies for those affected by the storms.

We made the cover of TIME.....

This was one of the most powerful storms ever recorded. In the end, it may surpass the May 3rd, 1999 tornado that ripped through the same area.

Update: "The National Weather Service has upgraded the May 20th tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma, to an EF-5 with wind speeds of at least 200 mph."

(That makes TWO EF-5 tornados to rip through the heart of Oklahoma....14 years apart.)

We need to quit questioning God and start praising HIM! The outcome could have been much more deadly! HIS hand was upon the town of Moore, the state of Oklahoma; How do I know? ~

"Scientists say the Moore tornado's energy was 8 times as powerful as the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima." For now, the death toll is standing at 24. Twenty-four lives lost......but considering the severity of this storm, it could have easily been 240 or 2400....

The Oklahoma House began session this morning by praying and singing Amazing Grace... Powerful.

And yes, we have caught the attention of the Westboro Church group and they have threatened to picket the funerals of those killed in the disaster.

May God have mercy on their souls.

Again, all of Oklahoma appreciates your prayers, especially during this time of healing.

Cheryl

P.S. Go here for free printable family emergency plans!

http://thehomesteadsurvival.com/free-printable-family-emergency-planning-kit-2/#.UZrx3Vfm9A4



Happy Valentines' Day!

It has been so long since I posted and Blogger has changed so much!  I'm not sure I even know how to do this anymore.  We shall see.

First I wanted to wish you a very Happy Valentines' Day!  We have been having fun with this and making plans for at least a week.  It is a sweet day, to be shared with those we care about.  And even though I have not been posting, I think about each of you daily.  I really do miss you!

Here is one of my favorite paintings by Normal Rockwell. 

 If I'm not mistaken, it is called "The Date."

So, what have I been doing?  Good question!  For the last month, I've been doing a Bible study on the Book of Ruth.  I am using Liz Curtis Higgs book, entitled ~ The Girl's Still Got It.  She does a tremendous job with this study.

 

I also have a neat Valentine project for you to do (of course).

 Wouldn't this be a sweet gift for anyone you care about?!!!

And because I think you are super special here is a video that a friend told me about.  It is a little less than five minutes along, but honeyhunk and I watched it this morning and we were both impressed.  I could listen to this guy play music all day and neve get bored.

Under the link, I'll post a little bit about the video and the two men who made it.

Wyman Meinzer and Doug Smith

Even though they are from South of the Red River, they are very talented.....and since it isn't football season, I will admit I kind of like our neighbors across the Red River!

 

A Little Bit of West Texas

Wyman Meinzer is the photographer. He once lived in the old jail in Benjamin, TX. The photo of the coiled rattlesnake appeared on the cover of a wildlife magazine in the 80s. He said there were times he crawled a long way on his belly to get a good shot of a wild animal. And the music is perfect. It was a pleasure to see so many living deer with such amazing antlers. These old fellows have been around a long time to grow horns like that.
The music is by Doug Smith. Doug is from Petersburg, Texas. Doug plays by ear - He cannot read music, but has many CDs you may want to buy. A pickup accident left Doug paralyzed, but fortunately he has learned to play again. Most of the pictures were taken in West Texas in the rolling plains (Caprock to Seymour ), the Fork, 6666, and Waggoner Ranches. There are some scenes in Palo Duro Canyon.

Take a few moments and view and listen. I doubt if you'll ever see such fantastic use of music set to amazing animal and landscape photography. The changes in the tempo perfectly compliment the scenery. It is quite simply a beautiful portrayal of the state of Texas

Praying you have a lovely Valentines' Day and are blessed beyond your wildest dreams.

Cheryl

 

 

Thirty Days of Gratitude

I promised myself I wouldn't stay up as late tonight as I did last night.  What can I say, I'm a night owl.  LOL

Wanted to pass this bit of information along (before I forget to do so!), as I thought it might be something you would enjoy doing.

Some very nice ladies have put together a book entitled

30 Days of Gratitude.

It is a free download, written very nicely, with prompts and ideas that will enrich your life.

Some of my gal friends and I are doing it together and with their permission, I may post some of their thoughts here on The Prairie Maid.

And

I'm thinking, we may do this as a family, too!  If I can get them to sit still for the ten or so minutes it takes.

I wanted to do

The Simple Woman's Daybook

tonight, but oh me of very little brain, decided to

wait......

BUT

(there's always a "but" or an "and" with me)

I want to share this awesome music piece with

YOU!

(hope I remember how to do this!)

Enjoy!

Okay, doing the dishes, doing a little reading and going to bed!

Be blessed my friends!

Cheryl

It's Been Along, Long Time

It seems it has taken me forever to get back in the notion of blogging.....more correctly, back in the notion of writing

ANYTHING!

I really can't explain were my love for sharing our rural farm life disappeared to.....

except to say, sometimes when life gets on overload things like that happen.

But now, I am once again anxious to sit at the computer and ramble through the musings that go on around here.  Besides, I'm tired of making to do lists, that rarely get done.  I much prefer to sit and visit with you!

Our garden did well this year.  The best it has done over the last three years.  It was a wonderful blessing and it kept me busy.

However, as the scripture above mentions ~

God is doing a new thing!

Don't you love new beginnings?!!!

I can't share all that HE is doing, because at the present I am only getting little snatches of the bigger picture....Little snatches that leave me holding my breath excited!

I feel as though I am traveling a new road, with all my old friends, but like the picture....the way is a bit foggy.  HIS adventures don't always lead down a clear path.  So, we are walking by faith, learning a deeper form of trust.

I've let go of some baggage (cares of this world) that I should have let go months, if not years ago.  How can HE lead, if I continue to insist on sitting in the driver's seat?  How can HE get the attention of those we love, if we always come to their rescue?

I hope to share that part of the journey....SOON!  Freedom from worry is such a wonderful thing.  And I know in the end, it will bring good fruit!!!  After all, doesn't the WORD say, "obedience is better than sacrifice"?

Next time I hope to start bringing you up to date on some of the happenings around here, some of our holiday plans, and a look at the local

Wild Life!

So be forewarned!  You'll need a second cup of coffee, for sure!

Until then, you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers! 

I have truly missed each of you!

Hope you are having a great fall!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Gotta LOVE Maxine!

(She makes me smile!)

Just checking in to see how everyone's day is going!  We are having wonderful weather.  It is like the air is super charged!  We had some thunder and lightning last night, but no real rain.  I think the super charged air is the result of the lightning that passed through.  It feels awesome!

The book I have been wanting to order (but had to wait for the "extra" funds) came yesterday.  I could not put it down last night!  I have been wanting to read this ever since Linda (Prairie Flower Farm) first mentioned it.

I want to tell you, if you have a heart for God, for children, for foreign places

....any of the above....

This book is LIFE changing!

It is the story of Katie Davis, being called to the mission field right out of high school, which was not what her parents (or herself) had planned for her future.  It is a tremendous book!

Christian Book Online has it on sale.  I am going to be ordering more copies for gifts and I already promised two sweet friends they could "borrow" it to read after I'm finished.  Now, I'm thinking of buying an extra copy just to loan to those who are interested.

(So, if you are, get yer name on the list!  Just let me know in the comment section.)

Love this!

Besides the weather being fantastic today, sticking with the eating plan has been good!  I like "good" days, when it's "easy".  I think I'll wait and weigh on March 31st.  I was going to say, "April 1st" but then everyone would think ~ April Fool!  So, I'll do it a day early.

I can't believe I have so much to accomplish in the next few months, but I am getting really excited!

I worked some on the sidebar late yesterday (even with all the grands (all eleven) here).  Now, I want to make some "pages" to keep some topics separated.  I think I will like that better and it will make it easier for readers to find *stuff*.

Okay, I'm going to get off and make my sugar scrub.  I've been out a few days and that is not in keeping with the plan.  I'll post the recipe tomorrow or Monday.  It is so easy and works so well!

May your day be blessed!

~ Shabbat Shalom ~

Cheryl