Life

 I am sure many of you have wondered where I have been and I will say that I just truly needed a break from many things and I was not in any mind set to write or share much of what was going on in life. Let's just say that I am healthy and that I am fine physically. Mentally, I have struggled with some tough decisions that I am still not sure that I have handled the way that I should have. 

I have to tell you this has been a busy week though and I want to share just a bit of what I have been up to here on the hobby farm. It started with a trip to the local Meijer grocery store that had a sale on strawberries. What is the price of strawberries where you are? Can you believe that I bought them for 50 cents a pound container?

Yes, you see 5 boxes of strawberries, and I had already brought another flat home earlier in the day and had a flat for my daughter. Yes, 35 pounds of strawberries came home with me. Yes, I planned to process them in many ways as well as have some for the grands to eat here as well. 

Strawberries were put into bags for muffins to be used later in the week. 

Strawberries were sliced and frozen to be used for baking at a later time and some were put into bags for snacks. 

Strawberry jam was made to be enjoyed this year. Canned and ready for many breakfast meals to follow. 

Strawberry syrup was made for grands to enjoy in milk or over ice cream or any dessert that they might see fit. 

Next up, was homemade chocolate syrup for grands as well. Now, I must say I love Hershey's chocolate syrup, but I like mine much better as it does not have all of the added ingredients and I can control the sugar much better. 

Next was eggshells cleaned and baked to be crushed up to feed back to the chickens. It is a great source of calcium for them, and it allows them to have better shells on their eggs. 

This is the jar that I place them in until I add them to their feed. It seems to help keep them from pecking their own eggs if you combine in the feed. Many say it is best to feed it separately, but I like it mixed with the feed best. 

Dinner for us was beef, chicken, pork teriyaki stir fry. It was delicious! Fresh and frozen veggies, beef tips, pork tips and 2 chicken breasts made a meal large enough to have some leftover. We had French bread to go with it and I will say it was tasty! 

What has your week looked like? Have you made any outstanding meals or purchased almost 40 pounds of strawberries? It was a lot of work, but I am thankful that I am able to care for my family in this way. I have also shoveled some gravel this week, fed animals, cleaned, done laundry, helped grand with homework. babysat my granddaughter that lives next door, visited with a sick friend, and talked to a friend that lives a state away. 

Life is hectic and not so kind at times, but Jesus gave us a way to live to honor him and as a wife, I am to make my home a safe haven for all. I am trying my best.