Captured

 

Hello dear friends and quiet followers,

It's a new week and I have more to say..so here I go again...

Yes I had another revelation of sorts. Over the last couple of years I have felt the Lord speaking to my heart; encouraging me to let go of things...my busy life...to slow down...to re-focus...re-prioritize.

It's taken a lot of work, internal and external. I've asked myself these questions, why would God want me to slow down? Why would God want any of us to slow down?

The 'slower' our days are, the more peaceful we are. We're not rushed, not overly stressed and can think more clearly. We need a calm mind to be able to hear from the Lord well. We need inner peace to focus on the Lord; to go through our day speaking to Him and more importantly listening to Him. In our roles as Mothers, Wives, Sisters and Friends, the closer we are to the Lord, the more we have to impart to others, to help them in their daily lives. 

We live in a media driven world, our phones are never far away. and many of us have multiple social media accounts. But why do we feel we need this level of interaction with the world? Once people only received news via a newspaper, or through a letter from a family member or friend and that was all. 

We wouldn't necessarily know about everything going on in the world. We didn't normally hear about every catastrophe, every war, every misfortune, every scandal. We didn't, and we don't need to. I believe it overtaxes our nervous system. Well I can only speak for myself and it does do this to me. Many many years back I felt the Lord say to get rid of the television in our home. I called it the 'uninvited guest', bringing all it's horrors and ungodliness into the home (even adverts). So we did. But I think we just replaced it with the computer.  Still there is more control this way and we are very particular about what we watch.

Still, for me, I want my life to be closer to the Lord. I want Him to have my whole heart. I want to hear from Him and encourage others to do the same. Slowing down has helped greatly with this,

Our world today is filled with doom and gloom. People are running around like 'Chicken Lickin' thinking the sky is falling down. And while we are living in uncertain times; this is nothing new. People have lived through a lot worse than what we are currently experiencing. So what do we do?

Personally I have always strived to keep a large pantry. This serves us well, because if we need to save for something unexpected (like roof repairs), then I can just cut back on my grocery expenditure so we can save some of the food money, and instead of purchasing more groceries we just eat from the pantry and freezers. I didn't go and get a big grocery shop for a month just recently and we managed just fine. I just purchased fruit and milk. We also, as you know have a large vegetable garden and many fruit trees. This all helps. I believe in that old adage: 'God helps those, who help themselves'. He expects us to do our part. Although !!! having said this, I  know a lot of people are just living week to week and find it very hard, if not nearly impossible to buy anything extra. So I'm talking just a bag of pinto beans, an extra can of green beans, a bag of rice etc...just as you can...in a simple way. We don't need to be obsessed by the current situation; just make a little plan and work away at it.  Ultimately God is our provider and our trust is in Him.

When I read my bible, I see that hard times are just part of life. God doesn't promise us an easy life, He just assures us that He will never leave us. This scripture spoke to me this week: 

Habakkuk 3: 17 -18

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

This verse reminds me that no matter what is happening in the world, or in my own life, whether it be good times or bad, I am to trust in the Lord, and let Him give me peace and be my anchor. If we have spent our life 'having oil in our lamp', being prepared for the Lord, giving Him our all, and our whole heart then we will be prepared for whatever comes in life. We don't need to go into a panic. Yes we should be informed and not bury our head in the sand, but if we take time for the Lord and let Him lead us, He will speak to you and help us in our time of need.

I believe one of the reasons the Lord has called me 'away' from the world, is for this very reason; so I can write, so I can encourage others to spend their lives focused on the Lord, developing a deep relationship with Him, so they will be prepared internally and externally for whatever may be coming next. Yet, we do not fear - we just trust and let Him lead.

This is what he laid on my heart just yesterday morning. I will close with it and pray you all are encouraged by it. Have a blessed week ~ Linda

God gives the power and the strength

that is needed for each new day.

If we are wise we will walk in

that strength and not in our own.

If we are wise and attentive to the Holy Spirit

we will let Him lead us, we will listen

for His voice and gentle guidance.

If we are wise, we will tread lightly on this earth,

and hold onto what we own loosely,

as this world is not our eternal home,

and we take nothing with us when we leave,

but the spiritual acts of love we showed to others.

That in deed will go before us, and will be

stored up as treasures in heaven.

O that we would walk hand in hand 

with Him each day.

Lord set our eyes and hearts on

what is eternal and pleasing to you.

Amen

~~

 

The Unseen is Eternal

 

Hello dear friends,

This morning as I was having my morning devotions, these thoughts were strongly on my heart, and I wanted to share them, in the hope that they will encourage someone.

As many of you know I don't have very good health. I have asthma and it affects me in a way that makes me very sensitive to so many things: pollen, cold air, damp air, rain, humidity etc. Humidity is one of the worst, it sucks the life out of me and leaves me completely exhausted. My body is like a barometer. I know by how I feel what the weather is doing or going to do. The worst thing about it is that apart from dark circles around my eyes, nothing is really visible to show I am unwell. It has caused me so much difficulty in my life. I've had to cancel many things and are often unable to attend various commitments as I feel so weak, exhausted and hard to breathe.....BUT.... :) I had a little revelation this morning. 

...I realised that this 'health' situation at least keeps me very close to Jesus. Because of it I am constantly in prayer asking the Holy Spirit for strength to get me through the day. On days when my health is better, do I seek Him as much? possibly not..which saddens me. Some days I surrender to the situation and just have to lay in bed, but most of the time I do try to press on and at least do my housework and cook a meal. For those with similar health problems, please know that I understand. Our confidence has to be in God and not in what others think of us, especially when we often have to let people down because of our health.

I have cried out to the Lord so many times to heal me and I am not healed yet...but I still press on. So I have to look at life in a different way. I ask myself these questions. How do I live my life as a person with bad health? Is it my 'thorn in the flesh', and something I will have to bear and go through my life with? How can I still serve God and bring him glory within these limitations?  How do I continue to keep up with my home and garden and be a loving wife?

You'll be pleased to know I've come up with some answers, or the Holy Spirit helped me :)

HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH LIFE:

1. I have simplified my life to do only what I know I can realistically achieve. I've had to let go of some things (which was hard), but in the long run its for the best. This isn't to say I don't challenge myself, because I do, but generally these things apply. I help my daughter with the children, but now I am doing less days. I have cut back on many many products that I used to make for my online soap business, to almost only making soap. It is what it is. I am too tired of trying to keep up. It just strips me of my peace and joy. Don't try to keep up, just do what you can and be happy about that.  eg.Yeh!!! I got the vacuuming done...some days that might be my one achievement.

2. I have more realistic expectations. I know my garden is never going to be completely weed free. We have a huge garden and often I can't even get out there because of the weather. It's just how it is. I know there are times when my house will not be spotless, well quite often actually. If I'm unwell, I need to rest. I do what I can...and the rest will wait.

3. I know I will let people down and disappoint people. It's happened a lot.  But that's really out of my control. I have to accept my lot in life and enjoy my life even so. I suggest building yourself up in your faith, trusting and being confident in the fact that God loves you. He knows your heart and he cares. He will never leave you. He is merciful, gracious and always there for you to talk to. He understands like no-one else. 

4. When you have a good day, don't try to do everything......don't ask me why I say this :)

5. Don't feel bad or think there is something wrong with you because God hasn't chosen to heal you. If your in one of those religions that think this way, then leave, or don't listen to them. God choses not to heal lots of people. It's true. It happens all the time. Just look around you. Be one of those people that presses in deeper regardless :) Rise above it.

6. Finally - this world is not my home. When I leave this mortal coil, I will have to give an account for my life. I don't want to stand before the Lord and be ashamed. I want to know and believe in my heart that I did the best I could, that I relied on Him for strength, that He was Lord of my Life and no-one else. The very fact my health is bad makes me press into Him and rely on Him for strength. 

Do His will in whatever way you can. Share His love in every way you can. Be His voice and His arms. There are a myriad of ways we can still serve in this life, even when we're limited physically. I find simply blogging a way to encourage others and be encouraged at the same time :) 

~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This post was titled 'The Unseen is Eternal' and knowing this encourages me.

2 Corinthians 16 - 18 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, 

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us 

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Corinthians 13: 12

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror,

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

Psalm 73: 23 - 24

Yet I am always with you,

you hold e by my right hand. 

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take

me into glory.

I do pray this writing will encourage someone. It was a revelation to my heart this morning that even though my health isn't always good, this very thing causes me to seek the Lord for strength. Maybe I knew that before but sort of forgot. For that alone I am very thankful...that I don't charge through life in my own strength. Be blessed and know that God loves you. ~ Linda

Seasons

 

Hello dear friends, I'm sorry I have been so long absent from my blog, it wasn't intentional...but here I am at last. I am however reasonably active on Instagram if you want to follow me there too:  _thelittlehomestead_  . I personally find it upsetting when people just all of a sudden stop blogging, so I do apologise for that. I am still going about my life here at the Little Homestead, cooking, cleaning, gardening, loving, caring, doing all those things. 

I do know what caused me to stop writing and what ruffled my feathers. We were going to sell this big old house and move onto some land at our daughters. That was the plan, but our house didn't sell, the market has dropped in our area and also since Covid the prices for timber, builders, and all trades people have almost doubled and the whole idea became very stressful and unrealistic for us....so we are staying here. 

The whole thing completely consumed me and I would go about my home with less enthusiasm, as I didn't think I would be here, so why plant the garden, why paint that little thing etc etc. It rattled me a lot, and I couldn't focus on tasks or plan properly. So for those simple reasons alone I'm glad it's over. We do love our home, so its not a sacrifice to stay here, but it was disappointing, as it was going to be a big adventure, and we would have been closer to some of our grandy's. Still some of them are still only 7 minutes down the road !! :)  Now enough of all that, but at least it was an explanation.

 ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~

Here at home the garden is looking lovely. The Japanese Cherry Blossoms out the front of the property looked spectacular this Spring and as their blossoms are finishing off, they leave this pretty carpet all over the grass. It truly brings me joy. We planted nearly all the trees on our property, so now we get to reap the rewards of their beauty and also many of our trees bear fruit as well. Hard work always pays off.

We've planted the summer vegetable garden: Tomatoes, Cucumber, Zucchini, Beans, Pumpkin, Potatoes, Peppers...all the normal things :) Last summer the garden did so well, so we will pray for the same again....anyway I have another blog idea, well something on my heart I want to share, so I will wind this little one up for now and get on with that. Love to you all ~ Linda

Living Simply

 Hello friends,

I just wanted to pop in here quick and share a couple of 'frugal living' things with you a recipe & an idea. These days most people are being a bit more mindful about spending and looking for ways to cut costs. Like many people I spent many years having to live this way out of necessity, especially when the children were small. Now life is easier but I still enjoy being a good steward of what God has blessed us with, and like looking for creative ways to do that.

First up: the recipe 'Pillowy Potato Bread' - oh my word this bread is so good.  It was fairly easy to make and I used our garden potatoes and that made it even better and cheaper. We ate a slice each with our dinner tonight and will have it for sandwiches for the next couple of days. The texture was simply divine, very soft and delicious. I made two loaves because if I'm turning that big oven on I may as well make it count and use the power wisely. The only changes I made were I didn't have regular yeast, only instant - so I used 2 teaspoons of that instead per loaf. I also added 1 T of light olive oil to each loaf and added a little oil to the bowl that the loaves were rising in. Here's a link to the ladies recipe and blog: https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/homemade-potato-bread-recipe/

 

Next up - here's a little idea for homemade cloth napkins to save on purchasing paper serviettes.

~ C L O T H   T A B L E   N A P K I N S ~

I wait until tea towels/dish towels are on sale (normally at KMART). I cut them in half across the middle and hem them. They look good are lovely to use. I much prefer them to paper ones. Also cloth napkins are expensive in New Zealand and often come in shades I don't like or the material is synthetic.

Pics of what I did:

 
        ~ Then I store them stacked up in this little wire basket, so they are always handy to grab. ~

 

...and finally. I got an Instant Pot. :) and I'm quite pleased with it. I'm taking my time and apart from one bad experience where I disintegrated the vegetables, it hasn't been too bad. Mind you I've only made two other things in it ...he he :) One of the things I made was to cook a whole chicken. I followed a dear lady on YouTube and did exactly what she said. Mine somehow took a little longer to cook completely (48 minutes), and also made about 2.5 Cups of delicious chicken stock too. I like that it is saving money as I'm not using my big oven and it cooks so fast. I can use ti to cook beans (which we eat a lot of), Rice and even yoghurt. I also made a Thai Chicken Curry another night and that was very delicious too. I purchased the 6 litre and that is a good size for our needs. If you also have one I would love to hear what you've made in it plus your cooking adventures, be they good or funny :)

Video tutorial to cook a whole chicken in the instant pot: https://youtu.be/vjQzADYqSow

Well that's all for now. I hope you try the bread recipe - let me know if you do. I also hope you enjoy reading about how I make our little cloth table napkins. Blessings to you all ~ Linda

Light a Candle

 

Hello dear friends and quiet followers, Welcome to the Little Homestead.  First up I just wanted to say what a blessing it is to have a home; I know many of you out there will be saying 'Amen'. I know how you love your homes and that you strive to create a place of calm; a welcoming refuge for your children and husband as they return at the close of the day.

A home is a place that almost wraps its arms around us during hard times. I know when I am unwell I can retreat to my clean and cosy bedroom and I'm always so thankful for its comfort and warmth - it feels like a little sanctuary. 

If we have a disappointment in life or someone has hurt us, to be able to go home and be surrounded by our family and sit by the fire while they listen to our woes is a great comfort. 

To come through that door and smell food cooking, or just that familiar smell that is your home, is comforting. You can be yourself, put your feet up; you can relax.

...I've tried to lay a little ground work, build up a feeling..an atmosphere of what a blessing, that physical dwelling and its furnishings are and equally what a blessing those people that live within those walls are - your family.

So imagine if all that is suddenly taken away from you; or you had to abandon your home? That's what's happening to millions of people right now. Many of them no doubt our brothers and sisters in the Lord. I am of course talking about what's happening in Ukraine right now. The images on the news are so terribly sad. For me what really hits me is seeing elderly people and also young mum's with children looking frightened, cold and walking along carrying a single backpack or suitcase. It's seeing fathers having to farewell their families as they stay to defend their country - families broken apart. People headed into the unknown and for how long. Will they get to return and if so will their home still be there?

This scripture came to mind: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.(Matthew 5:14-16). 

I see people in Poland and other villages taking in refugees. I hear of organisations collecting clothing, bedding, food, pushchairs to help the refugees. I see Go Fund Me sort of pages set up to help individuals to escape from Ukraine. I've received emails asking me to pray into specific situations for the leader of Ukraine and for the people. What motivates people to want to help others? It is LOVE. It is compassion. It's merciful hearts. I see all these efforts as people shining their light; shining the gospel light. I know not everyone would be a Christian that's helping but the impulse of the heart to help another, comes from a place of love. That spark of God in all people, that part of them that's created in the image of God even if they don't realise it, is shining the light, showing the heart of God. If all people acted in this way, putting others ahead of themselves this situation wouldn't even exist. 

I just wanted to encourage you to shine your light today in any way you can- let that spark of the divine be evident to all around you. Bring God glory this day and all days. 

Blessings to you all ~ Linda

*All pictures sourced from the internet/pintrest.

A Pioneer

 

Hi friends and quiet followers,

it's Autumn here in New Zealand, that glorious season has arrived once again. O the blessing of seasons. But I must say this year I am sad to see the end of summer. I think this is the first time in many years that I've felt this way. Maybe its because I've been so busy in the garden and equally satisfied processing the abundance. Every time I'm out there I just stand in awe, and walk around with a heart of gratitude. There's been endless bouquets of fragrant sweet peas to grace my kitchen window sill, and always some sort of surprise, whether that be an enormous pumpkin growing quietly hidden under something that I missed or a few strawberries still hanging on for me to pick.  All I know is I just didn't want Summer to end, even if I do need a rest. 

The garden also provides me with an escape from what's happening in our world. I can only hear so much; too much and I become overwhelmed. In the garden or working quietly away in my kitchen my thoughts often just turn into prayers and I can lay all that heaviness down at the Lords feet. Then I come away feeling refreshed. I look around at our cosy handmade home and pass shelves laden with all the preserving I've spent the Summer doing and it feels good. Its satisfying work, and it brings me joy to know what I'm feeding my family came from the work of my own two hands and mostly from our garden.

~ Apple Cider Vinegar from apple peelings ~

                                      ~ Our Cox's Orange Apple harvest - yield x 5 baskets ~

Ever since we extended the garden I've had this pioneer mentality that nothing should be wasted. Everything we grew had to either be eaten fresh, canned, frozen, dehydrated or given away if we had surplus. My daughter made a joke the other day saying "You better watch out when you go to Nanny's she may just stick you in a jar and put you in the water bath" :) !!! 

I spent my childhood watching shows like 'Little House on the Prairie', The Walton's, Bonanza and lots of old movies. I always loved the simplicity of their lives then. I know they had to work extremely hard and their were no modern conveniences, but their days also had purpose and a rhythm to them. They lived in harmony with the seasons.  Most if not all people would have had a garden.

Crops had to be planted. Harvesting and canning were a necessity for survival. A mountain of wood was needed to keep the woodstove going, to not only cook the food but heat the home and water for bathing and cleaning. Their was no time to waste. And nothing was wasted. I remember hearing someone say in remembrance of earlier times "If you didn't can it (preserve) it, you probably wouldn't be eating it". There just wasn't the money to go out and buy out of season food and often it wasn't available anyway.

                                

I've been thinking about all these things for a long time. We don't have a television, but we do have internet and watch the news every couple of days. One thing I keep seeing popping up is 'expect food shortages' and 'prices will increase'. We are seeing that where I live, here in New Zealand. House prices have gone through the roof. We pay over three New Zealand dollars for one litre of petrol. Food prices keep going up up and up. I had to buy a cabbage this week as I didn't get more cabbage plants in after the last lot finished and guess how much it cost: $8.00 for one medium size head of cabbage !!! That's unheard of. Last year it was about $5.00 and I thought that was outrageous. So I felt in my spirit to take action, to extend the garden back in Spring and praise the Lord for obedience !! and being prepared to look like a nut for digging up the whole back yard :)

So all Summer I've been chopping, stirring, sieving, straining, canning, dehydrating and freezing. 

Now our pantry and freezers are stuffed full, plus I've given countless bags of fruit and vegetables to friends and family. A vegetable garden is a marvellous thing !

~ cucumber pickles ~

~ Sweet Orange Marmalade ~

                      ~ Pasta Sauce, Taco Sauce, Raspberry Jam, Blueberry & Blackcurrant Jam ~

                                               ~ Savoury oven/freezer tomato soup/sauce ~

These days we don't know what will be coming next?  God says not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough cares of its own. Knowing that God is in control even when the world looks like its lost the plot is oh so comforting and my anchor.

Yet I don't just expect for things to just land in my lap; I work hard. I plan, I sow, I harvest .Whether its sewing or baking I love to make things from scratch, plus it saves money. I also try to buy in bulk and store all the basic food like grains, flour, sugar etc in bins, so even if their is a shortage in the store, we will be prepared. I've been buying Raw Honey and Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in bulk too to make tonics like 'Fire Cider' and Elderberry Syrup. Plus I've added more medicinal herbs to the herb garden this year.

~ Homemade Hamburger Buns ~

                                                           ~ Chocolate Zucchini Cakes ~

                                               ~ Homemade Shortbread - my favourite ~

                               ~ Chicken soup from 2 chicken legs and garden vegetables + 

                                           cornmeal muffins and cheese. Our simple suppers ~

The tomatoes and zucchini have been so plentiful this year. Last year it was the opposite. We planted earlier than usual and it paid off. My motto has been to not waste anything. I've canned every tomato thing you could think of :) Pasta sauce, Taco Sauce, Relish, Ketchup, Tomato Sauce, Tomato Puree, Tomato Soup....frozen endless grated zucchini, plus dehydrated it and made it into fritters, cakes and relish. We've used red and green cabbage in sauerkraut and frozen a ton of beans, peppers and celery. Just this past weekend I was harvesting nearly the last of the Basil and hanging bunches to dry and making Pesto for the freezer. I've tried to not let a week go by that I haven't been spending at least a few days canning something. Last weekend we did 15 quart size jars of apples and froze 12 bags of apple puree. I've also tried to make our meals based around what is plentiful in the garden. Because we were inundated with zucchini and tomatoes, we've eaten a lot of Ratatouille :)

Here's my recipe:

~ Linda's Ratatouille ~

Ingredients

5 medium size Zucchini - chopped

8 large tomatoes - diced chunky

1 x red onion - sliced

3 - 4 cloves garlic - sliced thin

1 yellow capsicum - cut in small chunks

1 T Balsamic Vinegar

1 t taco style seasoning

Fresh Basil leaves

1/2 t dried Oregano

Herb salt & Sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

Method:

1. Oil a roasting dish. In a large bowl combine all the vegetables and seasonings. Add to the roasting dish. Cook at 220 C Fan Bake in the middle of the oven for about 40 minutes, stirring two times during the cooking time. Let it all caramelize. It's so delicious and makes a great side dish to accompany so many things.

~

As the days become cooler I won't be out in the garden as much, other than cleaning up and preparing the beds for Winter. Instead I'll be spending most of my time inside by the fire and catching up with some sewing, which I enjoy. I love to make all sorts of things from scratch and purchased some pretty cotton and linen fabrics to make pillow cases for our bed.

Some of the fabric I already had and need to use up. I love florals, neutral shades, checks and stripes. I'll share some photos when I get them made.

Well I started this post with sharing how I feel like a pioneer, because pioneers were seeking a new land with opportunities to start over. I felt like I needed that a few years ago when I was burned out and had overworked myself. I lacked balance and wasn't living the way I wanted too.  I wanted to change and needed to let go of things in my life. Now I feel like my life is in balance. We are growing and processing our own food. We are living more simply. I do have more time for others. I've totally overhauled my life from where it was and I'm so grateful to the Holy Spirit for the promptings to live life the way I desired, the way I felt called to, even if it's considered old fashioned and out of style. 

If you feel like I used to, then take one little step, change one thing and just work from there. 

~

Well that's about all for now. I know some of you in other parts of the world are now in Spring and you gardeners will be excitedly sorting out your seeds and seeing what you want to order for this season. Have fun !!! :o) May it be glorious and I pray you reap abundantly, even more than you expect. Blessings and peace to you all ~ Linda x 

                                                   ~ Our sweet little granddaughter Freya ~