Blueberry Pie on the 4th of July

What better time for a special meal than a birthday?

I was inspired for this menu by the World Cup - our international visitors actually. Has anyone watched any of the videos of their sightseeing and American foods experiences? It was so much fun to watch their reactions and what a good time they're having. The international community has given us so much in terms of culture and cuisine, so it's nice to reciprocate. Dan and I regularly have Italian and Tex-Mex, with Chinese as an occasional treat. And then there was my The Cuisine of My Ancestors series. Not only did I learn a lot, but what I learned has helped sculpt what we eat and how I make it.

Although neither Dan nor I have a Southern heritage, our celebratory Independence Day meal this year was classic Southern American cuisine. 

Menu

Apple Smoked Pork Roast

Barbecue Sauce

Hush Puppies

Blueberry Coleslaw

Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

Here are the recipes.

Apple Smoked Barbecue Pork Roast

I was a little surprised when Dan asked for this, especially the sauce. He's not particularly keen on sauces, but he likes barbecue videos and made his request from that. We teamed up on the cooking. 

The history of barbecue is found in the true pit barbecue of the past. There is a wonderful article on this in Disappearing Foods: Studies in Foods and Dishes at Risk. You can find the book at Google Play where it's free to read. This chapter is entitled "The Great American Art of Pit Barbecue is Fast Disappearing" by Josephine Bacon. (If the link doesn't take you there, it starts on page 24). You'll learn interesting tidbits such as the old timers cooked ribs with wood from whisky barrels or cooked whole pigs on discarded jailhouse doors. A fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of food.

Ingredients

• Shoulder (butt) bone-in pork roast
• dry rub if desired
• for smoke flavor, Dan used pruned apple branches

To cook

• Smoke the roast for several hours over low heat smoke
• Place in a dutch oven or slow cooker, pour over the BBQ sauce (recipe below).
• Turn occasionally to make sure both sides cook in the sauce.
• It's done when the internal temperature is 160°F (71°C).

Recipe notes

• The pork fell off the bone when done, so even though Dan sliced it, this would be perfect for pulled pork. It was tender and tasty.

BBQ Sauce

• 1 cup ketchup (I used homemade, home canned)
• 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved.

Hush Puppies

According to Joy of Cooking, fishermen made these with their fried fish. A few were tossed to clamoring dogs with the admonition to "hush, puppy." 

Every barbecue restaurant offers these as a side dish, although theirs are less homemade looking. Mine were made from our homegrown cornmeal.

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 - 3 tbsp minced fresh onion
• ½ cup whey, buttermilk, sour milk, or kefir
• 1 egg
• your choice of melted fat or oil for frying

Beat together whey and egg. Add dry ingredients and mix. Form into oblong shapes (2x4x¾ inches) and deep fry until golden brown.

Recipe notes

• My batter was a bit soft so I dropped them into the hot fat with a spoon rather than trying to shape them. 
• Baking powder and milk could be substituted for the soda and whey/buttermilk/kefir

Blueberry Coleslaw

Coleslaw (cole = cabbage and slaw = salad) is an international dish that gained popularity in the U.S. after the invention of mayonnaise in the mid-18th century. Various recipes are found everywhere, and it is typically served at picnics, potlucks, and barbecue. Mine is a bit different in that I use either homemade sauerkraut or kimchi rather than starting from scratch. I just add a spoonful of mayo and mix it up. What's nice is that I don't need to make this ahead and it doesn't take nearly as much mayonnaise as fresh coleslaw. Originally, I made it with raisins to offset the tartness of the sauerkraut, and then experimented from there.

• To your favorite coleslaw recipe, add fresh blueberries, as many as desired.

Recipe notes:

• Alternatives for blueberries: raisins, grated apple, cherry tomatoes, crushed pineapple, chopped green pepper, etc. 

Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

July is blueberry harvest at our house!

Crust for 9" pie:

• 2 cups flour (I used a mix of unbleached white and homegrown whole wheat) 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 cup lard, tallow, or butter
• 1 egg 
• 1/2 cup cold water

Cut lard into flour & salt. Beat egg into water and add to flour mixture. Mix with a fork (not hands, because we don't want to melt the little lumps of lard) until moist. Divide in half for top & bottom crusts.

Filling

• 5 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup sugar (more or less)
• 1/4 heaping cup white flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 or 3 tbsp butter

Mix the filling ingredients, roll out the dough, put it in a pie pan, fill it up, top with thin slices of butter, put on the top crust and bake at 425°F (220°C) for about 35 to 45 minutes to bake, or until crust is .

Pie crust tip: I used to have trouble getting the bottom of my pies to brown, I think because ti put an aluminum pizza pan under it to catch the juicy drips. Then I read to bake it on a pre-heated pizza stone. This works very well and catches the drips.

Vanilla Ice Cream

The amounts are for my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. It makes a quart and a half of ice cream, which is perfect for just the two of us. Plus, no need to buy crushed ice; the Cuisinart mixing bowl is frozen and does the job perfectly. 

• 2 cups whole milk (I use goat milk and cream, of coarse) 
• 2 cups cream 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 3 egg yolks 
• pinch sea salt 
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Heat milk, cream, and sugar and stir until the sugar melts. Beat egg yolks and gradually add milk mixture, beating well (I do this in my blender). Add salt and vanilla. Chill overnight. Churn the ice cream according to manufacturer directions. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to freeze soft and hardens more as it sits in the freezer.

Recipe note

• I've discovered that when I use duck egg yolks, the ice cream doesn't freeze hard as a rock.
• Double or triple amounts for a larger ice cream maker.

All in all, this makes for an excellent anytime summer meal. 

Fireworks tonight. Anybody going to see their local show?

Blueberry Pie on the 4th of July © July 2026

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

A Carol, A Recipe, & A Wish

A Carol

A German Christmas song wasn't included in my 2024 holiday series, Christmas Songs of My Ancestors. I didn't know about my German great-great-great-great grandfather then, so this year I took a look at German Christmas songs. I chose a very old but familiar German hymn, Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen. The words were written sometime in the 1500s. The music was written in 1609 by German composer Michael Praetorius. So it is likely that my German ancestors were familiar with it.

A Recipe

This recipe is a civil war era pie recipe I found on Max Miller's Tasting History. The combination of apples and cranberries are so seasonal and festive for this time of year. The original recipe came from Godey's Ladies Book.

Cranberry Apple Pie

1, 9-inch double pie crust 

4 baking apples

1¼ C fresh cranberries

1⅛ C sugar (1 C + 2 tbsp)

3 tbsp water

Over med-low heat, cook the cranberries, sugar, and water until the sugar melts and boils for 2 minutes. Set aside to cool. In the meantime, peel, core, and slice the apples thinly. Put the apple slices in the prepared pie crust, top with cranberry mixture, and add the top crust. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 10 minutes, then 300°F (150°C) for 45 to 50 minutes or until the crust is brown and the filling is bubbling. 

Recipe Notes

• For the pie crust, I used my Tudor tart crust because I've been experimenting with it.
• For the apples, I used honeycrisp, which work well for baking. They are a bit juicy however, so there was quite
• Quite a bit of juice in the baked pie. I think next time I'll mix the apples with a bit of flour before baking, like I do modern apple pie. That thickens the juice to something we're more used to. :)

A Wish 

My wish for you is that you not be robbed of the joy and wonder of Christmas. Many, nowadays, desire to take that away from us and destroy it, so guard it as a treasure of your heart. 

My observation is that when people rely on the opinions, compliance, and approval of others for their happiness, they give away their personal power to be happy. Anytime we blame someone else for our loss of happiness, we give that power to the other person. Learn to be happy and content without expecting or demanding anything of others. If our happiness is contingent upon what others do or say, then we don't know the true experience of happiness, peace, and joy. That you find and safeguard your personal power is my Christmas wish for you.

A Carol, A Recipe, & A Wish © 2025

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

Blueberry Pie on the 4th of July

Blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream.

July is blueberry month! And every year, I start blueberry season off with a fresh blueberry pie. What better way to celebrate Independence Day! Very American!

For dinner? Pizza!

Pepperoni and black olive pizza (Dan's favorite) with homemade mozzarella. 

Sometimes we can see fireworks over the tree tops from our front porch. We'll give that a go when it gets dark. That's about the extent of our going anywhere or doing anything for the holiday.

What about you? Planning anything special? Do you have favorite 4th of July foods or activities? No matter how you spend the day, I wish you a blessed one. 

Blueberry Pie on the 4th of July © July 2025

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

Recipe: Scalloped Apples

This time of year we have a number of seasonal dishes, all from Christmas leftovers! One of them is split pea soup. It's my favorite way to use that Christmas ham bone. Another is scalloped potatoes and ham. I use a basic scalloped potatoes recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook, and add the bits of ham I cut off the bone before tossing it into the soup pot. It makes a wonderful casserole. But it needs a side dish, and yesterday, I made scalloped apples.

This is an old recipe from my grandmother, whom I believe got it from her mother. I always loved it as a kid because it was like eating dessert with dinner! (Plus we got "real" dessert too). 

The apples were a gift from our neighbor. He bought a huge box at the farmers market, ate his fill, and then passed some on to us. There was enough for a couple of apple pies (one for us and one as a thank you for our neighbor), a half-gallon of apple sauce, and plenty for eating. The scalloped apples were inspired by those apples.

Scalloped Apples

NOTE: being an old fashioned recipe, it assumes the cook knows that the apples are to be pared, cored, and chopped, and that the cooking time is until the crumbs are browned on top.

Cook together till tender:

• 3 cups apples
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup water

Add: 

• 1/2 lemon, juice and rind
• 2 cups soft bread crumbs mixed with
• 1 stick of butter, melted

Layer bread crumbs and apple mixture in a buttered baking dish. Have crumbs on top. Bake at 350° (180°C).

Everything is already cooked, so I find about 20 minutes browns the crumbs nicely.

Does anyone else make traditional dishes from their holiday leftovers? 

Recipe: Scalloped Apples © January 2025

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

A Twist on a Christmas Tradition

Firstly, no matter what holiday you celebrate, I wish you a happy one! 

My holiday offering for my readers is a bit different this year. I first heard this a couple of weeks ago at my granddaughter's school Christmas program. She plays trombone in the junior high band, and this was one of their concert offerings. It intrigued me enough that I had to look it up on YouTube to find—shall we say—a less beginnerish rendition. This one was uploaded by the composer himself. I think you'll see why it would have great appeal to school bands, especially with the great percussion part.

I give you Santa the Barbarian: Snowpocalypse by Randall Standridge.

 

A Twist on a Christmas Tradition © Dec 2023

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Things I'm Thankful For

Originally, I'd hoped to have a picture post, but I've run out of time, busy with family things. But I do want to take advantage of this traditional time of year to count my blessings. I know how easy it is to complain. Some default setting of human thought and emotion? I find that focusing on gratitude and contentment is so much happier! 

I'm thankful for:

• My husband, who is truly a partner on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
• My family. I'm proud of my adult children, their spouses, and their children.
• Our little piece of land.
• Our goats and the milk they provide. I'm thankful for their antics too!
• Our poultry. Everybody seems to be getting along better now that we've thinned the flock.
• Our four mousers (it takes that many around here).
• Our garden and all its struggles to produce for us despite our often uncooperative southern weather.
• The greenhouse (progress update soon!)
• That so much of our Thanksgiving feast is homegrown: turkey, cornmeal for the cornbread stuffing, green beans for the green bean casserole, winter squash for the "pumpkin" pie, and goat cream for its whipped cream topping.
• My new sewing room.
• My table loom (thanks to my dear friend Terry) and the ability to weave again.
• A cozy fire in the woodstove.
• A warm lap cat on a chilly evening. 
• My blogging community. I'm thankful for each of you who visit my blogs and take the time to comment. I'm thankful for the blogs you write, because you help keep my life interesting with your diversity of projects, personalities, interests, ideas, and opinions. 

I truly have a lot to be thankful for.

Things I'm Thankful For © November 2023

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

July

July, from my cross-stitch calendar Christmas present. :)

hot days

humid nights

tree frogs singing

sunflowers blooming

corn tasseling

lightning bugs

weeds rampant

threshing and winnowing

marigolds

summer squash

canning pickles

fresh mozzarella

outdoor cooking

tomato sandwiches

blueberry pie

ice cream

fireworks

picnics

ant parades

4th of July

Independence Day

Happy Birthday America

July © July 2023 by Leigh at

http://www.5acresandadream.com

Thankfulness as a Choice

The internet is a wonderfully international place, with numerous glimpses into interesting cultural traditions all over the world. Because of that, American Thanksgiving is probably one of the more obscure global offerings, appreciated mostly by Americans, although I think even that is changing. Whether it's because of the rising costs of food and travel, substitution of family with political loyalties, or because of manipulative name-calling meant to shame Americans about their cultural traditions, it seems there is a lot to complain about regarding this holiday. And that brings me to my blog post title, "Thankfulness as a Choice."

I think this is an important topic because in general, it seems that more and more people are not happy. They are not content. The list of things to complain about seems to be ever growing: job, finances, physical appearance, politics, politicians, the government, spouses, gender, inflation, taxes, the weather, the environment, morality, ethics, equity, justice, product quality, social compliance, neighbors, the traffic, what so-and-so did or said, what they didn't do or say, and (heaven forbid) someone is wrong on the internet. And that's just the short list. 

Years ago, I heard a saying that stuck with me. "The poor are luckier than the rich because they don't know yet that money can't make them happy." Some people won't get that, but I think at some level or another, most people understand happiness based on circumstances is brief and fleeting. 

I spent many years of my life trying to make people happy because I thought it would make them like me. Eventually, I figured out this doesn't work. That if I change in the thing they don't like, they'll just find something else to complain about. Eventually, I figured out that complaining is a habit. And like all habits, it can be changed. If one is willing to do the work to change it.

What's this got to do with homesteading (the focus of my blog)? A lot, because I think our perception of our circumstances is key to homesteading success. Most of us making an attempt at it figure out pretty quickly that homesteading isn't about replicating our accustomed modern lifestyle in a more natural setting. If the stated goal is increased self-reliance, that necessitates lifestyle changes. Neither society at large, nor nature are very cooperative in this endeavor, which means it requires a fair amount of commitment and determination to succeed. It also requires accepting that some (many) things are beyond our control. And that leaves us with a choice: complain or look for some small something to be thankful for. 

Many of you tell me that while you appreciate my lifestyle, it's something you would never choose for yourselves. Which is okay. I agree it isn't for everybody. But the world is experiencing a time when many people are having to tighten their belts and look at ways to change. What Dan and I have done by choice, is being imposed on many of you through no choice of your own. I empathize deeply, and hope that my posts (both present and past), and books can offer some helpful and encouraging ideas. 

However, even useful changes will be sabotaged by negativity. And that's what complaining reinforces, a habit of negativity. It's a choice, however, and unfortunately, I think some people really like being negative. Or think that if they don't complain, nothing will change. The irony is that when we have no control over a thing, change is mostly a matter of attitude. 

So, to my fellow Americans who still celebrate this holiday, I wish you Happy Thanksgiving! To everyone else, I encourage you to focus on things you are happy for, rather than on what you are unhappy about. I encourage you to choose thankfulness.

Parting shot:

Thankfulness as a Choice © November 2022

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

A Bit of Independence Day Trivia

Yankee Doodle went to town

A-riding on a pony,

Stuck a feather in his cap

And called it macaroni.

Chorus:

Yankee Doodle keep it up,

Yankee Doodle dandy,

Mind the music and the step,

And with the girls be handy. 

There are a number of versions of the Yankee Doodle song, but that was the one I learned as a kid. However, it never made a lot of sense to me; why the heck would he call it "macaroni?" Recently, the historical novel I'm reading shed some light on the term. 

The clock in the hall struck four and Sam grimaced. "I have to go, ma'am. He wants me macaronied."

"Macaronied?" Martha asked.

"All prinked up, ma'am. I have to serve a supper party."

Bernard Cornwell, Redcoat

 Dan got out our Webster's 1828 dictionary and looked it up.

Macaroni

~ a sort of droll or fool, and hence, a fop; a fribble; a finical fellow

~ pertaining to or like a macaroni; empty, trifling; vain; affected

We also looked up:

Doodle

~ trifler, simpleton, fool

Dandy

~ a man of the human species who dresses himself like a doll

Makes one wonder why Yankee Doodle is considered a patriotic song. Well, originally it wasn't. It came from an old European ditty and was sung by British soldiers to mock the Patriots. But it backfired because the Americans were apparently too naive to know they were supposed to be offended and they adopted it as their own. Now, it's a song that never fails to conjure up images of fife, drum, and rag-tag rebel Americans who (at that time, anyway) didn't want a non-American power controlling their economy, nor a birthright aristocracy defining their culture. 

Fun trivia aside, I think the real takeaway ought to be that the two sides eventually reached an agreement and came to respect one another as world partners and allies. That was the choice both sides made. They could have continued to nurse their wrongs, demand payback, and keep up the feud. But they chose to let it go, put it behind them, and move on. It's a lesson from history we should take to heart today.

A Bit of Independence Day Trivia © July 2022

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Merry Christmas!

From our home to yours.

Merry Christmas! © December 2021

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Chocolate Pecan Bars

Last month, when I showed you our best pecan harvest ever, a couple of people asked how we used them. Here's one of our favorites! It uses pecan meal, which forms a crispy top layer when the cookies bake. Very rich, very special, and very holidayish!

Chocolate Pecan Bars

Bottom Layer:

½ C butter
¼ C sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla
1¼ C unbleached flour
⅛ tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and salt and add in 3 parts to creamed mixture. Pat dough into the bottom of a greased 9 x 12 inch pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350°F (180°C).

Top Layer:

While the bottom layer is baking, mix the following:

2 eggs, beaten
1½ C brown sugar
1½ C chocolate chips
6 oz pecan meal (can make this in the blender)
2 tbsp unbleached flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Remove the bottom layer from the oven and spread the top layer mixture over it while still hot. Bake another 25 minutes. When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar and slice into bars.

When the kids were little I'd bake a different batch of Christmas cookies every week for dessert for Friday night pizza. We'd eat some and I'd freeze about half-a-dozen or so. I'd start the baking right after Thanksgiving, so that on Christmas Eve, we'd have a huge assortment of Christmas cookies for dessert after our traditional pepperoni bread. That's a lot of cookies for just the two of us, so I don't do that any more, but we certainly do enjoy our best favorites this time of year. Do you have Christmas cookie baking traditions? I'd love to hear them!

Chocolate Pecan Bars © Dec. 2020 by Leigh 

at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Thankful For...

When someone ask you what you're thankful for, what comes to mind? People? Things? Circumstances? In reflecting on that question, I'm realizing that this year, I'm thankful for something different. I'm thankful for a lesson learned. It's something I've always known intellectually but have never been able to actually own. That may be an odd thing to be thankful for, but hey! This is 2020! 

What's the lesson? It's that I'm the guardian of my eyes, ears, heart, and soul. And that means I'm the guardian of my emotions. No one else, me. I can feed my emotions things that keep me in a worried, fearful dither, or I can feed my emotions things that promote well-being and calm. I choose. I choose what I look at, what I listen to, and what I think about. 

Have you ever noticed the connection between thoughts and emotions? Thoughts can either be presented to us from outside sources (through seeing and hearing), or they can be memories. Sometimes we simply set these thoughts aside, but how often do we have emotional reactions to them? Our emotions keep us thinking about them, and our thoughts feed the emotional response. Have you ever found yourself caught in this cycle and wondered, why am I doing this to myself?

I have! And this year, I'm finally learning to say to myself, "Quit it! Quit beating a highway down neural pathways that don't take me where I want to go. Stop feeding thoughts that destroy my peace and rob me of my sense of well-being, especially for things over which I have no control. Choose to focus on something else. Choose things that are worthy of being dwelt on and ignore the rest."

I'm not saying I've perfected this yet, but this year, I've made a lot of progress toward learning that I'm in control of my thought life, not my emotions. I'm exceedingly thankful for that.

Thankful For... © November 2020

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Freedoms No One Can Take Away

Norman Rockwell's "The Golden Rule."

2020 has given the free world a taste of what it's like to live under increased government restrictions and presumably temporary loss of freedoms. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, society panicked and we easily handed over our freedoms out of fear. We wanted to be safe from disease. Hopefully, we've all been paying close attention to what's really going on, rather than running around like a bunch of scared chickens.

The United States is facing a potentially nation-changing decision in November, and it's important to understand that this isn't about politics. It isn't about popularity. It isn't about personality. It's about ideologies. But we need to put on our thinking caps to understand this. We must refuse to be manipulated by emotional turmoil.

On one level, it's a battle of which "ism" should dictate national policy. On another, it's a battle over whom should dictate how people are allowed to live: under a ruling class or should we decide for ourselves? On a day once associated with celebrating our Freedom as Americans, maybe we should be asking what it really means to be free. Do we really want to be free? Now is the time to decide.

The ideological battle will continue to rage on, but no matter what personal and civil freedoms are taken away, there are some freedoms that no one can touch.

The Freedom to Be Kind

"It costs nothing to be kind." I don't remember where I heard that, but it is oh, so true. A kind word, a kind gesture, a smile - such small things, yet why are people so stingy with kindness? Kindness is a choice we each make multiple times every day.

The Freedom to Be Patient

So many people are impatient and in a hurry nowadays. They forget that patience is a choice. Actually, I would say it's a habit, just as impatience is a habit. People get in the habit of being in a hurry, of wanting to push everyone else out of the way, and then getting angry when they can't. Does anyone really like feeling this way? I don't, and it's my choice to exercise either one or the other.

The Freedom to Not Complain

Who likes being around complainers? Raise your hand. I don't, and usually find myself avoiding people who constantly complain. Not that there isn't plenty to complain about, but it quickly becomes a bad habit.

When I was growing up, my mother would tell me, "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." I heard that so many times that it usually pops up in my mind when I begin to open my mouth in complaint. I find that my mood and my days go so much better when I exercise this freedom and don't give into complaining.

The Freedom to Let Others Have a Different Belief or Opinion

One of the things that fascinates me about 19th century fiction such as the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, is the conversations. Back then, conversation was considered a form of entertainment and differences of opinion were considered interesting. Not so any more. Perhaps because of insecurity or a lack of self-esteem, many people are extremely uncomfortable when others have different opinions. It's gotten so bad, that some equate a different opinion with hate.

It is odd to me that in an era when diversity is so highly prized there is a vehement demand that everyone else be a mental and emotional carbon copy of Self. We may not be able to control the resulting censorship, but we can choose to allow others to have their own beliefs and opinions.

The Freedom to Not be Offended

This is a choice, and I'd say that being "offended" is a manipulative choice. Just like name calling, it's intended to make the other person backpedal and change what they're saying or doing. It takes being a grown-up to be gracious and not take everything personally.

The Freedom to Respect Others

The idea nowadays is that respect must be earned. I disagree because it implies the right to disrespect others until they pass some sort of perceived test. Unfortunately, that idea usually hijacks itself. If A treats B rudely until B earns their respect, chances are that B will decide A hasn't earned B's respect because of their rude behavior.

Rather than respect, I would say it is trust that must be earned. We should be cautious whom we trust, but we should show respect to everyone. Respect ought to be everyone's right. And there's the conundrum; respect can't be taken, it can only be given.

The Freedom to Forgive

This is an extremely powerful freedom, yet it is rarely exercised because the intent of unforgiveness is to punish the offender. That's human nature. In reality, the offender simply gets on with their lives, usually without remorse or regret. The offended is left bound to their hurt and anger, unable to be free of it. Unforgiveness binds us to our hurt. It binds us to our anger. Forgiveness sets us free. Without forgiveness there can never be wholeness, there can never be healing. The power of forgiveness is to set ourselves free. That is, if we want to be free.

~~~~~~~~~~

Norman Rockwell's "The Golden Rule" painting beautifully sums up these and other freedoms that no one can take away. When in doubt, I try to ask myself, how would I wish to be treated in the given situation? Do I like it when others are impatient with me or unkind? Do I like being complained at or about? Do I like being bullied because I think differently than others? Or being told I'm offensive when I'm actually clueless? Do I like being disrespected? Do I want to hold on to anger and hurt when the other person doesn't even care?

Do you realize that this could be the last 4th of July holiday this country is allowed to celebrate? Think about that today. Think about how you want life to be for yourself, your children, and your grandchildren. Think rationally and wisely, not as a knee-jerk reaction to whatever emotional hot buttons have been pushed recently. Then make your life choices accordingly. You won't be standing alone.

Freedoms No One Can Take Away © July 2020

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Why I Have Hope in a Time of Fear

For those of you unfamiliar with Sacred Harp (or shape note singing), it's a traditional American form of sacred singing. The notes were shaped as a tool for teaching sight singing. The example below shows one system of shape notes.

The first verse is traditionally sung in solfège syllables (do, re, me, fa, sol, etc.), so if you don't understand what they're saying, that's why.

"I'm Going Home" is one of my favorites. If you've seen Cold Mountain with Nicole Kidman and Jude Law, then it will be familiar to you. It's not specifically a Resurrection song, but the Resurrection is the reason why it fills me with hope.

Why I Have Hope in a Time of Fear © April 2020 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

It's All About a Birthday

When my children were little, I pondered how to teach them that Christmas isn't just a children's fun holiday for receiving candy, toys, and gifts. Sure, there are books, DVDs, and Sunday school lessons emphasizing the reason for the season, but I wanted something that would be tangible to a small child. A real life experience.

My kids have birthdays close to the holidays. My daughter's birthday always falls on or a few days before Thanksgiving, while my son's is five days after Christmas. To explain Christmas, I told them that a birthday is a celebration of a person. On their birthdays we celebrate them. They receive gifts as we give thanks for their birth. Christmas is a birthday too, so on Christmas we celebrate Jesus. It's a celebration of His birth. Instead of asking "what do you want to get for Christmas," the question was, "what are you going to give for Christmas?"

At the beginning of Advent I would ask, "what are we going to give Jesus for His birthday this year?" I pointed out Scriptures that focus on giving, especially to the poor and needy. When the kids were little, we participated in things like caroling at retirement homes and Operation Christmas Child. As they got older, we continued to focus on helping others, especially the elderly and those in need. We hand made gifts for those we wanted to encourage and say thank-you to.

We never did Santa Claus. We started Christmas morning by lighting the Christ candle in the center of our advent wreath and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Then we exchanged presents as a family, but everything was small and inexpensive. Everyone got their "big" gift on their birthdays, and learned not to expect large or elaborate gifts on Christmas. Our other traditions revolved around special meals and food.

Not focusing on ourselves helped keep Christmas low key. No fuss or stress. And it meant no post-holiday let down. All of that enabled us to keep our focus where it belongs.

So, in keeping with our Christmas tradition:

Merry Christmas to All

& 

Happy Birthday Jesus!

It's All About a Birthday © December 2019

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

A Day for Giving Thanks

"Thanksgiving"
Norman Rockwell
1919

"God grant that the spirit of gratefulness again became a national trait—that in between year-long demonstrations of unrest and complaint, we might be treated to occasional demonstrations of thankfulness."

Eric Sloane

"Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes"
Norman Rockwell
1945

"Thanksgiving is nothing if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart to God in honor and praise for His goodness."

Robert Casper Lintner

"Ye Glutton"
Norman Rockwell
1923

"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"Cousin Reginald Catches the Thanksgiving Turkey"
Norman Rockwell
1917

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

Frederick Keonig

"Refugee Thanksgiving"
Norman Rockwell
1943

"We are grateful for the land, and for the things upon the land which the Spirit has bestowed."

Native American Prayer

"Freedom From Want"
Norman Rockwell
1943

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Thanksgiving.

A Day for Giving Thanks © November 2019

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

A Birthday Lament for America

On this 243rd anniversary of the birth of the United States of America, I cannot help but reflect on the ideological divide that currently has this country in its death grip. While some would consider this progress and reason to celebrate, others lament this as a sad state of affairs. But like the frog who will instinctively jump out when thrown live into a pot of boiling water, we have been willing to sit in the cold frying pan while the heat is turned up so slowly that we've barely noticed what's happening.

In 1973, Eric Sloane published a book entitled The Spirits of '76. It was written in anticipation of then upcoming bicentennial of the United States. In this book he identifies and laments the loss of ten qualities that could be considered the foundational American mindset at the time of this nation's birth. Following are a series of quotes from The Spirits of '76. They seem appropriate to reflect on today.

The Spirit of Respect

"Respect for family, respect for the nation and the land, respect for the flag and the law, respect for mankind and respect for oneself ---these have been outstandingly wanting during the last few years. Within the family, within the nation, and to all other nations, the only hope for the survival of civilization is respect or love for one another. In the end, this is all that matters."

The Spirit of Hard Work

"Once upon a time in America, hard work was a part of life; it was one of the pleasures and satisfactions of living. Even as I write these words they have a ridiculous ring to my ear, so conditioned am I to the popular American creed of seeking the most pay for the least amount of work. Hard labor is considered either drudgery or punishment, or, at best, a necessary evil. . . Retirement from labor has become a national aim, and the physical and mental pleasure from hard work has become a vanished American spirit."

The Spirit of Frugality

"Throwing things away has become an American habit. It has been estimated that we waste more in one second than our gross national economy earning of two hundred years ago. There were no garbage dumps in those days because all leftovers were reused. . . The spirit of frugality began its decline slowly until the last few decades of acceleration, when we have overcome the fine art of saving and finally established a unique economy of waste."

The Spirit of Thankfulness

"Pioneer Americans were rich in the spirit of thankfulness. . . It was the proper way of life in those days to be grateful often and express it openly. . . The art of being thankful in America has not progressed in spite of two hundred years of all sorts of amazing things to be thankful for. The gifts of life are more and more taken for granted and the general belief is that we constantly deserve more than whatever we already have."

The Spirit of Pioneering

"Without adventure, civilization is automatically in the process of decay. . .It has always given me wonder why ninety percent of the people choose to live in ten percent of America's landscape, subjecting themselves to the insidious debasement of overcrowding. Out there between cities, in mountains and prairies, are still hundreds of thousands of empty acres of adventure and health and meaningful living, being ignored by both people and government."

The Spirit of Godliness

"A religious regard for nature and the spiritual is an indispensable element of greatness. As man develops and disturbs nature's relationship with the Creator, not only does the quality of the landscape become mediocre but the same loss of character seems to occur to the disturber himself. . . It is strange that in an age of scientific greatness, there should be an increasing mediocrity in mankind."

The Spirit of Agronomy

"Farming was the classical way of American life. . . Push-button machinery and synthetic manures have pushed agronomy so far from nature that the modern farmer is seldom more than a businessman in overalls or a rural manufacturer. . . Farming is geared only to big business and the spirit of agronomy is a vanished American trait."

The Spirit of Time

"We have become artists at the business of going fast. . . Although people used to have a righteous contempt for anything done in a rush, speed has become today's fullest measure of efficiency. Time-savers are an obsession, but the time saved is only squandered; it is like hoarding money in order to be extravagant."

The Spirit of Independence

"Everyone knows about 'the American Heritage' but, when asked, few can say what that heritage is. Boiled down to a sentence, what made us different. . . was independence and total respect for the individual. . .  Already mass produced machinery has created a mass-produced civilization in which the individual often has less importance than the machine. Individualism is in the twilight of its favor: mediocrity finds both safety and acceptance in standardization."

The Spirit of Awareness

"The most important difference between the early American and his modern counterpart, if boiled down to one word, was awareness. The early life was saturated with the essence of awareness that made living a vital experience. . . The extent of unawareness today would be unbelievable to the early American. All the necessities of life being made for you or done for you by someone unknown from somewhere unknown, produces a dehumanized existence in which the only part left for us to play is to pay out money in exchange."

These are the values I learned from my grandparents and read about in books by authors like Eric Sloane, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Ralph Moody. Yet, I'd say most people today would view these ideals as antiquated or naive. Because they have all but vanished from modern thinking, I suspect that to many they make no sense, especially those who only know the rewritten version of American history.

But can you not imagine a nation (any nation) in which the individuals who lived there respected themselves and the rights, opinions, and property of others? Who respected the earth and the environment. Whose lifestyles created no waste. Who were willing to see hard work as creative and giving purpose. Who were grateful for what they had. This is the mindset we consider nostalgic and the lifestyle we consider backward. This is the spirit of America we have walked away from.

Most people would say we can't go back, and sadly, I have to agree with them. But if that's the case, exactly what are we heading toward? We are now a nation that makes demands with disrespect, tries to manipulate public opinion with political hysteria, and thinks it can force changes in behavior through restrictive laws. The problem is that these tactics do nothing to unite people in a common confidence of the proposed solution. They only deepen the divide. Is this really what we want?

What do you think?

A Birthday Lament for America © July 2019

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Happy Agrarian New Year!

Something that has always seemed odd to me is that the beginning of a new year is in the middle of winter. That isn't strictly true of all cultures in all time periods, but it's been standard enough for long enough that I doubt few folks give it a second thought. When I read Eric Sloane's The Seasons of America Past I learned that the old agrarian calendar began the year on March 25. This makes sense to me! So here I am, wishing you a Happy Agrarian New Year.

The roots of this go back to the ancient Hebrew, Canaanite, and Babylonian calendars, where the first month started in the modern late March. The early Romans celebrated the new year on March 1st, but this was changed in 45 BC with the Julian calendar. It made January 1st the beginning of the new year. The best I can figure out is that this was done because the month's namesake, Janus, was the god of new beginnings. When Pope Gregory XIII had the calendar revised in the mid-1500s January remained the first month. 

The Gregorian calendar is the one we still use today, but March 25 remained the start of the new year in parts of Europe for a long time. England was the last holdout until 1752. According to Eric Sloane, early European American farmers continued to use March 25 as the first of their year, as documented by old farm calendars, almanacs, agricultural manuals, and personal diaries. 

With March as the first month, the quarters of the year make sense because the seasons correspond with the work for that time of year.

• March, April, May - planting
• June, July, August - growing
• September, October, November - harvest
• December, January, February - hearth

As you can see, the rhythm of the agrarian year is set by a relationship with the seasons and with the land. 

Last November I asked my readers to define agrarianism off the top of their heads (that post here). I promised to get back with you on what I thought, so this is the first of a series of posts exploring that. My understanding of agrarianism is that it isn't simply agriculture, it's a worldview.

What is a worldview? It's how an individual perceives the world and the way it works. It answers life's fundamental questions about the existence and nature of God, the origins of the universe, the place and purpose of humans, what happens after death, and how we determine right and wrong. Obviously there are many worldviews. Agrarianism is the one that makes the most sense to me.

The agrarian new year had it's own traditions in the rural US. It was celebrated with mead, and cider and doughnuts. It was the time to begin looking ahead to planting, with one of the first chores of the year being fence mending. It was also time to begin the laying up of the next year's firewood and splitting logs for fence rails. In the north it was (and still is) maple sugaring time.

Dan and I didn't have any mead, cider, or doughnuts, but we have been looking ahead to planning the planting season. Of course that includes the garden, but also we're been planning to expand our hay growing. We're going to work on our hedgerows and continue pasture improvement. Last week he cut the first tree to start curing for next winter's firewood and we have indeed started working on our fences. Some of them are in bad need of repair!

Of course, our spring begins earlier than others. And those who live south of the equator will be in the opposite season! But we all adapt, don't we?

How about you? Do you have seasonal traditions or tasks for March?

Happy Agrarian New Year! © March 2019

by Leigh  at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Merry Christmas!

"Hey! There's no verse about a goat in that song!"

"We need to write one of our own."

"I," said the goat with eyes so bright

"Under the Star of glorious light;

Watched o'er His cradle all through the night."

"I," said the goat with eyes so bright.

"That's better."

Wishing you all the Happiest of Holy Days! Merry Christmas!

I'm going to take a wee bit of a blogging break, so I'll see you next year!

"Hmph. No verse about kitties either."

Merry Christmas! © December 2018

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Spread Some Holiday Cheer

I think most of us can relate to the concept of economic self-sufficiency. There is a definite appeal to the idea of having a home business or at least making money from products we create ourselves. I want to encourage you to explore avenues this year for unique handcrafted or independently produced items as gifts for family and friends. It's the best way to optimize your spreading of holiday goodwill and cheer. You'll not only bestow it on the receiver of the gift, but also on the maker of the gift.

Of course, as an indie author, I include myself in that category. Still, I realize not everyone is looking for books or perhaps not my books; therefore the appeal to consider buying from indie producers in all categories. Or, leave a good review. That's a gift in itself.

My own offerings include an eBook that has been out of print for a while - Goat Tales. It's one set of tales from my paperback Critter Tales. Click that link to get a "Look Inside" at Amazon. If you're an Amazon Prime member, it's free! Anyone who loves goats or farm animals in general would enjoy this, I think.

My other offerings include Prepper's Livestock Handbook. Best current price for the paperback is at Amazon, where it is now 30% off list price. Also, Amazon is offering a $5.00 off coupon when ordering $20.00 worth of books. But you'll have to hustle because that offer expires at 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec 1st. It's a good deal for a book lover!

Prepper's Livestock Handbook is also available for Kindle and NOOK. If you are a Barnes & Noble shopper, they are offering a 10% discount coupon, details here, but it ends Dec. 2nd.

5 Acres & A Dream The Book is also nicely discounted at Amazon. Currently 40% off, it's at the best price I've seen so far. Combine that with the soon-to-expire coupon and you can stretch your gift dollars.

Unfortunately, with Amazon's print-on-demand publishing department switching from CreateSpace to Kindle Direct, they are recommending price hikes. This is because KDP apparently uses a more expensive printer. I think many authors are raising prices, so now is the time to buy books (especially with the coupon I mentioned above).

This might also be a good time to mention that next year  Acres & A Dream The Book will become Book 1 in a series. So much has changed since I published that book that a sequel is in the works.

Critter Tales, is not discounted.  😞 But I still think it's worth it, LOL. It contains tales of animal antics along with much of my research into sustainable livestock care and how we've implemented it.

How To Bake Without Baking Powder is another of my prepper books and the only one in my How-To series that is available in paperback as well as ebook. Amazon hasn't discounted it either, but it's not unreasonably priced. I notice that shipping is free, even if you buy the one book! Combine it with that soon-to-expire discount I mentioned and you can have books for gifts as well as yourself. If you choose the Kindle edition, you can get a 75% credit toward more Kindle books.

The rest of The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos are a collection of ebooks. You can see a complete listing plus where to buy, here. They are $1.99 each, but the first volume, How To Preserve Eggs is always free!











Well, I had to get in a plug for my books at least once this year. I never wanted to turn my blog into one big ad, and I haven't, because as much as selling books makes me happy, I value my online community even more. I don't want to be constantly pushing things at you just so I can make money. If you do buy my books, however, a hearty Thank You!

So spread some holiday cheer this year, and support your favorite authors, weavers, woodworkers, spinner, knitters, blacksmiths, potters, (etc.) with uniquely special gifts for family and friends.

 Spread Some Holiday Cheer © Dec 2018 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/