Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Deer Season on the Plains

Deer season has come and gone in Missouri, well, gun season is over, but it opened today in a neighboring state. The neighboring state just happens to be where my parents live. Daddy is also one that embraces the spirit of "life on a preservation." Last night after speaking with my mother I said my little prayer for Daddy's deer hunting. It's nothing elaborate, I just simply ask that he might have success. The last few years he's commented on just how much life has changed regarding his hunting efforts. I'm sure the fact that he's aged through these changes plays a part, but I doubt that fact is even considered in his perspective of how things have changed. The city limits have expanded, the clear and safe shots one can take have been reduced, and let's face it, the older anyone gets, the more intense the weather feels, so for the past few years he's commented that he better enjoy it, it may be his last year to hunt. Since I've been hearing him say that, I've been talking to G-d about giving him success. I'm not sure if I do that so he'll be encouraged to look forward to it another year, or so he "retires from hunting" with a big win! It doesn't matter, success is great either way, and I, personally believe G-d wants us to succeed and also honors prayers prayed for others. A few years back, Daddy got his trophy, but as we all already knew, the trophy bucks are not the tastiest meat in the freezer, but we don't waste. After that trophy, though, he's gone back to large does and young bucks, and the meat is excellent. Between what I raise and what he hunts, I pass the meat case up, right along with the dairy case. Now, back to Daddy's big plans. I'm not even sure where he was when he called me this morning, but I think he was in his tree house. It began as a deer stand several years ago and now has all the comforts an amenities of a den. Anyway, deer season had begun at dawn and my phone rang about two hours after sunrise. I could tell by his voice, he'd already been successful. He asked if I was ready to do some processing. He always wants me to process his game and I consider it a privilege. But enough of my "feelings" about hunting season and our father/daughter bond. He proclaimed he had not one, but two and he was pleased . . . and DONE, already! It really does thrill me to know, every year I get a little closer to living more fully off the land. Whether it's by Native American heritage or Scriptural promise, it is what my people have done for centuries; and it is my blessed privilege to be a part in continuing the legacy!

The prayer for success:
And he said, O Adonai, the G-d of my master Abraham, let me [him] do well in what I [he] have undertaken this day . . . Torah of Holy Scripture

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tis the Season

This time of year marks a very special treat for our family. This is the time of year that pumpkins are sitting around ornamentally with no particular purpose apparent . . . or so it used to be. My grandkids and I have two very special dishes we create using full whole pumpkin. Not only is it a special treat through this season, but if there's enough to can, we enjoy it all year long. A word of CAUTION when canning pumpkin. It needs to be pressure canned according to the instructions! That's not to say you can't be creative, but the basic pumpkin preservation instructions are important. The following recipe was so well received by my grandchildren, they told me, I didn't need to make pumpkin pie again! I was getting ready to make this delectable treat, when I realized I couldn't remember where I'd jotted down my recipe. I was going through some old paperwork last night and lo and behold . . . Here is my recipe for Pumpkin Butter. 9 Cups pumpkin, pureed; 3 3/4 Cups Sugar; 3/4 tsp Salt, 1 1/2 Tablespoons gr Cinnamon, 2 1/4 tsp ground Ginger, 1 1/4 tsp ground Clove, and 3/4 tsp ground Nutmeg. Simmer until thick, about 2 hours. Place in pint canning jars and follow Pressure Canning directions. Best when served on a Ritz or HiHo with a dollop of whipped cream and gathereth her food in the harvest. a Proverb

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Winds of Change

As we enter into the winter season, I am compelled to be "ready." Although I'm truly not quite sure what that entails, it is urgent that I make all the preparations I know to do. Not to be an alarmist, but since we've become so "suburbanized," we don't really prepare for change at all. We seem to collectively presume that life will continue to be as it has been, but yet there is a foreboding presence as we shop in the market, as we drive on the roads; that life is changing and will not return to what we've known before. As the prices skyrocket, and the availability becomes limited, we have the choice of facing the truth or preferring denial. Here on the preservation, we are choosing to embrace the truth and the truth is, we are called, Messiah told us to be ready. Now, it is up to us to seek and to hear exactly what it is, "to be ready." Change is coming, it is at the door; just as clearly as the first winter winds.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Daylight Saving Time Ends

I've made some observations about this Daylight Saving Time thing. First, I don't believe G-d ever intended us to play with the time. The time is what it is, but the book of Daniel chapter 7, warned that power would be taken to change the time and the laws would be altered. Thankfully, life on the preservation doesn't really change so much with the clock. The time is determined by the sun and the moon. The months are determined by the phase of the moon, according to Scripture, and the days are determined by the sunset and sunrise. The animals, I've noticed, go very strictly by the sun. At a certain time of day, especially as the days shorten, if I'm not out to milk, I'll hear the girls start "calling" me. I've also noticed through the autumn that dusk is a shorter period than in the late spring and summer. So many of these facts, I'm sure many know, but it just helps me adjust to the sudden early darkness when I reflect on these various facts. Oh, and I simply must share the time honored traditional definition of what Daylight Saving Time truly amounts to. Daylight Saving Time is like cutting 12 inches off the top of the blanket and sewing it on at the foot of the blanket . . . Spring and fall, rinse, repeat . . .

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A More Natural Approach

I'm going to attempt to post some pics later this week, as to just how beautiful this time of year is. Autumn in the Ozarks is truly a sight to behold, and this year is exceptionally grand. Also with this time of year comes the communicable bugs that tend to damper our enthusiasm and well just flat make us feel bad. In all the attempts to protect ourselves and our loved ones from illness, we are often introducing a myriad of chemicals and products that may actually weaken our natural immunities as well as just presenting foreign compounds that our bodies really do not know how to process. Remember, what goes on our skin is absorbed throughout our body. I want to share a very natural hand sanitizing recipe that requires no rinsing and depending upon the container of choice, can be just as portable as any prepackaged product. I have used the prepared products, but I find the list of chemicals offensive, and the product itself to be very drying to my already winter chapped hands. This product recipe I'm sharing is not designed or recommended to replace hand washing! It's just for those times when you can't get to soap and water . . .

Natural Hand Sanitizer
12 drops Tea Tree Oil
7 drops Lemon essential oil
1 drop Thyme oil
1 Tablespoon Witch hazel
Mix by swirling or shaking in clean jar or container that is at least 8 oz. Add 8 oz. organic Aloe Vera Gel. Shake well and use just a few drops as you would any hand sanitizer.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith YHWH, and touch not the unclean thing . . . New Testament