Category: Introduction

THE HARVEST YIELDS MUCH

THE HARVEST YIELDS MUCH

In this week’s blog, I’m trying to give back to my community.  Yes, I have finally created a video for my “Cracklin’ Cornbread”.  As a one-person household, I struggle to get in the kitchen and cook; for several reasons. 

One reason is due to the fact that it is not fun to cook for just me.  For all of my adult life, I have cooked for my family, and I loved every minute of it.  Two, after so many years of cooking BIG meals, it is almost impossible to cook a small quantity of food.  I usually end up eating a meal I’ve cooked for a week just to keep from wasting all of it.  

I do love to eat a good home-cooked meal. I always enjoy the memories which flood my present mind,  as I cook a favorite dish from my past.  However, those memories can be bittersweet.  As some recipes can trigger some not-so-pleasant memories.  

Thankfully, I have found a way to share some of my favorite recipes or everyday life events with you all.  As an extra bonus, I can also share a little devotion with you all.  This week I have been pondering about how often in my life, God’s provision for me was very timely and in the appropriate amount, if not overly abundant.  The title of this blog reflects this thought: 

 The Harvest Yields Much!

Well, it does, if I keep my focus and faith in God.  My scripture focus was 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency[b] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

    his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they[c] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

I know a lot of small farmers who plant gardens every year.  I have actually been setting down some more roots myself. The biggest news I’m hearing from my small cropping friends is that many are planting extra plants this year.  They are planning and hoping to have extra so they can share with their neighbors. 

I love how the scripture explains the simple concept of how a stingy planter reaps a stingy crop.  On the reverse side the planter who sows lavishly will harvest a lavish crop.  What we do with a lavish crop will either lead to more need or an abundance of overflowing rewards.  No, we don’t give so we can receive, but when we cheerfully and generously give to others, God will bless us even more, and all of our basic needs will be met.  One of the greatest needs God showers down upon us is His amazing grace.

And then some, Malachi 3:10 says: 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 

Just knowing He said He can open the flood gates of Heaven and pour His blessings upon us, so much so that we can’t store them, is so comforting. 

If He so chooses He can bless our crops so we not only have enough for ourselves but, also enough for our community.  

A giving attitude is so very important in this life. Especially now with the situation our country is experiencing.  Our food budget is being challenged to the max and many are having to choose between paying a utility bill or providing food on the family table.  God knows our heart and if we are sincerely asking for His blessing for an abundant harvest so we can give to others, some very awesome blessings that started in your garden or on your land will end up answering the prayers of some persons in your community!  Always remember, God is the source of everything good. It is by His example and help that we can do good for others.  This helps us to take the emphasis off of our own needs, fully believing God will meet our needs when we follow His giving example. Thinking of others is a very necessary way to extend the grace given to us by God on to others.  Acts of generosity result in God being Praised! Thanks be to God for His incredible blessings.  I pray I can be a good steward of the gifts he has bestowed upon me.  

As promised, here is the link for the “Cracklin’ Cornbread.”

This is the video that I promised to share with you all a while ago.  I am sorry it took so long to get it produced.  I am just learning how to edit and produce videos,.  Thank you for your patience!  Here is the recipe as best as I could remember from the recording of the process of making it.  

I made a double recipe, but you can divide it in half, if you only need a smaller quantity.  

Gluten-Free Cracklin’ Cornbread (you can use regular flour if you wish)/

2 cups of Blackwells Cornmeal

2 cups Allmond flour

1tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

2 beaten eggs

2 cups buttermilk (I had to add about 1/4 cup more to get the consistency that I prefer)

1 cup lard

1 to 11/2 cups of Cracklins

Place lard into a cast-iron skillet and put it into the preheated oven @ 350* and leave it until the lard melts. Place cracklins into the skillet and heat on the stovetop until they are warm.

While that heats up Combine all dry ingredients into the mixing bowl.

Adding the 2 1/2 cups of buttermilk  ( I added about 1/2 cup more).  Add the eggs and stir until mixed well.  Add the heated cracklins and about 1 cup of the lard to the mixture.  It will sizzle, , then pour the mixture into the warm cast iron skillet, leveling the mixture on top, and then place it into the oven, for 20 minutes, check to see if done or not.  Mine took about 30-35 minutes to cook.  Flip the cornbread out onto a plate, and enjoy it warm or let it cool.  ENJOY!

My RE-Introduction

 

Most of you who know a little about my background will notice that this is a new introduction for my blog.  My life has changed quite a bit over the last few years. I am now experiencing life on the verge of a new threshold, hence the current blog description: threshold homestead.  I grew up living a sheltered life on a small 9-acre farm, and then married and lived the challenging 28 year-long life of building a productive farm while raising two children, who are one and two of the greatest blessings that God granted me to experience. As life can be challenging with or without the added struggles of making a farm dream become a reality, the ups and downs can knock the wind out of you.  With God’s help many times over, we just picked ourselves up again and again and kept moving forward toward the goals laid out before us. More times than most, we just kept our mindset on the small daily goal of making it into the bed each night, with the hope of doing the same thing all over again the next day.  

As I mentioned, my life has taken some expected changes and some unexpected changes.  My 28-year marriage was interrupted by a test that was not passed, some negative choices were made, and my ex-husband chose a different path for the future of the life, we had planned and built from the ground up.  His decisions forced me onto a new path, one which I am still trying to figure out. It has not been easy, but from the beginning and even before what I know to be the beginning, God has had me in the palm of His Hand, and I know exactly how very blessed I am.  

No, my life has not turned out the way I had dreamed, and many of my old dreams did not come to fruition. However,  I have been given the incredible blessing of starting over, to be able to see the potential for new dreams, fresh new doorways to walk through, and a chance to rewrite what I see, as I walk this new path, and I look ahead toward a promising new horizon.  

So much has happened, I am now the receiver of two great new blessings, my two grandsons, Roman and Knox.  I have a new home, one that keeps me busy, as I try to remodel and update it, as many of the 1950’s building codes don’t quite meet today’s standards. I am doing this a little at a time, as I am working and trying to purchase the required materials and labor as I can afford to do so without going into debt.  I have hopes to begin farming on a small scale compared to my old life, what can I say, my farming roots run deep.  

I was also blessed by God to be able to make sure my daughter finished college debt-free, and fulfill her dream of a beautiful farm-style wedding.  And, I have been able to help my son get a more solid footing for his future. God has been good to us all! His promises never fail!

And now, He (God) is saying to me, let’s get your show on the road!  I have put this off and put this off, but the day is finally here, where I begin my telling of my story.  I have struggled with where to start, and as I was cutting my grass for the last time this past fall, just shortly before my daughter’s wedding, I made a decision, the best place to start is right where you are.  Here I am….just the beginning, just the threshold, just the start….

Stick with me as I journey forward toward my new dreams, all being whispered to me as I listen to HIM: my father, my counselor, my protector, my provider, my redeemer, my ALL IN ALL, JESUS!