Larger Than Feet Parsnips

 Larger Than Feet Parsnips

I just had to share these pictures with you!  We just harvested our parsnips (spring is the season for harvesting parsnips that have been mulched over the winter).....and look at the size of this beauty!!!  My shoe size is size 7 women's - which is a normal size - not huge but not small either.  What a wonderful parsnip year!!

ENJOY!!

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Photo Friday

April GREAT BLOG TRAIN Results

 

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The third GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination. It was a wonderful trip with 61 boxcars!! I'd like to thank all of you for travelling with us and I hope that you all had a wonderful time!

Since there are 3 Hostesses & 3 Rules I decided that I will "Pin" my 3 favorite boxcars from each Blog Train every month.
Visit my "Great Blog Train" Pinterest Board to see if your boxcar is one of my top 3 picks!!

The next "Great Blog Train" will be departing from your local digital train station on May 1st 2013 - I hope that you will join us!

And don't forget - next month the April "Caboose" will be featured on all 3 of the Hostesses blogs!

 

 

 

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Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #7

I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).

I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.

The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"

I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.

Today's feature song is "Onward, Christian Soldiers" by hymnist Sabine Baring-Gould, (1834-1924) and composed by Arthur S. Sullivan, (1842-1900).  The words were written in 1865 and the inspiration was taken from:
II Timothy 2:3 "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
Then the music was composed in 1871.  This hymn later became the theme song for The Salvation Army.
Another very interesting historical fact about this powerful hymn has to do with the start of WWII.  In 1941 there was a secret meeting between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt aboard the battleship "HMS Prince of Wales".  A church service was held on this ship & Prime minister Churchill chose the hymns for this service.  Later being interviewed on the radio Mr. Churchill said: 

"We sang "Onward, Christian Soldiers" indeed, and I felt that this was no vain presumption, but that we had the right to feel that we serving a cause for the sake of which a trumpet has sounded from on high. When I looked upon that densely packed congregation of fighting men of the same language, of the same faith, of the same fundamental laws, of the same ideals ... it swept across me that here was the only hope, but also the sure hope, of saving the world from measureless degradation."

—Winston Churchill

Below the typed lyrics I have included a YouTube video of this wonderful hymn.
Also, if you have a chance please watch the YouTube documentary below the hymn video - it is very interesting.

Turn with me to number 485 in your hymnals and let's sing:

Onward Christian Soldiers

by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) composed by Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900)

1. Onward Christian soldiers!  Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.  Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe;  Forward into battle, See His banners go!

CHORUS

2.   Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God;  Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod;  We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.

CHORUS

3.  Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain;  Gates of hell can never 'Gainst that Church prevail;  We have Christ's own promise, And that cannot fail.

CHORUS

4.  Onward, then ye people, Join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song;  Glory, laud, and honor Unto Christ the King; This thro' count-less ages Men and angels sing.

CHORUS

Chorus

Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

A special thanks to "whispersofmyfather" for posting this on YouTube





A Special thanks to David Paul Kirkpatrick for posting this documentary on YouTube

Other Hymns on this blog:

In The Garden

It Is Well With My Soul

Count Your Blessings

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

I Love To Tell The Story

Crown Him With Many Crowns
He Lives
At The Cross
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

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Saving Seeds - Morning Glory

Saving Seeds - Morning Glory

This is a beautiful yet simple flower that is so easy to grow!!  To read more about Morning Glories click HERE.

Today we are going to talk about saving the seeds from your Morning Glory plants.

   

 At the end of the season in late fall you will notice that your Morning Glory vines have turned brown and become crisp (I actually waited until early spring to harvest my seeds).   Where the flowers once bloomed on the vine will be a cluster of about 3 or 4 pea-sized round balls (see picture above). 

Pick these clusters and place them in a bowl (see picture above).  Begin by gently rolling each cluster in your hand and the pea-sized globes will open & black seeds will roll out (see both pictures below).

In the picture below you will see that the seed husks have been removed & the black seeds are large enough to pick out.

In the spring - plant your seeds & ENJOY!!

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Introducing Week#2 Co-host(s) for the April Chain "Linky" CLIMB

Please welcome The Chain "Linky" CLIMB week#2 co-host:  Kirsten Oliphant from "I Still Hate Pickles"
(Click on the blog button below to visit her blog)
 

Kirsten is so talented!! - she is an amazing mom & her blog is filled with parenting tips, DIY ideas, recipes & wise writing about her Christian faith.  She also has ebooks for sale on Amazon.com!  Please checkout her lovely blog.



To join in on this month's Chain "Linky" CLIMB (a month long blog hop) - please click HERE 

 

 

 

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Great Blog Train #4

All Aboard!!!

The Great Blog Train

A monthly blog hop departing from your online train station on the first Wednesday of every month!

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Train Facts

The Canadian Railway was an essential part of building the country.  Since Canada is such a rural & vast country with poor road conditions and frozen waterways 5 months out of a year - the Transcontinental Canadian Railway was a necessity!  The first railroad in Canada was built in 1841 (before Canada was a country) and then railroads continued to be built until 1932!! - That's 91 years!!  Unlike the American Railroad Revolution only lasting 50 years - the Canadian Railroad Revolution lasted almost 100 years!  Information from thecanadianencyclopedia.com

Remember!! - If you want to join in on the "Twitter Boxcar" - use

hashtag blogtrain (no spaces and no capitals)

#blogtrain 

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Thank you to everyone who hopped on board last month! 

Remember to join the fun even if you are running a little late. The last entry will receive the Caboose Feature!

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If you have been featured - please grab the "Caboose" button for your blog :-)

March's Caboose and featured blog is:

One Red Shoe

Here's what she says about herself: I'm Lisa, and this is where I share the creative, thrifty side of myself in the form of refashions, thrifting finds, delicious recipes, crafty projects, and anything else that strikes my fancy. 
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1. Follow all three of the hostesses in at least one of the following ways: GFC, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Linky, Networked Blogs, or Facebook. Then leave us a comment telling us how you followed so that we can come back & visit you! The hostesses are:

Angie           Marci            Helen

 

2. Now link up your family friendly blog to the train...please only use your homepage, NOT a specific post! As you see below, we are quite serious about this rule:

3. And last, but not least, connect to the boxcar in front of you (the blog in the linky just before you). Stop by that person's blog, have a look around and leave a comment letting them know that you stopped in!

Now that you have your ticket you are

ready to board the rest of the train!

OPTIONAL:You may grab our “Great Blog Train” button and post it on your sidebar or link page.
Also, feel free to spread the word – the more the merrier!

Remember to check all 3 Hostesses Blogs to see who was featured from last month. Click here to see: My March Favorites from the third Great Blog Train.

 

 

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Grandma Olson's Cardamom Braid

Grandma Olson's Cardamom Braid

Grandma Olson is actually my husband's great grandmother - she was Sweden born but moved to Michigan's U.P. (Upper Peninsula) in her 20's & married another "Swede" there.  My mother-in-law spent her high school years living with this Swedish Grandmother - she remembers "Cardamom Bread" being a regular treat!

This recipe is actually my mother-in-law's recipe (which I then tweaked to work in a bread machine) - she says that it tastes just as she remembers.  The original recipe was one of those "by sight" recipes - never written down .....or if it was written down then cousin Joanie has it and won't share (I'm just kidding - cousin Joanie doesn't have a computer so I'm not being fair - please forgive my teasing).

If you recall a few weeks ago we talked about the spice Cardamom - click HERE if you missed that post.



Grandma Olson

Printable Recipe

1 cup milk

1/2 cup butter (melted & cooled to lukewarm)

1 1/2 tablespoon dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)

1 egg (beaten)

3 to 3 1/2 cups flour (bread flour is best)

1/3 cup sugar (plus extra for the top)

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter then add 1 teaspoon instead)

In your bread machine pour the liquid ingredients into the bread pan first (the milk, cooled melted butter, water & egg).  Then add the flour on top of the liquid ingredients (I start with 3 cups of flour - later if the dough is too sticky - then I will add 1/4 more at a time) (you will also need a little extra flour when you form the braids).  Now make a well in the flour & add the sugar & then make another little well in the sugar to add the yeast.  Add the cardamom & salt around the outer edge of the flour (see the picture below) (this is necessary for optimum yeast activation - If you are not using a bread machine then you will need to "proof" the yeast first  - click HERE to view "Proofing Yeast for Bread Making" )

Set your bread machine on the "dough" operation & stick around until it is mixed to see if you need to add a little more flour (as mentioned above) - you might need to touch the dough midway through the mixing stage  - Grandma Olson used to say that the dough should feel like a baby's bottom (so I'm told - I never met her & I also never had children so this doesn't really  help me but all of you mom's out there should know what this means).

Once the dough phase has finished on your bread machine - remove the dough & "punch" it down & allow to rest for about 5 minutes.



Divide the dough into 3 equal parts & on a lightly floured surface roll each part with your hands into a strand or thick rope (see picture above)



After rolling all 3 pieces - secure or pinch all 3 strands together at the top & then begin braiding - continue braiding until you don't have any strand left (pinch the bottom strands together) (see picture above & below).



Place the braided bread on a parchment lined cookie sheet and in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes or until almost doubled in size (see picture below)



Sprinkle granulated sugar on top (about 1/8 cup) and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until desired doneness is achieved.



Remove from oven, allow to cool, slice & ENJOY!!




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