Saturday Barry & I drove up to Aunt Shirley & Uncle Merts apple ranch in Yucaipa, California where they own Snow-Line Orchard. We got 2 bushels of culls (2nds - not good enough to sell, but good enough to eat) and 2 gallons of apple cider. Since Sunday was the Sabboth Day we left our apples in their boxes & went to church, came home, had dinner, took a nap & then visited with our Home Teacher & Visiting Teacher (who happens to be our Bishop & his wife). Early Monday morning we were ready to can our apples.
Two bushels of apples weigh just under 100 lbs, in case you're wondering. Right off the top I took out about 3-4 lbs for my friend in exchange for 15 canning jars, then we went to the grocery store & bought 2 dozen more jars & some cinnamon since I somehow let myself run low. When we got home we washed all the jars in hot soapy water, then I started boiling water in my pressure/canner for the water bath.
Barry went to work with our apple-peeler-corer-slicer gadget Aunt Shirley gave me & I mixed up a batch of Apple Pie Filling & brought it to a good strong boil that couldn't be stirred down. I put my jars & screwbands in my boiling water long enough to sterilize them & then dipped my lids the same water just enough to soften the rubber seal a bit. When Barry had enough apples to fill 7 quart jars I packed the apples in tightly, then laddled in the hot syrup. I used a plastic knife inside each jar to let out the air bubbles, then I plopped on the lids, screwed on the bands til snug & then placed each jar in my boiling water. Once the water started boiling again (this took just a few minutes because the jars & the filling were already hot) I set my timer for 20 min.
Twenty minutes later I placed my hot, sealed jars of Apple Pie Filling on the counter & got ready for a batch of Apple Syrup using my peels & cores (with a cider, sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg). Seven quarts of Apples gave me 5 quarts of Apple Syrup. Mmm, the house smells so good.
Today we used 15 lbs of apples for 2 kinds of Apple Butter: 1) using the peels & cores (nothing goes to waste in our house); & 2) using just the apples. We also canned 9 half-pints of Unsweetened Apple Sauce.
We still have 70 lbs of apples to can!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Dreams coming into focus
I think we found it - our property - the land I've been dreaming about - my home in the mountains. We're not sure & a lot has to be done on our end before we can qualify, but with one step at a time, perhaps we'll be able to live our American Dream.
I started with a thought that if we had 10+ acres we can live on & work the land til we die. Then, it would be passed onto our children giving them a small inheritance. Daily Barry & I searched the internet looking for cheap property. He was looking for something fenced with a mobile or small home included. I was looking for land & a tent or a lean-to (hey, I'm simple). One day we ran across a hunk of land, 20 acres with an unfinished house. EXCITING, I said. Then we discovered there was an additional 20-40 acres with a finished guest house, barn, 2 ponds & a year round spring that was an option if we wanted to purchase the whole package. SOOO EXCITING, I said.
Well, we'll see what happenes next. Now that the first steps have been taken, we need to make this a matter or prayer, because without faith, our works is dead.
I started with a thought that if we had 10+ acres we can live on & work the land til we die. Then, it would be passed onto our children giving them a small inheritance. Daily Barry & I searched the internet looking for cheap property. He was looking for something fenced with a mobile or small home included. I was looking for land & a tent or a lean-to (hey, I'm simple). One day we ran across a hunk of land, 20 acres with an unfinished house. EXCITING, I said. Then we discovered there was an additional 20-40 acres with a finished guest house, barn, 2 ponds & a year round spring that was an option if we wanted to purchase the whole package. SOOO EXCITING, I said.
Well, we'll see what happenes next. Now that the first steps have been taken, we need to make this a matter or prayer, because without faith, our works is dead.
Friday, November 4, 2011
I'm not a Millionaire
I'm not a millionaire & I've never wanted to be one. I've always wanted to live a simple lifestyle. I hated the old adage “It takes money to make money”. Instead I think, “Save money to make money”.
You’ve all known at least someone who invested their life savings in a moneymaking venture. Then, some calamity happens, the bottom falls out & they are left completely broke. Many successful entrepreneurs have hit hard times in the beginning & have had to pull themselves from near bankruptcy time & time again but finally hit pay dirt (the man who created Cabbage Patch Dolls was one of them). Those people are not
examples of success, they are those who just hit luck at the right time. Success for the majority is a slow & steady journey beginning with a vision, some hard work & frugality. You all have a vision & you all work hard, but we’re going to talk about being frugal & how doing so will benefit your life.
Does being frugal sound like the scratching on a chalkboard “screeeetttccchhhhhh?” Do you equate frugality to being a pennypincher, tightwad or spendthrift – all words that repel you, insult your integrity, or cast a sense of doom over you? Maybe to you, if you were to live below your means it would take you from
social status & put you in the league of Poorville patrons. Well that just ain’t so.
I once knew a few millionaires and most of them wore Hawaiian shirts, got barbershop haircuts & reused paperclips. TThey shopped at Target & Costco. They weren’t out to impress anybody by lavish lifestyles or fancy cars, but they always had a couple of hundred dollar bills in their wallets. It’s true they
knew how to make a buck, but more importantly, they knew how to save one.
According to money.msn.com millionaires have secrets. Some of them are: 1) Don’t think like you are rich; 2) shop at Walmart (bargains, coupons, etc; 3) Avoid high-interest credit card debt; 4) Invest
wisely; 4) Pay taxes; 5) Educate yourself.
Millionaires invest wisely, work hard & live frugally. One of the wealthiest men I knew netted $30,000 a month from rentals alone – yet, he lived his life as a simple, humble man, always paying 10% Tithes to the church, shopping for a bargain, and wearing simple clothes. Kimberly Palmer at Yahoo Finance says: 1) Believe you can do it; 2) have a vision for success; 3) work hard; 4) live below your means. Liz Weston on money.msn.com, said that too much debt & too little savings = bankruptcy. She goes on to saw the millionaires she’s interviewed live by the 50/30/20 rule:
· 50% of your net income is for NEEDS (house, utilities, basic phone,
transportation, food, insurance, childcare, minimum loan payments
· 30% is for WANTS (Internet, cable, gifts, eat out, vacations,)
· 20% is for Savings and debt repayment
The main message is “Save a nickel, save a dime and you
will see happier times”.
You’ve all known at least someone who invested their life savings in a moneymaking venture. Then, some calamity happens, the bottom falls out & they are left completely broke. Many successful entrepreneurs have hit hard times in the beginning & have had to pull themselves from near bankruptcy time & time again but finally hit pay dirt (the man who created Cabbage Patch Dolls was one of them). Those people are not
examples of success, they are those who just hit luck at the right time. Success for the majority is a slow & steady journey beginning with a vision, some hard work & frugality. You all have a vision & you all work hard, but we’re going to talk about being frugal & how doing so will benefit your life.
Does being frugal sound like the scratching on a chalkboard “screeeetttccchhhhhh?” Do you equate frugality to being a pennypincher, tightwad or spendthrift – all words that repel you, insult your integrity, or cast a sense of doom over you? Maybe to you, if you were to live below your means it would take you from
social status & put you in the league of Poorville patrons. Well that just ain’t so.
I once knew a few millionaires and most of them wore Hawaiian shirts, got barbershop haircuts & reused paperclips. TThey shopped at Target & Costco. They weren’t out to impress anybody by lavish lifestyles or fancy cars, but they always had a couple of hundred dollar bills in their wallets. It’s true they
knew how to make a buck, but more importantly, they knew how to save one.
According to money.msn.com millionaires have secrets. Some of them are: 1) Don’t think like you are rich; 2) shop at Walmart (bargains, coupons, etc; 3) Avoid high-interest credit card debt; 4) Invest
wisely; 4) Pay taxes; 5) Educate yourself.
Millionaires invest wisely, work hard & live frugally. One of the wealthiest men I knew netted $30,000 a month from rentals alone – yet, he lived his life as a simple, humble man, always paying 10% Tithes to the church, shopping for a bargain, and wearing simple clothes. Kimberly Palmer at Yahoo Finance says: 1) Believe you can do it; 2) have a vision for success; 3) work hard; 4) live below your means. Liz Weston on money.msn.com, said that too much debt & too little savings = bankruptcy. She goes on to saw the millionaires she’s interviewed live by the 50/30/20 rule:
· 50% of your net income is for NEEDS (house, utilities, basic phone,
transportation, food, insurance, childcare, minimum loan payments
· 30% is for WANTS (Internet, cable, gifts, eat out, vacations,)
· 20% is for Savings and debt repayment
The main message is “Save a nickel, save a dime and you
will see happier times”.
Day 1
October 19, 2011
This isn't really the 1st day of our journey into land ownership of 10+ acres somewhere in the USA. The idea started when I was about 5 yrs old. Then, I believed I was going to grow up, get married and have ten children and live in the valley of the mountains by my relatives. But, life has its quirky little twists and turns and I never got my ten children and about as close as country I could come was a small city just outside of a bigger city 30 miles away.
Now that I'm grown up some, I realized I achieved my dream by being blessed with ten grandchildren. Now its time to find my 10+ acres somewhere in the USA. My husband and I are looking forward to this journey and I hope, along the way, you will enjoy it too and maybe get inspired to achieve your own dream no matter how long you've been dreaming.
The Leavitt Lodge is a place where you can close your eyes & dream; where you can almost see the sun setting in the early evening and watch the autumn leaves fall. It is a place where you can almost hear the grinding of my wheat, almost smell my bread baking, and almost taste the hot butter and sweet honey on a thick slice of that whole wheat bread. My Leavitt Lodge is a place where you can reminisce about your childhood with our Homemade Ragdolls, fantasize yourself in a relaxing hot bath using our Homemade Glycerine Soaps, be inspired to simmer your own batch of homemade Apple Butter using a tried & true recipe from Rachel Richardson - a sweet, elderly farm woman we love.
We hope you and yours will enjoy the Leavitt Lodge and please, feel free to email us at nancyleavitt.11@gmail.com or leave a friendly "hello". We'll return the favor!
Nancy and Barry Leavitt
This isn't really the 1st day of our journey into land ownership of 10+ acres somewhere in the USA. The idea started when I was about 5 yrs old. Then, I believed I was going to grow up, get married and have ten children and live in the valley of the mountains by my relatives. But, life has its quirky little twists and turns and I never got my ten children and about as close as country I could come was a small city just outside of a bigger city 30 miles away.
Now that I'm grown up some, I realized I achieved my dream by being blessed with ten grandchildren. Now its time to find my 10+ acres somewhere in the USA. My husband and I are looking forward to this journey and I hope, along the way, you will enjoy it too and maybe get inspired to achieve your own dream no matter how long you've been dreaming.
The Leavitt Lodge is a place where you can close your eyes & dream; where you can almost see the sun setting in the early evening and watch the autumn leaves fall. It is a place where you can almost hear the grinding of my wheat, almost smell my bread baking, and almost taste the hot butter and sweet honey on a thick slice of that whole wheat bread. My Leavitt Lodge is a place where you can reminisce about your childhood with our Homemade Ragdolls, fantasize yourself in a relaxing hot bath using our Homemade Glycerine Soaps, be inspired to simmer your own batch of homemade Apple Butter using a tried & true recipe from Rachel Richardson - a sweet, elderly farm woman we love.
We hope you and yours will enjoy the Leavitt Lodge and please, feel free to email us at nancyleavitt.11@gmail.com or leave a friendly "hello". We'll return the favor!
Nancy and Barry Leavitt
Carrots
Last week I purchased 20 lbs of carrots for .20c a pound. They've been in the fridge waiting to either be cooked, frozen or juiced. I couldn't decide, although I did juice some for my husbands breakfast one morning (mmm good). Finally, I made the decision to purchase a 23 qt. pressure cooker/canner from Presto. My husband searched the internet until he found the lowest price through Amazon. We ordered it for $73.00 (and some odd cents). Shipping was free & we should get it delivered UPS by Monday at the latest. When it arrives I'll put my husband to work peeling carrots (thank goodness we have 2 vegetable peelers). Now, I will be able to can those carrots that certainly should last us a year (one jar of carrots once a week as a side dish = 52 jars... Maybe I won't have that many, but we'll see when I'm done).
Why am I posting this? Because where can you find carrots that cheap unless you grow them yourself? Because I am a Frugal Bugle living at my Leavitt Lodge in a small apartment in a small city as a country woman trying to save money to move to my 10 plus acres. And, I can teach you how to save money too!
Why am I posting this? Because where can you find carrots that cheap unless you grow them yourself? Because I am a Frugal Bugle living at my Leavitt Lodge in a small apartment in a small city as a country woman trying to save money to move to my 10 plus acres. And, I can teach you how to save money too!
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