Bring It On!

The weather guy seems to believe that this winter will be cooler, the snow will be heavier, and and the season will last longer.  Since moving to rural Minnesota from Dallas, Texas, 22 years ago, I have learned to be prepared for winter. It takes a lot of planning and preparation. Basically, if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger!

We have been working on our “winter ” for about a month.  We are ready and our animals are too.

Storing enough hay and corn for the sheep is vital. They have straw for bedding and a new salt block. Our Ram is “visiting” with all the ewes. They will have baby lambs in April. The electric water buckets are set up and working well. The outside tank has been cleaned out and will be refilled in the spring.

The chickens are moved out of their chicken tractor and into the chicken coop for winter. It is  insulated and cozy. The light is on a timer to give them the proper number of daylight hours for egg laying. There is fresh straw in all the nests and a high perch for roosting. The geese are in the old milk house attached to the barn. They will winter there and begin to lay eggs in March. The rabbits are moved into their hutch from the summer rabbit run. There is rabbit food stored near by and water available. My kitten, that Bob found in the loft, is bunking  with the buck bunny. When he gets bigger, he will go out with the rest of the barn cats.

Our bee hives have been wrapped in fabric and the bees have a good store of honey. We will be adding sugar syrup to that store as needed. There are cedar chips in the top of each hive for insulation. I will be making bee’s wax candles as one of my winter projects.

Our animals are ready for winter. Our preparation chores are complete. It feels good to be ready. Bring it on!

November 29, 2016 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Uncategorized

2017 -My Pantry

My food pantry is full of last summer’s garden produce. We are well prepared for winter on our little farm.  Most of my family and friends know about my pantry. What some of them do not know is that in 2007 I began a “Prayer Pantry”. This is where I store up prayers for me and  mine for the following year.

Just like my garden pantry, the “Prayer Pantry” is planned and organized.    Whatever happens in the future, we will run into those carefully stored up prayers. No matter how crazy the world becomes, how much violence is in the streets, and who is the next President, we are held safely in the “Prayer Pantry” prayers. In my pantry, there are Proclamations of God’s Word, requests for each individual, and blessings on those yet to come.

In my garden pantry, there are assortments of vegetables,  fruits, honey from our hives, and herbs for spice and flavorings. Our garden is grown with Heirloom organic non GMO seeds. There are jars of  juice from our grapes, sauerkraut from our cabbages,  applesauce and jam.  Each item has been homegrown and home made. We are prepared for winter in Minnesota and can say loud and clear “Bring it on”!
In my “Prayer Pantry” there are scriptures from the Word of God. His protection, provision, purposes, and plans for our lives are declared and proclaimed. This is spiritual food designed for our lives on earth.  We can say “Amen”.

My blog will begin with information on the “Prayer Pantry”2017. Perhaps by posting this, it will encourage other folks to start their own “Prayer Pantry.” It works for me.

I enjoy  sharing my lifestyle on Milk and Honey Farm, the  gardens, sheep, chickens, geese, Great Pyrenees dogs, barn cats and country living. Being transplanted to rural Minnesota from Dallas, Texas, has been an adventure.  The Lord’s plans and purposes are all over this journey. I see His footprints wherever I walk.  He walks with me and He talks with me. I never go into the garden by myself.
May our Lord, Himself, bless you and those your love, in the New Year 2017.

Prayer Pantry 2017   I proclaim over me and mine to all generations the following scriptures:

Psalm 91:2 – I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress.”

Psalm 121:8 – My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 143:8 – Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.

Psalm 23:6 – Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 29:11 – The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 34:7 –  The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them.

Psalm 5:12 – For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 8:9 – O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your Name in all the earth.

For me and mine Lord, in Your Name I ask You to “Keep us at the right place at the right time with all necessary provision, and never at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Amen.

November 27, 2016 · Sarah · 2 Comments
Posted in: Contemplations

Hero

Helen Keller is one of my heroes. I love it when people overcome and become! She once said,” God is the light in my darkness, the voice in my silence.”

January 1, 2016 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Contemplations

Pantries

My food pantry contains jars of dehydrated veggies. To make soup, all I have to do is to take several handfuls of dried vegetables and add water.  My prayer pantry contains a proclamation for me and my family from Joshua 24:15. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Hot soup is comforting. Knowing who we serve is really comforting.

January 1, 2016 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Contemplations

Two Pantries

In my kitchen is a food pantry. It is full of stored foods. I keep a spiritual pantry too. It is full of prayers and scriptures that I have prayed to cover the new year. Whatever happens in 2016, we will have food to eat and will run into prayers and scriptures carefully stored in my pantries. One of the stored food items is Oatmeal. It can be served for breakfast, added to hamburger to “stretch it” or made into yummy cookies. One of the stored prayers is from Isaiah 65:24. I have ask the Lord to do this for me and for mine. “The Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, a prayer to the God of my life”.

December 31, 2015 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Contemplations, Uncategorized

Guard Dogs at Work in Alaska

 Guard dogs at work in Alaska Here’s a video of two  pups working in Alaska driving off a bear.  Notice that’s its all about intimidation – making too much trouble for the bear to continue on its path. We always recommend two dogs for dealing with bears, cougars, and wolf packs. This is why we have Pyrs –they have attitude! Just saying.

August 14, 2015 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Boaz – Sire of Puppies

This is Boaz, the sire of our Great Pyrenees pups.  He is a full time guardian of our sheep and chickens at Milk and honey farm. We have no problem with predictors. He takes care of business!  The pups will be ready to go to their new homes the first week in September. Call me for information.

August 4, 2015 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Tessie – Mom of Puppies

We have Great Pyrenees puppies for sale and available the first week in September. Boaz is the sire of these pups.  This is Tessie, their Mom. Call me for info. The pups are AKC registered.

August 3, 2015 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Goodby to Asher

My big, beautiful Asher is gone. He spent more than ten years on Milk and Honey Farm fathering wonderful puppies. Asher was featured on the cover of “Living the Country Life” magazine  in February 2009,  with a four page write up and photos of his pups. He faithfully defended the farm against all sorts of predators. When I heard his big “woof” at night, I slept well because he would take care of any problem out there.  He would gallop up to me at full speed, and then sit and wait for a hug.   Asher suddenly became very sick on Saturday. He died peacefully in his sleep on  Sunday evening.  He was ten and a half years old. My heart hurts and I can’t seem to cry yet. The tears will come and I will remember the good times. The Lord gives and takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

 

July 20, 2015 · Sarah · 5 Comments
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Asher died

I am overwhelmed. Yesterday, Josie died in the morning from a freak accident in the barn. Asher died in the evening from a fast acting illness. He died peacefully in his sleep. It is hard to lose my faithful friends, even harder in one day. Please pray for me.  The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

July 20, 2015 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Great Pyrs