Ode To Fall

Ode To Fall

Long strolls near the river cause sorrows to roll,

Away from my heart, far from my soul.

My Beloved is with me and all is well,

Of His loving embrace I must tell.

Bring the day quickly when faith becomes sight,

Roll back the heavenly scroll with Your might.

Oh the bliss, the glorious thought,

With Your precious sacrifice, I am bought!

The fall of man has kept us apart,

The Fall You created brings hope to my heart.

To see the Creator of all good things,

Face to face soon, now in creation as it sings.

Through the mist on the river as it whispers by,

Through the leaves as they fall from tree tops high.

This Season of beauty, this season of grace,

Will fall from memory, because Jesus took my place.

Weep not for me when I am gone,

For in His presence I’ll be singing the song,

Of the redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb,

Who is altogether lovely, the Great I AM.

Fall on your knees, for He is worthy,

To receive honor, and power and glory.

When in creation you see the majesty of the King

Fall into His arms and find shelter, under His wing.

© Monika Hardy

Recovering from surgeries, Hello out there! :)

 Flowers from my hubby after surgery

Hello out there! I can hear the ripple effect of sound waves across the Great Divide as I call out. It has been a long year of car accidents and surgeries. I am just six weeks post op from the last surgery...a total thyroidechtomy. The entire thyroid, goiter and nodules and all had to be removed. I will try to share my story of this in the future as I found so many others stories helpful before I had to go under the knife. Prayerfully, we decided to go ahead and have it done as the mass was causing too much compression in the swallowing and breathing area. 

I am tired most of the time now, but am recovering nicely.
I am learning that not everything has to be done in this season of life.
I am learning that my brain is waking up again, and I can read, and write without much brain fog! 
I am praising God for all His loving kindness and healing!

So whilst I was checking on the condition of my blogs I found a lovely surprise! Miss Mandie dropped by with a kind comment which led me to her new blog. Mandie has blessed my socks off, and I just have to share her with you. As I type my eyes are getting heavy and I know dream land is nearby. So let me leave you with the words of a wonderful new online acquaintance that feels more like a friend already! I'm sure you will be blessed as I am. 

Mandie's Wings

© Monika Hardy

What Did I Do Today?

To all the young ladies who take motherhood seriously, 

God bless you, 

may He give you the strength to continue

 to care for the little ones He has blessed you with!

 What Did I Do Today?

Today I left some dishes dirty
The bed got made around 3:30
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall
will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those windowpanes
will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?
I held a baby till he slept,
I held a toddler while he wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess that's true.
Unless you think that what I've done
Might be important to someone
with beautiful eyes and soft hair.
If that is true... I've done my share.
-----Author Unknown

© Monika Hardy

Lacto Fermented Cabbage Relish

 Lacto Fermentation

I went to the store the other day and saw such a beautiful display of cabbage in the grocery store that I had to praise the produce people for doing such a fine job!

Of course I had to pick up a head and bring it home. 

Unfortunately the smell of cooking cabbage disagrees with my husband 

so I thought I would try my hand at lacto fermentation! 

It turned out nice with out that sauerkraut taste, but more 

coleslaw like texture. 

(Even though I'm of German descent, I don't care for sauerkraut)

Basically mixed veggies in a jar with spices,

2tbls salt per quart jar, 4 tbls per 1/2 gallon jar, and fill with distilled water to completely cover.
I use the 2 quart/half gallon jar to use up more vertical space in the fridge. 

Place all ingredients in the jar and let stand on the kitchen counter for 2-5 days,
gently shaking each day to distribute spices,

and then place in the refrigerator. 

The fermentation creates a food filled with beneficial lactic acid, and digestive enzymes.  

A wonderful way to keep the flavor of harvest alive in winter!

You can mix and match the veggies, or layer them, 

as well as choose from many spices. 

Possible veggie list

Cabbage 

Celery

Red, Green, or White Onions

Carrots

Cauliflower

Zucchini

Green, Red, or Yellow Peppers

 Lima Beans

Kale

Broccoli

 Turnips
Cucumbers

Possible Spice list

Mustard Seed

Turmeric

Dill

Chili Peppers

 Celery Seed

Peppercorns

Coriander

Mint 

Fennel

Other Possible Additives

A tablespoon of ....

Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar

or

Whey (The liquid that forms at the top of yogurt,

this helps begin the fermentation process)

Be creative! Experiment! 

Keep in mind, if you are not used to pro biotics in your diet, 

go easy on lacto fermented foods at first, until your system gets used to them.

This is not a government approved method. 

We need to educate ourselves, and be responsible for our own food choices.
The US government has their own suggestions
National Center for Home Food Preservation

 

© Monika Hardy

Thankfulness

Independence Day was wonderful in the Northwest. Felt guilty for the beautiful weather since most of the United States were under such oppressive heat, and many without electricity. We did take time to ask God for His mercy on all ya'all's behalf, and thanked Him for all His blessings on this Nation, and asked for His care on our military and their families.


The day started out cold, with an overnight low of 46, but not to worry, we will be joining the ranks of the overheated by the weekend when the temps get into the 90's! Now that is summertime for us! We spent some time getting some odd jobs done around the house after a "Hardy" breakfast of spuds 'n fried eggs. Around lunch time we were gathering all our things for a bbq on the front porch and we were treated to the annual traffic jam in front of our home from all the cars leaving the downtown parade. We had such a nice time waving to all the passersby as they drove or walked past, as we sipped our iced tea and ate our first hot dogs in many years! Conversations were short but sweet as the townspeople went on their merry way. Downtown is still like a Norman Rockwell painting at times. 

After taking a nap and packing food for a bbq at a friends, we ventured out to a friends home. It was a day to celebrate so we enjoyed fired chicken with all the trimmings and cheesecake! We had a lovely time visiting with friends and church family, and ran into some old friends on our way home. We made it home before being blocked out of our driveway by those parking to make it to the fireworks that night. Turns out the city changed things, and no one was parked on our street this year. So we watched Capital Fourth, with all the fireworks on the Washington DC Mall, and then got bundled up with blankets and hot tea to watch the fireworks from the Lake, while we were all cozy on our front porch. Through the years the trees have grown taller so our view is now somewhat hampered, but the fireworks are still beautiful and we are still close enough to feel the thump in our chest when the fireworks are launched. 


Again we enjoyed watching the people make their way home, and watched the neighbors set off their fireworks. While we enjoyed the beauty of the lights, it did remind us all those who have sacrificed so much for this Nation in war. As I drifted off in deep thought of these matters, speaking and listening in my heart to God I asked Him one more thing. You see, we have been eating REAL food for many years now due to allergies, and after celebrating with so many store bought foods filled with chemicals and preservatives and high fructose corn syrup, not to mention genetically modified foods, ok I mentioned it......I wasn't feeling to well. Still not feeling 100% but it's my own fault. Thank God for His mercy! :)


© Monika Hardy

Happy Independence Day America!

 

May we never forget the love and sacrifice

 made by so many to make this

 The Land of the Free

and 

The Home of the Brave.

 

May our Flag e'er wave from Sea to Shining Sea,

across the amber waves of grain,

in a beautiful background of

purple, majestic mountains!

 

America, America, may God shed His grace on you!

May God's Truth go marching on forever within the hearts of

your people America!

May we remember that but for the grace of God,

we stand, and without Him we will fall.

© Monika Hardy

Free Amazon E-Book

 Just found another free e-book on Amazon that I can't wait to dig into! 

I thought I might share it with you all as there are many others to choose from. 

This particular book is "The Book of Missionary Heroes" the beginning is intriguing to me.

© Monika Hardy

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

  

But by the grace of God I am what I am, 

and his grace toward me was not in vain. 

On the contrary, 

I worked harder than any of them,

though it was not I, 

but the grace of God that is with me.  

1Corinthians 15:10 

I laboured more than they all - That is, more than any of them, from a deep sense of the peculiar love God had shown me. Yet, to speak more properly, it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me - This it is which at first qualified me for the work, and still excites me to zeal and diligence in it. ~Wesley

We are what we are by the grace of God. Surrendered to His will and His ways we fulfill the work He sets before us. Not of our own doing or own talents, but by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. 

It's not easy to live life in this way as many times it goes directly against the ways accepted around us. 

Oh but stand firm! For to live in this way pleases the heart of the Father! 

Loosing face...not too expensive

Loosing friends ...costly

Loosing our selves in Jesus..count the cost, but it is worth it!

The thought of putting a smile on God's face by pleasing Him....priceless!

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

© Monika Hardy

You can learn alot from a Rose

A Rose by any other name would still smell as sweet!

Beauty without virtue is like a Rose without scent.

A rose, is a rose, is a rose.

“Loveliest of lovely things are they On earth that soonest pass away. The rose that lives its little hour Is prized beyond the sculptured flower.”

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Song of Solomon 2:1

© Monika Hardy

Keine Lust zu Beten (I just don't "feel" like praying)

My new favorite beautiful song from the

heart about the best relationship ever

and taking time to simply talk 

with the only One 

that can truly understand you. 

The believers hearts cry...

"can we just talk, somewhere, simply?"

© Monika Hardy

Homeschool Science Project

Just watched a Video on making Bio Plastic and thought it would be great for a homeschool science project!
To make it easy I wrote out the recipe from the Video.
(Video Link Below)

Materials needed for Bio Plastic Video 
Pot
Silicone spatula
Stove
Teaspoon
Tablespoon
Silicone pad or aluminum foil

Recipe:
4 Tbls Water
1Tbls corn starch or tapioca starch
1 tsp Glycerin (used in making soaps)
1 tsp Vinegar

Place all ingredients in to pot mix all ingredients thoroughly then turn on heat stir constantly
(entire process takes only a few minutes)
Will turn thick then to an opaque gel
when clearer and bubbly it is done, but keep stirring and turn off heatp
Pour out onto silicone pad or aluminum foil or into molds

Experimental options 
pour liquid plastic over gauze
add coloring (not sure what kind would work...experiment)
make a key chain

Homemade Plastic Video

Some helpful hint comments from video comments...
Glycerin+vinegar can be replaced with vegetable oil (very little, 2-3 drops per a tablespoon of starch, serves as a plasticizer). In that case starch and water are better to be equal volume (if you're not sure about that, add a bit more water, most important is no excess starch after heating).



© Monika Hardy