Saturday, December 24, 2011

Verse of the Day: "And she brought foorth her first borne sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no roome for them in the Inne." Luke 2:7 KJV 1611


I's that time of year. And no, Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus; it's a mix of Catholic doctrine and pagan holiday. For more information , visit http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm. Historic facts - draw your own conclusions.

 But...As this time of year does bring remembrance of an unusual event that changed the history of mankind,
I thought it worth a few comments on it. (Note: I did not take the photos, they are from Google)

Maybe it wasn't quite like the cute pictures.

Maybe instead of a modern delivery room, with it's hygiene and health profesionals... 
It was a dirty shed.
with a real manger

Maybe the King of Glory wanted to show us something.

His whole life, from birth in a stable to burial in a borrowed tomb.
 Phil. 4:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
If there's any Christ in Chrismas, this is what Christmas is all about.

Humility. Servitude. As we gather with friends and family and enjoy holiday cheer, let  us remember.

A dark night.
The cries of a woman in travail.
A new life.
A gift.
A servant.
A man like you and me.
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.

May yours be a blessed Christmas.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Dad and Me

Verse of the Day: Proverbs 4:3 "For I was My father's son..."
In Memory of Kenneth D. Parfitt, departed Dec. 15, 2010


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Shooting, Hunting, and random pics!

Amish buggies gather for a Sunday morning service

Shelling corn behind my house
(fun to watch...even if they're not red ;^)

Watching the sunrise from a blind on opening day.

Through the scope...
...of my Mossburg shotgun.





Sun shines through the clouds over farmland in Oakfield.

I just like old barns.
I guess this road doesn't take you anywhere...? (It used to say Route 20)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Apple Cider

Verse of the Day:(Prov 3:10 [KJV])
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new [cider].

Some pictures of making cider with friends and family.
The mill/press

My brother Trevor - he's the expert.

A great time to gather for food and fellowship in my barn.
(and a good incentive for me to clean the barn!)

a week later at the R's - Joanna tries her hand at milling - without milling her hand!
Isn't it fun to run machinery without all those guards and stuff?


 An evening of fun...
...and chilly fingers (washing apples in icy cold water)

The bottling plant.

6 bushels of apples  plus 9 pairs of willing hands = 15 gallons of sweet cider. see, the math works out every time.
Oh, and for the benefit of inquiring minds, we aren't into the hard stuff. Keep it sweet! A freezer full of cider should keep our donuts company for a winter. Thank you Lord for your bounty!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

New Camera (and what it captured)

I recently upgraded my photographic equipment to a Fuji S900 digital slr. Here it is and some of the snapshots I've taken while learning my way around.










Friday, October 28, 2011

Butter- Making

Verse of the Day: Isaiah 7:22a "And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter."

Half a gallon of cream...


in a hand crank churn...


Burn those calories!

My cream was too warm :-/
Hence the small granules that don't want to stick together.

The solution: a milk strainer.

strained butter granules

Get it to stick together...

washing it till the water runs clear. (Milk in your butter will make it spoil fast.)

"The Ball'

Working the water out (this takes quite a while)

Salting

In lieu of a butter mold I used the paddle to shape it, using a store-bought stick (ugh!) for reference.

End result: 3/4 pound of fresh, homemade butter. I t doesn't keep as long as that pasteurized junk, so I froze 2 of them. "Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter..." Proverbs 30:33