Category Archives: Kentucky memories

Canning Crispy Dill Pickles

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in canning, clean eating, farm living, garden time, holistic living, homesteading, Kentucky memories, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. It’s been a bit stormy here today. Days like today make me want to curl up with a good book and read all day. In reality, that isn’t always possible, especially with the academic year about to begin. Our first day back on campus is only a couple of weeks away. Where did summer go?

With the abundance of cucumbers that it seems everyone has been blessed with this summer, I thought I should share my dill pickle recipe. Who doesn’t like a crispy dill pickle on their sandwich or on the side? Dills are great in potato salad, salads, on burgers, and I especially like them on a vegan chicken sandwich.

Ingredients:

4-5 pounds of pickling cucumbers
8 teaspoons of dill seeds
4 teaspoons of mustard seeds
5 cloves of whole garlic
8 teaspoons of whole peppercorns
4 cups of water
3 cups of white vinegar (5% acidity)
4 tablespoons of pickling salt or kosher salt
4 tablespoons of white sugar
8 teaspoons of pickle crisp
8 sprigs of fresh dill

Tools:

Water bath canner
Jar lifter
funnel
Measuring cup
Pint jars, rings, and flats
A large stock pot

Process:

1. Boil jars, flats, and rings to sterilize them and also to safeguard your pickles from bacteria. Next, prepare your cucumbers by washing them. I like to scrub them to remove the sticky little ends of the skins. This also makes the skin of the cucumber smoother. Trim the ends of the cucumbers. Make sure to remove the flowering end. This end of the cucumber contains an enzyme that can soften the cucumber over time.

2. Prepare the brine by adding sugar, salt, and vinegar to the stockpot and bring to a slow boil. While you wait for the brine to boil, combine the pickling spices and add them in equal parts to the jars. Do not add the pickle crip to the spices. Add a sprig of fresh dill to each jar then add your cucumbers. You can slice them in either direction or slice them into spears. They’re also good as whole pickles, especially if the cucumbers are small ones.

3. Keep an eye on your brine. Once the salt and sugar have dissolved, place the funnel in the jars and pour the hot brine over the cucumbers, leaving at least a half inch from the rim. Add a teaspoon of pickle crip to each jar. Wipe the rims to ensure the rims with a dry cloth or paper towel. Add the flat and ring, but not too tight.

4. Add the jars to the canner and add warm water until the water is at least an inch or two above the jar lids. Slowly bring the water in the canner to a boil. Boil for ten minutes. Turn the stove off and leave the jars until the water settles down and then remove the jars with the jar lifter. Place the jars on a dry folded towel on a flat surface and wait for the sounds of the pinging jars to seal. Once the jars have cooled, add the date to the lids.

This recipe typically makes eight pints of pickles x. You can double the ingredients for quarts or for more pints. The projected shelf life of the pickle is typically one to two years. However, I have opened a jar beyond this timeframe and the pickles were still great. One of the keys to a longer shelf life is to ensure the vinegar is at least 5% acidity.

This is a pictures of sliced dill pickles in quart jars.

I hope you and your family love this recipe as much as we do. As always, feel free to follow or comment. For now, God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky.

Essential Oils, Tea Bags, and Bee Stings

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, drying herbs, essential oils, faith over fear, farm living, garden time, holistic living, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, plant-based and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the Mountains of Kentucky! The heatwave continues in the mountains today! Dry and hot, yet beautiful! We all know what else comes with summer temperatures. Yes, that’s it! Bees! I’m not allergic to bee stings like our grandson is, but I certainly do not like the pain from those pesky things. To be so small, their stings can pack a punch!

Our beautiful flocks! Butterflies love them, but so do bees!

While watering my flowers this morning, wasps, or as we call them, waspers, were swarming the flocks. I thought as I always do, if I don’t bother them they won’t bother me. Wrong! As I left the flower bed a red wasp decided to make a plunge for my hair. My first instinct was to swish my hair back and forth to encourage it to leave. It left! But, it came back with a vengeance. I returned and stung me on the shoulder through the sleeve of my shirt. Ouch!!

Lavender and basil. Crushed basil leaves helps soothe a sting.

Once inside, I grabbed a roller ball of lavender and rolled it on the sting to sooth it. I had just finished drinking a cup of black so I grabbed a soaked tea bag and held it on the sting to draw the poison out. As the sting started soothing, I made my way to my apothecary chest to retrieve the purify essential oil, which acts as an antiseptic and massaged a few drops directly on and around the sting. Once it dried, I added a few drops of clove essential oil that acted as a numbing agent. It numbed the bee sting and the area around it. With the mix of essential oils, the organic tea bag, and a whispered prayer, relief came to affected area.

My apothecary chest that housed my essential oils and teas.

I am a firm believer in herbs, essential oils, and teas as well as prayer. I prefer natural methods of treatment rather than over the counter medicines. God created all living things and with that He provides us with an abundance of resources all around us. It’s a good idea to keep a few essential oils in a convenient place. I always keep a few essential essential oils in my purse and a couple of tea bags when we’re away from home, for bee stings, minor headaches, scrapes, or an upset stomach.

I look forward to sharing more tips that I have found helpful for using essential oils, herbs, and teas for minor ailments. I hope that this post will be beneficial to you and your family. Also, remember, those who are severely allergic to bee stings might find this method to help soothe stings until they can be seen by a physician or use an epipen.

Clove is a versatile oil that smells wonderful and helps numb bee stings.

Blessings from our home to yours! As always feel free to leave a message and or click follow to subscribe to my blog.

Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God

Fan The Flames… Spread the Word! God’s Not Dead… He’s Still Alive!

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, God’s time, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, Spiritual life, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning from the mountains of Kentucky! It’s a hot one here today! Heat advisory’s have been posted, and the air is already warm this morning. I am not complaining though, I love this time of the year! I wanted to share a small piece of my heart with my readers this morning. I want to encourage you. I hope you enjoy.

Standing alone, but not forgotten.

I have always had a fascination with old things, antiques, vintage items, old barns, old homes, old school houses, and especially old churches. I even find a fascination in the house seats where old houses once stood. You know the ones that still have remnants left behind. Sometimes it’s a really matured oak tree. Other times, it’s an old stone fence, or maybe a dilapidated barn or the remains of an old root cellar. I instantly begin to visualize and imagine those that lived there before. What was there life like? Were they Christian’s? Did they enjoy the mountain scenery? Did they have children? Did they farm? The questions roll sometimes until I can’t stop my mind from wondering. I am often stirred within and feel a connection to the past.

Beautiful home! Oh the stories that could be told.

I love the group, Abandoned in KY group that I follow on Facebook. I can’t browse too much or I find myself lost in the photos making them larger to see every detail of even the tiniest object that was left behind by the previous tenants. Then the questions roll again. I am fascinated and saddened at the same time, especially when I see so many abandoned churches across our state being postsed. I find myself asking, why did no one carry on? Why is the homes and the churches abandoned? Have they been forgotten? Where are the ancestors? Did no one share the importance of maintaining a home? Did anyone share the importance of attending services in the church. Did no one keep the fire burning?

A one-room school house/church restored through a grant written by teachers.

I have pondered on these empty dwellings and sanctuaries for years. I have written many poems about them, and am currently working on a novel based on many of the empty structures that I have photographed. But today, I feel like lifting someone up. In the day we live in many of us look around at our churches and notice an undeniable trend of low attendance, lack of concern, and empty seats. I want to say this, don’t dwell on what you see or who you don’t see, but focus on God. Pray without ceasing, press for the mark, lift up His name, and pray for the return of fire in God’s church. Not just the church where you attend, but His church. The body of Christ. Remember a fire begins with one single tiny spark. The spark must then be fanned to produce a flame. Once the flames ignite, keep fanning and keep praying. A wildfire, a revival wildfire will erupt. But remember, don’t neglect the spark. Press on. Stay the course. Ignite the fire through prayer and fasting. Praise God for what’s coming, don’t look at current circumstances, and be willing to fan the flames of revival. Will you be that spark?

Let the the fire burn so bright that it can be seen even in the darkest times.

I hope you feel encouraged. Don’t be down trodden, don’t look at what you see with your physical eyes. Look through spiritual eyes and recognize that God is still God. He don’t change. It is His pleasure to restore and connect our todays and tomorrows to history of our yesterdays. Great awakenings erupted in the past through dedicated prayer and fasting and He can open up the geysers of anointed revival again. God’s not finished yet! Fan the flames! God is still God! The same today as yesterday!

Feel free to comment or click follow to follow my blog. God bless from the mountains of Kentucky. Fan the flames, spread the word, God’s still God! He’s not dead! He’s still alive!

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. KJV

Canning My Favorite Peaches

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in appalachian life, canning, farm living, garden time, holistic living, homesteading, Kentucky memories, plant-based, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. Quick update on my recovery; Tuesday was week four since I had a total hip replacement. Let me say how good God is. I never encountered the pain that I was told I would have after surgery. Pain medicine was not required, for which I was happy. I don’t like to take medicines due to their negative side-effects on my body. I am in week four of physical therapy and walking without any assistance. I have exceeded the expectations of my surgeon and my therapist. Praise God, I feel better than I’ve felt in several years. I am resuming daily walking, a high-plant-protein diet, and loving time working in my herb garden. I am not yet working in the vegetable garden due to not being released to bend deeply or kneel. But, I have been canning! I should be ready to work in the garden when it’s harvest time. God is so good and He is ever-present. Now, onto the post! I just couldn’t help but brag about our God.

Fresh basil, oregano, and rosemary clipper today..

I’ve been cutting and harvesting herbs this morning and now I have a 1/4 bushel of peaches facing me. So, what do you do when you have this yummy fruit. The answer is to preserve for those cold winter days when the fruit-bearing season is over. I like to freeze peaches in small servings for oatmeal, as a healthy side of fruit, and for a quick serving of sorbet. But, today, I am planning for the uncertain days that lie ahead of us. With the prices of food in the grocery store, it’s a treat to walk downstairs and select home-canned food for supper and fresh canned peaches for a sweet treat. Now, let’s can those peaches!

Fresh peaches ready for canning!

Ingredients for Light Peaches:

1/4 quarter of fresh peaches

12 cups of water (bottled or filtered water is best)

2 cup of organic cane sugar (you may substitute with white sugar or honey)

Tools for Canning:

Stove Top Water Bath Canner

7-quart jars with rings and flats

Jar lifters to remove jars from the canner.

Canning funnel to make filling jars easier.

Stainless steel ladle for adding the simple syrup to jars.

Process:

Boiling jars, rings, and flats ensure safe canning.

Boil jars, rings, and flats and set aside. Mix the water and sugar in a stainless steel cooker. I have gotten away from all non-stick cookware and prefer stainless, glass, or cast iron. Place over medium heat and bring to a slow soft boil.

Peel the peaches and slice them to your preferred thickness. Add the peach slices to the clean jars not filling them. I like to leave room for more syrup. Place the canning funnel in the mouth of the jar and ladle the simple syrup into the jars leaving at least an inch space at the top. Wipe the rims thoroughly and place the sterilized flats and rings on the jars. Don’t tighten the rings too tight. Add hot water to the canner and place on top of the stove on medium to high heat. Place the jars in the canner. Make sure the water is at least an inch above the sealed jars. Slowly bring the water in the canner to a boil. When the water begins boiling set your timer for 25 minutes.

We don’t fill the jars to the top to allow for more syrup.
Adding the simple syrup!

When the twenty-five minutes have exhausted, turn the stove off. Leave the peaches in the water for five to six minutes allowing the water to stop boiling. Using the jar lifters, carefully remove the jars of peaches from the canner. I like to place my jars on a folded towel on the counter. You should begin to hear the jars making that pinging sound to let you know the jars have sealed. Once the jars have cooled add the date to the flat with a permanent marker. After the jars have completely cooled, add the beautiful fruit to your pantry shelves. Don’t worry if your peaches have floated to the top. They’re still delicious, this happens when you do not pre-cook the peaches (raw pack) before canning them. Raw packing peaches is the easiest method of canning and does not require you to handle hot peaches. The shelf life is typically 12-18 months. I have found that the shelf life of this type raw packed peaches has lasted for two years, if the jars of peaches last that long. I also like to peel them and freeze them! Either way, results in delicious peaches year around.

Seven quarts of deliciousness!

I hope that you have enjoyed this post and will enjoy my method of preserving peaches during this uncertain time of the rise in prices and in some cases the lack of food on the shelves in many grocery stores. Canning your own food is one of the most rewarding experiences and benefits that you can encounter. If this is your first time canning and or preserving, stay the course, chin up, there will be failures and there will be successes, we’ve all experienced them both. Trust me, the good outweighs the bad. When the snow is flying, you’ll have delicious home-grown food awaiting you in your pantry.

God bless from the mountains of Kentucky. As always, feel free to follow my blog, and know that your comments are always welcome.

John 1:1 King James Version
1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Walk With Me

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in appalachian life, faith over fear, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,
We must listen and trust Him.

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. It’s a beautiful day in the mountains. The sun is shining, birds are chirping and singing, and I can feel the buzzing and abundance of life all around me. Nature inspires me, as I know who created all manners of life. As I sat down this morning to grade students’ work, I felt the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whisper a simple message to me; come walk with Me. I thought about that simple statement. Come, walk with me. After a few minutes of pondering, the Lord reminded me of the many times that He has spoken about paths that we, or that I, should follow. I am reminded that to walk the path that He lays before us, we must walk with Him. We must take up our cross and agree to take up His yoke and follow Him. To follow Him, we must walk with Him.

Regardless how the enemy tries to instill fear… we must trust and follow God. His way leads to victory.

As I face surgery next week to have my right hip replaced, the enemy tried to instill fear within me. Fear of being put to sleep, fear of being in an operating room vulnerable to the knowledge, skill, and wisdom of the surgeon, nurses, and assistants. The scariest thought of all was the knowledge of what weight and responsibility the anesthesiologist was going to be responsible for. He would be responsible for my breathing, or so the enemy said. For a moment, a bit of panic gripped my thoughts. But then a clear vision came forth. I am never alone and will not be alone in the operating room. God will guide each person involved in the surgery. He will be there with me, just as He has throughout this journey. He reminded me, He holds my very breath, not the anesthesiologist.

So, for now, the fear that the enemy tried to fill my mind with… has dissipated as I advance and walk with the Lord, who knows me more intimately than I know myself. He is the way and the way maker. He lays the path that we are to walk, but we have to get up, dust ourselves off, believe in what we can’t physically see, and walk with Him. I want to encourage you. If you are facing what feels like a mountain, or a giant. If a situation seems impossible, know that with Christ, all things are possible. Remember, it is the enemy, the oppressor, who tries to make burdens and trials seem impossible and who desires to fill you with fear. But remember that fear is not of the Lord, just as worry is not of Him. We must trust in the Lord, and give our fears, burdens, weight, and the mountain that stands before us to Him. We must trust and walk with Him. He is our life support, our breath, and our all.

I will cling to His promises for they are true!

I hope this short post has encouraged you. I feel encouraged this morning by what felt like the weight of the world to me only days ago. That which loomed before me now seems insignificant and an opportunity to tell others about Him. God is my refuge and my very present help in the time of trouble. He promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us. We must lay it down and follow Him. I encourage you to find a quiet place to abide in Him, talk to Him, and, most of all, listen to Him. Will you join me? Come, let’s walk with Him.

God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

Do You Have a Plan? God Does!

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days and tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope your week is off to a great start. It’s been a hot one here in the Appalachian mountains this week. But, I welcome the heat and the sunshine. I love getting outdoors and enjoying the view of the mountains, enjoying our vegetable garden, and savoring the aromas from the herb garden. However, there are other times I like to sit quietly and soak up the blessings that are found all around me. It’s during this quiet time that I often hear from the Lord. Sometimes I’ll hear a word concerning issues that have given me questions, while other times I have received words of encouragement. While at other times, I have enjoyed simply basking in His presence, and savoring the quiet presence of our Heavenly Father. During this quiet time, His presence, His word, and His voice have inspired me to create and follow His plan for a situation I may be facing, or for guidance for the future, while even still other times his presence assures me that all is well. Do you have a plan? God does.

Beautiful Kentucky morning!

What plan am I talking about? I awoke with the question that I am asking you lingering on my thoughts a few days ago. Do I have a plan? The Lord knows I am a planner. As an educator, planning comes naturally to me. But, spiritual planning sometimes is more difficult. This can be difficult because of the spiritual warfare that all Christians encounter. We have an actual enemy whose desire is to distract and blindside God’s children. The enemy will often work in subtle ways to distract. Distractions can come from too much focus on work and an overloaded schedule, or he will even use our family to distract. Distractions can come from pleasurable interruptions. Interruptions can be too much television time and Internet overload through social media, texting, and browsing. Sometimes distractions come from simply doing nothing, by being content just idling along.

After meditating on the question, I recalled someone at church telling me through a word of wisdom that he strongly felt I needed to create a battle plan. I determined in my heart this morning that the plan in question was a battle plan. A battle plan that would allow me to draw closer to the Lord, better understand His word, and better be able to recognize and ward off the enemy. Remember that the enemy is continually working and seeking to distract and destroy God’s children. So what is a battle plan?

Even the woodpecker has a plan. The hole pictured is at the top of a very tall tree trunk. She prepared a safe place against storms and predators, a home to protect her young. Keywords are, prepared and a plan.

A battle plan may look different to each of us. For me, my battle plan is partly in place, but I need to make revisions to amplify the results of my plan. For now, my plan includes the scheduled time I have already set aside each morning to spend time with the Lord. But, I am increasing that time. I am going to allow more time to read His word and study the word. More time for fervent prayer, and listening to encouraging videos from favored ministers, and most of all taking the time to be quiet. Quiet time is a great time to listen for the Lord’s instruction and His guidance, and a wonderful time to bask in His presence and His comfort. While reading my bible this morning, I was reminded how we should be like David. A battle plan can be preventative. A battle plan prepares us, encourages us, and is also a method of prevention. Prevention of falling for Satan’s tricks and His temptations. There are times we have to just get up and encourage ourselves. A battle plan will do just that… encourage and prepare us. We must arm ourselves. He gives us instruction for preparation in Ephesians 6:-10-18. KJV.

We should listen for His guidance and His instruction. He has a plan! Do you?

I hope this post will encourage you. I hope it reveals to you the importance of preparing a battle plan. A battle plan that will help to guide you, protect you, and inspire you to dig deeper into God’s word, while also building a close or closer relationship with the Lord, to help you follow His plan. Remember, a battle plan should be personal to each. But the most important thing is to be consistent. Make a battle plan that you apply daily in all situations. Put on the whole armor daily.

After completing this post yesterday, I wrestled with posting it. Questions whirled through my thoughts; did it make sense? Would it help others? Would readers understand the message? Yet, another cunning trick of deception from the enemy. I went to church yesterday afternoon with intentions to post when I returned home. The minister preached a message about… God has a plan. It was a very inspiring message and confirmation for me that this post is necessary. As always, I love to read comments and answer questions. For now, God bless each of you from the mountains of Kentucky.

Time Worn Paths

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, God’s time, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The highlighted path of yesteryears…

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope you’re having a wonderful spring and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. I felt the Lord inspire me this morning to write a post about paths. I love when the Lord inspires me with one word, then encourages me to dig deeper into the word for a better understanding of why He is speaking the word to me. Many times, when a believer says the Lord is speaking to them, it opens up opportunities for others to ask questions. For me, some of those questions include; Are you hearing an audible voice speaking this word or words? How do you determine that it’s the Lord speaking this word? What if it’s not Him? I typically answer with, no, it isn’t an audible voice, but it very well could be. I also reply that the Holy Spirit allows me to know that it is the Lord encouraging me to dig deeper into the word or words. Finally, if it’s not or wasn’t the Lord, then what would be the harm in exploring the word(s), praying about it, and learning from them? God grows us in various ways. The key is that we have to be receptive, willing to hear, and sometimes see what the Lord is impressing on our heart… and then have a willing heart to do something with the word or words. Willingness produces growth.

Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains in a more simplistic time than we now know. There wasn’t always entertainment at our fingertips. We had typically five to seven channels on television if the cable was working correctly. Did that mean we sat in front of the television mesmerized, much like youth are today? No, indeed not. We didn’t spend time indoors when we were home from school unless it was raining or bitterly cold. Were we being punished? No, indeed not. We were typically outside exploring, playing, and enjoying the surrounding entertainment that God provided. We spent most of our days fishing or wading in the creek, creating mud pies, playing in our homemade clubhouses, and making our own fun with what we had available. Were we bored? No, indeed we were not. We enjoyed checking out books from the bookmobile that frequented our house during the summer months. As a child, adventures awaited us daily. Adventures lay within the eye of the beholder, just as they are for me today. Pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive what the Lord is telling or showing you, then to have the wisdom to apply what He is saying.

The physical worn path…

I have enjoyed walking and exploring the beautiful mountains of Kentucky since I was a young girl. I still see a path that’s worn by those that sojourned before me and imagine who blazed the first path. Where were they going, and what did they find? Even today, I get lost in my imagination as I walk the path before me. The Lord has piqued my curiosity about the word path countless times. He allowed me to know that paths can be physical paths made by the footsteps of others and that paths can be the remnant of what’s left behind in annotations in Bibles. There’s something about the smell of a path through the mountains that entices me, just as the aroma that fills my nostrils from the time-worn pages of a bible. Both paths arouse curiosity and both have the potential to grow me spiritually, and opportunities to hear from the Lord. I am a firm believer that if we are receptive to our surroundings, objects, places, the word, and the people that He places in our paths, He will grow us. God doesn’t change, we do. I encourage you to dig deep, find that child-like faith, the curiosity of a child, and always the willingness to trust Him when He speaks to you. Again, the key to growth is the willingness to adhere to what the Lord is saying. It’s not about us, but all about Him.

The annotated & highlighted path reveals the past…a spiritual timeworn bath left behind.

I hope this short post has encouraged you to listen closely, and to not dismiss the repetition of a word or words that surface from various places, and to pray through the experience and allow the Lord to lead you to gain new knowledge, help someone else, or just satisfy a curiosity that lies within yourself. Life is short. Live it… live it for Him. Love life and above all love Him, and resonate His love toward others. God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. As always, your comments and questions are always welcome.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.

 

Divine Doors

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, faith over fear, in time of need, Kentucky memories, my special days, Spiritual life, testimony Tuesdays and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope your spring is off to a great start. It’s a rainy spring day in the mountains today. I feel compelled to share this experience with my readers today. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Clouds over the mountains.

I awoke a few mornings ago with a word lingering in my thoughts and spirit. I have since repeatedly been hearing the word, doors. I’ve thought much about the word. Why was I hearing it, what did it mean? What was the hidden message behind this thought, this word? I would ponder and pray about the word, doors, and ask the Lord for an answer.

Doors serve many purposes. They can lead to unknown places, familiar places, opportunities, and adventures… and that’s just a minimal number of things that often await us behind a door.

God’s promises!

As I pondered and prayed about the significance of the word doors. I envisioned journeys and opportunities that might await, but for who? I wondered if this word was meant for me, a family member, or did it hold a significant meaning or message for the future. I wasn’t sure. Maybe, it was for all the above.

Confirmation came, not only once, but multiple confirmations came. Confirmation one came for our son-in-law, who had recently leased a small storefront to serve as an office. After a period of time, the office was no longer needed. Just as he was removing his last load of belongings from the office, a man stopped him as he exited the building and stated, you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I feel that the Lord wants me to tell you something. Our son-in-law replied that he would like to hear what the man had to say. The stranger proceeded to tell him that the Lord wanted him to stop and tell him that when one door closed, the Lord will always open another door. And a door opened, a door of opportunity opened wide for him a few days later. Confirmation number one! I’ll share more about this opportunity at a later date.

The second confirmation came through a spoken word by a friend at church just as the Lord began to deal with my spirit that He wanted us, His children, to take His word through the doors of the church and out to others. He was speaking to me that we need to tell others about Him and share His word with them, but we needed to walk through the doors to do so. It’s great to assemble in the church to worship and fellowship, but He was saying there was work to do beyond the church doors. As my brother-in-law testified about the need to have a servant’s heart. I felt the tugging again that we were to take the word outside of the church and share God’s goodness with others. Confirmation number two. We must walk through the door to take the word, His word, out to others.

Let the Lord lead… and you follow.

Finally, the third confirmation showed up in a totally different way. The Lord allowed me to see a beautiful doorway in a vision yesterday. The doorway was divine, big, dark wood, and beautiful. It had intricate scrolling wood carvings, and beautiful green vines covering the outer edges. The door served as a gateway to a beautiful garden just beyond the door. The garden was full, lush, and green. It was alive with colorful blooms, and vibrant colors, and bees were buzzing around the blooms. It was alive! The Lord instilled within my spirit that just as the beautiful garden was alive… His word was alive. The garden door served as a gateway to a vision of God’s living word. We, as Christians, need to walk through our doors into the outside world and be living examples of His word, every day.

As always, feel free to leave a comment. God bless from the mountains of Kentucky!

Depression Potato Cakes

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in appalachian life, clean eating, clean recipes, farm living, grocery adventures, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, organic food, plant-based, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you’ve shopped for groceries lately, you have felt the pain of the price of groceries when you checked out at the register. It’s ridiculous how the price of food has increased. So, what are we expected to do? Clip coupons? Use savings apps? Grow as much of our food as possible? Yes, to all the questions above and also learn to be frugal with what we have.

I grew up in the sixties and seventies in a single parent home with two siblings. We didn’t know it at the time, but our mom, who was also a working mom, was very frugal and could make delicious dishes from leftovers. Left over vegetables became delicious vegetable soup. Popcorn was transformed into delicious caramel corn. The list could go on and on. But, one of my favorite transformations was left over potatoes, which became scrumptious potato cakes! I am excited to share my version of my mother’s delectable potato cakes.

After our children married and left home, we have more leftovers than ever before. Leftover mashed potatoes and the dread of emptying them to the dogs, or just going to waste inspired me to make potato cakes! My mom always made what she called depression potato cakes. I remember watching her in the kitchen mix the delicious mix and then frying it to perfection! After pondering on the delectable cakes, I determined that I could make a heather version. As the mix started coming together, I was sure this transformation dish would quickly become a renewed favorite. And so, the experience had begun with cherished memories, a desire, and a little creativity. Finally, the cakes were complete. I was too eager to wait for dinner to try the golden potato cakes. Yummo! They were delicious! I am so excited to share this delicious recipe with you. I hope you enjoy these delicious plant-based or vegetarian potato cakes as much as my family.

Ingredients:

  • Leftover cold mashed potatoes ( I used two cups)
  • Two tbs diced sweet onion
  • 1/2 cup self rising flour of choice
  • 1 cup yellow corn meal
  • Either one egg white or a flax egg (flax egg is I tbs finely ground flax seed and 2 1/2 tbs water mixed)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Process; mix all ingredients together. The mix will be stiff. The stiffer the better. Add a little meal and flour if your mix is not thick enough. Once mixed, set aside and add a little extra virgin olive oil to the frying pan. Allow the oil to heat, and then either form a patty or drop a large spoonful into the pan. Allow to fry on one side while adding extra pepper or salt. I like to add a sprinkle of turmeric because I love the flavor and it’s good for you! It also gives the potato cakes a nice color. Flip, season, and fry the other side until golden brown on both sides of the potato cake

This is a delicious side dish for pinto beans and green beans and also makes a great side for breakfast. My family loves them with ketchup as a side. You can add diced bell pepper to the mix for a bit of Mexican potato cake. I also like to add a little plant-based cheese for a cheesy potato cake. The possibilities are endless, and it allows you to use leftovers to make delicious food that saves money all the while.

I hope our renewed favorite will become a new favorite of yours! God bless from the mountains of Kentucky! As always feel free to leave feedback, ideas, and or comments. Have a blessed week!

He’s On Time…

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, Spiritual life and tagged with , , ,

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky! Unseasonably warm temperatures have spoiled us in the mountains. I’m talking temperatures soaring into the seventies in January and February. Trees are blooming, bulbs are peeking out above ground, herbs are coming up, and the redbud trees have been alive with color. We all know that the weather can turn on a dime in the mountains of Kentucky. Meteorologists have recorded Kentucky having multiple seasons of weather in one day. So I shouldn’t have been so surprised when March came in with a vengeance! Snow yesterday and today I awoke to a frosty twenty degrees outside.

Spring will arrive on time and, as always, it will be welcomed. After all, He is always on time. Over the course of my life, I have found that to be true. He is on time. It’s not always our time when we want things done, or a situation changed, or a particular prayer answered, but in His time… He answers on time. Sometimes an answer comes quickly, other times almost immediately, and even still other times our answers seemed to be on hold or delayed. Either way, answers to prayers come in His time, and He is always on time.

I have found Him to be faithful. A very scary situation and experience occurred in my life this week that intensified and solidified my belief that He is an on-time God, even more than before. Early Monday morning as I was traveling to work at a high rate of speed on the Interstate, I noticed a small SUV in the outside lane of weaving between two vehicles in enter the middle lane. Fear engulfed me, as I wasn’t sure he was going to make it between the cars. Checking my mirrors to check the traffic behind me, I let off the gas to make sure I was far enough behind the thick traffic in case the driver clipped one of the cars. Amazingly enough, the SUV made it without hitting either car. But, the driver didn’t stop there. The SUV proceeded to enter the fast lane where I was traveling at now at least 75 miles per hour following a jeep at about two car lengths in front of me. The driver of the SUV tried to enter the lane in front of the jeep in front of me, who apparently was in the SUV’s blind spot.

The SUV hit the front passenger fender of the jeep in front of me and sent it crashing into the concrete wall that divides the north and south lanes. Hitting my brakes, I began to fishtail back and forth while the jeep in front of me was thrown and spinning widely back into oncoming traffic: me! I could hear tires squealing in all directions and from my own jeep. The gray jeep that was hit and now spinning out of control was coming directly at me! I began saying Lord help me, Jesus, repeatedly. That’s when I felt control over the situation. With the Lord’s help, I was able to maneuver through three lanes of traffic at a high rate and avoid the jeep twice as it spun through the lanes, as well as the parts that were flying off it.

Suddenly, I realized I had made it through without a scratch from the gray jeep that was still widely spinning trying to get control. I hadn’t hit the jeep or it hadn’t hit me. None of the flying parts had hit me, or none of the other traffic has hit me or anyone else that was just traveling along as I was. Meanwhile, I had forgotten that I had my pastor and his wife blue-toothed into my jeep talking about prayer. I heard her asking, “are you okay?” she explained that all she could hear was a loud crash and tires squealing… and me saying, Lord help me Jesus repeatedly.

I assured her I was okay, and we said a prayer for the other drivers. I explained what happened and kept traveling, giving God the praises for His hand of mercy on me and the others. I saw the state police arriving and the SUV that had caused the horrible wreck stopped on the shoulder. The police would take care of the wreck. Jesus took care of me! He is an on-time God!

Traveling back to work two days later was a bit unnerving. I have driven the interstate for forty-plus years and never really had a fear of the fast pace, or the heavy traffic, until now. I prayed as always before I left for sage travels and asked for angles around my jeep. I entered the traffic on the interstate and directed my thoughts to the traffic, His goodness, and prayed for safety. Shortly thereafter, the heavy traffic began to dissipate and a wonderful thing appeared just out in front of me. Check the picture out below. Just another reminder that He is on time and Jesus is and always will be, Lord.

This gave me comfort as I drove the same road where a near-fatality crash occurred only two days prior.