Happy Reformation Day!

Today marks 491 years since that day when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Thesis on the doors of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. So instead of celebrating Halloween like the rest of the world, we celebrated something that's really worth partying about. Watch this clip from the movie Luther if you really have no idea what I'm talking about.

Didn't that just give you goosebumps? This great giant of faith later went on to write these very words:

And though this world with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for Christ has willed,

His truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo, his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.

posted by Lydia

Today was a perfect fall day. Daddy and I had the day off from work.

While Daddy tore apart a wall,

I made applesauce.

I prefer to peel apples by hand, but when there is a whole bushel of apples to peel this peeler saves a lot of time. There are lot of apples in a bushel! My hands were pretty tired after all the cutting.

One bushel of apples made twelve pints of applesauce. Mommy would like to have twenty-six jars (we can then have one jar every two weeks).

I also made a apple pie for a pot luck we went to tonight. Mommy only had one crust so I made a french top pie. All you do is combine one cup of flour, half cup brown sugar and a stick of butter. Mix it all with a fork until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Sprinkle on top and bake. Remember to cover it for a good portion of the baking time. I forgot, so that is why it looks very brown.

Did anyone else remember that today is the anniversary of the day Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Thesis to the doors? Some friends of ours remembered. We got together tonight and celebrated with a pot luck dinner and talk of the reformation. The Reformation is such a good thing to remember and celebrate on October 31 instead of the evil that is goes on this day of the year. It was a pleasant evening.

“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the Popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen. ”

Martin Luther

Posted by Carissa

Leaf Raking 101

Advice: When you are sick of doing this.....

...but the yard still looks like this.....

....and the end is not in sight due to stubbornly leafy trees...


...just take Abby's approach. It shall be called Leaf Whacking.

The procedure is very simple. Just climb up in your tree house, lift up your rake, and smack those nasty little leaves right off their branches.

Go ahead. You know you want to.

Happy raking everyone!

posted by Lydia

My Poor Little Roses

We woke up two days ago to snow! It's melted where we are but up in the hills there's still about 4inches.

posted by Caroline

Government

We were reading a book around the dinner table last night entitled The Words We Live By by Linda R Monk, as part of our government curriculum this year. This quote by Mark Twain set us all laughing.

"Reader, suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

Ouch. Want some more patriotism? Who better to turn to than the Muppets?

posted by Lydia

Today was my day at home. It is a rainy/snowy day here in up-state New York. The perfect day to do homey things.

Mommy and I made grape juice from grapes we were given yesterday. After taking them all off the stems we had about thirty cups of grapes. That ended up being twenty-six jars of grape juice.

Grammy's Quick Grape Juice

Wash 1 1/2 cups Concord grapes

Put into sterilized quart jars

Add 1/2 cup sugar. (We did not do this. We will sweeten after we open the jars and taste the juice.)

Fill within 1/2" from the top of the jar with boiling water

Put on cap, firmly screwing on the band

Process 15 minutes in boiling water bath.

Let the juice sit on self for 3 or more monthes before using. (the hard part )




I love canning! Preparing the fruit/vegetables, pouring the liquid into the jars, seeing the finished jars all lined up on the kitchen counter. And hearing the lids pop! I always have a feeling of great contentment and rejoicing in our wonderful, gracious Lord. He is so generous in His many blessings to us.

Posted by Carissa