JEAN'S FRUGAL WAYS

Martha had a post on savings so I thought I would put some on this week that we have at our home.

One of the ways we save is I cut Michael, Edward, David Sr. and David Jr.'s hair myself.  Michael and Edward are still English cuts as they go to the public school and we don't want them to feel out of place.  David Sr. and Jr. get the Old Order Mennonite cuts.  My Mother taught me how to do this when I was growing up and did my brother's.  Since Michael and Edward have been members of our family, they have never been in a barber shop.  As for Susan and myself, we do not cut our hair.  It is our church beliefs.  Katie is short now, but we will let it grow and not cut it.

Now that it is fishing season, we do not buy worms.  In fact we sell them.  Edward, Michael, David Jr. and sometimes Susan go pick up the worms on the road side.  They are doing it in the rain right now.  We have a soil place inside one of the barns that they keep them in.  When they go fishing they just dig some of the worms out of the soil.  Sometimes friends and neighbors would like some, sometimes they give them away if someone can't afford them.  Sometimes they sell them to make some extra money.

If we need appliances, canning jars, children's clothes, adult clothes, we got to rummage sales, garage sales, thrift or second hand stores.  We go over everything very carefully and make sure it works.  With canning jars, make sure there are no scratches or chips out of them.  I must admit our major appliances like stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer and freezer we did buy new.  But we have purchased mixers, irons, men's slacks, lamps, men's tools and more at these stores.

It is better to replace your old major appliances with new ones.  When we replaced our stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer, and freezer at  our old house, after the fire,  with new ones - our electric bill dropped.  New appliances are made to use less electric than the old ones.

Also when I am cooking or baking, I make extras especially this time of year and put the extras in the freezer.  Times come on the farm, especially planting season when I just don't have time to cook or bake like usual - so I can go get something out of the freezer for dinner.

When it comes to birthday, wedding, Christmas or whenever we need a gift - we try to give a gift we can make ourselves.  It might be making a special cake, pie, cookies or candy that the person likes.  Sometimes David, Edward and Michael make wooden items that the people would appreciate.  We try to make something that the person could use.  Unless they desire a certain decoration, we don't make them as we don't want something collecting dust in their house or stuffed away in a box.  Also have made quilts, handkerchief, towels and more.  If you can make a gift it means more than store bought, at least that's what I think.

Also if we have clothes, towels, sheets, etc. that are worn out or have holes in them that are beyond repair-I rip them up and use them as cleaning or dusting rags in my home.

We don't allow anyone standing with the refrigerator door open.  We have the get in, get what you want and get out of the refrigerator.  Leaving the door open makes the refrigerator go warmer and it runs more.  Same rule goes for the freezers we have.

We hang our clothes outside to dry and don't use the electric dryer unless necessary.  I caught Edward and Michael running the dryer with only two pairs of pants in there that they wanted to wear that day.  They both wore something else that day and I hung the pants outside to dry.  Running the dryer can increase the electric bill.  We hang our clothes outside especially in the spring, summer and fall.  Even in the winter, if the temperature is so they won't freeze.

Before Grandfather and Grandmother moved in dawdy we use to get the newspaper during the week in the fall and winter.  Just on Sunday during planting season and harvesting season.  Now that my Grandparents are here, they get it every day.  We discontinued ours all together.  They read it first and we get it when they get done.  On Sunday, my Grandmother and I go through and cut out the coupons that we need.  If there are some we don't need, we pass them on to someone else.  We wanted to split the cost of the newspaper with my Grandparents, but they insisted on paying for it as they have done it for years plus they get a seniors discount.  It is a savings of over $100.00 a year for David and I.

These are just some of the ways we have to save money.  I could write a lot more.  I know the children think we are over conservative sometimes.  We try to explain that what we save one place allows us to do other things.

If you enjoy this, I could put some more on, later.

Be With God,
Jean


TOMORROW IS THE FIRST POST OF THE HAITI BENEFIT AUCTION.

NEXT MONDAY, KEVIN HAS A POST ON HIS AND BRIDGET IN OKLAHOMA.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. DAD

,

My Dad was born December 31, 1909.  My Grandpa use to kiddingly say Dad made it in time for Grandpa to take him off his taxes that year. My Dad was the second oldest in a large family. He was named after his uncle George.  Dad had to drop out of school and work on a farm when he was about 13 or 14 to help support the family.  Even though his Dad, worked on the railroad, there wasn't enough money, so my Dad had to go to work, too. Dad lived at the farm 5 days a week and would come home on weekends.  Also working at the farm was Wallace Farnsworth and he and my Dad became good friends.  When they were dating age my Dad introduced Wallace to his sister Anna.  To make a long story short, even though his parents were against it, Wallace married my Aunt Anna.  Eventually Wallace's parents came around.  Aunt Anna and Uncle Wally were married for over 60 days before he passed on, she passed away a few years later.

During his teen years, my Dad was in an automobile accident where he broke every bone in his body.  His parents were called saying he was going to die, but he proved the doctors wrong.  Because of the accident my Dad had one leg shorter than the other.  So when World War II broke out he went to enlist but was refused because of his leg.  Dad searched until he found a factory making war equipment that needed a tool and dye maker-which was Mc Donald Douglass in California.  They made airplanes for the military-so Dad, Mom and my oldest brother George, moved to California.

They were in California where my second brother, Robert was born.  Dad also became a Real Estate Salesman in California after the war-so he was working two jobs.  Eventually he decided to move home to where I live today and they had me.  Dad was still working at in the factory plus he got a Real Estate Salesman License here.  The third picture down is my favorite of my Dad, we are out to dinner celebrating that he got his Real Estate Broker's license.  He worked at the factory and Real Estate until one day he got his hand caught in the machine at work which cut off the top of one of his fingers.  While home recovering he sold Real Estate.  He did need that finger at the factory, put could drive a car and show Real Estate without using that finger.  That's when my parents had a meeting and decided that Dad was going to quit the factory and just work on Real Estate.  My Mom was really nervous that it might not work.  So when Dad went back to the factory he gave them two weeks notice to which his boss told him he would ever make it in Real Estate.  Were they wrong.

Dad went into business 24 hours a day including Sunday.  He always felt he did his best business on Sunday because Monday thru Friday people worked, on Saturday they did home chores and Sunday was their free time to look at houses.  He was the only Real Estate Broker open on Sunday and it worked.  When someone wanted to sell a house that needed work, Dad would buy it, do all the work on it and resell it.  During the worse winter storms, Dad would go out and leave his card at all the trailers in the mobile home parks-he always got customers from there.  They wanted to move from a trailer to a house.  When his business took off, he started taking second morgages so people could buy their first home.  When he had salesmen and then salesladies he would make them each have an open house on Sunday and he would drive people that maybe weren't interested in the open house to show them other houses. His business was in our home so Mom was his secretary and typed up all the purchase offers until she to became the first saleslady in New York State. Then I became the secretary.

My Dad always said that each person has a perfect job or slot that God had set for them.  All you had to do is find it and his was Real Estate.  My brother, Bob became a teacher, but he too, also went in the Real Estate business and so did his daughter.  So we have had three generations in the Real Estate business.

Somehow Dad also had time to attend our school performances, graduations, parent nights, etc.  Before we could drive, he took us and our friends to activities.  Also, every Sunday morning we went to church and then out to breakfast as our time together.  He was home most every night to my Mom's six o'clock supper on the table.  Dad loved to go fishing, but only if one of us kids would go with him.  He taught my brother's how to shoot and hunt.

I always remember my Dad wearing a suit.  You could tell when he went from casual to business because he would put his suit on and that ment he was off selling.

My parents retired and moved to Florida.  They bought a house down there and they got a motorhome which they would travel in.  When their heath started to fail, I went to take care of them.  Mom passed first and my Dad went down from there.  He died three years after Mom on July 11th 1998.

I was Daddies little girl.  There was a song out once called Daddy's Little Girl and Dad use to sing it to me.  I use to get upset especially when I was in my 40's and he would still sing that song to me.  I wish he were here to sing it to me today.  I miss Dad and Mom so much.

The top picture is of my Dad in 1932.  The second is of Dad and Mom in the Adirondack Mountains back in the 1950's.  Third is when he got his Broker's License. The next is of Dad and I when I moved to Florida.  The last is of my Dad in his older years.  Funny thing is Dad isn't in a lot of family pictures-because he usually was the one that took the pictures.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD,
Marilyn

MY CHRISTIAN PRAYER SHAWL

Kymber asked me to put a picture of my Christian Prayer Shawl on, so here it is.  The top shows the full shawl which is about 60 inches long and 15 inches wide.  I tried to show a better shot of the end in the second picture.  The third is a close up of the design.  It is mostly white, but there is a very small streak of silver in some of the lines coming down.  The last picture is of the shawl folded up.

I have always wanted a prayer shawl since I read about them.  Some of the ladies in our church made them where you could take them home, use them, but bring them back and they were passed on to someone else to use.

When I went to the Presbyterian Church the other day, I saw them hanging and didn't know what they were.  When the Pastor came in I told her how pretty they are.  She asked me if I prayed and I said yes.  She explained they were prayer shawls and told me to pick one.  When I was slow picking one out, she took the most beautiful one and gave it to me.  I asked her when did I have to bring it back by and she told me it was mine to keep-I never had to bring it back.  I was thrilled and I still haven't gotten over it yet. It was so kind of the Pastor to give it to me as I don't go to that church, I was there on business.

Before putting the post on, I wanted to find more information to pass it on to you:
In 1998 Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS.  Compassion and love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry and spiritual practice which reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as in celebration and joy.  Many blessings are prayed into every stitch.

Whether they are called Prayer Shawls, Comfort Shawls, Peace Shawls or Mantles, etc., the shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient.  The intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way.  Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl and passing it onto someone in need.  Thus, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God !  The shawls can also be crocheted, quilted, woven or machine knitted as well.

Some uses for the shawl for both ladies and men are: undergoing medical procedures: as a comfort after a loss or in times of stress; during bereavement; prayer or meditation; commitment or marriage ceremonies; birthing, nursing a baby; bridal shower or wedding gift; leading ritual; rites of passage; during an illness and recovery; ministering to others; graduation, birthday, anniversary, ordination, holiday gifts; or just socializing...there are endless possibilities!

To make a shawl personal, the giver or the recipient may want to adorn the shawl with beads, shells, feathers and charms.  A blessing or ritual maybe offered when the gift is presented.

I wish to thank Prayer Shawl Ministry for their permission to put this on New York State of Mind.  Their Web is at: www.shawlministry.com

Can you touch a prayer? Can you pull it close and feel its comfort? You can if it comes as a gift in the form of a Prayer Shawl.  Prayer Shawls are simple gifts of grace from God that are prayerfully and lovingly stitched by as reminder that God's promise is always with us.

I thank First Baptist Church, Scottsdale, AZ

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTINE PRAYING SHAWL

This is the easiest knitting pattern that was given to me by the Pastor at the Presbyterian Church that gave me my shawl.

On size 11 or 13 knitting needles cast on 57 stitches and knit every row until you have reached your desired length (between 50 or 60 inches).  Add desired fringe around the edge.

MENNONITE WOMEN USA PRAYER SHAWL INSTRUCTIONS

Yarn: Lion Homespun is suggested, but you can use anything you think is pretty.  For knitting you'll need about 550 yards and for crochet about 700 yards - three to three and 1/2 skeins.

Needles: Knitting: # 11, 13, or 15  Crochet: Size M, N, or P

KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on a multiple of 6 sts plus 3.  51, 57. or 63 is suggested.
Knit 3, Purl 3 every row until shawl is about 57 to 60 inches long.
This stitch is called seed stitch so you will always be knitting the purl stitches and purling the knit stitches.  The fabric is the same on both sides and has a lively lengthwise grain.

CROCHET INSTRUCTIONS

Chain 54 stitches or desired width of shawl (24 - 30 inches)
Row 1 Ch 1, turn, sc in each ch across
Row 2 Ch 3 turn, DC in each sc across
Row 3 & 4 Repeat row 2
Repeat these four rows until shawl measures 57-60 inches long.  Finish off with one row of sc.

FINISHING: Add fringes to the shawl.  Use 1 yard/meter or yarn per tassel.  Fold the length of yarn in half three times.  Pull folded end through edge of shawl with a large crochet hook, put ends through loop, pull snug and cut the loops.

www.mennonitewomenusa.org

"You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mother's womb.  For so many marvels I thank you: a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders." From Psalm 139


Marilyn

FLAG DAY - JUNE 14, 2013

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
By Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is "Old Glory".
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher,
My colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped -- I am saluted.
I am loved -- I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam,
Okinawa, Korea, and Vietnam.
I was there. I led my troops.
I was dirty, battle-weary and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS "OLD GLORY".
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN,
LONG MAY I WAVE.

TOMORROW WILL BE A POST ON MY CHRISTIAN PRAYER SHAWL, ALONG WITH SHAWL HISTORY, PATTERNS AND MORE.

JEAN'S FRIENDSHIP CAKE

Someone asked for this recipe a while ago, maybe on Amish Stories and I am just getting it around.  We have made this in our home and really enjoyed it.  Hope you do too.
Be with God,
Jean

FRIENDSHIP CAKE

Starter:
1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk

Mix together.  Cover.  (I use a freezer plastic bag for this.  I don't put it in the freezer or refrigerator). Let stand at room temperature for five days.  Then begin process.

Day 1 Keep covered. Don't refrigerate.
Day 2, 3, 4 Stir each day
Day 5 Add 1 c, each: flour, sugar, milk
Day 6, 7, 8, 9 Stir each day
Day 10 Add 1 c, each: flour, sugar, milk

Take 3 cups from base and give one cup to each up to each of 3 friends with instructions.

To remaining batter add:

2/3 c. oil
1/2 t salt
1 c sugar
2 t vanilla
1 c nuts, raisins and apples or chocolate chips
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 1/2 t baking soda
2 c flour
2 t baking powder

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes in greased bundt pan.


SATURDAY A POST ON MY CHRISTIAN PRAYER SHAWL, HISTORY, PATTERNS AND MORE.

JEAN'S ON HELPING OTHERS

While Kevin and Bridget are away Old Order Mennonite will be at their farm milking the cows, collecting the eggs, feeding the animals, plowing their field and planting done.  Even Bridget's garden has been planted and flowers planted where she wanted them.  When they arrive home, it will be like they hadn't left.  We ladies have gone over and cleaned their house from top to bottom.  Also, there will be meals done and some in the freezer.  Baked goods will be there.  Even groceries will have been purchased for them. Martha sold some of their eggs at her roadside stand and will give them the money when they return.

As Joseph and Martha had three son's in Oklahoma, we also helped them with milking, plowing, planting and more.  Work doesn't stop because three of their children are doing service.  Many people have set their work aside to help all of them because they needed it.  When they are not needed anymore they take care of their own work on their farms.

When we help someone, we do not ask for payment.  Our way is that we are to serve others.  Others come first.  It is nice to know if we needed help, people would come and help us.

It is our way that the husband is head of the household and supports the family. So they usually have two different jobs or more.  Like David's a farmer, he also makes wood furniture and does home remodeling during the winter.  He also started skinning, slicing and packing deer for hunters which leads to the thing he likes best on our property.  What came with our farm is a section of one of the barns that is set up for slaughtering, skinning, slicing and packing.  David's favorite in there is the walk in freezer.  Since the place in town that did slaughtering and food storage went out of business the former owner of our farm had been slaughtering and storing meat for people.  We sent letters to the people that have meat stored letting them know we are the new owners.  David really likes that freezer.  It opens from both the inside and outside-so you can't get locked in there.

Kevin is trying to decide what other jobs he would like.  He is a farmer, but also repairs equipment, washers, dryers and horse buggy repairs.  When one of our tractors had problems we couldn't fix -we called Kevin who came out and repaired it.  He is not into construction, taking things apart, repairing them and putting them back together is what he likes.

One of Kevin's friends mentioned that Kevin would like one end of his barn set up where he could do repairs for people.  Martha and Joseph came up with Kevin's plans, so David and some of the other men got together and did over that part of the barn.  Another of the men had retired  and turned the farm over to his son.  He had a flatbed wagon that his son had no use for so he was giving it to Kevin in case Kevin had to bring any item back to his shop for repair. Some of the men sanded the wagon down and refinished it.  The men also put a sign on the shop door that say's Kevin's Repair Shop.   The sign can be taken off in case Kevin wants to change the shop's name.

Kevin, Bridget and his brother's should be home from Oklahoma, tomorrow.  He will have a surprise when he goes to his barn.  I want to get one of them to do a post on Oklahoma here.

Also, my Grandmother, would like to do posts on canning vegetables, fruits, jelly, jams, meats and more.  She thinks it will take a whole week to do it, so she has been offered three different weeks and still hasn't picked one.

Be With God,
Jean

CHANGES MAY BE COMING IN MY LIFE

There may be some changes in my life.  I have been volunteering at a place for the last two years.  I had been volunteering about an hour and a half a day, five days a week,  plus I do Meals on Wheels, a few times a month.  Recently my boss at the job I go to five days a week,  has been taken ill.  At this time we don't know if she will be able to return.  I hope so because I really enjoy working for her.

My bosses boss wants me to train for my bosses position in case she doesn't return.  If she does return, I would be able to continue there as a volunteer but could also fill in at other places if I was needed. If my boss could not return, I would get her position that would put me on a salary and I would have to give up volunteering for Meals on Wheels.  I have volunteered for Meals on Wheels for about 8 years.

Starting tomorrow, Monday, I will be going from volunteering an hour and a half to at least four hours a day-5 days a week.   This will continue until the end of the month.  At that time, we should know if my boss is coming back.  If she does, I go back to volunteering for a hour and a half. If she doesn't I take over her job on salary.

I don't think this will have any effect on New York State of Mind, but if it does, I want you to know why.  Jean and I are going to do posts ahead until I get use to my new hours.  I just want you to know if things aren't going like usually or I don't answer comments fast what is going on. Jean and her recipes should stay the same, but Friday posts might not be as often as they are now.  Then, again things may work so they do.

I haven't worked on a paying job in ten years and I'm not as young as I use to be, so we will have to see how things go. Of course the other lady that volunteers there said I've been working there now I may get paid for it.  I do like the volunteer job I have and I could use the salary.  So I just wanted you to know if things change-why.  I am truly going to try to keep New York State of Mind  as much as it is now as I can.

Marilyn