Reason #13

Why I enjoy running the blueberry farm

I try new blueberry recipes

Blueberry Granola

Today I mixed a quadruple batch of granola. Sabrina from the Chamber of Commerce told us that she adds fresh blueberries to her granola. I used our Cinnamon-Apple Granola recipe, decreasing the moist ingredients and substituting blueberries for the dried apples.

16 cups rolled oats

2 cups coconut

4 cups nuts, finely chopped

2 cups sesame seed

4 teaspoons cinnamon

dash of salt

1 1/2 cups honey

1 1/2 cups oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

8 cups fresh blueberries

Mix oats, coconut, nuts, sesame seed, salt and cinnamon in a huge bowl. Combine oil, honey and vanilla; add to oats mixture. Add blueberries and stir thoroughly. Spread in four 9x13" pans and bake at 350F, stirring every 8 to 10 minutes for 25 to 30 minutes. Store in tightly covered containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Yield 4 quarts. 

 

Blueberry Vinegar

I tried this unusual recipe a few weeks ago after searching for a non-dessert blueberry recipe. The vinegar is a beautiful maroon, has a slight berry flavor and is perfect for salad dressing. When we have fresh spinach, I would like to toss a salad of spinach, blueberries, mandarin oranges and sliced almonds, with a dressing of equal parts of blueberry vinegar and salad oil. 

2 cups apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup blueberries

slice of lemon

sprig of fresh mint

In a small pan heat vinegar and blueberries until hot. Crush the blueberries with the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and add lemon and mint. Pour into a quart jar and cover. Let steep in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 days.

In a small pan heat vinegar. Remove from heat and strain out the lemon, mint, and crushed blueberries. Pour vinegar in a jar. Keep in a cool place. Yield 1 pint.

The harvest is plentiful

but the workers are few. 

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, 

to send out workers into his harvest field. 

Matthew 9.37-38 NIV

If thirty rows of blueberry bushes produce more berries than we can pick and we pray for customers to pick the berries, how much greater is the need for workers in God's harvest field.

 

Lord God, please send workers

into your harvest field.

Reason #12

Why I enjoy running the blueberry farm

I amuse myself by taking pictures 

while waiting for customers to finish picking berries.

God's Math

One year ago I celebrated as, according to Matthew 19:6, 

God added one plus one to make one. 

Recently He multiplied that one (that used to be two) 

and produced three. 

I love how God does math!

Happy first anniversary Joel and Judith.

May each year be exponentially better than the last.

Sunday

I love teaching Sunday school and was thrilled this morning to observe the coloring of one of my students. It's been so long since I've watched anyone scribble with crayons. I find it fun to do art projects with young children because they haven't learned that they can't draw or color or paint. Most adults believe they are artistically challenged, but, because young children haven't learned that is what is expected of them, they can display their creativity.

A young couple came to our house for dinner after church and we were happy to have the table crowded with family. It felt good to have the prayer start with Dad and move to Naomi, Logan, Libby, Brian, Betsy, Julie, Judith, Joel, me, Aaron, and finally Mom. This weekend was Joel and Judith's first trip back to Midland after Kaelyn arrived.

Kaelyn's grandparents, aunts and uncles especially enjoyed her visit. She's a pretty little girl and today she allowed her Aunt Amy take her picture with her eyes open. 

Reason #11

Why I enjoy running the blueberry farm

I see wildlife

This morning two deer paused to study me as I disturbed their morning ramble at the blueberry farm. Often I see wild turkeys parading in a row.

Straw

During the summer our family often eats out--out in the hay field. A week ago Friday we unloaded our dinner, a folding table and lawn chairs in a wheat field, where the boys and Betsy were baling straw. Straw is made from the stalks left after grain, such as wheat, barley or oats, is harvested. The hay crew looks forward to handling straw because it is lighter than the hay bales they are accustomed to throwing.

As our crew baled straw into square bales, our farmer friend, Mark Pelton, harvested wheat with his combine on the other side of the field. A semi-truck and trailer waited at the end of the field to haul the wheat to the elevator. 

The field was the site of a spontaneous neighborhood farm convention--the driveway was lined with pick-up trucks and several big machines operating in the field. The farmers gathered to discuss the earlier excitement when a nearby field caught fire. Another farmer was baling the wheat straw into round bales, when one bale caught fire. Six round bales and part of the field went up in smoke before the fire truck arrived. The fire burned itself out before much damage was done, but the incident provided the farmers with a story.