The Lord has blessed us with fertile land and the space to grow a vegetable garden.  Therefore, every year about this time I peruse the seed catalogs deposited in my mail box and dream about next summer’s garden.  This is also the time of year that the nurseries offer sizeable coupons large enough to invite prospective customers to do business.   Now is a great time to get the bargains and to do your planning while your outdoor work is dormant under snow drifts.  You will get the good of the dreaming and, besides that, the seeds will be in your hands by the time you need to start small plants indoors.

We have had a vegetable garden for years.  I grow lots of foods: lettuce, spinach, carrots and radishes, beans, beets, squash, sweetcorn, potatoes, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and flowers, and, occasionally, melons.  In the space we have, I also grow lots of weeds!  So there is sweat and labor involved in gardening, but I sure like the savings I get when I go to the grocery store.  We enjoy that benefit all year ’round.  The frozen veggies and the canned ones keep us eating well for many months afterward.

If you have a hankering for savings, for healthful food, and for work outdoors in the fresh air, check out the nursery catalogs and order those seeds!

      Jerusalem in an Uproar

by I. Ben Visited

Last week, Jerusalem was the scene of some disturbances.  Astrologers, or Magi, from the East visited King Herod.  They reported that they had seen the star of the new King of the Jews.

When King Herod heard this, he consulted with the chief priests and teachers of the law.  These illustrious members of Jerusalem society informed him that according to the prophet, Micah, the Christ’s birthplace is Bethlehem in Judea.   This is our same Bethlehem that is approximately six miles south of Jerusalem.

Bethlehem is a small town.  Many of our inhabitants make their living as shepherds outside of the city.  It hardly seems the kind of town in which a king would be born even though our great King David came from here.

The night after the Magi met with King Herod, they left with his strict orders to find the Child.  King Herod expected them to report back to him with information of the Child’s precise whereabouts.  For two day the King has waited the Magi’s return.  However, there has been no trace of them.

Today, Herod clearly vented his great anger.  In the wake of the Magis’ presumed compliance, trickery is now suspected; disobedience to the kings orders and flight to their homes by another route.

                          New Publishers Group      by Ima Shepherd

For the past two days, Bethlehem has been overrun by shepherds.  All of them seem to be headed to the stable at Jethro’s Inn.  I caught up with one yesterday who said,  “I have never seen anyone like Him.  He seems to be able to look right into my soul.  His eyes look much older thah the few days old He really is.”  This man claimed that the Child of whom he spoke was the promised Messiah of Israel.

Since the beginning of this influx of shepherds, they have been going through the streets publishing the news,  “The Messiah has been born!  Praise be to the God of Abraham!”

Many of the townspeople, spurred on by these exclamations, have also visited the stable.  Almost every one of them has come out looking more peaceful and full of joy than when they went in.

Even if this Child is not the One who will free us from Roman dominion, He has affected the people of Bethlehem to the greater good of all.

photo credit: Vectorportal via photopin cc
photo credit: Timo_Beil via photopin cc

                              Tax Hike in the Works               by C. Zar

Rome is working on a massive tax program.  Although in its infant stages, it is proving to be a major source of agitation to the people of Israel.  The entire Roman world is being summoned for enrollment in order that a more accurate taxation system may be put into effect.

Enrollment will be carried out in stages, the first of which is already in progress.  This mandatory enrollment lists men according to their birthplaces.  Even now people are making pilgrimages to their hometowns.

Our little town of Bethlehem is not exception.  Local inns have been touting their “No Vacancy” signs for several days.  At least for the time being, what’s good for the Caesar is good for business.

                                Local Shepherds Quake

by Evan Lee Host

“Strange sights during the night in them thar hills outside of Bethelehem,” say local shepherds.    While keeping watch over their lambing flocks, the shepherds’ silent night was interrupted by messengers of heavenly magnitude.

All the shepherds agreed that the whole landscape was lit up with radiant beams as a multitude of angels sang, “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  The Herald angel addressed the shepherds.  He named Bethlehem as the Savior’s birthplace.

Reported one witness,  ” I froze in my tracks at the sight.”

Several told The Bethlehem Star, “We were so scared that we tried to hide–but the light was overpowering.  There was no place to run.  The angel tried to calm us down and said he had good news for us.  It all happened so fast–and soon the blackness of night crowded in on us again.”

This could mean that there are good tidings in these strange heavenly sightings.   Perhaps Bethlehem has been the chosen site of revealing something special.

Best-Dressed Camels

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photo credit: Rafael Gómez www.micamara.es via photopin cc

Have you ever had a piece of meat that you knew would be tough?  Have you needed to put on a meal with a short time to prepare it?   Both of these could be helped by the practical use of the pressure cooker. 

Many bridal registries these days may show requests for slow cookers, microwave ovens or cookware, but probably not many young couples indicate a need for a pressure cooker.

It is unfortunate that this tool has fallen into disuse.  Granted, it can be dangerous if used without proper instruction, but then, so can an automobile.

A Handy Book at My House

I have tried to cook old hens, which are too tough to use for anything but soup, in a pressure cooker.  Instead of stringy tough meat, out comes tasty meat…tender, like tuna.

Did you know that with a pressure cooker cooking takes 1/3 the regular amount of time to prepare?

I have a favorite recipe I make with the pressure cooker.  It is called Porcupine Meatballs.   It is made with hamburger, raw rice and tomato soup, water and some spice.   The meatballs cook in about 15 minutes.   They are fully cooked and the rice is soft.  It is yummy!

Maybe this tool would help you.  Think about it.  It could become a most practical tool in your kitchen.

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photo credit: SheriW via photopin cc

The Little Princess' Crown

The little bundle of joy donned a pretty, oversized, play dress.  For her royal cape, she tied about her neck the strings of mommy’s apron positioning the bow underneath her chin.  To top off the costume, she perched a piece of cardboard that had been fashioned into the likeness of a crown on her head.   She checked her reflecton in the mirror.  She did look like a little princess, she thought.

Mother had begun her day’s work at the kitchen sink, washing up the breakfast dishes.

Her little one entered the room fleet of foot and running.  She ran to the living room and returned to run several times around the kitchen table.

Curious as to what brought on the running exercise, Mother asked, “Sweetie, why are you running so much?”

Without stopping, the little princess panted out her dilemma with concern, “A handsome prince asked me to marry him and I don’t want to!”

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While driving in the fields I see sights that I may not notice in the farm yard.

Along the fence lines plants grow up that are opportunists.  They grow wherever they want.

Goldenrod grows up there all summer long, but seems rather inconspicuous most of the season.  When late July and early August come around, they put up their pale green blooms.  As the time passes, the pale green turns to yellow and then flames to a bright golden color.

Nature's Back-to-School Sign

To me, Goldenrod is a bittersweet back-to-school sign.  Summers are special when the kids can be home and help with the work and with the fun on the farm.  When the Goldenrod blooms our minds shift to getting ready to part again; looking forward to a new school year.  Although it has beauty, when I see it I am reminded of the separation ahead.

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photo credit: Bretta Grabau