Good Morning Friends! Changes Ahead

-





I am home now and my new grandson arrived safe and sound. We also got to visit with our other daughters and grandsons and that was a blessing to us.

It was also a very long drive in a short time. We drove down to an area in California right outside of San Diego. That was over 1000 miles of driving to get there. We drove around a lot while we were there. Then headed home. In all we drove 2500 miles in one week.

All that time driving gave me a lot of time to think. My husband and I have some changes coming in our life and a lot of preparation to do for this.

I've decided that I need to take a blogging break for a few weeks.

I made my very first blog post in December of 2005. Seems crazy to me that I've been blogging for this long. By December of this year I will have been blogging for 14 years. I started my website the year before. I've had a 15 year presence on the internet and I do feel an extended break is in order for me at this time.

My goal is to come back at some point. But right now I need a season of my life away from blogging and to focus on some important things in my life.
I am so incredibly thankful for all of you who have followed me and been a part of my life. Some have been with me for longer than my first blog post (I had a message board on my website before I started blogging). And some have only recently started following me. No matter when it was, “you” are why I started it all in the first place and there is a special place in my heart for you all!

God bless you and I'll see you back here when my break is over.

Crystal :)


Comments

  1. LisaSeptember 9, 2019 at 9:25 AM

    We are going to miss you Crystal, you lift me up just reading your blog. I hope it isn't real long, but that gives us the chance to look back on your life, and maybe catch up on things we missed. Good luck on your time away. But please don't make it permanent. Blessings to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KathySeptember 9, 2019 at 9:52 AM

    Everyone needs a break now and then. Enjoy yours. I will see you when you return.

    ReplyDelete
  3. just meSeptember 9, 2019 at 12:18 PM

    Selfishly, I'll miss reading your blog but hope that you can embrace the change and find the positive. Blessings to you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. BerniceSeptember 9, 2019 at 1:11 PM

    I will miss your blog, I have been reading it probably as long as you have been blogging.
    I pray that you return soon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rachel at Strangers on a PlainSeptember 10, 2019 at 1:17 PM

    Best of luck in your new endeavors. I'm sad, as I just found you but look forward to your return.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Frugal New England KitchenOctober 7, 2019 at 6:55 PM

    Hoping your time away is short and you come back relaxed and refreshed - Hoping it's not permanent - really enjoy your blog and positive outlook on life.

    ReplyDelete
  7. JamieOctober 10, 2019 at 8:40 AM

    Hi Crystal,
    Your blog, website, and ebooks have been a wonderful encouragent to me through the years. What a wonderful ministry you have for women! I miss reading your blog, but praying God is blessing you abundantly!
    Blessings to you! Jamie

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownOctober 10, 2019 at 2:29 PM

    Hi, I've enjoyed you and your advice for many years, and have tried many of your recipes as well as making hot process soap. I will miss reading about you and your family, and I hope you return when you are ready.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

All messages are moderated. After approval your message will be posted. Thank you for your comments!! Crystal :)

Popular posts from this blog

Canning Chicken Noodle-less Soup

-
Image
Today was one of those busy days that it seemed I was moving from the time my feet hit the floor until this evening.. But, I got so much done and that is a great feeling! :) One of my accomplishments today was canning 14 jars of chicken noodle-less soup. I call it “noodle-less” because you can’t can noodles. They end up falling apart. So I canned the chicken, veggies and broth. When I go to use the soup I will bring it to a boil and then add a handful of noodles (any type of pasta will work) and cook it until the noodles are done. Because I plan to add the pasta after the fact I wanted to make sure there was enough chicken broth to do this. So I only filled my jars about half to two thirds with chicken and veggies and then filled with chicken broth. Here is how I did this…. I started off with 2 chickens that were a total weight of about 10lbs. I put them in my 14 quart stock pot… I then added 2 gallons of water.. And 3 tablespoons salt.. I brought this
Read more

Canning Cabbage

-
Image
I had 4 large heads of cabbage that weighted about 25 pounds. We had some really hot days and I figured I better get the last of them picked soon. My daughter Sierra and I ended up processing 3 of them yesterday and I have one left for a meal on my menu this week. I made pickled cabbage and then canned up the last of the cabbage. Here is the recipe for the pickled cabbage (according to how I made it)… 8 pounds cabbage 1 large onion 1 ½ red peppers 1 lb carrots ¾ cup salt 9 cups water 12 cups white vinegar 10 cups sugar 1t mustard seed 1t celery seed Slice cabbage thinly. Slice onion and peppers. Grate carrots. Mix all veggies together in a very large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and mix in well. Let sit for 2 hours to soften veggies. Rinse veggies well.  In a large stock pot (mine was 14 quarts) combine water, vinegar, sugar, spices. Bring to a boil. Add cabbage/veggies. Bring to a boil. Fill hot pint jars with veggies using a slotted spoon. Fill jar with brine to
Read more

Canning Beef Stew

-
Image
In my last blog post I shared that I had bought 10 pounds of beef roast. I cut it all up and used 4 pounds in 2 crockpot freezer meals ( http://homesteadinghomemaker.blogspot.com/2012/02/two-more-crockpot-meals-for-freezer.html ) . I used the other 6 pounds of meat along with potatoes, carrots, onions and celery to can beef stew. Here were the general proportions I used in canning 7 quarts of beef stew.. 6# beef 2# potatoes 2# carrots 1# onions 1# celery After I cut up the meat and got the freezer meals done I moved to the beef stew. I peeled and cut up the potatoes and carrots. I chopped up the onions and sliced the celery. I pulled out 3 quarts of veggie stock from my freezer to use for liquid in the stew. You can use beef or chicken stock or you can use water. I did not add anything to thicken the liquid as usually thickeners don’t hold up in canning. You can thicken the broth after it is opened if you would like. I added 1 teaspoon salt to each of my
Read more