Chocolate cake

    I have had some people that has ate this cake told me to put it on here for every one to try. Its a chocolate zucchini cake with chocolate icing. Before you say I dont like zucchini, or that sounds bad let me tell you that you cannot taste it and nobody even knows unless you tell them. The zucchini just makes it so moist and yummy that you dont want to go back to a regular cake. Now the zucchini is out of our garden and the eggs from our chickens, I have not made it with store bought, but I am sure it would taste the same.
    Now I do not know who to give credit to this recipe and you might find it online also, but this is from recipes past down through my grandmother's and I cherish them all.
    For the cake it is
    2 cups of all purpose flower
    2 cups of sugar
    3/4 cups of cocoa powder
    2 tsp of banking soda
    1 tsp of baking powder
    1/2 tsp of salt
    1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
    1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil
    3 eggs
    3 cups of grated zucchini with out the seeds
    Now I dont like nuts in my cake but you can add some, but I do like to sprinkle some chocolate chips on the top before I put it in the oven.
    Stir flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Then add egg, oil, and mix well. Then fold in the grated zucchini to the mix. Pour the mix into a Pam sprayed cake pan and then add nuts or chips if desired. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes or until a knlfe poke comes out clean.
     If you choose you can put this in a bundt pan if you don't want the icing and when its cooled and flipped over just sprinkle powder sugar on it.

     Now for the icing this recipe is close but it depends if you want thick frosting or what I prefer is not to thick, you know how grandma's are, a little pinch of this and that.
     the Icing is on a recipe by its self but it works so good on all cakes, you can can pour it on a hot cake and it will soak down through the cake, you can add more powdered sugar and make it into a think frosting for a birthday cake or however you like it.

     In a bowl add
     2 cups of powdered sugar
     1/2 cup of milk
     1 tsp of vanilla
     Then mix
     Melt 1/2 stick of butter in a saucepan then wisk in 5 table spoons of cocoa
     Then pour that into the sugar, milk, and vanilla while mixing
It will thickin up but I most usually sift in some more powdered sugar until I get the icing thickness I want.
      I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. God, family, country, may God bless us

Forecast for the Ozarks

     I have previously wrote on this blog a story called Our local fruit. Its about Persimmons and it has recipes for some great home cooked bread and pudding made out of persimmons. What this story is about, is the winter forecast that the seed inside the persimmon brings. As the ripe persimmons fall off our trees I have to hurry to pick them up before our goats and chickens get to them because they love them. The other day I was pickin the persimmons and putting them in a bucket and as I turned around Abby one of our goats was eating them out of my bucket,  I guess she thought I was pickin them for her.
      I took some of the persimmon seed and washed them and very carefully split them open to look what the inside of the seed revealed. Well, it is a spoon and they all where the same. So what that means that we better get out the snow shovels and get ready for a snow covered Ozarks. Service the 4x4 and check the tires, cover up alot of wood for the fireplace, get plenty of seed for the birds, make sure that generator starts, and hopefully you canned plenty of food from the garden. I also noticed that the trees are in abundance of persimmons and acorns, the squirrels was getting the walnuts before they could even fall of the tree, so I do know thats Gods way of feeding his animals.
      So I guess we will see what the winter brings, but for this hillbilly I will enjoy the snow and hopefully a white Christmas. We have been looking at the persimmon seed every since I was a young boy and its not been wrong yet.
God, Family, Country, May God Bless Us

9-11

      I have been trying to put to paper the feeling that I felt in the a.m. of the attack on the u.s.a. soil on the day of Tuesday September 11,2001. There are a few great songs out there that explains it very good and what a blessing the way they put their words to music. There has been a lot of great stories since then, some of blessings, and a lot of tragedy. My heart and prayers are still with the one's who lost a loved one to this day that the enemy came to kill, steal, and destroy. 

      So I will try to share in my words of that day. On 9.10.01 I had worked all day and was able to keep on working until 4 am. in the morning of 9.11.01. Well I got that dreadful phone call early to turn on the , as I watched in disbelieve the second plane hit, and then others. I had already been praying and my prayers grew even more, with tears rolling down my face and my heart very heavy I went to the school and got my 3 young daughters and thanked the Lord for our safety.
      For several days I was stuck in front of the tv just hoping and praying for survivors as a cold dark feeling just covered me trying to think of why someone would do such a terrible thing by killing innocent people. It's almost like the feeling of being robbed, or as a young one losing their pet and not understanding why. On what I remember the following Sunday we got word at Church that the U.S, had declared war. Praying for our soldiers safety we knew that something had to be done. But then I realized that the devil comes only to kill, steal, and destroy. So my prayers got stronger, and longer for our protection. Then I got mad at him for the damage he had done and I am still not over it. Because we have have someone who is much bigger and more powerful than the enemy. So please keep praying for safety and the blessings as we once again are going into battle. The battle might be against another country, sickness or disease, or for the return of a loved one. We need to stay suited in the armor of God. Ephesians 6: 13-18 therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, in addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, take the helmet of salvation and the word of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. with this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the Lord's people.

     God, family, country,  may God bless us.

Labor Day

     Before I tell about Labor Day in the Ozarks I want to share a few of the early pictures and facts that I have found. In the late 1800's they started a holiday for the laborers of the U.S. to let them celebrate a day off in appreciation of their work. The labor force is what keeps the spokes on this beautiful country turning. But there is a conflict of the founder of Labor Day between two men. Some say it was Peter McGuire the
 secretary of the Brother of Carpenter's and Joiners, others say it was Matthew Maguire that was a machinist. But whosoever came up with the idea, I am sure glad they did because its a great holiday for the end of the summer for the working class men and women to vacation with thier kids (unfortunately many schools these days start before Labor Day but thats another story). The first Labor Day was on September, 5, 1882 in New York City, then it spread from state to state across America. The celebration included parades, picnics, and vacations.
     Well here in the Ozarks it might not be any different from the other parts of the state's but we do have fun. It includes family and friends visiting here at the house or the Branson area. Many people from all over even have a lake house that they come to for the holidays. They get to spend time with thier family's and meet neighbor's and build a new relationship.  I love riding the atv through the lake area resorts and summer homes saying hi to friends that you had ment in the past holidays and they become good friends. So we ride atvs and utvs in the cool of the night enjoying the trails that go through the tree's,  hills and hollers enjoying the nite sky and socializing with each other (last night we had around 20 to 30 riders and thats fun, only just a few of us were real natives from here). During the day most travel to Branson for the shopping and shows or go out on Table Rock lake. Table Rock lake has over 800 miles of shore line that has trees and bluffs with great fishing and water skiing. Close by is a bluff on the lake that has a rope swing that families flock too, it is alots of fun. While you anchor your boat and watch as kids and adults swing from the bluff then dropping into the lake. Some people float our beautiful streams and fish, with canoes, kayaks, or tubes.
    If you ever get a chance to visit us here in the Ozarks make sure you do, because I think you will love it and there is so much to do and enjoy.
    Have a wonderful Labor Day and remember......God, family, country may God bless us

     

My daily prayer

     I have been a Christian as long as I can remember and said my little prayer ever now and then especially when I needed help. I heard on the radio from a preacher about how important it was to get into the bible and read the true word of God and build your own personal relationship with him. So as I listened and read the word of God, I started making my relationship personal with him and praying for protection, healing, blessing and all he has to offers over my family, friend's, children, and country, because he carers about our needs and ask us to bring his word before him. Believe me I am no Bible scholar, just a hillbilly in the Ozarks and some days I dont pray this whole prayer. Sometimes I find myself busy and just say a short prayer or maybe nothing at all. But when those days come I feel like I forgot something or like the feeling of when you miss a child, friend, or spouse. So I try to talk to my Lord and savior, that calls me friend everyday and wow what a difference. I have learned that you can't copy someone else's prayer or time with God, you have to make it your own. But I didn't really know how to pray other than "God I need this and that and bless us and keep us safe, amen". But when I heard this pastor tell his prayer I thought "wow I dint know you could ask for all these blessings and to bring God's word to your prayers". So I just started out reading the word and including it in my prayer and my relationship really started growing with him. This is not a statement that says "hey look at me, I am mr. Christian...lol) but I just feel lead to share my prayer, like someone did with me.
     I come to you Heavenly Father through your son Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior son of the living God. I humble myself before you and I repent of my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Forgive me for anything I've said and done or to hurt anybody or about anybody, thank you for making me slow to anger and guarding my tongue, forgive me for any lies and deception that I have done, forgive me for any grumbling and complaining that I've done I give you praise, forgive me for any impure thoughts, any bad thoughts I've had, my thoughts are on you and your word, thank you for giving me the mind of Christ, please forgive me for any fear or worry or anxiety that I've had, for your words says you did not give us a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind and your word is the truth and the truth sets us free from everything of the enemy and your perfect love casts out all fear. Forgive me for any doubt and unbelief that I have, thank you for giving me the spirit of faith I give you praise and all things, forgive me for not exercising and eating the way I should, but your word says that by Jesus stripes I am headed of all sicknesses and diseases so I thank you for healing my body from head to toe and setting me free from all addictions, forgive me for not always tithing and I thank you providing all my needs through Christ Jesus, please forgive my for my trespasses I forgive those who trespass against me.
     I ask that you watch over me, my wife, our family, friends, children, grandchildren, the men and women who fight for our country and freedom and their families, our countries, Israel and our leaders, our homes, animals, and all that you bless us with. I ask you to put a hedge of protection around us, a canopy of protection over us and give us gaudian angles to watch over us and protect us.
    I plead psalms 91 and all your word over us. Cover us with the blood of Jesus, cover us with his awesome, cleansing, healing, saving blood, I plead his blood over us. Thank you Jesus for shedding your blood on the cross for us so that we can be saved and forgiven of our sins. Thank you for the stripes you took so we are healded of all sickness and disease, thank you for allowing yourself to be made poor so that we are rich, thank you for giving us your peace and filling us with the Holy Spirit, and thank you that we can come to the Father through you.
    Thank you father for sending your son to save us, I thank you for your grace, mercy, love and your forgiveness. I ask that you protect us from satan and his fiery darts and all our enemies, for your word says that if Jesus is for us who can be against and those who are against us shall not prevail. Bless us with good health, prosperity, and abundance. With peace, joy, happiness and forgiveness. With power, love, and a sound mind. With wisdom,  knowledge, courage and strength.
    Thank you for opening up the windows of Heaven and pouring out you blessing on us that it fills up our cup and flows over onto others. I come to you through your son Jesus Christ my Lord and savoir. Amen
    I hope this might help someone out to get into the word and build your own relationship with God, and don't forget he says to bring his word before him. Philippines 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but with everything by prayer with supplication and thanksgiving let your request be known to God.
     God, family, country, may God bless us.

Shake it off and keep climbing

     I heard a story and want to share it with you. I have no knowledge of this being true but I sure can relate to the story and I hope I tell it right, so you can get out of the story what I did.
     Ok there was a farmer that enjoyed all his livestock and even had them named because they meant a lot to him. One day he was feeding and admiring his farm and animals. As he walked through his farm counting his animals he heard Jack his donkey just screaming for help. (If you have farm animal's you will learn their sounds of distress,  and several farmer's have donkeys because they can single handily fight off coyotes to save the rest of the animal's.) So the farmer ran looking for Jack, he found that Jack had fallen down a old abandon well. As Jack cried he talked to him to calm him down but Jack was not listening because he was scared, the farmer tried to think of how he could get Jack out but he could not come up with anything so he ran to his neighbor's house. So the two farmer's stood at the empty water well listening to Jack call out as they scratched there head's trying to come up with a idea to save Jack.
    The farmer's tried everything and nothing worked so they figured out that the best thing was to fill in the well so that  another animal wouldn't fall into it and to bury Jack at the same time. So as the farmer's took shovels and started filling the well in with dirt, Jack continued to cry for help. After several shovels of dirt had been thrown into the well Jack's crying had stopped. So with tears in his eyes the farmer leaned over the well to take a look.
    As the neighbor continued to through dirt into the well the farmer could not believe his eye's. Jack with each shovel full of dirt that would hit him, he would shake the dirt off his back and stand on it. So as they continued to fill up the well and Jack was ok and he just walked out of the hole that he was in.
    My grandma told me this story and I want to pass it down to other's. She told me no matter what people throw on you just keep shaking it off and looking up, because if you can shake off the dirt you will get to the top. 

    Ok I really didn't think that I could find some pictures of a donkey stuck in a well but with the power of the Internet I did so here you go.
     

Goose on the loose? No a goat

    I was asked to put this true story on here by a friend. This last fall me and my wife purchased two milking goats. They are not cheap, one was a two year old and pregnant that would give us a spring newborn,  and the other was a one year old that we could breed in the summer. Before I get to the story that I want to tell, let me fill you in on some goat stuff.
    About three years ago we were giving a baby female Boer goat, we raised her just like our other animal's, (I think she thought she was a dog). She would jump the fence and wonder the neighbor hood, she wouldn't bother anything and she loved people.  I could just whistle and she would come to me, with raisins we taught her a lot of tricks like you would a dog. Well a buddy worked at the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, and they were looking for a goat to pull a cart in the story of Joseph, they came and looked at her and now she is a star.
    We had decided to get some milking goats so we could have fresh milk and make cheese. We found some Nubian goats and purchased them, they was not as tame as the goat we had raised. We named them Carmelita and Abby, they where friendly but just scared and we could not get close to them. A few days later, Abby the one year old, got out of the fencing and ran down in the woods. We could locate her but couldn't get close to her, so for several day's we put out food for her and seen she was ok but just couldn't catch her. I would lay in bed wondering of how we could get her back in fear of something getting her. Well God carers for all his creation,  because one nite as I layed in bed thinking of how that little goat must be scared,  it came to me, experienced farmers I am sure already know this but I didn't. Goats like to be in a herd, so if I could just let her find a herd she would follow in. But we only had one goat that was not even making a sound, so I started looking on the internet for some goat recordings. I finally found a three minute sound of goats and other barnyard animal's, so I downloaded it to the pc and put it on a loop. I plugged the pc into the home stereo, then I ran the speakers to the back porch where the goat yard is. We opened the gates and tied Carmelita to a tree and cranked up the tunes from the barnyard sound. It took only about five minutes for Abby to come out of the woods crying for comfort with a herd. She circled about three times and found her way into the gate to Carmelita.
    Since then, with love, food, raisins, and care, they are tame. We can even turn them loose to eat some fresh green leafs on the property without them running off. Carmelita gave birth to a wonderful young buck that is a tan or buckskin color with white on his head, so we call him cotton top. Abby is pregnant and we are looking forward to her offspring.
    I know that people don't have the time or room to raise animals or a garden,  but if you do it is such a wonderful feeling of success. You get to see things grow from seed, little babies born and you get to build a relationship with them. We are truly blessed to get the experience of raising some farm animal's and get to reap the benefits with fresh eggs, milk, cheese, and vegetables. Even if you have a small yard you can build or buy a chicken coop and a few hens without much of a investment and enjoy fresh eggs, you don't need a rooster unless you wish to have babies. If you are allergic to dairy products you can have milk and cheese from goats. If you loose your goat, follow the directions above. Lol.....
     God, family, country, may God bless us.