• Count Your Many Blessings - by Nancy Carter, Senior Editor
• This Year, I Am Thankful For... - by the HomesteadBloggers
• Savoring Simplicity and Thanksgiving - by Eleanor Joyce
• Product Review - The Hunter's Wife by Martha Greene
• Hunting for a Good Venison Recipe? - by Martha Greene
• Deck the Halls Homestead Style - by Lisa Vitello
• Grandma's Cakes - by Lisa Barthuly
• Smoky Mountain Oddities - by Gena Suarez
• Thanksgivings for the Gardener - by Catherine Love

I am thankful for the unconditional love and support from my husband and sons. They are truly some of the most hardworking, caring, and protective fellows that I know. ~ Nancy Carter Homestead Front Porch and Lessons Learned on the Farm This year I am thankful for ALL the blessings God has bestowed upon my family! I couldn't possibly be given the space to name them all . . . but, a few? Well, since you asked . . . Jesus Christ, my Savior; my handsome, loyal, strong, manly man husband; my darling, beautiful angel girls; the new baby God is sending our way (soon!); that we are home ('til heaven anyway!), that we are back at our home church! We are all healthy, and we have a wonderful home in the woods, an amazing church family, a full freezer, our little home-based business, and the list goes on. Thank you, Lord! ~ Lisa and the growing Barthuly clan! www.HomesteadBlogger.com/OurLittleHomestead This year I am thankful for God's work through our family. As a result of our consistent efforts to live by His principles, we were able to overcome a great disappointment and MANY potential mistakes. We have all been talking about how much He has done for us in this past year alone. More thanks than I can ever say with words. I am sorry, Nancy, but I have to send you this second thanks. I am also especially thankful for the opportunity to work with the HomesteadBlogger community. I have gleaned much information from those much wiser than myself. In researching grant opportunities for TOS, God has been leading me to delve deeper and deeper into the work and mission of TOS published by the Suarez family. A special thanks to the staff of HomesteadBlogger for all the dedication and hard work! ~ Leslie Valeska Journey of Simplicity and Raise the Cup! Nancy, I have so much to be thankful for. God has blessed me with a loving family, a beautiful home, good health, and a great church family. When I watch the news and see what is happening to others, I know my loving Savior has His hand on my life. HUGS! ~ Grandma Rosie www.HomesteadBlogger.com/TexasRose I am so thankful for my home and family. Although I love visiting my parents, my HOME is with my husband and two children. I feel relaxed and loved. Being away reminds me to be thankful for my husband! Happy Thanksgiving! (I wish we had that holiday in Northern Ireland!) ~ Catherine www.HomesteadBlogger.com/hawthorncottage I'm thankful for freedom--freedom to worship, to homeschool, and to live according to our family's values and priorities. ~ Eleanor www.HomesteadBlogger.com/HomesteadersatHeart This year, I am thankful for the blessing of new friends and family in the Homesteadblogger community and for the wealth of ideas and inspiration shared by these generous souls. ~ Catherine Love www.HomesteadBlogger.com/CatherineAnn I am so thankful that I have the Lord in my life. I am also thankful for simple things like having a roof over my head, my health. I am also thankful that even though she is not with me now, I have a beautiful daughter who is loved and is under the care of an awesome family. I am thankful for my friends worldwide and that they are there for me no matter what. ~ Page www.HomesteadBlogger.com/shekinah I am thankful for my darling husband and my one precious daughter. I am thankful for the life that hubby and I have together. I am also thankful for health issues. Because without them I would not know all about organic gardening or I wouldn't have found HomesteadBlogger. I am also very thankful for the trials we have had in the past five years. Without them we would not know what heartache and sorrow are like. And we would not have grown closer to God and each other. ~ Tina Kay www.HomesteadBlogger.com/lilpatch I am thankful for our new baby boy, six weeks old tomorrow. God has blessed us with a healthy baby thus far. I am also thankful for a husband who has been there every step of the way--from late night cravings to an all night labor to changing poopy diapers to now doing all sorts of things around the house. I am blessed much beyond what I deserve. ~ Shannon www.HomesteadBlogger.com/WorkInProgress This year I am thankful for my family. Not real original, I know, but I have been so blessed in my family. Several of them, including my husband and both parents, have been saved within the past five years. My adult sons are walking with God in a way I have always prayed for. He is so good! ~ Catherine Timmons www.HomesteadBlogger.com/GloryQuilts

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." --Laura Ingalls Wilder

The colors, sounds, smells, and tastes of Thanksgiving are warm and earthy. They are grounded and connected. We are drawn together by shared history and common experience, with a focus on family and a professed purpose of giving thanks. It doesn't get much better than this! Noticeably absent is the commercialized, collective financial hemorrhage that seems to define other holidays in our country. Thanksgiving's colors are a visual feast. Warm brown bread and burnished gold turkey, deep orange sweet potatoes and creamy mashed potatoes, buttery yellow corn and deep red cranberries; these are the colors of the earth's rich abundance. As much as I'd love to write about the sounds, smells, and tastes as well, it would definitely put this article over my word limit! So then back to our title, "Savoring Simplicity and Thanksgiving." What exactly does it mean to "savor" something? The dictionary gives a couple of meanings that I like. One is "to perceive by taste or smell, especially with relish." (No, not cranberry relish here . . . it means delight!) The other definition is "to give oneself to the enjoyment of." It would seem, then, that to savor something takes willing, purposeful action. I'd like to encourage each of us to savor simplicity and thanksgiving (both with an upper and lowercase "t"). But this savoring involves conscious choices, an awareness of our focus and priorities, and the courage to make adjustments where necessary.

• Leave lots of white space on your calendar -- Too many "enriching" opportunities and events can, in fact, rob you blind. If it will drain your time, creative energy, or emotion, graciously plug the hole. Be selective with commitments.
  
  
• Spend some time outdoors every day, and bring the outdoors in -- Even a short walk outside will do wonders for your creative and physical energy. Use nature's beauty (leaves, branches, berries, pinecones, and the like) for inspiring and inexpensive décor indoors.
  
  
• Do something you love everyday, even if it's only for 15 minutes -- What's your pleasure? Writing, knitting, dancing... whatever it is that makes your soul sing, make time for it! It's a little deposit in your life currency account.
  
  
• Engage your senses -- Make a conscious effort to pay attention to what you are seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling. We miss so much beauty every day just because we're too preoccupied to observe it.
  
  
• Know where your responsibility ends -- Recognize that there will always be individuals whom you cannot please, people that you cannot help, and problems that you cannot fix. Accept it, get over it, and move on. Don't let it exhaust your currency!

Marmee Dear & Co.
www.MarmeeDear.com
Honea Path, SC

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--Heather Bridenstine, Spring City, TN

A crispness in the air gives hint that the holidays are just around the corner! Fortunately, The Schoolhouse Store has plenty of brand new goodies to help with your holiday planning, schooling, and shopping. Our very popular 12 Week Holiday Planner for the Christian Family helps you organize with ease as you keep your focus on the true meaning of the holidays. We also offer a Thankfulness CopyWork set from Wisdom Kids as well as Advent: Preparing for the Coming of the Lord and The Glorious Coming: A Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. These e-books are all available for immediate download. We're also in the process of adding some wonderful new toys to our Toy category, and you can find a Holiday Items and Gift Ideas category if you're just in the mood to browse. And, as always, we offer ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING on every item!

5 tsp. ground thyme
1 Tbsp. coarse ground black pepper
2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp. rubbed sage
5 tsp. marjoram
5 tsp. coriander
4 Tbsp. salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 pound of pork fat

I was eagerly anticipating spending our first Christmas on our little homestead in the "big woods." I have always enjoyed decorating the house and making it merry during the Christmas season. But I hadn't managed to collect a lot in the way of trimmings at that point in my life. I reveled in long walks around our acreage, becoming familiar with each and every tree and shrub. I gloried in the wonderfully vibrant array of colors and textures the Lord has provided in His creation. It began to dawn on me that I had a diverse assortment of ornamental material from which I could choose right there on my own property! First, there were the trees. The fanning evergreen branches of redwoods and firs make a lovely display of greenery on a shelf or cabinet. Other types of trees will add further texture and contrast. The shiny, elongated leaves of the pepperwood tree will add a spicy smell to your assortment of foliage. The soft, greenish-silver leaves of the Silver Dollar eucalyptus also smell wonderful, and the pale color contrasts nicely with the darker greens. We all know that pine trees produce those familiar, big cones that are frequently used in Christmas décor, but the fir tree also produces a tiny cone that can be used. Pile them up in a colorful basket or create a rustic wreath by twisting greenery together and attaching the fir cones with crafter's wire. Once I started thinking about decorating with natural materials from creation, the possibilities became almost endless. After lining your shelves or cabinets with tree branches, intersperse apples, pears, pomegranates, crabapples, oranges and pinecones among the foliage. Rotate the fruit every three or four days so it doesn't start to rot. You can also take oranges, lemons and limes, slice them thin, and dry them for pretty ornaments. Use a dehydrator or place the slices on a wire rack which has been placed on a cookie sheet and put in an oven that has been heated to 200° and then turned off. You may need to repeat this process for 24 hours or so for them to dry. When they are dry, put ribbon through them to hang on the tree or in a window. Apples can also be sliced and dried, but they must be pretreated with a lemon and ascorbic acid solution first so they don't turn brown. Use 1/4 c. lemon juice and 1 tsp. ascorbic acid for every 2 cups of water. Core the apples (don't peel) and slice them widthwise (not lengthwise) so that the slices come out round. Place each slice in the ascorbic acid solution for at least five minutes. Spread out on a cookie sheet and dry in a slow oven (200° turned on and off again), turning the slices every now and then. Keep checking them until they feel dry and leathery. You can hot glue these onto an embroidery hoop to make a wreath. Everyone has heard of stringing cranberries and popcorn. The first time we tried stringing popcorn, things didn't turn out so well. The popcorn kept crumbing. What I have found out is that you must let the popcorn sit out for a day or two to get stale. That way it won't crumble as you put the needle through it. Fishing line works better than thread. And use fresh cranberries. They will dry out naturally on the line.

US Subscriptions: 19 FREE GIFTS Whether you are new to our magazine or a long-time subscriber, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has an incredible offer that you won't want to pass up! In the past, we couldn't offer the renewing subscribers the 19 free gifts - those were only for new customers. But for a limited time only, RENEWING subscribers get all 19 gifts, too! I'm a new subscriber…what do I get? With your two-year subscription to TOS you'll receive: A 2-year/3-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine 19 FREE gifts for you (over $200 value) All this for ONLY $39 for 2 years and $59 for 3 years Click Here to Purchase Online Or, call 1-888-718-HOME Already a subscriber? Renew now and receive your choice of either Two or Three more years of your favorite homeschool magazine and 19 FREE gifts. All this for ONLY $39 for 2 years and $59 for 3 years Click Here to Purchase! Or, call 1-888-718-HOME The first 3,000 two-year or three-year new subscriber or renewing your two or three year subscription, you will receive (by USPS mail) NINETEEN free homeschooling gifts. But you don't get four gifts - you get 19! Even the shipping is paid for, and you are not required to buy anything again. Hurry! Promotion will sell out fast! (US Residents Only) Click Here to View the FREE Gifts

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Non-edible Cinnamon Ornaments 1 cup ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp. ground cloves 1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg 3/4 cup applesauce 2 Tbsp. glue In a medium bowl, stir together the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Mix in the applesauce and the glue. Work the mixture with your hands until you can form a ball. If the mixture is too dry, add more applesauce. If it's too wet, add more cinnamon. Lightly dust a clean surface with cinnamon. Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with Christmas cookie cutters. Use a straw to punch a hole in the top of the shape. Bake in a 200° oven for several hours, turning once or twice. When the shapes are cool, thread a piece of festive ribbon through the hole. If you hang these on a tree, hang them high. Little ones might think they can eat them! Cinnamon sticks can be used to make sweet little ornaments. Hot glue together two 3-inch cinnamon sticks lengthwise. Then hot glue one more piece on top in the middle crease. This makes them look like a little stack of Yule logs! Tie a thin piece of gold or other Christmas-colored ribbon around the middle and make a bow. Finish off with a touch of greenery. These can hang on a tree or make pretty gift toppers. You may not have a yard full of redwood trees, but if you start looking around, you will probably find some natural trimmings of your own. The glossy leaves of the Camellia shrub, holly, or most any other type of evergreen plant can be used. Walnuts, filberts and almonds make a pretty display. You can visit your local Christmas tree lot and ask for discarded branches. There are a few important points to keep in mind when decorating with natural materials. First, many plants are potentially harmful if ingested. This would include the holly berry and mistletoe. If you have any doubt, always keep your displays high and out of the reach of little ones. Check www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants for a complete list of poisonous plants. Tree branches will eventually dry out and may become a fire hazard. Never place candles near your evergreens or other natural materials. If the materials become too brittle, you might want to discard them and replace with fresh plants. Making our homes warm and welcoming by bringing in the beauty of creation will help make our hearts merry and create an atmosphere of joy for our family and friends who will visit during the holiday season. Even the Lord Himself has said, "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary and I will make the place of my feet glorious." (Isaiah 60:13)

6 eggs
4 c. buttermilk
1/4 cup olive oil
1 c. cream (or half and half)
1 pkg. of yeast (not sure on measurement--we toss in a heaping Tbsp.)
4 c. flour
2 Tbsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. salt

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
                             ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Be Thankful for the miracle of growth that happens when we plant a seed--growth in both the seed planted and in our own hearts.
• Be Thankful for the blessings of rain and sunshine to help our gardens grow.
• Be Thankful for the pleasure and peace you receive while tending your garden.
• Be Thankful for good health and physical strength that allows you to garden and for the benefits of increased health and strength derived from gardening.
• Be Thankful for the harvest and the joy of sharing it with family and friends.
• Be Thankful for those family and friends who continue to accept zucchini from your garden... lots of it!
• Be Thankful for the little surprises that pop up unexpectedly in the garden--flowers you didn't plant; animal helpers such as toads, bees, and ladybugs; an inquisitive child.
• Be Thankful for generous gardening friends who will gladly share advice, seeds, and plants and will (just maybe) help with the weeding!
• Most of all, Be Thankful for our wonderful Lord who makes all of these blessings, and countless others, ours!

Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices.
                             --Johann Cruger

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