Family & Friends enjoying God's creation

dough-cooked-over-the-fire

Our family has started a little summer tradition in recent years - dough-cooked-over-the-fire (such an original name, I know). Actually, the first time Mike and I were introduced to this was when we went to Germany with Word of Life a few years ago. There, of course, we had it with bratwurst or Nutella. Here we've Canadianized it a bit and use plain old smokies...or Nutella. What is interesting about it is that while we learned it in Germany, Canadian history has a very similar traditional food called Bannock. Since I come from a German-Canadian family it seems very fitting, I suppose :).

It's fun! 

It tastes so yummy! 

And it's become a staple at our campfire cookouts.

So, I thought I would share it with y'all (as the Texans say). 

...so you can be as happy as Josh...

"mmm...sweet satisfaction"

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DOUGH-COOKED-OVER-THE-FIRE Recipe

1/2 cup warm water

3/4 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp of yeast

Mix above ingredients together and let proof until doubled in size.

In a mixing bowl place:

1/4 cup cream 

1 1/2 cups warm water

1/8 cup of sugar

3/4 tsp salt

2 cups of flour

Mix together until spongy.

Add the yeast mixture to spongy mixture and blend together.

Add about 2-3 cups more of flour.

Mix until it makes a firm dough.

Kneed dough for about 10 minutes on a floured surface.

(if dough is still sticky add more flour)

Then place dough in a large oiled bowl.

And let rise until doubled in size.

Form dough into small individual-sized bun shapes and place on a pan.

Take small ball of dough and wrap around the end of a thick stick, sealing edges well (we usually take a knife and scrape all the bark off the end we are cooking on...unless you like to eat that sort of thing).

 Cook until well-done over an open fire. 

Enjoy with sausages, smokies, hot dog wieners, jam, honey or Nutella...

...and many, many friends

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(thanks to Mom and Auntie Doris for perfecting a recipe that works perfectly!)

Cool Beans!!!

Once upon a day last week we were driving through Red Deer when, lo and behold, we saw a...

...

...

...

...

...

...double-decker bus!

Of course we had to stop...

...and get some coffee too...:)

A Summer Project - Week # 2-3

 A POEM FOR THE HOME



There once was a crew with no clue;
They looked like they came from the zoo.
They wandered around
With thoughts so profound
Yet with no idea what to do.

The head-honcho came and did say
That this was no ordinary day
"I'll whip you into shape,
now pass me that tape
Let's see you work for your pay."*

The Pasload** it shot until hot
Then suddenly it stopped and would not.
Our tool may be neat
But Don's got us beat:
“Just give this here router a shot!”

First task was to pour the cement
Using many tools that were lent
Then putting up walls
And avoiding all falls
‘Cept Mitch who fell in the basement....***

*Disclaimer: my father is not a slave-driver. In this case, rythm and rhyme is more important than truth ;).
**Our handy dandy air-nailer...the much fought over tool...when it's in a working mood.
***True story. But he's okay...just a little sore. 




(C) Missy, Mandy, Sarah, Auntie Doris (with assistance from Mike, Josh, Ryan, Mitch and Uncle Miles)

Prairie Storm

This past Thursday evening the storm clouds were brewing. A glimpse of the awesome power and beauty of the clouds and seeing the effects of the wind puts life into perspective. How small we really are! Day to day we go about our lives thinking that we actually have some sort of control or security of our own making but one glimpse of a prairie storm in the distance is an awesome and humble reminder of our true place and of our dependence on the One who truly can control all things!

*photo credits go to my mom & mandy

  

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!  

- Proverbs 30:4 -

Out of all of this we got not even one drop of rain but only miles away the wind demonstrated its strength. The pictures below are from a farm about 5 minutes up the road from my parent's who told us that they suffered minor damages compared to farmers only a few more miles north of them.

A Summer Project - Week #1

It was tossed around as an idea over a year ago. 

It was put onto paper several months ago. 

Work began just over a week ago. 

This summer our family is building a spec house together. 

Song of the Week

"Farther Along" - Josh Garrels from Josh Garrels on Vimeo.

I discovered this guy by accident and since then have listened to this song several times. (this is Mike posting by the way). This song brought to mind a familiar passage of scripture... 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
"Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
 
Farther Along

Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I’ve seen

Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin’ that line back home

So much more to life than we’ve been told
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you’ve done
Forgiveness alright

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I’m free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levee and my bluff
Let the flood wash me

And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon