Sausage Making

For the first time since we have been married, Jason's parents made sausage with us! It is a German tradition around here but it also just makes sense for families that hunt and store meat throughout the year.Kill and harvest your meat
Cut it all and mix in pork. Pile it on the kitchen counter and season it.

Send it through the grinder once and then twice for fine ground meat.

Using a sausage stuffer and beef casings (not appealing substance but very resourceful!), turn the hand crank to fill casings.

Tie off links with string.
Hang out in the smokehouse until desired 'dryness' is achieved.

ENJOY all year long!!!!!
(Jason and I also wrapped 20 pounds of ground meat in 1# quantities to use in regular cooking.)

...these gifts from Thy bounty...

All Saint's Eve Costume Party! Personalities include Abraham & Sarah, St. Sebastien, Michael the Archangel, Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Gemena, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Patrick, St. Agnes, Veronica, Fr. Andrew Dun Lac and others.

The First Fruits of our winter garden!! (and some late producers from summer)

Grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, turnips & cabbage

Fresh venison, warm on the bone still!

This is how Jason and his dad 'clean' & skin the dear they kill

Baptism Birthday

HAPPY SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY ANNE CATHERINE!!


3 years ago today, our first born was baptized in water and The Spirit. It was particularly poetic today as I watched my two little ones dance around in the cool rain falling from the heavens.




Thank God for the grace that led us to the waters of baptism.

Swine Flu Hysteria like you've probably never seen before

When I got this in my email today, I thought it was particularly amusing considering our recent bout with the H1N1 flu. Also, we rented the Winnie the Pooh movie the other day... Anne wasn't sure what to think about this picture. Jason and I got good giggle.


Jason is well now and we are still flu free!