We took this picture about a month ago at the Olsen's ranch (If I look uncomfortable it is probably because I am!) I am so grateful for the Olsen family! They could be my parents, but we count them as very good friends. They have definitely given us much more than we have given them.
It all started the summer we moved to Maryland. It was the 4th of July and we didn't know anyone and had no celebration plans. But then, we saw a flyer for a community potluck breakfast at the Olsen's Ranch, and we went. We contributed bananas to the breakfast. The Olsen's provided the pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Every year they do this, and every year it gets bigger. Hundreds of people attend, and the program usually consists of bag pipers, quartets, children singing, and Iraq war veterens who tell their story. War veterens are asked to come forward, and they are recognized and applauded for their service. It is an amazing program the Olsen's do every year, and we never want to miss it!
This past summer, Mr. Olsen invited me to help on the ranch and in return I could share in some of the produce. What a BLESSING that has turned out to be! Between my garden and his orchard, I rarely bought any produce over the summer. And it continues still... having canned a lot of his fruit, we are still able to cut down our grocery bill, and it should last us until the trees start producing once again.
Since the Olsen's were providing us with fruit to can, it got me into canning lots of other things too. Thanks to some more friends who are experts at canning and knowing where the good deals are, I have canned everything from Peaches to Beef--- that's right... BEEF. For super cheap. I even found an orchard that was selling apples for $6 a bushel! We got some in October, and are still trying to plow through them today! The Olsen's have really helped us get going on our food storage, and I am so grateful to have it to use right now.
Can I just talk about that beef again? It was so easy to can (I bought 25lbs of it!) and the thing I like the most is now I have meat that I can use and don't have to touch to prepare it. There is nothing worse than touching raw meat... so I spent a day where I touched it a lot, and now I don't have to. Yay!
I will never be able to thank the Olsen's enough for their kindness to our family!
Tage didn't want to be a shepherd and wear the robe, but after some bribing (hooray for candy!) she agreed to put it on. Chocolate works for a lot of things in our house!
Then we got a plate of goodies and laid out a blanket and watched "Christmas on Sesame Street" which is probably the coolest Christmas movie EVER! I used to watch it when I was a little girl, and my mom found it on DVD for me! Poor Big Bird freezes his giblets... (what??)
