A.C. Williams's Blog, page 42

Sweet, spicy, crispy holiday pickles (that can drop a vampire)

I wanted to have a homemade Christmas this year, making gifts for people instead of just buying gift cards or geeky presents. Not that I dislike getting gift cards or geeky stuff, but there’s something really personal about getting homemade presents. And so many of the things I love to make and bake have such…

Texas Christmas Pickles brining in the scullery sink

Mom and I spent the weekend working on crockpot apple butter, which turned out fabulous, but another holiday favorite around Safe Haven Farm is what some folks call Texas Christmas Pickles. Generally we’ve just called them the “hot, sweet, crispy pickles.” But you could probably also refer to them as “Anti-Vampire Pickles.” Seriously, these pickles…

Making easy crockpot apple butter

Something about canning makes me happy. Maybe it’s just working in the kitchen. Maybe it’s seeing rows and rows of beautifully preserved jams and fruits and vegetables after you’re done. Mom started getting us used to working in the kitchen when we were very young. My brother and I would stand on chairs and crack…

Come As You Are | Neon Steeple

There’s hope for the hopeless And all those who’ve strayed Come sit at the table Come taste the grace There’s rest for the weary Rest that endures Earth has no sorrow That heaven can’t cure

Jars of homemade, just-canned apple butter

There’s a few things that taste like fall, and most of them are pumpkin flavored. But apple butter, even though it’s yummy all year round, just tastes like autumn to me. So that’s what I did over the weekend with my mom–homemade apple butter! We made it in the crockpot! It was super easy, and…

Peculiar winter habits of people with no heat upstairs

Winter has arrived in Kansas with a vengeance. Almost overnight we went from 70 degrees and sunny to 15 with a wind chill of -5. And since it’s Kansas, of course there’s wind. One night we had 40 mph winds sustained with gusts up to 60 mph. Fall hung around for a little while, which…

Made New | Lincoln Brewster

You are my salvation I will not fear You’re the strength of my life I won’t fear You hold my head up You remind me who I am You hold my head up I’m alive in You again I’m made new

How much snow will we get this year?

Two winters ago, Safe Haven Farm saw about two and a half feet of snow in two weeks. That may not sound like a lot to some folks up north, but in the central plains, that’s a lot. This week marks the first real wintry push that’s hitting Kansas. Midweek the highs won’t even hit…

Tips to remember when riding a bike

I got a bike for my birthday (the big photo up there!), and I love it. But now the weather is getting colder (seriously cold next week), so riding doesn’t work so well—unless you’re bundled up! But I got to thinking about my experience getting back on a bike after 20+ years. It was rockier…

Save My Life | Sidewalk Prophets

Tell me what I need to hear Tell me that I’m not forgotten Show me there’s a God Who can be more than all I’ve ever wanted ‘Cause right now I need a little hope I need to know that I’m not alone Maybe God is calling you tonight To tell me something that might…