What does it mean to me to be sustainable? I ask myself this question at an hr when coffee is my best friend. Yes, I'm a coffee drinker. Love the smell, love the taste. Have tried the route of teas which do a great job of putting zing in your step; love those, too. But that initial smell wandering through the house before the sun comes up....mmmmmm.....
I talk about sustainability on Thursdays, or at least I try to stay committed to this topic on this day of the week. Sometimes, the life and times of a SAHM pop up and demand audience, so I write about those moments, too. But what it means to be sustainable, some days it feels like a far reach until I realize I'm doing what I can at this moment. Everyone seems to have the "s" word on their lips these days, along with the terms "eco" and "green." Now, my personal opinion is that too many people may be treating the movement of getting back to simplicity as a trend that will fade and resurface much like other trends (fashion comes to mind). To me, this is not a trend. Its a way of life. Daily living, putting sustainable facets on your unpolished stone; consider the gem you just might have under the surface.
My topics on sustainability has been focused upon edible landscaping and urban/suburban gardening/farming. I'm in the middle of it right now, along with establishing colonial cottage style gardens here at our home. I almost don't want to talk about it, even though I talk quite frequently about it all. I'd rather be elbow deep in the soil, letting my soul connect to the earth. My other thoughts on sustainable practices? The immediate thought comes to mind-recycled textile products.
I'm working toward my goal of not falling asleep with the kids when they go to bed so that I can stay up and work my ideas into manifestation. Once I'm there, I can start making my market bags again. I made two prototypes to work with, taking them with me whenever I need to shop. Is my reader looking for pictures? Yeah, me too. As I start talking more in-depth about recycled textile creations, photos will be included in my posts. For today, I just want to talk. Anyway, back to my thread. Shopping today is quite an adventure. Food prices are going up, the potential for e. Coli is greater than it was 20 years ago, and stores are starting to charge customers for every roadside daisy, aka plastic bag, that is used to pack up the purchase. Customers start bringing their own bags. Companies start marketing reusable bags. This hippie is making her own bags, as well as picking up the occasional bag while in the checkout line. My ultimate goal is to be able to walk in the door, armed with my bags, as well as produce bags so I don't have to pull from the roll attached to the wall or produce tables, and feel good when the cashier credits towards the bill the number of bags I brought in with me. Yes, you can get between 3 & 5 cents per bag towards your purchase for every bag you bring in. You help reduce the number of roadside daisies, you get a little change carved off your bill, and you leave feeling good.
I may not drive a hybrid vehicle, my kids' car seats don't have mp3 holders that resemble ashtrays hanging off the side, and I don't buy everything that screams organic on the plastic package the item comes in but I'm proud to say I do what I can to make a difference. I buy local, we eat seasonally. I very rarely buy anything full price, and I'm not a follower of the masses to buy the newest and hottest stuff on the market. I keep it simple. I can only hope my choices are good influence on my boys to realize you don't need what everyone else has. You only need what truly sustains you. Everything else is just stuff. There's a saying, "The one who dies with the most toys wins." I disagree. All you have is debt and stuff. And you can't take it with you.
~Momma
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Another Wild Wednesday in the Green Mountain State
You know you live in New England when the weather forecast is the same for three days straight but Mother Nature follows her own rules. "If ya don't like the weatha, wait five minutes; it'll change." Today was designated for rain all day. Well, I can tell ya, when 6 am rolled around today and the sun was streaming through the bedroom curtains (no, to me they are not window treatments), I sensed that Wednesday and Thursday swapped forecasts. Watching the local news and catching the "new" forecast for the week, big changes. Well, all I can say is this. When I wake up in the morning, look out the window and see what I see for weather, that's how I plan my day-unless I have appointments and errands to run. Otherwise, making huge plans to stand by just don't jive with me. And when you have young children, you always make room for head spinning changes.
Yesterday, I took my boys downtown to the ECHO center. Check out my HOP category; there's a link to their site. Great place, down on the waterfront. We have a family membership, so all I have to do when I walk in the door is have our card scanned, and in we go to explore. We took the bus to get there, so parking was not an issue for me; just waiting for the right bus to go back home was interesting. We checked out the current exhibit, which focuses on nature that glows. Fireflies, sea life, etc...pretty cool. Then off to the lake room. Different fish that live in the lake (that would be Lake Champlain), the history of the sitings of Champ, our lake monster; and some of the boats/ships that have sunk in the depths of the lake. Upstairs to see the frogs. Frogs from around the world. A water table to show waterways, cultural displays, and a grand bee line to the upper deck to watch the boats and feel the breeze coming off the lake. Nice. A snack in the park, which is a stone's throw from the center, my boys had to watch the boats while walking on the boardwalk before it was time to walk up the hill to wait for the right bus home. What seemed like what could be an easy venture to get home turned into a bit longer on the waiting and changing buses. Ok, so the next time we go downtown, we'll be making it a day. Time @ the ECHO, lunch and play in the park, watch the boats while on the boardwalk, and then go home. Priceless.
Today, I feel a bit more settled about what we're going to do. I have gardening to keep going with, the boys will have their pool, and we can make the most of what we have. One more week, and my gardening will become maintenance and harvesting-finally. What's good about the work done this year is that next year it will be so much more easy to put stuff in and what it grow. Its only taken me three years to pull this together but all good things come in the time they were meant to arrive.
Tomorrow is potentially my sustainable living topic. I want to talk about.....
~Momma
Yesterday, I took my boys downtown to the ECHO center. Check out my HOP category; there's a link to their site. Great place, down on the waterfront. We have a family membership, so all I have to do when I walk in the door is have our card scanned, and in we go to explore. We took the bus to get there, so parking was not an issue for me; just waiting for the right bus to go back home was interesting. We checked out the current exhibit, which focuses on nature that glows. Fireflies, sea life, etc...pretty cool. Then off to the lake room. Different fish that live in the lake (that would be Lake Champlain), the history of the sitings of Champ, our lake monster; and some of the boats/ships that have sunk in the depths of the lake. Upstairs to see the frogs. Frogs from around the world. A water table to show waterways, cultural displays, and a grand bee line to the upper deck to watch the boats and feel the breeze coming off the lake. Nice. A snack in the park, which is a stone's throw from the center, my boys had to watch the boats while walking on the boardwalk before it was time to walk up the hill to wait for the right bus home. What seemed like what could be an easy venture to get home turned into a bit longer on the waiting and changing buses. Ok, so the next time we go downtown, we'll be making it a day. Time @ the ECHO, lunch and play in the park, watch the boats while on the boardwalk, and then go home. Priceless.
Today, I feel a bit more settled about what we're going to do. I have gardening to keep going with, the boys will have their pool, and we can make the most of what we have. One more week, and my gardening will become maintenance and harvesting-finally. What's good about the work done this year is that next year it will be so much more easy to put stuff in and what it grow. Its only taken me three years to pull this together but all good things come in the time they were meant to arrive.
Tomorrow is potentially my sustainable living topic. I want to talk about.....
~Momma
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Where will Tuesday go?
Another sunny morning wakes us to come alive and be a part of the world. There's a part of me wanting to garden, another that wants to play in the pool, go to the park, take a trip downtown to the aquarium/nature place; lots to do and only one body to make it all happen. I also have school schedules for my preschooler to crank out. So, I ask myself where will Tuesday go?
Natural Home and Garden magazine open, and I'm looking at the page about cleaning with essential oils. Mmmmm....I've added some to mop water, and this past spring, I mixed a blend in with baking soda and water to scrub & wipe down my kitchen counters and wipe down my cabinet shelves. It was such an amazing scent! My mate didn't care for it, as he's more the "I gotta smell bleach to know its clean" type of guy. Yes, we are quite opposite on things. Tea Tree is a good antimicrobial essential oil, typically used on cuts, scrapes, bites and mild burns. Makes for a great cleaner, too. These days, I'm adding it to the mop bucket for a fresh scent that drifts throughout the house.
Still unsure about where this day is going, so a shower, water the gardens, time with my boys; these should loosen the death grip I have on my mind and what it is we're going to adventure into for today. Yes, this Task Master is leaving a short post for a Tuesday but this is what life does sometimes. Go with the flow. ~Momma
Natural Home and Garden magazine open, and I'm looking at the page about cleaning with essential oils. Mmmmm....I've added some to mop water, and this past spring, I mixed a blend in with baking soda and water to scrub & wipe down my kitchen counters and wipe down my cabinet shelves. It was such an amazing scent! My mate didn't care for it, as he's more the "I gotta smell bleach to know its clean" type of guy. Yes, we are quite opposite on things. Tea Tree is a good antimicrobial essential oil, typically used on cuts, scrapes, bites and mild burns. Makes for a great cleaner, too. These days, I'm adding it to the mop bucket for a fresh scent that drifts throughout the house.
Still unsure about where this day is going, so a shower, water the gardens, time with my boys; these should loosen the death grip I have on my mind and what it is we're going to adventure into for today. Yes, this Task Master is leaving a short post for a Tuesday but this is what life does sometimes. Go with the flow. ~Momma
Monday, June 27, 2011
Changes on the Horizon
There is always change taking place here on the (sub)urbran homestead. Changes in plans, changes in how daily functions flow along, you name it. I believe it to be the norm for any household but especially one with small kids in it. Afterall, if every day were the same, wouldn't we be bored by now? The change I speak of today started a couple of months ago.
We've lived here in our home for three years now. This spring, we experienced ground water seeping into our basement. Something we thought we would only experience for a few days went into weeks. We took turns making time to pump water out to keep ahead of any mold issues. Everything that was stored in the basement had to come out, including walls, a cedar storage closet, and a workbench. Suddenly, I found myself staring at everything I own, of which I wasn't heavily using, piled in the garage and on our back porch. I felt disheveled, misplaced. As time was spent to keep ahead of the water and sorting through boxes and piles to account for water damage and what needed to be thrown away, it ate away at me. It made me question my level of possession. Why did I have all this stuff? What was I going to do with it all? My time was so chopped up during the day, my kids picked up on my stress level. Suddenly, we were all stressed to the max. My boys wouldn't sleep on their own; one bed gets pretty crowded real quick. Tantrums, clinginess and crying, lack of sleep; we were spent.
It is almost July, and we are now dry basement status. We've put in a sump pump, which has helped immensely. For the past month, the focus has been the gardens, being outside to enjoy the weather as each nice day graces us with its presence. Things have calmed down considerably. Yet, the basement incident looms in the back on my mind. And that's why and what I write about today. I'm at a point right now where I could care less about using the basement. I go down there to do laundry, which is about all I can do down there right now. I dread going down there at times. Yet, the incident itself has brought change for us.
I had used a portion of the basement as a pantry. Convenient, cool in temperature and easy to access. With the water, it changed how we shop. We have gone from shopping in bulk for the larger portion of our trip to borderline extreme couponing. Now, for those of you who've watched the show on TLC, we are not there. OMG....I can't imagine shopping like that. Yes, we do stock up on what we do use but within reason. So far, yes it has saved us money. Saving money is important yet, I keep in mind: Life isn't about money. I keep to the simple life, even when I have my doubts about how to take care of those things that require that green stuff. This has prompted a double diet. A doubt diet and a 28 day detox; I'll post more about these later on. So, stay tuned.
Monday is beautiful. The sun is shining, the day calls for 80's and we have the day to play with. Gardening, schedules for July, August, & September for homeschool projects (yes, I school year round but not with the rigidity of public school), time in the pool, if naps happen (I can get caught up with some stuff), and just going with the flow of the day. Ladies, change is a double edged sword. It is good and it is revealing to the bone. It will test you and it will temper you to become what you are meant to be.
~Momma
We've lived here in our home for three years now. This spring, we experienced ground water seeping into our basement. Something we thought we would only experience for a few days went into weeks. We took turns making time to pump water out to keep ahead of any mold issues. Everything that was stored in the basement had to come out, including walls, a cedar storage closet, and a workbench. Suddenly, I found myself staring at everything I own, of which I wasn't heavily using, piled in the garage and on our back porch. I felt disheveled, misplaced. As time was spent to keep ahead of the water and sorting through boxes and piles to account for water damage and what needed to be thrown away, it ate away at me. It made me question my level of possession. Why did I have all this stuff? What was I going to do with it all? My time was so chopped up during the day, my kids picked up on my stress level. Suddenly, we were all stressed to the max. My boys wouldn't sleep on their own; one bed gets pretty crowded real quick. Tantrums, clinginess and crying, lack of sleep; we were spent.
It is almost July, and we are now dry basement status. We've put in a sump pump, which has helped immensely. For the past month, the focus has been the gardens, being outside to enjoy the weather as each nice day graces us with its presence. Things have calmed down considerably. Yet, the basement incident looms in the back on my mind. And that's why and what I write about today. I'm at a point right now where I could care less about using the basement. I go down there to do laundry, which is about all I can do down there right now. I dread going down there at times. Yet, the incident itself has brought change for us.
I had used a portion of the basement as a pantry. Convenient, cool in temperature and easy to access. With the water, it changed how we shop. We have gone from shopping in bulk for the larger portion of our trip to borderline extreme couponing. Now, for those of you who've watched the show on TLC, we are not there. OMG....I can't imagine shopping like that. Yes, we do stock up on what we do use but within reason. So far, yes it has saved us money. Saving money is important yet, I keep in mind: Life isn't about money. I keep to the simple life, even when I have my doubts about how to take care of those things that require that green stuff. This has prompted a double diet. A doubt diet and a 28 day detox; I'll post more about these later on. So, stay tuned.
Monday is beautiful. The sun is shining, the day calls for 80's and we have the day to play with. Gardening, schedules for July, August, & September for homeschool projects (yes, I school year round but not with the rigidity of public school), time in the pool, if naps happen (I can get caught up with some stuff), and just going with the flow of the day. Ladies, change is a double edged sword. It is good and it is revealing to the bone. It will test you and it will temper you to become what you are meant to be.
~Momma
Friday, June 24, 2011
TGIF
Not sure why I'd be thankful its finally Friday; not like I have a out of the home job with banker's hours. Maybe its just in my system after all the years I have worked out of the home for someone else. Now my employers are about knee to waist high, change the rules constantly, and give me the look of "Whatta ya mean you didn't know?" My title is Mom. Demands all day; no smoke breaks-not that I smoke but I figured to throw that in there-plenty of overtime. Vacation doesn't exist. The last time I had a actual vacation from work was back in 2002 just before I started my undergrad adventure. Ten beautiful days of sun, relaxing by the creek, hanging with friends who now travel up and down the east coast as a gift of retirement, and letting all the things needed to be taken care of go for the time being. Oh, the days.....
Today, I write about books and wine. Being the hour it is, I'm not going to sip wine and talk about books. Coffee is my iv. Wine. I love wine. I was never one for it while in my 20's but when I reached the threshold of 30, along with a change in the view on my life, my taste changed a bit. I still love a good beer now and then, especially if its a microbrew. Locally made, makes for the perfect moment of knowing just where your beverage came from. Wine. Years ago, I picked up a book about wine tasting. How it works, how to do it, etc....read it, loved it. I've tasted wines from around the world. Some good, some to pass over. I've had cheap wines, and some middle of the road types. Don't believe I've done the top shelf stuff but there's always room to do so, if its meant to be. I personally love looking for discontinued wines. If it didn't do well for sales in a market, they discount and practically throw it out the door. That's when I make my move. Recently, I found two great flavors that I absolutely love. Discontinued. One white, one red. Romeo-the red, and Juliet-the white. Juliet is gone; great wine to add to recipes and to sip slowly. Romeo is open; also a good pairing for meals and a real slow sipper. Reds are my favorite-personally a Merlot girl but it stains my lips. If it comes in a unique bottle, I save it to clean and reuse for homemade vinegars, etc...The company's link for R & J is @ the end of this post for those curious about these yummy discontinued wines.
Currently, I'm part of an online study. Women, books, and exploration of the past. Yikes. I wasn't looking to get into something like this but it came to me and I knew I had to undertake it. Eye opening, awakening. I'm also reading three other books while working on this 10 week study. Spiritual awakening. I'm on my EAT-PRAY-LOVE adventure. Ten spiritually inspiring books to discover and read. I've discovered my ten, composed my list, and working on them as they come to me. Not prioritizing what to read when; letting it come into place as it should. See my list posted below for reference; I'm posting my list as I read, so you won't see a complete list until later on.
Today I'm going with the flow. Not sure exactly what my boys and I will venture into but with a small list of possibilities, we will go where it takes us. Another day of rain keeps us from gardens and poolside fun but it doesn't stop us from enjoying what life has to offer. Afterall, I'm Mom.
"If we fear loss enough, in the end the things we possess will come to possess us."
-Rachel Naomi Remen, MD "Kitchen Table Wisdom"
~Momma
www.pazzione.com
Today, I write about books and wine. Being the hour it is, I'm not going to sip wine and talk about books. Coffee is my iv. Wine. I love wine. I was never one for it while in my 20's but when I reached the threshold of 30, along with a change in the view on my life, my taste changed a bit. I still love a good beer now and then, especially if its a microbrew. Locally made, makes for the perfect moment of knowing just where your beverage came from. Wine. Years ago, I picked up a book about wine tasting. How it works, how to do it, etc....read it, loved it. I've tasted wines from around the world. Some good, some to pass over. I've had cheap wines, and some middle of the road types. Don't believe I've done the top shelf stuff but there's always room to do so, if its meant to be. I personally love looking for discontinued wines. If it didn't do well for sales in a market, they discount and practically throw it out the door. That's when I make my move. Recently, I found two great flavors that I absolutely love. Discontinued. One white, one red. Romeo-the red, and Juliet-the white. Juliet is gone; great wine to add to recipes and to sip slowly. Romeo is open; also a good pairing for meals and a real slow sipper. Reds are my favorite-personally a Merlot girl but it stains my lips. If it comes in a unique bottle, I save it to clean and reuse for homemade vinegars, etc...The company's link for R & J is @ the end of this post for those curious about these yummy discontinued wines.
Currently, I'm part of an online study. Women, books, and exploration of the past. Yikes. I wasn't looking to get into something like this but it came to me and I knew I had to undertake it. Eye opening, awakening. I'm also reading three other books while working on this 10 week study. Spiritual awakening. I'm on my EAT-PRAY-LOVE adventure. Ten spiritually inspiring books to discover and read. I've discovered my ten, composed my list, and working on them as they come to me. Not prioritizing what to read when; letting it come into place as it should. See my list posted below for reference; I'm posting my list as I read, so you won't see a complete list until later on.
Today I'm going with the flow. Not sure exactly what my boys and I will venture into but with a small list of possibilities, we will go where it takes us. Another day of rain keeps us from gardens and poolside fun but it doesn't stop us from enjoying what life has to offer. Afterall, I'm Mom.
"If we fear loss enough, in the end the things we possess will come to possess us."
-Rachel Naomi Remen, MD "Kitchen Table Wisdom"
~Momma
www.pazzione.com
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A Break in the Cycle
Thursday with showers-I'll take it. After three consecutive days of gardening, I'm ready to shift gears and put my focus elsewhere. I love to be outside, as do my boys; I'm grateful for having children who are versatile with life. Of course, there are those times when they give a shout that they're not willing to follow but I have to remember: they are under the age of 5 and to expect adult-sized adventures out of them at this time is like asking for the Old Man in New Hampshire to jump back up on the mountain. Anyone familiar with this last statement, you know what I'm talking about.
Today is a day for organizing, purging, and preparing. Right now, breakfast, play, catching the news, and writing this post prepares me for the day. I've jotted down my short list of things to cover today, with the knowledge that it could all change in a heartbeat. Last week, I touched on the topic of a quick clean sweep in a room of the home. For me, it was a drive by in the kitchen. It worked out well, to say. No more microwave, more organized counter space, a little bead on the junk drawer, and my kitchen table still begs for clearance. Ok, not everything runs smoothly but this is reality. Don't flake out; just push forward. I think we all go through those times when mail, projects, etc find their way to the kitchen table and somehow think that's a permanent home. My house doesn't resemble an episode from Hoarders but is not a picture in a magazine. My house is lived in. There are days when I look around and wonder where all the kids went after destroying a room; I then remember that I have two kids and no, we didn't invite five of their friends over for a house wrecking party.
Today, my garage calls out to me; I also have designs on the master & kids' bedrooms. For the time being, after my final cup of coffee, I'll start in the bedrooms. The garage can wait for a couple of hours yet. Purging, cleaning, organizing; something once foreign to me has now become a sort of obsession. Why do I have all this stuff? What am I going to do with it? Who can benefit from it other than myself? Am I really benefiting from possessing? Donation, give aways, tag sale possibly in August when the college students come in for the new semester; these are the ideas I have in mind. Some things are benefit to my kids for education purposes, some focused on my sleeping business, and others for the benefit of sustainable living. Its just a matter of discovering what is of true purpose to myself and others.
So, here's to Thursday's possibilities and what the day could become. Ladies, stay vigilent to your goals today; and remember, there is always room for last minute changes. ~Momma
Today is a day for organizing, purging, and preparing. Right now, breakfast, play, catching the news, and writing this post prepares me for the day. I've jotted down my short list of things to cover today, with the knowledge that it could all change in a heartbeat. Last week, I touched on the topic of a quick clean sweep in a room of the home. For me, it was a drive by in the kitchen. It worked out well, to say. No more microwave, more organized counter space, a little bead on the junk drawer, and my kitchen table still begs for clearance. Ok, not everything runs smoothly but this is reality. Don't flake out; just push forward. I think we all go through those times when mail, projects, etc find their way to the kitchen table and somehow think that's a permanent home. My house doesn't resemble an episode from Hoarders but is not a picture in a magazine. My house is lived in. There are days when I look around and wonder where all the kids went after destroying a room; I then remember that I have two kids and no, we didn't invite five of their friends over for a house wrecking party.
Today, my garage calls out to me; I also have designs on the master & kids' bedrooms. For the time being, after my final cup of coffee, I'll start in the bedrooms. The garage can wait for a couple of hours yet. Purging, cleaning, organizing; something once foreign to me has now become a sort of obsession. Why do I have all this stuff? What am I going to do with it? Who can benefit from it other than myself? Am I really benefiting from possessing? Donation, give aways, tag sale possibly in August when the college students come in for the new semester; these are the ideas I have in mind. Some things are benefit to my kids for education purposes, some focused on my sleeping business, and others for the benefit of sustainable living. Its just a matter of discovering what is of true purpose to myself and others.
So, here's to Thursday's possibilities and what the day could become. Ladies, stay vigilent to your goals today; and remember, there is always room for last minute changes. ~Momma
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day Three on Gardening
Wednesday is here again, and with the sunshine already peeking through the curtains, I'm ready to take on the day. Laundry to start, and then outside to garden like a mad woman for the day. My boys will have the joy of the pool, which is parked right next to the bed I'm currently working on. According to the forecast, we are to anticipate 4 days of rain and clouds, starting late tonight until sometime Sunday. If that helps all the efforts I've put in since early Monday morning, good. Garden like crazy, let Mother Nature take care of the rest. Today is my day to write about homeschool ventures and womanly thoughts but with the gardening buzz I'm on, my sustainable living hat seems to be glued to my head. So, my days are a little out of order but hey, when you have good weather, a ton of gardening to get done before the end of the month, you go with it. Why stress?
Speaking of gardening ventures, nurseries, markets, and whatever stores are carrying seeds and plants are practically throwing things out. This is my time to buy. When I can get plants for half price or less, seeds for 75% off the retail price, I'm a happy camper. Bulbs are now on sale, so whatever catches my eye is going in the cart. I picked up seed potatoes for a drop in the bucket price, and they are blue potatoes at that. I usually work my own seed potatoes with the reds and whites but now to have blue in my garden landscape is so cool. Hope they do well, as I'm putting them in to be "new" potatoes next spring. I'm not much of an annual plant or seed buyer but have learned they make nice color pop when waiting for my more permanent plants to come forth and after some bulbs have shown their glory. A nice in-between addition. Petunias, fushia, and begonias are hanging from the back porch, adding color pop to the back yard. So, color is just popping all over this little 1/4 acre piece of land. I believe in making the most of the space you have, and I know I'm doing just that.
Went through my seed box yesterday, and have seeds set aside for next year already. Going through all of my seeds, both saved from last year and whatever we've picked up along the way, I sorted so that I know what needs to go in now and what can go in late August. There are some that can seed all season, so I put those in a spot as well. This is part of my organizing insanity I've ventured on because of the flooding in the basement we experienced this past spring. Mother Nature at work to scream at you to treat her right-no problem.
So, here's to another day of gardening. Digging in the dirt, pulling weeds and extra wild violets I don't need in that particular spot but knowing somehow they will appear again. That's fine. Yarrow, iris, and day lilies are staying in the garden bed I'm working today, and I'm ok with that. Sometimes, you need to leave what you find to let there be harmony in the garden.
~Momma
Speaking of gardening ventures, nurseries, markets, and whatever stores are carrying seeds and plants are practically throwing things out. This is my time to buy. When I can get plants for half price or less, seeds for 75% off the retail price, I'm a happy camper. Bulbs are now on sale, so whatever catches my eye is going in the cart. I picked up seed potatoes for a drop in the bucket price, and they are blue potatoes at that. I usually work my own seed potatoes with the reds and whites but now to have blue in my garden landscape is so cool. Hope they do well, as I'm putting them in to be "new" potatoes next spring. I'm not much of an annual plant or seed buyer but have learned they make nice color pop when waiting for my more permanent plants to come forth and after some bulbs have shown their glory. A nice in-between addition. Petunias, fushia, and begonias are hanging from the back porch, adding color pop to the back yard. So, color is just popping all over this little 1/4 acre piece of land. I believe in making the most of the space you have, and I know I'm doing just that.
Went through my seed box yesterday, and have seeds set aside for next year already. Going through all of my seeds, both saved from last year and whatever we've picked up along the way, I sorted so that I know what needs to go in now and what can go in late August. There are some that can seed all season, so I put those in a spot as well. This is part of my organizing insanity I've ventured on because of the flooding in the basement we experienced this past spring. Mother Nature at work to scream at you to treat her right-no problem.
So, here's to another day of gardening. Digging in the dirt, pulling weeds and extra wild violets I don't need in that particular spot but knowing somehow they will appear again. That's fine. Yarrow, iris, and day lilies are staying in the garden bed I'm working today, and I'm ok with that. Sometimes, you need to leave what you find to let there be harmony in the garden.
~Momma
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Task Master Tuesday with the Summer Solstice
Sunshine peeking through the curtains again this morning-fabulous! My boys are sleeping in today, by the looks of it. That's fine for the time I can get. Make the most of it, Momma. Today is my task master day, and it is also the Summer Solstice. As of 1:15 PM (roughly), it will officially become summer and we can leave spring behind. What awaits us for the next couple of months? Rain and wet? Heat and dry weather? A mix of both? I can't seem to place where my 2011 Old Farmer's Almanac went, so I can't vouch for what I've read when I first picked it months ago. Guess I'll just garden as I go and let Mother Nature take care of the rest.
Two hours of weeding out front flower beds yesterday, and now they're ready to transplant into, seed, and water to watch seedlings burst forth. Sounds a bit late, doesn't it? Its been fickle weather here in New England, so whatever we've had so far has been eye catching. There's still time, as we are on the threshold of summer today. No worries; the growing season will be what it will be. Today, I will be clearing out my spaces for tomatoes to corn; lots to clear out but with the good weather we're to have til the end of the week, gives me plenty of time to tackle my farming. The joys of edible "urban" landscaping. Gotta love it.
My list is ready and waiting for me to tackle today. And of course, I have part two of our grilled pizza recipe from yesterday to add to this post. Oh yeah, and the grilling tips to ensure a good pizza without being burned to a crisp. Here goes.
New York-Style Pizza Sauce
*Make your own simple tomato sauce for pizza; this one takes less than 10 mins to come together.
Makes about 2 1/2 c.
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes in juice
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp minced garlic (garlic lovers, feel free to add more!)
3/4 tsp kosher salt
In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomatoes (including the juice from the can), the tomato paste, olive oil, basil, oregano, sugar, garlic, and salt. Taste and add more salt, if desired. Use immediately or store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Bring to room temp before using.
**For gluten-free pizza dough recipe, go to yogajournal.com/pizza
Tips for great grilled pizza
1. Heat the grill to low or medium-not high. Brush the grill with oil.
2. Dust the dough lightly with semolina flour and then roll or stretch it to fit your grill. Lay the dough on the grill for 15 seconds; then flip it over and do the same on the other side, until it resembles a sturdy pita.
3. Remove the dough from the grill and transfer it to any metal pan, such as a cookie sheet, that fits on the grill and has been brushed with oil and dusted with semolina.
4. While the dough is off the grill, add your sauce, cheese, and toppings.
5. Return the pizza-pan and all-to an area of the grill away from direct heat. If you have three gas burners, turn on the right and left burners and leave the middle one off; then place the dough in the center (I have 4 burners but the same rule applies). If you are using charcoal, build the coals in the shape of a doughnut, with just a few coals in the middle, and place the dough in the center.
6. Close the lid. Peek at the dough every minute or so, checking to make sure that it isn't burning.
7. When the cheese is melted, slide the pizza off, being careful not to burn yourself on the hot pan.
If you're wondering about toppings, follow your taste buds. You can put whatever you typically put on a pizza, so no worries about what goes or doesn't. Its all based on your taste. Enjoy!
There it is for today. My day unfolds, and my mind wanders to a time when I can look out any window of my home and see the fruits of my labor. Until then, its time to dig in the dirt, smell the richness of the soil, plant, and hope. Have a fabulous day and Happy Solstice! ~Momma
Two hours of weeding out front flower beds yesterday, and now they're ready to transplant into, seed, and water to watch seedlings burst forth. Sounds a bit late, doesn't it? Its been fickle weather here in New England, so whatever we've had so far has been eye catching. There's still time, as we are on the threshold of summer today. No worries; the growing season will be what it will be. Today, I will be clearing out my spaces for tomatoes to corn; lots to clear out but with the good weather we're to have til the end of the week, gives me plenty of time to tackle my farming. The joys of edible "urban" landscaping. Gotta love it.
My list is ready and waiting for me to tackle today. And of course, I have part two of our grilled pizza recipe from yesterday to add to this post. Oh yeah, and the grilling tips to ensure a good pizza without being burned to a crisp. Here goes.
New York-Style Pizza Sauce
*Make your own simple tomato sauce for pizza; this one takes less than 10 mins to come together.
Makes about 2 1/2 c.
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes in juice
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp minced garlic (garlic lovers, feel free to add more!)
3/4 tsp kosher salt
In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomatoes (including the juice from the can), the tomato paste, olive oil, basil, oregano, sugar, garlic, and salt. Taste and add more salt, if desired. Use immediately or store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Bring to room temp before using.
**For gluten-free pizza dough recipe, go to yogajournal.com/pizza
Tips for great grilled pizza
1. Heat the grill to low or medium-not high. Brush the grill with oil.
2. Dust the dough lightly with semolina flour and then roll or stretch it to fit your grill. Lay the dough on the grill for 15 seconds; then flip it over and do the same on the other side, until it resembles a sturdy pita.
3. Remove the dough from the grill and transfer it to any metal pan, such as a cookie sheet, that fits on the grill and has been brushed with oil and dusted with semolina.
4. While the dough is off the grill, add your sauce, cheese, and toppings.
5. Return the pizza-pan and all-to an area of the grill away from direct heat. If you have three gas burners, turn on the right and left burners and leave the middle one off; then place the dough in the center (I have 4 burners but the same rule applies). If you are using charcoal, build the coals in the shape of a doughnut, with just a few coals in the middle, and place the dough in the center.
6. Close the lid. Peek at the dough every minute or so, checking to make sure that it isn't burning.
7. When the cheese is melted, slide the pizza off, being careful not to burn yourself on the hot pan.
If you're wondering about toppings, follow your taste buds. You can put whatever you typically put on a pizza, so no worries about what goes or doesn't. Its all based on your taste. Enjoy!
There it is for today. My day unfolds, and my mind wanders to a time when I can look out any window of my home and see the fruits of my labor. Until then, its time to dig in the dirt, smell the richness of the soil, plant, and hope. Have a fabulous day and Happy Solstice! ~Momma
Monday, June 20, 2011
Grilled Pizza Thoughts in the AM
Monday has graced us again, and its beautiful outside! Forecast-and we all know how reliable those predictions are at times. Don't fool with Mother Nature. Its a half hour before 8 AM, I'm sitting to write this post and then get hopping into my day. Plans, plans, plans. Best part? Fun, fun, fun with my boys. Moms, always leave room for sudden changes; this will help keep you sane and not drive you into madness from your perfect routine having a pothole in it. Not a mom or your kids have grown and gone? You can benefit from this way of living, too. Remember, we all need to make time to stop and smell the roses.
Mondays are my days to make my weekly lists and plan ahead for what I need to get done; or at least for what I'm ambitious to get done. Looking at the calendar this morning, I have three more weeks before my boys are baptised, of which we are having a small get together for family afterward. Three weeks of deep cleaning, organizing, rearranging, massive landscaping and gardening, meal plan, who's coming, etc....seems like so much to take on but worth it all. My landscaping and gardening really aren't that big of a part of it, I just want to get it done before that day. Plus, plants and seeds need to go in to ensure sufficient crop at harvest time. My front yard looks empty, so I want to fill it with color. And by the way, I made my list last night while my kids were winding down to get ready for bed; I had a feeling it should be done before the week started and be ready to hit the floor running.
For the last couple of years, I've subscribed to Yoga Journal magazine. Love it. Only downfall is finding time to sit to read from cover to cover. Ok, no problem. So, I've kept every issue feeling I just might find the time to read them. I'm still ambitious about it; its when I'll find myself a couple of years from now, with a stack of magazines I've still not read from a few years back that I'll officially call myself a pack rat. Yes, I practice yoga. I've been lax in my practice over the last few months, as the demands of motherhood have taken its toll. Yet, with the amount of reading I've been doing, yoga helps with the fatigue and lack of enthusiasm. Ok, I really could benefit from it, then. Could two kids in this house sleep so I can make more of my practice? Pssst! Hey, Mom! The secret to getting those ambitious boys to rest fully at night? Run them ragged all day; let them play til they drop. No, I'm not a drill sergeant. I just happen to have boys. And I'm still learning how to be their mom.
Are you looking for that pizza recipe for the grill? Yeah, I was, too. I found the following recipe in Yoga Journal. Today, I will give you the recipe. Tomorrow, with Task Master Tuesday, I'll give you the grill tips to ensure you don't burn your meal. Until then, have a fabulous day and enjoy every moment you have! ~Momma
New York-Style Pizza Dough
*Keep your hands well dusted with flour so that they won't stick to the dough. If the dough springs back as you press and stretch it out, stop and let it rest for a few mins before continuing (I like to let my dough raise a bit @ room temp to work with-10 mins should do).
Makes 3 12-in pizza crusts
1 pkg (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
1 c lukewarm water (90-100 degrees F)
1 1/4 c ice-cold water
1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp kosher salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
5 1/4 to 5 1/2 c unbleached flour, plus more for dusting (all purpose, whole wheat, whatever you choose)
In a small bowl, using a fork, sture the yeast into the lukewarm water. Set aside until the yeast dissolves, about 5 mins.
In another small bowl, combine the cold water, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt.
Place 5 1/4 c of the flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and stir in the yeast mixture along with the cold water mixture. Using a wooden spoon, mix the dough, incorporating as much of the flour as possible. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, 10-12 mins. It will still be a little sticky but shouldn't stick to your hands. Add only a minimum amount of flour to the work surface to keep the dough from sticking.
Cut the dough into 3 equal portions. With floured hands, pick up 1 portion of dough and pull the opposite edges together, wrapping them underneath toward the center to form a tight, smooth ball. Pinch to seal. Repeat with the other 2 portions. Place each portion in a 1 gallon lock-top plastic bag. Squeeze out all the air and seal the bag, allowing enough room for the dough to double in size.
Refrigerate for at least 10 mins or up to 2 days. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hr before using to allow the dough to come to room temp.
Mondays are my days to make my weekly lists and plan ahead for what I need to get done; or at least for what I'm ambitious to get done. Looking at the calendar this morning, I have three more weeks before my boys are baptised, of which we are having a small get together for family afterward. Three weeks of deep cleaning, organizing, rearranging, massive landscaping and gardening, meal plan, who's coming, etc....seems like so much to take on but worth it all. My landscaping and gardening really aren't that big of a part of it, I just want to get it done before that day. Plus, plants and seeds need to go in to ensure sufficient crop at harvest time. My front yard looks empty, so I want to fill it with color. And by the way, I made my list last night while my kids were winding down to get ready for bed; I had a feeling it should be done before the week started and be ready to hit the floor running.
For the last couple of years, I've subscribed to Yoga Journal magazine. Love it. Only downfall is finding time to sit to read from cover to cover. Ok, no problem. So, I've kept every issue feeling I just might find the time to read them. I'm still ambitious about it; its when I'll find myself a couple of years from now, with a stack of magazines I've still not read from a few years back that I'll officially call myself a pack rat. Yes, I practice yoga. I've been lax in my practice over the last few months, as the demands of motherhood have taken its toll. Yet, with the amount of reading I've been doing, yoga helps with the fatigue and lack of enthusiasm. Ok, I really could benefit from it, then. Could two kids in this house sleep so I can make more of my practice? Pssst! Hey, Mom! The secret to getting those ambitious boys to rest fully at night? Run them ragged all day; let them play til they drop. No, I'm not a drill sergeant. I just happen to have boys. And I'm still learning how to be their mom.
Are you looking for that pizza recipe for the grill? Yeah, I was, too. I found the following recipe in Yoga Journal. Today, I will give you the recipe. Tomorrow, with Task Master Tuesday, I'll give you the grill tips to ensure you don't burn your meal. Until then, have a fabulous day and enjoy every moment you have! ~Momma
New York-Style Pizza Dough
*Keep your hands well dusted with flour so that they won't stick to the dough. If the dough springs back as you press and stretch it out, stop and let it rest for a few mins before continuing (I like to let my dough raise a bit @ room temp to work with-10 mins should do).
Makes 3 12-in pizza crusts
1 pkg (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
1 c lukewarm water (90-100 degrees F)
1 1/4 c ice-cold water
1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp kosher salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
5 1/4 to 5 1/2 c unbleached flour, plus more for dusting (all purpose, whole wheat, whatever you choose)
In a small bowl, using a fork, sture the yeast into the lukewarm water. Set aside until the yeast dissolves, about 5 mins.
In another small bowl, combine the cold water, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt.
Place 5 1/4 c of the flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and stir in the yeast mixture along with the cold water mixture. Using a wooden spoon, mix the dough, incorporating as much of the flour as possible. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, 10-12 mins. It will still be a little sticky but shouldn't stick to your hands. Add only a minimum amount of flour to the work surface to keep the dough from sticking.
Cut the dough into 3 equal portions. With floured hands, pick up 1 portion of dough and pull the opposite edges together, wrapping them underneath toward the center to form a tight, smooth ball. Pinch to seal. Repeat with the other 2 portions. Place each portion in a 1 gallon lock-top plastic bag. Squeeze out all the air and seal the bag, allowing enough room for the dough to double in size.
Refrigerate for at least 10 mins or up to 2 days. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hr before using to allow the dough to come to room temp.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Sleeping With A Sunflower
Thursday appears to be filled with potential. I'm all for it, and have my mental list of things to do that I need to rough sketch onto paper to ensure they get done. Otherwise, good thoughts will remain as such. My windchimes on my backporch sing out and call us forth to be present with the day.
Library trips with my boys are always fun. Never the same, we dive into the front entrance, run like deer for the children's room, make a mad dash to swoop down on books to take home, run a relay type sprint through the sections I've marked out to check out stuff I have my eye on, pile in @ the circulation desk to sign out, and then off to wait for the bus to pick us up to come back home. Oh wait, that was our experience yesterday. Not every day we go is like that. Once a week we make an appearance, pick up what we need or catches this momma's eye, and then head out if the draw to work on puzzles or browse through the reference section doesn't keep us inside. Its funny how when its not summer, my boys will linger in the library, looking at books, working on puzzles, maybe color a picture, make a valid attempt to look up books-with my help-on the library's online catalog, and walk through the aisles of books in the main section. Yeah, gotta check myself again. That would be my preschooler who does that; my little one isn't quite to walking and doing all those things yet but they're in progress.
I found a book a week or two ago through the online catalog, which you can access from home just as well as when you're at the library. Sleeping With a Sunflower: A Treasury of Old-Time Gardening Lore, by Louise Riotte. I was looking for material to use for my preschool homeschool ideas and saw this title. Flipping through it yesterday when we got home, I'm finding a move back through time. Sources older than I, a blending of traditions to come together in this wonderful book. When to fish, according the phase of the moon, making jellies & jams, recipes, bee keeping, companion planting, sundials, etc...only to name a few, as the book is jam packed full of wonderful information. I love finding pieces like this, as it brings back the older, most commonly used techniques of working with the land and its resources. Nature and those who respect her, working together. My Utopia.
As the book is sectioned by month, I move into the months of June, July, August, & September. Reading about things to do, techniques to apply, recipes to try here at home, and ideas to catalog for future reference and application. I hear the cardinal pair calling to each other just outside the window as I write this post. Calling me to my day of fun filled adventures; as it will always be with the two men I'm raising. So, I leave you with a recipe from this wonderous book and a quote from a following page.
Pashofa
1 lb cracked corn (white cracked corn can be bought at many grocery stores)
2 quarts water (add more as needed)
1 lb fresh lean pork (meaty backbone)
Wash and clean corn. Bring water to boil and add corn. Cook slowly, stirring often. When corn is about half done, add fresh pork. Cook until both meat and corn are soft and tender. The mixture should be thick and soupy. Cook about 4 hours. Add NO salt while cooking; each individual should season food according to his/her own taste.
"Sleeping with a Sunflower: A Treasury of Old-Time Gardening Lore." p 108
"The leaves of orange bergamot (Mentha citrata) slipped into the wallet will attract money."
Have an enjoyable experience today.
~Momma
Library trips with my boys are always fun. Never the same, we dive into the front entrance, run like deer for the children's room, make a mad dash to swoop down on books to take home, run a relay type sprint through the sections I've marked out to check out stuff I have my eye on, pile in @ the circulation desk to sign out, and then off to wait for the bus to pick us up to come back home. Oh wait, that was our experience yesterday. Not every day we go is like that. Once a week we make an appearance, pick up what we need or catches this momma's eye, and then head out if the draw to work on puzzles or browse through the reference section doesn't keep us inside. Its funny how when its not summer, my boys will linger in the library, looking at books, working on puzzles, maybe color a picture, make a valid attempt to look up books-with my help-on the library's online catalog, and walk through the aisles of books in the main section. Yeah, gotta check myself again. That would be my preschooler who does that; my little one isn't quite to walking and doing all those things yet but they're in progress.
I found a book a week or two ago through the online catalog, which you can access from home just as well as when you're at the library. Sleeping With a Sunflower: A Treasury of Old-Time Gardening Lore, by Louise Riotte. I was looking for material to use for my preschool homeschool ideas and saw this title. Flipping through it yesterday when we got home, I'm finding a move back through time. Sources older than I, a blending of traditions to come together in this wonderful book. When to fish, according the phase of the moon, making jellies & jams, recipes, bee keeping, companion planting, sundials, etc...only to name a few, as the book is jam packed full of wonderful information. I love finding pieces like this, as it brings back the older, most commonly used techniques of working with the land and its resources. Nature and those who respect her, working together. My Utopia.
As the book is sectioned by month, I move into the months of June, July, August, & September. Reading about things to do, techniques to apply, recipes to try here at home, and ideas to catalog for future reference and application. I hear the cardinal pair calling to each other just outside the window as I write this post. Calling me to my day of fun filled adventures; as it will always be with the two men I'm raising. So, I leave you with a recipe from this wonderous book and a quote from a following page.
Pashofa
1 lb cracked corn (white cracked corn can be bought at many grocery stores)
2 quarts water (add more as needed)
1 lb fresh lean pork (meaty backbone)
Wash and clean corn. Bring water to boil and add corn. Cook slowly, stirring often. When corn is about half done, add fresh pork. Cook until both meat and corn are soft and tender. The mixture should be thick and soupy. Cook about 4 hours. Add NO salt while cooking; each individual should season food according to his/her own taste.
"Sleeping with a Sunflower: A Treasury of Old-Time Gardening Lore." p 108
"The leaves of orange bergamot (Mentha citrata) slipped into the wallet will attract money."
Have an enjoyable experience today.
~Momma
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
What is Happening With Public Schools?
Wednesday greets us with sunshine and perfect temps before 8 AM. A trip to the library today to gather books for leisure, educating, fun, and just plain ol' pickin' up a good book. I think its great that there are electronic books out there on the market; I'd have one just for my magazines so I don't have that looming pile I have to decide what to do with once I'm done with the issues. As far as reading a book, though. Call me old fashioned but I love a good, gently worn spine. Turning the pages, the feel of the paper the written word is placed upon. Wondering the travels of the book before it came to me. Give me a dog-eared, non-conventional classic any day of the week!
I write today with concern as a parent, wondering what is happening with the education system. News reports flash across our tv screen talking about sexual molestations happening at an elementary school in our state. Children being violated by children. A child psychologist steps forward to state that this happens more often than we as parents actually know about. That doesn't sit well with me. How could I send my children to school, wondering all day how they are doing, how they are getting along with others, and if they are being bullied or sexually abused? Here's another valid reason I support homeschooling.
Another report, aired last night, covered the percentages of children and their performance in history class, specifically covering American history. Less than half of a group of 1700 were presented with three questions and were unable to answer them correctly. 1. What war did America fight Hitler? 2. Who is this man (Abraham Lincoln) and what is his importance in our nation's history? 3. What was the purpose and importance of the Proclaimation of 1763 (could be 1765, I don't remember @ this hr)? These children were fourth graders, and they couldn't answer these questions correctly. What is wrong with the system that a student can't identify a past president? I know learning starts at home, and the shape we're in as families today with the economy, the overwhelming need to have every new electronic on the market, eating fast foods & pre-packaged meals out of convenience isn't helping the situation. But to send your child to school and what they should be learning isn't working as it should? Here's your sign, Bill Engvel. Another reason, a highly valid one, for me to advocate homeschooling.
I know not every family can financially support making the decision to homeschool. At least that's how one feels when first examining the idea. I've been home with my boys since just before my oldest was born. Now, with my youngest reaching towards the threshold of his first birthday, being home is a bit tight but still worth the effort. I would work outside the home if quality daycare & preschool programs weren't through the roof with their rates. There's also a waiting list for the best ones. Which leaves me with the knowledge that I would be working to pay for daycare & preschool, forget about being able to cover my bills. So, I choose to work from home. Granted its not a steady check, there are no benefits, no vacations, etc....but the perk of being able to be home with my kids, know that they are safe, and I know what they are learning; its worth every moment of the day.
So, as our Wild Wednesday unfolds, breakfast is disappearing as quick as the coffee, its time to move on with the day. After a couple of good days of gardening, I can back up a step or two, make the most of the moments today, hug & kiss my kids, and feel blessed for all that I have.
~Momma
I write today with concern as a parent, wondering what is happening with the education system. News reports flash across our tv screen talking about sexual molestations happening at an elementary school in our state. Children being violated by children. A child psychologist steps forward to state that this happens more often than we as parents actually know about. That doesn't sit well with me. How could I send my children to school, wondering all day how they are doing, how they are getting along with others, and if they are being bullied or sexually abused? Here's another valid reason I support homeschooling.
Another report, aired last night, covered the percentages of children and their performance in history class, specifically covering American history. Less than half of a group of 1700 were presented with three questions and were unable to answer them correctly. 1. What war did America fight Hitler? 2. Who is this man (Abraham Lincoln) and what is his importance in our nation's history? 3. What was the purpose and importance of the Proclaimation of 1763 (could be 1765, I don't remember @ this hr)? These children were fourth graders, and they couldn't answer these questions correctly. What is wrong with the system that a student can't identify a past president? I know learning starts at home, and the shape we're in as families today with the economy, the overwhelming need to have every new electronic on the market, eating fast foods & pre-packaged meals out of convenience isn't helping the situation. But to send your child to school and what they should be learning isn't working as it should? Here's your sign, Bill Engvel. Another reason, a highly valid one, for me to advocate homeschooling.
I know not every family can financially support making the decision to homeschool. At least that's how one feels when first examining the idea. I've been home with my boys since just before my oldest was born. Now, with my youngest reaching towards the threshold of his first birthday, being home is a bit tight but still worth the effort. I would work outside the home if quality daycare & preschool programs weren't through the roof with their rates. There's also a waiting list for the best ones. Which leaves me with the knowledge that I would be working to pay for daycare & preschool, forget about being able to cover my bills. So, I choose to work from home. Granted its not a steady check, there are no benefits, no vacations, etc....but the perk of being able to be home with my kids, know that they are safe, and I know what they are learning; its worth every moment of the day.
So, as our Wild Wednesday unfolds, breakfast is disappearing as quick as the coffee, its time to move on with the day. After a couple of good days of gardening, I can back up a step or two, make the most of the moments today, hug & kiss my kids, and feel blessed for all that I have.
~Momma
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Organizing Epiphany
Yeah, already at it this morning; imagine the possibilities. Tuesdays are my task master days, so I had thought last night that I wanted to make the most of today with some organizing. My thoughts were originally set on the garage, now that I can get back into it and get it set up for more accessibility for my mate and I. Then, it happened over a cup of coffee. I grabbed my special edition Better Homes and Gardens "Secrets of Getting Organized" and decided to do the flip. So, I flipped through the pages from front to back, back to front, and then front to back until I stopped to open the page wide to see what I was going to discover. Its alot like gambling, I suppose. Draw straws, anyone?
This week is about organizing the kitchen; I know I can plow through sections of the garage while the kids and I are out gardening. My kitchen. Not the biggest room in the house but not the smallest either. Its kind of L shaped but a little more than just your typical L. Where could I start? What was the most inexpensive, simple, quick task to start with? I looked at the junk drawer suggestion. I hate those. We've tried a junk drawer and it just gets worse once it gets started. Oh wait, I'm supposed to keep it maintained. Damn. I was hoping it would fix itself. Afterall, its junk, right? Looked at the roadside daisy (aka, plastic shopping bags) storage piece. Even after making and purchasing cloth reusable shopping bags, the occasional plastic bag makes it into our house-good to use for the bathroom trash can. I've already knitted a bag storage piece; hangs by the door, stuffed full of bags. We have a trash bin & one for recycling. Uh-oh; are we running out of ideas? No way.
Then it hits me. The microwave cabinet. Yeap. A microwave we don't use-gone today. A mini office on the middle shelf-easy clean up. The two upper shelves house cookbooks-another easy clean up. Time to weed through cookbooks to find out what's not getting used. Still like that book? Do you love it? Give it a second chance. Use it, placing a post it with the date on the recipe page(s) used. In one year, check how many times did you use that book. More than 10 times, a keeper. Less than that, maybe its time it had a new home.
So, I have my tasks for organizing and adding a sparkle to my hearth this week. Perhaps mop the floor with a touch of essential oils in the water to add a fresh, clean, eco-friendly scent to the most used room in the house-the bathroom runs a good second. So, here's to task master Tuesday. Much to do, kids are rocking and rolling already this morning. I need roller skates. No, wait. Roller blades in today's playground.
~Momma
This week is about organizing the kitchen; I know I can plow through sections of the garage while the kids and I are out gardening. My kitchen. Not the biggest room in the house but not the smallest either. Its kind of L shaped but a little more than just your typical L. Where could I start? What was the most inexpensive, simple, quick task to start with? I looked at the junk drawer suggestion. I hate those. We've tried a junk drawer and it just gets worse once it gets started. Oh wait, I'm supposed to keep it maintained. Damn. I was hoping it would fix itself. Afterall, its junk, right? Looked at the roadside daisy (aka, plastic shopping bags) storage piece. Even after making and purchasing cloth reusable shopping bags, the occasional plastic bag makes it into our house-good to use for the bathroom trash can. I've already knitted a bag storage piece; hangs by the door, stuffed full of bags. We have a trash bin & one for recycling. Uh-oh; are we running out of ideas? No way.
Then it hits me. The microwave cabinet. Yeap. A microwave we don't use-gone today. A mini office on the middle shelf-easy clean up. The two upper shelves house cookbooks-another easy clean up. Time to weed through cookbooks to find out what's not getting used. Still like that book? Do you love it? Give it a second chance. Use it, placing a post it with the date on the recipe page(s) used. In one year, check how many times did you use that book. More than 10 times, a keeper. Less than that, maybe its time it had a new home.
So, I have my tasks for organizing and adding a sparkle to my hearth this week. Perhaps mop the floor with a touch of essential oils in the water to add a fresh, clean, eco-friendly scent to the most used room in the house-the bathroom runs a good second. So, here's to task master Tuesday. Much to do, kids are rocking and rolling already this morning. I need roller skates. No, wait. Roller blades in today's playground.
~Momma
Monday, June 13, 2011
Slow Cooker Monday
Rain again today. Ok, good for the gardens, so long as it doesn't create mold, fungus, or rust. I'm on a mission to get my gardens all in by the second week of July. After that, I just want to maintain, harvest, and enjoy.
Being a busy SAHM (stay-at-home mom), I've put into practice meal planning and a sort of cooking schedule. Mondays & Fridays are slow cooker days; most of us know this piece of equipment as a crock pot. Whatever name you want to give it, I recommend it highly, regardless of what hat you wear. The convience of throwing food into a pot, selecting a cook time and temp, and after turning it on, you can walk away. Wow, that's almost like having a chef you don't need to pay; it pays for itself. So, what am I cooking today? Take a look.
Chicken-Mini Penne Stew
2 1/2 c. chopped cooked chicken
2 medium carrots, bias-sliced 1/4 thick
2 Tbsp Dry Sherry
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp grated gingerroot
1/4 tsp pepper
6 c. chicken broth
2 oz mini penne
1 6 oz package frozen pea pods, thawed
Combine all ingredients, except the pasta and peas. Cover & cook on low-heat setting for 6-7 hrs.
Stir in penne. Cover & cook on low-heat for 1 hr more. Before serving, stir in thawed pea pods. Makes 6 servings. (modified from a recipe found in Better Homes & Gardens New Crockery Cooker Cookbook)
*I like to use about half of the required cups of chicken broth; I find that the usual protocol makes it more like a soup instead of a thicker stew consistency. Today, I'm substituting chickpeas for the pea pods; I cook my beans, peas, legumes, etc ahead of time from dried; I then bag and freeze for convience.
My list for the week is in process; I've much to do just this week, let alone for a month to come. Today is my Mommy Monday; time with my boys to get started for the week. Places to go, things to do, people to leave in amazement of being able to handle two little ones under 5 & not totally losing my mind or closet drinking. To all the mothers in the world, these are the days to remember; children don't stay little forever.
~Momma
"For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control."
-2 Timothy 1:7
Being a busy SAHM (stay-at-home mom), I've put into practice meal planning and a sort of cooking schedule. Mondays & Fridays are slow cooker days; most of us know this piece of equipment as a crock pot. Whatever name you want to give it, I recommend it highly, regardless of what hat you wear. The convience of throwing food into a pot, selecting a cook time and temp, and after turning it on, you can walk away. Wow, that's almost like having a chef you don't need to pay; it pays for itself. So, what am I cooking today? Take a look.
Chicken-Mini Penne Stew
2 1/2 c. chopped cooked chicken
2 medium carrots, bias-sliced 1/4 thick
2 Tbsp Dry Sherry
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp grated gingerroot
1/4 tsp pepper
6 c. chicken broth
2 oz mini penne
1 6 oz package frozen pea pods, thawed
Combine all ingredients, except the pasta and peas. Cover & cook on low-heat setting for 6-7 hrs.
Stir in penne. Cover & cook on low-heat for 1 hr more. Before serving, stir in thawed pea pods. Makes 6 servings. (modified from a recipe found in Better Homes & Gardens New Crockery Cooker Cookbook)
*I like to use about half of the required cups of chicken broth; I find that the usual protocol makes it more like a soup instead of a thicker stew consistency. Today, I'm substituting chickpeas for the pea pods; I cook my beans, peas, legumes, etc ahead of time from dried; I then bag and freeze for convience.
My list for the week is in process; I've much to do just this week, let alone for a month to come. Today is my Mommy Monday; time with my boys to get started for the week. Places to go, things to do, people to leave in amazement of being able to handle two little ones under 5 & not totally losing my mind or closet drinking. To all the mothers in the world, these are the days to remember; children don't stay little forever.
~Momma
"For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control."
-2 Timothy 1:7
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Off My Posting and On My Mind
It's been a week since my last post; life has a way of challenging you to keep running the race. Today, I'm posting about things off the record of what I usually post, depending on the day of the week; I have a theme for Monday-Friday covering the many hats I wear as a multi-tasking momma.
Lots happening here on the little homestead in progress. New roof being put on the house; my ship mate replaced the garage roof last year, so this year he's tackling the house. And he's on a week's vacation. I'm so accustomed to him being at work most of the day, it feels weird when he's here all day. Sometimes, I feel as if I should not keep up my regular pace of life, slow down and spend it with him but when he's busy with a project-such as the roof-and the kids need me, the housework needs to be done, etc...it leaves little time. The kids are higher than kites because they are also accustomed to Daddy not being here during the day, so bedtimes have been crazy, naps almost non-existent, and I'm ready for a day at the beach. Too bad I'm not feeling the safety the park association is stating for the lake now that its water levels have receded from flood stage. Good thing for good neighbors who drop off huge blow up pools.
My youngest is teething, my preschooler feeling his way through learning, my dog just being that-a dog. I'm trying to get caught back up, put my house back together, and make of a list of things to enjoy, as opposed to the never-ending list of things to get done. I can't remember where or when I saw that posted but it made since. Ever since our basement got flooded, we moved everything out into the garage, tore out all the walls in the basement to replace at a later date, my life has become more of a list of things to complete than any enjoyment. I sat wondering what it all meant, and then while watching the movie, "Eat, Pray, Love" for the third time in a month, I had an epiphany. I love having those; them arrive at the most opportune times. So, I sat and typed in my ColorNote on my Android as to what and how eat, pray, love could do for me. Yeah, another list, right? Yet, it was a list of what to enjoy, not so much what I needed to do to improve my quality of life.
One of those list bullets is to find 10 riveting books encompassing spirituality from the woman's perspective and read. I started that right away. "Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal" by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD. Perfect way to get started. I've heard good reviews about this piece, and feeling drawn to it, decided that it would be the first I would read. My list isn't quite to the full ten picks yet but I feel that will come with time.
So, if you could chose ten books that whisper to your soul to read in the coming months, what would you choose? Ponder that thought, sketch it out on paper or whatever medium you prefer, and hunt them down. Read, take a few minutes out of your day. Enjoy, not just complete.
~Momma
"...I am an author and not a writer. Writers are people who are probably born to write. An author, on the other hand, seems to be born to do something else and then writes a book about it." -Rachel Naomi Remen, MD Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal.
Lots happening here on the little homestead in progress. New roof being put on the house; my ship mate replaced the garage roof last year, so this year he's tackling the house. And he's on a week's vacation. I'm so accustomed to him being at work most of the day, it feels weird when he's here all day. Sometimes, I feel as if I should not keep up my regular pace of life, slow down and spend it with him but when he's busy with a project-such as the roof-and the kids need me, the housework needs to be done, etc...it leaves little time. The kids are higher than kites because they are also accustomed to Daddy not being here during the day, so bedtimes have been crazy, naps almost non-existent, and I'm ready for a day at the beach. Too bad I'm not feeling the safety the park association is stating for the lake now that its water levels have receded from flood stage. Good thing for good neighbors who drop off huge blow up pools.
My youngest is teething, my preschooler feeling his way through learning, my dog just being that-a dog. I'm trying to get caught back up, put my house back together, and make of a list of things to enjoy, as opposed to the never-ending list of things to get done. I can't remember where or when I saw that posted but it made since. Ever since our basement got flooded, we moved everything out into the garage, tore out all the walls in the basement to replace at a later date, my life has become more of a list of things to complete than any enjoyment. I sat wondering what it all meant, and then while watching the movie, "Eat, Pray, Love" for the third time in a month, I had an epiphany. I love having those; them arrive at the most opportune times. So, I sat and typed in my ColorNote on my Android as to what and how eat, pray, love could do for me. Yeah, another list, right? Yet, it was a list of what to enjoy, not so much what I needed to do to improve my quality of life.
One of those list bullets is to find 10 riveting books encompassing spirituality from the woman's perspective and read. I started that right away. "Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal" by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD. Perfect way to get started. I've heard good reviews about this piece, and feeling drawn to it, decided that it would be the first I would read. My list isn't quite to the full ten picks yet but I feel that will come with time.
So, if you could chose ten books that whisper to your soul to read in the coming months, what would you choose? Ponder that thought, sketch it out on paper or whatever medium you prefer, and hunt them down. Read, take a few minutes out of your day. Enjoy, not just complete.
~Momma
"...I am an author and not a writer. Writers are people who are probably born to write. An author, on the other hand, seems to be born to do something else and then writes a book about it." -Rachel Naomi Remen, MD Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Sustainable Thoughts
Coffee in hand, I'm working on waking fully this morning. As a child, early morning rain showers made me so relaxed, I would sleep in. As an adult, even a mother with small children-boys at that-I'm finding I can still relax enough to over sleep on days like this. After two days of heat and humidity (New England level of heat & humidity), we are back down around 60 degrees today. Ok, talk about crazy weather this year. So far, its doing great things in my gardens. Yet, the upset its causing with floods, tornados, etc....
Today is a homestead day. Bread to bake, maybe squeeze in a cake, some gardening. I've been reading Janet Chadwick's book, "How to Live on Almost Nothing and Have Plenty: A Practical Introduction to Small-Scale Sufficient Country Living." Great book, especially for anyone just getting started on sustainable living ride, or even for those who may have grown up with the knowledge of self-sufficiency & making a return to a more relaxed pace of living. As I've been reading, I realize I've been putting into practice a good portion of what she writes about. Although I didn't grow up on the farm, I was always within close enough proximity to learn how to do things. Gardening has always been a part of my life, something I love and hold close to my heart. I learned how to help with some of the farming, feeding calves, cleaning up after the milkers, even learned how to place the milking equipment on the cows. The best part of my farming education was to see family working together to get the work done before another day would dawn to start all over again. Farming is really a round the clock business, and sadly, a business disappearing for the small family farm. My aunt and uncle shut down the farm just a couple of years ago, becoming another statistic of the vanishing family farm.
As an adult, I return to the table of self-sufficiency to garden my landscape here in the 'burbs. We've been here for a little over two years, and this year has been the best year for gardening so far. Sandy loam gives us a great foundation, and as I've composted since our first summer, adding composted soil and garden soil from the nursery, our garden spaces are getting better with time. For Mother's Day this year, I received a composter on a stand that you can turn the handle to rotate and mix the ingredients you place in the barrel. Perhaps I'll get that going today, too. Happy Homesteading!
~Momma
Today is a homestead day. Bread to bake, maybe squeeze in a cake, some gardening. I've been reading Janet Chadwick's book, "How to Live on Almost Nothing and Have Plenty: A Practical Introduction to Small-Scale Sufficient Country Living." Great book, especially for anyone just getting started on sustainable living ride, or even for those who may have grown up with the knowledge of self-sufficiency & making a return to a more relaxed pace of living. As I've been reading, I realize I've been putting into practice a good portion of what she writes about. Although I didn't grow up on the farm, I was always within close enough proximity to learn how to do things. Gardening has always been a part of my life, something I love and hold close to my heart. I learned how to help with some of the farming, feeding calves, cleaning up after the milkers, even learned how to place the milking equipment on the cows. The best part of my farming education was to see family working together to get the work done before another day would dawn to start all over again. Farming is really a round the clock business, and sadly, a business disappearing for the small family farm. My aunt and uncle shut down the farm just a couple of years ago, becoming another statistic of the vanishing family farm.
As an adult, I return to the table of self-sufficiency to garden my landscape here in the 'burbs. We've been here for a little over two years, and this year has been the best year for gardening so far. Sandy loam gives us a great foundation, and as I've composted since our first summer, adding composted soil and garden soil from the nursery, our garden spaces are getting better with time. For Mother's Day this year, I received a composter on a stand that you can turn the handle to rotate and mix the ingredients you place in the barrel. Perhaps I'll get that going today, too. Happy Homesteading!
~Momma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)