I used to love a certain facial exfoliant made by Clinique but as I often mention on here, I love to get back to basics and I love to pronounce and know just what is in not only what I am eating, but also what I use frequently in my beauty routine.  Not to mention that this facial scrub is a fraction of the cost and works just as well as the pricier version that I bought for years! 

Every winter it is the same, my skin starts to take on a dull appearance and sometimes has little dry patches here and there that just don’t look so great.  So, here is my new fix for winter skin.  Funny thing is that with just 3 ingredients…it is easy, fast and tastes great if it drizzles down your lips while you are using it!

Recipe:

2T coconut oil (solid at room temp)

!/2 cup raw cane sugar (it is much more course)

2-3 drops peppermint essential oil

That’s it!  I just mixed it up and store it in a small mason jar to use as needed (usually 1-2 times a week).  Just go easy as you do not have to scrub hard, the sugar crystals do most of the work.  I do cleanse after the scrub or the coconut oil can leave a film on your face, but it is very moisturizing!

Please note when making this scrub.  I used a very high quality essential oil.  Do not make this with a health food store grade essential oil as you will likely find a skin sensitivity issue (many of the less costly oils are cut with synthetic ingredients that can cause skin irritation).  If you want to know more check out my store page or click on this link to go to my retail storefront.

One of the biggest challenges of homeschooling (for me at least) is always  coming up with new and creative ways to keep my children engaged and excited about learning.  Spelling tests are one of the areas that usually elicit a groan or two from children who do not want to take them.  I have tried rewards (A+ on spelling equals a trip to the treat jar) but sometimes there is still just a bit of groaning involved. 

 We have developed a new way to do our tests though that actually has my 11 y/o and 9 y/o children excited to take their tests.  Dry erase markers and windows.  I mean, when in school can you watch your horse graze on her hay while spelling your words?  The best part is that the dry erase markers just wipe off clean from the window.  It just changes things up a bit and keeps it fun.

What ways do you use to keep things interesting in your homeschool?

We love pumpkin around here.  We make pumpkin cookies, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin bread, and the ever easy pumpkin muffins.  I usually have a good plan of freezing some of the muffins for a day when we are too busy to bake a batch, but I rarely am able to get any of them into the freezer as they usually get eaten too quickly (my 3 y/o can eat 4 muffins in one sitting if I allow it).

My favorite way to make pumpkin muffins is with real pumpkin from the garden that I have frozen in 2 cup batches from summer, I have run out at this point and used canned pumpkin for this most recent batch...but the best are when I can go from picture 1 to picture 2 here.

So, for the recipe...

2  2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening (we usually use coconut oil)
2/3 cup water
16 oz pumpkin (1 can or 2 cups of frozen pumpkin meat)
4 eggs
3  1/3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1  1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves (or 1 drop clove essential oil)
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder

Pre-heat oven to 350.  Mix sugar and shortening and slowly add pumpkin, eggs and water.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Bake in muffin tins with liners for 22-26 minutes. This usually makes around 3 dozen muffins or you can change it up with making part muffins and part pumpkin bread, just keep in mind that the loaves will bake for around 50-55 minutes vs. the time for the muffins.

We really like them with real butter or cream cheese...enjoy!

We are very blessed to attend a church that has a Christian school affiliated with it.  As church members who homeschool we can pay a small fee to participate in sports, school events and testing if we wish.  This has been so good for my children as they still are able to display projects and play sports despite our decision to homeschool.  

We recently participated in the Geography fair that our Christian school holds just before our Missions Conference every year.  My eldest chose Peru, My second eldest chose Guatemala and my oldest son chose Egypt.

We spent weeks researching each of the countries as there was also a written report required.  We learned that Egypt is 90% Muslim and only 10% Christian (a fact that astonished my children) We learned that Guatemala has beautiful and colorful artisan wares and that Peru...

This is a great project for homeschool families to do even if you don't have an affiiate location to present at.  The children had to look up the flag, president, geography of the region, maps of their countires, religions of their countries, spotlight a missionary serving in their country of choice as well as look at primary exports and imports as well as socioeconomic status of their populations.  I think that not only did they learn a significant amount from their own presentations but also from one and others.

Here are the presentation boards from the other night.  I was a proud mama.

You have probably only thought of Oregano as a kitchen herb.  Sprinkle a bit on pizza, spaghetti, homemade bread...but what I have learned is that Oregano is actually a very powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic herb that has been used for centuries.

Oregano is part of the mint family that botanists call the Lamiaceae, or Labiatae, a huge aggregation of some 7,000 species.  Also included in this family are marjoram, lavender, summer savory, basil, perilla, sage, rosemary, anise hyssop, thyme and lemon balm.  (Therefore if you are allergic to anything in this family you may want to stay away from Oregano)

The health benefits of this herb are antioxidant (Antioxidants help protect your cells against the effects of free radicals and improve your ability to fight infection.) As well as Antibacterial and antimicrobial (courtesy of  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266259.php)

Even WebMD has a listing about the medicinal properties of the plant, though there are some warnings to take heed of:

• "Lithium interacts with OREGANO
  Oregano might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking oregano might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed."

• Special Precautions & Warnings: Pregnancy: Oregano is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts during pregnancy. There is concern that oregano in amounts larger than food amounts might cause miscarriage. Not enough is known about the safety of oregano when used in medicinal amounts while nursing.
  
  Bleeding disorders: Oregano might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.
  
  Allergies: Oregano can cause reactions in people allergic to Lamiaceae family plants, including basil, hyssop, lavender, marjoram, mint, and sage.
  
  Diabetes: Oregano might lower blood sugar levels. People with diabetes should use oregano cautiously.
  
  Surgery: Oregano might increase the risk of bleeding. People who use oregano should stop 2 weeks before surgery.

That being said, all natural herbs, essential Oils and holistic approaches should be used with educated common-sense caution.

This herb can be taken in medicinal form by purchasing capsules of medicinal quality at a health food store, using oil of oregano, or using Oregano essential oil (my favorite).

When I first began learning about the health benefits associated with Oregano, and specifically Oregano Essential Oil I admit I was skeptical.  I had heard that warts and skin tags could be removed, that it was a powerful antifungal agent for finger and toenail issues as well as athlete's foot.  I had also heard as well as that Oregano could be used as a natural antibiotic.

 I smelled the Oregano Essential oil and it smelled like pizza to me.  But I also learned that in Essential oil form this herb is one that can feel like it is burning (think getting hot pepper juice on your hands) if it gets in mucous membranes, in eyes, or on very sensitive skin.  I was curious though as I have never liked some of the wart removal medicines and I have a child who has been to the pediatrician twice to have a wart "frozen off" (it didn't work).  So I decided to give the Essential oil a try.

I used 1 drop of Oregano on my 9 y/o child's wart daily for 2 weeks. (It did not burn his skin as long as I did not cover it with a bandaid.)  What happened?  The wart slowly dissappeared.  I have to admit I was kind of shocked as I wasn't really sure that I believed it was going to work, but it did.  I can state that from personal experience I found that the Oregano Essential oil that I used from a company called doTerra did work for us. 

 I also used Oregano orally when treating myself for a clogged milk duct that was moving towards mastitis.  Hubby allowed me a small window of opportunity to try a natural solution before he said he was going to insist that I see a doctor (he is much more medically minded than I am).  I had not yet developed a fever but had the telltale signs of my clogged milk duct moving towards mastitits with heat and reddening of the area as well as severe pain. 

I did a lot of research and took 1 drop of Oregano Essential Oil  and 1 drop of Frankincense Essential oil orally twice a day for 48 hours.  I am not kidding when I say it worked.  24 hours later I was at 75% better and by day 2 all signs of infection were gone.  

Therefore, I am a believer in the power of Oregano.  I am planning on stocking up on some of the capsules from the health food store, and I already have the Oregano essential oil I mentioned.

If you are interested in trying the essential oil I use just comment below so we can chat. But, if you are not interested in the oil there are still a number of options for the use of this amazing herb...just please do not ingest oregano essential oil that you purchase from a health food store as it is not marketed as food grade or safe to ingest. (Though the capsules of the dried herb would be a safer option and are marketed as such).

I have to say I love finding information that allows me to be more in control of my own health and the health of my family.

Back when we started trying to eat healthier (read: less processed foods) I began trying to make most things from scratch.  I quit buying granola bars, breads, buns, canned soups, etc.  One of the things I have missed is a quick addition of some cream of chicken, or cream of mushroom soup.  However, the canned version has a lot of uneccesary ingredients, including the ever popular soy byproducts.  Here is a list of the ingredients in Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup: 

INGREDIENTS

WATER, MUSHROOMS, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, COTTONSEED, CANOLA, AND/OR SOYBEAN), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, WHEAT FLOUR, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, DEHYDRATED CREAM (CREAM [MILK], SOY LECITHIN), YEAST EXTRACT, FLAVORING, DEHYDRATED GARLIC.


I really don't have any idea why most of that is in there, but we choose to stay away from most forms of canola, corn and soybean oil as most (up to 80%) produced in the U.S. contain GMO (Genetically Modified Organisims)

    SIDE NOTE: What are GMO's and why are they bad? CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO A DETAILED EXPLANATION ON CONSUMER REPORTS WEBSITE.   
How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. (http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/)
 WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? (also from Consumer Reports)
You may be surprised to know that the federal government has not mandated that genetically modified organisms be proved safe before they're used in your food. But safety assessments are mandatory in other major developed countries, including China, Japan, and the countries of the European Union. Some animal studies suggest that GMOs may cause damage to the immune system, liver, and kidneys.

One last link...http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs


Off my soapbox now and on to the recipe...

    My friend (the same one who told me about homemade toothpaste) has used this basic recipe and shared it with me.  It was a winner!  When made this recipe can be frozen in 2 cup portions and then added whenever there is a need for processed cream of mushroom soup.  I am so very happy now because it is DELICIOUS!

4-6 cups chopped mushrooms
1 chopped onion
3-4 T real butter
Garlic powder
Salt & Pepper to taste
3-4 cups heavy whipping cream (Aldi for $1.98)
2-4 T flour (white or wheat)
1-2 cups chicken broth (homemade chicken stock recipe here)

I first bought a large batch of portabella mushrooms from Costco ($4.99 for 2lbs).  I chopped the mushrooms and onions and sauteed in the butter also adding the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

After the mushrooms and onions were significantly cooked I made a bit of a roux by slowly adding in my flour as a thickener.  Afterwards I began to slowly add the chicken broth.  Though the original recipe called for 3 cups of broth, I found that made the soup too watery so I believe I dialed it down to 1 1/2 cups.  After sauteeing for a bit you then stir in the flour (I used a whisk) and then add cream....yum!  I ended up with 6 bags of portioned out 2 cup servings to freeze. 

 I believe my total cost was $4.99 for the mushrooms, $1.89 x 2 for the creamer and the chicken broth was homemade stock I had in the freezer so out of pocket the cost was $8.47 divided by the 6 "can's worth" of frozen cream of mushroom soup making each serving cost $1.40.  This is a bit higher than the .99 that Campbells Cream of Mushroom costs but I have to say it tastes soooo much better.  I also feel better about using it.

Yesterday morning as we were all getting around I heard some happy little squeals coming from the baby's room.  I paused outside the door to listen to his laughter and noises and was curious to know what was causing his elation so early in the morning.  Well, you can imagine my surprise when I saw what it was...My son's room is on the second floor of the house so I was quite surprised to see one of our kittens playing with him through the window.  I watched and they were actually playing a game of peek-a-boo.  (There is a roof jutting out under the second story window).  This was just too cute not to share.

I believe one of the greatest benefits for our homeschooling family is the closeness of the sibling relationships.  I often hear people talk about how difficult sibling relationships are and how the tension in the home is almost overwhelming and I am so very thankful that my children truly seem to care about and love one and other.  That does not mean we do not have sibling rivalry, scuffles and sometimes the occasional yelling match between siblings, however, this is the exception and not the rule.

The closeness often shows itself in the kind things the children do for one and other.  One example is that this Christmas one of my daugthers decided that since her 3 y/o brother loved to read so much she would create a book out of a made up story she often tells him at bedtime.  It was a huge hit and I only wish that we had a publishing company interested...Here are a few pictures from the book about the "Best Dream Ever."

Needless to say this book has become a favorite and I think there may be a sequel or two in the works!

I pride myself on being able to be efficient.  It is actually a matter of survival at this point because with a houseful of children and a husband to care for, as well as being the homeschooling mom, I have to be efficient.  What this means is I am usually multitasking no matter what I am doing (teaching Spanish while simultaneously starting dinner and answering a text from hubby).  Hubby has said he thinks I can sometimes get 48 hours worth of things done in 24, this isn't really the case. Though I have tried to figure out how to add more hours to my day, I haven’t figured that one out yet, which means that I better make the 24 that God gave me count, or I feel hopelessly behind. 

When I look back on the career I had before I began staying at home with my children this efficient mindset was also a necessity.  I was an investigative social worker for Child Protective Services and efficiency was paramount then as well.  In many cases my ability to efficiently gather the information I needed quickly all while being hyper aware of my situation probably saved my tail. More then a few times as I had to go into some pretty dicey areas of town while doing sometimes dangerous investigations. I often worked alongside SWAT teams, Special Investigation Units and sometimes Homicide detectives too, their time was precious and I had to get in and get while performing a few critical tasks.  I also had to compile hours of investigations into very concise reports that would later be used for court filings and prosecutors in criminal cases…you see how I had to be efficient?

Back to my current life.  I find that there are areas that are time suckers for me and won’t allow me to function at my peak.  Therefore, I try to avoid these traps.  Television is one of these areas, I don’t have it and I don’t watch much on Netflix.  Reading is a luxury that I love, but unfortunately don’t get much time to do in this season of life.  Another example would be telephone conversations…for me these are a luxury.  I love to talk to friends but I do find that with the wonderful chaos that is my life I usually do not have time to engage in fun chats with friends.  I try to keep up with friends via quick texts to let them know I am thinking of them, a quick message on facebook to say hello, and the occasional call.  However, I don’t typically make phone calls to friends (nor do I take them) during my day homeschooling or even in the afternoons as I am then preparing for my husband to come home and get dinner and evening activities rolling.  I sometimes will try to fit a phone conversation in while I am driving as the children are all buckled and sometimes occupied, but then again there is a start and end to a car trip so I usually will preface with friends that I only have about 20 minutes to chat…you get the picture.

With all of this said, personal relationships are of utmost importance to me, as is my family.  I do try very hard to make all of my connections know that I love and care for them, but as I found recently, I don’t always do a great job.  I recently had a friend tell me that she did not feel that I valued her friendship because I was always so busy.  She felt that when I answered my phone calls quickly and in a to the point fashion, I was not valuing her.  She was not right about me not valuing her, but she was right that maybe I answer a bit abruptly when I am in the middle of something…and maybe I can have a little too much “get to the point” in my voice when I ask my friends “what’s up?”  I guess that is my concise and efficient manner presenting its faults.

I am going to try to figure out how to systematically  let the people in my life know that I do love and care for them and that they are of utmost value to me.  I am going to try to go beyond just the occasional text or quick facebook message to find other ways to let my friends know that even though I don’t always have loads of time for them, they are exceedingly valuable to me.

So, lesson learned.  Though efficiency can be an invaluable trait, I have to keep it in check and remember how I come across to others.  So, friends and family  of mine, be patient with me, I am trying to grow in this area.

Last growing season was my great attempt at growing organic potatoes.  It worked pretty well save for the occasional antectodal story (click here).  At the end of the growing season I wanted to be sure to save the spuds to enjoy through the winter.  There are many ways to prep potatoes for just that.  I have heard of keeping them in a laundry basket (air can circulate) in one's basement, layering them in dirt in large tote type containers, layering them in wood shavings, etc.  

I assure you I really did mean to get to one of these types of suggestions...but frankly.  I forgot.  I harvested my potatoes, plunked them into a bucket and stuck them into the garage.  Then, well, I am ashamed to say, I kind of forgot about them.  So, when I had a craving for potato soup and I came up short, I went looking for that bucket.  Know what I found?  My 5 gallon bucket was there waiting for me and with no special preparation my potatoes were doing just fine.  Only problem?  When the potatoes are still covered with a thin layer of dirt it is difficult to tell which kind of potato you have (I grew yellow, red, and purple in the garden).  So what I ended up with was 3 potato soup.  Funny, huh?  It was actually tasty enough that I will plan on doing this again!

Here is a rough version of what I did:

approx 5 cups potatoes (peeled & chopped)
1 stalk celery
2 peeled & chopped carrots
1/2 diced onion
salt & pepper to taste
3-4 cups chicken broth (can use water or bouillon in a pinch)
1-2 cups milk (but cream is better)
shredded cheese as desired

I peeled and chopped about 5 cups of potatoes and put them into a pot with just enough chicken broth to barely cover the potatoes (you don't want them drowning your your soup will be too watery).  I then chopped half an onion, 2 carrots and 1 stalk of celery and added it all to the pot.  I brought it to a boil, then to a simmer until the potatoes were fork tender.  At that point, I salted, peppered and added about 1 1/2 -2 cups of milk, a sprinkle of shredded cheese and viola!  A new recipie was born.

This last summer when my garden was in full swing and I had more basil and tomatoes then I knew what to do with I made up this recipie for Fresh tomato basil pesto tortilla pizza (click here for the post).  I was blessed with a significant abundance of the basil that I grew in pots on the back deck (best place I have found to grow basil). Therefore, I froze some of the pesto knowing that I would appreciate revisiting that fresh summer taste in the cold winter months...so glad I thought ahead!  In addition to the frozen pesto, I made "sun" dried tomatoes (okay so this is a misnomer as they are actually oven dried but same difference, right?) and I bagged those for freezer storage as well.  So, to recap, in the summer I have this:

To using this as my winter substitute:

I still made the recipie the same way I just substituted sun dried tomatoes for the fresh ones (I can't stand the flavorless tomatoes that the grocery store carries in the winter months) and I unfroze the pesto that I had made this last summer. (Recipie Here)

Then I re-made the summer recipie

1 flour tortilla (per pizza)
1 T. pesto
chopped sun dried tomatoes

sprinkle of mozzarella cheese
dash of salt
1-2 T. Olive oil.

First heat the olive oil on medium high in your skillet and fry the tortilla (you cold skip this step if you are trying to make a healthier version, you would just brown the tortilla on both sides in a non-stick skillet)  but, trust me, it is worth the calories to do it the original way.  Fry both sides till slightly browned and kinda crunchy.

Next (after browning both sides of the tortilla) add your 1 T. (more or less to taste) of pesto and smear it around with a spoon while your tortilla is still in the pan.

Top with shredded Mozzarella...Then I turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid or plate for about 2 minutes to melt the cheese...Get ready and VIOLA!!!


I have to say though that I am a anxiously awaiting when I can get back to seeing this on the back deck....oh summer!

Have you heard a lot recently about essential oils?  It seems that the buzz words are popping up all over the place but what in the world are they really?  

 I have to say my curiosity was peaked about a year ago.  I am into natural and holistic solutions.  I will say that first and foremost.  I prefer to try natural solutions before running to the doctor for medications.  My husband…not so much.  He is part of the medical field and I was raised with a medical mindset.  However, for me, I often have side effects from over the counter medications (I cannot take any kind of cold medications without feeling like my heart is going to race right out of my chest) I have had an anaphylactic reaction to antibiotics before, and for the most part I am the odd ball who would get every side effect mentioned on a pill bottle label.   My solution?  I try to eat whole foods, without  too many indulgences in processed or boxed foods.  I try to live a pretty healthy lifestyle (I do not drink, smoke, or use any drugs).  And, I use natural remedies as my first line of defense, therefore reserving a doctor’s office visit for things I just cannot get a handle on with natural remedies (happening less and less often). 

There, I put it out there, so if there was a continuum of those who are completely all natural to a fault and those who are completely medication driven to a fault I would fall somewhere just left of center leaning towards the natural side.

So, when I kept hearing about Essential oils and how wonderful they were, I was curious, but skeptical.  This led me to the health food store and then to a class or two on learning the basics of Essential Oils.

What exactly is an essential Oil?  It is basically found in the roots, flowers, stems, seeds and sometimes bark of plants.  What it is…the natural oil of the plant.  These oils are distinctive of the plant (think about walking by a rose or pine tree and the powerful aroma you encounter)  These oils provide the plants with a line of defense against diseases and predators and are also involved in pollination of the plant.  It is kind of a misnomer, when you think oil you think greasy or oily, but Essential oils are very crisp and clean and are absorbed by the skin almost instantaneously.  Oils that are pure and uncut have a very crisp smell and range in color from a dark blue (think flowers) to crystal clear.

A perfect home example…take a citrus fruit (lime, lemon or orange) and bend the peel (not the fruit) until you see little sprays of oils…that is essential oil.  Essential Oils are not new they have been around since God created the earth. They were used in ancient Biblical times as trade materials, medicinal compounds, and often used in religious ceremonies.


After going to the classes I mentioned and having a close friend who began using Essential Oils to treat her Lyme disease I wanted to try for myself (see is believing right?)  I started off with Health Food Store grade Lavender Oil.  Here is my post about that from the summer.  I have learned a lot since then and I no longer go to the health food store to buy my essential oils (truth be told the reason the oils are cheaper there is because they are often cut with less than desirable ingredients...that is why they read: do not ingest, for aromatic use only).  Often times they will cause skin sensitivities as well.

I now use Essential oils all the time.  I was able to rid myself of a mastitis infection (I caught it just as I was moving from a clogged milk duct into mastitis) via natural remedies including the use of Frankincense and Oregano oils.  I think that may have helped hubby become more of a believer as well- he saw what happened in a 24 hour period...first hand.

I have used Essential oils to calm bee stings, care for kitchen burns, provide immune support, aid in ear infections, relieve stomach aches (gas, bloating, constipation), aid in cradle cap, help treat excema, aid in sleep, clear congested airways, rid headaches, obliterate warts and so many other areas. 

 I am not indiscriminate in my use as I do understand that these are VERY powerful compounds.  Care and caution should be used for young children and infants with dilution of carrier oils. I am definately convinced that there is something to be said for natural remedies, and for me at least, Essential Oils are an amazing part of a holistic, natural option. This has become so much a truth that I decided to become a distributor for what I found to be the best essential oil company.

If you are curious to know more, let me know with a comment.  I don't profess to know everything, but I am learning and have a family of 7 so I do have lots of occasion to try things out!

This is by far the most frequently asked question when someone finds out we homeschool.  "How do you keep the little ones busy?" I have to admit to you that it is such a popular topic that I often search the question on the internet myself...because well...I run out of ideas too!  I am reminded about what a veteran mother of 8 said to me..."This is just a season, a short one, and then you will be on to the next."  This was in response to an exasperating day I was having when I was feeling overwhelmed and a bit defeated.  Okay, I can do this.  

Here are some of the things I have come up with recently to keep our 3-year-old and 11 mont- old busy while we wade through Spanish, Grammar, Mathematics, History, Literature...you get the picture.

1. First things first...  We get up early and the two littles sleep a little later.  I try to have my school aged children up in a tiered fashion with the eldest starting her math at 6:30 am when the house is still very quiet and she can concentrate uninterrupted. My 11 y/o is up by 7am to start on her math and then my 9 y/o follows suit by 7:30ish.

2. We have a cupboard dedicated soley to the 3 y/o.  Most of the things in the cupboard are items that he can do himself or with very little help. There are art supplies, games, coloring books, watercolor paints, etc.  He can get whatever he wants out and sit with some of the big kids at the table.

3. Baby gates.  These are invaluable in our home.  We do a lot of school in the diningroom which is adjacent to our livingroom.  I usually gate the 11 month old into one or two rooms so that I can keep a relatively close eye on him as he gets into things while we school.  Sometimes I have to let him just make a mess so we can get something done.

4. Learning to deal with messy learning.  Small children learn almost entirely by trial and error...which usually causes some sort of mess in my opinion.  I am learning to better deal with the fact that the fun they are having will usually result in some sort of mess.  We just take turns cleaning it up. (eventually some of that rice ends up spilling all over the counter and floor)

5. Scheduled play time.  I do actually schedule play time into the older children's schedules where part of their school is to play with a younger sibling.  They can do a learning game, read a book or just play make believe with a younger sibling.  This is two-fold because it creates stronger sibling bonds, but also allows me to have longer to work with another child on something they need help with.

So, what are my favorite things to keep the toddler busy?  I have a grandma and aunt to thank for most of these ideas as they worked at a preschool that my grandmother owned for years together...they have a vast wealth of knowledge and ideas that I try to put to use in "busy bags" that I can keep in the cupboard I mentioned above.

* Rice or Beans...cheap and fun!  Hand over a bag of rice (around $1.50) and lots of utensils to a toddler and it is game on!  We just keep using the same rice over and over.
*Fishing...This awesome fishing set you see was made by my aunt for us to use in homeschooling.  It is some fish cutouts from a magazine that are laminated with contact paper and each have a small paperclip attached so they can be picked up with the magnent fishing pole. (this is a HUGE hit here)
*flash cards
*straws and fuzzballs
*Cotton balls and tongs

When all else fails I just search for new ideas.  Here is one of my favorite websites for ideas (click on the image):

I am so excited that we got our pork in the freezer.  We have a friend who raises pigs on pasture and we have purchased pork from her for the last several years.  I would like to start doing this myself but haven't made the leap yet.  Until then I have visited my friend's farm, I have seen the frolicking piggies running amuck on pasture, and I am quite pleased to report that the pork is SUPREME!!!  We just picked up our share of the hog that we are splitting with some friends this time around and I am almost giddy with excitement as there is no bacon or sausage that can hold a candle to farm fresh pork straight from the butcher.  

I also get the cracklins for hubby and the lard to cook with.  Yes, I know years ago we were told that lard was bad for you and you should forgo it for Crisco and margarine but all I have to say is that I can pronouce "lard" but not some of the ingredients in margarine, I will just stick with my lard for farmhouse biscuits and the like thank you very much.  I even know the pig it came from.

We’ve lost our “Grit”

As the temperatures plummeted last week into the single digits and then to the negative ones we ran into a bit of a problem.  The night seemed extra chilly when I got up in the wee hours to feed the baby, but when my husband awoke very early for work he found the thermostat to be mocking him with a less than desirable number.  He did what any good husband would do and he built a fire in the fireplace and began doing everything that he knew to get the house warm.   We soon realized however that we had a serious problem.  When it was time to get up and start school that morning we had been able to raise the temp from the low 40s in the house to just shy of 52.  Not exactly comfortable in my book (in case I haven’t mentioned…I hate to be cold).  Nonetheless, we began our morning in a bit of an unconventional manner by doing school right next to the fireplace. 

It was here that I began to think of my grandmother.  Grandma grew up in the country on a farm.  Grandma has recounted numerous stories to me from her childhood on that farm, and I seem to remember that there was no heat and no indoor plumbing until she was nearly a young adult.  She lived in the same state then as we do now, so I know there were some winters that were colder than others, and surely she too had to experience negative numbers on the thermometer.  She survived.  Therefore I had to almost laugh when several friends gasped at my being without a furnace and not evacuating my home.  I’ve got this…I know how to make do.  Grandma could do without heat and indoor plumbing; at least I have electricity, and indoor plumbing!

I began calling my friends and asking who had space heaters.  I am prepared if the electricity should go out as I do have kerosene heaters and a fireplace, but to be honest those are last resort options for sole sources of heat.  I love that I have an amazing church family and a number of friends responded with offers of small room heaters that they would lend us until we could get the furnace fixed.  I then called the furnace guy and began trying to figure out how long we would have to use our “grit” and grassroots efforts of staying warm.

Here’s where it gets kind of interesting.   When we had the furnace looked at, and an estimate given, I don’t think that the company realized they were not dealing with some desperate mama who would pay whatever the cost to get that heat fixed immediately, including blindly shelling out crazy amounts of cash without doing her research.  Again, grandma never had heat; I can make do for at least as long as it takes to not get taken to the cleaners!  When the estimates came in I think that there was a bit of dishonesty going on as the company just informed me that parts were not available any longer for my furnace and therefore I would need to get them to give me an estimate on a new system.  Hmmmm.  I think like I should do what I would do if I were told I had a medical situation requiring surgery, I would want a second opinion.  To which I got one, and discovered that if I was willing to wait a few days that a part indeed could be ordered that would fix the heat and save thousands.  Hmmmm.  There’s my “grit” coming to the rescue.

So, what exactly do I mean by “We’ve lost our Grit?”  As a whole, our society has forgotten that just 70 or 80 years ago, all of the luxuries that we take for granted were not readily available to all.  I mean maybe your grandma had indoor plumbing and heat, but if she did, I bet your great grandma did not.  It wasn’t a dire emergency if they could do without, so it isn’t a dire emergency if I am without… as long as I know how to make do.  That is what most of the country is lacking, the knowledge of how to make do.  When our hot water heater had to be repaired and we were without for a 2 day stint I had a number of friends ask why I didn’t just call a plumber and have it all replaced immediately putting the cost on a Lowes or Home Depot charge…Well, it’s because I know how to make do.  That little part for the water heater cost us $13.00…Something those friends would have shelled out hundreds to have someone replace the entire unit for.  In the meantime I know how to heat water on the stove and carry it to bathtubs to bathe, and I know how to heat water for washing dishes.  That’s the grit.

I called grandma today as I was getting ready to write this post and I asked her about how they did stay warm when the temperature got really cold.  Grandma told me that the farmhouse was a 2 story farmhouse that had bedrooms upstairs and the heat stove downstairs.  She recounted that her mother would pile the upstairs beds high with blankets.  Great grandma wanted her littles comfortable too so she would heat water bottles and put them in the beds so that when the children climbed in their spots were warm and they could then push the hot water bottles to the foot of the beds to keep their feet warm.  I am told that the windows would sometimes frost on the inside because of the cold and if the wind was really wicked maybe even a stray snowflake or two would end up inside on the windowsill.  I asked why they didn’t all just sleep next to the wood stove and grandma just said because there were no beds there, our beds were upstairs. 

So, no complaints from me, we used the borrowed space heaters for bedrooms upstairs and slept under our down comforters with the upstairs temp staying around 65 degrees.  We then just took the space heaters downstairs with us in the mornings and built a fire in the fireplace to warm the downstairs and keep the pipes from freezing.  Not to mention, we don’t have to go outside to go to the outhouse…so, this mama can make do and wait for that furnace part to arrive…with “grit”.

As a child one of my favorite memories of snow is making snow ice cream.  It is something I remember doing with many of my family members and it always seemed so magical to me to be able to whip up a batch of my very own ice cream, in minutes, in my own kitchen.  I also remember that since it was so simple (really no recipie is needed) that I was allowed to mix it myself.  I have passed this tradition on to my children and they squeal with delight whenever there is fresh-fallen snow because they love to make snow-cream.  

At our house we do have a dairy allergy so often times you will see me substitute Almond Milk for Cow's milk.  This time we made two batches, one with Almond milk and one with Cow's milk.  They were equally delicious!

Here is the "recipie" if you will...Milk, Sugar, Vanilla.  Thats it.  It really doesn't matter what your ratios are as long as you don't add enough milk to turn your ice cream into ice-soup, though if you do you just call it a snow milkshake.  So, go slow with the milk and add sugar and vanilla to taste.  (oh, and don't use the yellow snow...you get that right?)

The accomplished chef and the patient patron:

Ahhhh, success at at last!

Anyone who owns livestock or who farms at all will tell you that often times winter farm chores become a labor of love.  I don't mind feeding animals and caring for the farm in the spring, summer, and fall.  In fact, it is downright enjoyable during those seasons.  However, subfreezing temperatures and snow make it a whole different story.  When I awoke this morning it was a balmy 10 degrees outside.  

We have 1 horse, 12 chickens, 4 cats, 2 rabbits, 3 dogs, 13 homing pigeons and...well a partridge in a pear tree...okay no partridge, but the rest is true.

This is what it looked like out the front window so I knew we were in for it this morning.
This type of weather means that everything freezes up solid, the water faucets, hoses, etc.  It also necesitates frequent checking on livestock to ensure that they have sufficient bedding, water and food.  Not to mention the feed bill goes up significantly because the animals eat so much to stay warm.  We have homing pigeons that my husband uses in training hunting dogs.  They are really fascinating to watch as they fly wide circles around the house, barn and property but always return back to their coop.  My daughter let them out and each time they landed on the barn roof it let a spray of fresh powdery snow loose.

Our hens are normally free range gals but they are very particular about the winter.  They will go outside and forage so long as there is no snow to step on.  It is really quite comical because if there are thawed patches they will skip and hop on those and not step on the snow.  However, because they won't set foot in the snow it is really rather pointless to open the door to the coop on days like today because all it does is allow a cold wind to blow through the coop.  The other problem we run into with our hens in the winter is that if they should decide to be lazy and lay an egg in the hay mound as opposed to the laying boxes it will freeze and crack open before we find out about it.  The girls do like to eat snow though...they will peck it off my boots and pants when I go into the coop.

The horse was wild this morning.  Our diningroom window looks out over our back field and we all had fun watching her antics as she bucked and ran around the field.  She has been eating a large amount of hay as it has been so cold.  I love when she gets her winter coat as she looks so furry and gets whiskers all along her muzzle.

So the tally for this morning was one semi frozen mama, 8 eggs, split firewood (courtesy of hubby) 6 hammered to crack frozen water containers, 8 flakes of hay, and some flying birds.  Only 3 months till spring!

Then there's this to leave you with...

The freshly fallen snow here definately took me by surprise.  I guess I just wasn't paying attention to the forecast (I mean when you don't watch t.v. or the news I guess thats what happens!).  When we woke I must say I was very thankful for having heat in our home.  I don't know why but for some reason snow days make me want to bake. 

 I had some less than desirable bananas sitting on the counter that I had been meaning to get to for a few days so why not make some banana bread muffins for the kids.  Oh, and there were some leftover pecans from Christmas baking so that would make a delicious addition.  I got to work turning this...                                   into this...

The recipie I use for these is:

1 Cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter (no substitutions)
2 farm fresh eggs
3-4 very overripe bananas (the more black the better)
1/3 cup water
1 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Heat oven to 350. Prepare muffin tins (this makes me about 20 muffins) Mix sugar and butter, stir in eggs, add bananas and water.  Beat 30 seconds.  Then stir in remaning ingredients and pour into prepared muffin tins.  Bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpic comes out clean when inserted.

I forgot that I also had a LOT of help!

After using up the overripe bananas my 3 y/o made a breakfast request I just couldn't ignore...(the way he says it is super cute).  He requested some BIG oatmeal. This is 3 y/o speak for my delicous BAKED oatmeal.  And we still had some banans that were not overripe, and still had that bag of pecans.  Let me just say that this was AMAZING!  It was like banana bread cake or something...YUM!

Here is my original post http://www.incidentalfarmgirl.com/blog/baked-oatmeal on this yumminess that we make so often.  This time I just added a twist by cutting a whole banana up in chunks (not disks but quartered disks) and tossing in some pecans (about 1/2 cup).  I also added 1/4 cup of applesauce in addition to to the 1/2 cup olive oil which made it super moist!

I cannot believe that another year has flown by so quickly.  I look back on all that happened in 2014 and it seems impossible that the year is over.  

February ushered in the homebirth of our 5th child (story here)
March-April began my venture into "from seed" gardening
May was adding to the flock of both laying hens and meat hens (22 layers and 25 meat hens)
June was the beginning of my blogging ventures we also put up 22 chickens into the freezer from our first large attempt at meat birds
July was hearty harvesting and lots of canning
August saw us putting turkeys into the freezer from our flock
End of August to Sept we began our 3rd year of homeschooling
September was collecting seeds for next years garden and a family trip to MI
October was more of September and another trip to MI
November was feeling thankful and cooking our homegrown turkey (YUM!)
December my favorite month of the year!

and there you go, it is now a new year.  I wanted to share a few of the things I learned on the farm last year and some of my gardening/farming goals for 2015.

What I learned...
1. I need to figure out a way of marking my hens so I know who the oldest ones are (I am thinking of ordering only one breed at a time so I know that all that certain kind were hatched at certain date) 
2. Rabbits make excellent compost producers (not the rabbit itself but the byproducts)
3. Compost is truly "Black Gold"
4. Organic gardening is hard and can be painful (see here)
5. I can actually assist hubby in scalding and plucking the meat hens.
6. I may never be able to be satisfied by store bought meat again.
7.  Turkeys are great fun but can be quite decieving as far as just how big they really are under all those feathers!
8. I need to plant more tomatoes
9. I need to start my seeds indoors next month
10. I need to plant more herbs and dry more for teas
11. I LOVE the "back to Eden" style of gardening
12. I need to figure out what to do with all those chicken feathers
13. I want ducks (and goats and a mini horse...but hubby says no Dr. Doolittle farm! lol)
14. using a clothesline saves us about $20 a month on electricity
15.  I truly love being on a farm!

My Farm Goals for 2015
1. double the meat hens that I put up last year (I want to do 2 rounds for a total of 50)
2. dry herbs for most of my own teas
3. start selling organic produce from the farm to supplement the operation
3. broaden my heirloom seed stash
4. plant strawberries
5. teach my children even more about living off the land