My first book review (since school that is)

I am not usually one to do a "review" of a book in writing, but this book was so encouraging to me, I just had to share.  I just finished reading "If I'm diapering a watermelon, then where'd I leave the baby?: Help for the highly distractible mom" by Carol Barnier.

This book is specifically written for the "highly distractible" homeschooling mom, but applies to any mom who is not an organization goddess (such as myself).  She gives tips and tricks on how to do schooling and mothering "outside the box".  What I most appreciated about the book was her reminder that we "unorganized moms" have special gifts which should not be dismissed.

She lists some of those gifts as:
The "La-Di-Da Factor".  We are a little more unencumbered by life in general and can teach our children (and husbands) that roadblocks and detours in life are not something which has to hinder us.  We are typically more flexible and can keep the cheer in our homes when things don't go the way we had planned.

The ability to think outside the box.  We can often think of solutions to problems with a little less effort than our organized moms counterparts because we don't think as literally as they do.  We are able to come up with un-orthodox, yet effective ways to deal with the hiccups life throws at us.


Delight driven homeschool and/or conversation.  We are eccentric at heart and while eccentricities may be annoying at times, they are typically entertaining in the very least.  We may veer from one subject to the next with neck snapping speed, but our enthusiasm of each topic is not to be disregarded.  We are very driven in what we set our minds to and learn just as much in the end, even if it looks a bit messy to the outside world.

I was really encouraged by this book.  I was reminded that just because I am not as efficient as my uber-organized mom friends, I have gifts and talents and love which benefit my family too.  We may not receive the praise and admiration because we are a little messier at life in general, but we sure do have a good time in the process!

I was reminded that it takes all kinds to make the world go around.  I need to continue to admire, appreciate and learn things from my well organized friends and family, while not forgetting that my own style has value and is what God specifically intended for MY family.

Love and hugs to my organized and not-so-organized mom friends and family.  I love and cherish you all!

~Debbie

The candyman cannn...well, er...

Today was the day that my little sister Tammy and I went over to my mother's house to make Christmas goodies for family and friends.  On my list to make was the following:  Honey Peanut Brittle, Rice Crispy Treats and Chex Muddy Buddies.  My sister Tammy was making:  Chocolate Fudge, Cookies for the kids to decorate and Peppermint Patties.

The day started off not-so-good.  I followed the Honey Peanut Brittle recipe to the letter and it apparently never reached hard crack stage.  Soooooo, it STUCK to the waxed paper, NOT to be pried off.  The little, tiny bits that one WAS able to peel off would stick to your teeth so bad you just had to wait for it to dissolve.  Ewwwwww!  So I had to toss the whole batch!  **sigh**

So then Tammy proceeds to start her Peppermint Patties.  She started with the mint filling.  She accidentally put in 3/4 cup (instead of the required 1/4 cup) evaporated milk.  Sooooo...we ended up with a TRIPLE batch!  LOL!  Then she had all kinds of trouble with the chocolate coating.  It was thick and grainy...really weird.  Finally she got it to work.  The peppermint patties are a time consuming delicacy anyway...but a TRIPLE batch made it downright daunting!!  She's a trooper...she finished making all of it!

My Muddy Buddies were the easiest BY FAR!  Simple, and YUMMY!  I would HIGHLY recommend them!

My next attempt at Peanut Brittle was a microwave recipe my mother had.  It worked WONDERFULLY and I was pleased.  I made 2 batches of it and then called it a day.

I didn't make the Rice Crispy Treats as Christmas will not be celebrated at my mother's house until Sunday and I didn't want them to go stale.  All in all it was a good day...just not quite what we had planned.

Making memories!!

Gluten Free ideas

My son, Luke, is sensitive to gluten.  So, that makes the holidays a challenge as you can imagine.  I plan on making some rice crispy treats, some candied nuts and some energy bars (peanut butter, honey, carob and nuts/seeds) (recipe from my sister Cherie).

Does anyone have any other ideas???

Luke's birthday bash

December 4th at 3:00pm we had Luke's 3rd birthday celebration with family and a couple of friends.  Luke had been talking about his party for well over a month and begged me daily to sing "Happy Birpy dear Lucas!".  Any other day of the year and he wants to be called Luke, but for his birthday serenade, he specifically requested we sing Lucas.  Too funny!

He was SOOOOO excited when the day had finally arrived.  I TRULY think his favorite part was when everyone gathered around, looked at him and sang happy birthday.  He was all smiles!  It was so cute.

He received lots of wonderful gifts and he is being sure to enjoy each and every one of them.  I know he is only 3, but it seemed to have happened so fast.  I just can't believe it!

The next day, of course, reality set back in and we were back to the old whining, contrary and sometimes cuddly Luke.  Ahhhhh, the seasons we go through.  ; )

A Jelly Ol' good time...

Yesterday my friend LaRee and I made pomegranate jelly and pomegranate/pepper jelly sweetened with honey and apple juice using this awesome recipe.  We have made jams/jellies with this recipe before and felt that this was going to be as successful as our past attempts...ummmmm, not so.

I woke up this morning and to my chagrin...the jelly did not set up.  NONE of it!  Oh well, I thought to myself...I guess we'll just have to use it as syrup or marinade or something like that.  Then LaRee calls me later in the morning, "Did your jelly set up?", she asks.  "No, it didn't.", I reply.  She then proceeds to tell me that she went looking around online and found a "fix it" recipe for jam/jelly that did not set up.

So I rush my happy little self over to her house, jelly and Luke in tow and we set about to re-do our jelly.  It was a funny experience (as all our endeavors together have been).  Now, we'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if it worked...if not...does anyone need pomegranate syrup??  LOL!!

Wish me luck!

Just stuff

My friend Erin gave birth to twin boys last week.  They were in the NICU for a number of days and she was finally able to bring them home just a couple days ago.  I was sooooooo looking forward to getting to see her and the boys today.  Luke woke up with a 101 fever this morning.  Poor guy.  But that pretty much doomed my visit to see Erin and her family.  Oh well...later in the week will be just as fun.

Also, our church was having one service (all 3 services all together) today and announcing the church's new name.  I really wanted to go to that service as well...oh well.  I guess I can get the Cliff's Notes from some friends.

It definitely feels like fall here now in CA.  All the leaves are turning color and falling.  The weather has started to really cool off.  I love fall.  It is one of my favorite seasons here in CA.  But, with fall comes cold and flu season.  Yay?!?!?!?!?  All you moms and or medical staff out there know what I mean.  LOL!

My morning sickness has really subsided and now I only occasionally become nauseous.  I am so thankful for that!  I am now 14 weeks along.  I got to hear the baby's heart at my last Dr. appointment last week.  That is always the highlight of my Dr. visits.  I LOVE it!  Darren wasn't able to come with me to this last appointment...perhaps the next one.  It's nice when he is able to attend with me.

Luke's birthday is coming up quick.  His actual birthDAY is December 5th.  That falls on a Sunday and Darren works Sundays so we will be celebrating on Saturday.  I cannot believe he will be 3 in just a couple weeks.  Where oh where does the time go?  Will I wake up one morning and he is a teenager???  It feels like that sometimes.

I am so grateful for my friends and family here in blogland.  You have all been so supportive of me and whatever efforts or trials I seem to be going through.  Thank you.

May God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving.

Back to basics: Cleaning supplies

As most of you are aware, I am very active in ridding my house of as many toxins as possible.  In this day and age, this quest is proving to be daunting to say the least, but a quest worth endeavoring upon.  One of the ways I have chosen to prevent my house from becoming a dangerous toxic waste dump is to thin out my cleaning supplies.

Not only do I believe it is good for safety, (as most of the cleaning supplies I use are benign and would not harm my son if he were to ingest them) I also believe it is health promoting to limit the use of toxic chemicals as much as possible in day to day cleaning.  

Much of the toxins we have in our bodies have been absorbed by our skin by simply touching surfaces, believe it or not.  When you wipe off that Windex or Comet, it does not magically disappear.  It is still on the surface and being abosorbed by your (or your children's) body upon contact.  Scary...

Below is a list of cleaning supplies I keep on hand for day to day use:

Borax

Washing Soda (baking soda that has not been finely processed for consumption)

White Vinegar

Lemon juice

Olive Oil

Castille Soap

Tea Tree oil

I use a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar to clean most kitchen and dining room surfaces and appliances (including the floor) as well as clean my windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces.

For a "disinfectant" cleaning for the bathroom surfaces and kitchen surfaces when needed, I use a combination of water, castille soap and tea tree oil.  This also cleans polished brass and blinds or shutters.

For dusting my wood furniture I use olive oil I have scented with lemon essential oil (the essential oil is not necessary, it just makes it smell good).

For my bathtub, shower, kitchen and bathroom sinks, to shine my stainless steel pots and pans and to rid my coffee cups of stains I use Borax and/or washing soda.  

For laundry detergent, a mixture of a shredded bar of Fels Naptha soap, water and Borax can be used.  This will make about 5 gallons of laundry detergent for under $3.00.

Borax can also be substituted for 1/2 of your laundry detergent to minimize cost.

I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle of my washing machine for fabric softener.  No, my clothes do not smell like vinegar, the smell dissipates once your clothes are dry.  : P

It is not to be said that I do not use harsh chemicals on rare occasions.  When we moved into this house it needed some SERIOUS scrubbing attention and we found ourselves resorting to the more harsh cleansers.  However, once we dropped the chemical bomb (this statement used in jest) on our home to 'deep clean' we have maintained as much as possible the non-toxic cleaning route.

It's not only safer and healthier, it is also MUCH cheaper than purchasing the other cleaners and I can use one cleaner for multiple things.

It's not for everyone, I know.  But you could always pick one and give it a try.  In my opinion...it is worth the peace of mind to know that if my son got into my cleaning cabinet, a trip to the emergency room would not be necessary.

Do you have any additional suggestions?  I hope you have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!!!

Homemade yummy smellies for the home

It's that time of the year again ladies and gents!   Time to start making the house smell yummy is what I mean of course!!  ; )

There are any number of store bought smellies you can purchase at the store, most all of which are toxic.  They smell REALLY yummy, I agree.  But the toxicity is not worth it to me.  I have a couple of simple and inexpensive ways to make your home smell pleasant and you can make them at home!

My favorite of the two I will be talking about today is taking orange or apple or tangarine or lime or lemon (you get the picture) peel and putting them in a small saucepan.  You can mix them up or just use one type of peel at a time...whatever tickles your fancy at the moment.  Then you fill up the pan about 3/4 of the way full of water.  You can then add some yummy spices if you'd like.  My personal favorites are cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger.  Then bring the mixture to a boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat and keep at a low simmer.  Be sure you watch for the water level in about an hour (depending on the size of your saucepan).  I LOVE the way it makes my house smell!!

My next suggestion is equally inexpensive and easy.  Purchase your favorite smelling flower or herb (dried).  Bruise about 1/2 cup of the dried flower or herb in a pestle and mortar, or just put them in a ziploc bag and rub between your hands for about 30 seconds.  Take the dried flowers/herbs and mix with 1 cup of baking soda.  Spread the mixture on your carpets.  Leave for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.  Then vacuum.  It works!!  My favorite is lavender.  This mixture also looks nice in a glass container and can be given away as a gift!!

Do you have any additional suggestions?  I would love to hear them and try them out for myself!!

Morning/All Day sickness

Believe it or not, it actually makes me sick to read right now.  I can't read a book for more than a couple of paragraphs at a time.  This is KILLING me as I usually read ALL THE TIME!  Can't read blogs all in one sitting (unless they are short).  Going to have to take a break in the middle of this blog probably to finish it, or I will just cut it short.

So, to deal with my morning/all day sickness, I have been eating every hour or two, eating protein, wearing Sea Bands and avoiding too much reading or riding in cars.  Fun huh?  Most of the day I feel ok enough to go out and about in this world for short periods of time.  Come 4:00 or 5:00 pm though, I am all but housebound.  I get so sick.  Ugh!

As many of my friends and family have said to me on multiple occassions.  I DO know that having morning sickness is a good sign.  I KNOW this...but that knowledge doesn't always help in the throes of nausea and vomiting.

It IS getting better, I am not just horrifically sick ALL day like a was a couple of weeks ago.  I am hoping this is a good sign and I will be rid of this by the end of my first tri-mester.  Wish me luck!

I'm PREGNANT!!

I am 10 weeks pregnant!  We were trying to wait until 12 weeks to announce, but alas, my belly just will not cooperate!  I am showing already and my morning/all day sickness is HORRENDOUS.  My due date is May 18.

I have to admit, I am not only elated with the news of our new little one, I am terrified as well.  As many of you know, my son Daniel was still born in January of this year.  Most all women have at least some level of anxiety with pregnancy...it's normal.  My anxiety level, at times, is off the charts.  God has given me much peace about this pregnancy...however I am still human and sometimes scared to death.

I will be posting belly pictures soon, for those who are interested.  I would venture to say that many of my posts for the next several months will be about pregnancy, so I hope I don't annoy any of you!  ; )

I am starting to see a little, very small and faint light at the end of the morning sickness tunnel.  Now, I am usually only sick from about 4:00pm til I go to sleep.  I have nausea all day, but not the kind where I am afraid to leave the house, not until late afternoon anyway.  I am hoping my morning sickness will not last much past the first trimester.  PLEASE!?!?!?!!?

I had an ultrasound at 6 weeks to ensure that the pregnancy is only a singleton (as originally with Daniel I was pregnant with twins until about week 9).  The ultrasound showed only one little heartbeat, so that's good.  Not that I wouldn't want twins, but this pregnancy is high risk enough without the addition of another "bundle of joy". 

I am excited for the weeks and months to come and invite you (when and if you want) to join in my joy, fear and pregnancy brain mishaps!  Here goes nothing!

Homemade chicken broth: Why and How?

Homemade chicken broth.  Why in the  world would someone want to make homemade chicken broth when it only costs me about $3.50 for 32oz. of the stuff at the store?  And doesn't it take FOREVER to make?  Well, I am glad you asked.  If you are anything like me, you want to know WHY first.  Without the WHY,  the how is irrelevant right?

Well, the reason I make my own chicken broth is the same reason I make most all of my food from scratch:  it's healthier and cheaper.  No deep philosophical reason...just plain and simple.

Here's a breakdown of the WHY:

Here is a list of ingredients in Swanson's "No MSG" Chicken Broth:  

Chicken Stock, contains Less than 2% of: Salt, Flavoring*, Dextrose, Autolyzed Yeast Extract*, Celery Juice Concentrate, Carrot Juice Concentrate, Onion Juice Concentrate.

*For those of you who don't know...there is MSG in Autolyzed Yeast Extract and possibly in the "Flavoring" as the FDA does not require the disclosure of what constitutes "Flavoring".  They can put a certain amount of MSG in the flavoring category and still label it "No MSG", I'm not making this up!!

Here is a list of ingredients in my homemade chicken broth:

chicken

water

salt

celery

onion

garlic

carrot

apple cider vinegar

As I mentioned earlier, the cost of Swanson's 32oz. chicken broth is about $3.50 (on average).  My recipe will provide approx. 6 quarts of chicken broth and enough cooked chicken for about 3 dinners.  Average  cost of 32oz of my chicken broth is $.75 not including the cost savings of the chicken meat.  If we were to factor in the meat cost savings (compared with boneless skinless chicken breasts) the broth is all but free. 

It's simple to make...I make mine overnight while I am sleeping (doesn't get much easier than that).  

Here is the recipe I use:

In your largest stock pot, put in 1 whole chicken, a couple carrots roughly chopped, 1 onion roughly chopped, 2 celery stalks roughly chopped, a couple garlic cloves chopped in half, 2 tablespoons of apple cinder vinegar.  Then fill the rest of the pot up with water.  Bring all this to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer (covered).  Let simmer for 8-12 hours.  (Here is where I go to bed for the night).  (In the morning I...)Take out the chicken and remove the veggies with a large slotted spoon.  Bring the liquid back to a rolling boil for about 1 hour uncovered (this will reduce the stock and give it more flavor).  Let cool.  Add salt to taste.  Pour the liquid through a strainer into canning jars (only the wide mouth jars as we will be freezing them).  Leave 1 inch head space.  Put the lids on and put in your freezer.  Voila!!

This was one of the first "old school" recipes I ever made due to it's simplicity, health benefits and cost savings.  In my opinion it's well worth the time and effort.  

**Disclaimer** Regardless of how "reduced" the sodium in a store bought chicken broth, you will be surprised to note how much salt you will have to add to your broth or dishes made with the homemade chicken broth to make it taste like that which you are accustomed.  It was definitely a shock for me!!

Have you ever made your own chicken stock?  If so...was it worth it?  Did it turn out like you thought it would?

The broom fell...company's coming!

What is it about the knowledge that you will be having company over that makes you finally open your eyes and 'see' the mess that your house has become?  It was fine (as far as you were concerned) just yesterday, but now...no, no, no...it will NEVER do to have someone ELSE see your house in this manner!!

Just tonight Darren says to me, "I think the secret to a happy home is having people over."  He meant that, even though we keep the house relatively live-able...it's never as clean as when we are expecting company.  Not to mention the perks to having friends in the house.  It seems to lighten the day and strengthen the soul.

Our friends Dave and Denise Highfill (and their children) will be coming over for dinner tomorrow night.  Earlier in the week I had noticed that the house needed a little straightening, but today, I noticed FAR more that needed to be tended to.  Now all of a sudden I am able to see the cobwebs in the corner.  I can now see the fingerprints on the sliding glass door.  Huh, how long has it been since I dusted my nightstand?  LOL!

When I was a small child, if my Mom told us it was time to clean the house we asked, "Who's coming over?".  We did very little house cleaning, that I remember, unless company was coming.  Well heck, there were 4 children living in the house.  I am sure at times, housecleaning seemed like an exercise in futility.  As I got older and the number of children in the house was only 2, our house was cleaned much more often.

Was my mother a bad housekeeper?  Before I had children I would have said a resounding, "YES!".  But our house was not foul.  It was cluttered, yes, but not scary.  Now that I have my son (and only 1 child so far), I can already well appreciate the mad dash cleaning ritual.  

I like to think I am a pretty good housekeeper.  My house is not filthy.  The dishes are done nightly, and the rest of the household chores are done on a weekly basis if not more often.  Still, there is that lull that happens, everything is pretty much picked up.  The house has been dusted, for the most part.  You know how it goes. 

If none of this is ringing true for you, perhaps you have no children. Better yet, perhaps you are a housecleaning goddess, in which case I need you to be my mentor for about 6 months.

Cheerful cleaning ladies!!

I'm on a roll

Thanks to my friend Jen's wonderful blog Lipstick and Laundry and her tutorial, I was able to make her 'No Sew Pumpkin'.     

I also made the jar covers below for my MOPS Moms.  I will fill these jars next week with homemade hand moisturizer!

I am so excited!!  I have never been a crafty person.  My mother and my two sisters have always had an amazing knack for things of that nature, but I never felt like I did.

I am also blessed with many friends who are crafty.  I have always been so overwhelmed when looking at their latest creation because it was so intricate and beautiful.  

However, the other day I decided I was going to get up off my duff and learn how to do some crafts dag nab it!!!  All my friends had to start with the simple stuff too, at one point in time, so here I am.  Simply happy with my simple creations!!

Crafty?

SQQQUUUUUUEEEEEE!!!  I am SO pickin' proud of myself right now. 

I (on my own and of my own volition) went to the store, bought a grass broom and silk flowers to make a CRAFT!  Yep, you got it...Debbie Didreckson made a CRAFT ladies and gentlemen!  I think I have removed the finger prints from my right forefinger and middle finger with my glue gun, but a small price to pay, right??

I know it may seem so simple to my many crafty-gifted friends, but it's a BIG deal to me and all I could think to do was be vain and share.  So....here it is.  Not fancy, I am a pretty plain gal...but I LOVE IT!!  Better yet, the whole project only cost me $5.00! 

**cheesy grin** 

 

My passion as of late...

...has been making my own, well, just about everything!  I have made my own:  toothpaste, lotion, carpet deodorizer, shampoo, play-dough, finger paints, deodorant, scrape/burn/rash ointment, shaving cream, window cleaner, laundry detergent, counter sanitizer, furniture polish, air fresheners, canned food, bread, sprouted flour, etc.

I have a PASSION for making and using as many 'natural' products (or pretty close to natural) as possible.  I really enjoy making them and using them as well.  I believe that God wants us to take care of ourselves the best way we know how.  What better way to take care of ourselves but ensuring all manner of things which go in or on our bodies is homemade?

This is a fairly new passion of mine.  It all came about when I was pregnant with Luke.  My husband, Darren was very ill and I was taking 12 pills a day for high blood pressure.  (I have not asked Darren's permission to reveal his illness in this post so I will withhold it out of respect.)

Darren was in one of the Bible book stores in Edmond, OK one day and happened to glance at a book entitled, "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin.  He didn't purchase the book that day.  However, that night he tells me about the book he thummed through and says, "I feel God wants me to go back to that bookstore tomorrow and buy that book.".  I am so proud of him for listening to God speaking to him and obeying.  It has been one of the best things that has ever happened to our family.

Darren read the book and then so did I.  I was particularly drawn to this way of eating as it is based on biblical principals (post flood).  We participated in a 40 day "trial" if you will, per the books suggestion.  By the time the 40 days was up, I was down to 3 blood pressure pills a day and Darren was weaning himself off his medication.  Within 3 months we were both of ALL medication and have remained that way for 2.5 years! 


Since then, of course, we have been FAR from perfect in following our eating guidelines.  Life happens, sometimes it is very overwhelming and one can only do what one can do at the time.  More often than not, we stick to them and have reaped wonderful benefits by doing so.  Out of that came my passion for healthy eating and healthy living.


My son will be 3 in December and has never had a soda (diet or regular), has never had artificial sweeteners, has never had a twinkie or the like, has never had cool-aid, never a TV dinner, never a low-fat food, never a meal out of a box or can and is a happy and VERY healthy little boy for it.


It may sound like what we eat is boring, but I tell you, that is certainly not the case.  We eat QUITE well.  Very rich foods, as I do not skimp on fat or flavor.  We eat as our great grandparents might have.  All food is REAL food and not from a manufacturer.  No cheese that doesn't melt, no bread that is as stiff as cardboard, no science fiction low-fat, low-calorie, low-tasting foods. 


I wrote all of that because I got a little excited and once it was written I was NOT going to erase it...LOL!  The original meaning for this post was to get any and all recipes you, my readers, may have for REAL food and/or homemade household or personal products.  I would really be interested in trying them!!

 

MOPS 2010

I joined an organization called MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) last year.  Unfortunately, due to the many family emergencies I had last year I missed quite a few meetings, but I always REALLY enjoyed attending the meeting and other get togethers.

It was my fellow MOPS moms (along with my family) who helped me survive the loss of my son Daniel this last January.  They were all so supportive and helpful.  I was overwhelmed!

This year I have chosen to be a "Table Leader" or "Discussion Leader" whichever title you prefer.  I will have 8 other moms at the table that I will be leading.  I am very excited about it.

I have to be honest...being a Table Leader was the LAST thing from my mind.  I knew I wanted to volunteer for a job this year but thought it would probably fall more along the lines of hospitality or crafts or some such thing.  I was praying about it and I really felt like God was telling me I needed to be a Table Leader.  NOT what I wanted to do.  Actually, I told my friend Autumn that I would do just about any other job that had a vacancy EXCEPT for table leader.  LOL!  As the saying goes, "If you want to make God laugh...just tell him your plans.".

I have overcome my anxiety (for the most part) of this job and am now simply anxiously awaiting the MOPS first meeting.  I can't wait to meet the moms I will be involved with and I can't wait to make even more new and fantastic friends.

As a new stay-at-home mom last year, I really fell into the habit of doing nothing for myself.  I was so emphatic about being a good homemaker, wife and mother that I forgot to be "me".  I joined MOPS just to get me out of the house for a little bit.  I was hoping this would help me not maul my husband first thing when he walked through the door as he would be the only other adult I would speak with all day!  I knew I was losing it and I needed help.  And lucky for me, MOPS was just the place for me to obtain that help.

It was nice to speak with other mothers and realize I am not alone in my fears, doubts, solitude and other eccentricities I had accrued.  I also learned many helpful parenting and wifery techniques along the way.

Any stay-at-home mother of a child from mere pregnancy to age 5, I would HIGHLY recommend visiting a group near you.  They are a nation-wide group and I would imagine there is one not too far from where you reside.  It would be worth the look...

Trip to the **not so** Windy City

Me, my husband, son and mother-in-law all went to Chicago.  The reason for the trip was to see my brother-in-law, Dustin, graduate from Navy boot camp.  We decided it would be a waste of time and energy to just travel all the way to Chicago for 1 day, so we made a 5 day trip of the event.  We were hoping to get to "see" Chicago and take in some sights.


**Side Note**  I find humor in the title of this post for this reason:  Anyone who has ever visited Oklahoma City and Chicago...the term "Windy City" for Chicago is a joke.  I have lived in Oklahoma for a total of 9 years.  WIND is what one will find in Oklahoma year round.  There is almost no point in fixing one's hair as it is sure to be destroyed by wind at some point during the day.  A BREEZE is what one will find in Chicago.  It was humid like much of the mid-west, but windy.....not so much.


Anyhooo....we left Sacramento Airport on Wednesday afternoon.  Luke was NOT a happy traveler.  He was whiny, fidgety, and just painfully unpleasant for most of the plane ride.  It made me understand why some parents give sedatives to their children when they go on long plane rides.  Noe that I would do it myself, but I CERTAINLY understand why some do!!

We arrived in Chicago Wednesday night (taking into account the 2 hour time difference).  We rented a car, and good thinking on Darren's part that we did.  When traveling with a 2 1/2 year old...the term *luggage* takes on a WHOLE NEW MEANING.  Darren and I could have had one piece of luggage each for the entire trip.  2 pieces total.  While traveling with my mother-in-law and son, we had a total of 7 pieces of luggage.  Yep SEVEN!  No way were we going to lug all that luggage onto the subway.  So Darren saved the day with the car rental to get us to the hotel.


Thursday morning, we got up and traveled downtown to visit the Children's Museum, go on an Architecture boat ride of the city and then to Legoland.  We had lots of fun!  The most interesting part of the day, I think, for my son was all the means of transportation it took to travel to these locations.  We rode on a plane and in a car the day before.  And to get downtown from our hotel we took the subway and a bus.  He was THRILLED!  


Friday we traveled to Great Lakes, IL to see the Navy boot camp graduation.  We were told by the hotel staff it would take us 2 hours (with traffic) to get there.  We had to be "in our seats" by 8:30 am so we left the hotel at 6:00am.  We were in Great Lakes by a little after 7:00am.  WHAT TO DO FOR OVER AN HOUR?  We piddled around, got some coffee, ate breakfast and got to the graduation very early.  This was a mistake.  The graduation did not commence until 9:00am and by then Luke was tired of sitting.  He would have NOTHING to do with sitting still during the ceremony.  Luke and I spent the majority of the ceremony in the women's bathroom.  I did my best to stifle screams of defiance.  So much fun!!!  


When the graduation was over Luke was very happy to see Dustin and the rest of the day was relatively uneventful.  We got to spend some time with Dustin and he had the whole weekend off so he came back with us to the hotel after dinner.


The next day we had planned on seeing a couple of sights such as the Aquarium, the Zoo and something else I cannot recall just now.  Due to some technical difficulties with lack of appropriate garb for Dustin's uniform, we were unable to begin our sight seeing until the afternoon and only got to go to the Aquarium.  It was PACKED!  I would say it was well worth it though.  It was beautiful and much fun to see.


Sunday morning we had a flight out at 8:00 am so we were up and at 'em really early.  The plane ride back to Sacramento was MUCH more pleasant as Luke slept most of the way.  The rest of the time when he wasn't sleeping, we were able to feed him snacks which kept him happy.


All in all Chicago is NOT a place I would like to live but was fun to visit.  Next time, I would definitely consider going "adults only".

Internet Intermission

About 1 week before we went on vacation to Chicago, our internet modem died.  It was a couple of weeks past the 1 year warranty time frame and AT&T would not replace it.  Well, this really upset my husband and I am sure he had some choice words for the poor customer service representative with which he spoke.  


Suffice it all to say, we switched from AT&T to Comcast Internet.  We were without internet service at the house for about 1 week.  As soon as the internet was back up, it was time to go on vacation.  So I have not been on the internet for going on 2 weeks now and am WAY out of the loop!


I apologize to any and all who tried to contact me during this time and were unable to.  And to all my fellow bloggers, I will be frantically reading to get caught up.  Please bear with me....

Thoughts on Homeschooling

Since I have been given the gift of being a stay-at-home-Mom, I have wanted to also homeschool my son.  He will be 3 in December and I am wanting to start him in some "preschool" curriculum next school year.

I have been doing much research on the matter.  There are TONS of options for curriculum for homeschooling at any age.  It can be QUITE overwhelming!!  I simply did not know where to begin?!?!

I have narrowed it down (I think) to a couple of different options.  The one I am intrigued by the most is "Character Concepts for Preschoolers Complete Curriculum", by Marilyn Boyer (and many other authors as well, she is the one who compiled all the materials for the curriculum).  

This is a pretty comprehensive curriculum.  It incorporates all the "regular" school stuff and weaves an intricate pattern of Biblical and Character principals throughout.  I am very excited about it! 

I will continue to look for curriculum until probably the spring before school starts, but I am so far very happy with what I have found and am ready to begin the preparations!!

I have my doubts as I am sure many other homeschooling parents have entertained.  Will I be organized enough?  Will I be consistent?  Will my child LEARN from me?  Will I be able to do homeschooling and all the other things I am responsible for successfully?  Will this cost too much money?  What are the rules/regulations of homeschooling in my state?

Thank goodness there are a number of resources online that walk a parent through these doubts and more!  I am also blessed to have a sister who has homeschooled 4 children in the past 20 years and a sister-on-law who just started homeschooling her two sons this year.

I am nervous, excited, overwhelmed, critical and anxious all at the same time.  This will be a new journey for me.  I supposed I should just put my big-girl britches on, sit down, buckle up and enjoy the ride!!

Do any of you have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

Can you can, can, can?

The picture above is a small sampling of the canning I have done so far.  Left to Right:  Honey Fig Jam, Tomatoes, Pickled Beets, Pickled Green Beans

My friend, Mindy let me borrow her pressure cooker/canner.  I have been canning and freezing like a mad woman.  I have canned tomatoes, beets and pasilla peppers so far.  Will be doing MANY more tomatoes.  I have made some chili from my fresh tomatoes and froze it.  I have made home made veggie soup.  

It doesn't sound like a lot I'm sure, but I can assure you the task seems monumental at times.  We grew so much in our garden last year but much of it went to waste as it was not eaten or given away in time.  We did not have the foresight to plan to preserve any of our bounty.

This year we planted the garden with preservation for the winter in mind.  I would like to enjoy my summer harvest all year long!  Mindy said we could borrow her canner, to which I am very grateful as I had never used one before and didn't want to purchase one until I was familiar with the processes and the equipment.  I have been canning, freezing, pickling, fermenting, making jams, jellies and preserves.  

It's been very time consuming...but I am SURE I will be grateful for my efforts this winter.  Bon appetit!

Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized Milk...The Debate

So here's the low-down: Me and my family choose to purchase raw milk and raw milk products from REPUTABLE dairies/companies with a long track record of safe milk and/or products. My son is allergic to pasteurized milk and milk products, once this allergy was identified...we started doing our homework.

We have done IN DEPTH research into the pros and cons of raw milk. There are MANY health benefits to raw milk and it's products. True, there are nasty dairies out there selling nasty milk. BE SMART people!! Would you purchase your prescription drugs from the thug on the street?? I would hope not. Happy and healthy milk cows are grazing on grass in an open range, not standing knee deep in their own feces.

When I lived in OK (a state in which it is unlawful to TRANSPORT raw milk, it's okay to sell it, it's okay to buy it, you just can't TAKE it anywhere...hmmmmm) we purchased our raw milk from a dairy who came to the local farmers market. They had a cooler in their truck and they took us back there, all secretive like, in order to sell us their milk. I felt like I was a crack head trying to score some drugs! REALLY?!?!

Should the government be allowed to tell us what kind of food we can and cannot buy? Is there no personal responsibility anymore? Do we have to be handed our list of "options" and choose? I say no. The government already has it's hands in far too many cookie jars in my opinion. Please leave my food ALONE!

Our government's agencies have already deemed it perfectly acceptable to spray our food with toxic chemicals which are making farmers ill and the consumers as well. Do they really know what they are doing when it comes to food safety? Bagged spinach and lettuce is making people ill (and in some cases killing them) all over the country, should we not allow raw produce to be sold as well? Where does it stop?

We are far too removed from our food sources. We don't see where this stuff is being made, we don't know the people who make it. We can't even PRONOUNCE what it is made OF and we seem to be okay with that!!!

If you are dumb enough to run out into the middle of a busy street, you will be hit by a car. If you are dumb enough to purchase bad and or processed food, you are going to get sick. This is common sense people...a topic in which our government is completely discombobulated. Wise up.

If it comes in cellophane...it's probably not good for you. If it comes in a box...it's probably not good for you. If it comes from a dirty dairy...it's probably not good for you. I am not sure I can make it much more simple than that. (stepping down off my soap box)


*disclaimer: Yes, yes I realize this is a VERY heavy topic now-a-days and I could expound much, much more. We could debate this all day given the opportunity. This is just a simplified version of my belief on the matter. I will not un-friend you or even be upset with you if your opinion differs. I only ask you do your research and decide for yourself. Don't take someone else's word for it...PLEASE!

Making Calendula Ointment...why not???

You may find yourself asking..."Why would one want to make their own Calendula Ointment?". Well, I'm glad you asked. There are a couple of different reasons. I would be happy to expound:

1. Calendula Ointment has long been used as a salve for treating skin wounds. The essential oil of calendula is an anti-inflammatory and has wound healing properties as well. It contains carotenoids, which can help rebuild skin cells.

2. Purchasing Calendula Ointment can cost you anywhere from $5.50 to $15.00 per ounce, depending on the manufacturer. To make it at home cost me less than $2.00 for 6 oz.

3. It's great for children and adults alike. It can be used on diaper rashes, eczema rashes, scrapes, burns, nail infections, minor skin cuts and tears.

4. It's EASY PEASY to make!! Take 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil (organic if possible), 1/2 cup of dried calendula flowers (which can be purchased at most health food stores). Soak the dried flowers in the oil out of direct sunlight and away from heat for 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks, strain the oil mixture into a bowl or double boiler. Add 1 oz. of beeswax and melt gently. Once completely melted and incorporated put in a glass jar for storage. Can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 year! Done!!

It's simple to make, affordable, and you know what's in it. No ingredients are unintelligible or difficult to pronounce. If your small child or pet decides to take a taste test, they will be no worse for the wear. It is not toxic. It's as good as it gets.

Give it a try!!

Movin' on up

My younger sister, Tammy was informed on June 1st that her landlord was going to move back in to the house she is renting and she has 60 days to move. Tammy and Jeremy have been living in this house for 5 years. Jeremy has been in Alaska (for work) for the last couple of months and was not scheduled to be done until November. COMPLICATED!!

So Jeremy flew home for a week to help look for a house and pack. They currently live in Sonoma. Jeremy (when he is not working in Alaska) works in Rio Vista which is about 1/2 way to Lodi from Sonoma. Tammy works for Jeremy's dad in Sonoma. Anywhere between Sonoma and Lodi was the search radius.

They found a double wide modular home for rent in Thornton. The rent is only $800.00 per month. I have not seen said modular but from what I have been told, it is in good condition, it just hasn't been lived in for quite a while and needs to be cleaned. Well doesn't THAT sound fun!?!?!

So my mother, Luke and I went to Sonoma on Friday and stayed until Saturday afternoon to help pack. Jeremy and his friends had already moved all the big stuff out into a container (looks like a train car) that Tammy and Jeremy have. We were successful in packing up most everything that she is not going to need (as she will be living there for another 5 weeks).

This has been a whirlwind for Tammy and Jeremy as you can imagine and I am so glad that the majority of the work has been done. Jeremy flies back to Alaska on Wednesday morning and all Tammy has to do now is juggle; work, finishing packing; cleaning the new house, finding a new job and moving all 3 of her dogs eventually!

**sigh** I do NOT envy her!!

Line drying for the modern woman

In the Spring and Summer (and for as long as I can in the Fall) I like to line dry my clothes. I do this for a couple of different reasons:
1. It's saves money in electricity both by not running the dryer much (or at all) and by not heating up the house whilst running my dryer so I don't have to run the air conditioner as often.
2. I like to do things "old school".
3. It is surprisingly efficient.
4. For those of you like me who iron some clothes still...an article of clothing which has been line dried has a texture to it much like it has been starched. This makes for a crisp, clean, just ironed look.
5. Line dried towels are much more absorbent!
6. I just LIKE IT!

I know, I know. You are already laughing at me and rolling your eyes. Well, be that as it may...I have a few tips for those of you who may be woman enough to give it a try one day.

Tips:
1. Don't hang your shirts by the shoulders. It leaves a bump and looks funny. Always hang shirts by the shirt tails, one clothespin on each side.
2. Be sure to wipe down the line before you hang your clothes. Dust piles up on the line and will transfer to your newly cleaned clothes. NOT fun!
3. If you want to "cheat" a little and cut down on the ironing, you can put the clothes from the washer into the dryer for about 3 minutes THEN hang them to finish drying. This will help smooth them out and limit or even eliminate the wrinkles.
4. If you have more than one line (which I do not), hang your unmentionables in the middle surrounded by your shirts, pants, towels or sheets. That way no one has to gawk at your tidy (or not so) whites! LOL!
5. You can use white vinegar (or nothing at all) instead of costly fabric softener because line dried clothes create little to no static!!
6. If you hang your clothes in an area where it gets lots of direct sunlight, you may want to hang your dark clothes inside-out to prevent fading.

Ok, well now that you have read my blog about the lost art of line drying clothes perhaps you will give it a try. If not, feel free to laugh at me, shake your head and wonder what in the world is wrong with me. I don't mind!! : )

Farmer Debbie?

Darren, Luke and I moved back from OK to CA in February of 2009. While living in OK, Darren and I noticed the very small quantity of good produce in our area. Now granted, "good produce" is a relative term. 'Good produce' to a Northern Californian means PERFECT. No flaws, bright, colorful and at the peak of ripeness. This is mostly because Northern Californians are surrounded by farms producing food at alarming rates and our soil supports a HUGE variety of produce. 'Good produce' to an Oklahoman means not rotten nor insect infested. I would imagine the not PERFECT produce in OK is mostly due to the poor soil and weather conditions. The weather can go from hot to cold in a flash and is VERY difficult to predict. Seasons are a fable Oklahomans have only heard of, never witnessed first hand (in their home state anyway). Much of the produce eaten in OK has been shipped in from very far away and is not ripe, or has been ripened by chemicals en route to the store. The only notable exception is produce purchased at a farmers market. The produce sold there is in direct contrast to what I have listed above, however is typically very costly.

Therefore, in moving back to sunny CA Darren decided we would plant a garden and grow our own herbs, veggies and fruit organically. Nothing too big, just a starter garden to figure out how to do it and what all it's going to take to be successful.

I was not at all excited about the prospect of spending the hot, dry days milling about the garden pulling weeds and sweating. I had foreboding visions of Darren starting this monstrosity of a garden and then leaving me to the watering and the weeding. NOT my cup of tea!

Surprisingly we BOTH obtained a hankering for it and have enjoyed it immensely! Neither of us are really into the whole weeding thing...but we share the work and have been quite successful. It is a great stress reducer for both of us and has proved quite rewarding at harvest time. Not to mention at dinner time when eating from our bounty, just knowing there are no hazardous chemicals lurking on our produce is satisfying in and of itself. We can enjoy it and be proud we helped to bring it into being. Luke has deemed himself our quality inspector and can be found wandering the garden ensuring all produce is at the highest quality (in the taste department that is). He is not above grabbing tomatoes, strawberries or the like right off the vine and eating them right then and there. The freshest produce known to man.

This year, we have expanded our garden. We are growing: corn, beets, cilantro, sweet peppers, 3 or 4 kinds of hot peppers, leek, garlic, onions (white, yellow and red), butternut squash, pumpkin, watermelon, musk melon, eggplant, artichokes, strawberries, grapes, plums, figs, boysenberries, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cherokee purple tomatoes, roma tomatoes, tamatillos, zucchini, rosemary, lemon balm, chives, thyme, lemons, lettuce, swiss chard, pickling cucumbers and soon we will be planting some okra. WHEW! I know it sounds like a lot, but TRULY, having a larger garden is not exponentially more work than having a smaller one. Honest.

Our family refers to us as Farmer Debbie, Farmer Darren and Farmer Luke. I have become quite accustomed to working outside with my hands and rather enjoy it now. I know, I know...CRAZY right?!?! Well, from my mouth to God's ears it is far more rewarding that I would have ever deemed possible. We even get the chance to share our goodies with friends, family and neighbors. To me that is the best part. It's fun to share what you have grown. Bragging rights??? Perhaps...I enjoy it none the less.

It has also saved us a bunch of money. Money? You might ask how growing your own garden can save money. Well, when we compare the cost of the seeds and the time it takes us to weed and water to that of the cost of organically grown produce one can purchase in the store...YES we save money. Organically grown produce is still unfortunately expensive in this great country. You can buy toxic chemical laden produce for a fraction of the cost (and a fraction of the taste too I might add). Never the less, growing produce for oneself is rewarding and does have a cost incentive.

I understand gardening is not for all people. I am not implying that all should grab a shovel and a hoe and head out to the backyard with reckless abandon. Perhaps gardening is not for you. That's ok. Boating is not for me, nor is cross country skiing. We all seem to get by with what works. I AM proposing that perhaps every great once in a while, we should break out of our cozy little comfort zones and try something new. We might just be surprised by what we discover of ourselves.

Happy hunting...

So here we go...

I am not much of a blogger, but I strive to become so. In my earnest to be the best wife and mother possible, I stumble upon many surprises and pitfalls. I would like to record them here in order to remember, share and hopefully learn from my past so as to not make the same mistakes more than necessary.

My primary struggle as of late has been to balance; God, friends, family, health and the art of being a wife and mother. This is a delicate balance I am learning. A balance which I have yet to master. I easily find myself focusing too much on the wrong thing, even if it may be at the right time.

Currently I am studying the science of homeopathy. My husband Darren and I are ardent in our pursuit of finding alternative medical treatment for acute issues. We have much faith in our standard medical establishment when the need for immediate attention to an emergency arises. However, we believe...the daily bumps, bruises, colds, flus, headaches and fevers are better left to fend for themselves or are only to have minimal intervention. This is where homeopathy comes in.

Homeopathy is the law of similars; Like cures like. A substance given to a "well person" will produce "x" symptoms. When an ill person displays these same symptoms, they are to be given this substance to cure their ailment. This substance is drastically diluted but is effective due to the the law of the minimum dose. I will not go into all this entails, suffice it to say the dilution is great and works quite well in spite of it.

I believe MOST chronic illnesses can be handled with diet and we work hard to eat as healthy and "back to basics" as possible. We eat a "traditional diet". This would be somewhat similar to what our great grandparents ate as children, before the rise of mass produced food and before so many of the chronic illnesses we see today had taken hold of our society.

Darren and I also strongly believe that our walk with God needs to look different than much of what we see today in most churches. We believe that community is very important. It is just as important to help our friends and neighbors in need as it is to help people in another country. I am not opposed to helping people in another country...I think this too is a very important endeavor. However, we should not forget those around us on a day to day basis. Your friend, family member or next-door neighbor could be in great need for food, friendship, money or spiritual uplifting and should not be forgotten.

I am a stay-at-home Mom and am going to home school my son. I am learning, slowly but surely how to be a stay-at-home Mom as this is a fairly new thing for me. I worked full time up until my son was almost 2 years old. I had a strong sense that God wanted me home with my son and so when I was laid off in August of 2009, I decided to stay home and raise my son. This journey has been fraught with all sorts of good and bad experiences...and I keep plugging along.

I invite you to take a small peek at my life. You may laugh at me, you may cry with me and you may shake your head. All I ask is that you remember I am a work in progress and would appreciate any constructive criticism you may have and would welcome any praise where it is due.

So here we go...