Changes

Not only am I enjoying the change of season in nature, I am enjoying a change of season in my life. Just over a week ago my dh grandfather, (DJ) came to live with us, he is 102. This is quite an adjustment from the free lifestyle I had been living. I am thankful that he is pleasant and grateful for every small act. My oldest son had to move out to a camper on the backside of our property. My girls are still adjusting, and school is finally getting back underway. The biggest adjustment is that I can't just leave or even stick to my regular schedule. Its a small price to pay, and absolutely worth it. Such a rich lesson in life that cannot be taught except through experience.

I want to back track to Nov of 2007, my MIL, was living in her home with DJ and all was well. Then, he became ill at the age of 99 with a gall bladder infection, requiring he and my MIL to move into the home of my SIL. After DJ ( my husbands grandfather), was on his way to recovery, My MIL began not feeling well, tests showed stage 4 ovarian cancer...this was devastating news. She battled courageously for 2 1/2 years, and healing came through her death in late Feb 2010. During the last 3 weeks of her life, my SIL found a lump in her breast. MIL was in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks of that time and SIL had no time to get to the dr. As it turns out she has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and is now undergoing chemo, for the next year. So that brings us to DJ moving into our home.

God's timing it perfect, before now I would not have been able to care for him, as I am still HS my youngest 2 children and my husband works in Iraq. Our house is only 3 bedroom 1 bath, I just did not have anywhere to put DJ. My sister so graciously allowed us use of her very nice travel trailer, until we no longer need it. This is typical behavior on her part, she and her dh are some of the most generous people I have ever known.

I have learned to slow down, take one day at a time. God will give me what I need to do what He has called me to do.

FALL is finally here

We have had a wonderful change of seasons. Finally the humidity is down and the days are mild. I have been busy outside in my garden, yard and chickens. I have changed our diet and am following Nourishing Traditions way of cooking and eating. It is more of a natural, whole and organic way of food preparation. It is a process, some concepts I find a bit harder to swallow, literally.
I long for the country life. I try to do everything here on my small urban homestead that I can to emulate living on 100 acres in the middle of nowhere. It is good practice for "one day". I am terribly dissapointed in the production in my garden, but am working on it.
I am spending my days right now visiting my husbands grandfather who has been hospitalized with pneumonia. He should be transferring to a skilled nursing facility next week, where he can get some PT and breathing exercises. Hopefully he will only be there for a week, then back home again.
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Change of Season

Its been awhile since I have posted, lots of life has been happening here at my house. My MIL went to be with Jesus on Feb 27,2010 after a 2 year battle with ovarian cancer. We are making adjustments, it is a slow process.

I have planted my spring gardens, corn, tomatoes, peppers,onion, green beans, lettaces, herbs, melons, squash, hoping for a bountiful harvest.

I have 4 baby chicks and in the process of building a chicken coop and run.

I am also finally recovering sufficiently from pneumonia that I will begin baking again.

I am wanting to get to on a better blogging schedule and posting on a regular basis.

Beautiful Thursday

Today is a beauty, after spending most of the day yesterday either in the kitchen or lying down, due to a migraine, I am going to go outside today. I have more work on the pond and the dog's yard needs to be cleaned and trimmed and my soul needs to sit in the warm sunshine and just listen. My bedroom is due a good dusting and cleaning, but the rest of the house is in great shape. My 2 youngest daughters are very good at keeping the house clean, I am so grateful to them for the work they put into it every day.

Project yogurt

I used to make homemade yogurt years ago, but like so many good things, I quit because of time constraints. Now my children are much older, more independent and I am free from some of the duties that used to take up so much time. So today I made yogurt, and it turned out as good, if not better, than the expensive greek style yogurt found in the grocery stores. Then I took it a step further, I added strawberry jello, blended it and made a custard style yogurt, that is like Yoplait custard style yogurt. I calculated the cost, for 4 cups of low fat, sugar free. strawberry flavored yogurt,it cost me $.75. Yes, thats right, the cost will go down because I will be able to use just 3 T of my new yogurt to keep making yogurt. I have saved the extra greek style yogurt I used for the starter, freezing 3T increments in ice cube trays. I am very excited to see what else I can create cooking from scratch. The adventure continues...

Monday

Yesterday's church service was one of the best I have been to in a very long time, guest speaker simply taught God's Word, the plain truth. It was revitalizing to my thirsty soul.
This morning is a beauty and inspires me to work outside today. I will start with cleaning the rabbit's cage. I am going to pump my pond and begin cleaning the leaves and debris in preparation for my koi in the spring. I will resituate my raised beds, no dirt in them, just the frames. I need to bake bread, do laundry and clean my kitchen floor. I will need to do a quick pick up of the house and keep it looking nice, just because I like it that way. I have an old shelf that was built by my great grandfather that I want to hang in my kitchen.
That is a lot on the list, it is a start and will do all that I can. Rachel will be leaving to return to Huntsville today. John is working, I am giving the younger girls off from school, and Michael is recouperating from a youth discipleship, where he lead a group of 8th grade boys.
Those are my plans for today, let's see what I can accomplish.

New Year Goal

I have been busy putting "feet" to my goals for this year.

One of the goals is to do all my cooking from scratch. I do a good portion already, but the boxed cake mixes, brownies, and some sides are a quick help on most days. I started by making a master baking mix, and labeling the baggies with instructions for pancakes. My next goal will be to package muffin mix in such a way that my children will be able to read the instructions and make up their own muffins. My ultimate goal here is to wean them off the boxed products and get them making everything from scratch, as well. This may not be the way others may accomplish this goal, but it works for me. I could skip a the weaning process, but it will make a harder transition.

Here is my menu for next week, I will only post the dinner menu and list my options for breakfast, lunch and snacks at the end.

Sun- Roasted Chicken, Brocolli and Rice casserole, baked sweet pots, Apple Pie/ice cream
Mon- Jambalaya
Tues- Meatloaf, Mashed Pots/gravy, green beans, blueberry muffins
Wed- Spaghetti, garlic breadsticks
Thurs- Pepper Steak, rice, steamed brocolli
Fri- C.lean O.ut R.efrigerater, N.ight- CORN

Breakfast
Banana Bread with peanut butter
Orange Cranberry Muffins
French Toast
Biscuit, gravy
Eggs, Toast
granola/yogurt

Lunch
grilled cheese/tomato soup
pizza
tuna salad
meatloaf sandwhiches
quesadillas
any dinner leftovers

Snacks
granola/yogurt
muffins
smoothies
oatmeal cranberry walnut cookies
granola bars
fruit

I have quit buying chips, sodas, cookies, crackers, fruit snacks,yogurt, bread, tortillas
I make cookies, tea, lemonade, juiced fruits, dehydrated fruits, bread, tortillas,yogurt

My ultimate goal is to feed my family a fresh, healthy diet and get my food budget under control.