Matching Sailors

Homestead

Ocean

Nat

Sailor and Me

Random Thoughts

Plates: ham steak, broccoli and potato salad prepared with homemade turmeric maple dressing

Listening: Twila Paris Ultimate Collection

Reading: Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose

Hooks: dish cloths

Gifting: homemade bath salts with Epsom salt, sea salt, baking soda, clay and powdered ginger

Kiddos: Matthew is ten!
Nat is 21 months and has decided he is a big boy.  He wears skivvies and goes on the potty! Also, when I figure out what Nat wants he shakes his head yes, smiles and claps.

Neighbors: Last week we met our new neighbors who arrived earlier this year.  They have four children including a sweet four month old baby girl.  Our other neighbor, four and a half year old C, came to play today which made Isaac very happy.

Increasing: the garage sale pile... I have been on a mission to greatly decrease our possessions ... more simplicity and less cleaning...

Missing: my mom!

Looking forward: sitting on the beach... Our last trip turned into a grocery run as a storm arrived before we made it to the ocean.

Isaac's Birthday

Isaac turned four on 7 July.  We had a picnic lunch then went to my IV appointment.  For lunch we had cold hamburg patties, homemade fries, sauted onions and kombucha.  I put candles in Isaac's hamburger, but it was windy so he was only able to blow out one candle. We had rice, burger and green beans for supper. For dessert his birthday cake was gluten, dairy, egg free with very little sugar.  I made peppermint  frosting with melted Enjoy Life chocolate chips and a drop of peppermint essential oil. Isaac was excited to blow out four candles! He received a package from a great aunt and was thrilled with the shirts, socks and shorts! We were happy to have Grandma with us for the day!

Flags from Grandpa

Memorial Day

"When you go home, tell them of us and say, 'For your tomorrow, we gave our today.'" John Maxwell Edmonds

Avocado Fries

Slice avocados

Dredge in gluten free flour, chia egg and crushed crispy rice cereal

Place on greased baking sheet

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes

These fries are delicious!

Chia egg: mix chia seeds in milk...allow to set 15 minutes to gel

Odds and Ends

In the diffuser: juniper, rosemary, frankincense and geranium... Inspired by the Green Earth spray.

On our plates: sweet potato hash with uncured bacon
                         Fresh ham steak, rice, beans, tomato sauce and fried plantains inspired by this recipe

Our weather: yesterday we had rain and a little storm
                         Today has been a beautiful sunshine filled day

Our tasks: after worship service kiddos helped with basic daily house cleaning,
yard cleaning and with other things needed throughout the day.
Matt worked diligently to finish Matthew's bedroom floor.  He is putting the baseboards back now and then putting up a table for Matthew to use for school.

Our play: reading outside, bike riding, watching the neighbor bush hog, driving trucks in the sand pile... And for me: making a batch of goat's milk soap

Reading: The Classical Teacher spring 2016

Sunday Supper

Roasted potatoes, green beans and leeks seasoned with sea salt, pepper, turmeric and cumin

Ham steak cooked in homemade kombucha

Saturday

     Yesterday we had bacon, onion, olive burgers with guacamole.  I made gluten free pizza crust then cut it to size for buns.  I also made most things free mayonnaise.  Sweet potato fries, beans and broccoli with peppers and onions were our side dishes.  It was a delicious meal.
     Matt worked on painting our wood fences.  The fences look so much nicer painted plus it will help the wood last longer.
     Kiddos helped Matt and enjoyed some time to read.  Abby took her plastic chair out to the tree to soak up the fresh air while she read.
     Nathaniel went egg hunting all on his own.  He found a duck egg, brought it in and said, "mine!"  Nat waited while I fried the egg and then he ate it.  He is only eighteen months but is such a big boy!
     We were almost out of laundry detergent, so I made a batch using the following recipe:

9 cups water
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup castle liquid soap

Boil 3 cups water, turn off heat, add the washing soda and borax.  Stir until dissolved.  After the mixture cools add castle and remaining water. Stir to mix.
Use 1 to 2 Tablespoons for a front load washer

Watching and Reading

Cuties

Reading List

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir 

By

R.A. Dick

I wonder if there is something wrong with me, she thought, that I can get so much from so little, because all my joy really comes from not doing- not spending summer afternoons in stuffy drawing rooms listening to women setting their neighbors' morals to right over the bridge table, not spending summer evenings listening to men and women setting the worlds' affairs to rights over five course dinners, not in sewing circles, nor in reading groups.  I must be very selfish, she thought, for I want to set nothing and no one right; all I want is to be left in peace to make what I can of this problem called life for myself and my children.  

But I cannot forgive myself, said the captain.  I should have known better, because interfering unasked in other people's lives, whether from kindness or cruelty, is one of the greater sins, and I knew it.  It was my own pride.  I thought you needed a lesson, and I am the one that should be taught.  I am, indeed, a poor representative of either world, and I shall go away until I have learned greater wisdom.

Mama and Little One

Reading List

Carry a Big Stick

The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt

By 

George Grant

Life brings sorrow and joys alike. It is what a man does with them-not what they do to him-that is the true test of his mettle.

Weasel words from mollycoddles will never do when the day demands prophetic clarity from greathearts.

He would not tolerate in us children selfishness, cruelty, idleness, cowardice, or untruthfulness.

I have a horror of words that are not translated into deeds, of speech that does not result in action.

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.

Snuggle Bug

Little one is not feeling well... Curled up taking a late nap.

Chocolate Syrup

Heat 3/4 cup water with 1/4 cup maple syrup.  Bring to a simmer, remove from heat then add 1 cup cocoa powder and 1 Tablespoon vanilla.  Whisk until well mixed.  Add a spoonful to milk or use to top cookies or other desserts.  Store in the refrigerator.  If you prefer your syrup to be very sweet you will want to add more maple syrup.

A Quote

“’Why is thy mind so entangled,’ said the master, ‘that thou slackenest thy pace? What matters it to thee what they whisper here? Follow me, and let the people talk. Stand thou as a firm tower which never shakes its summit for blast of winds. Forever the man in whom thought wells up on thought sets back his mark because the one saps the force of the other.’ What could I answer save, ‘I come?’”

THE DIVINE COMEDY, Dante Alighieri

Blueberry Muffins

1 cup rice flour

1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons tapioca flour

1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons potato starch

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup maple sugar

1/4 cup sunflower oil

1 Tablespoon vanilla

3 Tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 cup blueberry flavored kombucha

1/2 cup hemp milk with 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (let sit 15 minutes)
Wild blueberries

Combine dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, mix then gently fold in blueberries.
Place in muffin pan
Sprinkle top of each muffin with a mixture of cinnamon and maple sugar
Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes for mini muffins

Evening

Reading List

Arabella

By

Georgette Heyer 

The man who could be bored in the midst of such a lively family as yours must be an insufferable fellow, above being pleased by anything.

Pretty Eggs

From our hens...

Reading List

The Virginian 

By

Owen Wister 

"When yu' can't have what you choose, yu' just choose what you have."

When a man ain't got no ideas of his own, said Scipio, he'd ought to be kind o' careful who he borrows 'em from.

Now a man who was man enough to act like he did, yu' see, would fall dead without mentioning it.

But I'm never goin' to quit till 'next time' is no more, and it's' all the time' for you and me.

He says he will, and he has the courage of his convictions.

When you call me that, smile!

Loving a Book

What we eat for Breakfast and Why

Cereal, instant oatmeal, cream of wheat, poptarts, toast,frozen waffles... All items that are acceptable and encouraged for breakfast in America. As a mom with young children it is nice to use convenient foods, especially for breakfast.  However, what if those foods cause harmful reactions in your children?  You improvise, adapt and overcome by making your own convienent breakfast with similar or higher nutritional value.
Matthew is allergic to soy, peanuts, rice, wheat, casein, corn, eggs and gluten and sensitive to oats.  We eat almost no processed foods.  Like most moms I find it helpful to have something quick and easy for breakfast.  I wasn't able to find anything to buy, so I made our own convienent yet healthy breakfast with instant potatoes as the base.
 Kiddos have two servings of instant potatoes with a spoonful of coconut oil.  Then I add different items depending on what we have on hand.  These items include, but are not limited to, almond meal, coconut flour, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds,  hemp seeds, cultured fruit and leftover vegetables. I also use superfood powders when I find a good deal. This breakfast provides kiddos with a large bowl full of breakfast that includes calories, healthy fats and protein.  It is also simple and quick.

Giveaway!

Congratulations to Anna! Thank you for your faithfulness in leaving comments!

The dish cloth, hair tie and tea will be on their way soon!

A Valentine giveaway

To enter leave a comment on this post.

A random winner will be chosen on 7 February, 2016.

The winner will receive a hand crocheted dish cloth, hand made hair tie and a bag of organic rosehip & hibiscus tea.

Please, no international addresses.

For My Sailor

(But I desire and long every day to go home and to look upon the day of my return...for already I have suffered and labored at so many things on the waves.)

-Homer 

Fun with a Box

Nat

Happy and handsome little guy...

Overalls from Grandpa

Meatball Cupcakes

Meatballs:
Ground beef
Chia seeds
Apple cider vinegar
Maple syrup
Thyme, oregano, bail, sea salt, pepper
Carrots, chopped
Black olives, chopped
Onion, chopped

Top with mashed potatoes and gravy

Gravy:
Saute sliced onion in 1/3 cup olive oil
When onion is browned add 1/4 cup brown rice flour and stir while cooking on low heat
Add 2 cups liquid (broth, kombucha, water)
Stir and increase heat to medium high
Stir until thickened...takes a few minutes

Enjoy!

Digesting the Word

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

Sir Francis Bacon
English author, courtier, & philosopher