I can't believe how long it has been since I updated this blog.  I guess I'm going to have to weigh whether or not I want to continue it.

A lot has been going on.  School has started, I've been learning how to sew knits, I'm feeling better, we've moved and are looking to move again in about a year...so lots of things are going into storage.

School is going well.  Most days. 

We've been enjoying the warm days.  Time spent gardening (the poor thing did lousy this year), working in the yard, playing in the pool, sewing, finishing up our school year, and all those wonderful things that lend excitement to our lives.

This morning during school we lined all our ducks up in a row.  We now know exactly what we have left to finish before we start our new year and have a rough idea of how long it will take to complete it. 

Our new school books are here and we added a great new science experiment package to supplement as well as a new writing program.  We'll also be learning how to diagram sentences, typing, cursive writing, and French. We'll still be doing our 5 basic subjects of Math, Language Arts, Science, and Bible.   All in all we've got a full year planned.

Now comes my fun part -- I've got to get all the lesson plans and calendars pulled together.  I enjoy doing this part if I allow myself enough time, but if I try to rush it I feel overwhelmed. 

Is anyone else working on next years plans?

The highlights of our week:

1. doctor's visit over (Praise the Lord!)
2. making  a dress for myself
3. planning our new house
4. school review is going great

Thank you all so much for your prayers.  Sadly, the doctor is certain we miscarried.  I'll go back for the final lab works and a follow up physical next week.  This has really been rough week for our whole family and my husband is taking us on a weekend trip just to give us a change of scene.  I'll be back as next week and try to post more regularly.

We've just found out that I am pregnant (after 6 unsuccessful years of trying) and I am bleeding heavily.  I go back to the doctor tomorrow for a new hcg level test.  She says it is still to early to say miscarriage until tomorrow's tests.  It could just be early pregnancy bleeding.  Regardless of what happens, I would really appreciate prayers.

Thank you!

Another week has passed and it has been a great one.  We've finished school promptly without any fuss -- which gets harder as the wheather gets warmer.

I'm beginning to plan our curriculum for next school year.  Our son will use SOS and a separate typing program and I'm piecing together our daughter's lesson plans now.  I have her cursive writing book.  I also have diagramming and writing activities for both children taken care of.  I'm getting excited!

I was tagged and didn't realize it.

Anyway, 6 interesting things about me:

1.  My favorite food is rutabegas.

2.  My biggest dream is to have a wood cookstove.

3.  I have an English sheepdog in a part of the world where you never see sheep.

4.  I am the 5th generation to live in my house.

5.  My husband and I were meant to be together.  We had friends try to set us up to meet several times and we both refused -- only to meet by fluke and fall head over heels for each other.

6.  I don't like to eat processed fruit.  (even as a child I didn't)

Now, I don't have a clue who to tag,so I'm off to look.

Goodness, I don't even know where to start, so I guess I should start with apologizing for being so long to post. 

I'm sorry.  We've had a lot going on -- actually I've had a lot going on medically, but I think the kinks are slowly being worked out.  My children and husband have been wonderful at "taking care" of me.  The "biggest" part of what may be wrong with me is actually food intolerances/allergies and if I am careful to avoid certain foods I feel well enough to avoid medication 99.9% of the time.  Of course, any time you begin to change a family's diet things are tricky and when you begin to remove wheat/gluten from it -- well, it is just tough.

To top off that, my cholesterol was killer high -- stroke and heart attack high.  So I am also following a vegan diet atleast for the next three months until the doctor retests me and advises me.  Being a "farm" girl makes that really tricky.  Fortunately I love beans and vegetables.

We're learning though.  I'm also looking into buying a grain mill for grinding my own corn meal, rice flour and bean flours.  Other than cornbread I've never cooked a gluten free bread in my life prior to now. 

The children are doing well with their school work and we're hoping to be ready to officially begin the new school year the first full week of September.  I'm beginning to plan their next years curriculum and I'm so excited at all the possibilities that I am having a hard time chosing. 

I still can't knit and it breaks my heart.   It also hurts to write -- far worse than it hurts to type, but for every door closed the Lord opens a new one.  I've been doing more sewing with my machine.  I'll share photos soon.

Up until April 15th and 17th this year...life is a little topsy turvy for us.  Praise the Lord -- we're finally getting back to normal. 

We've made a lot of decisions.  Revamped our one and two year family plans and we're pressing on.  We're doing a lot of decluttering (physically and spiritually and financially); we're simplifying in the most freeing way.

Spring just feels like a great time for renewal!

I'm hoping to allot time on Fridays to update this blog about how our week and life is going.  One of my new goals is to learn to control my internet time.  At first, I know it will be tough, but I do realize that it will be best for me and my family.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. We had a quiet blessed day.

We need to add a more formal writing program to our school for next year.  Does anyone have any suggestions? 

We're embarking on a great experiment.  A few years ago we called the phone company and had all cable services turned off to see if it would improve our home.  It did and we were thrilled with the outcome.  However, after a while, we decided to add movies back in - something we could control.  Lately I've been feeling like it is getting out of control.  So today with my dh's agreement we begin a great experiment --

We're removing the television from our home. 

However, my dh wants me to still let the children have video game time.  I'm not a big fan of them, but he is and he's in charge.  So they will be limited to 1/2 hour each per day.  So from time to time I'll update you on our progress.

So our goal are:

1. to add in more reading
2. to add in more board games
3. to add in more exercise
4. to add in more travel

I'm sure more will pop up as we go along.

This morning when I awoke, the world had been whited out.  A thick layer of fog hung over the yard and all I could hear was the passing honks of Canadian geese on their way to the lake.  For a few moments in my day there was peace.  The kind of peace that draws me close to God. 

While I sipped my coffee I was able to plan my day out.  I was able to reflect.  I was able to pray.  There were no interruptions and the world didn't distract me.  Just 10 minutes alone with God around me gave me the strength to face my day with the security of knowing He would be there -- with me -- each step of the way.

By the time I hit the shower I found myself singing -- singing hymns I had long forgotten that I even knew.  The old favorites that my grandmother played on the piano for me -- the ones that touch me in a way that words cannot describe.  Somewhere from deep inside me my spirit knew the tune I needed -- "what can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus..."  The perfect shower song both physically and spiritually.

I was able to sing my way through dressing, while I made breakfast, and when I called my children  -- a wonderful peace and a great way for my children to awaken.....feeling loved and at peace.  The same way my Father awoke me.

I've been feeling really stressed out and I needed some down to earth time.  So my hubby took over the phones and I tried a new bread recipe.  This was so good my family ate over 3/4 of the loaf as a snack. (smeared with honey butter of course)

The recipe is from my favorite bread cookbook -- Whole Grain Breads by Machine  or Hand  (Beatrice Ojakangas)  The book gives you directions for making bread by hand, in the mixer, in the food processor, and the bread machine.  Some of the recipes are 100% whole grains, but a lot are a mixture of whole grains with bread flour.  (with the exception of a few recipes I find that my family prefers bread made this way)

Anyway, I am going to list the ingredients and you really make it like any other yeast bread.

Large Loaf (I used a round cake pan to bake mine in)

1 1/3 cups water (105 to 115 F)

3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats

2 tbsp butter

3 tbsp 100% pure maple syrup

1 1/2 teaspoons of salt

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/4 cups bread flour

2 tsps rapid rising yeast or active dry yeast

Okay -- for making dough in bread machine. Add in order and set on dough.  May need a touch more water so check it out.  Follow the standard shape and rise.  Bake 375 until done.

For by hand, mixer, etc....ingredients 1 and 2 and yeast.  Let yeast bubble.  Add rest in order working as you would for any bread.  Do the shape/rise/bake.

One of my goals on my 101 things to do is to try a new bread every week for a year.  (I know -- I haven't posted the list yet, but I will)

Enjoy!

I finished my daughter's Easter dress the other day and this is the first chance I've had to post photos of it.  The material is a cotton blend and we found it on sale for $1 yard.  So this was a very frugal dress to make.  (We bought enough for me to have a dress, too -- but I haven't time to make it yet.

I can't believe how much she is growing.  She's turning into quite a young lady -- a young lady in training!  Tonight she will be making venison stew for the family.  We're altering her Home Economics book recipe to fit what we have on hand and what we like.  I think those are two essential skills necessary when one becomes a wife and a mother.

Yesterday we had a chance to go home.  It was so wonderful!!!   I spent the day working on my daughter's Easter dress and had the afternoon free for goofing off with the children.  Reminded me all over again about why I love being home with my children. 

I always worry about the weeks we miss school during tax season and yesterday I was pulling through our workbooks and it dawned on me.....unit study is the way to go for those few months.  So I pulled out two great books we have on Maps and Geography that include worksheets.  The beginning is mostly review work and then it advances.  Most of the review work is self led activities that the children can do together.  When I add their Literature from the Library.  Bible, oral Math drills and history videos we're really doing pretty much a full day.  I just wasn't looking at it that way.

After tax season I want to find out more about the Charlotte Mason schooling philosophy.  From what I've heard I think our family would greatly benefit from the change.

I guess I am on a corn kick...lol.  We love cornbread  and this is a sweet recipe.  In our area there is a great debate about sweet versus unsweetened.  In my own extended family there is a split over it, however in our house we eat both kinds.  (Usually what is being served for the meal determines what I make.)

Frontier Cornbread

1 cup yellow corn meal

3 tsps baking powder

1 egg

1/4 cup cooking oil (or if you like the equivalent amount of bacon grease)

1 cup flour (wheat, barley or rice)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients.  Add egg and milk.  Mix until smooth.  Add oil and mix again until smooth.  Pour into greased baking dish.  (a preheated cast iron frying pan is great or you can use a greased 10" pie plate)  Bake at 425 F for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.

This is great served with honey butter!

This is a great side dish...easy to make and quite tasty.  We were served it at our Sunday School class Christmas party.  The original recipe is in our church cookbook.  It is a great casserole for those nights when you want to cook the whole meal in the oven - pop some meat on the broiler pan 15 or so minutes before you put the casserole in.  Put in the casserole and a second pan of veggies.  I like to do this on nights I am running late or really have to work right up until time to eat.

Corn Casserole

2 (15 oz) cans white shoe peg corn

1 small (8 oz) can chopped chillies

1 stick of butter or margarine

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese

Mix above ingredients together and bake at 325F for 30 minutes.

My daughter and I had a girl's day out.  Was unplanned, but my husband always jokes that I come from a family with wheels on the tush!  Some of my favorite trips are impromptu.

We went out to a simple lunch -- fast food, but it was her choice and that is what the day was about.  Time for her to be the center of attention.  We so rarely eat fast food that it was a treat for us both.

We stopped off to have our hair trimmed and then we did some spring shopping.  I found 3 modest length skirts for her and several tops to mix and match.  She is so tall and today's styles are so -- indiscreet -- that we have a hard time finding clothes for her.  After we found the clothes we bought a few undergarments and two pair of summer shoes.  (I also picked up a nightgown for me and a pair of walking shoes.)

We finished our trip up with grocery shopping and a snack for the road. 

My daughter is working her way from a girl to a young woman and I am so proud of her when I see her growing.  She's beginning to ask some deep spiritual questions and to show a compassion for others that is amazing.

I thought I would share what my mom used to make for us and what I served this morning.  It doesn't require too much pre-planning.  When you cook your evening meal, cook a double batch of biscuits.  Serve 1/2 of them and set 1/2 aside.  (I just cover mine in the bread basket and leave them on the counter.)

In the morning, preheat your oven just like you would for toast.

Slice your biscuits in half and place cut side up on a pan.  Spread butter or margarine on each biscuit half.  Sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and bake.  I actually bake mine for about 4 minutes on 500F and then turn them to broil for a few minutes so the tops brown just a touch.

My family calls these cinnamon biscuits.  Another good variation is to cut your biscuits and top with slices of cheese and bake/broil. 

Spring is such a beautiful time of year.  The temperatures are in the 80's here and the weather is gorgeous.  I have the house opened up and the breeze is blowing through.  I can hear a choir of birds from the open field next door.  This week our garden area will be tilled and limed and next week it will be rowed.  I'm so excited that I can barely contain myself. 

Today is going to be a non traditional school day for us.  We're doing a video study on punctuation...a review for my son and a starter for my daughter.  Then we'll do hands on learning projects (some science, some homemaking, some consumer oriented).