Hi, I have so much going on that I want to start blogging again.

I hope you enjoy the following blogs. We are going to track our Days/weeks as we develope our home into a family farm.

As you now, we have the standard cats and a dog who live outside to keep our place clear of rodents. We recently added a new kitty for inside. He's BLACK and NOISY! We have not named him yet though. We got him from a local pet store who takes in kittens and gives them away for donations(to cover feed and care). We are also expecting a litter soon of our own. I plan to give most of them to the store to find homes for them if we dont find any ourselves.

We have been busy clearing the yard..Most of the weeds are gone but there are still some areas we haven't touched.  We are expecting Chicks next week!  I have built a brooder and repainted and cleaned and cleared out the front porch. Our next large project is to build the coop. Ive decided to use the exhisting shed(the one I planned to build into a greenhouse) for the coop instead. It is perfect for the application and it will allow me to build a nicer but smaller greenhouse later. (I always felt it was not tall enough at just about 6.5 feet high) We also plan to build some very economical fencing using pallets, chicken wire and existing fences for our flock of chickens. I expect to raise about 30-40 from chicks this year. We want to have layers, a few(very few) for meat and we are also going to have some Guinneas.  I dont have much more plans...we should be able to sell some excess eggs for a few extra $$ or to help pay for the feed! LOL!

In the future we may consider raising a pig or a goat or even a lamb....I dont know yet but for now we will start with a hen house!

A friend gave me a great idea for selling eggs. She used to have a large hen house and she had a route where she delivered eggs to customers. Its something I am considering as an option. I plan to buy a smaller fridge for the porch and keep egg inventory in it. This way , If we do open as an egg farm It will be my "store front" and I wont have strangers inside my home.  We want to name our "farm" eventually so I will post ideas as they come to me. Initially I think we will use our names or initials. "A&D Chicks & Eggs,  A&D Farm Fresh Eggs, Tovar Farm Fresh Eggs...or something like that.

Its definately not going to be a big profit business!

Im still doing ebay. My ebay store is www.dtovarspecialties.com  Please check it out regularly. Im always adding new items as I find them. Mostly I like to sell books, homeschool books, collectables, Catholic Items such as medals and rosaries, Dishes, Glassware, Beer and Sports Glasses, and I also offer Soy makers, sprouters and other Vegetarian kitchen items through dropship directly from manufacturers rather than those "buying plan schemes".  It all keeps me busy enough.

Ok I will stop talking and start posting some pictures!

Blessings,

Donna

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Hi, I made a new ticker and wanted to post it here.

This one is for the "WALKING" that I am supposed to be doing daily.  I prefer to walk on a treadmill but may have to give in and either walk outside or join a gym. I miss my Y membership...so may join there or find a private gym. Depends on the price really.  I asked my son to build me a walking trail in our back lot....maybe..someday! It will be a nature trail. Its all cactus and mesquite scrub back there now...and anthills.

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Hi,  Day 3 of this special diet. I really miss my soy products(sour cream, cheese)

I did slip last night...and enjoyed a nice glass of Merlot. Slept well!

I think dh likes my weight loss. Had more sex this week than in the past few months! LOL!(thats not so much...cause we havn't been very active!) Been working on spicing up this area in our lives.

Anyway, Im down another lb this morning. I need to try a bit harder I think..so Im gonna get to the gym today. Yesterday since I was up at 5am..my body clock was off and I slept clean through my normal workout time!

Im thinking of making some green chile stew  for my lunch and dinner today. For breakfast Im making bananna oatmeal(unless the kids ate the banannas!) I really want enchiladas..but not sure if I can manage making them fat free...even the vegan cheeses have tons of fat. I might make some for the kids though...and a pot of pinto beans. They wont eat the spicey stew!

Yesterday my meals consisted of:

B: Baked home made french fried potatoes with catsup and Llouisiana Hot sauce

L: Baked Fries topped with Green Chile Sauce and a fresh green onion

S: Watermelon(small bowl)

D: Baked Fries, 2 ears corn on the cob, Spinache salad and a home made garlic breadstick

I hope I can hit my short term weight loss goal through this mini diet. Started out at 204 and I want to be 190 by July 21'st for our Family reunion.

Maybe I should do a cooking spree...make up all sorts of things today so I dont have a choice to think about my menu...Need lots of soups. Im thinking:

Green Chile Stew,

Vegetable Stew

Vegan Chile

Mock Chicken noodle Soup

Salad Stuff!!!( I have plenty for a few days worth)

Potatoes...I can make some mashed potatoes ahead of time..serve the soups over them like a gravy I guess.

Breads? Well, I have some very hearty grain bread that I made which is perfect for soup sides..and I want to try a beer bread recipe since we have some stout that dh bought and cant handle..LOL! Too bad the alcohol cooks out!

Oh and I need ideas on how to use some condiments I got.

rice vinegar, cooking wine, wine vinegar and the like! Seems I needed it for some recipes that I never made. LOL!

Wow...what a long borring post..sorry!

Peace be with you all!

Donna

Im doing a Mary McDougal Mini Diet challenge for the next 10 days. It is a potato based diet. Details can be seen on the Mcdougal website and on the chat forum.

My start weight is 204...My goal is to lose 10-12 lbs in this mini diet. It is kinda intense. I will be eating potatoes at each meal although I can choose oatmeal for breakfast if I wish.

No soy products, no soda's, no added sugars and no alcohol.

I am already a vegan so thats not a problem there.

Im wondering how many creative ways I can come up with for potatoes(white and sweet are allowed)

Now Im off to start my excersizing. Walk away  the lbs each morning before breakfast, then later(about 2pm-4pm) we will walk over to the gym and excersize more!

I wonder how many calories are burned doing dishes? I had company yesterday...and saved the dishes for today...lets see...8 people, 2 courses, Oh...thank goodness we grilled!!!

God Bless You all and please pray for me!

Donna

Ok Im down to 205! yeah! 5 more lbs this month for my goal!

My diet is going great! I love the vegan lifestyle...too bad my family doesn't!

We have been to the Ymca almost daily, except weekends, but Im going today! Its really helping, I think! Regardless, I fees much better lately.

Kids are finding the joy of basketball! LOL! Hey, at least they are out playing!

Keep up the prayers! I need energy, steadfastness, and to resist temptation!

Big Ol’ Pot of Veggie Soup

ONE LARGE POT(6-8qt)

Water to cover and boil all ingredients together

4-6 potatoes cut in large chunks

1-2 sweet potatoes(or yams) cut in smaller chunks

1 large Onion cut in large chunks

4 Half ears frozen corn on the cob(or one per person)

2 cloves garlic

2 tbsp Vegan broth mix- beef flavor

Frozen Veggie Mix( Birds Eye Normandy veggies are nice and large chunks of cauliflower, Broccoli, Carrot, Yellow Squash..) Just enough to fill potFill pot!

1 handful frozen whole green beans

1 handful fresh baby Carrots

1 can Mild Green Chiles(If I were making this for just adults, I would add Hot Green Chiles)

Boil until sweet potatoes are cooked through and serve immediately.

Note: I only added a tiny bit of salt and pepper at the table. 

Serve in large Soup bowls/plates making sure everyone gets one corn on the cob in the center.

I certainly cannot say they are fussy kids! I wonder which one had the idea of filling the "garden" with water. Well...it was still just a hole. LOL! Hey, Its been 100 degrees or hotter for more than a week.....!

Ok today starts a new Week! Im weighing in at 209 and plan to attend the gym daily. We also have to get back our focus on Schoolwork! We will be reading about Gilgamesh the King and doing some interesting Archeology projects, hopefully.

I haven't been to the Gym since Wednesday due to a stomache ache(food poisoning? overeating? greasy cheese? or something) from Pizza. I should know better...but alas...It had me down for 2 days.

Im also trying a new schedule:

Morning:

Water Yard/Garden

Breakfast

Housework/Kids do Chores and Play Outside!(its HOT by 10am)

Shower

Cody Swim Lessons @11:30-12noon (M-W-F)(20 min Weights or Aerobic in Gym for Cris and I)

Run any Errands(Post office or Store, Bill paying, Visiting)

Lunch(something light)

Reading/Readaloud(one hour)

Swimming (2:30-4.00) I can do a full gym workout durring swim.

Homeschool Time (4:30-7pm)

Dinner

TV/Games/Play

Bed

Dont know if this schedule will work..but its Naturally developing so maybe.

Now Im off to water the yard!

Peace!

Donna

Here is our curricula that were using. We sorta school year around, casually, so breaks come often. Were just doing math and lots of house work...trying to get into our summer routine right now. Since Ive just started working out..my focus hasn't been homeschooling, but weight loss.

Both the boys are doing a program called RC History, Connecting with History.

www.rchistory.com

This is a Catholic Unit Study. Its main focus is Bible history. We are doing level one- Ancient History-Old Testament. There is of course a booklist for this program. The spine books are:

The Great Adventure( this is an excellent video program for Reading through the Bible)

Bible History, by Johnson....(Middle school)

The Oxford First Ancient History....(Middle school)

Novel Inquiries (Lit analysis)

Science in Ancient..............4 titles...

Catholic Childrens Bible

Usborne Ancient .......

and a few others....................

For Math they are both doing Math U See.

Cody is finishing Alpha soon and will be beginning Beta, Next Month

Cris is Finishing Delta and will start Epsilon in another week or so. (Gotta get those long division problems down..YUK!)

We have 2 Spanish programs that we will use.
Learning Spanish with Grace- A Catholic Intro spanish course

Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish CD ROMs.

Language Arts:

Cris:

IEW SWI B, Ancient History Writing Lessons .

Sequential Spelling

Rewards Reading(he still needs work on multi syllables...)

Vocabulary Vine

No formal Grammar, but we will review our Junior Analytical Grammar Lessons and do some diagramming.

Cody:

Seton English, Handwriting & Spelling

PLL- New Catholic Edition from www.hillsideeducation.com

Phonics For Reading by www.curriculumassociates.com

Seton's Faith and Freedom Reader Series for fluency.

Science:

Apologia Zoology (elem book) and were also reading on Dinosaurs. I plan to get more of the apologia Elementary books to finish the year with. Which title is up for grabs at the moment. It will either be the new zoology 2 book  or Astronomy.

Art - Informal...We are notebooking and the kids draw lots...and sometimes paint.

Music - Guitar and recorder.

PE - YMCA (durring school year.. HS GYM/SWIM) For the summer...LOTS of Swimming.

Cris is in Grade 6(officially) and cody in Grade 2(officially)

I didn't think either of them were really ready for grade level work...so Im sorta ...holding them back a bit.

Our Religion is tightly woven into the RC History program. To that I may add Catechism but its pretty complete.

Dont think I forgot anything..but maybe?

Tell me what you think!

Donna

Still at 210. I cheated yesterday, which didn't help.  Had Fajitas(beef) Slap me someone! but oh were they good

Today Im doing better but I did eat some fig newtons...(was starving)

Dinner was rice, collard Greens and pinto beans...some salsa too! It was rather bland...nothing had enough salt flavor. but I dont care...Im full.

Donna

Did you ever notice that your plans just dont work out like they are supposed to when you have boys around?

Today was one of those days.

We went to take my son to the Y for him swim lessons. He is 7. Well we got there..just as they were starting. The entrance is through the locker rooms. Now for some reason, I cant go in the boys locker room..hehe! Today my boys went in, as usual but never came out!

I was in the pool area waiting...even told the director that he was here..but hadn't came from the locker room. (She was taking roll)

So out I went to the other end. Then my older son popped out that way and said...
"There is a man taking a shower naked and Cody wont go past him!" Now this has never occured before..and he has never seen even his DAD naked..now that I think about it. So my son went back inside and escorted not only my little one..but another little boy who was also afraid to go past the Naked man. UGH...(there goes another 5 minutes of class) we are down to 20. (both boys covered their eyes.) LOL!

Ok..so he's in the pool. His brother and I leave to go get a towel since we forgot one...and arrive back just in time to pick him up again. (There goes my 30 min workout time for Cris and I). So...We go visit MIL..and Nephews. 2pm back to the pool so MOM can workout and kids can swim. Cris decided not to swim but Cody is enjoying the water. Fine..His decision...

I go do 20 minutes on an excersize bike(4 miles :o) ) Then Just begin some of the weight equipment...and on the 2nd machine...I look up and there they are...ready to go home! GRRRR! I was ticked..so made them wait in the hall while I did a few machines so I could at least feel good about my workout today..but I HATE being RUSHED!

So what happened to my nice neat plan of having 1.5 hours to myself daily? BOYS!

Donna

Hey, latest update.

I purchased a YMCA membership and we intend to use it almost daily! The kids get several hours of indoor swimming. At that time, I can go work out in the weight room. So far its working out great. Im gonna get rid of this blubbler...even if I have to shake it off!!!!!!!!

Im down from 212 to 210(yesterday) I will weigh in tomarrow morning.

Donna

http://www.drmcdougall.com/  Dr McDougall's New Website. Has Lots of good stuff here!

http://www.vegsource.com/mcdougall/index.html  Vegsourse BB for McDougall. There is also a recipe board.

www.fatfree.com another source for recipes

Not a very good picture I am afraid. my 7yods took this picture recently. Guess it was cold that day. My hair is pulled back. Its actaully quite long.

Donna

Hey everyone!

I started Back on my Vegan Diet yesterday. Odd day to start, I know but I was convicted. Have you ever gagged over a pan your about to wash? Did you notice what had been cooked in it? Was it Meat? Well, That happened to me yesterday. I had set the pan soaking the day before cause I couldn't scrape it out(cast iron). UGH! Well, Its so hot here already....things happen fast in the microscopic world!

I took the pan and began to scrape...and almost lost it over the sink. I then ran outside where I had to stay for almost 5 minutes before my stomach settled. Worst part is, I had to smell it again! GAG! Well, I got rid of the mess but you know...Meat can be so discusting! (Unless someone else does the dishes!)

From that moment on...I wanted NO more. Even the thought of the delicious juicy fajitas that I grilled on Sunday, now in the freezer, doesn't excite me. I think its time! Im ready.

When I first went on my McDougall Diet, the day after my 37th birthday, Sept 14th, I weighed a whopping 226lbs. I immediately began losing just a lb or 2 weekly. I wasn't excersizing...just changed my diet. By Christmas I was 202 lbs. Durring Christmas We moved. My diet held out only a few weeks. The problem, This town has NO natural foods market. I needed certain staples to keep me going. Soy Sour Cream(which is delish), Almond Cheese(cheapest of the healthy alternatives but still has casin(milk protein), Organic Oats, Bulk Rices, Beans and of course a variety of packaged foods. (Dont bother with the egg sub...at least not with cakes)

I began Making my own breads about that same time last fall thanks to the help and encouragment I found on www.teachingmom.com . Unfortunately, I dont like store bread anymore...so I rarely eat it unless its my own.(hmm not so unfortunate I guess if your trying to lose weight)

My basic Bread recipe is:

5-7 c flour(2-3 wheat and the rest unbleached)

1/2 c sugar

2c warm water

1/3 c canola oil

1/2 tsp salt

2tbsp Yeast(Proofed in 1/4c water and 1tbsp sugar) - I still like to do it seperately.

Optional items:

1/4 c honey (reduce sugar to 1/4 c if using honey)

1 c organic oats - softened

(I put a metal bowl on the burner, add oatsand/or other grains, Sugar, salt, Oil , water and warm until the oats are soft but not boiling. Let cool until luke warm...then add in 2 c flour (mixture is still pleasantly warm) Mix flour till it looks like pancake batter...then pour in the bubbling yeast and stir gently. I then add another cup of white flour, then I add in 2 c wheat flour. and mix with my hands. I add more flour as needed after that..using the white flour.

Probably a silly way for me to describe it...but the process works well. I never add in more water than the recipe...if you use other grains..they take the place of the flour.

On one of my recent bakings...I forgot the oil. I dont recommend it! Although my family loved them(oh it was Easter sunday...I sent them home with all the extra bread) but I hated them!!!

I used a plain white bread recipe(just didnt' add any wheat or extras) and made pigs in a blanket for my kids.(I pre cooked some hot dogs and wrapped them up in the dough like a hot pocket.) Those came out wonderful. Im going t try that with some other fillings...and creat a vegan snack. (Ideas are welcome!)  I may try to make a pizza pocket next time...should be easy to do a vegan one...with vegan cheese, tomato sauce and some veggie toppings.

I also just got a donut pan at a yard sale last week. Im thinking the place where the hole is..is about perfect to create some sort of filled item!

Well, Ive rambled along today!

Peace and love be with you all!

Donna

JMJ Pray for Us!

Seems like a while since I posted those pictures. I will attempt to add some more pictures soon. There has been a lot going on here. Im gearing up for a new semester of school....kids are doing great!

I just posted a bunch of really borring pictures of our yard and how it is progressing from the bare yard we started with and it will continue to change as long as Im around. LOL! Enjoy!

Donna

 Here is Cris' Veggie patch. He has tomatoes, peppers and some seeds in there now for marigolds. Plus some onions  and under the tree we put zucchini seeds today.  That is Cris up on the fence!