An ever changing view

Enjoying the simple things in life...

Hello my dear, dear friends... I hope this evening finds you all well. 
I have had some things on my heart that I want to share with you tonight, some news from my husband that makes these things even more real to me.  On this roller coaster ride of life we don't know what the next turn will hold... whether we will be plummeting into a valley or climbing a high mountain... It is uncertain, it is sometimes frightening... but we as children of the Living God have a safe and secure end to all of this twisting and turning. 
My husband has just informed me that he may be losing his job come Tuesday.  It is a sudden blow to our family.  It is scary, but it is not something that our God, Jehovah-Jireh, The One who Provides, can't handle.  He is able.
So my mind is how we can be even more frugal minded than we already are.  Suppers can be made a bit more cheaply and stretched a bit farther, I have my website that I am trying to sale some things and my Etsy.  We don't do a whole lot of extra-curricular activities so that is not a big thing.  I try and limit my trips to run errands... maybe instead of once a week I could make it once every two weeks.  And these things are well and good... BUT... I don't want them to cloud my focus.  I don't want them to dampen my spirit and choke my joy. 
Things that are precious to me, things that are simple and lovely and good... I am going to focus on those...
God's sweet promises
A good morning kiss from my husband
The early morning snuggle time with my children
The rain on the roof
Freshly picked vegetables from the garden
Hearing my children pray
Seeing kindness from my kids to their siblings or others
The strong arms of my husband
Snowflakes
Beautiful skies painted by God's own hand
Piano Music
Laughter
Open windows and a gentle breeze
Candlelight
Church hymns sung acapella
Warm soup on a cold and dreary day
My husband reading the Bible to our family
Homemade gifts
Flowers
Smiles
Hearing, I love you Moma
These things and more are the real and true things, the things to be treasuring... not the material, not the temporal...
We trust that through this valley God will be glorified... that He will be lifted up.  That He holds us with His Almighty Hand and we can be at peace knowing He will never let us fall.
God be with you dear ones.

Family Traditions

Wowzers! I must have bored ya'll to tears yesterday with my Lacto-Fermented lecture... sorry about that, I thought I had more on board with me. :) haha
I thought I would tell you tonight about some things we do around our house... some of our habits, of our traditions.  Some so fun they have been adapted to other households we are in contact with.
We like to sit around the table at supper time.  I feel it is important to sit together, this is the heart... the family meal, the time to talk, to listen, to hear what is important to our family.  Around the dinner table we play
High and Low
So here is how tonights High and Low session looked...
Mom: So Abram whats your High/Low?
Abram: My Low (in Abramish) Popa Ronnie took away the excavator. (My Dad parks his equipment in a field beside our house... when he moves it to go to a job Abram is distraught)
My High-the good supper.   (the reason supper was so good for him is that we had applesauce to go with it, the child LOVES applesauce!)
And so we go around the table from youngest to oldest including Moma and Daddy until we share our best and not so best times with each other.
Like I said, it is a contagious thing... our nieces have taken it home and they now do it, a friends children took it and now they do it... and so on.
Another thing we sometimes do is have *Movie Night*
Oh, this is a grand thing.  Moma makes popcorn, the lights all get turned off, the curtains are all pulled and we watch a movie (usually one from our collection). 
We had movie night tonight because we are still recovering from our bought with a stomach bug.  Everyone got comfy and we watched Nim's Island.
Sometimes we even try to get the FULL movie experience by making our own commercials... My Cameo has a now infamous commercial that we all giggle about when it is brought up...
~~~Slim Jim... It's GOOD for you!~~~
Just say that and we all roll. :)
So what about you guys? Do you have some family traditions that you want to share?  Some special things that you do for fun...  If so let me know... I would love to hear from you.
And Dear Marcy and so many others... So sorry it has taken me all week to get this out for you...

3 cups all-purpose flour plus additional flour for kneading 2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
2 packages active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening

Place 1 1/2 cups each all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, the toasted wheat germ, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, preferably a heavy-duty one with a paddle attachment, briefly mix together the ingredients.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the shortening. Add the milk and sugar and heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is very warm, but no hotter than 120 or 130 degrees. With the mixer at low speed, slowly pour milk mixture into flour mixture until blended. Increase to medium speed and beat mixture for about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup each white flour and whole wheat flour and beat 2 minutes more. Add 1 cup white flour and beat until dough comes away from sides of bowl.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface about 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic. (Use very little additional flour.) Place in bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise in a warm place until double in volume, about 1 or 1 1/2 hours.

Gently punch dough down and divide dough into four equal portions. Divide each portion into fourths and allow dough to rest just 5 minutes. Form the small portions into balls and with fingertips fold edges under to form even circles. Place on lightly greased baking sheets, about 2-inches apart and with fingertips flatten each bun to a 3-inch circle. (If you prefer the sides of the buns to remain soft, place them closer together. Then as the buns rise the sides will touch.) Cover with a towel and set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Adjust rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees at least 20 minutes before baking. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and buns sound hollow when tapped lightly. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing. (Or cool and freeze, well-wrapped, for up to 1 week.) Makes 16.

To form hot dog buns: Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll out each portion to a rectangle about 14 x 5 inches. Cut about eight 5 x 2 inch strips from each rectangle. Between the palms of your hands, roll each portion into 6-inch long buns. Place buns, about 2-inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover loosely with a cloth towel and set aside in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Bake as directed for hamburger buns.

Variations
Wheat Berries: Add 1/3 cup wheat berries and a dash of salt to 2 cups boiling water. Cover saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Drain and dry them well. With wooden spoon, stir wheat berries into dough before kneading it.

Walnuts: Toast 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts in a 325 degree oven about 10 minutes. Cool and with a wooden spoon stir into dough before kneading it.

Olives: Coarsely chop 1/3 cup pitted, oil- or brine-cured black or green olives. With wooden spoon (or paddle attachment and mixer at low speed) stir olives into dough before kneading it.

Lacto-Fermented Salsa

Okay, so you have heard me going on about making things from scratch, from your own kitchen, with your own hands.  So here is something else. 
I have shared with you about making my own Salsa, I have blogged about it a few times.  This, however, is a bit different.  I am not cooking any of the ingredients.  It is all raw, fermented, yummy goodness.
We had quite a picking of peppers and tomatoes out of the garden this weekend and so I got on the bandwagon and made up some of this highly nutritious salsa. 
What is Lacto-Fermented you ask?
Well, it is...

Studies repeatedly have shown that daily consumption of lacto-fermented vegetables helps in reestablishment and maintenance of beneficial intestinal flora, and aids immune function.  These raw fermented vegetables aid digestion, relieve constipation and are associated with decreased allergies and infections. Fermented cabbage is an excellent source of a protective factor called DIM, which is lost by standard cooking methods.  Raw unfermented cabbage and its relatives depress thyroid function.

Fermentation allows the bacteria, yeasts and molds to "predigest" and therefore break down the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to create "Probiotics" which offer friendly bacteria into our digestive tract.  This helps keep our immune system strong and supports our overall digestive health. 

Probiotics are particularly important when we are sick and are taking antibiotics.  Antibiotics kill off all the bacteria, the bad that are making you sick and also the good bacteria.  That's why many people get yeast infections when they take antibiotics.  Probiotics reintroduce good helpful bacteria into our digestive tract so that while the bad bug is being fought by the antibiotics, we won't get other sickness on top of that.  Acidophilus pills are a Probiotic which many of us take when we are taking antibiotics.  Look for pills that have billions of live flora.  Look for pills that must be refrigerated.  Jarrow is a good brand.  They make some just for kids too that taste good and are cute shapes.

Fermented foods are enzyme rich foods that are alive with micro-organisms.  These foods allow beneficial microflora to "colonize" in our intestines (and for moms-to-be, also in the birth canal) to keep us healthy.  Our "inner ecosystem" helps support our health and fight infection.   A healthy gastrointestinal tract (GI) is critical to a strong immune system.  Diets rich in fermented foods, as well as fruits and vegetables, are best for us to in order to maintain a strong healthy body.

Fermented foods aid in digestion, promote healthy flora in our digestive tract, produce beneficial enzymes, offer us better nutrition and allow our bodies to absorb vitamins (in particular C, and B12), minerals, nutritional value and omega 3s more effectively from foods.  They regulate the level of acidity in the digestive tract and act as anti-oxidants.  Fermented foods contain the same isothiocyanates found in cruciferous vegetables and therefore fight and prevent cancer. 

Many fermented foods on the market today are not true fermented foods because they are created to maximize profits and shelf life instead of our health.  They are not as beneficial.  It's important that we eat foods that are fermented with "Active" or "Live" Cultures.  Pasteurization kills off the living bacteria so look for unpasteurized and fresh fermented foods (in the grocery refrigerator section).  Since fermentation is a way to keep the living enzymes alive, it goes against the theory to use pasteurized (or dead) milk, for example, but you can make yogurt and kefir with pasteurized milk, it just won't be as robust and beneficial.

So here are 2 of my beautiful 5 quarts of Lacto-Fermented Salsa

These type of foods are going to be so beneficial to our family right, being that we have passed our sicknesses back and forth to one another for way too long...
Between this, our wonderful daily dose of CLO (cod liver oil) and ACV (Organic Apple Cider Vinegar) and our weekly trip to our favorite Chiropractor,  we should be fit as fiddles again in no time. 

There are times when convenience is so alluring, times when you are just too tired to do things right, some times when you don't plan like you (I) should.  When money is tight and you forgo the things that are the most beneficial for you.  And then you get sick and realize what you have done.  I am resolved, to not let our family go under-nourished again.  My family has never went underfed, but we have been under-nourished and it is time this Moma steps up to the plate and changes that. :)

Let's not be slaves to this overpriced and unhealthy food that is out there tempting you with time saving convenience... What good is time saving when we are doing nothing but damaging our families... Let's take control of our lives and start really feeding our families body and soul.

So, if you don't have the copy of NT... really it is an EXCELLENT purchase!! You can check here to buy your own copy.

Here is the recipe

Salsa the Nourishing Traditions Way

Makes 1 quart

• 4 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
• 2 small onions, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup chopped chile pepper, hot or mild
• 6-8 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped (optional... but not really)
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Juice of two lemons
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 4 tablespoons of whey (if not available use and additional 1 tablespoon salt)
• 1/4 cup filtered water

Homemade

I may sound like a clanging gong, but... I am loving doing most of my stuff "homemade".  I have been cooking from scratch and baking and such for a good while now, but it is always good to learn something new.  I feel such satisfaction when I learn a new, old way of doing things.  Almost always, it is cheaper, healthier and tastier than todays way of convenience. So for tonight, I am going to share with you how to make your own vanilla. 
First you want to purchase some beans.  Now you can go to the fancy Whole Foods mart and pay $5 for 2 or something crazy like that or you can do what I do and browse the net and find an AWESOME deal for 30-something Organic  beans for like $20!  Oh yeah, it was incredible... check ebay, that is where I found it.
Now the next thing you need is alcohol.  Now, we are not drinkers in any shape, form or fashion... so the liquor store was an uncomfortable thing... but you need some to make your vanilla.  I bought just a $5 bottle of vodka and it fills up my container and sits until I am ready to make some more.
Thats all you need my friends.  Are you shocked, I was... and how can something so simple make you feel so accomplished? :)
Now... take your beans and put maybe 4 in a little half-pint mason jar.  Fill the jar up with your alcohol and sit in a dark cabinet for 30 days.  After 30 days you are ready to use. 
If you decide to make some brownies or some other scrumptious treat that calls for vanilla and you use some up, take your alcohol and top it off.  No need to let it set again, it will get all infused with the other vanilla and you will be fine and dandy.
So thats it! Have fun and you won't ever have to run out and pay $7 for a teeny bottle of vanilla again.  Oh, and there is the idea of a super Christmas gift.  A lovely bow and a twig of berries tied to it.  Beautiful simplicity.

Wonderfully Productive

This weekend was wonderful... wonderfully productive... and I L.O.V.E. being productive! :)
 We cleaned out the root cellar, we hope to add shelves in the next week or two.  We spent some time in the garden.  I spent some time in the kitchen, and we all just spent some time together... The weather was not as dreadfully hot as it has been and it was nice.  We enjoyed a bit of rain today and hope to get more in the next day or so.
 Saturday, I made up some homemade vanilla, some Lacto-Fermented Salsa, I chopped up peppers and have them in the freezer and Saturdays lunch was a wonderful soup and some crusty bread.  I plan on sharing the directions for the above throughout the week.
 I have spent a little time in the sewing room also and the bug has bitten me.  I am anxious to get some projects going and accomplished... Christmas is NOT too far away you know!!!  Especially for those of us who like to give handmade gifts!!!!  So it is a good thing I am in the mood to start crafting.
I hope your Monday is fantastic!
My Cup Runneth Over...

Sunday's Scripture~August 24, 2008

 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Saturday's Snapshot 8-23-08

Carlie Jean loves washing dishes.  What a good girl.

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

My 35th Birthday Today

Well, that's right!  I turned 35 years old today! 

FIRST OF ALL, guess what had opened a bloom today on my birthday!  YES, that same peace lily I had blogged about here:  click here.  This was the first time it has bloomed since I posted that blog!  What a special birthday treat for me!

GUESS WHAT I DID TODAY?  I threw myself a birthday party for my sisters/brothers-in-laws and parents/parents-in-laws and hubby's grandmothers.  No, I do not normally throw parties for myself, but this was a special occassion indeed.  As I have blogged about previously, my family heard that my rheumatologist said I need to do water aerobics to help my fibromyalgia.  At the time, my hubby was laid off work (although he is working again right now), so they all pitched in and helped me to buy a nice above-ground pool!!!

SO I threw this party as thanks to them for doing something so SPECIAL for me!  They turned this FM problem into something wonderful!  I LOVE exercising in the pool.  As a matter of fact, it is really the only time I feel VERY good.  I am still exhausted when I am in the pool, so I do not do anything major, but just to be able to move my arms and legs around freely is SO WONDERFUL!  I had purchased a hammock float (which I had never heard of before researching for pools) and it is PERFECT to fit all my needs in the pool! 

We had BBQ pizza delivered by a local restaurant and I decorated my dining room and back deck with a tropical theme.  I had purchased two games to play:  pineapple bowling and ALOHA bingo, but we ended up just sitting around and eating and talking and generally enjoying each others' company. 

I had originally planned on this being a pool party, but because everyones' allergies have been so bad this week, we just stayed inside in the air conditioning.

NOW, on to the PICTURES!  Do you ever host something like this and take pics of the decorations before everyone gets there, and THEN forget to take a single picture while all the guests are there???  WELL that is exactly what I did today.  SO the following pics are just decorations.  I will explain each one as we go.

This is the centerpiece...too funny, huh???

This is the entrance to the back deck

This is the back deck

This is the back deck table centerpiece.  I made the ducks, lily pads and flower out of play-doh.

This is a close-up of the centerpiece.  I had made a mama duck, too, but I dried her too long and she cracked and lost a wing!!!  SO I felt she was not up to a party in her condition.  LOL

My dad built these steps because the ladder that came with the pool was WAY too unstable.

My sister Lavonda and her husband were the first to arrive and they brought these CUTE Tiki monkeys for me, so I added them to the dining room centerpiece

This was the punch we had.  I will share the recipe below it because it was SUPER easy and VERY GOOD.

Both my parents are diabetics, so I was trying to come up with something they could drink, too.  SO I bought Diet Sunkist (orange) and Bryer's NO SUGAR ADDED vanilla ice cream.  We put the ice cream in the punch bowl and poured Sunkist on top of it.  It tasted much like creamsicles, which we ALL LOVED.  I had forgotten to refrigerate the Sunkist, so it melted the ice cream too quickly, so if you use the same recipe, be sure to refrigerate the Sunkist first!

NOW, I had also had prizes ready in case we played the games I mentioned above.  They were just silly prizes, but cute.  Below is a pic of the prize bag. 

NOW, the bag holding the prizes was actually a beach bag I had made my mother-in-law last year for her vacation to Orange Beach.  I used machine embroidery and I had purchased the embroidery design online...I think I got it at emblibrary.com, but can't remember for sure.  I designed the bag myself and also put my MIL's name on the front.  I thought it turned out so CUTE.  I will include pic of back, and the inside pocket that is deep enough for suntan lotion on one side and shallow enough for keys, change, whatever in the other section...and it zipped.  I wish I'd made me one!  LOL

Thank you for visiting!  Have a great weekend!

Teresa

Count it all joy

Lately... things have been tough... on more than one level.  It reminds me of a song that I hear on Moody Broadcasting. 
I pray that through this time of testing that I can, "Count it all Joy"
Have a beautiful weekend friends...

Count it all Joy
Blessed is the one
for the sake of the Son
who stands through the fire and the flood
he will receive a reward from the King
a crown for a victory won

so let's make a choice
to stand up and rejoice
steadfast whatever may come
to stand and believe
that the Lord will complete
the wonderful work He's begun

Count it all joy
When we face many trials
When we suffer for righteousness sake

Count it all joy
For like gold in the fire
Every test is refining our faith

Count it all joy
Count it all joy

Blessed is the one
who says Gods will be done
running the race faithfully
his feet are sure
finding strength to endure
keeping his eyes on the King

he's not tossed like the waves of the sea
and strong winds continue to blow
so let us trust
let us hope and believe
as our faith continues to grow

Count it all joy
When we face many trials
When we suffer for righteousness sake

Count it all joy
For like gold in the fire
Every test is refining our faith

Count it all joy
Count it all joy

For God has not promised
a path that is not marked with pain
but He has promised
the joy of His presence
for those who will trust in His name

Count it all joy
When we face many trials
When we suffer for righteousness sake

Count it all joy
For like gold in the fire
Every test is refining our faith

Count it all joy
When we face many trials
When we suffer for righteousness sake

Count it all joy
For like gold in the fire
Every test is refining our faith

Count it all joy
Count it all joy
Count it all joy
Count it all joy

Oh, we count it all joy

Quilt Book Giveaway - EXTENDED ONE MORE NIGHT

HURRY!!!

Want to try to win a quilt book?  Follow this link for a quilt  block giveaway from Brandi at mountainmorning blogspot.  She has extended the deadline to midnight on August 23, 2008.

http://mountainmorning.blogspot.com/2008/08/quilt-book-giveaway.html

Darlene Zimmerman is the author of the book. 

Brandi has asked each participant to post a pic of their favorite quilt when adding a message about her giveaway to their blog.  I decided to go ahead and show several of the quilts I've made as I have not posted too many on here before.  ALL are my own design. 

This was for my cousin Savannah.  I made the machine embroidery designs that spelled out SAVANNAH down the center and I also drew the machine embroidery designs of the vines/tiny flowers and tiny butterflies on the small yellow borders around each appliqued square.  She was only about 3 years old and she said "Oh TERESA, it's SO BE-UUU-TEEE-FULLL (I spelled it the way she articulated the word!  lol)

I made this quilt for her brother Cole.  AGAIN, I drew the designs that spell out C O L E.  The C and O is in first pic and the L and E is in the second pic.

This quilt was VERY special as it was for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary.  My hubby's nana helped me quilt it in 5 days and then my hubby's Great AUNTS Polly and Grace made the binding for me (it is in the second pic...VERY PRETTY)

 I hope you enjoy!  My computer crashed last month, so this was all the pics I had loaded on my AOL, else I would have showed you more.  I will have to gather them up soon and post more.

Teresa