City Girl ~ Country Heart

Our Trip to the Coast

Gus

We also brought our german/sheppard lab mix, Gus along.  It all sounded like a great plan until we got there and realized that we were severely limited on what we could do.  We were unable to go into a park with him, only certain restaurants would allow him, (specifically if they had an outdoor patio - which I completely understand).  We also were unable to do shopping or visit museums like I would have liked.  We considered kenneling him for a day, but alas, no shot records. 

All that aside, we had a great time and the trip was exactly what we needed.

I don't know where she got this pose from...she's so darn cute though!

Notice the dark sky...we should have known what was coming!

Homemade Real Vanilla Extract

Did you know that Vodka actually has a lower alcohol content than the real vanilla extract in the store? 

To make your own extract, follow the recipe below:

• 1/2 pint Vodka
• 6-7 of David's Vanilla Beans, (see below on who David is)
  
• Glass container (Vodka bottle works great)
• Decorative Jar

Day 1 - seeds floating around in there

Close-up of Day 7

When the bottle starts to get low, you can add more Vodka and beans to produce an endless supply of vanilla. 

This is what my $12 bought me...

To purchase...

Crystalized Ginger & Medicinal Honey

Alas...I came across the book, "Growing 101 Herbs that Heal,"  by Tammi Hartung

 

The next thing you do is peel the outer skin off and slice up the ginger, (I used a carrot peeler & sharp knife).

Place the ginger in a small saucepan and cover it with raw honey, (honey that has not been processed/heated).

Warm over medium/low heat for 20 minutes, (you don't want it to boil though I think I did by mistake on this batch).  Stir occasionally.

Remove from heat and let the ginger/honey rest in a glass bowl at room temperature for 3 days, covered.

After 3 days, strain out the ginger and reserve the honey in a glass jar.  Refrigerate the gingered honey for I believe up to 6 months, but don't quote me on that...it doesn't last that long in our house. 

Cover with another piece of wax paper and let set out for 7 days. 

After 7 days, fill a Ziploc bag of sugar and drop the ginger pieces inside it to coat them well and seal them with sugar. 

Refrigerate the ginger to preserve the freshness.  This can be used in cookies or just as a little treat for you or your kids.  We love it and it is so much stronger, (which we like) than the store bought crystalized ginger.

I also like doing this because I love Ginger Green tea.  I must really love ginger because it is not gingery enough for me.  I add the gingered honey to my tea and it is zippy and perfect for my tastes.  It also tastes great on toast with cinnamon on top.

Ginger can be used for the following ailments:

• arthritis
• ulcerative colitis
• menstrual discomfort
• headaches
• fevers from flu & colds
• sore throats
• heartburn
• gas
• motion sickness
  
• morning sickness

Did you know that you can take the ginger you buy in the store and grow it in your own garden?  My hope is to try this someday...anybody done this before?  If so, any tips?

Where on Earth Have I Been?!

Taken a few months ago...at Hemisphere Park in San Antonio

My first loaves of bread made with freshly ground flour - flop, but I'll get it!

Healthy Eating
We're getting back into eating healthy which can be a challenge at times for my kids, (they got used to more convenience foods - I know they're taste buds will adjust and they'll thank me some day).  Many things are changing around my home and I hope to be blogging more often with all the neat things we're doing. 

Our Baby is Here!

Eli Daniel was born on June 8th, (his due date) at 2:24 A.M.  He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 1/2".  It was such a beautiful thing!  We had a homebirth for Eli and what a difference - Lord willing I'll be able to have any future children at home.

The midwives got here about midnight...checked me I was at 9 cm.  So I labored a little bit more.  We called our dear friend Mary over, so she'd be here in case/when Eliana woke up. 

After waiting for my water to break for I'd say about a half an hour I asked them to break it...by now I should have learned that each pregnancy, labor, & delivery is different. With Eliana they broke my water and I had her like 30 minutes later...it was so easy...I pushed maybe 4 times. 

Eli was quite a different story...I won't go into the details...just it was much much harder and more painful.  Of course this is already a distant memory as I get to hold my precious little boy.  He is the perfect baby!  Hardly cries when he's awake...he just kinda looks around.  He's doing great with nursing...nights & days are off...but we'll work on that. 

Sleepy Eli & Eliana shortly after birth.

Eliana loves her little brother already...she is always "helping" me with him and gives him tons of hugs and kisses.

1-Day old Eli Daniel, this child looks like me!!!  Yeah!

We are truly blessed!  I thank the Lord every day for giving us these precious children...we are so unworthy, undeserving...yet He is so giving and gracious! 

Eliana saying his feet were stinky! - She's such a ham!

So the next couple of weeks my dear husband has taken time off of work to spend with all of us.  I will be 'away' for a while as our family knits together one more little bundle.  Just wanted to stop in quick to make the happy announcement. 

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam - Recipe to Tweak

Well my husband is starting to love more of my homemade goodies!  He has always been a die hard Welch's Grape Jelly eater, (he loves peanut butter and jelly , will have it for breakfast on toast...snack...on a tortilla...you name it).  Well I had made some Strawberry Rhubarb Jam a few months ago and he refused to try it.  My mistake that we ran out of his jelly.  He began going through our pantry eating Eliana and my stash of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.  Now he loves it and has been asking me to make some more...forget Welch's.  So here's the recipe I made Saturday. 

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

(makes about 6 pints)

4 Cups Strawberries, Crushed

2 1/2 Cups Rhubarb

1/4 Cup Lemon Juice

1 (1.75 Oz) Pkg Powdered Fruit Pectin

5 1/2 Cups Sugar

In a large kettle, combine the strawberries, rhubarb, lemon juice, & pectin.  Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in sugar;return to a full rolling boil.  Boil 1 minute stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; skim off foam.  Can as ususal.

I must say, it is not the consistency I like...too runny.  Here's what I did that I think contributed to the runniness...

• I used frozen strawberries and rhubarb because I can only get frozen rhubarb at this point...my rhubarb is on it's deathbed.  I have a huge bag of frozen strawberries from Sam's Club.
• I chopped my rhubarb and strawberries in the food processor...maybe I processed them too long?

Would these two things afftect the consistency?

Regardless I'm still on a search of the perfect Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.  Anyone out there have one that is tried and true, I prefer more of a rhubarb flavor?  I'd love it if you'd share.

Conner Hugh has Arrived!

 - Okay so he's not my baby!  But my sister gave birth to her 2nd son, Conner Hugh this morning at 1 A.M.  I'm so happy for her and her husband.  She'd had a lot of complications with her first son, (he's 7 years old now).  I had been praying for her and just overall concerned for her health.  Mom and baby are doing well.  They live in North Dakota so I won't be able to visit right away.  Just so excited!

So now it's my turn....I'm ready!  I really am!  Last night I had hard contractions for 3 hours, from 5 to 3 minutes apart.  Woke up my dear Mark and said it was time.  He was wide awake from midnight until this morning, when he went to work.  (Our little girl had a rough night sleeping for some reason...could she be developing a fear of the dark? Nap times are not an issue with her but night time was last night and getting her to sleep tonight was very emotional ) - Mark insisted on taking care of her last night (I vaguely remember...he told me this afternoon that I was sleeping too soundly and didn't want me to lose sleep- snoring actually).  I felt so bad...I really thought we were in labor, I've fallen for false labor too many times this pregnancy. 

So this afternoon we went for a very LONG walk...I'd guess around 4 miles.  I'm tired!  Just wanted to post something and share the great news of my new nephew. 

Oh and I love pictures....I recently finished tying Eli's baby quilt. 

Below is a picture of it- a very basic Trip Around the World (used the Quilt in a Day by Eleanor Burns).  I wish I would have used more yellow, (thought I'd place some faux patches on it in yellow to get more brightness to it - it's pretty drab right now).  Overall I'm pleased, it was so quick to make...which is what I needed.  I used old jeans of Mark's and mine and fabric I had in the stash...we've been cutting way back with budgeting and I just could not bring myself to buy more fabric when I have tubs full.

With Eliana, I did the whole crib setup, curtains, wall hangings, you name it all in paper-pieced ladybugs.  Eli's decor is way scaled down.  I actually made him a lapsized quilt...figured he'd get more use out if than Eliana will out of her baby quilt. 

Anyway...thanks for stopping by!

Prayer Time with Hubby

Being 39 weeks pregnant....having a 18 month old to chase around all day has been a bit tiring. 

A few months prior, my husband and I use to get up every day before he went to work and read our Bibles (to ourselves) and then pray together.  It was such a sweet time and I loved starting our day out with the Lord together.  There is nothing like getting up early and talking to our God especially with the man you love! 

For about the past 2 months I just haven't been able to get up for these times.  I would try with all my might but one thing or another (Sleeping through alarms, too many bathroom breaks during the night, false labor, Ellie waking up very early for her - which now I'm realizing is quite normal for her)...it just wasn't doable. 

Mark has been great about it and we spent other prayer time together, but I was really missing and longing for those morning times again. 

Well I'm so excited that today....I woke up!  I won't say I'm the most energized but it's almost like the Lord gave me a special gift today.  I know Eli will be here any day (or week) and it's going to be some time before we get our morning time again....just so overwhelmed that I have the husband that I do and serve the mighty God I serve.

So for today's agenda....

• I need to bake more bread (since I started baking bread....it takes only a couple of days and our freezer is running low - Mark LOVES it)
• Go to the library
• Plan my grocery shopping for tomorrow
• Do the laundry

That's it....ha!  We'll see, I'm not so productive lately....it's rainy this morning so no pool time for Ellie, she does love to make bread and help me with laundry though so I think she'll have fun regardless.

Thanks for stopping by...have a blessed day.

Gardening Woes - Advice Welcome!

I took these pictures of my garden yesterday.  I must say, my gardening hasn't gone as well as I had hoped.  As you can see from the pictures, I have a small square-foot garden set up.

Here's what I have in...

4 Tomato Plants

3 Banana Pepper Bushes

1 Cantalope Vine

2 Cucumber Vines

2 Pumpkin Vines

1 Watermelon Vine

1 Rhubarb Plant (that is on the brink of death - I don't think rhubarb is very conducive to the Texas heat)

1 (yes just one  stalk of corn)

6 Carrots

30 or so Onions

2 Strawberry Plants

(Oh and I had planted a bunch of radishes but my heartburn has been so bad I took them out...)

Also I've harvested 8 heads of lettuce - too hot for that now but they were so good.

Anyone familiar with Square Foot Gardening?  Since we live in the city and have limited space in our backyard this is the method I decided would be the best approach.  My sweet & very supportive hubby helped me build my garden for my birthday last July.  I'm by no means an expert at gardening, (can you tell?  )

My tomatoes are overtaking my garden!  I planted them on the wrong side of the garden and they are shading a lot of my other veggies...not sure what to do other than live and learn.  Right now, of the 4 plants, (only 2 are producing - I'm half tempted to take out the other two....but I really wanted to stock up on tomatoes for homemade pasta sauce...yummm).

I have so many more square feet I could take advantage of, I'm just having a hard time figuring out what and where....any ideas?  I know I want to plant some zuchinni and some more corn (my other ones died).  We're in S. Texas so heat is definately a factor.  My concern is my tomato plants....they are so big!  I've made an attempt to prune them back a bit but they just keep growing and growing.  (Note to self - next year get a different variety!  ).

Next project on the list is to get a couple of trelis's up, (for the pumpkin, watermelon, cucumbers, cantelope).  We'll see if they hold....amazingly they are suppose to, I'm a bit leary but this is my experimental year for gardening I guess.

Here's my pretty banana peppers!  I'm going to have to pickle these as I still have heartburn  and hubby doesn't like peppers.  Any favorite recipes out there??

My cantelope in serious need of a trellis....took the bamboo stick from a compost pit the previous owners had built in the corner of our property.  Some day...I'd like to build a barrel type compost container...right now, no fertilizer...trying to keep it as natural as possible...

Yesterday's harvest....I love tomatoes!!!!

So overall I'm happy with the garden....just learning a lot of what to not do next year I guess....any advice is so welcome as I could sure use it!

Substitute for Emeril's Essence Seasoning

If you don't have Emeril's Essence for the Homemade Barbeque Sauce you can make your own....

Homemade Essence Seasoning   

    3 Tbsp Paprika                                                    1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper

    2 Tbsp Sea                                                          1 Tsp Dried Oregano

    2 Tbsp Dried Parsley                                           1 Tsp Dried Basil

    2 Tsp Onion Powder                                            1 Tsp Dried Thyme

    2 Tsp Garlic Powder                                            

Place all ingredients in a bowl.  Stir well to combine.  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.  Use in everything!  Very good!!

Homemade Barbeque Sauce

I got this recipe from one of Emeril's Cookbooks.  It is so delicious, I tried to substitute some healthier ingredients!  We used it at our BBQ yesterday and it received some great compliments.

Barbecue Sauce

    1/2 Cup Ketchup                                                   1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

    3 Tbsp Brown Sugar or Sucanat                           1/2 Tsp Sea Salt

    2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar                                   1/2 Tsp Emeril's Essence

    1 Tsp Dijon Mustard                                              1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder

    1/4 Cup Chopped Onion

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well.  Use immediately or refrigerate for use within 3 days.

Eliana Enjoying Her Pool!

I'm baaaack! :o)

Well, we have been anxously awaiting the birth of our second child, (Eli Daniel).  I'm due June 8th, but have been having so many hard/painful Braxton Hicks contractions for the past 3 weeks...I thought for sure by now he'd be here.  I'm trying to be patient and enjoy the last few days I have alone with my little Eliana, it's just hard with all of the discomforts this late in pregnancy, I'm sure most everyone has been there. 

On Sunday we decided to go and get Eliana a blow-up pool from WMart.  She loved it, above is a picture of her enjoying our $5 'investment'.  Now just to figure out how to get her out of it without a tantrum.  She's a very obedient girl for the most part, just not sure how to train her in this area....any suggestions?  We follow To Train Up a Child (fyi) and she's wonderful, keeps me on my toes though.

Yesterday we had some friends over for BBQ.  It was so nice, kept my mind off of NOT having the baby .  We use to have friends over quite often but for some reason or another, just stopped.  The men handled the grill while the women watched the kids and prepared the food inside.  I made the baked beans from Crystal Miller's website, they were soo good!!!  I love her recipes!  For dessert we had S'Mores, those were a hit as well, and I didn't even have to bake anything - .  Normally, I love to bake, but my hubby and I are trying to cut back on the sweets so this was perfect - or was it?  I had 3 S'Mores....at least no leftover goodies to tempt me today.

So today I'm working on laundry.  Eliana and I will be going out to the pool when she wakes up from her nap.  (Funny, it sounds all luxurious ).  I haven't decided what we'll have for dinner yet, I'll probably make something to go with the BBQ'd chicken we have left over.  My freezer is so stocked full of bread, I'm going to restrain myself and not bake anymore until we eat a few loaves.  It is a very lazy day here at my home....thanks for stopping by!

Giving This a Try

Well, I decided to give this blogging a try.  I've been so encouraged, inspired, and motivated from some of the other blogs I've read on this sight.  I guess this is my creative outlet....or so we shall see.

A little about myself...

I'm 28 years old, married to my best friend Mark.  We have a little girl Eliana who is 17 months old.  We also have a little boy yet to enter this world....he is 37 weeks old tomorrow!  We are so excited to hold our little Eli in our arms.  Mark chose Eli's name, I chose Eliana's name.  Eliana means "God answered my prayer" or "Answered Prayer."  You see we had prayed for Eliana for quite some time, (well not really, but when you miscarry and there is such a strong desire to have a child - it sure feels like a long time :o) ).

City Girl Country Heart....hmmmmm.....I grew up on a farm, well until I was 12.  I LOVED it!  We had sheep, chickens, & cows.  I have so many great memories of farm life.  My dad had a lot of crops so that was our main source of income.  When I left it at 12 years old, (due to divorce) I was relieved - we worked hard.  Now I look back and treasure working my tailend off on the farm.  Haying, picking rocks, feeding the livestock...it was a great life.

My husband loves the city, everytime I mention moving to the country he wrinkles his nose up.  This is where the Lord has us so I rejoice....I have just tried to recreate as much of the homeyness that I experienced on the farm that I can.  Challenging while living in a major U.S. city!

So that's a little about myself and why on earth I would choose to have a blog on a homestead sight when I live in a city.  Hopefully more to follow.....

Blessings!

Julie