Friday, September 9, 2011

First Year of Canning


So as I wrap up my first year of canning I want to remember a few things.
*can more salsa (and when you think you're done, can more)
*can more tomato sauce (and more)
*make more strawberry freezer jam at the peak of the season
*you cannot make too much salsa
*Farmers Market!
*plan to can
*need another big stock pot
*need jar lifter
*dehydrate some
*plan for gifting too!

The food tastes so much better, it's so worth the effort.

This year I made 7 pints of salsa, 4 peach salsa, 1 pint & 2 1/2 pints peach freezer jam, 8 1/2 pints strawberry freezer jam, zucchini pickles, cucumber pickles, 6 pints apple pie filling, 4 1/2 pints raspberry freezer jam, 4 pints tomato basil sauce.

Still need to freeze basil and cilantro.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Fall, Please Come Soon

Yum! I can taste and see the sights of fall already. My husband and I were just talking with Little Miss about autumn. Autumn is our favorite season. We love the warm drinks, baked goods, hearty meals, family times and warm fires. I will be in pure bliss right up until the world becomes red and green with Christmas (my most dreaded time). Give me your browns, your oranges and your goldenrods…my eyes will drink them up. I love nature walks in the fall. Little Miss loves gathering pinecones, seed pods and all things natural in the fall. Please come quickly fall!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Fuzzy Caterpillar



Once upon a time, mommy (who is a new gardener) went to the garden and found a big fat caterpillar. Now, Mommy was never afraid of bugs and Little Miss loves bugs so, Mommy introduced Little Miss to said caterpillar. He was named and he was allowed to live. Then he ate and ate and ate, not unlike the good old Eric Carle book. Mr. Caterpillar was a hungry little buggar. Maw Maw and Paw Paw came for a visit and we shared a look at Mr. Caterpillar.


Oh, wait...did I say caterpillar? I should have said "Jerk Face Horn Worm".


Get off of my plant JFHW. When I thought you were a fuzzy caterpillar I liked you but now I fear that I will have nightmares about you. P.S. I hope you choke on all of my tomato leaves that you ate.

Friday, August 26, 2011

We're Jammin'



Little Miss and I spent the evening making Strawberry Freezer Jam. She was so proud of the work she did. At three years old she is a whiz in the kitchen.

Here is our simple recipe:

1 2/3 c strawberries (smushed with a potato smasher)
2/3 c sugar
2 TBSP instant pectin

-stir together gently (she got really good at that)
-ladel into jars (all by herself)
-let sit for 30 minutes so the pectin can set (this was very hard)
-freeze or fridge

Lasts a year in the freezer and about a month once it's opened in the fridge
Delish!


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Mom...


Mom, come with me!

Mom, watch me jump in the trampoline!

Mom, watch me run through the sprinkler!

Mom, come on...run through the sprinkler with me!

Mom, there is a sea monster by the mailbox.

Mom, walk me to the mailbox to get the sea monster. It is red with a black tongue.

Mom, play with me!!!






Yes, Yes and Yes! I got to spend a fabulous evening with my little girl doing everything summer. Bubbles, sprinkler, sandbox and more! I loved every minute of it.

Crunchy Betty Honey Challenge



I am on day 3 of the Crunchy Betty Honey Challenge and I am in love! I have been washing my face with raw organic honey (I get mine at TJ's, so good and cheap). My skin has never felt better. I already loved Crunchy Betty but I have to admit that I haven't actually tried any of her recipes, well I'll be trying tons now. I saw old friends yesterday (on day 2) and they were already commenting on how great my skin looks.

Here's the deal, I take a scoop of honey (not much) and rub it all over my face. When I'm in a hurry I splash water and take it off right away, when I'm not I leave it for a minute or two. You will never believe how quickly and easily honey washes right off of your skin. I have a newborn and a 3 year old so mostly I'm in a hurry.

Note: Do not get this stuff in your hair, skin and hair are very different worlds when you're talking about honey.

On another note, I have finally learned how to use a Moby Wrap! Now we'll just see if the Little Chief enjoys it.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

What of it?

Mother, authentic parent, attachment parent, organic parent, self improver, lover, friend, non-violent, ever simplifying, teacher, student, humanist, American, global thinker....and so much more.

Ahhh Love



I am in love. I am totally in love and stressed to the max. I am so happy and exhausted and stressed (did I mention that?). My new son is here, my daughter is feeling extremely lost and I am stressed, oh and exhausted. It's a good stress and a good exhaustion (that's what I'm supposed to say right?). It is a wonderful thing. Late at night when it's just me and LC (Little Chief) I stare into his eyes and feel all that love. I caress his little fingers and smile. It's amazing that we made this life and that we will never do it again.



Friday, June 17, 2011

3!!!





We made our own cupcakes!













Cupcakes! We love cupcakes!










Presents! Yay!


















We bowled! She loves bowling.
















She won!






Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Starting Over



It has been a lifetime since I've posted to this blog. I am now expecting Chief Jr. who is due to make his appearance any day. We are insanely excited and I am insanely exhausted. I have been putting all of my energy into making special times with Little Miss before Chief Jr. arrives. Today we went to her Little Sprouts class, spent lunch with Maw & Paw, scrounged around the thrift store for anything white and then made it home to tie dye. This was our first time tie dying together and needless to say that tie dying with a toddler is...interesting. after we sprayed and splashed the whole drive way with color Little Miss covered herself in wet sand and played with the hose. Things had become very messy when she announced she was itchy (a mosquito bit her) and she was "going in to take a bath". Thank goodness for small favors. My swollen feet are covered in dye and my fingers are blueish green, if fate has it I will go into labor looking like a smurf.



Great thrift store finds today: white pillowcases and cloth napkins (for tie dying of course), two Winnie the Pooh books (.60/ea) and a Curious George book (.80), a book titled "The Princess and the Potty" which LM loved, an orange child's construction hat and a lovely jewelry box for LM that I neglected to take a real before shot of but I will take a mid-way and post. Total $13.00