Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Sauerkraut!
Happy, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year!!
I prepared my first batch of sauerkraut yesterday. I'm so excited! It's the beginning of this GAPS diet, to use the juice as a natural probiotic, adding a little to poultry or meat stock (which I will be making tonight).
All I did was slice a head of cabbage, add 2 tablespoons of Himalayan salt and knead it in a large bowl until the cabbage released enough juice to cover it. This process gave me such a wonderful feeling of homemaking, being able to nurture and nourish those that I love with just the products that came from the earth and my two hands. Words can't express my desire to make this natural diet a way of life, for the rest of my life.
The next step was to pack it into a canning jar so that no air was around the cabbage. Then I put a folded cabbage leaf on the top, pressing it down to keep the cabbage under the juice because the fermenting process in anaerobic and I don't want any mold growing on it. Then I put the lid on and covered it with a towel. I'll release some of the built up gasses (carbon dioxide, I think) every other day by loosening the lid, and the juice should be good to use in 5-7 days!
Here's a video and a pic:
I prepared my first batch of sauerkraut yesterday. I'm so excited! It's the beginning of this GAPS diet, to use the juice as a natural probiotic, adding a little to poultry or meat stock (which I will be making tonight).
All I did was slice a head of cabbage, add 2 tablespoons of Himalayan salt and knead it in a large bowl until the cabbage released enough juice to cover it. This process gave me such a wonderful feeling of homemaking, being able to nurture and nourish those that I love with just the products that came from the earth and my two hands. Words can't express my desire to make this natural diet a way of life, for the rest of my life.
The next step was to pack it into a canning jar so that no air was around the cabbage. Then I put a folded cabbage leaf on the top, pressing it down to keep the cabbage under the juice because the fermenting process in anaerobic and I don't want any mold growing on it. Then I put the lid on and covered it with a towel. I'll release some of the built up gasses (carbon dioxide, I think) every other day by loosening the lid, and the juice should be good to use in 5-7 days!
Here's a video and a pic:
Monday, December 31, 2012
The End and the Beginning
Wow, it's already the end of 2012!
It's been a long time since I posted on this blog, and life has kept us whirling and twirling around with new diets, curriculum, assessments, schedules, trying new sports, losing and gaining some furry family members......but we are still living by the lamp over here on the mountain.
My little one has been diagnosed with autism (spectrum) and ADHD, but he's doing fantastic with his cyber-schooling, with a little modification and a lot of visual learning -- I TRY to make it fun -- and he's still as happy, friendly, and as social as ever (telling every, and I mean EVERY person we passed in the grocery store on 12/24 "Merry Christmas!") He's been on a gluten-free diet for months now and I am noticing an improvement in his ability to focus on schoolwork. However I was just handed the Gut and Psychology Syndrome book and am going to give the diet a try! The idea is to heal the gut, introduce good bacteria through probiotics (homemade, of course), and after about 2 years he might be able to eat most foods except sugar and processed ones.
I'll be posting pics and notes about our journey with this diet. I'm really looking forward to cooking with all natural ingredients and getting a garden started once again!
I hope you all had a fantastic and blessed holiday season!
It's been a long time since I posted on this blog, and life has kept us whirling and twirling around with new diets, curriculum, assessments, schedules, trying new sports, losing and gaining some furry family members......but we are still living by the lamp over here on the mountain.
My little one has been diagnosed with autism (spectrum) and ADHD, but he's doing fantastic with his cyber-schooling, with a little modification and a lot of visual learning -- I TRY to make it fun -- and he's still as happy, friendly, and as social as ever (telling every, and I mean EVERY person we passed in the grocery store on 12/24 "Merry Christmas!") He's been on a gluten-free diet for months now and I am noticing an improvement in his ability to focus on schoolwork. However I was just handed the Gut and Psychology Syndrome book and am going to give the diet a try! The idea is to heal the gut, introduce good bacteria through probiotics (homemade, of course), and after about 2 years he might be able to eat most foods except sugar and processed ones.
I'll be posting pics and notes about our journey with this diet. I'm really looking forward to cooking with all natural ingredients and getting a garden started once again!
I hope you all had a fantastic and blessed holiday season!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Create a Daily To-do List & Eat Your Frog (#39 & #1)
It was so nice to wake this morning with the table set for breakfast and the sink empty! I'm loving this book, and this blog is helping me stay focused on it.
So continuing on....
Project #39 is an easy one, since I've already found my favorite pdf for it: create a daily to-do list.
Tsh recommends to take the 3 most important tasks from your to-do list. If you accomplish them, then you should feel successful. (The daily planner pdf has a spot at the top for those 3 most important tasks, and another area for the rest of your list.)
She offered a great idea: instead of printing a new page for each day, just place one inside a plastic sheet, or frame it, and use a dry erase marker. I like this!
Now, I think the next best project to add to our routine is #1, eat your frog. Your frog is your least favorite task on your to-do list.
So continuing on....
Project #39 is an easy one, since I've already found my favorite pdf for it: create a daily to-do list.
Tsh recommends to take the 3 most important tasks from your to-do list. If you accomplish them, then you should feel successful. (The daily planner pdf has a spot at the top for those 3 most important tasks, and another area for the rest of your list.)
She offered a great idea: instead of printing a new page for each day, just place one inside a plastic sheet, or frame it, and use a dry erase marker. I like this!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Eat a live frog every morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” —Mark Twain
It should be done AFTER your nice, soul-soothing morning routine.
According to Tsh, this is how you find what your frog is:
1. First, create your day’s to-do list (project 38).
2. Pick your three Most Important Tasks
3. Out of those three things, pick the worst one. Do that task first. Make that your frog.
"Focus on your frog-eating until it becomes a routine part of your day. Sounds strange, I know, but when you eat a frog first thing, the rest of your day runs much more smoothly. "
Oxenreider, Tsh (2011). One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler (Kindle Locations 89-114). Kindle Edition.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Establish an Evening Routine (Project #4)
Well my morning routine went very well, even though I slept later than I wanted to. I was able to enjoy it since Macrae chose to relax in bed before starting his day, knowing that the holiday break from his schoolwork ends today.
Now on to preparing an evening routine! In the book, Tsh recommends "before you climb into bed, do five simple things that will help you tomorrow." So here's my list.
Evening Routine:
1. Do the dishes and clean counter
2. Set table for breakfast
3. Set up schoolwork
4. Set out clothing for next day
5. Write plan for next day
I begin with the most active, and end with sitting and writing which will help calm and prepare me for sleep. I might even have a cup of herbal tea or a glass of merlot while I write, then add one more thing to the list just to prolong the evening....knitting or reading....ahhh.
I see exactly where this is leading. A well thought out evening routine will have us waking to a day that is already prepared, and give me the peace of mind to enjoy my morning routine without guilt. Nice!
"When you bookend your days with a simple routine, they’ll feel less chaotic, and you’ll be more in control. These routines will be a salve to your soul." (Tsh Oxenreider)
Oxenreider, Tsh (2011). One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler (Kindle Locations 211-223). Kindle Edition.
Now on to preparing an evening routine! In the book, Tsh recommends "before you climb into bed, do five simple things that will help you tomorrow." So here's my list.
Evening Routine:
1. Do the dishes and clean counter
2. Set table for breakfast
3. Set up schoolwork
4. Set out clothing for next day
5. Write plan for next day
I begin with the most active, and end with sitting and writing which will help calm and prepare me for sleep. I might even have a cup of herbal tea or a glass of merlot while I write, then add one more thing to the list just to prolong the evening....knitting or reading....ahhh.
I see exactly where this is leading. A well thought out evening routine will have us waking to a day that is already prepared, and give me the peace of mind to enjoy my morning routine without guilt. Nice!
"When you bookend your days with a simple routine, they’ll feel less chaotic, and you’ll be more in control. These routines will be a salve to your soul." (Tsh Oxenreider)
Oxenreider, Tsh (2011). One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler (Kindle Locations 211-223). Kindle Edition.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Establish a Morning Routine (Project #3)
I invite you to take the first step with me to a simpler life:
I downloaded the book (from the previous post) and although the author, Tsh, says it can be done randomly, I really wanted to tackle it in an orderly fashion. As I read the bite #1 about "eating your frog", which means doing the most difficult task on your "to do" list first, I realized I wasn't ready. Since I would rather have my cup of tea/coffee, a cookie, and read my devotional before doing a chore, I decided to get my charts in order.
I have the daily planner , but wanted to make the morning and evening routine charts too. So I began this journey with # 3 : establish a morning routine.
Tsh says to "Treat yourself to a little order and sanity before the chaos of life begins." To choose 5 things for yourself, not others, "that fuel you the most, and faithfully treat yourself to those things, in the same order, every day."
My Morning Routine:
1. Feed the dogs (I know this sounds like it's for them, but seriously, it wouldn't be a peaceful morning if they didn't get fed as soon as my feet hit the floor. So it's really for me.)
2. Stretch
3. Make a cup of tea/coffee/hot cocoa, depending on mood, and sit somewhere peaceful like screen porch, deck, or cozy chair
4. Read devotional/Bible & pray (thanking God for his guidance)
5. Read or knit until Macrae wakes
"A methodical morning routine is a great way to treat yourself to a little soul care."
Perhaps after this routine is completed, then I will be ready to "eat my frog" (more on that soon). Oh yes, and then the homeschooling, group meetups, housework, cooking, mothering, animal husbandry, piano or violin practice, and beginning in two weeks - college.
Oxenreider, Tsh (2011). One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler (Kindle Locations 184-185). Kindle Edition.
I downloaded the book (from the previous post) and although the author, Tsh, says it can be done randomly, I really wanted to tackle it in an orderly fashion. As I read the bite #1 about "eating your frog", which means doing the most difficult task on your "to do" list first, I realized I wasn't ready. Since I would rather have my cup of tea/coffee, a cookie, and read my devotional before doing a chore, I decided to get my charts in order.
I have the daily planner , but wanted to make the morning and evening routine charts too. So I began this journey with # 3 : establish a morning routine.
Tsh says to "Treat yourself to a little order and sanity before the chaos of life begins." To choose 5 things for yourself, not others, "that fuel you the most, and faithfully treat yourself to those things, in the same order, every day."
My Morning Routine:
1. Feed the dogs (I know this sounds like it's for them, but seriously, it wouldn't be a peaceful morning if they didn't get fed as soon as my feet hit the floor. So it's really for me.)
2. Stretch
3. Make a cup of tea/coffee/hot cocoa, depending on mood, and sit somewhere peaceful like screen porch, deck, or cozy chair
4. Read devotional/Bible & pray (thanking God for his guidance)
5. Read or knit until Macrae wakes
"A methodical morning routine is a great way to treat yourself to a little soul care."
Perhaps after this routine is completed, then I will be ready to "eat my frog" (more on that soon). Oh yes, and then the homeschooling, group meetups, housework, cooking, mothering, animal husbandry, piano or violin practice, and beginning in two weeks - college.
Oxenreider, Tsh (2011). One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler (Kindle Locations 184-185). Kindle Edition.
Happy New Year!
I wish you all a happy, healthy, and blessed new year!
I'm starting mine off with a newly discovered book which will help me get organized and live more simply. Exactly what I want to do! And to keep me on track with this, I'm going to blog about my progress. So read on for a glimpse of my journey and to get some ideas for yourself.
The book is One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, by Tsh Oxenreider. You can get it here for $5.00 an ebook, or a pdf version.
I'll begin my first bite in the next post.
: )
I'm starting mine off with a newly discovered book which will help me get organized and live more simply. Exactly what I want to do! And to keep me on track with this, I'm going to blog about my progress. So read on for a glimpse of my journey and to get some ideas for yourself.
The book is One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, by Tsh Oxenreider. You can get it here for $5.00 an ebook, or a pdf version.
: )
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