Homesteading
Stevia
I am a fairly new fan of Stevia, which is an all-natural sweetener made from the leaves of a South American herb. Stevia does not cause any change in your blood glucose levels; its glycemic index is zero. Therefore, stevia is suitable for... »
Becoming a Plant Expert
I have been reading J.D. Wyss' novel, Swiss Family Robinson, to my children for the last 3 weeks. We are almost halfway through the novel, but are enjoying it immensely. Well, we enjoy the story, but both Jake... »
Real Food for Rookies
If you have read my blog for long, you know that I have a great appreciation for Sally Fallon and her ground-breaking cookbook, Nourishing Traditions. I refer to it often as I cook in my own kitchen. It truly is a cookbook that one must read from cover to cover. If you are not sure or don't remember what the... »
One-on-One Time
Sometimes you can get so caught up in life that you start losing your own life. Relationships suffer because you are so busy doing. Having small children can put a strain on you, too. They completely rely on you for everything. If you aren't careful, your relationship with your spouse suffers. Over a year ago, Lane and I committed to having... »
Ranch Dressing and Dip
Before Jake was tested for allergies, he had a reaction to Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. A welpy rash appeared all around his mouth. I read the ingredients and assumed the problem was milk related. Isaac had already been diagnosed with several allergies, one of which was milk. During the allergy testing process, Jake had no food allergies. However, he was very... »
Mushroom Mulch
I cannot believe that it is mid-August already! My spring/summer garden is done. I have a few peppers still growing, but other than that it is done and mowed under. Now ironically in the dog days of summer, I am preparing for my fall garden. We live about 45 miles from Monterey Mushroom Farm in Madisonville, Texas. If you are from... »
Two Layer Brownie Cake
Processed foods are not ideal, but I do rely on them in a pinch. One of the items I almost always have on hand is Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Brownie Mix. It is delicious and gluten-free. You never know when someone might drop by or when you might need to bring a dessert... »
An At-Home Grain Mill
When I was engaged to my husband many years ago, we agreed that he would never purchase a gift for me that plugged in unless I specifically asked for it. We knew a couple who struggled at gift-giving time. The husband loved gadgets, which he also loved purchasing... »
A Day of Cooking
In the book, Little House in the Big Woods, Caroline Ingalls used to say, "Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Mend on Wednesday, Churn on Thursday, Clean on Friday, Bake on Saturday, Rest on Sunday." They had a day in which to tackle a big chore. Some days it feels as if all I do is stay in the kitchen. I... »
Continuing Education
Most fields in today's workforce require an employee to go to seminars, take classes, etc. to stay current. I would assume that for anyone in a technological field this would be essential as times and technology are always changing. When my husband was an automotive technician, the dealerships would send him to school for one week of the year. Now... »
Mother and Son Day
I thoroughly enjoyed the 2010 THSC State Convention and Family Conference this past weekend. Thursday night my husband and I went to see the opening programs. John Erickson entertained us by reading excerpts from his writing. He writes the Hank the Cowdog series. Next we listened to Carol Barnier. She shared her insight about parenting in her speech, "Don't Miss... »
My Reading List
I have always been an avid reader. My mom tells me that when she would send me to my room as a punishment I would gladly go. She would find my nose buried in a Little House on the Prairie book or the Bible or some other book. I also loved going to the library during the summer. There were... »
Responsibilities on a Farm
Growing up on a working farm is a much different experience than growing up in a suburb or city. As a child, I lived on a farm and for a period of time in the suburbs of Houston. Depending on where I lived, I had different responsibilities. Some of my fondest memories were from my... »
THSC Convention
I wrote last week about inspiring your children. Well, sometimes adults need to be inspired, too. We need to be encouraged by like-minded individuals and our spirits need to be refreshed. Every year for the last five or six years I have left the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) State Convention and Family Conference in The Woodlands feeling renewed and... »
Addicted to Coke
I have a confession to make. I am addicted to soft drinks. In Texas we call them coke, regardless of the brand. In Oklahoma, they call them pop. My grandmother used to call them soda water. It doesn't matter what you call them; I like to drink them even though I know how bad they are for me. Since high school,... »
