Homesteading
A Roaring Fire
As we enjoy a cold snap right now, there is nothing better than sitting by a roaring fire in the evenings. I have been reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott to my family as we listen to the crackle of the wood burning in the fireplace and feel the heat radiate into our living room. Instead of watching television, our... »
Learning to Provide
The men in my family like to deer hunt. Several of our hunters hit their mark this past week. So we have been busy processing and putting up venison. We treasure the back-strap and tenders. I fry them up like chicken-fried steak. I use almond flour since we are on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. My husband loves to make sausage. ... »
Living a Life of Gratitude
Watching the commercials on television lately or walking into a department store, makes you think that Thanksgiving isn't even on people's minds. Everyone seems to be overlooking this National Holiday and focused instead on Christmas. I think this is a tragic mistake. Thanksgiving is one day out of the year that we come together as a country. We gather with our... »
A Blessing Tree
First I want to say how much I appreciate the recipes you sent me for cranberry sauce. I am going to have to purchase several bags of cranberries to try all the different recipes. Some I am archiving for future use because of an illegal ingredient or two. Now that I have my Thanksgiving day menu finalized, I can turn... »
SCD Thanksgiving Menu
Most of my attention is on Thanksgiving , which is less than two weeks ahead. I have been combing through cookbooks and discussing possible dishes with my family. For me, Thanksgiving Day has special meaning. It is a time when all the pressure is off. There is no gift exchange. It is simply a day spent with family and friends... »
Flu and Cold Season
Uuuggghh! I am sick. If anyone in a family cannot afford to be sick, its the mom. And this mom does not like taking over-the-counter medications. I reach instead for any natural or homeopathic remedy. It all began with a sore throat late Monday night. There was no warning, no scratchy throat, nothing. Just the immediate onset of a sore throat... »
On Cloud Nine
Today I can hardly contain myself. You have been praying for my niece, Adriana, since the end of August. She was born at 26 weeks of gestation. It has been a bumpy road with a micro-preemie, and without getting overly-confident, I feel like she has really turned a corner this week. I am proud to report that Adriana is now completely... »
Halloween SCD-Style
Considering that many a young child is going to go to bed tonight with an upset stomach from eating too much sugar, it has been an interesting task to create a memorable Halloween without sugar or starch. Jake picked three pumpkins from a nearby fruit and vegetable stand, Cherry Farms, in Plantersville the other day. ... »
Mission Accomplished
My husband, Lane, recently went on a men's retreat. Before he left, our children and I brainstormed different ways to surprise him. We thought of many nice things we could do for him. One was to clean out his shop. The kids immediately groaned. I encouraged them and then grew discouraged myself when I walked out to his shop to... »
Beans, Beans, the Wonderful Fruit
As we have been following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) protocol, one thing that we have noticed is that we are never full. We do not get the full feeling that grains and starchy carbs give you. Instead, we get tired of eating. Meats, especially, have this effect. You eat until you just don't want any more. Even then, you... »
Merry Autumn Days
This week we have been blessed with our first cold front of the season. The temperatures plummeted to the low 40s. It was so nice to wear a sweater in the morning. I let our new puppy out early each morning to do his business and took my coffee on our front porch under a blanket. I absolutely enjoyed snuggling... »
Free Days
With a family of seven, my husband and I always look for the most economical ways to entertain our family. We especially like to find ways to mix our pleasure with education if possible. Outings that are considered less expensive by most turn out to be expensive when... »
Reclaiming our Garden
My husband and I are slowly reclaiming our garden from the out of control growth of weeds and grass. I honestly have no idea where all of this grass came from since we have gardened twice a year in this same plot for years. My only guess is that these seeds have been lying dormant waiting for any signs of... »
Legalize Raw Milk
Thanks to one of my readers I was informed of a petition to legalize raw milk on the federal level. It is asking for the right to sell and distribute raw milk across state lines. They need a total of 5,000 signatures to allow the petition to move forward. Currently, well over 3,000 citizens have signed it. My... »
Courageous
This past Sunday afternoon as God was blessing us with a couple inches of rain my family took the opportunity to view a movie on the big screen. For a family that does not usually go to movie theaters, it seems that we have splurged more in this department lately. It is not that the ticket prices have decreased or... »
