Changing Seasons

We played today outside in the snow. Catching flower-shaped snowflakes, the kind you see in the picture books of perfect crystals, yet melting in an instant, landing on gloves, sleeves, and golden leaves from the passing autumn. Throwing wads of snow, little hands not bothering with ball shaped spheres. I laugh and toss more, shaking snow-laden branches on little boy heads. Sweet girl is snuggled in warm inside with Daddy. Finally, a promise of hot chocolate leads us back inside.

Stomping boots, removing wet layers, thinking of how it much stuff I've piled on them to keep them warm. Rubbing rosy cheeks, wiping runny noses, gathering the trail of dripping things, I hear her cry out. Hot chocolate will wait as she needs to be nursed. The boys pile on Daddy with their snugglely blankets and tell him about their adventure outside while we sit next to them. Giggles and cuddles, warm hands and hearts.

Winter is my least favorite season. I would live in an eternal autumn if I could. But, as we are facing the new season I am trying to embrace it as best I can. On this first day of snow I made sure we were out to enjoy it when my first instinct is to instead brew a pot of tea, turn on some beautiful music, light candles and curl up with a book. I'd rather stay warm and cozy. I'd rather stay safe in my cocoon.

This change of seasons is not limited to the weather. We are standing on the brink of life right now. Looking back at what we have lived until now, and dreaming of all that might be. Wanting to embrace the future, to run into it with arms open wide and alternately wanting to just curl up and stay where it feels familiar, even safe. Wishing to take a leap of faith, but only if I could get a glimpse of what that new life would be like in six months, a year. That of course, wouldn't require faith, now would it?

I am not the same woman I was when I began writing in this little space. Those of you who have followed my journey have seen some of the changes. You've been there through the times of rejoicing as well as the times of tears and great mourning. You've sent laughs, and prayers and love. And I am a better person for it all, and for your friendships. I've learned from you and laughed with you as well as praying quiet prayers for you. I hope you have been blessed as well.

You read my words, my rants, my recipes. I've discovered so much about me through this process as well. I've learned that I don't want to live an ordinary life. I want to grow and learn and discover more and more. I have heard my own heart sing. I have learned to create new things, and grow more in my garden than just beauty. I have discovered that my soul is fed through the simple things. I am renewed by creating and learning and working hard. I have learned to slow down my life and do more than just rush through the days. I have learned to truly live.

I no longer want the same things I did even a few years ago. I want to take another step back. To live a life focused even deeper on what really matters: my Lord, my Love, my family. I want to grow in a community of people with whom I can share not just my life, but theirs as well. I want to teach my boys lessons, not just from books, but from the glory of His creation all around us. To see the beauty and uniqueness in a flower, a snowflake, a sunset, a star. I want us all to feel the awesomeness of His power in the world He has created. I dream of a life of open spaces, quiet places, the smell of the dirt, the warmth of the ground beneath my toes, of watching a seed sprout and grow, of a new life born. I want chickens and goats. Truly.

I stand here today, on the edge of a new season. Yes, winter is coming and with it many things I'd rather not face including a literal coldness and darkness. It is more than that though. I am faced with a new season of life. Will I embrace it, or run and hide because it is dark and unknown? I hope not. My heart wants to run to this new season and not hold anything back. To embrace the changes that will come, some desired, some truly scary in the dark moments of my day. But I don't want to fear. The faith that has brought me this far will certainly carry me through. And I have the love of the most wonderful man beside me holding my hand as we take a step of faith together. And of course, I have the love and laughter of my beautiful children who will be with us each step of the way. The road ahead of us is unknown. We cannot see around the next bend. But, what if we never step out? Think of all we would miss.

You see, Sweetheart's job ended last week. We had wondered if it would for some time and then thought it would just change to be more of what we wanted. Instead, it has simply ended. We must pick the pieces and move on, literally. We have many thoughts and dreams and hopes, but no real answers at the moment. Whatever we choose, we choose together and that is a great comfort. The greatest comfort is though, that we are not alone in whatever we chose. He is with us. And though we don't have the answers we want, and I wish I knew more I am confident that He loves us. No matter where we live or what we do for a living.

Simple Cleaning Ideas

***************Joanne's focus this week is on frugal housecleaning recipes. Click here for links to other ideas. She showed her batch of the laundry detergent. It looks much nicer in her enamel pot than my ugly black bucket, but we both just used things we had on hand--way to be frugal!*******

I've been asked what I'm doing for cleaning around the house. Avoiding it. Just joking! My cleaning agents are vinegar, baking soda. olive oil and lemon juice. In a jiffy, I can also make up a mean salad dressing! :)

I've got cheap, white distilled vinegar in spray bottles around the house. Some are half vinegar and half water, some are straight vinegar. I use them both. I use vinegar on mirrors, windows, bathrooms, floors, sinks, toilets, and occasionally little boy accidents.

Side Note: Pumpkin potty-trained himself last month. Sweet. It only took a week and accidents for the last month could be counted on one hand. It was sure easy than the first attempt last summer. Boy am I glad I quit after a few days then! This time he was ready. He's three and 1/4 for those that care.

I spray down the sinks after prepping meats for dinner and let it sit for a few minutes. It is supposed to be as effective on those germs as all the scary chemicals I was using before. We've done it this way for a year and no one has been sick.

I use baking soda/bicarbonate of soda to scour sinks, tea cups, coffee mugs, counters, tubs and more. I also use it to shampoo my hair with a vinegar rinse, but all that was posted a few posts ago. :)

I mix lemon juice and olive oil for polishing/dusting all our furniture. Works great. I've seen various ratios for this, but usually do a half and half mix I just keep in the fridge. Oil is also what I use to wash my face at night. I do a mix of olive oil and Castor oil. Here's the link for that. (Hi Joanne! Finally!)

A funny thing happened last month. Sweetheart and I were at the mall. We'd gone out to dinner for my birthday with my Dad and Stepmom and she wanted to show us some things she'd seen shopping earlier. As we were walking, a girl at a kiosk selling something offered a sample of some skin thing. I said, "No, thanks." Then she changed her tone of voice and said, "Can I ask you something?" Thinking she had a real question for me, I stopped. She asked what I used on my skin. I laughed and said, "Olive oil and Castor Bean oil with coconut oil for a moisturizer." She didn't understand. I repeated myself and she looked at me weird. She then tried to launch into her selling spiel. I said I make all my own lotions and such now and we just walked on. Hard to sell something to someone like me any more.

My skin has never felt better. It's interesting. I would have told you I had oily skin before, but now that I'm not stripping all the moisture out every time I wash it, it's not have to overproduce oil. I used to use powder on my face all day long to try and tone down the oil. Now, I'm putting oil all over my face and I don't need any powder. Weird. It still breaks out according to the time of the month, but it's always done that and probably always will. It's not perfect, but it looks healthy and feels great!

Rhonda's Blog has so many wonderful ideas on living a more simple life. This link is for various recipe for green/simple cleaning ideas. But don't stop there! Take some time to read her other posts. She's got some wonderful thoughts and ideas.

***
The picture at the top is of my new gardening journal. I had an old spiral book on hand that I was planning to make into a scrap book for the year I taught Kindergarten. Since that hasn't happened and I quit teaching almost four years ago, I'm not thinking it will happen. So, I tore out a few pages I had started and was left with a blank book with some writing on the cover. I solved that by collaging pictures from gardening catalogs.

I've listed all sorts of things inside. Maybe I'll write about it later. It's been a lot of fun and since the SNOW has kept my from working on the garden the last two weekends, I'm getting a lot of planning done. I've been meaning to keep a gardening journal, but have limited myself to writing a few pages in one of my Everything Books. Now, I'm armed with a whole book just for gardening and since we've got VERY ambitious plans, I'll need a place to record what happens. I've prepped it by adding all sorts of gardening quotes, pictures and lists of all the seeds I've ordered. This way I'm not just staring at a blank page trying to fill it all.

This month's Hobby Farm Home magazine had an inspiring article. I'd been reading about what others' were doing, but nothing felt right for me until I saw this one. Guess there's a whole other post in this, but not today!

Going Crackers!

Ok, in my search for recipes that can replace the stuff I used to buy, I've found some wonderful recipes for crackers. I thought I'd share the recipes with all of you! I was surprised at how easy and quick these are all to make and they don't require any weird ingredients. They are also preservative-free, so no weird film on your tongue.

Here's what's in the oven now:

Cheddar Cheese Crackers
My guys would eat Goldfish all day long if they could. These taste great! You could make them in the little fishy shape, or any other with cookie cutters, but I find my way easier and the guys will still eat them. These taste just like Cheezits.
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup flour (I used white the first time I made these, but today I used my regular wheat flour I mill.)
4 Tbl butter or margarine
1/2 tsp salt, plus more to sprinkle on top
dash of paprika and cayenne pepper, to taste
1/4 c water

I grated/chopped my cheese in the food processor first, keeping one cup in the food processor and removing the rest. I then added the rest of the ingredients except the water. I ran the processor for a few seconds to mix everything up. Then, I added the water and blended again. Once it stuck together in pieces I dumped it out onto a cookie sheet that I had lightly greased with butter.

I then pressed the dough together and smoothed it out around the pan.
Next, I used my rolling pin to make it all level and smooth. This batch filled my entire (large) cookie sheet. Then sprinkle some salt on the top and lightly press it into the dough with the rolling pin. Finally, cut the crackers into whatever shapes you desire.
I use my pastry wheel because it is easy and I like the waves. A pizza cutter, or a knife would work as well, or cookie cutters if you're really wanting shapes. Bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees until lightly browned and crisp. Just check them every few minutes until they look done to you. I probably cooked these about 10-15 minutes, checking every two minutes. I don't know how long it took altogether as I was typing this at the same time and refereeing the boys.

Let cool and remove from the sheet carefully with a spatula. Wait until they are completely cooled before storing them in an air-tight container. I must not have waited long enough last time as they were soft the next day. I simply put them back in the oven for a few more minutes and they crisped right up!

*** We're munching on these now as I type this. I think next time I'll use the white flour. They are good, but they don't taste as cheesey as the other batch did. They still good, but more wheaty, if you know what I mean. I also think I baked them a bit too long. I shouldn't try to bake and blog at the same time! The boys just keep asking for more, so they don't mind!***********

I've also made these Rosemary Garlic Crackers several times. The third recipe is for some crackers that are like Wheat Thins.

Well, I hope you try one or all of these recipes! They are really good and a lot easier to make than I would have thought. Let me know if you have a cracker recipe you like, or if you try these.

***********Crackers Revisited 12/09/10***********************
Mmm... Just made double batches of the Wheat Crackers and the Cheese Crackers. Yummy! I used all wheat flour and they taste great. Guess we've just adjusted to all wheat. :) I am storing them in glass jars when they are cool. They stay crisp for quite awhile.
I had a friend (Hi Kaela!) ask the other night about the crackers. She said her rolling pin didn't fit into her cookie sheet. I started to wonder if anyone else had this problem. I guess turning the pan around still might not let you fill all the corners. So, today I rolled the dough onto sheets of parchment paper cut to fit my pans. Then placed the paper into the pan for baking. Worked great and they pop right off the paper after baking. Hope this helps!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions. I'd love to hear how yours turn out as well. ~Kimberly

Canning & Preserving

Rhonda at Down to Earth is hostessing a discussion on canning foods. I decided to join simply to encourage others to begin canning. I figure that if I can learn to can, anyone can!


Canning was added to the list of things I wanted to learn as Sweetheart and I decided we needed to simplify our lives last year. By simplifying, I do not mean making things easier, but making things ourselves. It's actually been a lot more work, but it has also been more rewarding than I could have imagined! (If you are interested in learning more about what we've been learning and doing, you may search by the labels "Canning, Simple Living, and Simplifying" at the bottom of posts.)


We live in a regular subdivision on the outskirts of Denver. As this was all farmland not many years ago, we are blessed to have a few farms close at hand where we may buy produce in the summer and fall. Some things, I simply bought when they were on sale at the grocery store. I discovered that all the big sales came when certain foods were at their peak~ like peaches & apples & corn. I bought extremely large (to me) amounts.


Some things I bought all at once, like a bushel of cucumbers to pickle. Other things I bought over a few weeks time like 75 pounds of peaches and 80 pounds of apples. This allowed me to pace myself better on the canning. I felt a bit swamped under the bushels of cucumbers and tomatoes that I thought I should space out the other things as I could so they wouldn't rot in my basement while I tried to finish each thing.


I started out early in the year by checking Craig's List for used canning supplies. Don't wait until the middle of summer as it will be hard to find things. Off season shopping is better and people seemed to be more willing to negotiate. I loaded up boxes of jars and just waited until it was time.


When it became our canning season, I bought new lids and seals as well as two things I love: a tool kit and a cookbook from the Ball Jar company. The canning tool kit contained a funnel, a magnet on a handle to lift the metal lids out of the hot water, a jar lifter, and a handy little plastic thing that had measurements marked on it so that you can make sure you have the right amount of headspace in each jar and for getting the air bubbles out.


The cookbook was the Ball Blue Book of Preserving. I found a new paperback copy just at Target. It's worth its weight in gold. It contained everything I needed to learn both water bath and pressure canning including adjustments for our high altitude. I can't say enough good things about this book! For a beginner, it is invaluable.


I did purchase a canning pressure cooker new as well. I used it for several recipes and it was easy! You can can a lot with just a big stockpot though, so don't let not having a pressure canner stop you. I figured it will last for years and be worth the investment.


I was also blessed with several boxes of jars and odd and ends from my stepmother who canned years ago and stopped. My advice--take anything anyone will give you! And, if you are lucky enough to find someone to show you how, take them up on the offer. I plan to invite some friends over this year if they are interested so we can work and learn together. I don't know anyone in my everyday life that cans, so maybe I can get some friends interested.


I'm not posting here how to do specific recipes, or give minute instructions. My goal is simply to try and encourage others to begin canning and preserving. A whole new world has opened up to me now! I've even used my dehydrator a ton more because the cookbook also had lots of ideas for drying and freezing foods besides just all the great canning recipes.

Right now, I've got jars in my fridge of green beans, pickles, tomato sauce, jams, fruit butters, jellies, applesauce and more that we are enjoying everyday. I've got more jars tucked away still unopened in the pantry and basement. I'm trying to stretch things out until spring and summer.

Opening a fresh jar of peaches on a grey February day is like opening a jar of sunshine! It's nice to know that I'm feeding my family foods picked and processed as simply as possible without unnecessary ingredients or odd chemicals preservatives. And yes, we can taste the difference!

I'm looking forward to doing so much more this year. Won't you join me?

More Simple Living Links & Recipes

This picture in no way relates to this post. He's just cute and makes me smile. I'd add a picture of Pumpkin, but all his pictures are blurry as he's constantly on the go!

***

We'll just start at the beginning of the day.

I am looking forward to using our own soap soon. We've got all the ingredients and are just awaiting Sweetheart making the soap molds. Until then, we use all sorts of soaps, some handmade, some store bought.

I started using vinegar for conditioner over a year ago. I used just plain white vinegar and filled up an old conditioner bottle with it refilling as needed. It worked fine. Somewhere along the way, I started using apple cider vinegar and I don't know why. I think I ran out of white, but had the apple cider on hand. I'll just finish that bottle off that and decide what to do from there. You can steep herbs in the vinegar, but I never have. I never seem to remember until I'm in the shower and then it's too late!

I still used regular shampoo until it ran out. I had tried using baking soda for shampoo because I'd read others were with great success. Me, not so much. Turns out--you need to dissolve the baking soda in water first, not just rub the powder on your head. Ohhhh. Lesson learned.

I read a link off of Tonia's one day that explained it all better than I can, or have time to do. While I love Tonia's site and heartily recommend its reading, the blog with the shampooing info I am not endorsing. I've not read around it to know where she's coming from on things. The direct link to the shampoo post is fine.

I keep the baking soda in just a canning jar in the bathroom with a spoon. In the shower is just an old plastic jar with no lid I'm forever reusing. When I go to turn the shower on, I put a spoonful of the baking soda in the jar and fill it with the hot water. I do not recommend filling the jar with soda and water after a shower and just letting it sit. Why? When you dump it on your wet head the next morning, it's freezing. Ask me how I know...

After I wet my hair, I pour the soda water mixture on my scalp a bit at a time rubbing it in to my scalp. When I'm out of the mix, I just rinse it all with the water. Then I pour some of the vinegar in the old shampoo bottle either directly on my head, or mix it with water in the same jar I used for the soda. It bubbles. That's fine. After I do the vinegar rinse, I rinse my hair once more.

My hair only has ever smelled like vinegar one time and that was because I forgot to rinse out the straight vinegar. Live and learn. (Keep it out of your eyes though as it may sting. Surprisingly, I haven't done that one. Sweetheart just warned me.) Really, you won't smell like Easter eggs doing this! It's like using vinegar for cleaning, which I do all the time. There is no smell when it dries.

All this takes less time to do than to write. It takes no longer than regular shampooing. For me, it takes even less because my hair is so crazy thick that it takes forever to get regular shampoo out of it. My hair is naturally wavy and pretty long. This all works great for me and I get less tangles than I ever did using regular shampoos and conditioners and I think I tried them all.

Why would anyone do this? Well, for me it actually works BETTER than the standard products. Also, it is a lot more natural which is better for all of us in so many ways. (The link goes into more details about the common chemicals in shampoo.) It's also A LOT less expensive. I haven't bought shampoo or conditioner for over a year now and I used to go through bottle after bottle because my hair is so long and thick.

****

What's next?
Shan's site for homemade laundry detergent. However, last time I looked I couldn't find the link. Sorry! Here's what to do though.


I feel like Pioneer Woman whenever I line everything up on the counter like this. Of course, if I was Pioneer Woman, there would be large quantities of butter involved. And better photos. And more people reading and commenting.

Anyway, the basic recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent is easy. Ingredients: 1 bar of Ivory or 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha soap, 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup washing soda,

32 cups of water, and essential oils, if desired. NOTE: Washing soda is NOT the same as baking soda. Both are by Arm & Hammer, but they are not the same. It should be in the laundry area of the store.

Grate the soap. I just use a regular cheese grater and it only takes a minute or two.

Put six cups of water in a big pan and melt the grated soap. Stir. This should only take a few minutes (5+-) depending on your heat. Don't walk away with the temp to high. It will boil over. Again, ask me how I know. At least it smells nice when it does.Once the soap melts, add the borax and washing soda. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Add four cups of hot water to your bucket, or other storage container. Pour the soap mix in. Stir well. Add 22 more cups of water to the bucket. Stir. Add a few drops of essential oils, if you like. I added lavender this time, but peppermint is nice, too!

Let the detergent sit for about 24 hours to gel, if you like. I try to remember to stir it a few times as it's cooling and gelling just to help keep it from separating. I don't always remember. I just keep mine in the bucket with a towel over it on the dryer in the laundry room. Use 1/2 cup or so per load. I just kept the cup from the last jug of laundry detergent I used about a year ago. I've been using this recipe for about a year now with no complaints. I just pour it directly on spots as needed as well instead of special stain removers.

Again, this is something that is easy, more natural and a lot less expensive. It also takes less time to whip up a batch than it does to go to the store. I've run out of soap while still having laundry. When that happens, I just scoop it out and use it ungelled. It still works just fine. Once our own soap is ready and I'm out of Ivory, I'll just grate that up. Can you tell I'm looking forward to soap making?

*****

I've got more to share from making cheese and butter this weekend, but it'll have to wait. This has taken too long already. Hope you're enjoying these ideas. I'm off to finish dinner!

Reflections

It's interesting to see the difference a year can make.

Last year just before Christmas, Sweetheart and I had a long discussion about where we wanted to be and how we wanted to live our lives. The overarching theme was one of simplifying and living more naturally. That has led us on quite a journey. What I've discovered is that though living a more simple life isn't any easier, it is so much better.

We slowed down, unplugged from life. Of course, we are still on our computers--probably too much! It's what Sweetheart does and it's sure helped me a lot. In fact, many of our changes have become reality because of what we've found online. I've found a whole community of ladies who are trying, or already doing many of the things I've been wanting to begin.

This last year had us purchasing a grain mill, the Nutrimill. Love it! We've found a local source for wheat in bulk (50lb bags!) all either grown organic, or even better methods. My mill is used constantly as I now bake all our bread; sandwich bread, french bread, rolls, pitas, etc. I use our flour for our waffles, tortillas, muffins, crackers and more. Basically, if it can be baked, I'm baking it from scratch.

We expanded our garden this last year, with more plans in the works for this year. Between our garden, Sunflower Farmers Markets Grocery Store and Berry Patch Farms, we've switched over to almost all organic produce, most of which is also local. (Anybody want some squash? We're still eating our way through those!)

I've learned the value of eating in season. Weird, but true. I'd never thought about it before, but I can know really see a difference in both taste and cost. That led to canning. We had talked about my learning to can and scoured Craig's List for cheap jars through the winter and spring. When summer arrived, I was ready. I bought the most basic supplies and from there canned away!

Canning produce in season meant that I was able to purchase products at the peak of flavor, and usually on sale. So I canned: 75 lbs. of peaches, 80 lbs. of apples, a bushel of tomatoes, a basket of wild plums, green beans, strawberries, pickles, and a bunch of fruit jams and butters. Today we've enjoyed peaches with our breakfast tasting like summer sunshine, and tangy pickles with our lunch. Tonight we'll try the first batch of sauerkraut I made in November from a cabbage I bought at the farm.

Has this been a crazy amount of work? Yup. But we think it's worth it. The laptop is in the kitchen where we usually are. (I must confess that I'm sick of washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen. It's the only downside.)


We also switch over almost entirely to natural cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are used to clean almost everything. They do as good of a job, if not better, than all the boughten chemicals I used for so long. Vinegar is used on counters, floors, refrigerators, bathrooms, windows, and more. It cuts grease and has antibacterial qualities as well.

I've even switched to washing my hair with baking soda and rinsing it with vinegar instead of shampoo and conditioner. I'm using oils for cleansing my skin and moisturizing it. Toothpaste is easily made with just baking soda, sea salt, and peppermint oil.

I now make our laundry detergent from just three ingredients and water. Vinegar also is used as a rinse for fabric softening, and for keeping those cloth diapers we're using nice and clean.

(I took a class from a gal who sews cloth diapers before the holidays. Since we'll be trying Toilet Training Take Two with Pumpkin here soon, I just went with cloth diapers in Dumpling's size.) I also use the disposables with him as needed. For example, with all the family here for Christmas, and having to have help after I fell, I've not wanted to make anyone else deal with them. Now that things are back to normal and I'm back on my feet, he's back in cloth.

What else? Sweetheart's ordering the stuff we'll need for soap making and cheese making this week. I'll keep you posted!

Sewing is another area. I'm learning how to use the wonderful machine I have and to embroider. This led to making almost all our Christmas gifts this year. Sweetheart's also been busy with his woodworking.

It's funny. The changes we've made have in turn made us a lot more frugal. Buying ingredients in bulk and cooking almost everything from scratch takes more time, but saves a lot of money and allows us to buy more organic foods without increasing the food budget.

The changes have made us more "green". This wasn't a reason for the change, but has been a nice byproduct. Recycling has just begun in our area this week and between this and our compost pile, we're just not making as much trash. Eating home-cooked meals and not packaged foods really does make for less trash.

While I'm not becoming a hippie anytime soon, I like my lipstick and curling my hair too much, we've really changed a lot. I've read a lot of blogs this year, learning so much from what others are doing. And let's put it this way--most of the ladies in my Bunco group, my major source of friendship and social activity, think I'm a bit odd. (Of course, that no television thing adds to that one!) It's been so good for me to find other friends on-line who are on the same journey.

Living like this has also help me to be more disciplined and be a better manager of my home. Really, other than more dishes to wash, I can't think of any downsides!

Why am I telling you all of this? I don't know. Part of it is reflecting on the year that has passed and planning for the new year. There is another reason though, too. For a long time, I didn't do these things because I didn't know anyone else who did them. Grinding your own wheat into flour isn't a common thing in my neighborhood. I'd only known one person ever who did that, and I thought her a bit odd. Oh, the irony of it! I hope that writing this may inspire you to try something new yourself and to know you're not alone for wanting a different life.

Now, through this wonderful land of the Internet, I've "met" people who do these things as a natural part of their lives. It's made a huge difference. Now I read something and try it! I search for new/old ways of doing things. I think about what I buy. I'm trying to make things myself and not just purchase everything that's offered. I've been amazed to learn all of the things you can do yourself. At times I wonder why it took so long for me to do things for myself.

Eating more seasonally has led to living more in tune with the seasons. Ecclesiastes is right about that for every thing there is a season. I'm paying attention more to the world around me and learning what the seasons are for. God put these seasons and rhythms into being. There are times when we, and the earth, are to be more productive and times when we are to rest. Going full speed through life, never slowing down, isn't how He created us to live. Life is too short to waste always being in a hurry.

I do a lot less things, but what I do I find that I do better. I want to slow down, to listen to the boys play, to have a picnic on a sunny December day, to feel the soap bubbles on my hands as I look out the window at the sunset painted across the sky. I want to hear the birds, feel the breeze, dig in the dirt. I want to give a gift that means something, that's taken a part of me, my time, to create. I want to feel the warmth of the flour after it's been milled, to watch the dough rise. I want to taste the butter melt onto that first slice of bread still steaming from the oven. I want to color a picture with Pumpkin, tickle Dumpling, kiss my Sweetheart.

Does any of this resonate with your heart?

Is anyone still reading? :)

Not everything has been a success, but I've had more successes than I would have if I hadn't tried! Well, Dumpling's awake so I need to go, plus a loaf of bread is ready to take out of the oven. I'll pull out the bread and then go get my little cutie pie. Then, I'll tackle the dishes...

Simple Update

Since I wrote about our desire to simplify our lives in January, we've made a lot of changes.

Life has gotten simpler, more frugal, and more thoughtful. We love it.

While we've slowed down on purging stuff, we've drastically cut back on what we're bringing into our home.

I've been reading all around Blogland of so many others of you who are doing the same things. It's becoming quite a phenomenon. I think each family is in their own place and it is not my place to say what anyone else "should" be doing. I'm just sharing because so many others have been writing things that are encouraging and inspiring to me.

It almost seems as though I am surrounded by others who feel the same call on their lives to slow down and simplify. For some, it's about eliminating activities that are draining away time with family and time with God. For others, it is a need to become more frugal. There are job changes, new babies, cars dying, and grocery bills rising. For some, it's about becoming more "green". Some of us are realizing how our things are getting in the way of our lives.

The constant siren song to buy, buy, buy, is losing its appeal. Realizing that our endless consumption is taking a toll on our lives is a wake up call. Whether its our shopping, eating, constant busyness, or whatever we use to fill the void, our lives are out of balance and unhealthy. We're drifting away from God, from one another.

We're numb to our need for Him and each other as we constantly self-medicate, often by buying more. We don't live with just basic survival in mind anymore. That's good. I don't want our lives and livelihoods demolished in a dry season, or a storm.

While life back in that little house on the prairie may seem ideal at times, we must remember how hard it all was. And yet, and yet... We've lost a sense of our need to rely fully on Him. We don't pray for rain, we turn on the sprinkler. We don't have to hunt for our food, we just drive to the store. While we're there, we can buy just about anything we want, and even more than we can afford.

We are offered instant gratification everywhere we turn, but still we are unsatisfied. We may buy whatever we want today and deal with paying for it somewhere down the road. And pay we will. Not just the interest on the credit cards, but with the drain on our lives. Everything has a cost, even if the true cost isn't revealed all at once.

To me, it's not about getting a great deal as it is just buying what we need. Just because something is inexpensive, doesn't mean I need to buy it. Thrift store shopping for something we are looking at buying is fine, but just random wandering through the store-thrift or otherwise-is unwise. It maybe "just a few dollars", but it all adds up.

As I wrote before, I want to be know by what I am for, not what I am against. I am for Christ. For growing closer to Him. By being transformed by His love. For sharing that love with those around me. I don't want to be known for being that weird Mom who grinds her wheat and bakes all her bread and doesn't watch television. I want to be known for a life of love, for feeding others' souls. And, if I can pass on a few loaves of homemade bread along the way, so be it! ;)

Along the way these last few months we've discovered that our new lifestyle is healthier, cheaper, even "greener", and a lot more fun. I like milling our flour, when I put the bowl in all the way. I like only doing the main grocery shopping twice a month. I like making my own cleaning things. I *gasp* am enjoying sewing. I like reading and stitching in the evenings after the boys go to sleep by the glow of the oil lamps. I like getting the garden ready and learning how to preserve what we'll grow. I like all the money we've saved.

I like being at home and inviting people over more. I like that a lot. It's been wonderful to relax and open our door to those God has put in our path. Since I'm not so busy running around, I've had a lot more friends over during the days. (Thanks Joanne for trekking out here yesterday!)

I so wish we could live out in the country and have more land. I'd love to raise chickens and a few goats and cows. I'd like to be able to have a clothesline, for that matter. But we live in a regular American house in a regular suburban neighborhood. Our dream of a little place in the country will have to wait as our whole neighborhood is in foreclosure and nothing is selling.

We must therefore, do what we can, where we are. So, the garden will expand, the fruit trees will be planted, the flowers grown. Little boys will have space to play and explore here in our backyard. And we'll continue to dream. And save. And see about smuggling in a few chickens, or at least a renegade clothesline!

I'll post more about some of the specific things and links over the next week as time allows. It has all been floating around my mind, but it's hard to get down as little boys must come first. Blogging is a wonderful outlet and I wish I would do more, but in this season I find my need to rest when the boys are is stronger that the pull of the computer.

It is time to go now as Dumpling has just awakened and Pumpkin is due to come out of Time Out. While darn cute, that red-headed boy isn't perfect. Which is good, since his Mama sure falls short!

Food Storage

As we've been transitioning to a simpler lifestyle I've been changing how I shop for groceries. While I still am making runs to Target for mostly sundries and diapers, lots of diapers, I've also been buying more pantry food in bulk. I love it because it is sooo much cheaper, but I don't like having a million bags of things slumping around in the cupboards.

I've been storing a lot of little things in random glass jars that I've saved, but I've been known to forget what is in which jar. (Please tell me I'm not the only one!) This was also a problem for me with the bags.

While on the Farm Chicks site I read their great solution for labeling the jars. This is so perfect for me because I don't always reuse the same jars for the same things and writing on the lids and scratching them out isn't the best plan, but it looks awful. Their solution? Stick on labels made from contact paper. It's easy, cheap, and they peel right off. How great is that!

After I'd read about this idea I remembered some contact paper that I had seen a few weeks before at Target that I'd loved. I almost bought it then because it matched my dishes, but I set it back because I knew I didn't need it. Our cupboards are fine and don't need to be lined. I was so happy though to discover the same contact paper on the clearance aisle a few weeks later when I was hoping to find it for the labels and now, it was half price. Woohoo!

Here's another way to do it with fabric or wallpaper. These are really cute, but would take more time. I'm happy with just the pretty contact paper.

I have picked up a few nice glass jars. I'd love to get a ton of them and replace all my mismatched stuff, but it's not necessary. I figure I can pick up a couple every once in awhile over time and be just fine. I love these big glass jars because they hold a five pound bag of sugar or flour, unlike my old cannisters that only hold about three-fourths of a bag and then I'm stuck with a partially filled bag lying around.

These are also great because I can tell what I'm getting low on with just a glance instead of trying to remember what I've got in the ceramic cannisters. Not to mention trying to remember which cannister is holding the bread flour versus the regular wheat flour. And we all know that my memory isn't what it used to be!

Maybe someday I'll work up to a pantry like Shan's. Hers is beautiful! Go take a look.

Have a wonderful day! Do something loving and kind for the next person you see, even if it's just a smile. It may just make their day, and it can't hurt yours!

Now, what to do about those diapers....

PS~Thank you everyone for your suggestions about the sewing machine. I finished that pillow by hand, but will hopefully get some time this weekend to try and troubleshoot the machine. You all are so sweet!

***Added~ Just found a mystery jar in the pantry. No clue as to what it contains. Couscous, maybe?

The glass jars come in a bunch of sizes. I've bought them at both Walmart & Target. Of course, Target was out of them completely last night. They were also out of ginger, vinegar, bouillion, and barley cereal. Good thing they had diapers!

Simplicity

Sweetheart and I were talking a few weeks ago on one of those rare weekend afternoons when the boys were both napping at the same time. We started talking about how much we love one another, the boys, and our lives in general. Yet, we were both troubled and worn out with trying to deal with all the stuff in our lives.

Since I quit teaching to stay home, our schedules have definitely lightened up. I am no longer running around around the clock. It's great. We really simplified that area of our lives.

However, over the years the amount of things in our home has only increased. It wasn't such a big deal when it was just us living here. We had the main living areas, plus the unfinished basement, a guest room, a loft for Sweetheart's office, and an extra bedroom for my office/craft room.

Well, we changed the guest room to the nursery and combined my office with the new guest room. Then we had someone else move in for a few months, which eliminated that room. So all my stuff landed in the basement. Then I got that room back for awhile, which was nice, but we were left with all that person's stuff as well. Guess we'll store her stuff in the basement. Next, we needed my room for Pumpkin as Dumpling was on the way. We rearranged the loft to move all my stuff into it along with all the stuff Sweetheart had in there, which was a lot already. More stuff to the basement.

Instead of getting rid of things along the way, we just got more tubs to put it all in. Well, there became no more room for tubs. We were constantly shoving tubs all around to get to the things we wanted.

We won't talk about the garage. That's a real sore spot.

Anyway, here we are after being married almost ten years. Two people who no longer own stuff, but are owned by our stuff. It's ridiculous! And it is all coming between us.

It was a wonderful conversation. Hard, but needed. There are a lot of emotions tied to the things. Crazy, isn't it? My hardest thing is to part with stuff other people have given me. I don't want to hurt their feelings. Or, good memories are attached to things.

Sweetheart's dilemma is more about the cost of things and what they are worth. He's bought a lot of stuff over the years to resale. What he has been able to sell he usually makes money off of. Sometimes a lot of money, but not everything sells, at least not quickly. Or, not as quickly as his wife would like.

Well, we decided we no longer want to live like this. We don't want the boys to grow up thinking that they should hold on to everything and that hoarding things is ok. Plus, we want to have room to enjoy the things we have. We want to have more free time, not wasting time fixing things, selling things or buying things, just because.

So, we had the first big purge just before Christmas. Now, Salvation Army is swinging on by tomorrow for more. There's still a ways to go, but we're making progress.

That conversation became a whole life evaluation. I'd been getting all of these emails telling me to boycott this store for this reason, that store for another reason. Often, if I wanted to follow all the emails they would have just cancelled each other out! What a mess.

Yes, I want to be conscientious about where we spend our money. I don't want to be supporting corporations that give money to causes I am utterly opposed to. Over the years we have stopped buying a lot of products for that very reason. It's hard to know a lot of times who is supporting what, but we've tried to pay attention.

Well, we're still discussing what to do about all of that mess and don't have a lot of answers yet. One of the things that we are doing is trying to just buy less overall. Over the next few months, we will be researching more about different companies and be making more changes I'm sure.

As we talked about what to buy and not buy the conversation turned to the types of things we use around the house. Since becoming pregnant the first time, I have changed my mind about the cleaners that I use regularly. The smells of all the chemical cleaners have really bothered me since I was first pregnant. I've tried a few different things along the way, but really haven't figured out a good solution. Switching to some of the Mrs. Meyer's Cleaners has helped, but there are still a lot of chemicals we use everyday, almost without thinking.

I've been researching alternative cleaners online and have found some good recipes out there that I've started substituting. I'm pleased with what I've changed so far, but hope to eradicate the rest of them over the next few months as well. Some things I'm using up, some I'm just throwing out. Did you know you can make your own dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents? I'll probably be posting directions as I try more things out, if anyone is interested.

And what about all the chemicals in our personal care products? You should have seen the huge bag of stuff I tossed just from under my bathroom cabinet. Really, how many bottles of hair products do I need? My hair always looks the same no matter what I put on it, so why not just use the simplest stuff? Once those things are gone, I might not even replace them.

Well, since the chemicals are on their way out, what about the food we eat? I make most things for scratch, but really, what is all that junk in the meat we buy? Do I want to eat stuff that contains ingredients I can't even pronounce? No. So, I'm buying more natural meats now. I'll let you know how tomorrow night's bison meat turns out!

I'm searching for a local farm/CSA to join, too. We're also planning to better utilize our garden and back yard starting this spring for our own organic fruits and vegetables. We were circleling items as a wish list in the gardening catalog last night at dinnertime. It's time to start composting, too.

It's been interesting with the just changes we've started making already. Living simply, isn't so simple any more. Hopefully, once we figure out how to make/get the things we need it will get easier. Some of these things are interesting though, as so many of the "natural" things are brands that support some things we don't want to have any part of. It's not as easy as I'd hoped. We're not giving up though, since we've just begun this new journey.

The cost of the organic foods is a lot higher than regular, but hopefully, since I'm buying less junk, the costs will end up the same overall. Plus, I've spent a lot on cleaners for the home and on personal care products and most of the do it yourself recipes are actually a lot cheaper.
I wrote in my Everything Book my goals the other day:

*Honor Christ--above all!
*Live Simply
*Be Healthy
*Be Wise Financially

Breaking it down looked like this:

For Me:
Devote more time to studying Christ's words and incorparating them into my daily life.
Love others more; be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend.

For Home:
More natural cleaners, soaps and personal products
Make what we can
More natural foods-organic, not processed, locally grown

I'll Need To:
Get up early for devotions
Begin exercising again
Change shopping habits
Garden and compost
Learn to preserve foods
Get a grain mill
Learn to sew
Research creating the things we need

***
I've been thinking to myself that I'd rather be known for what I am for, not what I am against.

I am for reaching out to others, for showing Christ's love, for serving.

I am for loving my family and expressing that love through our home.

I want to be a wise steward of all that I have been blessed with.

I want to take care of the body I have been given, to strengthen it for the work I have been given.

I want to raise children to love the Lord and those around them, not to be sucked up into the unthinking consumerism that surrounds us everyday.

I want to love.

I want to sleep.

(I just looked at the clock and realized that it's passed my bedtime. Blessings to you all!)

Our Journey to Simplicity

110 Hangers. Sweetheart counted. Actually, it would have been more like 115-120, but a few I just threw out.

These mark the beginnings of our efforts to simplify our lives. Each empty hanger represents an item of clothing that was donated to the Salvation Army. Never mind how many things weren't on hangers, we didn't try to count all those. All I know is that the closets and drawers have so much more space in them now and the Salvation Army does a wonderful job of picking up massive, and I mean massive, piles of stuff left out for them to take away. We also ended up with about 20 empty Rubbermaid tubs that had been filled with stuff.

How did this happen? Things were just bought a few items at a time, many from the thrift stores, over the last almost 10 years of marriage. It's added up to a lot. Sweetheart and I had a wonderful discussion one night that led to the beginnings of the purge. And it's just the beginning. I wish we were at the end, but we're not. We off-loaded a ton of stuff, but there is still so much to go through and get rid of.

We were discussing our desire to lead a simpler life, a discussion we've had before, but this time it's been different. No one is upset, or feeling dumped on. We're both in this together and trying to get through it together. In fact, Sweetheart is downstairs going through two tubs of papers, sorting what needs to be kept, and what needs to be shredded. I'm just taking a break, but will go through one more drawer before going to sleep tonight.

I've not been posting as much in the last few weeks, as I am often trying to weed through things after the boys go to sleep. We did take off some time for Christmas and family gatherings, but are now trying to hit it hard again. It's a process. I need to remind myself of that as I get discouraged that there is still so much to do.

It's funny. If you came to our home a month ago and came back today, you probably wouldn't see much of a change, except that you can now hang your coat up in the coat closet. The regular rooms haven't been cluttered up. It's been the closets and the basement. It's amazing how much you can store in a basement.

But, I do know there is a difference. I'm thrilled with how much is gone, just from my kitchen cupboards. Most of the stuff that we've given away hasn't even been that hard to do this time. I think it's because our hearts and attitudes have changed. However, I think I'll be going back through the kitchen a few more times to see what else needs to find a new home. Now it's getting harder. Guess the fun has just begun!

I'll be posting as I can about some of the changes we're making and why. I am excited about them. It'll be good, hard, but good. Keep us in your prayers.