Welcome Spring!

Even thought it's not officially spring it sure feels like it! What incredible weather we have been having. Elle has really enjoyed picking flowers with me. (She is our official "dandilion hunter".) Here are some in old bottles Michael found on the beach when he used to dig clams. I LOVE the view from my kitchen window! The ducks are now starting to frequent our "pond" and we saw a brown, white tailed bunny the other day!

chicken update

Okay... so the chickens I was thinking of doing... it turns out they take 4 months instead of 8-10 weeks... so we are looking to do Cornish Roasters instead. (the feed costs for 4 months would just be way too much, especially for our first time and so many birds) So here's what the Murray Mc Murray catalog says about the Cornish Roasters.
 "We sell them straight run only {meaning they are not sexed-we could get males and/or females} and recommend that you butcher the females as fryers and save the males as roasters. Fryers reach a dressed weight of 3-4 pounds in 8-9 weeks and the roasters will reach dressed weight of 8-9 lbs at 12 weeks, making them a mouth watering sight on Mom's kitchen table. "
Sooo... yikes, that means I have to really know what I am doing when I have help, because it looks like I'll have to do the Roasters (males) a couple weeks later on my own... So I had priced the $20 based on feed for 10 weeks... so let's say $14 for the fryers that will be 3-4 lbs and $25 for the Roasters? Tough part is, I won't know what we have until we have them and they've grown enough to show if they are male or female... so let me know what you'd prefer and if you are okay with either or not. (we can adjust what we will keep based on what is left)
Also...!!!! If you are interested in helping with the butchering let me know! =)

Non GMO free range chicken! $20

Okay, so after much research I have decided I need to get over it and learn how to butcher chickens! I want to be able to put the healthiest meat on the table for my family. (For those of you who know me well... this may be comical, since I am often found raiding candy and cookie jars like a child!...but that's just my weakness... my heart really wants to eat and provide what is best for myself and my family.) I have FINALLY found a contact for GMO-free and soy free chicken food! Yey! So our layers will be getting that now as well. There is just too much out there on the lack of information on GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) and the possible dangers. (the main modifications I am learning about have to do with scientifically creating seeds to either possess their own pesticide or making them be able to with stand a HUGE dosage of pesticide being applied to the plant...) I am reading more and more about it... but honestly, a lot of it is scientific jargen that is over my head... or just plain too difficult to focus on with two demanding kid-o's in the back ground... but reading over and over again how animals, when given the choice, will not eat the GMO corn, and will even walk through fields of it to get to the non-GMO stuff... that's all I need to know to know something isn't quite right about it all... The effects of what animals eat, get into what they produce as well... meat, eggs, milk, etc... so I want to raise chickens that I know will not only live happy lives, but will not have any of this junk in their meat or eggs.
 We have enlisted my friends husband to help us butcher the first ones... he regularly "dresses" (how funny that plucking feathers off is called "dressing") dear that he hunts and has done turkeys and wild bird game before, so he'll be a pro... or at least the only one there not gagging! I am so grateful to him for being willing to help teach us... and really excited to be able to undertake this adventure that means so much to me with a friend that I shared so much of my childhood adventures with.
So.... Memorial Day weekend looks like it may be the day! So I will need to order the chicks early next week... We have to order a minimum of 25 chicks for body warmth in the shipping... we certainly don't have room for 25 birds in the freezer (especially with all the meat we are about to get from our cows here shortly) so friends and family, you have first dibs if you want to buy one (or two or...) We expect them to be about 7-8 lb birds (about double what you see in the grocery store).  I have researched that for organically raised free range (ours will have a lot of time on pasture) the price around here is about $4.50 a pound... since this is our first time, and you are our friends and family, and we a really just trying to off set our expenses, we will happily raise and butcher one for you for $20 each. I need to know numbers by early next week. Don't hesitate to ask if you have questions. If you are interested let me know! How exciting! =)

Seeds of Deception

The latest book I am reading (just finished Omnivore's Delimea yesturday) is called the Seeds of Deception by Jeffery M Smith. I am not very far into it, but it has a lot of interesting information about genetically modified organisms (GMO's). I am just recently interested in learning about this. I just couldn't believe that nearly ALL the seeds out there are genetically modified to not only make it impossible to collect seeds for use again the next year (which of course keeps you as a customer) but that they also are modified with their own pesticide built in....and that it's as if that isn't even questioned... hummm... seems fishy... I am trying to learn more... So far I have read that animals, birds, bugs etc... get sick and even die when eating the plants/fruits/vegetables grown, and that many animals if given the choice, won't eat the GMO option. Interesting.... if anyone knows any info on it they want to share, feel free to chime in! =)

Stevens Pass

We went to Stevens Pass this weekend with my family (mom, dad, older brother, his wife and child, younger brother and his girlfriend, my husband and 2 kids). BEAUTIFUL weather! Sunny, blue sky, not a breeze in the air... GORGEOUS! We skiied/snowboarded on Saturday, sledded/hiked around Friday evening and Sunday morning. The kids had a lot of fun...other than Christian who was a total wreck! (therefore, so was I at times!) It was so nice though. We stayed in this incredible cabin that belongs to some of my mom's church friends. It is this incredible community of cabins where the roads are impassable in the winter (many people had snow mobiles to get in and out) so we had to haul everything in and out about 3/4 mile each way. My mom and I went for a walk the first night we were there. It was amazing. The stars were incredible out there. There was a little more than a sliver of a moon and it made the snow sparkle like I have never seen before. It honestly made you wonder if your eyes were playing tricks or something. It was absolutely beautiful. I was horrible about taking pictures because my mom was there and she takes INCREDIBLE pictures, so why bother! I will get some from her and post some later.

Seeds Arrived!

My Heirloom seeds from 'Seed Savers' arrived today! Everything from Sunflowers, snap peas, lavender and cabbage to amish paste tomatoes and mini bell peppers! This will be my first year planting all heirloom seeds. Some will require more work than others. (Like needing to be wrapped in a moist napkin/towel in the fridge for weeks...) But I am excited to enjoy the more diverse varieties than available at most stores- Not to mention learning how to gather and save these plant's seeds for next year.

Front Entry DONE!

(Don't mind the tools sitting up in the window!)

We finally installed these batts (the boards running up and down) today! I LOVE how it turned out. It is just how I had pictured it. We are on a mission to get all the rooms that'll have this done in the next month. I am going to try and put more house pictures up as we complete stuff. A lot of people have asked to see pictures, so I will try and get on that.

baby Hudson

LOVE this trunk! My mom's cousin gave it to me. It is super old... 1800's.

I made this baby blanket yesturday for Michael's cousin's baby. It was such a fun project. I haven't sewn in a while and it was nice to be back at it again. It never would have happened without those chicks to keep Elle occupied! Christian is scooting and rolling around so much now, he will be so happy to be mobile!

Banana Bread Recipe (SOOO good!)

We got the banana bread out of the freezer last night that I made on the "2 hours and $20" day... it was SO GOOD, so I thought I'd post the recipe. That loaf didn't even last 24 hours in this house!

Ingrediants:
1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick)
2 eggs
1 Cup Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Cup Ripe Bananas
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 1/2 Cup sifted flour (I didn't sift mine..)
1/2 Cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 Cup chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate ones)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix: butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla in a bowl until creamy
Add: Bananas and cinnamon and mix well.
Add: baking soda, salt, sour cream, flour Mix until all smooth.
Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour until done.

I got this recipe off of cooks.com. It froze really well. I plan to make a couple loaves next week! I'll see how well the recipe doubles or even triples. =)

garden space

This year I am trying to figure out what keeps the weeds down the best. I try and use organic methods so weeds are the most work. I divided the garden in thirds. My dad came and rotatilled the garden

(Thanks dad!) and then I covered one part with a degradable paper (looks like thick brown paper bag material) the middle is straw and the other is not covered and I plan to rotatill it again before planting...so then I will know which works best for keeping the weeds down. With such a warm winter, I hope to get some peas into the ground at the end of the month.

Chick box cleaning day!

This chicks are AMAZING entertainment for Elle! She draws them pictures, sings them songs, reads them books, watches them, talks to them, protects them from our dog and cat... it is truly all day entertainment ...(which is GREAT for MY sanity!) We'll see how long it lasts, but for now we are loving it!

Today I wanted to give them new sawdust so Elle and I made a little "fence" with her blocks to put them in while I cleaned out the box. It was hilarious... they really wanted to break out! One even went through the little hole in the block! Elle was so funny, she is sort of scared of them so she wouldn't put them back in herself, she'd just run away and start shouting that "one got out!"... Adorable.

hellebore pictures

I Love these flowers. They are so early to bloom, the blooms last for SO LONG and the greenery stays year round. They continue to grow to larger "bushes" and have such cool flowers! They do well in the shade which makes them great for some color under trees or on north sides of buildings.

Rooting Pussy Willows

Just an experiment... I hear rooting willows is really easy, so I am trying it out. Supposedly just cutting the branches and putting them in water will produce roots after a couple weeks. So we'll see! =)

 I am going to try it with honeysuckle as well.

The chicks have arrived!

The chicks came today. Odd to pick up our "mail" on a Sunday, but they arrived at the place they go before getting sent out to the post offices and they called with the option to come get them, so we did! Elle was SO excited! Murray McMurray sent us an extra 3 chicks so we got 28!!! What a tiny box they were shipped in, for body heat in traveling. We had to "teach" each of them to drink water by dunking their beaks in the water dish before letting them loose in their new home (a large cardboard box). Elle just loves to sit there and watch them. It'll be fun to see them grow!

Our little man!

Happy Birthday Elle!

I can't believe I have a 3 year old!! What a fun year of changes for this little one! She got a new house, a new brother, a new van, learned words like "otherwise" and "actually". She can count to 14 without error and with a couple of flubbs all the way up to 30! She's got her ABC's down, although there are times when T-U-V are not included... She has learned her colors and has enjoyed lableing things with her sticker letters. Christian has a C on his walker, Michael has an M on his work boot, I often have S's on my jeans and even the dog endures the hair pulling privledge of having an O on his 'coat'. Her manipulation and debate skills improve daily keeping me on my toes. She is one smart cookie! She learned to swim (with a life jacket on), learned to ride a bike with training wheels and loved climbing ladders at our construction site. She is one active little girl! Her birthday chicks arrive after the weekend, she is so excited!

Happy birthday my little firefly!

Quiche recipe

Another great one from Cindy... who got it from another friend! I made this last night for dinner... yummy!

Crust:
2 Cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 C Olive oil (or any kind you like to use)
1/4 Cup Milk

Roll out between parchment paper to fit pie pan
bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes
take out and cool while turning oven down to 350 degrees

Filling:
3 Eggs
1 Cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Add ins: (you can pretty much add whatever...here's what I did for dinner last night)
1 Cup cheese
1 Cup Bacon (I pre-cooked mine, because I like it crunchy)
1 Cup diced ham
(Mushrooms are great too, and I hear spinich is a healthy add in as well...)

Mix all together and pour into crust
Bake at 350 degrees 30-40 minutes (middle might still be a little gooey)
let it cool to set.
Enjoy!

"Why isn't Michael in the band?"

We get asked that question a lot. (Michael's 4 brothers are in a band...see their video on this blog under 'fun times' or at shoemakerbrothers.com) So I thought I would share a little story to answer the question publicly... =)
We have many "dance parties" in our home. We crank the music up and Elle and I in particular love to just let it all out singing and dancing (not sure if I can even really call it dancing... I feel a twinge of guilt that I am decieving you.... picture running, flailing and jumping rather than coordinated and rythmical...)... So Saturday we were having one of our "dance parties" and Michael came in and started singing- just BELTING it all out and Elle started to nearly PANIC yelling (nearly crying really) "No dada, stop! You're scareing my ears!!!" So there you have it... THAT is why Michael is not in the band. =)

2 hours and $20

12 individually wrapped bean burritos (beans, spices, rice, cheese), 5 loafs of bread (1 banana, 4 white), and a batch of biscotti... this is what I cooked/baked today for about $20 in 2 hours time. (plus another hour of bake time on the bread... but that wasn't "active" time) I have been wanting to do more "bulk cooking" and freeze things so that they are ready quickly and still healthy to eat. Michael's work schedule is super inconsistent so it is hard to plan when to start dinner, if he'll even be home for dinner, etc.. so this is a great way to have things ready to just heat up when he does get home. I won't lie, I was REALLY working for these 2 hours... I had to put Christian down for a nap, bunndle Elle up to go outside, and then de-bundle when she came in and made her and Michael lunch at the same time I was making all of these items...but come on...ONLY 2 hours!!! All of the dishes were done, things put away, etc... all in the 2 hours! I thought I'd share the recipes and the order that worked well for me... I do have a double oven, so that helped make it possible... if you don't have a double or a wall oven... you will be waiting for things to get done before you can move on.

Bean Burittos ( I got a recipe from Cindy and changed it a bit based on what we had...here's how I did it..)

Ingrediants:

*2 Cups Rice (I had about a Cup left over which we'll have with our chicken dinner tomorrow..or I could have put more in the burittos...) *2 Tablespoons Olive Oil * 1/2 large oninon chopped up *6 garlic cloves diced *1/2 teaspoon Cumin *1/2 teaspoon salt *1/2 teaspoon pepper * 1/2 Cup tomato sauce *3 cans (15oz) Pinto beans drained/rinsed * 1 bag of frozen corn (10oz) *12 burrito size tortillas *2 Cups grated medium cheddar cheese *1 1/2 Tablespoon Chili Powder *1/2 teaspoon Cayene Pepper *1 Cup water

Directions:

Cook Rice

Heat oil in large saucepan over med heat. Add Onions, garlic, chili powder Cayenne pepper, Cumin and Salt and Pepper. Cook Stirring occasionally. (10-12 min) Add Tomato paste (1 min)

Add Beans and 1 Cup water, bring to boil, turn down to med simmer, stir occationally until thickened. (10-12min) Add Corn (2-3 min)

I took wax paper and put the tortilla on it, scooped beans onto it, then some rice, then some cheese, wrapped it up, fliped it over to keep it from opening and then wrapped the wax paper around it and put about 6 per freezer ziplock bag.

I did these with the purpose of freezing them for Michael to take for his lunches, or to just grab and zap in the microwave for a quick meal. They're also great to just have right then, hot! =)

Once frozen it takes about 2-3 minutes in the microwave to heat them up, or you can put them in foil and  place in the oven at 375 degrees for about 30-45 min.

Chocolate Cherry Almond Biscotti (another altered recipe from Cindy!)

Ingrediants:

1 3/4 Cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/2 Cup dutch process cocoa powder

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Cup dried tart cherries

3/4 Cup blanched Almonds
3 large eggs plus 1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

*Oven racks in upper 1/3 of oven and lower 1/3 oven *Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper *In large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until mixed well. Add Cherries and almonds and distribute. *In another bowl whisk together the whole eggs, egg white, and vanilla extract. Pour into dry ingrediants. *Using a fork mix them together working all of the dry into the dough.... dough will be dense and STICKY! Divide in half. *Shape dough into flattened logs 12"x2 1/2" by 1" thick. Bake the logs  (325 degrees) until they are dry to the touch and firm in the center when pressed with fingers. (about 30 min) *Transfer to wire racks and cool for 30 min on pans.Transfer to cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut the logs crosswise on diagonal into 1/2" pieces. Arrange slices cut side down back on the parchement paper/baking sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool COMPLETELY store in airtight container at room temp. for up to 3 weeks. (original recipe called for flipping them and cooking them again for another 10-15 minutes on the other side... I did this the first time I made them and they burned a little and were not good... this time I just did the one side and they are PERFECT! So you may have to judge your oven... since they are dark brown from the cocoa...it's hard to tell if they are burnt until it's too late!) These taste great with coffee, tea or just by themself. My 2 year old LOVES them!

I am not going to post the banana bread recipe until I try it. But I worked on it while the biscotti was in the oven. I froze the loaf, so after we eat it, I'll post it if I loved it! =) I made the 4 loaves of white bread last. It was quick to throw the ingrediants together, but it needed rise time so while the other items occupied the oven, this was rising. I made were a bunch of ingrediants I didn't measure, just "estimated" so I'm sorry I don't really have one to share..! =)

A fun, productive afternoon!

What we don't buy anymore...

It is amazing what you realize you can very comfortably do without. I no longer buy paper towels, napkins, dryer sheets, store made cleaning products (see posted recipes under "penny pinching") or baby wipes. We aren't religious about it or anything... if we have a large get together I may buy napkins for that, but really, a cloth towel works just fine, or cloth napkin. Dryer sheets I have recently learned about how awful/toxic they are (you make them more toxic by heating them up!) and who knew that laundry isn't any different without it! (I sure didn't... I thought for sure everything would cling to me like glue... but alas, I can't even tell the difference...) It is amazing how much I save when going to the store to not be buying anything but food. (fancy that!) These things really do add up, especially with a toddler who would use nearly an entire roll of paper towels to clean up a small spill, or when we do about 10-15 loads of laundry a week. I also now delute hand soap. Truly, about 50/50 fifty percent water and fifty percent liquid soap... still get a good lather, lasts twice as long! I am still working at perfecting my shampoo and lotion/cream recipies... it is a lot of chemistry and I am awful at chemistry! I will post those recipes when I am happy with them!

Sunrise

Here's a picture of the sunrise view from our master bedroom porch. There was so much pink in the sky that this doesn't show...it was too early to fuss with the camera! That water out there is just seasonal... in the summer it is actually a hay field that gets hayed. The blackberry bushes below give us masses of blackberries and have a family of Quail that live in them. It is so fun to see them come out and forege (sp?) in the field during the day. We counted 13 of them.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I LOVE peanut butter cookies. I have been making them a lot lately and never really quite follow a recipe. Here is what I have found works the best and makes some INCREDIBLE cookies... (These are also awesome with hershey kisses smooched into them about 5 minutes after they come out of the oven. I also enjoy adding about 1/2-1/2 cup of straight peanuts into the dough just before rolling it out..makes for a more clunky, crunchy cookie.)

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup packed brown sugar

1 1/4 Cup crunchy natural (I use Adams) Peanut Butter

1 Cup of Butter

2 Eggs

3 Cups wheat flour (you can use all purpose white flour if you'd rather)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Small amount additional sugar

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and eggs in a large bowl until all ingrediants are well mixed together. In a separate bowl stir the flour, baking soda and baking powder.  Add together and stir.

2. Roll dough into about 1 1/ 2 inc balls, roll them in the additonal sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Once the cookie sheet is full take a fork and lightly press down on the dough ball to make a criss-cross pattern and flatten the ball, just slightly.

3. Bake 7-8 minutes. They will still be a little gooey- this is how I like them! You can cook longer if you'd like, but I think what makes them so soft is pulling them out when they are still soft. Carefully transfer the cookies to wire rack immediately to cool.

I honestly can't tell you how many dozen this makes...5? I usually make about 3 dozen and then just freeze the dough to eat it later (as dough, not cookies!) =)

Shoemaker Brothers

My brother in laws! What an amazing journey they have had and are now in a MUSIC VIDEO- check it out! Their music is incredible. Memorable, heartfelt lyrics that make you feel like you already know the words, even if you've never heard the song. Their ability to play a wide variety of instruments in astounding. For more information check out http://www.shoemakerbrothers.com/.

"Dada's a MAAAAANNNNN"!

Funny Elle story...
We still haven't gotten an additional mail box for our new house and just use the old mailing address for the house we rent (that's right next door), so we have to go down to that house and pick up mail a couple times a week... I asked Michael to go and get it yesturday evening. He said "sure"! Elle and I were playing together... Michael just kept doing other things and I kept asking him when/if he was going to go get the mail... (Okay, nagging...but with just enough smile and laughter to justify it as "jokingly harping"!) He kept telling me he was going, but continued to sort of walk around doing something....well, really nothing. About 15 minutes past and I smiled and said "are you going?!" He was right near the door and playfully shook his finger at me to say "I'm going, I'm going, don't ask again..." and left. I looked at Elle and laughed and said "dada's a funny guy!" She curled her forehead and got real serious, then looking straight at me said, "Dada's not a "guy", dada's a MAAAAANNNNN and he put YOU in time OUT!" =0) What a cutie!

T-I-M-B-E-R!!!

Michael took down the pine tree today! (Yey for firewood next year!) He has been itchen to do this since last summer. He was cutting up some fallen branches one moment and the next I heard the chainsaw in the front yard, and went out to see and he apparently decided it was time for that ugly pine to come down! There was a plastic pot in the field that he aimed to hit. The tree was leaning pretty good down the hill and he wanted to fall it along the hill. This is only the third tree he has ever fallen and he did it perfectly! The trunk was about a foot from the plastic pot target!

PERFECT wedge!

What a guy! ;)

Crockpot with whatcha got! =)

I did a crock pot meal I thought I'd share. We are trying a new food budget thing this year (this being the first month) and let's just say that I only had $21 left on the 14th to get us until the end of the month! =) I am now (as of the 21st) completely out and having to get creative with what we've got, which I actually really enjoy having to do. So yesturday for dinner I threw in the crock pot quartered small potatoes, carrot chunks and frozen hamburger patties on top (so the juices drip down over everything else to give them more flavor). We have a lot of apple trees on our property and last summer I was trying to use all that I could to not waste any and I made pie filling (sliced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar shook together in a ziplock bag) and froze it in ziplock bags so all i'd have to do is make a crust and throw it in.... anyway, so I used some of that ON TOP of the hamburger... cooked it in the crockpot for 4 hours on high, it was SO GOOD! No salt or anything added, it smelled really good and apples really make beef taste amazing!

Scrapbooking

I used to be a Creative Memories Consultant so I have EVERYTHING one could imagine they need to scrapbook... and yet just NOW I am trying to get my soon to be three year old's pictures into albums! The best advise I can give, is just GET OVER IT AND DO IT!!! I was draggin my feet because the task of going through all the pictures, getting them in chronilogical order and all was just too much. So I got over needing it all in order. She is so young that she changes so much season to season that it is pretty obvious how old she is in the pictures and I just grouped events together. I can up on "super fancy" pages long ago and just go for speed and layout. I went through about 1000 (yes, one-thousand!) photo's and have entered about 125 into the album so far in about three days. It looks like a Creative Memory tornado blew through our dining room, but I am determined to get the remainder of the pictures in before Elle's birthday (13 days away). So maybe now that I have blogged about it, I will HAVE to do it! =) Megan (My sister in law-brother's wife) and my neice, Elena came over today to do some work on hers as well. Elena is starting to pull herself up now and loves to be standing. What a fun girl!

Real Estate Tips PRIOR to listing your home

When PREPARING to sell your home (before it is on the market):
1. Less is more! De-clutter, remove items you don't HAVE to have. Rent a storage space, use a friends garage, whatever, just get it out! If you think you are "doing your part" by just cramming it all away in YOUR garage or closets, you are doing yourself a disservice- presenting that your home does not have enough storage.
2. Lights... Clean them, replace any burned out light bulbs, if your fixtures are really dated, consider replaceing them- this is often very inexpensive and can "update" a rooms appearance significantly.
3. Deep Clean.... Go through each room with an extremely critical eye...
Does trim work need to be touched up with paint/stain?
Does tile need to be re-grouted?
Shampoo carpets (rental of a commercial sampooer is about $25 for 4 hours- well worth it)
Wash windows
Dust/wash/Iron Window treatments
Clean appliances thoroughly
Touch up paint on walls- fill in any nail holes first
Clean heater vents- whether wall "Cadet" type heaters or just the vents. take covers off (turn off power first if wall heaters) and clean thoroughly.
Pay special attention to sinks, toilets, tubs and showers... put some muscle into it! Baking Soda works great to really scrub the grit out of there. Wash shower curtain if it's cloth. Replace shower liner if it is the least bit mildewy or gross.
4. Spruce up the yard/exterior... First impression is extremely important.
Pressure wash or at least sweep driveway. If it is rock, consider bringing in fresh rock and spreading it to fill in any pot holes/give clean look.
Plant planters full of plants that are available in color depending on the season... Be sure you take care of them, or don't plant them at all! I have seen so many "well intended" planters that end up looking worse than nothing at all because they don't get watered, weeded, etc...
Clean off roof (or have someone else if it's not safe for you) Baking soda along the ridgeline works great for moss. Don't do this on a windy day or it will just blow away.. Try to do it when rain is expected so the water will wash it down and kill the moss. Once it has died it will just blow away.
CLEAN SIDING! Especially near the front door or entry ways! Spray it, scrub it, touch up paint if needed. Touch up chaulking where needed.
Clean any decks or patios. Consider pressure washing, staining or sealing if necessary
Wash exterior of the windows
Clean up flower beds/landscapeing
Patch or re-seed any areas of the lawn that need it.

ALL of these things would cost probably a total of $100 (to rent the carpet shampooer and pressure washer if needed) and it is amazing how many people do not do these things! Buyers today are looking for TOTALLY move in ready. I have seen people walk away from homes that met EVERY check of their "must have" and "would like to have" lists, simply because it "needs too much work" and the only work was items from this list! It takes time, yes, but the more time you put into these sort of things, the less time your home will sit on the market. Many buyers right now are first time buyers taking advantage of the tax credit. For the most part they do not understand the demands of owning a home and can be intimidated by them.... make your house look EASY! Provide them a "fresh slate" --the idea of getting to get settled in without having to do the "little stuff".

Willow curtain

I have been wanting to try this project for a while and the sun today just lured me to finally do it! I had planned to do it with black ribbon, but didn't have any...next time...

It was super easy... We have willow growing out by the creek. I went and tried to cut the straightest ones. Cut them all to the same length and then weaved the twine at top and bottom.
I tried to tighten them pretty well, but didn't put too much effort into it. Took about an hour to do (In that time I also changed a diaper-and clothes, since he peed all over in the process! And Elle "helped" for a little while too... could have been done in about 40 minutes without kid-o's! =) ) Probably cost about 2 cents worth of twine!

Homemade Counter Spray

My friend Cindy gave me this recipe. I love it! Cleans counters, microwave, table tops, etc...

Combine and put into a spray bottle

2 Tbl white vinegar
1 tsp Borax
2 Cups hot water
¼ Cup dishwashing detergent ( I used and highly reccomend scented Castile Soap..Dr Brenner’s peppermint is my favorite- leaves the house smelling like peppermint.)
30ish drops essential oil (don’t need if use scented soap)

Elle calling my "bluff"

Another Elle sleep story... She was fighting it particularly hard one night, it was a 2 hour full on battle trying to get her to stay in her room. I wasn't even requiring that she sleep, just play quietly in her room until she was ready to sleep... anyway, it was a NIGHTMARE... She escalates when we ask her to be quiet for "baby Christian" who is trying to sleep in the neighboring room... finally she gave up and slept... the next night, Michael is giving it a go as it is off to the same start. He has been in there with her for about 20 minutes and she is starting to pull out "the big guns" I can hear that she is starting to wake up Christian and have had enough. She HATES being alone, so I go in there ready to threaten her with the worst..here's how well that played out...



I went into the room, told Elle "that is enough, if you don't get in your bed and stay there right now, you can go sleep downstairs by YOURSELF!"
She had just been wailing and crying like it was the end of the world and as I "threatened her" she zipped up, stood up and said, in just the sweetest, softest voice ever, "Oh, thank you mama!" Michael and I looked at each other in disbelief, thinking WHAT? There is no way she is going to be fine with being left there by herself... But now that I had threatened it (FYI, be careful what you threaten!!! =) ) I had to follow through. I took her down stairs and told her to lay down on the floor (there was no way she was getting the couch, this was suppose to be punishment not her winning) It was cold down there, I gave her NO pillow and just about the least cozy blanket that I could find. I sternly said "good night" and walking away. I held my breath KNOWING that I would quickly hear "or maybe I don't want to sleep down here". But there was NOTHING. Michael and I walked back up the stairs to our room. We were in shock! 5 minutes past... we kept looking at each other asking "do you think she's alright?". After about 10 minutes, Michael went down to check on her and she was totally asleep! He put a blanket on her, turn the heat up and placed a pillow by her. What a little STINKER! She slept there until 4am! (which for her, is incredible!) Michael and I must have laid there for over an hour, laughing at ourselves, me kicking myself for thinking I could "out smart" the little sugar...

SMILE

I am horrible! I have hardly taken any photo's of the little guy... I failed to do Christmas cards this year (hardly got the tree up in time, and even then it was just stuck in a bucket of sand because I couldn't find the stand for it!) in which I was going to have a photo of him... so here's one! He LOVES smiling! Just the one dimple on the left cheak. What a hair-do!

Story Time with Chloe

Victoria (my sister in law) and her family came to stay with us after christmas for a night. They have three kids that Elle just ADORES to play with. Chloe is the oldest.... SUPER smart! They did a little story time before going to bed on their pallet in the playroom.

Funny story... for those of you who I have not complained and cried to about this yet... Elle is a HORRIBLE sleeper... she will be 3 years old in less than a month and STILL does not sleep through the night. She fights it with all she's got (which is apparently more than I've got, because it has drained me dry!) to not have to sleep... On this particular night, at about 2am Jake (Victoria's husband) got up to use the bathroom, went out into the playroom and there was Elle sitting STRAIGHT up on her knees, just staring straight ahead..... CREEPY! She didn't even aknowledge him at all! And then 20 minutes later she was up for good asking for me. What a weird-o! =)

TRX workouts

Just got back from my TRX workout class.... INCREDIBLE. I HIGHLY reccomend this workout. Just thought I'd share! See http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/ for more details.

farm animals

These are our two cows (Blackberry and Supper)we bought with our friends Niki and Ryan. This is when they were babies. We hope to be butchering them this month for some yummy meat!

Elle with our chickens, feeding them scratch.

Before we built our new house, we had some friends keep their three horses and goat here. It was so fun to see them run out in the field. One was a mama and a baby, Elle loved it!

Elle Pictures

SAY CHEESE!!!

YUMMY SNOW!

Elle at Priest Point Park

Elle in dada's work boots

NERD!!! =) Our little helper!

house building process

Seeds!

I ordered seeds today from seedsavers.org. My parents bought me the membership for Christmas. What a wonderful organization, preserving heirloom seeds. I got everything from Amish peas to rare flowers, lettuces, tomatoes, carrots, etc. Can't wait to get them planted!

CHICKS!

I ordered 25 chicks today from Murray McMurray for Elle's birthday! I got Araucana/Americana's and Road Island Red's... both really good layers. The Araucana's lay "Easter eggs". (they are colored) How fun- they arrive Feb 8th!

Cayenne Pepper

Here is some INCREDIBLE info on Cayenne pepper! What remarkable info to know! I have also read that it can be sprinkled on your socks before putting your boots on and it will slowly absorb into your skin and keep your feet warm!
I am a TOTAL baby when it comes to spicy things, but this information has inspired me to "get over it!" I am going to try and build up my tolerance by having just a little in water or on my dinner each day.
This info was pulled from www.bulkherbstore.com.

"Excerpts from The ABC Herbal
This is an excellent herb to have on hand in an extract form because it is one of the most powerful of all herbs for stimulating the body’s energies for healing. We would never be without capsicum (cayenne pepper) in our home because of its value in stopping bleeding and treating shock. Even if you do not use it internally with children, it is an excellent remedy to have on hand for external use. As we will discuss later, it is especially powerful when combined with lobelia and used as an external massage for relieving pain.
For sore throats, I generally apply a mixture of capsicum (cayenne pepper) extract and Lobelia extract directly to the throat. (These are alcohol based extracts as they work best for external applications…glycerites are too sticky.) Then, I gently massage the throat from the top down. This is a very gentle, slow process. Never apply so much pressure that the child feels uncomfortable. Work the sides and the back of the neck as well. You will feel the swollen lymph nodes. The idea is to gently "milk" them until they are no longer swollen. The capsicum and Lobelia help to relax the tissues and encourage the flow of blood and lymph.
Excerpts from Left for Dead
One of the most effective stimulants, cayenne targets the digestive and the circulatory system primarily. Cayenne regulates blood pressure, strengthens the pulse, feeds the heart, lowers cholesterol, thins the blood, cleanses the circulatory system, heals ulcers, stops hemorrhaging, speeds healing of wounds, rebuilds damaged tissue, eases congestion, aids digestions, regulates elimination, relieves arthritis and rheumatism, prevents the spread of infection and numbs pain.
Cayenne stimulates every system and cell of the body. Cayenne has been valued around the world for its uses as a stimulant, astringent, antispasmodic, circulatory tonic, anti-depressant and antibacterial agent. In addition, cayenne acts as a diaphoretic to induce sweating, a rubefacient to increase circulation at the skin’s surface and a carminative to help prevent and eliminate gas.
As a condiment, cayenne aids digestions and soothes intestinal ailments by stimulating the stomach to produce mucous.
In the circulatory system, it helps the arteries, veins and capillaries regain the elasticity of youth by feeding the cell structure. It helps equalize circulation by regulating the flow of blood from the head to the feet. Cayenne strengthens the pulse by increasing the power, not the frequency. In addition to helping prevent the build-up of cholesterol which can narrow the veins and arteries, cayenne also helps thin the blood and prevent blood clots that can clog the arteries and cause heart attack and stroke.
In more ways than any other herb, cayenne gets the blood moving. Touted as “the purest and most certain stimulant known to man,” cayenne is considered to be one of the best crisis herbs. By helping the circulatory system operate more efficiently, the snappy red pepper boost the energy level and eases the damaging effects of stress on the body.
By increasing the circulation of the blood to peripheral tissues throughout the body, cayenne helps deliver necessary nutrients to inflamed and infected areas. Studies show that the nutrients in food ingested with cayenne are assimilated faster and more easily.
The herb itself contains many nutrients essential to the health of the circulatory system including alpha-tocopherols, vitamin C and minerals. Cayenne also contains a high amount of vitamin A (beta-carotene) which aids in healing ulcers. Cayenne’s high mineral content, including sulphur, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, makes it an effective treatment for diabetes, gas, arthritis, pancreatic and throat disorders.
One of the most remarkable qualities of cayenne is its ability to act as a catalyst. Cayenne intensifies the beneficial effects of other herbs by ensuring speedy and thorough distribution of the herb’s active components to the important functional centers of the body such as those responsible for metabolism, data transmission, cellular respiration and neural hormonal activity.
Just a small quantity of cayenne can dramatically increase the efficiency of most herbs, this catalyst herb is added to nearly every herbal combination available. Added to garlic, for example, cayenne speeds up the antibiotic action of the other herb. Cayenne boosts the power of garlic so much it’s akin to taking liquid penicillin. Together, garlic and cayenne lower blood pressure safely and rapidly.
Cayenne is used in formulas for pain relief, infection, respiratory ailments, female problems, thyroid balance and heart treatments. Cayenne is an ingredient in laxatives, diuretics and ulcer medication. Added to ginger, cayenne helps clean out the bronchial tubes. This powerful stimulant can also be used as a relaxant to soothe gas, diarrhea, asthma and toothaches.
Externally, the aromatic herb makes a very effective pain killer or anesthetic. Cayenne has been used in poultices for centuries as an irritant or counter-irritant. Exposure to the pungent herb can cause pain but prolonged exposure deadens the nerves to pain.
Folk medicine prescribes cayenne powder, plaster, poultice, tincture and ointment for a variety of aches and pains including arthritis, rheumatism and bursitis. Cayenne has also been touted as one of the most powerful cures for hemorrhoids. Application of cayenne ointment brings relief from hemorrhoids but it is also recommended that the patient be warned of the pungent herb’s potency. Mexican folklore also refers to the use of cayenne as a pain killer and it has been applied dry on wounds.
With the advent of the gelatin capsule, people who could not tolerate the bite of the red pepper can take it with ease. It is important to remember that a little cayenne goes a long way. Nature made the red pepper hot for a reason so if you can’t swallow too much outside the capsule, don’t try to swallow to much inside the capsule. People who don’t usually eat hot spicy food should build tolerance slowly.
Excerpts from The How to Herb Book
Cayenne or capsicum, one of the most important herbs, is a wonderful healer. References to it have even been found on plaques in the Egyptian tombs. It is an herb many herbalists would choose if they could only have one herb. It is found in many combinations with other herbs because it acts as a catalyst.
Nutritional as well as medicinal.
Builds up the body’s resistance. High in vitamin C, good to take at the beginning of a cold.
One of the best general stimulants. Stimulation is the key to healing. When the body and its organs are properly stimulated, they will heal, cleanse and begin to function normally. If taken regularly it will reach every part of the body.
Improves entire circulatory system; feeds the cell structures of arteries, veins, and capillaries so they will regain elasticity.
Regulates the flow of blood so it influences the heart immediately – the frequency of the pulse is not increased but is given more power.
Normalizes blood pressure; used for both high and low blood pressure.
Taken internally for an injury to stop internal or external bleeding. The powder can be poured directly on an external wound to stop bleeding, fight infection and promote healing. It may feel warm but it will never cause a blister.
Used to treat shock or to keep someone from going into shock.
Used with lobelia for tetanus.
Used for a gargle for sore throats and pyorrhea.
The tincture is excellent for first-aid kits. It is an herb to keep on hand.
Has been used in the following:
Arthritis
Asthma
Bleeding
Appetite stimulant
Bronchitis
Catalyst
Chills
Circulation
Congestion
Convulsions
Colon
Colds
Elasticity in the veins, Heart
Hemorrhages
Energy
High blood pressure
Infection
Digestion
Low blood pressure
Nosebleeds
Senility
Tonsillitis
Sore throat
Shock
Varicose veins
Wounds
Excerpts from Practical Herbalism
Capsicum (cayenne) has benefits for both the young and old, but is particularly useful in the elderly and the debilitated, when the body-heat is low, vitality depressed, and reaction sluggish.
This medicine possesses an extraordinary power in removing congestion by its action upon the nerves and circulation.
Tired, painful muscles, stiffened joints, poor circulation, and relaxation of any part are common conditions in the elderly that can be improved by capsicum (cayenne).
Externally, the infusion and tincture have been found valuable as a stimulating astringent gargle for sore throat.
Powdered capsicum (cayenne), sprinkled inside the stockings, was a favorite prescription of the Eclectics for cold feet, a practical use no doubt derived from an old folk remedy.
Indicated Usages - Internal:
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Cold Extremities
Delirium Tremens
Depression
Dry Mouth
Heart Attack
Heart Disease (prevention)
Pain
Herpes, shingles
Stroke, CVA
Hemorrhage, Heavy Menstruation
Ulcers
Indicated Usages - External:
Arthritis, muscle pain
Laryngitis
Bleeding wounds (styptic)
Cold Extremities
Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Rheumatism
Pleurisy, Lung Congestion"

Cleaning out the greenhouse

My mom came over yesturday and helped me clean out the green house! What a HUGE joy that was! It has been about 2 weeks of sick, grumpy, clingy kids and sleepless (and I MEAN sleepless) nights. It felt so good to do something and that green house has been calling my name since we bought this place 3 years ago. There was stuff in there the previous owners left that I didn't even know we had! My mom was great, such a thorough organizer and cleaner. We sprayed it out, scrubbed it down with bleach water, organized all the planters, tools and plant food. It went from a moldy, mouse infested mess to a total God-send. I can not wait to get my seedlings started! I am going to order seeds tomorrow.

Toe info!

Helpful little tid-bits for people who get in-grown toenails...or get their feet squished and get that blood pressure build up under the toenail... this came up at soccer the other night, so I thought I'd post the "cures" here for anyone else who might find them helpful!
Ingrown toe: take a blob of lotion and put it on the toe, wrap the toe with plastic wrap and put a sock on. If you can, sleep with it on over night, or just leave it on for a couple hours. Your toe will turn pruney (is that a word!?) and the skin will be soft and easy to pull back to allow the toenail to come up without going into the skin...may need to be repeated a few times to continue to make room for the nail... it depends on how quickly you catch it.
Purple toenail: This is super common for contact sport athletes, hikers, bikers, farmers that work closely with large animals how have an eye for feet stomping! All you need is a needle and a candle. Light the candel. Hold the sharp end of the needle over the flame until it is super hot then poke the needle into the center of the toe nail. This will start to actually melt through your toenail. If you are having to push too hard, your needle isn't hot enough. Keep re-heating it in the flame and keep putting it in the toenail until you have gone through the nail and the blood is being released through the hole. BE CAREFUL... again, you shouldn't have to push hard, BELEIVE ME it is super painful to have it break through the last layer of nail and then into that sensative part UNDER your nail! If you do it correctly this shouldn't happen. Also, expect your nail to eventually fall off if you do this method. (which it may do regardless if you got stomped real hard)