Home Ec for tough times(heftt)

Not to come off all doomsday-ish, but the financial financial difficulties many are facing will not end anytime soon. (Yeah, I've said all this before.)
Rather than panic, I chose to get creative. Its been an incredible learning experience. I have totally redefined what I think of as 'want' and 'need'.

Wastefulness is rampant in our lives but we have been blissfully unaware of it. Re-thinking the art of 'home-making' is a good part of the solution. For years, magazines have been telling us to keep up with trends. Food trends keep us buying expensive ingredients and pricey meals. Decorating trends have us constantly dissatisfied with our homes. More money goes out for new curtains, rugs, paint, or furniture. Clothing trends mean a yearly dumping and re- buying of wardrobes for some people. We go through acres of toilet paper, tissues, napkins, paper towels and paper plates. Even though my family's finances minimize some of these issues, there is plenty of room for improvement.

First, I started buying in bulk. Lots of rice, beans, flour, and sugar. Also lentils, salt, brown sugar and honey. Next came the gardening. Lots of good, healthy food provided for my family. Then canning, dehydrating, and freezing. Also the making of our own cleaning products. Cheaper and healthier than store bought cleaners. And the foraging of local foodstuffs.

But it wasn't enough. For some reason, I just wasn't satisfied. It didn't feel like enough. Thoughts of self-sufficiency kept circling 'round my brain. Then came the goats. We purchased two Nubian does to provide milk for drinking and for making cheese. And possibly goat's milk soap as well. They are currently 'shacked up' with a male in hopes of breeding. Whether or not this will be a successful or worthy endeavor remains to be seen. More on that as it develops.

Fall came, the gardening ended, and things were quiet for awhile. Then something really cool happened. Friends taught me to crochet. My daughter learned as well and we are hooked.
(No pun intended) I didn't realize just how handy this was going to be until the holidays came and I found myself with no money for presents. No money? No problem!

William got a handmade scarf, as did Paxson. I also made and gave away hats and (my favorite) a crocheted coffee cup sleeve. It fits on those drive-thru coffees, protects your hands and is environmentally friendly.

Sewing was a blessing as well. I don't sew very well, but I do some basic things. So out came the bamboo pattern fabric and I made a lovely set of napkins and a tablerunner. Add $3.00 worth of pretty green chopsticks from the local Asian store to complete the set. A supercool easy-peasy gift.

Lest you start rolling your eyes, lets get something clear right off the bat. I am not, I repeat NOT, creative, artsy or handy. Although many of my friends are. (You know who you are: Kimmy, Dawn, Annie, Danielle, Shannalee, Jeri, etc.) All of this could not have been thought of or made to happen without the inspiration and help of God. So please don't be intimidated if you are thinking of trying something new. Especially if it benefits your home and family. God will bless a worthy endeavor.

Now then, I 've all of that just to say that this will be a recurring theme on the Eating Oregon blog. Many of the aformentioned tips will be discussed in greater detail with recipes or instructions if necessary. This category will crossover a lot with the whole Urban Homesteading theme as well as the Eating Oregon theme. And forgive me if I've mentioned most of this before. I'll turn 40 in May, blame it on age.

So, anyone out there want to write an article for the blog or send a recipe or tip? email it to :
ellenjeffery@verizon.net

-E

Anyone out there have great moneysaving

Pictorial Update

What better way to celebrate the holidays than by dressing up your cat? See the festive glittery accents of this stunning scarf? A 'must have accessory' for any cat. Note his look of thinly disguised glee.



















Max plays blocks with Dante'. She's taking it rather well, I think.

Eating Cookies............

........by the Christmas tree, in the warm glow of the fireplace. Max is playing, Dante' is crocheting, I am holding my husband's hand. The older boys are playing video games downstairs and the house is quiet, peaceful.

For now we are happy, healthy, well-fed and free. We are blessed by God and will not take even the small things for granted. Wishing your family the same.

gratefully,
Ellen

Coastal Christmas Tree

About a year ago I saw this amazing Christmas tree in a magazine and wanted to do it myself. Someone who lives near the beach had done their entire tree in shells. It was gorgeous!

This year our family went for the same look and had a blast.

No, it was not expensive. Shells were less than $10 at Walmart.

No, it wasn't hard. We hot glued fishing line to the shells and hung them on the tree with regular ornament hooks.

It was fast, easy and cheap. And so cute.
The big question was, "Now that we've done this to the tree, what do we use for a tree topper? Then I had an idea. The two large, blue starfish we used to decorate Paxson's birthday cake would be perfect. (See the July 11, 2008 post named 'birthday party'.) So Phil took wire and fashioned a coil for setting them atop the tree. Dante' and I dumped loads of hot glue between the two of them with the wire in between. Thus, the tree topper.

Now, I'm pondering adding to it. Should I hang pine cones? Tie plain raffia bows? Any ideas?


Happy Holiday Season,
-EJ

The latest

Whats new at our house? Crocheting. It seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. My oldest son, Richard , has now started and has surpassed us all. Just today he was giving instructions to an experienced crafter and he has only been doing this for a week! Sigh, it took Dante' and I awhile to get comfortable with the whole thing and then someone else comes along and makes it look easy.

Given the rough economy we are all about having a homemade Christmas. So everyone has been busy knitting scarves , hats, and fingerless gloves. Somewhere there is a repository for displaced glove "fingers". I'm sure it is located next to the bureau of unmatched socks.

On any given day you can find Dante, Richard, or myself hunched over a crochet needle, muttering. We go to stores and ogle all the expensive, soft yarns.

The pics here are not very good. My camera is 3/4 broken. In short, clinging to life by a thread. But you get the basic idea. The little book pictured is a simple project sewed for Max for Christmas.

Last night we went to a choir concert at shoreacres to hear William sing. He did very well and it was a beautiful night.

This afternoon we (Ok, "I") caved and cut into the fruitcake. It was tasty enough for me to eat way too much and feel chagrined.

Tonight we did the tree, but that will be a separate post. All is well at home and we are Grateful to God for His provision.
Peace,
-EJ

Spirits in the Material World

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
-Teilhard de Chardin

Random quote #2

The Autumn Sonnets Part 2

If I can let you go as trees let go
Their leaves, so casually, one by one,
If I can come to know what they do know,
That fall is the release, the consummation,
Then fear of time and the uncertain fruit
Would not distemper the great lucid skies
This strangest autumn, mellow and acute.
If I can take the dark with open eyes
And call it seasonal, not harsh or strange
(For love itself may need a time of sleep),
And, treelike, stand unmoved before the change,
Lose what I lose to keep what I can keep,
The strong root still alive under the snow,
Love will endure -- if I can let you go.

by May Sarton, from "Selected Poems of May Sarton" 1978

* Note: Photo and quote from http://languageisavirus.com/may-sarton/film_and_audio_photo_gallery.php

George Maxwell Jeffery

Maxwell has three older brothers and one older sister at home. All of them teenagers. This has afforded him a decided edge in language development. Paxson and I have always loved the fine art of "word-smithing", and it appears Max will be no exception. Even still, this little boy has the ability to completely stun me. Not with his big, multi-syllable words. Not with his intellectual concepts. But with the beautiful , simple expression of a three year old.

Last week, Max brought me to near tears by proclaiming "I'm really enjoying growing up." Wow. That is the first time I have ever been told that. It was the nicest thing I've ever heard.

Just this evening, as we walked from the van to the house, Maxwell's little voice from behind me offered "This is a nice place to grow up." Stunned again.

I am generously told "I love you" and even "your beautiful" by my little one on a regular basis. Then he directs me to keep quiet about it. "It's just our little secret" he tells me. Fine with me.

So, if you wouldn't mind, please don't tell anyone. Its just our little secret.
grins,
-EJ

what we've been up to

Tonight new friends Paul and Joanie came for dinner. Good friends Joy, John, and Melissa came as well. It was a lot fun. Amazingly, I was still able to pull together enough greens from both gardens for a salad. A few straggling swiss chard leaves from the community garden, and a few tiny lettuces from the front yard.

Dante' and I have acquired a new skill. Our friends Dawn, Annie, and Shannalee taught us to crochet. It is really quite addicting. Not easy at first, then so much fun! My first finished project was a tiny dishcloth. Dante' easily topped me by making two of them and turning them into a potholder. Nicely done.

The pictures here represent the last efforts of our garden and the first efforts at crocheting. Please note Maxwell's french radishes. He grew them himself and is so proud of them.

Also pictured are the cranberries Dante and I canned ourselves. They look so bright and beautiful.

Pumpkin ravioli with wild mushroom sauce

Dante' and I had a kitchen full of chanterelles and hedghogs and used them to create this fabulous recipe!

PUMPKIN RAVIOLI WITH WILD MUSHROOM SAUCE

1 can pumpkin puree or equivalent from fresh, baked, boiled or steamed pumpkin
1 small container ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
1 package wonton wrappers
2 sticks of butter
1-2 tbsp sage
approx. half a pound of mixed wild mushrooms, or whatever you can get at the grocery store

In a medium bowl, mix the cheese with the pumpkin. Salt and pepper to taste.
Fill each wonton wrapper with a very small amount of filling and use a finger dipped in water to seal the edges tightly. Lay filled ravioli in a single layer on greased waxed paper or foil to prevent sticking.

Next, melt two sticks of butter in a large sauce pan. Add sage to taste. Add mushrooms and gently cook til mixture is reduced slightly. Keep warm.

In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to boil. At a full boil, drop in 4-5 ravioli at a time. They will float to the surface when they are done. Remove and put back on the waxed paper or foil.

On each dinner plate, mound a few ravioli, topping with the mushroom mixture.

Eat Well!
-EJ

Return of the Red Lipstick!

No one is Immune......................................................















And I mean No one......................................................................

'Shroom -'o' -the- day': The Hedghog Mushroom

Hedgehogs are my favorite mushroom. They are absolutely foolproof. Unmistakable to identify, comparable to Chanterelles in taste, and a superior texture. This is, of course, a totally subjective opinion, but I challenge you to try for yourself.

As you can see from the picture, Hedgehog mushrooms are named for the hundreds of tiny 'teeth' growing under the cap. Take care when collecting them to keep this area clean. Once it's full of dirt, the dirt is there to stay.

Again, many prefer to dry saute' these mushrooms to extract excess moisture. After that, you may use them as you would any mushroom. They are just fantastic by themselves, though. And cute, I might add. But that's just me.

From the top they sometimes appear to be pale Chanterelles, but a quick peek underneath the cap reveals their true identity. They vary in color from white to beige to pinkish. Again, I must advise proper precautions and never eat an UNCOOKED wild mushroom. It is best not to regard them as a salad ingredient. Save store bought mushrooms for that purpose.

Hedgehogs are just coming into season now. Get out and grab some.
-EJ

Today's featured mushroom:The Shaggy Mane

Since I keep going on and on about mushroom season on the Oregon Coast, It's only fair to explain some of the different varieties we have to offer. I've talked a lot about Chanterelles , but they are not the only good edible mushroom around here.

The first picture above is of mature shaggy manes. This pic was taken off of the internet. The second two pics were taken of mushrooms we found by the roadside. They show shaggy manes in various stages of maturity.

Don't be too worried about picking and enjoying these mushrooms. They are listed, along with morels, sulfur polypores and puffballs as one the "foolproof four". Although, I'm not sure I agree with that list entirely, (I'll explain later) It really is nearly impossible to get these little guys wrong.

Shaggy manes are best picked when they are just peeking up from the ground (See second and third pictures , the second mushroom from the right). They are best dry sauteed to draw off excess water content. If your feeling adventurous, the internet has a surprising number of recipes featuring this mushroom.

As shaggy manes mature, they become prone to perishing more easily, and this mushroom MUST be eaten the day it is picked! Why? They turn to ink. Seriously. Look closely at the 3rd and 4th mushrooms in pics 2 and 3. See that blackness? Mushroom ink. Very yucky.

A friend of mine swears by these things, though. He has memories of eating them throughout childhood and really liking it.

As always, research them before you try them. Exercise proper caution when selecting and eating a mushroom your not familiar with. Happy 'Shrooming,
-EJ

Why I love my pets as explained by way of sleepless verbal meandering.

I'm not sleeping lately and it's my own fault. A few months ago I ran out of my medicine. It was always on my mind to get it refilled, but life takes the front seat and everything else falls behind. Big mistake. The result: sleep disturbance. The scary part is how subtly it builds at first, and then erupts into a major problem. I am so exhausted my body aches, my head hurts, my eyes burn and I can't think clearly. I have no energy and feel like bursting into tears over every little thing.

I get my meds in the next day or so, and should feeling better just in time for Christmas. 'Til then, just bear with me.

So I dragged Max to the stables today to deliver hay and was met by the usual loving 'hysteria' of the goats. I was instantly happy, even in spite of the insomniac fog surrounding my brain. It was nice to take a moment to scratch their fuzzy heads and watch them greedily chunk down a flake of hay.

Back at home,Max and I fed the bunnies. I was astonished when our large, mixed-breed Jack nearly fell out of the cage trying to get to us. We thought he just wanted food so we loaded him up on goodies. Nope, he wanted lovin'. So we brought Jack indoors, fed him treats and pet him copiously.

Jack was happily munching away at a celery when a few inches away, Aphrodite's fuzzy black face popped up from under a pile of laundry. She sleepily regarded the rabbit, then lay her silly head back down. It was cute enough to pull a laugh from the depths of my lethargy-induced apathy.

As I write this, Grrr is sleeping on my bed. Keeping in mind that he is Dante's cat, that's BIG. They say animals can sense when you don't feel good so I'm taking his presence as a gesture of good will. Either that or he's waiting for me to die so he can eat my face off and get his picture on MSN news.

Dante' teases me that I must have a tumor and her cat knows it. Ha-ha. So funny. If your sleeping at night, don't take it for granted. Hopefully I've learned my lesson.

peace,
-EJ

In a pinch

About a month ago my friend Jess gifted me with frozen raspberries. Today I turned them into fabulous homemade jam. I had to. This morning I made biscuits for breakfast. Slathered them with butter. Went to the cupboard-no jam. sigh....... then I remembered the raspberries. Yay!

There weren't quite enough for a full jam recipe so I substituted a cup of blackberries. Here is the recipe:

3 cups raspberries
1 cup blackberries
6 1/2 cups sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin

Follow the directions in the box of liquid pectin for processing. It is too lengthy to type here but jam making is easy so don't be intimidated. It is a simple matter of boiling the berries with the sugar and pectin then ladling the mixture into sterilized canning jars and boiling that for 10 minutes. easy-peasy. Plus, it tasted better than anything bought at the store.

A suggestion: If you don't want to bother with canning the jam, you can simply follow the directions for freezer jam. Its less complicated so long as you don't mind pulling some out of the freezer to use every so often.
-EJ

Oregon, your personal 'Kitchen Stadium'

Have you ever watched the TV show "Iron Chef?". It's a cult classic. The original show was filmed in Japan but there is an American version currently running on the Food Network. In a nutshell, a challenger goes head-to-head with a renowned chef in a one hour cook-off. The objective being to make the best dishes with the themed ingredient. The winner gets , well, nothing. Except, I suppose, bragging rights on national television.

What really used to capture my attention about this show was the availability of the very best ingredients all in one location. When the starting bell goes off, the contestants get to grab anything and everything they desire to cook with. That just made me a bitter woman. I'd think "Yeah , I could make amazing meals too if I just happened to have filet Mignon and foi gras laying about the house every day!"

Back then I lived in the state of Virginia in a really big city. Now I live on the Oregon coast and I have to say, it is kinda like having my own kitchen stadium year 'round.

Salmon are in season, Deer season just ended and Elk are now up for grabs. At this time of year Crabs are filling in their shells nicely so its the best time to catch them. Black huckleberries are still fairly abundant and mushrooms are just everywhere.

Since coastal weather is mild, we are still pulling lettuces and beets from our garden. Some people are still harvesting squash, broccoli and cabbages. There are so many apple trees around here , we drive through neighborhoods and see apples just lying in the gutters. stores are bursting with inexpensive local produce. What's not to love? You can pretty much get what you want within reason and guarantee it didn't have to get shipped in from , say, Argentina.

So I'm not so bitter after all. Iron Chef can keep it's kitchen stadium.

I really want this quilt!

How amazing are these quilts? I would love to have one. if you do too then go to: oldredbarnco.blogspot.com and follow the directions there to win one.

Beware the red lipstick

A friend sent me a gorgeously red M*A*C lipstick for the holidays. I'm not a huge red lipstick wearer but my friend Annie has raven black hair and perfect olive skin that just begs for RED so I made her wear it. Then I tried it, and it made us a little goofy.

There has got to be some kind of power in a tube of red lipstick. I'll share the pic with you. Just, please, be kind, and try not to laugh too hard at my mouth full of train tracks. Thanks,
-EJ

New seeds are in

Seeds Phil and I ordered for spring planting are in. I am really excited because next year we will try some new things. For general veggie planting we ordered:

purple haze carrots
baby bok choi
tiny seedless cucumbers that mature at just 3 in. long
swiss chard of geneva
straightneck squash
organic purple podded climbing beans

For our herb/tea garden we ordered:

Chamomile
catnip
stevia
lemon balm
borage

a couple of months ago I purchased seeds at the grange for 'just in case' reasons'. Those included:

greens- purple oak leaf lettuce, spinach, bright lights swiss chard, leaf lettuce

herbs- English lavender, garlic chives and cilantro seeds saved from this years planting

root veggies- red cored chantenay carrots, cylindrical beets, Kohl rabi, and turnips

onions- walla walla sweets, and scallions

squash- zucchini, patty pan and various winter squash

basics- peas, green beans, corn, lima beans

other- english cucumbers, green peppers, cantaloupe, broccoli, and Zinnia

If we put some planning into it, my hope is that next year's garden will produce even more than this year's. It will be fun to see how some of these 'specialty' veggies turn out.

I'd love to hear from anyone else planning a garden. Let's hear your ideas.
-EJ

What the heck is Salt Pork?

Salt pork is one of those foodstuffs I've read about, but thought was now extinct. I assumed it had gracefully exited the culinary world once tastier and less emergency-ration style foods became the vogue.

In fact, Phil and I had just finished reading a pioneer days sort of book to Max that mentions salt pork frequently. So, imagine my tangible surprise when I discovered it on the shelves of the Grocery Outlet. ( fondly known in my house as Grocery Outhouse or The Used Food Store) On impulse I snatched up 3 packages of the stuff. Now what do I do with it?

Other than it's Paul Bunyan aesthetic, salt pork has real uses and a solid fan following. A Google search turned up recipes for salt pork in the form of gravies, breads and simple fried-goodness. Interesting, to say the least.

Even stranger, this stuff doesn't freeze! Salt Pork comes out of the freezer semi-soft and 'squidgy' to the touch. I thought the freezer was on the fritz and ran back downstairs to see if everything else in it was in a semi-solid state. To the contrary, everything was fine.

Is it good? I don't know.........yet. We'll try it soon just for grins. If your feeling super adventurous, try it first and let me know. In fact, I'll get you started with your very own recipe.
Below, my gift to you:

-------------------------------------------
GRANDMA LESZCZEWICZ SALT PORK AND DUMPLINGS
-------------------------------------------

Cut salt pork into square pieces and fry very slowly. Pour off all the grease, make dumplings and pour melted butter over them. Fry chopped onion and add to the dumpling; add the drained salt pork. Mix some sour cream into a container of creamed cottage cheese or 1 package of Farmer's press cheese. Mix all together.

Random quote #1

"I barfed in my cowboy hat."

-Max Jeffery 11/08

Fall Garden notes, forage notes, self-sufficiency efforts

Already it's November and there is very little left in either of our two gardens. At the community garden some radishes, celery and beets remain. At home there is only an assortment of half-grown lettuces. The season passed so quickly. Here is what our family grew during our very first growing season:

Lettuce, green onion, Swiss chard, zucchini, yellow squash, cabbage, peas, parsley, beets, mustard greens, mesclun, oregano, radishes, chives, carrots, cilantro, green beans, cucumber, tomatoes, corn, cauliflower, celery, spinach, basil, mint, catnip, and lovage.

Until we actually wrote it down, Phil and I could hardly believe we had wrested such diversity from two tiny garden plots. We are so pleased with the results.

Our foraging results have been successful as well. So far, the lovely Oregon coast has provided, free of charge, : Huckleberries, blackberries, Salmonberries, and Thimbleberries. In the mushroom category we have wild harvested Chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, and lobster mushrooms. In the Miscellaneous category we have obtained crabs we caught in nets at the dock and even picked wild fennel seeds to use in salads and cook with.

Phil has not had any success yet at shooting a deer. Nor has anyone else I know bagged one this year. Still there is hope. Elk season is about to begin and I think Phil is going to give it a try. For some reason, the critters around just know when it's Fall and they disappear. I am convinced there is a four-pronged buck kicked back on a beach somewhere sipping pina coladas and laughing quietly 'til the season is over.

Other changes our family has made this year:
1. being really picky about turning lights off in the house.
2. All veggie peels and other bits of unused produce are being fed the various animals we own.
3. Buying in bulk and saving up for an emergency.
4. Canning our own veggies, fruits and jams at home.
5. drying veggies, fruits and herbs for home use.
6. making our own soaps and cleaning products.
7. bakin our own bread.
8. treating our belongings well and not regarding everything as expendable or easily replaceable.
9. Re-using grey water for the watering of household and garden plants. (confused? read my pre
-vious post explaining grey water and its uses.)
10. purchasing more clothing from second hand stores.

This isn't enough, but its a start. Next we need to look at additional ways to improve self-sufficiency, frugality and preparedness. But again, and I can't stress this enough, my families attempts at saving money were not done to make our life more complicated. It really has been a fun process. It has made us closer as a family, it has put us back in touch with what is really important, and it has seen us living a little better even in financially devastating times.

We may not always be able to pay the bills on time, but we are surviving, and in many ways, thriving. I am not suggesting these methods for everyone. But it sure is working for us and we are grateful.
peace, -EJ

taking stock

The year is beginning to wind down and I'm looking back on the positive changes of the last several months. I feel the need to evaluate all the endeavors of this year and fine-tune it all a bit for next year.

coming up will be final reports regarding gardening, canning, dehydrating, energy conservation and self-sufficiency efforts. What worked , what didn't and what I can try that I havent' already. It has been a lot of fun and a great education.

Update on the goat situation: Phil and Richard finished both the fencing and the goat pen. It looks really great. The girls are spending their first night in it and I hope they like it. Thanks again to my hubby for playing along with the wild ideas generated by his wife and daughter. :)

pumpkins, puppies, and legalism

Today was Halloween. As a Christian, a mom , and a Pastor's wife, the subject of Halloween is always a toughie. The mention of this 'holiday' can stir controversy and start fights faster than you can say "Holy legalism, Batman!" .

After a few years of avoiding this event like the plague, I finally grew tired of basing my actions on the fear of prying eyes and wagging tongues. The end result?: a great day. Maxwell gleefully skipped around the house in his dalmatian costume. He enjoyed the imaginative play. All day my little 'doggie' pretended to bark and scamper about on all fours.

In the afternoon, Paxson and Richard came upstairs to carve pumpkins with Max and Dante'. It was a rare moment to have most of the kids gathered together having fun. Paxson pronounced Maxwell to be cute and kissed his forehead. William emerged from his room dressed like a Ninja and he looked fabulous! I actually saw him smile before heading out to a football game.

Max loved trick-or-treating. It really was nice to be out in our neighborhood, chatting with friends, admiring the cuteness of other little kids and being a part of our community. We saw almost no 'scary' costumes. The smaller children go out earlier and were dressed very sweetly. I connected with people I hadn't seen in a while.

What is my point? Well, tonight stirred a bit of a memory in me. As a child, it was that feeling of wonder at being outdoors at night, the smell of the fresh, cool air, holding my mom or dad's dad, and that little bit of attention given by grownups handing out candy. "Aren't you cute?", they might say. Over the years , most of that got replaced by fear, legalism, and political correctness. Over time, Christmas parties at school became generic winter parties. Easter parties were blandly re-named spring parties, and Halloween became the devil's playground in the eyes of many.

Please don't give me a lecture on a pagan event practiced eons ago in a foreign country. That is not what we are doing here in the U.S. By that argument, we would have to give up Easter as well, and Christmas would simply have to go. After all, those same pagans who invented Samhain, also created Ostara, aka Easter, and Winter's solstice, aka Christmas. I can't speak for everyone , but I am assuming most of you reading this celebrate both the birth and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and savior and don't give a hoot what the druids were doing about the same time hundreds to thousands of years ago. There is my point.

Last week one my son's little playmates informed him that he loves Satan, simply because he was excited for Christmas to come! Now what on earth am I supposed to say to that? That just broke my heart on behalf of both the kids. But I am not about to interfere with what a little one's parents have taught him/her. It isn't my place.

Haven't we learned through the real teachings of Jesus , that what we eat, how we eat, when we worship or where, is not the way we 'earn' a ticket to heaven? Does anyone assume that God is so shallow we can buy His glorious love by refusing to eat meat, or worshipping only on saturdays? If I refuse to acknowlege the day of my birth, does it make me more holy?
Newsflash: read the book of Matthew. It says plainly "No man comes to the Father but through Me!" in reference to Jesus.
That's it. The only way.

Is Halloween really important to me? No, not at all. But it has become the point at which I stop following a crowd and look to Christ for my direction in life. For those who choose to eschew this day, that's great. Please follow your own personal convictions. And I understand your concerns, as I have weighed these same matters many times over. But God is to be the centerpiece of our lives, not our lists of legalistic 'does' and 'don'ts'.
Peace,
EJ

"Best Friends"

Joshua , Jade and Max


Thank you for the pic, Annie!

An ordinary day

What was great about today? It was ordinary. What a blessing.

I spent the morning getting the kids into their schoolwork, Annie and Josh came to visit, and we got to go play with the horse and goats.

The best part was making stir-fry for the boys and then taking my daughter and husband to dinner. Dante works hard around the house so she was treated to a quiet meal out with mom and dad.

Now its late, everyone is asleep, and I'm enjoying a few moments of personal time before bed. Good night, all.
-EJ

More pics,AKA "Making a goat shelter part deux"

This post should be called "What everyone else was doing while Phil made the goat pen!

building a goat pen

Dante' and her papa work on the fence together:

Another day, another endeavor. My sweet husband patiently supports my interests. This weekend he started building a shed for Dante's goats.

Since the goats live where we board our horse, stable owners/friends Coral and her husband Phil helped us out. No, that's not a typo, Coral's husband is also named Phil. We all had a great time. Around two everyone stopped to have a big lunch. Coral made sausage and chicken on the grill. There was also crudites, chips and soda. Coral's Phil brought out his guitar for my Phil to play. Max and Jade played happily for hours in the round pen. In the end, it was all about team work. Country life is pretty good.

Misc.

Lettuce in the home garden is really doing well. At the community garden today we actually got to pick a few radishes. This new batch is a different variety, red at the top, white at the bottom. Max loves them. Well, loves to eat them is a more accurate statement.

The goats, Robin and Locksley are my new obsession. ( I know I say that about everything) They are just so darned cute. They 'baa' for us when we arrive and bleat piteously when we leave. I feel like such a heel when they do that.

Lots of life stuff happening. Nothing to call the press about, just normal life. Youth group is going well. It's a great group of kids with a heart for the Lord. They are just super. We meet at a nursing home and have already made a new friend there. A woman named Teresita has sort of adopted us and we adore her. She is a retired school teacher, 77 years old, and she LOVES kids. We visit Teresita every week after youth and she prays for us.

The fine art of procrastination, part II

One of my favorite ways to avoid actual housework is to go to the beach. If I'm really indulging in avoidant behavior, I'll take the kids and go crabbing as well. Here is today's adventure: Dante' baited the crab pots with chicken. Then we all took a walk on the beach. Max found plenty of treasures to enjoy.


All the things featured in this and last post were done today. The only exception is the fall art. We did that yesterday. Is it any wonder I seem to always be posting at midnight? Maybe one of these days I'll wise up and learn time management.

Btw, I promised to be 'eating Oregon', and I did. We caught five crab that became an addition to tonight's dinner. They were fantastic!

-EJ

The fine art of procrastination, part I

What do we do all day? More than you could ever imagine! It goes something like: Shower, feed kids, feed bunnies, Homeschooling, cleaning, laundry, chores, errands, canning or preserving, feed/exercise horse, feed goats, come home, make dinner and start all over again the next day.

We do manage to work in quite a bit of fun due to my being a compulsive procrastinator. Some examples:

Playing with the goats. They have such darling personalities!

Fall leaf 'stained glass art'. This is the one we all did as kids. It's a classic. I had intended this to be a project for Max, but all the kids seemed to want in on the fun.

Playing with the bunnies is always a favorite.Today the weather was so gorgeously warm and mild. The sky was deeply blue, the air smelled of fall. We put all three bunnies outside to play.

Jack, our 'Senior citizen' bunny, sedately enjoyed his outdoor time. The little ones went spastic. They seemed to be playing tag with each other. One would pounce the other, they would hide in their little playhouse 'til suddenly one would dash out into the yard with the other hot on its tail. They coyly looked for ways to escape the pen and were sometimes successful. Cute, but naughty.