Vim and Vigor

This Moment

 

This Moment

Inspired by Soulemama

 :: A moment to reflect from the week ::

:: Simple ::

Simple dried fruit:

• Purchase natural applesauce (no sugar added), from the store.  Also, you can make your own homemade version  It's very easy to do, and the kids always enjoy this.
• We love to add cinnamon from bulk herb store, and it is so fresh, and smells almost like red hot candy.  By the way, did you know that cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar?  I've been adding it to everything lately, it seems.
• Now, just take your teflex sheets, and pour your applesauce onto them.  I set it to dehydrate at 110 degrees, although you wouldn't have to, being the apples were heated to make the applesauce. 
• I didn't even need to flip them, although in general when making fruit leather, it is a good idea.  Most of the time, I flip it when it feels and looks leathery on the top side. 
• That's it, you're done.....an easy, healthy treat the kids can enjoy making with you. 

If you don't have a dehydrator, I highly recommend the excalibur.  (No, I'm not being paid to say this!)  I purchased one because it's the only one with temperature controls---which lets you dehydrate at a low temperature to keep foods raw and their enzymes intact.  Also, the fan is on the back wall, and distributes the heat evenly.  I love it, and use it for all manner of things.  Raising bread, incubating homemade yogurt, fruit leather, raw crackers, crispy nuts (according to Nourishing Traditions), and the list goes on and on.  Love my dehydrator.

Have a blessed day,

Joy~

{This post is a part of Monday Mania, Fight Back Friday, and Frugal Friday}

 

 

Never, never, never give up.  --Winston Churchill

Spend less :: Trade more

A heat wave came across Indiana and much of America in the last week.  Temperatures in the hundreds were the norm, and the old men on the benches in town certainly weren't the only ones talking about the weather!

In these tough economic times, for many, it is hard to find the money to pay for air conditioning....if they have any.  You don't have to look far, and maybe you and your family, have fallen on tough times. 

I know we have. 

I have been looking more and more at trading, instead of spending.  Trading, you say?  Yes, what skills do you or you husband, (don't forget the kids?) have, that others may benefit from?  What are you looking for?

Here are some examples of some trading we've done, and are looking for:

-For a long time, I traded dehydrated buckwheat groats for homemade crackers or bread--I had a dehydrator, and my friend didn't.  My friend made the best homemade bread.  A win-win situation.

-Another family and ours have been trading doing each other's chores while our families' are on vacation.  In this way, we don't have to pay anyone to board our dogs, our animals are well cared for, and we know that our gardens will still be alive when we come home! Plus, they have a pool that we are allowed to use while they are gone.  Oh, yes, that helped us beat the heat last week!

-My husband needed a computer because of work taking him on the road a few days a week.  We certainly didn't have the money for one, but a friend who used to be a computer programmer, literally built us one with parts he had at home.  Brilliant!  It's not  a new computer, but it certainly does the job.  My husband then looked at his vehicle, to see about a mechanical problem he was having.  One techie, and one who knows engines.....helping each other.  The money saved I'm sure was in the hundreds of dollars. 

-My daughter longs to take horse riding lessons, but as you may well know they can be very expensive.  She is looking into helping care for and assist the owner in caring for the horses, in trade for lessons.  My daughter will really be learning how much it takes to care for the animals, which is an important lesson in responsibility.  Not to mention some sweat equity will be involved.  This seems even better to me, than in the past when I have paid for lessons.

-We also want to eat as nourishing a diet as possible in our home.  We believe it is worth every penny to buy as high quality of food as possible.  However; food costs are only rising.  We have been brainstorming ways to save on this as well.  We are considering a trade where we allow a friend who has cattle to graze them on some of our land, for free grass-fed meat.  We also are looking to trade our free-range eggs for some organic produce, as well. 

-Do you have an overabundance of a certain type of produce in your garden?  Maybe you could trade your pickling cukes for someones tomatoes.  You never know what might have grown well in your neighbor's garden, but met it's fate in yours. 

Helpful hints:

• Make a list of skills you or your family have.  Sewing, baking, meal planning, car repair, painting, lawn mowing, computer technology, photography, caring for children, gardening, just to name a few.
• Get the word out.  Ask, ask, ask.  Let friends, family and neighbors know your'e looking to trade skills.  We even saw the ad looking for horse help on craigslist.com.
• Know what you are looking for.  Want to take co-op homeschool classes, but can't afford them?  Maybe you can teach a class in turn for your children taking some classes.  Need some sewing done?  Maybe an older woman in church would do so, for a ride to the grocery store when you go.

You never know what needs others have until you ask.  This is such a fun way to build relationships with others as well.  I encourage you to get creative and find ways to meet your families' needs, without spending much out of pocket!

 Blessings,

Joy~

{This post is a part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday,Works for me Wednesday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday, and Frugal Friday}

 

::It's just tradition:: {This moment}

 {Please indulge for words added to my moment this week...I just couldn't help it.}

These "babes" as papa always calls the girls in the family, were having a high time at grandma and papa's house.  You see, it's just tradition.

 

Grandma has the most extensive collection of dress-up clothes I have ever seen in my life.

But then again, grandma has six grand-daughters who all love to wear them. 

My older girls now do a sophisticated version of dress-up.  More like modeling, you might say.  But, in vintage wedding dresses and such. 

They see grandma's hangars bulging full of all kinds of dresses.  Every color and fabric a girl could imagine. All six of the girls seem to decide at once to go get dressed up in a flurry.  Twelve hands all grabbing off the hangars, and buttoning and zipping up.  In a moment's notice, they can turn into a 70's bride, or look like they are just going for a ride with Gilbert at Green Gables.  

Oh, and don't forget the jewelry box which is spilling over with necklaces, clip-on earrings, and brooches.  Every respectable girl needs a  brooch!

And, the shoes!  Oh, my.  Really, I don't know if the girls always care about color--it's more the height of the heel, and how much noise it makes when they walk onto grandma's wooden floor to show any and all the latest ensemble chosen.  None of them are on the tall side, so every inch added to the heels makes them feel like a supermodel.

We just stand back and watch their personalities shine through, as the camera starts clicking.  Each of them lost in a fairy tale, if only for a short time. 

 

  Anne Shirley: Don't you ever imagine things differently than what they are?

 Marila Cuthbert: No.

Anne Shirley: Oh Marilla, how much you miss.

{Inspired by Soulemama; with words on this day}

Raw,homemade nut butter

 

I gave a whirl at making a homemade nut butter the other day.  I decided to try cashew/almond butter, for that's what I had on  hand at the time.  I put a 50::50 ratio of almonds and cashews in the food processor.

This is how it kind of went.....turn it on.....let it run for a minute......turn it off......scrape sides.......repeat.  This went on for quite a while.  It might have sped things up a bit to add a bit of oil, but I wanted to see what I could do without adding any extra oils.  It did take a while----but it worked!

As you may know from purchasing it yourself....raw almond butter is very expensive and a bit dry.  I thought I better mositen it a bit for my kiddos, and thought of what to use.

A drizzle of raw honey will do the trick!  That, and a pinch (or two) of sea salt.

 

There you have it.  Homemade raw cashew/almond nut butter for you to enjoy.  Alternatively, if you want to add a little nutrition power to your peanut butter or nut butter you have purchased, try adding a bit of flax seed meal, chia seeds or other power foods to it.   The kids won't notice...and you'll up their nutritional ante for the day, just by feeding them a nut butter sandwich. 

Blessings,

~Joy

{This post is a part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday, Works for me Wednesday, Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday, and Frugal Friday}

This Moment

 

 

 This Moment

Inspired by Soulemama

A moment to reflect

How being poor made us rich. Part 1.

 

{The innocence of our babe's smile, relieves the stresses of everyday life.}

There was a time when we had plenty.  It hasn't always been this way.  Being without money....or at least very much, I mean. I've been into health for a while, and I recall buying alot of my groceries at Whole Foods. I don't buy ANYTHING there now. 

I recall when I didn't even care about a budget.

Ha!

Those days are long gone. (Though we still eat very healthy foods.)

But, you want to know the truth of the matter?  I got what I wanted.  Are you crazy, lady, might be your first thought.  Having to sacrifice that wonderful face cream that made your cheeks feel like velvet and only cost an arm and a leg?  Or, what about having to turn down renewing that magazine subscription that you've always loved?  The one that made you do a little dance at the mailbox when it arrived?

Yep.  That's about where I'm at.  But, I kinda did ask for it.

You see, it's like this.  We have some friends that are very dear to us.  You know the kind I mean.  The kind of friends who would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.  The kind that you know are praying for you--not just saying that they are.  The friends you laugh and cry with. 

This family had their share of good times, but for a while things were pretty bleak.  The father contracted Lyme's disease, and couldn't work as much as before.  Money got tight--than it got even tighter. 

We walked through this valley with then, and watched God at work.

It. was. amazing.

Many people I'm sure were praying for them (including us), and they saw answers.  They needed God desperately.  When food was running out, it was provided.  Little things and big things were happening, and they had no doubt who was their provider. 

My friend would call me and say "Guess what God did this time?", and we would rejoice together.  Money coming in just when an extra bill they couldn't pay on their own was due.  Food was brought over, when the people giving, didn't even know they were in want.

I have to say, I was jealous for my family.

Jealous for that is our God too, and we weren't seeing Him move in that way.

We had all our needs met by a paycheck, right?  I mean, we KNOW as Christians that God is the ultimate provider....but I wanted to REALLY KNOW.  To have my children and my husband and I pray....then step back and see how God works. 

Sometimes it seems, when all is going well, and the paychecks are coming in....well, we're not quite as desperate for God.  We don't quite need Him, like we would if we would be going without, unless He moves. 

Well, I tell you what.

We're there.  Rough cheeks and all.

Don't let me fool you---this ain't easy.  In fact, it can seem downright impossible at times to figure it out in my mind.  We've had to totally turn around our thinking.  But you know what, in some ways, I am soooooo thankful we are where we are.

Why?  Glad you asked.

1. We are desperate for God's help.

We are not dependant in and of ourselves for our daily bread, or anything else we have.  We know that if it's in His will, he will provide what we need.  We have learned many lessons about money, and have had many a conversation with our children about it as well. We are seeking Him with all our hearts, and expecting to find Him. 

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

2.  Our children are learning the value of things.

No, they are far from perfect, (believe me),....though I do think they are some pretty awesome kids.  Because we share about our budget with them, and are very open with them, they know what we have and what we don't.  They don't beg for the latest game or gadget, or to go out to eat all the time.  They accept willingly what we choose to give, and are very thankful for what is received. 

We deeply believe that if a child never has to go without, it can develop an attitude of "I deserve that".  We believe "Work hard and play hard", is a great motto.  We all pinch in and work together, and then bask in the fruit of our labors, and have a lot of fun together.

For instance, we need to come up with quite a chunk of money to buy homeschool curriculum for the coming year for three of the kids.  Well, one way we will earn some of the money is by having a rummage sale. 

The kids have been furiously working the last couple of days cleaning out closets, and marking items to sell.  They will work hard, and reap the benefits of a great curriculum they enjoy, (and probably be taken out for ice cream cones to celebrate after the sale, as well.)

To be continued.......

{This post is a part of Works for me Wednesday}

 

Ye old fishin' hole

 

 A little weekend jont over to ye old fishin' hole. Jont is my grandmother's word for "little trip".  She also always calls pants...."slacks".  I encourage you all to use jont today in a sentence..it sounds a bit english.  Jolly fun, I must say. 

We have such fun with words around here.  We have found that every family we know, has some words that we've never heard before....and, sometimes we adopt them and use them, too.

For instance...our best friends here have five kiddos, two being a set of boy twins, who are now 4 years old.  There family has been over many, many times...and when they do, well....we just have a grand old time together. 

Not stop talking.  Lots of laughs.  That kind of thing. 

However, when it's suddenly quiet, and we are searching for her twins and Miss Lady K, we sometimes find them in kahootz together. 

Kahootz--when small little children are planning trouble together, they are in kahootz with each other.  It's fun to say, but not fun when your children are causing kahootzness to happen.  Believe me, when 3 three year olds get their minds together, evil things happen.

Oh, and other good friends of ours with 7 kiddos, (5 ages 6 and under!), they call their tooshies duffers.  You don't know what a tooshie is?

I'll give you a hint.

It's your gluteus maximus.  Your cheeks.  You know what cheeks I'm talkin' about.

My friend, well, she's got a lot of duffers to wash in the tuffers tubbers tub.  Whew.  That was hard to get out. 

 And now back to our regularly scheduled program....fishing with the family.  Okay, I think this mama is seriously lacking some sleep.  I'll get some just as soon as I'm done here. 

I have to say, I love the outfit Cowboy W donned on this day.  Wellies, plaid shorts from his Easter outfit, and a vintage basketball jersey from a team his grandpa coached in the seventies, I believe. 

 Unfortunately, we didn't catch a lot of fish. 

However, Miss Lady K did catch a grass bass. 

 

 Some just relax and enjoy the scenery, while others are working hard at catching dinner grass bass. 

I do love when we are all doing an activity together as a family.  With my eldest who turned 15-and my youngest only 7 months, it can stretch a mama's mind to find activities everyone is content with. 

It seems to me that if it involves water, it satisfies all.  Going out on our boat, fishing, picnics at the beach, and swimming are some of the ways we are enjoying time as a family this summer.  Oh, and don't forget the berry picking.  Oh, yes.

And, I heard today blueberries are ready for picking.

I know what we'll be doing this week!

Have a wonderful Monday,

~Joy~

This Moment

 

This moment

Inspired by Soulemama

A moment for remembering :: reminiscing :: rejoicing