Some weekend reading

MMMM, some Shermer to soothe the "soul" =)what about those bees? httToxins? Food Additives? This is not an endorsement, I just read it. Don't know what to think yet.

self-sufficiency for it's own sake

There are a million arguments against many of the choices that I have recently begun to implement in my family. Some of them involve how unnecessary the impact I want to make is. Other arguments are that the environmental change I want to prevent isn't happening, studies are wrong, false information, confusing economics. So, maybe there is no global warming (bear with me) there are still very real economic reasons to wean our country off of foreign oil; and definitely selfish financial reasons to get my own home off the electric company's dollar. And, do we really want to dig the entire face of our planet to heck just to keep using something that could be replaced. There are so many studies on every topic (see the links)that it is difficult to sort out the truth. Maybe I haven't, but that doesn't mean that I stop trying. And I don't believe in too late, I believe in "let's try, at least". And, perhaps not everyone will suffer from the foods that I avoid, but do I really want to gamble that I will be lucky. I have already learned (from the death of Ethan) that I can be one of the few unlucky. Besides, simply by lack of knowledge I've taken enough chances. Also, when you really examine the consumerism/ materialism for what it is, who would willingly participate in that system. Not I. At any rate, I am home with 4 kids and they need things to do. A little self-sufficiency never hurt anyone.

what's been going on...

Morlynn made these delicious apple muffins, and we played with the trees. Pretty much business as usual. So far a fun week, and it is only tuesday. I am working on pics from Jelly bean's birthday party. Peace.

Motivation- an addendum...

As much as I love a good audiobook, an even more effective motivator is a good solid deadline (a nagging, fed-up husband can also aid=)). I happen to have a deadline now; so, let me brag about what it made me accomplish. I finally have sorted and prepared our first "we recycled everything" recycling pile. It consists of about 2 months worth of recycling including a Christmas time addition. Next weekend is Jewel's 1st birthday, so it has to go. Trent has threatened to throw it out, and I was forced to use the "I'm new to this, let me get used to fitting it in to the routine, I need to do some more research, and it will impact the kids more to see how quickly it piles up" excuse. But, alas, it was way easier than I expected (as usual) and it is done. Now, I get to meet the man who comes to pick it all up and ask for more boxes. I also want to make sure that everything is acceptable; you know, learn something new. Like, what is the deal with "food contaminated paper". I have been avoiding this because I predict a look of oh no, it's "that crazy lady with too much @#$%; whose kids should be in school and not bothering me with her questions". =) Self confidence is a booger. On a side note, the cloth diapering is going great, the snappi's just came so I have been able to use the prefolds more easily and that helped. peace,

Finally

Taylor is home again. He is retelling the harrowing tale of the snake in the shower. Yeah! He's home.

This week

Ahh, the sweet cacaphony of the early morning impromptu jam session. Morlynn graciously accompanies. Trevor is waiting for his turn. Not for long. Morlynn took this one herself. That is her favorite pillow. We are still taking it easy. Taylor is not back from the holiday adventures. But, we did manage to make a bowl with a kit that Morlynn got for Christmas. It is basically made by melting and shaping plastic pellets. Quick, easy, fun; and Morlynn just studied "melting" a few weeks before the holidays started. She has been with her mother while they were off work for that day that lasts a week and a half. =( Anywho, I am glad that everyone will be back next week. Oh, and the diapers are wonderful. I am spending only a little more time fiddling with them, but I haven't had to use my last few disposables yet. It can be done, who'da thunk. So here's a few pics of the bowl celebration and the cute diapers.

Mac & Cheese

This is my macaroni& cheese recipe. I had to come up with something to replace this old staple of our unhealthy diets. So, I added some veggies, took out some cheese and saturated fat. It is not rich and bad for you, but it is good. And, it reheats great; so I make it once a month, and keep it in the fridge. (usually lasts less than a week around here.) Also, I estimate that the entire dish has about 70 grams of sat. fat, so we eat small portions of it at a time. Macaroni noodles, about 12 oz or so. Usually 100% whole wheat, but tonight semolina. Shredded cheddar cheese, about 10 oz. Ours is natural white. Shredded yellow squash, 1 medium. Shredded zuchinni, 1 medium. Cook noodles; I leave it still firm, almost done. Drain it and cool it slightly. Then, heat about 1 tbsp of butter in a pan and add a cup of milk. Stir in 2 tbsp of flour. When this is just warm, pour onto cheese and squash mixture. Add 1 egg and stir together. To make it thicker and richer add another egg. Stir until egg is incorporated. Combine noodles and cheese mixture then place in caserole dish. This time I shredded smoked gouda on the top and let it get crispy, then at 18 minutes, I stirred it all together. It cooked another 13 minutes or so at 375. I change this recipe everytime I fix it, but this time it turned out very good.

Well, here we go...

I have finally had the courage to make many of the changes in our home that I have wanted to try for years. There were always a plethora of excuses; until my concern outgrew my lifestyle. Now, we are going to try to reduce our trash to almost none. We have already cut it down by at least 75%, which was in some ways more work than I anticipated and in some ways more rewarding than I expected. Now, I have begun to use cloth diapers, hopefully all day, everyday. I am concerned about the additional time this will take. But,I am more concerned with the dangers of disposable diapers. So, the adventure begins; and so far it is easier than I anticipated. The cloth diapers of today absorb, smell, and clean much better than they used too. At least, I am told that by "old hats" at the cloth diapering thing. I wish I had made to conversion 5 years ago, when I first starting wishing for it. The initial cost scared me away at first, but I greatly overestimated what I would face spending. But, I would rather be wrong and change; than be "right" and never learn anything. Older, wiser. ha ha ha Peace

Catching Up

I can not think of much I enjoy more than a good audiobook. It is the only thing that will motivate me everytime. When the chores get behind I will use a book to stay on task all day and catch up (or all week, as needed =)). Today I dusted off How To Win Friends and Influence People. I was not blessed with patience, good manners, or any form of self-control (that sounds worse than I mean it to). So I have been a victim of reading "self-help" books. Most are a waste of time, but this one is like a bible of common sense and I enjoy it. I am happy that I have managed to apply much of it already. And it is only typical that I still have gobs to learn. So for now, I am using it to focus on laundry, recycling, and floors. Anything is enjoyable with a good audiobook. Peace

Family quote for the year

"Aye, We're just learning spanish. But, we be fluent in pirate!"