Meals

We have decided as a family to embark on a "special diet," as Gus calls it.  

We are trying to cut out processed foods, artificial flavors and colors, and preservatives as explained in 100 Days of Real Food.  

And we're trying to do it on a budget.

It's a little crazy, I'll admit, but I also enjoy cooking and baking and planning.  Today is Week 1 on my own meal plan.  Previously I'd been using the ones you can get on the 100 Day of Real Food website.  

So, here's my very first, official meal plan.

I think that this is the recipe I'm most excited about:

And I think this (Cheddar Garlic Biscuits) is the one Scott will like the most:

So, I'll keep you posted on how well it goes and whether I actually stick to it or not! 

Chickies

Next spring, we are hoping to add chickens to our little homestead!

Scott has come up with an amazing idea for a mobile coop we can move around the yard, so the poultry don't tear up all our grass...and so they can forage for bugs!  He went to a farm a few weeks ago where they do this successfully with a thousand chickens.  Of course, we won't have that many, but we like the idea.  

Anyway:  Enter our 8 year old deal hound.  Over the weekend, Gus spied this awesome trailer/back of a pick-up on the side of the road.

Long, long story short, he got us this sweet, redneck trailer for a total price of $25 and helped Scott tow it back to yard.  He loves his Datsun!

Scott is going to build some nesting boxes and figure out how to attach an electric fence,

so, come March we'll be proud parents of a bunch of cute little chicks!

She's 6

It's hard to believe that Kip is 6.  

She is a sensitive, cheerful, nurturing girl.  She loves to take care of anyone hurt or sad and is a wonderful cuddle-er.  She is quick to pray about anything and everything.  Pink is still her favorite color and stuffed animals are her toy of choice.  She is blossoming in kindergarten, loves showing off her new sight word reading skills and can spend hours (seriously) working on coloring projects.  Most days, she is a good playmate for her brother, but sometimes needs her space and quiet.  She wants to be a nurse or vet when she grows up.

We had a party on Sunday for her with family and a few girls from school.  

We love you, big girl!

Autumn

Today I had a "theme" day at home.

  All things Fall. 

 I put the garden to bed (minus the overgrown tomato bed, because I ran out of room in our yard waste bin). 

 I tided up the porch and watered our fall flower pots. 

 I put my winter clothes in my drawers and took care of Kip who is home sick with croup. 

She's a wonderful patient.  Just popsicles, juice and lots of tv.

And finally, I finished my first "antiquing" project! 

 All of our other battered items are legitimately battered 

because they are old and loved.  

This chest is old and well-loved, too.  An old toy box from my grandmother.
We are going to use it to store pellets for our stove this winter.

 I decided it was time for it to match all of our other old treasures 

so I tried my hand at antiquing it.  

I've now decided I'm going to do this on ALL my future projects because I hate the detail work of painting and this is the EXACT opposite!  

You paint it fast and messy.  

Then you mess it up some more which hides your painting errors. 

 It is the perfect type of project for me!! 

Hope you all are enjoying Fall wherever you are, too!

Embracing Reality

Today, I'm having one of these days:

Coming back from vacation (hoping to do a post on that soon) is always hard for me.  The hours of relaxation always inspire me to come back and take my game to the next level.  I used to spend our car rides making lists of all the amazing things I would accomplish once I got home, refreshed and renewed.  I learned years ago that I was never able to follow through so I've quit making lists, but I still can't get away from the idea that once I get home things will be better. More productive. I will finish ALL the projects.  You know how it is.  

Then, reality sets in.

I need a vacation from the vacation.  Things get off to a slow start, but my mind is still dreaming of that new level I'm going to achieve.

For fun, let's take a look at how this plays out in my head, shall we?

I imagine our garden will look like this:

Reality:

I'll finally hang some artwork:

 Reality:

I'll finish repainting Kip's dresser:

Reality:

I will follow through on my commitment to keeping my laundry room neat:

Reality:

The front porch will be an oasis:

Reality:

Everything from the suitcases will magically get put away in beautiful, organized bins:

Reality:

We'll finish the home office we've been working on:

Reality: 

My children will be beautiful angels who cherish one another at all times:

 Reality:

This one teases... 

until this one cries.

 But then....

Sometimes I find beauty where I did not plan for it or work to make it grow.  Pure grace.  Not through any effort of mine.  Free gifts, if I will take the time to look for them and enjoy them.

Reality: