Slow and steady.

Just a few things I've been up to lately.



-Making rhubarb sauce. (One of my favorite homey sounds is hearing the "pop" as the lid seals on the jars.)

-Slowly clearing out my kitchen of highly processed and refined foods.

-Finding ways to make snacks and other food items from scratch.

-Trying our best to stay off the "whites" ...sugar, flour, rice, pasta...

-Finding ways to get as much calcium and magnesium into our diets without having to drink pasteurized, homogenized (store bought) milk.

-Finding simple, eye pleasing ways to store the bulk items that I buy. (Eventually I would like to go with all glass containers and jars.) Slowly weeding out the bad plastics from our home.


I really love to organize my kitchen and am so thankful for the convenience of it's size and the simple look of it's decor.

What's your favorite room to keep organized?

Simple Pleasures

Sometimes it's the simplest of things that bring me the most joy and contentment.

I am finding so many little pleasures throughout these last few days and thought I would just make up a small list of them here to remind me of the peace that can be found in quiet and basic homemaking activities.

-listening to jazz and many other favorites as I putter about my home.

-folding laundry warm from the dryer.

-Exciting conversations with dear friends about all the new things we are learning.

-Lighting a candle while reading to my children.

- Vegetables grown local, purchased at the Farmer's Market.

- Savory, pure steaks from grass fed, organic beef barbecued to perfection... a treat for him on Father's Day.

-Being able to provide whole, real, often organic foods to my family. And having them say, "Mmm... this is GOOD, Mom!"

-Opening the fridge and pantry and seeing them full with nature's gifts, His Provision.

-Seeing the bread dough rise to perfection.

-Kneading that dough by hand.

-The aroma of baking bread that fills the house.

-Eating this again for lunch.

-Preparing a wholesome vegetable soup which now simmers in the crock pot.

-ridding our homes and our bodies of toxins and packaged, processed and refined "foods".

- having the energy to do my work as a mother and housewife and to find excitement in it.

There are so many more things that I could list, I am just so thankful and can think of so many things right now that bring a smile to my face, but I will stop here. What are some of your favorite pleasures today?

Homemade

I had my first ever attempt at making-bread-by-hand today! (In other words, without a bread machine).

And I am so pleased with how the loaves turned out that I just had to post pictures of them and of the delectable sandwich I made for myself for lunch. Avocado, tomato and lettuce seasoned with a dash of sea salt.

It was incredibly good and I think I'm hooked. I hope to make a couple loaves every 2 or 3 days,
thus eliminating the need for store-bought.

Do you make your own bread? I was surprised at how simple it turned out to be!

Just a bit of an update on my pregnancy so far.

On Tuesday i went in for a blood test to check my HCG levels and got a call back from my doctor on Wednesday who said they looked great. So that was very encouraging and so then on Monday (being yesterday) i went in again for the same test to see if the levels were increasing and they are! They're not doubling every few days like some of the sites i've read say they should but i know that that doesn't necessarily mean anything and that the Lord is in control, He has this child in His hands and I trust in Him...

...and so as long as i continue to feel well, i won't be going in for any more tests or ultrasounds or anything until my 13th week when hopefully the doctor will be able to hear the heartbeat!

I sincerely want to thank you all for your prayers of health and safety for the baby and peace for me. i am feeling very good and am getting excited about having a really healthy pregnancy.

Lots of fresh, cool, colorful smoothies and salads throughout the summer months! And lots of walking and relaxing out of doors. I want to enjoy this pregnancy to the full and if being healthy keeps me energized and joyful then i'm gonna do my utmost to eat as best i can and to be as active as possible.

I am so deeply thankful for the chance to experience another pregnancy, all of the good and even the sometimes not-so-good aspects of it all....

Photo credit here

Warmth Inside.

The most wasted of all days is
one without laughter.

~e.e. cummings


Yes, it's been another cold day... outside, that is.

I went to my sister's house this morning to help her clean and she unexpectedly invited me out for lunch. We went... just the two of us... her oldest daughters watched the rest of the children (thank you so much sweet Janina and Breanne!!!) and when we got back we sat and chatted and laughed.

Oh, we laughed so much, and it felt so good! I just love a good laugh... one where I can feel completely free to be myself... there's just nothing quite like it. You know what I mean?

Thank you, dear sister, for the warmth of your home and for the warmth you brought to my heart today.

Yes, it was cold outside, but that's okay 'cause inside all was warmth and coziness.

*****

I posted over at my other blog today as well! Click on the link in my side bar to your right.

Photo: Our backyard after a night of snowfall.

On a Quiet Evening Walk

No, this is not me though I wish it was... the streets where I live are not as beautifully treed. I really like this image, though, because this is what I do on winter evenings... I go out by myself for a walk in the cold.

Pondering His Goodness while out this evening and Thanking Him:

65. For the awesome expanse of starry skies above.

66. For the clearness of the Big Dipper.

67. For icy cheeks.

68. For the feel of fresh cold air in my lungs.

69. For the ability to take deep breaths.

70. For health that allows my to be out walking on nights like this.

71. For the bright colored Christmas lights that light up the neighborhood.

72. For the glow through the windows of trees lit within.

73. For people who leave the blinds open while they gather
around the table to eat so that I, who am walking by, can see
the beauty and loveliness of "family".

74. For the warm coat that my dear man bought me last winter which withstands temperatures of 40 below quite tolerably well.

75. For the delight that my children show me when I come back
into the house after only twenty minutes of being gone.
"Mommy, you're home! I missed you, Mom!"

76. For the warmth pouring from our fireplace that warms me when I come in.

77. And for the warmth of loved ones surrounding me.

78. For my DH who so generously tucks the boys into bed each evening.

79. And that he takes the time to pray with them and talk with them before turning out the light.

80. For a nice slow Saturday of being home... together as a family.

*****

So Blessed

I mentioned that I would try to remember to let you know how the lettuce was doing that the boys and I planted a couple weeks ago. Well, here it is! We have been enjoying it for the past 2 or 3 days on our sandwiches. It feels so good to be eating greens that I know are not covered in "junk"! Today I am thankful for:

10. Fresh greens grown so nicely as a result of all the mixed rain and sun we've been having.
11. 0.99 hats from the "Sally Ann" shading the heads of my two oldest, Jayden and Marcus.
12. A special moment with Allan(age 2) captured by Jayden(age 6)... He loves the camera.
13. Allan's blond head of hair bent over his own imaginary game. Thankful for times when he can entertain himself for once. He's definitely getting better about that! Yeah!
A wonderful day... full of many, many blessings.

Psalm 103:1 "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."