Bread Baking with ancient grains.

Down to Earth has a wonderful post on Bread baking. It is my desire and goal to learn a new skill every month (at least) . Bread baking has finally bubbled up to the top of my priority list. Several months ago a gift of a bread machine was given to me. It is running now testing out the kneading feature. For tomorrow (?) I may just try my hand at it. I have to get so *Gluten* this is the missing key. I do not want to make just wheat bread. The other grains are a problem because the lack gluten. Now the mystery is solved thanks to a wonderful woman who shares her wisdom. She and I are often on the same page. I love all different types of grains. I use many old grains and a few ancient ones. Millet, barley, oat and several others like amaranth and rye. Spelt is a preferred wheat for my family. I am allergic to wheat. Not the family but I am. Some grains find their history back to the tumbs of Egypt. It has always puzzeled me how to perfect the breat when useing thes gluten free or low gluten grains. I now have the answer I was looking for.

exploding peanut butter jar!

Oh yes...

Good Morning. The sweet kids awoke at 6 a.m. for they had a mission planned. The door to Dash's room was shut when I entered the hall...giggles and glee were to music of the morning. So Happy! These two siblings were calling Bat Man on Doves play phone, they also called several others to play jokes on them.
Hey..."it was not the real phone".
Although Daddy man and I played along and pretended they were in big trouble for it. Laughter and glee.
I left them outdoors (that sounds funny they were playing outside) in the cool morning air and as they played I took a fast shower. ...
I was getting dressed when I heard ...
MOM!...you know the high pitched one, with the alarmed questioning tone inflected at the end..."Mommmmmmmmmmm''
I sped to the kitchen.
Dove standing in front of the micro wave,with a frightened expression... said...
"it exploded!".
"What exploded?" I asked as I grabbed a frighted kid into an embrace, and took in my first wafts of plastic .
She pointed at the microwave...."The peanut butter"...
"what? " asked I, to open the door, and find a smoking jar of peanut butter with the lid attached, and fumes evading our space.
It was time to hug her, and explain about pressure.
You know the kind that explodes.
Oh! thank the merciful heavens, that the jar was very low and the contents kept in, and did not paint the interior of the microwave.
The jar was thrown out to rid the room of the plastic butter...

We had a delightful start to our morning .
Those two played with abandon, and had the most delightful time with each other.
They sang "put the lion in the coconut" over and over as they pretended to jump off high things
( I stopped them from actually doing that . I told them that I did not want to have to really "call the doctor").

Off to the buss stop. Happy kids. I am blessed.

The Lab is now howling like a lost pup. I never heard him do that . It was awesome! He looked like a wolf. He was low and long of tone with his neck out stretched. I went out and gave him a love.

I am feeling a fair bit better this morning I slept from 6:30 through the night. Tender and a little weak yet but better.

Look what I grew.

The kids and Daddy man hiked Saturday while I slept.

I went in to the doc

Hi, I called the doc and they wanted me in. I get to drive up there . I was so sick with nausea and dizzy I thought ..."how am I going to do this?"...
Well no purse, no keys! I had left it in the trunk of the car that my Beloved has. I called him he came to give my purse. I just told him he needed to drive me I was just too sick.
We both thanked God for the purse in the trunk or I would of tried to drive and not had to much fun at it. He will have to work extra to cover the time. Pray he has wisdom and his time bight be redeemed with me will ya...?
She checked my urine and no blood. She said my abdomen is just very swollen from the trauma.
She faxed in a Rx and we got it on the way home. I took it. For nausea and constipation.
I have 3 1/2 hours to rest before the kids are out early!
God give me your strength.
Thanks girls :)

hi,
I am not sure but I think I need to get into the doctor this morning. I am so nausea and now my belly is so full, My bowel just seems asleep. I am still in pain so perhaps I better get in. Mr U thinks that I may just be constipated from the medications. I fear that it is due to the blows. I am really hurting still. The ER guy said three days and better. This is the third day The pain is still there.
Oh I need wisdom and not to freak out or over react.
I have the kids to get off to school.

Sunday Smiles

Good Morning
Our sweet little family is rebounding. Dove and I talked and cuddled. The children are at peace and very happy and playful. After my ride through all my emotions my peace has returned.
Abdominal blunt force (link) injury could of been so much worse.
I am blessed that I am alright. The pain is better on my low pelvis, my kidneys the areas are still pretty sore as is my back. It looks like I am healing well.
Thank you for your prayers.
I might try to go on our date if I can. We would just go to the movies. I want to go see "fireproof" it sounds like a great date movie. I might get some lunch to go I am not sure I am up to going out. I want to be adored and look into my beloveds eyes without reflecting pain. I am still to take it easy , but the weakness pretty much maintains that.
I want to tell you how wonderful it was to be able to call my dear friend Jewel (nick name I call her for she is far more precious) she came at that instant and Mr U. came right home. My sister told me I needed to get to the hospital. The doctors office then told me the same thing. They were wonderful at the hospital. It was so good to know that the children were secure, playing with j. daughter and in J. care and all. My Mr U . was at my side. I was so thirsty and they could not give me anything to drink not even an I.V. for fear of internal bleeding. We were both so relieved that it was not happening. My kidneys really hurt this morning but I am mending. God is so good and has once again provided all I have need of.

Mr and I slept in while the young happily ones... played indoor and outdoor,... and indoor and outdoor...you get the idea. The dogs being started at the fall cool this morning wined to get in. I will have to get on crags list for a igloo or dog house for them.
This will keep them warm, of course you know 60* is just freezing Ha! My dogs don't know how to be dogs. Poor things.

I'll tell you though it has been a wonderful thing having outside dogs. I make sure that they get lots of loving and ball throwing.

special needs..., need special love.

Dove is forgiven of course.

I am a bag full of feelings with an abdomen feeling like a punching bag.
I am sad angry and I just love my sweet daughter so much.
The nausea medication is helping me and the pain medication is too.
She (Dove) is so hurt in her sweet spirit that she lost control and hurt me.
Oh it takes special love to understand and help a special needs child.
I needed God to empower me with that ability today.
I just could not do this alone.
I will miss out on my long awaited date with Mr U. and I am sad and angry about that. The day was so cool he took them hiking and then to a large park to paddle boat. I missed out.
I... well I took pain medication and nausea medication and slept. Bad dream after bad dream. I think it is the remnants of the morphine at the hospital. I need rest and I awake feeling so weird not having a clear mind. The dreams seam to snag me.
For those of you out there trying and doing your best with your sweet babies (growing children) that are different, special. You (we) are not a lone.
I think God is going to just make us able...
Come in where we are just flat out weak, and make us strong.
Heart broken and a bit crest fallen Your friend.

Parenting special needs kids can be dangerous to your health:)

I remember that my little girl does not mean to hurt me, and that my sweet son did not mean too either. Parenting special needs kids can be dangerous to your health:)
When your kids freak out whether they are special needs or not they just need to flee to their safe place. That for us is my loving arms. I am sad today that my kids feal awful that they hurt me. I have to not let them flee into my arm the same way any more. I am not able to bear the weight of them now that they have grown more and have become so strong.
Now if I have to I will need to step pack and let strangers hold them. I am sad about this.
The family went out on a hike it is 78* here high and the most beautiful day of fall weather as I have to rest and be real still. I want to avoid the pain medication as much as I am able. The nausia medication , I think I may go take that. Why...
God why do I have to keep getting hurt? Well I guess I better not allow myself that focus of pitty. I got hurt agin and I am angry too about it.
I have a date with my beloved tomorrow...Had may become the oppative word. I am frustrated! angry and sad. Cause you know I can not be angry at my kids...

blunt force trama to my abdomin

Wednesday at the pediatric doctor for the kids Dove hurt me then Dash too. All over flu shots. They did not mean too of course.

Please say a prayer for us they feel terrible they hurt me and I
Well after a theogh exam a ct with contract morphine and a hefty co pay. Blunt force abdominal trauma and bed rest.
Good night.
D

I am having a "blue " day :)

You Are Having a Blue Day

Today is the kind of day that challenges you to the core. You're going to have to stay cool. You have the intelligence, skills, and drive to rise to the occasion. Your mind is sharp. While things may be a bit chaotic, you are still taking the time to reflect and be calm. Today you are extra attractive and interesting to people. You are giving off a detached vibe, which is very intriguing.

What Color Day Are You Having?

"Funny" but true.

Thursday Thirteen

1.

The kids are playing school. The girls just taught Dash to carry in order to add 62+62 They are having fun.

2.
Yesterday on the way home from the doctors I took the kids through the reservation. Dee had never witnessed cotton growing before and was stunned. I was looking for a place to pull over so the kids could walk over for a closer look. We did so but found that we had to get back into the truck in a hurry. There are a lot of dogs on the reservation. I drove up a way and they all got out. We talked about slavery. The center bud has very sharp dry leaves that would cut he hands of the pickers. The balls of cotton have the seeds in them . The seeds are very sticky. The kids played with the cotton removing the seed the whole drive home.

3.
The dogs are now outside dogs. I have now the freedom to open my bedroom door in the night without a boomerang of a 90 pound lab to play the drums with his tail on every wall Wow freedom! The floors are visible as well. They stopped growing the daily balls of fir. The animals look so pretty lying on the lawn. I am no longer their slave.

4.
Due to that great hall of sewing things from that garage I had just what I needed to make the quilt for the baby.

5.
A family portrait taken for the adoption party for the closing of the agency. I made all the workers a scrap book page and we each signed it thanking them. I love my little family and am so grateful that I was able to adopt my children.

6.
The leaves of the zucchini are huge! With 4 inch fruit on them.

The flowers are amazingly beautiful!

7.
I am hoping to get to this project soon. I got this boarder for around a $1. a roll! I have had it for some time now. I may get it up on Saturday.

8.
The wild birds are hungry.My sweet Mr U. stopped and got a large bag of seed to fill the feeders. I need to open it and fill up the feeders today.

9.
I may get this at another time.

Now I do have my eye on this... for Dove and I love Plums.

This is a bigger cost, but older tree... so I will have to consider the cost ratio.

This is a longed for tree. I had one of these at the other estate ( I called it "Bird Haven Manor") and I grew them for jelly. Every year it was what I would give my friends and neighbors along with home grown navel oranges for Christmas.

The apple tree.

The children look most forward to this.
They are more like a crab apple and are great for applesauce or pies and such. It is the one self pollinating apple that will grow in my climate. There is the navel orange and the lemon as well. I will need a lot of mulch for the planting of the trees. I hope beloved will dig the holes for me. I just can not use this knee anymore like that. I have to see how much the day laborers would charge me for it. I have a gardener that I use once in a while. He helps me with the hard tasks I just can no longer do.
I thought of taking them to the nursery but I just am not up to it today.

10.

I saw this gate for the garden in august. Look at the price!

FREE!
The bottom of the freezer box is the frame. We had the scrap wood. I think the wood was 50 cents a piece.

11.

August 2008

This old plot of earth has come a log way.

Today
The cantaloupe is in the far corner...Yellow crooked neck summer squash, zucchini in center right.
Green beans thrive by the compost, beans and peas to the left did not thrive so well. Learning lessons daily.

12.
This is not a wave hello, it is a last second (oops), no pictures mom!
Did I tell ya...:) He does not like doing his breathing treatments.
Oh... don't let me forget to mention Dash does not like to do his breathing treatments.
Lord knows he won't let me forget that fact! :)
So "We" (ha ha) agreed,... I'd make his lunch if he did his breathing treatment.
The way to a little mans heart (breathing treatment) is through his stomach:)

13.
I need to get me a tip jar and a menu.
Dash wants "bow tie" pasta and butter, Dove and Dee want tuna salad...Dee will only eat it if I put mustard in it (I tried it is was pretty good), and I am having a salad.
I only have a few more bites left.
I have spent all morning sitting here with this silly post forcing myself to rest.
Like I have much of a choice. My lower abdomen was hurt by the children when they were in my lap and my knee and calf are terribly pained.
I just thank God that the kids are doing well today.
They are really trying to get along well. No reactions to the inoculations.

They understand that yesterday just plum wore me out!, and they really need to take easy on me.
Have a great day!

Thankful Thursday

I have posted at the other blog..."A life restored".

I am awake this very early morn, with such a deep compassion and urgency on me that I had to write it out.
I was so at peace now that I have "outside" dogs.
I was able to walk out of my bedroom door and give my heart it's needed release.

My heart is swollen with the grief that I see in the ignorance around me. I delight in knowing that I am loved and found myself so deeply touched to tears while reading Eph. and Gal. in the scriptures. It is knowledge unknown to so many and I am deeply thankful that I have the light of that freedom shining over my life.
I am thankful for clarity this morning as my mind is much sharper on my new medication. I am ready to go rest some more now.

Good Morning!
After an hour and a half more rest...
We are off I had a half an hour just holding my children of the sofa before the extra charge arrived. She too is special needs (emotionally abused badly by a male figure in her moms former life).
They are all calmly playing outside.
Dash is not amused having to tack a breathing treatment, I was able to get the albutral in him. I will have to do another breathing treatment of steroids in a little while. The doctor and I decided we would introduce the needed steroids in this form for children can recover any growth loss sustained using it. I have to give him four treatments of the albutral and two of the steroids daily and the anti biotic and the zyrtec. After the 10 day run I give him 2-4 of the one and 1 of the steroid every day for the rest of the season. This will be his prventative. The advar is a drug with bad side effects (we choose not to use it) as is the singular (real bad for little boys).
I am so grateful that I have everything needed for him. Unlike so many mothers around this globe.
It is very temperate outside for the kids on this their day off for fall break. They are playing well so far togeather may it last.
Well fortunatly I have the supplies I need to finish three gifts for upcoming events. Also the curtins. So I am off to tasks. I can day so far. It is a beautiful thing seeing children , just being children. Playing with mud and making "pies".

Fall break begins with a bang!

My first garden harvest.
A crooked neck yellow squash.

Wow!

Dash gave me such a hard time over his breathing treatment. Speaking harshly to me with an angry tone. He wants to be a "normal" kid so bad. He is angry he has asthma. I understand that, but wow it is tough to be spoken to in such ways. I had to set a strong boundary. So began my morning. I got them off to the bus with seconds to spare, we are usually early.

I have a baby shower coming up soon and this is a little boys quilt I am working on.I got to it today.

The bathroom window curtain needed to be lined. I will finish it and turn it our tomorrow.
This afternoon pulled it up out of my toes!
I pulled up to the school and awaited the children's arrival. The office told them to meet me at the "corner" not the curb and so late they came . Dash was so..late I began to get annoyed and a bit worried. Dove entered the truck angry...very angry. My other little charge (Dove's class mate we will call her Dee) was defensive. Here we go!
So the drive up to the North part of the city was tense and 20 miles away. Dove spoke harshly to me and I had had enough. I set a strong boundary rather imperfectly and then had to amend it a bit.
Once up there I stopped to get my Hormone at the apothecary shop and the girls just both had had enough. Dee had spoken very mean at school to Dove when Dove was just obliging her by playing with other friends. Dee could find no one else to play with so took it out on Dove. Now remember Dove is special needs, she has social cognitive dysfunction. It looks liked a kid who is innocent and gullible. A kid who is easily intimidated and manipulated. So Dee is a child who has had a real rough journey and is a master manipulator who is just now learning boundaries. Needless to say a half hour standing in the parking lot with a very VERY distraught and crying and angry little Dove who felt so confused that she was beside herself trying to understand why this little girl was behaving so. Then we have Dee who need to be lovingly confronted that manipulation is not alright. Dee needed help working through jealousy. Lord Lord...no one has tough this child! So It is I who now have the wisdom to offer her. Our pet saying is ...Dee, you are the kid...I am the mom, be the kid! I found the provision , all I needed. Father... my soul subsistence, all I need. Wisdom prevailed and working patiently I broke through this kids wound of abuse by a former boyfriend of the Mother. Who the mother is in hiding from. The child even has died hair to protect her.
Oh Lord a world of sin and danger.
Well now at 1:30 I had three kids waiting in the doctors office going stir crazy. Needing to go potty one by one. Then the visit and the clear instructions on Dash's long term asthma care review over three treatments four times a day. The controller used as a breathing treatment of steroids as to protect his growth.Three stir crazy kids spoken to in sign language as I kept constant focused eye contact with the awesome physician. I thanked him and then told him he was awesome and thanked him...He paused and said..."well I was thinking it was you who were so awesome. I have this only ten minutes and you have it constantly. "
Oh! and then came the flu shots!
Dove went into full blown panic.
All 60 pounds of her climbing all over my lap like a toddler.
Oh my knee!
Dash went first and I tried to scoot the chair over to reach him, but Dove in lap .
Dash melted down and took into flight.
He cornered himself in refusal, and Dove left my lap (thank God).
I got to Dash and finally just had to secure him.
Then it was the "oh that was not so bad"...!
Doves turned into "PANIC", red faced crying 11 year old child as a 2 year old. If she could of melded into me it would have happened. As she pressed into me on my lap.
Three boxes of dots candy in my purse ...I asked them if they could hold them because they made my bag too heavy :)
They were all Much obliging.
Then It occurred to me Dash needed a chicken pox booster and review of records confirmed it. Here we go...
Dash again freaked out.
52 pounds of angry frighten little boy on my lap.

You Are Having a Pink Day

Today you are focused on other people. You are needed, and you are happy to help. You are willing to be nurturing, even when it's a bit draining. Right now, you can't say no to family and friends. You are bringing tranquility and hope to those around you. Just make sure to take care of yourself as well. If you become too worn out, you will be unable to be truly helpful. As hard as it may be, you need to put yourself first today.

Ha ha....

I stopped by the other pharmacy for my pain medication for my knee and my twin jet (epi type) pen . They taught me quickly how to use it encase I am exposed to latex again.
Kids in back seat ready to be home and play and Dash had to use the rest room real bad. I drove home.
When we all got home it was all as if nothing ever happened.:)

so...I had the big brother (a young man in his very early 20's) to pick the child up. (late at 5:50 when due at 5:30)
He found a safe place to rest, a moment and open his heart.
I gave him a drink of water and a bit of support. He left so wherry.
The children are now finished with the breathing treatments and are being read to by the Daddy Man.
I am tired. Poured out and satisfied that I made a difference today in the lives of my children and others.
Talk about a garden harvest!
Man I grabbed this day by the tail and whipped it real hard!

You Are a Thumbs Up

Your life philosophy can be summed up as, “Tomorrow is another day.” Your greatest wish is for everyone to be content with what they have. You are naturally content and optimistic. You encourage people to be happy. Even if life isn't perfect, you believe that life is what you make of it!

What Hand Gesture Are You?

No school tomorrow .
My extra charge arrives around 8:00 a.m. and stays tell around 5:30p.m.
ye ha!

Wordless Wendsday

"The Editor is in"