Kids had some cool achievements occure

Good Morning!
Stunned at the turn out of parents!
The cars were lined up all around the block. I happened to look over at the lot as I pulled up and saw the only spot open within the court. I pulled in had a very little distance to walk just as they anounced Dash Hawk to the podium. Them moments later not even two minutes Doves name was called. Just walked right up to them and got the shot!

Dash was being annoyed by a little guy behind him

Dove was so happy and glad to see me.

After asking the staff if they needed any help she said they need pictures for the year book so I took over thirty shots. Here the 6th grade orchestra is playing the release of assembly piece.

They all really did a good job.
I had to remove the pictures of the kids they had their name on them sorry

The kids both independently won student of the month, so there is a n assembly in the morning to honor those who achieved it.
Dove even was elected to the student council and Dash finished up his stint just before Christmas.
So Dove was elected by her class to represent the 4th grade students in a session with the principle to answer "how can our school improve".

A Day of first Bread and Soy Yogurt!

I will be discarding the bread maker and do it by hand.
This is much more time wise and I love the end result!

The flour was ground in the magic mill (grist stone mill).
By using "vanilla spin" the kitchen aide to mix then kneed the bread it saved so much time
I made a BIG mess!

I made bread!
5 c hot water
2/3 c sugar
2/3 c canola oil

6 cups flour
I used some regular flour
some soy flour
some rye
some spelt
some corn meal
2 tablespoons gluten
mixed well
then added

2 tablespoons rapid rise
1 tea salt
mixed well
then

another 4c flour
spelt and rye

heated the oven to 250 and then turned it off after I used the miser to kneed it for ten minutes I turned it out and added more flour via kneading and then put it in oiled pans, turning it in the oil.

350* for 45 minutes.
brushed canola oil on tops

Those are baked egg shell to grind and give back to the chickens in their food.
I baked it with a pan of water in the oven.
Nice moist loaf.

It sliced beautifully.Dash Hawk had his wings clipped today with a low fever and a hard nights rest.
So home today he was thrilled with the bread.
Woo HOO
I am the one who had been so scared to do this .
This is the third attempt before success.


This bread sliced up beautifully!
By useing my long spatula to lift up the loaf, it slid nicely into the bag.
Thank you MILove for the bread bags. SHe gave me those a few years back and just today I made good use of them.
The meat slicer worked great!
The crust was a bit crisp, so it was important to go slow and use the next slice to finish the cut of the one befor it.
The loafs were oiled lightly once out of the oven with organic canola oil.
For supper we had home made bread
homegrown tomatoes
hand raised chickens' eggs
homemade mango jam
Oh How awesome!!!!!
It was a life long dream come true

Oh let me tell you about home grown tomatoes...
Well I never ever had one before!
OH MY MY MY
That is what life taste like.


An attempt at homemade Mayonnaise.
Well attempted =

A BIG MESS WITH NO RESULTS
2 out of 3 is not too bad!
Prissy (the chicken ) laid early and we waited a long time for another "room temperature" as in fresh from the bird egg.
I guess that might have been a problem as MILove pointed out.
That is not exactly room temp.
It is a very very trickey process where you can curddle it very easily (like I did) boo hoo


I tries several times , but no success.
I'll give it a shot another day.
I have made it before.
This is finished and inventoried.
Some Catholic churches will receive your unused prescriptions to be used at the clinics. This for folks just getting out of the hospital with no insurance.
I found through St Vincent De Paul, charitable foundation.
I have separated out a few for them and some extra ace bandages.
That box is surplus supplements and vitamins, next to it the pink is empty plastic jars and such.
The first aid center is cleared of out dated items.

homemade soy yogurt
I made a double batch.
Look on the side bar for the recipe and instructions for the soy yogurt.

115*

Thank you MILove....
She gave me this machine and it has 10 jars (an extra set)

This is a recycled Styrofoam box that Dash's medications came in.
It is my incubator for the overflow of my yogurt second batch.

A recycled pickle jar is holding the hot water.
It is covered in towels.
Three more hours then it goes into the refrigerator.
After 12 hours in refrigeration It will be ready to eat.

I had some of the mango jam on the bread tonight. WOW
I look so forward to the yogurt with it.

I gave it a taste at the eight hour incubation.
Very creamy and smooth.
It is not tart at all yet.
Needs more time.

Kellogg warns not to eat its peanut butter crackers

Warning!

I like home made...don't you :)

eggs all six chickens laid today for the first time!

Dove is doing so well with her Braces.
I stand amazed at the ease of this process for her. She rarely if ever complains of discomfort.
What a blessing. With as such shifting and the degree of corrections she is under going I know this is once again Gods doing.
It has become a tradition when they change the wires to get the "bunny picture"
this was yesterday and she is doing fine today!

Pectin and sugar and fruit.
Fruit in the food processor , then just stir the sugar and the pectin in a bowl, then add to the mango and stir.
Let it set for several hours.
Can be used as freezer jam.
In pursuit of the best yogurt ; I made some fruit for the bottom of the cup, so to speak.
Mango, and blueberry.

This is the mail order, non dairy starter $$$$40. for this Use only 1/8 th tea. for a large batch.
Then if I stay on top of it, a starter of the last batch can keep the culture going and I will only need to use this if I drop the ball or the kids happen to eat the last one.

Mango jam

I grew these!!!!!!!!!!!
They are greening up on the window seal.
Is that cool or what?

The blueberries may not turn out due to the fruit being in the deep freeze a month too long. Another good reason to keep an inventory.
Ya got to start that inventory somewhere.

That is the equivalency of 3 large eggs a day!
Not to shabby for a home clutch.

Another day another migraine...oh arg!
I am so sound and stress sensitive it is amazing.
Somebody come take all these spikes out my head please!

Some how I made it to the school this afternoon.
With sunglasses on the whole time.
The teachers were very understanding.
The kids had parent / teacher conferences today.
They are each doing so well.
Dash came home with a strobe light necklace .
Irony! He calls me into the laundry shut the door to be dark and said look mom.
Me stupidly looked not knowing what was next, wham the migraine thumped in my forehead like a hammer! So the EEG will be real fun...They use those during it. I hope that gives them the information they need.
Can you believe it! Dash to come home with that Today of all days!

The tomatoes are ripening at the window. There are a few more an the vine and several billion dollar ones the tiny bite size ones. They are green and small yet.
My children are so understanding, I am not doing the best parenting today at least not this morning. I just froze up and got way too frustrated trying to get them fed and out the door.
Amends made , but I sure hope this changes soon.

I made some fruit jam for the yogurt but did not get any further than to begin sorting the laundry. I canceled my Moms In Touch group for I was by then on my bed head to the pillow.
This too shall pass.
I have bread and yogurt and supper to do but just am unable to do it.
You know your vital when the whole truck comes to a stop when your the gear that runs it.
We always have peanut better and jelly :)
Crackers if no bread!
I made them a large bowl of popped corn and they found great satisfaction in that.

Well I'll go tend to some laundry if I can and await my Beloved. Perhaps he can make up something...I'll try.
life is funny how humbly we are brought to our knees. It is really not so bad when My Maker gives me that extended hand up when I can't get up on my own. Assent. being lifted up. Lifting Him up. Ascension , pushing through the trial into the upper reaches of hope and trust.
I feel a short story coming on.
Perhaps...
At least my head is not moving when I am writing...ha:)

Gratituesday

Good Evening

This sounds like a healthy new meme for me.

This day I was so fortunate to get into the neurologist at 9 a.m.

I had called yesterday on the way home from the appointment with the other care provider.

I spoke at length with the Neurologist.

He stands in wonder at my survival. He asked me about the severity of my sexual abuse and the murder that I witnessed and as to whether my parents were involved (they were).

He then told me how the brain gets so damaged by the cortisol that it can sever the sections of the brain from storing memory and information properly. That felt somewhat encouraging.Perhaps that may be the cause.

He has actually educated himself on some new findings of how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can effect the brains functions for a life time. I must say it was wonderful to be respected. Although we may still be facing the big "d" it may not be that, or as he put it there are many types.

I had the blood work done today, a full dementia panel. They will have a person come to the home for a special test for the DNA marker for those who have a marker showing potential for Alzheimer. This is as he put it being through. I must lay it down. I am so ....trusting God (I am working on this here) trusting God to protect my health care coverage.

I will receive a call from the MRI department to set that up once the blood work proves I am healthy enough to have the contrast dye for I have one MRI with an one without the contrast. This is to see if the lesions on my brain have changed again.

The appointment for the EEG will be held on the 28th unless a cancellation comes through. I will have to be sleep deprived no more than 4 hours of sleep no caffeine!

How wonderful it is that I am so well cared for .

The young woman was so very very kind!

She went so far out of her way to expedite the testing so that I am not left in this unknowing for any longer than possible. Every time she said that word.."d" I just shudder and felt like it was trying to knock me out of His palm. Yet I remained there.

Once all the reports come in then I will be sent back to the specialist who will then know what battery of psychological testing to do. Depending where the damage is located. We will have to attend the report with him. My husband will also be interviewed.

Then I go back to the neurologist, the psychiatrist and the MD.

It will be at that point we will have the answers that I so long have neglected myself from obtaining in my disobedient fear for the last two years.

How very GRATEFUL I am to have the way of escape in being lost in the palm of his hand. Letting go of it all.

My big sister told me "Lay it down...If you lay it down you live in faith"

That is faith to lay it all down.

How amazed I am to hear that from her.

Perhaps she has come to know him.

My husband came home from his full time job with an offer from a company that wants to hire him part time! This may be the very way God provides for the savings and budget to get accomplished. We so desire to follow with our goals. $1000. cash fund for emergencies, 3-6 months saving of income. (Dave Ramsey Plan). Then we get to have a vacation!!!!!! the first in so many many years.

I am concerned of his absence and health.

I love my man and I will really have to lay it down not to miss him so bad. It will also call upon me to pull up the slack of his absence.

To whom much is given much is required.

A morning tea, just for me. General office supplies.

Good Morning.
Remember these little ring protectors used repair or strengthen?
Little Doves binder holes failed her. The binder is still nice.
This yet another way to use what you have.
Those of us with students benefit from certain general office supplies.
Anther great way to teach our kids what to use if...

I have been given the morning off of the service of Dash Hawks lunch preparations.
He is busy over at the counter while I sit her and type, (sit on my hands so to speak.)
He is so happy, singing a song with the trombone noises and and I think I hear a tuba too.
So sweet.
I was given the lyrics.
"galumph went the little green frog
galumph went the little green frog one day
galumph went the little green frog"
Mercy is mine in his simple morning charm.

A morning tea just for me.
The delicate rim of my china cup.
This is the pattern of my youth.
The set I choose so many many years ago.
Summer chens (sp?)

Jasmine loose lief was my treat.
So aromatic.

at 9:30 I have to go back to the neurologist.
An EEG and an MRI is on order.
I'll have Dove to take to the orthodontist at 11:30, so I'll try to get to the lab for the blood work to begin.
I am hoping to try for the MRI after my Mr gets home at 4pm.
I'll trust God for the appointment...watch him make it happen.
I am not sure where the EEG will take place. It is an electrical brain study.

The kids get out at 2 again today so I have little time and may need to postpone Doves new bands again, until Thursday?

Well loving Little Dash hawk made a mystery lunch and I lay it down.
I lay down my life, my day and the outcome of my journey.
It all belongs to my Maker and nothing I do will remove or add to that , except to simply obey.

Please remember "shorty bear today"
Life a great challenge for her each day.

Off to tend my young ones. Dash is out of the kitchen.
Dove is up.
That was really nice just to trust him.
I got a big mess to clean up :)

Tackle It Tuesday (inventory)

Not Rocket science. :)
Just sound business practice.
This is my career.
Homemaking is my business.
Regarding my menu and food preparations...
Life on a budget is like any business that prospers.
When a business nears a fiscal year end it does an inventory.
I remember in my childhood working in my parents gas station.
At nine years of age it was my job to inventory the penny candy. Alright stop laughing, yes I am that old...

As a part of our cooperative effort to track our moneys more efficiently I have begun inventory of our home resources.
I began two weeks ago with the pantry, the kitchen refrigerator and freezer.
Out door refrigerator and deep freezer was completed yesterday.

As was the storage in the garage of supplies on one sheet, on another all automotive, another garden and yard.
Sheets are also prepped for the storage of medications. Dash has Asthma as do I and so we have three months of supply when first ordered. I want to do a better job of tracking the quantity and expiration dates. I think I will be moving the storage of the surplus above the kitchen refrigerator and getting my bell jars down to be able to use them for some canning.
By making the effort to keep like items together on the list I am able to run down it and think ...
What can I create with this.
Like a cook off challenge, I prepare my menu.
By listing exp date, how many, what oz. if it applies and what it is and in what form
(whole /ground) I have all I need at a moments notice.
As I use it I cross it out.
When I shop I add those items.

On my clip board I use a paper clip to note each section for quick paging.
As I use an item on the menu I note the needed items of current expiration and place them into the menu in priority and then build the meals around them. Bargain purchases and such are the core of my basic stock goods. I have to keep track of rice ,grain and wheat so that I have knowledge of when I might need to restock and how much I need to set aside in a future budget for surplus groceries on the budget sheet.

Under my inventory on the clip board is my monthly zone 7 planting list. This covers both edible and flowers. Other information like tending to the chickens (they are a large part of my food store) is kept with these papers as well.

This is in need of inventory this,

and this is above the washer and dryer.

This is above my commode in our bathroom

Under the sinks are to be inventoried.
Master bathroom

Under master bathroom sink.
It is very hard for me to get down on the floor due to my knee. These photos showed me what needs to be done. I also can see the inventory so as to list it without having to get down on the floor any longer than to straighten it out.

Master bathroom drawer.
See the blades , now they are very high in cost those I found for less than $1 for 5 blades.

so I bought them out.

When My Dad (thought to be my birth dad ) who divorced my mom in my infancy...died
This is what I gave myself. Essence oils of all the variety I dreamed of.
I find perfume hits me hard!
Yet I can make my own lotions and oils myself and not have an asthma attack.

In the right side basket is all the dog medical supplies.
This is part of the medical and hearing aide station for Dash.
Also surplus cosmetic and personal stuff as needed.

picture removed
This all needs to be inventoried and also I have a lot of empty medication bottles that I keep just to remember when and who prescribed them. When I had this or that and never use this again. I need to list all this information and toss the bottles.
Many very expensive medications that I can not use. After trying them I fell worse. So I stopped . It is hard for me to just throw them out. I know I am silly . I grew up in poverty tossing a perfectly good thing galls me. I hope that some day I might give them to a soul who might make use and need them not being able to afford them.
I found that an agency called Saint Vincent De Paul has a clinic, folks that have no insurance and need medications will be able to make use of them.

This is surplus asthma medications for Dash's and I. Dash has a breathing treatment every night!
We have the other two who also have some various medications taken as needed.
We also have a nice variety of supplements,
although I have neglected the dispensing of them of late.
I used supplements to get Dove off of all medications. Now she is well I do not remember to use them.

Dash did this...
It too needs to be inventoried.
For good measure.

Now if...if... I get all that done this week and cleared out I intend on listing the rest of the spices and herbs in the drawers and on the rack.

When I see it all on the inventory sheets my mind is so fast at seeing the dishes to prepare. It is really amazing how quickly ideas come.
The whole purpose of the inventory is a matter of
a greater respect for what we have.

I know the balance in my savings account.
Well... the resources are just that a savings a stockpile of savings and potential wealth.
As I use them more wisely
we keep the funds to s better use.
A more intentional use.