inside-the-teenage-brain

  
I found this wonderful article on the teen brain. It is a real education in understanding 'why'?

Make it from Scratch* Refried Pinto Beans*

This is a re post enjoy

I like using pure ingredients.
Now days here in the states our store bought foods have become polluted.
They put High fructose corn syrup in everything.
Whey, this was once the bi product of cheese a waste product no more.
The Oils are toxic.
So after investigation on my part reveled that they are not even using the "pinto bean" any more I had enough!
Oh and the expense to eat toxic (long term) food on health care!
Organics are pricey.

Empty a can (ease and speed of preparation) of "pinto" (or any other you favor) and rinse with running water.
Pick out any bad beans.
(you can even cook beans from scratch after soaking over night)
I had a little salsa left so I added some water too it and shook to jar
A 1/4 C of butter
a teaspoon of cumin
a tea. of sea salt
and a dash of cayenne.

I used my blender pulsing it a few times.

Walla!
Beloved raved! He said it was the best burrito I ever made!
Well I been making his burritos out of canned refried beans for years.
I think I will make them from scratch from here out!
Oh, Dash agreed!
I had some on rice it was wonderful!

watching the times for simplicity

These are the best days of my life. Each morning my son greets me. The school days this week are short and the lessons are no self directed on line. They are so independent compared to years past. We have worked until eleven each morning then rested and finished up chores until we leave for the civic center to do the A.I.M. standardized testings. The children are both confident each day and show no test anxiety all all! Dove is in a special small group setting that I set up with the school under her 504 or special needs contract. That is working out wonderfully. The first day was a challenge but all that melted away and she is so happy to have the special setting.

The day is simple, sitting around for several hours awaiting the completion each day. Each hour the school year wines down and the days of sleeping in or playing all day get closer. Our chores are light for we have worked well to lighten our loads. Household chores are so much easier now. We have spent the last year removing extras that were just shifted from place to place. Donations to charity have lifted our daily work load. Less to take care of is a wonderful thing. We have the life, chickens, rabbits (2 babies) and our dear dog.
Our garden is not heavily planted right now just a few tomato plants, blueberries that is about it.

We all spend time with art, writing and just relaxing. We have found a new church and so with the beginnings of new relationships we are devoting time to family. My children will be grown in the flash of a star. Walks in the evening listening to Doves heart is the wealth of the ages. We are home bodies, just loving each others company. It is our home that we are equipping to be our refuge and fortress, our safe place in the times of the coming storms. It is our relationships that we are investing every ounce of heart, mind and soul in. These are the simply riches the priceless treasure that nothing can replace. My husband and I are trying to escape together each week to just rest without interruption. Even a short trip to the store or a ride in the car any opportunity we get.

I am looking into getting a few things like yard games for the summer at home. Public pools or day trips are other options. We will make efforts to save up for those.

It is with a struggle and efforts of heart mind and soul that my physical being is tended too. I falter in this but weight loss and strength gaining is a greet gain in my sights.I still stress overeat, but my mind is fixed to learn and practice better tools. My health is priceless as is the health of my family. This is important to us that we work on health for all of us. Dietary needs and physical needs are at focus. Making sure we are all healthy and staying healthy through good nutritional care. That has been my other big focus in my parenting of self and children as well.

I am happy, our children are happy. My dear husband has daily frustrations with a horrid software program at his work, but other than that his heart is happy and content. We are in love and loving each other.

december update

;

The year has filled up and finished out with best friends in Jr High for Dove. Semester finals for both kids. Dash with his K12 home school distance computer classes we worked real hard. I say we for it is a good 5 hour job for me each day and then some. I suppose it need not be but we take education very seriously around here. They both finished off well, Dash had an extra three days of winter break.

This is my favorite coffee creamer and coffee gets me through may a long mornings around here. Insomnia is a mainstay with all the medications that are detoxed within four months four medication one was done twice. Pain a way of recovery for my knew knee and back issues. Naproxin in my 4th  week now to avoid injections in my spine. The steroids are not good for my immunity.

 Decorations were few this year for exhaustion have really left Steve and I as minimalist.

 Alas you know we must all get ready for that fat red man who brings us free stuff and steals all of our cookies. That is Doves description her humor is sweet but stands corrected with the heart of what Santa was all about.

 We had Dash's Adoption day number 10 on the 13th. It was a huge splurge but his heart to go out to a Carl's Jr fast food. Good grief what a rip off of ones cash. We just watched and rejoiced in his celebration. His heart mattered more.

A wreath at the door was all the welcome for the lights were too much this year. I know it is only four months out from my new leg but it seams an eternity. We are regaining strength. This break from teaching Dash is a refreshment to me. 

 Christmas Eve this dear one opened her home up till almost midnight with the laughter and conversations that covered the months apart. Our nieces spent time with our kids and the four of them were just delightful to behold. Our kids almost a whole generation younger were mesmerized by the evening with cousins.
Oh it was so so wonderful an evening!

 A photo shop game

 Dash slept on the sofa and morning came soon.
Once Willy had his bone we began our exchange. We were so grateful to the divine and human generosity of our provision.

 My darlin gave me a set of head phones that are cordless so as to be able to have music during the day while Dash is doing school. Oh the silence my son demands to concentrate. This is really sweet. I hope that the difference will keep me going on chores during the day. The lethargy has left my tasks so needy.

 This sweet man and I will be taking a partial early retirement to add to our income in March. We will work no less but it will be on his former employer of 27 years. It is really going to set us to a lower stress. Raising kids is expensive, us retiring on paper only years fly in life.

 Steve's brother took us all out to Christmas dinner. What a wonderful weekend is being had by all. Getting too tired to write more. Just needed to say...

Merry Christmas to one and all.

I stand amazed at the kindness that came and made this season turn around for us. It has strengthened our faith and built our humility and willingness to receive. We are refreshed.

On my IVIG my numbers are doing well, the infusions are working to keep me infection free. He will renew my strength one day I just know it.

Taking back my ground

It has been a long while that my ground had to be release to tenets of sorts.
Children with sticky fingers doing a good job of heating up something to eat for them self. Family members simply grazing as my hands were thoughtfully tucked under my seat as I did my time to heal.

Beginning in  early June when my knee finally blew out until now a lot has happened to my beloved kitchen. It has endured all sorts of suffering spills and mishaps.It has survived a shell of itself a calamity of mixed up storage and lost gadgets utensils and bowels. We may never find all the missing teaspoons. We searched for our giant stainless steel bowl last night. Tonight it was discovered in with the cookie sheets invisible. Only due to putting a baking pan away did it jam the space and announce itself. We have just been puzzled, how do you loose a huge bowl like that? Well one mystery solved many more to come. Where is the meat thermometer is what I need to know.

Tonight two hours with lap top on the island dishes were washed and the reality of abandonment reviled itself.
The bread counter under the big mixer was literally 1/8 th inch dust! Yep It missed me. It missed the warmth of my presence,the smell of fresh foods. It missed kindness being fashioned through ingredient mixed with thoughts of others. It was each man for himself. Never mind the mess and just do your best avoidance of starvation. An inventory of the cold units and a pantry overview got through my hands into my heart today.

Momma's getting back in the kitchen. Let the kindness of warm thoughts pour through the mixing cup and over the edge of the bowl. Survival days come done now time to thrive. It is the love, kindness of expressed bounty coming back to this old house uncommon.  These days of fend for yourself commonality not only need be over but Lord has mercy on me and mine they are coming to an end.

Meal Plan Menu Monday was a good tool. I'll shop for the little things to fill in the dishes. Doing what I can do.  The nerve pain medication has been reintroduced. It is a very expensive one called Lyrica the co-pay was $50 without it it would of been $375.!, Tramadol is not very effective for the issues of nerve healing. It helped a lot with arthritis before. This is the second day I had sleep. Yesterday I did a little light gardening. Planted the annuals in the front yard cottage bed. The pots on the porch have a few seedlings. Caused more pain than I had bargained for but my heart was sure filled.  The infusion last Tuesday has pumped up my strength. My numbers are looking real good. My strength is a battle yet, getting older too. Had a realization that I am not a 30 year old mom any more. Nor was I ever, Dove came home when I was 36. I think I may be beginning to naturally slow down. Hard to accept but walking against the hard wind is more a test than one might think. This and the anastesia (sp) getting out of my system, perhaps.

If any of you are there I love you.
Lisa B. I think of you and want to reach out a hug. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Do any of you feel that age slows us down some? Turning 50 and raising a family is real physical. If your doing so is it showing in your adventure? How about you 50 year olds who are with grand kids do you feel it differently? Share your thoughts on it. Anyone my age raising kids/grand kids of 10 and14?



"In the confrontation between the stream
and the rock, the stream always wins
- not by strength but by perseverance."
- H. Jackson Brown
 

Uncle Dale Passed on this week.

Our Dear Uncle Dale passed away this week. His funeral is on Wednesday. Here are the details.

 Steve's mom Wrote

They plan to show at the funeral some of the video Steve made.  Last night all his kids looked at the video together seeing the whole thing.  They thank Steve for that.  They loved it. It is coming in handy, especially about the part where Dale is singing some of those songs.   It will be a short service and then outside they will have some cookies or something, no lunch, and then we are off to the Veteran's Cemetery out on Cave Creek Road for the burial and a veterans service there.  It will be a tight time squeeze because the Veteran's Cemetery wants it to be done by 2 pm. because the workers all go home soon after. There will be no procession out there.  We all get there on our own. They will provide us with maps I think. 

When Carol Jean (Dales Wife) died in 2006 arrangements were made with Dale's help at that time.  These are his wishes for his funeral.  He said he wanted to be buried at the Veteran's Cemetery.   I think Dale was in the National Guard for a time.  His obit will be in tomorrow's paper.

He was the middle son of three brothers. His elder brother being Steve's Father. Married to but one woman all of his days and raised a family. She passed and he was just never the same. He just set himself to give up and had a slow demise through determination.

I have searched for thirty minutes and cannot find his image.

My sweet boy is pretty freaked about going to a funeral so I will have to make sure to take the time to help him process. The clothing must be readied and set aside this morning for with this being infusion day my energy is limited.
Today is infusion for me. We are so tired for sleep is a battle due to leg/breathing issues at night. My husband deserves a huge award.  He endures so lovingly, trying for solutions. I am so fed up with not being able to sleep. Restless Leg cramping and bone pain are still battling me (us) for pillow time. My husband is so dear we do all we can think of to try to fix the hindrances. We changed linens and replaced with some that were stored. They kept the smell of the plastic storage box and so will need AGAIN to be changed for they are setting off asthma. Those opportunists to try to behave. My goodness I am a little bratty when I am struggling with sleep deprivation, well more than a little. The man is really really patient and loving. I am so blessed to get so much loving support in all of the things I go through.  I hope I never have to do without his love and presence. Yet even so I think I would fight to live. I hope I would fight for life.


Today...fight for your life. Live it to it's top!

It's like ripe fruit falling softly off the tree.

Everything comes to harvest. Morning found me rested a full seven hours! That is nine weeks out on a limb (leg in my case ha) of recovery, pain medication, bla bla bla. Today was day two of a Narco (morphine based pain medication) free life, rested and low pain interference. This 'Apple' shined.  My morning was crisp with fresh zest. A totally awesome experience.
Dash got me up only 20 minutes before Dove needed to be driven to school.
How's that harvest ? I wake up late to find my 14 year old (special needs kid) fully dressed, fed and homework done. She was ready to go to school. Only too happy, excited even, to go to school, loving life.
Mercy like an orchard of organics thriving in the fall sunshine.
After Dash and I dropped her off we stopped to get supper groceries. He like a tree shades me with kindness only more than decidedly helpful. Inquisitive, thoughtful and full of ideas and questions. Fertile soil his soul ever set to be 'son' to his mother adored, appreciated and admired.
Life in the good earth.
Dove attended therapy with me for Daddy Man has to do extra hours at work. She was not happy at first, it turned around Bless God! There were two other kids in therapy! The room that normally has sports blasting was set to the Disney channel. Dove really likes a show called 'Shake it up'. She identifies with a studious girl who loves to learn and dance. Call these apples GALA!
My therapist came out with See's suckers and passed them out to the kids. Dove even threw her arms out in copy of a happy moment of her best character. Then she was all pleased, pleasant and smiles. Delighted that I took her. Daddy Man met us there for the cars low fuel forced me to take her on with me. Dear man gave me the gentle push through my fear and I was able to drive the truck for the first time today. Nothing like climbing trees ( tall truck) in the evening hour.
Morning shop made for a wonderful BBQ in the $20 yard sale gas grill. All be it the leaves (chicken and the corn husks) were a blaze almost caught the porch a fire (not really) Dash was sure fast with the fire extinguishment (his word coined) oops...Note to self turn burners back down low. This is my first gas grill. I found it just before surgery and this is just the second time I used it.
Well the end of day here after returning from a 15 mile trip up the freeway to drop off the walker for an Elder on limited  income. She was well recovering from near death turned amazing mercy. The silence was a walk in the woods and gave way to solutions for tomorrows challenges to come.

Makes me want caramel or to go bobbing for apples seeing all this fun and all for just that lovely seven hours of sleep. The hard months past left ripe fruit here in this life uncommon. They say that it takes a good cold snap to create the best fruit. I see that the time of independence forced on the kids have grown great branches of good character and self reliance little else can form except those cold winds of hard season.

It is harvest time.
A time of plenty of love, well being and good days ahead.

This and that

a quiet day
a slow weekend
been a long time coming

Days have been slammed upon me with out sufficient sleep. A hazed focus of my abilities making each effort a bit more tiresome.

This last week however fewer pain medications have been needed. The cane has become a stick standing against a wall or left in the car. Three nights now sleep of at least 4-5 hours has gained me some mental clarity. This last week Dash and his K12 online school lessons has been job one. It is presently a full time job at that. Dove has been home all week for Fall break. Dash and I have our flu shots now, still need to get Doves. MERCY! very compressed days past I wake up and all of a sudden day is done, time for therapy then home to rest.
Now with my leg becoming more my own things steadily improve every day. Yesterday was a strange one. We were asked post haste to give shelter to my best friends dog so she could travel to a funeral. The pup is a sweet herding dog. Imagine my stupor to have to pull one of my hens out of its chops. I had to help the hen let go of life yesterday via a sharp knife and a very loud "GOD PLEASE HELP ME!", no doubt heard all throughout the neighborhood. He did help me she released her life with respect and kindness afforded her. Steve came home at lunch and we put chicken wire up along the garden fence to keep the girls inclosed. I love that they are off the porch. It has been a while that the issue of chicken dung on my patio had become a real annoyance. It is really going to work well to keep them off my porch.

When I returned home from evening at therapy Steve met me outside. It was that Rex our bunny passed away. Steve found him dead in his cage. He was fine earlier in the day and just let go of his breadth as well. Mercy was that it was on his own. Strange day to loose two pets that way.

On another note it is that those who have a handi-cap placard are now more at risk...get this.

Wednesday as I pulled up to shop after therapy at the supermarket divine protection was mine. The parking spots were side-by-side. I saw a penny and bent to pick it up. Bless the Love of the divine, just as I stood a presence was felt at my back. I spoke "go ahead and pass me", It was a young crack head. After all was said and done and the young girl that was with him joined him as they left me; it was an attempted mugging.  The man said to the accomplice..."I did the penny trick again".  Lord, Lord I dodged a bullet. Just before surgery I met a woman who had it happen to her. She to was recovering knee replacement and got mugged by a nicely dressed young woman who followed her threw the store out into the parking spot.

The peace here at my house today is so wonderful. We are all resting. Dove has a new friend over and the parents stayed a while. It was the first we had all met. They were real nice folks. We all had a lot in common. The girl and the visiting dog have almost the exact same name...weird weekend

My leg is great. I have attained the 130*bend and the 2*extension goals. 0* may come over time naturally. Presently I am withdrawing from pain medications. It is so painful at times yet. Muscles mainly.

Getting ready to return to writting.

Finding a comfortable place to type has been a trial. Testing out this and that, only to realize sitting is too painful. laying down too awkward. A lap top on my vanity stool and I in a low chair with my feet under it. The lap top part on my good knee and part on the stool. A pillow behind me for my back. Nothing worked!

 My sweet man just got me all set up. A little collapsible table and a chair with my leg outstretched on a huge pillow. Lets see how long this will last ").
It has been a real journey doing this new knee. Glad for it just tired of it. Tomorrow will be seven weeks. My recovery is WAY ahead if schedule.  I must get back to writing. The constant typos are driving me nuts
.
Kids are fine. Dash is moody because frankly a teenage sister can be rather rude and full of herself. Some tough love is in order.

We rested and watched a movie together this weekend. A Sunday morning breakfast of pancakes and bacon was followed by the tears of pain. A response to attempting to succeed at the goal of it. Enough of the cakes did not burn so we each had two.Cooking is much harder these days. Patients is really tested in each attempt of normalcy.
*this stupid lap top just did that again, interjected a sentence where it did not belong*
Dash has lost several teeth of late. He has become rather an investment for the tooth fairy.
A note to Annette was a part of this post. Another pill for pain and focus is slowing giving way to sleepiness.


A camera gifted us is now being able to get a few images up

 note the pain pills

 Dove had her first school dance. My knee works pretty well. The walker that was loaned to us by the folks made all the difference in the world. My leg holds a very light scar. Everyone is blown away by it. It almost doesn't show in a few places. My knees are well sized. Only now my leg is almost two inches longer than the other one. A leg length discrepancy they call it. Orthopedic shoes to come.

 Dash K12 science experiment on salinity of sea water and the effects if it.

This new set up is much more comfortable.
Have a sweet night

Monday is a day as sweet as any other

With energy and drive the day gave way to a clean studio. 

At last!

Not yet perfect but getting closer to where I want it.

The room is becoming more purple/blue/green woods elements. 

Sorta late summer atmosphere.

 The boys tossed a football around Saturday while Dove was at a sleepover.

Found myself resting. The field trip last week left me ill with bronchitis. Thank God for a Rx for antibiotics in hand. Feeling better today.

 Fennel was harvested Saturday Evening. We three went for a walk and while speaking with a neighbor about things Dash was invited to go to the movie with the Father and their two sons. Boys I really like. Nice folks.

While the husband spoke of his wife's love of fennel I found the whole thing all too beautiful. "all she ever can get is dried out fennel." Fun for I was able to take care of that with FRESH, to the hour fennel.

Steve and I got a free pizza from a birthday coupon sent to me. We stopped over at a thrift store. It was the half off day. We found pewter candle sticks for 35 cents each x2 of them! A wall clock for $1 even a Jumangy game for $3! A cheep wonderfully just us for a few hours date. Took the free $5 for extra toppings and med to large and watched Open Range. An old western. Wonderful wide open country and mountain views. Dash got home late. He had never been out so late and was a wet noodle of a boy. We all slept in. Dove was gone until 3pm Sunday. Slept early and all night.

Well a day in the life of one very blessed woman who loves life. Even with all the challenges. :)
Twass a sweet Monday to be home to tasks.

Two weeks in the life of a homemaker/mother/gardener

 Each morning Dash goes out to the coop and gets his breakfast.

Tomato off the vine the night before.

This is what you call a fresh breakfast

 The joy of mothering and growing a garden flowed well this week.

Dash and I really had a time of it pulling carrots.

He was such good pleasure and keeps speaking of it with the biggest grin on his face.t

 The last week has been full of fung shui as I reinvented the studio.

I love it! By shifting the sewing center north the beading center was able to shift into place.

No longer facing a window that could not even be open is huge.

The mirror and window bring added space.

 It is all a little messy yet but coming along.

 I just LOVE it!

 Facing into the room is wonderful. Now my monitor is in view.

 Outside the hens were vieing for the best spot after the coop was cleaned this morning.

The day of seed gathering was spent in 70* wonderful cloud floating by sky

It was so beautiful

After a three large loads of laundry on the line and time in the garden my soul was more than content.

 Carrot seed for next crop

 Dill seed for harvest and herb for the kitchen.

It is a very spicy dill.

 The best onion to seed for next crop.

 this is Leek

 Broccoli

 Narcissism

Just today as Dash was in his hiding place in the garden.

He had his Mac and cheese under the umbrella of the narcissism and the big leaves of the broccoli.

The chickens came to him and he was sharing his macaroni with them.

It was so dear.

 Radish seed pods were collected to dry.

Pick ten leave some.

The birds love them.

I love the birds, win win.

 radish

 Mothers day was wonderful over at my MILove's.

Steve's brother and his family were there.

Dash had me in class on Monday.

I did a painting demo and painted our dear Rena and spoke of deeper things to the children.

It was so fun. I was pretty wiped out afterward and a very sweet girl saw me and came offering to carry the Travel easel for me. Perfect timing. Saturday's infusion was a bit hard on me.

Dash told Steve that in Social Studies Monday they were talking about the Civil War (Steve and I are history buffs). He said in answer to why the war was fought...the South fought for their "rats...". It went over the teachers head. "dad why did they fight for rats"? Rolling in laughter "son...their rights".

"What are rights dad?"

Telling me this at shower time I could not stop laughing. Even after lying in bed a while so funny!

The South were fighting for thier RATS!!!

Ha!

 Doves grown up some after the three days at camp. 

She is doing so well. A real serious student.

We teach that education is a real gift.

These girls out of 99 kids won both camp awards.

She is a good kid to find peace around. 

Her kindness and humor are really treasured.

 Speaking of gifts the tomato plants are very happy.

Kissed by the bees daily a huge crop to come.

 Tonight I got the biggest compliment and joy from a neighbor.

She works at home and her office faces my front yard.

She called to me tonight just as I was finishing sweeping the front entry.

She told me how my flowers are the first thing that she looks forward too each day.

She opens her window first thing in the morning.

That is just why I planted them. It was my prayer as I dug that soil that in so doing that it might bring a little joy to all those who drive by too and from work.

Working on several things at the beading table. 

This is finished now.

We are happy and well. Hope all of you are as well. It was so nice to see your comments.

Susie, Amrita, Denise, Julie and David. Reighine and e-m0m your too beautiful. Hope that you all know that about yourselves.  I know I am forgetting names at the moment forgive me. Know that your sweetness touched my heart. Thank you for saying hello.

Life...it's all so beautiful.