Don’t worry, it’s not our child crying

Andy was the one that woke up when the baby started crying. I was so tired and out of it when he woke up at 3:00am. I was trying to convince Andy that he didn’t need to worry because it wasn’t our kid who was crying. I was convinced I was right too. Andy ended up having quite the night with Owen – Mostly involving sleeping in a rocker that’s not meant for sleeping – and I found the two of them sleeping together on the guest bed. I missed my photo opportunity, but I’m sure you can imagine the sweetness. Thanks for doing that, Honey.

The shirt that should have been an apron all along

This shirt was $1 from the thrift store.  It took me about 15 minutes to transform this teeny-bopper tank into a motherly apron.  That was fun.  

I’m planning on embellishing it a bit with some lace, but I ran out of thread in my bobbin, so that meant it was time to quit.

I think Devona would be proud of me.

spring chickens

A visit with some little baby chicks.

Clever Nesting

My dear friends, Devona and Colleen have begun a project called Clever Nesting.  They have become quite the inspiration to me as they reuse and repurpose all things that most people throw away.  It is helping me think twice about throwing things into the trash or recycle.  Check them out and support their cause.

“Mommy, I need to sing at the computer now”

Deacon and I figured how to use iSight on our Macbook to make videos.  Why did it take us so long?  The only problem is that he is always asking if he can sing at the computer.  Here’s a video of him singing the first 3 (out of 9) verses of the metrical version of the 10 Commandments.  Andy has been teaching it to us during family devotions.  Can you tell that Deacon is enjoying watching himself on the screen?

Here’s the text incase you’re not super skilled in interpreting 3 year old talk:

My soul, recall with reverent wonder how God amid the fire and smoke

Proclaimed His holy law with thunder from Sinai’s mountain when He spoke:

 

I am the Lord, your God and Sovereign, who out of bondage set you free,

Who saved you from the land of Egypt. Then serve no other gods but me.

You shall not bow to graven idols, for I, a jealous God, your Lord,

Shall punish sin in those who hate me, but love all those who keep my Word

Ginger Beer

Ok, I’ve made quite a few homemade things that have made people scratch their heads saying “How do you do that exactly?” but I’ve never made my own soda. I’m thinking about giving it a try. Read this article and maybe you’ll be inspired too.  It seems pretty simple and you know how I like to have things growing in my kitchen.

the bacteria that is growing in my kitchen

About 4 months ago, I sent a self addressed stamped envelope to these people and a couple of weeks later, that envelope was filled with a very small baggie containing about 1 tsp. of white flakes.  I got all giddy and immediately started reviving this sourdough into an active starter.  The legend is that this sourdough starter has been alive since the Oregon Trail times.  The man that started this all was Carl Griffith.

“Carl T. Griffith, who gave a sourdough starter to anyone who asked, or who sent him a self-addressed stamped envelope, died early in the year 2000 at the age of 80. He is known for his generosity and the high quality and vitality of his sourdough starts, which came from a sourdough culture carefully nurtured and preserved in his family for over 150 years.”

Since Carl has passed, his friends and family have been continuing the tradition by sharing the starter with anyone who wants it for free.  Isn’t that just so fun?

When I first got the starter, I experimented with sourdough bread for a couple of weeks and found the San Francisco bread to be the tastiest, especially as french toast.  I also made an incredible pizza crust and can’t for the life of me find the recipe I used.  When I tried to duplicate it on Deacon’s Birthday, it majorly flopped and I sent Andy out to Little Caesar’s just before our company arrived.  

Here’s what’s been going on in the land of sourdough bread at my house this week.  It seems like a lot of work, but it’s REALLY not.  I’m finding that sourdough bread can be quite flexible for you as long as it has enough time to do its thing.  And if you don’t have enough time, just add some commercial yeast to help it rise like normal bread. 

• Sunday: Fed Sourdough Starter and let sit overnight
• Monday: Started a sponge for sanfrancisco sourdough by adding flour and water to some starter and letting sit for 24 hours
• Tuesday: Added more flour, water and salt to sponge to make bread dough, kneaded for 15 minutes, let rise 2 hours, deflated, let rise another hour, kneaded again a tiny bit and put into loaf pans.  By now, It’s like 9:00pm, so I put the bread in the fridge so that it wouldn’t rise too much.
• Wednesday: The bread didn’t rise much in the fridge so it is now rising in the oven with the light on.

I expect to start baking this bread within the next hour.  It’s fun because you get to spritz the side of the oven with water and watch it steam up.  That makes the crust nice and hard.

And here’s the other yummy living food I made this week.

Homemade yogurt isn’t as difficult as it seems either.  All you need is milk and some yogurt or a yogurt starter.  I have a yogurt maker so I use the directions from it, but I have heard that you really don’t need one to make your own.  You can use a crock pot or your oven to make it.  Honestly, it really tastes the best with whole milk both thickness and texture but you can make it reduced fat or fat free by thickening it up with powdered milk which I have done before.  It is a great healthy alternative to commercial yogurt to give to the children also.  Deacon likes his with crunchies (granola) on top.  I like to put a bit of honey to sweeten it as well.

So there you have it, some good old fashioned food science right here in my kitchen.

The bedroom is still in the works, we ran out of paint so we have just a bit more to go before it is completely painted. I have a few DIY decorating projects that I’m planning to do in there too.  I’m excited.  My first order of business is to go buy a staple gun.

Some of the music I’ve been listening to lately…

In the Car: Joshua Tree, U2

As I’m painting our bedroom (that’s a whole ‘nother post): Robinella

On an afternoon run: Boxer, The National

When I’m supporting local music: Dylan Sneed,  Hannah Miller and Mark Mathis

When I need inspiration to practice my banjo: Crooked Still, Tallest Man

While the kids are playing: The Weepies

After the kids go to bed and before I do: Mason Jennings

When Andy’s coming home and I want him to be in an especially good mood: M.Ward

During Family Devotions: The 10 Commandments

When I’m rocking Owen to sleep in the middle of the night watching the Public television channel: The Police Reunion Tour

Now back to painting… Before, during and after pictures will follow this week.

Cheers.

stretching your dollar

I’ve been using equal parts dishwasher soap (the cheap stuff from aldi), borax and baking soda. Use 2 Tbsp in your dishwasher for each load. It gets the dishes real clean. Try it, you’ll save so much money.
You can also use borax to stretch out your laundry soap, it’s great stuff. Not all grocery stores carry it, but Target does.

Check out www.stretcher.com for more dollar stretching advice.  Also, if you’re so inspired to try to get a hold of your budget- as I have been lately, www.mint.com is an incredible free and easy to use tool.

Quote

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubts.”
-Mark Twain