Giveaway- Gooseberry Patch Cookbook

I love cookbooks. I love Gooseberry Patch also...
If you want to get an entry by following my blog, you may have to scroll down a bit , it is on the right side of the page.



I want to give away a cookbook to my readers. I will draw a winner next Monday. I'll pay for shipping of course, you just get a wonderful fun gift.

If you have never had a Gooseberry's cookbook, they are so fun. The recipes are simple, fun and delicious. I really like the designs on the cookbooks and the illustrations. There is something very "old fashioned" feeling about them.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Best of luck! Linked up with Adorned from Above

Teaching kids about seasonality

See those cucumbers in that picture above? I'm CRAVING them. I can literally almost fell the crunch in my mouth and the cool crisp. I can't wait until summer.

I didn't look up the definition of "seasonality" but in my family it simply means that not every food we eat is available year round. Some foods are only available during a certain SEASON.

And there is something very romantic about that notion. Something very nostalgic.

I haven't bought a tomato at a store in probably 10 years. I can't remember ever buying okra, cucumbers, peppers or even onions from the store. Or potatoes.

I feel as a parent it is very important to teach the kids that food  is only availble to us during the time we are growing it. We have to be aware of our growing season. We have to know WHERE food comes from. We have to realize that that tomato in the store was probably picked from sandy soil in Mexico when it was green, 2 weeks ago then it sat in a dark room and was sprayed with ethelyne gas to faux "ripen" it.

And that's why it doesn't taste that good.

We eat corn year round. We typically only harvest it once a year, but what we don't eat fresh, I can or freeze like you see above. I'm not OPPOSED to freezing or canning things so we can enjoy it all year, in fact that is the WHOLE point of canning and freezing. But I want the kids to UNDERSTAND.

A month or so ago my 7 year old came up to me and was looking for a snack and said " Mom are blueberries in season yet?"  How proud was I! She knew that we could only enjoy the beautiful plump berries during the growing season.

Now, please don't get me wrong, there are certain things that we can't grow here. Like pineapple. Or lemons. Or bananas. We just can't. We do enjoy those things though on occasion, and I make sure the kids know where they were grown. We look up the country on the map. We talk about the climate that makes it able to grow there. It's kinda fun actually...

So I challenge you to be aware of your food. Teach your kids that it's not magical. It doesn't just appear out of thin air. People have to plant it, tend it, pick it etc. Mother Nature has to provide certain climate for it.

Beleive me, there is NOTHING better than biting into that first cucumber you pick from your garden this summer. The one that is probably a bit too small but you couldn't wait a few more days to pick it. The one that you don't bother to wash and you eat it strait from the vine and you can taste a tiny bit of soil and dust on it. Man that's good eating!!


Until Next time
Happy Homesteading!!



Linked up with Adorned from Above Monday Barn Hop Tuesday TALU The Great Blog Train

TALU Link Up

 

Welcome to the TALU Tuesday!

That's right, the Tuesday Archive Link-Up. Time to pull your treasured old posts out of those cobwebby archives, dust them off, and give them new life where they will be seen and enjoyed by untold millions OK, thousands of viewers.

See, this link-up is hosted by several people, who, all together have thousands upon thousands of followers.

So when you link your post up with this party? Your post will show up on all their blogs, to all of their followers.
All you've got to do is:
  1) link up your post using the linky tool below,
  2) visit the hosts and leave a comment to say hi, if you'd like,
  3) and try to visit three or more of the blogs linked up and leave a comment.
  4) Please keep it Family Friendly Ya'll!

 They'll all be doing the same, so it's like a giant hippie love fest. Bring your own flowers. Oh and when you comment?

Put in the secret code "TALU" (Tuesday Archive Link-Up) and then give a little wink so we'll all know what you're talking about. Have fun!
Now here are your TALU hosts, wonderful gals every one....

Jennifer, author of I Am Not Superwoman
Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm
Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy
Kenya, author of Here's The Thing...
Shanna, author of Motherhood On The Rocks.
Rachel, author of Homesteading Quest

Confession Time- Homeschooling

Sigh.... It's hard to write this.
 Partly because I feel guilt because of some financial choices that my husband and I have made that don't allow us to do this.

But I want to homeschool.

We have 3 kids right now ages 7, 5 and 18 months. We would love to have more... I really just want to be able to allow them a learning experience that they can't get at a public school. One based on their personal goals, wants and interests. One that I can monitor to ensure that Biblical principles are being taught as my husband and I want them to be taught. Our public schol is amazing by the way. No real complaints with that, it's a small school, very family oriented, but it's just not the same.

 So what's the problem??

Money. That's the problem

. Unfortunatley while going to school ( I have 2 Masters Degrees) and my husband has a Bachelor's we racked up some serious student loan debt.... We also have a home.

 We live on land that is absolutley beautiful and it's right down the small dirt road from my parents. It gives the kids 3 ponds, a huge stream and numerous other places to explore the outdoors. It also gives us the ability to have an orchard, gardening spots, chickens, a well etc. It's perfect. But the mortgage has to be paid. We don't have Cable, or a homephone, we try to live frugally. It's just frustrating for me. At this time I make more money that my husband. I do love my job but would quit in a heartbeat if I knew we could afford it. We just seem to be in a pickle...

Right now we are praying and seeking guidance. We also have been working feverishly to pay off all of our debt, but even being intense it could be at last 6 years. My oldest would be 13 by then, my youngest would only be in 1st grade or so, so I could still homeschool. My husband is also exploring other employment options that may allow him to make more money. But the job market right now....

I just feel bad about our decisions we made regarding loans and our mortgage. Our house isn't a mansion by any means, it's very modest, and especailly with 5 people living in it, it isn't large, but we probably could have done things differently to build a smaller home and had less of a mortgage payment....

So a warning to all of you out there wanting to stay at home and homeschool, PLAN for it NOW. Get your financies in order, cash flow college if you want to go.

Don't let a cloud of debt ruin your life goals... If you are in a position similiar to mine, please don't give up. If you have a goal, a dream like this please know that you can work to pay it off and come out on the other side , in the sunshine. Don't give up!

Sorry for the downer of a post, I don't want to come off as complaining, as I am truly blessed.
 I am grateful for my job, and my beautiful children and I am thankful we live in a great school
district.


Happy Homesteading.....



Linked up to Monday Homestead Barn Hop

TALU Link Up #34

Welcome to the TALU Tuesday!

That's right, the Tuesday Archive Link-Up.

Time to pull your treasured old posts out of those cobwebby archives, dust them off, and give them new life where they will be seen and enjoyed by untold millions
OK, thousands of viewers.

See, this link-up is hosted by several people, who, all together have thousands upon thousands of followers. So when you link your post up with this party?

Your post will show up on all their blogs, to all of their followers.

All you've got to do is:
1) link up your post using the linky tool below,
2) visit the hosts and leave a comment to say hi, if you'd like
3) and try to visit three or more of the blogs linked up and leave a comment.


They'll all be doing the same, so it's like a giant hippie love fest. Bring your own flowers. Oh and when you comment? Put in the secret code "TALU" (Tuesday Archive Link-Up) and then give a little wink so we'll all know what you're talking about.

Have fun! Now here are your TALU hosts, wonderful gals every one....

Host list:
Jennifer, author of I Am Not Superwoman
Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm
Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy
Kenya, author of Here's The Thing...
Shanna, author of Motherhood On The Rocks.
Rachel, author of Homesteading Quest <------ me="" p="" s="" that="">

One Small Thing- Smoothies

It's Spring Break for us this week and unfortunatly, after a BEAUTIFUL weekend it is raining and stormy.

I had a Mango that was too ripe so I decided the kids would like a smoothie.

We love fruit. I do buy some ( like a Mango) but we do grow our own sometimes. Fruit is expensive and so wonderful I just can't let it go to waste. So I have a little Tupperware container in the freezer and when I have a few strawberries, blackberries, raspberries etc that are too ripe I'll throw them in the container. Same with peaches, plums, nectarines, etc. I'll just cut them up and throw them in my "smoothie container".

Sometimes at our grocery store they will have overly ripe pineapples for .99cents. I'll buy a few and cut them up and put them in the container. Then on days like today I'll just open it up, put it in the blender and add a little greek yogurt. And there you have it- a delicious smoothie. Fresh, ripe REAL fruit, no artificial anything and it's fruit that otherwise would have been discarded.

The baby ( 18 months ) LOVES it and it's a great way to get nutrients into the little ones.

You can add honey I suppose, I find that too sweet, but otherwise most anything else is game. When the girls want more of a slushie type drink I just add ice cubes.

Just think about that next time you have a couple of really ripe strawberries that can't be used, or a Mango that is past it's prime. Think of how delicious a smoothie will be and think about the money you aren't wasting by not throwing it out.

Happy Homesteading Ya'll!!

Welcome to the TALU Tuesday!

That's right, the Tuesday Archive Link-Up.

Time to pull your treasured old posts out of those cobwebby archives, dust them off, and give them new life where they will be seen and enjoyed by untold millions
OK, thousands of viewers.

See, this link-up is hosted by several people, who, all together have thousands upon thousands of followers. So when you link your post up with this party?

Your post will show up on all their blogs, to all of their followers.

All you've got to do is:
1) link up your post using the linky tool below,
2) visit the hosts and leave a comment to say hi, if you'd like
3) and try to visit three or more of the blogs linked up and leave a comment.


They'll all be doing the same, so it's like a giant hippie love fest. Bring your own flowers. Oh and when you comment? Put in the secret code "TALU" (Tuesday Archive Link-Up) and then give a little wink so we'll all know what you're talking about.

Have fun! Now here are your TALU hosts, wonderful gals every one....

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm
Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy
Rachel (Me)-author of Homesteading Quest
Kenya, author of Here’s The Thing…
Shanna, author of Motherhood On The Rocks.

Tuesday TALU Link Up

Welcome to the TALU Tuesday!

That's right, the Tuesday Archive Link-Up.

Time to pull your treasured old posts out of those cobwebby archives, dust them off, and give them new life where they will be seen and enjoyed by untold millions
OK, thousands of viewers.

See, this link-up is hosted by several people, who, all together have thousands upon thousands of followers. So when you link your post up with this party?

 Your post will show up on all their blogs, to all of their followers.

All you've got to do is:
  1) link up your post using the linky tool below,
  2) visit the hosts and leave a comment to say hi, if you'd like
  3) and try to visit three or more of the blogs linked up and leave a comment.


 They'll all be doing the same, so it's like a giant hippie love fest. Bring your own flowers. Oh and when you comment? Put in the secret code "TALU" (Tuesday Archive Link-Up) and then give a little wink so we'll all know what you're talking about.

  Have fun! Now here are your TALU hosts, wonderful gals every one....

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm
Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy
Rachel (Me)-author of Homesteading Quest
Kenya, author of Here’s The Thing…
Shanna, author of Motherhood On The Rocks.

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Year without buying New Clothes- Trip Number 2

You can read about my journey to not buy any "new" clothes in this post. Also my first shopping trip of the year can be found in this post.

But this weekend I went to one of the most AMAZING children's Consignment sales EVER!! No lie. It's the bomb. I have been going since I was pregnant with my first child who is now 7. I've posted about it before,
but I'll tell you all about it again.

Rhea Lana's.
It's awesome.

I took this picure from their facebook page. You may notice it is all pink. That's because this is just the girl side. They have just as many boys clothes. They also have maternity clothing, toys, books, baby gear like strollers, wraps, cribs, etc. It's a one stop shop folks, for real.

Since it is a consignment sale, that means that moms put their things in it to make money. I consign the kids clothes from the year before that don't fit, and typically make almost if not more than I spend.

 

 

 

They are located in 22 States now, so please check them out if you have kids you like to buy for. I love it because:

- I'm getting adorable gently used clothing at great prices

- I know I'm helping out other families by buying their old clothing

- I like the idea of being able to buy used, instead of expending additional resources by getting things brand new, plus they are staying out of a landfill.





Linked up with Frugal Days Sustainable Ways Monday Barn Hop Backyard Farming Connection