Not Quite What I was Aiming For

But I think it still counts as progress. My husband was home for dinner yesterday and it was still light out when we finished. So, we took a tour of the side yard where the garden will live some day. Unfortunately he nixed any grand ideas I had for actually beginning that garden this year. But all is not lost.

Along the fence line around the side yard the previous owner had a flower garden. It had been taken over with weeds during the housing transition, most of which we have pulled out.  There are still some plants here and there – three Rose of Sharons and some others we can’t identify. My husband said he would move one of the Rose of Sharons and tasked me to clear the corner where we want the compost. That means I have to identify those things and figure out what to do with them.

In the meantime, there is plenty of space to plant some veggies, where we have cleared the weeds out. So, I have every intention of doing just that this weekend. Now, I just have to decide what to plant.

It’s Time, It’s Time!

Actually, here in Texas, I’m already behind the curve. But I’m just itching to get out there and start digging and planting. So, since I got to go to the library by myself today, I browsed through the gardening books. It’s looking like this will be a “me, myself, and I” project – well, me & the kid – so I felt I needed some help. I’ve never done the from scratch part. Right now, where the garden will be, is lawn, grass. Yeah, I don’t know what to do with that. My husband always does that part. But, since he’s completely consumed with work and March is over this week, I have to get in there and figure out how to get started. I found a nice stack of books that look like they will be helpful.

The one I started looking at this evening is absolutely hilarious. I am literally laughing out loud while I read. It’s The 20 Minute Vegetable Gardener (Gourmet Gardening for the Rest of Us) by Tom Christopher & Marty Asher. Check out the “Pledge of Allegiance” (minus the explanations):

1. The 20-minute gardener makes every minute count by growing high-impact crops.
2. The 20-minute fruit and vegetable gardener gauges success not by the size of the crop but by the amount of pleasure it delivers.
3. The 20-minute fruit or vegetable must offer a significant improvement over the store-bought alternative.
4. Twenty-minute gardeners don’t fight Nature (they know who will win that battle).
5. Twenty-minute gardeners plant in rows only when planning to harvest by tractor.
6. Twenty-minute gardeners nurture their dirt.
7. Twenty-minute gardeners don’t weed. . . they never let weeds into their gardens.
8. The 20-minute gardener never applies anything to his garden that he would be afraid to get on his hands.
9. The 20-minute gardener can do this because she rarely has to confront bugs.
10. The 20-minute gardener recognizes that the hose is his most important gardening tool, and so wields it with the care it deserves.
11. Mellow gardeners grow better-tasting vegetables.

I can’t wait (rubbing hands together in anticipation).

Here’s a list of the other books I checked out that look helpful, but I haven’t begun to read yet:

• Dirt Cheap Gardening – Hundreds of Ways to Save Money in Your Gardenby Rhonda Massingham Hart
• Texas Gardening – Vegetablesby Dr. Sam Cotner
• Gardening with Children by Beth Richardson
• The Budget Gardener – Twice the Garden for Half the Priceby Maureen Gilmer
• An Illustrated Guide to Organic Gardening – How to Garden in Harmony with Nature by the Editors of Sunset Books

One should be able to find similar books in the local library, if not these. Definately look for the 20-minute gardener. That looks to be a fun read, and tremendously helpful to little ‘ol me. While I’m on the subject, I picked up another wonderful book from Paperback Swap on Herb Gardening: Herbal Remedy Gardens – 38 Plans for Your Health & Well-Being by Dorie Byers. So many ideas and so little time (not to mention budget). None-the-less, I hope to be able to report some progress this time next week. Happy digging in your little plot of the world!

Busy in the Kitchen

I’ve had a lot going on in the kitchen, lately, along with the rest of life. I’ve got a stack of recipes I’ve been wanting to post. We’ve been eating pretty good. Since the almonds I mentioned in the last post, I’ve managed to prepare some whey and cream cheese. Once I had my whey I pickled some cucumbers and okra. I also made some mayonnaise. I’ve really been pushing myself the last couple of weeks to, at the minimum, plan out my dinners for the week before going grocery shopping. And, I’ve been utilizing more recipes from the Nourishing Traditions book, as well as the discussingNT Yahoo group.

Now there’s a worthwhile email group. They have been so helpful. When I have a question, I scan the files and search the messages. If I don’t find the answer, then I post my question. It is so helpful to have all those more experienced folks to query. I would strongly encourage anyone interested in healthy food to check out that group. If you haven’t yet read Sally Fallon’s book, Nourishing Traditions, get that first. Then go to the group. You’ll learn tons from both.

Anyway, I seem to be doing much better with dinner. Now to tackle breakfast and lunch. We just used up the last boxed cereal I plan to ever buy. I found a couple of recipes to make my own cereal on the discussingNT group. I made one yesterday and it turned out pretty good. Now I’m set to try the other. I’ve also reintroduced oatmeal. We went a long while without having that tasty breakfast. What I need are some things I can have ready, with little preparation in the morning for G, as he’s leaving around 6:15.

Lunch can be taken care of many days with leftovers from dinner. I’m working on having good choices around for when that does not apply. Weekends are actually more of a challenge with B’s soccer games on Saturday and worship activities on Sunday. G suggested having a brunch ready for when we get home on Saturday (games in the morning). Things like egg casseroles, fruit salads, etc. I’ll have to work on that. For Sunday, I’m planning things that I can prepare the night before or that morning for the crock-pot or oven, or leftovers form the week. We’ll have our big meal mid-day (afternoon), then a snack later in the evening after returning from evening activities.

It’s so great to have all this coming together. I’m loving the farmers market. We don’t lack for fresh vegetables right now. It runs May through November. I’m also amazed at the products available in our local grocery stores – even Walmart. But our HEB is the best. I haven’t had to drive the nearly 10 miles to Whole Foods for a couple of months now.

That’s my update for September. Now, back to the kitchen.

Progress?

I had picked up some raw almonds and actually got around to soaking them and baking them in a warm oven for 24 hours to make Crispy Almonds (Nourishing Traditions recipe). It’s not much, but having those almonds in the pantry ready to snack or use in a recipe feels like progress. I actually used some tonight in some veggies.

And that’s not all. I have been doing some research on what resources are around here and am finding some. I found a local farmer’s market and went out this week. And there I found a source for grass-fed beef! Yes! I ordered a variety pack to pick up next week so we can try them out. I am also on a waiting list for fresh, minimally processed, milk from a grass-fed dairy! They may be able to take me on as early as next month. Yeeha!

These are small steps, indeed. But steps they are – and in the right direction. It makes me feel that I might actually pull off that revolution in the kitchen I’ve been striving for. I have some budget work to do, as well, to see if I can utilize an organic produce service that delivers. How cool would that be? All this has the wheels turning in my head, and plans are starting to develop. Let the revolution begin!

Hanging in There

All my plans for planning had to take a back seat while we moved to a new community. I’m still surrounded by boxes in some rooms here. But I’m very slowly starting to etch out a routine in our new home and community. That’s tough with a 4 yo and a soldier who’s been in and out (more out than in lately).

On my other blog I just posted about getting homeschool planning done and putting some chores on a schedule. Once I get that nailed down and settled into a routine, the meals come next. Boy do we need to get back on track with the food! Aaack! Then I have to figure out when to squeeze in some Pilates. It doesn’t look like we’ll get to the garden this year. Watch for that next year.

All that to say that I’m still here and hanging in there. I’m working my way back to this blog and some healthy living.

Going Unplugged

Beginning tomorrow, April 23rd, I’m turning off the TV and limiting my blog/email time to one hour per day. You can see posts about this on my other blog. I  just wanted to let folks know that if I don’t get posts done or respond to comments, that’s why. It’s not too late to decide to go unplugged, yourself, for a week. Check out the bloggers’ challenge by Mom Unplugged. Here are some links regarding TV turn-off week:

• TV Turn-off Network
• TV Facts & Figures
• Ad Busters
• Facts, FAQs, and a list of alternative activities
• Crayola Activities

When do we start?

I’m reading through my blogroll tonight (really should be getting to bed) and read a post by HealthyCookie asking whether you would want to know if you were genetically predisposed towards a particular disease or disorder down the road. It’s a good post. This part really grabbed me:

We shouldn’t wait for the bad things to happen before we notice all the good. So what if you found out you were the carrier of a disease or an illness. It shouldn’t cause you to live your life any differently. Any changes that would be made, should be made now. Today. We mustn’t wait until we get sick to start eating better… until we injure ourselves to start strengthening… until we are completely exhausted to rest. We must decide what is most important and make those things important right now.

Start now. So simple, yet so difficult for many of us. Why is it so hard to squeeze in the stuff we know is good for us, the right things to do, into our lives? That’s a good question. One I was already pondering as I’m reading a book on simple living. This book speaks of making conscious choices in our lives – thinking about what we do  and why we do it – living on purpose. I’ll probably post more on that as I get further into the book. It is good stuff to think about.

For now, I must say good night. Starting now, I’m going to bed to rest.

Formulating a Plan

Well, it’s time I quit talking about getting serious and actually get down to business. I’ve been conjuring up an idea of a plan in my head this week. Yesterday I downloaded a weekly meal planner template and hope this evening to get a list going of my favorite recipes. I’m starting with the evening meals, then will work on breakfast and lunch. I also have loads of laundry to work through, so we’ll see how far I get – a little at a time, I suppose.

Along with the pms, I have other nagging health issues, and I’m really getting tired of always feeling sick in some form or another. This week it’s nausea and indigestion getting me down, something that comes on every now and then (no, I’m NOT pregnant!). I’m starting to think that may be something like gall bladder or acid reflux. That’s potentially a whole lot more serious than pms or psoriasis, so I’d better start paying attention to what my body is telling me. You know, 39 is just a couple of months away. Ugh!

In light of all that, these posts on Through the Cooking Glass are very timely: Planning, part 1 and part 2. I certainly needed a little inspiration, not to mention some practical help. Eating well takes work, you know. But it is so worth the effort. I know a few years ago when I was doing a better job of following The Maker’s Diet, I felt much better than I have been lately. My husband and I got a late start as parents and I want to be able to be there for my kid(s), to be able to do for them and have fun with them.

I have a long ways to go before I can completely follow the “Nourishing Traditions” way of eating. I’m so not there with things like juicing and grinding my own grain. But, I’m going to start where I am and do what I can do. So, here I go. I’ll post my results as I go. Maybe it’ll help someone else get started. Hey, I’d love to hear from you if you’re embarking on a similar endeavor.

Organize! – or not

A mental note I make for myself each and every year is to do a better job of organizing and keeping things neat around the house. I live with a military man who acts as my barometer when things begin edging toward chaos – in his mind anyway. So, when I saw this article on Shirley’s blog, I got a little excited: Say Yes to the Mess.

The article did make some good points, worth remembering, such as this one:

“It’s chasing an illusion to think that any organization — be it a family unit or a corporation — can be completely rid of disorder on any consistent basis,” said Jerrold Pollak, a neuropsychologist at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth, N.H., whose work involves helping people tolerate the inherent disorder in their lives. “And if it could, should it be? Total organization is a futile attempt to deny and control the unpredictability of life. . .”

However, I was a bit disappointed in the article overall. It is typical human nature, I suppose, to swing to extreme one way or the other. Sure, people can over-obsess about neatness and organization in futile efforts to reign control in their lives. And that is not a healthy thing. But there is such a thing as too much disorder – chaos. Just as you can over-stress about “everything in it’s place” you can add unecassary stress to your life when that essential item or bit of information cannot be located! Yeah, OK, so I’ve been there.

I dare say that if you fear the health departent setting foot in your home, you have some work that needs doing. A little time and effort spent on basic cleanliness and minimizing clutter is not a bad thing. Balance, people! We need balance! That is the goal I have set for myself this year – to keep myself balanced. I can become overly obssesive about things, and I can also let things go a bit too much. So my balance lies somewhere between minimizing stress when I can’t find something I need, or must clear the counters off before I can even make breakfast – not to mention keeping my husband happy – and minimizing the time I spend on trying to get organized and structured.

I wish each of you balance this year – peace. Happy New Year!

Getting Back on Track

I recently had the opportunity to attend a health fair for military spouses offering a basic health assessment. They took two blood samples (finger prick), weight, blood pressure, and BMI (Body Mass Index). Needless to say I took advantage of this opportunity and was rather pleased with the results.

Turns out I’m not doing so bad as I’ve imagined. The BMI results only suggested I lose about 10 pounds. That’s certainly doable. My cholesterol, glucose level, and blood pressure were all within normal ranges. My good cholesterol was lower than it should be, however. The main recommendation for that was aerobic exercise – 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week. That and Omega 3. The adviser recommended fish oil.

So, overall, I’m pretty healthy – no red flags. But my body has been giving me lots of little annoying symptoms lately. I’ve already written about the hives. In addition there has been painful gas and bloating and some of the worst pms symptoms I’ve had to date (at least that I can recall). So, I’m getting back on track, starting with the diet.

I finally took the trek across town to check out the local health food store. It’s not bad – better than I imagined. It’s a little smaller, but still has much of what I was able to find at Whole Foods in VA. The prices are also better than I expected. So, I’ll be heading over there once every couple of weeks, I think, for poultry and some other grocery products I can’t get at Costco or the Commissary.

I was not able to find a local source for grass-fed meat. But I found a great ranch in NE Texas that has good shipping rates. Grass fed poultry is out of sight, no matter where you purchase it. So, I’m compromising there and getting the organic poultry raised in “spacious indoor/outdoor cages” (from the butcher at the local health food store). I placed my first order for beef from the TX ranch last week. Check EatWild.com to find out what’s available in your state.

Oh, there is also a local co-op that I can order from once a month. My next step in the food department is to actually plan a few week’s worth of menus to help me stay in budget. Can’t hurt in the organization department, either. I suppose I should get back to exercising, too. I love Pilates. But, since I’m not managing to fit that into my day right now, I need to find a more practical alternative, like walking. The dog can probably use some exercise, too.

SIDE NOTE: If you’re wondering “Why grass-fed beef?” check out the Power Steer article. There are also some informative articles on EatWild.com, linked above. Grass fed beef is higher in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids, which is good for raising that good cholesterol, which will in turn help lower the bad cholesterol (and lower in the bad Omega 6). That’s just off the top of my head, from memory. So do check it out.