Homemade Christmas, 2009

Another year of handmade Christmas gifts. Again, I am SO glad that we did it! It's feels so good to stay away from the mall, and to change the focus from buying that perfect gift!

This year, I made coasters, friendship soup & cornbread mix. Some of the awesome gifts I received were: A Christmas wall hanging, delicious-smelling homemade candles, pancake mix & syrup, an apron, and hot spiced tea mix. I look forward to 2010's Homemade Christmas!!!

You might remember that last year I made granola & notecards. Some of the gifts I received last year were: a basket of "green" products, a painting, spiced nuts & homemade soap.

7 Foods Not to Eat

I found this article interesting. 7 Foods Experts won't eat. Click here for the full article, but here are the seven:

1. Canned Tomatoes
2. Corn-Fed Beef
3. Microwave Popcorn
4. Nonorganic Potatoes
5. Farmed Salmon
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
7. Conventional Apples

Interesting...

Gingerbread House

I was under the impression that I might try a completely from-scratch-gingerbread house this year. I scouted out a few great links & ideas, like this one or this one. In the end, I just bought a kit. Ugh! I've decided that my husband, the architect, will be doing the gingerbread houses from now on! (By the way, this is usually the look I get from E in my photos!)

Christmas Program

Last week, Ethan had his Christmas program at preschool. Although he's not a performer or showman, I think he did great! His teacher, Miss Phyllis, was MY teacher when I was 3 too! We love Miss Phyllis!!

Tooth Bear

I have been wanting to make this little bear (another Martha project) for ages. Her sample has Ethan's name on it, so I just copied her entirely. This little guy has a pocket to put teeth in (for the Tooth Fairy). I figure that Ethan is getting closer & closer to loosing his first tooth, so I thought I'd better finish it up. A while ago, I bought a thrift store wool sweater & felted it. KB has been kissing all over the bear, so I think I better make one for her very soon!

Dino Tees

During consignment sale season, I loaded up on basic, solid long sleeve tees for E, in a variety of colors. Only to find out that now E has a strong opinion about what he wears. (How does that happen?) So he won't touch his solid colored t-shirts. So I made a couple of dino appliques and he loves these shirts now! For applique instructions, check out Martha's website.

NieNie Dialogues

Have you heard about NieNie? Stephanie Nielson has a blog that I began reading a few years ago. An incredibly good looking family, Stephanie & her husband went on a weekend trip, but were involved in a serious plane crash & explosion. I remember checking her blog one day about cooking, and her run-of-the-mill family happenings. Then, she went on a little trip and her small engine plane crashed. It's incredibly heart breaking now to read about her transition back to the family. At times the emotion on her blog is raw & pained. If you haven't heard about this amazing woman, you can read a 10 (yes, Ten) part article about her ordeal & recovery. Part 1 starts here. Her perseverance is inspirational.

Kids are Born Different

Ethan would eat 80% of whatever foods I put in front of him. My Princess, on the other hand, will eat only what she chooses to eat. However I believe in continuing to offer foods, even though they are rejected. So she has been offered broccoli countless times. Last month, I had steamed some broccoli & set it on the table as I got ready for dinner. I look over and she's eating it all! So i have a new technique. About an hour before lunch or dinner, I steam some broccoli, and then sprinkle a little salt & lemon juice. Then, I tell the kids in my most playful tone of voice, "I put my broccoli on the table. Don't you eat it!!!!" It's all gone 3 1/2 minutes later. It's a win, win situation. My newfound technique has never let me down. It's the little victories, people.

Organic Lawncare

My husband takes great pride in his yard. Great pride. He loves to mow it in diagonals, and leave the most perfect little stripes in the yard. We never lets it get long, and there is not a weed in sight. We've had a lawncare service take care of weed maintenance in years past, but we are getting geared up to attempt a chemical-free lawn this year. Hub's desire for a pretty yard outweighs the desire for a chemical-free one, so we'll see how this year goes. We've bought a couple of books: The Organic Lawncare Manual and Building a Healthy Lawn: A Safe & Natural Approach. We started composting a couple of years ago, but decided to kick it up a notch. Lance & E built us another bin in our back yard for leaves. Hopefully we'll have lots of compost for our yard & garden in the spring. I keep nudging him to go pick up manure from the local Agriculture center, but thus far have been unsuccessful with that. Go figure. :)If you are interested in getting an Earth Machine compost bin from Metro, click here. You can get them half price at Nashville's Omahondro Center.

Hand Grip OT Exercises

We were told by E's teacher that he needed to work on his pencil grip. It was recommended that he do occupational therapy. Before we signed on for the expense of OT, we thought we'd work on it at home. We've been writing, and coloring, focusing on pencil grip, and a few others exercises that Lance invented. I've discovered that the problem is rooted in the fact that he likes to color very dark. When he uses his "pencil grip," he can't make it as dark as he likes it. So we're practicing a lot with markers, so he can get a dark color without the pressure. Here are some of our exercises (I mean...Games!)! [Please note: I am not disregarding advice for my son to receive therapy. However, we are attempting to first address this at home to see if we can make some progress at home first.]

Toothpick Pickups: Ethan picks toothpicks out of a bowl with a tweezer. He has to pick up 10 of each color from the bowl & sorts them on the table. Swingups: Glad my husband is strong. Ethan grabs onto Lance's index fingers & has to hang on while Daddy pulls him off the ground. And of course there is always climbing!!! Good thing we know some people who have a gym...
Other exercises that we had recommended to us include: Lite Brite, Play Doh, Operation, Don't Break the Ice, Sorry, clipping clothespins on things & flipping pennies.

Any of you have any additional ideas? Have your children had occupational therapy?

Finding Local Foods

One thing I've realized is that finding local resources is like entering some secret club. These farmers are not advertised, and much of the information is a challenge to get. If you have seen Food Inc., you might start to suspect that small farmers might fear big business farming a bit & don't even want to get their names out there. Here are some tips that I have for you if you are looking for resources.

If you are in Tennessee, you have a wonderful resource in The Local Table, a publication which features how to eat locally. Although it is not completely comprehensive, here is a list that they have compiled of farms and the goods that they offer. The best method is word of mouth.

Once you hear about a farm that sounds interesting, I suggest you contact them personally. Most of these farmers do not have stores or a firm list of products that they offer, so it's easiest to just get them by phone/email. They are typically very responsive. Many of these farmers deliver to Nashville when there is enough demand. If you find a farm that you want to know more about, I suggest you email (or call if no email is available) and ask the following questions:

1) Do you ever make deliveries? Or is it pickup only at your farm?
2) I live in [Nashville]. What is the closest place that you deliver to?
3) How often do you deliver?
4) Besides what is listed on your website, do you have other foods you offer?
5) Can you add me to your mailing list, so I know about deliveries in the future?

Let me know if you find other great farm resources! Our freezer is stocked full of grass fed, organic, steroid-free ground beef, from a local farm and my body is thankful for it!

Winter CSA, Week 2

This week we upgraded our package to a full preserved goods package. Our goodies include: Turnips (with turnip greens), Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Popping Corn, Sweet Canned Corn, Canned Tomatoes, Apple Butter, Whole Wheat Fettuccini (not pictured) & canned Tomato Sauce.

Some recipes I'm considering testing out this week: Turnip Greens & Ham, Slow Cooker Root Vegetable Tagine, braised swiss chard, swiss chard with raisins & pine nuts, Southern-Style Turnip/Mustard Greens, oh I don't know - maybe this mustard green recipe? or dare I say Turnip Souffle?

We also got lots of other products from another local farm (actually in KY), Willow Hills, including cheeses. If I could only find a local source of flour!!!

Life Group & Not Quitting!

Okay everyone, I'm so glad you are out there reading! Thanks to your comments on my blog (and in person), I know that there still some people out there! So I will keep on going...But humor me with a comment every once in a while so I know I'm not alone on this blog!!! So I will keep telling the Tales from the Modern Housewife. I'll leave you with a little snapshot of E & KB's church small group buddies. It doesn't look like a lot of kids to have in one house, but let me tell you that IT IS! We love you guys!

Christmas Party

Okay folks...I'm really wondering if anyone is out there anymore. I'm considering closing up shop on the blog, so enoy the post. It might be my last!

This past weekend we had our annual playgroup Christmas party (Here is last year's picture.)
The cute angel idea came from Martha and a slinky for a napkin ring on the kids table, idea from BH&G. These kids have been playing together since they were 1. Such fun!

Breakfast With Santa

Last weekend, we had "breakfast with Santa" and got to meet him, see a live nativity scene & everything. Ethan asked for an "orange brontosaurus."

Granola Cereal Recipe

Some of you remember that last year my family made homemade gifts. This year, I'm working hard to do the same!!! A couple of people have even told me they are making my granola. Yeah! If you'd like to give it a shot, here's the recipe below. I had labels made from MyOwnLabels.

The Granola Cereal recipe is below. Adjust seeds, nut, fruit ratios as desired. You can also use other stuff, like nuts, pumpkin seeds, raisins, etc. ALSO! If you are making these for people, I suggest you try a batch for yourself first. The timing/temperature varies depending on your oven. It can go from tasty to burned very quickly.

4 c. oats (quick or old fashioned)
1/2 c. sunflower seeds
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1/2 cup coconut
1/3 c. raw brown sugar
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ c. vegetable oil
¼ c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c. dried cranberries
½ c. dried chopped dates

Warm oil and honey in a small saucepan. Add vanilla. Mix all dry ingredients and spread out on large flat baking pan with sides. Pour sauce over the dry mixture and stir well. Spread it back out on the pan. Bake at 300° for 40 min (or less, depending on oven). Stir every 10 min. Let cool. Add dried fruit. Store in plastic container or zip loc. Stays good for about 2 weeks.
(Added note: Don't let these cool on the pan, or they will stick to the pan. Cool in a separate bowl.)

Real Tree, Fake Smiles

We've picked out our tree & strategically decorated it - the same way all other parents of curious children do. Yet we still are down 2 Christmas balls & an angel. But our house is ready for lots of Christmas merriment. We've been dancing to carols & chipmunk musicals. And counting down the days until Christmas!
Picking out a tree
Fake Smile #1
Fake Smile #2
Watching as the classic light-up angel twinkles on the tree! Merry Christmas everybody!

Sugar-Free & Farm Raised Turkey

Lance & I went Sugar-Free for the month of November! We still used honey & agave nectar. It wasn't too bad & we felt really good. But I did welcome December in with a nice batch of chocolate chip cookies!!! Bring on the Christmas cookies!

In other food news, we bought a Farm Raised local turkey for Thanksgiving. It was so yummy!!! We also bought several pounds of grass-fed beef from a local farmer and have been enjoying it. We laugh because it reminds us of this very funny (and true) description of "constantly hugged goats" from this funny (and close-to-accurate) depiction of "Total Foods." If you ever shop at Whole Foods, you've got to watch it!

Winter CSA, Week 1

I'm so excited to be starting my first season of the winter CSA through Avalon Acres. Pictured here is one half-share of the "Preserved Goods" package, plus some farm fresh brown eggs. This week's deliver consisted of cornmeal, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, & peach preserves, green beans. I'm so excited!!!

The winter CSA delivers every 2 weeks. If you have been considering a CSA, I think the Winter is a great time to start. With the preserved goods package, there is so little pressure to cook so quickly! Also, if you go to OC, they deliver there on Sunday morning!
Avalon Acres offers other packages or a la carte options, which might include meats, eggs, canned, dried goods, root vegetables, winter vegetables, canned corns, beans, tomatoes, tomato juice, sorghum, honey, jellies, preserves, pickles, apple butter, pear butter, popping corn, cornmeal, peanuts, sweet potatoes, winter squash, homemade pastas & spaghetti sauce, amish breads & desserts. If you are interested, the order form is right here. This winter, you can also hand pick your own package.

Life Lately

A dwindling number of you out there might be wondering what have we been up to? I always shook my head when people became too busy too blog. I never think I spend that much time updating. But these days, I've been ramping it up as we move into the holiday season! I'm scouring the web & working on handmade Christmas gifts. Anyway, here's a glimpse of our lives the past month. Entertaining Hamming it up for the camera
Enjoying the beautiful weather.
Meeting the bison
hanging out
stealing brother's marker's
And just being together!

Green Eggs & Ham

We recently added little pureed spinach (and food coloring) for a tasty version of "Green Eggs & Ham"!

Butternut Squash

I know I have been a C- blogger, and haven't shown any yummy food or crafts in ages. But there has been so much yumminess that I haven't had time to blog about it all! Looking forward to my Winter CSA program, which starts in a few weeks. Do you know what I love most about butternut squash? That it stays good for months! Anyway, my butternut squash from my csa is finally all gone. These 3 recipes using butternut squash are all highly recommended!

Butternut Squash & Swiss Chard Lasagna
Winter Squash Bars, from "Simply in Season"
Gingery Butternut Squash Soup, from "Simply in Season"

1st Real Camping Trip!

The weather was so beautiful last weekend that the boys went for their first real overnight camping trip. Lance decided at the last minute, and fortunately was able to find some friends to join us. The last time E spent the night in a tent was when we had friends over for a little city camping. I can't wait for us to all get to do this together with other friends! Wanna come with us when that time comes? :)

Mary Alice Duncan Photography

A few weeks ago, we had some pictures made with Mary Alice Duncan. Love these! Check out some more from Mary Alice Duncan Photography here. For a flashback of some other great family photos, click here!

Fun for Kids

Neither of these are glamorous projects, but they were fun for our kids! Our tents (Sheets, Blankets & Pillows) are always falling in the middle, and I can't fit in them, so I made a version, inspired by this tent. Mine is much less refined, but it's fun & does the trick! Also, we made a "house" for Ethan's cars, which he decorated with pictures of cars cut out of magazines. Kept him busy for like 2 days straight!!!