The fasting mind
Last week I wrote about a love I have for books and knowledge. Generally, these aren’t bad things, but for me, I realized I was taking in way more than I could fairly absorb. This last week, I decided...
View ArticleMy 2013 Garden Plans
Our garden a few weeks ago By this time last year, I had a host of different seedlings started under a light in my basement. Most of them went on to do just fine in the garden, but as the season...
View ArticleBest Ever Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Cornbread Muffins
When you’re starting out in the world of gluten-free cooking, variety can be a challenge if you can’t afford pre-made foods, especially when it comes to baking. So when a recipe comes along – a real,...
View ArticleWhat lies beneath the snow
Greek oregano growing back after a snow-filled winter The snowy weather is finally gone . . . I think . . . I hope :). We’ve enjoyed a few gorgeous days of weather in the 60′s, and yesterday I finally...
View ArticleMom of boys
People ask me sometimes if I want to try for another child, meaning do I want to try for a girl. I have to admit, having a girl would be fun in different ways, but I am completely content with who I...
View ArticlePottery Class
I’m not sure why, but a few months ago I suddenly wanted to take a pottery class. I found and signed up for a nearby very affordable parks and rec beginner’s class in wheel throwing. I wasn’t sure...
View ArticleModest Makeovers: The Family Room Edition
The room before When we found out that we would be able to live in a house for the first time in our marriage, were really excited. Life in California was beautiful, but cramped. Our first place was...
View ArticlePlanting mint in your garden
How bad could they be? If you’re an experienced gardener, I know you’re about to shout, “NOOOOOOO!!!! Don’t do it!!! It will take over your garden!” But let me explain. 1) I like mint. 2) There is...
View ArticleWhat I love most about gardening
Calendula seedlings spring cheerfully above the rest of their companions There are many ups and downs in gardening. Sometimes the downs feel bigger than the ups. From failed seedlings to almost-ripe...
View ArticleI can wait
Although our spring is much warmer right now compared to some other parts of the country, the weather is still a little on the cool side. I can tell that a lot of the growth in my garden is just...
View ArticleTrue leaves
A week or so ago when the weather shot up to the 70′s, I brought my flats of seedlings out for some mild sunshine. But eventually the chilly evenings returned, and so I brought my “second children,”...
View ArticleThe real truth about creativity
“I hate the idea that cooking should be a celebration or a party . . . cooking is about putting food on the table night after night, and there isn’t anything glamorous about it.” - Christopher Kimball,...
View ArticleFavorite Frugal Recipe: Homemade Sunflower Seed Butter
We are now approaching almost one year since we first figured out that my son had undiagnosed food sensitivities, including wheat, cow’s milk, peanuts, almonds, oranges, and high-sugar-content...
View ArticleGarden Update May 2013
Wow, with all of the wild swings in weather that we’ve been having in the Midwest, it’s a wonder that anything is growing! Even though it feels like I obsessively check my garden every day sometimes...
View ArticleSafe for your baby, safe for your sanity: The Baby Gate
You would think that by now, with our youngest approaching 2 1/2, we would have taken down most of our baby gates. But you would be mistaken. You see, we love our baby gates. I wish all houses that...
View ArticleGarden Update: June 2013
My herb garden I have been really bad at posting lately – something weird has happened . . . I don’t know exactly when, but I think it has a lot to do with my 2 year-old now being fully mobile and...
View ArticleMy unusual journey into homeschooling
Two of my students in our “one-room schoolroom” (and note the massive Sonlight binder!) For those of you who know me only through this blog, it may come as a surprise to you that I already have over...
View ArticleGarden Update: July 2013
I knew from the beginning that this summer would not be as productive as it could, mainly because I was taking a vacation right in the middle of it for two and a half weeks. My goal however, was to...
View ArticleFavorite Frugal Recipes: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Sandwich Bread
As we have adjusted to a gluten-free lifestyle, I have found it easier to make gluten-free versions of muffins, pancakes, waffles, and cakes. But whenever I tried to attempt a gluten-free recipe for...
View ArticleThe challenges of homeschooling
In my last post on my unusual introduction to homeschooling, I talked about the spark of learning that I even caught myself as I encountered high-quality literature in the curriculum we used with my...
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