We Made It!

I love all the rich, savory holiday foods.  Gravies, real mashed potatoes, ham, turkey, eggnog, pies and baked brie all make my mouth water and my tummy rumble.  I am addicted to most combinations of butter, sugar and flour, especially if they contain chocolate as well.  But enough is enough.  My level of moderation has been exceeded and sluggishness is threatening to set in.

I am fully ready to return to modest meals of soup and bread, rice and beans, stir fries, salads and sandwiches.  It is good that we feast occasionally, our bodies crave the extra fats and proteins, especially in the cold weather.  As a daily indulgence, though, it is bad not only for our bodies - extra fat, cholesterol and unstable blood sugar - but also our budget.

homemade whole wheat bread

Eating primarily fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains may seem expensive on the surface, but when you experience the higher energy levels, better health, and increased "regularity" this type of diet provides, you begin to see that the less expensive packaged foods aren't really that great of a deal after all.  I had an episode of very painful symptoms a couple of months ago, I won't list them here, but suffice it to say, that when I completely eliminated all additives, preservatives, umm...big macs and processed foods (other than those I processed myself) my health returned.  I am hearing more and more stories like this lately, so there must be something to it.

You don't need a lot of fancy footwork to make a satisfying meal of natural foods.  Raw, juiced or lightly cooked is good for most veggies and fruits.  Whole grains and beans can be done in large batches and frozen in portions.  Here are a couple of my favorite quickie meals:

homemade cheese curds

Lunch: salad greens, chopped onion and homemade cheese curds with a drop of balsamic vinegar and a splash of olive oil, accompanied by a thick slice of homemade bread with real butter.

Dinner: stir fried brown rice or noodles with onions, carrots and brocolli, seasoned with fresh ginger and garlic.

If you need inspiration for transitioning to a fresher, simpler diet try some of my favorite websites:  www.savingdinner.com, www.hillbillyhousewife.com, www.chefantonia.com and www.thefresh20.com.

Here's to a healthier New Year for all of us!!

Holiday Chaos!

Once again, things are total chaos on the Homestead.  With the Holidays threatening to outrun me before I even get my dishes done, I will be spending less time blogging and more time cleaning, baking, sewing and wrapping.  Just in case I don't post here again until after the 25th, here's wishing everyone a 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Homemade Christmas Gifts And More - Review

Kindle Exclusive

Once again, Susanne, the Hillbilly Housewife has done it.  She has compiled a trove of frugal Christmas gift ideas, old and new, into one handy volume.  At only $2.99, this Kindle exclusive will save you hundreds of dollars on Christmas gifts, not to mention hours of shopping and stress.  

With some inexpensive yet up to date packaging - ideas included in book - cookies, coffee mixes and bath goodies become coveted gifts for family and friends.  The best part is, these don't take all year to make.  In just a couple of sessions, you can easily assemble several bath and body gifts or baked gifts and homemade mixes.  Crocheted and sewn gifts may take a bit longer, but not much if you keep it simple.  Susanne has all kinds of ideas there, too.  There are even simple gifts for kids to make and receive.

I was very happy with the recipe section for baked gifts and mixes, and also the gift basket ideas, but a little disappointed in the handmade section.  There are lots of ideas for handmade gifts, but no directions for any specific crocheted, knitted or sewn gifts, although links to other sites are included.  Also, I would have hoped for a little more in the section of gifts children can make.  That drawback pointed out, I still love the book for the price, and have plenty of other resources for kid stuff.  

I have given many of these gifts myself over the years, yet having it all there in front of me reminded me of how easy and inexpensive gift giving can be, and gave me some inspiration for those on my list this year.

For lots of frugal tips and recipes for low cost home cooking from scratch, see Susanne's website http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/.

To purchase Homemade Christmas Gifts and More, Frugal Christmas Gift Ideas for the Whole Family, (c) 2012 by Susanne B. Myers, visit Amazon.

The Death of the Camera

It started about two years ago.  The flash on my wonderful, digital camera folds down and snaps when not in use.  One day it decided not to fold down anymore.  No problem, didn't hurt the camera any.  The lens had been having issues with dust making it not want to spin up and open, so I had been cleaning it periodically and had still been able to take plenty of pictures and videos.  The last straw came the other day during a miscellaneous photo shoot.  The lens refused to open no matter how much I cleaned, coaxed or pommeled it.  

I have now resigned myself to the fact that my lovely Samsung NV10, 10.1 mega-pixel camera with the Scheider-Kreuznach lens, which has taught me so much about digital photography, needs replacing.  Although I have already found a similar model, with more up-to-date features, for a price I can afford within the next few weeks, I am thinking that maybe I would like to upgrade to a more versatile outfit.

My Samsung fits neatly in my pocket, and doesn't take up any room in my purse.  But I am longing for the optical zoom and more precise focus of one of the better cameras on the market now.  I am certainly not going to pop for a professional set-up, which I don't have the skill to use anyway.  I have just about decided to save up for a few months and get a nice, mid-priced camera, which may be too big for my pocket or purse, but should allow me to take some awesome pics and videos, to help bring my blog and website up a level in usefulness and enjoyment to you, my readers.

Until then, please be patient with my recycled pictures, and know that I am working hard to make Mrs. D's more interesting for all of us!

Whatever Possessed Me?! - FREE Download!

It's finally here;)  Chapter 1 of "The Working Mom's Parent's Guide to Homeschooling" is now available for FREE download!  For a limited time only (a week or so...), so click on the link below, or the button on the sidebar and get it now!!


The Working Parent's Guide to Homeschooling Ch. 1

You CAN homeschool your children!  Even if you are single, working, low income, or don't have a college degree.  The Working Parent's Guide to Homeschooling, Chapter 1, will introduce you to me, a single, working, low income mom, who moved her kids to the country and started homeschooling, while still working.  Learn:  Whatever Possessed Me?! and Where It All Began...

This is a PDF file, that should be readable on most ereaders and computers.  The link or button will take you to a secure site, where the file is stored, and will give you a link to click on to download the file.  Hope you enjoy it!  Now to get Chapter 2 ready and keep working on the rest of the book.

The Working Parent's Guide to Homeschooling

One-room schoolhouse, Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, CA

I am so excited.  My first book is almost complete and I just can't wait.  So I am going to serialize it, one chapter at a time.  Not only that, I am going to give away the download of each chapter for FREE for the first week!  

Now, I am still polishing up that first chapter, because I want it to be perfect for you.  So let me tell you about the book.

"The Working Mom's Parent's Guide to Homeschooling" is for anyone who's ever wanted to homeschool, but thought they couldn't unless they stayed home full time.  I've been there.  I've made mistakes, and had lots of success and I want to share what I've learned, to make it easier for you to jump in and make an incredible new life for you and your children.

In "The Working Mom's Parent's Guide to Homeschooling", I address perplexing issues, such as Scheduling (Chapter 2), Who Watches the Kids? (Chapter 3), and locating and obtaining affordable curriculum (Chapters 4, 6, 7 and 8).  

I share my thoughts on record keeping, and understanding your state's homeschooling laws (Chapter 10) and I wrap everything up with a chapter on nine different styles of homeschooling, their definitions, and where to find resources for each different style.

In these days of ereaders, social networking and high speed internet, homeschooling is possible like never before.  In "The Working Mom's Parent's Guide to Homeschooling", I hope to encourage you to commit yourself to taking charge of your children's education.  I want to give you ideas and starting points for your journey.  Most of all, I want to convince you that this is doable, regardless of your particular situation.  That with creative thinking, determination and support, you and your children can start experiencing the joys of homeschooling today!

So keep your eyes here on "Around The Homestead", for your first FREE download of "The Working Mom's Parent's Guide to Homeschooling".

Remembering Why I Moved to the Country

The llama in the playhouse.

My extended stay in the Big City this year has served as a good reminder to me of why I moved out to the country.  The endless miles of cement and asphalt, cookie cutter houses with postage stamp yards, piles of rules regulating everything from garage sales to whether you can walk down the street with your child on a school day.  The gray skies that sometimes open up to blue by mid-day.  The 24 hour traffic.  The constant noise.  The overwhelming amount of activity.  The brown haze that obscures the mountains from view.  The over-chlorinated pools.  The speed at which life flies by.

Yet, there have been advantages.  Walking to daily Mass.  Spending time with my dad, my older children, my grandson, and my cousins.  Being present for the many special events that took place with my family this summer.  Seeing some old friends and making some new.  Then, there are those things that can only happen in Southern California:  black beans, lettuce and ranch dressing as pizza toppings.  Spending the morning in the mountains and the afternoon at the beach.  Hummer stretch limos.

Caught in the act.

Coming home was not without its problems.  I lost my entire sheep herd while I was gone.  One mama and baby in lambing, the other mama and baby to coyotes.  My rascally goats spent the summer systematically working their fence until they could open up a section.  So we have been systematically closing up each new hole and reinforcing the fence.  Fencing on the homestead is a never ending project.  My dog ran off to parts unknown, though she was last spotted playing with some campers visiting from another area.  I hope they're giving her a good home.

The new dogs are awesome.  The llamas were utterly displeased with sharing the back yard with them, however, so a new pen has been constructed for them.  It does have a nice shed, which, when cleaned out, will make as nice a shelter as the playhouse they were using in the back yard.

Home sweet home.

I've lost the ten pounds I gained just getting back to my normal routine and diet.  We do have a few new neighbors, creating some extra noise in my peaceful haven, but I am sure glad to be home.  Ten acres on a dirt road with clear skies trumps asphalt and constant highway noise any old day.