tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42201174449766127502024-09-14T10:00:25.437-06:00Counter Culture began as my adventure of growing, using and learning about traditional cultured foods. Though I still work with and serve cultured foods on a daily basis, the blog is evolving to include parenting, fitness, gardening and more. Join me as I share life in a century old farmhouse in Montana.Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-78703047586868698722014-07-21T10:55:00.001-06:002014-07-21T11:00:56.626-06:00

Everything around us has to be green, recycled or sustainable. What I see expressed in a lot of families is that someone else cooks their food, from fast food, to frozen waffles, to school lunches, to prefab meals eaten in front of the tv. I do not believe this is helpful and it certainly isn't wholesome. Sometimes these fast food meals and even the ever more market driven school meals

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-233623866605936122014-06-09T15:49:00.001-06:002014-06-09T15:49:19.847-06:00

Our family is enjoying our summer. We are gardening, training dogs, playing with children and grandchildren, burning a few marshmallows and being thankful to live where we live. This means that I am spending less time inside and I am writing less. When I do take time to write, it is usually here http://baptistmama.wordpress.com/  . Come on over to see what is going on this summer. Lawana

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-89287036054561697512012-04-07T11:51:00.000-06:002012-04-07T11:51:21.676-06:00

Kombucha has been an humble servant in the McGuffey home for years. It has been a probiotic friend, a convenient way to make acid for home use instead of vinegar, a flavorful drink and ingredient in cough medicine, switzel, and punch. I have always made Kombucha from black tea or green tea and sugar. This past winter our geographic area has been hard hit with a recurring/mutating virus. My

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-36305501634214541322012-03-07T18:23:00.000-07:002012-03-07T18:23:48.002-07:00

Goats from my past I have lived almost a year without goats. It was nice this winter to sit in front of my cozy fire and not worry about feeding, haying or watering them. It has been nice sometimes not to have to keep my goats fenced out of my yard and off of everyone's vehicles. I honestly haven't missed being up all night with a doe in labor or any of the other sleep interferences that come

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-38098551714885369462012-02-18T16:36:00.000-07:002012-02-18T16:36:50.793-07:00

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-2171558404635878172012-02-04T15:04:00.000-07:002012-02-04T15:04:19.079-07:00

                                        Photo by http://www.feelingretro.com/ I am 51 years old. Not too long ago I said something about being middle aged. One of my sons said, "Mom how many people

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-63601724339119433472012-01-03T05:36:00.002-07:002012-04-13T14:51:26.550-06:00

If you are like us and many of our friends, this winter has brought a nasty visitor that won't take the hint to leave. Our family picked up a cold and now most of us have a lingering cough. I understand that the cold is over but the lung tissues are left irritated and slightly damaged. The cough remains while the healing is occurring. It is nevertheless annoying. There are herbs that can speed

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-21469532189291463162012-01-01T07:45:00.000-07:002012-01-01T07:45:30.657-07:00

I have loved every view of this creation that I have been privileged to see. I have been blessed to see several European countries and a couple of Latin American countries. My family has lived on two different Islands, on two mountain ranges and many choices in between. I have even lived on a floating log raft off the coast of an uninhabited island in Alaska for three years. I love living in the

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-2190795553831460942011-12-24T22:41:00.000-07:002011-12-24T22:41:57.617-07:00

I am pondering the traditions of my family. We have some quirky ones. For instance on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we greet each other with "Christmas Eve Gift" or "Christmas Gift" respectively. This has been in my mom's German/English/? family for many generations, apparently. No one seems to know where it came from or why. The idea behind it is that the person who says the greeting first

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-48287894067103192572011-12-16T01:37:00.000-07:002011-12-16T01:37:40.828-07:00

For the last weeks I have really struggled. I have been ill, required surgery and been ill some more. This has put a major kink in everything about my life. I have had children doing the cooking, cleaning and I am sure more praying than they usually do. I have been physically impaired, but I have had a lot of time to think and pray. I have decided to start another blog at  http://

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-5928305478741747912011-11-17T16:45:00.001-07:002011-11-17T21:19:18.419-07:00

How many times have we each said, "If I could go back knowing what I know now." ? Of course, that is not possible. In general, I have few regrets and I am tempted to be prideful and say, "If I changed any decisions I wouldn't be who I am now." While that is true, and according to Romans 8:28 all of these things work together for my good. There are definitely things I wish I had a redo on. One

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-8718907738656519642011-11-15T00:13:00.001-07:002014-07-21T10:37:15.175-06:00

Everything around us has to be green, recycled or sustainable. What I see expressed in a lot of families is that someone else cooks their food, from fast food, to frozen waffles, to school lunches, to prefab meals eaten in front of the tv. I do not believe this is helpful and it certainly isn't wholesome. Sometimes these fast food meals and even the ever more market driven school meals

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-16755822044055208642011-10-26T09:26:00.001-06:002011-10-26T09:28:20.296-06:00

If you haven't realized it yet, paying it forward is one of my favorite themes. Here is a list I gleaned from observing my friends and family. Some may be repeats, but they are still good. Though I live rurally, I have tried to include ideas I got from my city friends too, in case you need them. Always, most importantly, smile at strangers. Most will think you are on something, but that one

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-603374780536178752011-10-21T09:05:00.001-06:002011-10-21T09:09:37.620-06:00

It is dark at my house. My guardian dog has returned to the porch, apparently satisfied that the coyotes are gone for the night. I have a little fire going in the wood stove for my children. The progression of sleep people has begun. In a little while I will hear the first rooster crow and I will see the first glow in the East, but I have been up for a few hours. I have been tending to a sick

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-15768989055979715442011-10-03T13:11:00.000-06:002011-10-03T13:11:41.575-06:00

Every year around labor day, we have an invasion of stink bugs, Assassin Beetles, Zelus renardii. This always strikes fear in my heart. I have to tell you, I am not afraid of snakes, horses, wild cattle, heights or deep Amazonian jungle type things. I am; however, petrified of stink bugs. The sound of their raspy wings in flight sends icy fingers of fear into my heart. They sound like little

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-85827773793432921232011-09-29T09:38:00.000-06:002011-09-29T09:38:25.601-06:00

This is one of my favorite food pictures. Everything here is made from home cultured foods. Debbie's sourdough bread, my mozzarella, kefir and kombucha. The big pitcher is fresh goat's milk. I just like this picture and wanted to share it again. I also want to figure out a way to get to know my readers. If you frequent my blog and haven't introduced yourself, please stop by the comment

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-91205002776496461712011-09-27T09:03:00.002-06:002011-09-27T09:27:14.923-06:00

Okay, here goes! Stink bugs anywhere, but particularly in my house! (I probably do not dislike them as badly as my daughter and daughter in law; however.) People with road rage Bumper stickers with swear words on them Anything that involves swear words in public or out loud for my children to hear or see Anything lightly buttered - in my opinion if it is worth buttering, it is worth buttering

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-43114505211875042802011-09-20T19:24:00.000-06:002011-09-20T19:24:02.127-06:00

Listening to 4 of my children doing dishes and singing this... I’ve A Home Beyond The River O the blessed contemplation, When with trouble here I sigh; I’ve a home beyond the river, That I’ll en-ter by and by. I’ve a home beyond the river, I’ve a mansion bright and fair; I’ve a home beyond the river I will dwell with Jesus there. O how sweet ‘twil be to meet them All the ransomed host above;

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-17305525473824885552011-09-20T08:21:00.000-06:002011-09-20T08:21:34.397-06:00

The sun never came up this morning. It should have been up a while ago, but in it's place is a cool, velvety blanket of fog. Things that should be familiar take on different and intriguing shapes. Noises are dampered. The edges of my roof are dripping and my porch kitties are sleepy and stretchy. My youngest child exclaimed, "Mom it is really dusty outside!" She might not be able to remember

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-20070531276491431762011-09-19T12:49:00.000-06:002011-09-19T12:49:40.824-06:00

In case you don't know it, I am of all people blessed! My life is not trouble free. On the contrary, at this moment, I am overwhelmed, unable to do well all that needs doing, tempted to worry, at risk of being fired from a couple of friendships due to neglect, and a fairly poor excuse for a wife and mother. BUT I serve a God who knows what is best for me. He uses ALL things for my good, whether I

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-10682478812841087862011-09-16T07:22:00.002-06:002011-09-19T12:25:01.537-06:00

We don't have pumpkins but we do have a few flowers! I consider Kombucha to be a very good use of resources. To me it is good stewardship of my money to combine a little tea, sugar and water and let the Kombucha organisms mine out the healthful components for me. It is effortlessly sustainable so long as I have access to some tea, something sweet and water. The results could make a huge

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-49433965005595676942011-09-12T07:35:00.000-06:002011-09-12T07:35:06.314-06:00

I just want to thank God for the Gomez family who ministered in our Church Sunday morning. We are so blessed as a congregation to have missionary friends all over the world. The Gomez family was a beautiful example of that and a great reminder that not all of the missionaries that we support, live safely. I am so blessed and convicted too, when I see a family who puts everything on the line to

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-36380461473439702822011-09-08T09:29:00.003-06:002011-09-08T09:29:59.083-06:00

I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes and some quotes from some of my favorite people. There's a dead cat on that line. (Clint McGuffey) If everyone were jumping off a cliff, would you go too? (Mom) You can't get blood out of a turnip, but you can beat hell out of the greens. (Ruby Idella Lahr) Spit in one hand and wish in the other and see which fills up faster. (Miss Ruby again

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-9404733266984055202011-09-05T23:01:00.000-06:002011-09-05T23:01:14.270-06:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about people who have encouraged me over the years. They are a diverse group of people spanning a 50 year life. Some of them are dead now. Some are much younger than I am. They are of many ethnic descents and social strata I don't even know some of their names. The only thing that I  see that they have in common is their kindness. There was Mr. G., a

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220117444976612750.post-22826534090630412202011-09-02T07:19:00.001-06:002014-07-21T11:06:10.785-06:00

The farmer's market has been a wonderful part of our summer here on Hosanna Ranch.I enjoy watching my little ones learning to bake. Last night Jesse really began to get the addition of fractions when we doubled his recipe! Grace-Marie has gotten proficient at measuring and mixing ingredients and the joy of it all is after this crazy summer, they still look forward to baking with me! I enjoy the

Lawanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751477860685722545noreply@blogger.com0