Living in Louisiana

Falafel

2012-01-19T05:11:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been gone so long!

We've moved on base and just found a renter for our house. Things are good.

I'm sharing this awesome falafel recipe that I made for dinner last night.

1 onion, 1 lb. dry Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), 1 bunch of cilantro, salt, cumin, 4 eggs
Soak beans overnight, covered. Drain, put in food processor then dump in a big bowl. Grind onion, drain off the water and dump in bowl. Put in the entire bunch of cilantro, grind, then dump in bowl. Mix it all together and regrind in the food processor until it's a paste consistency (kind of - it's still grainy feeling). At this point, you can separate into 2 batches and freeze one. If you use half of the stuff, add 2 eggs, 1 tbsp salt & 1 tbsp cumin. Fry in 1 in of oil and drain on paper towel. Or make into cookie like balls or patties and put on a cookie sheet (rubbed with olive oil) and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Until insides are hot and done.

A Novel

2011-12-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

4 bed 2 bath Southern Hills home

2011-09-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

We're moving! On base at Barksdale, that is.
So now we need to sell this house. Within the next two months, Lord willing.

Anyone need a 4 bed 2 bath home in Shreveport?
We want to sell before we actually move to another base (assuming that we will someday).

We can't have chickens on base, but we can't in our current home either. It would be harder to have a home birth on base, but I'm thinking I'll use a birth center or a friend's house in TX if we're here for another baby. It would be like a little kid-free vacation!

So our prayer is that this house sells quickly. We're trying to do it ourselves for now.

Autumn Decoration

2011-09-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

We don't watch TV much in the living room. So now it's a lovely autumn colored decoration. Lorelei is in the pumpkin hat in the picture.

Divided: The Movie

2011-08-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

I got this post from the movie website... time is short for blogging around here. :)
"As you look on the church landscape, youth are leaving the faith in droves. The modern church, overall, is struggling to reach the next generation with the gospel. What has happened? Whether for good or bad, men, for many years, have been inventing solutions or brainstorming ideas without fully relying upon the foundation of God’s Word. God, however, is greater than man, and as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than ours and His thoughts than our thoughts (Is. 55:8-9). We have substituted the greater for the lesser – God’s wisdom for man’s ideas. Jesus said that he who hears His Word and does it, is like a man that built his house upon a rock, and when the storm came, it stood firm. On the other hand, he who rejects His Word, is like a man who built on the sand and when the storm came, the house fell (Matt. 7:24-25). Shouldn’t the church, as a whole, abandon the sandy ideas of man and shamelessly return to the firm rock of the Word of God? God’s Word sufficiently identifies how youth are to be reached. For more information on this issue, please see the filmDivided, which is a documentary on age-segregated youth ministry in America. Watch it for free (for a limited time) at www.dividedthemovie.com. For an in-depth study, the book A Weed in the Church delves into the topic and more thoroughly handles the Scripture passages that address ministry to young people. For other details or to help spread the message, visit www.dividedthemovie.com."

Say Yes to the Dress

2011-08-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

Somehow, I ended up watching the last few moments of an episode of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" today.

The lucky bride-to-be had found her dream dress and it fit off the rack! So it brought the price from $5000 down to $3600 (only $500 over budget).

All this. For one day. And will any of those brides-to-be put any amount of thought into how they'll choose to give birth? Probably not. For the cost of that dress, they could have a midwife attended birth (if insurance didn't cover it). Yes, birth is one day as well. But it will impact your health, that of your baby, and any future babies (as well as family size).

But let's worry about the dress. Let's say "Yes!" And then we'll say yes to the doctor too. When he says we should induce, or section, or augment... or supplement or sleep train.

Perhaps it doesn't all start with the dress. Maybe these women who spend so much research on a dress will be the ones to ask questions about their bodies and their births as well.

Maybe? I guess I'll be an optimist. But that's another show on my list to never watch (another is all those Baby Stories...).

2011-08-05T08:34:00.001-07:00

Liam at 7 months.

Me around the same age.

Eating Seasonally

2011-07-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

This year, eating seasonally has been great! Mostly thanks to our friends Sarah and Jared. They have a wonderful garden and gave us a few rows in it. They've also shared their bountiful fruit harvest. So now our kitchen table looks like this.

On the left are white peaches, top right are tomatoes, and bottom right are pears. The jujubes are getting ripe. What do you do with jujubes? Ah, I found it. Here.

Inspired by Finn

2011-07-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of amber teething necklaces? They aren't necklaces to chew on, but supposedly they release an acid that is soothing to teething babies (as well as chronic pain in adults). The theory is that amber is a resin, not a stone and that's how it secretes the succinic acid.

.

I'm trying a new one from Inspired by Finn. Liam had one and he got his 8 teeth while wearing it. He wasn't too fussy either. But we've lost it, so now I'm buying a new one. And I might get a discount by blogging about it. Just to be honest about it. :)

A Gateway Doll

2011-07-20T14:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.mom-101.com/2011/07/breastmilk_baby_doll_launches.html

A Woman's Work

2011-06-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

This blog article came up on Ladies Against Feminism's facebook page.

It brings up an interesting point, and I suppose I can feel happy about staying home with my children, outside of all other reasons, simply because in so doing, I'm freeing up a job for a person (a father perhaps) to work so another wife or mother can stay at home.

I'm currently reading this. A totally thought provoking book. It was suggested by Renee at Clover Hollow (on my bloglist).

Chicken Update

2011-06-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

The chickens are pretty awesome.

Unfortunately, about two weeks after we got them, our neighbor's dog somehow got in our yard and murdered one of our Australorps. Very sad stuff.

Even sadder is that animal control chose to leave the dog at their house instead of removing it.

But we are getting two new chickens on Monday! They're full grown and only $5 from a homeschooling family that lives in the country.

Last night we went for a walk and found around 20 small red plums on the road and in a yard. They were pecked by birds mostly, so they must have been on someone's tree and discarded. So we picked them all up and put them in the stroller basket.

They make a lovely chicken snack.

Double Hammock All The Way!

2011-05-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen the really weird "double rainbow" thing, I suggest you do. For a laugh.

Here it is.

Now, this is a unrelated reference. This wrap carry is called the Double Hammock Carry.

It's so secure! It doesn't allow baby's head to wobble after falling asleep either.

Milk Run

2011-05-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

Today is my turn to pick up the raw milk for the local co-op. I get to drive to Texas with my kiddos and pick up 35 gallons of milk and some eggs and such.

Fun....

Then I will try to get home in time to go to the park with everyone else.

And I must make cookies later to go with the milk. Just because.

I've found a way to stand while at the computer. I put my laptop on the kitchen counter. Duh.

Why would I do this? It burns fat and is just better for you. Read more here.

I was inspired to do so by my mom and August from Contra Niche. I visited August and the rest of the gang at the downtown library last week. It was lots of fun. He's set up his desk to allow for standing while working- a great thing to do if you have a desk job.

Also, he called Liam "a properly fat baby". That much is quite true.

Bread

2011-05-23T13:50:00.001-07:00

Here's bread the kids rolled out.
Here's the recipe.

Changes

2011-05-23T04:53:00.000-07:00

While I was in New Mexico, I had more time to read. Extra helping hands are great for that.

One of the books I read was Beautiful in God's Eyes by Elizabeth George. This book (among a few others) were eye opening for me. I'm not sure exactly what I've been doing the past seven (seven??? Yes, seven on Saturday!) years, but it seems that it hasn't been much. God used this little book to show me exactly how things in my life have been lacking and ways to change.

My parents were a huge help in the process. They knew I needed a change, and they helped more than most parents would... They drove me and my three kids home from New Mexico and did a complete overhaul of my house. I helped, it wasn't that I sat back and watched.... but it was a lot of work. When we got here, they said it look like the Rapture happened. I've never been the best housekeeper, but while being depressed over my lack of husband and stressed with three kids, it was horrific. My poor brother tried to help, but got depressed over it too. So after our four day deep cleaning, I bought my parents each a pair Vibram Barefoot shoes (not the five fingers ones though). They love to run, and were very excited over them.

Now I just have to maintain, and finish the job. Ok, so blogging isn't the best way of doing that. But one big point in the book was that getting up earlier (specifically, with my husband) is a great way to get more done. It's totally true. I've been getting up with Chris at 5:30 (!!!) and I get a ton of stuff done. The laundry needs to be hung out now, and it's not even 7:00. The kids are all still asleep and I'm showered, had coffee, read a bit of the Bible, and had breakfast with my husband.

I also started a "Life Group" study of this book for other moms at my church. It's small, but going well so far.

I just have to mention one other book I read, What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us by Danielle Crittenden. It is an eye opening look at feminism and our society as a result of the "gains" we've made. One thing Crittenden covers is the idea that men and women once had a good deal going- men were compelled to get a job to provide (even if it wasn't a great one) and women were obligated to raise their children and KEEP THEIR HOUSE.... Ok, emphasis mine. But our modern "equal division" of chores and child raising isn't very fair in most situations and I know I wasn't keeping the deal in our house. That's not the only thing Crittenden covers, I really recommend that one.

So here's to a change.

Chicken life

2011-05-21T11:41:00.001-07:00

Here are our ladies!

The two black hens are Australorps and the brown one is an Amerucana. Or as I call her, Ugly Betty. She may be simply "Betty" upon the delivery of her first egg....

The Australorps have no names yet, but are great layers!

Here's their home, built by my industrious husband.

And I just have to say, that these are the best pets EVER! They give me eggs, and.....

THEY EAT ANTS!

Praise Jesus.

The only thing I like more than pets that give me food is ones that remove ants from my life.

Bras and Nursing

2011-05-20T04:52:00.000-07:00

I posted in the past on my preference about bras. A post I did involved a link to another blog though, and sadly, that blog is gone.

However.

I wasn't sure how things would go now that I'm nursing. I'm happy to say that after the initial "milk coming out my ears" phase, things are good. In the beginning, I would use a huge sports bra and stuff a cloth diaper in there.

But now, I just keep a prefold in my purse (we're doing cloth outside of the house now!) and casually arrange myself with it on one side and Liam on the other. It may be a little weird, but no weirder than some things...

I've told Chris that my hairy legs are a distraction. Sort of like this.

I told him I could make him a scarf if it would help. He didn't think so.

Why don't I wear a bra? Maybe they cause cancer? Maybe they do, maybe they don't.

But they certainly don't prevent it, so I don't see why I have to wear one.

And they're just darn uncomfortable. I have a few nursing bras for the occasional shirt that seems to need one. Other solution: get rid of those shirts.

Chickens!

2011-05-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

They should be delivered tonight. An Amerucana and two Australorps, Adult laying hens from our "egg lady".

Read more here.

Retro Camera

2011-05-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with the Retro Camera app for my Droid. It's fun.

Daddy and Liam

Liam in flight

Day of the Midwife

2011-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a shout out to all the midwives out there. Happy International Day of the Midwife!

This is Liam at a week old. He says "Yay! I was born into the hands of a midwife!"

Thanks to Thalia, my midwife for being there when my husband couldn't. :)

Neighborhood Fruit!

2011-05-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

For those in bigger cities, this idea is awesome! Find fruit trees in your neighborhood that have fruit to give away or post yours to share. Visit here.

Naked Baby Revisited

2011-05-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

Here's Liam in a cloth diaper.

And here's me in one.

It's a picture of a picture, so I guess the bottom part got cut off. But I think we do have the same eye shape (not color though!). My ears are the same now as they were then. Weird. And we share the pudge. Lots of pudge.

Homecoming

2011-04-30T17:23:00.001-07:00

We are home. And so is my dear hubby. He got to meet Liam for the first time on Tuesday. I'll do my best to post some pictures once my mom gets them on facebook.
We went to the Maker's Fair today. It's a craft fair with much fun stuff to see and do. A musician named Ian Quiet played some unique music from his album "Like a Vegan". Some songs included "Pumpkin Patch", "Raw Vegan Wedding Cake", and my favorite, "Coconut Donut". Hilarious stuff. Listen for free here. We ate crepes and I bought an owl pendant necklace. Mother's day gift for me!

Going Home

2011-04-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

Wednesday we leave for Louisiana.

It will be good to be home. Lord willing, it will be uneventful.

Liam is playing with one of his favorite toys. An empty box of dental floss.

The hubby just put an Air Force Station in New Hampshire on his "dream sheet". That sounds interesting because of the Free State Project.

I just finished Beautiful in God's Eyes by Elizabeth George. It had a lot of good, practical advice from Proverbs 31. One thing it mentioned was getting up earlier. I'm putting on here for accountability's sake. I'm going to try and get up when Chris gets up for work. That would give me an extra kid free hour with him (to catch up after 6 months of nothing) and then another hour on top of that before the kids usually get up, after he leaves. By kids, I mean the big ones. Liam is pretty quiet so far.

That means 5:00am. Fun. I was up at 5:45 this morning, but that probably doesn't count. I'll get there.