The Lylah Blog - Simple Home Living

Na-Da Farm Life with Anne Marie: in her nature..........

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Na-Da Farm Life with Anne Marie: in her nature..........

Coffee Cups

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:29:00 +0000

My husband just sent this to me - perhaps you've received it as well in an email. Pretty cool.

Artist assistants stand next to 3,604 cups of coffee which have been made into a giant Mona Lisa in Sydney, Australia. The 3,604 cups of coffee were each filled with different amounts of milk to create the different shades!!

Queens of the Hill

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Work at the Cactus Road House is simply play for our little ones (sisters and cousins). The other day three of my little princesses had some of the best creative play on this compost dirt mound. Quite dirty I'd say - but how can you play and have fun with getting a bit dirty?

Fall Nesting Tips: #18

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Melissa's my other favorite homey-idea-design-cool stuff blogger buddy. She has the coolest ideas for Simple Home Living and I just had to share this one with all the baskets. Since we're moving, I'm sure this tip will not only be useful for fall nesting but general "make it cute storage." Have a great day!
Fall Nesting Tips: #18

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Ola! Como estas?? What To Do With Your Chiles

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:27:00 +0000

My dear friend Maria has come to my rescue. I've grown a number of different chile peppers and to be honest didn't really know what to do with them. This email came from her today....perhaps you need to know what to do with your chiles from an expert?

ola!
Como estas??

Ok, so here's what you do with the chiles.

Jalapeños (smaller darker green chiles) - how I preserve and use later
Take them off plants
Do not use any that are completely wrinkled and not firm
take the stem off
boil them in water until they turn a lighter green
then I put in freezer baggies and freeze

I use these for my salsa. Fresh they are great for pico de gallo (use cilantro not parsley, ok )

Anaheim Chiles (larger / longer lighter green chiles)
Take them off plants
Do not use any that are completely wrinkled and not firm
The completely red ones can be left out to dry and used for red chile sauce (for enchiladas, chile con carne, etc). We can work on that later, if you want, now we will concentrate on the green ones.
Turn on oven to broil. (you can also do this on the grill outside, but i find this method easier)
I spread them onto cookie sheets (after rinsing thoroughly).
Spray them with a little bit of Pam
Put in oven between 10-12 minutes. check to make sure both sides are completely roasted.
If not, turn chiles, and put back in oven for a couple more minutes.
Let them cool a bit.
Then divide into freezer baggies and freeze.
I use these in salsas, chile con queso, green chile sauce for green chicken enchiladas, green chile con carne, casseroles, omelettes, scrambled eggs, quicke, all kinds of stuff.

It's Coming Along . . . .

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:36:00 +0000

It's Coming Along . . . .

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Faith

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0000

We're all on a walk of faith - some might not think so - but this life requires that we have faith to cross bridges, take steps, see light in dark places.

In a previous post, I shared about an experience back in 1993 where I learned that often my God is an 11th hour, 59 minute, 59 second kind of God.

The other day my husband said, " I'd rather fail at faith than succeed (in the worlds eyes) with no faith."

I'm thinking that someone might just need to be encouraged by this today.

I'm off to paint and work at the Cactus Road Farm today.

How to have open shelving in your kitchen (without daily staging)

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:22:00 +0000

How to have open shelving in your kitchen (without daily staging)

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Loving God Revealed . . .

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

We say we love God – we say we want to serve Him – but the reality of that is revealed in how we love others. How you do your relationship with God and other people really matters.

Often we deal with or relate to others according to the sick style of family enmeshment or disconnectedness from our family of origin.

A few years ago I was in a group with married women and one of the gals in the group delighted in flaunting her love for God by how much time she spent in prayer and devotion to God. To be honest it sickened me a bit because I knew that she despised her husband, wasn't submitted to his authority at all - and yet had this pretentious love for God.

Finally, one day, while in the group as she shared about her deep love for God and how much time she spent praying - I just had to say something. If you know me, I don't have much probably saying something......so, the something I said went something like, "Just stop it. No - you don't love God. Anyone can spend time reading a Bible or devotional books and praying. That's easy and it's no proof of love for God. Love for God is revealed in how you care about and relate to those in your life. You don't respect your husband. You really don't." Needless to say, she didn't like or appreciate the truth.

Now I understand how some marriages are stinkn' hard and painful - but this woman didn't have one of those - by her own confession - she was seeking ways to get out of her marriage and hopefully find a man who would "really" romance her.

What does your love for God look like? Is it a bunch of ritual or prayer or does it have feet to it - does your love for God look like taking the time - when you don't feel like it - to spend with someone who needs the gift of your presence? Does your love for God go that extra mile when you're absolutely exhausted and have nothing else to give - and yet you do? Does your love for God look like accepting, believing the best and coming along side your husband or friend or neighbor when they "bug" you?

Time is short. We never know if we have another hour or day - so make it count and really love.

House of Turquoise: Turquoise Mexican Kitchen

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:21:00 +0000

We all know by now, that I'm crazy about Erin's home finds that show all sorts of delightful ways to use the beautiful color of turquoise. As I'm gathering all sorts of thoughts and ideas to one day - perhaps - use at the Cactus Road Farm house - her post here - made me have to catch my breath. Isn't it so lovely?

House of Turquoise: Turquoise Mexican Kitchen

Lovely Pink

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

I've often mentioned that one of my favorite design blogs is Joni's from Cote de Texas. I forgot to mention how much I learn from The Skirted Round Table where Joni and a few of her designer friends interview amazingly creative designers.

Recently the gals from The Skirted Round Table invited Suzanne Kasler to join them for a round table chat to discuss her design philosophies. One of the rooms discussed was this pink dining room in her former home. Don't ya love it!

As I listened to these gals, I discovered that one of Suzanne's favorite whites is a Benjamin Moore - Linen White. I'm excited about that - because it means I made a good decision - as it's the white I'm using over here at the Cactus Rd. House. I'm excited because I've been facilitating over this decision - but now - with confidence - I'm off to go paint the walls!

I hope you're having a great weekend!

The Cactus Road Farm

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Been busy over here - lately. The Cactus Road Farm

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Unrealistic Expectations Hinder Good Listening

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Did you know that unrealistic expectations hinder good listening? As women, we tend to live in the bubble of "unrealistic expectations" and unfortunately, we often subconsciously place them on our husbands. When we do, they no only hinder good listening, but they hinder intimacy - and all of us long for that connectedness at a deep level.

A few unrealistic exceptations are:

he should think like me,

he should feel like me,

he should act like me and

he should do it within the time frame that I think he should do it – whatever the “do it” might happen to be.

These expectations are unrealistic. They are an internal demand that he measure up. Ultimately they leave a husband, or anyone else feeling unloved, inadequate, cynical, apathetic, or ashamed.

So, what do you do with those unrealistic expectations?

Going Bananas

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

My friend, Linda just sent me this email and I thought it had such wonderful needed information about the benefits of bananas. DD just left for the store to get milk and after reading this, I called her quick - to pick up some bananas.

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips.. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Train Them Young

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

I am Nana to these two little garden girls. Are they not so adorable?!?

LA MAISON ET LE JARDIN: Amazing Friends

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:23:00 +0000

LA MAISON ET LE JARDIN: Amazing Friends

Lylah's Garden

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Every girl loves a garden and here's a peak at mine.

Growing Lavender

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

I'm sure I can never get enough of the beauty and fragrant soothing power of Lavender. The front entrance to our home is graced with French lavender and I keep finding new spots in our current garden for more touches of English, Spanish and French lavender which fortunately, for me, it grows well here in the Arizona desert.

Lavender is a hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean and one of the most popular herbs grown. It soothes my soul, clears my mind and puts a smile on my face.

Lavender has a way of soothing the soul. Taken in deeply, it clears the mind of clutter and clarifies what is important.

Lavender is a God-connector to me. I think of its beauty and I think of God and how much He must love me to place such a gift across my pathway. What connects you to God?

http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2008/01/understand-different-types-of-lavender.html

COTE DE TEXAS: A Reader’s House

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Joni is just about my favorite design blog. I LOVE to drink coffee and peruse and dream my way through Cote de Texas. She never lacks for ideas and pictures galore.

Here, she writes, " Many times in the emails I receive, there will be pictures of readers houses – usually fresh from moving in, or a recent remodeling. Rather than keep the pictures all to myself, I have decided to share them with you in an ongoing series called Readers Houses. Some of the houses are small and . . .

For some reason, today, I've fallen in love with white - all over again.

Have a wonderful Sunday! xoxo

COTE DE TEXAS: A Reader’s House

Alfresco - Morning Glory Cafe

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Alfresco - Morning Glory Cafe

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20 Ways to Save on Groceries Without Using Coupons: #11-15

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000

20 Ways to Save on Groceries Without Using Coupons: #11-15

Frugal Ways to Fight the Flu

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Frugal Ways to Fight the Flu

Living

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:16:00 +0000

. . . the legacy now you want to leave makes perfectly good sense to me.

Unfortunately, when a woman is self-centered with childish/foolish thinking (the world is mine and is for me) . . .

. . . or when she lives with a spirit of entitlement - like most teenagers do ( I can do whatever I want and the consequences of what they say will happen - will never happen to me and you owe me) . . .

. . . she will find that in the end - her life will be somewhat of a waste. Today is the day to get out of yourself and pour into another life, give to those around you. Love them as if this were your last day.

May your weekend be different.

Pure Style Home: Just One Kitchen... A Learning Experience

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

A woman's greatest ministry flows from her kitchen. That's what I truly believe and so I've always enjoyed peeking into kitchens to get "other" ideas. Lauren, from Pure Style Home just posted this one - which I'm going crazy over that table. Hit the link quick so you can catch the rest of the pictures! Pure Style Home: Just One Kitchen... A Learning Experience

Uh, Borrowing from DD Blog

lylahledner@gmail.com (Lylah Ledner) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:22:00 +0000

My home front is a tad busy lately and so my creative juices are spent in a few other - uh, misc. projects (to be revealed - with a new blog on our new family adventure) - so in the meantime, I'm stealing my dd's blog post from the other day.

peach season

We finally tried out our local "CSA" Bountiful Baskets (thanks to Kristen and her lovely blogfor being the catalyst!). I used to do the CSA (community supported agriculture) thing in Portland and it was so fun to get a box of fresh from the garden produce every week. Loved it. The big reason we finally decided to give Bountiful Baskets a try here was that they were offering Utah peaches with their normal produce basket for an amazing price! We added some 90 pounds to our order with a strict objective (besides eating 'em): canning. Ivana washed, I cleaned/peeled/chopped, and Mom did all the hard stuff. We made a great team. Haha. I so felt like Laura Ingalls.

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