tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61356880714380340782024-02-19T08:33:21.095-08:00Homestead MamaHomestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-82170742927864882017-08-15T13:18:00.000-07:002017-08-17T22:08:05.259-07:00The Surprise of My LifeThis past Father's Day, I opened a letter from my estranged mother that I'd received a couple weeks prior. I'd set it aside to read later, because sometimes I need to be in the right emotional state to read and process her letters. You will soon see the symbolism of opening it on Father's Day...<br />
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In this letter, my mom told me a secret she'd been keeping for my 41-year-long life. She told me that my late father had not been able to have children. So she could have a biological child, they elected to do Artificial Insemination, using a sperm donor. She told me the name of the hospital, the name of the Dr, and that if I wanted more information, to call the Dr. </div>
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Receiving this information was, as you can imagine, shocking. It still is. Less, but I'm still finding myself undoing decades of beliefs about myself and my origin, my medical predispositions, my children's medical predispositions, my characteristics and tendencies...the list is endless. </div>
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The day after I opened the letter, I looked up the Dr's office, and called. The Dr had retired a few years prior, and all medical records from the 1970's, I was told, had been archived. There was no way to find more information. I was told that back then, most sperm donors donated very few times, and they were always promised anonymity forever. Little did any of them probably anticipate where we would go as far as DNA testing in the next few decades.</div>
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My second step to quell my curiosity, was to order a DNA kit from 23andme.com. I'd known about this website for years, and had often thought I should submit my DNA to test for the MTHFR genetic mutation that is affecting so many people nowadays. I never got around to doing it, and I now wonder how all of this might have played out differently if I had. </div>
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I knew there was a chance of finding DNA relatives. I assumed I probably wouldn't find my sperm donor, since he probably wanted to remain anonymous, and surely wouldn't submit his DNA to 23andMe. I thought maybe I'd find half-siblings, who also came from his sperm donation. Being raised with three adopted brothers, I've always had a curiosity about what biological siblings of mine would look like. What traits would be similar? What would be different? I think this natural curiosity is what has made me revel in, and be completely enamored with my own children's similarities. I love how much they look alike! </div>
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Mostly, I wanted to know what genetic markers for disease I have, for mine and my children's sake. I've assumed I was genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's, since my social father died from it. He was also legally deaf, and I've wondered if my own son's hearing loss was caused by an illness he had at 3 1/2 years old, or the genes he may have inherited from my father (I can now rule out genetics). </div>
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I submitted my DNA kit late-June, 2017. They said it would take 6-8 weeks for results. </div>
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Four weeks later, as my family was on our journey, moving from North Dakota to South Carolina, we stopped in Knoxville, TN for our last night of lodging. We got to the hotel at 1:30 in the morning. I needed to check my email, as we were in the process of buying a home, and I knew there may be important documents waiting for my review. Just before sleep, I checked my email, and found an email from 23andMe, telling me my results were in. I knew if I clicked on it, I wouldn't be able to sleep. I knew if I didn't click on it, I wouldn't be able to sleep. So, since I wasn't sleeping either way, I let my curiosity win, and opened the link. </div>
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And I found him. </div>
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I found the name of my biological father. He had written some personal ancestral history, had no picture, but he was a 50% match. He was my biological father. </div>
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So, I did what any other curious adult in 2017 would do...I searched him on Facebook, of course! There were like 20 men with his same name, so I started browsing through profile pictures. As soon as I saw his face, I knew deep in my soul, that he was my father. I felt connected to him. I have his eyes. I could see my own face in his. My smile in his. The shape of my cheeks in his. I just knew, without question, that he was the one. </div>
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I was scared about approaching him with this information (although, I was pretty sure 23andMe would be notifying him shortly anyway!). I have longed to be parented by a nurturing parent my entire life, and I wondered if he had any desire like that for me. I was scared of being rejected. I was scared of angering him by destroying the anonymity he believed he'd had. I started wondering if he intentionally put himself out there because maybe he wanted to find me too? Or others like me? (That was not the case...he submitted his DNA for the same reason--to see if he had the MTHFR genetic mutation. He never even thought about finding children from his brief time of sperm donation in his early twenties. As an aside, my belief is that I'm likely his only child resulting from his donations. I'm basing this on the information I've been given by him and my mother as to how frequently he donated (between 5 & 10 times), an how often his sperm was used for my mother (I was conceived on the 6th try). </div>
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I attempted to sleep, while mulling over if and what I should say to him. Needless to say, I didn't sleep much that night. At some point, I woke up and drafted a message to him. I was cautious, tentative, and let him know I wanted to respect his boundaries and privacy as much as he wanted. I told him I wanted as much or little contact with him as he wanted with me. And I left it at that. </div>
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The next afternoon, when we arrived at our new home, I found a message from him. He was curious about me. He seemed happy that I found him, but worried about the feelings of his four other biological children. He asked me to keep this information quiet indefinitely, until he had some time to process how to handle it. He also invited me to talk with him on the phone that night. We did. Until 6 in the morning. He has since told his whole family about me, so I don't have to keep this quiet. </div>
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You guys, it has been the most incredible, healing, gift from God to have this man in my life. I truly believe God orchestrated all of this over the last 41 years, to bring us together at this perfect point in time. Much earlier, and I think one or both of us would have felt much differently about knowing one another. I see so many ways that God knew he and I both needed each other, at this point in time. I see ways that we are both helping each other heal from past hurts, especially familial ones. </div>
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Only a few close friends of mine know (and obviously I'm letting the cat out of the bag now!), but the last three years of my life have been the most difficult of my whole life. I have experienced so much relational trauma in multiple relationships in my life. It seemed as though I'd feel like it had to be finally over, and then another huge, hard thing would happen in a relationship in my life. It was relentless hurt, after hurt, after hurt. I've been in counseling to try to deal with some of this relationship trauma, but even my amazing counselor told me that what I needed was beyond her scope, and that I needed to seek specific trauma therapy to help me heal. There are not many resources for this kind of treatment in North Dakota, and that is a big reason why we began looking to move out of the state. There are other reasons, but that was the driving force. I needed to be on a journey to heal, and we realized I wasn't going to be able to get the help I needed, if we stayed in North Dakota. </div>
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I find it lovely that on my literal journey to heal (driving from North Dakota to South Carolina), I met my father, whom, I believe, God gave me as part of my figurative journey to heal. How amazing is that?!?! I get giddy just thinking about it. </div>
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So much has come of this beautiful relationship with my father. There are reasons I want to keep it private, sacred, and close to my heart. Maybe someday I will share more. But for now, I'm just sitting here, enjoying this gift I've been given in this father who looks like me, sounds like me, acts like me in so many ways, has similar mannerisms as me, laughs like me. It amazes me that I didn't know him for 41 years, yet I am so like him. So much nature. So.much.nature. And now we get to nurture. Nurture each other on our mutual paths to healing. </div>
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I am so thankful for this beautiful, redemptive relationship we have both been given. And I wanted to share my story with you. </div>
Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-45970857150399920582016-05-16T20:48:00.001-07:002016-05-16T20:48:45.346-07:00Coconut Oil Suncreen RecipeI've mentioned before how the Princess and I have been hosting Homemade Toiletries class for our fellow homeschool friends (and their mamas!). We love this special time together, making fun concoctions of useful stuff that we can rest easy about because they're made with non-toxic ingredients. <br />
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Some of you probably already know the benefits of Vitamin D3, which is most easily obtained from direct exposure to the sun (i.e. with no sunscreen). We try to get our D3, so we don't always use sunscreen, but if we are going to be out in the sun for hours and hours, we do use sunscreen to avoid being burned. Here's the sunscreen recipe we used in our Toiletry Class. We love how it turned out!<br />
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<b>Coconut Oil Sunscreen</b> </h3>
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<b>INGREDIENTS:</b></div>
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<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
~
½ Cup Virgin Coconut Oil<br />
~ 2 Tablespoons Non Nano Zinc Oxide (Non Nano Zinc Oxide does not enter the bloodstream, so it is safe to use Other types of Zinc Oxide will enter the bloodstream, so it's important to use Non Nano). </div>
<div align="center" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
~ 1 Teaspoon Red
Raspberry Seed Oil<br />
~ 3-4 drops of a child safe essential oil of your choice</div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>TO MAKE:</strong> Wear a mask
and make sure not to breathe in Zinc Oxide. Make sure to <a href="http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2014/02/07/essential-oils-and-children/" target="_blank">research your essential oil</a> choice to ensure it is safe for a person your age to put on their
skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mix all ingredients together in a
bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transfer to your container &
label your jar. </div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
Easy Peasy! Enjoy your worry-free sunscreen!</div>
Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-1822018845513728392016-03-18T15:50:00.001-07:002016-03-20T13:09:19.205-07:00Healthy, Homemade Hand SanitizerSo this year, The Princess and I have been hosting Homemade Toiletry classes for some of our homeschool friends who have girls her age. It's been super fun teaching them recipes for things we've been making for awhile, and also learning new recipes to teach for our class. We've done some really awesome things, which I hope to catch up on in the blog at some point soon.<br />
<br />
Today we hosted a class on Healthy, Homemade Hand Sanitizer. It was so FUN! Seriously, you guys, this stuff is so easy and cheap to make, I wondered why I haven't been doing this my whole life! It also helps us keep our hands clean, while avoiding that toxic, cancer-causing commercial stuff. That stuff gives me the heebie geebies! So, here's the recipe:<br />
<br />
You'll want to purchase a glass bottle to keep it in since it contains essential oils, and those things can corrode plastic. I purchased some like this.<br />
<br />
For 2 oz bottles, you'll use:<br />
1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel<br />
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil<br />
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil<br />
8 drops Cinnamon Essential Oil.<br />
<br />
**Please note, if you will be using this sanitizer on a child under 2 years of age, please omit the cinnamon essential oil, as it is not safe for children under 2 to use cinnamon EO topically.<br />
<br />
We put all the ingredients in a small glass jar and stirred them around with a fork. Then, using a funnel, we poured them into our spray bottles. You could also just put all the ingredients in the spray bottle, put the cap on, and shake it. Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-27095201264048801852014-12-28T11:37:00.000-08:002014-12-29T11:01:50.669-08:00Our Second Unassisted Childbirth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've had a few friends ask me to tell our birth story, and I figured it
can't hurt to document this event for our new baby's sake, so here goes.
<br />
<br />
First of all, I don't feel like this Unassisted Childbirth (UC)
was as exciting or eventful as the first one we did (you can read that
story <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/birth-of-sloan-andrew-pursell.html" target="_blank">here</a>), but it was still an amazing, beautiful day, despite how
smoothly it went. ;) I also don't feel the need to justify or explain my decision to UC (like I did the last time), because I believe it is the best thing for our family, and that is all that matters. If you're curious why or how we came to decide to have a UC, read my previous post. It was quite the scandalous decision! <br />
<br />
This time around, we were able to hire a
home birth midwife to do my prenatal care. I wanted to make sure baby
and I were healthy before going into a UC, and having a midwife watch me
during pregnancy was part of that. She herself has fourteen children, and a
few of them she birthed unassisted. When we met for the first time, I
was upfront with her, and told her I only wanted her care before and
after the birth, but I did not want her at my birth. I feel so strongly
about that being an intimate family affair, without strangers in the
room. She was totally cool with that idea (which surprise me a little,
but I was thankful!). She met with me monthly, and gave me shining
pregnancy stars the whole way, so I felt confident that baby and I were
going into this birth with nothing to be concerned about. <br />
<br />
There
was confusion about my due date all along, but it fell somewhere between
December 13th and December 20th (we thought). For the sake of my sanity, I chose to
believe I was due on the 20th. If I thought I should birth on the 13th,
and kept being pregnant after that, surely I'd go insane. Looking back,
I'm so glad I had the 20th in my head, because he came on the 19th.
After looking at a few different indicators of baby at birth, my midwife
is sure he was *maybe* 39 weeks gestation, but definitely not
full-term. Can I just tell you how happy I am that he came when he did,
and didn't cook longer??? He was 10lb, 9 oz (my biggest baby by 2oz),
and if he'd stayed in another week (or longer), and gained the typical
1/2 lb per week that babies gain at the end, he would have been over
11lb. I'm glad he
wasn't bigger, because being pregnant with heavy babies is painful. I've never had issues delivering them, but there's that possibility too. <br />
<br />
On Thursday night, the 18th of December, I took
Sadie to her dance rehearsal. She was scheduled to perform her hip hop
routine at the High School girls basketball half time on Friday night.
We got home at 8:45, and I laid down with Sloan to snuggle him to sleep. At about 9:00, I felt (heard?) a tiny "pop" in my
belly. I didn't think anything of it until I stood up to get out of bed
a few minutes later. And liquid came out. I wondered if I'd just peed
on myself, or if this could be my water breaking? It wasn't a lot of
liquid, but I also don't usually wet myself, so I wasn't sure. I went to
snuggle Sadie to sleep, and after getting up from the bed with her, I
had a big gush of water. <br />
<br />
I told Mark I was pretty sure my water had
broken. He was excited with me, and was super helpful getting me towels
to put between my legs, because it just kept gushing and gushing!
Eventually it stopped, and the contractions took over. <br />
<br />
I'd had
prodromal (false) labor for at least three months leading up to this
birth. Knowing what four weeks of prodromal labor did when I had Wyatt
(prepared my body, did lots of work before the birth, and allowed me to
have a short, five hour labor), I was sure this labor was going to be
quick! So, at about 9:45, I called my midwife to let her know my water
had just broken. She lives three hours away, and wanted to come up and
wait at her friend's house until my birth was over, then come and check
on me and the baby. I didn't know at the time, that when I called her,
she had just gotten home from being in my city all day, doing prenatal
visits with other mamas. She had woken up at 4am, and got home at 9 pm.
She had just made a plate of food for dinner, and asked me if I thought
it would be ok if she ate dinner before turning around and driving back
to my city. Poor thing!!! (I told her not to rush. After all, I didn't
want her at the birth, and didn't care too much when she came to check
on us after). She didn't tell me all of this until after the birth, but
how gracious and kind was she?!? It ended up taking her 4.5 hours to
make the drive back, because it was a super foggy night, and there was a
main bridge out that required her to take a detour. She got to her
friend's house at 2something am, and went to sleep.Yikes!<br />
<br />
Back at our
house, Mark and I started getting things ready for the birth. He got the
birthing pool out, and set it up. I got all my herbs and homeopathy out
that I might need after the birth. We lit candles, and put Norah Jones
radio on Pandora. It was such a sweet ambiance. I decided to set up the
pool in the living room, instead of where we'd planned in our bedroom.
I'm so glad we did set it up in the living room, because I had the
twinkle lights from the Christmas tree, and my wall of family photos to
look at while I was laboring. I relished family memories through the
years as I looked at our wall. <br />
<br />
Here's a picture of my amazing husband filling up the birthing pool, one bucket at a time. <br />
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<br />
<br />
At
about midnight, I realized my contractions had slowed down, and they
were far enough apart that maybe I could rest (ha!). So, we got into bed and
took a nap. Well, Mark did. I get too excited to really sleep, and well,
there are those contractions every few minutes waking me up, but I at
least got some rest. Mark wakes up at about 5:00 for work, and had been
up for 19 hours, so I'm glad he got at least a little sleep. At 2:00,
the contractions picked up, so I woke Mark up, and we went back out to
the birthing pool. I labored in there until about 5:00, then decided to
try to get some sleep (I was really tired!). I kept thinking how
surprised I was that it was taking so long! It was supposed to go fast,
right?!?? After all that prodromal labor I'd had?!?! <br />
<br />
We slept
until about 6:20, and then got back up to get in the pool. Wyatt woke up
soon after that, then Sloan a few minutes later. As soon as they saw
the pool, they asked, "Is baby brother coming today???!!" The looks on their faces were priceless!<br />
<br />
While we hung out, the boys listened to Mommy's moans as each contraction came.
At about 7 or 8, we told them they could go wake up Sadie. They ran in
and told her that Mommy was in labor. She ran out, just as excited as
them. We hung out awhile more, until they started getting bored. The
boys went in their rooms and played, asking Mark to come play with them.
My super awesome husband (and amazing Daddy to my kids) was balancing
playing trains and Imaginext with his boys, filling my pool with warm
water, bringing me water to drink, making sure I was comfortable,
mediating conflicts between the kids, cleaning the kitchen...I could go
on. He was doing this all on less than four hours of sleep in the last
day and a half. How'd I get so lucky to have such an amazing man? I
seriously love him. <br />
<br />
Sadie, my little Mini Mommy, wouldn't leave
my side. She asked me every few minutes if I needed anything. She
brought me sips of water. She took pictures, and was our videographer.
She was a superstar!! I'm loving having an almost-eight-year-old
around! What a luxury!! She even got everything ready for the baby: A
couple towels to dry him off, a swaddling blanket and cloth diaper (she
picked the blue floral print one...because, he is, after all, a boy!),
baby wipes, etc. She also kept asking if she could cut his umbilical
cord when he came out. I just love how much she wanted to be a part of
his birth. <br />
<br />
I kept laboring. <br />
<br />
For hours. <br />
<br />
As each
hour passed, I started to feel more and more discouraged. This was
supposed to be quick!! Why was I still pregnant?!?! My longest labor
was Sadie's, which was sixteen hours. My boys' labors were five and
seven hours long. I was already past twelve hours!(And ended up going for five more hours!)<br />
<br />
Fear started
to creep in. And, if you read my <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/birth-of-sloan-andrew-pursell.html" target="_blank">other UC story</a>, you know what fear in
childbirth does--it makes more pain! And that is NOT what I wanted! I
was fighting it the whole time. It was a total mental challenge. I was telling myself that "my body was
created to do this", and that it was opening, and getting ready to bring
this baby out in a way that has been done successfully for centuries.
I'll be honest though, there was something in the back of my mind that
kept getting me worried. And as a result, I had more pain than I
wanted, or expected. I think part of it was that, because it wasn't my
first UC, I didn't spend nearly as much time researching and reading up
on it. My head wasn't in the game. I had been there, done that, and knew
how it all worked, but didn't do the work I'd done previously to let go of my fears. I also knew, by the amount of pain I was in
during pregnancy, that this baby was huge. I told quite a few people, "I
think he's going to be an eleven pounder." Maybe I shouldn't have said
that so much, because I think part of me wondered if I'd have problems
getting him out if he was that big. I'd never had any problems getting
my two 10lb, 7oz boys out. I'd never pushed for more than ten minutes! I
really think God gave me some birthing hips (and I'm thankful for
that), that allows them to come out pretty easily! But in the back of my
mind, I still wondered...<br />
<br />
And then my labor was taking "FOR-E-VER"!<br />
<br />
And it was painful. More than I want to admit. Looking back, I wonder if the contractions hurt more because my water broke first. I've been told that is the case, so perhaps that was factoring in. <br />
<br />
But
the pain, I believe, was a direct result of my fear. Gah! I was trying
so hard to fight it mentally. It was such a challenge. <br />
<br />
Sometime
around noon, I got in the zone. The zone where mothers check out, and
just get into labor mode. No talking, just focusing on getting through
each contraction. It was Transition. I don't know how long it lasted,
but it felt like it took longer than any of my other births. It was
tiring, and hard. Even though my birth with Sadie was 16 hours, I got an
epidural after nine hours. Sadie's labor may have had a long transition stage, but since I wasn't
feeling it, it didn't matter. <br />
<br />
This time, I'm feeling it. <br />
<br />
I
just kept praying for God to make my body push soon. I knew I didn't
want to push before my body took over and did it voluntarily. Doing that
would likely cause me to tear, and I didn't want that. I tore really
badly with Sadie (because I had to push when the midwife told me to, not
when my body felt like it, since I'd had the epidural). I hadn't torn
with Sloan (even though he was a 10 1/2 lb baby) because I let
me body take over. I knew this was important to wait for, even though I
just wanted it all to end. Mark told me tonight that he walked into the
laundry room and prayed to God to let this end soon. He was also having
some fear about, "why is this taking so long!?" As he walked back into
the living room, I yelled, "I'm pushing!" We had both been praying for
the same thing, at the same time, and thank God, it happened!! <br />
<br />
I
pushed for what seemed to me like a long time. Looking back on the
video, it was only about fifteen minutes, but it felt long to me. It
took all my strength to get his head past my bones. I could feel it very
distinctly, pushing on the bones, but I just couldn't get it past. It
turns out, he actually has a large head (which none of my other kids
have had--they've all been pretty average). Once his head was out, it
was only a couple more contractions, and his whole body was out. Once I
felt him come out, I had such a feeling of relief! I turned around, and
grabbed my baby, and held him to my chest. I told him, "I'm your mama!",
and rubbed him until he started to breathe on his own and give a cry.
My kids and Mark were at the poolside the whole time (when I started
pushing, they all ran in), cheering me on, and giving me a play-by-play
as he was coming out. Here's us, right after he came out. <br />
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<br />
<br />
A few minutes later, Mark
called the midwife and told her we were done. She arrived about 30
minutes later, and helped me deliver the placenta. She checked baby and
me, helped us clean up, weighed and measured him, and went on her way! <br />
<br />
It
was a beautiful birth, despite the challenges of working through my
fear and pain. I'm so glad we were at home. I'm so glad my kids got to
be a significant part of their brother's birth. I'm so glad everything
went smoothly. I'm glad I didn't tear, too! <br />
<br />
Sadie did end up cutting the cord. Here's a picture of that exciting moment. <br />
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<br />
It took us an entire pregnancy, and four days after birth to pick a name, but his name is Adler Jackson Pursell. Jackson is after my late father. <br />
<br />
He was born at 1:42pm on 12/19/14. <br />
<br />
He weighed 10 lb, 9 oz, and was 22 1/4" long. <br />
<br />
Here are a few pictures of special moments we've had with him during his first few days on earth:<br />
<br />
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<br />
(I
told Sadie she could "babysit" him while Mark and I snuggled Wyatt and
Sloan to sleep. I left her in the living room with him. When I came out a
few minutes later, I found them in bed like this. How precious is
that?!?! What a good little babysitter I have, huh? I'm going to be so
spoiled with all this help this time around!) <br />
<br />
<br />
Here's the sweet cherub:<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
~Sarah Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-44244681810894076092014-02-05T22:37:00.001-08:002014-02-05T22:37:52.716-08:00Five YearsToday marks five years since <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/andrew-milton-pease.html" target="_blank">my brother died</a>. Still, not one day goes by that I don't think of him. He crosses my mind every.single.day. I've also now lived a longer life than he was afforded. Sometimes I am shocked by that fact. <br />
<br />
I dread this day coming every year. I dread it because with each passing year, I feel further away from the time when he was here with us. I hate that distance. I want to undo it. I want to go back in time, and make everything happen differently. I wish I could. <br />
<br />
But I don't want this blog post to be about the sadness, or dwelling on what can't be undone.<br />
<br />
I want to talk about how this has changed me. <br />
<br />
As a mom, I often look at my children, and think, "What if that happened to me one day?" Having this thought in the backdrop of my mind has made me cherish my kids, and each passing day, in a way I never could have, or would have, had Andy not been killed. It sounds so cliche to write that, but cliche is not how I feel. I feel sincerely, that this loss has caused me to value each day I have with my kids, and my husband. My biggest fear is leaving them too soon. I want them to know how much I love them. I hope I'm telling them through my actions each day.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, we were talking about some Aunts and Uncles in our family. My middle child started to ponder. <br />
<br />
A few minutes later, he asked me when I was going to die. <br />
<br />
I think he has made the connection that his cousins are still kids, but their Daddy is dead, and could that happen to him? He was worried, and he wanted me to tell him when I was going to die. He wanted me to assure him that I would "be alive when [he's] a grown up." I feel sad that he's worried about that. I wish I could assure him that I would be alive when he's a grown up. I <b><i>want</i></b> to be alive when he's a grown up! I told him <i>that</i> for sure! It was a good lesson on death, and life, but not one I wanted to have, because it seemed like it was coming from a place of fear inside him. And that makes me sad. I just hope, again, that I'm telling him that I love him through my actions each day. Not just my words, because those mean nothing if my actions don't confirm them. I'm not a perfect mom. I make lots of mistakes. Lots. But I hope my kids know that I love them to the moon. I would do anything for their little hearts to be protected. I hope they never have to experience the pain of losing a parent before they hit adulthood. No child should have to experience that pain.<br />
<br />
I feel like I have let go of my anger toward these two men who took Andy's life. They were high, and stupid, and should not have been doing such a heinous act, but they are now paying the penalty for their decision. I'm sure they are suffering, and I feel sad for them. I feel sadness for their kids, who also lost a dad that day. I feel sad for my sister-in-law, and my nephews. My heart breaks for them often. I just wish I could fix it for them. But I can't. I feel sad for my kids, who never got to know their Uncle. Or for my new Sister-In-Law, who never got to meet her Brother-In-Law. And for hers and my brother David's kids, who will never get to meet their Uncle. There are so many people who were affected that day. Even unborn people. The consequences are so widespread. And so is the sadness. But in the end, I want to focus on the tiny good that has come from this. That being that some of us are cherishing life just a little bit more because of it. <br />
<br />
{If you are curious about the outcome of the people who murdered my brother, <a href="http://www.times-standard.com/ci_15258660" target="_blank">this</a> article, and <a href="http://www.times-standard.com/ci_14818121" target="_blank">this one</a> are good summaries.}Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-59630028353149760382013-09-27T21:26:00.001-07:002013-09-30T07:21:13.512-07:00Pallet StaircaseSo my Hot Little Contractor came up with this ingenious, resourceful solution to a recent problem of ours. <br />We moved into our double-wide in July, and upon inspection by the County Inspector, were told that the stairs we were using (given to us....bought by us...from the manufactured home company) were illegal. <br />We failed our inspection and had only 90 days to remedy the situation. <br />So The Hot Contractor spent a few hundred dollars on nice lumber, and built us a staircase. Out our laundry room door. <br />Then we called the inspector back out. <br />We failed again. <br />He saw us using a "pallet staircase" we had created (a bunch of pallets piled on top of each other) out our back sliding door. <br />*Busted!* <br />He told us we now had to build <i>another</i> staircase. <br />We weren't planning on ever building a staircase in the backyard. We eventually want to put a big deck back there, but we don't have the time or money right now for a deck as large as we'd like. So, in an effort to not waste another few hundred dollars in lumber, just so we could pass our inspection and legally live in our home, The Hot Contractor took all those free pallets we had, and turned them into a real, genuine staircase! <br />And I must say, I think they are supah cute! I kinda wish the other (very expensive) staircase matched, because its just so shabby-chic and homesteady to me. I heart them. <br />So let me show off my hubby's handiwork, if you don't mind me bragging for a minute. <br />Here he is mid-project, putting the stairs together. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2097.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2097.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2098.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2098.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2099.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2099.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />And here is the finished product!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2235.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2235.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The only part he couldn't use pallets for was the handrail. So he used a piece of scrap 2x4 and, using one of his fancy tools (which I have no idea what it was called) formed the wood into a circular hand rail that meets the specific requirements by our county. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2236.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2236.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2237.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2237.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2238.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2238.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2239.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2239.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Looking down from the top <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/09/27/2242.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/09/27/s_2242.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />They are super sturdy too! To prevent our feet from falling through those pallet cracks, he sawed off some other pieces of pallet to fit in the spaces. Other than the handrail, it is completely made from pallets. <br />And guess how much it cost us???<br />$0. <br />I love that price!<br /><br />We just got the report back from the inspection office. It says "Passed! Very inventive staircase!" Woo-hoo!<br /><br />Thank you, Hot Contractor! ❤❤<br /><br />Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-53122835409374897662013-04-18T19:18:00.001-07:002013-05-08T10:07:17.405-07:00How To Make Your Own Kombucha {while living in an RV}I've had lots of friends ask me how I make kombucha over the years. Instead of typing it out in another email, I figured I'd do a blog post, and refer everyone here in the future. Please excuse the funny placement of my items...I currently live in an RV with less than 2' of counter space, so my stove doubles as a counter. :)<br />
Here goes!<br />
<br />
This is what you'll need:<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2629.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2629.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
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<br />
• One gallon of spring or filtered water. <br />
<br />
• A tea kettle. <br />
<br />
• A large bowl and wooden spoon. Do not use metal or plastic bowls or spoons. Or at least don't let metal, and preferably not plastic, touch your finished kombucha. <br />
<br />
• A large glass jar. I use some that are 3-liter jars, and some that are one gallon. <br />
<br />
• One cup of white sugar. I personally think its important to buy organic sugar, since most sugar is now GMO. If you think it's crazy that this healthy drink is made using a CUP of sugar, you're right! But the sugar is necessary to feed the SCOBY (I'll tell you about that in a bit) during the fermentation process. You can also use honey, but it's a lot more expensive. I personally just got over the horror of using so much white sugar once I researched kombucha, and learned why the sugar is important, and how it is used up by the end of the process. It's SCOBY food, and if fermented long enough, there will only be trace amounts of sugar remaining. <br />
<br />
• Five tea bags, using a mixture of green and black tea. The ideal ratio is to use three bags of black, two bags of green, but you can mix and match, or use just one type. It does need to be caffeinated tea, as the SCOBY uses the caffein for food also. If you choose to use green tea exclusively, you should eventually cycle in some black tea, as your SCOBY needs the tannins from the black tea.I recently read <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/24/tea-bags.aspx?e_cid=20130424_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20130424" target="_blank">this</a> article about commercial tea bags, and I will soon be switching to using only loose leaf tea. I will probably use about 2 tsp of green tea, and 3 tsp of black tea. <br />
<br />
• A cloth and rubber band to cover your jar while the tea ferments. I use an old cloth napkin or a kitchen towel. <br />
<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
Boil as much water in your tea kettle as you can. Don't fill it any higher than the bottom of the spout, or it could burn you when you open it. <br />
<br />
Pour the hot water into your large bowl where you have placed the five tea bags and one cup of sugar. <br />
<br />
Stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. Leave sitting until it gets to room temperature. <br />
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<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2966.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2966.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
Once it's at room temperature, remove the tea bags and pour the tea into your large glass jar. <br />
Fill the jar up with fresh, room temperature or tepid water, leaving about 2" at the top. Pour in some starter tea from your last batch (if you don't have any, that's ok). Place the SCOBY in the jar. <br />
<br />
A SCOBY is a "Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast". It's not technically a mushroom, even though it's commonly referred to as one. It's a funny looking thing. Here's mine in a jar, demonstrating the proper way to store a SCOBY. They can last for months in the fridge if they are covered in kombucha (this kombucha is also what I use as my "starter tea" when I pour in my SCOBY...I just pour the entire contents of the jar in). <br />
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<br />
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<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2967.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2967.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
<br />
If you are in need of a SCOBY, you can try growing your own from two store-bought bottles of kombucha (unflavored). Just leave the kombucha on the counter, covered with a cloth, until you see a SCOBY form. I got my first SCOBY from someone on my local freecycle. I personally don't think you should pay for these, as anyone who makes kombucha quickly has them coming out their ears! I am hay to share one with people who are local to me, and I've even been known to mail them to friends using the US Postal Service. Just ask around...natural minded friends and neighbors. If you absolutely cannot find one, you can always buy one <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZW8RP4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009ZW8RP4&linkCode=as2&tag=homemama-20" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
Once the jar is filled almost to the top, and your SCOBY is in it, place a cloth on top with a rubber band around the top to hold it on. This is just so no bugs or anything gets in there while its fermenting, and so it can breath. You don't want to put the lid on your jar...it needs the air during fermentation. <br />
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<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2968.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2968.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<br />
Place it in a location that is warm, but not hot. A dark cupboard is sometimes suggested, but I always have left mine out on the counter, and it has worked well for me. Just don't stick it by a sunny window or anything. <br />
<br />
If you've never had kombucha, or don't prefer the taste, you can acquire the taste. I hated it at first. What I did to acquire the taste, was to ferment it for the minimum time at first. That is five days. There will still be some sugar in the kombucha, but it's ok if that's what it takes to acquire the taste. I gradually increased my fermentation time by one day. I really liked the sweet drink at first, and once I worked all the way up to a 14 day ferment, I still liked it! Typically I ferment for 7-10 days, but you can go as long as 14. It will taste more vinegary the longer you ferment, and sweeter the shorter you ferment. There are more health benefits to a longer ferment, but even a shorter one is good. It's better than drinking soda!<br />
<br />
Once it's done fermenting, you can take the SCOBY out. You will have a "baby" growing on top of the "mother" SCOBY. The baby will be whitish, and look so pretty and new. The mama will be a little darker, but will still work fine. Unless the SCOBY turns a dark brown, or grows mold on it, you can keep using it over and over. Pretty soon you'll have them coming out your ears! <br />
Here's a picture of the top of my jar (the baby) after nine days of fermenting. <br />
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<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2969.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2969.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<br />
Here you can see the mama and the baby that I'm separating. The baby is touching my thumb. <br />
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<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2970.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2970.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<br />
It is ok to leave the mama and baby attached, and just use a thicker SCOBY for the next ferment (it will ferment a bit faster). Or, you can eat it (its really good for you!). Some people put them in the blender, in a smoothie. I've given them to my chickens many times. My chickens love them, and it makes my eggs more healthy! <br />
<br />
<br />
THE SECOND FERMENT:<br />
This part is optional, as your kombucha is perfectly good to drink the way it is. But if you'd like to flavor it, or make it naturally carbonated, you'll want to do a second ferment. <br />
Our go-to flavor is strawberry, although we've used every fruit (and combination of fruit) under the sun. Don't try banana though--that one doesn't work. Some we have done:<br />
<br />
Blueberry<br />
Raspberry<br />
Blackberry<br />
Peach<br />
Rhubarb (especially strawberry rhubarb!)<br />
Pineapple<br />
Mango<br />
Papaya<br />
Pear<br />
Orange<br />
It is best to use fresh or frozen fruit, not dried. You can either put the fruit in whole, or blend it with some kombucha, then pour it back into the large jar. I like the way the whole fruit looks (it's really pretty), but I think the kombucha takes on the taste better when the fruit is blended. <br />
I buy organic frozen strawberries in bulk, and keep them in my freezer. This is about how many strawberries I use for a gallon of kombucha. You definitely don't need this much fruit, but my kids love it this way, so I stick with it. <br />
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<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2971.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2971.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<br />
Before blending, make sure to pour some kombucha in with the fruit to create a frothy drink. Then pour it all back into the jar and put the lid on (SCOBY is out at this point). Stick it back in your warm spot, and leave it for 1-2 more days for the second ferment. It will take on the flavor of the fruit, and will also become carbonated. If you have trouble getting it carbonated, make sure the jar is filled with kombucha to within 1/2" from the top. This will help it to carbonate better. <br />
Here it is with the fruit in it. <br />
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<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/18/2972.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/18/s_2972.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<br />
Because wine glasses make everything taste better, I try to drink my kombucha from a wine glass.<br />
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I hope you enjoy yours!<br />
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<br />Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-63591291603320329692013-04-12T22:08:00.001-07:002013-04-12T22:08:22.753-07:00How I Became Such a HippieI've had lots of friends from my past ask me how I turned into such a hippie. If you knew me ten years ago, you knew I was about as mainstream as they come. And I never planned on changing that.<br />
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So, how'd it happen? <br />
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The short answer: <i>I became a parent. </i><br />
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That's what started it all. Someone introduced me to <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2012/01/cloth-diapering.html" target="_blank">cloth diapers</a>. I started researching. But more than cloth diapers, my husband and I decided way before we ever had kids that we wanted to practice <a href="http://www.attachmentparenting.org/principles/principles.php" target="_blank">Attachment Parenting</a>. I'm pretty sure that was my hippy gateway drug, more than anything else. Let me explain. <br />
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Once The Princess was born, I began doing all these "strange" parenting things. Like <a href="http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artbenefitscosleep.php" target="_blank">sleeping with her in our bed</a>, breastfeeding her exclusively, <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/baby-wearing/what-babywearing-means-our-story" target="_blank">wearing her</a> on my body most of the time, cloth diapering, and not leaving her with other adults for more than a few minutes until she was about two years old. I started feeling really lonely. We were invited to weddings and other fun events, which we turned down because children weren't allowed, and I wouldn't leave my baby. I also <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out" target="_blank">refused to let her Cry It Out (CIO)</a>, or sleep train her, but had zero freinds who were in the same boat. I wanted more sleep, but the only suggestion I got when I mentioned my sleeping woes, was to make her CIO. I'd researched enough to know this was <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out" target="_blank">potentially very dangerous for my baby</a>, and I was adamantly opposed to it. But then I realized I had to keep my mouth shut around my friends. <br />
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I was a lonely new mom.<br />
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So I started Googling. I found this forum called <a href="http://gentlechristianmothers.com/community/index.php" target="_blank">Gentle Christian Mothers</a>, which is an online community of christian moms who practice Attachment Parenting (AP). I began looking for friendships there, and even found some moms local to me! We got together for play dates, bible studies, and family dinners. We began forming an awesome bond, which we still have today, after seven years, and many miles between us. Even our husbands and kids became close. I cherish those sweet friendships. <br />
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Through Gentle Christian Mothers (GCM), I began learning about all sorts of natural things. Like natural healing through nutrition, homeopathy, and essential oils. I also started learning from them how to make my own <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2010/03/homemade-cleaning-supplies.html" target="_blank">non-toxic cleaning supplies</a> and <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/natural-toiletries.html" target="_blank">toiletries</a>. I learned about family cloth, the Diva Cup, and how <a href="http://gentlechristianmothers.com/community/showthread.php?t=289984&highlight=menstrual+matter+plants" target="_blank">menstrual matter is amazing for my garden plants</a>! (Did I just admit that publicly?). I learned about the wonders of <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/036028_coconu_oil_health_solutions.html" target="_blank">coconut oil</a>, <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/birth-of-sloan-andrew-pursell.html" target="_blank">unassisted childbirth</a>, and <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2012/05/coming-out-of-closet.html" target="_blank">tandem nursing</a>. I was introduced to the <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/" target="_blank">Weston A. Price Foundation</a>. These are all things I've come to love, and that have inspired me to research and learn more. <br />
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The moms on GCM are some of the most researched and well-informed moms I've ever met. We don't all agree on everything (there are people from all walks of life....the Right, the Left, Unschoolers, Public Schoolers, Vaccinators, Non-Vaxers). But we all agree on <a href="http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/topics/gentlediscipline.php" target="_blank">gentle parenting</a>, and we're all aiming for that goal together. In those moments in my parenting journey, when I've been at a loss on how to gently teach and guide my children (without using punitive measures like spankings or time outs), I've been able to go to these moms for help, advice, and encouragement. It's been my safe haven. When I didn't have friends in real life to talk to about my challenges, because I knew I'd only hear "she needs a spanking!", I had some friends to go to who would give me practical tools to try to actually teach my child how to behave. It has been so comforting, and <i>so</i> empowering! <br />
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<b>A little background on how Mark and I decided we wanted to practice Attachment Parenting: </b><br />
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When Mark and I were newly married, we were trying to figure out how we would raise our kids. We took note of a few families in our church whom we really respected, and whose kids we would want our own kids to turn out like. We had dinner with two particular families, and informally "interviewed" them, to find out their parenting philosophy. We knew that in the christian church, there were two main perspectives on parenting, both diametrically oppposed to each other. We'd heard that churches had split over this parenting issue! It was <i>that</i> big of a deal! So we were curious about it. <br />
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Because we weren't yet parents, it wasn't a heated, emotional topic to us. We were open to anything, and just wanted to honestly expore our options. <br />
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The first family told us they practiced Attachment Parenting. We hadn't heard much about it, but they gave us a brief description. I remember the mom saying, "I just always want my kids to know I am their safe place. Whether they're four or 40, I want them to always know they can find safety in me." That was so profound, and it has stuck sharply in my mind to this day. It's an attitude I'm attempting to emulate with my own kids. <br />
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The second family we met with (the father also happened to be the counselor who did our premarital counseling, and whom we respect highly) also told us they practiced Attachment Parenting. We started to perk our ears up a little, and take note that both of these families, whom we regarded so highly, practiced this kind of parenting called "Attachment Parenting". <br />
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We also asked a little about why these churches had divided over parenting, and tried to learn a little about "The Other Side". There was one other family we interviewed, who were neighbors of ours, whose kids were so perfectly well behaved, it was amazing! We were awe-struck by their kids' compliance and obedience, even as toddlers! We thought there was something to it, so we "interviewed" them too. It turns out they followed "the other side", a book called Growing Kids Gods Way (GKGW) by Gary Ezzo. We wanted to have obedient kids too, so we were curious about it. We had dinner with them a couple times to find out more, and we thought it sounded pretty good! We surely noted their compliant children!<br />
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Our counselor, when we had dinner with him and his wife, was hesitant to tell us his feelings about GKGW, and why he'd chosen AP over it. He just kindly shared his own experience and journey, and told us that when he Googled "Gary Ezzo", he learned enough about him that he knew he didn't want to follow his lead. It sparked my curiosity, and I went home that night and <a href="http://ezzo.info/" target="_blank">Googled Gary Ezzo</a> myself. I stayed up way past midnight, reading stuff I couldn't believe I was reading. I shared it with my husband the next day, and we decided that this whole AP thing just felt right to us, and we wanted to pursue it more.<br />
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We began reading books on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Attachment-Parenting-Book-Commonsense-Understanding/dp/0316778095/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365828289&sr=1-1&keywords=attachment+parenting" target="_blank">Attachment Parenting</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Parenting-Crystal-Lutton/dp/193058668X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365829370&sr=1-1&keywords=biblical+parenting" target="_blank">Biblical Discipline</a> when I became pregnant. The more we learned, the more we just felt such peace about raising our children this way. And I have to say, it has been a wonderful, growing, challenging experience, this Parenthood. Especially in an AP way. I definitely don't think we chose the easy route, but I do believe we chose what is best for our children. <br />
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And that's it! The story of how I became such a hippie. <br />
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Added note: Although our friends who followed GKGW had very compliant children, I've since learned that this compliance was out of a motivation of fear. Fear is not what I want to motivate my children. It's God's kindness that brings us to repentance, and I hope that my kindness brings my children to repentance, not a fear of me. My discipline is a work in progress, and I still have so much to learn, but this is my goal: to teach my kids how to obey because they want to please me and God, not because they are afraid of me. If fear of me is their motivator, in my absence, I fear what their freedom from fear will produce in their behavior. I'll blog more about this another time, but I wanted to make a point that I no longer admire those perfectly compliant children, because I know how those kids got that way, and it's not something I want. <br />
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<br />Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-3760697164799498842012-05-12T16:06:00.002-07:002012-05-12T16:06:29.438-07:00Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, GAPS Chocolate Cake RecipeBefore going on the <a href="http://www.gaps.me/" target="_blank">GAPS diet</a> this past January, we were on a Gluten-Free diet for about two years. One of my favorite recipes I discovered during that time was Gluten Free Goddesses Flourless Chocolate Cake. Oh.my.WORD! This stuff is delicious! I dare say it's the best cake I've ever had. Moist, delicious, yummyness! <br />
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But, it does have sugar. And since GAPS is a sugar-free diet, I had to figure out a way to adapt the recipe. So, here's what I came up with:<br />
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Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, GAPS Chocolate Cake:<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
8 <a href="http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm" target="_blank">pastured eggs</a><br />
1 C butter (room temp, preferably cut up into pieces)<br />
1/4 C <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VNFHLC/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homemama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001VNFHLC%22%3EFrontier%20Cocoa%20Powder,%20Dutch-process%20Certified%20Organic,%20Fair%20Trade%20Certified,%2016-Ounce%20Bag%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homemama-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001VNFHLC%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">cocoa powder</a><br />
1 T <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001XWRGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homemama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001XWRGS8%22%3ESimply%20Organic%20Pure%20Vanilla%20Extract%20Certified%20Organic,%204-Ounce%20Glass%20Bottles%20%28Pack%20of%202%29%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homemama-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001XWRGS8%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">vanilla extract</a><br />
3/4 C hot coffee<br />
1 1/2 C <a href="http://www.carlislehoney.com/allergies.htm" target="_blank">raw, local honey</a><br />
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Put the above ingredients in your blender, and mix. <br />
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Pour into a greased 9" square or round pan. I grease mine with <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EO5Q64/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homemama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001EO5Q64%22%3ENutiva%20Organic%20Extra%20Virgin%20Coconut%20Oil,%2015-Ounce%20Tubs%20%28Pack%20of%202%29%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homemama-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001EO5Q64%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">coconut oil</a>, but you could also use pastured butter. <br />
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Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until a knife comes out clean. It will be really puffy when you pull it out of the oven, but will soon shrink down to a dense, moist, delicious cake. <br />
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ENJOY!!Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-27007453464562460112012-05-10T14:53:00.000-07:002012-05-10T14:55:58.098-07:00Coming Out of the ClosetI've thought about writing this post for YEARS. Yes, years.<br />
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But I've been afraid.<br />
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Afraid that people will judge me, and think I'm weird, and that I'm permissive with my kids or something, and that I'm harming them, and that I'm....just...weird.<br />
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I'm not weird. I promise. At least I don't think I am! Before having kids, I was so mainstream, it's not even funny. How did I get to be such a hippie? That's a long answer, and I'll need to do it in another post, but much of the answer has to do with becoming a parent. <br />
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I just want to do the best thing for my kids. Emotionally, nutritionally, educationally, physically, spiritually. I want the best for them in their lives. I want to do the best job as Mommy that I can. It's my vocation, and I want to do it well.<br />
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Wanting to do it well spurred me on to research a lot as I became a parent. I've read a lot on breastfeeding, and a long time ago (when The Princess was a baby) decided I would let my kids self-wean, because that is what I deemed best for them. {For more info on extended breastfeeding, and why I chose it, see <a href="http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/" target="_blank">this</a> article.} <br />
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The Princess nursed until she was three years, nine months old. I was already pregnant with Baby Brother by this time, and was nursing both Little Brother, and The Princess. I wasn't sure how I was going to <a href="http://mothering.com/breastfeeding/tandem-nursing" target="_blank">tandem nurse</a> all three of them if she continued on, seeing as how God only gave me two boobs, but I was OK with with trying, if that's what would happen. Thankfully, she gave up on the Nursies when there was no milk on tap (due to my pregnancy). Little Brother, on the other hand, continued on, and still nurses like a champ at three years, four months old. I don't think he's planning on stopping anytime soon. And I'm nowhere near pregnant, so I should have plenty of milk on tap for both the boys, for quite awhile. <br />
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Whenever I have considered coming clean with my breastfeeding choices, I've remembered back to a time when I worked at a large church in Orange County, in the Children's Ministry. I remember sitting in my office, with all the other women (moms) on staff, and they were joking and making fun of people who nurse their toddlers. This was pre-kids for me, and I didn't think much of it, other than, "Ya, those moms ARE weird! (I think?)" These moms were talking about how "When your kid can ask for it, you know you've gone too far", and how "That's just WRONG!". <br />
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Then I decided to be one of those moms. Uh-oh. <br />
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And this is why I've been in the closet. But I'm coming out. This <a href="http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20120521,00.html" target="_blank">TIME magazine cover</a> that was released today was my inspiration. <br />
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Maybe I am weird. But ya know? I'm ok with that. I'm confident in my choices, and hope that people can respect my decisions, and understand that these decisions have been based on research and thoughtful consideration. I NEVER would have imagined myself as this kind of mom. I never planned on being this kind of mom. Honestly, when I pictured myself as a mom, I assumed I'd work, my kids would probably go to public school, I'd vaccinate my kids, and I'd spank my kids when they disobeyed me, just like all other "normal" American parents. Now I'm a Stay-At-Home mom who homeschools my kids, doesn't vaccinate, and practices <a href="http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/topics/gentlediscipline.php" target="_blank">Gentle Discipline</a>. Someday I'll explain how I got here.<br />
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For now, I'm starting by coming out.<br />
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Ahhhh......that feels good. <br />
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<br />Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-63817419768878779102012-02-14T17:29:00.000-08:002012-05-12T15:20:11.856-07:00Homemade ToothpasteI've been wanting to do this for SO long! For awhile I had a hard time finding a recipe that seemed simple, yet not gross. I also tried straight baking soda for awhile. It's ok, but kinda salty tasting, and was a little harsh on my gums. <br />
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I have known for a long time that toothpaste is filled with horrible chemicals that we should not be ingesting, but just haven't gotten around to getting it out of my house (what took me so long??). Even the <i>healthy</i> brands have ingredients I<br />
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A) can't pronounce, and <br />
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B) have no idea what it is. <br />
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Usually if A or B is true, I avoid it like the plague. Chances are it's bad for me. And I don't want to put bad-for-me-things in my body. Just trying to reduce the toxic load here, Folks. Reduce the toxic load.<br />
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Most toothpaste also contains <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/031335_water_fluoridation.html" target="_blank">fluoride</a>, a <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/22/does-fluoride-really-fight-cavities.aspx" target="_blank">poisonous waste byproduc</a>t that is known to <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/23/fluorides-deadly-secret.aspx" target="_blank">cause damage to our brains</a>. You may choose to believe your dentist that unless you ingest fluoride, your teeth are going to crumble and fall out. I don't buy that though. I believe the bad faaaaaar outweighs the good when it comes to fluoride. If there is any good to begin with. <br />
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Did you know that toothpaste is technically a "cosmetic" <a href="http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/ucm074201.htm" target="_blank">according to the FDA</a>? Therefore, since it's not considered to be something that will go inside your body, the standards are very low, and there's a lot more toxicity than you'd think. I for one watch my kids swallow that stuff like it's candy! And I get horrified at the thought of those nasty chemicals making their way through their little bodies. Yuck.<br />
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So, the other day I had this uber awesome day of being ever so productive.<br />
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(Don't ask my kids what they did...<br />
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...Um...something had to give, OK?<br />
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It was my focused attention on my kids. <br />
<br />
And well, they watched a couple videos.)<br />
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Anyway...I made lotion (post coming soon on that one), and toothpaste. Here's my recipe. I adapted it from a couple other ones I found online. <br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/02/13/3892.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/02/13/s_3892.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
3 Tablespoons <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=homemama-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003QDRJXY&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr%22%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20frameborder=%220%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">coconut oil</a><br />
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3 Tablespoons <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SKVZIQ/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homemama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002SKVZIQ%22%3EARM%20&%20HAMMER%20Baking%20Soda%20-%2013.5%20lb.%20bag%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homemama-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002SKVZIQ%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">baking soda</a><br />
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1/2 Teaspoon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WS1E5U/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homemama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000WS1E5U%22%3EFrontier%20Bulk%20Stevia%20Herb%20Powder%28Green%29,%20CERTIFIED%20ORGANIC,%201%20lb.%20package%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homemama-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000WS1E5U%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">green stevia powder</a> (not pictured above). The white stuff is processed, and not good for you. <br />
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About 20 drops of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062C2IKA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homemama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0062C2IKA%22%3EOrganic%20Peppermint%20Essential%20Oil.%2010%20ml.%20100%%20Pure,%20Undiluted,%20Therapeutic%20Grade.%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homemama-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0062C2IKA%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Spearmint Essential Oils</a> (or another flavor you prefer). <br />
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I melted my coconut oil in my double boiler. If yours is soft enough, just use it soft. If it's winter, and your coconut oil is hard, melt it over the stove, not in a microwave. <a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/health-hazards-to-know-about/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers" target="_blank">Microwaving things changes the molecular structure, and it's then not good for you to consume</a>. <br />
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Once your coconut oil is soft enough, mix it with the rest of the ingredients.<br />
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I stored mine in this little 4 oz Mason jar I got at a garage sale last summer. This is a picture from before I put the stevia in. <br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/02/13/3894.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/02/13/s_3894.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
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Here's a pic from after I put it in<br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/02/13/3895.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/02/13/s_3895.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
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The taste wasn't that great before the stevia. The stevia makes it slightly sweet, and you taste less of the baking soda. The Hot Contractor is forever ruined over coconut oil (I used to have him take it by the spoonful because he loved it, and we were trying it on him for medicinal purposes.). He now hates it. Sad. <br />
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I, however, think it's great! I'm totally going to keep using it (as long as my gums don't mind...I'm hoping that with other ingredients than just baking soda, it won't be an issue anymore). I'm also going to let my kids ingest it until their little hearts are content. Plus, it's actually really good for them! Coconut oil is such a <a href="http://m.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/January/Coconut-Oil-Touted-as-Alzheimers-Remedy/" target="_blank">great oil for us to consume</a> in large quantities. And baking soda helps balance the pH of the body, so I say, "eat away, my children, eat away!"Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-16276924211615637822012-01-29T12:09:00.000-08:002012-01-29T12:09:51.018-08:00Cloth DiaperingI've had a few people ask me over the years my advice on cloth diapering. Although I am no expert, and honestly, a bit rusty as it's been five years since I really researched the topic, I am happy to share. Recently a friend on Facebook asked me to help out her friend, so instead of re-writing my thoughts, I figured I'd compile them here, and direct future questioners here. =) <br />
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There are lots of options when it comes to Cloth Diapering (CDing). There are <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/clothdiapers/prefolds" target="_blank">pre-folds</a>, which are kind of the "old fashioned" way of doing diapers. You fold the cloth up and put a cover over it. These are the cheapest way to go, but also the most work, I think. <br />
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There's also <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/clothdiapers/allinones" target="_blank">All-In-Ones</a> (AIO). These are basically the convenience of disposables, since they're just one unit. There's no folding or stuffing. I've had AIOs before, and the biggest downside to these is they take FOR-E-VER to dry! For this reason alone, I don't recommend them. Unless you enjoy running your dryer twice, just to dry one load. <br />
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There are also <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/clothdiapers/hybriddiapers" target="_blank">Hybrid Diapers</a>, like G-Diapers, where they're re-usable covers, with disposable, biodegradable inserts to put inside. If you're out to save the planet, these might be for you. But if your goal is to be frugal, these are not it! The liners cost more than disposables, and you still have to buy the expensive covers. I'm not a fan of this option. I just use disposables when I need disposables, and do cloth the rest of the time. <br />
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And then there's <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/clothdiapers/pocketdiapers" target="_blank">Pocket Diapers</a>. My favorite. Not as much work as pre-folds, and sill dry relatively quickly (unlike AIOs). They are diapers with a "pocket" in them that you stuff with an insert. I have hemp inserts, and they are awesome! Hemp absorbs FOUR TIMES it's weight in liquid, so they hold a lot before they leak. I've tried terry cloth/cotton inserts, and I.hate.them. They don't last 30 minutes before they're leaky. What's the point of cloth diapers if they're not going to work? I've know a few moms who only tried cotton or terry cloth inserts, and ended up giving up on cloth diapers because they were so frustrating. I believe they've now replaced many of the hemp ones with bamboo inserts. I don't know much about bamboo's absorbency, but only that it's really eco-friendly because it grows so quickly, and is easily reproducible. <br />
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I personally used to use <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1347335956" target="_blank">Happy Heiney</a><a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/clothdiapers/onesize/happyheinysonesizepocketdiapersnapclosure" target="_blank">s</a> pocket diapers. They used to come in Small, Medium, and Large (I believe now they come in One Size). But then, my kids get so big, that even the size Large become too small for them by the age of two. So, I was forced to buy more cloth diapers. I figured I better find something that would last, since I was buying them for the second time. I did some research, and found Blueberry Diapers to be ones that fit larger kids. I buy the <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/clothdiapers/onesize/blueberryonesizedeluxepocketdiapers" target="_blank">One-Size (OS) Blueberry diapers</a>. They're expensive up front, but after three kids and years of use, we've saved thousands of dollars.<br />
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I should explain sizing, I suppose. You can go with a brand that comes in Small, Medium, and Large, and buy a set of diapers for each stage of your baby (which gets expensive, but the fit is a lot more precise), or you can buy OS diapers, which grow with your child. They snap up smaller when they're little, and expand as they grow. The only downside to this is that they're really bulky on newborns. Even on my 10.5 lb newborns, I don't prefer to use OS diapers until they're older. I still have my set of small Happy Heineys that I use for the newborn stage. Once they grow out of those, I put them in my Blueberry OS diapers. <br />
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How many diapers do you need? <br />
I think for the newborn stage, you are changing diapers so frequently, that you need a lot. I have 24 small Happy Heineys that I use early on. Once they're bigger, you don't change them as frequently, and you can use less. Since I often have two kids in diapers at once, I own eighteen of the Blueberry OS diapers. <br />
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I wash my diapers every other day or every two days. I keep them in a <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/accessories/wetbagsandpailliners" target="_blank">wet bag</a> until it's time to wash. If there are solids, I scrape them out into the toilet, then put them in the wet bag. I'm not anal about getting off every bit of solid...just the big bits (sorry for the TMI!). Then I wash them on hot with some <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/resources/detergentsforclothdiapers" target="_blank">diaper-safe detergent</a>. There are lots out there. Most "free and clear" ones are not good to use on your diapers. You don't want anything that will coat your diapers, and make them not absorb as much (especially fabric softener). I always add a little baking soda and vinegar to my loads (like a small amount...a couple tablespoons of each). Vinegar is a natural water-softener, and baking soda keeps things white. Together, they're a great team in the laundry. I actually use them in every load of laundry I do. <br />
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If you ever do get some build up on your cloth diapers, you can always <a href="http://jilliansdrawers.com/newtocloth/washingcloth" target="_blank">strip them</a>, and they'll start absorbing better, and won't stink. <br />
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Well, I think that's it! Hope that helps you all. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I'll try to answer them. Again, I'm rusty, and no expert, but I'm happy to help a Cloth Diaper Newbie!Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-19684215639112458652012-01-08T21:11:00.000-08:002012-01-08T21:45:16.317-08:00Chicken HarvestingToday we processed all our hens, and our one remaining rooster. We figured, we got these chickens for free (on <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" target="_blank">Freecycle</a>), and have spent a fortune on Organic, Corn-free, <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert" target="_blank">Soy-free</a> Feed, and have received less than a dozen eggs from the Lovely Ladies in the last two months. We figured they've probably passed their prime, and won't likely pick up production that much once the weather warms up. Buuuuut, since we know they are healthy...why not make dinners out of them?!?!<br />
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So we did just that. This was the third or fourth time in the last two months that we've <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/12/mean-mean-rooster.html" target="_blank">processed chickens</a>. People kept giving us their homegrown/ free-range roosters, which we gladly received. Needless to say, we've got the process down to a science. <br />
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The Hot Contractor and The Princess did all the outside work, while I did all the inside work (and took care of The Brothers). <br />
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Here's The Princess, helping Dad<br />
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She'd help catch them. A few got out of the coop. Those ones were captured with the .22 riffle. <br />
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Once they caught them, The Hot Contractor would cut off their heads. The Princess would assist him with the scissors, etc. <br />
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This is where he'd remove their innards and de-feather them. <br />
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He dipped them in our big canning crock with hot water (on our camping stove) to remove the feathers. <br />
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Then he'd bring them in the house to me. <br />
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I'd dump them in the sink, wash and separate livers, hearts, necks, and feet. Then I'd wash the birds, and put one bird in a Ziplock, with one neck and two feet (to be used to make bone broth after we eat the chicken). <br />
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Then Little Brother helped me spread out the hearts and livers on a cookie sheet, and we stuck them in the freezer. We're going to be cutting them up into pill-size pieces, and taking them daily. Liver (from a healthy, pastured animal) is probably <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/liver-files" target="_blank">THE most amazingly healthful food one can consume</a>. We want those benefits, and since <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/04/liver.html" target="_blank">our liver pills</a> are gone, we need to replenish our supply. <br />
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I haven't get decided what I'm going to do with the chicken hearts yet. We may cook them in the crock pot with some BBQ sauce. I've never eaten chicken hearts, but I know they're good for us, and I hate wasting things, so I'm sure we'll find something to do with them! <br />
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Here's a pic of Little Brother. He was too cold to be outside for long, but he loved watching the action (especially the .22 action!) from the window. <br />
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It was a good, productive day. And now we have twelve more chickens in our freezer. Between the chickens and the <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/12/oh-deer.html" target="_blank">deer</a>, we won't need to buy meat for...like...forever! Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-58546972381147426702011-12-26T20:09:00.001-08:002011-12-26T20:09:14.624-08:00Note to Self:When letting your eleven-month-old "air dry", don't get distracted. It might lead to him pooping all over your floor, then walking in it. And then your dog might decide to help by eating it. <br /><br />Note to Self #2: Don't ever, EVER let your dog lick you. <br /><br /><br />Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-34342708716934474582011-12-23T09:13:00.001-08:002011-12-24T16:04:25.375-08:00Fire MakingHere's my Hot Little Hunter making fire...his latest endeavor. He actually got it going! It was pretty cool to watch. He was just rubbing wood together, and voila...fire!<br />
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We were sitting at the dinner table, about to start eating, when The Hot Contractor had to pee. Instead of using the toilet, like a civilized person, my Hot Little Hunter (I'm considering changing his name to this) decided to go outside to relieve himself. Of course! That's what you do when you're a hunter...always on the lookout! As he was out there, he could hear a deer out in the brush (the sun had just set, so visibility was bad). He came in and grabbed his .30-06 which was mounted above the door (just like Charles Ingalls). Not more than five minutes later, we heard the shot. He'd shot a doe. A big doe. <br />
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He spent a couple hours hanging her outside that night, and we left her for a couple days. Then he skinned and processed her. Here are some pics I took of that. <br />
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The head (I know, gross, huh?). <br />
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Another "head shot". <br />
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Here's the Hot Hunter himself. <br />
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And the deer skin hanging on the back of our truck. Lovely, isn't it?<br />
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Then we had to process the meat. We made a bunch of it into jerky (which lasted like 3.5 days, it was SO GOOD!), saved some steaks and roasts in the freezer, and made the rest into ground meat. We have this handy dandy meat grinder attachment for our Kitchen Aid, which has come in handy a couple times now (the first being when we processed our 500 lbs of beef last year). Here's a pic of him and The Princess, hard at work. <br />
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{Please note the pink sparkly princess dress. I love that she's grinding meat while wearing this.}<br />
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And now we have a freezer full of organic, grass-fed venison to last us all winter. And it cost us $15.30 (for the deer tag). Love it! Thank you, Hot Hunter!Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-80080912317580899972011-09-03T07:59:00.001-07:002011-12-24T18:46:24.202-08:00Dilly CucumbersI made my first batch of fermented cucumbers this week. I was really skeptical they would taste good, but they do! They're so yummy! Here's a pic. <br />
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Then we put Sugar on the table. Mommy did the hard parts, and The Princess cut out knots, and used the clippers on the easy parts. <br />
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The Princess felt *very* important. The whole time, she was talking about how we were Sugar's dog groomers, not her owners. Sugar was at our "dog grooming salon". I love her little imagination.Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-51613052174748106492011-05-10T23:32:00.000-07:002011-12-24T20:17:35.239-08:00Zion National Park *Note: this one took me a little while to finish and post, so the dates are a bit off. We left Zion today, so this was written about three days ago.<br />
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We arrived at Zion National Park four days ago. We've been having a great time hiking, swimming, relaxing...it's been wonderful.<br />
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Last night we decided to take a little bike ride around the campground. Usually the kids ride their bikes while The Hot Contractor and I help them, carry the baby, and walk Sugar. But this time I decided to put Little Brother in our little baby seat on the front of my bike, and take him for a *real* ride. We had a blast, and you could hear a good amount of "wheeee!" going on. <br />
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As I pulled into our campsite, I tried to go around a log and a rock, and park the bike by the tree where we'd been keeping it. As I started going through the grass, I realized it was really tall, and I was quickly losing momentum. I wanted to put my foot down to get stability, but I looked, and there was the rock. Since the seat where Little Brother was was in front of me, it was hard to quickly get off, and I ended up taking a spill (and bringing poor Little Brother with me!). I felt two pops in my ankle as I hit the ground. And I couldn't move my ankle, the bike that was on top of me, or help Hysterical Little Brother get out of the seat he was in. The Hot Contractor came running over with the baby in his arms, trying to help one of us, but realizing he only had one arm to do so. The Princess was about 20 feet behind us, and started sobbing when she realized Mommy was hurt. It was a pretty intense moment.<br />
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An elderly couple staying in the campsite next to us came over to help. We'd made friends with them, and they took Little Brother and The Princess to their motor home for band-aids, teddy bears, and comfort. The man got me ice, and he and The Hot Contractor helped me get into the trailer so I could nurse Crying Little Brother. <br />
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I thought at first my ankle was surely broken. But after I calmed down and reassessed, I thought maybe it was just a bad sprain. Nevertheless, I haven't put any weight on it since. <br />
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Today we decided to go into town and look for some veggie oil and do our laundry. We noticed a sign for a farmer's market. There were 20 minutes until it closed, so we quickly hunted it down. I stayed in the car, and The Hot Contractor went to look at all four tables that were there. There was a table where someone was selling homemade goat milk soaps. I had told The Hot Contractor to look for some raw milk, so he thought the goat milk soap people might be good ones to ask. They told us about a family that was there who has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture">CSA</a>, and has goat milk shares. They happened to have three quarts of fresh, raw, goat milk. Now, I've tried goat milk a few times, and it's always tasted pretty "goaty" to me. But this milk...The Hot Contractor told me at first that it was cow milk, and I believed him. It was so good! We had a little illegal transaction, and obtained the contraband...Um, for our dog....believe it or not, it is illegal to buy raw milk for human consumption in many states, including Utah. You can, however, buy alcohol, cigarettes, and high fructose corn syrup galore, in all 50 states. There's our government for you...keeping us safe and healthy. Safe from that <a href="http://www.realmilk.com/documents/SheehanPowerPointResponse.pdf">horribly healing and nurturing food called raw milk</a>. <br />
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We also got some pastured chicken eggs, which we were very happy about. Those are legal to purchase, by the way. <br />
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Then we went around to get some veggie oil. We've become a little discouraged as we've looked in some cities. It seems like everybody already has their "guy" who gets their oil. But we've discovered that the smaller towns are much easier to find used veggie oil in. And today we scored about 60 gallons! We didn't get about 100 gallons more that was available because we didn't have the room for it. We keep calculating the cost savings, considering a gallon of diesel fuel is about $5/ gallon right now. That's like $300 we saved in one afternoon! <br />
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After we found the fuel, and the farmer's market, we decided to take the kids out for some ice cream. We were sitting outside the little ice cream shop/ cafe, and this little lady that worked inside saw The Hot Contractor piggyback me to the table, and saw me unwrap the ace bandage from my ankle. She asked The Contractor what happened, and then proceeded to call all the local medical clinics to find out their hours for us (unsolicited, mind you). She came out and gave us the rundown.<br />
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While she was talking, there was a man standing nearby listening. I hadn't noticed him, and he was the only person around besides us. After she left, he said, "Or, you could go to the local Foot and Ankle Institute". Then he started looking through his wallet for a business card. I asked him if he wasn't by chance a doctor who worked at said Institute? He smiled, and said he was.<br />
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A few minutes later, he came back and asked me if I'd like him to "save [me] a trip, and check it out now". I said "sure". How cool was he?!?!? I couldn't believe how kind he was! Here he was out with his wife and grandchildren getting ice cream, and he took the time to help me. <br />
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So, he did a little exam on my ankle, and unfortunately, told me he thought it might be broken. No visit saved, but I was thankful to know that it was serious enough to go get x-rays.<br />
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*Fast forward....now I'm finishing this post three days later.<br />
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Yesterday we went to that Foot and Ankle Institute, and got the ankle checked. Turns out it's not broken! It's`just a bad sprain. And instead of needing to be non-weight-bearing for six weeks (which would be the case if it was broken), he said it actually helps a sprained ankle to walk on it. Unless it hurts too bad, then I need to back off. I'm so thankful I don't have to be immobile for six weeks. I think it would get really old for The Hot Contractor to do all the cooking, cleaning, child carrying, oil gathering and filtering, and care for me for that long. Plus, that's pretty much through to the end of our travels. While I won't be going on any long hikes while we're traveling, I can at least go for walks and enjoy some physical activity with my family. I'm SO thankful for that. I have this cute little brace to wear, and I'm taking it easy when the ankle hurts. Oh, and no more bike riding through tall grass! <br />
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We're now on our way to Yellowstone....Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-46572439013990099372011-05-10T23:00:00.000-07:002011-12-24T18:48:35.426-08:00Santa BarbaraWe had a blast in Santa Barbara. Had great connections with some old friends, accidentally ran into a really old friend who was running n the beach, saw an old friend we hadn't planned on seeing, and enjoyed spending time with an adopted Grandma for my kiddos.<br />
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We parked at my college friend's mom's house in Montecito. Michele's mom is Grandma age, but doesn't have grand kids yet (she obviously wants to though...and she's really good at being a Grandma!). My kids often chose hanging out with her in her house over being with mom or dad. Maybe it was the little hide-and-hunt games she played with them, or all the fun toys she was giving them, or the yummy food that she'd feed them. I'm sure it was a combination of all of it. Let's just say, I didn't mind taking a break from holding the baby, or having a peaceful moment while The Princess and Little Brother played in her house. Oh, and she also did all our laundry one day, and even folded it while we were out playing at the zoo. Charlotte, if you're reading this, you're totally adopted! <br />
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One fun thing that happened was when I saw my friend Jamie, who lives in LA, running with her husband on the beach. The Hot Contractor had gone into the little beach restaurant to ask for some veggie oil, while I stayed in the truck with the kids. Here comes Jamie and John running through the parking lot! We ended up talking about how we're embarking on a cross-country adventure, and running on veggie oil. Then Jamie says, "You know Dan runs his car on veggie oil? You should talk to him about it!" (Dan is a mutual friend of ours whom I've known since 1995). I happened to still have Dan's cell phone number in my phone, and gave him a call. Turns out <a href="http://sbforge.com/#/home-page/">his shop</a> was about five minutes away from where we were, and he invited us over. While we were there, we told him about our leaking truck (The Hot Contractor had welded something before we left, but missed one tiny spot, and oil was dripping the whole way). So Dan welded it for us. Thanks, Dan! <br />
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While we were talking to Dan, he told us that he used to get his WVO (waste vegetable oil) at <a href="http://westmont.edu/">Westmont College</a> (my Alma Matter). A couple days later, as we were having a horribly difficult time finding fuel for our truck, the thought crossed my mind to see if I could get some from Westmont. So, we drove up there, and visited the dining commons (DC). I think the lady working there was skeptical of me, and she told me to go to the administration building to ask for permission. (I couldn't figure out why I'd have to ask them, other than she maybe wanted them to verify that I actually was an alum?). So, I went straight to the Alumni Office, and told them my story. They were all OVER helping out an alum! Woo-hoo! They made phone calls for like ten minutes, trying to reach someone to tell them to give me as much oil as possible. Ha! We went back to the DC and filled up our tank with somewhere between 80 and 90 gallons. And that lady who told me to go to the alumi office? She was so sweet, she gave us all free lunch in the DC. I felt like a college student again. Except that I had three kids and a husband.<br />
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We're still running on that oil. What a LOOT! Thank you Westmont <a href="http://www.sodexousa.com/usen/roles/foodservs/foodservs.asp">Sodexo</a>, and thank you, Dan, for the idea!Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-16258490949667714582011-05-10T22:21:00.000-07:002011-12-24T18:48:54.960-08:00"This Deserves a Blog Post!" *Note: I started this post three weeks ago, and am now just finishing it, so the dates may be confusing. Sorry. <br />
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About a week ago, we left Oroville, and made our way to Santa Barbara. We anticipated we'd make the seven hour drive in one or two days. We planned on pulling out sometime between 10 am and 12 noon the first day. At 5:00 pm, we finally pulled out (we've since discovered a pattern of grossly underestimating our time needed for departure. At this point, we plan on <i>never</i> being ready to leave before noon). <br />
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As we were cruising down the 5 freeway, we mapped out a Rest Stop where we could stop to sleep for the night. At about midnight, we knew we were just 20 miles away. We could make it! Keep those eyelids peeled!!<br />
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Then we lost a wheel. <br />
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No, not <i>got a flat</i>, like you're thinking. LOST A WHEEL!<br />
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Literally.<br />
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Yep.<br />
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Rolled right off the trailer, into the center of the freeway. The sparks The Hot Contractor saw in the side mirror told him something was wrong. He pulled over quickly. <br />
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He went to assess the situation, while I stayed in the truck with our three sleeping cherubs. He realized that the wheel was entirely gone (it was pitch black out, and we had no idea where it had gone). He then discovered that the bolts holding the hub on had completely broken. All five of them. <br />
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So, we called AAA for some "Roadside Assistance". We learned that our RV was not covered under our plan (which was not the story I got from the lady at the AAA office just weeks before, but I won't go into that here...). They told us they could recommend a mechanic that could help us. Mark was trying to fix it, but we were on the skinny little shoulder of this major highway, with semi trucks barreling by us. And the missing wheel was on the driver's side, so not so safe. <br />
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We called the recommended mechanic, and asked him to come help us. He later told me that the only reason he agreed to getting out of bed at O'-Dark-Thirty, was that he could hear The Hot Contractor talking to me while on the phone with him, so he knew there was a woman, and possibly children, who also needed to be rescued. If it were a single male, he would have left him to fend for himself. Thank goodness The Hot Contractor asked me a question while he was on the phone! <br />
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So, this nice man, Kevin came to rescue us. Oh, and the CHP came too. We called 9-1-1 at some point between realizing that AAA wouldn't help us, and hearing about Kevin. They came out to help us get to safety. <br />
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Kevin tried to find replacement bolts (we had an extra wheel) for our trailer. He spent until 2:30 am trying figure out something, and hunt for the bolts. But we were out of luck. We had to wait until the morning, when the auto parts store opened.<br />
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Kevin did, however, require payment for his services. One of us had to get in his tow truck with him, and drive about 20 minutes to his shop to pay with a credit card. I didn't want to sit on the side of the freeway alone with three kids at 2 am, so I told The Hot Contractor I'd rather he stay, and I go. Let's just say, I had the scariest ride of my life! Kevin drives an average speed of about 95mph. He smokes while he does it, and is <i>obviously</i> gluten intolerant, if you know what I mean. If you don't, then I won't go there right now, but it's gross. <br />
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So, we unhitched from the trailer, and left it on the side of I-5. We called the CHP, and told them we had no other option but to leave it there, and to please not tow it away. They told us "they couldn't guarantee anything", but they would make a note of it. <br />
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We then called all three motels that were at the nearest exit. The first two were completely booked up. The third one had only smoking rooms available, and one room with a king size mattress. I told them I'd take it! <br />
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At 3:00 am, we all snuggled into a big bed together. We even smuggled Sugar in with us. (Shhhhh....)<br />
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The next morning, Kevin fixed our wheel, and told us to come back to his shop so he could check a few other things. Thank God for Kevin!! He discovered that one of the brakes on the trailer was not working properly, and one of the wheels was not rotating like it should. It could have been bad if we would have tried to drive it that way! He showed The Hot Contractor how to check the wheels, which he has done diligently since then.<br />
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We finally made it to Santa Barbara (only two days behind schedule) the next day. The Hot Contractor kept saying along the way, "This deserves a blog post!". So, there you have it.Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-88131194972813794702011-05-10T21:48:00.000-07:002011-12-24T20:59:55.638-08:00Clairification of TermsOk, so apparently there's been some confusion about how many trailers and RVs we're sporting. In my mind, it all makes sense, but then again, it's my life. So, for those of you living outside my mind, here goes:<br />
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The original "RV", the one we remodeled is a motor home. We no longer live in it, and we left it in CA. Here's a picture of that: <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/09/13/2158.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/09/13/s_2158.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></div><br />
We moved into a 27' Travel Trailer (also technically an "RV"), and bought a diesel truck to pull it. We chose to do this so we could run on veggie oil, and avoid paying $5/ gallon of fuel our entire way across the country. Here's a picture of that:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4096.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4096.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></div><br />
We have that <a href="http://homesteadmama.blogspot.com/2011/04/rig.html">big black truck</a>. The Hot Contractor converted it to run on vegetable oil. We get used oil from restaurants for free, and run on it. It's wonderful. We had a hard time finding it while we were still in CA (evidently lots of people in CA do the veggie oil thing, and all the restaurants seem to have "their guy" who comes and picks up their oil. But now that we're in Podunk Nowhere, we're not having a hard time AT ALL!). We sold all our other vehicles. Here's a picture of the truck:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4095.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4095.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></div><br />
Then there's another trailer. I think this might be where the confusion comes in. That flatbed that The Hot Contractor converted to a cargo trailer (it once was a travel trailer in it's past life, but we won't talk about that because that's just <i>confusing</i>!) is the other one. We left it in CA with all our stuff, and The Hot Contractor will drive out to pick it up in July. We did this because 1) we wanted to keep the trailer for The Hot Contractor's business, and 2) it was the most cost-efficient way to get all our stuff across the country....running on free fuel and not renting a vehicle to transport our stuff. It will mean being away from my darling husband for <b>two.whole.weeks</b> (sniff, sniff). Let's not talk about that.<br />
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Here's a picture of the flatbed-turned-cargo-trailer:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Before:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4094.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4094.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4093.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4093.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>OK, make sense? I hope so.Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-34441704642868494212011-04-14T21:01:00.001-07:002011-12-24T21:01:14.820-08:00The RigPer Brendan's request, here are some pics of the rig. Kind of Beverly Hillbillies style. But we've been known to sport a lot more hillbilly than this. This is pretty high-class for us. ;-)<br />
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The Once-A-Travel-Trailer-Turned-Flatbed-Turned-Cargo Trailer-Trailer. The Hot Contractor just finished building this a couple days ago. It has all our remaining possessions inside. I kinda think we should spray paint "U-Haul" on the side. What do you think? Too W.T.?<br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4093.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4093.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
Here's what it looked like as a flatbed trailer. <br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4094.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4094.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
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Here's The Beast<br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4095.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4095.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
The veggie kit just arrived today, so The Hot Contractor will begin installing it tomorrow. I'm not gonna show you a picture of the tailgate. That's because the other day, when I went to the RV store, I was backing up, and backed right into their big ol' sign out front. The guy working there came out laughing and said, "Haha...Everyone does that!". I wasn't laughing when I looked at the tailgate. Oh, well. The sign was fine, by the way. <br />
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Here's the Travel Trailer. <br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/14/4096.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/14/s_4096.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
Home Sweet Home. <br />
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We're hoping to finish the veggie conversion, and some other essential repairs by next Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll then head down to Santa Barbara to visit some friends for a few days.Homestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135688071438034078.post-21151356575886166612011-04-14T11:53:00.001-07:002011-12-24T18:49:39.671-08:00Liver.I've had this liver from our steer we butchered last year sitting in my fridge, not knowing what to do with it. We don't love the taste and texture of it, but we know what an <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/liver-files" target="_blank">amazing, healing, nourishing, sacred food</a> it is, and didn't want to waste it. <br />
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So, last week, we were introduced to another family who is doing what we're doing...traveling the country. (All this random info really does apply to my liver story, I promise). They happen to be in the area while we're here, and our local <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/" target="_blank">Weston A. Price Foundation</a> chapter leader introduced us. She knew we had lots in common, and thought we might enjoy meeting each other. It didn't take us long to hit it off with these people (three days before they were leaving town). We tried to squeeze in as much time together as possible with our new friends. We became Facebook friends, and they read my blog. <br />
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The day after they read my blog, we were all hanging out at a park so our kids could roam while we talked. We told them of our liver quandary. Nate, the dad, said, "Why don't you encapsulate it!" (He had read my post about placenta encapsulation). I think he was joking, but maybe half serious too. Anyway, I realized what a brilliant idea he had!! Why hadn't I thought of that??? <br />
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Needless to say, the liver chunks are in my dehydrator now. :-PHomestead Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06269086518018837522noreply@blogger.com0Chico, CA, USA39.664913927532425 -121.7944339687500139.236838927532425 -122.29072546875001 40.092988927532424 -121.29814246875002