Home Grown Kids and Vegetables Too!

A Re-Post of good 'ol papal encouragment

2011-11-10T20:38:00.001-08:00

Encouragement from the Pope

"You need to know what you believe. You need to know your faith
with that same precision with which an IT specialist knows the
inner workings of a computer. You need to understand it like a
good musician knows the piece he is playing. Yes, you need to
be more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of your
parents so that you can engage the challenges and temptations
of this time with strength and determination. You need god’s
help if your faith is not going to dry up like a dewdrop in the
sun, if you want to resist the blandishments of consumerism, if
your love is not to drown in pornography, if you are not going
to betray the weak and leave the vulnerable helpless."

-part of Pope Benedict XVI's introduction in the new Youth Catechism

God Bless Him!

Has it been a month????

2011-10-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a month since my last post! Oh dear. Let me right that right away....

Two 'diaper' babies sleeping peacefully in Mama's bed.......

....AND the birthday girl chasing balloons on her big day!

+ + + + + + + +

Thanks be to God for health and all the many benefits

He has most graciously supplied to us this year.

+ + + + + + + +

......

Annie Get Your Gun!

2011-09-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

Our first little princess turned 5 this month & to celebrate the occasion, her Mammy & I threw her a Grand Tea Party at Nana's Tea Room.

(That's code for my mom's beautiful dining room!)

The party was complete with fancy friends, finger sandwiches,

dainty treats and 8 pots of delicious tea.

And THEN, her Daddy gave her a birthday present........

This is her very own and very first pink, Red Rider Daisy BB Gun!

(he is holding the BB gun his parents gave him as a child)

Personally, I think 5 is bit young for owning a gun but it was quite endearing to see how Jason was beaming over it all! Go figure, Mommy was gleaming over the fancy tea party and Daddy was beaming about the BB gun....

--------------------------------------------

And the day after she turned 5, we held our first official day of Kindergarten Homeschool!

Our schoolroom is complete with a calendar & weather center, a double desk/ table for both girls to use, music, letter chart, 2 chalk boards, a white board, a Bible Knowledge & virtue wall (I'll post pictures of that another day!), learning manipulatives, and a hook for Anne's new backpack!

I like teaching homeschool and the girls are adapting quite well to our new schedule which includes dual-school time in the morning & Anne's 1-on-1 lessons in the afternoon. Rosie is weather girl, Anne is calendar girl, Lily is 'naptime baby', and we are still working on Michael.... he plays, watches a show, eats a snack or tries to get up to the school table. (Actually, he does all 3 of those things!)

** Anyhow, 3 cheers for school

and 5 cheers for my Big Girl getting bigger! **

Tremble

2011-09-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Have I come to casually
Because it seems to me
There's something I've neglected
How does one approach a deity
With informality
And still protect the Sacred

Cause You came and chose to wear the skin of all of us
And it's easy to forget You left a throne
And the line gets blurry all the time between Daily and Divine
And it's hard to know the difference

Oh, let me not forget to tremble...... Oh, let me not forget to tremble
Face down on the ground do I dare
To take the liberty to stare at You
Oh, let me not forget to tremble

What a shame to think that I'd appear
Even slightly cavalier
In the matter of salvation
Do I claim this gift You freely gave
As if it were mine to to take
With such little hesitation?

Oh, let me not forget to tremble.......

Cause you came and stood among the very least of us
And it's easy to forget you left a throne
The cradle and the grave could not contain your Divinity
And neither can I, oversimplify this love

Oh, let me not forget to tremble. Oh, let me not forget to tremble
Face down on the ground do I dare
To take the liberty to stare at you
Oh, let me not forget to tremble"
----------------

Lyrics to Nichole Nordeman's song, Tremble

Oh, you're gonna love this!

2011-09-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Carson Dellosa artwork for school

2011-09-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

I am getting REALLY excited about starting Anne Catherine's official Kindergarten schooling!! My grandmother has been helping me organize my resources... which include several items that she used in her own teaching career.

The pictures below are samples of artwork from a publisher called Carson Dellosa.
I think I will be using alot of these because of how simple and sweet his pictures are. Also, my grandmother gave me several coordinating workbooks. So much of the artwork has room for messages, it's easy to manipulate and print and the details are simple, making them 'colorable' for my little ones.

YAY for HOMESCHOOL!

You'll find 6 pages of free Carson Dellosa
clip art here.

New Favorite!!

2011-08-31T20:31:00.001-07:00

I think I just found one of my new favorite websites...

Make It & Love It

This gal has brightly colored pictures, easy to read tutorials and some Fabulous project ideas! Also, she has children so she's does do other things besides cut, sew and blog all day... or at least, I assume she does. I found her site due to a link on Dietel Days, featuring another S.A.H.M. (stay-at-home-mom) re-decorating her daughter's bathroom. Ah- I'm inspired.

..................................................

Well okay, go have a look for yourself and don't be surprised when you ask me where I got the idea to make something or another. God Bless.

All Played Out

2011-08-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

Our garden has weathered this hot, dry, summer very well; producing 4 varieties of tomato, white squash, bell peppers, anaheim peppers, cucumbers, a few baby corn, 5 juicy cantelope, 2 acorn squash and a pitiful butternut squash.

(Not to mention lots sticker burrs as well!)

But the time has come to dig it up- weeds and all & all the weeds- and get ready for fall. We will leave the okra, peppers and some tomatoes, since they are still producing, but the rest is getting ripped out... this weekend I hope!

(Pictured above are the 3 lg tomatoe varieties:

Old German- yellow/ orange

Purple Krem- deep red

Early Girl- bright red

and one of our delicious cantelope!)

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

So long juicy, summer fruits-

it's time to make room for roots and gourds!

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

3 Things

2011-08-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

1. I am excited about piano starting up again.

Suppose I should give Michael lessons?

2. The County Fair starts tomorrow- HURRAY! There are contest entries to be made, ribbons to be earned, a parade to watch (and sweat through), carnival rides to be ridden and ridiculously expensive, hot, sugary funnel cakes to be eaten!

3. I love my husband.

He is being such a hard worker and a diligent leader for our family.

A Late Night Snack

2011-08-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

OH, the guilt of it! Of course my hips won't slim down if I keep eating dessert late at night. And of course I'm busting most/all healthy eating rules but it just has to be this way sometimes......

Reasons why a Mommy HAS to eat ice cream late at night:

A. Because that's the soonest possible moment she has to sit down and ENJOY food at it's proper temperature.

B. Because there's no one around to beg for a bite of it or "their own bowl."

C. Because she finished the wine last night!

-------------------------

.... or at least, those are the reasons why I eat ice cream late at night.

A NOT So Glorious Sunday

2011-08-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

11:30 am: load up kids and depart home to attend Mass

12:45 pm: stuck in slowed traffic on Hwy 281 near 1604

12:46 pm: disposing of 'grey water' from the portable potty chair because

3-year old said she HAD to go potty and can't hold it

1:00 pm: Mass begins and we aren't there

1:30 pm: 5 miles further than we were at 1:00

1:45 pm: no where near the church because the alternate route had road work too

****CHANGE OF PLANS****

2:00 pm: AC in suburban quits blowing cold air while we are driving across town

2:15 pm: happy family eating lunch together at delicious Mexican restaurant

WITH air conditioning!

3:45 pm: driving down yet ANOTHER city road stifled by construction

5:40 pm: depart friend's house after delightful visit

6:00 pm: ARRIVE AT MASS- FINALLY!!!!

6:30 pm: Priest calls us out from the lectern pointing out that we should

use the cry room. ???????

----------

Wow.

----------

"God , can next Sunday be a better one? Pretty please????"

Oh, I get it Dad!

2011-07-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

So just like the lunatic-fringe-anti-choice-homophobic-bigoted-fanatics we are, today the 7 of us loaded up and made our way for an hour and a half to the only Tridentine Mass in one the nation's largest dioceses. That's right, we're those kinds of Catholics. Really though, it's for the best, because I think that we really do make rank-and-file N.O. Catholics feel uncomfortable when our veil-wearing three year old refuses to hold hands with whichever poor soul manages to squeeze into the empty spot on the pew next to us during the Our Father. Well anyways, today was a special day. Today I was given revelation #5,281 on why the Traditional Mass is the better choice....for us.

If you've ever attended the TLM anywhere other than your weird aunt Sally's living room,

you're bound to have seen them. The little red cash cow of the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei called the Latin English Booklet Missal. On the front cover is one of those

delightful black ink drawings of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that was so prevalent in Catholic kitsch when the Benzinger Bros ruled with an iron fist. Sadly the spirits of Vatican II brought to the liturgical artists the new light of amorphous symbology perhaps ending forever (if not for Summorum Pontificium) exchanges like this that happened today.

Daddy: Anne, I want you to draw something that you see happen during Mass today.

Anne: OK. Like what?

Daddy: Anything. Here look at this [hands her the red book]. What's happening there?

Anne: Jesus is on the cross.

Daddy: What about at the bottom?

Anne: The priest is holding up the Blood.

Daddy: That's right.

Anne: [Sitting quietly with Pooh Bear's thinking face on for several minutes.]

Daddy: [Enjoying the repetitious sounds of the Rosary before Mass].

Anne: [Beginning to draw the altar]

Daddy: [Wondering to himself if the demon will manifest in Michael this Sunday.]

Anne: Ohhhh, I giiiit it Dad.

Daddy: ?

Anne: The priest is Jesus and Jesus is the priest.

Daddy: [Dumbfounded] That's right, Anne.

Anne: [Quietly continues on with her neorealistic, slightly amorphous liturgical sketches.]

More Garden Delights, PLUS Canning!

2011-07-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

We planted our garden in April/ May, knowing that we started late, but we didn't think it would take THIS long to begin producing!

Despite the drought, our garden is green and lush (with too many weeds as well) and we are beginning to pick more and more daily.

Praise be to God!

Sadly, my in-laws just lost most of their garden to desperate deer.... all except the tomatoes and eggplant. I'll post a picture later of the beautiful eggplant they've grown.

Last week, my Oma gave me a crash course in pickling. It was much easier than I thought to make dill pickles.... I guess the hardest part is waiting 3 weeks to try them!

Also, a friend and I made 18 pints of Jam. Some of it was strawberry and some, peach.

It was her first time to can and we had a great system going with one of us at the stove stirring fruit & the other, manning the canner- despite 2 fussy babies and a slew of other children darting in and out the kitchen ( oh, and husbands too).

God Bless them- the husbands that is- they tried to get the children out of our hair by taking them on a wild grape picking excursion, only the place they went to didn't happen to have any grapes on the vine.

Providence or poor planning? - you tell me.

Fresh Veggies & Sweet Babies!

2011-07-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Lean, mean, fresh and green!

Our garden is FINALLY producing some delicious produce...

we have white squash, peppers, cucumbers and loads of green tomatoes!

********HAPPY 4th of JULY *********

Vacation Conclusions

2011-06-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

THANKS BE TO GOD for the blessings of safe AND happy travel! Those two things are huge... especially considering some of the breakdowns we've had in recent months.

ANYHOW, we arrived safely home last night with no sunburns & walked into a clean house. After discussing it for a while, Jason & I came to the mutual conclusion that even though our trip to the beach was short, it WAS a true vacation- filled with rest and indulgence.

The list of things we indulged in:

Sleep

Sun

Beer

Cheesecake

Buttermilk Pie

Cable TV & Cartoons

PLUS, sweet husband made it extra special for me by keeping the condo kitchen clean, letting me sleep in 1 morning & giving me an afternoon all to myself to.......drumroll please....SHOP!

(in front of the shrimp boat 'Polly Anna')

We also pinpointed the low spots of the trip as being our 2 experiences eating out.

#1. Eating lunch at a BBQ joint that WAY overcharged us

#2. Getting overcharged TWICE at the Coffee Shop

(.....Does anyone else get the feeling that retailers are intentionally deceptive and don't care much about customer service & true value? I don't want to be a scrupulous miser but it makes me feel like I have to watch out every time I buy something.)

Oh well, all the more reason to appreciate the Creator's handiwork...

...things like the sunset, the fresh sea breeze, the dolphins jumping in the harbor and the children shreeking with laughter while they play.

Silliness at our house

2011-06-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Lily Mae had a blast spitting her cream of wheat everywhere today! According to her sisters, Michael is the one who taught her how to do that... can you hear him making 'motor' sounds in the background? Yeah, he does that all the time.

And here he is trying to ride our mutt Tawny.

She is getting to be VERY good natured with his antics.

Encouragement from the Pope

2011-05-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

-part of Pope Benedict XVI's introduction in the new Youth Catechism

God Bless Him!

A few pictures...

2011-05-04T20:13:00.001-07:00

Easter Sunday at Mater Dei in Irving. It was great!

My Easter 'Lily'

By the Dallas Patriots Field House

Our New Dog, Tawny

AND, apparently I need a new camera. oh joy.

anne can spell. <-- (Anne's first attempt at typing! She's awesome)

Spring Planting Begins..er, has begun.

2011-04-26T20:13:00.001-07:00

Here, Jason tills everything under with the red tractor

We found these little guys hiding out under the soil

Peach Blossoms right outside the back door, literally

Coupon Deals

2011-03-29T15:06:00.001-07:00

Coupon shopping is so much work but it is also SO much saving! I really enjoy the challenge but I most enjoy seeing the final bill at the register. Last week, between 2 trips to the store, we wound up buying about $210 worth of groceries for $120.

Here are some of my recent favorites:

Gain Fabric Sheets: 80 count = 12 cents

Crackers and Soup= $1.62

1 Jar Bertolli + 1 Jar Store Brand = $1.29

3 Boxes Cereal + 1 loaf bread + 1 jar of jelly + 1 jar peanut butter + 1# of fruit = $6.05

( The only thing I paid for was the cereal!)

+ I also just found 4 boxes of Clairol Instincts Hair Color for .50 a box! + Go wild! +

Use coupons! + Dye your hair! +

Coupon Deals

2011-03-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my recent favorites:

Gain Fabric Sheets: 80 count = 12 cents

Crackers and Soup= $1.62

1 Jar Bertolli + 1 Jar Store Brand = $1.29

3 Boxes Cereal + 1 loaf bread + 1 jar of jelly + 1 jar peanut butter + 1# of fruit = $6.05

Beautiful Traditional Images

2011-03-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to a PicasaWeb album that has exceptional Catholic images that you won't find too many other places.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sacredmusic/ImagesForLiturgyPrograms?feat=directlink#5437062176434880898

*BONUS* the images are available for you to download/ save and use for free!

Skirts!

2011-02-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

One of the former OLoPH moms (that's Our Lady of Perpetual Help) put me on the scent of a stellar source for beautiful long skirts. I looked last night and found so many to get excited over... the site is www.newcreationapparel.com

I had so hoped to be able to make my own cute skirts by now but what I really need is a tutor and a long block of time to try sewing a few from start to finish. Hmmmm... I wonder what's making it so difficult to find that long block of time....

www.newcreationapparel.com

A Blog Revived?

2011-02-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

Not sure how long or how frequently I can keep this thing updated but I can at least throw out a few new pictures of this growing family.... and after all, gardening season is coming up quick so there will be lots of other 'growing' to document. Maybe, just maybe........

Sibling Love

2010-10-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Yay, Yay, Lily Mae!

2010-10-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

Prayer Needs

2010-09-19T19:37:00.001-07:00

Baby is due October 5 and I am feeling so tired but praise the Lord that I am healthy and so seems to be the baby. Even though I have been feeling down lately, I can acknowledge how blessed we truly are. We have so many resources- including family and friends that help us so much- and God has blessed us with good health these days. The children have not been sick in months!

Whoever is out there, I beg your prayers for a safe delivery but above that, please say a prayer for my best friend's mother. She has been struggling for so long with cancer but now her body is too tired and she is resting at home under the care of hospice nurses and her loving husband and daughters. She suffers with much grace and her family has been giving themselves to her service at the point of exhaustion for weeks. God gives them strength but they need our prayers too.

Thank you for remembering them (the Lusters) and me in your prayers.

Blogging Down

2010-09-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

SO... blogging is pretty hard to do when the Internet isn't connected at my house!! It's also been a little more difficult to get to since my chores are constantly unfinished and my Michael is zapping all my spare energy.

All that to say, the blog is on hold for a bit but you can bet as soon as our new little one is born that I'll get pictures up at least!!! After that, we'll just have to see....

Much love from our house to yours!

Homegrown and Homemade

2010-07-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

BOY, have we had a major creative streak lately- making all sorts of things like jelly, preserves, zuchinni bread, grape juice and even real cheese! The garden is flourishing- mostly- and we picked peaches last week from our little peach tree. Here are some pictures of the fun...

We picked wild mustang grapes, cooked them, strained them, juiced them and jellied them!

We have whipped up 2 batches of homemade cheese- 1 mozzarella/ 1 ricotta- from store bought milk.

We gathered wild figs from nearby trees and cooked them into preserves. (They are DELICIOUS served warm, especially with ice cream!)

AND... we mixed up our own grape juice from left over mustang juice.. adding apple juice concentrate and sugar for sweetener.

It was all very inexpensive and educational for us. Plus, now the kids can have peanut butter and jelly all year and we've only spent $8 or $10 on jelly to last that long..now if only we can figure out how to make peanut butter.... look for that in later posts!!!!

Look what flew in!

2010-07-05T09:16:00.001-07:00

During all the torrential downpours (courtesy of the hurricane), this little bird must have been lost or confused because he flew right in our front door and would not leave.

We had a fun time running around with nets and things to shoo him out... I was the biggest sissy because I kept thinking of that sharp beak coming at my eyes- Yikes!

And... pictures of my little sweeties!

Happy Birthday Baby!

2010-06-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

Haircuts all around!

2010-06-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Daddy gave Michael his first big boy haircut tonight and I used clippers for the first time EVER!

I was so nervous that Jason had to shave his own head (I helped towards the end!) Jason assured me that both of them would be a lot cooler this summer so I choked back the tears and let him shave off my little boys' beautiful hair.

BEFORE...

...AFTER!

Mommy's little man

Minor Emergencies

2010-05-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

WELL, we made another trip to the emergency room yesterday. One of Anne's eyes was swollen nearly shut and the word from our ophthalmologist and pediatrician was to be cautious because it sounded like an eye infection. So, off to the ER to be examined (since, of course, these things happen most often on the weekend).

She did indeed have an infection, periorbitol cellulitis to be exact. A shot of antibiotics and an oral course of the same should do the trick. (St. Lucy, pray for the health of Anne's eye!)

As it often goes with a visit to the ER, it took so long to be seen, treated, and released- 4 hours this time- but of course, we are grateful that the thing even exists! However, yesterday was such a busy day in our local ER and since Anne was in no pain, we felt a bad taking up a bed when there were several in the waiting room who obviously wanted a place to lay down and rest. As it was, Anne's roommate was a young man who had been badly burned while working on his radiator and it was difficult sitting on the other side of a flimsy curtain singing playing with Anne while he was hurting so much. But as I sat there thinking of him, I found myself descending into a fearful fantasy. I began thinking of how awful and tormenting it would be to have and injury like that, or worse yet, what if one of the children were burned like that. How could I stand that kind of pain? How could a child endure that? So much fear began to build within me and it sat there in my stomach like a rock.

But thank goodness for MARY! She came to my thoughts and I asked Anne if she would like to pray for our roommate... but she wanted to wait until we got to the car. But I knew it was really ME who needed to pray and so I turned my thoughts toward the Lord.- thanking Him for our health, asking Him for protection for our family and seeking the intercession of Mary on behalf of those around us who were truly hurting.

God comforted me so much after our trip to the ER by reminding me of His diligent protection and constant comfort. During all our family's illnesses and injuries, He has kept them under control, guided us to helpful medical treatment and protected us from true danger. How good He has been to us! He knows how much we can handle and I am so humbled to be reminded of this amidst the chaos surrounding us in this world.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.

Merciful God, thank you for minor emergencies.

Old Fashioned Barn Raising... er, something

2010-05-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

LAST Saturday, we had the privilege of hosting a slew of free laborers (our good friends in disguise) out to our house for a family work day. The idea is that between these 4 families, each family gets one day to have the rest come over and put 'all hands on deck' for whatever work is needed at that home. We were picked to go first and boy did we have WORK for our friends!

The men worked all morning to dig holes, set posts and tie wire to fence in our vegetable garden.

Only 2 people could fit in our guest bathroom, but it did get patched, primed and painted!

Priming the walls in our 3rd bedroom- this room was a disaster! I got some 'tough love' advice about needing to organize the closet in this room better... and, er, get rid of some stuff too.

The two babies were trying to sneak out of the house all day so they were ELATED when they were set free to play on the trampoline. Since several of the men were fencing out there, they had plenty of people to watch- and distract too!

And, here we see the precious baby boys FINALLY taking a nap. A short car ride down the road was what did the trick because there was way too much sibling noise in the house!

!!MOVIE TIME!! There were 13 children between our 4 families (4 of them are over 10) so movie time was a great way to corral, cool and calm their warm bodies. ...We don't have cable but I'm just not sure if I could part with the TV/VCR... I'm just not there yet...

maybe someday...

Thanks be to God for the heavenly workers he sent us that day!

Our friends here are so sincere- the kind of people that offer you help and mean every word of it.

It was a truly beautiful day- 4 Catholic families, working together,

eating together, sharing life, making memories.

2010-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

After scattered showers this weekend, the garden continues to thrive. We have healthy tomatoes growing, butternut squash on a wild vine, serano peppers, still a nice bed of lettuce, and some very questionable eggplants (the plant, that is).

There is still a small area of that garden that needs to be tilled and planted so today I started seeds for pole beans (green beans), more bell peppers and a few herbs. Our herb bed has oregano, parsley, salad burnett, basil, mint and lemon balm but half of those are looking really pitiful. I REALLY want to have a couple large basil plants so I tried planting purple and green basil in planters on the porch.

Gotta go, Baby Brother is up from a nap!

EXQUISITE!

2010-04-29T18:36:00.001-07:00

It was a truly glorious day as our pre-school group toured the Wildseed Farms onWednesday. Poppies, butterflies and smiles abounded in plenty. Oh the beauty of God's color wheel!

Blossoms and Buds

2010-04-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Our yard is bursting with life! The flowers are high, the weeds are higher but it really does look lovely. Here are two varieties of wildflower/ weeds that we think are nice...

And here's our first little broccoli...

...a bed of mixed lettuce...

...sugar snap peas...

...and peach buds growing right
outside the back door!

Up-update

2010-04-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

Yikes! It has been way too long since I've updated my blog but now that we finally have internet service at home, this will be much easier. Also, things are really growing out in the garden so there will be lots of 'delicious' photos that I want to share soon.

Recent highlights for the family include: wonderful Easter celebrations, tilling and planting for summer crops, Michael take his first step, we're expecting #4, recent trip to ARCH (Houston) homeschooling conference and a yummy tour of the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham.

Happy Birthday Rose- January 18th!!

2010-02-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

Mi Tortillarilla

2010-02-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Tamale!

2010-01-07T19:03:00.001-08:00

Sausage Making

2009-12-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

For the first time since we have been married, Jason's parents made sausage with us! It is a German tradition around here but it also just makes sense for families that hunt and store meat throughout the year.Kill and harvest your meat
Cut it all and mix in pork. Pile it on the kitchen counter and season it.

Send it through the grinder once and then twice for fine ground meat.

Using a sausage stuffer and beef casings (not appealing substance but very resourceful!), turn the hand crank to fill casings.

Tie off links with string.
Hang out in the smokehouse until desired 'dryness' is achieved.

ENJOY all year long!!!!!
(Jason and I also wrapped 20 pounds of ground meat in 1# quantities to use in regular cooking.)

...these gifts from Thy bounty...

2009-11-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

All Saint's Eve Costume Party! Personalities include Abraham & Sarah, St. Sebastien, Michael the Archangel, Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Gemena, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Patrick, St. Agnes, Veronica, Fr. Andrew Dun Lac and others.

The First Fruits of our winter garden!! (and some late producers from summer)

Grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, turnips & cabbage

Fresh venison, warm on the bone still!

This is how Jason and his dad 'clean' & skin the dear they kill

Baptism Birthday

2009-10-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

HAPPY SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY ANNE CATHERINE!!

3 years ago today, our first born was baptized in water and The Spirit. It was particularly poetic today as I watched my two little ones dance around in the cool rain falling from the heavens.

Thank God for the grace that led us to the waters of baptism.

Swine Flu Hysteria like you've probably never seen before

2009-10-12T17:51:00.001-07:00

When I got this in my email today, I thought it was particularly amusing considering our recent bout with the H1N1 flu. Also, we rented the Winnie the Pooh movie the other day... Anne wasn't sure what to think about this picture. Jason and I got good giggle.

Jason is well now and we are still flu free!

Recovery?

2009-10-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

So... Jason recovered from the flu

-but got an ear infection (undiagnosed but almost positive)

-started antibiotic (ZPAC)

-felt relief

-went to ER because his throat was swelling shut (reaction to the antibiotic)

-off the antibiotic

-Feels better

-goes to school (40 kids out of 100 out with the flu)

-Ear pain starts up again.

-Wants me to schedule a Dr. appt for him or get a prescription for Amoxil...

YIKES!

HOWEVER: Praise God that me and the kids haven't gotten sick yet.

The Flu

2009-10-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

PRAYERS NEEDED Jason has come down with the flu and is having a rough time go it. I am doing a crummy job of helping him AND taking care of the kids - - let me rephrase that - - - I haven't been able to help him at all.

Also, having the flu isn't ANYTHING like you see in the Little Bear episode. What with friends coming to visit you and all, bringing stuff and hanging out in your room. And Mother Bear diagnosing it from a sneezing spell. Seriously, I think Anne wants to get the flu so she can have the kind of fun day that Little Bear had. Oh Boy.

Growth & A Rainbow

2009-09-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

My thriving 'sproutlings'. We transplanted this squash to our raised beds in the garden last weekend and we will probably move our tomatoes & broccoli this weekend. We dug and filled our new plant beds while the kids were napping and there was something very satisfying about working next to my husband that afternoon. Turning up fresh earth, sweating and building something...together.

"...and after the rain had ceased, there appeared in the sky a radiant, colorful bow. A sign from God..."

2009-09-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

Says Jason to Anne, "I hope you never grow up Sweetie."

Says Anne to Jason, "Daddy, I want to get big so I can read big books like you."

Jason..."(big smile)"

Heavenly Rain

2009-09-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

God has sent us the most beautiful rain this weekend.
Slow.
Soaking.
Glorious.
Rain.

Our little tomatoes just couldn't handle all the water though and some of them burst...I guess you could say they are 'bursting' with joy!

Praise the Father in Heaven

Dove Season is Open

2009-09-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you who didn't know (and frankly, why would you know or why would you care) ...Jason wanted me to let you know that dove season is open.

I'll bet Mrs. Park knows!

So far, Jason has killed 5 of those nice little birds. I am expecting him to cook them himself and as strange as it may sound to some of you, I think they may taste good (bacon and marinade maybe....).

More thinking on vaccinations

2009-09-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday, I had yet another conversation with a mother concerned about vaccines. She is about to have her first and she really doesn't think the Hepatitis B shot is necessary for a newborn. She didn't know that she could sign a waiver to opt out (which can also be done for the eye drops given right after birth). Anyhow, as a special ed. teacher, she is also worried about the wide gammit of side effects and syndromes that can occur from the typical vaccination schedule.

The best resource I have found on the matter is 'The Vaccine Book' by Robert Sears. It seems like a very thorough treatment of the topic that includes manufacturing information (ingredients), alternate brand available, possible side effects, CDC reported cases of the disease in question, potential side effects, etc...
While Dr. Sears encourages parents to consider getting at least some of the vaccinations, he seems to understand many parents' desire to forgo all or some. He gives an alternate vaccination schedule that splits up and delays them so that aluminum exposure is limited and side effects can be tracked more effectively.

Personally, I am mixed on it all. It seems like the biggest concern is for illness within the first year (more likely to seriously trouble an infant) and then of course there is the use of fetal cells within some (Chicken Pox Vaccine and MMR most common). Also, the ingredient list on many of the vaccines looks like a witches potion if you ask me...sucrose, live virus, cow blood serum, monkey cells, chick embryo...
For a child who is breastfeeding and doesn't attend day care, exposure rates are VERY low and really, one has to consider if the risks (known and unknown) of the shot are better than the risks of the illness. I tend to think most of the common vaccines (and certainly the jam packed shot schedule) are not necessary for our kids but I'm planning to do a delayed shot schedule for Michael that includes Rotavirus, DTaP, and probably Pc.

I'm interested in your thoughts!

http://www.cogforlife.org/fetalvaccines.htm

Fall planting and other news

2009-09-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

My little sproutlings! Broccoli, tomatoes, Lakota squash & white squash.

While Jason weeded the garden and made new rows, the girls helped me fill several small planters to start our seeds in. (Jason has great success with starting our plants in small containers and then transplanting them.) I planted on Saturday and most of them are already sprouting!!! I am excited. I did not help much with the spring planting but I am definitely enjoying the bounty... fresh basil and parsley for my pasta, fresh tomatoes for my sauce, fresh squash to cook...

Also, I have a gig making vestments for the Catholic school where Jason teaches. Hooray!!! A friend of mine found a semi-new sewing machine for me and it didn't cost a thing so I am ready to roll. Sewing vestments really brings me joy. Deo gratias.

Best in Show

2009-08-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Since Elizabeth would never post this herself, I waited till she was gone to post it. E talked about the fair in her last post without mentioning that she herself won a prize - BEST OF SHOW!!!! She entered her baby slings and a set of vestments she made earlier in the year. The slings both won in their categories, but her vestments won the entire shebang, for sewing at least. I'm proud of her. If you want to give a beautiful gift to a seminarian, priest or other cleric, she's the gal to talk to.

-Jason

The County Fair is in town!!

2009-08-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

We are so excited because it's county fair weekend! (Bear in mind that the largest town in the county has a population of only 10,000 people so this is not like the Houston Rodeo or anything...)

There is horse racing, stock shows, queen contest, a carnival with real carnies, country music dances and yummy, expensive fair food! There are also exhibits of vegetables, baked goods, art & crafts and other handmade goods. A butternut squash from our garden even earned a 2nd place ribbon! We entered some of the girl's artwork and they were awarded their very own ribbons and petty prize money. (pictures to follow soon)

Lots of fun riding the carnival rides...

Sling Samples

2009-08-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Custom Made Ring Slings... now available at a store near you! (ha, ha- I wish...well maybe not because if that really were the case, my kids would be largley unsupervised while I slaved away at the sewing machine)

2009-08-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

Immunizations

2009-08-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

So, I had an interesting conversation with the girls' doctor yesterday about... dun, duh, dun...
Vaccines!
When I mentioned that we stopped Anne's shots after a year, I could tell he was a bit concerned. He was so nice though and he talked to me about the adult difficulties caused by chicken pox, measles and rubella...all of which are shots I am for-going right now! I can see that it's important to have a good relationship with your children's doctor, one where you can speak directly and openly at least.

As a mother, isn't it interesting how many things you have to become an "expert" on for your families' sake? Trying to figure out what's in the food you eat, the shots you're supposed to get, the best places to shop, how best to discipline for long term success and of course, the best course of action for school or homeschool! And my kids are 3 and under!!!

I tip my hat to all those moms who have managed to raise healthy children that love the Lord!

2009-08-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the Beach!

About our garden

2009-08-03T18:27:00.001-07:00

Since this blog is entitled "Home Grown Kids & Vegetables", here's the skinny on the fabulous garden Jason has grown for us:

Items planted: butternut squash, green beans, radishes, 3 varieties of tomato, onions, garlic, red leaf lettuce, yellow squash, zucchini, jalapenos, banana peppers, bell peppers, watermelon & musk melon.
Right now, we are harvesting squash, zucchini, onions, peppers, lettuce & grape tomatoes.
The herb garden has 2 kinds of basil, oregano, 2 kinds of mint, Italian parsley & some struggling rosemary.

Back from the Beach

2009-08-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

We are back home from spending 3 days at the beach in Port Aransas and I have to say, I am glad to be back in the 'mild' humidity of the hill country air. That sandy, salty and sticky air at the beach made me just feel gritty all the time! I am so glad that we could go though. I enjoyed the relief from looming piles of dirty dishes and laundry, the girls had a marvelous time splashing and digging (Rose splashed, Anne dug) and Jason had a few days of vacation from lesson planning. The cool breeze coming off the gulf was so pleasant that Michael slept through all of our beachside adventures and all 3 kids slept soundly after playing so much in the sand.

So, Anne was definitely petrified of the rolling waves and the tug of the current in the shallow sand, but am I an awful mom for dragging her in kicking and screaming anyway? I thought that if I held her and we played together that she might see how much fun it could be, but she didn't and I hope that I didn't make it worse by making her go in... I was holding her after all...
Oh well, I really can't blame her, I hate all that salty water splashing in my eyes and mouth!

Okay, so the beach is not my favorite destination but I must say, God's creativity and power is on display there in a special way. Holding my tiny infant as I watched the vast ocean sprawl before me helped me appreciate God's ability to be omnipotent while at the same time, leaving no detail unnoticed or unattended.

First Time's The Charm!

2009-07-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt EVER to blog on my own. A little nervous. Hope I don't do it all wrong. It might take some time to get really good at it like Megan or Annamarie but by golly, I'm going to try...

This blog is dedicated to Jason, my husband, who has cultivated a delightful garden and is helping me to discover the goodness of country living while raising 3 kids. My blog is named 'Home Grown..." because I fully intend to share with you some of the wonderful events that occur in our special corner of God's green earth and how He is shaping our lives as we live and work in the Texas Hill Country.

*Disclaimer: This author does not presume to have great pearls of wisdom nor do I have beautiful prose to enrapture your mind but every once in while, I'll have a funny story about my kids or at least an interesting report of rural life!