July 2012

India has always loved sand, dirt and mudd. I had to put two "d"s because she just loves it so much. Rain boots kicked off, clothes who knows where, ear protection on...daddy must be mowing. 

4th tooth. The bottom two were lost last year just after she turned 5. They are coming in nice and straight. The top teeth seemed to have moved over as the new ones come in, she has a LOT of space up there. No apples or corn for awhile.

Daddy did an awesome job! 

She designed these herself, aren't they cute? She hated to, but she ate them! 

Beauty Shop Day 

Even the nail tech gets a manicure 

Summer in June

I LOVE having a mixer/sifter. I have my baking soda in a ball jar and it still clumps - have you ever eaten a cake or cookie and bitten into even the tiniest clump? YUCKO!!!

We have Snowy all dressed and with her apron on for baking.

We're just starting to get into washing dishes - my mom took a picture of me washing dishes at 4. She's not as serious about the washing as I am... I'm trying to let her keep it FUN, but... I want the dishes washed! I'm working on my seriousness.

I LOVE that nose.

India/Hawaiian style painting 

3rd tooth! She pulls all her own teeth, slowly and surely they come out! 

Dressed up for a SUMMER picnic!
(Hmmm, I think she must be dreaming of snow - those are winter boots she has on.)

This tub catches run-off where there's a gap in the gutter - intstant pool.

Ever evolving talent.

Oh, how I love to pound the dough! 

This was a video so you could hear her giggle, I guess it doesn't work on blogger.

Cashew Goji Berry Balls

I've been looking for a way to make healthy granola bars for India. Healthy in the ways of Nourishing Traditions - soaked grains, etc... It's not easy, but my neighbor just shared this recipe with me and India kept asking her for more!


Raw Cashews - don't need to be soaked
Dates
Goji Berries
Coconut flakes- if you like
Sea Salt
Coconut Oil

Food Process until you can press ingredients together. You can put them in plastic wrap as well as change the ingredients to fit your taste. I'm keeping them in the fridge to keep them firm. Let me know if you make them and what you put in them. They would be yummy w/ some cacao chips!

Our new chickens

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged. Towards my last blogs I spoke of being a better mom, and hence, I got much busier “being” with India. We have gardened and swam and now have 13 chickens. She loves to hand feed them, her “Grandma Bernadette,” as she calls her, taught her that. The produce manager of our health food store didn’t want to free range her chickens anymore because of all the planting they done around their yard. So, we inherited 10 more chickens!!!! They look really rough and there was some fighting w/ the rough rooster that did not join the pack. I guess they’re also molting, so they’re kind of ugly right now.

From what I can tell, this is what we have:

Little Red Riding Hood

2 Barred Rock, we named them Victoria and Little Red Riding Hood, can you tell who named who?

They are so soft and fluffy, like a Victorian woman with her corsette’s and hoops. I bet Victoria the most while we feed her. She seems the least bothered by our stroking her smooth, black and white lacy feathers. They’re in the heavy breed family.

Victoria

2 Red Star, one is Red and the other one is still unnamed. They are unimpressive. Once their feathers come in and they’ve had enough greens, they may look prettier, I don’t believe they’re know for there beauty though.

 Red

 Red's Sister (she's kind of dull)

Golden Polish, 2 Roosters and one adorable hen.

Long Talon

Oh, now, these are FUN. The roosters are a bit rough as there was a third rooster they kept as a guard dog, he sounded MEAN. He’s no long here to beat up on the must be brothers. They seem like nice roosters, but if you’ve read my past, you know I’m ALWAYS leery of roosters. One has only 1 LONG spurr – the other looks like it’s been torn off or something. The other has a cloudy eye and even, shorter spurrs. They have a shorter, lighter crow then our Black Cornish. It took them a few days to start crowing, and now…5am, if I’m not sleeping deeply, which I RARELY do, I am AWAKE!!!!

Cloudy Eye

The hen is a DOLL. Maybe that should be her name, Dolly. She’s tiny w/ a big wig on her head and blue feet. She’s been the hardest to pet (only because I haven’t tried to pet the roosters – they seem pretty shy as far a petting. Fine by me!). She was over by the nesting box eating and I easily grabbed her and put her inside. She didn’t seem to mind being picked up at all. I can’t wait to hold her! I’m sure she’ll soon become my favorite if she let’s me hold her on my lap.

Dolly

Our golden honey birds are hard to figure out – they’re molting. They might be Welsummer’s. I’ve spent way to long on the internet trying to figure them out. Nope – they ARE Buttercups – willow green legs. Yes, my time has paid off! I’m not sure why it’s so important to me, I guess it’s like knowing someone’s name. I want to know who these chickens are, their breed is part of who they are, just as much as the name we give them.

Golden - above (I'm really having trouble w/ these pictures today!)

Honey

We named them Golden and Honey. (Buttercup would be a good name…) They are very shy, but I did manage to pick both of them up and put them in their laying box. They didn’t stay, but at least I picked them up.

Chiquita

Our local Hawaiian girl is Chiquita and she is a tuff tita. There will be 7 of the 10 up roosting, and one by one, she pecks them all down!

Pecking order. If you name your chickens, then you might agree that it’s hard to see them determine their pecking order. I know my mom has seen some terrible things in her coop. It’s HARD to introduce new chickens, as they pick on the weaker, smaller ones.

In this new bunch of chickens the roosters are NOT at the top. I believe it’s a combination of the local, Hawaiian girl, Victoria and Red Riding Hood and a close follow up of the Red ones. Then Dolly and the roosters and the Golden Girls are last. I noticed as they free range the Golden Girls and the cloudy eyed rooster will often go back in the pen and eat. I try not to get too involved in their business, as it is mother nature. I just wish everyone would be nice to each other.

We have a roaming dog that took one of the Black ones and got the tails of the rooster and one hen. We’re going to the beach today, so I’m not sure about having 2 different groups together without me here and the threat of the imposing dog lurking near by.

Jonathan’s had enough of the poor black hen and rooster being cooped up in their little pen. We’re going to see if the roosters all get along, as he really is such a nice rooster. The girls always eat before him, so, we’ll see. Lola, the one that escaped from under the metal roof never went back in the pen. I know from past experience that if I keep trying to get her in, the other two will escape and it was most important for me to get that rooster in the pen.

The wife...

So, Lola has been living the free life. She roosts in the Avocado Tree and comes down and mingles when she feels like it. She was in the big pen as soon as all the chickens were out. I’ve seen her chased away from a group a few times. Once, when they were all penned up I saw her banging her chest against the wire and I think it was Dolly inside doing the same thing. The hens seem more aggressive than these roosters. The roosters haven’t gone near the ones in the black pens.

This is Lola, on her way to check out the new chickens. She's such a lucky, free girl!

My Birthday

I woke up to this email from my mom and then the next one from my grandma, it made me cry...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Where did all the years go? 43 years ago today I was getting into the car about this time, mom, Marcia, me and you heading to the hospital.  I was so excited but wondering what was going to happen.  I didn't have any child birth classes only Rosie next door helped me a lot with my breathing techniques.  We would practise together and she gave me a book to read.  I had done my homework and now I was ready for the day.  When we arrived they didn't know which one of us was pregnant, but I stepped forward said it is me.  In to the bed I got and Mom and Marcia had to wait outside the door while they prepped me.  They shaved me and checked me and that was about it.  I had informed them that I didn't want any drugs.  So for the next few hours we all sat and talked, probably I listened as mom and Marcia rambled on.  About 11:00 or 11:30 mom said that she was hungry and off they went to get something to eat.  I was fine by myself, the thought of food didn't set very good with me.   All of a sudden the back pain came on and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Mom came back and when she saw the pain I was in she put a pillow behind my back and pushed to help relieve my pain.  In those days you couldn't get out of bed, but I think I was dilated too much anyway.  Shortly after that I went into the delivery room with the nurse.  Mom and Marcia couldn't go any farther.  Dr. Travis had been called and came from Anoka, 35 miles away.  I remember doing my breathing and concentrating on the clock for my breaths.  Just me, the nurse and Jesus in that room.  I remember praying to him and asking him to help me not to use any drugs.  When the doctor came I said something really stupid to him, something like you old rattle snake.  The nurse had been coaching me to not bare down, don't push and by the time he got his gloves on and took a look he said push.  30 seconds you were born.  12:30 p.m.  August 21st  1967.  What a glorious day that was.  All the angels were singing and everyone was elated, even my doctor whom had walked me through this journey.

So even though I can't be with you today, I still relive your birth and wish for you the best.  My best probably looks different than your desires, but one thing I've learned through the years is that you were a gift from God for a short time.  Now it's your life to live.  My prayer is that you live it well, for the things that really matter.

Happy Birthday Honey!  love you so much, mom


Happy Birthday first born grand daughter.  Does not see like it was 43 years ago that you and the only other baby, a boy, shared the nursery.  What a doll we brought home and such a joy. Love you, Grandma! 


Oh......sniff, sniff! I'm seeing if my mom will scan me pictures of WAYYYYY back then. I'd LOVE to see what she looked like, no one knew she was pregnant!!!!


I found this blog and I'm going to make this cake today. When we lived in Vegas it became a tradition to get a Nothing Bundt Cake. Once Jonathan sent me one when he was out of town, I think my mom was visiting. She sent me one the next year for my birthday - it's the BEST!!!!  

http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2008/09/nothing-bundt-chocolate-cake.html

A darling give away...

There is a great apron give away on this fun site: http://bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/cherrieskindnessand-charming-giveaway.html

Go check it out and let me know if you win!

Moooooo.........

From “chasing the chickens” to being chased by a cow, life is very excited out here in the country. Our wonderful neighbor, Keith, that gave us 3 hens and a rooster, has offered to help us milk his cow! We’ve been talking and plotting and planning and struggling to figure out how to get fresh cow or goat milk. We don’t care, as long as it’s not pasturized and homoginzed. The Milk and Honey Farm down the road was selling it. Goat was $35 a gallon and cow was $20 or $25. As many of you might now, it’s illegal to buy raw milk. We’re supposed to be happy with the milk that’s sold in the store, with all the things they do to it and the animals that create it. I read in my Nourshing Traditons book that powdered milk is added to skim, 1% and 2% to give it body. Powdered milk is treated with high heat and really isn’t a healthy thing to consume (similar to hydrogenated ingredients). I’ve been off milk for years, once I read about all the flem and allergies and difficult to digest qualities of milk. Then I’ve read about all the wonderful things in raw milk and how people got better and felt better after switching to raw milk. Think back to small farms, they milked their own cows and drank that will no problems. It’s big commercial, unsanitary and in-humane farms that have the problems with safe milk to drink – hence the pasturization and homogenation. Juice is even pasturized. What vitamins and minerals withstand that process? Juice is left to simply be sugar water. It’s sad. But I have happy news!

Keith said to come by and we’d see about milking his cow, she had a calf a few months ago and he’s been grazing for awhile now. Keith is a farm boy from Iowa and has lived 40 years in Oregon, my now found love after Hawaii. I’m nervous, as I’ve never milked a cow and my friend’s have talked about miniature cows, so if you get kicked, it doesn’t hurt so bad. You know how little comments can stick in your brain. I really hadn’t heard of people being kicked by cows, I know they can, I just haven’t heard about it like I’ve heard about horses kicking. It turns out in all of Keith’s years with cows, he’s only been kicked once and I think it actually was a good reason. I don’t remember the story right now.

I asked Jonathan to come and take pictures. I feel calmer when he’s with me. I dragged him out snorkeling with me so I could stop hyperventalating. He calms me and I feel safe with him. He came.

So we get there and Keith has Rosey separated from the herd and her baby. Everyone is happy and content. He has a little fencing rigged up to move into a corrall. He has grain for her, which she never gets or she’d not want to only eat grass. We’re suppose to shue her in. She keeps turning around looking at us with her big brown eyes. She’s HUGE.

She’s a Red Angus, also known as Hornless Angus. Isn’t she pretty? I think he has the prettiest cows I’ve seen. They’re coats are glossy and they’re plump and they have the sweetest faces with their pink noses. I could look at them all day. And the baby, he jumps and runs and is so playful. If I lived here I’d really not get anything done between watching the cows and the funny ducks with their one black baby.

Like the chasing chickens story, I’m not sure if I can relay what happened to it’s humorous degree. Keith has the grain and his daughter and India are at one side and I’m at the other and we’re shuing her in. She’s backing up, going forward, looking at me. She starts to make bolting movements which is REALLY scary when you’re so close and it’s a small area. Did I mention she’s huge, she really is. Keith is trying all kinds of things and nothing is working. She’s never been coralled before. He goes to get a rope and she moves forward into the corral to get the grain. We don’t know how to move the fence and secure it with the piece of wood he has waiting. I know she would have backed out and gotten away had we tried. I know I was too scared to move that close to her hind end. She kicks her left leg (I still remember which one it was). Keith returns and she’s backed out. He stands right by her left leg and slapps her but. We all silently look at each other. He’s as comfortable with her as I was with my tiny Chihauah, Tica.

Out comes the rope. This goes on for a bit and then she really starts to buck. I felt like I was about to watch a bull roping escapade. Around and around things go. Keith backs the tractor up to serve as a longer wall for the corral. The rope is around her neck now. Jonathan puts the camera down and it helping Keith do, I don’t know what, but something. It starts to get lively ane we start backing up more and more. The next thing I see, Rosey turns and starts to run with the rope around her neck. The rope gets caught around her leg and Jonathan’s tied it to something. She’s kicking and darts around the tractor pulling the rope tight as Jonathan is about to be smooshed between the rope, cow and tractor. He high tails it out of there somehow and Rosey is off in the pasture with the rope around her neck mooing at the top of her lungs. We live ½ - 1 mile away and our neighbor that wants to milk her with us heard her go on and on. He wondered how the milking was going when he heard her. We were all glad to be alive with no bruises or broken bones.

We let Rosey in with the other cows and went upstairs and had some of Keith’s home brewed beer. It was a night! I wasn’t sad to not be going home with any milk. I was glad to have my whole family all in one whole piece!

Keith said we’ll have to tame her a bit. Feed her, get close to her, pet her. He tamed a wild cow that had never seen a person in 2 weeks. What a man. I believe he’s in his 70’s with a wife and daughter of his own. He’s willing to help us get milk from his cow – I find that utterly genuous and kind. (Like my pun? J)