Nourish - Hubby and I are ready to make a few adjustments to our diets, we are both looking to lose a few pounds and take another step toward healthy eating. We are doing this in a step process so that the thing we do now will become a habit and then we move on. We are reducing carbs a little bit again and see how we feel. I made a very satisfying chowder using cauliflower instead of potatoes, it made it into the recipe rotation.
Prepare - Went through and inventoried the home canned goods from last summer. We ran short on canned tomatoes but have some left in the frozen category. This summer we will add a couple of tomato plants and plan on canning more plain sauce/juice. That turned out to be the most handy stuff.
Reduce - See under create, re-using old patterns, I'm hoping I can make this work, I have lots of old patterns that I would like to be useful again.
Green - I finally tried a laundry soap recipe my daughter in law recommended and has used for quite awhile now, this is the recipe from Budget 101 and I have used it twice, it made 2 quarts of soap and while mine did not have the goal of 'mayonnaise' consistency it was close (more like a frosting) I am happy now and we will see if it pans out over the long haul - but it felt good to get it done after all this time!
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| quart number one! |
Grow - We are working toward the day the thermometer says we can plant and are getting all the yard areas in shape. Sometimes that involves cutting things back - See this post for details and photos of my adventure with the electric hedge trimmer - which I found to be an awesome tool!
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| jacket front |
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| This is an example of the weirs that we will be replacing |
Enhance - This month was the annual meeting of our irrigation water association that hasn't taken place in about 10 years! It was a case of entrenched 'good ole boys' getting by and no one complaining or in some cases knowing that they should complain. The result is that the system that delivers the water we all use for our yards etc. for flood irrigation is crumbling. Hubby will be working to take out one of the cement 'headgates' that needs to be re-cemented and we have committed ourselves to be involved in the activities with an eye to perhaps being more involved in the running of the association in the future. This is a fascinating process and was fun to meet all the people who live near us but not next door. We are in an area of just under a half (us) to ten acre parcels, kind of a hodgepodge!
Enjoy - We are making plans to go to see the kids around Miss Lily's birthday, cannot believe she will be a year old in a couple of months! Time really does fly doesn't it. We will enjoy the chance to visit and cuddle and spoil her so we are already putting together things to take along!
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| we may need to go shopping! |
Hi Kathy, if you want to cut down some carbs, may I recommend cauliflower "rice". It's very easy to make, and tastes delicious with a curry, just whizz up a whole cauliflower in the food processor until it is rice grain size (or chop finely with a knife...stalks and all) then fry it in two tablespoons of coconut oil for about six minutes, season it with salt and pepper and you are done! I got the recipie from Pete Evans an Australian Chef who supports and promotes Paleo eating. Great link up post.
ReplyDeleteI have read about that and it is on my list to try, it is good to hear someone else say good things though before I try it - thanks!
DeleteHmmm, that cauliflower rice sounds good. I might try it as well. Yes Pete Evans is really into Paleo eating. Actually he was here in our town a few weeks ago giving a talk. I think it cost nearly $100 to go along so I didn't bother going. I am still doing the I Quit Sugar program and must be about six weeks along. Two more to go and then I can change things around a bit and have more fruit which I really miss. It was hard giving up sugar in my coffee but I am getting used to it now.
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with your sugarless program, the will power is formidable! We cut way back on sugar when hubby was diagnosed with diabetes, but never cut it out completely. I admit to sweetening my coffee with artificial sweetener...blush!
DeleteGreat update. I often forget to do an inventory of what I have left them end up with more types of pickles than 2 people can get through in 12 months.
ReplyDeletefortunately we can get rid of some of the extra pickles on our children! :)
DeleteThose weirs sound like a big job to me - hopefully hubby gets some help
ReplyDeleteYes there will be two men breaking down and a couple of construction guys in the neighborhood to pour the concrete! I make sandwiches! ;)
DeleteYou must be such an experienced seamstress to be able to adjust patterns. I'm impressed! I wouldn't dare fiddle with a pattern. Looking forward to seeing the jacket.
ReplyDeleteI have a book!!! :)
DeleteA really fascinating post. The irrigation system sounds intriguing I guess it's to manage the water as you have periods of really dry weather? I love the challenge of adapting patterns I hope your adaptations work, the colour of your material is lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - I hadn't thought of actually using the Monthly 9 to make some goals! And I agree, being able to change patterns is very clever! I can change basic bits but nothing too complicated. Well done.
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