5.19.2008

CPS Run Amok

Have any of you been following the FLDS debaucle? I could write a tome about what I think of it, but The Common Room has already done it. She's so hot under the collar she can't stop writing about it. She does a great job and has some great links. I didn't link to one particular post because she has so much good stuff there I think you should dig around a little.

Let me just say. I do not support polygamy, or marrying off young girls to old men. And I most certainly do not support the government riding in and taking children based on anonymous, unsubstaniated phone calls. Unchecked power is never a good thing.

Spring




How Safe Is Your Stuff

I'm always trying to find ways to reduce the chemical soup that goes in and on our bodies. To that end I found a great website the rates the chemical toxicity of personal care products. It's been pretty interesting reading. For instance, non-organic products often rate a lot better than organic ones. (We're talking toiletries, not food).

I have loved everything by Burts Bee's, but lately I've been thinking I'm not crazy about the baby soap and lotion for Ty. It seems to leave his skin dry, especially his head. And I think it sometimes makes him a little rashy. Turns out California Baby has a much better safety rating, and you can get it at Target too. I think we'll be making a switch!

Check it out here

5.15.2008

Last week we had the carpet cleaned. It wasn't done before we moved in and it was really yucky. We couldn't even let poor Ty on the floor once he was ready for church because when we picked him up he would look like Pig Pen.

First we drug everything we could to the kitchen or screen room, then we skeedaddled on out of there. It was a beautiful day so I took my sadly neglected mending basket out on the front porch.






I cranked up the sewing machine while the kids amused themselves falling on their heads on the concrete.



Well, only Eli actually fell on his head. Twice. But there were plenty of scraped knees and elbows on the others. They finally resorted to riding on their butts, which made big holes in their clothes instead of their skin.


They really enjoyed having me right there to watch their antics and I was wondering why I hadn't thought of sewing outside before!


Titus loved being in the walker with everyone outside. He talked to horses and wandered all over the patio. He especially enjoyed eating the flowers.


We should get the carpet cleaned more often :)

5.08.2008

Kefir


So, we've all heard about kefir, right? That fermented milk drink so high in b vitamins and about 1001 other things so vital to your health. I've meant to try making kefir for a few years now and I finally decided it was TIME.

So, I go online (the only place to shop) and I order my grains. We wait with anticipation for them to arrive and finally...a little baggie of sour milk/water mixture with some cauliflower-like grains comes.

I get my pricey raw milk ready and read the directions. NO METAL. No metal collindar, or spoon or anything. Rats! I only have a metal collandar with mesh small enough for the precious kefir grains.

I send Mike to Kmart, the only all purpose store in town. No luck, so I'm off to ebay to buy "kefir accessories." A few more days and I have an appropriate collandar.

Back out with the directions. We add the milk, shake it up, and put it on the counter to ferment.

24 hours later it is thick and bubbly, fermented and... DISGUSTING!

Seriously, who drinks this stuff?!? I made a fruit smoothie with it and it tasted like rotten milk with fruit. Not a big hit. One drink made my stomach hurt, but maybe just because I was working so hard to keep it down.

UGH!

I tried again, thinking maybe I did something wrong. I'm just not feelin it.

So, unless so dedicated kefir drinker out there can give me some tips I just don't think we'll be able to be that healthy.

5.06.2008

The View From Here


This is the view from the front porch. We are on the side of a hill and enjoy an incredible view of the whole valley. Sooo pretty.

5.05.2008

Lookie!






We have started a new chapter in our experiences as a family. Last weekend we drove to Temecula and purchased 2 horses for the family. They are an Arabian mare named Misty and an Arabian gelding named Reeses Pieces (Reeses). The kids are over the moon and I hope the joy at working with them sticks :) Reeses is the bay. His mane was cut a little far back and is in the process of growing out, so he's got a bit of a mohawk going on :) And they both need a little weight. But aren't they pretty??
We stopped in San Bernardino and bought tack. Since they are Arabians, and since the seller didn't answer her phone, we bought all Arabian size. Which doesn't fit of course. It's all too small and needs to go back to the store, 2 1/2 hours away... Maybe I can mail it :) In the meantime, no tack.
I have this romantic idea of raising the kids with horses and farm chores. We both really want them to have the work ethic that comes with being needed and working hard. Our prayer is that the Lord will provide the opportunity to own some land that we can work, even if Mike keeps his day job. Hailey is nearly 12 and we know that the window of opportunity for her to really embrace that lifestyle will be closing soon. We also know that with many of the children still being young, most of the work will fall to us. But we decided to bite the bullet and jump in.
I want to raise another batch of meat birds soon. There are LOTS of critters here though, so we need something pretty secure. Chickens for eggs are high on the list too. And we are hoping to get a garden in next weekend. We'll see :)