Saturday, May 30, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Easy Skillet Pizza
During the summer months especially, I am always looking for ways to prepare meals that do not heat up the kitchen very much. I found this idea for skillet pizza in a Backpacker magazine, but adapted the recipe for a slightly healthier diet. It was delicious and everyone loved it! We made 3 to feed our family of 5, and as you can see, there wasn't much left over.
Quick Skillet Pizza
For each 10" pizza use
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 T oil
5-6 T water.
Pizza sauce
2 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Favorite toppings
Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and water and mix. Oil a 10" skillet and heat on med. heat. Turn dough onto floured surface, knead 2 or 3 times, then roll or pat into 10" circle. Place dough in skillet, spread with sauce, sprinkle with cheese and add other toppings. Cover skillet with lid and cook 5 min. or till cheese is melted. Cool slightly, then serve.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Fun With Poetry
This year the boys and I have been using the book, The Roar on the Other Side by Suzanne U. Clark, to study poetry. We have had fun with some of their creations. The first I'll share with you is a type of Japanese poem called haiku which usually consists of three lines the first of which has five syllables, the second has seven and the third has five. The poem is usually about nature and with an element of surprise. So here we go!
The Foolish Bear (by Stephen)
The bear climbs the tree
Strongly with his mighty limbs.
But that sapling breaks.
The Coming Storm (by Alan)
Black clouds approaching
Flashes of lightning in the dark
Blue crack, thunder booms.
The Dragon ( by Robert)
The dragon flies miles,
Fleeing fast against the wind.
Fast flying dragon.
The next is a poem of interlocking form called the pantoum which was originally from Malaya but brought to the West by Victor Hugo.
Listen to the Rain or The Random Poem (by Robert)
Listen to the rain as it falls
Drip, drip, drop. It's a peaceful racket.
The windmill gets pattered over.
Houses washed on their roofs.
Drip,drip,drop. It's a peaceful racket.
Splash go the people running. Slip!
Houses washed on their roofs.
Wally Brown goes a'sliding.
Splash go the people running. Slip!
Breakfast cereal sloshes out the window.
Wally Brown goes a'sliding.
See a bottle randomly washing away.
Drip, drip drop. It's a peaceful racket.
Breakfast cereal sloshes out the window.
See a bottle randomly washing away.
Listen to the rain as it falls.
The Fuzzballs (by Alan)
In the grass, dirt, sand and rock,
Three cats rustle, tumble and play.
One jumps, the other two crouch
Forming a perfect ball of black, brown and grey.
Three cats rustle, tumble and play
Rolling in the soft shrubs
Forming a perfect ball of black, brown and grey.
The trees wave in the sky.
Rolling in the soft shrubs
The fuzzballs finally crash to the ground and look up.
The trees wave in the sky.
Resting and panting, then another round.
In the grass, dirt, sand and rock
One jumps, the other two crouch.
The fuzzballs finally crash to the ground and look up.
Resting and panting, then another round.
Flight of the Dragon (by Stephen)
The dragon crashes through the leafy brush
Spreading its wings, it smoothly takes to the air.
The scales on its streamlined body flash like gold.
Its breath flows as a tidal wave of fire.
Spreading its wings, it smoothly takes to the air.
The very trees cower under the wind of its flight.
Its breath flows as a tidal wave of fire.
Birds and beasts alike scatter as ants from heat.
The very trees cower under the wind of its flight.
No creature alive boasts the size of those talons.
Birds and beasts alike scatter as ants from heat.
And when it alights even mountains tremble.
The dragon crashes through the leafy brush.
The scales on its streamlined body flash like gold.
No creature alive boasts the size of those talons.
And when it alights even mountains tremble.
I hope you have enjoyed these. There will be more to post later.
The Foolish Bear (by Stephen)
The bear climbs the tree
Strongly with his mighty limbs.
But that sapling breaks.
The Coming Storm (by Alan)
Black clouds approaching
Flashes of lightning in the dark
Blue crack, thunder booms.
The Dragon ( by Robert)
The dragon flies miles,
Fleeing fast against the wind.
Fast flying dragon.
The next is a poem of interlocking form called the pantoum which was originally from Malaya but brought to the West by Victor Hugo.
Listen to the Rain or The Random Poem (by Robert)
Listen to the rain as it falls
Drip, drip, drop. It's a peaceful racket.
The windmill gets pattered over.
Houses washed on their roofs.
Drip,drip,drop. It's a peaceful racket.
Splash go the people running. Slip!
Houses washed on their roofs.
Wally Brown goes a'sliding.
Splash go the people running. Slip!
Breakfast cereal sloshes out the window.
Wally Brown goes a'sliding.
See a bottle randomly washing away.
Drip, drip drop. It's a peaceful racket.
Breakfast cereal sloshes out the window.
See a bottle randomly washing away.
Listen to the rain as it falls.
The Fuzzballs (by Alan)
In the grass, dirt, sand and rock,
Three cats rustle, tumble and play.
One jumps, the other two crouch
Forming a perfect ball of black, brown and grey.
Three cats rustle, tumble and play
Rolling in the soft shrubs
Forming a perfect ball of black, brown and grey.
The trees wave in the sky.
Rolling in the soft shrubs
The fuzzballs finally crash to the ground and look up.
The trees wave in the sky.
Resting and panting, then another round.
In the grass, dirt, sand and rock
One jumps, the other two crouch.
The fuzzballs finally crash to the ground and look up.
Resting and panting, then another round.
Flight of the Dragon (by Stephen)
The dragon crashes through the leafy brush
Spreading its wings, it smoothly takes to the air.
The scales on its streamlined body flash like gold.
Its breath flows as a tidal wave of fire.
Spreading its wings, it smoothly takes to the air.
The very trees cower under the wind of its flight.
Its breath flows as a tidal wave of fire.
Birds and beasts alike scatter as ants from heat.
The very trees cower under the wind of its flight.
No creature alive boasts the size of those talons.
Birds and beasts alike scatter as ants from heat.
And when it alights even mountains tremble.
The dragon crashes through the leafy brush.
The scales on its streamlined body flash like gold.
No creature alive boasts the size of those talons.
And when it alights even mountains tremble.
I hope you have enjoyed these. There will be more to post later.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thrift Talk 4
Around the House:
There are many ways to save money with everyday household tasks. Here is an example of a frugal mom who makes her own household cleaners for just pennies.
And here is a list of some other ways we save too:
1. We use simple Ivory bar soap for bathing and washing clothes.
2. We don't buy paper products (except toilet paper) but use cloth napkins and rags, etc. instead. Some people use cloths instead of toilet paper, but we're not there yet.
3. For handwashing dishes, I use Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid. This may not seem like a money saver, since one bottle costs 3 times as much as your toxic dollar store variety, but it lasts 3 times as long! It is very concentrated, and, best of all, won't poison the earth and is far gentler on my hands than the cheap brands. If you have a dishwasher, here is a cheap alternative to the bleach based detergents on the market.
4. For other household cleaning, I use mostly baking soda and white vinegar. Vinegar makes a good disinfectant spray and baking soda will clean most surfaces.
5. Make dust mitts or cloths from old felted wool sweaters found at thrift stores. They work great! I usually have plenty of scraps left over after making diaper cover pants with the sleeves, and shorts with the front and back. From 1 sweater I can get 1 pair of long pants, 2 shorts and several dusters.
And here are some other random ways we get by on the cheap:
1. We save gas by combining trips and not going far from home, nor going out very often.
2. We drive an old car, so no payments there. It helps to have a husband who is mechanically savvy, too! He can fix just about anything, and if he doesn't know how, he'll search the web, call his father, etc. till he figures it out. That goes for home maintenance as well.
3. Speaking of the web, it supplies most of our home school materials, diy info and entertainment, so it more than pays for itself. The library is also a great resource.
4. We cut our own hair.
5. We get most of our clothing and shoes from thrift stores and factory seconds, and wear them till they are worn out. T-shirts then get recycled into diapers.
6. Using cloth diapers some or most of the time saves a lot of money!
7. Diy health care! Staying away from processed food and conventional medical practice is the best way to stay healthy in my opinion (and experience- I can share some stories). We treat our illnesses at home using vitamins and herbs, but mostly through preventative nutrition. This approach takes constant study and research, but it really pays off. I can see us in the future seeing a chiropractor or other alternative practitioner, but so far, by God's grace, we've lived a pretty happy, healthy life without them. I mentioned it here because this approach does save money, but our family's health is the primary objective.
8. We have our babies at home unassisted! The total cost of materials, including an inflatable birthing pool, is less than $100. But again, our family's health and safety are top priority, and we would not hesitate to use emergency medical care if the need arose. But we believe that birth is as natural and normal as breathing, digestion and making love, requiring no more interference in a healthy person than these other bodily motions. It's not for everyone, but when I was pregnant with our second child, I knew without a doubt it was for me.
9.We like to make gifts for Christmas, etc. Like this one!
What are some ways you save money around the house, or wherever?
There are many ways to save money with everyday household tasks. Here is an example of a frugal mom who makes her own household cleaners for just pennies.
And here is a list of some other ways we save too:
1. We use simple Ivory bar soap for bathing and washing clothes.
2. We don't buy paper products (except toilet paper) but use cloth napkins and rags, etc. instead. Some people use cloths instead of toilet paper, but we're not there yet.
3. For handwashing dishes, I use Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid. This may not seem like a money saver, since one bottle costs 3 times as much as your toxic dollar store variety, but it lasts 3 times as long! It is very concentrated, and, best of all, won't poison the earth and is far gentler on my hands than the cheap brands. If you have a dishwasher, here is a cheap alternative to the bleach based detergents on the market.
4. For other household cleaning, I use mostly baking soda and white vinegar. Vinegar makes a good disinfectant spray and baking soda will clean most surfaces.
5. Make dust mitts or cloths from old felted wool sweaters found at thrift stores. They work great! I usually have plenty of scraps left over after making diaper cover pants with the sleeves, and shorts with the front and back. From 1 sweater I can get 1 pair of long pants, 2 shorts and several dusters.
And here are some other random ways we get by on the cheap:
1. We save gas by combining trips and not going far from home, nor going out very often.
2. We drive an old car, so no payments there. It helps to have a husband who is mechanically savvy, too! He can fix just about anything, and if he doesn't know how, he'll search the web, call his father, etc. till he figures it out. That goes for home maintenance as well.
3. Speaking of the web, it supplies most of our home school materials, diy info and entertainment, so it more than pays for itself. The library is also a great resource.
4. We cut our own hair.
5. We get most of our clothing and shoes from thrift stores and factory seconds, and wear them till they are worn out. T-shirts then get recycled into diapers.
6. Using cloth diapers some or most of the time saves a lot of money!
7. Diy health care! Staying away from processed food and conventional medical practice is the best way to stay healthy in my opinion (and experience- I can share some stories). We treat our illnesses at home using vitamins and herbs, but mostly through preventative nutrition. This approach takes constant study and research, but it really pays off. I can see us in the future seeing a chiropractor or other alternative practitioner, but so far, by God's grace, we've lived a pretty happy, healthy life without them. I mentioned it here because this approach does save money, but our family's health is the primary objective.
8. We have our babies at home unassisted! The total cost of materials, including an inflatable birthing pool, is less than $100. But again, our family's health and safety are top priority, and we would not hesitate to use emergency medical care if the need arose. But we believe that birth is as natural and normal as breathing, digestion and making love, requiring no more interference in a healthy person than these other bodily motions. It's not for everyone, but when I was pregnant with our second child, I knew without a doubt it was for me.
9.We like to make gifts for Christmas, etc. Like this one!
What are some ways you save money around the house, or wherever?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Mother Blessing
On Saturday, my sisters and mom threw a surprise Mother Blessing shower for me. I certainly did not deserve any of it, but I enjoyed myself immensely. It was great to see some old friends again as well as visit with my dear family.So to all you wonderful mothers and daughters who blessed me,
Grandma
Mom
Jamie
Marianne
Grace
Lacey
Karen
Cindy
Mirenda
Natasha
Laura
Valerie
Rebecca
Marileze
Danielle
enjoy this song, my blessing back to you. :)
The Great Storm is over- John McCutcheon
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Deschooling Society
I have just finished the above titled book by Ivan Illich, social critic of the 1970's and an influence upon the modern home schooling movement, and have submitted an article about it entitled Educational Nemesis to the Jesus Manifesto webzine, a hub of Christian counter cultural discussion. Take a look!
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