No fluoride = No cavities

That's right, move over ADA... 

Based on my own research we decided we didn't think fluoride was a good idea. I know, I know. It was a crazy idea, especially since we had cavities every time we went I the dentist office. In fact, I had 16 fillings and gingivitis by the time my first son was born (yeah, I was 20) and my kiddos seemed to inherit my tooth genes. 

Despite such yuck mouth, I have always been a faithful dentist visitor. Everyone goes in every 6 months (almost). And every visit we had at least 2 cavities. Then we moved, and we purchased a Berkey and fluoride free toothpaste. When we transferred here we had to make new dental relationships. Our new dentist is a great guy, he has 8 children and a bajillion grandchildren, but was completely shocked that we don't use fluoride. I stated my case, but he said he'd have to see it to believe. (He thought I was a little crazy) So, we didn't go to the dentist for almost two years. I was ready for just about any prognosis, but he was shocked. That is right, all 9 of us, no cavities.

Do your research, check out what fluoride really is. Stop being a drone. We are each responsible for our own health! Don't trust the FDA, USDA, ADA, CDC- or any other alphabet soup- they DON'T have your best interest in mind. The government isn't your babysitter. The government isn't your Savior. ;-)

~just sayin

Crackers = Do Over

My dear husband enjoys crackers and I am on a mini mission to make some with wholesome goodness that doesn't cost $5 for 8oz.

The girls decided to make the first attempt with a recipe that I found on the internet. It was a fail. For dad anyway.  

The children ate them up and would totally eat them again, and the girls sure enjoyed making them. We will tweak the recipe (maybe it was a fail because we followed the recipe?) and try again.

 I am determined to find something yummy, and I will share the recipe when I do!

Amateur Chef

I am currently paying $2 per meal.  As in, if you come to my house and make my family dinner, I will pay you $2.  Any takers?

This has been a big hit here for my older children.  And for me.

Guys, Boy and Sis are raking in the big bucks.  Sis made the best roast that has ever come out of my crock pot, and Guys made a mean Thai stir-fry with fresh Thai basil from the farm club.  Guys has also become quite fantastic at baking bread, she gets $1 for two loaves.  I dislike making bread.  Guys loves kneading dough.  Win, win!

Boy in particular, loves making dinner and has become quite the impromptu chef. He has no qualms about straying from a recipe, which is great for me since I don't know how to stick to a recipe ;~)

His most recent dish was spectacular, there was not a bite left over.
I'll do my best to tell you what he did, and give you exact measurements so you can try to replicate it.

First he browned some coconut, then set it aside.
Then he browned 3 cups of basmati rice in a pot with some oil.
He added 3-4 cups chicken broth and 1 can of coconut milk and simmered.
Meanwhile in a skillet he sauted some sweet onions and 2 cloves of garlic
then added strips of pork, covered and cooked until no longer pink.
When the rice was tender, he added a handful (maybe 3/4 cup) of chopped cilantro and squeezed in the juice of two limes.
He then covered the rice and let sit while he figured out a veggie to go with the meal.
He steamed a head of broccolini (baby broccoli) and added a pinch of garlic and smidge of butter.

It's too bad the Navy had Dad flying in Florida that week, it was 4. 5 stars!

The Scoop on the Coop and Poop!

Pops insists the chickens new home is called a poop, no matter how much I try to convince him its a coop.  Oh well.

Since our ladies aren't producing eggs just yet, we have them earning their keep by turning the compost pile.  They are really good at it.  It's like they were made to work in a garden or something.

Isn't the coop charming?  I am so proud of Mr. Pilot! A job well done!  

I didn't take a picture from the other side, but they even have their own sky lights.

It is a tractor, so the chickens can poop all over the yard instead of just one spot.  Doesn't that sound exciting?

They absolutely love their home.  They are roosting here, and you can see their nesting boxes down behind them.  That is where they will lay their eggs, and that side lifts up too, so we can easily gather our breakfast.

Chickens are awesome.  They go to bed around 7 pm every night, all on their own. My children could learn something from them.  (The going to bed at 7 on their own, not the pooping all over the yard, lol) They just go right up the ladder and then we use a pulley to raise it up for the night so no predators can get in, and they sleep tight all night.

Chicken poop is actually really good for the garden, did you know that?  They even sell chicken manure on the side of the road here.  Well, not actually the side of the road, but in the little farms that put signs along the side of the road anyway.  Maybe we could sell some.  Like a lemonade stand and the end of the drive way, only a poop stand instead.  Alright! I am only joking.

We are absolutely loving our chickens.

We are pretty sure Rosemary however, is not a Rose or a Mary.  Butter had re-named her him Rhubarb.  Luckily we found someone willing to take her if she is in fact, a him, and not for culling either (that means eating for all you non-chicken folk) either. All the signs are there, save the "cock-a-doodle" that would get us busted for having a rooster in town.  I am still holding out the teensiest bit of hope that she is just a manly hen, but we are preparing Butter for what seems inevitable.
I wonder if I should buy her a guinea pig or something, to easy the disappointment.  I think that would work, right up until my cat gets a hold of it.  So, scratch that idea.  Butter says she wants a piglet if Rosemary is Rhubarb.  I just don't think pigs are allowed in town.

Since I don't like throwing money away...

A house with lots of little people = a house with lots of messes.  I could go through a roll of paper towels in one day.  Sometimes even in one mess, if it's a fun one!

I started seeing myself throw a quarter in the garbage every time I threw away a half used paper towel.  Throwing away a quarter seemed a little not-so-smart to me.

Here is what I came up with:

I made about 20 of these for less than $10 and I don't have to throw them away! Aren't they pretty?

So pretty I'm having a hard time using them, lol. They are just for meals though.

I decided to keep one roll of paper towels under each sink for those "nasty" messes that I'd rather not wash.  Just in case the washing machine leaves something behind.

You know, for when Pops decides to clog and unclog the toilet "all by myself!" Fun!

Up to Trash.

Here is one of our most recent projects.

It's a compost bin.

We learned how to make it from the Homemade book we bought here:

I must admit, I have never really been one of those "Save the Planet" type people.  It doesn't help that most places we have lived, we actually had to pay to recycle.  Let me see- extra work and I have to pay for it? Not so much... 

But, I do like being a good steward, and I don't like wasting.  Add into that- our wayyyy too expensive, way, way too small garbage can that only gets picked up once a week, and you've got me sold on free recycling.  Seriously, we have to crush every single thing we can possible crush into the garbage can, have Boy climb into the bin and crush it some more, and then still call someone from church to see if we can throw an extra bag into their bin so we don't incur extra charges for our trash can lid not closing tightly... and we pay $94/month for this?  Anyway, Dad, Sis, and Boy built us a compost bin and we are reading all about it.  This is Science Class, 101.

Rhubarb!

We are so excited about our kitchen garden (more pictures later) and we have already harvested some Rhubarb.  I grew up with it, and never even knew the leaves are poisonous to eat...  

Some of us really enjoy it's unique and sour flavor straight out of the ground.

Some just want to play with it.

Don't worry, I read that you'd have to eat 11 pounds of leaves to have any toxic effect, but  I didn't let her taste any anyway.

Jams, Jellies, and Pies, here I come!  That is, if there is enough Rhubarb left to make some!

What a Helper!

My Boy loves to cook, what a blessing that is!  He offered to make breakfast today, as he does almost every day.  

He really loves working in the kitchen and he happens to have 2 uncles mastering the art of culinary...

(I'm not supposed to mention that the smoke alarm went off for so long that I had to take the battery out. (~:)

I think that children are capable of way more than is expected of them now days.  So many people my age (did I mention I am almost 30?) are completely lazy and irresponsible, and I think it is in part due to lack of experience.  My kids love being helpers, and they get such a sense of accomplishment for a job well done, plus they are better prepared for life.  Sure, I have to let go of my perfectionist expectations, but it is so worth it.  What a joy it is to have my children working alongside me, and what a blessing for Boy (not to mention his future wife!) to know how to cook a meal.

 

Wonderful Healthcare Alternative

I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it is to see Christians stepping up and offering viable alternatives to the myriad of cultural, state mandated, and biblical hypocrisies bombarding our society. It becomes readily apparent that we have serious problems when our government comes up with "solutions" that look like this:

All I can say is, "Yikes!"

No problem...Bloomberg columnist Kevin Hasset summarizes:

The new law creates 68 grant programs, 47 bureaucratic entities, 29 demonstration or pilot programs, six regulatory systems, six compliance standards and two entitlements.

Okay, maybe a big problem. But again then there's Chrisitan's stepping up and creating ministries like Samaritan. You can see a video about such a ministry here. I hope you get a chance to take a look at this and be inspired and encouraged to know that there are many more ways in which we can overcome because as Christ says,

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

another baby project finished!

It's not perfect, but it's the first blanket I've ever made.  It's summer-y and unique and complete with batting and a silky edge.  I hope it holds up in the wash :~)

Second Fruits