Just Being

This little house we live in is so tiny! That's our kitchen area above. It has simplified life for me in so many ways to live this small, this simple. Although my mind never stops and I always have something I'm working in my hands, my demeanor as I get to the next thing has been under-construction - and I guess my attitude while I do the things has changed too. I want to enjoy the journey. But though I could seek my whole life for peace and contentment, I couldn't end up here where I am without a God who drifts me here Himself.

I believe the gateway for me has been hardship. I have endured so much grief. I always forget the purified washing grief provides while I'm in the midst of it. But I always come out a better version of this person that I am. So flawed and paradoxical. Seriously, sometimes I downright contradict myself. And it takes someone to really know me to know that I indeed did not contradict myself but that I very much have made sense of my logic and that I'm just a paradox of sorts.

This lifestyle for me is sometimes very at odds with the internet. Since I do love so many things about it though I've accepted that I just have to put boundaries in place. Make it a spiritual, as well as home-making practice to set limits.

 I live in this tiny (to us) house and have so much contentment. I have less than I probably have ever had in my entire life (except for books) and I feel fuller than ever. Something has happened in me so humbling that I think the very words of Yeshua have manifested in my life.

I will always be a passenger on the learning-train toward betterment. I don't find myself very witty nor crafty when it comes to all of this or expressing it.

I just look at my old depressed self and want to blanket her. Want to blanket all of us and say: it's okay. You don't have to do it all. You don't have to convince anyone. Don't compare your mess to someone else's highlights. You are so precious, so unique. You don't need to run in this world's race. Goals and dreams (by God's grace positioned directly in His center will) will manifest themselves as I'm responsible with the things set right before me - and this does NOT include all those things off to the side in my peripheral view that squeeze there way in enough to attach themselves to the landscape of my to-do list.

Well, honestly when I was so un-healthy and malnourished, it was a matter of laziness for me then. I would just put things off and off and off. I felt lazy, now I know I was just sick and tired.

And now while all sorts of ideas for work and projects (which I actually have energy for now) flood my journals and conversations, I'm still content to linger in this learning stage. But work is good and I'm learning how to be still and listen for the things that I'm really meant to do and the things that I should indeed let fall by the wayside.

Natural Science

If you homeschool multiple grades - in a natural sort of way - you may really enjoy this book.

There are suggestions for teaching and inspiring: All Grades, Primary Grades, Junior and Intermediate Grades. That is so helpful when teaching multiple, different-aged children.

This is not a proper review of the book, but I did want to share briefly that I find it to be an excellent fit for Charlotte Mason inspired home schoolers and natural learners.

Nettle Leaf for Allergies

Nettle leaf is such an excellent all around herb..I am just now becoming familiar with it. Its taste is pleasant, not my favorite, but not bad. More importantly my 9 year old with allergies doesn't mind it. It's her I bought it for. I also give her local honey and a pro-biotic to keep her little gut nice and healthy. Her body is fighting those allergies better and better! 

You can read more about Nettle here at Mountain Rose Herbs. 

I also love my neti pot which I haven't had to use in about two years. But if you suffer with sinus issues, it may be just the little tool you need.

Remember, 75-80% of our immune systems is in our gut so keep yours healthy with a good pro-biotic and cultured foods. A healthy diet of lots of fresh vegetables and fruits and nutrient dense foods will strengthen and nourish our bodies as well, promoting over-all good health that may see you kissing your allergies good-bye.

Egg Frittata, My New Favorite Veggie, Healing, and Lemon Balm Tea

There's so much beauty all around me lately that I feel so full. A bit blah from living in my kitchen round the clock, but I feel so content.

I do need to work on freezer meals though. Seriously, when you're making all meals from scratch, something has GOT to give. Though I utilize the simplicity of lots of raw meals.

Egg frittatas are my favorite lately.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees...I brown some cut up turkey bacon until crisp and set aside. Add butter and 1/2 small onion (chopped up.) Saute about 4 minutes then add a chopped up clove of garlic; saute for another minute. Add six beat eggs to the pan (6" cast iron.) Salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a minute or two until the egg is beginning to cook - then taking a wooden spoon I scrape from the outside edges of the pan toward the middle. Then I add the bacon, shredded, sharp cheddar cheese (about a handful and I use raw, organic cheese) and some parsley, green peppers or whatever veggie or herb I have on hand, and mix in. Cook in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes. I enjoy this best with some perfectly ripe avocado drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. Yum. It's such a good start to the day.

My new favorite veggie is brussel sprouts. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. I cut off the bottom and slice the vegetable in the middle. Wash, dry and drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. (I was liberal with the salt.) Roast for about 35 minutes, turning often. I squeezed some fresh lemon juice on them when I took them out.  Do you see those dark, charcoal pieces? My favorite! They are so good, all my girls love 'em. Yay.

I've had to up my veggie intake since getting sick. Why didn't I eat more veggies any way? I'm still healing from Candida overgrowth - something I need to talk more about as I believe that practically everyone I know has it and doesn't even know. Its effects show up as auto-immune diseases and illnesses such as fibromyalgia, hypo-thryroidism, asthma, arthritis, vaginal infections, dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, Irritable Bowel Syndrome; literally - the list goes on and on.  Did you know that 75-80% of our immune system is in our guts? Heal your gut - heal your whole body. This time of healing and learning is really a much needed journey in good health. When I say it's a journey, I'm not lying. It's a trek in the woods. But I do believe I'm reaching a refreshing coast soon...Lord willing. Above I said that I'm content with all of the beauty around me, but I left the ugly unsaid. There is so pain and suffering all around me also..and I pray and try my best to bring comfort. But the Lord is a balm to the weary soul. Peace does not elude us.

For the lemon balm tea: I took three cups of water and mixed it with one cup dried lemon balm. I let it sit for a few days in the fridge (I actually forgot about it for three days the first time I made it!) After straining the herb from the liquid I added about 1/4 cup of maple syrup. It was quite delicious. Lemon balm is an excellent herb for a positive emotional boost. Women have sang its praises believing that it cures postpartum blues.

Tea time is a special time for us. We gather and reconnect with one another. I love having my girls and I try to always gather them to me throughout the day so that I can cuddle them, and listen to them and pour truths into them. We read our Bible and chat about many, many things. They are beyond their years these young precious ones!

I know who gave me each of these dried flowers. They're a reminder of how much I'm loved. I was given them with eyes twinkling at the joy they would bring me....

Blessings for lots of peace, joy and love xo

Yarn, Books, A Shawl, and Homemade Mounds

I started a blanket this week..nothing fancy as you can see - simple, single stitch. I'm kind of still learning. I began quite a while ago, but hardly had the time... My online friend Katie is starting a yarn along this weekend on her fb page. Looking forward to the inspiration. Do you crochet or knit?

I began reading Kisses from Katie last week, too. Incredibly beautiful beginning so far. She makes my heart smile. I definitely want to share more about this one.

An Everlasting Meal has pleasantly surprised me. I cannot believe I actually love a cookbook that does not have pictures - but I do. Whenever I'm in a bit of a cooking dry spell I bring it out and glean inspiration from sweet, gentle Tamar - or at least that is how she comes across in her book. "I like to serve food family style. It's pleasurable to spoon a potato onto a fellow diner's plate. It binds you to her, for the duration of the dinner at least, in a way that makes conversation easy and the atmosphere good. You, of course, are not I, and it must be from someplace in you, not this book, that you serve. If you like symmetry, you must line things up. If you feel satisfied composing plates away from your table, do it happily, for it will be genuine and full of what is yours to offer. Only remember what is plainly and always true: the act of serving fulfills itself. It doesn't matter what you serve."

Are you reading something right now?

I bought this amazingly feminine, delicate shawl a few weeks ago..it's such a beautiful light-weight fabric; I absolutely love it... I wear it mostly as a prayer shawl, though I don't always have it on when I pray. When I do, I feel enclosed with my Beloved...though He envelops us always. Do you wear a prayer shawl? 

And these. I adapted this recipe from an article on the minbodygreen website (I believe) though I cannot for the life of me find the article to link to. It took me once to make and remember the recipe for I made them about 5 times in one week. Ahem.

Ingredients:

3 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp maple syrup

1 c coconut flakes

1 c chocolate chips (real, non dairy- I use Enjoy Life)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

sea salt (optional)

Method:

Mix oil, syrup, coconut, and vanilla until well blended. Form bite sized pieces (you can pop in freezer to harden while melting chocolate - it would help the next step) Melt chocolate in a double boiler (though I usually melt it right in my heavy bottom sauce pan) then dunk balls to coat. Place on platter lined with wax paper. If sprinkling with sea salt do so now while chocolate is still warm. Refrigerate for at least an hour (though I do like to bring them back to room temperature to eat them.) But omgoodness they are so incredibly, stupendously, delicious that I can eat them how.e.ver. And I love the addition of the sea salt. Oh my. And be sure to position salty side down when you pop in your mouth to delight your taste buds! Do you like coconut and chocolate?

They're nice for date night at home...and also for children who need extra fat, like my six year old who is tenderly smaller and as precious as can be.

love, tanya xo

sharing @ Small Things

Favorite Gardening Book

Betty Crocker's Kitchen Gardens with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. Bought used. Absolutely lovely.

Retreat Home

May our homes be our retreats..a space to replenish, relax, and meet with God and each other..