Whipping up good things....and HAPPY SPRING EQUINOX!!

My skin is so extremely sensitive, so I have been using a combination of coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and grapeseed oil. It works pretty good, and is a good compliment to my coffee/sugar/sea salt body scrub I use three times a week. Then, I cam across this Whipped Coconut Oil WOWSA!
This has been awesome! I blended mine with some Rosemary and Tea Tree essential oils and I love it.

My next batch I really want to add some Orange and Sandlewood essential oil for a fresh, summer scent.

Yesterday and today I was out in the garden checking on my soil and trimming up a few of the dead heads. Added a small amount of mulch and next up will be some fertilizer. I think I will go with my compost as well as a coffee ground and kelp mix again. It seemed to do really well in my soil.

I placed my first order for some seeds and plants earlier this week, so they should be arriving soon!!
Then I get those babies into the peat pots and get 'em growing! I am also trying to think ahead and see about having a late fall/early winter garden with some kale and brussles.
We are also going to be building another small raised bed for the fruit bushes (strawberries and raspberries) I simply cannot wait to get things going!!

Busy next few days around here, dentist appointments and family coming to visit this weekend! Yay!!

Happy Wednesday and Happy Spring Equinox

Garden on the Brain....*sigh*

Oh this is so amazing: Alys Fowler

I love this woman immensely, seriously, I could watch her for hours in her garden. :)

I am in the process of planning my garden and containers, so many different ideas. I want to be sure I have lot's of veggies and lot's of herbs (for teas, food, tinctures, and other uses) and of course some edible flowers for salads. When I have some concrete ideas, I will share here.

We will be having our new freezer delivered tomorrow...YIPPEEE! I am so stoked about that. It's an upright and is going to be awesome, here, check it out: Our New Freezer. It will be so awesome to be organized and for when harvest time comes around again. We are still keeping our chest freezer, until it dies. It's over 15yrs old, but we decided we would store bread in it.

In other news...Alyssa got herself a part time job! She is working one day a week at a local daycare taking care of the cleaning duties. Next on the list is Alex!

Ummm, let's see, what else?!?!? No word yet on my test results for Celiac. I'm not sure if that means it's negative or my doctor just hasn't got around to notify me yet. (it took her almost 2 mos to get back to Bill about him being low on Vitamin D and phosphorus...grrrr) Yet, if I call, they refuse to give any results over the phone! Hmph!

Blessed be!!!

And the Dentist says...........

We went for a check up on Monday to the dentist. While I don't do well-baby checks or even yearly checkups (unless there is a concern) we do all go for pretty regular dental checkups. All of the children have awesome teeth. No cavities at all.(the dentist and hygenist were very impressed) Barely anything to really clean off. Now, here's a secret that I am sharing. It's just between you and I internet. I do not make my kids brush their teeth.  There, I said it. Oh sure, I tell them before bed to brush their teeth, but I certainly do not stand over and observe the process. I definitley do not have them floss. I attribute their oral health to their diets and abundance of fresh veggies. They all LOVE fresh veggies. Also, no fruit juice and processed foods make an impact as well. I don't believe cavities are all about the sugar, while I believe it's a significant contribution, it's not the only reason.

I do hope that their oral health will continue, I am certain it will if they continue with a healthy diet filled with wholesome nourishing foods.

I on the other hand am still reaping the effects of my past diet...ugh. Just a few more cavities to fill up in my lower jaw in May. A wisdom tooth to pull in the very near future and my new permanent partial plate soon as well. Then, I should finally be done with all my dental trauma and can hopefully take care of my remaining teeth. If only I could go back in time and smack that girl who drank so much soda and ate so much junk.....hind sight is, as they say 20/20.

On the table for the rest of the week grocery shopping this weekend. Valentine's Day treats and Daddy's birthday dinner this weekend too!!

Waiting patiently for spring, I NEED some trees and grass and to feel warm sun on my face.  I can't remember a time where I have wanted that season so badly. Normally I am the winter girl and content to have months of winter's beauty upon us. This year, the Ice princess needs to be on her merry way to let the fresh renewal of spring surround me. Her promise of growth and rejuvenation and life.
We have changed so much in the last year or so. Our eating, thinking and whole approach to life. I feel more changes are coming and I am excited. Excitied to see what the journey has to show and where this path will take us. Growth can only happen when we open ourselves up to it and allow it to take place, even if we are unsure of where it will take us.

Let the journey begin!!
Blessings♥♥

It's the most beautiful time of year......

Although why I feel that vastly differs from why others feel that way. That Staples commercial irks me. You know the one.......the kids are miserable because it's back to school time and the dad is deliriously happy dancing around because it is back to school time. Drives me crazy!

Nope, it's almost my favourite time of year! I LOVE, LOVE, love fall. The sights, the smells, nature at one of her most beautiful times! Pumpkin pie, baking, hot chocolate, crunchy leaves, beautiful glowing sunsets...ahhhhhh!!! I love going for walks and seeing all the gorgeous colors that emerge in the fall...strangely enough, it's the beauty of death I suppose.

My Grandmother has been accepted into Hospice, they're just waiting for a room to become available. Which makes me feel strange on the inside when I think that. In order for a room to become available in a hospice means one thing has happened and my heart aches for that family.

My Grandma is doing as well as one can be in her situation. She is not eating, just nibbles. She can no longer walk or do many tasks for herself anymore. They are doing nothing to 'prolong' her life, just helping relieve any discomfort such as pain she may be experiencing. Thankfully, she's in no pain thus far. She's been telling my Mom that she has been on an airplane the last couple of nights with the 'most handsomest man' she's ever seen!!!!

The other night my mother went into the her hospital room to check on her and noticed she was sleeping very soundly....my moms heart skipped for a second so she cautiously approached my grandma. She proceeded to gently rouse her to which my grandmother replied as she stirred, "Am I dead yet?" ROFL!! my mom said "Uh, I certainly hope not because if you are and I'm talking to you we have a serious problem!!" Yes, my family is strange indeed!!

My grandmother has always been subtle and a bit off (see I come by it naturally!!!) it's just her!!!

She cracks me up with some of the things she says.

Like the one day we were talking and she had commented on how much she enjoyed the church service at her care center. I asked if she had any favourite sermon that she had particularly enjoyed recently and she came out with "Oh no dear, I just go for the tea and biscuits after the service" ROFL!!!!! Totally not what I was expecting!!lol

Well, I'm off to finish up a post for the homeschool blog, I'll post here when it's complete!!

Blessings,

April Fool.....NOT!

I am not much of a practical joker....anymore. I used to love the excuse of April Fool's day to be able to plot against someone (usually my poor mother) but since being a mama, the thought just doesn't occur to me anymore. Last year I did however get the kids, I told them that there was no longer going to be anymore weekends. That the government saw them as a waste of time and that a 5 day week would be much more efficient!!lol This year.......I have drawn a blank. At least I still have a few hours to plot...hmmmmmmmmm!!!

Grocery shopping was actually very smooth last night. I even came in $3 UNDER budget....sweet!!! Now today I will continue with the putting away of everything...I gave up when the clock struck midnight! Seeing all the spring themed stuff at the store just helped amplify my desire for this snow/wind/blizzard type weather to be ON IT'S WAY OUTTA HERE!!!! I am so ready to get up early in the morning, crack open my windows and smell that fresh air and hear some birds (although I'm not so sure I will hear any birds since there isn't a tree anywhere near me....waaaaaa!)


Is it a bad thing that I have made a list of things I need to make a list of? I thought about this after I looked at my list of errrrr........lists. I need to do a homeschool inventory and make up a list of stuff to get for 'next year' (we basically 'school' all year now) I need to go through everyone's clothes and see who needs what for spring/summer. I have to re-design the chore lists and re-design my laundry chart.......the list goes on!!lol The funny thing is that since we have evolved into an un-schooling family, I have actually become much more relaxed...scary, huh?!?!?
This is an area where Bill and I make the perfect match. You see, he is always the first to bring me down and remind me that hey, we have seven kids!! I totally need to hear that when I am freaking out because there are crumbs on the floor or fingerprints on the wall or spilled milk stuck to the table. In all honesty, it's not even going to be a thought in 20years.....but spending time with everyone and exploring new things certainly will be!

I am pretty excited about this summer after we get back from holidays, we are going to go to many places in our area.....it's been a LONG time since we have been able to go and enjoy a lot of activities. I am looking forward to picnics out in the country on the weekends.....trips to the zoo.....going to a few museums and what ever else we can find to do!!

Have a blessed day!