Uncategorized

The Ladies: A Lesson in Love and Loss

/ makingofahome / 2 Comments

IMG_7978

Do you remember on Tuesday when I told you I didn’t ever really like to put myself out there and go too far outside my comfort zone for fear of upsetting others?  For this reason, I have never shared (in this very public space) a simple fact about our family’s suburban homestead:  We have a flock of backyard chickens.  Oh, and we have had them for over two years now 🙂

When we first brought them home as chicks, I didn’t feel comfortable talking about it here on the blog for fear that we may not end up being able to care for them as they needed.  I didn’t want to appear weak for having to give up on something that had only just begun.  Then as months passed, and the chicks became laying hens (Well, one ended up being a rooster and thus was scooted quickly out to a farmer we know.), I still didn’t share any stories about the chickens because it just seemed like too much time had gone by, and it would be strange to introduce the concept so late.

But in keeping with my promise to myself, to remain transparent and open, let me tell you a little bit about our backyard coop convent.

These ladies have taught our family more than we ever could have envisioned when we picked them up from the feed store so long ago.

Did you know that chicks sometimes need a little booty soak and wipe when they are first born in order to prevent their vents from becoming clogged?  I sure didn’t!  But there I found myself, sitting on my basement floor with a warm cup of water, a three-day-old chick cradled in my hands, giving her the best spa treatment imaginable.

Did you know chickens each have unique personalities?  We had no idea this was true until our gal Limey (She was named by my then-four-year-old.) came along.  She had the most loving demeanor and just loved to be in on all the people-action.  In fact, she would often fly out of the run, walk up to our back door, and scratch her claws against the screen door in order to get us to go outside and play with her.

Did you know laying hens are more than just egg producers, but members of the family?  We definitely had no idea of the emotion impact we would face this past winter when our Limey would again fly out of the run without our knowing and was lost to a predator at night fall.

These feathery ladies have given us so much more than an egg a day.  They have taught us valuable life lessons of love and loss that I believe have helped to shape our family.

Here is a little photo tour throughout our two years with the ladies…

IMG_1267 IMG_1268 IMG_1271 IMG_1298 IMG_1322 IMG_1508 IMG_2076 IMG_2083 IMG_2090 IMG_7043 IMG_7245 IMG_7249 IMG_7539 IMG_7589 IMG_8598 IMG_20150109_074238IMG_7979

Living for the Pockets

/ makingofahome / 1 Comment

IMG_7020

Well friends, it has been almost a month since my last post.  When going back to work full time, I had high hopes of still being able to post each day.  Now I’m thinking I may have been in the midst of a bit of a crazy streak to think that would be possible.  In fact, for a few weeks there I did feel like I was quite the loony lady, and sure I would never again be able to take part in those “homestead-ish” acts that had come to make up so much of my life since I left the workforce in 2009.  I felt like I couldn’t balance anything, and found it difficult to stay afloat.

But as always, my husband was there to tell me two things: 1.  You are crazy.  But not  headed down the path to Crazy Town like I thought.  He said I was crazy to think just because I had started back to work full time, that I would have to suddenly abandon who I was.  2.  Give it a few weeks, and you will soon be able to figure out where to fit in all you love to do: teach, raise our family and keep our suburban homestead afloat.

So I did as he directed.  I waited.  And low and behold (and as much as I hate to admit it), he was right.  I have found those little pockets of time here and there where I can still do those activities I love.  In fact, I didn’t even realize I was doing it until I went to download pictures this weekend and discovered that over the course of the past month I had been able to do quite a lot.

But these activities have taken on a different form.  Instead of dedicating several hours in the afternoon to crocheting, I sneak in a couple of rows while sitting at tumbling lessons.  Rather than having an entire fermenting-day, I whip up a quick batch of yogurt on Saturday mornings with extra milk that is about to expire, and throw together an attempt at water kefir on a Friday night after the girls are asleep.

And I think my favorite part of all has been the ability to interweave these homesteading activities into my classroom.  In the midst of a soil composition unit, we  started a worm compost bin, and a chemistry assessment turned into a soapmaking lab.  And I can’t forget the measurement conversion unit where we went outside to make ice cream in the snow.

The crazy part of this new life of mine has been how I now live for those pockets.  Those pockets of time when I can do and share those activities that make me who I am.

IMG_6997 IMG_6968 IMG_6965 IMG_6963IMG_7019 20140211_084132_resized

I hope you all move into this week, able to find those pockets in which you can do all that you love.

At This Moment

/ makingofahome / Leave a comment

20140123_063729_resized

At this moment I am…

~continuing to stitch away at some new dish wash cloths.

~very thankful I got caught up on all things school yesterday.  I feel that I can take a big breath and a sigh of relief.

~even more thrilled I got all of the above mentioned work-type items done yesterday, because we have a day off of school today because of the frigid temperatures.  Hooray for snow days (Well, cold days) 🙂

~checking on my curing soap I have stowed away in my basement.  More on this adventure in next week’s posts.

~preparing to ferment a new batch of kombucha.  The cold weather has really slowed down my kombucha brewing, but I’m hoping I can get a new batch up and running today.

~reading Michael Pollan’s newest book, Cooked:  A Natural History of Transformation.  As with all of his texts, this one does not disappoint.  It is truly captivating, and also so informative and inspiring at the same time.

~organizing craft supplies.  My little ones mentioned before their heads hit the pillow last night: “Mommy, if we don’t have school tomorrow, can it be Valentine-making Day?”  Well gals, Valentine-making Day it is!

~flipping through Ashley English’s A Year of Pies.  I feel as if a day off school warrants a day of eating pie, right?

~wishing you all a warm Thursday, friends.

Balance

/ makingofahome / 3 Comments

IMG_6949

So much of being a parent is a balancing act.  Each of us who takes on this role knows that in order to be a parent you must find some sort of equal platform between all aspects of life:  between wife/husband and parent, between house chores and playing, between health and the occasional treat.  These past few weeks I have found myself trying to find this level ground between work and keeping my home as I have been for the past three and a half years.  I am not a stranger to working as a teacher while also playing the role of wife, mother and homemaker.  I just need to find that place again.

I truly believe that balance is within my grasp, getting closer each day, and hopefully soon I will find myself in a new rhythm of life that will guide me through these newly forming roles.  Until that time, I will just keep inching forward, as best I can, searching for harmony between wife, mother, homemaker and teacher.

Thank you for continuing to visit this space, and taking this new journey with me.  And great thanks for your kind words of encouragement on this space and outside of it.

May each of you find balance as you move throughout your week.  

IMG_6576

Life Lessons

/ makingofahome / 1 Comment

IMG_1587

To those who doubt the integrity of the youth of today, I encourage you to look closely around you, because there are many, many young people out there doing incredibly positive things for the betterment of others.

In late fall, the secretary at my oldest daughter’s school was diagnosed with breast cancer, and let me tell you, this is one very special lady in the lives of the students and families at our school! It has been awe-inspiring to witness the outpouring of support for this amazing woman, most of which has been student-led.   Yesterday is just an example of one such, student-inspired event.

IMG_1591

Over 50 students participated in the “Losing Our Locks For Betsy” event, where they cut their hair to show solidarity for their beloved Mrs. Conery.  My tiny kindergartener, with some of her classmates in tow, were the first to arrive at the event yesterday morning, and it was one of those moments where I felt like quite the proud mama.  These six year olds were fully aware of what they are doing, and it was wonderful to stand witness to the testament these little ones were making, all on their own, for someone they care deeply about.

IMG_1605 IMG_1610 IMG_1612

Only Light

/ makingofahome / 2 Comments

IMG_1503

It has been some time since I have written in this space.  The looming darkness of last week cast shadows that were difficult to see past.  But after some time, light emerged, as it always does, from the darkness.  And that I cling to today.  Light always comes forth from the darkness.  For “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

I hope you find yourself in the light of happiness and positive energy on this Monday morning!

Fried Green Tomatoes…Italian Style

/ makingofahome / 2 Comments

We have a LOT of green tomatoes this year.  A lot.  So, last night I gave fried green tomatoes a shot.  But instead of serving them up Southern-style, I decided to do a play on eggplant Parmesan. Instead of eggplant, I used some of those green tomatoes covering my countertop.

Italian-Style Fried Green Tomatoes

-Slice 8-10 green tomatoes and set aside.

-Scramble 3 eggs in a small shallow bowl and set aside.

-In a large shallow bowl, mix together 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup corn flour, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder.  Set aside.

-Pour about 1/2 inch of oil in the bottom of a frying pan (I used an organic, non-GMO canola oil.).  Heat the pan until very hot.

-Dip each tomato slice in the egg, then the dry mixture and then place in the hot oil.  Allow to cook until brown, flip and cook the other side until brown.  Remove the fried slices from the hot oil and allow to rest on a paper towel for a few seconds before plating.

I served my fried green tomatoes on a bed of pasta, topped with my homemade tomato sauce and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.  Enjoy!

–

Gratitude

/ makingofahome / Leave a comment

This week I am so very thankful for…

~working in the soil and getting all of our tomatoes planted.

~great new additions to our book shelf. (This one, this one and this one.)

~time to sip coffee and stand in the garden at day break.

~dance recital costumes with glitter, glitter and more glitter.

~two little ones playing catch with their dad and great grandmother in the backyard.

~an upcoming birthday celebration this weekend.

~only six more days of school…then “school’s out for summer”!

Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope you enjoy yourself thoroughly!  Happy Friday!

Upstream

/ makingofahome / 5 Comments

“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.”

-Chinese Proverb

Last week I attended a meeting with a small group of like-minded mothers, trying our best to raise our children in the way we believe is best, despite our current cultural trends otherwise.  One of the women at the meeting raised her hand and said she and her husband often talk about the difficultly they have raising their family in this counter-cultural way and that sometimes it just feels like they are swimming upstream.  She said that her husband constantly reassures her that their journey is only making them stronger.

But aren’t there times when we all would rather do just that?  Just go with the flow and stop swimming.  Choose the life of ease and be done with all the strength and effort it takes to constantly go against the grain.  Wouldn’t it just be easier to go to the grocery store and buy that can of pasta sauce instead of standing in front of an 18 quart pot of boiling liquid on a ninety-degree August day?  Wouldn’t it be easier to just sit in the drive through line, while texting friends, and then order a burger and fries?  Wouldn’t it be easier to catch up on the celebrity gossip and carry on a light-hearted conversation with a group of moms at the mall?

This weekend there were times when I felt this pull to just sink into the couch cushions, and be swept away by what the majority of our culture views as normal. I felt a tug to be drawn away into the abyss of pop-culture, of who is dating whom and who is wearing what.   I thought about how much easier it would be to be thinking about what someone had just posted on Facebook, instead of where we should purchase our eggs and chicken from this year because the farmer we formally purchased these goods from is no longer raising chickens.  Wouldn’t it just be easier to take the blue pill and flush that red one right down the toilet?

But it was when I tucked my beautiful girls in bed last night and looked at their innocent faces, those faces that rely on me for everything, that I began to feel more like myself again.  They are my reasons, two very important reasons, I get up each and every morning and choose to go about life the way that I do.  They are my reasons for continuing that forward breaststroke in the stream that constantly seems to be giving its last-ditch effort to thrust me back in the other direction.  They are my reasons, that no matter how tired, worn out, and run through the ringer I feel, I cannot give up.

I hope each of you is given a renewed sense of hope and faith on this Monday morning to do what you believe is right in your life, despite what our culture tells us is normal.  Have a wonderful week!