root & twig

A Fond Farewell

2011-10-23T14:54:00.000-06:00

It's time to sign off for good.

I knew this day would come, and I knew it would happen almost overnight:
the realization that I'd had my fill of blogging.

As an enjoyable creative outlet, writing this blog has served me well over the past year. I have considered it as a sort of hobby, and fortunately hobbies are the types of things you can comfortably eschew when they no longer fit. With two children entering more strenuous years of schooling, I have had to shift my focus to role of 'teacher,' and accept the hours of labour that go with that. Blogging itself (both writing my own and reading others') has inspired me to continue to exercise my home-making skills, trying new ones and improving others. I have a growing wish spend more quiet time with God, and get to know more of the people in my life. All of these things require a re-budgeting of my hours and minutes, and I find I can no longer afford to blog, and account for these other pursuits.

I'm not worried that by closing 'Root and Twig' I will be depriving my few readers of any actual benefit. There are hundreds of lovely blogs out there, covering any topic one could dream up. (I am sure I myself will continue to visit some of them for years to come!) I was never under the delusion that 'Root and Twig' filled a unique niche or need in this already crowded blogging realm. On the contrary, no blogs are really necessary at all! For we are all certain to find the support and fun and interest we crave when we open up to the people around us in our own homes and communities; and that is the way humans have done it for thousands of years. Much of my blog has emphasized the joy of going back to The Way Things Used to be Done, the simplicity of yesteryear before the onslaught of fast-paced inventions. When looked at that way, it was absolutely inevitable that I would stop blogging eventually, right?
I'm just too busy with the actual living of a full and rich life, to take a decent amount of time to write about it.

And I guess that's all right.

Thanks for stopping by, everyone, and for all your comments and conversation over the year. It has really been so fun to share with you, and to visit your blogs, too! I'll leave my blog up for a while, and will check my comments for a few more days, then I'll be done.

May God lead you ever nearer to understanding Who He really is, and how much He loves you through his Son Jesus.

Fondly,
Ashley

Four Things You Must See Up Close

2011-10-06T08:14:00.000-06:00

During the arduous task of sorting digital photos taken by four separate people (ranging from blurry pictures of our cat in strange positions to close-ups of Star Wars Lego scenes), I came across a few pictures of our summer that I had forgotten about.
Here are four things that you need to see up close, to fully appreciate...

#1. Feathers on butterfly wings.

#2. Babies sleeping.

#3. Broccoli you grew yourself, and the worms didn't get it first!

#4. These guys.

Merry Monday #4: The Meaning of Christmas

2011-10-02T22:39:00.002-06:00

There has always been some revolt (especially amongst Christians) against the commercialization of the Christmas holiday. As the blessed day approaches, one hears mutterings about how people seem to have 'forgotten the reason for the season' and 'lost sight of the true meaning.' Occasionally, you meet some fervently devout person who, in protest, has eschewed all participation in the traditional festivities. Usually, though, these objections to the secularization of Christmas remain somewhat vague and are only half-heartedly expressed. Many of us wander through the season with a subtle discomfort over the word "X-mas", and nagging guilt over enjoying the gifts and food more than might be godly.

I could not create a 'Merry Mondays' column on my blog without honestly re-examining and expressing my own beliefs about the celebration of Christmas.
* * *
Though the exact date of Christ's birth is debated, December 25th has been set aside as His birthday for the last 1500 years or so (read more here, if you're interested). It seemed important to Christ-followers to have a day set aside to celebrate this miraculous occurance: that God should come down in human form, and live among us. If we humans are going to have any parties at all, that seems like the most important thing to party about! Tied with Easter, when we celebrate His death and resurrection, bringing us victory over sin and death. Hurrah!

Though the Christmas feast was not ordained by God in scripture, the fact that God invented so many feasts and celebrations in the Old Testament to commemorate significant events in His people's history leads me to believe that the observation of Christmas is in keeping with God's character. He wants us to set aside special times to celebrate His faithfulness and goodness to us, to remember what He has done, to enjoy good things together, and to provide an extra portion for the needy. For more detail on a God who insists that His people party, read Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Bible.

I guess this understanding of God's character (as generous, happy, and surprising), informs my decision to unabashedly enjoy all the tinsel and spice of the season! There is a God-designed part of humans that wants to sing and dance and shout- all we're waiting for is sufficient reason. And He is the God that gives one reason after another.

Not only that, but these same attributes of God call me to humble reflection and serious worship. The Old Testament feasts included both noisy celebration and quiet pondering in balance. As gift-giving, singing, and eating special foods are all included, too, I don't observe that it was considered more pious to refrain from those celebratory customs. So, I don't worry that participating in these things will cause me to lose sight of this feast's purpose and theme. What I am talking about as godly, is a generous and joyful recognition of Jesus' birth. Obviously, to commit sins of gluttony, greed (over-spending), drunkenness and pride (decorating to keep up with the Jones's)... well, these have no place at Christmas or any other time.

I do not feel offended by the secularization of Christmas, in my culture. For someone who does not know and love Jesus, there could be no deep meaning of Christmas; how could we require the non-Christian to attach significance to it? Their attempt to keep the holiday relevant to themselves (by saying "Happy Holidays" or emphasizing Santa and ignoring Christ) does make sense to me. I understand it, but it makes me sad to imagine how empty that is. It would be like having all those V-Day celebrations at the end of the war...the parades and bands and the ticker-tape...but not having had a victory at all-- just deciding to have a hoopla to distract you and comfort you, while the battles raged on overseas. It does seem rather a lot of bother for a forced smile or two. No wonder so many people rely heavily on alcohol for a good time, at Christmas.

But I feel they're welcome at the feast. Christmas is big enough for all the lookers-on. I hope the generosity and good cheer of the neighbors, the Salvation Army Santa at the mall entrance, the 'wondering what the heck it's all for' will bring a few of them to question and search.
* * *
And after all, just think! Once a year the good news is broadcast to the public at large-- when those old carols are played in the shopping malls!

God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan's power, when we were gone astray.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy!...

Glimpse (xxvi)

2011-09-29T08:26:00.002-06:00

{Another photo that speaks for itself. Inspired by Soulemama. Leave a link below, to share a glimpse of your own.}

52 Pints of Diced Tomatoes

2011-09-26T21:24:00.001-06:00

Whew.
It's over. A weekend of canning 2.5 bushels of tomatoes, enough to last us a year.
Here's one picture of my handiwork.

I took plenty more, but all my pictures of canned tomatoes look the same. Wonder why that is.

Frankly, I don't want to look at them anymore. Tomatoes are not good company. They're demanding, they're poor conversationalists, and they smell weird-- not to mention that they make sandwiches soggy. I don't eat them raw; never have. Nevertheless, for three days I was up to my elbows in this 'childhood enemy' of mine. I gritted my teeth and bore it, for the greater good.

At least I had the pleasure of skinning them all alive (in boiling water, Mwahaha!). Their mangled carcasses are on display like trophies in my cupboard, where they await their final moments as casserole or spaghetti sauce or soup.

Take that, Tomatoes.

Merry Monday #3: Re-usable Gift Wrap

2011-09-26T08:26:00.002-06:00

Welcome back to Merry Mondays!
While I like presenting gifts in an appealing way, fancy paper gift-wrap is a real money- pit, not to mention a bit of an earth-killer (think how much of it ends up in the land-fill every year!). Those shiny Hallmark gift-bags will certainly get used more than once, passed from friend to friend, but eventually they too retire to a land-fill, probably biodegrading far slower than even the paper would have!

Aside from the obvious solution of not wrapping the gift at all, there are a few things I've used to contain past Christmas presents....

Hand-made cloth gift-bags are perfect for immediate family. That way, if you put extra special details into them, you can enjoy them year after year under your own tree. Last year I sewed up half a dozen, just using scraps of fabric and ribbon I had in the basement. At roughly 1.5 feet by 2 feet, they can hold big gifts or be folded around smaller ones. My favorite bags incorporated pieces of an old white lace table-cloth. If my sewing machine cooperates, I'll whip up a bunch more this year.

Colorful vintage scarves abound at local thrift stores, or maybe in your own closet. Alternatively, just use any square of cloth. I can't wait to grab a few more scarves, and try out some of these Japanese "Furoshiki" folding techniques! Isn't this cool? I wish I could remember where I found this diagram! I love how the fold depends on the shape of the object.

Use a wrap that's part of the gift. A new pair of mittens can be the perfect case for a gift-card or jewelry (or any small thing). A tea-towel is sensible for wrapping absolutely anything kitchen-related. Personally, I never have enough baskets, so if anyone gave me a gift in one, I would be as thrilled for the basket as the gift. What about a plant pot, or a cookie jar? Almost any container suits.

How about you? Ever received a really unusually-wrapped gift?

The Kids Make their own Hallowe'en Costumes

2011-09-22T09:07:00.003-06:00

If Hallowe'en has any meaningful purpose at all (which I doubt), it is for people to express themselves through costumes, in exchange for candy. It's a win-win.
Usually, I've observed that the kids get more fun out of planning their costumes, than the actual trick-or-treating. They'd probably argue with that, but the idea of artistic expression does ease my conscience about all that candy.

Last year, Leslie made her own "Paper Bag Princess" costume, inspired by one of our favorite Robert Munsch books. As I was raking leaves in the front yard, she pounced on the giant paper bag I was filling, and said: "I know what I can do with this!" It all went from there. Those kinds of sudden inspirations are the best, aren't they? (Big bags available at Superstore.)

As for Seth, last year he was a pirate... for the third year in a row. It's what he wanted. Someone once said "Variety is the spice of life." That someone was not my son.

This is our Hallowe'en costuming method:

The kids mention what they'd like to be for Hallowe'en. (As early as April.)
We look in their Dress-Up bins, and take stock of their assets. (It might be better sometimes to reverse steps 1 and 2, so that their inspiration can come from what they already have!)
We offer the use of our own scarves, hats, boots, make-up, etc.
We make a quick run to the second hand store for any items still needed. (Look out! This step can de-rail their original plans, and start a whole new inspiration.)
When an prop is still lacking after the hunt, we make it out of cardboard covered with tin-foil. Those two substances magically combine to produce any sort of sword, crown, armor, or robot part. Wire coat-hangers or duct-tape may also be called for.

In past years, this method has produced the following costumes: a princess, a farmer, a pirate, a Jedi, a pirate, a black cat, an apple, a pirate, Robin Hood, a "Bedouin camel-rider" (unfortunately minus the camel), a lion, an apple, and more.

One year, the four of us attended a Hallowe'en party dressed as the members of our favorite band U2, which mainly required a black toque, a pair of wrap-around sunglasses, and some drum-sticks. And yes, I guess this wasn't the kids own idea, but they got on board willingly!

What about you? What are your favorite Hallowe'en costume ideas?

Alberta Badlands

2011-09-21T08:06:00.000-06:00

You have to get out into the sunshine

while there's still time.

You have to look closely at ants crawling over fragrant, sun-dried grasses.

Sit for a while on a lichen-decorated rock and

Listen to the clicking wings of grasshoppers.

You have to get some burrs in your socks,

some wind in your face,

some wide open spaces in your view.

When the summer is drawing its last breath,

you have to chase it into the wilderness.

Store it all up in your mind, as though squirreling away provisions for the coming winter.

When the cold and dark moves in,

you can recall the sound of lark sparrows,

and be warm.

Merry Monday #2: Simple Holiday Gifts

2011-09-19T08:44:00.004-06:00

Time to get your jingle on, all you Santa's out there!

Join me in writing a list and checking it twice. Don't you delight in planning what kinds of goodies and gifts you'll hand out to loved ones at Christmas? - and how much better to start preparing early so you can enjoy the whole process and make your gifts really personal.

So please help me brainstorm a bunch of gift ideas that are:

useful or use- up- able
meaningful and personal
home-made or ethically produced
not too pricey
won't end up as forgotten clutter

Here are some ideas to get us started, but please add yours in the comments section below.

A journal with a bookmark or interesting pen/pencil.
A sketch-book with charcoal.
Home-canned goods (jam, fruit, etc).
A poem or story written just for the recipient.
A board game (our family loves Blokus).
A jar of unusual honey, or maple syrup, with homemade biscuit mix.
A jar of ribbon Christmas ribbon candy.
Make a charitable donation in their name, instead of gifts.
Tickets to a local play or concert.
Look on Etsy, for very unique ethically-made gifts!
A handmade mobile, or wind chimes.
A house or garden plant in a thrifted pot.
Coupons for cleaning or babysitting.
An all natural or home-made soap or lip-balm.
A special wine, coffee or tea you really enjoy.
A basket with any combination of the above.

There! I've just written a list of family/friends (both naughty and nice!) in my journal, and in the next few weeks I'll jot gift ideas next to each, and start working on them. This will be so much better than waiting until the middle of December before starting. :)

How about you all? What is the most appreciated gift you've ever given or received?
If you have a gift idea, or site to recommend, please list it below!

The Grindstone

2011-09-14T13:23:00.000-06:00

I had hoped today we'd no longer feel it:
The cold and gritty resistance of old-fashioned schoolwork: course syllabi to sort out, chapters to read and analyze, trapezoid areas to calculate, essay questions to answer.

Hopefully any day now, it won't feel like moving in circles, and we'll fall into a stride that feels comfortable and sustainable, as we tackle the heavier demands of a more regimented homeschool curriculum. The children each want a diploma, someday, and we're sure glad they do. How I wish the world was set up in such a way that plain, playful, day-to-day learning and exploring could achieve that for them. But that is not the reality; they have to really hit the books, and follow the clock and calendar, and write papers and take tests and exams as 'governmentally' required. So, with the leaves yellowing outside, and the wind beginning to nip, we all buckle down and keep our noses to the grind-stone.

And we take breaks. Bathroom breaks, cookie breaks, frisbee breaks, pet-the-cat breaks, and the occasional snooze break. Oh, yes, we're getting very good at that part of it.

Introducing "Merry Mondays:" Homemade Christmas Ideas

2011-09-11T21:54:00.001-06:00

It is totally early! I get that. But in my opinion, September is just the right time to begin crafting and planning for a simple, heart-felt, handmade Christmas.

So, to that end, "Merry Monday" is hereby established.
My blog posts on Mondays, from now until Christmas, will feature:

ideas for handmade Christmas gifts,
links to simple-Christmas-type blog posts,
yummy Christmas recipes,
traditions old and new,
and maybe an artsy give-away, or two!

Please join in, by leaving comments, and contribute your own ideas and inspiration. Leave links to any of your own blog-posts that contain Christmassy ideas! If you have an Etsy shop, or know of a great one, you may shamelessly promote it!

So please pour yourself a hot chocolate (or an iced tea, depending on the weather in your area), and let's get festive!

To begin, I'm dusting off some Christmas Spirit from previous years...such as...

Rick Rack Cards

I made this for friends last year, but didn't blog about it (due to some recipients also being my blog-readers)!

Our traditional "Christmas Eve Day" skating, followed by hot chocolate.

What about you? Please share what simple gifts you gave last year, or about your favorite Christmas traditions, or about some creative ideas you're planning to try out...

Sites for sore eyes...

2011-09-04T19:58:00.000-06:00

Really loving the idea of open shelves in my kitchen, instead of heavy upper cabinets...What do you think? Would these kitchens feel brighter and lighter to work in?

Read this story of just one more ridiculous way that the government tries TOO HARD to make 'education' happen.

Here's a school I'd love to attend! If only I lived close enough...(sigh)...

Play this game to while away a few spare moments which, if you're not careful, will turn into a few hours! So frustrating and fun!

Picnicking? If you concoct a few of these, you may enjoy those last few summer Bar-B-Ques a bit more! This is NOT a vegetarian-friendly recipe, as the "sauce" you put in at the end should consist of super-sweetened fruit juice, along with a small piece of meat (any kind).

Oh, and here's a little love from my vegetable garden....

A Morning at Summer's End.

2011-08-31T13:56:00.000-06:00

It's still dark at 6:30, when I shut off my alarm, and that seems strange.
Through the open bedroom window, blows a breeze that is cooler than we're used to. It's raining, finally. I smile at the thought of my thirsty garden. The garden is winding down, but my tomatoes are yet unripe, and I'm tired of watering them every day by hand. It's been hot.

While Kent and I sip our coffee, a bleary-eyed boy stumbles out of his bedroom and gathers what he needs for his own breakfast: a bowl, a spoon, corn-flakes and milk. His standby. I nuzzle his cheek with my nose, a good-morning snuggle. Those cheeks are the last silky-smooth, babyish things about that strapping twelve-year-old...and I know how fortunate I am to still be allowed to nuzzle them. It won't be long now before that's forbidden, just like having him on my lap or holding his hand...

The rain pauses, and the sun pushes between the eastern clouds. It lights up the topmost branches of a tree in our yard, showing the first yellow leaves there, and Kent packs up his lunch, kisses me goodbye, and closes the front door behind him. Finishing my coffee, I survey the rooms to consider my day's work.

Gotta dust today, and do some errands. Leslie and Seth can clean the bathrooms. The several piles of homeschooling books on the dining room floor still await my final sorting and arrangement. Looseleaf paper to be put into binders. The pencil box to be cleaned out. I still need to download a thing or two onto the laptop, so that we're ready for school.

Where did the summer go? Oh, right. We gobbled it up greedily, topped with cream and sugar. We savoured every spoonful, and licked the bowl.

Peeking through a bedroom door, I see a curled up 13-year-old in a heap of blankets. How does she still contort her limbs into such an uncomfortable-looking arrangement, when she sleeps? She's always done that; we used to find her all crammed up on one end of the crib, or with limbs dangling over the side of the bed. She used to rise early, too, but now she sleeps as late as we'll let her. Growing. Changing. I move past that door without entering. Let her sleep just a bit longer.

Soon enough we'll all be rising early.

Reasons to Homeschool II

2011-08-23T08:20:00.000-06:00

My first list of our 'reasons to homeschool' can be found here. Since then, more have come up-- some shared by other homeschooler moms as comments or in conversation, some out of the mouths of my children and husband, and some simply made more apparent as we go along.
Even though homeschooling is not the right fit for every family, I do wish the general public would consider all its benefits, challenge any preconceived notions they have about it, and at least take it seriously as a valid (and even excellent) option for educating children. In our city, the percentage of families homeschooling is increasing. Here are 10 more reasons for why that might be...

Leslie and Chester (Photo by Seth)

26. Our children are displaying their unique personalities, not striving to imitate others just to fit in with a crowd of peers.
27. We parents are the first people our children approach when they want to discuss ideas of life, current events, issues they encounter, and questions they may have about the world.
28. We can take 'days off' when it suits us- like whenever Dad has a day off work!
29. We can finish the 'school year' in May, or even April, if we work hard enough, and have a long carefree summer vacation.
30. We can go swimming during the daytime, when almost no one else is at the pool!
31. This is a big one: the kids don't spend any time commuting to and from school. In some areas of our city the bus ride is 45-60 minutes long, each way. Other schools (like the one our children went to) don't provide bus service, and families must drive their children to and from school. For us the drive was 20 minutes long, one way. That's still 40 minutes of the day for the children, and another 40 on top of that for me, the mom/chauffeur. To and from in the morning, to and from in the afternoon. Another consideration is simply how much gas money and pollution that costed.

(Photo by Leslie)

32. It's quiet. Mmmmm.
33. We are free to get loud! Ahhhhh!
34. (From my 13-year-old daughter:) "Sometimes it seems like a good thing that I got out [of the school] when I did; whenever I talk to my friends who are still in school, they're always mentioning about trying to lose weight, and they think they're fat." [she rolls her eyes].
35. The children's exposure to contagious afflictions is greatly reduced, and we've dealt with much less illness in the past year! (No flu, recurring colds, head-lice, etc).
36. If you get a fit of the giggles, feel free to indulge in them!

You may enjoy reading the article entitled Reasons for Homeschooling in Canada by A. Bruce Arai. It is not a persuasive article at all, but rather an interesting look at what seems to be motivating families to choose this route of education. His information is derived from interviews with a diverse cross-section of homeschooling families.

A Blog Award! (Blush...)

2011-08-22T17:21:00.002-06:00

One of the best things about blogging: you realize just how many Nice People are out there.

I love browsing the blogs of fellow-moms and housewives, reading their thoughts and experiences, and benefiting from their ideas and wisdom. I always hope I'm giving back more of the same.

So, I was delighted to receive this nod of recognition from Stephanie at 'Green's Going Green'...

This award is given to bloggers with under 200 followers.

In order to participate, you've gotta follow the rules:

1. Thank the giver and link back to them.

Thank you, Stephanie!

2. Reveal your 5 picks, and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my favorite blogs lately:

42 Things: by a laid-back, homeschooling, natural-style mama of 2.

Planting an Acorn: by an artsy, well-traveled, prairie-small-town mama of 3.

Bee House Hives: by a photo-genius, bee-keeping, Montana mama.

Everyone Needs a L'il Grace: by an adopting mama missionary in Tanzania.

Empress of Dirt: by a very witty gardener in Ontario.

Only one of these has more than 200 followers, but these are my favorites lately, and so I cheated just a little bit. These ladies are each so unique in their blog styles. Enjoy!

3. Copy and paste award to your blog.

Done!

What blogs are YOU loving these days?

Organizing the Freezer

2011-08-08T08:09:00.000-06:00

Do you want to revolutionize your life and bring meaning to a much-ignored area of your kitchen? Are you agonizing over how to best use your freezer space? Are you desperate enough for reading material that you will spend 10 minutes of your life learning how someone else organized her freezers? Then continue...

In the drawer next to fridge I have finally learned to store a roll of masking tape and permanent marker. These are for putting labels on containers before they go into the abyss of the fridge or freezer. Why didn't I do this earlier in my housekeeping career? Apparently, I enjoy the guessing game that often results in me mistakenly thawing a bag of blueberries, instead of ground beef, for the evening casserole. Instead of ugly masking tape, one could purchase fancy label stickers. The "Hello my name is________"name-tags folks are forced to wear at business events? Those would be perfect. Then you don't have to introduce the ziplocs to each other (Ground beef, meet Spicy Italian Sausage...).

In my fridge-freezer, I keep rectangular plastic container just for freezing scraps for the compost. A friend showed me this years ago, and it's a way better method than a can on/under the counter. You can use an ice-cream pail or an old tupperware thing; no lid necessary. Potato peelings and a half eaten slice of tomato freeze almost instantly, so there's no smell and moisture is frozen in. Take the bucket out to the composter when it's full. When I see those expensive compost cans that have replaceable filters in their lids, I shake my head a little. "Eco" products are big business right now, but with some thought you can be greener for cheaper.

I finally got tired of rooting around for a shrinking bag of frozen peas or whatever, and I try to keep stuff sorted by type. I've got a basket in the freezer that holds bags of frozen veggies. My frozen meats are all in one stack in the chest-freezer. Breads are kept in a big card-board box. Frozen left-overs or make-ahead meals must be kept in one spot, or else they get forgotten and wasted. These things I all learned the hard way.

I like to preserve fresh herbs in the freezer. I wash a bunch of cilantro or parsley, chop it fine, and put a Tablespoon of it into each cube of an ice-cube-tray. Top them up with water, and freeze. When they're frozen, I dump them all into a ziploc (labeled!) and put them in the door of my fridge freezer. The ice-cubes of herbs go directly into soups or stews as needed.

My fridge freezer, in the kitchen, also contains:

A ziploc bag for catching old crusts of bread for later use in recipes or as croutons.
Containers of homemade chicken stock, in one-cup portions.
Ice-cubes of starter yogurt.
Containers of frozen chopped peppers and onions.
Ziploc bags of precooked meat and from-scratch beans.
Leftover pasta or rice, which are great for soups.
A container for ice cubes.

What's the state of your freezer? How do you best use it?

Learning to Love (gasp!) my Body

2011-08-03T22:30:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find yourself focusing on those parts of your body that our culture tells you are Ugly?
Muffin top, saddlebags, love handles, crows-feet, bowlegs, pigeon toes... our names for such details are rather creative. Seems like we give them too much attention.

I have often struggled with fretting over details of my bodily appearance. According to the images we see in movies and magazines, there is very narrow margin of people considered beautiful; only a certain shape of female seems worth photographing, filming or even looking at.

But the definition of beauty changes over time, and from place to place. Here's what European culture defined as beautiful in 1515 AD:

By the 1950's North Americans preferred slim waists, but a rather unusual shape for our unmentionables:

And in some parts of the world, this is even currently considered attractive:

How relative beauty is! If I'd been born in the 1500's, my physique would have been the envy of all my friends-- but too bad for me, this is 2011, and I'm up against this:

I'm up against it, if I choose to compete, that is. And I don't. Turns out, though, that I have to make a pretty deliberate effort if I want to exit the game. Comparing myself with others is an addictive habit; it's such a trap. In the past year, I've made significant progress in learning to accept and even love my body just the way it is, and I feel I am being set free.

Here's the difference: I think about my body in terms of what it is capable of, instead of what it looks like.

In the morning, I enjoy the strength I feel in my arms for the work ahead. I had a good sleep and I know I can get so much done in the day. I knead dough, stir soup, dig in the garden.
When I go to my Zumba classes, I am delighted when I catch on to a new dance step. I don't care what I look like- it just feels so good to move to the music!
My legs ache after a four hour bike-ride with my family, but I think about how miraculous it is that those muscles will rebuild even stronger having been broken down!
I look at my children, and marvel that my body somehow produced them.
I get sick with bronchitis, and my body tells me what it needs (sleep, water, and time) to recover.
It turns food and water and oxygen into energy for each day.
My heart has never missed a beat, my lungs breath all through the night, my brain sorts it's thoughts as I sleep.
A scrape on my leg heals with no help from me.
A callous forms on my foot to protect it from the friction of new shoes.
I can enjoy the endless variety of pleasures experienced by all my five senses.

What if all us women looked the same? God delights in variety so much, that he made no two people alike. He looks for beauty where it counts, and that's where I hope I can pursue it: on the inside, in my attitudes and thoughts.

This renewed appreciation for my body has had other benefits, too. I'm willing to make sacrifices, as though out of gratitude, so that I can keep it healthier. When I'm in this better mindset, I also lose my dread of aging. Grey hairs and spider veins aren't the end of the world! My body still performs quite beautifully, and I'm going to enjoy it.

What about you? How do you try to improve your attitude toward your body?

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139: 14

Turning our Front Lawn into a Vegetable Garden (Pt 3): Building Raised Beds

2011-08-01T10:11:00.001-06:00

Continuing from Pt 2 (about preparing the ground), here's how we built five raised vegetable garden beds.

I had sketched out a crude map of our garden on paper, so I knew what size and number of boxes would fit. To avoid a regimented 'grid' look, I opted to arrange them diagonally on in the lawn space, but still in neat lines.

1. On the bare soil, from which the sod had been lifted, we carefully measured and marked out the exact location for each bed. Keeping the all the corners square to each other, and the sides perfectly parallel, we left precisely two feet between each bed for pathways. I wanted to comfortably move a wheelbarrow between the beds. Because our yard is sloped, we had to dig out little trenches for the higher ends of the beds to fit into, so the beds would be exactly level, even though the ground was not.

2. Next we calculated the lumber we'd need, and bought it, for three beds that were 4x8 feet, and two smaller ones that were 4 feet square. We used 2x10 untreated spruce lumber for the sides of the beds, and 2x2's to make stakes for the corners of each. [A helpful neighbor wandered over to suggest we use treated lumber so the beds would last longer. But we don't want the chemicals from treated wood leeching into our food supply. Cedar is an excellent rot-resistant wood for raised beds, but it was too pricy for us.]

3. To build the beds, we used 2-inch screws to join the cut planks solidly corners. At this point the boxes weren't very strong. We put a deposit of pea gravel along the outlined rectangles/squares, and then placed the beds on top, so that the wood rested on the bit of gravel. This was to provide some drainage, but it also helped us be able to level the beds. (The trickiest bed to build was the one that encircled the tree, since it was also enclosing some soil and grass).

*The 4x8 beds were each given a cross-brace as shown in the photo, to keep the sides from bowing out under the weight of garden soil.

4. Next, using a sledge hammer, we drove stakes into the ground, inside each corner of each bed. These stakes we made by sawing slanted ends on 16 inch lengths of the 2x2 lumber. The stakes serve to keep the beds from shifting sideways, but also add strength to the corners of the beds.

5. Now we used a level to position the beds perfectly, screwing the beds' corners to the stakes as we went along. The resulting joints are very strong (see photo).

6. Finishing touches included sawing off the protruding ends of the stakes, filling the beds with enriched garden soil, and spreading pea gravel between the beds as pathways. The soil and pea gravel we had delivered from a local landscaping company. I love the pea gravel to walk and work on- it's very comfortable and stays so clean. It holds the sun's heat well at night, so my garden will get a bit more warmth at both ends of the growing season.

So, that's how we did it! It was fairly economical, as the total cost of our lumber was only about 100.00. The gravel itself is cheap, too. It was the soil that was a bit pricy since we wanted the good stuff.
Here's how the garden looks now:

All- Natural Strawberry Jam

2011-07-28T08:43:00.000-06:00

Want an easy, natural way to make The Most Scrumptious strawberry jam ever?
I was thrilled with this recipe because it:

contains no processed sugar,
doesn't call for commercial pectin,
tastes just as sweet as, but even more fruity than, conventional jam!
doesn't make too large a batch at once, so you can use your strawberries as they get ripe.

Strawberry Jam (adapted slightly from 'The Rodale Whole Foods Cookbook')
Makes three 250 mL jars.

4 Cups finely chopped fresh strawberries (2 pounds)
1/2 Cup liquid honey (use a mildly flavored honey, like clover)
1/4 Cup real maple syrup
2 TB tapioca flour/starch (this is the thickener, instead of powdered pectin)
2 TB water

In a large pot, combine the berries, honey and syrup. Bring to a boil and then continue to simmer, stirring, until the mixture is reduced to 3 Cups. (This doesn't take long, maybe a few minutes). Dissolve the tapioca flour in the water and mix it in. Now stir over medium heat until the jam is thickened. Don't over cook at this stage.
Ladle into hot, sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2 inch 'head-space.' Apply the seals properly, using a boiling water bath.

The Rodale version calls for the berries to be crushed, but I really prefer larger bits of fruit in my jam.
One of the batches I made became more of a sauce, because I replaced some of the fresh strawberries with frozen ones I had in my freezer. Not the best for spreading on toast, but it will be perfect for over angel food cake or ice-cream! So I sealed it up anyway, and will save it for a winter's dessert. Yum.

Turning our Front Lawn into a Vegetable Garden (Pt 2): De-Grassing

2011-07-25T08:02:00.003-06:00

Grass is an obnoxiously sociable plant! Wherever you want it to grow exclusively, it has a habit of inviting unwanted weeds and mushrooms to join the party. Grass creeps out of its confines into nearby flower-beds to hobnob with your roses, and rudely interrupts the orderly bricks of sidewalks. Whether you want it to thrive or disappear, it does not cooperate.

(Click here for Part 1 of this little series)

To create our front-yard veggie garden, we had to remove a very large area of grass.

Now, there are different methods people can use to convert lawn into garden. One popular way is to leave the grass in place, build raised beds right on top of it, and line the bottoms of the beds with cardboard or newspaper before adding soil. The idea behind this method is that the newspaper and cardboard will rot away, but not before suffocating the grass below, turning it into lovely compost. There are two reasons this seemingly sensible method was not our first choice (except for one small bed). Firstly, our short summers and cold winters would probably not allow the cardboard to rot as fast as we'd like. But more importantly, our lawn was bumpy and sloped toward the house! Before we laid down a garden we had to fix that drainage problem.

1. Lift the sod. Starting in April of this year, using a good ole' spade and a lot of muscle, we sliced and turned over the sod of about 2/3 of our front yard. The sod was still soft and damp from melted snow, but had not yet begun to grow green, so it was easier than if we'd waited until mid-summer. If one does this job later in the year, it's a good idea to cut the grass as short as possible (and carry off the clippings), and then dig the sod right after a long rain. Clay soil like ours is nearly impossible to pierce when dry, although unfortunately it is heavier when wet. We'd let the turned sod dry out for a day or two before moving them off the ground. I was thrilled to see plenty of earthworms in the soil. Later, they can crawl up into the veggie boxes and work their magic!

2. Dispose of the sod. We faced a real conundrum when deciding how to do this. When we phoned our city office, we were told that we would be charged per kilo to dispose of it at the dump. Sod is beastly heavy, and we couldn't afford it! I also knew that sod can be turned into good compost, though it does take a long time in our climate. So, behind some bushes in a less visible corner of our property, we slowly piled up those chunks of sod. I nestled the sod chunks together tightly, grass-side down, as if I was building a sod house like the pioneers used to! I expect the 4x5x3 foot pile to take several years to break down.

3. Slope the ground for gradual drainage. Next, we scraped the ground in some places and built it up in other places, until it sloped gently away from the house. My husband did most of this heavy work, and he used a level and line to check the slope as he went. When we encountered tree roots, we cut them out of our way.

4. Work around trees or shrubs. An ornamental crab apple tree was slated to stay in the center of our front yard, so we left the grass alone in a square area around its trunk, so as to avoid damaging it. We built a raised bed around the tree's grassy base, laid cardboard over the grass, and put soil on top. But we carefully molded the soil away from the tree's trunk, keeping a 'dimple' in the middle of that square bed. This was the only raised bed we made this way (with grass left underneath) as we intended that only for perennial plants and flowers.

Now that the ground was ready, the fun of building the garden beds could begin! Read about building the raised beds in Part 3.

Anyone have any other ideas for disposing of unwanted sod or grass?

The God who Runs to Meet Me

2011-07-21T09:24:00.001-06:00

...When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him,...'I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'' So he got up and went to his father.
But when he was still along way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him...'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet...Let's have a feast...'
(From the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15)

I had such a lousy last few days. Nothing truly tragic. Just plain ol' bad days, in which little things went wrong, got in my way, and were inconvenient and annoying. I didn't endure with grace and patience, but instead I got angrier and angrier.

I get like that. I like to do things my way, run on my own steam and energy, feel the rush of managing. I like to control and orchestrate my home and my schedule, and see it go as planned. I deceive myself into thinking this is Being a Good Wife. But really, it's my way of being successful in my own eyes, and even showing off to others. There's no room in that kind of life for a Father who knows better, so I edge him out little by little. I avoid eye-contact with Him while I expertly manage everything myself. Father, give me my share of the estate.

But it's unsustainable. I run out of energy, I run out of patience, I run out of time. I scramble to stay in control, but I lose it. The more I try to get my own way, the less it satisfies me when I get it. I think I know best, and am surprised by how often I'm wrong. I wrestle with interruptions and inconveniences, until I'm exhausted. ...he squandered all his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was severe famine in that country...

Then begins the fear. I've realized that I've wandered far from the lap of the Father, and I've recognized my own folly and sin. But for a while I'm still too afraid to go back home to Him. I expect him to scold and shame me, with harsh words and penance. I know that's what I deserve.

Finally, I can't bear being separated from Him anymore. I swallow my pride (as appetizing as the husks the pigs are eating). I get up and walk that long road home, with my head bowed and my feet dragging. He must be so disgusted with me. He probably doesn't even want to see me anymore. Maybe I can just be allowed to serve him, at arm's length.

But He is the God who runs to meet me. That's the kind of Father he is. Before the 'sorry' is half-said, he's tearfully embracing me. "I missed you! Don't you know me by now, and how I'll always want you? I'm so glad you're back. The party couldn't start without you."

He cries with me a little bit, as I pour out my frustrations and anger. He doesn't rub it in, or scold, though I deserve that. We talk. Or we sit in companionable silence. Then he does something to make us both laugh out loud, together, and it feels like a feast and a celebration.

Later, when I get up to return to my housework, there is a newness to each task. I do it not for my own pride, and not to gain approval or self-worth, but rather how I would jump up to clear the table at the home of Someone who'd just served me a feast of fattened calf.

Turning our Front Lawn into a Vegetable Garden (Pt 1): Rationale

2011-07-18T22:23:00.001-06:00

I'm back early from my summer 'blogging break' because I was inspired to write about some of our spring gardening projects. Waiting until autumn to share about growing vegetables or improving a yard--well, that seemed silly!

Perhaps someone out there can benefit from all that we learned while undertaking the enormous task of converting our front yard into a vegetable garden. I know it's mid-summer, and rather late to plant veggies, but let me encourage you (if you plan to go this route): start this summer on preparing your yard, then you'll be ready in spring 2012 for planting.

So, why grow veggies in a front yard?

For a while, we've been drawn to the idea of reducing the amount of grass we grow on our lot. Doesn't it seem peculiar that millions of North Americans actually 'farm' grass on their properties, seeding and watering and mowing it all through the summer, then bagging up the 'harvest' and chucking it in the garbage?! There are so many resources wasted, so much toxic fertilizer and herbicides used, and so much time spent on managing a crop that we just throw away. As long as we have kids at our house, we'll likely always keep some grass for them to play on, but being surrounded by lovely parks and playgrounds almost makes that unnecessary. Growing beautiful, valuable, organic veggies of our own makes sense to us. We don't own much land, just a regular city lot, but we think it can produce quite a bit of food if we learn how to manage it properly. We're excited to have begun learning!

As for why we chose the front yard, not the back:
Most of our back yard is too shady for veggies, for one thing, and also we wanted to keep our sheltered back-yard as a more private place to gather with friends, have BBQs, and sit and relax.
Since starting the veggies out front, though, we've noticed more unexpected benefits to that specific location. The increased time we spend outdoors in the front yard has led to more interactions with the neighbors on our street. Many of them have come over to see what we are doing, offer advice, or just visit. To respect our neighbor's view from the street, we are keeping the garden attractive and carefully maintained, including plenty of flowers and shrubs, not to mention a mature 4-foot surrounding hedge. I'm glad to share my produce with neighbors, too. Their response so far as been approval and keen interest. (Even our postman has commented on our delicious veggies! We've never spoken with him before...gardens bring people together.)
I have also enjoyed how, since our veggie-crop took off, visitors always pause in the front yard before ringing our door-bell. Sometimes they step off the walkway and into the garden to take a closer look. Maybe they're wondering whether the meal we're about to share will include any of those goodies!

Back-yard gardens are more common and acceptable. Our city of Calgary is fine with veggies growing everywhere, but you'd better check with your locality for by-laws that may prohibit 'public' veggie-gardening; otherwise you may end up in trouble like this poor woman in the USA. If in doubt, use your back-yard for veggies.

In Pt 2, I'll begin outlining the steps we took to make this change in our yard. Now excuse me, while I go water my tomatoes!

Taking the Summer 'Off'

2011-05-12T08:09:00.000-06:00

"The dream is in the mind, the realization in the hands." --Louis L'amour

Bright and balmy. Finally. And we have begun to tackle the tangled, starved, overgrown sink-hole that is our yard. With a brisk breeze constantly blowing (with just a touch of winter coolness still in it), birds and squirrels chattering, and our wind-chimes put up again to serenade us, we have been:

digging up the sod in the front yard to make way for raised veggie beds
arranging those strips of sod upside-down in neat stacks for composting
ordering and receiving shipments of soil and pea gravel (Seth loves the dumptrucks!)
using a sledge-hammer on the padlock that former owners had used to secure a bbq to the (rotting) deck
spraying weeds with vinegar (will it work?)
wheel-barrowing pea gravel and spreading it under a shade tree in the back yard
scraping down high-spots and filling in low spots
pruning everything
using broken (and smashing more- fun!) old pavers to create new walk-ways
setting out seedlings to harden off in the sun and wind
dividing and moving perennials

This summer is going to be completely packed with this kind of work, and I'm thrilled! This is the stuff I love to do most; though most of the heavy labor is being done by my hard-working man (I like watching!). Most summers I let the housework go, except for cooking and laundry from which there is no escape, so that I can spend every bit of time outside.

So... I've decided to take a vacation from blogging, both reading and writing. I plan to be back in this space in the fall. May you all enjoy a delightful and energetic summer, with time to bike-ride, camp, swim, read, garden, and eat green things from your garden and/or your local Farmer's Market! Those are my plans!
See you in a few months!

A "Miniature" Birthday Party

2011-05-09T17:32:00.000-06:00

Leslie and I giggled a lot while we thought up the menu for her birthday party. The rule: it had to be miniature! She chose to have a viewing of "Alice in Wonderland" with her girlfriends, so tiny foods seemed just the thing. Here's what we came up with:

'Sliders' (baby-sized hamburgers)
Hickory Sticks (look like little french fries)
Personal-sized pizzas (so cute when you cut them each into eight tiny wedges!)
Grape-tomatoes
Baby cuke slices
Carrot sticks (match-stick sized)
Cans of pop (the baby sized ones)
A birthday cake only 4 inches across

Of course with all the food being so small, I had to provide a lot more of it to feed nine voracious girls. But that was a cinch, since most of it came from the frozen food aisle. I have never met a 13-year-old who cared whether her mom served home-made food or pre-packaged at a birthday party! Thank goodness for that. (So often, moms have standards for themselves that their kids don't care about or need...that's a whole other post topic, right?)

But...thirteen? Oh my. I just can't quite get my head or heart around it. When did she do all that growing and maturing? Is it selfish of me to want those baby days back? At the party the food was little, but the girls sure weren't...

We are so proud of Leslie, how tender-hearted and creative she is, and how she loves those around her. Happy Birthday, dearest! We love you!

Eating Locally

2011-05-08T22:05:00.000-06:00

“Every aspect of our lives is in a sense a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.” ~Frances Moore Lappé

Some might chuckle at the idea of trying to 'eat local' in chilly, arid Alberta. Granted, since settlers first moved west over a century ago, I doubt there's ever been a time when we non-native Albertans haven't relied on food imported from distant places (by rail, and soon also by road and by air).

True, a locavore in Alberta must struggle to stay properly nourished. I don't choose to say goodbye to my beloved imported citrus fruits! Certain things must be imported if they are going to be had at all. Spices, coffee and chocolate are other must-haves! But, lately I've decided to attempt to buy locally-grown foods whenever I can. If we Albertans can grow something well right here, then why buy it from elsewhere? And it is surprising the variety of produce Albertans can grow excellently: meat of all kinds, dairy and eggs, grains, plenty of veggies (at certain times of year), and even some fruit (berries, mainly).

If like me, you have a growing concern about:

the disappearance of the family farm
the long-distance travel of imported or processed foods
the increase of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in our diets
the gross over-use of chemicals in food-production

...you may be fascinated by this interview by Avenue Homesteader, with John Schneider, an organic grain farmer here in Alberta. Don't neglect to watch the video in which John Schneider explains some of the challenges and joys he faces growing and marketing his products. I loved his description of how careful crop selection and rotation is used (instead of chemicals!) to control pests and rejuvenate spent soil.

What about you? What kinds of foods would you buy from local producers? What kinds of imports could you not do without!?