tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30531530063323451642024-03-12T21:52:22.131-07:00Kid Friendly Organic LifeIdeas for living a healthy, organic, planet conscious, kid-friendly affordable life.Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-17882861214886269402016-12-06T07:13:00.000-08:002016-12-06T07:13:35.563-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Hi – Thanks for stopping by the Kid Friendly Organic Life
blog! As you may have noticed, I don’t post very often on this blog anymore.
There are lots of reasons for this, but it is NOT because I don’t care
passionately about living a kid-friendly organic life anymore—I do! I do!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I’m leaving this blog live, sort of like leaving the light
on, because it has an important message and I’m not completely convinced I’ve
said all I want to say on the topic. Meanwhile, if you are looking to live a
kid-friendly organic life, you can find much of the information on this blog,
plus plenty of information not on this blog in my book –</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.carawrites.com/live-intentionally" target="_blank">Live Intentionally: 65 Challenges for a Healthier, HappierLife</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.carawrites.com/live-intentionally" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYvEpf3KgfafBiRlv6B9t0K6vyPIFBfQpb6XIMweq649xCrtBPgT8qWERWoCfET1ltYRD2lJA4lOAzDhkmi3RjDz0agNuT4cl3fyELxKfTlJdh4an-CT1JqwMY3tKZn61ZzOfbMhPLuc/s320/cover+image.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Live Intentionally is full of stories, recipes, ideas,
inspiration, and yes, challenges to help you live the most intentionally
organic life you can. If you’d like me to mail you a signed copy, just shoot me
an email and we can arrange payment through paypal.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>And if you need a few recipe ideas, check the recipes tabs
above—there are links to all the recipes on the blog.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>While I haven’t been blogging on Kid Friendly Organic Life,
I have been blogging on two other sites you might want to check out:</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.anothergooddog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Another Good Dog</a> is a blog that chronicles our family’s
adventures as a foster dog family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pfqFmk7f_MgyCpCMlK-oJs-opBaO4Hl0z6YXsecl8YNh1y1ABcpVp3rzbvLjJR8M6c8oIWrSEwl1PP-L8nVG59FPM5mv41IGGqOHAS8w4M63AeoqnglUSbDm45LtBrbKghKzFfFjGF4/s1600/14720532_10209947818323305_5907418777024372448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pfqFmk7f_MgyCpCMlK-oJs-opBaO4Hl0z6YXsecl8YNh1y1ABcpVp3rzbvLjJR8M6c8oIWrSEwl1PP-L8nVG59FPM5mv41IGGqOHAS8w4M63AeoqnglUSbDm45LtBrbKghKzFfFjGF4/s320/14720532_10209947818323305_5907418777024372448_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.carawritesblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">My Life in Paragraphs</a> is a blog about my writing life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzPLRn9O-9F9AmeXmxsTujfhNz_FDIiRLXTJx9pT73rJidKvz40-9egZ-9msPPWB8izNTEvHxhJstOyDRquFo3R_LJx4FHodnzxZc1lzpEDw17daVHYNq_2CfObncRLUZ7PRAbUX_AC4/s1600/good+day+pa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzPLRn9O-9F9AmeXmxsTujfhNz_FDIiRLXTJx9pT73rJidKvz40-9egZ-9msPPWB8izNTEvHxhJstOyDRquFo3R_LJx4FHodnzxZc1lzpEDw17daVHYNq_2CfObncRLUZ7PRAbUX_AC4/s320/good+day+pa.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I've also been busy writing novels! Seriously? Why, yes! Here are a few of them:</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.carawrites.com/im-not-her" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyNipIdgUInKwR_ad80tu7JE5yCwusq1EVLKB5EAKEF9wJJmq7CCNguG0VpBC1JGuDMl_C5GHWWxE1Ts1ZON_cA5bE5bK_Bmn8FohzBe74utgs3srPQvx6Jzz8RG_08wC_Q_4HeFiXKM/s320/cover+image.jpg" width="207" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpol6rNPltnBws1KMgQCpqowb2Oxcv8o_bBfffoAJpYURpPJCFjfjq5lSOBmRnLDSGsGgGYOI0vCRhXQ6dPD0idp7TVkJ_bJJwbCpelx3peUVE_OZlLrRsxj-lXigvyZg-pXZuj5tboQ/s320/Girls%2527+Weekend+cover+-+Copy.jpg" width="207" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.carawrites.com/practicing-normal" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJEjjrmFSOPENO_M8BlLMyHiJYIHyeLt_VjesTgjAc3Ek_F0qYMWXN-oiZtpLdgn_v7EzXImtbM1FrGxC-CX1r3w5HiESeiBpW3Tc3avkKFxSoA9FjVSKtL_r22z1yF1B8rCyJiv5iHM/s320/cover+image.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<i>Links to my blogs, books, and other published writing in journals and magazines, plus news, schedule of appearances, random photos of my foster dogs, and even video clips from TV appearances can be found at
<a href="http://carawrites.com./">CaraWrites.com.</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Thanks for reading! I am always grateful and humbled by your
interest in what I have to say! <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Many blessings to all of you.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-65775028548357335782016-05-13T06:10:00.003-07:002016-05-13T06:10:40.498-07:00Explanation for random post spams....Hey Subscribers to Kid Friendly Organic Life!<br />
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First off, sorry for the random old posts that Blogger keeps sending out. I have NO earthly idea what that is about, but rest assured I am attempting to get to the bottom of it with little or no help from blogger (or google who own blogger!). If I can't resolve the issue, I may remove this blog, which would break my heart, of course. Still, I don't want you to get this odd form of spam from me because I am the anti-spam.<br />
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Many apologies! I'm working on it - promise!<br />
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(and just in case you were wondering - I do plan to post to this blog again, I'm just WAY over the top too busy at present with the release of my second novel, <i>Girls' Weekend</i> -<a href="http://www.carawrites.com/girls-weekend" target="_blank"> check it out</a> if you're so inclined and if you're jonesing for one of my real posts, you can subscribe to my other blog, <a href="http://www.anothergooddog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Another Good Dog</a>, which chronicles the tales/tails of our foster dog adventures)<br />
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Happy May!<br />
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Blessings to you,<br />
<br />
CaraCara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-9583947713233378032016-02-15T08:46:00.000-08:002016-02-15T08:46:39.687-08:0010 Simple Things You Can Do to Lower Your Grocery Bill<div class="MsoNormal">
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How'd you like to cut your grocery bill, improve your health, help the planet, and eat food that tastes great? It's within your reach. Here are a few ideas for making it happen. </div>
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<b>1. Don’t Buy Rinse Aid, Windex, or odor-repellents.</b></div>
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Use good ole white vinegar in
place of all of these products. You may have to refill the rinse aid dispenser
more often, but since vinegar costs about a tenth of those fancy, expensive,
toxic, earth-polluting commercial rinse aid solutions, you’ll actually be
saving money (and not contributing to the poisoning of our earth, sorry for the
guilt-trip, couldn’t help myself.) Vinegar diluted with water, is more
effective, creates on build-up, is non-toxic, and works great on windows,
mirrors, and nearly all surfaces. Got a stinky trash can? Spray some vinegar in
there and let it evaporate – it will remove the offending smell. Before you ask
– yes - in all these uses, the vinegary scent disappears in minutes. There are
lots of <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/03/virtues-of-vinegar.html">other
ways to use vinegar</a> to replace expensive cleaners.</div>
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<b>2. Don’t buy expensive fabric softeners and dyer sheets.</b></div>
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Use vinegar as your fabric
softener. Just pour ¼- ½ cup into the fabric softener dispenser for each load.
I got by on ¼ cup for many years, but as my kiddos have gotten bigger and
smellier, ½ cup is what is needed. Vinegar will save you money AND it won’t pollute
the environment. Win-win, right? And those lovely scented fabric softener
sheets? Unnecessary AND you’ll be healthier for it. (I’m not making this up –
there’s <a href="http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2011/11/dont-get-slimed-skip-fabric-softener">plenty
of evidence</a> out there supporting the dangers of dryer sheets. I can also
site the improvement in my own child’s asthma once we gave them up.)</div>
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<b>3. Stop buying bottled water.</b> </div>
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I know exactly what you’re going to say
– <i>but what about Flint, Michigan?</i>
Thanks to Flint, you can be even more sure that your local government, water company, and public-watch group is making triply certain that your water source is
safe. <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/10/water-water-everywhere-drink-more-than.html">We
all need to drink more water</a>, so if you don’t like the taste of your tap water,
there are lots of solutions. Add lemon or lime. Keep a pitcher in the
fridge. Storing it on the counter for a
short period of time will allow chlorine and other chemicals to
dissipate. You can even buy fancy pitchers that have an inner section where you
can put lemons, strawberries, whatever-you-like to flavor your water. The
bottom line is that not buying water in plastic bottles will save you money AND
reduce waste in the environment AND <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/11/soapbox-sermon-on-plastic-water-bottles.html">be
better for your health.</a></div>
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<b>4. Make your own breakfast cereals. </b></div>
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I’ve always thought that cereal
companies should be prosecuted for the crazy over-pricing of cereal. Instant
oatmeal is simply chopped up regular oatmeal. You can add brown sugar,
dehydrated fruit or whatever flavors you want. Need directions? <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/08/breakfast-bargains.html">Click
here.</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink">Granola is another expensive
breakfast cereal that you can make easily yourself. Bonus is that you can
tailor it to your preferences. Here’s my super simple recipe – but you could substitute
different nuts, different dried fruits, or a different extract to change the
flavor. Peanuts and raisins could easily be swapped in to create a PB&J
flavor granola and dried ginger and coconut flakes are another yummy idea for a
tropical granola. Remember recipes are always simply the starting point.</span></div>
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<b>5. Make your own kid food.</b> </div>
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Applesauce is another criminally overpriced
purchase. All you need to make your own applesauce is apples. And you probably
have a few mealy, bruised ones rolling around in your fruit drawer. They make
excellent applesauce. While all you really do is peel, chop, and cook, for
specific directions, <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/10/homemade-applesauce-is-easy.html">click
here.</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> Making your own <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2010/06/peanut-butter-crisis.html">peanut
butter</a> requires nothing more than a food processor and some peanuts. Not
kidding. That’s it. What other staples could you make? How about <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/12/finally-lavash-crackers.html">crackers</a>,
<a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/02/bread-for-body-and-soul.html">bread</a>,
<a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/02/you-dont-have-to-be-hippie-to-make-your.html">yogurt,</a> <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/07/homemade-chicken-nuggets-and-breaded.html" target="_blank">chicken nuggets, fried cheese sticks,</a> or <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/03/bagels.html">bagels</a>.
Look at the foods your family consumes the most and consider if you can make
some of those foods yourself. It won’t just save you money, but odds are it
will taste better, too!</span></div>
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<b>6.</b> <b>Make your own junk food.</b> </div>
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Think you can’t duplicate cheezits, <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2012/10/yes-my-darlings-i-can-make-pop-tarts.html">pop-tarts,</a>
or <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2010/03/getting-ready-for-healthier-easter.html">chocolate
covered candy eggs</a>? Thanks to the internet and some very clever cooks, you
can find a recipe for nearly every processed food online. Making it yourself not
only cuts the price, but it cuts out many of the dangerous chemicals, preservatives,
fats, sugars, and calories. (But even making your junk food yourself doesn’t
mean it’s good for you!)</div>
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<b>7. Make your own fancy party dips</b>. </div>
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Having a party? Need something to
take to a party? You don’t need to run out to the store and buy an expensive
pre-made dip or cheese spread. <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2015/11/caras-famous-fabulous-clean-out-fridge.html">Make
your own</a> with that fancy bottle of relish, chutney, or specialty sauce
growing crusty in your fridge. Create a unique yummy dip by blending what you’ve
got with cream cheese or sour cream to make a one of a kind treat that will wow
your friends. In a rush – just mix salsa with sour cream and you’re ready.</div>
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<b>8.</b> <b>Use the veggies you have.</b> </div>
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If your veggie drawer is anything like
mine, at any given moment it is full of the remnants of good intentions.
There’s probably some rubbery celery, a few hairy carrots, maybe even half a
pepper or a wrinkly cucumber. Take out everything and make my favorite
lunchtime treat- chopped salad. Chop up the veggies, add salt and pepper, salad
dressing, and maybe some nuts and/or croutons. Yummo. Want directions? <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/08/whats-hiding-in-your-cupboards.html">Click
here.</a></div>
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<b>9. Make your own salads.</b> </div>
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It only costs pennies and take minutes to
make salad dressing, croutons, and bread crumbs. Making your own <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/04/diy-organic-spice-mixes.html">fancy
spice mixes</a></span></span> is simple (they also double as great gifts), so
is making <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/11/one-super-simple-homemade-present-idea.html">flavored
vinegars</a>.</div>
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Croutons are the simple to make
(and also make your house smell good) and bread crumbs are even easier. For
croutons, simply chop your bread into cubes, toss them in olive oil (or spray
them if it’s easier), dust them with garlic powder (and other herbs if you
want) and bake them for 30 minutes at 300. Check that they’re relatively
crunchy. Then turn off the oven and leave them inside for another hour. To make
bread crumbs, toss a few of those croutons in a food processor (or place in
plastic bag and mash). Easy-peasy. Croutons will store in a plastic container
for weeks since they’re basically stale bread anyway!</div>
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Making your own salad dressing.
It’s crazy-easy. There are lots of recipes out there in the wilds of the
internet, but salad dressing is at it’s very basic – ½ oil and ½ vinegar plus
salt and pepper. You can vary the vinegars, oils, and seasoning and create your
own “house dressing” saving lots of money in the process. Store olive-oil based
dressings at room temperature to avoid solidifying.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqdXPHX_M93NptNbO3yluxNjbwpSPz1ZJ_5bZfp4WgFhIM6P7s4q3KuNM09HU9d6ZTPnn6DiyV0-CXOUpMJrraU_L0FwwdUvBNoDXpEugOvAwN4CDJharzuTXJnmBlvsbSey3dxC9XVk/s1600/lettuce+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqdXPHX_M93NptNbO3yluxNjbwpSPz1ZJ_5bZfp4WgFhIM6P7s4q3KuNM09HU9d6ZTPnn6DiyV0-CXOUpMJrraU_L0FwwdUvBNoDXpEugOvAwN4CDJharzuTXJnmBlvsbSey3dxC9XVk/s320/lettuce+box.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And what about the lettuce? I’d
wager that anyone can grow lettuce – anywhere. If your yard is too small or the
varmints too aggressive – try a <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-dark-dark-days-of-winterlettuce.html">cold
frame</a>. If the weather isn’t always cooperative, use a <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/04/let-us-eat-lettuce.html">lettuce
box</a>. If you have no outdoors at your disposal, lettuce will grow under
lights and hydroponically.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>10. Eat less meat.</b> </div>
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This last tip is will not only save you money, but
it will be better for your health and better for the environment. Plan
intentional meat-less meals – soups, pastas, Mexican favorites are all easy to
create without meat. We eat eggs quite often because we raise chickens, but
eggs are another good-for-you, inexpensive protein, like beans, that are easy
to incorporate into a simple dinner. Need more ideas or motivation, <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-you-getting-your-fair-share-of.html">read
this.</a></div>
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There you have it! Ten ways to not
only lower your grocery bill, but improve your health and the planet’s!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kMwEBmSclbCMLe-jxpTICEAEXJtzBUkoAEWLGioNfqZ9vOpqt8DBogEGgKMW3p15zbPiSlZ7bOtcwUBv3pUs8C_UeqJoCKyrF2nlfcSovd02dnVDjX7ut4rbj1ltcGxIllWZ7-NCtg4/s1600/cover+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kMwEBmSclbCMLe-jxpTICEAEXJtzBUkoAEWLGioNfqZ9vOpqt8DBogEGgKMW3p15zbPiSlZ7bOtcwUBv3pUs8C_UeqJoCKyrF2nlfcSovd02dnVDjX7ut4rbj1ltcGxIllWZ7-NCtg4/s320/cover+image.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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If you’d like to learn more ways
to live a happier, healthier, more intentional life, check out my book- <a href="http://www.carawrites.com/live-intentionally.html">Live Intentionally: 65
Challenges for a Healthier, Happier Life.</a> It’s chock full of ideas,
inspiration, and recipes to do just that!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-36126158240677110892016-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:002016-03-19T05:35:21.587-07:00Yes! You CAN Raise a Daughter Who Loves Her Body!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCGK2I9-p1vbQ7rXL5bB9iO20ckFznJ6FquuO32B5A8mX0b8ZriMZnuZayA515zwgnKqu9ZZbsIcA-rsDOjgigwT7t0VgRa5QFHYa48KCMvgbK-XQU-zYH6ClIgWKFeT6ZHXYOnJXZhU/s1600/DSC04484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCGK2I9-p1vbQ7rXL5bB9iO20ckFznJ6FquuO32B5A8mX0b8ZriMZnuZayA515zwgnKqu9ZZbsIcA-rsDOjgigwT7t0VgRa5QFHYa48KCMvgbK-XQU-zYH6ClIgWKFeT6ZHXYOnJXZhU/s320/DSC04484.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><i>[Note: This is a <b>guest post</b> from an amazing woman I met via twitter. I'm super excited to share her writing and her message! I think it is a CRITICAL message for everyone who has a daughter. Give Hilary a shout out via twitter or in the blog comments if you agree!]</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">If I had read the title of this post a few years ago, I
would have had two reactions: ‘that’s not possible’, and ‘tell me more.’ I
would have been split down the middle between believing that we exist in a
world where loving our bodies as women is nearing impossibility, and wanting
desperately to know that it didn’t have to be that way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">But
all of that doubt changed a few years ago. When trying to pick a topic for my master’s thesis, I kept coming back to the fear that I would one day have a
daughter who struggled with her body in the same way I have. So, my supervisor
and I set out to find young women who loved their bodies, and learn from them
and their mothers what went right.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Over
hours and hours of conversation with these women, and their mothers, we learned
two very important things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">F</span><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">irst, it </span><i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">is</i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> possible
for young women to love their bodies, and their mothers absolutely had a role
to play in that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">As it currently stands in North America, women who love, or even
tolerate their bodies, are in the minority. The overwhelming research suggests
that most women (most statistics hover around 90%) now dislike or even hate their
body. In order to turn this tide, each of us as individuals, and as collective
body of girls and women, need to work together for our own good and for the
good of those we love. In order to do this, </span><i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">we
need to believe it’s possible.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Second, there are specific things that mothers can do for, and with, their
daughters that make that body-love possible.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #1f2326; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Work on your own relationship with your body, and be honest
about it.</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Every daughter in our study loved her body, just as it is, </span><i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">but that was not the case for the mothers</i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">.
The moms thought they did a good job of hiding their dissatisfaction with their
own bodies from their daughters, but their daughters thought differently. In
fact, the daughters could recall times when they heard their mom say negative
things about her body, words that just ‘slipped out,’ even when the mom had no memory
of this. What made a big difference is when the mothers were honest about it
with their daughters. For example, “I’m struggling with loving my body, but I
want to learn how, so I can show you that you can love your body, too”.</span><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You cannot give your children what you do not have.</span></i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <b>One of the best things
you can do to help your daughter love her body, is learn to love your own: as
is!</b></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Give her opportunities to be powerful, in her mind and body.</span></u></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmebtVz_mmj75DpCWq1HHh3ZrqOvX7yyKPyl74UHCR8kMs2wEbbiadLWjT5MODBIQRLpsl76p-N9YzyEJqGghakF6-N9ZHPJrtZXU8nZ5K8xK_4VcjMXaWxkax1yES8S6SmZljbLHCpHc/s1600/DSC_6871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmebtVz_mmj75DpCWq1HHh3ZrqOvX7yyKPyl74UHCR8kMs2wEbbiadLWjT5MODBIQRLpsl76p-N9YzyEJqGghakF6-N9ZHPJrtZXU8nZ5K8xK_4VcjMXaWxkax1yES8S6SmZljbLHCpHc/s320/DSC_6871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In the girls who loved their bodies, they’d been given opportunities
to feel strong. This happened usually in two ways:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">1 - in their bodies by doing things like playing sports, hiking,
and gardening.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2 - in their minds by valuing their opinions, and making sure
they felt like their ideas mattered, even with small decisions that seemed
insignificant.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">It’s important to show your daughters that it’s okay to be
powerful, to have opinions, to take up space, both literally and figuratively. It’s
also important to show your daughters that feeling your physical strength can
help you have fun, learn, and experience the world around you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nJio149KEIxJjErlgIoxRt63_mvhiqLPnzO58BNrXJHkNTaF7UFv6P3gp-uGlz2_YLm_dpxbzZOgQZv9235QsjMpPoDpoojd2ULnhHExWzZIF5UvFfpkV5sdNV68l1HOVt5N6TBPmPs/s1600/girls+on+the+run.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nJio149KEIxJjErlgIoxRt63_mvhiqLPnzO58BNrXJHkNTaF7UFv6P3gp-uGlz2_YLm_dpxbzZOgQZv9235QsjMpPoDpoojd2ULnhHExWzZIF5UvFfpkV5sdNV68l1HOVt5N6TBPmPs/s1600/girls+on+the+run.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Communicate to your daughter that <i>‘you, and your body, are GOOD!’</i></span></b><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> Plan a time
to do something physical with your daughter, like go for a bike ride or a
hike. And, even if you’re afraid of what she might say, ask her what she
thinks, and show her that her opinions and ideas matter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ5nZP7iZdAk8XnclKcqqF2LvNPedGd_L_JXXFuQ3o7BnzvatbuIMVlYLh3hmng9BtCK4e6TjRbwL9Fu04Y5pcQfkc96165pKWlO2qUmNcbzVNFzcuELgd0rJ2I10XqcaFEkm1Yi3hvY/s1600/Addie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ5nZP7iZdAk8XnclKcqqF2LvNPedGd_L_JXXFuQ3o7BnzvatbuIMVlYLh3hmng9BtCK4e6TjRbwL9Fu04Y5pcQfkc96165pKWlO2qUmNcbzVNFzcuELgd0rJ2I10XqcaFEkm1Yi3hvY/s320/Addie.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Let her know her know it’s OK to be who she is.</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In our study, the daughters always felt their mothers loved
them, just as they were. This doesn’t mean that the moms always approved of or
liked every decision their daughters made, but they always communicated that
their daughters were ‘enough’ and didn’t have to earn their love by behaving
well, getting good grades, or being a certain weight.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Feeling secure of a mother’s love makes a difference</span></i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> in how young women are able to live their lives in the world.
It helps them know that they are valuable, even if they don’t look like the
model in the magazine. Because they learn from their mothers that they are beautiful just as they are, they’re not as likely to try and do things to earn
love or beauty, like extreme dieting, or giving in to pressure to have sex. <b>Remember that even though your daughter
might make choices you disagree with, she needs to know your constant and
unconditional love you have for her.</b></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Media literacy is critical.</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The link between viewing media with images of thin women, body dissatisfaction,
and eating disorders has been proven repeatedly. And since we cannot escape
media, it’s important that girls know how to interpret media, learning to see
through the illusions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In our study, all of the young women knew how to critically
interpret how media portrays women’s bodies. They were able to identify things
like how ‘photo-shopping’ of images is used to make women look thinner than
they really are, or how images of thin, usually white women, do not accurately
reflect the diversity of the female body. Their mothers helped them do this by
engaging their daughters in critical conversations about how women’s bodies are
portrayed. Some of these young women chose not to buy certain magazines, as a
way of protecting themselves, in their own acts of personal resistance.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If your daughter can ‘think for herself,’ especially about media,
she is less likely to develop an eating disorder.</span></i><span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> <b>It can sometimes feel
awkward at first, but talk with your daughter about the messages the media is
giving about women’s bodies.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">As a mother you have an important role in your daughter’s life;
some might even say the most important role of all. One of the best things you
can do for her is to dream of a world in which she can love herself, exactly as
she is, and take small steps every day to create this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b>Here’s what you can do:</b></span></div>
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<br />
<i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Work on your own self image.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Help her experience her own strength.</i><br />
<br />
<i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Be sure she knows you love her just as she is.</i><br />
<br />
<i style="color: #1f2326; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Teach her to think critically about the media.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">By doing this, you are not only giving your daughter a gift of
security and freedom, but you are participating in something bigger: you are
helping to create a world where it’s possible for women to love their bodies.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2t1OxAslqu6tMEgP6gT7uSB1eRVrg_KSw4wFTVpyZqFCpdL1FO5Jao6FcOH0nHkROXewst39xT_2UckX1G8dSyYEqYPfpKgaoyk-DOB71CyvFhU8UTIlrhBGr2M05PxCBu21xewlKAs/s1600/Hilary+McBride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2t1OxAslqu6tMEgP6gT7uSB1eRVrg_KSw4wFTVpyZqFCpdL1FO5Jao6FcOH0nHkROXewst39xT_2UckX1G8dSyYEqYPfpKgaoyk-DOB71CyvFhU8UTIlrhBGr2M05PxCBu21xewlKAs/s200/Hilary+McBride.JPG" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Hillary L McBride</b> is a therapist, researcher, speaker and writer
from Vancouver BC, Canada. She is currently finishing a book she is writing on
how mothers can help their daughters develop a healthy relationship with their
bodies, based on innovative research she started during her Masters, and is
continuing during her PhD in Counselling Psychology. Follow her on twitter
@hillarylmcbride for updates on writing, research, and speaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/66f279348c508a52/Kidfriendlyorganiclivingblog/You%20can%20raise%20a%20daughter%20who%5e.%5e.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mother-daughter relationships are incredibly complex, and vary
tremendously based on the personalities, strengths, and experiences of each
mother and daughter. If you have further questions, or are struggling in this
area, contacting a therapist who has experience working with these issues is a
good idea. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9vhj2hVHryGIXrjrkbkINiKZWIkJBOaSSc5LRxdOwuPIAWQcBXxwUtUPpAwJmvUR0D7cVnhBrP5nLoKIPdm0oybr6qKb9vco-0_3WBpfCkAb_6sVG7xNSoQc9ebl1gIYX-J02pUWDo4/s1600/8-Ways-to-Empower-Kids-to-Love-Their-Bodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9vhj2hVHryGIXrjrkbkINiKZWIkJBOaSSc5LRxdOwuPIAWQcBXxwUtUPpAwJmvUR0D7cVnhBrP5nLoKIPdm0oybr6qKb9vco-0_3WBpfCkAb_6sVG7xNSoQc9ebl1gIYX-J02pUWDo4/s320/8-Ways-to-Empower-Kids-to-Love-Their-Bodies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #1f2326; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And here's ANOTHER great post on this subject with more excellent links and resources: <a href="http://liesaboutparenting.com/kids-body-image/" target="_blank">8 Ways to Empower Kids to Love Their Bodies </a></span><br />
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-31256723045516466652016-01-26T07:29:00.000-08:002016-03-19T05:35:44.552-07:00You're Responsibility Vs. Deep-fried Twinkies....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After what seems like a very long hiatus, I’m back at it. I
haven’t abandoned you my Kid Friendly Organic Life people! In fact, one of my
New Year’s resolution is to get back to blogging regularly here.</div>
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Honest confession – it’s not just that I’ve missed you (I
have! I have!), but also my jeans are getting a little tight and there’s just a
bit too much white sugar creeping back into my world. My excuses are long and
layered, but they amount to nothing more than distraction and laziness</div>
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.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have discovered that I write about what I most care about,
and lately that has been rescue dogs, fiction writing, and my own navel. Not
that those are bad things, but it’s time to turn back to my health. I’m turning
50 this year which is a shock to me. Instead of running from that fact, I’m
embracing it and that means getting serious about staying healthy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We should all be serious about our health. There’s much too
much taking-it-for-granted-until-it’s-too-late happening. In honor of that, I
thought I’d tackle the NEW nutrition guidelines that have been behind a flurry
of redundant filler articles turning up in every news outlet in town</div>
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.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMTHAtwIz1fDWaqY2D9OlzZSPURPa394nN0zrg_Ld6IhITZMduZWlZlogiWNeq7iUm8o3_P1sQt_YT3kPEtOn4MQ0jX3eCHEkEdKeG5d0CCWYN9OaiuUT5DjW4HxJYJcd4_on0GEc9PQ/s1600/dietary+guidelines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMTHAtwIz1fDWaqY2D9OlzZSPURPa394nN0zrg_Ld6IhITZMduZWlZlogiWNeq7iUm8o3_P1sQt_YT3kPEtOn4MQ0jX3eCHEkEdKeG5d0CCWYN9OaiuUT5DjW4HxJYJcd4_on0GEc9PQ/s1600/dietary+guidelines.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Dietary Guidelines for
Americans</i> is published every 5 years for health professionals in light of
the latest and greatest nutrition science. This momentous occurrence just occurred
as the 2015-2020 dietary guidelines were published this past fall. If you want
to read it in full (it’s long and has many, many tables and appendixes, but it’s
very clearly laid out and not too governmenty) click <a href="http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For the rest of us normal people, here’s the shortened
version of the guidelines:</div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>1. Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Okay, um, duh. This guideline basically
says – eat healthy food, maintain a healthy body weight no matter your age, and
you’ll reduce your risk of chronic disease. Truly – did we not know this?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2. Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Look for nutrient dense food within all
food groups. Don’t think just because you chose whole wheat bread, you’re
covered. Make healthy choices in terms of dairy, meat, veggies, etc. Again, did
we not know this?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> 3. Limit calories from
added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Pretty much the inverse of number two, but
with a reduce sodium jingle thrown in for variety. Don’t eat empty calories.
Soda is empty calories. Candy is empty calories. Fried Twinkies are empty
calories. (Just in case you weren’t aware.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>4. Shift to healthier food and beverage choices.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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How many ways can we say the same thing?? Eat
intentionally – eat food that packs a nutritional punch. I’m sensing a pattern
here. But this chapter also talks about choosing foods that fit with your lifestyle
culturally and financially and also foods that your actually like.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>5. Support healthy eating patterns for all</b>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, this guideline I like. This is about
taking a little personal responsibility for ALL of us eating well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t act like it’s normal or even okay for
someone to down a 36oz Slurpee, a 2-pound bacon burger, or a deep-fried
cheesecake. The cultural acceptance of this kind of eating wreaks havoc on our
collective waistline.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As adults, we have a responsibility not to
encourage kids to eat so much crap. I’m not the sugar-nazi. I’m not saying
never serve junk, but keep it in perspective people! Give kids a little credit,
they will eat healthy food when it’s prepared and presented well. I would also
like to say – cut out the endless candy/cheesecake/fried food fundraisers that
have kids pedaling toxic food. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We can do our part by serving more vegetables
and fruits, supporting farmers’ markets, and choosing to spend our money on
healthier, more responsibly grown food options. This guideline also has something
to say about making healthy food accessible in places like inner cities and making
it affordable for economically challenged families. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yeah. I like guideline five. I’m all about
guideline five.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, like me, are you wondering how much our government
spends on developing these redundant, obvious guidelines? <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are no less than 13 very well educated people with
plenty of acronyms at the end of their titles listed on the guidelines’ writing
staff. I’m more than well aware that writers are often underpaid, but I’m
guessing this gang got some serious change for their efforts. There are also, long
lists of committee members and policy officials who spent plenty of hours and
overtime developing the guidelines. And we know they don’t want for another
official paid holiday. So, suffice it to say these guidelines didn’t come
cheap.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But do the guidelines make any difference? They’re mandated
by the 1990 National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act (Related
research? This sounds a bit like a shell company for many pet projects, but I’m
sticking to the topic I came here with, so I’ll let it go.). The information in
these guidelines will guide more government committees and policy officials as
they make even more guidelines to determine what is served in public school
cafeterias, supplemented by welfare, and pushed by public service announcement.
The guidelines will dictate which grants and programs will get funding and
which research will be included in the next budget. The guidelines have the
capacity to affect us all in some way or another</div>
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. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, back to my original question – will they make any
difference? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But the frustrating part is all of this is common sense. And
you’d think we wouldn’t need to spend untold millions to tell leaders that
their food policies should include healthy affordable options like vegetables,
whole grains, healthy fat, fruit, and dairy. We don’t need an entire
multi-million dollar guideline to know we shouldn’t be eating or serving sodas,
candy, and fast food. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Common sense people. That’s what it comes down to. At the
risk of saying, “I told you so,” bloggers like me (and many more who are more
literate and learned), have been saying these very same things for years. If
they’d only asked us, we could’ve saved them some serious money.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> #2015dietaryguidelines #commonsense #eathealthy </o:p></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-73883115096275071832015-12-16T11:42:00.004-08:002015-12-16T11:57:18.681-08:00How I Grew the Biggest Lemons in Pennsylvania!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">About seven
years ago, I ordered a lemon tree through the mail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the time, I was
seriously over the edge in terms of doing EVERYTHING organic and decided that
growing my own organic lemons was a good idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m sure
I’ve mentioned that I live in Pennsylvania. Not Florida.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the
optimistic website assured me that I could grow lemons ANYWHERE. So, I said,
“Awesome! Send me a tree!” (I’m sure that’s technically historical fiction, as
the facts are fuzzy these many years later.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The tree
arrived and I carefully followed the directions and planted it in a humongous
pot filled with wood chips mixed with soil (per the instructions that came with
my tiny little tree).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For seven
long years, I tended my plant. It grew and grew, eventually sprouting long
sharp spikes that poked us when we passed too closely. One year, my angry
husband cut all the spikes off the tree, but even that didn’t deter it. It just
grew new spikes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We moved it
inside each winter where it proceeded to be forgotten for weeks at a time, only
to be rescued from death by heavy watering, removal of all its dead leaves, and
being doused with a seaweed fertilizer concoction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway – all
that is to say – it’s not been an easy life for our little lemon tree. And for
six long years it produced not one lemon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But this
year everything changed. This year we grew lemons! Really, really, really BIG
lemons. Grapefruit sized lemons! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Early in the
summer they were tiny little green balls, more like limes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwDkTE062sop-X7HKOr4WXx6dP5J6hXp_GjI4FJIYuS2uwGw74o70NCYcqnuCj9eQrc8y0JBn70Qxw2Oc0zPVv3st_y4iBeY4HeLQkA8AFTQO9IeC42uyfqQHzANdi_3MVZK2Oc5cANo/s1600/DSC_9591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwDkTE062sop-X7HKOr4WXx6dP5J6hXp_GjI4FJIYuS2uwGw74o70NCYcqnuCj9eQrc8y0JBn70Qxw2Oc0zPVv3st_y4iBeY4HeLQkA8AFTQO9IeC42uyfqQHzANdi_3MVZK2Oc5cANo/s320/DSC_9591.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Somewhere about August they began to swell to epic proportions. So much so, that I took to
Facebook to see if anyone knew what I was growing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtC-EPrGFyj6GlINcQd9SsXAMIfzQY1OlD85tPevw7VNWcvaOnSH6ao_KRWWKi29RwXPOvDQnLk0O_abZh9RjBnjV2XRLkgdeFNhSktqCsa43aMMAd1YohUy6ZBNHP_2yRm7A07505ao/s1600/12107919_10153146880022405_3199743666093278377_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtC-EPrGFyj6GlINcQd9SsXAMIfzQY1OlD85tPevw7VNWcvaOnSH6ao_KRWWKi29RwXPOvDQnLk0O_abZh9RjBnjV2XRLkgdeFNhSktqCsa43aMMAd1YohUy6ZBNHP_2yRm7A07505ao/s320/12107919_10153146880022405_3199743666093278377_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After much
serious and some not-at-all-serious-but-very-entertaining </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">discussion/speculation,
it was decided that what I was growing were indeed lemons, but they wouldn’t be
fully ripened until Thanksgiving, maybe even Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And what do
you know? This is the lemon I picked from my tree last night.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNqyu6t9FrLOVkh9FeLpjekWOSAdaCgrHavsG_ZjxLt9e-TQaVxuOLal-_OiCG5YqMKbVv-IUdtl-6vJqn5pwg7O9TITs1cu0b-SlXJ_uWemEnaPezkg94fVLcW9C3HqFUwU0jy9-Rz0/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNqyu6t9FrLOVkh9FeLpjekWOSAdaCgrHavsG_ZjxLt9e-TQaVxuOLal-_OiCG5YqMKbVv-IUdtl-6vJqn5pwg7O9TITs1cu0b-SlXJ_uWemEnaPezkg94fVLcW9C3HqFUwU0jy9-Rz0/s320/IMG_2197.JPG" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Forgive the fuzzy appearance, it may have been the cameraman or the wine...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuotpT36IH8dlaWgJW7MmKgGbgt7CdfcAY_6Gj_5mKZhv5VyNfiWQTLW6jyNom_TRLghqC4sTqQmPNjJA7gNfH4bauX0nO9YeHDzDYkDVWuP-sJDy02awm7UQ6kJgq3ycYM2akE6LWpqE/s1600/DSC_1411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuotpT36IH8dlaWgJW7MmKgGbgt7CdfcAY_6Gj_5mKZhv5VyNfiWQTLW6jyNom_TRLghqC4sTqQmPNjJA7gNfH4bauX0nO9YeHDzDYkDVWuP-sJDy02awm7UQ6kJgq3ycYM2akE6LWpqE/s320/DSC_1411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Half of the
lemon produced nearly a cup of juice! And today I’m making dried lemon zest! (Lemon
zest is the most crazy-easy thing – simply grate rind and set it on wax paper
on your counter to dry out. Done. Just don’t let anyone spill their granola on
it when they’re cleaning up. Ahem.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRI9ISNJL4ICwus81-dGUsNkPK1TuVUVeSNidezXAYFubLb7ptATFZ2Xe6Cg4FzRuxhtTsCXxCis0cx-sjB1qpB7nfN-c1YvsNMabuH3bNd3tTza0T1oIE2HpZCcJMUw7Fr_rZh1GX24/s1600/DSC_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRI9ISNJL4ICwus81-dGUsNkPK1TuVUVeSNidezXAYFubLb7ptATFZ2Xe6Cg4FzRuxhtTsCXxCis0cx-sjB1qpB7nfN-c1YvsNMabuH3bNd3tTza0T1oIE2HpZCcJMUw7Fr_rZh1GX24/s320/DSC_1441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">There is still one lemon that hasn't fully ripened yet left on the tree. It will be the fifth lemon my tree has produced this year! Wowsa! Maybe it'll be a New Year's lemon. Can't wait til next year's crop!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHftAsjuKJ7bHKwLwkKqCnaj-ubsbmUb0uuPlOodeFWHQhhSrTwFkFowbLNgFc1mC_g6iIzBySega8MDLD04gIRKVRrtr6c2-_3NGsj6OqtIWXzo7wdlT0HhoozrGtuCdHM1udXWIv-Wc/s1600/DSC_1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHftAsjuKJ7bHKwLwkKqCnaj-ubsbmUb0uuPlOodeFWHQhhSrTwFkFowbLNgFc1mC_g6iIzBySega8MDLD04gIRKVRrtr6c2-_3NGsj6OqtIWXzo7wdlT0HhoozrGtuCdHM1udXWIv-Wc/s320/DSC_1443.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, the
point of this post? If I can grow lemons here in the wilds of Pennsylvania with hostile family members and the occasional unintentional drought,<i> anyone</i> can. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">(or when
life gives you a grapefruit sized lemon – take a lot of funny pictures to post
on Facebook!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">#growinglemons #GiantLemons #growlemonsinside #PAlemons</span><br />
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</div>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-71196436512762616372015-11-23T11:56:00.001-08:002015-11-23T11:56:56.546-08:00Cara's Famous Fabulous Clean-Out-the-Fridge Dip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3aARX9I9ooLcRRLmTPSCv46Cv9OSgJv8hySlpsgPkXK1BmGLT7ApDTr4ajC7rOl-FT4IXEuM_Jlya5ZcXZuDSG8VcEJe6u1nGj_6gCMgzTTy7KNcy8zaHwGjElmaT3OUo9yd1IeAI9w/s1600/fancy+spread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3aARX9I9ooLcRRLmTPSCv46Cv9OSgJv8hySlpsgPkXK1BmGLT7ApDTr4ajC7rOl-FT4IXEuM_Jlya5ZcXZuDSG8VcEJe6u1nGj_6gCMgzTTy7KNcy8zaHwGjElmaT3OUo9yd1IeAI9w/s1600/fancy+spread.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it, perhaps a few house
guests? A few gatherings? That’s the drill at my house. Lots of extra people,
lots of extra food, lots of wine, lots of cooking, and hopefully, lots of other people in the kitchen besides me to load the dishwasher!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My family has a tradition of everyone helping with the big
meal. This means that cousins and friends will arrive with bags and coolers of food. Space in the fridge will be at a premium. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, this week one of our most
important tasks will be freeing up some room in the fridge. Here’s one of my
favorite solutions (beyond just several nights of everybody-eat-anything-you-want-in-the-fridge)
- The <i>Clean Out the Fridge Dip and/or Cheese
Spread</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me explain.</div>
<a name='more'></a> <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My fridge (and probably YOUR fridge) is clogged with jars of
fancy condiments with only a tablespoon or two left in them. These are things
like <i>Sweet Thai Chili Sauce</i> or <i>Fresh Cranberry Mustard</i> or <i>Sundried Tomato Tapenade.</i>
They were delicious when I served them for Book Club or Wine Tastings or used
them in that complicated but delicious dish I found on Pinterest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now they
are layered in my fridge. There are so many that my husband cleverly thought to
stack them in the soda rack at the bottom of the fridge door since we don’t
drink soda in this house (and <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-just-about-everyone-i-know-is.html" target="_blank">YOU shouldn’t either</a>. Ahem.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcpJ6FVYmTWTFGwBToZLLaEiaplHUoPPljopzAdeODibCo757_GjqNTI76f0pu67bTIvzJ7M-JNlU4ur_4Y6a5gFJ20ZiI1tqpJxNBzFeF81Ffqk2GZRT_WYYnLbQJzYc3b9KfaZfJVk/s1600/DSC_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcpJ6FVYmTWTFGwBToZLLaEiaplHUoPPljopzAdeODibCo757_GjqNTI76f0pu67bTIvzJ7M-JNlU4ur_4Y6a5gFJ20ZiI1tqpJxNBzFeF81Ffqk2GZRT_WYYnLbQJzYc3b9KfaZfJVk/s320/DSC_1222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if you look in the deep, dark recesses of the third shelf
that you can’t reach unless you bend over awkwardly, there are probably a few
lovely items like a jar with only four expensive olives remaining, the remnants
of a yummy basil pesto (preserved forever by all that olive oil), or a ¼ cup of
Cowboy Cherry Salsa (that costs nearly $7 a jar but is so worth it). Those will
also work for this recipe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s what you do:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Place one container of sour cream in a mixing bowl.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Mix in several tablespoons to
a half cup, of one or more of these leftover fancy ingredients (Sweet and spicy
creations go best with sour cream) and blend well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Refrigerate for a few hours if possible or
eat straight away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, and/or cut
vegetables.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OR<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Soften one bar of cream cheese. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl and add several tablespoons
to a half cup, of one or more of leftover fancy ingredients. Sweet,
spicy, and salty creations will work with cream cheese. Olives are especially
yummo. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Serve with crackers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Another option is to use this spread to stuff
banana peppers or miniature sweet peppers and roast – omg, just sayin’.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brilliant, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I take my COTF dips and spreads to events all the
time. When someone asks, <i>what’s in this</i>?
It can sometimes get a little awkward and there’s really no way to re-create any
of them exactly, but that’s what makes it fun. The element of surprise is critical!
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Repurposing your expensive fancy ingredients AND cleaning
out your fridge - it’s a win-win just in time for Thanksgiving!<o:p></o:p></div>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-5650407901580103942015-10-21T08:46:00.001-07:002015-10-22T09:33:49.038-07:00Garden Hacks<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of the summer when I realized I had NO TIME
for my garden, I thought, <i>I’ll figure out
some garden hacks and then I’ll blog about them.</i> Sadly, not all my hacks
worked, but there is still potential and the information is worth sharing, so
here we go….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start with the biggest flop with the potential to be
the biggest success. I do think this one is a keeper, but it needs some
modifications and a lot more attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gutter Step Garden<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nick built this lovely idea for me last year to house the
strawberries. We had to relocate them so we could tear out the garden that was
their home of the past twelve years and replace it with an expanded driveway.
They were happy in the gutters and looked beautiful all summer and fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBqSoXMtssnL57wOxQdFiRcj88Xx2gyO8Vc7CfR_Fm5zL9VtsWQTzz8c1C3vffmEhvjKqr0It0sH_WjwMKIoYfdity_HqDNYk70FmJm8bYI-IZsND6DziNgP9NJvOvumoEVtdJh23sCM/s1600/DSC_7094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBqSoXMtssnL57wOxQdFiRcj88Xx2gyO8Vc7CfR_Fm5zL9VtsWQTzz8c1C3vffmEhvjKqr0It0sH_WjwMKIoYfdity_HqDNYk70FmJm8bYI-IZsND6DziNgP9NJvOvumoEVtdJh23sCM/s320/DSC_7094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The garden is basically four gutters with caps on both ends
mounted on a set of stair stringers and then given a frame to add stability. We
didn’t poke holes for drainage because the caps were not a good seal and they
leaked beautifully. Also, the gutter step garden is on a slight slant, so the
water naturally drained off one end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucky for me, I didn’t put all my strawberries in the gutter
garden. I sagely planted half of them in an inground garden. Why am I lucky you
ask? Remember last winter? The seven-month-long bitter, miserable slog through
below freezing temperatures, daily record breaks, and endless snow? Why yes,
that winter. By spring my strawberries in the gutter garden were dead beyond dead.</div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4E6aCZuIXivsgmAR1ojPNHAtPoWeNtRLVfArGwvvB8kQwK0n3Q7FZyU0SdJP96Bjcf-TddosjCpUVlQpeziofSxtJJkoCdq7fWkywjirdJIsOflvzux4EKKKBTPYRssjGVmsSHmUM2Q/s1600/DSC_9812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4E6aCZuIXivsgmAR1ojPNHAtPoWeNtRLVfArGwvvB8kQwK0n3Q7FZyU0SdJP96Bjcf-TddosjCpUVlQpeziofSxtJJkoCdq7fWkywjirdJIsOflvzux4EKKKBTPYRssjGVmsSHmUM2Q/s320/DSC_9812.JPG" width="320" /></a>So, I retooled. Pulled out the dead strawberries, added some
more dirt, fertilized the whole mess and planted seeds – lettuce, kale, green
beans, cherry tomatoes, basil, and jalapeños. Let’s see what happens I thought.
This could be good!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it would have been – if someone had remembered to water
it. And we didn’t have the driest summer in years. Actually, that’s not right.
First we had the wettest summer in years and then we had the driest. Remember
the lack of drain holes? Yup, maybe not the best idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the moral of the story is this- A Gutter Step Garden is
a great idea, but it needs daily attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three great things about a Gutter Step Garden:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Its relatively inexpensive to build.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) It takes up very little space and is portable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) It saves your back, so would make an excellent garden for
those of us who are no longer on the first half of our century.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three things I’d do differently next year:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Poke some drainage holes in the bottom of the gutters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Water and fertilize MUCH more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) Plant more lettuce and herbs and less beans; beans didn’t
really work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpR7DjQ-b0VapHsHPSS6KSuIjWkPCQ6VjxzSgJOwhOWNBe-xA9QA3zOjKu_xCEut3kZSuUgsHoL2utMCZ2_iY1HbyrIS0Mu16TgrNOzqn1bv5BWgw47Cw5o-9C3rH359UEM9mXM2PxTk/s1600/IMG_1734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpR7DjQ-b0VapHsHPSS6KSuIjWkPCQ6VjxzSgJOwhOWNBe-xA9QA3zOjKu_xCEut3kZSuUgsHoL2utMCZ2_iY1HbyrIS0Mu16TgrNOzqn1bv5BWgw47Cw5o-9C3rH359UEM9mXM2PxTk/s320/IMG_1734.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Garden Umbrella<o:p></o:p></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally I use <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/04/let-us-eat-lettuce.html" target="_blank">lettuce boxes</a> for summer lettuce. But this
summer, I just didn’t have time to find the boxes, fill the boxes, and then
move the boxes (to follow the shade). So, instead when my oldest son came home
from the After Prom Party with his prize – two big beach towels and a huge
beach umbrella, I hit on an ingenious idea – use the umbrella for the lettuce!
And it worked great. We opened it on the hot days and closed it on the cloudy
days and grew lettuce pretty much all summer. Steal this hack!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Tool that Saved
my Canning Habit!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, I have to say that sadly this is not a paid
advertisement. (I wish it was or at least that I’d gotten this particular item
for free in exchange for this review. Neither happened. Sigh.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned about the Victorio Strainer, aka wonder machine,
from a student in the adult ed class I taught last fall on Intentional Life.
One of the classes in the six-week session is on Canning and I planned to
incorporate making homemade applesauce into the lesson. One of my students said
she had a strainer that made applesauce go much quicker. So I said, “Bring it
on!” (One of the things I love the most about teaching is that I always learn
something!) On the night we made applesauce and canned it, Kate singlehandedly
made as much applesauce as the rest of the class did in the same amount of
time. I was sold.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdctJ-UtamPIErEQ0FSIJq5AHx-piRQGmYMK7GJPV63MTANJQKS0IBPDnTRu5HUW81_4szdpEpaPeFm-JO39szgxH7lKQNLshke-Hn8oSn1_KShg97aIEbzhka_-RzqO6EM6MIU5avAE/s1600/DSC_9831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdctJ-UtamPIErEQ0FSIJq5AHx-piRQGmYMK7GJPV63MTANJQKS0IBPDnTRu5HUW81_4szdpEpaPeFm-JO39szgxH7lKQNLshke-Hn8oSn1_KShg97aIEbzhka_-RzqO6EM6MIU5avAE/s320/DSC_9831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was way cool, but the strainer’s next trick is even
better. It can process tomatoes without peeling, seeding, or coring them!
Before this summer, I dedicated entire days to processing and canning tomatoes.
We put up over 100 jars of sauce, salsa, and marinara. I’ve written about it
and <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/07/canning-is-simple-and-satisfying.html" target="_blank">written about it</a>. This summer we did that many jars again but in a fraction
of the time thanks to my Victorio. We discovered that the best tomatoes for the
Victorio are the San Marzano paste tomatoes. You can literally pull of the stem
and drop them in the machine. I can puree 20 pounds of tomatoes in five
minutes. No lie.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m pulling it out again this week for applesauce. Apples
are not quite so quick as tomatoes, but still it’s a huge time save. You
quarter the apples and remove the stem. Cook them until they are softened and then
drop the apples in the strainer, seeds, skin and all. Out comes lovely smooth
applesauce. My only complaint is that I LOVE chunky applesauce, so I still do a
pot of chunky by hand. It takes easily four times as long to make my one pot,
but alas sometimes there’s just no hack to be had.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fending off the
Blight<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After watching my tomatoes succumb to the late blight year
after year, this time around I decided to experiment a little. I planted
tomatoes in seven different locations, including the gutter garden, a pot, and
below the manure pile. I treated everyone the same (I pretty much ignored them
and then freaked out when things went wrong). This way, if the blight was going
to strike (and it always does), it wouldn’t take all of my tomatoes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s what I learned:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) The blight is much, much, more clever than me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Tomatoes that get any shade at all are more likely to
blight faster.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) San Marzano paste tomatoes are the bomb. Even as the
blight crawls up their vines, they continue to ripen. They aren’t afraid. Mortgage
Lifters also fend off blight well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) Specialty tomatoes whose seeds cost too much die first. Rule
of thumb.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5) It seriously slows down the blight if your tomato plants
are not touching each other AT ALL.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Potato Storage Hack<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpd-KXNta8SkLQgjW47c9x6Qc6nhfoUwollBVT5azLrG4MLUKzLm-5nY4wiaxwlbu7MR91OwW99cTfcjBjIAA-NbLpSc5vzi65M4M6rMmht-kgMlZO0Q8MzTjrzegEOM2YlqWCbqZ9Bk/s1600/DSC_9780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpd-KXNta8SkLQgjW47c9x6Qc6nhfoUwollBVT5azLrG4MLUKzLm-5nY4wiaxwlbu7MR91OwW99cTfcjBjIAA-NbLpSc5vzi65M4M6rMmht-kgMlZO0Q8MzTjrzegEOM2YlqWCbqZ9Bk/s320/DSC_9780.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I planted lots of potatoes this past summer. Everyone eats
them and we have a <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-fantasy-root-cellar.html" target="_blank">nifty root cellar </a>for storing them, AND they don’t mind a
few weeds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The potatoes did fine, but when it was time to dig them up,
I discovered that nearly two thirds of them were riddled with holes and spots
from some type of pest. No, I don’t know what kind of pest it was. In other
years, I would have taken pictures and stalked the internet, contacted the
extension service, and then lamented my loss with too much wine. This year
there was no time for any of that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcIPudHn8zXVkhKmHDaq9-RsDwBtdPyzbtZQkdyXqcuP6IfyAHhuJCzYNkAJ5hsrkV10lBF4fCglHuO20W7J1a4Z9OZmXONC7TPsGzEgynxBTheVyzif5QkCmBylVz0JHcW5YL1P5mP4/s1600/DSC_9781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcIPudHn8zXVkhKmHDaq9-RsDwBtdPyzbtZQkdyXqcuP6IfyAHhuJCzYNkAJ5hsrkV10lBF4fCglHuO20W7J1a4Z9OZmXONC7TPsGzEgynxBTheVyzif5QkCmBylVz0JHcW5YL1P5mP4/s320/DSC_9781.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I diced or quartered the potatoes, tossing the sections that had been
mutilated. Then I blanched them and filled freezer containers with my bounty.
Now I have twenty quarts of diced and quartered blanched potatoes ready to be baked or tossed into
soups this winter. Brilliant. Thanks random bugs, you saved me all kinds of
work later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moral of the Garden Hack Story – make do, make up, make the
best of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#gardenhacks #guttergarden</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-45512362765156943522015-08-07T10:49:00.000-07:002015-08-07T11:21:09.011-07:00My Life is In The Weeds.....<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello Kid Friendly Organic Life readers! Did you think I’d
abandoned you? Never! However, I have been more than a bit distracted of late.
Here’s why -<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My novel was published just this week by <a href="http://www.storyplant.com/" target="_blank">The Story Plant</a>.
I’m super excited. Between promoting <i><a href="http://www.carawrites.com/im-not-her.html" target="_blank">I’m Not Her</a></i> and writing (and re-writing) my next novel for Story Plant, I’ve had
very little time for me (and you). Here’s what my gardens look like –</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See if you can find cucumbers, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, one pepper plant, sweet potatoes, and popcorn hidden in this garden.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijj9HS5pFIxUZ4PLTkagu_-E2MYMH2AVi0h3S2zUMPek5553_SkMMTgoxQS9EXPkMFWO6h7Y1x7_0ZnIEBs3ET7dKhMOZvDkBFTaC78odK_BULD_dC9B3xaFa3rURvbFULKarQiA4h_6s/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijj9HS5pFIxUZ4PLTkagu_-E2MYMH2AVi0h3S2zUMPek5553_SkMMTgoxQS9EXPkMFWO6h7Y1x7_0ZnIEBs3ET7dKhMOZvDkBFTaC78odK_BULD_dC9B3xaFa3rURvbFULKarQiA4h_6s/s320/IMG_1921.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here we have a zucchini not minding the weeds one bit, and behind that are tomatoes completely swallowed by weeds and blight, sunflowers towering above the wreckage with a watermelon somewhere in that mess...</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM8JuIcyituna2G_dhYFuPDEFSelsjnUSR2rNseAeaeGRORIzwotQsoaPzKRP80yuBR87Qf0zvJUPMY_dRnJ-2N9jrw19FraCm-gVEIZBD8xF7C9sOZ1dXpQNpScNts1uX4dr0suLT0E/s1600/IMG_1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM8JuIcyituna2G_dhYFuPDEFSelsjnUSR2rNseAeaeGRORIzwotQsoaPzKRP80yuBR87Qf0zvJUPMY_dRnJ-2N9jrw19FraCm-gVEIZBD8xF7C9sOZ1dXpQNpScNts1uX4dr0suLT0E/s320/IMG_1922.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This front tier of this bed is corn and tomatoes, the next is blueberries (who gave a great crop before being socked in by the weeds), the next is fall peas (the only bed I've managed to keep clean which says something about how much I like sugar snap peas), plus tomatoes and a few peppers, and behind that is what's left of the grapes after the Japanese beetles finished. The weeds are so thick up there, Nick has begun mowing them. (That's wonder dog Frank investigating the tomato falling out of the garden.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiLa0iSQwcFMsK7EENpF4BNzEXBjvixBhbaafTq8ndJdCvGdv7loJB_PCq76smGnYwcuiqsM-MBlRenef3hK_AwfwhSIfpaY2-r-R6Hh0AvmoiffxonHZ4yGfFb6OTpWc7j357MU-TZ4/s1600/IMG_1923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiLa0iSQwcFMsK7EENpF4BNzEXBjvixBhbaafTq8ndJdCvGdv7loJB_PCq76smGnYwcuiqsM-MBlRenef3hK_AwfwhSIfpaY2-r-R6Hh0AvmoiffxonHZ4yGfFb6OTpWc7j357MU-TZ4/s320/IMG_1923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last garden I'm going to show you (I'm sparing you the two others which are equally as unsightly), is two tiers. The bottom is strawberries and the top is the root crops I have - onion, carrots, oyster root, and scallions. I'm afraid to weed this garden at this point because I might pull up everything else in the process. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfufB13elnAwC2GV3nicbNkTRty8xI34-eXpEfxbRN6yLvYtWA3wEE0rQidQBdzhJaRbPHAV6J91DHKoYjZkoGwtSho903GeKpKAlcsZQclzQ3jw6GTtfP-TfpfzQ2Bo1qL9P1F58zzA/s1600/IMG_1924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfufB13elnAwC2GV3nicbNkTRty8xI34-eXpEfxbRN6yLvYtWA3wEE0rQidQBdzhJaRbPHAV6J91DHKoYjZkoGwtSho903GeKpKAlcsZQclzQ3jw6GTtfP-TfpfzQ2Bo1qL9P1F58zzA/s320/IMG_1924.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Horrors, I know. Never have I been so <i>in the weeds</i> (as they say in the restaurant business)! I keep repeating the mantra, "Next year...next year....next year..." just like my husband the Phillies fan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope to have a new post up soon about a few garden hacks I
attempted this summer. Some worked mightily better than others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, I have a bribe for you. In exchange for the
crazy-good recipe below, I’d be extremely grateful if you could check out my
new book, and if you think it warrants, tell EVERYONE YOU KNOW about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I probably don’t have to tell you how hard it is for new
authors to break into the publishing business. Here’s a few things you could do
to help me, if you are so inclined….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Request my book at a local bookstore or library. It’s
available in paperback and eformat. You can also find <a href="http://www.carawrites.com/im-not-her.html" target="_blank">purchase links on my website</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Review my book on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-Her-Cara-Sue-Achterberg/dp/161188215X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438969226&sr=8-1&keywords=I%27m+Not+Her" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-not-her-cara-sue-achterberg/1121683676?ean=9781611882155" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25246557-i-m-not-her?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">goodreads</a>
(or any other sites that invite book reviews).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tell people about it on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest,
Tumblr, or your social media of choice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Select I’m Not Her for your book club. There’s lots to talk
about and I’m currently developing a discussion guide that will be posted on my
website. (I’m available to visit your book group if local or skype in if not.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far, the reviews and press have been great. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/im-not-her/id1005124533?mt=11" target="_blank">Apple ibooks</a> named I’m Not Her to their Best New Fiction List which has had me swooning all
week, and then today <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/List/page-turners-from-kobo-next/-kQXE6jBf8lLCgjSfKxm8Q?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Responsys_CRM" target="_blank">Kobo books </a>listed it on their Pageturner List. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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All that’s great, but word-of-mouth is the best way to help
a book succeed, so I’d be forever indebted to you if you could help me spread
the word. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As promised, here’s the yummiest recipe I’ve tried all year
– (warning: it is not light or very healthy, but it is SO worth it!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Coconut Poke Cake<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Cake </u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
8
Tablespoons Butter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2
Tablespoons Coconut oil (you can play with these numbers and divvy up the
butter/coconut oil differently as long as it amounts to 10 Tablespoons)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 ¼ cups
sugar (I used part coconut sugar)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 eggs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 teaspoon
vanilla extract<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
¼ teaspoon
almond extract<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 cup white
flour<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 cup whole
wheat flour (I would also try coconut flour to make it crazy-over-the-top
coconut cake)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
¼ teaspoon
salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
¾ cup milk
(or coconut beverage, or be decadent and use cream or half n half!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 (14oz) can
cream of coconut<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 (14ox) can
sweetened condensed milk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 (16 oz)
cool whip (or make your own cream – even better!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
6 oz flaked
sweetened coconut<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heat oven to 350<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Cream together butter and coconut oil until smooth. Gradually add sugar. Beat until fluffy, 3-4 minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla and almond
extracts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Combine flours, baking powder, and salt. Add to egg mixture, a little at a time, alternating with
milk. Stir just until smooth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Pour batter into 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with oil
(coconut spray is best). Bake until toothpick comes out clean. About 30-35 minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Mix together cream of coconut and condensed milk. Poke holes in cake using large fork (I used serving fork).
Pour milk mixture over hot cake.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Cool Cake. Ice with cool whip. Sprinkle with coconut</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OMG – enjoy!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#intheweeds #ImNotHer #writing #womensfiction #busywriter #notenoughtime</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-9809025938601956522015-07-10T11:50:00.001-07:002016-03-19T05:36:39.610-07:00Full Confession: I am no longer an organic gardener<div class="MsoNormal">
After this past week I can no longer call myself an organic
farmer. Sigh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Japanese beetles got me. I’ve put up with squash bugs
and voles and those nasty invisible beetles that eat up my beans. And while we’ve
had Japanese beetles before, I’ve never reached for the chemical weapons with
any of them. I moved plants around, incentified the cats, and picked thousands
of beetles off plants to drop them to their certain death in my bucket of dish
soap.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then last year happened. <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/07/under-seige-from-japanese-beetles.html">I wrote about it.</a> It was
devastating. They killed my peach and my nectarine trees, both of which were
loaded with their first real crop. I was heartbroken. We ardently applied the
milky spore – spent hundreds on it to be sure we treated all the ground around
the gardens and fruit trees. We ordered new fruit trees and chalked the whole
experience up to the difficult but noble pursuit of organic gardening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LkKTK4pp27Rp7ZMzLwhFNDN3F05nyfhlUJmYCX6WxpvRgmFqnerwShyphenhyphen4KWXJSYOIbP6ULW36Qt5FoNtBHr_bh3fuxpH_gkzxTM5H8cigGqjqMSwXk1pqnTp8CW6YbL3Bp2YVyvx6SLQ/s1600/DSC_6552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LkKTK4pp27Rp7ZMzLwhFNDN3F05nyfhlUJmYCX6WxpvRgmFqnerwShyphenhyphen4KWXJSYOIbP6ULW36Qt5FoNtBHr_bh3fuxpH_gkzxTM5H8cigGqjqMSwXk1pqnTp8CW6YbL3Bp2YVyvx6SLQ/s320/DSC_6552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I came home from my camping trip in June to find
the Japanese beetles were back by the millions. They were devouring my grapes
which had barely survived the onslaught last year. They had lived, but been
reduced to the size they were the second year of their lives (they are eight
this year). The beetles swarmed my gorgeous plum tree which was loaded with
beautiful tiny purple plums for the first time ever. The raspberries and
asparagus, even the rhubarb were swarmed by beetles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What the heck? How did this happen? What about all that
milky spore? Seems last year’s beetles must have sent out a message and it went
viral and now all their friends and relatives had converged on our little
hillside for a mass feast.</div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fumed. I filled buckets with soapy water. I picked beetles
three and four times a day, but it made no difference. I sat down in the grass
in tears when I discovered there were beetles covering my three baby cherry
trees (the replacements for the ones blighted a few years back), and then I
notice them on my new peach tree. The gorgeous healthy replacement for last
year’s loss. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was the last straw. This meant war. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am smarter than a beetle and Home Depot is less than a
mile away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took my shocked husband to the store and we read the
labels. He’d forgotten his reading glasses so we shared my lovely flowered
spectacles. Pretty much every product said it was “organic” since there’s no
law against it. I allowed myself to be greenwashed into believing this, because
the only other option was moving far far away or bulldozing my trees and grapes
and raspberries</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We toted home two bottles of concentrate and three tubs of
powder. And we dosed everything. And then we sat on the porch and drank some
wine and imagined the beetles dying.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not a violent person. Really, I’m not. I’ve never played
a video game that involved anything dying besides the little yellow dots my
pacman gobbled up. But I took great joy in walking past the grapes and noting
the dead beetles tumbling from their leaves. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So there you have it. I am no longer an organic farmer. But
be certain, this is not an opening of the flood gates. I’m still planting
organic heirloom seeds and pulling my weeds by hand. I’m still fertilizing with
compost tea or seaweed and mulching my fall gardens in horse manure and clean
saw dust. I’ve ordered <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/09/there-are-nematodes-in-my-wine-fridge.html">beneficial nematodes</a> to let loose on the ground
surrounding our gardens and fruit trees in the hopes that they will be more
effective than milky spore against the beetles. I’m watching many of my
tomatoes succumb to the blight from this rainy, humid summer, but I have not
even filled my sprayer with copper oxide. It is what it is.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Truly, I have no desire for any more modern chemical warfare
in my garden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
But don’t take any of that to mean I won’t turn lethal
weapons on Japanese beetle again. They are a completely other story. They’ve
eaten their last tree on this hillside. I’ve still got two tubs of toxic
beetle-killing powder and I’m not afraid to use them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiqq-5nuMncoH8Lr7d1leD07aTXySEwwFz817dhwFnj-733Jy58cEWE0y7Vn1IwzHOEzAUbxTjwKdplwnupOa8GwqyKfsOlWOFG7dKtuPwN4wNOXztOdVE9ivyjlVt9QkPCh67LA83pI/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiqq-5nuMncoH8Lr7d1leD07aTXySEwwFz817dhwFnj-733Jy58cEWE0y7Vn1IwzHOEzAUbxTjwKdplwnupOa8GwqyKfsOlWOFG7dKtuPwN4wNOXztOdVE9ivyjlVt9QkPCh67LA83pI/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay - this isn't a pic from my property. Hopefully it's not yours either.<br />
It's the image in my mind that makes me reach for the bottle (of bug killer).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-6216583909529098282015-06-06T12:46:00.002-07:002015-06-06T12:46:57.341-07:00Every Woman's Fantasy...<div class="MsoNormal">
Quick! What’s every woman’s fantasy?<o:p></o:p></div>
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No, that’s not it. It’s a Roomba! A robotic vacuum cleaner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Guess what?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I got one. Which means, technically, all my dreams have come
true. This is pretty much accurate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Shout out to my FIL and my little brother who pitched in
Amazon loot for my birthday which enabled me to bring Ed home finally.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s Ed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOeU_9yAwEGnjTNrgGC82-VJVRLpd4uTxn1xtl5o7m_LXLjwAD91G6-hYMaNmEuwJ8WRSOXgDBAyRlieZ7nvD6vuLBg2gqwzpEGeLQyOaaX8_NzL7D7ymPVAEth-YG-5OjmttafSzyfo/s1600/DSC_8992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOeU_9yAwEGnjTNrgGC82-VJVRLpd4uTxn1xtl5o7m_LXLjwAD91G6-hYMaNmEuwJ8WRSOXgDBAyRlieZ7nvD6vuLBg2gqwzpEGeLQyOaaX8_NzL7D7ymPVAEth-YG-5OjmttafSzyfo/s320/DSC_8992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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How do I know his name is Ed?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JXrpT1Hit753jSxb4Ns4nl0QKoNU21n-8gAZUT-9oTP_9yayd0cnFGdouU0eczuytbbPK5_xakNNwi-BcLbpowpzy-_xSXk_QzJAbkGy3MET63w4C2634tusYwziT4yJS7GR5cz9BQI/s1600/DSC_8993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JXrpT1Hit753jSxb4Ns4nl0QKoNU21n-8gAZUT-9oTP_9yayd0cnFGdouU0eczuytbbPK5_xakNNwi-BcLbpowpzy-_xSXk_QzJAbkGy3MET63w4C2634tusYwziT4yJS7GR5cz9BQI/s320/DSC_8993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I told Nick his name was Ed, he asked how I knew that.
I said, “It says it there, right on his top.” He said, “You mean P3?” </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpKtXr3Z87x-efk_qs_SWPNZlF_27fyUw5gPLrbPB5sFQKwcx-dIBibXncapxwRmHz3G5F6WGIuBioqneyBbsqX4KMzrCDNc67TiDA07vrsStU0mdIvQLzLONu4BF3N-8BIg3DgU2e8M/s1600/DSC_8994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpKtXr3Z87x-efk_qs_SWPNZlF_27fyUw5gPLrbPB5sFQKwcx-dIBibXncapxwRmHz3G5F6WGIuBioqneyBbsqX4KMzrCDNc67TiDA07vrsStU0mdIvQLzLONu4BF3N-8BIg3DgU2e8M/s320/DSC_8994.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Men,
they can ruin everything.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I chose Ed after carefully considering the options within my
budget and reading some of the 400 reviews on Amazon. (Seriously, there are
more than 400 reviews of robotic vacuum cleaners on Amazon. Who are these
people?) The part that really sold me was that when reviewers were talking
about Ed, they always referred to the vacuum as “he”. As in, “He does really
well on hardwood floors, but doesn’t like carpet quite as much.” And “My only
complaint about him is that he can get stuck moving from hardwood to carpet and
he only holds a charge about 35 minutes.” I wanted this vacuum who had so
clearly carved a place in the hearts of these reviewers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ed was super easy to assemble, just needing me to attach his
happy little brush that sweeps objects out of edges and into his path and also
the dust cloth. Then the hard part came…I had to wait 16 hours for him to
charge up his rechargeable batteries! (It only took that long the first time,
subsequently, he was much quicker to get back in the game.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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When he was all charged up, I prepped the kitchen. I removed
the mats near the door and picked up larger items like shoes, baseball hats,
dogs, and dice (I have a kid with a serious D&D habit, so there are dice in
every nook and cranny of my house). Then I put the chairs up on the table and
counter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eMdH0ZB783YEBnqrl27qxDegsaKpevNTVTJ-S0P9zkjCm051pCIh-haTeExoh6dgCKoOe7qB6gZV3lNqLlTnen2ca6gZl8yWw2KburwVaHZMN8fSf5iK1656WD_uX9kbOrHsuWePX7c/s1600/DSC_8991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eMdH0ZB783YEBnqrl27qxDegsaKpevNTVTJ-S0P9zkjCm051pCIh-haTeExoh6dgCKoOe7qB6gZV3lNqLlTnen2ca6gZl8yWw2KburwVaHZMN8fSf5iK1656WD_uX9kbOrHsuWePX7c/s320/DSC_8991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(My children did such a great job removing all their crap from the
table, just like I asked. Ahem.)</div>
<a name='more'></a> <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0Z1G8OoCByUB6F4WX05s4wyywmiPXRoFBjeiJS5UVeq6624_sD8aqXebHmtejAvPEv_f7XnIRaDxyIBnlMtrkk6yShQqH2N2_tZHOjeSuMdPZ0-KnNhrM3igvuS2OcyCWNifz5JIT5U/s1600/DSC_8997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0Z1G8OoCByUB6F4WX05s4wyywmiPXRoFBjeiJS5UVeq6624_sD8aqXebHmtejAvPEv_f7XnIRaDxyIBnlMtrkk6yShQqH2N2_tZHOjeSuMdPZ0-KnNhrM3igvuS2OcyCWNifz5JIT5U/s320/DSC_8997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I left a few things like a lego piece, a raisin, and a stray
ear bud pad on the floor just to see what would happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then I turned Ed loose. I made a cup of tea and I watched.
Yes, I know letting Ed do the vacuuming should free me up to do other things,
but for this inaugural run, I had to watch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ed was amazing. When he bumped into anything, he simply backed
up a tad and turned slightly right and then continued. This helped him either
zigzag around or bump along a wall until he came to a corner at which point, he
spun around in a uturn and set off on a new trajectory. A few times I redirected
him to a spot he missed, but he probably didn’t need me doing that, as he
seemed to have his own plan. I’m sure he was grumbling, “Stupid human, let me
do my job!” (Actually, I’m certain he speaks much nicer than that. He probably
sighed and said, “Trust me, please. I got this.”)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite the fact that all the reviews said he would only run
35 minutes on a charge, Ed worked my large kitchen/dining floor for just over
an hour! And he did a great job. He sucked up the lego piece and the raisin,
but spit back out the ear bud pad. His only fault is that he can’t get all the
way into corners. So I took out my trusty little hand vac and quickly went over
the corners. The floor even looked kind of shiny because there is a duster pad
on the bottom of Ed that kind of polishes. A few reviewers said you can spray
murphy soap on the pad and let Ed go over the floor to clean even better. I’m
planning on giving that a go next time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s before/after photos:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm-EE8Rc8V2zg8R-wpcXipMVzRzayN8Kf6FLfDW8I5-l9bWJH0UZR1Zq-aG8ToPIYZLttCiDYZCRpKu24VN7N7ejh9X2suNysHZuiWv3VPC_zXka5n0d0CMo67_qYWW0QONA0z_sVU5U/s1600/DSC_8996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm-EE8Rc8V2zg8R-wpcXipMVzRzayN8Kf6FLfDW8I5-l9bWJH0UZR1Zq-aG8ToPIYZLttCiDYZCRpKu24VN7N7ejh9X2suNysHZuiWv3VPC_zXka5n0d0CMo67_qYWW0QONA0z_sVU5U/s320/DSC_8996.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v83GVyTDSOdClQ-LxJ-t-hwWuXbJSXI790H7cV0_PKraUiTLKKyEMoD1l20php-Dapu_CDRukoJ5I4OhHGBo2iSro2IN2y5msFx9VylbC6qL4zsMhG-h-2k_LE13HQIXxJ8_bo8i8hY/s1600/DSC_9003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v83GVyTDSOdClQ-LxJ-t-hwWuXbJSXI790H7cV0_PKraUiTLKKyEMoD1l20php-Dapu_CDRukoJ5I4OhHGBo2iSro2IN2y5msFx9VylbC6qL4zsMhG-h-2k_LE13HQIXxJ8_bo8i8hY/s320/DSC_9003.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspGX2WpvJtaNQvaiFmWqtjU02y_b-nQxew3hyphenhyphenEhRtnwUgXyrr3yjovZ-Kl8wDREMU93jTTE1n_v6jzeOIkSjFA7PmsoZAnlPqpDjorWUBQbNOJQv489iGehD7He3sm-yZlEoI8io9P20/s1600/DSC_8999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspGX2WpvJtaNQvaiFmWqtjU02y_b-nQxew3hyphenhyphenEhRtnwUgXyrr3yjovZ-Kl8wDREMU93jTTE1n_v6jzeOIkSjFA7PmsoZAnlPqpDjorWUBQbNOJQv489iGehD7He3sm-yZlEoI8io9P20/s320/DSC_8999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When Ed was finished, he emitted a small noise and simply
shut off. I emptied the dirt collector. (I emptied it once midway in the
process also. Our floor is VERY dirty and the collector isn’t huge.) This was
super easy to do. Then I brushed off the filter and plugged Ed back in to
recharge for later.</div>
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<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day he vacuumed my bedroom floor, front hall, and
screened in porch. If only I could find children who were as compliant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ed may not be perfect. He sometimes covers the same area
repeatedly and admittedly takes much longer to vacuum a room than it would take
me. But then again, if Ed’s doing the vacuuming it takes none of my time to
vacuum. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are probably better robot vacuums out there, but he
makes me very happy and more importantly, he makes me feel like I am not alone
in my battle with the filth of this house. Now I have an ally.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ONFUPM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00">link to Ed’s Amazon page</a>, just in case you need
your own Ed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-67673221063917920132015-04-30T11:12:00.001-07:002015-04-30T18:00:59.441-07:00My Ten Rules for Healthy Eating and Cooking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfVRNH9nEsE1IhhGdp-39FGTBBkbSroOyVCr2WemslkF0AQjODjPWt4FKu-pNM85PluUXYj-Y-rrG-RmVQ-izIDMZWBm68vG7uLhdcgk12VO7jYn7MJ-yvHgPHffOWS3SWIFzK36T9yc/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfVRNH9nEsE1IhhGdp-39FGTBBkbSroOyVCr2WemslkF0AQjODjPWt4FKu-pNM85PluUXYj-Y-rrG-RmVQ-izIDMZWBm68vG7uLhdcgk12VO7jYn7MJ-yvHgPHffOWS3SWIFzK36T9yc/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Last night I finished teaching a six week class on Healthy
Cooking for the Community Education program of our school district. It was
great fun and forced me to truly examine my own beliefs about healthy cooking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s first toss aside a few incorrect assumptions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Healthy cooking is not about losing weight, although if you
truly cook in a healthy way your weight will naturally find its way to a
healthy number that works for your body. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Healthy cooking is not about using “light” ingredients. It’s
about using real ingredients –the kind that heal and grow your body. Many times
these ingredients are anything but light.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Healthy cooking does not mean bland, boring food. On the
contrary, it means exploring all kinds of taste sensations. It means cooking
fabulous food that you LOVE to eat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At last night’s class I shared my ten rules for Healthy
Cooking. I’ll share them with you now. (and if you want to learn more about
these rules, be sure to sign up for my class in the fall!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ten Rules of Healthy Cooking and Eating:</b></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. If you don’t buy it you can’t eat
it.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This goes for healthy and unhealthy ingredients. Kids and
husbands are no excuse – you should care enough not to feed them unhealthy
food. I wrote this in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430415275&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally">my book</a> and believe it with all my being - <i>If you had a life-threatening condition –
you would find a way to eat the food you needed. Your health is a
life-threatening condition.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cooking and eating healthy takes planning and time, but
that’s not an excuse for not doing it. Luckily - the more you do it, the easier
and less time-consuming it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stock your cupboards and freezer with healthy ingredients. Don’t
bring junk into your home to tempt you or your family. Why would you spend your
good money on foods that will only harm you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2. Don’t be afraid to fiddle. Recipes
are starting points.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTP7e8qLvxvAD-24XOAySY_-pYo5HUVQS2LEV4wgyNn7vFPZx75FHT6GOkgqffcfls52Am7xRS7wSEGJTsJRpk-vnBOxufJVSO2-xlkxuAaAxmmZ4NlWviKUJEQV-_3yJLUJg10OJyXM/s1600/DSC_7659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTP7e8qLvxvAD-24XOAySY_-pYo5HUVQS2LEV4wgyNn7vFPZx75FHT6GOkgqffcfls52Am7xRS7wSEGJTsJRpk-vnBOxufJVSO2-xlkxuAaAxmmZ4NlWviKUJEQV-_3yJLUJg10OJyXM/s1600/DSC_7659.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are no kitchen-police. You don’t<i> have</i> to follow the recipe. When I discovered this fact, it was
like a light going on in my creative soul. I could tweak, change, alter, add,
subtract whatever I wanted to my recipes. I began keeping notes – written right
into the cookbooks to help me remember what worked and what didn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eventually I <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2015/01/recipe-organization-dream-or-reality-or.html">designed a system for my recipes</a> that organized
them into notebooks. You can create your own cookbook in a three ring binder –
make notes, change ingredients lists, throw out recipes that you don’t LOVE,
add ones you’d like to try (yes – just rip them out of that magazine!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagFkJ_RG6TaLB58z2FNzic_GIaNYs7hFAQfx_kbZho_Elm2Otm1sIAkpq8PBM7u0UG-xKVmR6sCcKNJVl-tdXGvfCgk2k8J_mov0MKU5mefZQvevrNsO-HkdXsLDogF-RPyYKeJNEdg0/s1600/mac+n+cheese+tumeric+added.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagFkJ_RG6TaLB58z2FNzic_GIaNYs7hFAQfx_kbZho_Elm2Otm1sIAkpq8PBM7u0UG-xKVmR6sCcKNJVl-tdXGvfCgk2k8J_mov0MKU5mefZQvevrNsO-HkdXsLDogF-RPyYKeJNEdg0/s1600/mac+n+cheese+tumeric+added.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3. Be heavy-handed with spices.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Spices are the secret
ingredient (after fresh ingredients) to yummy, healthy cooking. Watch a TV chef
– they add seasonings by the handful, not the carefully measured ¼ teaspoon. If
you love ginger – use lots. Would fresh basil be a nice addition to this sauce - find out! Recipe calls for 1 tablespoon taco seasoning – use
two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Invent your own spice mixes. You can find knock-offs of just
about every spice blend out there on the internet. I’ve got a <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/04/diy-organic-spice-mixes.html">few on this blog.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whenever possible, grind your own whole herbs. Buy a second
hand coffee grinder at the goodwill and grind cinnamon sticks, peppercorns,
whole rosemary. You will be amazed at how much better (and stronger) your
spices taste!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And while you’re at it,<a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-that-time-again.html"> grow your own</a> fresh herbs – many are
perennial and take little to no care. Around here you can grow <i>oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram,
mint, chamomile, chives, even parsley as perennials! <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4. Substitute healthier ingredients
whenever possible.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whole grain and nut flours substitute 1 for 1 for white flour.
Experiment to see how much white flour you can replace – sometimes you can
replace all. After a while you won’t even like white flour – too bland and
unsubstantial! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Use real fats like <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/07/superfood-above-all-superfoods.html">coconut oil</a>, olive oil, and real butter. Use whole dairy products from grass fed cows.(Light products simply add water or fillers. <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2010/02/save-planet-eat-beef.html">Grass-fed products </a>are substantially better for your health.) Real fats and real dairy will fill you up and taste better which means you'll be less likely to overeat. More than that, your body needs fat. <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/05/bring-on-fat-really.html">Eating too little is much worse for your body than eating too much!</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Add veggies or nuts or seeds to anything. Remember rule #2 - you can make anything instantly healthier by adding healthier ingredients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc-t_jHXmOeO1M5NE6FOqHyQkHpzFRkF3beg54-g6FeLOX0D_xD3qI2bUs9pROvwFQ9cHaZFEVPPP20vAQy2G2gHM9Q2zvNrbiPGlP6DawecfIeczXJSdLLvfgMBCnZ3s7ElYybiMKfg/s1600/steak+dinner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc-t_jHXmOeO1M5NE6FOqHyQkHpzFRkF3beg54-g6FeLOX0D_xD3qI2bUs9pROvwFQ9cHaZFEVPPP20vAQy2G2gHM9Q2zvNrbiPGlP6DawecfIeczXJSdLLvfgMBCnZ3s7ElYybiMKfg/s1600/steak+dinner.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5. It’s all about taste. If it isn’t
fabulous – why eat it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Really, I mean this. Why would you eat anything that didn’t
taste amazing? What’s the point? Find something better to eat. Cook it
yourself.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.6666660308838px; line-height: 19.9733333587647px;">Make your salads exciting – experiment with your own dressings (1/2 any oil plus 1/2 any vinegar, add salt and pepper - go from there and walah - instand dressing!), make homemade croutons (chop bread, spray with oil, sprinkle with seasoning and bake at 300 for 30 minutes) use dried fruits, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, cooked grains, even edible flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6. Eat at least 2 Veggies and/or
Fruit at EVERY meal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fruits and vegetables should be the bulk of your meals. You
need more of them than anything else. Eat them first so you fill up and won’t
eat so much starch or protein (both of which the typical American eats WAY too
much). And speaking of starch…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7. Don’t overload on starch. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bread counts. Somewhere along the line we have been
programmed to have bread with every meal. A steak dinner comes with baked
potato AND bread. Every pasta dish in any restaurant comes with bread. Why? Bread
can stand alone as your starch. If it’s delicious whole grain bread you made
yourself – it can more than stand alone. Do your health and your body a favor
and stick to one starch per meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">8. Discard your preconceived notions
about what makes a meal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The purpose of a meal is to refuel, reconnect with your
family, and feed your body the vitamins and minerals it needs. If you had a big
lunch with protein, extra starch, plenty of fat, then dinner doesn’t need to be
a big deal. It could be just veggies and hummus. You don’t need to sit down to
a full plate every time you eat. Balance your day. Sometimes your snack was
your meal and you are better off skipping dinner altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9. Sit down to eat, no technology, be
present and grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you do sit down, be there. Don’t bring the phone or the
TV or even the stereo to the table with you. Pay attention to your food and
your company. If you’ve taken care and cooked something healthy and delicious –
taste it, enjoy it, appreciate it. Why would anyone spend time cooking healthy
delicious meals that her family eats while doing other things? Set the table.
Use real napkins. Say grace. Even if it’s just you. Your food, your body, and
your efforts deserve this much respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">10. If you aren’t hungry – don’t eat.
It’ll go to waste either in your body or in the trash – which is better?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even if you spent the better part of the afternoon preparing
this meal, if you are full, stop eating. I was raised by a mom who grew up in the
latter years of the depression in a coal mining town with very little. She insisted
that I eat what was put in front of me. Most of us are programmed to clean our
plates. Here’s the problem with that – it’s wasteful either way. If you throw
it away it’s going to waste, but if you eat it, it is also going to waste
because your body doesn’t need it. Pack it up for later, compost it, throw it
away. Don’t waste it in your body.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What are your rules for healthy cooking and eating? Don't have any - you should! What you eat and how you prepare it can change your life!</span></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-1963293033302909812015-04-01T05:34:00.000-07:002015-04-01T05:34:02.783-07:00The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or How to Make Your Sock Drawer Look Like Mine!<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve just finished reading a book, I have to write about.
Even as I made notes and underlined and laughed while reading it, I thought, “I
can’t wait to blog about this….”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I need to qualify all that I’m about to write by saying,
this woman is nuts. But it’s a good nuts. Pretty much every chapter had me
shaking my head and muttering, “What a lunatic,” but I said it with a smile on
my face. I adore this woman and her ideas. I just wouldn’t ever want to live
with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4aVWGGqCg7ugU48t9paU2LvJiay8FR0Ruag7b9jdN7EEJKqaq7yGkb5gFXCD0aUiQY4hONKCpZKijplx0ubeAPZcmUfPpLfn31Ym4fWIapPQgOH5zSUGSUc48837cXvZ8_74xDzQwwU/s1600/978-1-60774-730-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4aVWGGqCg7ugU48t9paU2LvJiay8FR0Ruag7b9jdN7EEJKqaq7yGkb5gFXCD0aUiQY4hONKCpZKijplx0ubeAPZcmUfPpLfn31Ym4fWIapPQgOH5zSUGSUc48837cXvZ8_74xDzQwwU/s1600/978-1-60774-730-7.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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The book is <i>The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing</i> by
Marie Kondo. Maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s been all over the news lately. It’s
a small book that’s selling like hot cakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most of us are enamored with the idea of organizing our
stuff, but this book goes beyond that. It preaches that you get rid of huge
amounts of your belongings – anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved this concept that we should only wear clothing that
sparks joy for us and we should only keep things in our home that spark joy in
our lives. Sure, there’s the stuff you need that maybe doesn’t spark a lot of
joy – a spatula, the paper-towel holder, the sheets for the guest room bed –
but it’s something to strive for. My teenage daughter has a ladle on her Amazon
wishlist that is shaped like the Lochness monster. She loves it. It sparks joy.
Maybe it will grace her kitchen someday. She also has a tea infuser that looks
like a shark swimming around your cup as it makes your tea. My kid definitely
gets the sparks joy concept.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve been trying in recent years not to bring anything in to
my house that I don’t really love. No furniture to serve a purpose – it needs
to be something that makes me happy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our living room is large, there’s room in there for lots of
furniture, but currently there is only a couch (it sparks a tiny flicker of joy
only because my mom recovered it for me and I remember that fun weekend, but
it’s filthy and it’s days are numbered, but it’s the only real seating left in
the room, so there it is.), a coffee table (which does spark some joy because
Nick refinished it and it’s functional, simple, and pretty), and the dog’s recliner
(an ugly, worn out, hand-me-down recliner that our incredibly untrainable dog
sleeps on most nights – we hold on to it so that she won’t get on the other
furniture.). I know we need some seating, but I’ve yet to find anything I can
afford that even remotely sparks joy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We moved the screened porch furniture in for the winter, so
for now there’s lots of seats, but as soon as it warms up that room will be
barren again. No matter – I’m not buying anything until I find the furniture
that speaks to me. Kondo backs me up on this and I love her for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When it comes to clothing, Kondo spends almost half the book
on her system. </div>
<a name='more'></a>First, she says, repeatedly (and there is a lot of repetition in
this book, so if you’re an impatient person it might irritate you), you must
sort through your clothing in one go. You can’t do it a little here and a
little there. This forced me to put off the challenge until this past weekend,
when an unexpected snow and a change of heart for my college-visiting son,
gifted me with a free day.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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Basically, she instructs that you pull out ALL of your
clothes – everything, even the “fat” clothes, the clothes you keep in the
under-the-bed box “just in case,” the off-season stuff and the things you hung
in your kids closet because you never wear it, but you couldn’t possibly get
rid of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Once you have everything piled in one place, you pick up
each item, one at a time and hold it in your hands and determine whether or not
it sparks joy. It’s critical that you <i>hold
</i>the item. It gives you a distinct feeling. Whatever doesn’t spark joy, goes.
Kondo says many of her clients end up offing two thirds of their wardrobe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, confession. I understand what she’s doing. And I had
every intention of doing it, but….I’m lazy. And I’m in a hurry. So I didn’t
hold every piece of clothing, just some. I did manage to get rid of probably
one third of my wardrobe. It was a start. I’ve decided that I’ll do it again at
the end of summer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The other big impetus of the book is storage. Kondo is a big
proponent of “vertical” stacking. You can put nearly twice as much in each
drawer if you stack vertically. Plus, you can see all your options without
rifling through everything else. I struggled to understand this concept. How do
you vertically stack a sock? Reading it, only made me skeptical, but once I
tried it, I was a believer. Here’s my sock drawer (which is only half-full now
but was previously spilling out – combination of purging the unsparking socks
and vertically stacking).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKD-ck3YO56NN8TNnTSpPp6kdzqP8MADBoqa2_b__71tWb7_ImZZUT-DTkV8AxkjE5Xda_rCnAZREg0kDUintQk4VBYs3N0xzXuM1OosrMAdtGPPNrqqLf1fygsrAyadWb5_93wnhcjY/s1600/DSC_8076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKD-ck3YO56NN8TNnTSpPp6kdzqP8MADBoqa2_b__71tWb7_ImZZUT-DTkV8AxkjE5Xda_rCnAZREg0kDUintQk4VBYs3N0xzXuM1OosrMAdtGPPNrqqLf1fygsrAyadWb5_93wnhcjY/s1600/DSC_8076.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Did you ever imagine you’d see the inside of my sock
drawer? Me neither.) How about my running clothes drawer?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8eguuC4UfmZAxDhJJcdPWOFqd3vFB2nobb6SQqaZduEHY-X2gIEPseeOHHyU8PWkDOr_zQVCca_TgTnLdyt-dAbH3M3_7a6aXMT-xD_pMs7kiEpBMp2sBWyzr4X-uEtq98_oSPdhZ2E/s1600/DSC_8060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8eguuC4UfmZAxDhJJcdPWOFqd3vFB2nobb6SQqaZduEHY-X2gIEPseeOHHyU8PWkDOr_zQVCca_TgTnLdyt-dAbH3M3_7a6aXMT-xD_pMs7kiEpBMp2sBWyzr4X-uEtq98_oSPdhZ2E/s1600/DSC_8060.JPG" height="137" width="320" /></a></div>
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Or my good t-shirts drawer?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmKpPg8QRYZla50mz8-N631PZ6IrPDgRMT0T4JCkzvQtnTlss7fKYa7RGAw7MzOIfgat2Atq_pGOERH5Keaq4IBgOYGqjrX9ZUH5tqr89la7QWSfhBbPIRPb_aZ9QqSZHaCSprgkb_P8/s1600/DSC_8061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmKpPg8QRYZla50mz8-N631PZ6IrPDgRMT0T4JCkzvQtnTlss7fKYa7RGAw7MzOIfgat2Atq_pGOERH5Keaq4IBgOYGqjrX9ZUH5tqr89la7QWSfhBbPIRPb_aZ9QqSZHaCSprgkb_P8/s1600/DSC_8061.JPG" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
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Speaking of socks, I have to mention this other gem in the
book. Kondo believes that we must treat our clothing with respect and kindness.
To that end, it is not kind or respectful to ball up your socks. All my life
I’ve always kept my socks in little bundles by folding one out over the
other, like this-<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNj1t-GsMVejd_hvjz0Gd1ou4mZx4q16nUusEE7ia0pGL4qSg5uaxPPQ9OVZVUK-WHsHYdwSV5xT8BfRMe0f1v-VK5hKYW8576bfB9s-d63YsCcaWguoWszBIkwahpbx_kWVt-Ht2QWQ/s1600/DSC_8074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNj1t-GsMVejd_hvjz0Gd1ou4mZx4q16nUusEE7ia0pGL4qSg5uaxPPQ9OVZVUK-WHsHYdwSV5xT8BfRMe0f1v-VK5hKYW8576bfB9s-d63YsCcaWguoWszBIkwahpbx_kWVt-Ht2QWQ/s1600/DSC_8074.JPG" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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But Kondo says that stresses the sock. It’s constantly
stretched, which is wearing and exhausting for the sock. (I’m thinking it’s not
the sock specifically, but probably the elastic in the sock…). She exhorts the
reader, again and again, to treat their belongings with respect and kindness.
Empty your purse every day – how would you like to be left “full” all the time?<o:p></o:p></div>
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My only real issue with this book is that Kondo constantly
talks about throwing things away. Of course that grates my soul. Almost
anything can be recycled. If you take her advice to heart and start purging
your house of belongings, please, please, please don’t simply throw things
away, no matter what she says. There are options beyond the Goodwill and the
recycling bin. Consider listing things on <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-persons-trash-is-anothers-treasure.html">Freecycle </a>or Craigslist. I’ve given
away the most random things you can imagine on Freecycle (plastic candy fish
molds, a box of broken crayons, a DVD/VCR that only plays DVDs). There are
people who will take your stuff, and sure, I realize they might be hoarders,
but there’s also a chance that they’re not. Either way, it <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2010/08/great-garbage-patch.html">keeps your stufffrom clogging up the landfills</a>. Facebook has also opened up avenues for giving
unwanted things away. Do a search for a local yard sale page and you’ll find a
multitude of outlets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up</i> has changed my
attitude at least, if not my life. I’m even more careful about what I bring
home. I’m slowly sorting through my belongings. I do want to have a house
filled with only things that spark joy for me. Living with four other people
means that sometimes I have to put up with items that don’t spark joy for me,
but do for someone else. That’s part of communal living. Kondo doesn’t really
address this fact, but I believe she’d understand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kondo has systems for everything – mementos, books, papers,
even the kitchen sink. You may not agree with her recommendations, but it will
make you think about why you keep the things you keep and how you store the
things you have. Kondo goes so far as to say (per the title) that tidying up
will change your life – it will give you confidence and help you figure out who
you really are and what makes you happy. Tall order, but I have to say she’s on
to something. What we surround ourselves with and how we care for them does say
a lot about a person. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-74868957752429466232015-03-20T10:53:00.000-07:002015-03-20T10:53:46.580-07:00Two Fabo-licious New Recipes<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry, I can’t stay away. I know I said I wouldn’t be blogging
very often on this site, but it’s only been a week or so and I’m already back!
Not writing has turned out to be more stressful than writing. So this is just a
quick fix. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have to share with you two new recipes I’ve developed this
week that are total yum, relatively healthy, and super easy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mw4gpVxiviPpLtPkiIGOiciryeE6nOVudPBtjliFhUSp2V0bQqrEWMCbBv3Mx13PUTNz-9NbBmfv24UTTVqHnW8t7U-WKRihpQg9N8BAgjX2Xojvc2VkCqP5fozXasRxAe097-OcRI0/s1600/DSC_7932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mw4gpVxiviPpLtPkiIGOiciryeE6nOVudPBtjliFhUSp2V0bQqrEWMCbBv3Mx13PUTNz-9NbBmfv24UTTVqHnW8t7U-WKRihpQg9N8BAgjX2Xojvc2VkCqP5fozXasRxAe097-OcRI0/s1600/DSC_7932.JPG" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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The first is a recipe for Whole Wheat Flaxseed Oyster Crackers. That’s a terrible name, so let’s call them Healthy Oyster Crackers
That Also Make a Great Snack. Okay, not much better. You can name them whatever
you want. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Healthy Crackers In
Need of a Name<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>1 cup whole wheat
flour<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>1 cup white flour <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>¼ cup flaxseed meal<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>2 teaspoons salt<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>2 teaspoons baking
powder<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>6 Tablespoons butter
(cut into small pieces)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>2/3 cup warm water</i></div>
<a name='more'></a><i><o:p></o:p></i><br />
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Option: You could also try adding some spices. That’s my
next plan – throw in some thyme, maybe some garlic, or even some shredded
cheddar or parmesan</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Mix all ingredients together in an electric mixer (if you
don’t have a mixer, cut the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, then
add water and form a dough)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Roll out dough on a clean surface (don’t overwork). Break
off 1” pieces and roll into balls. Or I suppose, you could just toss them on
the cookie sheet in little squares also, but that would be more like a saltine
than an oyster cracker and oyster crackers are much better for munching and
dropping into soup.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Place balls on baking tray and bake for 20 minutes at 375. If
you want them extra crunchy. Turn off oven when they are finished and leave
them in the warm over a bit longer. Just don’t let them burn. That would be a
shame.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This next recipe has a few possibly obscure ingredients –
but go find them. You’ll be glad you did. One of these special ingredients is Lime Infused Olive Oil. I know this sounds obscure but infused oils are all the rage – look around. If you're local you can get it at <a href="http://park-street-pantry.myshopify.com/">Park Street Pantry</a>. Here's a picture:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvALTqD8SG3wNLqeSibRxd8j57iUXQS30Ati-Pf5ZynpAe8d5zrvKWpXdelmvC34me-saLZNsaqEYCofx_LTz-tiaydRtBvQwRN1VbQbydWM8ihK-N0WMZOdgUUpbxKjj0gGJ5wwazEY/s1600/DSC_7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvALTqD8SG3wNLqeSibRxd8j57iUXQS30Ati-Pf5ZynpAe8d5zrvKWpXdelmvC34me-saLZNsaqEYCofx_LTz-tiaydRtBvQwRN1VbQbydWM8ihK-N0WMZOdgUUpbxKjj0gGJ5wwazEY/s1600/DSC_7935.JPG" height="320" width="113" /></a></div>
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<o:p> The next, not-really-odd-but-maybe-you-haven't-heard-of-it ingredient is cardamon pods.You're not really after the pod, just the seed, but buy them in the pod so the seeds will be fresh. (Yes, it makes a difference.) Almost any grocery store should have them, but if you can get them from a bulk supplier, it's better because you can buy just a few at a time. (Again, it's the freshness we're going for.) Here's what the pods look like:</o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9IsSk9ENkUEuDwRezAyRBlsgHIGV9tLJ3i2LbZ4lc1d-DhAr2vUz_sOyNBJyDAAktge6lu0ctoWHXNbCMobsmDbAzJp5xevlOHp88xT1yApE0biEkM7Mr8cf-RmgvP50PMI6CYWJUpA/s1600/DSC_7936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9IsSk9ENkUEuDwRezAyRBlsgHIGV9tLJ3i2LbZ4lc1d-DhAr2vUz_sOyNBJyDAAktge6lu0ctoWHXNbCMobsmDbAzJp5xevlOHp88xT1yApE0biEkM7Mr8cf-RmgvP50PMI6CYWJUpA/s1600/DSC_7936.JPG" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
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<b>Coconut Lime Rice</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>2 tablespoons lime infused olive oil </i></div>
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<i>4 cardamom seed pods<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>2 cups sweet brown rice</i> (very, very short brown rice – good
for sushi, too, if you’re in to that. I find this rice at <a href="http://www.sonnewald.org/">Sonnewalds</a>)<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>4 cups (one carton) coconut beverage </i>(They have this at
Trader Joes, but also pretty much any grocery store anymore. This is NOT
coconut milk, but you could use coconut milk instead – I’d go with half coconut
milk and half water)<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Heat oil in medium sauce pan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Crack cardamom pods and add seeds to oil. (I use a rolling
pin to crack pods) Cook for one minute, stirring seeds.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Add rice and cook two minutes, stirring frequently. <o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Add coconut milk beverage and salt. Bring to a boil. Stir once,
turn heat to very low, and cover. Cook 45 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There you go – two yummy new recipes to try! If you’d like
more yummy recipes, sign up for my occasional e-newsletter at <a href="http://www.carawrites.com/">www.carawrites.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here's a picture of our current foster dog, who is excellent company in the kitchen and takes care of anything you might drop inadvertently. Every serious cook needs a dog helper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx8vgGW_94TWYvN-_x5AEUtHKv9Op7CsoSTPx52cqPDea0IpfKwhHRZuwmC2x3cFgREooakCNdG2lv7gpFPKn1TGyULkoLj5PjZnUiBLs_YVyKBWKwogHzK3MyvgxW5JkndWd3av4Y-E/s1600/DSC_7749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx8vgGW_94TWYvN-_x5AEUtHKv9Op7CsoSTPx52cqPDea0IpfKwhHRZuwmC2x3cFgREooakCNdG2lv7gpFPKn1TGyULkoLj5PjZnUiBLs_YVyKBWKwogHzK3MyvgxW5JkndWd3av4Y-E/s1600/DSC_7749.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know, she's adorable. You can read all about her on my other blog, <a href="http://www.anothergooddog.wordpress.com/">Another Good Dog</a>.</div>
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(Like this blog? Buy my book! It's available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426873887&sr=1-1&keywords=live+intentionally">Amazon</a>.)</div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-53525422535291946582015-03-03T13:13:00.000-08:002015-03-03T13:13:54.563-08:00First, Let Me Explain.....<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe you’ve wondered why I haven’t written as much lately (or
maybe you haven’t noticed). Here is my litany of excuses and my plan for this
blog moving forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Excuse Number One:</b>
I signed a book deal for my womens fiction so I am finally writing for real.
This is a good thing. Truly. I am following my arrow. The awesome people at
<a href="http://thestoryplant.com/">StoryPlant</a> are making it happen!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgYQVz2p4dlOFQEAQjXXo_0uAaBIFdgtPl5kgiO-rTrwxgSH58bT_pJNH1n9WOywcbOnNK9T4-_Kb9Upt_VuIggxAi_lQlYjiiCab9dhKo8qxyr1oZVDOO62IrKMahf26yIa3Fpp9zAg/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgYQVz2p4dlOFQEAQjXXo_0uAaBIFdgtPl5kgiO-rTrwxgSH58bT_pJNH1n9WOywcbOnNK9T4-_Kb9Upt_VuIggxAi_lQlYjiiCab9dhKo8qxyr1oZVDOO62IrKMahf26yIa3Fpp9zAg/s1600/download.jpg" height="75" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Excuse Number Two:</b>
There’s only so many times you can write about starting seedlings, which is
what I’d planned to write about this week. The thing is – I’ve written about <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2010/02/starting-from-seed.html">starting seedlings</a> before and <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2014/03/start-some-seeds-bring-on-spring.html">before that </a>and then I wrote about <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2012/03/get-it-started.html">seed starting mediums</a>. So instead of wasting my time
and yours, check out those links. That said, I will probably never run out of
things to say that have to do with a Kid Friendly Organic Life. And just in
case you’re wondering, here’s one of my Sophie's Choice seedlings coming along:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHgB0qiHkGbWEtOPA1tdg0dmhQ49AQ8qYJ9djXfJ6-zeyIrVCzX8n4NVMpfnnARjGXo-d2Rm15wl8oKlmwSgnM7sDBuVSIy1N1JI4XYfBUul_kPLHnEBjCdoBH_TpK3OZlkeULQY3Mug/s1600/DSC_7826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHgB0qiHkGbWEtOPA1tdg0dmhQ49AQ8qYJ9djXfJ6-zeyIrVCzX8n4NVMpfnnARjGXo-d2Rm15wl8oKlmwSgnM7sDBuVSIy1N1JI4XYfBUul_kPLHnEBjCdoBH_TpK3OZlkeULQY3Mug/s1600/DSC_7826.JPG" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaWjOV0PZqRHSqSg52keY7QXunYJVqaeMZ4kdCTbrk_fDSAtVEeRXiFWAo-vSJqrOROOgIW-rjLNK850TPFd4mOI0OEgpmz4itMLGPLig5LOf6uys04-LHW31kSkiAFubojS7A93tVKA/s1600/cover+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaWjOV0PZqRHSqSg52keY7QXunYJVqaeMZ4kdCTbrk_fDSAtVEeRXiFWAo-vSJqrOROOgIW-rjLNK850TPFd4mOI0OEgpmz4itMLGPLig5LOf6uys04-LHW31kSkiAFubojS7A93tVKA/s1600/cover+image.png" height="200" width="133" /></a><b>Excuse Number Three:</b>
I wrote a book! On the off chance that you haven’t been paying any attention to
my ramblings (my kids would understand that), my book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425416362&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally">Live Intentionally: 65 Challenges for a Healthier Happier Life</a></i> was
published last December. It’s based on this blog, but there is also some
original material in there, too. Promoting this book falls to me. To be honest,
I’ve been less than stellar at this because I’d rather write than sell. Still,
the meager promoting I am doing demands my spare writing time.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Excuse Number Four:</b>
We became a foster dog family. I know, in the midst of everything going on in
my life, why would I invite this chaos? Because that’s how I roll and because I
love it. I want to do this, and no, it’s not a good time, but it’s not as if my
life’s gonna suddenly get less hectic. So lets just crank it up one more notch.
And because I have a blogging habit, I’m writing about our adventures at <a href="http://www.anothergooddog.wordpress.com/">Another Good Dog</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So what is the plan for KFOL?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will probably post about once a month, unless I can’t stay
away and then there will be more. If there’s a subject you’d like me to tackle,
I welcome the challenge. Shoot me an e-mail at cara.achterberg@rocketmail.com.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you want to stay up to date on all my writing adventures,
know when the first novel is released (hopefully sometime this summer!), and/or
see random pictures of my menagerie, you can “like” me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/carasueachterberg">facebook</a>. You can also
check out my website, <a href="http://www.carawrites.com/">CaraWrites.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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And one last thing – THANK YOU for reading this blog all
these years! Writing it has been a joy and given me the experience and
confidence to follow my writing dream. You are my favorite people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-65929064002272003422015-02-18T06:04:00.001-08:002015-02-18T06:04:27.030-08:00How to Save LOTS of Money and Bring a Little Summer to Your Winter!<div class="MsoNormal">
This is your two minute warning, or actually, your four
month warning. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s time to start the petunias!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, maybe you're not concerned. Maybe, like I’ve been told
by at least one reader, you skip the garden posts on this blog. Fine. I take no
offense. Really. I’ll just pick up my trusty trowel and slink away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But for the rest of you – aren’t you itching for a little
summer? Or more importantly, do you spend much too much money on annuals each summer?
Have you ever purchased happy little seed packets of annual flowers, only to be
disappointed when all they produce is leaves and die before a proper bloom can
happen? <o:p></o:p></div>
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We are such suckers for a pretty picture. I gave up on the
seeds years ago and started buying flats of annuals instead. It ate at me,
though, because they cost a fortune and I am nothing if not a skin-flint. Yet I
could never resist, especially the wave petunias. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Petunias are happy flowers, and better yet, they’re
resilient. The perfect flower for the easily distracted gardener. They can look
nearly dead one day, but a little splash of water and they offer a dozen more
trumpet-blooms within hours. <o:p></o:p></div>
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They’re worth the price tag, right? Maybe. But what if you
didn’t have to pay it? What if you could grow wave petunias from seeds? Instead
of paying $5-8 for one wave petunia, what if you could pay $1.75 for eight? You
can. But you need to get started.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s really only
one trick to growing your own gorgeous wave petunias from inexpensive seeds,
like mine….</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu_OMVqorE_KL1P9tbvEIoN-SrToeR3t8zL4DTnljACqKfwCvBzgPliFJ_QHeKKlLQuK2_4jSVffnZvYPtxksBCmq4YiaamO1L5A_49N39cInUGkBh-PgSMw_Gnb3IxeRhkua8UAGVok/s1600/DSC_6444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu_OMVqorE_KL1P9tbvEIoN-SrToeR3t8zL4DTnljACqKfwCvBzgPliFJ_QHeKKlLQuK2_4jSVffnZvYPtxksBCmq4YiaamO1L5A_49N39cInUGkBh-PgSMw_Gnb3IxeRhkua8UAGVok/s1600/DSC_6444.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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Start early. You need to get those tiny little seeds in the
ground and then you need to be <i>patient.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Head to the hardware store (or your basement) and grab some
<a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2012/03/get-it-started.html">seed starter,</a> small pots, and a fluorescent light with a timer (nothing fancy,
just what you find at the hardware store). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course you’ll also need seeds. I purchased my seeds
through Pinetree Seeds and was very happy with the results last year – no duds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.superseeds.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQZa-74oN30uFyy2C7Nh22hlZJNRW1YtldMARc17tx7nKy-Tc0LCbLY-aQbrYlzzMOrsmPUGAcUjPKhRbTq77DqWb_H6GvLR3o3EQPaLvyx5kETJ-9hhqnWeENTuRmaNbQWeDvyYU1ac/s1600/pinetree+seed+catalog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Petunia seeds are teeny, tiny, so put on your reading
glasses before you work with them. And then -<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14zKD3NEYC1qIdDG_2sbmzNvXO65UH2BZPQbhnqUSnZ1X9xknAqR_Jhe1ISfHiPcCb1Kn0S1VEGnWYynmAfpejtZysUIdTk7NoWVbUKkdEoWqEt7AuqVb__TxcuVwZATfp3x-8G0VsdM/s1600/petunia+seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14zKD3NEYC1qIdDG_2sbmzNvXO65UH2BZPQbhnqUSnZ1X9xknAqR_Jhe1ISfHiPcCb1Kn0S1VEGnWYynmAfpejtZysUIdTk7NoWVbUKkdEoWqEt7AuqVb__TxcuVwZATfp3x-8G0VsdM/s1600/petunia+seeds.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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1. Fill your pots with half potting soil, ¼ peat moss, and ¼
vermiculate (or perlite). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Wet the soil thoroughly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Place one seed on the surface in the center of each pot
and give it a few mists of water. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Petunias need light to germinate. So set your pots under
your lights and set the timer to provide 16 hours of sunlight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ6KSn_XTPDAMlUU7Oy1YsTVy1a7T8HC-3FsJ1SHMWk74DyjwFiyq1pZmKPjV4LtnD6jL-7zBRG8p42uZzuxlUpYJ4LNQ5TUFzSHTeh4Q_AWwJKFYyWw3L_1lH2qzLxJkdITbt3l_zro/s1600/petunias+getting+started.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ6KSn_XTPDAMlUU7Oy1YsTVy1a7T8HC-3FsJ1SHMWk74DyjwFiyq1pZmKPjV4LtnD6jL-7zBRG8p42uZzuxlUpYJ4LNQ5TUFzSHTeh4Q_AWwJKFYyWw3L_1lH2qzLxJkdITbt3l_zro/s1600/petunias+getting+started.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Keep the soil moist. You’ll want to use a mister so you
don’t inadvertently wash away the bitty-little seeds or crush the fragile
plants. If possible, water from the bottom also. I set my pots in shallow
plastic bins so I can keep the soil moist by watering from the bottom which
will encourage roots to dig deep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Here’s the most important step -BE PATIENT. Petunias are
slow. Heartbreakingly slow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are mine at ten days. Looks like nothing, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEite-rFmitCwNUy5g32YfS0TTsG4kmTzHpKaWbiSVDIg3d2uHOqk2zoBuPhc7po7Z47WqOrM1HYDjT6E8XvFlY0SlG3nZaY4M43uDqn-jBXxfsiDepgeEUsY2kBSuGijKFV0qvkQ7L2K9c/s1600/petunias+at+one+week.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEite-rFmitCwNUy5g32YfS0TTsG4kmTzHpKaWbiSVDIg3d2uHOqk2zoBuPhc7po7Z47WqOrM1HYDjT6E8XvFlY0SlG3nZaY4M43uDqn-jBXxfsiDepgeEUsY2kBSuGijKFV0qvkQ7L2K9c/s1600/petunias+at+one+week.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, look a little closer, four of them have actually put
out a tiny leaf or two.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1nktZiIcRnr19hIAF3WdxJSqwrVUGulHiXtlxm1LhoSjM-RREdi5isjB0BAX8Sb9UvZtrzM8nTT2Za5222WHQALvlgpAhamMLBZBTsKr5kuFi6EzZJuzKJFgxfeZYq8zrtFod7RIv7s/s1600/petunia+at+ten+days+after+start.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1nktZiIcRnr19hIAF3WdxJSqwrVUGulHiXtlxm1LhoSjM-RREdi5isjB0BAX8Sb9UvZtrzM8nTT2Za5222WHQALvlgpAhamMLBZBTsKr5kuFi6EzZJuzKJFgxfeZYq8zrtFod7RIv7s/s1600/petunia+at+ten+days+after+start.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here they are at two weeks. Still some empty pots, but they’ll
be along shortly. I’m confident.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qC0Hm4lDUiOW_ZCWiTHsfTj7Sh66Ug32pXS7w7zA1u6V8Sg0i4yFYUG-QTX4niO3vZd3X0IiZBibKIacnqAVzHDSpUIvL_YcY2k3pu3gB_wVYFZwov0DR2Q0ueAjWcVxXf-03bNFDGw/s1600/petunias+at+two+weeks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qC0Hm4lDUiOW_ZCWiTHsfTj7Sh66Ug32pXS7w7zA1u6V8Sg0i4yFYUG-QTX4niO3vZd3X0IiZBibKIacnqAVzHDSpUIvL_YcY2k3pu3gB_wVYFZwov0DR2Q0ueAjWcVxXf-03bNFDGw/s1600/petunias+at+two+weeks.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Growth is painstakingly slow, but it is so very much worth
it. Sure, you’re saving a few bucks, but more than that, these are your
creations. Just when you think all is lost, the tiny fleck of green will
appear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfiqAG8uKrg891ca_rjXM1aMJ3wH78MVCodm5ZCtnJUCn7J8rCYb1ZmYhpDvbqbkcdhDV7SiPu_mFFNptGjnCGk1rp-jBKal9B1vhdXAMftq0NjO9sru1-BRkhAy4BtlZC5ULUsMbo7k/s1600/petunia+starting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfiqAG8uKrg891ca_rjXM1aMJ3wH78MVCodm5ZCtnJUCn7J8rCYb1ZmYhpDvbqbkcdhDV7SiPu_mFFNptGjnCGk1rp-jBKal9B1vhdXAMftq0NjO9sru1-BRkhAy4BtlZC5ULUsMbo7k/s1600/petunia+starting.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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Can you see it?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetUSYVmHnABepIi0Ma-1ghnjA8v1m2FFeAObA5BDB7_X6RTI6NwfPICDyfVpZkxM6yA1y8B8HH9Kekr3MhNmDL_rH5tZuOhJDAMqJYVRzNebArW7HjZGa0ZxAjZFvsbOSN8e-v2tjslQ/s1600/another+tiny+petunia+starting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetUSYVmHnABepIi0Ma-1ghnjA8v1m2FFeAObA5BDB7_X6RTI6NwfPICDyfVpZkxM6yA1y8B8HH9Kekr3MhNmDL_rH5tZuOhJDAMqJYVRzNebArW7HjZGa0ZxAjZFvsbOSN8e-v2tjslQ/s1600/another+tiny+petunia+starting.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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How about this one?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing annual flowers from seed will make winter easier to
stomach and bring spring early to your soul. That alone, makes it worth it for
me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can start nearly any annual this way. I’ve grown
impatiens and calendula, but Petunias are my favorites, so this year I’ve
decided to stick with the ones that give me the most bang for my buck. I’ve got
forty petunias going under my lights – 3 wave variety, and 2 bush variety. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s still room for the veggies that are up next – but
wait – don’t start those tomatoes or peppers yet! It’s too soon. For now, keep
your dreaming to the flowers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZV1J8fKTSEy1KRcKAdmZtZVimWfeHuwcA15xNiMSG4qlGOCgVjASquRQEp-ZTLzIBgnZHA5FBNUuuKYugCYfwdZUkuO1fmktopjRAzaZUWtBY2aSEhNyNScSh2zHvPKFF15M9x0mYxY/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZV1J8fKTSEy1KRcKAdmZtZVimWfeHuwcA15xNiMSG4qlGOCgVjASquRQEp-ZTLzIBgnZHA5FBNUuuKYugCYfwdZUkuO1fmktopjRAzaZUWtBY2aSEhNyNScSh2zHvPKFF15M9x0mYxY/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" height="298" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-66912988505365188762015-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:002015-02-05T07:29:51.680-08:00The Wonders of Tumeric (or How I Fooled My Family)<div class="MsoNormal">
Tumeric is everywhere. I can’t get away from it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mother-in-law was here visiting for two weeks and she
told me how she takes it daily for her arthritis. I took a pottery class last
week and the teacher said the same thing. I can’t open a magazine without
seeing mention of it and many of the blogs and websites I follow fall over
themselves to fawn over it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be honest, turmeric is new to me. I hadn’t heard of it
until it started turning up in processed food as a natural coloring to replaced
artificial colors. It’s bright mustard yellow. I could sort of remember seeing
it in Indian food recipes. I’m not a big fan of Indian food, so the tiny little
jar of turmeric I found in the back of my cupboard was from the original set of
herbs I got at a wedding shower 20 years ago. I opened it and sniffed, but it
smelled like the plastic jar it was in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I stopped by one of my favorite sources for spices (Park
Street Pantry) and bought a fresh jar in a glass container. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAqIjZwxLfrrUtVhiCQB0DEany3nkBkD6hoXxemE4lgtbb7jTzNKRLm0gDLSafQyFJ-Rteqqbinjbw9E6mKTiEmyHZPLsZB8a53sCZZjLz0hXRrlb_nCjfL5cTmP2dooOCRydzhRZCtw/s1600/tumeric.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAqIjZwxLfrrUtVhiCQB0DEany3nkBkD6hoXxemE4lgtbb7jTzNKRLm0gDLSafQyFJ-Rteqqbinjbw9E6mKTiEmyHZPLsZB8a53sCZZjLz0hXRrlb_nCjfL5cTmP2dooOCRydzhRZCtw/s1600/tumeric.JPG" height="320" width="303" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But
what do I do with it? And what’s so great about it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tumeric is a tropical plant. It grows from root cuttings,
not seeds and takes 250 days to harvest! It won’t stand for temperatures below
65 degrees, so that leaves out New Freedom, PA so I guess there will be no
forthcoming post How-to-grow-your-own-tumeric-and-make-a-million (It’s the top
selling herbal supplement as of press time).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tumeric is closely related to ginger. In fact, it’s taste is
described as “peppery, warm, and bitter” while it’s scent is similar to ginger.
When I open the lid of my little jar, I smell Indian restaurants. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I searched in vain for a recipe for dish that my little
finicky family might enjoy and finally opted for simply sprinkling it in
recipes we already eat. You don’t even notice the taste. During our Super Bowl
Commercial viewing party, I made this dip which was scrumptious with carrots,
lightly steamed green beans, pretzels, cheese sticks, and tortilla chips.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Yummo Mustard Dip</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>¾ cup sour cream<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>1 teaspoon agave nectar<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard (less if you can’t handle the
heat!)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>1 teaspoon turmeric</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mix ingredients together and serve with pretty much
anything!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next I slipped a teaspoon in to the mac n cheese and
although the color was shocking yellow, no one noticed anything odd (except me,
I was certain I could taste it and had to work very hard on my nope-it-wasn’t-me
face). </div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yup, we're having Mac n Cheese sauce just like any other night.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWm3S_5fxnUlmbNTVGrgj6TyJW4rLZ7RgIVAkUSvMqvSJBsoPbyhyphenhyphen_QLxEFJWCU9sZFjnjegG6uoILpfqc_FFz5184RIeNWAO5w0hVdPWpSZZoThR9wiZR_cfOjbo762gOkkra12pvj8o/s1600/mac+n+cheese+with+no+tumeric.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWm3S_5fxnUlmbNTVGrgj6TyJW4rLZ7RgIVAkUSvMqvSJBsoPbyhyphenhyphen_QLxEFJWCU9sZFjnjegG6uoILpfqc_FFz5184RIeNWAO5w0hVdPWpSZZoThR9wiZR_cfOjbo762gOkkra12pvj8o/s1600/mac+n+cheese+with+no+tumeric.JPG" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Wait! What's this? Magical tumeric?!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtMM_2LR7nRE0RejFp6xYOM9dcXErUwFWbaNGxnHwASYQ-eDwclJcWXDDUdnLQvQUKlrE4YUwIi6pQ-RkogrVIETjBRol7znorFloDSkXorZ3nHho_YLeQFoW-vR1fE_1bpQhElLS9iE/s1600/mac+n+cheese+tumeric+added.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtMM_2LR7nRE0RejFp6xYOM9dcXErUwFWbaNGxnHwASYQ-eDwclJcWXDDUdnLQvQUKlrE4YUwIi6pQ-RkogrVIETjBRol7znorFloDSkXorZ3nHho_YLeQFoW-vR1fE_1bpQhElLS9iE/s1600/mac+n+cheese+tumeric+added.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now it's not just plain ole Mac n Cheese, it's Super-Powerful-Tumeric-Infused Mac n Cheese sacue!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEq02p9U8RHrPbQp0F-TBfcSWDI1uQTymorANxpzKPsEMu-MmGs1DyZ6iILa8qB_MN6Zg8O9yly6h0ipE264DXBLzt3rTa_aVIs9607bZObsjgK_ke30NfFsQYPnDizRmjAkBcn0heaQ/s1600/mac+n+cheese+with+tumeric.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEq02p9U8RHrPbQp0F-TBfcSWDI1uQTymorANxpzKPsEMu-MmGs1DyZ6iILa8qB_MN6Zg8O9yly6h0ipE264DXBLzt3rTa_aVIs9607bZObsjgK_ke30NfFsQYPnDizRmjAkBcn0heaQ/s1600/mac+n+cheese+with+tumeric.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m planning to slip it into tonight’s crab chowder and this weekend’s
jalepeno-cheese grits. I’ll continue to increase the dosage and let you know
when I reach maximum density.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But why? Why would I secretly dose my family with turmeric?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OMG. Tumeric is the uber-herb. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is used all over the world in medicines to treat
arthritis, heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, gas, bloating, jaundice, liver
problems and gallbaladder disorders. It’s also used for headaches, bronchitis,
colds, lung infections, leprosy (true), fever, menstrual problems, and cancer.
Must I go on? It’s used to treat depression, Alzheimer’s, kidney problems, plus
topically for skin problems including ringworm and infected wounds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tumeric works wonders because it is a natural
anti-inflammatory that works throughout the body. The active ingredient in
turmeric is curcumin, and studies show curcumin can dissolve the amyloid
plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. It’s widely used in India and the
incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is relatively low in India. Tumeric has also
shown promising results in studies to treat depression. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Bottom line, there is much reason for all the fuss about
turmeric. I, for one, am a new fan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I figure finding ways to add turmeric to our family’s diet
is worth the effort. It is available in pill form in the vitamin section at the
store, but like
with anything you put in your body – know what you’re eating and why. Check with your doctor before taking any supplements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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Like this post? Want to read more like it? Check out my book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423149221&sr=1-1&keywords=live+intentionally">,
Live Intentionally: 65 Challenges for a Healthier, Happier Life</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwy7AYq98EkuBlkfshwRGbPusOpDMaxXprWIOuKu2x1-MOTpEWzX_JRJ3dWCfx2CD__rEXAYv6P9li6KsLI4VTzomHrF2s3NoHDVK8EivpugpDJhqK7iW1bnyOlWPugrxlYDSBbkJ-3M/s1600/tumeric+with+dog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwy7AYq98EkuBlkfshwRGbPusOpDMaxXprWIOuKu2x1-MOTpEWzX_JRJ3dWCfx2CD__rEXAYv6P9li6KsLI4VTzomHrF2s3NoHDVK8EivpugpDJhqK7iW1bnyOlWPugrxlYDSBbkJ-3M/s1600/tumeric+with+dog.JPG" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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Even the dog's excited about tumeric!</div>
<o:p></o:p>Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-45241720658417317162015-01-28T06:33:00.003-08:002015-01-30T17:36:19.872-08:00Recipe Organization - Dream or Reality? (or Something More?)<div class="MsoNormal">
For many years I’ve had a dream. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s not an earth-changing dream or even a technically
difficult dream. It certainly isn’t an impossible dream. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve dreamed of organizing all my recipes. (Sorry if you
were expecting something more exciting, this being the time of year we dedicate
much writing and even an entire day of school to the man who had the most
famous dream, does make my dream seem sub-par.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I took a stab at this dream a few years back. I rounded up all the recipes torn from magazines and scattered willy-nilly throughout my house. I trimmed them neatly and taped them to notebook paper (see below, okay, maybe they aren't so neatly trimmed), and put them in notebooks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJi6n-fsWNot_R3MRPKTLTozc2CnJAtkUYJu_hyphenhyphenpS8TbYiRhIUPHL_x4n902rZfR6XaoZv0bYHVzyXk3ra-eVBbreAotdZxKSgR8bW4W-CefyYIeg3vwgv-uPz1-jzSz0LDJ9XsYv464/s1600/recipes+on+notebook+paper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJi6n-fsWNot_R3MRPKTLTozc2CnJAtkUYJu_hyphenhyphenpS8TbYiRhIUPHL_x4n902rZfR6XaoZv0bYHVzyXk3ra-eVBbreAotdZxKSgR8bW4W-CefyYIeg3vwgv-uPz1-jzSz0LDJ9XsYv464/s1600/recipes+on+notebook+paper.JPG" height="200" width="178" /></a></div>
The problem was
that there were<i> so many</i> and the notebooks quickly became unorganized. Sorting
the recipes and putting them in the notebooks in a sensible order became too
big of a task. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Where do you put zucchini bread? Vegetables? Bread? Dessert? The process was rife with too many tiny decisions that left
me creating new piles of “Recipes that don’t belong anywhere but I don’t want
to lose.”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Other piles grew from there – “Recipes I must try,” “Healthy
recipes the kids probably won’t eat,” “Recipes to try for the blog,” and “Recipes
to make for book club.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The notebooks themselves were full to bursting already and
any attempts at opening them to insert a new recipe generally led to much
bigger disasters when pages slipped out of the overtaxed rings. Sometimes I’d carefully re-order the pages and squeeze them back into the binder but most of the time I just put the
loose pages in a new pile called, “To be re-filed.”<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
I stacked these piles in my kitchen. And on the corner of my
desk. And in colorful folders with tidy black lettering so that I wouldn’t
forget. And when I did actually try a recipe and liked it, I made notes on it
and then put it in my to-do box so that I could type it up with my changes. But
I rarely followed through and these recipes became guilty reminders of my best
intentions whenever I sorted through my in-box.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But this winter I’ve finally done it. Here's me doing it -</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9arSffQ9ovj2emiaTUUJEuTKLQR1rxZUA7BK7hmBO5nWluVy1nRR7hKxs3MaCmfg0mYIZ8CpWRYZY80tr4_CoMTszP-ac-s3wGnae0mx_5V0Hs_mqu4BB1apAlWTYbIvafAFr5SEC_k8/s1600/sorting+recipes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9arSffQ9ovj2emiaTUUJEuTKLQR1rxZUA7BK7hmBO5nWluVy1nRR7hKxs3MaCmfg0mYIZ8CpWRYZY80tr4_CoMTszP-ac-s3wGnae0mx_5V0Hs_mqu4BB1apAlWTYbIvafAFr5SEC_k8/s1600/sorting+recipes.JPG" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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And here's a view from above (my hubby fancies himself a <i>photographer.</i>..)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvOmnuB72ktv8J3q4PqugOnwhzbAjlGIvrniBSGLthjMfYG-g-VMZm8zRkiMxb3-wt7tN9Ogy_SmyMCqjGVa9f7ki7BxfN7aERKKh1ypcsMRD61SwgUF7l7FplDp6jE8MTSdCgGpaMGk/s1600/sorting+recipes+from+above.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvOmnuB72ktv8J3q4PqugOnwhzbAjlGIvrniBSGLthjMfYG-g-VMZm8zRkiMxb3-wt7tN9Ogy_SmyMCqjGVa9f7ki7BxfN7aERKKh1ypcsMRD61SwgUF7l7FplDp6jE8MTSdCgGpaMGk/s1600/sorting+recipes+from+above.JPG" height="271" width="320" /></a></div>
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It’s taken several
weeks and it isn’t quite finished yet, but it will be. I bought 15 recycled notebooks
and covered them with gorgeous paper so they’ll look nice in the glass fronted
cabinet where they will reside. I sat down and made a list of how I would
organize the recipes. I changed the list again and again, but finally I chose
15 categories:</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><b>Appetizers & Drinks<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Asian & Mexican (plus pizza & seafood)<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Beef<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Breads<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Breakfast<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Cakes & Desserts<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Cookies & Candy<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Fruit & Pies<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Miscellaneous (canning, sauces, salsas, fondue, oils,
vinegars)<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Pasta<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Pork<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Poultry<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Salad<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Soups and Sides<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i><b>Vegetables</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Within each book I added dividers breaking down each
category even more so that when it’s time to find a recipe for chicken thighs,
I don’t have to thumb through every kind of chicken dish to locate one
utilizing the lovely thighs I bought at the market this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I sorted and sifted through all the many piles – tossing out
recipes I will never actually make and ones I’ve tried that didn’t have
“AMAZING” or “OMG” scrawled in the margins. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sure, I could have tossed all this paper and skipped the
long organizational journey to this point. You can find any recipe online, but I
guess I’m old fashioned. I like the handwritten notes on the sides of my recipes.
I like seeing the grease splatters and the chocolate drips. I like seeing the
date when we created a dish and remembering the event. “Made this cake for
Mom’s 70<sup>th</sup> birthday!” or “Took this on camping trip to the beach.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbAVwRa91BOSLfaXoo-tNOEWdQ-t0QV7DPxM-IQEgkhZ9GcDM6CIj9GsCSBnjBkoRyBR_74vZZmqW-9PVnDYZl2ZZks7wMIRQWZVvjp-uAvNhsGSBC5kUegBbFRwcADHQYc1HPLdxw9s/s1600/recipe+organization+and+history.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbAVwRa91BOSLfaXoo-tNOEWdQ-t0QV7DPxM-IQEgkhZ9GcDM6CIj9GsCSBnjBkoRyBR_74vZZmqW-9PVnDYZl2ZZks7wMIRQWZVvjp-uAvNhsGSBC5kUegBbFRwcADHQYc1HPLdxw9s/s1600/recipe+organization+and+history.JPG" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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I cross out ingredients I left out and write in the ones I
added in their place. Sometimes I’ll write suggestions for next time like -
“Delicious but needs more zip!” or “Try this with coconut flour.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other notes say things like, “Addie’s favorite pancakes” or
“Brady is a fan, but Ian not so much,” or “Makes a TON!”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGpIreC8uXz8_Vtv9jgUkaEl-RXBJKgEAEGi0d0WcIT78BrQbvNDQuWyePZz6bYQiGf6mDZXjTernRu4xXLGwBhZisD4oY_GKBX_bIZRJUI-g0ZqN0LiCW3S3xTG7S3UqbriPHWWDxvc/s1600/more+recipe+organization.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGpIreC8uXz8_Vtv9jgUkaEl-RXBJKgEAEGi0d0WcIT78BrQbvNDQuWyePZz6bYQiGf6mDZXjTernRu4xXLGwBhZisD4oY_GKBX_bIZRJUI-g0ZqN0LiCW3S3xTG7S3UqbriPHWWDxvc/s1600/more+recipe+organization.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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My mother recently put together a cookbook celebrating 50
years with her Gourmet Club. It’s a wonderful book full of forgotten recipes,
but more than that – it’s a history of their time together. Reading the
ingredients from the early 70’s makes me gasp, but it also takes me back to
Saturday nights when the laughter from the dining room lured my brothers and I
to creep down the hall and listen to the conversations, curious to see what
these familiar adults acted like outside their roles as parents.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I hope my recipe books record a history, too. The pages hold
not just our favorites dishes that nourished our bodies, but maybe more, maybe the stories of
how they nourished our souls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBlxkj8zbnPJJl8p8ICxAQgOTCB1dweib5XoqiomO0CDVu_R8pfzZYjDZccG0hcCiyLTllKDZpbLEE7eN18oneC41fZWNoCMKud5KSb3MC8zcl9zurG3dNQqk9x3RAwYqHbOABIfEOec/s1600/recipe+notebooks+on+display.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBlxkj8zbnPJJl8p8ICxAQgOTCB1dweib5XoqiomO0CDVu_R8pfzZYjDZccG0hcCiyLTllKDZpbLEE7eN18oneC41fZWNoCMKud5KSb3MC8zcl9zurG3dNQqk9x3RAwYqHbOABIfEOec/s1600/recipe+notebooks+on+display.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-8792623325038063402015-01-14T10:45:00.002-08:002016-03-19T05:38:54.601-07:00The Power of Signs<div class="MsoNormal">
Signs have power. Did you ever notice that? </div>
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<br /></div>
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You can tell
someone, <i>this is the rule…</i> but until
they see it in writing, preferably on a sign, they don’t actually take you
seriously. Or maybe that’s just my house. We’re a family of readers (and
writers). We like to see things in print.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some of my kids favorite signs of late include…..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHILuh77OXzNQBfXBsF2e_4_v5bxDq_L5b8Awu1-it4jepvuEhYNyr_-XLwB76vDmTFYn4PNO_KKL-z0SblcxGunfMza7N6Q9VgUq1BiNm31zKk8MheSbsDSTjZSzuOybBgUP3sECXrKo/s1600/DSC_7626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHILuh77OXzNQBfXBsF2e_4_v5bxDq_L5b8Awu1-it4jepvuEhYNyr_-XLwB76vDmTFYn4PNO_KKL-z0SblcxGunfMza7N6Q9VgUq1BiNm31zKk8MheSbsDSTjZSzuOybBgUP3sECXrKo/s1600/DSC_7626.JPG" width="278" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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And, even better….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib796wNp1m3oBiOhRXmTEyDl-KE2P4Sqf-I_HShNZLJkcIYeGWbTCB_fAAQHIxk1TshmUdDG2GgZnNm-dIp-h51rI9OHijQzrr7qaGe5305EF5YwgpRzDHxV0i6GSYP2H_97SzkDMXAsQ/s1600/DSC_7628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib796wNp1m3oBiOhRXmTEyDl-KE2P4Sqf-I_HShNZLJkcIYeGWbTCB_fAAQHIxk1TshmUdDG2GgZnNm-dIp-h51rI9OHijQzrr7qaGe5305EF5YwgpRzDHxV0i6GSYP2H_97SzkDMXAsQ/s1600/DSC_7628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I place these signs above the toilet at 5:25 AM after the
schools auto-robot caller has woken me and crashed my day.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But I’ve utilized signs to keep the laundry sorted….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxocVLroxf78-RxYxLx-oJKkK7ybJLb9TwBYzms4pfOBFUerYWMcJiQACQD8fiQcoMKcsWFRXwb7_OO8xNDtOO1h2wIu7vybaXrGzbVoOwCf08trbofrlQMDZfJidbKqig68dLnJyA7CA/s1600/DSC_7631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxocVLroxf78-RxYxLx-oJKkK7ybJLb9TwBYzms4pfOBFUerYWMcJiQACQD8fiQcoMKcsWFRXwb7_OO8xNDtOO1h2wIu7vybaXrGzbVoOwCf08trbofrlQMDZfJidbKqig68dLnJyA7CA/s1600/DSC_7631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The meals eaten….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4fMhaIrBJpRFjMZRL66M7TAKW6aylwSrOuXuqJO277CNq9OVDQlOYdy0-T2lmY7nlZ3v-oUnACxq_vEriz3gHtF5myAdKAkeVouSuoOTlb3d3UWJuanpP6Rf5dhbUpUQE2nlRuyNM34/s1600/DSC_7086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4fMhaIrBJpRFjMZRL66M7TAKW6aylwSrOuXuqJO277CNq9OVDQlOYdy0-T2lmY7nlZ3v-oUnACxq_vEriz3gHtF5myAdKAkeVouSuoOTlb3d3UWJuanpP6Rf5dhbUpUQE2nlRuyNM34/s1600/DSC_7086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/08/bathroom-etiquette-for-unenlightened-or.html">bathroom clean…</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5a1OvFG1pN8f5I27LSZG9QH1F70xJ36RewRfOrM7pBOE0L1F80ks4hE97yq7f8lMj88JslEd5cOizKoITM_4Ger6n8W3Y8dXci3VYw9KG3DkoJ5TK2WaW1ag8_Cq4jysHx8fTVkAqvs/s1600/DSC_5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5a1OvFG1pN8f5I27LSZG9QH1F70xJ36RewRfOrM7pBOE0L1F80ks4hE97yq7f8lMj88JslEd5cOizKoITM_4Ger6n8W3Y8dXci3VYw9KG3DkoJ5TK2WaW1ag8_Cq4jysHx8fTVkAqvs/s1600/DSC_5186.JPG" width="288" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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My daughter uses a sign to keep out the riff-raff….</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, I’m mostly kidding, but sometimes putting up a sign is
much better than giving an order. I don’t know about you, but when someone
tells me to do something, my inner adolescent soul prickles. I don’t want to do
it. I’ll probably do it, but I might wait until you’re not looking or until it
feels like it’s my idea. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For better or worse, my kids have inherited many of my own
quirks. So I’ve learned they respond better to directions in writing than in
nag-form. I’ve begun leaving messages for them on their <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/06/im-mean-but-im-not-stupid.html">chore chart.</a></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>That way they can quietly do what I’ve asked without ever
actually having to hear me say <i>do it</i>.
This little strategy generally works for us except for one of my children who
seems intent on ignoring me on every possible level.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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If you haven’t already experienced the power of the signs, I’d
give it a shot. Just for inspiration (and chuckles) here's a few of my favorite- (this first one hangs on our fridge and the kids think we're kidding...)<o:p></o:p></div>
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But for all my big talk, my kids have a habit of ignoring signs......</div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-64317518484135741842014-12-31T12:10:00.000-08:002014-12-31T12:10:10.069-08:00Seven Things I Learned This Year (or ways in which I'm growing up)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Sr6vRqSEeho2BSUULJgWymjxMla81282ehdaqRI7xCwQ4_l2Cufk7l3-Q1R4gXJDkhffjAXTA_Dv6_Sx1piX3A0G_yquMJRwolESSlLKfOpjnIk4U_1KMui1anbqQxj4ECGTfPosWc/s1600/DSC_7551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Sr6vRqSEeho2BSUULJgWymjxMla81282ehdaqRI7xCwQ4_l2Cufk7l3-Q1R4gXJDkhffjAXTA_Dv6_Sx1piX3A0G_yquMJRwolESSlLKfOpjnIk4U_1KMui1anbqQxj4ECGTfPosWc/s1600/DSC_7551.JPG" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stuff I learned this year that moved me along the path to
growing up…. (cue my daughter singing her favorite song – <i>I won’t grow up….)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1. My kids respond better to direct orders than guilt.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I entered the kitchen and surveyed the mess. Two of the
three guilty party were present on laptops at the counter. Dramatically
I lamented, “I wonder what time the maid is coming to clean up these dishes….” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Loud sigh from one child and eye roll from the other. Spying the open container
of cereal, I smiled and said brightly, “I guess it’s good this cereal has been left open
since breakfast, now it can be good and stale, just the way I like it.” I
shoved the box back in the cabinet and slammed it closed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My oldest child, the wise one, yanked the ear buds out, looked at me and said, “You know, if you want me to do something you should just ask.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All manner of sarcastic retort clamored to be allowed out,
but I calmly looked at him and said, “Oh, really?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, it would be better if you just said what you wanted
instead of laying all this guilt on us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My daughter joined the conversation at this point and added
an icy, “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So, you’re telling me that if I simply ask you to do
something, you’re going to do it?” (It was all I could do to point out 18 years
of evidence to the contrary.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Yeah,” he says. I looked to my daughter, who shrugged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Okay…..can you please put away your dishes from this
morning?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Remarkably, both children got up and cleaned up the mess they
had left.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve tried to keep his words in mind these past months and
miraculously there has been some compliance. I suppose, what he was really
asking was that I treat him like the adult he has become and not wield my
passive-aggressive weapons of self-esteem destruction. It takes a lot of years for these kids to
teach me how to parent.</div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>2. Snacks aren’t really necessary.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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This year I’ve decided to stick with three meals – nothing
in between. I like the concept of constant gnoshing, just like the horses, but
I find it’s very easy to lose track of what you’ve eaten. Since going to the
three meals with no snacks routine, I’ve dropped fifteen pounds. It’s kind of
disappointing that no one noticed (at least no one said anything!), but it was
a very slow loss. It took about nine months. It was the same fifteen pounds
that I put on when I was pregnant with my youngest child and never managed to
lose. There’s some kind of symbolism there, I’m sure. At any rate, I feel
victorious. And lighter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>3. There is a way to
grow early tomatoes.</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Every year my tomatoes start out stellar. They are leafy and
green and wind their way completely over the top of their expensive upside
cone-shaped cages. I make plans for salsa and pizza sauce and tomato pie! And I
wait for those taunt green orbs to turn red. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But almost every year just as the rosy hue begins to appear,
nasty yellow-ringed black spots begin appearing on leaves. I snap off these
leaves and haul them up to the woods far, far away before the other plants get
any ideas. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the plague that is actually the (gasp, don’t say it) <i>early blight</i> – spreads. I snatch any
tomato hinting at red right off the plant and rush it down to the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fight this battle gallantly every summer. Some years I
stay ahead of it enough to can thirty or more jars. But there comes a point
when I can no longer even look, and the remaining tomatoes succumb to the
blight. We burn the patch and move the new seedlings the following spring, but
alas we seem always doomed to repeat ourselves. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the article I found in
Mother Earth News explaining how very possible it is to grow early tomatoes,
potentially undermining the blight – is HUGE news for me. I’m on the hunt for
“Sophie’s Choice” seeds, if any of you have a line. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. Sitting down and
eating together is important.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year was the first year it became nearly impossible for
the majority of the family to sit down to dinner together at any time
approximating 6pm as we had for nearly 17 years. I missed our family meals, but
figured this is the way of the modern family. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I read a study about how
important family meals were and I decided to find a way. We now eat at 7:30pm
many nights, but we eat together. This is our last year of all five of us
reconnecting over a meal each day. I savor the time more than ever, lingering
until the last kid heads out. I don’t badger about dishes or clean up, I’m just
grateful to have them here. They are such interesting people – I’m glad I get
to eat with them every night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>5. People will help, if
you ask.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ten wonderful women agreed to read my final copy for my book
<i>Live Intentionally: 65 Challenges for a
Healthier Happier Life</i>. These brave souls read the uncut version which was
nearly 100 pages longer than the ultimate product. They agreed to do this in a
one month period and filled out evaluation sheets after each chapter. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was floored
by their generosity since I could only offer to pay them in gratitude, homemade
food, and a free copy of the book. I’m not the kind of person who is generally
comfortable asking for help, so I was nervous about this whole process. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the
end I was overwhelmed by the time, effort, and thought they so willingly
shared. I don’t know why I’ve always been so afraid to ask for help – no more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>6. Sometimes you have to
be the bad guy even if it sucks.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are getting down to the wire on this in-house parenting gig.
It’s getting pretty old. I’m tired of the grind. I’m tired of laying down the
law and enforcing the rules. Let me tell you – it is so very tempting to look
the other way and to lift the restrictions on food, computer use, room
cleaning. I'd much rather be the cool-I'm-your-friend parent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But now is not the time to give up. We have to be strong to the
finish, even though it’s not very fun. I will endure the anger, dirty looks,
and the occasional name-calling because ultimately, you’re never really
finished being the parent and the end product is so worth the final sprint.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7. You have to make time
for friendship.</b></div>
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<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life is busy. I am busy. You are busy. Friends understand
that. We take each other for granted. But I’m learning that if we take each
other for granted too long, our connection can fade. Sure, friendships change,
sometimes we drift apart. Sometimes people move out of our community and our
lives. But we need friends – they make this whole messy existence much more
bearable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So to that end, I’ve been trying to nurture a few
long-standing friendships and initiate new ones. I was inspired to do this when
a woman I’ve known for years, but never really known in terms of close
friendship, invited me to lunch. Our kids were not traveling in the same
circles anymore and as such we weren’t thrown together in lobbies or parking
lots as often. She said, “I’ve missed seeing you and thought maybe we could get
lunch.” I was surprised, but delighted. We’d never intentionally spent any time
together. I enjoyed my lunch with her and it left me wondering – how many other
interesting women are floating along on the periphery of my life. Who can I
invite for lunch? And so I have. And I’m enjoying the growing circle of
friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m firmly believe that if you never stop learning, you
never grow old. My body might have a few new wrinkles this year, but my soul
only grows younger.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my kids were little and would tromp in the house and
settle at the kitchen counter for a snack, I’d ask – “So what’d you learn
today?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were lots of days when they’d say, “Nothing.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d prod them a little – “You had to have learned something…”
and then they’d start talking, sharing the gems of elementary school. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s the end of the year. It’s time to take stock. What have
you learned this year? You had to have learned something…..<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-30709940542615442932014-12-19T12:01:00.001-08:002016-03-19T05:43:22.220-07:00SALT vs the common cold (or how to kick a cold in three easy steps!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Salt. Maybe you think you know salt. Great on steak and
popcorn and cookies batter has no flavor without it. Come winter, salt is great
for melting ice. Other than that? Yup, it’s easier to float in salt water. I
hear a lot of negative talk about salt in terms of health, but most of that is
hype. In fact, no less than Scientific American debunked the myth in this <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-time-to-end-the-war-on-salt/">excellent
article</a> from 2011. So let’s all stop hating on salt. We need it and this
week it’s my hero.</div>
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Why? Well, friends let me tell you a tale…</div>
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Three days before
my BOOK SIGNING AND CELEBRATION, I came down with my first cold in years.
Great, right? Here I am peddling a book about how you can be <i>healthier</i> and I would be a sniffling
mess come Saturday. This was bad.<br />
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My head was a cement block. I was overcome by rapid-fire
sneezing that lasted for minutes at a time. The world seemed like a foggy
place, my head ached, and I was drained of all energy, so I curled up by the
woodstove to commence feeling sorry for myself. </div>
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Being still is not one of
my greater talents, so my mind began spinning. I got up and retrieved the lap
top. I could not be sick. That was the bottom line. I spent a few minutes
(possibly much more) on the internet looking for answers and decided that no,
it wasn’t nasal polyps (whose description fit my symptoms to a tee!), it was really just a cold. </div>
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One wise-sounding doctor-type said
that the most important thing to do when you develop a cold is open up your
nose. If it stays blocked, the infection can travel to your sinuses, ears,
throat and God knows where else. This made sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Energized by a plan of action to open up my nose which
seemed as solid as badly overcooked grits. It was time to break out the nasal
lavage. I <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2010/03/you-put-that-thing-up-your-nose.html">posted about this little gem</a> a few years back. Powerful is what it
is. I mixed a generous half teaspoon of celtic salt in a cup of hot water and
squirted it up my nose every few hours. Yes, it’s kind of gross and yes, it is
kind of uncomfortable at first, but gosh daily, it works. </div>
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Over the course of
the next 36 hours, I used the lavage followed by a hot shower probably five
times. The combination of the cleared nasal passages and the steam was
heavenly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To combat what seemed like a potential sore throat caused by
drippy sinuses, I gargled with salt water (little higher ratio – probably a
tablespoon per cup of hot water). I remember being forced to do this as a kid
and protesting because it made me feel as if I was drowning. But grandmothers tend to be right and besides,
I was desperate. This was another case of re-discovering something from my
youth that I never appreciated at the time, like my mother’s cooking or my
little brother’s jokes. The gargling worked beautifully. The sore throat that
was to be never was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My other major weapon in this battle to kill my cold was
food. Since I couldn’t taste anything the first day – I downed spinach at every
meal, followed by grapefruit. Plenty of iron and vitamin C. I drank several
pots of “cold chaser” tea which I keep on hand (find this at <a href="http://cherieannedesigns.com/">Cherie AnneDesigns</a> in York!). It has plenty of thyme in it which is a primo healing herb
when it comes to combating colds. I added a drop of Vitamin D (2000IU) to
the first cup of the day. I reached for other superfoods like walnuts, oranges, and
tomato soup – all loaded with vitamins to help my body combat and kick
out my cold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I went from miserable and barely functioning on Wednesday to
feeling just fine on Friday. 48 hours of salt, steam, powerful foods, and no
drugs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsXJgshk5ndMgIFBKsNDP1fBf6R48TjhlDpewXwd0f4l0pJ2msQEQ12xfuGr-_bNdY8ersR3hrHYgU_0mZlUB4Kp5D2yCW0anOoBMCxAU0U-FK7bRn4X_rWHm2G0zQEuKO9tLRpfvxQ/s1600/cover+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsXJgshk5ndMgIFBKsNDP1fBf6R48TjhlDpewXwd0f4l0pJ2msQEQ12xfuGr-_bNdY8ersR3hrHYgU_0mZlUB4Kp5D2yCW0anOoBMCxAU0U-FK7bRn4X_rWHm2G0zQEuKO9tLRpfvxQ/s1600/cover+image.png" width="213" /></a></div>
By Saturday you would never have known I’d been sick. It was
a wonderful day all around. Let me take this moment to send another shout out
of thanks to everyone who made it over to celebrate with me. This intentional battle with a cold would
have been great information for the book. Ever since its publication, I’ve been
stumbling upon more chapters I could have added. But it had to end somewhere.
Living intentionally is a way of life that changes on a daily basis. <o:p></o:p></div>
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p.s. If You’d like your own copy of my new book <i>– Live Intentionally: 65 Challenges for a
Healthier Happier Life</i>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419018972&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally">you can purchase it on Amazon</a>, or through the mail
from me (signed copies and no shipping!) or, if you live around here purchase
directly from me or one of my soon to be local retailers (Main Street Beauty Works and Cherie Anne Designs, where you can
also pick up some Cold Chaser tea!).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Like this post? Want to read more like it? Check out my book!</div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-cEzdly3RGZs%2FVLa5sfDUlkI%2FAAAAAAAACcA%2FcdeDawvKxTw%2Fs1600%2Fcover%252Bimage.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsXJgshk5ndMgIFBKsNDP1fBf6R48TjhlDpewXwd0f4l0pJ2msQEQ12xfuGr-_bNdY8ersR3hrHYgU_0mZlUB4Kp5D2yCW0anOoBMCxAU0U-FK7bRn4X_rWHm2G0zQEuKO9tLRpfvxQ/s1600/cover+image.png" -->Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-15570986044263387482014-12-10T08:30:00.001-08:002015-01-14T10:53:55.914-08:00Finally - Lavash Crackers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8BSxrsVcY8MxfMVVO4HR8F37Z3IJXUswvTCWzjq86c73EBGa2pyCnBVXPmfnp9eeBLn1AOc1HNzwsfxkCxV5fN6IOI_3_tWwGxGKfqXeI4YJgfFA3jUJfq5urL1XxooP2DEp372CzPE/s1600/lavash+crackers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8BSxrsVcY8MxfMVVO4HR8F37Z3IJXUswvTCWzjq86c73EBGa2pyCnBVXPmfnp9eeBLn1AOc1HNzwsfxkCxV5fN6IOI_3_tWwGxGKfqXeI4YJgfFA3jUJfq5urL1XxooP2DEp372CzPE/s1600/lavash+crackers.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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So ages ago, I promised I would post about the incredible
Lavash Crackers I created. I know you’ve been saying to yourself, “When the
heck is she going to post about those Lavash Crackers? What is up with that?
She said she would post the recipe! Unreliable bloggess!” (Or maybe not.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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At any rate, below are the pictures and recipe for these
amazing, melt in your mouth, uber crackers. I’ve always called them Lavish
Crackers which is what they are – lavish, but the correct term is Lavash. These
crackers originate in Armenia. I was inspired to learn to make them myself
because I pay nearly an arm and a leg (where does that saying come from – was
there a time when you could sell your arm and leg for big money?) for them at
my favorite deli where I go to buy coconut gouda (I kid you not – it is heaven
in a cheese).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is my annotated recipe (with pictures!) adapted from
one I found in Organic Gardening magazine.</div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Lavash Crackers</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1 ½ cups flour<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1 t salt<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">½ t yeast<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">½ cup water<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1 T honey or agave nectar<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1 T olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Kosher salt<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1. Preheat oven to
280 degrees. <i>(I know this sounds like an
odd temperature and I’m guessing that’s because it’s translated from an oven in
Armenia, but go with it.)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">2. In a mixing
bowl, stir together flour, salt, yeast, water, honey, and olive oil. Using
dough attachment, mix on medium speed for about 10-12 minutes until dough is
smooth and stretchy. <i>(If you don’t have a
mixer – so sad, too bad – go borrow one. These crackers are worth it, but you
can’t make them without one unless you have much stronger arms than I, which
you probably do, but even then, no, you can’t make them without the mixer.)</i>
Let dough rest 10 minutes. <i>(Mine rested
more like 43 minutes because I was distracted by a ruckus in the garden when
the chickens got loose and found my sweet peas. I had to round them up and then
go secure the fence. The lavash crackers were fine with this.)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">3. Roll out half
dough on a floured surface with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thickness and
place on the back of an upside down cookie sheet sprayed with oil. <i>(I used coconut oil spray, but you could use
olive oil also, which would be delish and maybe more appropriate than coconut
oil in terms of what you might naturally find growing in Armenia.)</i></span></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf7Wej_51_HPvdj6aCWz4Z05ND8J0k7Xhqy6fFmON-nOtNKh635pOE5k7YwP3Sc0oBksQLagOyBY-lbWjsntsY0F9sU3lUDCPGJvi98zRpeoTgvCgnC8uq28uhl1YUZNQpaKL0YJofXE/s1600/lavash+crackers+rolled+out.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf7Wej_51_HPvdj6aCWz4Z05ND8J0k7Xhqy6fFmON-nOtNKh635pOE5k7YwP3Sc0oBksQLagOyBY-lbWjsntsY0F9sU3lUDCPGJvi98zRpeoTgvCgnC8uq28uhl1YUZNQpaKL0YJofXE/s1600/lavash+crackers+rolled+out.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">4. Pulling gently
from center, stretch dough to the edges of the pan. Spritz quickly with water
and partially bake for 3 minutes. <i>(The
stretching was the fun part. I had nothing to “spritz”, so I just used my hand
and splashed the crackers. Seemed to work, but next time I’m not going to be so
lazy and I’ll go locate my mister I use on baby plants.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">5. Remove from
oven and let cool. Top with salt or other toppings (rosemary?) and cut with a
pizza cutter into 6 inch squares. <i>(Mine
were cut a bit smaller – more like 4 inches. I liked the one with just salt on
best. The rosemary didn’t attach itself and it all fell off when I put the
crackers in a canister anyway.)</i></span></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOlKoH2hYP271GVZOfdXRdFK6YfUMkxjEKapQ7imS8P6CSSl5M24L0WK88NG88p_Yiu5yYHBfxnlEaZE_ylGlQe3JPi9m6OpWqT-Fui_xd0GJ15yiHFLIg8yi1haBSidcg7DjW9PGQMo/s1600/lavash+cracker+step+2+with+salt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOlKoH2hYP271GVZOfdXRdFK6YfUMkxjEKapQ7imS8P6CSSl5M24L0WK88NG88p_Yiu5yYHBfxnlEaZE_ylGlQe3JPi9m6OpWqT-Fui_xd0GJ15yiHFLIg8yi1haBSidcg7DjW9PGQMo/s1600/lavash+cracker+step+2+with+salt.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">6. Place a layer
of parchment over the dough and top with a second sheet pan. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55bJeEtY0N3iD_aqM4iyG2Gy72H5KmEymdQzAnzSUHqaeRDF7v_5pucX9dODMTb7_3CAHfC7qgZ-WJO-_yt4d7e7HZ_a0fEw8hrbJP0Se0OJOH2zqJe6FeFjaVfNxJrfimiYZaoved0A/s1600/lavash+crackers+ready+to+go+in+oven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55bJeEtY0N3iD_aqM4iyG2Gy72H5KmEymdQzAnzSUHqaeRDF7v_5pucX9dODMTb7_3CAHfC7qgZ-WJO-_yt4d7e7HZ_a0fEw8hrbJP0Se0OJOH2zqJe6FeFjaVfNxJrfimiYZaoved0A/s1600/lavash+crackers+ready+to+go+in+oven.JPG" height="174" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Bake between sheet
pans for about 20 minutes at 280 degrees or until crisp. <i>(Be patient, but not too patient – they can easily burn. The ones I
took out early were on the chewy side but still tasted divine.)</i></span></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwoiaVZjgRsGCvu-bPK7ISIt3YgL_N8JXxTKwaqW0B6cgV-5kVJDHzOKQ5-gvljAEMtQCld-Tkdd5ntY1qNQPI93KKvuA7HoonhNajC2ys93cxl6gQX77EuR-32x6TzoW_BZ0F0Oq7i8/s1600/lavash+crackers+all+done.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwoiaVZjgRsGCvu-bPK7ISIt3YgL_N8JXxTKwaqW0B6cgV-5kVJDHzOKQ5-gvljAEMtQCld-Tkdd5ntY1qNQPI93KKvuA7HoonhNajC2ys93cxl6gQX77EuR-32x6TzoW_BZ0F0Oq7i8/s1600/lavash+crackers+all+done.JPG" height="273" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25.6800003051758px;">Like this post? Want more recipes and ideas like this? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421261467&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally">Check out my book</a>!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421261467&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsXJgshk5ndMgIFBKsNDP1fBf6R48TjhlDpewXwd0f4l0pJ2msQEQ12xfuGr-_bNdY8ersR3hrHYgU_0mZlUB4Kp5D2yCW0anOoBMCxAU0U-FK7bRn4X_rWHm2G0zQEuKO9tLRpfvxQ/s1600/cover+image.png" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-70773401491575452222014-12-04T10:50:00.001-08:002016-03-19T05:43:53.549-07:00Mornings: From Chaos to Calm (you can do it!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lately, our mornings have been getting out of hand. I crawl
out of bed on the third snooze, pull on as many clothes as I can manage (my
husband waits for the fourth snooze to get up and build fires in the
woodstoves that heat our house) and put a pot of oatmeal on the stove for the kids. I then begin
the CHORE of waking them all up. In the process, I am many times growled at and
threatened. Trying not to take it personally (they’re teenagers), I generally
throw in a load of laundry, locate my sneakers and my contacts and head out for
a run. Then while running, I worry that one of them didn’t get up and I’ll
return not only to a kitchen with oatmeal dripping down the stove and dishes
abandoned on the table, but a child still snoozing oblivious to the beginning
of another glorious day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I clean up the debris left from three obvious dashes out
the door in my absence, I lament that our mornings have come to this. I
fret that my middle child will find it hard to concentrate, once again having
left without time to make lunch. I worry that the fact that no one brushed
their teeth this morning (or any morning of late) means they will all end up
with cavities and bad breath. I sigh when I find homework (due today!) abandoned on the kitchen table next to the jar of raisins. After that, I move on to berating myself for
allowing my children to become such slobs in the first place and me for being so selfish that I leave for a run without making sure they are ready for their day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One morning this week, as I turned yet another lap at the park
(I couldn’t run my normal route due to the gauntlet of hunters dotting the
trees surrounding our roads -it's hunting season in York County this week), I decided that it
was time for a change. Our mornings need to be more intentional (to borrow a
phrase from a soon-to-be bestselling book).</div>
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I informed all three miscreants that from now on
they will need to get themselves out of bed. They own alarm clocks and are much
more technologically adept than I. They need to get up with enough time to eat
breakfast which will be served at 6:30am. (Yes, I’m spoiling them, but on too
many days this is the only meal I can count on them eating.) They need to give
themselves enough time to gather the important things they need for their day,
including lunch. I will no longer be driving the forgotten oboe to school or be
sympathetic to child who returns home at the end of the day starving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If they miss their ride, they will need to pay me to drive
them to school. This pay may take the form of a substitution for the next ride they
would like to a friend’s house, rehearsal, Panera, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s not just the kids. I need more time for me in the
mornings, too. I don’t like starting my day in a rush. Who does? It sets a bad
tone for the rest of the day. This morning I got up at 5:30, which is my normal
waking time, or used to be my normal waking time, before it became winter and
the thought of getting up in the cold, dark inspired me to go back to sleep for
another 45 minutes of snooze alarm-weird dream-unrestful sleep-followed by
guilt and morning chaos. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I bundled up and made my way to my laptop to write.
And instead of writing what I needed to write or was supposed to write or
planned to write, I wrote what came out. Turns out my heart is full of much
more than this week’s scheduled post, article edits, and promotional e-mails. I
wrote about how very hard it is to let go of my precious oldest child who is
graduating this year. I turned over memories of his life, picking them up and
marveling at how they led to the person he is today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How are your mornings? Are they a crazy rush of kids,
breakfast, dishes, homework, animals, and scrambling to get out the door? Maybe
it’s time to re-think them. Maybe it’s time to take back a little of your day.
Maybe it’s time to be more intentional about your morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your kids are young, there are lots of systems for
helping them pitch in on getting out the door. Even if you are blessed with a
four-year-old, there is still much your child can do for themselves that you’ve
been doing for them. And once more, younger kids usually appreciate being given
a little responsibility/control over their morning. It’s just a matter of
motivation. Here’s a few ideas to get you started.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Eliminate media in
the mornings.</b> Just make it a nonstarter. Nothing distracts you and your
kids from life like a screen of any size. If you're so inclined, sing them a few Mary Poppins songs. Too soon they will become a much less appreciative audience, I promise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do the prep work to
make mornings go easier.</b> This may mean being sure there are plenty of
snacks (and containers) for packing lunches. It might mean stocking the fridge
with sandwich supplies. If your kids are too little to make their own sandwich
or bagel, you might have to prepare these the night before and leave them in
the fridge for them to grab. I provide my teens with the supplies they need,
but also include things like hardboiled eggs and sliced cheese that they can
grab if they run out of time or are “too tired” to make their sandwich.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Hang gentle
reminders.</b> When my kids were elementary age they were forever forgetting
lunch boxes, band instruments, permission slips, etc., so I hung a small sign
just above the door know that asked: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Have you remembered:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Homework?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Gym clothes/sneakers?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Lunch?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Band instrument?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Permission slip?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>To hug your mom?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was such an easy fix and saved the day many times because
it nudged them to think one more time about what they needed to take with them.
Now that they are older if I know there is something critical that they might
forget (the money for the SAT’s, tardy note), I leave a post-it on the door for
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You might need to
provide incentive</b> to get kids motivated to make their own breakfast, pack
their lunch, load up their backpack, etc. When my kids were smaller I offered
<a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2009/06/im-mean-but-im-not-stupid.html">Mom Bucks </a>for this effort because they were saving me work. Now that they are
older, I let the natural consequences handle this for me as in – tummies
growling, sitting out gym, etc. Maybe you could offer a prize - pack your lunch all week and you can buy an extra dessert on Friday at lunch. Find something to make it worth their while.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your kids are small, <a href="http://www.thegoldengleam.com/2013/03/the-best-5-minutes-day.html">this is a lovely idea </a>that I
definitely embraced back in the day. These days my kids are not such snugglers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bottom line is that we need to focus on the goal here – <i>calm intentional mornings</i>. Think through
your mornings. Go for a long run or walk to consider changes you could make.
Mornings set the tone for the day. You want your kids to arrive at their
destination rested, fed, and ready. It’s possible, it is. You just need to be
intentional about making it happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Need a few more ideas to get you started? Here’s some of my
favorite finds on Pinterest:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/2011/07/timers-blessed-timers.html#_a5y_p=1961284">Use a Timer </a>to make the bedroom light of a
toddler/preschooler wake up on time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make it possible for your kids to<a href="http://www.thegunnysack.com/2011/08/handmade-back-to-school-organize-your.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheGunnySack+(The+Gunny+Sack)"> get themselves dressed in appropriate clothes each morning</a> without your help. (I’m guessing this idea won’t work with
teens!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/create-a-get-ready-playlist-to-leave-the-house-on-time-164525">Use a playlist</a> to help you get out of the house on time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Use a checklist with pictures like <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/383791199468632187/">this</a> or <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/248683210647011221/">this</a> or <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/11047961555662835/">this</a> or
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/379006124862402833/">this </a>(only I’m not sure you want your preschooler putting on cologne!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-81027887475585011962014-11-19T07:29:00.003-08:002015-01-14T10:52:32.723-08:00Giving the Sweet Potato it's Due <div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-Z6GD28W90SwTox8SGJCaetxSk2iwK1cg1c3HBVq0C9StkQc_u0llZFfX5-G5-noam4N6ivs1NLSzyF03QyLVPGIkX23aUgOQTi2tYAHTlfNLGzsL3Pv_D-_PuQ1c88jk994-WdxnJk/s1600/sweet+potatoes+curing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-Z6GD28W90SwTox8SGJCaetxSk2iwK1cg1c3HBVq0C9StkQc_u0llZFfX5-G5-noam4N6ivs1NLSzyF03QyLVPGIkX23aUgOQTi2tYAHTlfNLGzsL3Pv_D-_PuQ1c88jk994-WdxnJk/s1600/sweet+potatoes+curing.JPG" height="320" width="290" /></a>We harvested out sweet potatoes over a month ago, laying
them out on my workbench to “cure” and then storing them in our
<a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-fantasy-root-cellar.html">“root cellar”</a>. There are a LOT of sweet potatoes in there. Maybe more than enough.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I made sweet
potato fries (my favorite way to eat sweet potatoes), roasted sweet potatoes,
and sweet potato chips, but there are generally a limited number of customers
in my family when it comes to sweet potatoes. Most everybody will eat the
fries, but after that the audience drops substantially to about two. This is a
sadness because I’m a big fan of sweet potatoes. In fact, I’m a superfan of this superfood. But I know someone who is more like a KING of sweet potatoes than a
mere fan, like me. So, dear readers, let me introduce you to Mr. Jack.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jack is a retired professor of Towson State University and runs
the pool where my children have grown up. He not only makes careful use of the
TIME OUT chair and teaches killer water aerobics, he also created and hosts the
<a href="http://www.wellnessfarm.com/pa_sweetpotato_festival.html">Pennsylvania Sweet Potato Festival</a> (with the help of his amazing wife Bev).
Jack knows more about sweet potatoes than anyone in my world, so rather than
write a sub-par post on the beauty of the sweet potato <a href="http://kidfriendlyorganiclife.blogspot.com/2012/10/one-potato-two-potato-sweet-potato-vole.html">(which I’ve done before</a>), I interviewed Jack!<br />
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<b>In one sentence –
What’s the best thing about sweet potatoes?</b> <i>(I thought I’d cut right to the chase from the outset, plus Jack is an
encyclopedia of sweet potato knowledge and I wanted to contain him.)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsmdJLVFj0u5u964Is4GXFSMuS-yl4sJu0UKJvfy05GAJXDI2KDg1BsqHLcO9SyZoGLKX3NQD3Jn3yEV-3POX4w1iKnIpni77TQESArhuc-6sKk9kYksW6TFw0mSMw8VHXHOw8kT0dNo/s1600/orange+sweet+potatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsmdJLVFj0u5u964Is4GXFSMuS-yl4sJu0UKJvfy05GAJXDI2KDg1BsqHLcO9SyZoGLKX3NQD3Jn3yEV-3POX4w1iKnIpni77TQESArhuc-6sKk9kYksW6TFw0mSMw8VHXHOw8kT0dNo/s1600/orange+sweet+potatoes.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sweetpotatoes are a versatile,
great-tasting nutritional natural that can be stored up to 10 months at room
temperature.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When Jack says, "nutritional natural", he's talking about the fact that sweet potatoes have more than twice the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin A, over 1/3 for Vitamin C, and 10% for iron. They have more dietary fiber than oatmeal. Let me also note that "sweetpotato" (one word) is now the preferred spelling and that's how Jack spells it, but I can't get used to it (and neither can my spellcheck), so I'm sticking with my own comfort level on this.</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So, could we survive
on just sweet potatoes?</b> <i>(I’m
envisioning a movie at this point….)<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No. There is no perfect food. Sweetpotatoes lack sufficient amino acids to support growth. Moderate intake of a
variety of foods from all the food groups is the best advice. I recommend
taking in 26-30 different colorful items per day.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Jack is nothing, if
not honest. And he doesn’t sugar coat the facts, so no new campaign slogan –
Fill Your Survival Kit with Sweet Potatoes. I want you to note Jack’s last
comment – “26-30 colorful items per day.” Now, that could be a slogan. Or a challenge. But it’s time to get down to the facts….<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How many kinds of
sweet potatoes are there?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The number world-wide keeps
changing because of cross-breeding programs. Currently there are about 7,000
cultivars.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyzgOMl4g74CX_gg1oTW0cqQi_B9D2KKzsQ65Y34AbDrdQiGbUNKU5_di_ZN0oUqWTNSh_9-0FxQEzgCfm-OQ3VAdBDD2BsssowsJT6nBoNNDd7zcWeURbf0v8HAc0NSXQoqDOJxW8oU/s1600/sweet+potato+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyzgOMl4g74CX_gg1oTW0cqQi_B9D2KKzsQ65Y34AbDrdQiGbUNKU5_di_ZN0oUqWTNSh_9-0FxQEzgCfm-OQ3VAdBDD2BsssowsJT6nBoNNDd7zcWeURbf0v8HAc0NSXQoqDOJxW8oU/s1600/sweet+potato+box.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Which kinds are
easiest to grow? <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beauregard, Carolina Ruby, Carolina
Rose, Orleans, Evangeline, Hernandez – to name a few </span><i>(or more than a few).</i> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most any variety will grow in well tilled,
nutrient rich soil free of weed pressure (and deer!).</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>When do you plant
sweet potatoes?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Slips (sweetpotato starts) are
planted in mid-late May after <i>all</i>
threat of frost has passed. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How long until you
harvest?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most varieties are ready 90-100
days after planting. Some, like Hernandez, Nancy Hall, Purple Passion and
Hayman require 115+ days. Spacing also plays a role. In PA, twelve inches seems
to work best.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Which kinds will
store the longest?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most all fully cured sweetpotatoes
will store at least nine months in 60-65 degrees in well-insulated boxes or
paper bags (not plastic). Spare bedrooms are good places <i>(you might need to warn your guests…)</i> Do NOT allow sweetpotatoes
to be exposed to temperatures under 55 degrees.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So, how do you “cure”
a sweet potato?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 1.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After harvesting
store the sweetpotato at 85 degrees and 80% humidity for 7-10 days. For
suggestions on how to do this, see our <a href="http://www.wellnessfarm.com/files/SweetPotatoes/CuringInformation.htm">website</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 1.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The
curing part has always been hardest for me. We do our best, but have yet to
successfully cure our sweet potatoes well. Last year I was the lucky winner of
a basket of sweet potatoes from Bev and Jack and those potatoes lasted nearly a
year!<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Worried
that my interview is getting a little too fact-filled, I threw in some human
interest questions-<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What’s the weirdest thing you’ve made with sweet potatoes?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 1.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wine, butter,
candy, crab cakes, purple-fleshed pie</span> <i>(just
to be clear, he’s talking about</i> sweet potato <i>flesh)</i><o:p></o:p><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Are you willing to share a secret recipe of yours? <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 1.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A
man of few words, at times. The recipes for Sweet Potato Soup, (a huge crowd
pleaser at the festival) is at the end of this post.<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Any weird facts about sweet potatoes you could share?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">GW Carver invented a sweetpotato
glue that was used on all stamps so that they would taste good when licked!</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS48QB56closkJGOyTQmJ-qhQ4iUmELGZTH0C5XxaB2DKgk9Y9XLxjWAAcyurapK3VpnSmxRqHBFtURU30BIbRpEGo6-QCtij7JhH9x-DPKJ4ktvhtQI6bKeMTQ0LucA7M23hukvUjc0/s1600/sweet+potatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS48QB56closkJGOyTQmJ-qhQ4iUmELGZTH0C5XxaB2DKgk9Y9XLxjWAAcyurapK3VpnSmxRqHBFtURU30BIbRpEGo6-QCtij7JhH9x-DPKJ4ktvhtQI6bKeMTQ0LucA7M23hukvUjc0/s1600/sweet+potatoes.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><b>How many years have you been growing sweet potatoes?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
16 years.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How many sweet potatoes do you normally grow each year? <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Between 4,000 and 8,000 plants. The
year I grew 12,000 (one acre), I had 15,000 pounds of sweetpotatoes with 20
varieties, including purple fleshed.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Locals
know that sadly there was no Sweet Potato Festival this year due to unforeseen
circumstances, so here’s the news we’ve all been waiting to hear –</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Will there be a Sweet Potato Festival in
2015?</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">YES. If we get enough volunteers. (hint)
Date: 2015 PA Sweet Potato Festival will be September 26, 2015. To get on the
volunteer list </span><i>(my daughter gets on this
list simply for the free sweet potato pancakes! I do it for the interesting
people, multitude of sweet potato ideas, and free ticket.),<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">contact <a href="mailto:sweetpotatojackosman@gmail.com">sweetpotatojackosman@gmail.com</a>.
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>And what’s next for Jack Osman, Sweet Potato Prince</b>?<i> (Prince sounds
better than king – alliteration)</i><o:p></o:p><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Develop a deer-proof fenced-in area
for protecting the sweetpotatoes from herds of deer devastating the crops.
They love sweetpotatoes, too!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would like to get some of my
sweetpotato products to market…6 varieties of sweetpotato pies, a sweetpotato sports bar that doesn’t taste like the cardboard it’s packaged in!
Anyone know of a commercial bakery willing to take a risk?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to experiment with my own
cross-breeding of new sweetpotato varieties. This may require a small
greenhouse to prevent poly-crosses from our honey bees.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Teach people about this amazing
vegetable that we have been blessed with and encourage others to get excited
about its world-wide potential to help prevent hunger/malnutrition/various
diseases.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promote sweetpotatoes to get the
per capita consumption in the US to over 10 pounds per year per person. (In the
1930s it was over 25 pounds; 2003 fell to 3.9 pounds; 2013 now just over 6
pounds.) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Encourage the American Cancer
Society to accept the purple-fleshed sweetpotato as an anti-cancer food. The
combination of beta carotene and anthocyanins are known anti-oxidants in the initiation
stage of cancer cell formation.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hJ218mUuZlkDQmqnf9KuMwxzhv-IwlvtBex9fJpmiw2UOSV4nRogxlaL7iw6-4qzuzZXJFKUcBEsGqZhwcoil7enX_v1NSWHk8ql4Q_4l2WXH4Rq1qw6OrVLIeqLQ13xxjR5J2IedW8/s1600/Bev+and+jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hJ218mUuZlkDQmqnf9KuMwxzhv-IwlvtBex9fJpmiw2UOSV4nRogxlaL7iw6-4qzuzZXJFKUcBEsGqZhwcoil7enX_v1NSWHk8ql4Q_4l2WXH4Rq1qw6OrVLIeqLQ13xxjR5J2IedW8/s1600/Bev+and+jack.jpg" height="306" width="320" /></a></div>
Okay
people – see what I mean? Jack is more than a prince, he’s an advocate not only
for the sweet potato, but for our health and our world. I hope this interview
is inspiring you to eat more sweet potatoes, and maybe even to grow some! If
you’re ready to plant your own, Jack usually has slips available at
the end of May and early June after the danger of frost has passed. He has the
widest variety of quality slips available. To get more information e-mail him
at <a href="mailto:sweetpotatojackosman@gmail.com">sweetpotatojackosman@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sweetpotato Soup for a Crowd<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i>This is the recipe
used for “Everything Sweetpotato Dinner” during 2006. It can probably serve 30 people.
It also freezes nicely for those cold winter nights when you don’t feel like
cooking. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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10-12 pounds of sweetpotatoes, peeled, chunked, steamed and
processed smooth<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 & 1/2 quarts of water (adjust to thickness of soup
desired<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 T light brown sugar<o:p></o:p></div>
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8 chicken bullion cubes<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 cup onion, diced<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 cup celery, coarsely chopped<o:p></o:p></div>
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4 ounces of frozen orange juice concentrate<o:p></o:p></div>
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6 ounces of frozen apple juice concentrate<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 bay leaves<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 t thyme<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 t basil<o:p></o:p></div>
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optional – garlic or garlic powder, to taste<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cook over low stove temperature for 30 minutes, stirring at
5 minute intervals<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>10 minutes before serving add</u>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 cups of uncooked, diced sweetpotato (1/4<sup>th</sup> inch
cubes, tip of pinky finger size)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 cups of thinly sliced/diced apples (1/8<sup>th</sup> inch
thick ½ inch long, scrub skins, leave on)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><u>Optiona</u>l</i>: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span>Top
with ground peanuts floating a top each bowl<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span>Top
with finely diced crystallized ginger – 1/8<sup>th</sup> inch cubes – adds a
nice kick!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jack D.
Osman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Wellness
Farm, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stewartstown</span></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">, <st1:state w:st="on">PA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">17363</st1:postalcode></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 25,
2006<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Like this post? Want to read more like it? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421261467&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally">Check out my book</a>!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Intentionally-Challenges-Healthier-Happier/dp/1503089029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421261467&sr=8-1&keywords=live+intentionally"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsXJgshk5ndMgIFBKsNDP1fBf6R48TjhlDpewXwd0f4l0pJ2msQEQ12xfuGr-_bNdY8ersR3hrHYgU_0mZlUB4Kp5D2yCW0anOoBMCxAU0U-FK7bRn4X_rWHm2G0zQEuKO9tLRpfvxQ/s1600/cover+image.png" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053153006332345164.post-51703633163678704892014-11-14T07:33:00.001-08:002014-11-14T07:33:15.318-08:00Why Food isn't Food Anymore.....Here's a helpful infographic that underscores plenty of my previous posts. (And yes, I'm cheating a little this week but the book is sooooo close to ready!)
<a href="http://www.healthcare-management-degree.net/food-fillers/"><img src="http://www.healthcare-management-degree.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/food-fillers.png" alt="Food Fillers" width="375" border="0" /></a><br />Source: <a href="http://www.healthcare-management-degree.net/">Healthcare-Management-Degree.net</a>
Cara Sue Achterberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02700233615162786243noreply@blogger.com0