re-committing to orderliness-journal # 44 9/19/2010

I'll live here one day.

On My Mind
"I’ve got my vegetable garden and my neighbor is starving, then the only way I’m going to be able to continue eating is to stay up all night with my shotgun to make sure no-one goes over the fence." Richard Heinberg, peak oil expert  That's the rub isn't it. There will always be lazy people who think they are entitled to someone else's hard work. Whether it be tax money doled out to deadbeats or criminals stealing what they won't work for, it all boils down to the same thing, manners and character or the lack thereof. While we are spreading the news about feeding our children from our own yards, we need to teach our children why we want to be honest and good. It's a heart thing. A good character is a manifestation of a heart that considers other people, while proper manners reflect the condition of that heart.

Celebrate
revelation

Keeping a Home
Pantry Principle area 2...with special attention to my apothecary...

Deliciousness
Digesting wheat has always been a challenge for me, even though I mastered home bread and goody baking. Like cheese, eggs, and chicken, whole wheat grain products became a much desired but detrimental food to my health. Additionally, since I began studying for my Master Herbalist with the School of Natural Healing, I've been seeking a way to prepare and utilize live, wholesome grains. This is my answer, which everyone loves and doesn't give my digestion any trouble. I think I'm going to try a savory version next. 

William Tell's Muesli

1/2 cup raw, whole almonds, cashews, or walnuts
1 c. steaming water
3/4 cup oat groats
1/4 t. vanilla extract
1 t. sweet spices (any combination of cloves (only a tiny bit of this strong spice), cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, etc.)
2 bananas, 6 dates, or other very sweet raw fruit
1-2 apples, minced (peaches, berries, cherries, or other fresh fruits work well)

Soak almonds in the fridge in distilled water for 24 hours. Soak oats (in the fridge if your climate is warm) in distilled water for 24 hours. Drain and rinse oats. Drain and rinse almonds. You can soak enough for 3 days, since they can stay fresh in the fridge for that amount of time. Almonds can remain in the same water up to a week in the fridge, making it possible to soak a large amount. Don't be alarmed if oats bubble slightly, since this is a good source of probiotics.  Put almonds minus 2 T. in a blender with 1 c. steaming water. Blend on high speed until very smooth. Add banana, vanilla, and spices. Blend until combined. Add reserve almonds. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Add drained oats and apples. Pulse until combined. Add more warm water if the mixture is too thick. (Other good additions to muesli are sunflower seeds, all varieties of soaked nuts, dried oranges, dates, and raisins and dried fruits of all varieties.)

Since I saw Little Homestead in the City and read the books The Sustainable Vegetable Garden and How to Grow More Vegetables (and fruits, nuts, berries, grains, and other crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine, I can see how raising all our own food even on a little city lot is really possible. This recipe puts me one more step in that direction.

Toward Real Education
I've challenged my  youthful mentees (my middle name is Willamina Shakespeare) to read and adopt the ideas in DO HARD THINGS: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations...I think I'll re-read it myself.

Bee News
I used the crush and strain method this year for a bountiful harvest from very few supers. Plus, I didn't put out the $$$ for an extractor. Additionally, the less stressful method and wealth of wax for making ointments...

Garden Gate....
Getting ready for fall cleanup. Didn't summer just begin?

Apothecary News...
Found a magic bullet for skin fungus...oregano, chaparral, comfrey, and calendula in a base of olive and wheat germ oils with bees wax...I found my project.

Biblio Fix...
Education and Peace by Maria Montessori Although I don't believe everything she writes, many ideas in this book are very pertinent today. While her work thrived in 1930 Europe, the fascist, Mussolini, put a stop to her work and it came to a screeching halt. She spent the war in India, where she wrote and lectured. It's a fascinating classic read and at the same time fresh and important for today.

Appearance...
Black peasant skirt, plumb peasant blouse, black blazer, birkies, and a smile. Hair is much better trimmed up. Can't tell it's shorter at all.

Scripture Meditations...
"Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them." John 12:35-36

Praying For...

Sweet Princess Claire...our fourth granddaughter. I hope she fully recovers from her trip down our deck steps onto the cement patio below. She was such a sweetheart about it and sported a huge shiner, skinned nose, and fat lip. I pray that she will be safe and happy. I pray that her health will be preserved and she feels the closeness of her Father in Heaven as she does her earthly father. I pray that Mommy will find fun things to do with her during the hours when the older children are away from home.

What's Coming...
a mystery to one and all.

Simple Pleasure...
sunshine dreams

Images From My Life....

Mullein is an acquired love. The first time I saw it growing at my friend's foothills farm, I thought it odd and even ugly. After experiencing its healing goodness, I adore it's fuzzy and somewhat alien appearance. This is a baby growing on our family retreat in Eastern Washington. When mature they are huge with funny, yellow, blossom-covered swords shooting up and out the center.


Commitment to Loveliness...
I'm writing a LHM lesson on orderliness right now. After reading so many resources and old favorite stories, I'm re-committing to orderliness vs. confusion in my physical, personal, and spiritual life. This may be hard to do without a vacuum.