like the summer sky

On My Mind...roller coaster life...

Celebration...Grandma's successful surgery...

Scripture Meditations..."With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding." Job 12:12

Praying For...all my darling grands that they will be joyful and safe...Tyson and Spencer, that they will always remember that they are sons of our Father in Heaven and heir to His attributes, that I love them, and that they will find peace and happiness...leaders of nations will throw off unrighteousness and follow God...orphan children will find safety, love, and life's necessities...

Commitment to Nutrition-Deliciousness...Since discovering my allergy to wheat, I've tried to find grain recipes that will give me the satiation feeling I'm looking for but still be a live product ala Dr. Christopher. Oh, heavenly days...my SIL introduced me to Saratoga Jack thermal cookers which should do the job better than other methods I've tried. I love polenta (corn or amaranth) as a base for all sorts of Mexican and Italian dishes. It started with a veggie tamale I had at a cute Mexican restaurant in Glendale, AZ, which reminded me of a tostada and got my brain moving. Here's the basic recipe that I'm going to convert to Jack-Style.


Polenta
Makes 4-1/2 c. servings

1 cups organic corn polenta or amaranth
2 cups water (with SJ I'll reduce the water by 1/4)
Herbs, red pepper flakes, or what have you (no salt or oils or cheese)

Soak corn or amaranth in water (lime) for 8 hours. Bring water to a boil in a 10 or 12-inch diameter pot. Whisk in polenta slowly until it’s all incorporated. Turn the heat off, cover the pot with a lid and a blanket. Leave for 60 minutes. Gently turn polenta onto a cutting board and slice it into wedges or top it with pureed tomato, basil, sliced veggies, and cashew cream for pizza; Ratatouille; California Kale; Italian-Style Kale-Cannellini-Artichoke Stufato; Italian or Greek Eggplant Sauce; Pureed Pintos Tostada Style; Sauteed Onions, Mushrooms, Garlic, and Broccoli with Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce. I even like to eat it plain with Bragg's, nutritional yeast, and chili paste.

I'll let you know if Jack starts a revolution in my kitchen.

Commitment to Loveliness... removing all the fake greenery from the alcoves in our Peoria house and replacing it with a bit of South West pottery...

Commitment to Modesty...my modesty mentor, Lydia, always has something thought-provoking to say. This week she talked about getting away from the bland colors of the business world and embracing the colors of nature. I have to say I agree. A couple weeks ago, I made a blue primrose dress with Simplicity 5189. Wearing it makes me feel happy."I love the color blue, because it looks like the summer sky...Why shouldn't I enjoy the color and dress in something that imitates the Creation?" I abhor following fashion, since I'm not generally a follower. Unless woman's fasions return to the lovely, feminine Gunne Sax dresses of the late 70s, I don't see my self adhering to any designer's ideas of what today's woman should wear.

Thimble News...Since I like 5189 so much, I'm considering sewing it up in Gunne Sax fashion. Of course it won't have the waist band,but it could be decorated with lace and ribbon with a laced bodice. I will definitely bring up the neckline, since I never cared for the immodest, cleavage look. For winter, I might choose red or black calico and velvet. I'm in the midst of making sewing tutorials for my new web school. I'm making a cute skirt, peasant blouse, and leggings for Sammy's birthday, and they are the subject of three tutorials. Two other tutorials are just extensions of the peasant blouse and leggings for boys, a raglan sleeved baseball shirt and PJ/cargo pants. The shirt and PJ/cargo pants will go to Tyson for his birthday this month as well. These projects are very similar to projects I taught in my sewing school over 20 years ago.


Towards a Real Education...No change here...I love learning and writing about what I learn...but the stress of writing according to a schedule is a bit difficult...its not as joyful...

Sound of Music...I found a mother/daughter violin maker team in Tolleson, AZ...they understand why my old beat-up friend is so important to me and why I don't want a newer, prettier one.

Garden Gate...UT garden squares are surviving...

The Dispensary...the smoothie, pineapple, grapefruit, water, walking, and sun cure worked quite well...I look and feel much better.

Simple Pleasure...800 count white cotton sheets...