Quickly,
Here is a comment I left in my own box after reading the comments from the other day. Just to clear up any confusion. "Oh gosh girls, I hope you don't think I was coming down on Angelina's decision. I can't imagine how difficult it was and how brave one must be to make such a choice. When I referenced the medical coverage being denied I was not referencing her story (as I said, I wrote the post days before her story broke) I was in fact referencing a family friend who felt forced to make the choice after the threats by her insurance company. I do believe there are two sides to fighting breast cancer but I believe that only one side (drastic measures, radiation, mammography, etc) are offered to women when there are more choices available. Sadly, in many ways I feel it has become a money making industry and I will write on this later..."
So I know that white flour is not the best... but alas, I am a baker and use it often. Some of our foods we buy are gluten free (just to give our systems the occasional break) but truth be told - the kids have to eat and praise the Lord, bread fills them up.
I do buy organic, unbleached, unbromalated flour and go out of my way to avoid "enriched flours" when buying something non-organic. Yes, feeding your family in a healthy way can be a pain in the butt.
Have you ever wondered what all those ingredients are on the side of your pasta or cereal box? Or why there has to be four hundred ingredients for a baguette found and the end-cap of your supermarket aisle? Scary.
I have been reading a lot about things added to our food to make them "look good" to us. Things added to our foods to make mothers feel like they are feeding their kids all the nutrients they need. But... come on. Do you really believe that?
I am sorry. But I don't. I think just about everything comes down to money - I mean, why in the world would General Mills care about the health of my child? Forgive my jaded heart. That's me.
"J, J, Jaded"
Any other Aerosmith fans in the house?
****
As you have seen, sometimes it's easier for me to sum up what I want to say with a handy little video and sometimes - as with this one - you have to see it to believe it!
What if I told you there were metal fragments in some of the food you've eaten today.
Shrapnel girls.
FREAKY!
Here's another reason to go organic, raw... just anything other than boxed "food".
Ok, So I saw this little video and I was like... WHOA!
There is something about it...
First of all, it's aggressive and in-your-face... even though I agree with almost every point it is making (though some, like the reference to diabetes, I have never considered)... to see it all lumped together really got me thinking.
I am challenged to think about how women are treated in our culture. From the lack of honor a pregnant woman receives to the crazy system we have where young, young women are being advised to have their breasts removed if there is a history of breast cancer and threatened with lack of medical coverage if they don't.
(I have had this post scheduled for a couple days - then today I saw the news about Angelina Jolie - I was stunned.)
Women are beautiful creatures made in the image of God but I think if we stop and pay attention or begin to research we will see very quickly that there is little to NO respect for our "gentle sex" out there.
Women for so long have wanted respect.
And in my little opinion, from maternity care to so-called sexual freedom --- the system is jacked.
You're probably gonna get a little ruffled by this video - which is why I have to share it of course.
No, I haven't bailed on my wellness series (they will resume again asap) but I have been REALLY sick for the better part of the month. First we got hit with that ebola-esque flu, then we were well for ten days and then SLAMMED with the chest cold from hell. Everyone in the family got over theirs in a timely fashion, 'sept for the prego. By day EIGHT mine had morphed into a painful, painful sinus and ear infection... the doctor I saw actually had pneumonia concerns! (They still want me to come back to check the wheezing in my lungs). Yeap, I actually went to the doctor and for the first time since 1997 I am on an antibiotic. Wow. I am NEVER sick for more than 36 hours, so to have those two illnesses back to back like that for so many weeks-- well, I thought I was going to die :).
Spring is finally springing on Half-Way Farm.
La Ferme a Mi-Chemin.
And we could not be busier. Or more happy. Homesteading is definitely becoming a hobby for the entire family. Joel is finding himself quite the chicken man - he has plans to expand our chicken run and has told me he wants to add to our flock... again.
THE FLOCKS-
Four weeks ago we added to our already 15 chickens by purchasing 5 Black Australorps and 2 Spitzhaubens (a "rare" breed). That was during our round with the flu and as much as we wanted to go the following week for another round of chicks (Blue Cochins!) we could not muster the energy to make the drive.
Then as we were recovering and still a little shaky we got the call that 37 Red Ranger chicks (for meat) were waiting for us at the post office. The fun and to-do list never ends.
THE CROPS-
The Half-Way Potager is in full swing - Back to Eden style. Yesterday, despite my lack of lung capacity we laid down a ton of newspaper and Joel made 6 or 7 trips for mulch to dress the garden. We found a free pile in the town we live outside of so we will be pillaging that at needed. I haven't made official measurements but with my rough guessing it looks like we have about well over2,000 square feet of garden. Five plots in the potager, plus the surrounding beds for edible flowers, decorative gourds, sunflowers, and healing herbs - a huge strawberry patch out back, a large plot way out back for sweet corn, popcorn, green beans, lima beans and pinto beans and a neighboring plot back there for watermelon, squash, cantaloupe, etc.
Yeah. We are trying to grow a TON of food.
THE FARMYARD DAIRY-
We are also working with a goat breeder (Nigerian Dwarf) and are happy to announce that our goats were born two weeks ago. A boy and a girl. We will be picking them up around the end of June. Their names... in true Parisienne Farmgirl fashion will be "Coco" and "Valentino". We really wanted to find a doe that was "in milk" but we have decided to start with babies (and buy a fresh doe along the way if she presents herself). I LONG to make cheese. Come on, homemade Chevre??? Does it get better than that?
THE SWEET LIFE-
As far as "Half-Way Honey" we were a little bummed to put the beekeeping on the backburner til next spring but common sense has to prevail SOMEWHERE. I don't think they make beekeeper getups in "my size". But we can't WAIT to have some hives - we have the perfect spot - so perfect in fact that it looks a little naked already without them sitting there.
THE FAMILY-
The children love it here. They have more responsibilities than ever. But that is OK. We are closer as a family than we have ever been. I don't know why, I never thought we weren't close... but we are closer now. Joel is happier than he has ever been in his whole life - even with the HUGE work load we are both experiencing. I see this longing in him to "homestead" full time. I think he would become a chicken farmer with a CSA on the side if he could. But, this is "Half-Way Farm" and we are getting our feet as WET as possible before we move on the big farm someday.
As far as "styling" the house is... OK. It looks farmy and chic and I haven't devoted a ton of time to styling it. I was too depressed (as mentioned) this winter and now, all I care about is the gardens. But I have don't some darn cute things that I will share as soon as I have a rainy day to keep me indoors.
The grounds still look a little "farm ghetto" as we call it. The barn has these hideous, chipping garage doors, the fence still needs to be painted - I mean, sometimes rust is stylish but not in this case. Again, we have made some cute additions to distract from the fact that really, it's just an old, neglected rental farm. As soon as I get some annuals... hanging baskets, etc. that will REALLY help.
All in good time.
It's very hard for me to sleep at night - my wheels spin so fast and so furious. It's all so exciting.
Oh, and to top it off. My midwife bumped up my due date to August 10th. WOOT-WOOT!
Considering I was 11 days early with the last one I could, in theory, have only 11 more weeks to go.
Oh-my-goodness.
I need a farm-hand.
Here are a couple corny videos of the kids, still week with the flu, getting our meat birds at the post office. It's all such an adventure. I PRAISE GOD they aren't sitting in school all day.
Oh, BTW - Forget schooling on the farm past about April 15th. What a joke. There is just too much to do. Now I know. They will have book reports all summer and will learn a heck of a lot when we butcher those chickens, harvest that food and tend to those baby goats.
-We use a fluoride free toothpaste from Trader Joes and it is on "my list" to spend a little time researching all the ingredients.
-As soon as I can make it to the health food store I want to pick up some peppermint oil as we have just discussed as a family switching over to good old baking soda with a dot of oil for freshness.
-As for water filters - We had our well checked for pesticides and other things but after reading more on the subject since moving in plan to do it again. At the old "Parisienne Farmhouse" we had an under-the-counter filter system that we bought and installed ourselves (you need a drill bit to cut thru your sink).
Juice Me Up.
Are you getting enough Veggies and Fruits?
Probably not.
And sadly, even if you try to eat them every day - they don't have NEAR the nutritional value that they did when our Great Gramma's were growing them.
That's where juicing comes in for me - mass quantities of veggies and fruits that I would never have the patience to consume in one day.
We have always juiced "in spurts" in our house. In fact, I have juiced "in spurts" since I was about 18 years old but it is only recently that I have committed to making it a part of my life no matter what - forever.
Juicing is not just for weirdos, your skin doesn't have to turn orange... and it's not just for those on a raw diet. Juicing is an AMAZING way to supercharge your families health and energy. A great way to stave off and in many cases that I have read, even heal cancer.
It tastes amazing (unless you get carried away with the garlic) and it is totally addicting. Back before I had kids and I was a runner I used to juice 3 grapefruits, way a bit for it to settle so I wouldn't cramp and then go hit the pavement - BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ - it was like a high! I could feel it kick it - I became totally addicted to that morning fruit buzz. Probably WAY to much fructose but dang, I loved it.
These days I am really worried about my family not getting enough of those "dark green leafies" so I have added juicing to a small list of new health habits for the 6, soon to be 7 of us. (Others include daily probiotics (another things I have done in spurts) and chia seeds.
Juicing does have it's down sides - it's a pain in the ass.
For me, it adds an extra fifteen minutes to my morning kitchen routine and it drives me nuts but when I see my kids pound that green juice and then BEG for more - well, I feel like supermom.
To help save time I keep all my juicing items in one place in my fridge (I'll share with you my "juice basket" in an upcoming post) or if I really have myself together, the girls and I will wash and bag 7 days worth of juice recipes. I have NOT researched this and so there are probably healthier concoctions out there. Our recipe that we are following these days consists of:
3-5 apples
1 lemon
5 big leaves of kale
3-5 stalks of rainbow chard
3-5 huge handfuls of spinach
a small piece of ginger
2 garlic cloves
5 carrots
3-5 sticks of celery
2 big stalks of broccoli
Currently I am able to find almost all of this organic. I will NOT use apples that are not organic and it's been hard to find organic celery the last month of so. The apples and celery are what make it palatable - as soon as we are growing cucs I will add those because those are SO REFRESHING when juiced and make it easy to stomach just about anything.
We have an OLD Juiceman Juicer and I would wager if you looked hard enough you could find one at the thrift shop or on ebay for VERY cheap. It's like ab-machines - people buy them thinking they are going to use them and then never do. Of course - if you have the budget for a bad-mammer-jammer-juicer then DO IT! Doctor Mercola has VERY interesting information on why to buy certain kinds of juicers and not others... certain engines can actually heat our leafy greens thus killing some of the nutrients - the one on his website that really interests me is only $259 and you can even make nut butters with it.
There are HUNDRED of different juice recipes for different health goals or ailments. I can't say enough how I would encourage you to take this next step for you and your family. Were I not perpetually pregnant and nursing I would go so far as to substitute one meal a day with a couple glasses of juice. I would also juice fast three days week every month.
Juicing IS different from making a smoothie or from just eating a raw diet. Juicing eliminates the fiber (not that fiber is bad) and allows your body to focus only on the juice - no need for digestion. This break in digestion allows your body to go to work on healing your lymph nodes, adrenal glands and the like all the while being blasted with super nutrients.
The reality for me is it's very hard to sustain this awesome habit 7 days a week without fail - you could call where we live a "food desert" and so when we run out we do go for some days without juicing but I try to hop right back on it when I go grocery shopping (every 2.5-3 weeks). As soon as the garden kicks in - WATCH OUT - we are going to be juicing maniacs. The scraps are great for your chickens and/or your compost pile too though I would like to figure out a way/reason to consume these scraps... I wonder. I have read about making "veggie chips" with your dehydrator.
To help with the high cost of this particular health habit I will be researching the nutritional value of freezing the juice and I am going to try to load up my freezer with juice from my garden for the winter. (I have read that certain juicers are better for freezing quality too.)
Why not add juicing to your improving healthy lifestyle. You will TOTALLY love it!
First, THANK YOU to a blogger who corrected a common typo of mine. NO hard feelings. I cram these blog posts into my life and sometimes can pay very little attention to my mistakes because I am so distracted - it isn't a wonder if I don't write like the biggest dork. Thanks for keeping me on my toes... heels.
Second, Sorry this is late. We had the flu. Word of advice. Don't get the flu (and I don't mean a "cold") when pregnant... and don't get it at the same time as your 19 month old and 3 year old.
Ick.
Disclaimer--
Someone warned me against giving medical advice lest someone try to sue me. That's sad -- Isn't the internet full of advice??? Thanks girls for the warning. So, here is my disclaimer: I am not a
doctor, nurse or anything of the like. I DO have a long history of
using more naturally minded doctors, I read A-LOT and try to care for my
family using common sense and I love to share my thoughts on this crazy
world and the stuff we are doing to our bodies with anyone who will
listen. Just about everything I am going to talk about during this series is something I have experienced myself. If I suggest something you don't like (and I will) or it doesn't work for you please don't try to sue me. I have nothing... unless you want my '97 Suburban.
So let's talk about the F word.
No not that one.
The one that is making America passive and apathetic.
This week I implore you to cut FLUORIDE out of your life.
I am serious.
Vigilantly go after it and get rid of it!!!
Why? You ask. "I want healthy teeth!"
Well, how about a healthy brain?
What if I told you that Hitler used Fluoride to dumb down his masses and make them more easily controlled? What if I told you that I believe that is why Fluoride is pushed on us?
No, I am not crazy. I am really serious about this.
Fluoride, the fluoride in your toothpaste, in your city water, the fluoride used in your dentists chair, in (most of) the bottled water you use to bottle feed your babies, in your canned goods, in our Starbucks lattés, in our bottled juices, in our bottled water....
Do you even know what it IS?
FLUORIDE IS AN INDUSTRIAL
WASTE PRODUCT!
Really.
I can't tell you how it freaks me out when I go to a family members house and see Crest and Colgate sitting on their bathroom counter... When I see them cooking with Teflon every day...
When the pregnant gal at the restaurant tells me she's on Prozac.
Yes, it's in Prozac too.
And, maybe you've heard it's kinda bad and be sure to spit out your toothpaste and all that jazz.
No, it's REALLY bad.
It is the bi-product of aluminum, steel, nuclear and fertilizer manufacturing and you just brushed your teeth with it.
Here's the long story short and I am totally paraphrasing and simplifying here-
After WWII we sent researchers over to Germany to check things out and they learned how Hitler used Fluoride to make the cities he took over more passive and apathetic. (As I understand it it was also used on the Jews in the camps.) They were easier to control and manipulate that way. It made them "more docile towards authority". --- Fluoride is found in 25% of major tranquilizers and is often called "A Chemical Lobotomy".
And you wondered why the country is so fixated on American Idol and Glee they don't have a clue about what's going on around them.
Just sayin'.
Meanwhile back in the states - factories have excess waste that they have nothing to do with so they hired a guy to find out if Fluoride could be beneficial to teeth. Hey - there's an idea! Let's tell the public that if they drink the water their teeth will be healthier!
Hey - if it's good enough for Hitler... (Wait, we already believe that, ahem... Planned Parenthood).
Funny - Eight ounces of (most) city water has the same amount of Fluoride as a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. If you swallow the toothpaste you are supposed to call Poison Control. But by all means - drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.
Not Funny.
No, it's not funny at all.
I for one am outraged!
Did I ask to be poisoned?
Did I ask for the minds of my children to be altered?
Do I want to live in a country full of a bunch of zombies??? (I hate that word - but it works here doesn't it?)
The more I read - the more places I discover Fluoride.
And I thought I was really making headway having nixed it from our toothpaste years ago and then finally moving to a property with a well.
And don't think your Brita filter is going to do the trick. Read carefully - the packaging says, "Leaves in beneficial Fluoride."
I've watched and read a TON on this subject. Here is a quick video that lays it all out - the interviews at the beginning get old and don't ask me what that evolution crap is during the last 30 seconds -- sadly, when you start getting healthy, you run into weirdos. :)
That's why we Christians need to lead the pack in this area.
I am not a big Conspiracy Theorist. Ok, maybe I am. But, not a 9/11
Truther or anything like that. But I do believe there is something
going on out there with population control. SOMETHING is jacked up - I
can't sum it up or put my finger on it, but something is WRONG with what
we are told is healthy, what we are told to do to our bodies and what
we are forced to do without consent.
Give your brain and your children's brain a BREAK from the neurotoxin that is Fluoride.
Hey girls - if you like this series be sure to PIN it!!!
How delightful to open my email yesterday and receive this...
" I've been reading your blog for a while and am so happy for your new baby coming and your farmhouse, ahem, adventures. I'm curious about your opinion on something. If you were going to Paris and Vienna for a week with a 4 mo old constantly at the breast nursing and a 3 yr old, and could only take one carry on bag for your own clothes, what would you pack? And what pair of shoes would you take? Leaving on Thursday, a little nervous and even more so stumped.
Tana"
Oh goody goody gumdrops! This was SO exciting! First of all, I am a nerd - having not been to France in a DECADE and knowing, sadly, (OH SO SADLY) that it could be another decade before I get to go again -well- I live thru other's trips and love to get my sticky fingers involved any way I can. It doesn't get much for more fun than telling someone what they might wear while there.
Now, since it's been a decade I really have no idea what is being worn on the streets of Paris. When I pack I pack to suit my own fashion personality (a classic with dramatic tendencies) and I leave some extra space to make some purchases that might make me feel that feeling of being... one of them.
Les Parisiennes.
Sigh.
I WANT this book!
So. If I were you Tana... here's what I am thinking. First, at this stage in your life - it's got to be practical. And for practicality I went with button up blouses. Much easier, in my opinion to undo a couple button and whip out (discreetly of course) a boob than to lift up a buttonless shirt and expose that muffin top that most of us still carry with a baby your babies age. I would rather flash a boob than muffin top any day of the week.
Especially in Paris.
Did I just say that?
Here is the board I put together for you...
In my past observations I have noticed les Parisiennes are either very trendy or very classic. I LOVE a classic look (my sister in law is probably rolling her eyes - she knows what a junkie I am for the classic look) and figure you simply can't go wrong with a smart, structured, pulled together look.
One of my all time, favorite go-to outfits is a pressed, white blouse, a trouser-like pair of jeans, killer belt and high heals. Being Spring - I would wear a bright colored trench and carry a killer bag. Big enough for diapers and maybe even a change of shoes.
I have the flattest feet in the world so in Paris I reserve the heal wearing for the evenings where I am walking a block or two to go out for dinner. Otherwise, I have to wear a sturdy, comfortable pair of shoes. Maybe boots - but even then, I am like an old lady with the nasty foot pain.
And don't forget le foulard.
Your scarf.
Never, ever forget your scarf. Like, don't even step outside to check the temp without one.
So, you have your white blouse. Now you could also pair this with a pair of black trousers. Lord knows, you are in Paris and you could dress in black head-to-toe all week long and NEVER go wrong. Again, thinking of your coat as part of your outfit - that final accessory that makes it more than just a blouse and pants.
Next, a fun skirt. I LOVE the one I found for this board. You could wear this with the white blouse, the orange shirt or the green one. I mean come on - that's three outfits right there.
Don't know if you and hubby will brave an evening meal with the little ones - do it. Don't be afraid. The French might not have tables full of children out for dinner - but it's your trip and they can kiss it. I once went to le Select (FABULOUS people watching) and was pelted by twin boys with spit wads.
Les Enfants Roi.
And this is where you could wear any style of LBD. I picked a sheath here because I love them. But even one with more flair - like the style of the skirt would be fun, feminine and springy. Heals of course.
I love these clothes because they are simple but tailored and my own personal style would be to really have fun with the jewelry. I love the look of rolling up the white blouse sleeves to a three-quarter length and adding a fabulous cuff or mass of bracelets. I love a big ring on my right hand middle finger and I am a sucker for dramatic earrings. And don't forget your sunglasses and a great belt.
Remember- I've got colorful here with neutral accessories but you could totally reverse it - like a camel colored trench and a big colorful bag instead.
One other thing - By layering with the trench and scarf you will be able to be more comfortable in Paris. I find it a city of many temperatures. It can be 42 degrees outside and breezy and then you go down in the metro and almost die of heat stroke. I hate that. I am a hot box and HATE indoor heat.
It can get really windy going up and down and in and out of the metro too. I always carry a spare rubberband on my wrist.
I think these outfits work. They will allow you to "dress to travel" (I personally like to dress for dinner and dress for flying - I never wear jeans on a flight). and have a couple outfits you can feel great in and hold your own in the fashion capitol of the world -- or is that Milan? I think you could also fit this in your carry-on and leave room for you to bring a piece or two home.
There are expensive and very affordable stores all over the city.
There you have it. I hope that helps. I am sure the readers will offer their opinions as well.
------------------
What would YOU have said to Tana?
Tana also asked for hints on what to do while there. I am going to try to work that up for her by her departure next Thursday.
Always in Fashion... or at the very least TRYING.
Angela
Parisienne Farmgirl
Photo credit top to bottom:
Barnes and Noble
Muffin top - http://www.antonybennison.com/2010/03/31/that-muffin-top-image/
Someone warned me against giving medical advice lest someone try to sue me. That's sad -- Isn't the internet full of advice??? Thanks girls for the warning. So, here is my disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nurse or anything of the like. I DO have a long history of using more naturally minded doctors, I read A-LOT and try to care for my family using common sense and I love to share my thoughts on this crazy world and the stuff we are doing to our bodies with anyone who will listen. Just about everything I am going to talk about during this series is something I have experienced myself. If I suggest something you don't like (and I will) or it doesn't work for you please don't try to sue me. I have nothing... unless you want my '97 Suburban.
This is for all women - of any age - after all... we all know someone who is on...
THE PILL (and let's lump in any other chemical birth control). I know I have blogged about this before (and at least two readers emailed to say they went off the pill!) but I am doing it again--
I could make it really easy and just say,
"Get off the pill. Yesterday."
but I'll break it down a bit.
I was on the pill for three years, many years ago when I was first married. And I was a wreck - bloated, sore breasts, no libido, leg cramps, I was emotional and couldn't loose a pound no matter how hard I worked out. Then, I stumbled onto a newsletter that made many radical claims about the dangers of the pill. I was sold and promptly went off it and never looked back. I know not everyone experiences those symptoms but that doesn't make the pill any less dangerous.
Your body is a fine machine - birth control is easy without the pill. And I am not talking about Russian Roulette. And don't even get me started on doctors who prescribe it for "heavy periods" or for acne. But don't listen to me... listen to the experts (and by experts I mean the ones who don't get kickbacks from the drug companies!)
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride says... “It causes many deficiencies, it tends to create copper/zinc
imbalances, and it causes women to lose all interest in sex, which seems
very counterproductive. We need to teach young women about natural family planning and about honoring our cycles!
The estrogens in the pill are synthetic, and not the same molecules
that the body produces. Instead they’re called, “xeno-estrogens” and
are harmful to the body. The pill also causes differences in the
viscosity of the blood, and can cause heart disease, stroke, and a long
list of problems. We’ve just touched the tip of the iceberg in
our understanding of the complexity of hormonal balance in the human
body, we are in no position to be messing with that.”
In The Breast Cancer Prevention Program, Sam Epstein, MD,
writes, "more than 20 well-controlled studies have demonstrated the
clear risk of premenopausal breast cancer with the use of oral
contraceptives. These estimates indicate that a young woman who uses
oral contraceptives has up to ten times the risk for developing breast
cancer as does a non-user, particularly if she uses the Pill during her
teens or early twenties; if she uses the Pill for two years or more; if
she uses the Pill before her first full-term pregnancy; if she has a
family history of breast cancer." Thus, a woman who takes the Pill for
two years before she’s 25 and before she’s had a pregnancy to term
increases her risk of breast cancer tenfold.
Many women foolishly equate "natural methods" with their large-familied Catholic friends and scoff at their effectiveness. This is very misinformed. I am an all natural girl in many ways (thought I have yet to give up perfume!!!) and have found a wonderful ways to prevent pregnancy that are science based... working WITH your body and not against it. They are reliable and I recommend them for any married women.
This book unpacks the FAM method - it's more then just taking your temps every morning. This book is AWESOME for birth control and those TRYING to get pregnant.
And then, this little number that even surprised my midwife - I love this thing!
How about a little microscope that shows changes in your saliva when you are fertile?
I am finding that more and more I have this passion for "educating" people about their health and wellness. Not like I am some expert - but it's a subject of great interest to me and I read a lot on it. What I am finding out the more I study is we are DAILY bombarded with stuff we have no business putting in our bodies - how's that for terrible grammar - (it's not just about buying local or organic anymore...) I am learning that things are not always as they seem (like organic eggs or Toms of Maine toothpaste). Lately people I love are asking for advice (I even got asked to be a Birth Doula again today!!!) and that thrills me - cause I LOVE to talk about these things but am pretty aware when people's eyes glaze over. :)
Truth is, it's pretty scary out there. And we wonder why we are so dang sick. So, instead of cramming it into one post, I am just going to share things as I learn them or share things as I am convicted to make changes in and for my own family.
I do hope you will enjoy. I do hope you will help me spread the word - and PLEASE let me know if you have something you are well-read on and would like to share too - Guest posts will be welcome.
"I don't know how you do it with four, and one on the way. I have one and I am loosing my mind."
Someone said this to me about three weeks ago. I stuttered. I didn't know what to say. It's not like I have NINE children. I mean, anything you say is just going to make someone that says something like that feel bad. Unless someone is truly coming to you for mothering/home management advice I suppose it's just better to make some sort of gracious smile in that situation.
I've lost my own mind many a time.
But... I will share with you that this mothering/homemaking thing... I take it VERY serious. I think it's a wonderful... and even GLAMOROUS life. Yes, glamorous... I suppose I should write on that...
Dishes storage - old Parisienne Farmhouse Christmas 2011.
I've had some pretty chaotic moments since moving out to this farm. Today, I'll share with you about my kitchen. Charming, lovely views, full of life and... 20 hours out of 24 - messy. And that is SO not my style. Things just got away from me... all those horrid weeks of morning sickness and my new adjustment to NOT having a dishwasher. I used to SWEAR by my dishwasher. I HATED washing dishes and I had such a lovely system in place at the old house (not saying my kitchen didn't have it's days - it surely did) but oh, that dishwasher could hide a multitude of sins.
Here, I have this HORRID RED SINK. I hate it. This crappy old faucet. I hate that too. And the task of dishes. Lot's of them. And not just dishes but pots and pans. Oh, the agony of it all. And nevermind the four little munchkins that can get as much food on the floor as they can into their mouths -- ok, not all four of them, but the baby. GOOD GRIEF! What a PIGGY! On white floors no less.
Gray/blue fauxed cupboards (and un-finished shelf above:) New Parisienne Farmhouse.
There's been lots of tension around the messy sink. It's practically impossible to get the whole kitchen cleaned up and start school on time (never mind running to the loo to puke in between plates). So, nothing would ever get done to completion - after all, there were spelling words to do. Then, a few subjects later I would have to jump up and begin lunch among the half, or one-quarter cleaned up kitchen. (No PBand J here - Lunch is our biggest meal of the day since Joel is not here for dinner).
I had no solution but KNEW we couldn't go on like this much longer. I just love a clean house and will confess, I can be quite a be-atch when the mess starts to get to my self-esteem.
Then... by the GRACE of God I had some time to read a blog I really enjoy the other day (On Just a Couple of Acres) and a solution that I KNEW would work for our family was presented. It's been three days of this - which means we have done it 9 times. Hubby loves it, the kids love it and I am one Happy Momma. That is, till I walk into the laundry room - that's a whole 'nother blog post.
Talk about WANTING to put your dishes away - friend Susan's crystal cabs in the butlers kitchen/pantry.
Yeah. Need I say more.
Here is what we are doing --
Our kids LOVE classical music - this is something that pleases me so much. (And thank God no one in the house would know a Justin Beiber song if it fell from the sky and smacked them on the head right now -- Though I will confess, I am itchin' to check out the new J.T. album). I digress. In school we lightly study a new composer every three weeks or so.
I say lightly cause they are just 7, 5, and 3.
In our family there is music playing a-lot. Whether it's George Strait, Pink Martini, Old Hymns or Mozart -- and we do a lot of "time limit" types of things with the kids. "Please go tidy up your room, you have ten minutes" or "Let's see how fast we can put this stuff away". So I knew this idea would gel with our families mojo.
Here's what we do.
After dinner everyone hops up and begins working. (Now we aren't doing this the second the last fork is put down - we sing hymns together and make the children linger at the table so we can visit, but at a certain point "family table time" is finally over and we get to work). Our kids were used to saying "May I be excused?" and then clearing their plate but that just wasn't enough. So now, we hop up - I walk over to YouTube, crank the volume and start our song - a classical song, lasting fifteen minutes.
Though we studied Tchaikovsky at Christmas (Nutcraker and all) we are using the 1812 Overture WITH CANNONS to kick off this new family habit. The song is fifteen minutes, eight seconds and after nine times everyone knows it by heart. Someone washes, someone drys, someone puts away, someone whipes counters, the floor gets swept and if it's the end of the day it gets mopped. Towards the end everyone starts working like mad with those cannons blasting - it's such a beautiful song and within 15 minutes our kitchen in presentable. And really, thought I have hard core fantasies of my house being as organized and immaculate as my Moms, Grammas or Aunts appears to be --I know that this is not the chapter in my life for that - I have too many other joys and responsibilities BUT I do want it presentable at all times.
I think I deserve that.
I think my family deserves that!
Joel insists that I go back to Quinn's blog and leave a comment about how this has blessed our family. It truly has. We always gave the kids some part in the clean up (at the old house for example I stopped unloading the dishwasher when Aidan was five!) - but there is something about the absoluteness, how reasonable 15 minutes is, how motivating the music is that Joel and I believe is really going to stick and now they see all that goes into a clean kitchen. It's not just Mom banished to the task for an hour while everyone runs off to do their own things.Subsequent meals have been on time and stress has gone down. We are just thrilled.
(13 minutes, maybe for really easy nights.... more motivating than opera)
(Mix & Match... I couldn't find anything about 15 minutes.)
(Mix & Match)
(Mix & Match)
(Mix & Match)
