Amateur Hour

I've Moved

2011-10-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

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I'm Back!

2011-02-27T18:09:00.000-08:00

Hello, all! We finally have our computer back. Yay!! It's been a long couple of weeks without it. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. We had a late snowstorm beginning Wednesday and ending last night -- hopefully Winter's final hurrah.

It's always strange to come back after not blogging for a while -- you would think that I'd have a lot to say, but for some reason silence only brings more silence sometimes. For now I'll share my next memory verse, which I'll be starting March 1st:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Have a blessed week!

Since I've Been Gone...

2011-02-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

Hello, again! I know that I slipped off the radar for a couple of weeks. I was still recovering from the flu... it really hung on. Here's what's new in my world.

I've gone back to school! This is the other reason I've been scarce; studying has been taking up some -- ok, most -- of my blogging time. For those of you who wonder, I'm working toward my personal training certificate -- an idea I've entertained for years is actually becoming reality. The program is only a few months long, but for these few months I may be a little hit or miss around here.

Second, remember Amy's enamel sign give-away? I won!! I am SO delighted. I really wanted one of these signs. I'll take a picture when I get it -- promise!

Third, our main computer is in the "shop" being repaired, and the one I'm using is so slow. Yet another reason I haven't been blogging much. We should have it back in a few more days, though.

What else... oh! My seeds arrived! I ordered seeds from Victory Seeds -- an Oregon based (ie, close to home) company that specializes in rare, open-pollinated, and heirloom seeds. I still haven't heard about my plot situation from the community garden, but they assure me that I'll have something.

Unfortunately, homework beckons, but as a parting thought I'll share my verses for round four of Beth Moore's "Siesta Scripture Memory Team" Challenge.

Ephesians 6:10, 14-18 NRSV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power... Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication.

P.S. - For those of you whose blogs I normally frequent, I apologize if you get duplicate comments/don't get my comments. This computer is acting weird every time I try to post a comment. The dear thing is a bit of a dinosaur.

In Love with Love

2011-02-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

I love February. The manic celebrations of December are long past and January has given me plenty of time to regroup and recover my rhythm. Spring is not here yet, but the mornings dawn a little earlier, and I have my garden planned. Most importantly, it's the month to celebrate Love.

I have always been a dyed in the wool romantic. As a girl I devoured Grace Livingston Hill and L.M. Montgomery. I wandered the playground alone, hoping for the wind to whip tendrils of hair into my face so that I might at least look wistful... I know, it's terrible schtick, but I am really and truly helplessly in love with Love.

If a woman's not careful, romance can be treacherous. The world offers some pretty twisted takes on Love, and they can be frighteningly convincing. There is also the danger of pinning your every romantic dream onto your poor, unknowing husband, finding yourself needlessly disappointed and confusing the heck out of him in the process. However, if a woman falls in love with Real Love, with the One who Is Love, she will live a more fulfilling, heart-rending, romantic life than she ever dreamed possible.

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Hosea -- it's every romantic woman's dream. God calls Hosea to marry and love a wretched woman, a harlot who doesn't even merit his attention, let alone his undying love and commitment. I wonder how she ended up that way? Who hurt her? What did she believe about herself? It sends chills up my spine, especially when I realize that God's intentions went far beyond Hosea and his wife Gomer -- he was illustrating his love for Israel, his love for humanity, his love for me.

The Love between God and a woman is supreme, and the Love between that woman and her husband is second, but what of her other Loves? Between a woman and her mother? Her sister? Her dearest friend? My brother and I have always shared a very special friendship, a very strong Love. Because of the deep Love between my brother and I, I feel the full weight of Christ's Love -- he is the friend who remains closer than my brother.

This February, I sink myself into Love. I bask in the Love my Lord has for me, and I pour out my heart in Love for him. I relish the Love my husband has for me, and I lavish it back upon him. I reach out to my family and my friends, and I thank God for filling my life and my very self with so much Love -- Love that I never earned. I hope you will do the same.

Click here for image source.

Amy's Giveaway

2011-02-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

Amy is hosting a really sweet giveaway at Homestead Revival! She is giving away a personalized porcelain enamel sign from Ramsign. Ramsign makes beautiful house numbers and name plates. Visit their site here. I would LOVE to have the Lighthouse name plate in the rectangular shape.

Visit Homestead Revival to enter the drawing.

Home Remedies

2011-02-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

Hello, all! My immune system is fighting the good fight, but I am still miserable in the process, leaving me very little energy for blogging. I couldn't stay away, though, so I thought I'd give you a run-down on my favorite home remedies.

Honey-Lemon Tea

Squeeze half a lemon into your favorite mug. Add a generous spoonful of raw honey, and fill with hot water. If you like ginger, also zest about a half-teaspoon of fresh ginger into the mixture. (If you don't like getting chunks of ginger, strain it out with a spoon after it has steeped for 10 minutes or so.)

How it works: Lemon is rich in Vitamin-C and helps to boost your resistance, reduce toxicity, and shorten the duration of your cold. Raw honey is a powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant, rich in minerals, amino acids, and enzymes. Make sure to buy raw, unfiltered honey, though, because processing destroys honey's healthful properties. Ginger is a warming herb, which makes it useful as a decongestant and an antihistamine and also as a fever reducer.

Elderberry Syrup

If you've never tried elderberry syrup, you're in for a real treat. It tastes like candy! Elderberries have been used for centuries to fight colds, flu, congestion, hay-fever, and viral and bacterial infections. You can find it in grocery stores with good natural health care sections and at supplement stores. Read the directions on the bottle. Mine says to take 2 tsp four times a day.

Ginger Beer

Ok, this one is more of a treat than anything. I don't usually drink pop, but when I'm sick my husband brings me ginger beer. It's not really beer, it's a very strong ginger ale. My favorite is Reed's Extra Ginger Beer. It is made with all-natural ingredients and LOTS of ginger. Reed's actually makes a couple of nausea remedies, too, because ginger is a natural digestive aid.

I'm not sure how much longer I'll be down with this, but I'm hoping to be better by the end of the week. Stay healthy!!

See You in a Day or Two

2011-01-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

Healthy Changes

2011-01-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, all! I hope you're doing well. I'm a bit under the weather... hence the sparse posting this week.

Remember my post on What the Bible Says About Healthy Living? Since reading this book I have been making slow but steady changes to our diet. As it's still early in the year, I'm sure many of you are also still in "New Year's Resolution" mode, too, but as the year wears on, it's easy to lose steam! The secret? There are two: begin with a goal in mind; and slow and steady wins the race.

Before reading Healthy Living, I had already been making some changes, but I didn't have a very clear picture of what exactly I wanted to accomplish. "Eat healthier" is a pretty vague goal, especially with so much and diverse information available to us. Dairy or no dairy? Carbs or no carbs? How much meat? If you want to eat healthier this year but aren't exactly sure what that looks like, I highly recommend What the Bible Says About Healthy Living by Dr. Rex Russell. More importantly, I suggest you begin with prayer! It is way too easy to get swept up in the world's ideas and standards for your body, which are generally degrading. Who better to ask for advice than the One who designed your body and cares deeply for you?

Once you know exactly where you want to end up, make a plan but don't set yourself any deadlines. It is really easy to get overwhelmed. The steps you will be taking involve changing the way you think, the way you shop, and the way you cook. You might have to learn some new skills. You might have to rework your food budget. As long as you make one small change at a time, you will eventually meet your goal. Be satisfied with every small change and allow yourself some time to get used to the new routine before trying to add in something else.

This week we took a big step: we switched to grass-fed, organic meat. We have talked about it for several months, but since it's so much more expensive, we have continued to buy conventional meat at Costco. Every time I bought meat, though, I fought a battle in myself: I hated eating meat raised in unhygienic, unethical conditions, but I didn't think I could afford to buy the good stuff.

Then, a couple of weeks ago I started buying raw milk at a local butcher shop. It's *gulp* $6.99 for 1/2 gallon, but worth every penny! One of the surprising benefits of buying this expensive - but wholesome and delicious - milk is a new respect I have found in myself for food. I used to drink milk without a thought to how much it costs. Now I'm much more conservative with how much milk I pour, and I find that I don't need as much as I thought I did. This realization is what gave me the courage and freedom to switch to grass-fed meat... along with the desire to support my butcher.

Do you live in Snohomish County? If you are looking for a great butcher, check out Bill the Butcher! Click on the icon to view the website.

Need help making an action plan for healthy living? Visit my Resources Page to view mine. I'm not going in any specific order in the changes I make; I'm just tackling one project at a time.

Taking the Plunge!

2011-01-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

For several years now I've talked about planting a vegetable garden. Last year I cut my teeth on a little container garden -- we're talking basic -- a tomato plant, a couple of herbs, and some flowers. This year, I'm taking the plunge! For an amateur like me, the task is a bit daunting. I am clueless.

Today I took the first step: I signed up for a local community garden called the Rooster Rendezvous. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list for plots -- the garden has been booked solid for a couple of years, and I won't know for a couple more months whether or not I get a plot. If I don't get a plot Sustainable Bothell (a local sustainability organization) will provide me with a free plot "outside the fence." There is a lot of extra land around the garden that I can use, it's just not built up like the Rooster plots. That would mean extra work for me, but would be a great deal anyway: free water, free use of community tools, and a group of people to learn from.

I'm already a little bit behind -- I hear that I should have ordered seeds by now, but this was the first meeting of the Rooster for the year. It's time to get cracking!

To Do:

Read! I grabbed some books at the library; I'll need them to figure out what to do for the following steps.
Plan my garden.
Order seeds.
Build up my soil -- especially if it's going to be "outside the fence."

Do any of you gardeners have advice for a first-timer? At the very least, I'd love to know who gardens so I can bug you with questions as they arise!

A Lesser Evil

2011-01-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, I have (almost entirely) done away with antiperspirant. Although the debate over whether or not the aluminum in antiperspirant is harmful rages on, I would much rather be on the safe side. In general, my philosophy is that the less I tamper with God's design -- in this case, the design for elimination through perspiration -- the better. That said, I have had a deuce of a time finding a natural deodorant that doesn't leave me smelling too natural, if you know what I mean.

For now, I have found an intermediate solution: men's deodorant. I have yet to find a women's non-antiperspirant deodorant, but there are plenty for men. While it does contain synthetic fragrances, of which I am also leery, it works. I can't tell you how many dollars/pounds of plastic I've thrown into the landfill in the form of useless natural deodorants. I'm still not giving up -- I'm sure I'll find the one one of these days, but for now, this is certainly a lesser evil. If you're looking for a good transition from antiperspirant to a safe deodorant, this is at least a step in the right direction. After smelling just about every men's deodorant at Target, I have decided that Old Spice "Fresh" is the least manly. I still smell a little bit like "cute boy," but it's a lot better than plugging my pits with chemicals, and so far it's served me well, even at the gym.

What do you do for deodorant? Have you found anything natural that works? Like, really works. I'd love some feedback!

Healthy Cuppa Cocoa

2011-01-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

This time of year, when the mornings are dark and damp and I dread leaving the warmth of my down comforter, I take refuge in chocolate. Dark chocolate. Dark, hot chocolate. I'm not talking about Swiss Miss or Nestle -- I gave commercial hot cocoa the boot long ago in favor of real chocolate and real milk. I make several variations of hot chocolate, but this is my favorite recipe for a morning cuppa cocoa. It's the perfect blend of protein, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals -- a great kick start on a chilly winter day.

Ingredients:
8-10 oz raw milk
1 heaping spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder
a generous dash of cinnamon
1-2 tsp molasses

Process:
Since I work at a coffee shop, I just combine all of the ingredients in a mason jar and take them to work with me, where I steam them on the espresso machine. If you have a good espresso machine at home, I highly recommend this method: it's quick, easy, and clean.

If you don't have access to an espresso machine, gently heat the milk on the stove, whisking in the other ingredients. Whisk constantly and briskly to keep the milk from scalding and to create a little bit of foam on top.

Image Credit

Crock Pot Savory Bean and Spinach Soup

2011-01-17T21:07:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of my crock pot. The crock pot is every working girl's best friend! Here's a crock pot recipe that I tried for the first time today, and really enjoyed. It's especially convenient if you are in a hurry because it only has to cook for 2 1/2 - 3 hours on "high." Ideally I would adjust the recipe to use dry beans, but since I have shelves of canned beans, that's what I use. Bonus: this is a meatless dish, but since it has both rice and beans, it contains all the amino acids of a complete protein (like meat). Plus, the spinach adds extra iron. That makes it inexpensive, tasty, and nutritionally dense.

Crock Pot Savory Bean and Spinach Soup

(Found at food.com)

3 (14 ounce) cans vegetable broth (I used chicken broth.)
1 (15 ounce) can tomato puree (I used tomato sauce.)
1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans or 1 small white beans, drained and rinsed (I used 1 can kidney beans & 1 can black beans.)
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, chopped (I used about 4... I adore garlic.)
8 cups fresh spinach or 8 cups kale leaves, coarsely chopped (I used spinach but probably would have liked kale better -- it's a bit sturdier for soups.)
asiago cheese, finely shredded (I used grated Parmesan.)

In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine vegetable broth, tomato puree, beans, rice, onion, basil, oregano, salt, pepper and garlic.
Cover; cook on low heat setting 5-7 hours or on high heat setting 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
Just before serving, stir in spinach or kale and sprinkle with Asiago cheese.

Bon Appetit!

Book Review: What the Bible Says About Healthy Living

2011-01-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

Did you notice that I added a couple of pages to my blog? I now have Reading List and Resources pages. Since Amateur Hour is all about learning, what better way to share what I'm learning than through books? Not every book I read is strictly educational -- I love fiction -- but for that matter, how can you read a book and not learn something? On the Reading List you can expect to find a smorgasbord of Bible studies, Christian and non-Christian fiction, and non-fiction pertaining mostly to the skills I am working on -- homesteading, cooking, healthy living, frugality, and various crafts.

I have already written a couple of quick reviews on the books I read in December -- both excellent pieces of fiction. Today, though, I want to highlight the book that I just finished -- What the Bible Says About Healthy Living by Dr. Rex Russell.

When I started Healthy Living, I was wary -- I was afraid it would be legalistic. Fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Russell makes it clear that the Old Testament dietary Law is no longer necessary for righteousness before God -- Christ took care of that permanently. However, the Designer of our bodies and our food gave us the Law as a set of rules for healthy living, and they are as true today as they were then. I look at it like a mother's words of warning to her child: "Don't eat that! It's yucky!" or "Eat this; it'll make you feel better."

In Healthy Living, Dr. Russell explores the science behind Old Testament dietary laws. Besides offering a challenging study on nutrition, Healthy Living sheds light on God's loving purpose for the Law -- to protect his people from disease. And [God] said, '"If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God... and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you," Exodus 15:26. Doesn't this remind you of Christ's exhortation to abide in his love by obeying his commands? Through obedience we can enjoy Christ's loving protection and complete joy (John 15:9-11).

I could write pages about this book and how it has changed the way I think about food... in fact, I did! If you want to see my reading notes, click on the link on my Resources page, or better yet, read the book!

Dr. Russell's Three Principles for Biblical Healthy Living

Eat only substances God designed for food. Avoid what is not designed for food.
As much as possible, eat foods as they were created -- before they are changed or converted into something humans think might be better.
Avoid food addictions. don't let any food or drink become your God.

Scripture Memory Challenge

2011-01-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

Remember a couple weeks ago when I posted about Beth Moore's Scripture memory challenge? The first couple weeks were so good as I washed my mind daily in the Word. It's time for my next verse:

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:9-11 NRSV

Photo Credit

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Pudding

2011-01-14T10:01:00.000-08:00

Remember that crumbly bread I made a couple of days ago? Claudia, over at Eating for Wellness has a scrumptious recipe for Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Pudding. You really must try it. It's easy, quick, and healthy. I adjusted it to make a single serving. I'm eating it right now... so yummy! Seriously -- go visit Claudia and get her recipe!

Photo Credit: http://www.dreamstime.com

Bottling

2011-01-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

Brian brews his own beer. Tonight he taught me how to bottle.

5 gallons of Oatmeal Milk Stout.

♥

Lesson Learned

2011-01-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

I made another batch of bread today and learned a new lesson: Don't let the dough get too sticky! I followed the recipe, but even after adding an extra cup of flour my dough was still too sticky. I baked it that way anyway because I couldn't find anything online about what happens if your dough is too sticky. The result: very crumbly bread. It's not dry; it just doesn't hold together very well. That's ok: lesson learned! I now have some bread to turn into bread pudding, bread salad, croutons, or bread crumbs. Any other newbie bakers out there? What are your lessons learned?

Check. It. Out.

2011-01-08T21:38:00.000-08:00

What a difference! My last "success" didn't rise nearly as well as these. The difference? Kneading with a KitchenAid. I've never considered myself a wimp, but I give major kudos to anyone who can knead a loaf of bread by hand and end up with anything fluffier than a cobble stone. Whoever you are, I will recognize you by your burly forearms.
All I can say for myself is, Aaaaaahhhhh.I am so satisfied.

P.S. Thank you, again, to Amy at Homestead Revival. Her bread-making post is indispensable.

Oh, Happy Day!

2011-01-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took myself and my Christmas gift cards to the mall with every intention of buying a new coat -- something I have been wanting, I hesitate to say needing, for a few years now. I found a coat, the exact coat I had imagined and it was on sale! For $42!! Unbelievable. I put the coat on my Mall Gift Card, with plenty to spare - cha ching! - and made my way to Williams Sonoma to find out how much was on my Pottery Barn gift cards. (Did you know they are the same company?) I had in mind to fill in the rest of the missing pieces in our dinnerware until I found out just how generous my husband's uncle was. When I saw the amount on the gift cards, I was so overwhelmed by the possibilities that I decided to go home and do an inventory in my kitchen -- I could do some serious outfitting!

Then I passed this on my way out:

Hello! Yes, I want you.

Girls, I didn't think I'd have one of these for years. In fact, I haven't even allowed myself to want one of these. Suddenly, though, I realized that between my Pottery Barn cards, my Mall Card, and my Christmas money I could make this work! Of course, I didn't do it right then. I was so flabbergasted by the possibility that I stared at it for a moment and then dream-walked out to my car. When I got home I did some research -- I know everyone swears by KitchenAid, but I just wanted to make sure. These bad boys aren't cheap, and who knows when I'll have this kind of money at my disposal again. By the time I went to bed, I had decided that I would be at the mall right when it opened and that I would come home with a Metallic Chrome 5 Quart, 10 Speed Artisan Stand Mixer.

And I did.

Do you know what this means? Bread!! I had pretty much given up on it because, as you may remember, I was mixing my bread by hand. Ugh. Not only was I a mess, but my forearms burned like the dickens, and my bread -- even when I finally succeeded -- wasn't that great. I know a KitchenAid isn't going to magically make bread on its own, but it will make the process so much easier.

All I can say is, Oh, Happy Day, and praise the Lord!!

A special thank you is in order for Mark & Ellen, Scott & Julie, and Grandpa Smith whose combined Christmas gifts made this possible. ♥

Loose Ends

2011-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Considering it's the beginning of the year, a time for cleaning things up, pitching things out, and making room for the fresh and new, it's about time I tie up some loose ends here at Amateur Hour.

Looking back over my posts and unpublished drafts, I've found several conversations that I started but never finished. Remember Confessions of a Future Optimist, Part 1? I never did get back to that one. I drafted Part 2, but it just wasn't gelling. I'm not necessarily closing the books on that one, but I'm also not pursuing it right now.

Most of the loose ends, though, concern what I call my "Food Journey" and my homesteading ambitions. When I started this blog, I thought to use it as a catalyst for some changes I wanted to make in my life. I have a vision of how I want to live, and I created this blog to document my journey, to hold me accountable to keep moving forward, and to network me with like-minded people.

Although my dream hasn't changed -- I still dream of raising chickens and growing vegetables in a cottage out in the country -- my perspective on my journey has changed. First, I realized that this is a slow journey. I can only learn so quickly. If I make too many changes at once, I get overwhelmed and want to give up. Besides that, I only have so many resources - right now that means a few pots outside my suburban apartment and whatever time is left when I get home from work. All this to say, I need to go at my own pace, but at this pace, my journey isn't keeping up with my blog! In order to keep a regular blog, I have opened up my posting to whatever is on my mind at the time, rather than limiting it to whatever improvements I am making in my homestead... if you can call it that.

Second, I have broadened my perspective of what it means to "improve my homestead." Looking back on my early posts and the attitude that was behind them, I see in myself an embarrassing vein of selfishness. I was really hitting the wall with my so-called "journey" until I realized that this journey is not and must not be isolated from my all-surpassing Journey with Christ. Am I concerned about what I am eating or about my attitude toward food? I need to bow the knee and seek first the Kingdom perspective on food -- and it's really not about what I thought it was all about. How do my choices affect other people? What about feeding the hungry? Am I concerned about the "atmosphere" in my home? I need to seek first the Kingdom perspective on the atmosphere of my home -- my husband needs a calm, Spirit-filled wife much more than he needs matching towels.

The beauty of committing my way to the Lord and seeking first the Kingdom is that I am not losing, I am gaining. I no longer have to worry about how I eat or what I wear -- I can pray about it and really believe that God will give me specific wisdom and that he will provide.

If I have learned one thing through Amateur Hour, it is that I am far more of an amateur than even I believed was possible. I truly appreciate each and every one of you who read my blog, and I do hope that you get something out of it. Thank you for bearing with my loose ends: rather than weaving them neatly in, I will let them hang loose, leaving plenty of room for God to define and direct my journey.

The Same Old Song

2011-01-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

"Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth!"

Isaiah 42:10

The other day this verse caught my eye. It usually reminds me of the people during worship who depart from the rest of us into some other harmony, sung with words fresh from their heart -- literally a new song. It reminds me of my husband, who is a musician; I have heard him play new songs on his guitar -- stirring music straight from his soul. Scripture leads me to believe that God loves music and that he loves to hear people express their love and worship through music.

The other day, though, as I was reading this verse, I realized that this song is also about the prayers of our hearts. As I was reading the Lord said to me, "Erin, it's time for you to sing a new song."

A new song. I realized immediately that I have been bringing the same, shabby, worn out song to the Lord for a long time now. It goes something like this,

Lord, I love you, and I need you, and I'm so glad to have you in my life, but... I need this and I want that, and I am really upset by what so-and-so did, and I am worried about x, y, and z.

Yikes. Praise the Lord that we have a patient God who loves hearing from his children because anyone else would have shaken me by the neck after months... dare I say years... of this worn out complaint.

... his praise from the end of the earth! What would happen if I really focused my attention on praising him? I can tell you what would happen based on just a few days of trying it: I remember that the Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want; that Christ was a man of sorrows, well acquainted with grief. I would remember that he is my King, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters. I turn my eyes from myself and realize that there are people out there who are really suffering and that I want to help them.

So this is my new song for a new year:

Lord, I am so blessed because you have shown me such favor. You grace me daily with your very presence, and that is all that I need. Lord, I trust you completely with all of my needs, and I thank you for providing so abundantly for me. Please turn my eyes to those in need and direct me in serving them. Thank you for allowing me to be your servant.

What's your same old song? What's your new song? I'd love to hear what the Lord is doing in your life.

I Give Thanks

2011-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

You crown the year with bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.

Psalm 65:11

As I remember with a thankful heart all of God's blessings in 2010, I open wide my eyes and heart to thankfully receive the blessings he has prepared for me in 2011.

No-Knead Peasant Bread

2011-01-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

Growing up I always enjoyed spending time at my friend Emily's house. Her family lived in an old farm house in the country, and her mom was everything I dreamed of becoming. She kept chickens and rabbits, and specialized in all things home-made. I remember the beauty of beeswax candles, the satisfaction of putting eggs in the basket on the counter (I got to help when I spent the night), and the tantalizing smells of homemade gingerbread and spaghetti sauce.

One of Emily's older sister's loved to bake. On one of the mornings I woke up at Emily's I found her sister in the kitchen braiding the most beautiful artisan bread I had ever seen. That moment burned itself into my memory and planted a dream -- a dream of baking bread.

Bread is so simple, so beautiful, so symbolic of hearth and home. Though a dream of baking bread may be small or silly to some, it is very meaningful to me. Those of you who have read my earlier posts have seen my first battles with bread. After several attempts I gave up because it was both time consuming and frustrating. Although I don't have plans right now to bake all of my bread (someday), I do still love the yeasty smell of rising dough and the sight of cheerful, albeit quirky looking, loaves cooling on the counter.

This is a no-knead peasant bread I'm making for our 2nd Annual New Year's Epic Soup and Beer Brewing Party. It's a bit easier than regular bread because you don't have to knead it. Click here for the recipe. I added half a teaspoon each of dried rosemary, basil, and dill weed, and my "all purpose flour" is actually a blend of whole wheat and white flour I'm trying to use up.

Scripture Memory Challenge for the New Year

2010-12-31T11:02:00.000-08:00

The other day I stumbled across a link to Beth Moore's blog, part of Living Proof Ministries (LPM). For the life of me, I can't remember whose blog I found the link on, but thank you so much! Those of you who read my blog know that Beth (can I call you by your first name, Mrs. Moore?) influences me quite a bit. I consider her a mentor and a role model, though I have never met her, and I cannot recommend her work highly enough.

That said, Beth is hosting a Scripture memory challenge for 2011. Twice a month you leave a comment on the "SSMT" (Siesta Scripture Memory Team) post with your name, city, and the Scripture you are memorizing for the next two weeks. At the end of the year, you will have memorized 24 verses and earned free entrance to a Beth Moore event in January 2012 especially for everyone who has completed the challenge! Click here for more details.

Tomorrow is the first day of the challenge, so if you want to dedicate yourself to renewing your mind with Scripture this year and get to know other women who are doing the same, I highly recommend you join the challenge. See you tomorrow on Beth's comments!!

Gloaming Week

2010-12-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

I always relish this last week of December - the gloaming between the setting of one year and the dawn of the next. Gloaming time for me means reflection on the past year and anticipation of a fresh start. I used to use this time to set goals for myself, and while I still love me a set of achievable goals, one of the last precious lessons of 2010 has been that "His thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are my ways his ways... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than my ways and his thoughts than my thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). "All the ways of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his decrees" (Psalm 25:10). I have so many thoughts and ideas about how to get from where I am to where I want to be, but I am beginning to understand that my ways often lead in circles that wind tightly into themselves, leading me nowhere but down.

So for 2011, my goal is to strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, believing that all these things that I need will be given me as well (Matthew 6:33). I am holding onto the promise that, "Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he leads sinners in the way, he leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way" (Psalm 25:8-9).

The principle is elementary, but the applications are endless. Why did I never before think of walking with the Lord, calling upon His wisdom in my journey toward

healthy eating
understanding my husband
healing strained relationships
balancing my schedule
becoming a homemaker
and every other area of my life?

Although I'd love to wrap up this New Year's post neatly with some kind of promise about my blog posting being more regular or incorporating it more into my daily life -- I won't. That would be little old me, making my labyrinthine plans. Instead, I'll wish you all a very Happy New Year, a year in which you enjoy even more truly the presence and closeness of Emmanuel.

Thank you to those of you who have followed my blog this year. I have certainly enjoyed sharing in all of your journeys as well.

Happy New Year!

Christmas: God With Us

2010-12-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 1:78-79

A few months ago I began trying to put my finger on what exactly my salvation means to me. At the time I was preparing myself to be a decision follow-up leader at an evangelistic event, and for the umpteenth time I faced my inability to put into words just why I love Jesus and why anyone else should want to get to know him. Many Christians are grateful for their salvation because it catalyzed major life recoveries from drug or alcohol abuse, eating disorders, unhealthy relationships or other dangers. Some Christians experience astonishing miracles of healing or provision or escape. Although I have certainly experienced miracles in my life, I hesitate to define my salvation by them. For one thing, I can't guarantee what God will do in another person's life (or even my own), and for another, although I treasure the miracles I have seen, they are Cracker Jack toys compared to the overwhelming but intangible and nearly indescribably daily experience that I much more closely associate with my salvation.

The only word I have for this experience is closeness. I have an insatiable desire to be closer, closer, closer. I literally crave being with God. I love that I can close my eyes, take a deep breath, and feeling the air whisper against the inside of my nose, tasting it in the back of my throat, and watching it expand my chest, I know that even closer to me than this air is God. I need that. I need Him, and I need Him close. Beth Moore calls this need the "with" need, and she calls this characteristic of God, the "with of God." His ability to be with us in this superlatively intimate way is why we call him Immanu'el - The With Us God.

These ideas about Immanuel and what it means to have Him close had been stirring around in my mind for several weeks by the time Advent rolled around, and in thinking about Christ's First Advent, I came to wonder -- what would it have been like to live before the first Advent? Before God poured out His Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28ff)? Before the dawn from on high broke upon us (Luke 1:78ff)? What was it like to live without the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth who teaches us all things and reminds us of what Christ taught us (John 14:15-27)? What was it like to love God and to worship Him in a time when you had neither his physical presence in Christ nor his spiritual presence in the Holy Spirit? You had only his written word; a thick curtain and a heavy book of rules stood between you and his Presence.

Now, as I write in the glow of twinkle lights, filled by the warmth and quiet strength of my Savior -- the one who brought me out of darkness and gloom and broke my bonds asunder, who shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron -- I know exactly what my salvation means to me. It means I am with Him. For this reason I join with Mary singing,

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

holy is his name.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

May you enjoy the closeness of God with you this Christmas and in the coming year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T23:07:00.000-08:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, here is a list of blessings in my life that I am especially thankful for:

My husband/best good buddy Brian.
My parents and sibs - my A-Team.
My very tightly knit extended family - all the grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins/etc - love 'em!
My church - the most supportive, loving group you'll ever meet.
My Bible and access to the Bible online anytime I want. What would it be like not to have that?!
My girlfriends - you know who you are!
My home - be it ever so humble...
My job - I really and truly love what I do,
& my husband's job.
My health & vigor.
My former counselor, Vanessa - I would not be the woman I am today without her help.
My education - without it I never would have met C.S. Lewis, Arthur Miller, Jane Austen, Emily Dickenson, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Robert Frost, Annie Dillard, L.M. Montgomery, George MacDonald, and many others who have shaped my mind.
My greatest teachers - Jen, Connie, and Julia especially for teaching me what it means to be a woman, a Christian, and an artist.
Anyone who has ever given me a blank journal - you have no idea what you gave me.
The person who taught me what it meant for Christ to be rejected by his own and to forgive them.
Fresh water and organic fruits and vegetables in whatever quantity I need.
Hot, running water & flushing toilets.
Medical attention whenever I need it.
My country - a place where I enjoy peace & plenty.
More than anything, I am thankful for Emmanuel -- the God who is with me - closer to me than my very breath; I cannot imagine the loneliness I would feel if I did not have His Spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Plug for a Fellow Blogger

2010-11-24T22:42:00.000-08:00

Have you guys checked out Lisa over at Of All the Liars in the World? She is a gifted writer whose relationship with the Lord inspires me and whose blog lifts me. I just read this post, and it confirmed some of the very things the Lord has been teaching me. Thank you, Lisa!

Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are your own fears.

(Rudyard Kipling)

Finally!!

2010-11-23T19:02:00.001-08:00

See this afghan? I started this bad boy 8 years ago and finished it tonight!! Unbelievable.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Button

2010-11-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed my button changing colors and shapes lately. Hopefully you weren't here during the embarrassing moments when it took over half of my blog... I am definitely not the computer savvy type, but with a little help from Tea, Amy, and the lady at Oikology 101, I think I'm on my way! Someday I'll have a nicer picture for it (maybe when I have a nicer camera?), but for now, this is it. Thanks, ladies!

Snow!!!

2010-11-22T07:28:00.001-08:00

It's snowing. That's a BIG deal where I come from.

My Favorite Things

2010-11-20T20:58:00.000-08:00

320 Sycamore Lane is one of my fave blogs to read.

I LOVE Melissa's concept.

In her own words, she writes about

"bringing out the charm and potential in our homes and families, with a bit of nonsense and good deals scattered here and there."

This post is part of Melissa's "Favorite Things Party" -- isn't that a great idea?! Thank you, Melissa, for inspiring me!

This is my favorite hair product. I absolutely swear by it. Although it's a bit pricey, nothing compares: it eliminates frizz and enhances waves and curls without giving you that crunchy look.

Also by Aveda: Pure-fume. (Yes, this is a terrible picture.) Aveda's Pure-fume is made from essential oils. This one is my favorite. It's their signature scent called "Shampure." $20 for a bottle of all natural, heaven-scent (very bad pun) perfume. Must have.

A few weeks ago I FINALLY got to the bottom of my chronic ear & sinus infections: a bad mold allergy! Meet my new best friend. I spray this on everything - window sills, shower curtains, mattress, pillows, etc, every week after I clean the heck out of our apartment.

Another bad photo, but my favorite wedding gift. This is a milk frother. I heat milk on the stove (or you can use a microwave) and then use this baby to froth it into a rich, silky foam that rivals what I can make at work! (I'm a barista at a local coffee shop.)

Scarves!! And believe it or not, this is not all of them. I don't even feel badly about having such an excessive number of them because I am always cold: I wear a scarf every day from September through April.

Although no one could call these shoes glamorous, they are my absolute favorites. Dansko clogs. I've had these for almost 7 years and I never want to wear anything else.

My magic water bottle. My water bottle is my comfort zone. We have several, but the one with the purple lid is my favorite.

Visit 320 Sycamore!

Deckin' the Eaves!

2010-11-20T15:31:00.001-08:00

This morning a hale and hearty group of local volunteers decked the eaves of downtown Kirkland with garlands, lights, and wreaths! What a treat! I took these pictures with their permission.

I so enjoyed watching them! They were like Christmas elves come to spread the spirit of community and good cheer.

No one could get enough of touching the garlands -- their soft and spicy needles exhaled the spirit of Christmas.

The work party lent such a cozy, small-town feel to our sometimes cavalier downtown.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Housekeeping Marathon!

2010-11-19T17:58:00.000-08:00

Holey Moley! I am bushed. Since I work outside the home for now, I try to do all of my housekeeping in one big sweep each week -- some weeks that means doing the basics, some weeks that means doing a project or two, and some weeks I go manic and try to do it all. Today was the latter.

Front porch swept and pots tidied -- check.
Floors swept and mopped -- check.
Outside of kitchen cupboards and walls cleaned -- check.
Vacuumed -- check.
Dusted -- well, a little bit -- check.
Bathroom cleaned -- check.
Sheets washed -- check.
Laundry washed and dried (didn't get to putting it away) -- check.
Bedroom organization project from two weeks ago finished -- check.
Homemade Christmas present supplies purchased (all but some hard-to-find parts) -- check.
Grocery shopping -- check.

And now, dinner ready and waiting in the crock pot, feet on coffee table, wine in hand -- check.

Ready to start the week with a clean, well-stocked home!

In Sapphire

2010-11-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Today as I was putting on my makeup, I came across a ring that I haven't worn since before I was engaged. It's a beautiful ring -- a sapphire set between two small diamonds. My husband gave me this ring when we were dating as a symbol of his love and commitment to me, but neither of us knew what this ring really meant. I didn't know until this morning.

The sapphire is the second hardest crystal on earth, second only to the diamond. Sapphire crystals form in the mineral corundum in igneous and metamorphic rocks -- rocks that are born of high heat and pressure. Blue sapphires are not the only crystals formed in corundum; sapphires can be orange-pink, golden, white, and black. A sapphire's color depends on the impurities in the corundum.

I haven't worn this ring since my husband gave me my engagement ring because it reminds me of a very painful time in my life. Today, though, for the first time, I saw it differently and decided to put it on. Several hours later, the ring caught my eye as I turned my steering wheel to merge onto I-5, and the Lord revealed my ring to me in an entirely new light. This ring came to me in a time of fire and flaws -- a time of darkness and confusion, of errors and battle and loss. But when the lava had cooled, beauty was born in a sapphire hardened by turmoil and impurities.

I have prayed many heart-spun prayers of sadness at what has been. It was ugly, and I still feel its napalm-like burn. But today, when I look at my ring, I see the beauty that is. Without doubt, this sapphire was formed in fire; its captivating hue, by impurity. I, too, have been formed by fire; my character, from impurity. This sapphire and I have emerged, and when I wear it, I remember the One who led me through fire and used every impurity. I lift my hands and thank him: my left hand adorned in diamonds; my right, in sapphire.

Your Wings Should Never Drag You Down

2010-11-14T19:55:00.001-08:00

As I was walking home from Jiffy Lube just now - I am locked out of my apartment as we speak - I saw the most pathetic little bug trudging down the wet sidewalk, dragging his long wings behind him. Why wasn't he flying? The wings God meant to carry him aloft had become a cumbersome, ratty load. How often I am like that bug, exchanging the freedom Christ bought me for a heavy load of guilt, fear, or envy. What have your wings become? If they are more bane than blessing, remember, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal 5:1).

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

God Breaks His Silence

2010-11-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." ~Luke 1:45

The other day as I was praying, a request that is very dear to my heart came to my mind. I normally write my prayers in my journal, but I suddenly was so overcome by the longing of my heart for this request that I dropped my pen and cried out my prayer in a desperate, tearful whisper. In a moment of unfiltered vulnerability and real faith, I uttered a prayer so sacred to me that I have never uttered it before, afraid that if I asked and it was not granted I could not bear it.

About two thousand years ago, when Herod the Great ruled Judea, a man named Zechariah made the same kind of desperate request. As a Jewish priest, Zechariah had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter into God's presence when his name was drawn for temple service. Although Zechariah's job was to enter the temple and intercede for his people, something possessed him to make a personal request while he was in the temple. We know this because one of the cherubim, Gabriel, appeared before him and told him that his prayer had been heard: Elizabeth, his aging, infertile wife would bear him a son.

Miracle of miracles -- God had kept silent for 400 years (see Amos 8:11-12), and he broke his silence by answering the personal request of an unremarkable country priest. What a shock for Zechariah! Not only did the Lord speak to him, but he promised to grant an impossible -- and, from a human perspective, seemingly insignificant -- request. No wonder Zechariah doubted. Imagine his thoughts at the time -- God has an entire nation to deal with, and he seems to have been ignoring us since before my grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's time. Why would he speak to me? Who will believe me? This isn't even possible -- how can I bear to believe it on the chance that it's some kind of trick of my imagination?

The same kind of thoughts went through my mind the other day. Even though I know that in these last days God has "poured out his Spirit on all flesh, and our sons and our daughters prophesy, and our young men see visions, and our old men dream dreams (Acts 2:17ff)," -- even though I know this, and though I recognize God's voice when I hear it, I still wonder -- why would God speak to me? I'm unexceptional, and my requests are usually purely personal. I am no great evangelist, no great prophet. And who would believe me?

Who would believe me? Even among Christians, my story might sound false. Or, if not false, it would at least make people uneasy. Though God has poured out His Spirit on all flesh, though He has promised to fill and empower anyone who seeks him, so many Christians do not actually expect to hear him or see him work, and when they do, it unnerves them. The same thing happened to Zechariah and Elizabeth. After their son was born and Zechariah regained his ability to speak (Gabriel made him mute in answer to his question, "how do I know this for sure?"), Luke says that "Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea" (Luke 1:65). These are the same neighbors who rejoiced with them and recognized the hand of God on baby John -- they believed in God, but they did not expect to hear from him.

Little did they know that God would use Zechariah's purely personal request to herald the coming of their people's most ancient and sacred hope: the Messiah. God answered Zechariah's request by giving him a son who would be a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Zechariah's son would be John the Baptist, and this word from God, his first fresh word in 400 years, would change the world forever.

How little I know the far-reaching consequences of my prayer and its answer. No answered prayer is insignificant, and no prayer is unanswered. Just as God answered Zechariah's prayer by incorporating the answer into His perfectly timed Messianic arrival, he also incorporates all of our prayers into his eternal, gracious plan.

Testing 1-2-3...

2010-10-15T17:13:00.001-07:00

I just found a Blogger app! This is just a test to see how it works. These are pics of some little fall accents I made today. I owe credit to my friend Jen - I copied her front door decor. Thanks Jen!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

More on Ember Days

2010-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here's more information on Ember Days. This, too, is copied from an email, so if you sense some missing context, you're right. =)

- - - - - - - - -

Here's more than you probably want to read. The highlighted link is the most interesting/to-the-point. Basically, Ember Days are three days of fasting that occur four times per year, in accordance with the changing seasons. There is some debate over whether the Catholic Church originated these days or if they were "sanctified" versions of pagan holidays. Some of the lore that surrounds the Ember Days is pure superstition, like the legend that the weather on Ember Days predicts the weather of the following months, etc., but at the heart is the goal of giving thanks for the coming harvest and praying that God would help us to use it wisely and to minister to the needs of others.

Since my life is pretty far removed from the actual harvest of produce, my aim is to give thanks for the many blessings God has given me, namely, the new life that I have in Christ. The Lord has also been leading me to pray for the Harvest Crusade, an evangelistic event happening this November at the Key Arena. Our church has been praying for the event and is gathering a team of people to help with ushering and counseling.

I came across the Ember Days idea in a notation in my Book of Common Prayer, which I use in my devotions. Apparently it's not really observed in the Episcopal Church any more, and it's optional in the Catholic Church. I don't observe the Catholic or Episcopal Church's rules about fasts or holidays, etc.; I just found Ember Days to be a very meaningful way for me to focus myself even more on the things that God has laid on my heart, and I decided to extend the invitation to friends and family.

http://www.fisheaters.com/emberdays.html

http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost8.html

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05399b.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ember_days

Ember Days

2010-09-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I mentioned my love for the Book of Common Prayer. The other day when I was reading the lectionary, I came across a notation about Ember Days. After doing some research I have decided to observe Ember Days this year, and I am inviting my friends and family to participate with me. I would like to extend the invitation to my blog friends. The following is from an email I sent out to friends and family. I'll post more on Ember Days tomorrow:

Ember Days are traditional days of fasting that occur four times a year, based on the Church Calendar. The Ember Days in September follow Holy Cross Day (Sept. 14), which is a celebration in memorial of the great work that Christ did for us on the cross. These September Ember Days, also known as Michaelmas Ember Days, are traditionally a time of thanksgiving for the harvest and prayer that God would help us to enjoy his blessings in moderation and also to share our blessings with those in need.

This fall I feel especially called to remember the Harvest that Jesus impressed upon his disciples when he said, "I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together," (John 4:35-36) and, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matt. 9:37-38)

Through the cross of Christ, we have been saved and brought into a new life. We enjoy the riches of God's glory and grace as his children, and we await our inheritance and abundant life in the City of God. As His children, we have the privilege and responsibility to work in the harvest. This month during Ember Days, I will specifically focus on giving thanks for the abundant life that God has given me and on praying that God will send workers into the harvest fields, namely, me. One specific area I feel led to pray for is the upcoming Harvest Crusade, which will be held November 5-7 at the Key Arena. Click here to learn more about this evangelistic event or how you can be involved.

I have not yet decided exactly what my fast will look like, and I am not prescribing any specific practice for anyone else. This is merely an invitation to join me in fasting and prayer for the harvest during Ember Week. For those interested, I will also be hosting an evening of prayer on Saturday, September 18, more details to follow. This is an open invitation, so if you have family or friends who would also like to participate, please extend the invitation.

A Child's Prayer

2010-09-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

I have fallen in love with the Book of Common Prayer. I use the Daily Office as a jumping off point for my devotions -- it's a great way to read through the Bible and to observe the seasons of the Church year, which coincide well with the natural seasons. The whole process helps me to interpret my daily life and the natural world through the lens of Scripture and God's purposes for me.

The following prayer is not from the Book of Common Prayer; it's something I found online. I made myself a page of Scriptures, hymn lyrics, and this prayer to read before bed in order to help me to fall asleep peacefully. I hope that you find it as soothing as I do.

Now the light has gone away;

Savior listen while I pray,

Asking Thee to watch and keep,

And to send me quiet sleep.

Jesus, Savior, wash away,

All that has been wrong today;

Help me every day to be,

Good and gentle, more like Thee.

Let my near and dear ones be,

Always near and dear to Thee.

O bring me and all I love,

To Thy happy home above.

Amen.

Yes, I know: It has been too long.

2010-09-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

I have not been in any mood to sit in front of my computer this summer, so I have not blogged.
I have also felt overwhelmed trying to come up with great blog posts, so I have not blogged.
I have been trying to fit my thoughts into a blog motif that is a bit too narrow, so I have not blogged.

So, here's my plan: I'm going to blog, but I'm not going to try to keep things as centered around my home, cooking, crafting, etc. Instead, I'm going to just blog whatever is going on in my mind at the time, and along the way, I'm sure that my home, cooking, crafting, etc. will make appearances.

With that said, I am reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, and the main character, a Motswana woman named Precious Ramotswe, had the most charming thought, which I would like to share with you:

She stopped. It was time to to take the pumpkin out of the pot and eat it. In he final analysis, that was what solved these big problems of life. You could think and think and get nowhere, but you still had to eat your pumpkin. That brought you down to earth. That gave you a reason for going on. Pumpkin.

Fresh & Yummy (and cheap!) Summer Lunch Idea

2010-07-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

So, I don't have pictures of my new decor yet... still working on getting it up. I had every intention of decorating today, but I had to get my transmission flushed -- who knew it could take up so much of my day?! I was so blessed, though -- a couple of guys I went to high school with are mechanics at Sears, and they gave me a really nice deal. My original quote was over $300 (they wanted me to buy all kinds of filters and do-dads), but after talking to these guys, I got the basic flush for $85 -- that is $35 cheaper than Jiffy Lube quoted me! Woo-hoo!

Anyway, to hold you over until I post my pictures, here is a

delish summer lunch idea:

1. Bring 1 c. quinoa (Click here for more info on this very inexpensive source of protein.) to boil in 2 c. chicken broth. (I use "Better than Bouillon" -- it comes in a jar and it's a better alternative to bouillon cubes, but still cheaper than buying broth.)

2. Add a couple of minced garlic cloves to the mixture and boil for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, dice 1-2 plum tomatoes (or whatever kind of tomatoes you have in whatever amount you want... can you tell I'm not a recipe follower?) and tear up a handful of basil (I grew my own, and I am very proud of this small miracle). Also, drain rinse a can of white beans (or whatever kind of beans you like).

3. Cover & remove from heat; allow to sit for 5 minutes. (Most of the broth should be absorbed by now.)

4. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and stir in the garlic, tomatoes, basil, and beans, along with salt & pepper to taste (easy on the salt if your broth contains salt).

5. It's probably great with fresh mozzarella, but I can't have dairy, so I sprinkle on some feta.

Bon Apetit!

Shoe-string Decorating... Ideas, Anyone?

2010-07-14T23:34:00.000-07:00

I have had a little money tucked away for a couple months -- graduation gifts and a couple bucks I stowed away as I could. I am a total penny pincher, and not really in a good way. There are some people who are great at stretching their money -- the creative, DIY types. I want to be like that, but I'm just not that great at it -- partly due to a lack of confidence and partly due to a lack of funds: it's really scary to buy things when you don't know how long it will be before you get to do it again. I can't afford to buy something I won't like next year, but I also can't necessarily afford that "perfect" item... *sigh*

All this to say, I finally found the chutzpah to go shopping. Aaron Brothers is having their annual penny sale (buy one frame, get one for a penny), so I bought a couple of frames, and I plan to frame some pictures from an old calendar that I saved. I also bought a set of sheets at Ross (a local discount store) -- it will be so nice to have a second pair of sheets! -- some place mats, and a picture for our bathroom. It's amazing what just a couple of new things will do. Tomorrow I'll take some pictures.

Do any of you have inexpensive decorating secrets? I literally have a tiny budget -- just a few bucks here and there -- but I love beauty, and I want to make our home beautiful. Ideas?

i·de·al·ism

2010-07-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

i·de·al·ism (-d-lzm) n -- 1. The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form.

I am an idealist.

For example, I dream of growing all of my own herbs

and vegetables,

and of making everything from scratch.

I see myself finding incredible deals on consignment clothes and then altering them myself so that they look beautiful.

I see myself decorating my house DIY style,

as in painting furniture, creating my own wall art, and decorating custom lamp shades.

But these are just ideas.

When it's time to put boots on the ground I realize

I don't know how to do any of these things.

And I'm overwhelmed.

So I start with a pot of African violets because I hear they don't die.

And some geraniums.

Then I buy a pot of basil at Trader Joe's. I've had it for almost 3 months, and it's still alive.

So I planted some tomatoes.

In a pot.

In the hedge at my apartment complex.

(It's sunnier than my balcony.)

Do you think anyone will notice?

Confessions of a (future) Optimist, Part 1

2010-07-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

This began as one post, but as it grew (and grew and grew), I realized that no one would ever read a five page post and that because this topic is important to me, I want people to read about it! So here is part one... sorry if it breaks off strangely at the end -- know that it will be continued.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Confession: I am a recovering pessimist -- ex-Negative Nancy, former Doubting Thomas, award winning Debby Downer. My instinctive perceptions are, "I can't," "that's impossible," and "it will never happen."

I don't remember how or when I first recognized my pessimistic bent, but I remember the fall of 2008 as The Fall That I Wanted to Change. It is never easy to change the way you think, but for me it's grueling. I am deeply philosophical and, since I'm being honest, I admit that I am a skeptic. I can't just accept an idea or belief without analyzing it, weighing it against my foundational beliefs and ultimately against Scripture. Once an idea is in my mind, it's hard for me to let go of it until I know my stance. I knew that pessimism was unhealthy, and I wanted the apparent peace and happiness of the optimists around me, but I needed more than that.

Sometime before Christmas that year, I began to pray about optimism. My biggest obstacle to embracing optimism was the absence of the word (and I thought the idea of) "optimism" in the Bible. If I could have read a verse that said, "Be optimistic," I would have been all over it. But it's just not there. The problem was compounded by my revulsion for saccharin sweet brands of Christianity that fly in the face of reality, those that say you can "name it and claim it" and that if you have enough faith, then you will be happy and have whatever you want. I confessed my need and frustration to the Lord and asked him to lead me in a right path. That winter the Lord reminded me of these three words: Faith, Hope, and Joy.

Optimism is a simply modern word for the marriage of hope and faith, giving birth to joy. The Oxford English dictionary defines optimism as "hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favorable or hopeful view." Isn't that what Christianity is all about? While the Bible does not use the word "optimism," the themes of faith, hope, and joy frame the Scriptures -- they are what make the "good news" the good news.

As Christians, we ought to be recognized by our hopeful outlook; we ought to be recognized by our hopefulness and confidence about the future.

"...we who have taken refuge [are] strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul..." Hebrews 6:17-19, emphasis mine

And what is our hope about the future? That one day God will live among us again.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See the home of God among the mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.'" Revelation 21:3-7

What about now, while we wait here on earth, suffering? What does optimism look like in earthly life? Research shows that optimists do not blame themselves for their suffering and that they believe that bad events will be temporary. They do not allow their problems to consume their attention (The Stress Management Handbook. Lori A. Leyden-Rubenstein, PhD). Ring any bells?

"So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight and momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As Christians, we are called to a higher perspective. We know that this world is not our home. We are aliens here, citizens of heaven. We are to hold this life loosely, knowing that our afflictions are light and momentary compared to the weight of glory for which we are being prepared. Our suffering has a purpose -- to prepare us for glory. And our suffering is not the main event; our renewal is.

So, convinced that optimism (hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favorable or hopeful view) is a good quality, even a godly quality, I resolved on January 1, 2009, to cultivate optimism. As of today, I am inviting you into my journey. I will continue to publish articles under the title "Confessions of a (future) Optimist," in which I will discuss my personal faith journey and its relationship to mental health and modern psychology. I welcome your comments, insight, and stories.

More to come!

Foundations

2010-07-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been muddled?

Every now and then I get myself into a muddle. Muddle is a word from one of my favorite books - A Room With a View by E. M. Forster. Room With a View is a coming of age story about a young woman named Lucy. Forster frequently describes Lucy's state of mind as a "muddle" -- a sudden doubt of everything that she believes about the world and herself. Lucy's muddles frighten and frustrate her, but her struggles ultimately form in her greater strength and deeper wisdom.

For the past week and a half or so I have been in a terrible muddle. I came across some ideas that challenge my beliefs, and I am surprised at how deeply I have been shaken. But I believe that like Lucy I will emerge stronger for the struggle. Sometimes I need to be shaken so hard that I collapse -- forehead to floorboards -- kiss the Foundation. The rains will fall; the floods, come. The winds will blow and beat on my house, but it will not fall because it is founded on Rock.

Our steps are made firm by the Lord,

when he delights in our way;

though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,

for the Lord holds us by the hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

Image Credit

Be Still

2010-07-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

"The Lord will fight for you and you have only to keep still."

Exodus 14:14

Image Credit

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

2010-07-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

Homemade lattes with my stove-top espresso maker and hand-held milk frother.
Two old-fashioned oval frames that hang on either side of our bed -- my wedding picture on his side, and his on mine.
Holding my niece, Nadia.
The Flower Duet as sung by Charlotte Church.
Roasting hot dogs at Mukilteo Beach in the summer.
"Pure-fume" from Aveda -- customizable perfume made with pure essential oils.
Reading before bed.
Family get-togethers.
My husband's laugh.
Fish - as in my feisty pet beta fish, whose name is Pinnaped, but for short, we call him Fish.

Christmas in July?

2010-07-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen commercials for Christmas in July sales? They are like nails on a chalkboard for me. In my mind's eye, I see the Macy's janitor from the 1947 Miracle on 34th Street pushing a broom and shaking his head, "Comm-oy-cialism. Make a buck, make a buck."

That said, I am sitting here listening to Amy Grant's Christmas collection. In July. I have always loved Christmas music, always driven my family nuts with it starting at Halloween and continuing well into the New Year. Why? Emmanuel.

Christmas music is full of the miraculous. At Christmas, it is suddenly normal to believe in the impossible. At Christmas, I feel that God's kingdom is at hand, that God is Emmanuel -- God is with us. I believe that he is strong and that he is good and that he is coming back.

This morning, I need that. I need trumpets and a five part choir to herald God's presence into my life.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-

The people walking in darkness

       have seen a great light;
       on those living in the land of the shadow of death
       a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born,
       to us a son is given,
       and the government will be on his shoulders.
       And he will be called
       Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
       there will be no end.
       He will reign on David's throne
       and over his kingdom,
       establishing and upholding it
       with justice and righteousness
       from that time on and forever.
       The zeal of the LORD Almighty
       will accomplish this.

~Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

Image Credit

Post-Phantastes, Life as Usual

2010-07-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Phantastes is over, and I am back in blogland, back in my own life. Phantastes was wonderful, and I am so thankful to have been part of it, but I am also glad to settle back into life as usual.

Speaking of "life as usual," my life is quite a bit different than since I last blogged. First, I have a new job, and I love it. At the beginning of June I left my full-time behavior specialist job (it sounds much more glamorous than it actually was), and I'm now working part time at a local coffee shop called Cafe Ladro. I LOVE it. Ladro is a small, local chain that sells locally roasted coffee and its own baked goods. We feature the work of local artists, wear whatever clothes we feel comfortable in, and play whatever music we like. (This is a really big deal for an ex-Starbucks employee!) I love that my job is not stressful -- that's a first for me. I love my schedule -- I have plenty of time to take care of myself and do all of the wife-y, homemaker-y things I love to do.

Second, my parents moved back! They have been in Nevada for the past two years for my dad's job, but at the end of May he was transferred back to Washington. They moved into their new home at the beginning of June, and now I get to see them just about every week.

Third, Brian and I have become involved in a new church, and we are loving it. I think I alluded to our new church when I blogged about how I came to be in Phantastes, but at that time we had just started attending and had not yet made friends. We have now been at Calvary for about three months, and I know I've already said it, but we LOVE it. We have friends! That sounds really pathetic, but Brian and I didn't really have very many friends together until we started at Calvary. He had his friends, and I had mine, but we didn't really have very many married friends or friends who knew both of us. It is SO uplifting to have friends who love and support us as a couple, share our values, and enjoy the same things we do.

I'm eager to catch up with you all -- I have missed you!

Peace,

Erin

My Unexpected Adventure

2010-05-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, and long time no see! I apologize for my long absence without notice - I didn't drop off the face of the earth (but thank you, Tea for checking on me!); rather, I have been on some unexpected adventures.

First, and most unexpected, I have been cast in fromPhantastes, a contemporary ballet based on George MacDonald's book Phantastes. To be cast in a ballet is very exciting news for me and a long-awaited answer to prayer. To give you some background, I wanted for many years to be a professional dancer, but because of choices I made and doors God closed, I stopped dancing about five years ago. In the intervening years, I dabbled now and then, but always with bitterness and never for long. Eventually I gave it up all together except for a fragile shoot of hope witnessed by a sigh every so often, a gentle prayer now and again.

- - - - -

A couple of months ago I started to have dreams about the pastor of a church I grew up in. I dreamed especially of his second daughter, Ashley. The more I dreamed about the pastor and his family, the stronger grew my desire to revisit the church with my husband - we have been church orphans since we married last August, and of the churches we have tried, none has yet felt quite right. Fast forward to about three weeks ago: my husband and I visited this church. We both felt immediately at home. I didn't see Ashley that day, but I spent some time with her mom, who mentioned that Ashley had just graduated from hair school and was looking for work. The next day I contacted Ashley on Facebook and asked about getting my hair cut.

- - - - -

Two weeks ago Ashley cut my hair. We had a wonderful time catching up; it was as if no time had passed at all. If you have read the Anne books, you will know what I mean when I say that Ashley is of the race that knows Joseph. Those who belong to the race that knows Joseph always feel at home with one another, no matter how much time has passed since they last met.

While Ashley was cutting my hair, I came to realize that another old friend, Katy, was downstairs. Katy, I knew, was casting dancers the next day for the Seattle debut of her original ballet fromPhantastes. Although I had seen her casting call on Facebook, I gave it no more than a wistful glance. It had been years since I had danced, and the more time passed, the more skeptical I became of ever dancing again.

When Ashley was done, I ran downstairs to say "hi" to Katy, whom I found with her head in her hands - she had less than twenty-four hours to round up the fifteen more dancers she needed for her show. In spite of my self-doubt, I knew that I was meant to be in this production. I could go into further detail about God's hand upon me as I spoke with Katy, auditioned for the show, and was cast as part of the Magical Forest, but suffice it to say that God has led me into this production for his glory and my healing. I have no idea if I will dance again after Phantastes, but I'm not worried. For now, it is enough that I know I am where I am meant to be. To put it in other words, I feel like I have stepped through an open door into a long hallway. The hallway is filled with unmarked doors, and although I don't yet know which door I should take, I am certain that I will know it when I see it.

- - - - -

Because Phantastes is keeping my busy, my posts will probably be a bit further between than they have been in the past, but keep an eye out for my next post, in which I plan to explore George MacDonald's book Phantastes and also Katy Hagelin's upcoming production based on that book.

Love and Peace,
Erin

Corn Chowder!

2010-04-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

Soups are great for amateur cooks because they are easy, flexible, and nearly impossible to mess up. You can almost always substitute with whatever you have on hand and you usually don't need to measure accurately, which I LOVE -- I feel like such a pro when I can just toss in a little of this and a little of that based on what smells and tastes good to me. Soups are also great confidence builders. Once you have made a couple of soups, you will start to get a feel for your favorite ingredients, which you can add in or substitute at will. This is how cooking becomes an art rather than a science and also how you begin to leave your signature on recipes. Eventually, you will learn how soups come together, and you can whip up a soup without a recipe at all! For now, here is our favorite corn chowder recipe.

Remember when I featured the New Basics Cookbook? This recipe comes from New Basics. It is easy, inexpensive, and bomb-diggity (code for uber-delicious).

Ingredients:

4 oz sliced bacon, cut into 1" pieces

2 T unsalted butter

2 c chopped onion

2 T flour

4 c chicken stock

2 large potatoes, peeled & cut into 1/4" dice (I leave peels on)

1 c half-&-half

4 c cooked corn kernels, drained (I use frozen & don't cook)

3/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

Salt, to taste

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/4" dice

3 scallions, white bulb & 3" green, cut into 1/4" slices

1 T chopped cilantro for garnish

1. Wilt the bacon in a large soup pot over low heat until the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. (This is a great time to chop your veggies!) Add the butter and allow it to melt.

2. Add the onions & wilt over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the flour & cook, stirring, another 5 minutes.

3. Add the stock & potatoes. Continue cooking over medium heat until the potatoes are just tender, 12 - 15 minutes (it always takes longer for me).

4. Add the half-&-half, corn, pepper, and salt. Cook 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Add the bell pepper and scallions, adjust the seasonings, and cook an additional 5 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro.

And voila! A subtley sweet, decadently creamy soup!

Bon apetit!

Desperation of the Body & Desperation of the Soul: On Exercise as Worship

2010-04-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Do you like to work out? I love working out, but I hate the term. It's reeks of gym rats and Hollywood wannabes and impossible, faddish resolutions. When I say I love to work out, what I mean is that I love the spiritual discipline of exercise. Have you every thought about exercise as a spiritual discipline? Exercise is a form of worship. Unfortunately the world has a corner on exercise. People often exercise as a form of self-idolatry or celebrity-idolatry. Browse through any book store and you will find shelves upon shelves of books about YOU. Exercise so that YOU can be sexy. So that YOU will live longer. So that YOU will be confident. Although these things are true, they are bi-products. As usual, the world misplaces its focus, emphasizing the bi-products of the spiritual discipline of exercise rather than the purpose (to glorify God by enjoying him always), and we end up with a culture ravaged by eating disorders, sex addiction, and misplaced self-esteem. Some forms of exercise, such as yoga and martial arts, acknowledge the mind-body connection in exercise, but they remain empty because they focus on communion with oneself rather than communion with God.

Here is a sketch of my experience with exercise as a spiritual discipline. In this sketch, I focus on the aspect of desperation. Exercise as a spiritual discipline has many aspects, such as awe, strength, solitude, imagination and growth, which I may write about later, but for now, I will focus on desperation of the body as a reflection of desperation of the soul.

- - -

I love to run. Fast. Up hills. I love to get caught running the rain so that my skin stings on both sides - the cold teeth of rain bite the heat that pulses up through my skin. I love pushing or pulling heavy things, stretching and contracting my muscles until they quiver and fail: I find the end of myself. I run, I push, I pull; I drive my body to its outer limits until I reach the point of desperation. There is beauty in desperation. When my body is desperate, when I push until I fail, I confront my mortality, and in the face of my mortality, I see God. Desperation of the body mirrors desperation of the soul. I run until I am desperate for God. I lift heavy objects until I am driven by my absolute need for God. Through exercise I express my need for God, and without fail, I see him: I feel the Breath of Life in my lungs, the pulse of Someone Else's blood in my veins.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." But how do I understand this image when I have never physically gone hungry? I create a physical need like hunger.

Desperation in exercise creates a spiritual climate similar to that of a fast. Exercise as a means of creating or expressing desperation is especially effective during times of need. Some of my most heartfelt prayers of supplecation -- either on my own behalf or on behalf of another -- have arisen during or after intense exercise.

Here's my challenge to you: push yourself when you exercise. Sometimes a nice relaxing walk is great, but sometimes you need to go faster, push harder, lift more. This time, go an extra mile or hold it another minute, and allow yourself to feel desperate. Deny yourself. Defy your body's desire to rule you. Feel your need, and let yourself beg for God's mercy in your body, in your life, in your marriage, in your family, in the world.

Note: I am not a professional, but an Amateur sharing my own experience. Do your own research and/or consult a professional in order to exercise safely and effectively. I do not advocate punishing yourself or hurting yourself in any way.

Image Credit

Bible Study Tonight

2010-04-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't have much time to blog tonight - Mondays are Bible Study nights - but I just want to share how I am feeling because perhaps if I send my feelings into cyberspace they will stay there and I will never have to feel them again. I feel crazy. If anyone has seen my sanity, please return it to me. My nerves are shattered, my emotions are shaky, and right now a stiff breeze could make me cry. My apologies to everyone on the road today (I am in no mood to drive fast enough and I might not move over for you), to my husband (please just disregard the tears today... they are completely arbitrary), and to Fish. (I don't think I fed you today. Or yesterday. Or the day before that.) Thank goodness for Bible Study tonight.

Image Creidt

We're Back!

2010-04-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

We are back from our mountain getaway! We had a lovely time in Leavenworth, WA, a small town made to look like a Bavarian village, nestled against the eastern foot of the Cascade Mountains.

Image Credit

Famous for it's unique shops, like our favorite: the hat shop!

...and its delcious food. Our faves: divinity and carmel apples from the Rocky Mountain Candy Shoppe! (We didn't take pictures at Cured or Gustav's, but we loved the sausages at Cured and the local brews and tastey German food at Gustav's.)

We stayed in a comfortable, rustic cabin about fifteen minutes out of town (twenty-five if you take the scenic back roads, which we always do!). If you are ever in need of a get away, I highly recommend Just Plain Getaway. The owners are a warm and accomodating Christian couple. (Our stay was actually a wedding gift from them! We're so blessed!) Their cabin has everything you could possibly want: three bedrooms with a total of 1king, 1 queen, 2 doubles, 1 twin, and a hide-a-bed! There is an espresso maker, coffee pot, fully stocked kitchen, fireplace, three showers, outdoor hot tub, and a huge flat screen TV with a collection of classic, family friendly movies (we're talking old musicals, newer classics, and kids movies, along with Christian films like The Passion of the Christ and The Robe). The closets are stacked with board games, kid-friendly video games, cards, and art supplies!

Remember these games? (Yes, that is a bowl of guacamole... we ate a ton of guac on this trip!)

...lots of time ambling down the Wenatchee River.

Thank you, Lord, for such a restful vacation! And thank you, Janine & Steve, for such a lovely gift!

Coming up on Amateur Hour: Our Favorite Corn Chowder, Desperation of the Body (on exercise as worship), and Dairy After All. I'm excited to get back in touch with all of you!

~Erin

We're Away!

2010-04-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

Brian and I are escaping to the mountains for a mini-vacation. I may or may not post while I'm gone. Have a beautiful week!

Erin

2010-04-04T00:45:00.000-07:00

Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate

Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen

Christ is Risen: The angels of God are

rejoicing

Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are

empty

Christ is Risen indeed from the dead,

the first of the sleepers,

Glory and power are his forever and ever.

St. Hippolytus (AD 190-236)

Image Credit: Matthias Grünewald

Building Foundations

2010-04-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

Tonight, at long last, Brian and I joined a CSA! I have been researching CSAs for several weeks now, and we finally made the plunge. Here are the What/Why/How:

1. What: Full Circle Farm every-other-week standard box.

2. Why: Having switched to all organic produce, we have been paying significantly higher grocery bills. By joining a CSA, we will reduce our grocery bill. We chose FCF because it allows for a per-order payment option. This works well for us because we don't have the cash to pay for an up-front seasonal subscription. We have chosen to start with an every-other-week pick up because we're not yet sure how quickly we will go through our produce. By joining a CSA, we are taking our first step toward eating seasonally. I am not yet a gardener (it's on the list!), so I have no idea what is in season unless I either pick it out of the ground or someone tells me. FCF will give me seasonal produce, except in the winter months (nothing grows here during the winter), when they will send a variety the most local, organic produce available. FCF partners with other local farmers/producers to offer a variety of other fresh and organic products such as eggs, cheese, fair trade coffee & chocolate, etc.

3. How: We will be picking up our produce box every other Wednesday at a local health food store. We can monitor and adjust our orders on the weekends before our delivery to add other groceries and/or remove unwanted items from our box.

I am so excited about this, and I will be sure to post pictures of our first beautiful box of local, organic, sustainable produce! I'm one step closer to my castle in the air. Praise the Lord.

Image Credit: Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska

Dairy Free Update

2010-03-31T19:34:00.000-07:00

So I went grocery shopping yesterday in search of raw goat milk. Not good. My options were:

1. Pasteurized Goat Milk - $7.79 for 1/2 gallon.
2. Ultra-Pasteurized Goat Miilk - $3.99 for 1 quart.
3. Dry Pasteurized Goat Milk - $11.59 for a tin that makes 12 cups.
4. Goat Butter - $5.59 for a block (the size of 2 normal butter sticks)

It looks like goat milk might not be in the budget.

I also looked at non-GMO coconut milk, which is reasonable at $3.99 for 1/2 gallon. Coconut milk is very nutritious. It is high in lauric acid (which strengthens the immune system), iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, and trace minerals. The only reason I did not get it is that it only offers 10% of the DV for calcium. I would rather not have to take calcium supplements, so I would like to get enough from my diet.

Yikes. For now I bought (gulp) calcium-fortified organic rice milk. It does not specify that it is non-GMO. Grrr. I was so frustrated.

While I research high-calcium foods and raising my own goats (now part of my dream castle), my plan is to alternate between calcium-fortified options such as store-bought rice and almond milk, coconut milk, home-made almond milk, and store-bought goat milk. Hopefully the variety will give me the nutrients I need and keep me from over-doing processed products. My long-term goal is to clear my system of the allergens caused by processed dairy products and re-introduce raw milk.

A final note: It is really easy to stress out over this kind of thing. GMOs, pesticides, nutritional value, and cost can swirl around in my brain until I can't stop thinking about it. So, as a reminder to myself and other Amateurs:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ...So do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink' ...For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.

~Jesus Christ

(Matthew 6:26ff)

Afternoon Coffee & Amateur Cooking

2010-03-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

I am cold to the bone. Do you ever get cold to the bone? Today I left my coat and scarf on for the entire work day, looking forward all day to this moment: I am curled up in front of the heater with my computer in my lap and a hot cup of coffee. (Confession: I occasionally drink real, caffeinated coffee in the afternoon. It's one of my guilty pleasures.)

Today I am reviewing a cookbook for fellow Amateurs (and Pros who have not already discovered this excellent book).

Here is what I love about The New Basics:

1. The cookbook is divided into sections by courses & food groups. Why do I love this? If I want to plan some kind of party, or if I am asked to bring a certain course to party, I can easily find ideas. On the other hand, if I find myself bogged down in zuccinis, all I have to do is turn to the Vegetable section to find zuccini recipes.

2. Within each section there are helpful charts and guides on buying, storing, and preparing fresh, whole food ingredients. This comes in really handy when I don't feel like following a recipe. Sometimes I just want to know what to do with a squash or an eggplant, but I don't necessarily want to commit to a recipe (usually because I don't want to buy a bunch of additional ingredients). This past fall I used the squash chart quite frequently. It lists every kind of squash, which spices and flavors go well with it, and the best way to cook it (eg: bake time/temp; halved or whole, etc.).

Here is a picture of the poultry roasting guide. The image is blurry, but you can tell that it gives you a guide based on the cut of poultry: Oven temp, Safe internal temp, and Cooking time.

4. It helps me to eat seasonally. In the past I have been nervous about buying seasonal vegetables because I had no idea what to do with them. Now I am confident that I can buy whatever is in season and look it up in New Basics when I get home.

5. It features good, old-fashioned, simple recipes. Anything you can buy in a can, you can make from scratch using New Basics. Although some recipes call for long lists of ingredients, most of the ingredients are basics (hence, the title) like milk, cream, salt, pepper, fresh (or dry) herbs, spices, vegetables, and meats. (*My one caviat to these recipes is that they are not good for "meals in minutes." Like many "old-fashioned" pleasures, scratch cooking requires planning, and often TIME.)

6. Last, but not least, it is pretty. Beauty is important to me! I love looking at this cook book because it has a nice font and whimsical pen-and-ink drawings. The chapter titles are fun, too!

There you have it! My favorite cookbook. I have a couple of others up my sleeve, but this is my Ol' Reliable. What's your favorite cookbook? If this looks like something you would enjoy, check out the "Books" tab at the top of this page. There you will find a shop featuring this and other favorite books of mine. Your purchases at my shop help support my endeaver to become a fully-fledged stay-at-home wife.

Blogging Bee!

2010-03-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my corner of Amy's Blogging Bee!

This Week's Amateur Highlights:

1. On Wednesday Amy posted a wonderful article on GMOs at Homestead Revival. My favorite part is the printable "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" which lists produce that is safe/unsafe to by non-organic. For those of us Amateurs who are just getting started and those of us who need to pinch our pennies, this is a great reference to keep in the purse.

2. Over the weekend, I availed myself to a list of divine recipes at Thy Hand Hath Provided. Brian and I devoured her Bang Bang Chicken and her Pasta with Green Beans and Sundried Tomatoes. This week we're going to try her Pesto Pasta Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, and Apple, Sweet Potato & Sausage Bake. (I feel like I'm cheating, getting such incredible recipes with pictures for free!)

3. Today I was inspired by Sarah's Monday post at Clover Lane. She writes about the blessings of "plain, common work." Although she is talking about the work of being a stay-at-home mom, I was encouraged to enjoy the blessings of the work in front of me - even though it keeps me away from home.

Thank you, everyone for the fabulous posts this week! You are all such a blessing, and I'm excited to see what you come up with this week.

Love & Peace,
Erin

The best things in life are nearest:

Breath in your nostrils,

light in your eyes,

flowers at your feet,

duties at your hand,

the path of right just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars,

but do life's plain, common work

as it comes,

certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

(Seen at Clover Lane)

Image Credit: Denis Panu

Being with the BEING

2010-03-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

I love nothing more than to come home after a long day at work and sequester myself in my bedroom, light the candles, cue up the "Hymns Instrumental" station on Pandora, and just be - quietly. So here I am. During this being time, I love to be with the Lord, who defines himself by his being - "I AM who I AM." To be in the presence of the Being is ultimate rest.

I encourage you to find a space in your schedule where you can really and truly just be. Accomplish nothing. Decide nothing. Plan nothing. Just be with the Being - the One who IS, the Sovereign. Let his Holy Spirit wash over you and counsel you. Pour out your heart for a time, but then stop even that. Listen. Meditate on His goodness and his sovereignty.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits -
Who forgives all your iniquity,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the Pit,
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's
~Psalm 103:1-5

Image Credit: University of Carolina Chapel Hill

An Idea of My Own

2010-03-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Here is an idea of my own. Generally I recycle the great ideas of other women, but here I have my first original tip for you -- a frugal, environmentally friendly way to organize your medicine cabinet: Leftover Emergy-C boxes! They are perfect for storing vitamins, perscriptions, and various remedies.

Trip to the Doc

2010-03-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting very regularly because I have been under the weather. Yuck. Providentially, I scheduled a doctor's appointment in January that happened to fall yesterday. So I went to the doc...

Bunny trail: I have wanted to see a certain doctor - Dr. Cheryl - for three years but my insurance would not cover her. She is a Christian naturopathic doctor who has had a practice with her husband for thirty years. She comes very highly recommended. I finally have insurance that covers naturopathy, and I am so thankful that I got to see Dr. Cheryl. She has a gift of healing. Not only is she a superb doc - the kind that takes 2 hours with you on your first appointment to get to know you, body, mind & soul and to educate you - but also the kind that prays for you and gives you a hug every appointment! She prayed for parts of my body that I did not even know I had, my marriage, my finances, and my spiritual life. *Sigh* This is what doctor appointments should be like - healing.

Back to my story. While I was at the doctor, I found out that I am allergic to eggs & milk! Oh, bother! I have just come to love my organic (albeit $5/dozen) eggs and raw milk, and now I can't have either. On the one hand, I am relieved to find and eliminate the cause of my chronic ear infections and eczema, but on the other hand, I am appalled at the thought of drinking a daily cocktail of genetically modified soybeans (or rice) and sugar. And soy cheese? OUT OF THE QUESTION. Blech.

So I've been looking around for some more natural, raw solutions, and I found out that you can make your own almond milk. I'm going to give that a try. I'm also going to call Doc Cheryl back and find out if "dairy" includes goat's milk. Wouldn't it be marvelous if I could have goat milk? Just think... cheese would be back on the menu...

Photo credit: Instructables

Do you have food allergies? What are your best natural solutions? While you're thinking, I'll start working on some homemade almond milk and get back to you soon with a tutorial.

Pizza!

2010-03-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am a die-hard pizza fan -- not Dominoes or Pizza Hut, but good pizza. I love brick oven pizza like the kind you can get at La Fiamma (my favorite!) or Rock Woodfired Pizza & Brewery.

After having successfully baked bread, I know that I can (eventually) make anything I set my mind to. Voila pizza!

Yum! Here's the recipe I used, courtesy of The Simple Dollar.

Amateur Folly

2010-03-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

Confession: this week I became so wrapped up in silly projects for this blog that I lost sight of why I am even writing the blog.

First, an apology: To Brian, my loving husband, who bore the brunt of my folly. I am so sorry for putting my projects ahead of you this week.

Second, two lessons for fellow Amateurs:

1) Remember why you are building your Castle. For me, that means remembering that God put this Castle in my dreams and that he is the master of the Castle and the master of me. This week I let the Castle master me, and I was completely miserable. When God is the master, I am free and joyful because Love comes first. When the Castle is the master, I am bound up and stressed out because projects come first.

2) Build your own Castle. This week I spent a lot of time (we're talking hours upon hours) trying to do things just like some of the incredible women whose blogs I follow. That does not work. As an Amateur, it is easy to think that you have to do things just like so-and-so becuase they are doing such a good job. Keep in mind that other people have different priorities, different circumstances, and different resources. You are the only one who knows what will work for you. Learn from other people, but trust your own judgment and creativity, too.

Last, the final outcome: I finished my Castle Management Binder. (I scrapped trying to have the "perfect" Home Management Binder because it just didn't work for me... even after slaving at it for two days.) Mine is much simpler than most Home Management Binders because I am an Amateur and because for now I am a part-time Castle Manager.

Here is the front cover (it had to be pretty) and the most important page (5 min of fresh air is a minimum for bad weather days, usually I need more than that!):

I created a Birthday and Anniversary Calendar because I couldn't find a printable one online. I'd like to make mine available to readers, but my computer skills aren't there yet. I'll see what I can do.

I would post more, but it's not all that interesting. If you want more info on Home Management Notebooks, check out Lindsay's great video here.

On Crashing Castles

2010-03-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like my castles in the air are caving in on themselves, caving in on me, and drifting out of my reach. Sunday nights are the hardest because my two days in domestic dreamland shudder to a halt. The clock strikes, and my carriage turns into a pumpkin as I face another work week. It isn't that I hate my job - I am blessed to have meaningful work - but my heart is in keeping my home.

Today during my quiet time, I feel the Holy Spirit encouraging me to be at rest where I am. It is from the Lord's hand that I must earn a living at work for now. I feel the Holy Spirit calling me to thankfulness and to mindfulness - thankfulness for his sovereignty and blessings, mindfulness of his presence and purpose in every circumstance.

I believe that the Lord has placed his dreams in my heart and that he will give them to me.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~Psalm 37:4

I believe that the Lord has directed me to my job.

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. ~Proverbs 16:9

I believe that the Lord asks me to work cheerfully and wholeheartedly.

Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. ~Colossians 3:23-24

Do all things without murmuring and arguing so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. ~Phil. 2:14-15

I believe that the Lord is good and that my happiness comes not from my occupation, but from my relationship with him.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. ~Psalm 34:7

Photo Credit: Catholic Spiritual Direction Website

Amateur Renaissance Weekend

2010-03-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a Renaissance Weekend -- a hodge-podge of inspiration and energy that culminated in several projects.

First, I finally tackled my bedroom closet, which I have wanted to organize since I got married in August. Nothing energizes me like getting rid of unneccessary stuff. Here are the before and afers:

Second, I tried hot yoga. A friend of mine found an introductory deal: ten classes for ten dollars. Not bad! I have dabbled in yoga for several years, having been introduced via ballet and modern dance classes as a teen. I know that some Christians shy away from yoga because of its spiritual roots (understandably so), but I have found that most classes are not overtly religious and also that the meditative emphasis of yoga (and many other forms of exercise) is excellent for any person of faith. Some of my most heartfelt connections with God have been during yoga classes, dance classes, and runs. My take on hot yoga: I would suggest that you try a regular yoga class first. The heat makes it uber-intense. Either way, I highly suggest that everyone at least try yoga. It has been around for thousands of years for a very good reason.

Third, I made curtains!!! Actually, I made them a couple weeks ago, but Supertramp and Dad-in-Law hung them for me this weekend. I am so proud... just don't look too close! I bought a sewing machine off of Craigslist and taught myself how to make curtains off of Google Image searches.

They're nothing fancy, but they were a good first sewing project, and they jazz up my window

(a tiny bit?).

Last, but definitely not least, I started a Homekeeping Binder. Many thanks to Stephanie at Keeper of the Home for her ideas on Homemaking Binders. (I also found a great blog by a woman who made a video demo of her binder. I can't find her link anymore, though! Whoever you are, you are incredibly organized. I am very impressed.) My binder is still in the word processing stages, but when it's finished, I'll certainly post about it.

Birthday Reflections

2010-03-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

Twenty-Four

Wishes granted, trial ended,

Heart healed, peace descended.

Child waved, woman stood,

Soul awoke.

The Holy shed another cloak.

I did it!

2010-03-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord, I have made bread! These two loaves of bread are far from ordinary: they represent my first success on Amateur Hour. I have wanted to bake my own bread since I was a wide-eyed nine year old watching my friend's mom twist herbed dough into braids. I have always seen BAKING BREAD in italics and exclamation points -- the kind of small miracle that happens in the blurry space between reality and fairy tales. I have always left it to those people -- you know the ones -- the people who are so good at everything that I want to be good at. Here is what I learned: anyone can bake bread! The only difference between those people and me was that they tried more than I did. There is no magic, only trying. This is what Amateur Hour is all about -- living in the beautiful blur between reality and my dreams.

Here's what I did differently:
1. I used half spelt flour and half whole wheat flour. I didn't want to waste the coarse flour that I had, so I tried making it finer in my food processor. That did nothing, so I mixed it with spelt flour. My loaves still don't look quite as fluffy as I would like, but they are much better. They look yummy.

2. I used my hand mixer with dough hooks. Last time I gave up on my hand mixer because it didn't look like it was doing the trick. This time I stuck it out a bit longer before moving to hand kneading. By the time I was done my forearms were burning, but it was worth it.

3. I used more flour at the end. Last time my dough was way too sticky, even though I used all of the flour that the recipe called for. I think maybe it was because my flour was so coarse that it added up to less weight per volume. (?)

4. I set up my ironing board over my portable radiator for easier and more consistent proofing.

Amateur Needlecrafter

2010-03-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

This afternoon's domestic experiment: crocheting my own dishcloths.

I am not entirely new to crocheting: I have been working on a beautiful yellow afghan for about nine years now. (Sheepish grin.) I need some new dishcloths, though, and the instant gratification of these dishcloths does wonders for my twenty-first century soul. If you are interested in an uber-easy crochet pattern, try this free pattern from Joyce's Crochet Joint. Thank you, Joyce!

Just for fun:

This is how Supertramp and I look after work: tired and silly.

Someone Please Hit the Gong.

2010-03-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here's my bread. Wah-wah. Someone please ring a gong. It's tastey, but it weighs a TON -- it's about as dense as pita bread... well, not that bad. I'm bummed, but not at all discouraged. After all, this is Amateur Hour!

Here's what I learned:

Kneading is very important as it allows the gluten to develop and air bubbles to form. Without the air bubbles, the bread won't rise. Since I don't have a stand mixer, the kneeding process is a bit more challenging. I found a few useful sites on making dough by hand, though. Look for another bread post in a week or so (hat may be a bit ambitious, as next weekend is my birthday) with more info on proper kneading technique and other tips for amateur bread bakers.

It is also possible that I somehow killed the yeast. I seriously doubt this, though, because I took painstaking precautions with all of my ingredient and environmental temperatures.

The last possibility is that the flour was too heavy. I read somewhere that cutting whole wheat flour with spelt flour helps to lighten the dough. I tried this, but I probably didn't use enough. The whole wheat flour I used was pretty coarse compared to the flour in the pictures I followed. Lesson learned: pay the extra buck for the finely ground flour.

This Weekend's Small Changes

2010-03-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

This Weekend's Small Changes

1. We are now buying our dairy products from a local farm! I heart glass milk bottles. This milk is from the Twin Brook Creamery in Lynden, WA. (Someday I will write about the spring I lived in a chicken coop in Lynden.) I am sold on organic, raw milk. For those of you who could care less about the nutritional science, I will spare you the details. I'll just say that raw milk is to conventional milk as Godiva is to Hershey's. It tastes so fresh. I know that word is overused, but I can't think of another word to describe the flavor. It is sweet and delicious. If you do want more info on raw milk, check out this raw milk website.

2. I am making bread! I'm using the recipe and tips from Amy's blog. We'll see how it turns out. I had to get kind of creative. I don't have a stand mixer, so I used my hands to kneed the dough, which was messy (great remedy for my Type A personality) and difficult (great workout for my forearms). I also happen to live in a chilly apartment, so I warmed my ingredients in front of the heater and boosted the proofing process by setting my dough on a makeshift cooling rack in a sink of hot water. (Amy's idea.)

P.S. I have a very humble camera... hence the mediocre images.

Welcome to Amateur Hour!

2010-03-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Someday I want to grow all of my own organic vegetables and herbs and raise hens for eggs. I want to mill my own flour, tend my own honey bees, and beautify my home entirely with lucky finds and DIY elbow grease. In my wildest dreams, my house runs on independent solar power and biodiesel and I sell my produce at a local farmer's market.

Why? Because I want to live slowly. I want to feel my dependence on the land and seasons. I want to ground myself in each moment, to settle into my place in nature. I want to know my own fragility and marvel at the miracles that keep me alive, to create and be created.

I have read about simple living for years, and although these ideas have always pulled at me, I have never been brave enough to take the first step. In abstraction, the idea of simple living is so romantic, but when it comes down to actually doing it, I shake in my suburban Target boots. Where do I begin?!

I begin by acknowledging that my dreams are good and worthy of pursuit. Compared to the dreams of many of my peers, mine are lowly and old fashioned. They don't "get me anywhere." But do I really want to "get anywhere"? According to Scripture, my ambition should be to "love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind," and to "love others... aspire to live quietly, to mind my own affairs, and to work with my hands, so that I may behave properly toward unbelievers and be dependent on no one," (my paraphrase of Matthew 22:37 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12).

The purpose of Amateur Hour is to affirm my God-given dreams and to build foundations under them. My inspiration is Henry David Thoreau, who wrote:

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now build foundations under them."

Thanks to some of my favorite women on Blogspot, I am ready to try! A special thanks to Amy at Homestead Revival, whose blogs on making small changes have inspired me to begin my own Amateur Homestead Revival.

So, welcome to Amateur Hour! This blog will chronicle my adventures and misadventures in living and loving a simple, holy life.

Romance of the Sea

2010-02-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before my God? Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. ~ Psalm 42:2,7

In a catamaran off the shores of the Na Pali Coast, I discover the romance of the sea. Civilization hurries past behind the sandy seams off the port bough, a bubble of history happening without me. Infinity laps against the landlocked shores of time, and from my vantage point, I peer into the south edge of infinity -- infinite sea gelled up against infinite sky. On the edge of infinity and outside of time, I am utterly away. The outside-ness fascinates me and devastates me with a longing for More.