Montessori Pencil Holders ~ More Gottatries...

What's Schoolin'?


Aren't these pencil holders from Montessori Services beautiful?

If you can't or don't want to pay high prices for pencil holders such as this you have quite a few options.  You could paint recycled food cans; use clear acrylic containers from a hobby store and put stickers, paper, or paint on them; even use those colored plastic cups (I just saw that in image google when I went to get a photo).  You can find nice wooden containers to paint (or not!) at a hobby store as well.

What did we do when youngest dd was little?  We used baby food jars nestled in a short-sided box that she could carry to her work area.  In those jars she kept colored pencils, markers, and even crayons sorted by color.  I didn't find it necessary to color-coordinate the jar, she just sorted them by color and knew where to return each one by the colors already in there.

However, if you want the finished look of a commercial product, here are a few:











































What's Cookin'?


Some more Gottatries:


No Bake Pecan Pie (uses 1 C each almonds/raisins for crust; 1 C pecans, 1 C dried figs):
http://www.squidoo.com/the-wholesome-life

Zuke Chorizo Lasagna (Mmmm)(sliced zukes/yellow squash for lasagna noodles, so it's low carb).  I always hesitate (and thus never buy) chorizo even though it has great ingredients and is readily available in my area because of the whole mass food industry pork issue.  I've been getting my pork once in a blue moon from local farms but no chorizo in sight.  I'd like to say (and have actually said) that the only place I eat pork outside of the house is at Chipotle... but that would be a lie because once in a while I do find myself giving in at a breakfast restaurant - I just love bacon way too much (you know, the other food group!).  Anyway, I will try to look into the chorizo possibilities so here is the recipe:
http://www.beyondthepeel.net/2011/08/zucchini-chorizo-sausage-lasagna-no-pasta-was-harmed-in-this-recipe.html

Easy Pancakes (change to soaked):
http://www.naturalfamilyawareness.com/health/index.php/2011/07/25/leas-easy-pancake-recipe/

Strawberry yogurt popscicles (1 qt yogurt; 2 C fresh or frozen strawberries in blender or food processor; put in molds)
http://www.naturalfamilyawareness.com/health/index.php/2011/07/02/leas-creamy-strawberry-yogurt-popsicles/

Zucchini Ideas (stir-fried summer squash; zuke spice cake; zuke fritters; zuke pancakes):
http://www.homegrownandhandmadethebook.com/2011/08/zucchini-here-there-everywhere.html

Double chocolate chip cookie:
http://www.cookiedropletsetcbymarelie.com/2011/08/my-double-chocolate-chip-cookie.html

Anther mayo recipe (used a hand mixer):
http://stuffifeedbrian.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-make-homemade-mayonnaise-gluten.html

What's Green?

A kitchen counter cleaner with 2 T washing soda, 3-5 drops dish detergent, hot water to fill the spray bottle and lavender or peppermint oil optional:
http://www.16ballsintheair.com/2011/02/simple-baby-step.html

Fresh (Food) Start ~ Gottatries

What's Schoolin'?

Oldest DD:  Mommy, we need to study Colloids!

Why is she suddenly interested in the colloids from her Chemistry book from which she just stopped taking notes?  Well, it just so happens that the following are in the colloids group:  milk, butter, whipped cream, and marshmallows.  I have homemade marshmallows in my little freezer that's stored in my mom's garage at the moment and our beater (to make whipped cream) is in storage.  "Oh well, I guess we'll just have to have some chocolate milk," is dd's solution.  Hmm.... I happen to have some cacao and rapadura/honey... Who am I to get in the way of Chemistry studies?

What's Cookin'?

Hopefully we will close on our new home this week and I'll have a kitchen again (yeah!!!).  The first thing I plan on doing is soaking some beans and making some bone broth while they soak.  I'll also be digging out my bread recipes and trying to remember which was our favorite recipe. Soaking almonds for homemade almond milk (for dd) will top the list also.  I'm glad she hasn't really taken to the store-bought kind we've been using throughout the summer.

I did a lot of food compromises throughout the summer and here are some steps I'll be taking to get back on track:

No more breakfast cereal.  Although we were getting natural kinds with no food dyes, no fake sugars, no HFCS, etc, etc, it is still highly processed.  This may require some withdrawals but we'll be switching back to eggs, soaked oatmeal, arroz con leche, and other homemade breakfasts.

No more drive-thrus.  This happened as a consequence of driving back and forth so much this summer but we won't be driving like that as much once school starts and we get our belongings out of storage.  I tried to choose "better" drive-thrus but, you know, let's just say they aren't the best choice for our health.  Chick-Fil-A switched to canola oil so I'm bummed about that but their chicken salad sandwiches sure are good and filling :).  I don't feel bad (physically) after eating there like I do with other places or frozen processed foods. Chipotle is the best around but is on the opposite side of town where we would drive and only went there once or twice during the summer drives.  Braums does not use hormones nor "routine" antibiotics in their dairy cows so I (naively) assume that their burgers are the same.

No more processed sandwich meat.  This will also cause some withdrawals (from them for the taste and from me for the ease).  We get some with no nitrites/nitrates but it is still highly processed and who knows if they use that 'industry standard' meat glue (disgusting!!)[Watch this short video!].  By the way, I always (if possible) cook our sandwich meat to steaming when we do make lunch meat sandwiches to kill any listeria or other baddies.  Deli meat is NOT recommended even in the mainstream for pregnant moms unless cooked so I do this as a matter of course.

No more paper plates, plastic forks, spoons, cups!  We'll be setting up our "UNpaper towels" in a handy place in the kitchen.

No more store-bought yogurt for daily use.  Cottage cheese is a tough one though because my attempts failed and organic is sooooo expensive for something I eat almost every day (dopamine precursor is in cottage cheese).  I get Daisy cottage cheese and sour cream because it just has cultured cream but it's not organic.  No hormones but probably antibiotics.  Organics also sometimes have lots of unnecessary ingredients like some organic yogurt I've seen lately and unhealthy food additives.

Revive my dairy kefir grains.  We'll see how they do after only being changed once during the summer and being pushed back in the fridge.  Otherwise, I think I have some in the freezer.

Fermented drinks.  That sounds fun, doesn't it, lol?  Actually, I meant lacto-fermented drinks for me and the dc.  We'll start with fermented lemonade and I'll also make some beet kvass.

My mom will be so glad, I'm sure, to get my little freezer and boxes of staples out of her garage (and study - when I saw that the new Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil I bought in bulk was pure liquid in a plastic container in the 115F+ garage I moved it to the study inside - where it still stayed liquid but not as hot).  She has been such a good sport about our stuff this summer.

These baby steps for a fresh start are part of Kelly's Real Food Wednesday:
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2011/08/real-food-wednesday-8172011.html

Gottatries

I always tag more than I put in my gottatry lists but here are some recipes I'd like to try asap:

These sweet potato and black bean enchiladas will go right along with the beans I'll be making and I *love* sweet potatoes:
http://www.realfoodallergyfree.com/2011/08/sweet-potato-and-black-bean-enchiladas-with-mole-sauce/

Crunchy Granola (I can never have enough granola or granola bar recipes to try):
http://ruthsrealfood.blogspot.com/2011/08/crunchy-granola-for-hippies-and-others.html

Lacto-fermented dill pickles:
http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/08/perfect-dill-pickles-recipe.html

Eggplant Parmesan (smaller eggplants have less seeds; eggs; breadcrumbs)(serve with angel hair pasta and mozzarella)(maybe even just serve plain with the cooked eggplant):
http://www.theadirondackchick.com/2011/08/eggplant-parmesan-traditional.html

Ooo yeah, watermelon ice cream!  I don't have an ice cream maker but I wonder how this would do just frozen in little popsicle molds or cups; or maybe in a big bowl and stir every hour or so until frozen?  I tried giving them 'fresco de sandia' once and it didn't go over very well.  Then many years later I got some from a stand at the open-air market in San Antonio and they only tasted it.  How can you not love fresco de sandia???  This may work, though:
http://recipestonourish.blogspot.com/2011/08/creamy-watermelon-ice-cream.html

Roasted Eggplant (eggplant, salt, olive oil, garlic cloves)(can be frozen for a fast side dish - can it get any better than that?):
http://www.traditional-foods.com/recipes/oven-roasted-eggplant/

Kohlrabi Fritters:
http://amomonamission.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/kohlrabi-fritters/

Monkey French Toast (this should help ease the pain from leaving behind breakfast cereals!):
http://angelfoodskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/08/celebrity-cook-along-rachael-raymonkey.html

No-Tomato Sauce (uses carrots, beets, seasonings)(video):
http://realfoodforager.com/2011/07/videorecipe-the-no-tomato-sauce-scdgaps/

Black Bean and Cream Cheese burritios:
http://debbidoesdinnerhealthy.blogspot.com/2011/08/black-bean-cream-cheese-burritos.html

Single serving quick peanut butter cake.  This may be worth trying - in the oven though:
http://www.extremepersonalmeasures.com/2011/08/one-minute-peanut-butter-cake.html

Lemon curd.  A must-try!  (3 eggs, lemon zest, sugar, butter):
http://creativekitchenadventures.com/2011/08/02/lemon-curd-perfect-summertime-treat/

Zucchini Boats (zukes, cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan):
http://www.greenbeangardens.com/zucchini-boats/

Kefir Cream Cheese:
http://www.stacymakescents.com/kefir-cream-cheese

Banana Crunch Muffins:
http://pattietierney.blogspot.com/2011/08/banana-crunch-muffins.html

Grain-Free Skillet Lasagna (uses summer squash for noodles!!):
http://nourishedandnurtured.blogspot.com/2011/08/grain-free-skillet-lasagna.html

I have been mulling this over for a while.  I was even joking recently with my cousin on the phone about having to scoop your soup out of the pot around the fish head as children:
http://thepurposedheart.com/homemade-fish-stock/

Vegetable Frittata:
http://premeditatedleftovers.com/vegetable-frittata/

Another version of fudgesicles using avocado without cooking (just blend ingredients):
http://recipestonourish.blogspot.com/2011/07/homemade-fudgesicles.html#comment-form

Vidalia Salsa:
http://www.tendergrassfedmeat.com/2011/08/02/raw-vidalia-salsa-provides-balance-for-grassfed-meat/

How to freeze fresh corn:
http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/2011/08/freezing-fresh-corn/

How to freeze herbs:
http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/the-easiest-way-to-preserve-herbs/

Almond Date Bar (like a LARA bar)(with video):
http://realfoodforager.com/2011/07/videorecipe-almond-date-energy-bar-scdgaps/

Cheese Scallion Muffins:
http://debbidoesdinnerhealthy.blogspot.com/2011/08/cheese-scallion-muffins.html

Chewy Cinnamon Almond Cookies (gluten free)(can be used for ice cream sandwiches)(would normally have all ingredients on hand as well - 2-1/2 C almond flour):
http://nourishedandnurtured.blogspot.com/2011/07/chewy-cinnamon-almond-cookies-gluten.html

Fermented bread and butter pickles:
http://nourishedandnurtured.blogspot.com/2011/08/fermented-bread-and-butter-pickles-gaps.html

Petite Lasagnas (uses wonton wrappers)(make in muffin tins)(make sure to have 1-1/2 C ricotta or cottage? and 1-1/2 mozarella or swiss? plus tomato sauce and cooked ground meat):
http://sensibleshoppers.blogspot.com/2011/07/petite-lasagnas.html

Breakfast ideas:
http://realfoodlittlerock.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-to-school-breakfast.html

Lunch ideas:
http://realfoodlittlerock.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-to-school-lunches.html

Roasted Pesto Tomatoes (basil (pesto), oil, tomatoes, salt):
http://www.artfoodlifeblog.com/2011/08/roasted-pesto-tomatoes/

Blueberry Muffins (gluten and sugar free) (2 C almond meal):
http://momsforsafefood.net/2011/08/02/gluten-sugar-free-blueberry-muffins/

What's Gardenin'?

This was on RFW for tomato blight/garden fungal problems:
http://shanonhilton.blogspot.com/2011/08/fighting-blight-fermented-recipe.html

"Course of Study" Yearly Planning Form

What's Schoolin'?

Here is a "Course of Study" to use in planning for the year or for use as a record of the school year to help with transcripts later.  Our goals will be set by the student in individual parent (teacher)/student conferences.  Knowing my dds we will probably continue on the back of the page! 

http://www.4shared.com/file/P9WK0rHs/Course_of_Study_-_yearly_plann.html

What's Cookin'?

I got some fresh dill from the grocery store and added it to some cream cheese for a dip.  Very fresh tasting.

I tried to preserve some jalapenos that I got at the local farmers market.  I had about 20 to preserve.  I sliced and froze some; others I sliced in half, seeded, and fermented in apple cider vinegar with salt (on the counter 2 days then in the fridge for 2 weeks before ready); and the rest I sliced thinner and fermented the same only I added some fresh dill that I didn't want to waste (that also helped to keep the jalapenos submerged under the level of the brine).

What's Inspirin'?

Here are the lyrics from Laura Story's song Blessings.  I like to click on the video and then read these words while she plays.  If there's nobody around I'll sing along too :).
http://www.lyricshall.com/lyrics/Laura+Story/Blessings/
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmKC34UZ68&feature=player_embedded

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Chore Chart

I used this template from Donna Young's site to make a document for my own use.  I liked the format but it wasn't typable (is that a real word??).

Her original:
http://donnayoung.org/f11/household-fs-f/hofiles/chore.pdf

For my chart I will change the font colors for kitchen duty, bathroom duty, and pets/M's helper to match their names that I will type in the top right corner.  That way their daily rotating duties will be color coordinated with their names.  The chores in the "everybody" column will remain in black.  The second page will be separate... maybe near the bathroom mirror or inside their bedroom doors??

An aside:  all three dc help out on laundry day; Sundays have a different cycle [I tried not rotating it for a day of rest but it wasn't working out and was less peaceful than just alternating Sunday responsibilities]; I have the zones posted separately (on an index card that I tape in a prominent place in the kitchen) which rotate by week.

This is the first year for dd-9 to be in the rotation - we added the Pets/M's Helper chore category so we can rotate evenly.

My file as a .doc:
http://www.4shared.com/get/ck5JBprS/Chore_Chart_2011.html

My file as .odt:
http://www.4shared.com/get/oTW1SOLa/Chore_Chart_2011.html

And as a pdf:
http://www.4shared.com/get/dQ6wh7DN/Chore_Chart_2011.html

Enjoy!

Fudgesicles ~ Art History Link

What's Cookin'?

Homemade Fudgesicles:  This is so easy that you'll wonder why you haven't done it before... I sure wondered why I hadn't!!

Step 1: Make chocolate pudding.
Step 2: Freeze in popsicle molds or paper cups with a spoon in it.
Step 3:  Enjoy!

Now, here's the tricky part:  Don't use boxed pudding to make the chocolate pudding.  Seriously, it takes almost the exact amount of time to do it from scratch.  Personally, I don't use the recipes that require egg yolk because of the extra step; however, you may want the extra protein.  I also do not use cornstarch so I just use white flour instead for this splurge.  There are many chocolate pudding recipes online.  I mix the following in a small pot and stir constantly over medium heat until it bubbles or thickens:

4 Tablespoons Cacao
5 Tablespoons Rapadura
5 Tablespoons white flour (really about 4-1/2)
2 Cups milk (I mix in 1/2 C until smooth and then another 1/2 C until all is added)
1/8 teaspoon Real Salt (only if using UNsalted butter)(I have started buying unsalted butter so I can control the salt in it and use Real Salt)

After it has thickened mix in 1-1/2 Tablespoons Butter.

That's it!  Now you have wonderful chocolate pudding to use for fudgesicles or... chocolate pudding :)

The dc enjoyed it this afternoon during the super hot weather (dh says it's so hot the birds are wearing oven mitts!).  It got 3 thumbs up (it would've been 6 thumbs up but they were holding it with the other hand).  I asked them to compare it to a commercial fudgesicle and they said it was creamier, didn't melt as fast, and tasted like pudding.

This recipe is part of Kelly's Real Food Wednesday:
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2011/08/real-food-wednesday-832011.html

What's Schoolin'?


Here is a great link for Art History, Art Appreciation, or for individual artists or artist studies:

http://www.gardenofpraise.com/art.htm


There are also some great music cards for shelf work on that site.

Montessori Scope and Sequence

What's Schoolin'?

Montessori Scope and Sequence Links:

http://www.moteaco.com/36scope.html

http://www.moteaco.com/69scope.html

Scroll down for a list of links (thanks, Daisy, for this webpage!):
http://members.shaw.ca/montessori4all/ages.htm

http://www.bgmontessori.com/montessori/curriculum

This has cool links to photos or presentations:
http://montessorimom.com/toddler-scope-and-sequence-lesson-ideas-practical-/

http://www.telluridemtnschool.org/academ_curriculum.html

Here is the one from above for the overall scope/sequence for all grades:
http://www.telluridemtnschool.org/documents/TMSScopeandSequence2009.pdf

http://www.sites.google.com/site/monticellomontessori/about-us/montessori-scope-and-sequence-1

Geography:
http://www.montessori.org/sitefiles/geography.pdf

Divided by Periods:
http://montessoristory.blogspot.com/2009/02/sequence-of-montessori-work.html

What's Cookin'?

Trust me... you don't really want to know (that means I don't really know!).  My list of possible meals this week are:  Homemade pizza on Afgan flatbread; quiche; chicken soup (made with leftovers and chicken bones I got over the weekend from my freezer that's in my mom's garage - I'll make the bone broth, then take out the bones and add in leftovers); lumpias (real lumpias with ground pork and cooked cabbage but in egg roll wraps).  That's it.  We move to another rental in 3 days so I don't want to get very many groceries.

"Homeschoolroom" Pictoral Inspirations

We don't even have our house yet, much less an organized schoolroom, so these are certainly not from me!  As I was looking online for inspiration I thought I would share a few finds.  There are lots of wonderful Montessori schoolroom blogs with ideas for youngers.  I will post a few of those.  I'm struggling with how I want it to look/work for older students (youngest is 4th; oldest is 10th) while maintaining the free choice shelf work aspect.  It will be out in the open (as opposed to a separate school room as it was in our old house) so I would love for it to look nice as well.

The dc will have desks in their rooms to stay (somewhat) organized but we'll come together in the "dining" room for the most part; although they've always been free to work wherever they please for independent work - even outside.  Also in that "dining" area we'll have some type of shelving/storage for shelf work.  It's the dichotomy of wanting the works to be visible but not wanting the works to be visible ;).  The geography works are the most challenging because our pin maps are oversized.  I've been window shopping for several weeks and it's been fun dreaming. 

http://pastorettesprogress.blogspot.com/2010/08/welcome-to.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/montessoribyhand/sets/72157602128379274/

http://pinterest.com/thelittlelist/learning-spaces/

What We *really* Ate

There are some great menus out there.  This is not one of them.  This is the translation of great plans and ideals into real life under less than ideal circumstances.  We're still living out of suitcases and boxes in a rental (I'm so grateful for the rental we have!!).  We have about 1-1/2 weeks in this rental before we move to another rental.

Sometimes we look at all of the awesome ideas, routines, lifestyles, and how-tos online and unwillingly fall into discouragement.  I thought I would post reality to encourage someone out there - ha, maybe even myself! - that it's okay.  Do what you can when you can however you can.

Breakfast
Bob's Red Mill 7 Grain Hot Cereal:  I soaked it the night before with the recommended amount of water and some whey.  In the morning I poured off the water and put back in the same amount of fresh water (like soaking rice).  I tossed in a bone from the freezer that I had saved to make bone broth for some added minerals and calcium.  After it was cooked I put a pat of butter and a small handful of blueberries in each serving.  Wow.  Wow.  Delicious and no sugar crash-and-burn; just a good feeling of energy.

Lunch
[Youngest dd dictated this section to me word for word!]
Corn Dogs - "Good Edible Stuff":  My mom made homemade corn dogs and boy, were they good!  I hope she makes them again.  They were fantastic.  They were nice and mushy with the hot dogs in them.  My mom didn't have a stick so she made them like a pizza.

I used Bob's Red Mill gluten-free cornbread mix and poured it over small sections of Applegate's hot dogs that I had gotten for the 4th of July as a special treat (I froze the extras already cut).  I then cooked them in my mom's Express 101 electric cooking thing (there's a story there!)(I am not recommending that contraption 'cuz it's teflon covered but it's really helping us out right now).

Dinner
No-name nourishment:  Leftover frozen mashed sweet potatoes (3 cups); 2 peeled, diced, boiled, and mashed beets; 1/4 pound leftover frozen diced stew meat.  I put all of this in a baking dish; covered; and heated it through.  We ate it with Jacob's crackers/butter and watermelon.  Odd combo but satisfying, nourishing, and satiating.  The touch of humor was needing to use a frying pan to serve the watermelon. :)

Breakfast
I had 2 scrambled eggs early before running a before-breakfast errand; the dc had, yes, boxed cereal (sigh) - Cascadia Farms organic O cereal (extrudiated, so major compromise food).

Lunch
Bob's Red Mill 7 Grain Hot Cereal:  I wanted it for lunch because it was so good the day before.  When I asked if anyone wanted any all 3 dc shouted out, lol.  Unconventional lunch but it was good.  One dd and I used blueberries and the other 2 added raisins.  Yes, I threw a bone in there again while it was cooking for the goodies.

Dinner
Spaghetti:  I used 1/2 pound grass-fed beef and some diced bell pepper/onion.  To that I just added a can (ugh) of organic tomato sauce with lots of Real Salt.  It was...okay.  I overcooked the noodles, bleh.  For sides we finished that watermelon and had yogurt with blueberries and a salad.  I was thrilled to find organic carrots at the local Wal-Mart for less than $1 for a pound bag.

Breakfast
Me and oldest dd: eggs.  Other dc boxed organic cereal (ugh).

Lunch
We ate at a local small-business sandwich shop.  I shamelessly ate a pulled pork sandwich without grilling them about their pork source.  Usually I only order pork at Chipotle (read this, here is a small quote: "Today, in addition to all of our pork and all of our chicken in the US, more than 50 percent of our beef is raised in this way. And someday soon, all of the meats we serve will be naturally raised."). A kid's taco kit at Chipotle is just right for me.  I'll miss knowing it's nearby for those emergency meals on the run (not that we went often but the 4 times a year it sure was nice!).

Snack
Crackers and cheese:  I had a bit of sliced cheddar from the freezer (Minerva Cheese) that I defrosted and served with some Pita Crackers.

Dinner
Leftover cooked grass-fed rump roast from the freezer; mashed potatoes (organics from Wal-Mart for $3.50 with plenty left over); and peas.  One dd hasn't been feeling great so I made a meat broth by shredding some of the roast and simmering it in a little water.  Then I poured off the liquid and gave her that.  She ended up with seconds and also ate seconds of the potatoes :).  She felt much better.

Breakfast
Soaked Bob's Red Mill cooked with a bone from the freezer (pastured pork chop bone) for added nutrients.
[Olders had a piece of Ezequiel Sprouted 7 Grain bread with butter before running an early errand with dh and had the hot cereal when they got home]

Lunch
Me: A quasi-chicken salad with 2 hard boiled eggs, 1/2 mango, Hain's safflower mayo, Real Salt, a dash of Italian Herb vinaigrette, and some leftover chicken.  It boosted me out of my fatigue almost immediately.  Then I had a small bowl of organic Kettle potato chips (sigh).
Dc: Sandwiches with leftover chicken or roast on Ezekiel bread with mayo; nice and thick potato soup; lots of mango; plain yogurt (youngest dd put mango in hers).

Dinner
Tacos (sort of):  the leftover 1/2 lb of grass-fed ground beef that I had cooked with pepper and onion; fresh cilantro; sour cream (Daisy brand); cheddar cheese (regular store brand cheddar); lettuce, and organic salsa (maybe the Target brand?) served on pita bread :).  We ate some applesauce on the side also.

Breakfast
I guess I can't conveniently skip writing a meal if I'm being truly honest with this food log, so... Dh offered donuts for breakfast this morning.  2 dc took him up on it and 1 dc ate a hard boiled egg (by choice!).  I had a hard boiled egg (with a tiny bit of mayo) for protein and a bowl of Back to Nature sweetened wheat-fuls.

Lunch
Applegate ham on Ezekiel bread w/ Hain's mayo; sauerkraut; pears; raw carrot; some Jason's crackers.

Snack
A handful of kettle potato chips (no canola/corn oil) each (okay, I had 2 handfuls - my weakness) as dinner was cooking.

Dinner
Leftover-filled egg rolls/lumpias:  My dc love anything cooked up in an egg roll and they are all called lumpias (my apologies to any Filipinos who know what a lumpia *really* is... I try to make those too!).  I threw the following leftovers in a big bowl:  mashed potatoes, a teeny tiny bit of roast and chicken, and some frozen peas.  I put little scoops on the egg roll wraps and added a tiny piece of cheddar cheese.  Then I rolled them and fried them in virgin sunflower oil (trying to stay away from canola - major GE crop - and don't have my coconut oil).  For dipping I tried the vinaigrette I have and also mixed (in another bowl) mayo and ketchup for the dc.  We ate 20 and 2 are left for the freezer.

I missed a few days that I was going to include.  Basically we had scrambled eggs one morning and (again) Back to Nature's version of shredded wheat another.  For lunch, despite great plans of bean and cheese melts using homemade soaked/cooked beans from the freezer, we just had the regular sandwiches and sides.  We're having those bean/cheese melts for breakfast today.  For dinner we had pancakes from the Bob's Red Mill package served with butter and local honey.  Oldest dd made those for us and the dc really liked them.  We tripled the batch and it was just barely enough for 5 people.

If you've actually read this "menu" I'm quite impressed, lol!  Hopefully it will give some encouragement seeing how I try, yet stumble, yet keep trying to give my family nourishing food during our transition.  Who am I kidding?  The transition is the excuse - I haven't ever had it all together :).

This is part of Real Food Wednesday:
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2011/07/real-food-wednesday-7202011.html

Free Online Lesson Planner

What's Schoolin'?

Free Online High School Courses:
http://www.courserepository.org/

Lesson Planner:

Here is a free online lesson planner that worked really really well for me... when I used it :).

http://www.home-school-inc.com/

It worked great with the way I plan units, Montessori presentations, or teacher directed lessons. I liked it better than the the basic (free) Homeschool Tracker due to its flexibility and ease of use.  Setting up the courses the first time takes a while as you learn and input.  The following years it was pretty quick to set up new courses.

A few quirks:
I don't care about the times and didn't use it for a schedule, but I DID want the courses printed in the weekly schedule in order of presentation.  Well, it alphabetizes when you print them all out for the week (within each day) so to solve this problem, when you name your course start with the number.  For example, I named math:  1.Math; 2.Writing, etc. If you use scheduled times when you set up the courses this may not be an issue.

You can print by the month, week, or day.  You can print out an assignment sheet for each child as well.

You can use it to keep records of what the child DID instead of planning.

You can plan each subject out as far as you want independently of the others.  This was the major selling point for me.  I don't plan weekly well.  When I'm on a roll with a topic I want to keep going.  Others I tried wanted me to plan each subject for the week.  That's not how my mind works; especially since I don't really follow many curr with just inputing page numbers.  I have to actually write what we'll do or at least the materials. 

If you skip school one day (field trip, illness, etc) you can push everything forward, which is nice.  However, if you just want to push one subject forward because you didn't get to it, you can't.  Maybe it's improved since then.  I am looking forward to checking on that aspect and trying it again this year.  Remember:  It's free!

Some more free online planners:

http://www.homeschoolskedtrack.com/HomeSchool/displayLogin.do

http://www.homeschooltracker.com/tracker_basic.aspx

Years ago when I looked through millions of lesson planning (software and/or online) I found and liked this one.  They even had a conference call with me and led me through it:
http://www.oncoursesystems.com/products/lessonplanner/lp.aspx
What's Cookin'?

Free samples from Bragg's:
http://bragg.com/samples/samples_23651.php

Here are some bone broth links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGUCSaud1kI

I have *got* to get my hands on some bison bones!  I can't afford the meat but maybe some bones.  That's what I do with organic free range chickens - I just get the bones instead of the meat.
http://www.traditional-foods.com/recipes/bison-broth/

Big Lots Food Finds and Some School Finds

What's Cookin'?

Simple Sides:  Boiled tiny potatoes from the farmers market and boiled diced beets.  Lots of butter and some Real Salt.  Several dc went back for seconds.

Emergency Dinner:  We came in at 5:30 and I was fatigued.  It was time to pull a rabbit out of a hat.  Olive oil ('cuz that's the only oil I have right now) and butter in a skillet; add a bag of frozen oriental veggies; add about 2 cups of pre-cooked/pre-cut frozen chicken leftovers and heat all on medium.  When it's all heated through sprinkle in some flour (we overdid it with about 3 tablespoons!) and a bunch of milk (until it's runny because it will thicken noticeably).  Bring it to a low boil and add more milk as needed to keep it the consistency of gravy.  The only seasoning I have is Real Salt right now so I generously gave the family some trace minerals as I added some Real Salt.  From the freezer to the table in less than 30 minutes.  Okay, giving credit where credit is due:  Middle dd stirred it, after I tossed it all in the pan, and kept an eye on it until it was time to make the gravy in the pan.

Big Lots:  If you have a Big Lots in your area you may be surprised by some of the food items.  Bob's Red Mill flours.  Yep.  Here is what I got and remember, no shipping!
Organic High Fiber Pancake and Waffle whole grain mix - $3.50
7 Grain Hot Cereal - $3.00
Gluten Free Cornbread Mix - $2.45

I hesitated to get the cornbread mix because corn is such a BIG genetically modified crop and it was not organic.  However, I found this on their website which puts my mind at ease.  Unfortunately, since it's a mix it'll be a compromise because I can't soak the corn in lime.  Hopefully I can eat a little without any consequences due to the mold/toxins/mycotoxins that get neutralized after soaking corn in lime water overnight.  The truth is, I probably wouldn't have soaked it anyway because my pickling lime is in my mom's garage somewhere...

"Are your products genetically modified?
No. All of our products come from identity preserved seeds. This means the seed planted in the ground is non-GMO. We simply can't guarantee against cross pollination due to natural occurrences such as wind drift, so we do not label our products GMO-free."
http://www.bobsredmill.com/bobs-red-mill-faq.html#GP4

I can soak the 7 Grain Hot Cereal for tomorrow, but the Pancake and Waffle mix already has baking powder in it.  I wonder:  Would it change the pH or would it just fizzle out and not give it rise?  I could always add more baking powder in the morning but I'm not sure what it would do to the soaking since it is already in there.  Another compromise.  Yes, ideally, just make the pancakes from scratch (or simply not eat it). However, I haven't found plain whole wheat flour in the stores around here yet and I wanted to do give them a treat in the midst of the transition.


I think what I'll do is try to get some bone broth in them any way I can.  I may even toss a bone from the freezer in with the hot cereal while it cooks.  We've been eating a LOT of compromise foods and white flour and unsoaked grains.  I may need to temporarily get some Concentrace until we're settled again. 


Another find at Big Lots: 
Old Orchard Organic Pomegranate Green Tea (caffeine free) 64 oz for $2.00 [I'm not sure about decaf green tea since it naturally has caffeine and I'm not sure how it's processed, but I got some for the pomegranate]
They also had Fig Newtons for $2 for dh but we won't talk about that!!

I found some Milton's graham crackers for the dc with minimal ingredients for $2 as well and some Jacob's cream crackers with just wheat flour, palm oil, salt, sodium bicarbonate, and yeast for $1.50.  These are both stashed in the cabinet for a later time.  The crackers are for homemade cream cheese or some low-pasteurized cheddar from grass fed cows that I just took out of the freezer.  Hopefully the topping will counter some of the compromise foods.

These Food Finds are linked on Kelly's Real Food Wednesday:
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2011/07/real-food-wednesday-7132011.html

PS:  I'm reading Dr. Brownstein's book Salt Your Way to Health.  It's an easy read if you want to understand why REAL (as in authentic not just the brand) sea salt is good for you and refined and/or lab salt is bad.  We NEED those trace minerals.  Okay, that would be another post, but I read 1/2 the book in one sitting and will finish it today. 

What's Schoolin'?

This floor plan for a 3-5 Montessori classroom was posted on one of the groups:
http://www.julianagroup.com/images/Classroom3D.jpg

I noticed they have 10% off right now:
http://www.julianagroup.com/

Free online grammar/writing workbooks:
http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html

Adapted Classics:  I'm usually not one to get abridged versions of classics.  In the words of middle dd, "I'd rather wait and read the original book."  However, when I saw Heidi, Pollyanna, and The Little Princess for only $1 each at Target I snagged them.  Youngest dd is excited to read Heidi because she says that she's heard about it and is curious.  I remember watching the Heidi cartoon growing up but, I admit it, I've never actually read the book... until last night.  I really enjoyed this abridged classic and look forward to the original. 

So, if you happen to be in Target, scope out the dollar section by the front door. 

They also usually have card sets.  You could get double sets to make 3-part cards or simply to put on the shelves for shelf work, depending on the card set.

Mardel:  It's time to get geared up for Mardel's big education sale July 21st!  20% off all education, school supplies, homeschool, and kids' products. Fortunately for me there's a Mardel in all three towns I keep bouncing back and forth between these days.  Here's a link (on the homepage there's a banner announcing the 20% off that day):
http://www.mardel.com/education-sale-july-2011.aspx

Our new schedule we are trying this week: 
Mornings:  Breakfast and go run around scouting out the new town for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  It's too hot to do anything outside so mainly window shopping and the library, errands, etc.
Noon-ish:  Home for lunch
Afternoons:  About an hour of schoolwork (mainly math but will add our Chemistry and History tomorrow); quiet time for everyone (maybe just 1/2 hour); free time/play time while I make dinner. [this already got changed the first day because dh wants to go swimming in the late afternoons - truly great, just hard on dinner prep.  I'll work it out and time with daddy is too important to skip]
Evenings: Dinner, etc routine.

What's Green?

Freecycle:  If you're not hooked in with freecycle yet, give it a try.  It's easy to see if there is a group for your area and to join the local group.  The purpose is to keep usable items that would otherwise go to the landfill out and into the hands of someone who actually wants/needs that item.  I have been blessed over and over by people's generosity.  I have also tried to bless others with items we no longer need. Make sure you use .org in the link:
http://www.freecycle.org/

What's Lyme Green?

This looks like a really good site to start out with regarding Lyme Disease.  It has some good links in one spot but isn't overwhelming.

http://lyme-aware.org/texas.html