The Little Room that Does it All

You know it's true.

I've started a number of projects on this lil' ol' blog and have a handful of them just waiting for me to get back to and call it a wrap.

There's the time the cows came home.  But, first, they ran away.  I've only written Part I. I've been told it's moooo-ving.  Right.

Libby got a facelift. I promised a nice set a spell on the front porch with photos.  But then I painted the front door.  And I don't like how it turned out.  I haven't re-painted it.  So we wait.

January, the month of beginnings, brought the start of a mini series about personal finances.

And, if my math is right, I'm still short five out of 31 Days of Green Acres.

Here's how this all fits together.
I'm doing a little "housecleaning"- for real, and in my blog content.
Spring has been long in coming and winter needs clearing out.
So, as I sort, purge, reorganize, and get new projects started, I'm evaluating many of my loose ends.

Turns out that more than once I've said I'd offer a photo tour of this old farmhouse, but have only posted scattered images.

And, I've been participating all along over at Edie's:

Here's the connection.

Today's link up is about our homes.  What have we been doing to live more intentionally in our houses, apartments, townhomes, and yurts.  

Well, I haven't seen anybody link up with a yurt, but that would be way awesome!

So, would you like to come on in? Not only do I long to be more hospitable, today's link up offers an opportunity to purposefully make good on one of too many unfulfilled commitments.

I've got one space in particular I've been working on since September.  Yup, for for-eveh.

We have a zero budget decorating policy around these parts, so everything you see is thrifted, a dumpster score, or built in our shop.  

And, when I say that, it makes me giggle that I've given this space a name with such gravitas.

The Library.

She doesn't take herself all that seriously.

Furthermore, it is not lost on me that she doesn't hold that many books.

But, that's what we named her when we moved in and it stuck.

She's an office, therapy center, conference room, reading nook, coloring space, filing center, refuge, retreat, sick room, and music room.

Early mornings she and I settle into each other for prayer, scripture reading, coffee, and contemplation.

At midday she graciously accepts more stacks of paper to be added to my helter skelter administrative system.

Evenings she welcomes me to write, talk with kids or Weekend Farmer Hubby, and often catch up on email and social media.

She's a jack of all trades and is gracious enough to be master of none.

Warm.

Colorful.

Formerly a bedroom.

Still a work in progress.

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Two final images for you:

The final frontier- once I've sorted a few other areas, these shelves will be full of handy books and supplies for home education.  Oh yeah- I forgot.  I'm on the lookout for the perfect light fixture.  The bare bulb just isn't rocking my world.  But, it does light my world.

And, lastly, a nod to the master ( tee- hee )!

Tell me, where've you seen this before?

xoxo,
Laura

He Calms the Storm

We've been working on an important project at Liberty Farm.
And, should we succeed, it will revolutionize life together.

It's something that we've been dealing with for almost 21 years.
And finally, it wore us (me), out and it's time came.

Six children, hundreds of thunderstorms, bad dreams, and itchy pajamas later, Weekend Farmer Husband and I are no longer allowing our youngest to share our bed and middle of the night snuggle time.

This is revolutionary on many levels, but foremost is physical.
I can feel my arms when I wake up.
I sleep several uninterrupted hours in a row.
Clarity of mind is easier to achieve without constant sleep deprivation.
My preschooler is less irritable because she's getting better sleep.
And, the sanctity and precious nature of our marriage bed is being resorted.

Except for last night.

Dinner by candlelight during power outage

Hours and hours of pouring rain and rolling thunder made a symphony of the night, and the littlest among us was undone.

We allowed her to suck her thumb.
We gave her "special" blankets.
She slept with a flashlight.
Her kitties curled into her side and offered their warmth and comfort.

And none of that was enough.

So, when she came and whimpered in her fear that she was come apart, her loving father made room for her, drew her near, and assured her of his protection.

And she rested.
Deeply.
Satisfied and safe.

The storm didn't abate.
In fact, although we're not being pelted at the moment, dark clouds are gathered in the sky, and will release themselves on us soon.

Still, she sleeps.

And I'm reminded how for the Christian, we too have an open invitation to crawl right up next to God the Father, broken, needy, weary, and undone.  Amass with fear and the failure of self soothing, we have endless access to comfort, mercy, tenderness, care, love, and rest.

This changes how I pray and how I think.
Life is stormy.
And all too frequently, I too find myself undone.

For so long I've had a habit of soldiering on, and like we've done many times with our littlest, sought immediate comfort measures.

But, they've been of my own making and built on foundations of sand.
Prone to being swept away by the stormy winds and surges.

I'm learning to run to Abba Father, God the Most High, quickly and often, and seek comfort and courage in His presence.

And although storm clouds gather - literally and figuratively, I've a shelter in the storm.

Lyrics here.

xoxo,
Laura

Flavorful, Succulent, Tender - Every Time

You've noticed haven't you, that the demand for locally raised, sustainably produced, fresh, real, whole, and flavorful food is on the rise?

And, you've also observed that there's a surge of interest in homestead practices, self sufficiency, earth keeping, participation in co-ops and markets, natural non toxic products, all things homemade or handmade,  and farm shares, right?

In fact, I think there's a word that's been adopted to try and capture the essence of some of these practices, and although I've not mentioned everything the word implies, much of what I've written is included when someone describes themselves as "crunchy". It's kind of fun reading through the urban dictionary and other sources when you put "crunchy" in the search bar!

When Weekend Farmer Husband and I made our big move to Liberty Farm, being crunchy was completely off the radar.

That was then.

Now, we at many levels talk the talk and walk the walk.

Why this long introduction that has nothing to do with the title of this post?
Well, first, if you've been here very long, you know that's typical.
Second, it's important that you know that much of what follows comes out of a vast share-house of people like you and me who are interested in the same topics, and have written and shared extensively on their success, failure, and practices.
So, what I'm about to record is a compilation of many generous sources.

For the last three years we have raised Freedom Ranger chickens to fill our freezer and eventually our bellies.  We purchase our chicks here, and if you visit the website, you'll get an easy overview of the breed and their distinctives.

They are quite large when finished. They are big breasted, long legged, with substantial thighs.  So, it's taken some getting used to when cooking.

If I remember the following steps, our dinner is flavorful, succulent, and tender - every time.  (phew, you were wondering weren't you if I'd ever get there?!)

• First, and I'm coming to believe most importantly, give these birds plenteous time to defrost.  Like days.  If it's a whole chicken I have it in my refrigerator for up to 5-7 days just slowly thawing, tissues softening. If I've been flighty - right- when I'm flighty and I forget to plan ahead, I sometimes rush this process, and without fail the meat is less flavorful and not as tender. Chicken should be tightly wrapped.
• Second, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.  For me this began because my oven does not have a thermostat (no joke), so the temperature is not well regulated.  I have learned to cook by "feel" until such time as we replace the oven.  And, my trusty partner is an oven thermometer that can endure the heat of the oven and give me feedback about doneness. Your "normal" super store chicken is quite a bit smaller with more moisture injected into its tissues, so they cook much faster.  Which leads me to my next point.
• Third, allow enough cooking time.  These birds (given my particular wonky oven) take up to 1/3rd longer than the name brand chicken I used to get from my grocery store.
• Fourth, be generous with oil or butter when preparing your bird.  I've come to love butter for oven roasting chicken, and let me tell 'ya, even Paula Deen would be shocked by the amount of butter I use!
• Fifth, get your chicken started in a hot oven.  450 degrees. Then, back the temperature off to 350-375 for the remainder of the cooking time.  If my oven isn't behaving too schizo, I keep it hot for about 25 minutes, and then finish out at the lower temperature. (Most of the birds I prepare for our family are between 6.5 and 7 lbs.  Yup, you read that right.  Smaller birds = less time)
• Sixth, once your wonderfully aromatic chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees, pull that golden masterpiece out of the oven, discretely wipe the corners of your mouth because you're starting to drool. Wait. That's just me. Let the bird "rest". At least 10 minutes before carving.
• Seventh, keep in mind that I am an intuitive cook.  I rarely consult recipes and am prone to cook and create from what's available in my pantry, freezer, and refrigerator.  If what I've written is not detailed enough, use your mighty computer to source more specifics.  I'll link some helpful info at the end of this post to get you started!
• Eight, if a whole bird is too much for you (and there are many reasons why that could be - no guilt, I promise), fire up your YouTube channel, sharpen your knives, put on an apron (I like cute and colorful ones), and watch and learn how to portion up a whole chicken.  

Ignore the straight face and focus on the cute apron.  It was Monday. And February.  And I live in the North.  Brr.

• You then have options.  Dark meat in stews or soups.  Breasts on the grill or in a spicy pasta dish.  Endless opportunities.  Remember - plan ahead for defrosting.  In my family, this approach requires me to defrost three whole birds, but the variety and flexibility of using different part of the chicken at different times make the refrigerator space and time worth it. 

What? you're wondering if I have a restaurant size refrigerator?  Mwahahahaaaaah! Nope. I have a humble 16 year old "regular" refrigerator.  Maybe even a lot like yours?

• Ninth and finally, keep trying.  It's taken me awhile to fine tune my process to accommodate for the different kind of bird and meat than I'd been accustomed to.  Commit to the value of the product, the practical ideology of supporting your local farmer, and the nutritional benefits of whole, real food.  No experience is ever wasted, and if you end up with a mealtime bust, clear the table, whip up some scrambled eggs, or bread and cheese, or whatever. Shred the chicken, turn it into soup, salad, or casserole, and purpose to try again.  You won't regret it.

Okay, my fellow crunchies and crunchy wannabes - join the conversation! Share your best pins, Aunt Ginny's no fail recipe, or your questions.  Please? We'll all be the better for it, and so will supper.

xoxo 

Laura

Link to the You Tube channel with myriad tutorials on cutting up whole chickens here.

This is an informative blog post about the chickens I reference and we use the same practices at Liberty Farm.  Bonus - specific recipe included!

Many of these tips are a repeat, but it's sometimes helpful when sources independently confirm each other.

This post has lots of comparable information as well, but toward the bottom there's a yummy looking recipe for a split roasted chicken.  Will definitely be trying this!
And, last but not least, this a a magazine article reprinted from Alice Water's (a queen bee crunchy if you ask me...) The Art of Simple Food.

Note: Although I've read each of the posts above, I've not explored the each blog in depth - maybe you'll come back and tell me what you found?

Reluctant Quiet

Quiet here.

I find quiet challenging.
My thought life is always "noisy", and writing, being with you, editing photos, and bearing testimony to the good news of the gospel in my life is something I crave. It helps cultivate the "noisy" into something productive.  Redeemed, maybe?

I'm trying to make my peace with no time to write, no chance to make connections here.
I've somewhat always subscribed to the truism that you make time for what's important - how can I have so many important things that keep me away from other important things?

I don't particularly join in the camp of mommies needing to make time for themselves, but I do think some things do need to have hierarchy, or a balance of priority in our lives.  Like brushing my teeth.
(Which, some days, seems too much, frankly.)

So far in this quiet I've kept my commitment to exercise regularly, read well (much to my chagrin it's been mostly online - books are much better for me), and keep some sort of sleep schedule.

Somebody's been practicing tying knots on momma's shoes!

But, that seems to be all the discretionary time I have.
I have to admit I'm a little nervous about this as we've got nothing in the ground, since our Northern climate has yet to yield to warmth, and we have very few animals on the farm.  We need our pastures to "wake up" in order to feed them!

If I can't wiggle my schedule around now (with fewer commitments), how will I ever make it through our busy season?

A long winter/late spring is keeping us cooped up, and I think to some degree is the culprit in a perpetual cycle of both low level and acute illness that keeps visiting us. I should not underrate the impact of always having illness in the home.  None of it is serious.  All of it exacts it's price.

Gah- the price, appears for now, to be quiet.
So, I'm reluctantly paying up.
Trusting that the ticker tape of words that scrolls just behind my eyeballs will be just as vital when it comes time to write it down as it was when it first appeared.

Tending to our home, serving the needs of viral achy bodies, cultivating patience, and making peace with quiet are the markers on the trail right now.

Time to get my boots on and start walking the journey of another day.

Spending or Saving: Two Habits We Practice

Sun is pouring into the farmhouse and it is sure to be fleeting, so let's enjoy this brightness together, yes?

We've been slowly, steadily, and hopefully wisely making our way through a series about finances.  It began a long time ago when I presented this info to a local home school support group, and then realized it would be valuable to capture these ideas for my ongoing benefit, possibly theirs, and I hope the farmkids.  You can read about it here, as well as catch up with the other posts in the series.

The last habit I shared is one of several our family practices, and today we're gonna press on with two more that Weekend Farmer Husband and I actually apply with some measure of consistency.

We try to have as many multiple use items in our home as possible. It just makes sense to us that we would cultivate a pantry, medicine chest, and cleaning closet that cross pollinate. (One of my favorite phrases from Marie!)  For example, you probably know that vinegar is great for adding a bright flavor to sauces, salad dressings, and soups.  Apple Cider Vinegar in particular has amazing health supporting properties and can fix what ails 'ya on many levels.  White vinegar is a great cleaning agent, and although stinky, my spring cleaning routine includes throwing open some windows and cleaning off the panes from all their winter grime.

Vinegar is one of but many multiple use items we keep handy. The list keeps growing, but this is what we currently keep around:
Castille Soap- bar and liquid
Baking Soda
Hydrogen Peroxide
Coconut Oil
Raw Unfiltered Honey
Some Essential Oils (lavender, tea tree, peppermint, rosemary)
White Distilled Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Green Tea
Spices (cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper)
Witch Hazel
Garlic
Lemons

The list is in no particular order and if you'd like to read more, please click here to access some of my Pinterest boards with links that explain a little more in detail. ("yes" - I've at least tried most of what I've pinned, and many I've adopted.  They remain pinned either because they were successful, or I believe I can tweak them to work more effectively for us.)

If you google, check Pinterest, or read blogs that feature these items, you'll find that a number of them can be blended together so you can make your own cleaners, health and beauty products, and of course, many of them you commonly use for food preparation.  So, naturally, you find yourself figuring out if you can make it yourself before you dash off to the store to buy it.

Yup, that's another habit of ours.  It's a natural extension of being a DIYer, so I make my own cream based soups, shampoo (if necessary - oftentimes we just use baking soda with water, rinse, follow with vinegar), laundry detergent, cough syrup, vapor rub, to name a few.

We don't use mixes for baking, or items like bouillon cubes.  I just make it.  It's maybe just a smidge more time, but it's almost always as economical.  And, in the event that it costs a little more, I make the trade because we're cleaning up our diet and it's beneficial to know the ingredients in our food, and to be able to avoid the multiple additives and preservatives found in much processed food.

It's true.  Sometimes I fail to plan, and have to come up with a crazy substitution, but so far I've not had any epic fails.  Just don't ask me for the recipe.

One last thing on multipurpose items and making things ourselves: Young moms especially ask me how I "do it all" or alternately, "how did you figure this all out?"  I join the ranks of thousands of bloggers, women, mothers, and professionals who do.not.do.it. all. Ever. Just like you, I keep trying.  Sometimes it works out great.  Others - well, you know.  As far as figuring things out, who doesn't love the internet?  And, since I'm youthful but no longer young, (read "old school"), I do find myself heading to the library more frequently than to a Wikipedia page!  It begins with a question or a need, then some reading, then some considering how to implement incremental change, and then layer upon layer a habit is formed.

I'd be thrilled if you added to my list!
What obvious thing am I missing?
What common but surprisingly adaptable item do you have in your cupboard?

xoxo,
Laura

Spending or Saving - One of our Habits

Howdy y'all - time to get back in the saddle and on the trail of this little series I started about handling our finances.

You've been so gracious about waiting for me to get back here and get on topic, so let's see what we can get nailed down today, okay?

We've been talking about habits to cultivate, and I've up to this point shared what I think are general ideas.  The following, (and final), habits are some that Weekend Farmer Husband and I have personally adopted.

I've only got a few minutes so I think I'll only get to one...
(And, pssssst - today is Weekend Farmer Husband's BIRTHDAY!  I'm gonna scuttle away from the computer really quick like and help my little farm chicks make their daddy breakfast in bed. Awwwww.)

Be Healthy.  Honestly, this is something we didn't pay much mind to until our post 40 bodies demanded it.  Suddenly there were aches, pains, noises, mild injuries, ailments, and energy drain that seemed to come from nowhere.  And, they were chronic.  They got our attention.

We changed a number of our practices - exercise, food, supplements, reducing toxins in our food and environment, began learning about essential oils, and overall became our own health advocates. Not only are we doing this for ourselves, we're including the farm kids.  They tease that I'm a little too out there when I suggest for example that we might try rubbing some essential peppermint oil on their temples and neck when they've got a mild headache rather than offering a  common pain reliever, but once they get the initial thrill of ribbing their mom, they're respectful participants.

And, you know what?  We all feel better.  True story.

Although we cannot see into the future, and we can't know what health threats we might encounter, we've decided to pursue a slow but steady progression of stewarding our health day to day rather than singularly having a well funded medical savings account.

Specifically, we've increased our food budget and decreased our medical expenses budget.  Understanding food as medicine, we pay our grocer and our farmer more, and we participate in our local health food center's buyer discount. And, when necessary, we visit our pediatrician, chiropractor, and other health care practitioners.

We started by reading blogs, newsletters, journals, books and talking to folks who are ahead of us in adopting and integrating these practices.

As I've said before, the changes we've made have been incremental. We're a strong willed highly opinionated bunch, so changing everything all at once was not only financially too complicated, I think I would have had mutiny on my hands.

So, if this is of interest to you I'd suggest picking an area or two that seems "right" for your circumstances to research and then apply your findings.  And, then pre-plan how it will impact your budget so that there aren't surprises to the bottom line.

The little chicks are barely able to contain their excitement - off I go to scramble up some super healthy eggs from our hens and whip up some sort of spicy and potent warm drink.  I think something with chocolate is the way to go - what do you think?

xoxoxo,
Laura

Surprised by Love

I wasn't fixin' to fall in love.

In fact, I was already in a committed relationship.

We'd been together for almost six years and had finally arrived at that place where, having worked through lots of our stuff, we were really getting along.

Not only were we comfortable, we understood each other, we served each other well, and we complimented each other.

There was plenty of grace for each other's quirks and neither of us demanded too much of the other.
We worked well together, played together even better, and had learned how to offer each other rest.
Of all the relationships I'd had, this one was the best.

I was pretty sure we would be together for the rest of our lives.

And then, Weekend Farmer Husband said, "It's time."

Time for what?

Time to get out of what I had thought was a long term relationship and establish a new one.

Unlike the previous relationships I'd sought, this time I had very few requirements.

I was looking for something that wouldn't cost too much, couldn't be long distance, and wouldn't for a time be too jealous that it was going to take awhile to disentangle from the relationship I was already in.

Probably something that needed a rescue.
I could anticipate years of quirks that might remain unresolved, either unresponsive to whatever fixes I  might offer or too costly to engage.
And, unlike ever before, this time I was faced with physical undesirability- bad smells, over all unsightliness - I was looking for something the world would not esteem.

It wasn't love at first sight.
As anticipated, the smells were overwhelming and the ugly I encountered was daunting.
Although initially "affordable", this relationship was going to require a whole lot of fixin'- time, money, patience, and sacrifice.
And, for me, perhaps the most frightening was the requirement to quite literally move into a region and a lifestyle that I'd never aspired to.
Not only was I going to have to physically, mentally, and creatively labor to nurture and grow this new relationship, I was going to have to make unanticipated heart sacrifices of hopes for a kind of future that had no place where I was headed.

I gave up finished.
I gave up spacious.
I gave up comforts.
I gave up perks.
I gave up (to some degree) perceived status.


And I gained the world.
Not the "worldly" kind of world, but the expansive, beautiful, giving, life nurturing kind of world that one encounters in the creation account of scriptures.
I found my place.
The kind of world that leads to being "emplaced" - understanding that where you are and what you're doing in that place has a profoundly deep significance not only to you, but to those you serve and the generations to come.

A place of wide open sky, waving grass, gentle dawn, and passionate sunset.
Seasons bless my heart and mind and I experience exhilaration as nature declares its intent and I rejoice in mud, blistering heat, dancing leaves, and wave after wave of lake effect snow.
Formerly indifferent to animals, (at best), I've been enlarged by creatures of the air that traverse our fields, make their homes in rotted fence posts, and chirp into the calm or cry alarm to the winds. Beasts of the field have become a thing of beauty and I'm astonished at their intelligence, charm, and at the end their sacrifice.  Symbiotic relationship abounds and now separated from the commitments of subdivision, street lamps, and sidewalks I see how I need the earth and it needs me to steward, bless, and as long as God tarries, preserve it.

I understand that I'm in love in a way I've never experienced before.
It was so uncertain at first and so hard to trust.
How could this possibly work out?
It was going to be so hard, and although on the outside I appeared confident and committed, I doubted myself.

But, I entered into the brokenness and the need.
I embraced the imperfection.
I forgave the ongoing quirks, and I still do.
Smells notwithstanding, I overlooked the ugly and sought the beauty that I knew lay underneath years of bad choices, neglect, and being overlooked.
In short, understanding that I would be taking on a multitude of shortcomings, limitations, and enduring marks of the past, I decided to love and redeem.

I wasn't setting out to be a savior.
And, since I had no glorified sense of self, I suspect that I've been more open to seeing the parallels to my own salvation.
As I (we) sacrifice ourselves over and over again for this new life I am overcome with gratitude for Christ who at once through His perfect life, ministry, death, and resurrection redeemed my broken life.
He, because of His unending grace, covers over my bad smells, is merciful about choices I've made, and with gentle strength requires that I yield to him and His perfect design for this life and eternity.
I, who was once dead in my sins, have been given new life.
The old has passed away and the new has come.

As we seemingly lay down our lives again and again to raise our family well, and to establish and preserve this "emplaced" vision I am generously and gently reminded of how my broken life has been made beautiful by the love of a perfect Savior.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."
I John 3:16a

I'm thrilled to be linking up over at life{in}grace where Edie has cultivated a thoughtful, generous, and loving community to share in: