What's on Your Mind?
~Birdie
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Canning Christmas Leftovers
When my dad came down from Oregon for Christmas this last weekend he had this ingenious idea. Let's buy a ham. So off to Costco we went to get a ham... on Christmas Eve. Much to my surprise Costco was not nearly as busy as I thought it would be and much to my dad's surprise they were taste testing Patron. It was love at first sight for him... Arizona was my dad's new best friend. Because, really, a Costco that taste tests Patron? That's unusual. Ham in cart along with a bottle of white wine, wheat thins, and some Artichoke dip, we stood in line for a short time and made our way out to the car. We were in and out of Costco in a matter of 30 minutes... it must have been some kind of record. Now, I bring all this up because I was preparing Christmas dinner for three this weekend- two of which ate meat (me being the vegetarian in the family). That's a 9 pound ham for two people. Needless to say, we had a ton of ham leftovers and what better way to ensure those leftovers don't go to waste, but to can it in some soup? We had some packages of dried split peas and red lentils already in the "pantry," some carrots and celery leftover for Christmas dinner ingredients, and a bunch of yummy spices in the cabinet- perfect for making batches of Split Pea and Ham soup AND Lentil and Ham soup. Yum! I chopped up the ham and veggies and set the lentils and peas to boil in two separate pots. Then I added the veggies and ham and let the lot simmer. We were a little worried at first that we would run out of mason jars (oh what a dilemma!), but by the last batch we were safe and sound with some empty jars left on the shelf. I also made some Paste e Fagioli with Orzo for Christmas Eve dinner so I canned those leftovers as well. Nothing was to go to waste in our refrigerator!
In all we came up with:
2 pints of fagioli
8 1/2 pints split pea with ham soup
6 1/2 pints of lentil and ham soup
Yum Yum Yum!! (says the vegetarian)
Happy (and safe) Canning!
~ Birdie
In all we came up with:
2 pints of fagioli
8 1/2 pints split pea with ham soup
6 1/2 pints of lentil and ham soup
Yum Yum Yum!! (says the vegetarian)
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| From Left: Split Pea; Lentil (In the middle); Fagioli |
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| One batch of Split Pea was still in the pressure cooker. |
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| My remaining jars of Garden Vegetable Soup. Yum! |
~ Birdie
Sewing in the Dark
12:15AM December 23rd, 2010:
It had hit me earlier in the evening that I had stockings for myself, my Beau, and my dad, but no stockings for my babies- the cats (Porter and Ada) and dog (Izzie.) So in a flurry of thread, fabric, and a sewing machine I quickly plotted together a bone shaped stocking for Izzie and a "fish" shaped stocking for Ada and Porter (although it didn't turn out quite as fishy as I had planned it.) It was a stormy night out, lots of wind and some rain, and as I was sewing the cats' fish stocking together there was a big boom and all went dark.
Scrambling to light some candles and thankful we had a few flashlights handy we had our house up and running in no time. It was kind of nice to have the peace and quite and be able to listen to the rain fall, but I was on a mission. I needed to finish these stockings! I set out some candles on the table and began sewing the little details onto the bone stocking as best I could. The photos turned out really neat and the stockings ended up charming, at best.
We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas! Have a happy New Year and make those resolutions count! Next year's Christmas sewing project... a tree skirt. Whitney made one this year and it turned out great!
Merry Belated Christmas,
~Birdie
It had hit me earlier in the evening that I had stockings for myself, my Beau, and my dad, but no stockings for my babies- the cats (Porter and Ada) and dog (Izzie.) So in a flurry of thread, fabric, and a sewing machine I quickly plotted together a bone shaped stocking for Izzie and a "fish" shaped stocking for Ada and Porter (although it didn't turn out quite as fishy as I had planned it.) It was a stormy night out, lots of wind and some rain, and as I was sewing the cats' fish stocking together there was a big boom and all went dark.
Scrambling to light some candles and thankful we had a few flashlights handy we had our house up and running in no time. It was kind of nice to have the peace and quite and be able to listen to the rain fall, but I was on a mission. I needed to finish these stockings! I set out some candles on the table and began sewing the little details onto the bone stocking as best I could. The photos turned out really neat and the stockings ended up charming, at best.
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| Izzie's Stocking |
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| Izzie protecting her stocking. |
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| Mine. Beau's. Izzie's. Dad's. Ada and Porter's. |
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| Porter hiding under the Christmas tree. |
Merry Belated Christmas,
~Birdie
Friday, December 17, 2010
Dear Santa...
Dear Santa,
I have been a very good girl this year. I have worked hard, shared my bounty with others, and practiced tolerance and forgiveness to others. I have helped people when there were in need, and extended an invitation to those who need it for whatever reason. I have loved my spouse with all my heart and been a pretty good mama to my four legged babies. When faced with opposition I have tried my best to swallow my pride and took the high road when I could have stayed in the gutters with others. For these reason I have provided a list of things I would love to see under the Christmas tree this year... no pressure.
I think that is all for now. I understand some of the items are kind of large, so if it helps, please feel free to set them beside the tree, not under it. I really appreciate your efforts. Merry Christmas to you and your family up North at the Pole.
Sincerely,
~Birdie
I have been a very good girl this year. I have worked hard, shared my bounty with others, and practiced tolerance and forgiveness to others. I have helped people when there were in need, and extended an invitation to those who need it for whatever reason. I have loved my spouse with all my heart and been a pretty good mama to my four legged babies. When faced with opposition I have tried my best to swallow my pride and took the high road when I could have stayed in the gutters with others. For these reason I have provided a list of things I would love to see under the Christmas tree this year... no pressure.
- A book of John Audubon Prints
- Natural wood frames with matting
- Elvis Presley Records (vinyl)
- An Apple laptop
- A house, the keys to such would be fine under the tree
- Colored glass kitchen wares
- Antique kitchen utensils
- A chaise lounge the opens to the right
- A financial windfall
- The peridot earrings at Casablanca Jewelers
- Garth Brooks concert tickets
- A wrought iron queen/king size bed
- A gun safe
- A new couch and sitting chair
- A two room shed (or materials to such, I can put it together)
- A chicken coop
- Chickens
- Books, books, and more books!
I think that is all for now. I understand some of the items are kind of large, so if it helps, please feel free to set them beside the tree, not under it. I really appreciate your efforts. Merry Christmas to you and your family up North at the Pole.
Sincerely,
~Birdie
Thursday, December 16, 2010
SWIHA
Well... it's official. After long deliberation between Beau and I about finances and practical use, I have done it. As of January 31, 2011 I will be beginning my journey into the holistic health world. This has been a long time coming and I can't express in words how excited I am to be starting, finally starting this adventure. The more my spirituality grew these last few years the more I became interested in the human body and its incredible power of self-healing. The more I became interested in healing the more I wanted to find out how to do it naturally instead of injecting myself or my family with manufactured medicines that seem to be more concerned with making money than healing the individual. I have learned that in conventional medicine the medications we are taking for diabetes, weight loss, depression, etc. at there best are only good for making the symptoms of the illness go away (they do not cure) while at their worst they cause a list of side effects too many to list (hair loss, heart attack or stroke, inflamed joints, diarrhea, nausea, etc.). Before I woke up to an alternative I thought this was it. This is what we have to work with- take it or leave it. Get your flu shots, your H1N1, your blah blah blah. Boy was I wrong! There is so much out there beyond what we are fed through the media and society. There are alternatives and they work! Not only do they work, but they can cure! Cure! What a thought. Curing an illness. Healing the individual. I love holistic health because it focusing on the entire person. Curing the illness has much to do with healing the person as a whole- mind, body, and spirit. If you feel good emotional you will feel better physically. It is all connected. Now, before I get ahead of myself, I want to make it clear that I am amazed by modern medicine and medical technology. If I woke up one morning and my arm was on the left side of the room and my body was on the right, I most certainly would consult my nearest surgeon. There are some things that only modern medicine can tend to. For everything else, I am here to learn and apply.
School:
I have searched and searched and searched for a school in the United States (online or local) that would provide me with what I am searching for. I found many schools that, while having the most incredible school programs, were just as expensive as medical school. I found others that were a joke in every sense of the word. And I found others that were so cheap it made you wonder how it could be legitimate. Then I came across a school out of Oregon that was online as well as an open school to those in the area. They had a wonderful Apothecary Shoppe, lavender gardens, and herbs galore! The only problem with this school was that they didn't accept financial aide which left me at a loss. I don't have an extra $600 a month to pay for this program. So my search continued.
I had heard of a facility nearby, SouthWest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), where I live that was involved in holistic health and spirituality. They provided programs for Reiki, spa management, massage therapy, toe reading, and holistic practitioner's degrees. I was given mixed reviews of the place, but decided to check it out online to see for my self. The website is new-agey and is pretty straight forward. I looked over their degree programs and my jaw dropped. I found something perfect for me! A degree as a Holistic Practitioner with an emphasis in Western Herbalism and Holistic Nutrition. What was better yet, they accepted financial aide, their program is 24 months long (no breaks), and they help you start your own practice or connect you with a practice you can join! Where do I sign up!? I scheduled a meeting with an advisor, got some information, and took it home to digest it. About a month later I switched my Financial Aide to SWIHA and scheduled another advisement appointment. Yesterday, at 10:45AM, I was an official student, school ID and all! An advisor will set up all of my classes for the next two years and all I have to do is show up! I'm covered in tuition and extra supplies that I will need. I can't wait for classes to start! The closest one that would fit in my schedule was January 31st which occurs every Monday afternoon until April 18th! I am starting with Nutrition - Holistic Foundations I. EEP! My schedule will fill up between then and I will be taking multiple classes until I graduate!
Classes:
This is a 60 credit program with a total of 1,011 hours of coursework. There are a ton of classes I am excited to take, such as:
All of the Western Herbalism Courses (Sowing, Germination, Growth, Harvest, etc)
Physiology
Pathology
Botany (can't wait!!)
Herbal Specialties for Women and Children; Babies and Children
The Green Man (Herbal remedies and care for Men)
The Herbal Goddess (Herbal remedies and care for Women and pregnancy)
Western Herbalism- Manufacturing
All of the Nutrition Courses (Therapies, Foundations, Weight Management, etc)
These are only a sample of the classes I will be taking.
My Intent:
What do I plan on doing with this degree? Help people, of course. This information is free- you can find it on the Internet. The problem is, you can't tell if what you are reading is factual or practical. Does this really work? Not only that, but there is some specialization to the information. Knowing the proper doses for essential oils, knowing who can and can not benefit from a certain practice- it makes a difference. My intent is not to make money off of this degree. Make a living, yes, but live lavishly? No thanks. Having the knowledge to heal yourself and take the preventative measures necessary to avoid illness is so powerful! That's control and power at its purest- knowledge. I want to be a vessel. A resource. I want to help people become healthier through lifestyle changes and self awareness. I will likely be a House-Call practitioner. Coming to those who need me, keeping things intimate and personal; less clinical and cold. My goal is to have a small office in my garden in the backyard of our house to see clients in. We can walk the garden while we talk, I can have workshops with clients to help them start their own gardens, and we can sip tea at the table amongst the flowers. Warm and welcoming, calm and relaxing. To supplement this practice I also will be starting an online business that is more like an online Country Corner Store. You'll be able to purchase canned foods, bread mixes, and household goods. There will also be an area with a holistic focus- bath salts, sugar scrubs, organic homemade soaps and cleaning products, essential oils, homeopathic remedies, etc. I will likely put an "Ask Birdie" option on there so that I can try and help people at a distance with any needs they may have.
I think, most importantly, regarding this degree I plan on helping my family. Beau and I need to continue to make healthier lifestyle changes and moving toward our health's fullest potential. By doing this we will be laying down the path for our children to live healthy and take that on with them as adults.
I will be posting many more updates regarding my journey to keep the world updated on my progress, but also to spread the knowledge I have learned thus far.
Knowledge is Power (Yup),
~Birdie
School:
I have searched and searched and searched for a school in the United States (online or local) that would provide me with what I am searching for. I found many schools that, while having the most incredible school programs, were just as expensive as medical school. I found others that were a joke in every sense of the word. And I found others that were so cheap it made you wonder how it could be legitimate. Then I came across a school out of Oregon that was online as well as an open school to those in the area. They had a wonderful Apothecary Shoppe, lavender gardens, and herbs galore! The only problem with this school was that they didn't accept financial aide which left me at a loss. I don't have an extra $600 a month to pay for this program. So my search continued.
I had heard of a facility nearby, SouthWest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), where I live that was involved in holistic health and spirituality. They provided programs for Reiki, spa management, massage therapy, toe reading, and holistic practitioner's degrees. I was given mixed reviews of the place, but decided to check it out online to see for my self. The website is new-agey and is pretty straight forward. I looked over their degree programs and my jaw dropped. I found something perfect for me! A degree as a Holistic Practitioner with an emphasis in Western Herbalism and Holistic Nutrition. What was better yet, they accepted financial aide, their program is 24 months long (no breaks), and they help you start your own practice or connect you with a practice you can join! Where do I sign up!? I scheduled a meeting with an advisor, got some information, and took it home to digest it. About a month later I switched my Financial Aide to SWIHA and scheduled another advisement appointment. Yesterday, at 10:45AM, I was an official student, school ID and all! An advisor will set up all of my classes for the next two years and all I have to do is show up! I'm covered in tuition and extra supplies that I will need. I can't wait for classes to start! The closest one that would fit in my schedule was January 31st which occurs every Monday afternoon until April 18th! I am starting with Nutrition - Holistic Foundations I. EEP! My schedule will fill up between then and I will be taking multiple classes until I graduate!
Classes:
This is a 60 credit program with a total of 1,011 hours of coursework. There are a ton of classes I am excited to take, such as:
All of the Western Herbalism Courses (Sowing, Germination, Growth, Harvest, etc)
Physiology
Pathology
Botany (can't wait!!)
Herbal Specialties for Women and Children; Babies and Children
The Green Man (Herbal remedies and care for Men)
The Herbal Goddess (Herbal remedies and care for Women and pregnancy)
Western Herbalism- Manufacturing
All of the Nutrition Courses (Therapies, Foundations, Weight Management, etc)
These are only a sample of the classes I will be taking.
My Intent:
What do I plan on doing with this degree? Help people, of course. This information is free- you can find it on the Internet. The problem is, you can't tell if what you are reading is factual or practical. Does this really work? Not only that, but there is some specialization to the information. Knowing the proper doses for essential oils, knowing who can and can not benefit from a certain practice- it makes a difference. My intent is not to make money off of this degree. Make a living, yes, but live lavishly? No thanks. Having the knowledge to heal yourself and take the preventative measures necessary to avoid illness is so powerful! That's control and power at its purest- knowledge. I want to be a vessel. A resource. I want to help people become healthier through lifestyle changes and self awareness. I will likely be a House-Call practitioner. Coming to those who need me, keeping things intimate and personal; less clinical and cold. My goal is to have a small office in my garden in the backyard of our house to see clients in. We can walk the garden while we talk, I can have workshops with clients to help them start their own gardens, and we can sip tea at the table amongst the flowers. Warm and welcoming, calm and relaxing. To supplement this practice I also will be starting an online business that is more like an online Country Corner Store. You'll be able to purchase canned foods, bread mixes, and household goods. There will also be an area with a holistic focus- bath salts, sugar scrubs, organic homemade soaps and cleaning products, essential oils, homeopathic remedies, etc. I will likely put an "Ask Birdie" option on there so that I can try and help people at a distance with any needs they may have.
I think, most importantly, regarding this degree I plan on helping my family. Beau and I need to continue to make healthier lifestyle changes and moving toward our health's fullest potential. By doing this we will be laying down the path for our children to live healthy and take that on with them as adults.
I will be posting many more updates regarding my journey to keep the world updated on my progress, but also to spread the knowledge I have learned thus far.
Knowledge is Power (Yup),
~Birdie
Christmas Spirit
Bah-hum-bu... I mean... Merry Christmas!
~Birdie
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| Our First Christmas Tree |
I will admit, I think I may have lost a little bit of my inner child when it comes to Christmas. I have been a little Scroogish in the last few years, unable to really jump into the Christmas Spirit like I used to be able to. This year it was proving just as much a challenge as the last, except with the lovely challenge of 80 degree weather. Now, I can't speak for you, but my idea of Christmas is chilly weather, hot cocoa, layering, the desire to feel warm, and praying for snow. NOT wearing t-shirts, shorts, laying out by the pool, with a guarantee that there will be no snow. The second hard part about Christmas is the fact that I'm not able to spend it with my family, and haven't for about 5 years now. It is hard to get into the Christmas Spirit when you have zero decorations and to make matters even more difficult- your spouse is a Scrooge all his own. OY! We have some work ahead of us!
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| Santa |
I was determined that this year was going to be different, and, thankfully, it is slowly becoming so. We bought a real Christmas tree this year, a tree from a tree farm from my hometown no less, and went to the store to buy decorations. Neither of us having an ornament to our names, we had to start from scratch. We bought your basic bulbs, a string of color lights, and a string of white lights. Beau picked an Angel for the tree topper and we agreed to continue on the family tradition my dad and step-mom had started with my brothers and me. For 11 years my brothers and I would wait for Christmas, knowing the presents to come would be plenty and wonderful. Christmas Eve was our teaser. My dad and step-mom allowed us to open two presents on Christmas Eve, of their choosing. Those two presents, without fail, would always be a pair of new pajamas and a new Christmas ornament to mark the year's events for each individual. One year it was a clay molded child on a snowboard, another year was a little black bear named "Honey" (after my favorite beanie baby). Beau and I agreed to begin the hunt for a Christmas ornament for the other as a Christmas Eve gift to each other. This year we don't plan on gifting anything to one another as we have a joint venture we are focusing our money to at the moment that will, hopefully, be a wonderful Christmas present to us both... so the Christmas ornaments will be a nice treat. I also agreed with him that we would stuff each other's stockings that I had made (see previous blog post). While at the store I also picked up some wreaths, ribbon, and a Santa Claus (since we have NONE). I figure, one year at a time, we will be able to pick up enough decorations to bring the house together in a festive representation of our spirits... that are slowly picking up.
For those of you out there that frown upon the felling of a tree for the sake of Christmas decoration, let me put forth my argument: These trees found on tree lots and on tree farms are grown for this specific reason. Our tree is seven years old (I counted the rings). Our tree was planted by a farmer with the intention that someday it would be cut down and placed into someone's home. These trees are not taken from the forest. By purchasing this tree I have not only made my house smell delicious and look beautiful, but I have also supported a local farmer (local to my hometown anyway) allowing him to continue to provide for his family and thus their traditions can live on. I rest my case.
We came home with our decorations and set about the tree - putting each bulb on to the tune of Nat King Cole's Christmas Hits. Our tree was perfect for us. Not too big, not too cluttered, just right. I put some ribbon bows on the wreaths and hung them on the wall, set Santa out on the record player near the tree, and lighted some festive smelling candles to finish the look. Overall, I think it turned out pretty great! Having the look certainly helps get us in the spirit of the holiday.
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| Mine, Beau's, Dad's |
More good news to help, my dad will be flying in on Christmas Eve to spend the weekend with us. I haven't spent Christmas with my dad since I was 15, so this is a big deal for us both. Having him here will definitely help my spirit jump through the roof. Next year Beau and I have decided that we would spend a good week or so in the NorthWest to visit with family and spend Christmas with them. I'm very excited for next year. I was able to make a stocking for my dad for the occasion. Santa needs to be able to find him while he is away from home. Beau will be cooking is famous home made pancakes for Christmas breakfast. It should be a treat.
I bought some Apple Cider to warm up and sip on, yum yum! Now if only we could work on that snow! I think Phoenix would go into a state of shock if it snowed on Christmas day here. I've seen their driving in the rain- that isn't pretty. Snow would be a disaster!
Things I need to think about:
- What am I going to cook for dinner?
- What kind of ornament should I get Beau?
- I need to get stocking stuffers (Cracker Barrel Store anyone? yes!)
- I need wrapping paper.
- What am I going to cook for dinner?!
My Music Choices:
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| Frank Sinatra pops in too! |
Bah-hum-bu... I mean... Merry Christmas!
~Birdie
Monday, December 13, 2010
Anemic Stockings
It struck me, a few weeks ago, that I really wanted to start making things from scratch- dresses, shirts, Christmas decorations, blankets, etc. With this came the notion that I could make our own Christmas Stockings which would be so much better than the store bought ones. I quickly put my head together with Whitney to try and figure out the best way to figure this out. To start, we had to buy fabric. That's the fun part! I found the perfect fabric for Beau- the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence (He is very patriotic) and a deep red fabric with off white stars on it. Perfect! I chose a dark green fabric with small white dots on it to pair with an off white fabric with a subtle gold floral pattern. To make the cuff I chose a scruffy, faux fur fabric that was an off white to give it that antique look - ye be warned... that fabric is the messiest fabric I have ever seen! (But worth it.) We opted to do a quilted look for the body of the stockings so we cut the fabric into square patches and alternated them.
I was lucky enough to get a sewing machine one year for Christmas and although I had used it once or twice then, it had been about two years since I had read the manual or played with the device. It was like a foreign object. Thankfully, Whitney had just gotten herself a sewing machine and was familiar with how it worked so she was able to guide me through. Eventually, we figured it out and were able to proceed.
Once we created our quilt pattern and sewed together the patches, we looked down at our mini-quilts and took a deep breath before taking the plunge and cutting out a stocking pattern. We were sure to cut the boots in opposite directions (this was done after much "Are you sure?" "Yes I am pretty sure it should go this way." "This way?" "I don't know!") We cut the furry liner and cuff in the shape of the boot and sewed that onto the back of the quilted piece. This way the furry part would be on the inside of the stocking- nice and cozy warm. The cuff was a tricky part and although I got it right on my stocking, Beau's did not fair as well. Whoops. We sewed the pieces together, furry sides out, and left the top of the stocking open.
As for that pesky, but all important cuff? Here is what you do- you cut a piece for the cuff long enough to wrap all the way around the mouth of the stocking. Line one end of the cuff piece up to a seam of the inside out stocking (furry side out). Be sure that the non-furry side of the cuff is on top- so that when you flip the stocking it looks right. It should look like the furry inside of the stocking with the rough part of the cuff on top- Start sewing and sew all the way around the stocking. When you get back to the beginning seam finish the cuff off, but leave some room to be able to sew the open part of the cuff together. Take the stocking and press the ends of the cuff together and sew it up (like to pieces of a quilt). You want the "inside out look" on the cuff's seam. When you flip the stocking outside-in you will be able to fold the cuff down and the seam will be hidden underneath while the fluffy part sits nicely on the soft patches side of the stocking. Decorate as you feel appropriate.
I have yet to decorate and personalize our stockings, but I am on the hunt for the perfect pieces. I want to make them look a little more rustic with big leather buttons and maybe some pieces of nature, leaves and such.
Good luck on your own sewing adventures,
~Birdie
Once we created our quilt pattern and sewed together the patches, we looked down at our mini-quilts and took a deep breath before taking the plunge and cutting out a stocking pattern. We were sure to cut the boots in opposite directions (this was done after much "Are you sure?" "Yes I am pretty sure it should go this way." "This way?" "I don't know!") We cut the furry liner and cuff in the shape of the boot and sewed that onto the back of the quilted piece. This way the furry part would be on the inside of the stocking- nice and cozy warm. The cuff was a tricky part and although I got it right on my stocking, Beau's did not fair as well. Whoops. We sewed the pieces together, furry sides out, and left the top of the stocking open.
As for that pesky, but all important cuff? Here is what you do- you cut a piece for the cuff long enough to wrap all the way around the mouth of the stocking. Line one end of the cuff piece up to a seam of the inside out stocking (furry side out). Be sure that the non-furry side of the cuff is on top- so that when you flip the stocking it looks right. It should look like the furry inside of the stocking with the rough part of the cuff on top- Start sewing and sew all the way around the stocking. When you get back to the beginning seam finish the cuff off, but leave some room to be able to sew the open part of the cuff together. Take the stocking and press the ends of the cuff together and sew it up (like to pieces of a quilt). You want the "inside out look" on the cuff's seam. When you flip the stocking outside-in you will be able to fold the cuff down and the seam will be hidden underneath while the fluffy part sits nicely on the soft patches side of the stocking. Decorate as you feel appropriate.
I have yet to decorate and personalize our stockings, but I am on the hunt for the perfect pieces. I want to make them look a little more rustic with big leather buttons and maybe some pieces of nature, leaves and such.
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| My Fabric |
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| Beau's Fabric |
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| Our Layouts |
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| Sewn Together |
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| Our Pattern |
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| Finished, anemic looking stockings! |
Good luck on your own sewing adventures,
~Birdie
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