a productive Saturday after a non-productive week!

Although I have had some very good times this week with my grandkids, had some good talks with Sara, hung out with Gary, had a few new adventures, and so forth, I just have felt deeply exhausted and tired this week. I haven't slept well, I think due to the very high pollen count, and I also think I am still catching up from vacation. Also, there have been a few quite disturbing events in my life this week; an unpleasant meeting outcome, work issues, the tractor breaking, etc.

Today is Saturday and it turns out Gary had to go to work in order to get prepared for school starting, and Sara had her first Christmas production rehearsal, so I am facing a day blessedly alone! I wouldn't normally say that. We enjoy our Saturdays, with out tradition of Saturday morning breakfast, and then going about weekend chores and such. But today? It was a blessing.

I decided I was going to accomplish a bunch of tasks that had been getting put off. I have felt very pressured lately, like there is never enough time to get things done, and I'm a stay-at-home lady! I think that has made me feel tired and frustrated as well.

So far today I've made a batch of fermented products: (shown above) Beet Kvass, Fermented Lemonade, and Sauerkraut, all processed with our own whey made from our fresh, delicious Jerry Dell Farm raw milk. They will all sit on the counter for a couple of days to work before being refrigerated. These recipes are all from Nourishing Traditions cookbook, and were demonstrated in video form on The Healthy Home Economist website.  http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/

I also made a delicious Quinoa Tabbouleh, as well as another batch of Candied Jalapenos. Jamie and Kelly said the first batch was extremely hot. I wanted them to be hot, but tasty. They liked them, but I decided I would try this batch with strictly the normal fat jalapenos. The first batch was made with some  smaller, very hot alternative peppers, and I also cut down the cayenne pepper to a tiny addition. They also commented that they were a bit crunchy so these I cooked longer. I'm anxious to see what they think.

Sara has been making these Mokki Balls lately. She learned how to make them from Abbie while we were in Wisconsin. I like Abbie's better, but before you think I'm insulting Sara's, Sara is making them gluten free because of her diet right now. I really like the oats in them, but she's leaving them out for the time being and has been adding coconut, which we both love! Still, really delicious!

Then finally, I made this wonderful vegetable soup for supper. It's simmering on the stove now. I had made a huge stock pot full of mineral rich beef bone broth a couple of days ago and it was perfect for a simple, hearty vegetable soup. All the veggies are from either our own garden or the farmer's market.

My exciting new adventure this week was visiting and making our first purchase from Kingbird Farm, a young farm couple who raise pasture fed, organic chickens, heritage pigs, heritage turkeys, ducks, some beef, etc. in Berkshire, NY. The meat was gorgeously packaged, very clean and neat. The farm was well kept and orderly, the dogs friendly. A great first experience. 

At Jerry Dell where we buy our milk I also got some of the their organic, pasture fed hamburger to try. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be investigating other sources around the area. Buying non-industrial meats is not an inexpensive endeavor! It's pricey, but we feel, necessary. We will also be looking at what more we can raise ourselves, and at how far we can make what we buy stretch. For instance, making use of every last bit, all the way down to stocks for soup and other cooking. I'm looking forward to the challenge. We all need this because we want to be healthy and hearty into old age without so many of the debilitating diseases that plague our society, which I feel primarily stems from the standard American diet.

When I sign off this post?...I'm taking a nap!