Planting Time~ tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and seeds as well as hot weather

Tonight we had a great time in the garden.  The other day we spread a cubic yard of compost amongst some of the beds, with a really thick layer in the cold bed which is usually planted before we get the compost.  We are behind this year on peas, radishes and such, but some were planted today.  We did the White Hailstone radishes again this year, I think they are my favorite.  Carrots also went in the soil, I am not positive of the variety.  Iceberg lettuce and Ching Chang bok choy seed also went in.  As well as plants from the local cheap greenhouse, those were a four pack of Early Girls, I think eight Jalepenos, and twelve Cal Wonder bells.  We never seem to have too many peppers, so I am going to plant a lot this year.  I also did a four pack of Diva cucumbers and a four pack burpless variety as well.  I sprinkled the last of my multi-colored beets and hope the best, the seed is pretty old.

Many sunflowers are coming up from last year, I am going to transplant some of them to other beds.  We enjoyed looking at the huge plants and flowers and the bees and other pollinators really enjoyed them as well.  The front flower beds are such a cheery sight.  The Hyacinthia and many other bulbs were such a welcome to spring.  I am going to continue to plant a few more things in the beds so there are new flowers pretty regularly.  There are a few iris blooms that should be next and the lilies leaves are up and going as well. 

Unseasonably hot is the theme of the week.  Today was like 93 degrees, but it is supposed to go back down into the 70s this week with some rain thankfully.  I am not ready for that heat and I always enjoy the spring rain for the garden.

Bountiful Basket April 27th plus juice pack

I was excited Monday to see juice packs were back to add-on :)  They are one of my favorites.

Basket~ strawberries, small watermelon, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, red potatoes, pineapple, bananas, broccoli, mango, and an artichoke.

Juice pack~ carrots, celery, oranges, lemons, lime, beet, spinach, parsley, ginger, cucumber, and kale.

Asparagus, great investment ;)

Asparagus is something that takes some patience when growing your garden.  But it is so worth it!  Today I harvested our second harvest this year the first was a small one and todays was a decent bundle, enough for a yummy lunch with eggs from our chickens.  A little sprinkle of cheese and it was just delicious.

Bountiful Baskets February 16th~ Italian pack add-on

Basket~ 5 pound Gold Petite potatoes, 2 clamshells of grape tomatoes, broccoli, leeks, bananas, spinach, Junami apples, avocados, bell peppers, "cutie" oranges and iceberg lettuce.

Italian pack~ Red bell peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, zucchini, yellow onions, parsley, garlic, and a lovely bag of fresh herbs~ rosemary, basil and I think tarragon.

Bountiful Baskets has yet to disappoint :)

Bountiful Baskets February 2nd Citrus Pack Add-on

Saturday was another yummy basket of fresh food in middle of winter :)

Basket~ strawberries, Asian pears, green beans, yam, English cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbages, apples, oranges, bananas and radishes.

Citrus pack~ big box containing a pummelo, minneolas, oranges, Seville oranges, lemons, and Moro blood oranges.

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 7

Day 7!

I did it, I am finished :)

Breakfast~ Earthmilk
Lunch~ Mexican shrimp cocktail at a restaurant
Snack~ Piece of toast spread with a blue cheese Laughing Cow and a piece of turkey lunch meat & Earth Milk
Supper~ Bowl of 0% Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of frozen antioxidant mixed fruit and a bit of stevia, small glass of Earth Milk

I am hoping the scale shows my effort in the morning :)

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 6

Day 6, switch to E

Breakfast~ Two THM pancakes with strawberry sauce made with stevia
Snack~ Quart of Earth Milk
Lunch~ Turkey sandwich with two slices of lunch meat, wedge of blue cheese light Laughing Cow, on two Genesis 1:29 bread, 1/2 a peeled cucumber
Snack~ Quart of Earth Milk
Supper~ Scrambled egg whites, salsa, 1 % cottage cheese, Laughing Cow wedge, 1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt with frozen berry/fruit mix
Snack~ Roasted Crunchy Garbanzo Beans

Bountiful Baskets January 25th~ Guacamole and Juice Packs

I was so excited to see they had the juice packs again!

Guacamole Pack~ cilantro, lemons, green onions, garlic, yellow onions, avocados, and jalapenos.

Juice Pack~ organic chard, celery, beets with greens, ginger, huge hothouse cucumber, carrots, and oranges (Blood maybe) there were more oranges than pictured my children pounced on them :) .

Basket~ pineapple, lemons, apples (Fuji maybe), bananas, potatoes, strawberries, celery, tomatoes, onions, baby watermelon, and green bell peppers.

Bountiful Baskets  is the place to check it out :)

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 5

Day 5 FP~

Another FP day, yesterday went really well.  I had a few moments of wanting cheese or butter, but it passed and I made it through :)

Breakfast~ cup Chia Tapioca Pudding with 4 Marion berries- yum :), large cup Earth Milk
Lunch~ my FP version of a Pad Thai recipe from the THM forum I used 1/2 tsp sesame oil instead of any other oil, egg whites, 2 Tsp peanut flour (I tried for just one, but really ended up wanting another so I splurged ;) ), no scallions and only one package of noodles, lots of extra cilantro
Dinner~ 3 pieces of turkey lunch meat spread with a Laughing Cow wedge and filled to the brim with sprouts, small Chia Tapioca, black cherry Zevia
Snack~ small Wendy's side salad with a tiny drizzle of pomegranate vinaigrette

I drank Oolong tea iced all day as well.

It really went OK, I didn't feel the yuckiness some people did on either of the FP days.  I tried not to think about feeling deprived but thought about what I could have and enjoy it.

I worked out today, I had kind of given myself a pass for the week.  I am feeling well though and am wishing I would have kicked myself in the rear at least one of the S days and gotten it done.  Oh well, I did this morning and we will see how tomorrow goes.

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 4

Day 4, switch to FP.

Today we switch to Fuel Pull.
Breakfast~ Quart of Earth Milk with scoop of protein powder
Lunch~ big bowl of "Cabbage Diet" soup
Snack~ Black Cherry Zevia, Chia Tapioca Pudding with 3 strawberries, 1 cup Earth Milk
Dinner~ 3 oz Turkey lunch meat- one slice wrapped around a pickle, one spread with Blue Cheese Laughing Cow and cucumber, one just plain- 1/2 peeled cucumber, 4 mini red bell peppers
 Dessert~ 3/4 of a Big Boy Smoothie with a bit of glucomannon

Today's Earth Milk made with greens, sprouts, parley and MCT oil, for the variable ingredients.

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 3

Day 3~

Breakfast~ 2 eggs cooked in pastured butter, a Laughing Cow wedge, 2 cups of Earth Milk mixed with protein powder and a bit of ice
Snack~ large cup of Earth Milk
Lunch~ baked free range chicken
Snack~ quart of Earth Milk with a scoop of protein powder
Dinner~ Fat Stripping Green Tea Frappe & 2 egg omelet with a few mushrooms, bell peppers, lots of spinach and two Laughing Cow wedges (really didn't feel the need for the second one, but it was already on top) 
Dessert~ hot peppermint tea, mint Skinny Chocolate

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 2

Day 2.

Breakfast~ One egg and some egg white with a bit of half and half scrambled with diced red bell pepper and two Laughing Cow wedges & one cup Earth Milk protein shake
Lunch~  Two boneless, skinless chicken thighs baked & mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash) with roasted garlic mixed with grassfed butter on both the chicken and the veggies.
Dinner~ 3 cups of Earth Milk, I wasn't really hungry but thought I better get something because I knew I would be out of the house for a couple hours.  It kept me full :)
Snack~ 3 cups of Earth Milk, after I got home & a big bowl of sprouts with the rest of the Italian dressing, a couple of small pieces of Skinny Chocolate

I felt pretty full today, I am thinking the Earth Milk is keeping me that way.  That is great with me!

Trim Healthy Mama~ Fuel Cycle Day 1

I am loving Trim Healthy Mama I have lost 20 pounds since beginning it last month.  This week I am taking part of a "Fuel Cycle" with some other THMs.  I thought I would post my menus.

     Breakfast~ Two eggs fried in Coconut Ghee & 1 cup Earth Milk with protein powder and a couple pieces of ice blended
     Snack~ Fat Stripping Green Tea Frappe
     Lunch~ Salad at fast food restaurant (was not the plan, but did the best with what happened)
  It was a salad bar so I had romaine, sprouts, a tiny sprinkle of cheddar, celery, olives, and jalapeno ranch
    Snack~ Quart of Earth Milk
    Supper~ Can of 6oz Redhead sockeye salmon, cucumbers, red bell peppers with lots of homemade Italian dressing with lots of olive oil & Glass of Earth Milk
    Dessert~ Skinny Chocolate with a bit of mint extract (my favorite so far :) )

Bountiful Baskets January 19th plus juice pack add-on

This might be my favorite week yet :)  I am loving the juice pack add-on.

Juice pack~ cucumber, beautiful purple kale, carrots, celery, ginger, celery, parsley, beets with greens, key limes, lemons, and fuji apples.  I don't plan on juicing, but rather blending some in a green drink in the Vitamix and just eating.  I hope they do this again soon. $8.00

Basket~ pineapple, strawberries, oranges, Granny Smith apples, sweet small peppers, lemons, avocados, potatoes, bananas, onions, and salad savoy.  I have never tried salad savoy before, this is a white one with green tips, some baskets got a purple one. $15.00

Bountiful Baskets December 22~ gingerbread men, guacamole pack

Awesome basket this week, as well as wonderful add-ons.

Basket~ pineapple, eggplant, romaine, potatoes, pears, oranges, avocados, bell pepper, pomegranates, Asian pears, and onions. $15

Guacamole pack~ avocados, lemons, limes (look like Key), jalapenos, tomatillos, onions, and garlic.  I think this was the fullest add-on I have gotten. $8.50

Gingerbread men cookie pack with butter cream frosting.  We haven't made our men yet, but hope to soon and will try and post pictures :) $10

Bountiful Baskets November 17th~ Basket, Hostess Pack and Tangerines

Another yummy basket week~

Basket~ celery, romaine, oranges, pomelo, honeydew, potatoes, golden delicious smith apples, bananas, tomatoes, carrots and pineapple. $15

Hostess Pack~ onions, potatoes, leaf lettuce, Indian corn, mini pumpkins, granny smith apples, acorn squash, yams, cranberries, green beans and grape tomatoes. $15

Box of Satsuma tangerines $20 for 25 pound box

Operation Christmas Child Party

This week is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child.  Today we went to a box making party and it was such a good time.  We were able to be a part of packing 201 boxes today!  We brought our two complete and helped fill many more.  Our children really enjoyed being part of the process and choosing items for the boys and girls who would receive them.  We prayed and will through the week for the boxes to get to just the right children.

If you have the money, but not the time to get out and build a box this week and get it to a collection site Samaritan's Purse has a new option this year called Build a Box and you can do it online and they will pack it with the items you choose :)  It is $30 and that includes the suggested donation of $7 for shipping.

 

Next year I would like to go to the party again and I am already making notes on what I want to bring.  Namely washcloths, pencil sharpeners, more markers, watercolor paint sets, and toothpaste are the things right on the top of my head :)  A good thing might also be some address labels and pictures of the children to put with the letters.

Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund

Unending Devotion
by Jody Hedlund 

Unending Devotion is about a lady named Lily on a mission to find her sister.  She is living in the late 1800s and is working with a man who is her foster parent taking photographs of men in the logging industry.  Lily finds herself in many dangerous circumstances, most of which are caused by her determination and rushing into situations before she had the help she realistically needed.  Unending Devotion has some very tense dramas and is hard to put down.

I really enjoyed Unending Devotion.  It had a bit of romance in it, but wasn't a book that was full of romantic overtones or plain lust provoking imagery.  I would recommend this book.

Bountiful Baskets October 20th Asian add-on, pomegrantes, bread

Another great Bountiful Basket!  It has been a while for us.

Today in our regular basket we have bananas, dino kale, romaine lettuce, grapes, pineapple, celery, large butternut squash, onions, Asian pears, pomegranates, and tomatoes.  $15

We also got the bread assortment with savory 9 grain (our favorite so far), a sourdough blunt, and a baguette.$10

Another amazing Asian pack including celery, waterchestnuts, bok choy, napa cabbage, a piece of ginger, garlic, onion, Thai basil, green onions, and peas.  $9 I am so excited for this!  I haven't gotten an Asian pack since getting my new wok.  The wok is such fun tool in my kitchen.  I also bought a negi cutter when I got the wok and haven't gotten to use it.  It is a really sharp tool used for making shreds with veggies. 

Oh and I bought a case of pomegranates, yum! They are on the small side, which will be great because I think the children will be able to eat a whole one in a setting and they will, they really enjoy them and so do I :) $18.50 for 22 pounds 

I am really glad I was able to make it work this week and am realizing what I have been missing, so I will have to see what I can do next week.

Today's Deals Download N Go Birthday Bash

Today's $3 Download N Go Birthday Bash Deals~

Expedition Israel

Hoppin' Popcorn

Rocking Robots