Our weekend, planting , sewing, family and more

Saturday I spent  with the dog trying to get him to get used to people and being patient. It didn't always go well but he is getting there. I took him to town with me.  I popped in the Credit Union and made sure it was nice and cool for him while I was making my deposit. All car windows were half-way down.  I made my was to the line and heard him begin to howl.  I took a deep breath and pretended it wasn't my dog. Ugh

I cleaned out my bedroom closets and low and behold there really IS a floor in there!

I planted a few rows of flower seed. I hope they come up, our ground is hard, dry and clay but each year we work on it.

A nap was squeezed in.  There are days where my body just gives up after very full week. I really needed it.

Dude spent the afternoon as an episode of Caddy Shack.  He was after the prairie dogs that have invaded our land. I think the prairie dogs won this round.

Sunday
Began the morning putting split pea soup in the crockpot for this week's lunches. 

After chores and breakfast I call all my children and check in with them.  I was able to talk to all of them today!

We worked with Norman and his training.

And went for walks.

Alfalfa fields will probably be cut this week. 

We were surprised to see corn growing in the field next to us. 

We found a fresh fox hole. 

Came back and sewed while Dude ran to town.

I did get my little wall hanging just about finished. 

Then party time with the family.

Then home for evening chores and a beautiful sunset. 

Soup is ready for me to jar up and then to bed. 

peace 

Sunday - mass, healthy eating, walk and sewing

Today was mass, eating healthy, a good walk and sewing. 

Mass Reflection - We are constantly looking to others or relying on ourselves for answers. Today's society is looking for the quick answer... google it or looking for a prophecy in a movie or show. (I did giggle to myself when I looked up today's readings online and horoscopes and psychic readings came up - just my point. ) Listen to the Word of God, go silent and in prayer. Eternal life begins right here , right now if we only believe.

Eating healthy - I had always thought I was very healthy but the last eight years things have steadily been getting worse. Last year I had surgery, with doctors thinking I had cancer... thank goodness I didn't but I did have growths and tumors removed. I have some heart issues and diabetes both I think if I really work at it can reduce my risk from dying from these diseases as others in my family have.  I am on medication for diabetes and cholesterol.  I was told in December to lose weight or go on insulin. I went on a high protein diet and things got worse. From January to March I ate mostly meat, cheese and some veggies. I felt sick and tired all the time and like I had a low case of the flu. My blood sugars were going up and up. I couldn't figure it out.  I went to the doctor and found I had issues with my liver. I decided to begin to read up on best diets for both heart and diabetes. I studied books and information by Doctors Dean Ornish, Joel  Furhman, William Li and Caldwell Esselstyn. I didn't totally take out meat and eggs but greatly increased my vegetables, fruits and grains...not so much on the fruits. Within three days I was moving better, not bent over like an old woman, sleeping better and my blood sugars were finally coming in a normal range. I also lost 8 pounds in 2.5 weeks.   Dude won't go pure vegetarian but I will go more toward that way for my health. I will still cook meat for Dude and will indulge now and then. I hope to share my progress and what I am making for meals. Here is today's lunch - revised from Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. Dude did like it.

 Bean Salad 

Can of  chopped tomatoes

Chopped red and yellow peppers

Chopped sweet onion

Fresh parsley from the garden

Can of black beans drained

Can of garbanzo beans drained

A cup of chopped artichoke hearts

Mix all together

Dressing - whisk together

2 TBSP lemon juice

2 TBSP balsamic vinegar 

a squirt of brown mustard

1 Teaspoon dried oregano - from the garden/pantry

1 Teaspoon dried garlic - from the garden/pantry

Sea Salt and fresh ground pepper 

Pour over the salad and toss. 

It just seems like the right way to go- living on the homestead and of the fresh things we grow.

Saved some for this week's lunches.

The garden - Parsley was ready for the dehydrator.

The walk... the wind was angry today probably because it wasn't part of the snow yesterday. I walked the property to release tumble weeds caught and bending the fencing. 

I did have company.

Once I set the tumbleweeds free they ran across the fields all the way to the highway.  

Wilbur and Felonious were a little jealous they weren't on the walk and screamed from the other side of the fence to come be with them. 

Gulls circled above.

Sewing - I didn't get as much done as I wanted but I did get something finished. 

Of course, I had help. 

A challenge mug rug. 

A mug rug for me.

A pin cushion.

 Dinner was pineapple stir fry over brown rice and quinoa. Another hit with Dude, yay!

Time to read. 

peace

Sunday Funday, Family Fun and Pinto Beans!

Our weekend began yesterday with making breakfast burritos of egg(from our hens), cheese and potatoes for a Sunday family get together.  I made about twenty of them and by the time I got home from Saturday evening mass, five of them were gone. Mr Man was hungry.   We cleaned the house and got ready for family to come over on Sunday. 

Sunday came and we put tamales we had canned earlier in the year in the crock-pot to warm. 

The burritos were put in the bread warmer. 

Cheesy green chili pinto beans (from a local farmer)was put on the stove to warm. I forgot to get a picture of them but they were sure good.  It did my heart good to see all the food enjoyed by everyone. 

Everyone met the new horse Mr Buttons. 

We went to the pumpkin and squash patch and taught a young buck how to pick them without pulling up the whole plant. 

Everyone went home later with many zucchinis, spaghetti squash and pumpkins. 

Crafts were made.

Then it was time to sing happy birthday and have tons of laughs. 

After spending the day on the homestead everyone left, the day began to cool down and we thought we were settling in for the night. Dude's phone rang. It was one of the farmers he knows. Seems somehow during pinto bean harvest some were accidentally dumped. He said if we wanted to glean them we could have what we could get. We said sure, jumped in the truck, grabbed my crocheting and drove the 45 minutes to the farm. 

Pintos dry in the field before they are harvested.

This is what a harvested row looks like. 

I think it is all so beautiful. 

Someone had gotten to the beans before us but there was still plenty to glean. 

I was able to get 3 buckets of beans. I will clean them out throughout the week.  If you knew how much I love them you would know this is a treasure beyond belief! Plus I can share with others and I will can them too.

Combine harvesting beans

It was a very busy and fun Sunday. 

Hope yours was grand. 

peace, health and happiness