More Precious Than Silver

Most of us have seen the pictures of the lake taken recently. It’s a very sobering thought when you consider that it is possible for us to completely run out of water. Water is actually one of our most scarce resources. Sure, water covers about ⅔ of the surface of Earth, but fresh water only accounts for about 2.5% of the total water on Earth. Of that, 68.6% is frozen in the polar ice caps & glaciers, leaving less than 1% of Earth’s water available for use…but not really. Much of that “available water” is in the form of groundwater, meaning it is underground. Lakes & rivers, where most of us get our water, only account for 0.007% of the total water on Earth. (statistics from USGS) If water is so scarce, then why do we often take it for granted? I think it’s because it is so easily accessible. We just turn on the faucet & out comes clean, fresh water! Many times, we don’t stop to think where it comes from or what it takes to get it to our faucet.

If there is a bright side to a drought, it would have to be the heightened awareness of the scarcity of our water & what we can do to cut back on our usage. We are called by God to be good stewards of His creation. That includes not being wasteful, but also taking care of what we have. Not only is it not good stewardship to water the sidewalk instead of the grass, but it is also poor stewardship to not water our yards at all…just letting the trees die, most of which are older than all of us (& some older than my dad…he’s 87!)

We are all aware of the imposed water use restrictions, but there are many other things we can do to decrease our usage & still help keep the trees & plants alive. There are the obvious things, like

• Make sure you don’t have any water leaks. If you do, fix them immediately.
• When you wash your hands, get the soap first, then turn on the water.
• Don’t keep the water running while you brush your teeth. Just turn the water to on to wet your toothbrush, turn it off while you brush, then turn it back on to rinse.
• Of course, you have to wash your clothes & your dishes, so make sure that the loads are full to reduce the number of loads that you have to wash. If you wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running…catch a little in each side of the sink, wash on one side, rinse on the other.
• Check the water usage on your toilet…it’s usually stamped on the top rim of the bowl, right behind the seat. Older fixtures use at least 4 times as much water as newer ones. Beginning in 1995, federal regulations mandated that toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, whereas older toilets use 6-8 gallons every time you flush. If you have an older toilet, just think how much water you could save if you replace it!
• Refrain from filling or topping off swimming pools & hot tubs…these are a luxury, not a necessity, so let’s save our water usage for those things we really need!

Then there are the less obvious things, that maybe you haven’t thought of, like

• Take “Navy” showers. For those who did not grow up with the benefit of a dad that served in the Navy, this may be a foreign concept. It’s simple…turn on the water & get wet, then turn off the water, soap up, then turn the water back on & rinse off…voila! A Navy shower!
• Catch your shower water in your tub, or just don’t drain your bath water. Dip it out with a big bowl & carry it outside to water your plants & trees…this will take several trips!
• Shower with your spouse (guys, you can thank me later!) Not only does this use significantly less water than individual showers, it also gives you some much-needed “alone time”.
• Put a large bowl or soup pot in your kitchen sink to catch the water from washing your hands or grapes or broccoli or… When it’s full, carry it outside to water your plants & trees…again, multiple trips.
• Don’t pour out the water you used to soak your beans or cook your pasta (or potatoes, or whatever). Put it in a bowl, let it cool somewhat, then carry it outside to water your plants & trees.
• Use the above idea for just about anything else you can think of…old dog’s water, that glass of water that someone didn’t finish, __________________ (fill in the blank) Pour it outside on your plants & trees…they will thank you for it & you won’t have to use the sprinkler as much!

Now for the really obscure (read “hippie”) ideas:

• Do you really need to take a shower every day? Probably not. Now, some of us do…I live with someone that gets quite sweaty & definitely MUST shower every day! But for many of us, we don’t really get dirty or sweaty every day, so a shower is not necessary EVERY day. Besides, the more you shower, the more you wash off the natural oils that keep your skin moisturized…then you have to use more lotion to replace those oils so your skin is not dry. Ok, some of you are saying, “But I need to wash my hair!” Well, then, wash you hair…in the kitchen sink with the sprayer. This uses A LOT less water than showering. Then use a damp washcloth to freshen the “pits” & “nether regions”; reapply deodorant & you should be good to go for another day!
• Is that shirt (or pants or shorts) really dirty after just one wear? Maybe, maybe not. Does it look dirty? Does it smell dirty? If the answer to both of these is “No”, then it’s probably not really dirty & could be worn again. Re-wearing clothes that aren’t really dirty helps reduce the number of loads of laundry that you have to wash, & Mom, or whomever does the laundry at your house, would sure appreciate that!
• My personal favorite, for the hardcore conservationist…”If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down!” Remember the toilets from above? Multiply the amount of water your toilet uses per flush and the number of times you flush per day. This tells you how much water you could save each day by following this simple little mantra! (Believe it or not, in my previous life as a high school teacher, we asked the students to adhere to this one year when there was a severe drought!)

Many of these things can become lifestyle changes that will help us to always conserve water. Some of them are best employed under extreme circumstances, which I believe we are in now. And a few of these ideas require a bit of effort on our parts, but I think having fresh water in the future is worth the effort now. We each need to do our part to reduce our water usage & set an example of good stewardship for future generations. One person’s usage isn’t going to make a huge difference, but 20,000+ working together will!

Related articles

• 10 Easy Ways to Save Water in Your Home Every Day (casasugar.com)
• Frugal Use of Water Can Reduce The Drain On Our Environment (epages.wordpress.com)

 

Nectar of the Angels

The subject of poems & songs. What you sing in church if you don’t know the words. The focus of jubilees & festivals (in Stockdale, Hempstead, & McDade, to name a few). The Thump in Luling….Ahhhhhhh, watermelon. Few things signify summer more than ice cold watermelon. (& I, for one, am glad summer has officially arrived. I’m tired of these over 100° ‘Spring’ days. It’s time to cool off with a 97° Summer day!) Mark Twain quipped that watermelon is “king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat. It was not a Southern watermelon that Eve took; we know it because she repented.”

Because watermelons are 92% water, early explorers used them as canteens. They are also high in Vitamins A, B6, & C. A 2-cup serving has more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable and about 10% of your daily requirement of potassium…a much needed mineral to prevent muscle cramps. All of these factors make watermelon a very refreshing & healthy snack on these sweltering summer days. Darren prefers his watermelon the old-fashioned way…ice cold, in hand. I, however, take a more civilized approach…I prefer mine juiced. To juice a watermelon, just cut it up & put the red ‘meat’ in the food processor (seeds too). Puree, then strain through a fine-meshed sieve…voila! watermelon juice! Since we are a house divided, our watermelon must also be divided. I usually cut half of it up for Darren & juice the other half for me, keeping it in a pitcher in the fridge.

What does one do with all of that watermelon juice, you might ask? Well, I’ll tell you…I drink it…in any one of 5 delicious adult beverages that I so enjoy. Probably my favorite one is the Lady Bug. No, I think it’s the Watermelon Cooler. Welllllll, the Watermelon Martini is also pretty stinkin’ good. It’s the Watermelon Margarita, definitely. I got it! The Watermelon Mojito…two great refreshments in one!

Below you will find the recipes for the Lady Bug & the Watermelon Martini. Click the links above on the recipe names to find the others. A couple of them call for sour mix. I have found that homemade is best…as usual (& also very easy)! So enjoy my recipe for that too!

For more watermelon fun facts, recipes, & information, click here! or here!

Lady Bug

Servings/Yield:  1 servings

2 ounces vodka

1 ounce sour mix

4 ounces watermelon juice

Method

Stir all ingredients together. Serve very cold.

Watermelon Martini

Servings/Yield:  1 servings

2 ounces vodka

1 ounce sour apple schnapps

1 ounce watermelon juice

Method

Put all ingredients in a shaker; shake well. Pour in a martini glass; enjoy.

Related articles

• Cucumber Watermelon Margaritas for Cinco De Drinko! (igoyougo.wordpress.com)

 

I’m Sew Excited!

After being boxed for about 10 years, my sewing materials have finally found their new home…I’m Sew Excited! Why, you ask, have they been boxed? Because we moved to Brownwood (10 years ago), bought a house that needed COMPLETE renovation (which we are still not done with), & I had no place to put them that was accessible…until now. Darren finished a particular room in our house allowing me to shift things around so that I could finally move my sewing materials to their home…& I could finally have a hobby again!

I know it’s becoming a lost art, but I LOVE to sew. For me it is a creative outlet & very relaxing. My mother, however, was just the opposite…sewing made her VERY tense (it was best to stay outside & play)! Unfortunately, I enjoy it so much, I can easily get involved in what I’m doing & lose all track of time…oh, you’re hungry? Well, yeah…I mean, it’s 9:00 & we haven’t had dinner yet! Oops!

One of the first things I needed to do with my new-found fun was make a few aprons. Aprons are a key part of my wardrobe as a stay-at-home mom. I wear them when I cook, wash dishes, clean, pot plants, pick the garden…anything that could potentially get my clothes dirty. I even wear one when I sew to carry my scissors, pins, whatever. The last time I made aprons was nineteen eigh…oh, that’s not important! Suffice it to say it was a long time ago & they are getting worn. It’s time for some new ones.

As I unpacked my sewing materials, I found several cute fabrics that I wanted to use to make aprons. I even had coordinating fabrics that I could use for the trim. If you’ve ever bought bias tape to trim something, you know that color choice is very limited…plus it costs a fortune considering how much fabric is actually in it. So I decided I would make my own. It’s a little time consuming, but sooooo worth it! First, I had to estimate how much trim I would need for each apron. Then I cut 2-inch strips of fabric, making sure to cut more than necessary to account for what is lost when the pieces are sewn together. Next, I sewed the strips together. To do this, place the fabric ends together, at 90 degree angles. Sew together across the corner…this gives an angled seam, which will be easier to sew through later.

 

 

Now trim the seam allowance to 1/4-inch & press the seam open.

 

 

 

 

Next, press your strip of fabric in half lengthwise. Now open the fabric strip back up & press one half of the strip toward the center, bringing the raw edge about two-thirds of the way up toward the center. When you finish this side, turn the strip around & do the other side.

 

 

Finally, fold your trim back together & press. All exposed edges should be folded & the raw edges should be concealed in the center. Using 2-inch strips will yield trim that is approximately 5/8-inch wide. If you want larger or smaller trim, just cut your strips accordingly…the method is the same. Now your perfectly coordinating trim is ready to be used! Happy sewing!

 

Cabin Fever?…No, Cooking Fever!

My kitchen has been busier than a one-armed paper hanger, as my mother would say. Three contributing factors: I love to cook; yesterday was Chinese New Year & I look for any reason to celebrate; Old Man Winter hit so hard I couldn’t go anywhere. With the roads icy & schools & businesses closed for several days, it’s easy to go stir crazy. The cure? Get busy cooking!

I took advantage of the confinement by making several things that I put in the freezer for future use. First, I made 3 1/2 gallons of chicken stock. Who doesn’t use chicken stock? It’s one of those staple ingredients that is really easy to make, it just takes a little time. You can put it on to cook while you do something else…for me, that was cleaning the kitchen, bookkeeping for my husband’s business, & cooking lunch. It is also much more economical to make your own, not to mention healthier…you know what you put in it, you can pronounce everything that’s in it, & you can control the amount of salt. That left me with some cooked chicken meat that needed a purpose. So I seasoned it with onion, bell pepper, cilantro, Mexican oregano, garlic, salt, & pepper for future use in enchiladas or tacos.

Now for the Chinese New Year portion of the week. We LOVE Chinese food…then again, we love most food! To celebrate Chinese New Year, we like to have a Chinese feast that includes traditional foods. With the help of Son & 2 of his friends, we made 227 Chinese Dumplings, or Pot Stickers; 82 Spring Rolls; & 78 Crab Rangoon. Along with these items, we will have Dan Dan Noodles, Egg Drop Soup, Coral & Jade Shrimp, Fried Rice, Mandarin Vegetables, & Sesame Chicken…did I mention I’ve been cooking all week? During the meal, we talk about the significance of each of the dishes to the Chinese. It’s part of our homeschool cultural education…or, at least, that’s my excuse for making all of those yummy goodies!

Of course, most of the Pot Stickers, Spring Rolls, & Crab Rangoon went in the freezer for future treats. As for the rest of that food…we couldn’t possibly eat all of it, so we invited a few friends over to help us. One final tidbit for the freezer was 1 1/2 quarts of shrimp stock. Even easier to make than chicken stock since it only takes 15 minutes & it’s a great way to use those peelings from the shrimp! Simple toss the shrimp peels into a 3 quart saucepan with 1/2 an onion, a small carrot, 1/2 a stalk of celery, a lemon half (lime works too), & a few whole peppercorns. It works best to cut the veggies into large chunks.  with water & simmer 10 minutes. Strain with a sieve & presto! You now have beautiful & tasty shrimp stock. This can be added to any dish calling for chicken stock or water that you would rather give a shrimp flavor to, such as basic rice. A little shrimp stock in place of water…now that’s some flavorful rice!

One would think that after all of this cooking, I would take a couple of days off this weekend…but no! We have a fellowship meal at church Sunday for lunch, then Super Bowl party at our house Sunday evening…I told you I like to celebrate!

 

 

Tons of Tomatoes

Well, another below freezing morning (read Darren picked, then covered, the garden again). This time he not only brought in a plethora of peppers, but also tons of tomatoes. Seizing the opportunity, I decided to make what is likely my last batch of salsa using this year’s tomato crop. That doesn’t mean we won’t have salsa until next year, it just means I have to use the inferior tomatoes we get from the store…there’s just nothing like homegrown tomatoes!

We like all kinds of salsa, but my favorite way to make salsa is to roast the veggies first. Sometimes I do this on the grill outside (actually Darren does), but on a cold day like today, I do this under the broiler in the oven…it helps warm the kitchen! First, I put the tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, & peeled garlic in my cast iron baking dish; drizzle with olive oil & put in the oven under the broiler. Now forget about it for a while until it starts to smell good & the peels start to turn black. Don’t be scared…that’s what makes it taste good! As you can see, my pan is quite full, probably too full to properly roast everything…did I mention it was a ton of tomatoes? You can also see that our tomatoes are small. We planted Roma grape tomatoes & yellow pear-shaped cherry tomatoes…yuuuummmmmm! Because they are so small, I can’t feasibly peel them after roasting. When using large tomatoes, I peel them…mostly. Those little black bits of tomato & jalapeno peel add such a great depth of flavor to the salsa that I don’t get too carried away with the peeling. As a matter of fact, I get rather lazy about it!

Once everything is roasted to my satisfaction, I put it all in the food processor & puree…you might want to take the stems off of the jalapenos first! For a milder salsa, scrape the seeds out of the jalapenos. I know, I know, you are asking, “How much of everything did you use?” Well that depends on how many tomatoes you have. For about 2 pounds of tomatoes, I use about half of a medium onion, 4 garlic cloves, & 3-4 jalapenos (ours are pretty large & HOT!). Of course, the best thing to do is just give it a try…then adjust it to your taste. Also, use whatever chilies you like. We grow jalapenos, so that is what I use when they are in season. Otherwise, I use the roasted Anaheims that I keep in the freezer.

As an aside, check out this interesting jalapeno that Darren picked. This is the end opposite the stem. There were several off of this same plant, all with similar defects in the same location…an interesting observation in genetics!

Okay, back to the salsa. To the pureed veggies in the food processor, add lime juice, ground cumin, fresh cilantro, salt, & pepper; process again. You will probably need to add some liquid to get it the consistency you want. I usually deglaze the roasting pan with a little water & add it to the salsa. If you still need more liquid, you can add a little more water or olive oil…just don’t overdo it; you want it to stick to the chips! As for the seasonings, you just add a little to begin with, then taste…add more of what you want & repeat until it is to your liking. Be sure to taste it alone & on chips…I know, it’s tough to be the cook!

The salsa will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge & is great on soooo many things…scrambled eggs, nachos, fried eggs, baked potatoes, tacos, burritos, & chips, of course. The possibilities are endless, so make plenty!

 

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home!

I’ve been meaning to post this for several days, but other things have come up. However, now is the perfect time as I lay here with little energy to do anything else (thanks Son for giving me your cold!).

Two weeks ago, we had other homeschool teenagers over for an afternoon of Guitar Hero, Pool, Football, & snacks, of course! As the other moms & I sat at the patio table visiting, we noticed lots of these little critters. They were on the table, the side of the house, the window screens, the door trim, everywhere! Since I knew what they were, we had a mini science lesson on the fly…homeschool is great! They look kinda scary with those spiky-things all over them, but they are harmless…to humans, anyway. This, my friends, is the late-stage larva of a ladybug! Those spikes & bright colors send a message to predators that says, “I don’t taste good!” If you’ve ever had to deal much with ladybugs, you know they emit a foul odor if squished & dogs & cats will not eat them (at least mine won’t). I know this because our house was infested with them when we bought it…they even ruined 2 smoke detectors!

Close to the door of the house, I found this little guy on the siding. Notice he is more round like a ladybug. This is the pupa. The larva has encased itself in this hard outer covering, attached itself to the side of my house, & is transforming into a ladybug through metamorphosis. Ladybugs come in many different colors, not just red. This pupa is orange, so the adult will probably be similarly colored. As a matter of fact, yesterday those teens & their moms were here again & a brown ladybug (like the one in the picture below) was crawling on my leg!

One more picture…this one is an adult & a pupa (below). Notice the pupa (left) is not fully formed yet…you can still see part of the larva (in the shadow area).

There are so many opportunities like this to teach your kids about their surroundings, if you just look for them…& when it comes to somethings like ladybugs, you have to look closely!

For more information on the ladybug life cycle, including crafts & coloring pages, click the link! Or for more fun facts about ladybugs, click here.

 

Seek & You Shall Find

Have you ever gone treasure hunting…at the grocery store? I do every week! We eat lots of fresh foods, so I usually go twice a week, trolling for bargains…or blessings, as we call them, courtesy of Jehovah Jireh. Sometimes I find organic milk that is marked down to sell before the expiration date, making it cheaper than the other stuff. (Milk freezes well, FYI) Other times, it’s snow peas, or damaged packages of sugar, or close-out items, like washing soda (yes, it is sad…I will no longer be able to buy washing soda locally). When I find these, I snap them up, then come home & figure out ways to use the fresh foods within a couple of days. Two weeks ago, I found organic milk, organic eggs, spinach, & mushrooms…quiche, anyone?

Image via Wikipedia

Today was no different…organic eggs, spinach, artisan bread, & candy…lots of candy, left from Halloween, discounted 50%! Normally, the only time I buy candy is for holidays; so, thinking ahead, I picked up all of the candy I will need for Christmas & a little for baking. My closest friends can tell you that I rarely pay full price for anything & candy is no exception. After every major candy-consuming holiday, I look for bargains. Some of it I put away for the next holiday…the expiration date is usually several months away & the only thing denoting it as holiday-specific is the outside packaging, which gets thrown away. And some of it I put in the pantry for baking, like Hershey Kisses for cookies or peanut butter oatmeal cookies with M&M’s or homemade peanut butter ice cream with chopped up Reese’s or homemade vanilla ice cream with chopped up Snickers or Butterfingers…and the list goes on!

I look forward to my trips to the store because I can’t wait to see how God is going to bless our family. We have made many sacrifices to be faithful to His calling to homeschool & we trust Him to provide for us. The small blessings at the grocery store, particularly of something as unnecessary as candy, show us that He doesn’t just want us to survive. He wants to provide for us abundantly…like a loving Father, doting on His children. And we are so very thankful!

 

Snap, Grumble, Pop!

It’s been 4 days since that frosty morning…4 beautiful Fall days–cool jacket weather in the morning that warms up into short sleeves in the afternoon…perfect football weather last Friday night! True to the Texas mantra, the weather has changed today…a cool snap with overcast skies & wind…lots of wind. Just the kind of weather that makes me want to curl up & watch movies. Unfortunately, grumbly bellies & dirty dishes don’t care what the weather is doing, so I diligently cooked breakfast & lunch & cleaned the house (part of it, anyway) this morning between school lessons.

After lunch, however, it was time to do some of the aforementioned curling up. School work wasn’t finished & I had an extra student today, so I curled up under a blanket on the couch with my sweet puppy dog while we worked on reading & writing. When that was done, my extra student went home…it was time to move to the bed. Son wasn’t feeling too swell with this change in the weather, so he joined me. Of course, the dog & the cat weren’t going to pass on this opportunity to take a(nother) nap!

Now it was time to do a little history. While we were working on history, Darren came in & made some coffee (decaf, since it was past 10 a.m. & I want to sleep tonight)…just what Son needed to help clear up some of that congestion. Only one more thing was needed to round out this afternoon…homemade buttered popcorn. Since I can always depend on Son’s tapeworm to help me finish off a snack, I suggested it to him…sounded great to him! If you haven’t tried making your own popcorn, you should…deeeee-lish! & very easy (not to mention economical).

First melt about 2-3 tablespoons of butter; add a little salt; stir & set aside. Pour about 3 tablespoons of oil in a large pot with a lid (I use my cast iron Dutch oven) & add 3 kernels of popcorn. Place over high heat…make sure the lid is on…& listen for those 3 pops. When they pop, pour in 1/3 cup popcorn & replace the lid. Shake the pot every few seconds while the popcorn is popping so that the unpopped kernels will settle to the bottom of the pot & the popped ones don’t burn. When the popping has slowed down, turn off the heat & let sit for a couple of minutes. Pour melted butter & salt over the top; stir & enjoy…make sure you have napkins to wipe those buttery fingers on!

Now, for that movie…

 

a plethora of peppers

In Texas, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes.” A couple of days ago, we had our first frosty morning; but anyone who’s lived here for very long knows that’s a singular event this time of year! Since we knew it was going to be a frosty morning, my husband picked our garden beforehand. And in an attempt to prolong its productivity, he covered as much of it as he could…we knew it would be warmer the next day & for several days afterward; this is Texas, after all!

Much to my delight, he brought in a plethora of peppers…red bell peppers; yellow bell peppers; red, yellow, & orange baby bell peppers; and jalapenos. Now that got my creative juices flowing & I started thinking of all of the yummy deliciousness I could create with God’s abundance. I decided to startby throwing some of the red bell peppers & a few of the baby bells in a baking dish & popping them under the broiler. This was the beginning of a delicious batch of Roasted Red Pepper Hummus…with tortilla chips, a perfect accompaniment to College Football Saturday! (I did mention this is Texas!)

 

the schweet life?

Waaaaaaay back in the day when my husband & I had just started dating, he began calling me “schweet potatoe”. Nineteen years later & I am still his schweet potatoe!

I am a very passionate person (a 2-edged sword!) &, as such, have many passions. I am passionate about the health & well-being of my family, giving my son the best education possible, home economy & management, being a good steward with what God has entrusted to me, & living every day striving to make my heavenly Father proud of his daughter!

My husband says I’m smart, wise, frugal, practical, & complex…like a fine wine. I say I’m volcanic & Vulcanic!

I hope you will join me as I embark on this journey.