Time Saving/Parenting Tip: Consider Limiting Your Options

The first thing I am going to have to admit in this post is the fact that I am not very good at following the advice I am about to give. That is actually one of the reasons I wanted to write this post though. I need to remind myself that limiting my options is always a choice and sometimes it is a very good choice to make!

So what am I talking about here? I am talking about how life is so complicated these days. Many families have

What Would Ma Do? She Would Put Family First!

Thanksgiving at YMCA Family Camp in Julian, CA

Some of you may be wondering why this blog has gone silent for a few weeks. I am here tonight to answer just that question!

First I am going to pose a question about "Ma". When things got crazy in Ma's life what do you think she did? When I say crazy I mean
Pa is out of town, the crops need extra love, the hens are having trouble laying, one of the horses has a hurt foot, the weather is extreme outside etc. That kind of thing. I am thinking Ma would focus on just getting through the major MUST HAPPEN tasks each day. During times like these she probably did not get much time to work on any of her special sewing projects.

Or if we are talking about Laura in the context of "Ma", any of her writing projects would go on hold during busy times. Laura did a lot of writing for in journals and for magazines before she ever wrote the Little House books. Writing was one of her loves. But I can bet that writing had to take a back burner sometimes when things got extra "crazy" in her life.

In my case extra "crazy" involves things like

Weekly Meal Planner using Produce from my Abundant Harvest Organics Box

Today was the "box" day, YEAH!

I don't have time to have my own garden so I truly appreciate this lovely gift each week of beautiful organic produce from farmers across CA. Even if I did have time to garden I would never be able to grow all of these amazing goodies.

What a wonder to see the variety and bright colors each week!. Thank you to the farmers who make it possible for my family to eat a rainbow of colors every single week!

So...What came in the box this week?

Weekly Meal Planner using Produce from my Abundant Harvest Organics Box

Last week more than half of what arrived in the box went right into my slow cooker for another rendition of a new favorite: Spaghetti Sauce Stew.

Here is a list of what came in my small box from Abundant Harvest Organics this week:

• apples
• kiwis
• carrots
• cauliflower
• Italian herb mix
• lettuce
• mache (salad greens)
• lemons
• potatoes
• broccoli
• spinach
• green garlic

Here is a meal plan using all of these items! I even included two dessert ideas this week!

Poem: The Two Sides of Two

As my newest baby boy is approaching 1 1/2 I am seeing signs of these two year old behaviors already! I wrote this poem back when my first son was two years old and I remember this stage well with my daughter too.

I wonder what Ma did with her 4 daughters during this tricky stage where your child wants to exert their will but cannot communicate well enough yet to allow you to reason and negotiate with them. I bet Laura was Ma's biggest challenge.  I am thinking Jad might end up being mine. We shall have to wait and see...

The Two Sides of Two

Tyrant                                                             

Want it your way NOW!                                

Only your way...                                              

YOUR WAY                                                   

Every single time!                                            

Are you aware of the                                        

Ruckus you cause?                                          

Or do you merrily                                             

Live to fulfill your own                                      

Demands and dreams?                                     

Timid at times
When you are unsure and want mom near 
Overly proud of all 
Your BIG accomplishments
Ever curious explorer of
All the things. You want to know the world!  
Ready with a smile and a hug 
Or a
Little Chat
Darling demanding dear one you are my BIG accomplishment!

If you are a parent of little ones at home try to focus on remembering the moments when they are your darling little dear ones. This is a good reminder for me too!

Weekly Meal Planner using Produce from my Abundant Harvest Organics Box

What was in the box this week?

• apples
• pomegranates
• turnips
• lettuce
• potatoes
• rainbow chard
• Herbes De Provence (pictured right)
• winter squash
• spinach
• dill
• yu choy sum (similar to bok choy)

What to do with all this lovely produce? Here is my plan:

Spaghetti Sauce Stew

Ma would not have had the option to buy a jar of good spaghetti sauce but since I do I am happy to make my life simpler by doing just that!

Finding a good sauce can be tough. You have to read the ingredients carefully. Anything with "sugar" or "canola oil" is not coming home with me!  Nothing modified or partially hydrogenated is going to cut it either. I also don't want any added starches. I just want veggies, spices, and olive oil please. Turns out this is a tall order!

Trader Joe's makes a roasted garlic sauce that meets my criteria but it is not organic. I have found a good plain basil and tomato flavored sauce at Sprouts that was organic but I cannot remember the brand. I will update this post with this info next time I buy some. This time I used a non organic brand from Costco that fit the bill of only including real ingredients.