Dogwood Valley Homesteading

Monday on the Homestead

We have been focusing lots of our time with my son.  His visit home has been wonderful.  He said it has been just what he needed.  The girls and I have been keeping the meals and baking going almost non-stop since he came home.  I am glad to see him enjoying home cooking so much.  He still has a couple more weeks with us. 

Today some of life needs to go back to normal.  Emily starts work again (after a couple week holiday break) and I think I will have the youngest kids do a little school.  Jacob may go out and about in town with Richard today so he may not start school yet.  He is way ahead of schedule anyway so I am not too concerned about it.   

On my to-do list today is laundry and housework.  I need to get some floors mopped and some dusting done.  Wood heat seems to create a lot of dust!  I also need to get the kids back to my daily house cleaning chore list today.  With all the fun times and off schedules my house is showing a bit of neglect.  So that much of a normal schedule will start today! 

Tobin and I will be having our weekly date so I need to get a pot of bean soup cooking before we leave.  I was thinking Italian Pintos were sounding pretty good.  Maybe I will find the time to get some French bread made before I leave too..  we will see how the days goes.   

I will be back soon to more blogging and sharing but for now life seems very focused on my kids and family.   

I wanted to leave with a pic of my grandbaby Elizabeth taken at Christmas time..  she is growing so quickly! …

Hope you all have a great Monday on your Homestead!

Baby Pics

Dh and our DS were having a little "chat" today.  LOL it was so cute!

New Stove

The night before our Thanksgiving in early October our oven died.  The dial that sets the temperature broke.  It would turn on but you couldn't tell what setting it was at.  Eventually we figured out were to set it for most baking.  But then a few weeks before Christmas it started surging temps.  cold one min to hot the next.  We have already had the thermostat, 2 oven elements and many burners replaced on this thing...We decided not to try and have it fixed again.  There must be something wrong with it that causes the burners and thermostat to keep burning out.  We searched every were looking for used stoves.  We finally found one place.  They must be in high demand right now!  Dh looked and they had this very old yellow stove.  The store thinks it's from the 60's.  But I tell you it cooks better then any stove I've ever had!!  They sure made things to last back then.  It also has an extra broiler oven on top.  I LOVE it!!

This pic is just after dh brought it in the house.

First batch of cookies as a "test".  Bakes great!  My other stove was alway burning everything or under cooking.

Pics of DD

Our youngest dd is having a blast with the jingle bells her Aunt gave them for Christmas!

Christmas Morning Pics

Our Christmas morning.  The girls were very excited with there new goodies.  Each got a crochet shawl I made in their favorite colors.  Some new craft stuff, stuffies, and books.  But one of their favorite surprises was each got a set of binoculars.

Christmas Pics

Ok I'm REALLY late in getting these up.  LOL  Baby boy has been keeping me very busy, so I haven't been online very much.

These were taken earlier this month with dh and the kids putting up the tree.  Dh did the lights and garland the girls decorated it themselves.   

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

the generous wife

the coming year

7 anti-aging miracle foods

Add the following seven super foods to your shopping cart and you just might unlock the key to longevity. Sue Moores, MS, RD, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, explains how these foods delay the onset of aging and the risk of age-related disease.

Yogurt

Dairy is often difficult to digest, but gentler yogurt is an easy way to get the calcium you need -- and more. One serving a day delivers a dose of healthy probiotics -- "good" bacteria that helps promote a balanced intestinal environment. "As we age," Moores says, "we can lose bacteria in our intestine, making it more difficult to prevent digestive diseases." The probiotics found in yogurt, namely acidophilus, serve as a natural defense against potentially harmful organisms. But all yogurt is not created equal: Read the container's nutrition label to ensure that the brand you choose contains active cultures.
Serving size: 1 cup
Calorie count: 138
Quick tip: Opt for plain, lower-fat yogurt, because the flavored varieties frequently contain added sugar.

Salmon

As the anti-aging ambassador of marine cuisine, salmon has omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats that reduce inflammation in the body, warding off a laundry list of age-related ailments: arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. Plus, "fish is brain food," proclaims Moores. Its oils have been shown to strengthen memory performance and decrease the slowing of mental faculties as we get older.
Serving size: 3-4 ounces
Calorie count: about 150
Quick tip: Toss canned salmon over salad as you would with tuna.

Blueberries

For a fruit that is often marginalized to muffins, we are sorely overlooking this power berry. Blueberries are another essential "brain food," because they consist of loads of phytonutrients, or plant chemicals, recently touted for their role in preventing age-related neurological disorders. Moores advises, however, to head straight to the source -- consuming dietary supplements in place of the pure berry is not guaranteed to provide you with as many of its benefits, not to mention the fruit's tasty pleasures!
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calorie count: 40
Quick tip: You can profit from blueberries year-round: There is no significant difference in the nutritional content of fresh, dried, or frozen berries.

Red Beans

All beans are gold mines of age-defying nutrients, but research shows that red beans hoard the greatest amount of antioxidants -- key components in the quest for prolonged youth. These substances, such as vitamins D, E, and A, are believed to repair damaged cells in the body, and in doing so might avert the development of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and cancer. Red beans are also packed with another longevity champion -- folic acid -- a dementia preventative.
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calorie count: 310
Quick tip: Opt for dried beans to get the most out of this legume; canned beans often contain too much salt.

Flax Seed

It has been estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone, and flax is the gastronomic superstar of deterrence. The seed also promotes youthful, supple skin because of its high concentration of oils that, like salmon's omega-3s, lower the amount of inflammation in the body.
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Calorie count: 118
Quick tip: Sprinkle your daily serving of ground flax over cereal or oatmeal for an easy breakfast supplement.

Quinoa

"We tend not to eat as much when we consume foods that are high in fiber," says Moores, because they fill us up with fewer calories. The result? Consistently ingesting less helps us maintain a healthy weight and decreases our chances of developing diabetes. Light and fluffy quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) has the dynamite nutritional content of the healthiest grains, but it is actually a plant seed, and it's jam-packed with protein, iron, B vitamins, and minerals, too.
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Calorie count: about 159
Quick tip: Instead of cooking quinoa in water, use low-sodium vegetable broth -- it will impart a rich flavor without adding fat.

Kale

Although often passed over in favor of its cousin cabbage, kale's crisp, dark leaves are bursting with micronutrients, potassium, and carotenoids, all essential for lowering risks of heart disease and even cataracts. Low-calorie kale is also calcium-rich, and its high concentration of vitamin A has been linked with a reduced incidence of cancer.
Serving size: 1 hearty cup
Calorie count: about 34
Quick tip: Combine steamed kale with something sweet, such as lightly sauteed onions, to offset its slightly bitter taste.