More gifts...151-200

151. the old, glass churn that belonged to his great-grandmother

152.  green

153.  volleyball

154.  easy, after-dinner walks

155.  Levi's sweet, sincere eyes

156.  a beautiful bride

157.  tulips

158.  kissing the bridge of my baby's nose

159.  sweet, rich smell of bee's comb

160.  new shoes

161.  feeling loved

162.  when the dough rises, yeasty and alive

163.  talk radio

164.  chicken noodle soup, hot and homemade

165.  shaking hands

166.  lazy mornings with coffee and comfies

167.  air conditioning

168.  indoor plumbing

169.  the smell of cinnamon rolls baking

170.  learning a new skill

171.  a clean house

172.  when the socks get folded and not just piled in the corner

173.  the love of my grandparents

174.  my healthy children

175.  toilet paper

176.  taking a walk with him

177.  a big, big sink

178.  kombucha

179.  my bestie

180.  sweet, warm baby skin

181.  when brothers walk in after school and Micah squeals with excitement

182.  running barefoot outside in the morning light to get a great picture, foggy beauty

183.  a productive and satisfying weekend

184.  sweet, earthy smell of cut grass

185.  the morning bawl of the steer

186.  chicken bodies bobbing and darting to the jump of the grasshopper

187.  mowing straight lines

188.  knowing

189.  feeling peace that passes understanding

190.  the first bubbling movement of a new baby

191.  breathing

192.  a great, big salad

193.  curling Jolie's hair

194.  Zaddok's backpack open and spilled out across 3 rooms

195.  His sweet morning goodbyes

196.  listening to Micah pretend

197.  laughing away the stress

198.  having everything we need

199.  my time in kid's church

200.  being a part of something



More gifts, 101-150

101.  Freedom

102.  seeing the sunrise with the kids each morning

103.  watching the boys walk into school and seeing them turn to wave one last time

104.  canning jars expectantly empty

105.  filling them!

106.  reading scripture I know and still finding something new

107.  wet, dewy grass on bare feet

108.  pickling crocks

109.  a close game

110.  seeing their hearts in what they do

111.  driving as the sun breaks the horizon

112.  thick, velveteen fog muffling sound and light.

113.  the moment you bite a grape and the taught skin gives way to juicy sweet flesh

114.  spending time with someone kindred

115.  iced, cold water

116.  the comfortableness of family

117.  steaming kitchen windows telling of warm stew and fresh bread

118.  green

119.  tear that flow with laughter

120.  dried mango

121.  Zaddok's goofy, sweet smile

122.  lamp light

123.  first day of Fall

124.  coffee sups with character

125.  puzzles

126.  dark-chocolate, covered pretzels

127.  old mirrors

128.  Micah's giggle

129.  seeing kids worship

130.  our canning day

131.  flys.  just kidding, fly-swatters

132.  interesting art

133.  feeling happy for no reason

134.  learning history

135.  deep meaningful prayer

136.  Shanah Tova!!

137.  honey

photo from Creek House Honey Facebook page.

138.  seeing Asher in a ball cap looking so grown

139.  old, wood floors

140.  house plants

141.  when he takes out the trash without me asking

142.  curtains I love

143.  the perfume of apples and cinnamon

144.  seedlings poking new heads through damp soil

145.  the last of mowing

146.  orange yolks from fresh-laid eggs

147.  newborn sounds

148.  the pink and orange and purple of the morning sky

149.  laying in my bed, on my tummy, deep into a book

150.  butter



Kombucha, 51-100 gifts

I am all about fermented foods.  I believe the gut is the center of our health.  I have fermented cucumbers, yogurt and now tea!  Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that aids in gut health by adding beneficial bacterial and helping to detoxify the liver and regulate digestion.  We have all heard of pro-biotics.  This is just a cheap and delicious way to get some into your diet. 

There are tons of online resources about Kombucha.  This is the one I used.  Kombucha Mamma gives a great history and step-by-step on how to brew your own.  She gives the why and how which I love! 

I got a jump-start on my experience thanks to a new friend I found on Facebook.  Pat, the SCOBY lady gave me a kit to start my own brew.  I was so happy to have the help and to get a very healthy and productive SCOBY.  Thank you Pat for being a teacher!

(Please click on the SCOBY link to learn all about it!)

This is what Pat gave me.  Such a precious gift!  It is my first SCOBY and some starter liquid.

 Per Pat's advice, I started by brewing 3 green tea bags and 2 black tea bags.  I used only organic products for this brew.

After the tea steeped for 10-15 minutes, I added the organic cane sugar.  This sugar is not for the drinker but for the drink.  The yeast consumes the sugar during fermentation so the sugar content ends up being very low.  A good brew tastes more sour than sweet.

I found this spigot jar at Walmart.  I didn't want to invest a bundle until I knew that I would continue to brew. (This jar was around 10 dollars.)  Before I put anything in this container, I washed it with hot water and sanitized it with white vinegar. 

I then carefully dumped the SCOBY and starter into the jar.

Once my brewed tea and sugar mix was completely cool, I poured it on top.  I felt like there was something else to do but all that was left was to wait.

Look how cool that is!!!

 The brew needs to be covered with a cotton cloth to keep out bugs but let in air.  I used a flour-sack towel and a rubber band.  I tucked it into a corner in my kitchen where it could stay warm and out of the direct light.

I let my brew ferment for 7 days and then tasted it.  It was delicious!  Sour and flavorful.  So I decided to try a second ferment to add some fruit flavor.  I drained some of the brew into a glass bottle with a lid.  I added some frozen raspberries!  I left it on the counter for 3 more days, burping it each day to keep the bottle from exploding. (The ferment puts off gasses)  Then I popped it in the fridge.  When it was chilled, I poured it over ice and enjoyed it!  I did not get a lot of fizz.  I think my bottle was too big.  But it was so good and the color was beautiful!  This is too much fun.

I am continuing my gifts journal.  I just have not shared it here.  So here is the next set of gifts in my life...

51.  when he brings me coffee

52.  hugging Levi's tears away

53.  finishing the laundry

54.  20-minute naps

55.  painting something the perfect color

56.  "His Eye is on the Sparrow"

57.  Jolie's sense of humor

58.  colored glass

59.  the distant train's moan

60.  ceiling fans

61.  when Jolie can't stop talking

62.  salty and sweet

63.  baby bellies

64.  when he puts his warm, strong hand on the small of my back

65.  driving a big truck

66.  good days with the kiddos

67.  my first Palace cappuccino

68.  watching my babies become their own people

69.  Micah's squishy arms around my neck

70.  simple and comfortable cotton undies :)

71.  when things just work out

72.  taking shoes off at the end of a long day

73.  different smells of rain in the country, all distinct

74.  seeing the queen

75.  when hair does right

76.  a big, complicated sandwich

77.  seeing my sweet ones love each other

78.  "How Great Thou Art."

79.  familiar creak of the front door opening

80.  new toothpaste

81.  walking out into first light, cool and still

82.  Jerusalem artichokes blooming 

83.  morning frog sounds

84.  lunches packed the night before

85.  good, peaceful mornings

86.  hometown football

87.  beautiful, lazy dusk; hearing the last of the birds

88.  newborn cousins, Mary Pearl

89.  pumpkins!!!

90.  seeing the joy while passing out allowance

91.  the beautiful and painful birth of a parent

92.  small-town post office where you sign get-well cards for the neighbors

93.  when I hear his car pull in the drive

94.  the moon bright and full, lighting the path through the yard

95.  easy meals

96.  connections with new faces, seeing yourself in someone else

97.  dishes done

98.  Asher's sincere hugs

99.  coming home after a long day

100.  needing to wipe a nose and having an actual Kleenex to do it

Have a sweet day full of gifts!



Laban (yogurt)

I promised to post about this last week.  Then, you know, life and business and forgetfulness. Blah, blah, blah.  So here is the way I make my own yogurt at home.  It requires no special equipment besides a candy thermometer.  (I make it without one and will give those directions as well.)

 

First, you have to start with an amazing family cookbook that contains lots of delicious and traditional Lebanese recipes.  Thank you Nancy for sharing with our family!

 

The recipe.



 

 I like to use organic, non-additive food whenever possible.  Some weeks, it is just whatever is on sale.  I figure if I am able to get the best half of the time, that is better than never.

 

I didn't have half-n-half so I used this mixed with some milk.  (half a pint of milk, half a pint of cream, BAM! half-n-half)

 

I had my candy thermometer in place on the side of the pot.

 

 

I poured the 1/2 gallon of milk and the half-n-half, into this pot and turn the heat on medium.  Following the directions above I brought the whole thing up to 170 degrees and then took it off of the heat.  *If you do not have a thermometer, simply bring milk to an almost boil :) and take it off of the heat.  Don't let it boil or scorch.



 

I funneled it into the container I will use to store my yogurt.  It is a half gallon jar. (which actually has a permanent tea stain because I also use these to make our iced tea!  I use them for everything.)

 

 

I transfered the thermometer to the jar so I could monitor the cooling down.  It should reach between 110 and 116 degrees.  *Again, if you are doing this without a thermometer, use a clean finger to test the temp.  If you can hold your finger in the liquid and it is tolerably warm, not hot, it is ready for the starter. 

 

Make sure it is not too hot or you will kill your starter!!!

 

 

Let's talk starter.  You can use pretty much any plain, live culture yogurt.  The container should say it is cultured.  Please use plain and unsweetened!!  The highest quality yogurt that you like the flavor of is your best choice. 

 

I always use full-fat dairy but this gives you an idea of what to look for.

 

 

(I can't remember the kind of yogurt I started with because I now use my old batch for the new starter. )

 

When you are sure your milk is cool enough, thin your starter with a few Tablespoons of the warm milk. 

 

 

Next, pour the thinned starter into the warm milk mixture.  I put on my lid and give it a good shake.  Depending on your container, you might stir. 

 

This all needs to happen fairly quickly because you need to keep the heat in your mixture.  The heat will allow the cultures for the starter to change the milk mixture into lovely, tangy yogurt!

 

Here comes the creative part.  You need to keep your yogurt baby warm for several hours.  I use a few bath towels and a crock now.  But I have used a small cooler in which I placed the towel-wrapped bundle. I also have heated the oven slightly and put the whole thing in there.  (Kind of a fire hazard though.)  I would be interested to hear any other ideas that you come up with.  
 

Here, I am tightly wrapping the warm mixture.

 

 

Then I set the whole thing in my pickling crock and cover it with another towel.  If I was smart, I would have heated a few rocks to go inside the crock to make it nice and cozy.  Next time for sure!
 



 

 I push the crock out of the way overnight or for at least 8 hours.  The longer it sits the tangier it gets!
 

 

When it is done I unwrap it, always with anticipation.  The finished yogurt needs to sit in the fridge for a couple of hours before you use it.  Sometimes it is hard-set and very thick.  Other times it is thinner. 

 

(You can follow the recipe above to make a strained yogurt called Labani.  I have not done that yet but hear it is a wonderful, cream-cheese-like spread.) 

 

This can be used for so many things.  It is great to eat on it's own but I use it a lot to replace fat in other recipes.  It will also replace sour cream.

 

I have also given some of the older yogurt to our animals when I am ready to make a new batch.  They love it and get benefit from the cultures too! 

 

(Who would have thought that chickens love yogurt?) 

 

This batch was thinner but no less tasty.  It seems to get more flavorful with every batch! 

 

 

I hope this inspires some of you to try it!  Enjoy!

 

 



One Thousand Gifts, 1-50

A year ago my sister-in-law told me about a book.  She said it would change my life.  Psshh.  A book, change my life?  I thought she was being dramatic.

Fast forward to last week when I carelessly picked up this book as I was waiting for Asher to finish piano lessons.  I read the first chapter, trying to hide my tears.  Oh heck, I was ugly crying behind my book hoping the piano teacher would not look my way.

One Thousand Gifts

Thus began my journey.  In one week I have started my "gifts" journal.  It has become a precious thing to me.  I am noticing and caring about things that I normally give no pause.  My hand is intentional in recording my heart.  Page after page.  Number after number.

Being that I record my blog in print, I wanted to make this journal part of our family record.  I will be sharing my gifts here. 

Even if you don't read the book, take time to notice today.  Take time to preserve your gifts.

1. cottonwood leaves that blow in the breeze like glitter

2. a clean sink

3.  my baby girl's belly laugh

4. the coolness of approaching Autumn

5.  COFFEE

6. slipping on my favorite hoodie when I get cold

7.  twisting my hair around my finger

8.  hearing, "I love you Mama."

9.  silence

10.  roasted green chile smoke filling the cracks of the end of summer

11.  familiar hands raised together in worship

12.  overcast skies

13.  silky, earthen dark chocolate

14.  cozy Sunday afternoons under warm covers

15.  a good stretch

16.  my oldest layer her head on my shoulder

17.  freshness of clean sheets

18.  dark, staring newborn eyes.

19.  bookshelves filled with traveled treasures

20.  strong, syrup-colored iced tea

21.  old jeans that fit again

22. chest rising deep with breath

23.  the ones who fight (Haley Butts-Wilscam)

24.  finished projects

25.  pumpkin this-and-that

26.  gel pens

27.  magazines

28.  a note from my sweet boy

29.  hand-me-downs

30.  Zaddok's soft hair

31.  kittens.

32.  perfectly focused picture

33.  being wrapped in a hard breeze inoculated with the crisp of Fall

34.  little baby noses

35.  ice to chill my drink

36.  mail

37.  surprise rain showers

38.  baby snuggles

39.  homemade tortillas

40.  when my sister calls

41.  bare feet on cool tile

42.  the firelight of a Texas sunset

43.  my bed

44.  when a book makes me feel

45.  Asher grabbing my hand as we walk

46.  taking out my contacts after a long day

47.  finding God's peace when it hurts

48.  freshly painted nails

49.  feeling strong

50.  soft and wrinkled hands of an old friend

I am playing catch-up with what I have written.  I will not always share this much.  Be blessed and bless another!

  



My heart today.