tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55599160762282652282024-02-06T20:41:16.748-06:00Sweet Swan SongsSimple. Natural. Life.Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-58990298954912730982012-11-23T18:04:00.003-06:002012-11-23T18:04:43.801-06:00I'm Moving!!Hey everyone,<br />
Big News!!<br />
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I'm moving the ole' blog over to Wordpress, so from now on I'll be posting at <a href="http://livesimplenatural.wordpress.com/">http://livesimplenatural.wordpress.com</a>.<br />
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The blog has a whole new name- <a href="http://livesimplenatural.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Live Simple Natural</a><br />
and a nice fresh look, but all the same content is there.<br />
I'd love it if you'd join me! :)<br />
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Why am I moving? This morning when I was writing a post, I ran out of room on blogger and picasa web albums and decided to upgrade my look and space to wordpress. It's just a lot nicer and more professional looking. I love it!<br />
Some practical stuff:<br />
If you're following in Facebook, you'll notice that the name of my FB page has changed as well, but you don't need to re "like" the page- everything just switched over. It's so nifty what technology can do these days! ( I feel old...)<br />
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If you're following on email, you still should receive updates as well. If not, please let me know and I'll try to fix the problem!<br />
If you're following on google, you will have to re-sign up to follow I think, because only blogger uses that platform, I believe.<br />
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So, come on over and see the new site!<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://livesimplenatural.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Live Simple Natural</a></span><br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-20195416092232603772012-11-23T14:06:00.000-06:002012-11-23T14:06:49.106-06:00Twine-Wrapped VasesHappy Black Friday!<br /><br />I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and friends-<br />
We had a delicious, fun Thanksgiving with my family and afterwards played Just Dance 2 on the Wii. Oh, my goodness, that was SO much fun!<br />
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I've been trying to make the most lately of the storage capacity of our bedroom, which takes some creativity.<br />
The room is long and skinny (it used to be the back porch) and it fits a dresser, bed, desk and that's about it. It's really cozy and there's a window looking out to the cow field which I love!<br />
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My sewing table is right in front of the window so I can take peeks at the cows grazing lazily around in the field while I sew away.<br />
We have kind of made the windowsill into a bookshelf/storage for art supplies/whatever else ends up there and we had paintbrushes and some other things stuck into mason jars and it looked kind of mumble-jumble.<br />
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I wanted to prettify the space, so I took some twine we got at the thrift store and wrapped it around the jars. I may have a fetish for twine. I love it!! My mom gave me the huge roll of twine, and the smaller one is from the thrift store.<br />
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Viola!!<br />
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Cute, rustic decorative jars to hold all of our odds and ends. And lavender.<br />
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It looks SO much better.<br />
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I didn't even hot glue the twine, I just tied it around the top, then wrapped the twine around tightly, working down to the bottom of the jar, then used elmer's glue to hold the other end down.<br />
So if you have some mismatched containers holding stuff that you'd like to make look prettier, get some twine and get wrappin!<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-33827061972884238042012-11-16T16:41:00.000-06:002012-11-16T16:41:10.057-06:00Squash EnchiladasI've come across a few recipes for squash enchiladas in the past couple of years, and my first thought was<br />
"<i>Really</i>, <b><i>Squash</i></b>? In<i> enchiladas</i>?? Weird!"<br />
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Everyone I've shared the idea with seems to have the same reaction, with varying degrees of horror and/or "Ew gross!"<br />
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But, I'm here to tell you- squash enchiladas are actually really good.<br />
They are surprisingly filling and the sweetness of the squash balances really nicely with the flavors of peppers and garlic and my personal favorite, cumin.<br />
If you have an abundance of squash that you don't know what to do with and are so inclined to try new foods, here is a recipe for you!<br /><br />Honestly, I've made them different every time, using whatever ingredients I had on hand that I thought would taste good. This last time I made them I liked it better than last time, so I'll share the current favorite recipe. :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Squash Enchiladas</span><br />
By Becca Swan<br />
Makes 6 enchiladas<br />
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1/2 onion, diced<br />
1 clove garlic, diced<br />
1 cup cooked rice<br />
1 cup corn kernels (I cut mine off the cob but feel free to use fresh, canned or frozen- whatever you have)<br />
2 cups winter squash, cut into 1 inch cubes<br />
shredded cheese for sprinkling (cheddar, monterey jack are especially good)<br />
6 flour tortillas<br />
2 tbsp taco or enchilada seasoning (or your own favorite blend of spices that include cumin, paprika, chili powder, etc.)<br />
sour cream (optional)<br />
Enchilada sauce or salsa (enough to pour over the top of enchiladas)<br />
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Heat a pan on med-high, put cooking spray in it or use around 2 tbsp olive oil to grease it.<br />
Add onions and garlic, stir and cook til onions are translucent.<br />
Pour in squash cubes, add salt and pepper, cook for around 5-10 minutes, til the squash starts to soften. Reduce the heat to medium if need be, to keep the squash from burning.<br />
Add rice and corn and seasoning, stir and cook til warmed through.<br />
Remove from heat.<br />
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Assemble your enchiladas.<br />
In a 9x13" baking dish, place tortilla, layer squash mixture, cheese and sour cream (if desired) down the middle of the tortilla. Roll tortilla up and place so the loose ends are under the enchilada. Repeat until your pan is full.<br />Drizzle salsa or enchilada sauce over the top of your enchiladas, then sprinkle some more cheese over them for good measure. :)<br />
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I used tomatillo salsa this time and MAN was it good! It added a really nice tang to the dish and I highly recommend it if you like tomatillos. If not, stick with regular enchilada sauce or salsa.<br />
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, til cheese on top is melted and slightly browned.<br />Enjoy with a nice salad or chips and salsa.<br />
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If you have people in your family who are skeptical about the squash enchiladas, you can always make a pan of chicken or beef enchiladas as well; that's what we do since my kids and my brothers are not fond of squash at all. :)<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-42172753444275107292012-11-15T13:06:00.000-06:002012-11-15T13:06:29.315-06:00Pressing CiderIt's halfway through November already, and getting cold and dreary and decidedly fall/winterish around here.<br />
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We had a few hard frosts and it even hailed one day. No snow yet, but it sure is getting cold!<br />
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On Saturday, my Great Uncle Gaylord invited us up (he lives next door) to have a cider pressing party and boy was it fun! And COLD! I never knew apple cider could be so cold and delicious!</div>
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None of us had really pressed cider before (besides Uncle Gaylord and my Dad) so we all got to learn how.</div>
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First, you get some apples.</div>
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These are from Gaylord's apple trees. They're "organic" in that they don't have pesticides used on them. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Ellie, Dad, Ethan, Uncle Gaylord and my youngest brother Scotty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad helping Ethan turn the crank on the press</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Gaylord cracking jokes. :)</td></tr>
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You put apples into the hopper of the cider press and turn the wheel and it shreds up the apples into a kind of pulpy mess. That falls down into a pressing crate thingy (see how much I know about cider pressing?) and when it's full you slide it over to the press. You put a lid on the pressing crate and then turn the crank to exert pressure onto the crate, which squeezes the cider out into a canning pot.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim taking a turn at pressing the cider</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotty bein' himself. ;)</td></tr>
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Then, when the pot is full, you move it over to the straining table and pour it through a strainer. (Or a clean pillowcase, which is what we used.) Squeeze the juice out of the pillowcase and then ladle it into jugs ( a funnel is very helpful at this point!) and Bam! you have apple cider. </div>
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We just leave it raw, we don't pasteurize it or anything, although you have to freeze it if you want it to stay good because it will turn and start fermenting in about 5 days if you don't freeze or can the extra.</div>
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What did we do with the leftover smashed apples? Feed it to the cows, of course!<br />Once the cider was pressed out of the apple bits, we took the pressing crate over and pounded the top out of it, letting the apples fall into a wheelbarrow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother, Brian, pounding out the lid and the apple bits into the wheelbarrow</td></tr>
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Then we dumped the apple bits in the cow field and let the girls have a nice little treat. The kids loved having the cows so close! The cows weren't as excited as the kids. ;)<br />
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The cider is SO good! We drank it right as it was dripping out of the pressing crate, into our cups and it was cold and sweet and delicious. </div>
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The weather was frigid too- somewhere in the upper 30's so we had to keep running inside and warming our hands at the woodstove so our fingers wouldn't get so cold they didn't work. Mine actually got so cold they couldn't bend at one point, so I had to take a break. Squeezing that cider through the pillowcase was a chilly job!</div>
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We ended up getting around 12 gallons of cider, which is more than we expected. We've been enjoying it immensely- warm, cold, putting it in muffins and bread and using it in gravy. We're saving some for Thanksgiving too, to drink in fancy cups with dinner. :)</div>
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I'll be back tomorrow and Saturday with some recipes - it's been a while since I posted any so I'm giving you two- Squash Enchiladas and then Apple Cider Pumpkin Spice muffins!<br />
Have a fabulous Thursday.<br />
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Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-76728434173558840562012-11-10T10:49:00.002-06:002012-11-10T10:49:57.941-06:00A Trip to the MountainsA few days ago my parents had to go over the mountains to pick some elk meat that my dad had dropped by the processor after getting his elk last month, and the kids and I got to go along. We'd been cooped up in the house for a few days and were starting to go a little stir crazy, so this was the perfect opportunity to get out of the house and have a good time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ferry deck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the ferry towards Everett</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie looking carefully down at the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tallest mountains had a dusting of snow on them. :)</td></tr>
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We had so much fun!<br />
We picked up the elk meat at Owen's Brother's, then went and visited Teanaway, which is a valley just over the ridge from Cle Elum. It's gorgeous, and I grew up camping there with my family nearly every year.<br />
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There are a bunch of ranches with cute farmhouses and pretty barns, gorgeous views of the mountains and more often than not you will find wild turkeys, deer or elk grazing in the meadows along with horses or cows.<br />
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At the campground we got out and explored and it was so much fun to see the kids have fun running around playing where I spent so many fall days riding bikes, climbing trees and swimming in the river.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fall leaves were just gorgeous!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teanaway River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More pretty yellow leaves</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids found a bouncy log and had fun playing on it </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked across this log to get to the other side of the river.<br /> The kids thought that was SO cool!<br />I thought it was a little scary, but still cool. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEoJC1v1GkRh2mtvWPkqnvGr5gKLQuU7ktE5BCZ_dTrqUDGtISNXwWwI9lO43Wb08IBerRvp3neNX3JYmhvQIzeka50COj2w7H1ct6XkNiR-d2aCeSxHQAqGAJoxXttvNheGQbmpKRk3w/s1600/P1013770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEoJC1v1GkRh2mtvWPkqnvGr5gKLQuU7ktE5BCZ_dTrqUDGtISNXwWwI9lO43Wb08IBerRvp3neNX3JYmhvQIzeka50COj2w7H1ct6XkNiR-d2aCeSxHQAqGAJoxXttvNheGQbmpKRk3w/s400/P1013770.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is "The Shoe Tree". For whatever reason, people have been putting shoes on this tree for probably 20 years.<br /> It's just a big tree at one of the campsites that's become a novelty. :) </td></tr>
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We headed for home as the sun sank behind the hills, looking forward to next spring when it's warm enough to go camping again and to experience the beauty and adventure Teanaway has to offer. :)<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-69643856513391072312012-10-25T15:36:00.003-05:002012-10-25T15:42:58.106-05:00Skinning A Deer<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Warning:</b> <b>This post contains graphic, kind of gruesome images. </b></span><br />
<b>If you don't want to see raw meat or blood or a deer carcass...don't read this.</b><br />
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For as long as I can remember, my Dad has been a hunter. He hunts elk and deer every year and is truly respectful of God's creation and a lover of the outdoors. When I was a kid, we'd all go camping in the mountains for two weeks and my Mom and us kids and my cousins and Aunt would stay in camp during the day while my Dad and Uncle would go across the river and over the ridge up into the wilderness; hunting for the canny, elusive elk. It was awesome.<br />
I remember waking up early in the morning while it was still dark and peeking out of the tent and seeing Dad huddled near the campfire, the smell of woodsmoke and coffee in the air while sparks flew up into the blackness of the sky and the sound of caps from the muzzleloader rifles snapped in the stillness.<br />
I wrapped up in a blanket and sat in a chair near the fire, my breath making a cloud in the frigid frosty morning. I sipped a cup of cocoa to warm up and listened to hunting stories, anticipating the afternoon when Dad would come back to camp with an elk in the back of his truck. Sometimes he did, sometimes he came home empty handed but the experience far outweighed the fact of whether or not he got any meat.<br />
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It's so cool to hand down these memories to my kids, and to see them experience the same things I did that I consider to be almost lost in our current culture of fast food, factory farming and immediate gratification.<br />
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My Dad already got an elk this year, up in the mountains about 4 hours from here and its at the processor right now.<br />
He was at work a few days ago out in the woods here on the island and saw some deer up on a hill, and took the opportunity to shoot a nice little doe. During hunting season, what better job could you have than logging in the woods and getting to bring your gun to work so that when you see a deer all you have to do is shoot it? Pretty cool.<br />
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Anyway, he shot it and gutted the doe in the woods and brought her home for us.<br />
I've grown up helping skin deer, and it was awesome for Tim and the kids to be able to experience and learn how to skin a deer since Tim wants to hunt next year.<br />
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These aren't exactly instructions on how to skin a deer, because I didn't do the whole thing by myself and am afraid I'd forget something vital to tell you. So this is what I remember about how we skinned this little doe. If you need instructions on how to skin a deer, you can check out <a href="http://girlsguidetobutter.com/2010/12/home-deer-butchering-101/" target="_blank">Sofya's great post at The Girl's Guide to Guns and Butter</a>- she has way more experience than I do, and there's instructions on how to butcher a deer on there as well. Our deer is still hanging outside, aging and drying out for a few more days before we butcher it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlmAmlN4iw3IH1hLS4-cVBGPeK_Qz6ySHRE_gdyyeokAgbU_B39UkFSRMbuoqBno4lsq-vbT2zxNUhrSpziA4DQOs1_r2jCQA0HuGFb9gnrlIFZhG_Pb71Upzm90WgQHagZ-02Xbcw3Fz/s1600/P1013409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlmAmlN4iw3IH1hLS4-cVBGPeK_Qz6ySHRE_gdyyeokAgbU_B39UkFSRMbuoqBno4lsq-vbT2zxNUhrSpziA4DQOs1_r2jCQA0HuGFb9gnrlIFZhG_Pb71Upzm90WgQHagZ-02Xbcw3Fz/s400/P1013409.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When she first saw the deer, Ellie said, "Let's eat it for dinner tonight!" :)<br />
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The first thing you do when you go to skin a deer is to take the legs off. Make sure you're using a very sharp knife. You start at the knee, and find the cartilage around it and cut, being careful not to cut the bone or the hair of the deer. This dulls the knife really fast. Also be careful not to cut your fingers.<br />
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Once you've cut around the outside, bend the knee and cut the rest of the cartilage. Then snap the knee off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim's first time skinning a deer. He did awesome!</td></tr>
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The kids had fun playing with the deer legs. :)<br />
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Next, cut slits through the hide along the front legs of the deer to the chest,<br />
so that when you get to that point the skin comes off easier.<br />
Hang the deer by its neck and start skinning from the neck down.<br />
Pull the hide gently away, and cut at the thin white fat between the skin and the meat and the hide just peels away easily. Be careful not to cut too close to the hide, or you'll cut a hole in it, or too much into the meat. Just go slowly and take your time. There's no hurry.<br />
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Once you get to this point, you can usually pull the hide down and it will just peel off by itself. Grab the edges of the hide and just pull gently, trimming with the knife if needed. Pull it down to the tail, and cut off the tail.<br />
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Then, continue pulling the hide down, using your knife if needed to help it along, until the hide comes off the legs. If you want to save the hide to tan it you can, or you can just bury it deep in a hole with the head and legs so the coyotes don't get it.<br />
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Now to the kind of gruesome part.<br />
If you shot the deer with a gun and not a bow, you'll more than likely have some bloodshot meat. This is where the bullet went in and came out. You need to cut out all of that icky, bloody meat so the blood doesn't seep down into the meat and ruin it.<br />
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Once it's all cut out, cut down the breastbone with either a hacksaw or a knife, depending on how big your deer is and how sharp your hunting knives are. Since this was a young doe, Dad just used his knife.<br />
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Then you can go ahead and turn the deer upside down to finish drying out- thread a rope between it's tendons on the back legs and tie them up.<br />
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Then untie the head and let it hang down towards the ground. This is what the rope looks like threaded through the tendons.<br />
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Lastly, cut off the head. Start with a knife and go around the neck until you get to the spine, then use a hacksaw to get through the bone.<br />
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The kids thought the head was really cool, especially since they got to touch the deer's eye and pet its fur.<br />
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And that, my friends, is how you skin a deer.<br />
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We hung the deer inside one of our shipping containers we use for storing tools (kinda like a garage) and we'll leave it there for a week to age, if it stays cold enough.<br />
We'll be butchering the meat ourselves here in a few days, and I'll try to do a post on that too.<br />
I hope I didn't gross anyone out too much! It's really a fun process, and you appreciate the food more when you know where it comes from and how much work it takes to get it to the edible point. I'm thankful I grew up doing this, and thankful that my kids will grow up knowing how to skin a deer and make it into food for their future families too. :)<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-56244723831405697732012-10-24T09:00:00.000-05:002012-10-24T09:00:08.243-05:00Foraging: Lavender I love lavender.<br />
I love the way it looks, the glorious scent of the beautiful purple flowers, the dusty looking green leaves.<br />
I love how many different ways you can use lavender.<br />
I really enjoy anything that is lavender scented- lotions, soaps, chapstick, tea, anything lavender is just divinely lovely to me.<br />
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It just so happens my mom has a huge lavender bed right out in our front yard.<br />
I'm not sure if this actually counts as foraging, since it's in our yard, but I'm going to say it does since it's from a natural source and not a store.<br />
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I cut several stalks of lavender a few weeks ago, put them into bunches and hung them upside down to dry in the kitchen.<br />
When they were nice and crispy dry, I ran my fingers down the stalks and got as many flowers off as I could.<br />
This was a messy job! I got the little lavender flowers everywhere, and then vacuumed up the ones I dropped on the carpet and the whole kitchen smelled wonderful!<br />
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I stuck the lavender in a jar and put them in the cupboard to experiment with different ways of using it.<br />
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First up: Tea!<br />
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Yesterday I was really stressed out and decided that using a little lavender for aromatherapy and tea would be a good idea to help calm me down.<br />
I also spent <a href="http://sweetswansongs.blogspot.com/2012/10/those-days.html" target="_blank">some time with the Lord</a>, and that calmed me down more than any tea ever could, but I have to admit, this tea helped too. God gave us lavender for a reason- to help calm our busy little lives!<br />
If you'd like to make some into tea, it's simple. Here is what you need:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lavender Tea </span><br />
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1 Tbsp dried lavender</div>
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Hot water to fill a nice mug</div>
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1 tsp. Raw Honey (optional)</div>
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Tea Strainer or Tea Egg</div>
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Take your strainer, set it over your mug and put some lavender flowers in it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used way more flowers than this when I made my tea!<br /> I didn't think to take the picture til after I'd already dumped out the used flowers and didn't want to waste any more than this, so put a teaspoon or tablespoon of flowers in, depending on how strong you want your tea.</td></tr>
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Then pour boiling water over the flowers, until they are slightly floating in the water.</div>
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Let steep for 5 minutes at least.</div>
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If you want your tea to be sweetened, put a teaspoon of raw honey in your mug, stir, and inhale deeply as you cup your hands around the mug and relax.</div>
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Try not to gulp it down. </div>
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I imagine if you had some chamomile flowers and added it to the tea you'd<i> really</i> be relaxed! I'll have to try it sometime. :)</div>
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I'm on my way outside to go pick more lavender to dry for future tea-making. I have a feeling I"ll be drinking this a lot, it's so yummy!</div>
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Have any of you ever made lavender lotion? I'd love to but am not sure where to begin. If you know, please leave a comment for me!</div>
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Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-67931357093867766072012-10-23T15:19:00.001-05:002012-10-23T15:19:49.444-05:00Those DaysYou know <i>those days</i> when you just can't seem to get anything done?<br /><br />When you want to put some chicken in the crockpot for dinner but you have to keep running to the other end of the house to referee the kids and keep them from putting twist ties in each other's hair and wrecking each other's lego creations, then you <i>just </i>get back into the kitchen and remember that you need to switch the laundry, then <i>another</i> fight breaks out and you try for <b><i>two hours</i></b> to get that darn chicken into the crockpot but are STILL unsuccessful because you keep getting interrupted??<br />
Oh, and there are no clean dishes so you have to start washing those just to clean a place on the counter so you can put the crockpot where it will reach the electrical outlet?<br />
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I am having one of <i>those days</i> today.<br />
I sure can't do this mom thing on my own!<br />
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I am so thankful that I read this verse in my quiet time with the Lord this morning, because I desperately do need HIM:<br /><br />"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."<br />Proverbs 3:5,6<br />
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I need God's direction today so I don't go crazy with stress and impatience! My path today has been erratic and twisty and full of stress, just trying to get through the day. Nothing super important has happened, yet the day has just been really hard!<br />
It's amazing how when we take our eyes off of our problems (however big or small they may seem or actually be) and put our eyes on Jesus, what a peace He gives us and our paths just seem to straighten out and slow down. When we rest in God, everything falls into place because we let Him do His job, instead of us trying to do it for him.<br /><br />If you're having a bad day, or overwhelmed with problems, just take a few minutes to fix your eyes on Jesus, and remember that He died on the cross for your sins and rose again for YOU, and that if you let Him, he will make your paths straight, no matter how crooked they may be. It kinda puts things in perspective.<br />
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"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint hearted."<br />Hebrews 12: 3,4<br />
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I feel so much more peaceful after taking some time to ponder and surrender my day to God.<br />
Oh, and I did <i>finally</i> get my chicken in the crockpot. :)<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-88231802698138462612012-10-16T15:43:00.000-05:002012-10-23T21:44:26.514-05:00Foraging: Wild Rose HipsA couple of weeks ago our family took a walk down the road to get some fresh air, and ran across a whole bunch of wild rose hips.<br />
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I immediately wanted to pick them all, but had nothing to put them in, so I resolved that we'd come back and get them in a few days, and went home to research how to preserve rosehips and what to use them for.</div>
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If you want to read a more in-depth description of what rosehips do for your health, go <a href="http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/butler95.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Rose hips are really high in vitamin C and can be made into tea, jelly or oil to help bolster the immune system. I thought that since it's fall and the beginning of the blustery, rainy season that we're bound to get a cold here or there, so why not make some tea to help us stay healthy??</div>
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One cool gray afternoon, I gathered up the kids and Grandma (my mom) and we went rose hip picking.</div>
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We had fun! </div>
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Some of the rose hips were low enough for the kids to pick, and we snacked on the blackberries remaining on the nearby blackberry bushes. Some of the bushes were still flowering!</div>
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Once we got about 4 or 5 cups of rose hips and there weren't really many more that we could reach, we came home and I spread them out on a cookie sheet to dry. The process takes a few weeks, so they're not dry quite yet. They look so pretty though, and I can't wait to try them in some tea!</div>
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The mornings here have been foggy and cool, and it's so beautiful!!<br />
I love seeing these girls out the kitchen window when I'm stirring the sugar into my coffee:</div>
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I know- more cow pictures! I just can't get enough of them!!</div>
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Have you ever done any foraging?? What did you get, and what did you do with it? I'd love to hear! </div>
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This post is shared at <a href="http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/10/frugally-days-sustainable-ways-50/" target="_blank">Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways</a>.<br />
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Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-31648591161974130702012-10-16T15:16:00.000-05:002012-10-16T15:16:45.147-05:00KCWC- Day 5 So last week was Kid's Clothing Week Challenge- and I sewed three out of the seven days.<br />
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It was a busy week and I just didn't get to put in as much time as I wanted to, but I did make this cute little skirt for Eliana out of the same fabric as I made Ethan's <a href="http://sweetswansongs.blogspot.com/2012/10/kcwc-day-2-and-3-lounge-pants.html" target="_blank">lounge pants</a>.</div>
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I'm calling it, "The Schoolgirl Skirt".</div>
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It has a nice drop waist with pleats and plenty of room to grow lengthwise, with an elastic waist so its nice and comfy.</div>
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I'm thinking of making her a few others in knit fabric for next summer. Making skirts is so much fun because they don't take long to sew and they usually are fairly easy projects. Unless your fabric gets stuck in the feed dogs or the tension gets messed up or something. </div>
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Thankfully that didn't happen with this skirt, but it sure has happened on other ones!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She just HAD to wear her "pony hat" for the photo shoot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precious little toes</td></tr>
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Hope you're having a good week so far, I'm going to be writing up a few posts on foraging wild for rose hips and what to do with them after you pick them in the next few weeks, so stay tuned if that sounds remotely interesting to you. ;)</div>
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Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-80720151009459133232012-10-13T09:00:00.000-05:002012-10-13T09:00:05.651-05:00A Fun Fall Craft: Leaf Creatures! A few days ago I was browsing Pinterest and saw an idea that I just knew the kids would love:<br />
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Leaf Creatures!!<br />
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<br />The website linked to Pinterest was just a photo, but these are so easy to make you don't need instructions. I'm going to give them to you anyway. ;)<br />
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1.) Gather some leaves.<br />
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2.) Find some googly eyes. Varying sizes are best.<br />
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3.) Glue or stick the googly eyes to the leaves and then use either popsicle sticks or, if you don't have any of those, regular sticks to make a little handle for your kiddos to parade the leaf creatures around. I didn't want to wait for the glue to dry on the sticks, so I just used some twine to tie the sticks to the stem of the leaf.<br />
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Bam.<br />
Done!<br />
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They are SO cute!<br />You could even go crazy and make them have mouths, but we didn't have the supplies for that. I like them with just eyes.<br /><br /><br />So go find some fall leaves and have fun!!!<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-63299863361838193362012-10-11T17:15:00.000-05:002012-10-11T17:15:26.610-05:00KCWC Day 2 and 3: Lounge Pants Hi, Tuesday was day two of Kid's Clothing Week Challenge and I made some lounge pants for Ethan out of an old cotton drop cloth that was leftover from making curtains from the living room.<br />
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I used Made by Dana's <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-kid-pants-with-a-flat-front.html" target="_blank"> flat front kid pants tutorial</a> as a jumping off point for the flat front; although I already have made several pairs of pants using <a href="http://www.rookiemoms.com/make-some-easy-kids-pants/" target="_blank">this</a> method for kid pants. I kinda mixed and matched with the instructions, although I think I used Dana's more because she was using cotton fabric and the other site uses knits.<br />
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I like the way the pants turned out but might add pockets in the future to make them look less "loungy" and more like regular pants.<br />
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Either way, Ethan loves them!!<br />
They are comfy and since the weave is more loose like linen; dirt washes out easily.<br />
I found this out first hand since one of the first things E did was go out and play in the dirt pit in them.<br />
His cousin was visiting from Arizona and those boys had a blast!<br />
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I didn't do any sewing for the kids Wednesday; I finished up the curtains that I've been sewing for the living room and then didn't have time to whip up anything else.<br />
At least I sewed something, right??<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-53235234198214722582012-10-11T16:38:00.003-05:002012-10-11T16:38:33.940-05:00Blanching Corn Every year my Grandpa has a huge garden.<br />
He just turned 85, but he still plots out a nice garden and every year he gives my parents a bunch of veggies from it.<br />
Summer and Winter squashes, cucumbers, peas or green beans, and corn among other things.<br />
<br />One of my favorite fall activities that I remember from my childhood is shucking and blanching corn.<br />
I honestly don't really like to eat corn on the cob, but I enjoy pulling the long green husks off and picking the silk out of the crevices between the kernels and watching those golden ears boil away, only to be plunged into icy cold water to cool and then be put in bags and stowed away in the freezer for wintertime.<br />
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Since we live here in Washington now, I get to teach my kids how to take care of the corn Grandpa Larry brings over!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVWPb8WaasoqGTA8OpvoGjV774oggJ38xks4fMkjdL9dMnK2ee4tooGalbDSbDZtsGNgaGpuyen_4QsWZMO_Z2Bm1OzR4MvvvPXFgwFJodUgWwCCpN_pySPxsSMWY6X3BrWtM2tbSlZGl/s1600/P1013175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVWPb8WaasoqGTA8OpvoGjV774oggJ38xks4fMkjdL9dMnK2ee4tooGalbDSbDZtsGNgaGpuyen_4QsWZMO_Z2Bm1OzR4MvvvPXFgwFJodUgWwCCpN_pySPxsSMWY6X3BrWtM2tbSlZGl/s400/P1013175.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eliana managed to shuck two ears of corn before her hands got tired.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zrBvO7Ly4QXxsIyNLAsKpFwMA5FDXbfI_utq4br6vXaDUrjhd-Pry5Ha7zRUqJEej6QzUoMW6PYkrEiWtGPyBqFjP85SI1FnJC8kFi3NY82O_MRfXq2r_SwrBaAcQMbyx5i5d2iNYDmR/s1600/P1013176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zrBvO7Ly4QXxsIyNLAsKpFwMA5FDXbfI_utq4br6vXaDUrjhd-Pry5Ha7zRUqJEej6QzUoMW6PYkrEiWtGPyBqFjP85SI1FnJC8kFi3NY82O_MRfXq2r_SwrBaAcQMbyx5i5d2iNYDmR/s400/P1013176.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan did a great job making sure all of the silk got off the ears of corn!</td></tr>
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Here are a few pictures of the process:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfXxX4cg68s1kPrELG-hqHnxc79RTyaV8fd9QiMzUtt_GRbJonUXJT17CZ-J_wxHtnblpvqPH7H-RjtOtpRi0KoQzd2HuoPtGhSDBi6ERSPNE97qQHZqZcJltnz5aP3185P5Hg7mtcHFv/s1600/P1013178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfXxX4cg68s1kPrELG-hqHnxc79RTyaV8fd9QiMzUtt_GRbJonUXJT17CZ-J_wxHtnblpvqPH7H-RjtOtpRi0KoQzd2HuoPtGhSDBi6ERSPNE97qQHZqZcJltnz5aP3185P5Hg7mtcHFv/s400/P1013178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half Shucked Corn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp-TkUR1lDwm3ZF5hc1mfDLSrFomfU5ObqmX-bmSaRLgFsYUjZUBgjpc-PozCkJWcFKdt6D5s22YGR_iNjDOaL8gCfAT-Iu-L50m8iOoP-5eszSRdVakfkWLyjixTR0D9MZV1Z9nLSFWM/s1600/P1013179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp-TkUR1lDwm3ZF5hc1mfDLSrFomfU5ObqmX-bmSaRLgFsYUjZUBgjpc-PozCkJWcFKdt6D5s22YGR_iNjDOaL8gCfAT-Iu-L50m8iOoP-5eszSRdVakfkWLyjixTR0D9MZV1Z9nLSFWM/s400/P1013179.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of the silk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGvttbGr610gpEBboji62-1Mb_QX835-e77eTR8sKDWq6M8Z8jP238scZMcPFDG8PtpE9yErx_JqSUdLWeKOMITtj1_f3QWKSwI3YtTGvFoMSzqR2bdwyGpuIfcB8o6COM5zJVMLR89pE/s1600/P1013180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGvttbGr610gpEBboji62-1Mb_QX835-e77eTR8sKDWq6M8Z8jP238scZMcPFDG8PtpE9yErx_JqSUdLWeKOMITtj1_f3QWKSwI3YtTGvFoMSzqR2bdwyGpuIfcB8o6COM5zJVMLR89pE/s400/P1013180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All shucked and ready to be blanched</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48aIe7R7xWlwalgXVS6Q02NFK3kvPmIfFWsqPlJ0azGZMXws5dZxHSoE0jJfol8rtr1Lt6FGekkCEj5eCDNl5ySx-TNpuvBHrqEdABw23jXXyqbzkh_1nq5iuFGoC8L8zxka_EAi1rnqw/s1600/P1013183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48aIe7R7xWlwalgXVS6Q02NFK3kvPmIfFWsqPlJ0azGZMXws5dZxHSoE0jJfol8rtr1Lt6FGekkCEj5eCDNl5ySx-TNpuvBHrqEdABw23jXXyqbzkh_1nq5iuFGoC8L8zxka_EAi1rnqw/s400/P1013183.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We let the corn boil for 3 minutes...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0yWGf2Op2i8WJIdMyooL_o-ETCL42hwzB7Q2antkOL-9_jQhsb1caAuDrKgqxwcDd8XD4v4qIFbonkJUo_u_WujVkxkZRkHNnPYQeyrVLg3Um1NJUhyphenhyphenrzX5MXgSwwDnYcajX7MnfB_Hq/s1600/P1013184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0yWGf2Op2i8WJIdMyooL_o-ETCL42hwzB7Q2antkOL-9_jQhsb1caAuDrKgqxwcDd8XD4v4qIFbonkJUo_u_WujVkxkZRkHNnPYQeyrVLg3Um1NJUhyphenhyphenrzX5MXgSwwDnYcajX7MnfB_Hq/s400/P1013184.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then put it into cold water to stop the cooking process.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhmwFHljg9KQbTXjuOc2A5ldzH3lERR8JeKx3yHAlh0e4xBELvmu3nwR4JKGwBrZNNcw2VN4FF1Jg-qmbwj9TpvYIYe4y7TPvRpAfD7ur8S81U9zuKuVtAqtaxIGBlrVhbzsrMOU9oY4h/s1600/P1013185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhmwFHljg9KQbTXjuOc2A5ldzH3lERR8JeKx3yHAlh0e4xBELvmu3nwR4JKGwBrZNNcw2VN4FF1Jg-qmbwj9TpvYIYe4y7TPvRpAfD7ur8S81U9zuKuVtAqtaxIGBlrVhbzsrMOU9oY4h/s400/P1013185.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After it's cooled, it's ready to be put in bags..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJHhzSpn0aQDZFgMCLFknBRqVmG1ABhQ7N1OvBaPiZSrOue1NXJgog4PrysOqIlS9T4e4c5aM7VPh5pj7fCvpPJRpAqItduROBpUhX8UIWsbXqSRluPvIHMWB_zyd1WNoSh_RbDnIkuhk/s1600/P1013187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJHhzSpn0aQDZFgMCLFknBRqVmG1ABhQ7N1OvBaPiZSrOue1NXJgog4PrysOqIlS9T4e4c5aM7VPh5pj7fCvpPJRpAqItduROBpUhX8UIWsbXqSRluPvIHMWB_zyd1WNoSh_RbDnIkuhk/s400/P1013187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then go into the chest freezer on the back porch.</td></tr>
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That's how it's done, folks!<br />
We'll sure enjoy eating nice sweet corn at dinner time during the cold winter evenings.<br />
I'm using up some frozen corn from last year's garden with dinner tonight and making mexican rice with it.<br />
What is your favorite way to eat corn? I'd love to hear some ideas for new meals!<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-47769992534931922882012-10-08T14:08:00.000-05:002012-10-08T14:08:11.577-05:00KCWC Week Day 1: Cheating, Kind OfIt's day one of Kid's Clothing Week Challenge, where you sew an hour every day<br />
(or cut patterns or fabric to get your stuff ready to sew) for a week and make some cool stuff for your kiddos. If you want to join in or see what others are making, to check out the <a href="http://www.elsiemarley.com/kcwc-fall-2012-day-one.html" target="_blank">Elsie Marley</a> blog- That's where the real cool stuff is at!!<br />
There's some amazing sewing goin' on this week, a bunch of WAY more talented people than I are sewing all kinds of beautiful clothing for their kids. Someday, I hope to be that good. :)<br />
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I'm kind of cheating today, because I didn't actually make something for my kiddos but something for my kiddo's toy.<br />
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Eliana had a dolly that she got from the thrift store a few weeks ago that is naked. Thankfully whoever made it had the foresight to sew undies onto her, but the poor doll had no clothes so I decided to sew her a dress.<br />
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This was a very simple dress; I could've put more embellishments on it, but I just didn't want to take the time.<br />Doll dresses are hard to make because they are so stinkin' small!<br />
I take my hat off to people who have the patience to make doll clothes on a regular basis- I don't think I'll be making a lot of them because they are just kind of tedious, in my opinion.<br />
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Here is the pattern I used, from<a href="http://quaintandquirky.blogspot.com/2010/12/rog-doll-tutorial-clothes.html" target="_blank"> Quaint and Quirky</a>. She made an adorable rag doll and this is the clothing pattern for it. The doll Eliana got from the thrift store was around the same size, so I just adjusted the sizing and made her dress slightly smaller.<br />
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I had some knit fabric that I used so I didn't have to hem anything. If you are venturing into doll clothes making, knits are great because they save a lot of time- those tiny stitches you have to make on the hem are killer!<br />
I did hand-sew a hem around the neck hole to make it look nicer, then put some cute little buttons for a bit of detail.<br />
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The sleeves are inside out...(on purpose, of course)......Ahem....<br />
I seem to have trouble with sewing on sleeves.<br />
Everytime I try to put sleeves on I do it wrong at least once, and this time I sewed them on upside down and inside out the first time, then inside out the second time.<br />
As you can see, I didn't feel like picking the seams and trying for a third time, so the dolly got inside out sleeves. We can say its <i><b>for contrast</b></i>. Yeah. That's it. ;)<br />
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That's it!<br /><br />I'll be back tomorrow with some pants for my son, Ethan (hopefully!).<br />
He needs a few more pairs, or I just need to do laundry more often. ;)Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-6843378433070086502012-10-05T13:17:00.000-05:002012-10-05T13:17:59.083-05:00Food Waste Friday: Things Have ChangedI haven't participated in FWF for a few weeks, and I've missed it!<br />
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The reason I haven't been around??<br />
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We moved across the country, from our little house in Tennessee into my parent's big house on two beautiful acres. Long story, but we're glad to be here! :)<br />
Needless to say, there was food waste.<br />
Food waste from us moving, food waste from lunch meat not being refrigerated and beans getting squished into a paste, food waste once we got here to Washington. (State, not D.C.)<br />
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I'm in the process of getting my mom and dad's foodstuffs organized (Think overflowing pantry and huge chest freezer with stuff in it from 2009 and condiments in the gigantic fridge expired in 2005...)<br />
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So there was a LOT of waste.<br />
Two garbage bags full.<br />
Old meat, corn with freezer burn, blackberries from 3 years ago. Horseradish that should've been thrown out 7 years ago. SEVEN. That's how long I've been married!! It's amazing what can hide in the fridge on the condiment shelf.<br />
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I'm trying to get it under control, and get my parents and brother on board with FWF so that they can save some $$ and some food too!<br />
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The next thing on the agenda is to write up a menu so that we have a list of meals to pull from- the secret weapon of preventing food waste, along with making meals out of leftovers to further our reduction of wasted meals.<br />
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Does anyone have any tips on how to reduce food waste from a family who is used to throwing out this, that and leftovers?<br />
I need help! :)<br />
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Thanks in advance!<br />
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This post is linked to <a href="http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2012/10/im-declaring-banana-bankruptcy-i-am-ashamed/" target="_blank">The Frugal Girl</a>, who is the brains behind all of this food waste documentation.Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-9071511351106024312012-10-03T14:27:00.000-05:002012-10-03T14:27:02.347-05:00Fall is Here!It's officially fall, my favorite season!<br />
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The mornings are chilly, with fog wafting over the fields and the days still mostly sunny and warm.<br />
It frosted this morning for the first time, and boy did the heat from the woodstove feel nice this morning as it warmed our sleepy house!<br />
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I love fall.<br />
I love the changing colors, the coolness of the outdoors, getting to wear sweaters and seeing pumpkin stands on the side of the road.<br />
I love making apple crisp for dessert and chicken soup for supper, with homemade biscuits and settling down for a nice lively card game after dinner with my family.<br />
I love seeing my breath in the air as I exhale, the crispness and chill that tries to creep into my bones but is banished as soon as I step in front of the toasty warm wood stove with a cup of hot tea in my hand.<br />
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The Italian Prunes are ripe on the tree and my mom and I picked all of the good ones a couple of days ago. There were quite a few, so we decided to make prune (or plum? what's the difference, anyway?) butter.<br />
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We made some in the crockpot, let it cook overnight and....its kinda gross. It looks good here, but when it was done, it just wasn't very good.<br />
It wasn't totally gross, as in 'just can't eat it or I"ll gag', but I'll be honest: if there was another choice to put on my bread, I'd take it.<br />
So....we put it in the freezer (because that's what you do with food that you don't really like but don't want to throw out just yet) and <i>might</i> make some muffins or something out of it.<br />
I'm kinda disappointed because it smelled amazing and looked really good, but when we tasted it...yeah. Not so good.<br />
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In other news,<br />
Monday was Tim and my (Tim and I's? Mine and Tim's? Grammar help??) 7 year anniversary and we went out on a lunch date to celebrate.<br />
We had lunch at this cute little bakery in Coupeville and then walked on the pier, then went thrifting.<br />
Here are a few pictures from that, it was a <i><b>gorgeous</b></i> day!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuBnJbrvs-viDo5Yef_HICVv96X6LNBADL3qD1ocdviE64DAOfaiLquTk0appNuoy0oKKkkZOjKbDtL9o_J80dprO8STuLkk1PuxpfrNZhzmwhEjHWGYdPzAd12w-tLFVxOHaVtHgCilr/s1600/P1013104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuBnJbrvs-viDo5Yef_HICVv96X6LNBADL3qD1ocdviE64DAOfaiLquTk0appNuoy0oKKkkZOjKbDtL9o_J80dprO8STuLkk1PuxpfrNZhzmwhEjHWGYdPzAd12w-tLFVxOHaVtHgCilr/s400/P1013104.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coupville Pier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxhVrNegpuBv8V9ooBd1q0NRMxNIxaYyxL6DbBbjlspbfx3vyC7equCnpw0PEHLigTxC9ZEVUc-0UxMygt7YqojZ-O8wFAKs10pPa51s3AQ5Rd6ucBjvziQtpipZ4onzfpGRRvSELg_HQ/s1600/P1013107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxhVrNegpuBv8V9ooBd1q0NRMxNIxaYyxL6DbBbjlspbfx3vyC7equCnpw0PEHLigTxC9ZEVUc-0UxMygt7YqojZ-O8wFAKs10pPa51s3AQ5Rd6ucBjvziQtpipZ4onzfpGRRvSELg_HQ/s400/P1013107.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That bird sitting up there is a Blue Heron</td></tr>
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Gorgeous, Huh? I still kinda feel like we're on vacation...haha it's just so beautiful everywhere you go. I can't believe I took this all for granted when I was a kid. It's so nice to be back. :)<br />
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Hey, next week is Kid's Clothes Week Challenge, and I'm going to be participating again!<br />
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<a href="http://www.elsiemarley.com/kids-clothes-week-fall-2012.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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If you want to know more about it, check out the <a href="http://www.elsiemarley.com/kids-clothes-week-fall-2012.html" target="_blank">Elsie Marley blog</a> and sign up, it's so fun!<br />
You sew an hour a day for a week and see how many things you can make for your kiddos. (Or grandkids, or friend's kids.)<br />
I'm going to be making Christmas stockings and maybe some doll clothes, and possibly something else if I can find anything cool on Pinterest, which I'm sure won't be hard. ;)<br />
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That's all for today's ramblings, come back in a few days for something new!Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-71595739019759854322012-09-28T16:56:00.000-05:002012-09-28T16:56:30.793-05:00$10 Bathroom RedoGuess what I've been up to?<br />
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Redecorating the powder room in my parent's house!</div>
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This tiny bathroom is right in front of you when you come in the front door and is really in a handy spot...but it was....sad.</div>
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It was just plain white, with the basics in it: a towel. hand soap, a mirror, a sink and of course, a commode.</div>
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Nothing special, although it functioned just fine.</div>
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I wanted to make it pretty, because pretty things are just so much more fun, right?<br />
I think so.</div>
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Off to the hardware store we went!</div>
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I spent $10 on a painting tray, paintbrush and roller and when we got home, I got right to work.</div>
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My mom already had some paint left over from when they did the kitchen. It was a nice green color, but I wanted to lighten it up a bit so I added a little white paint, mixed it really well and went to town on those sad, grayish-white walls.</div>
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I forgot to take a picture of the before, but here is a dingy white wall that is very similar to what the bathroom looked like before. (This is the next bathroom on the repainting list.)<br />
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(Gold hardware!?! Ick! But I don't want to spend the time spray painting all of it, so it stays for now. This used to be my Grandma's house and she chose gold hardware for <i>everything</i>.)</div>
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Here is what that cute little powder room looks like now:</div>
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Nice change, huh?</div>
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<br />I brought the blue vase in from atop the piano, made a curtain out of off-white linen and added white towels for a nice, clean look that is simple yet cozy.<br />
I'm pleased, and now I'll actually <i>want </i>to use it instead of walking down to the other end of the house where the nicer bathroom is. ;)</div>
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Paint really can work miracles!<br />
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If you have a sad, plain room in your house, go and get some paint and transform it into something fabulous!</div>
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Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-89654780478802978362012-09-18T18:59:00.000-05:002012-09-18T18:59:53.534-05:00Life In WashingtonWe've now been in Washington for not quite a week and it already feels like home.<br />
It might help that it was my home for 18 years, but even the rest of my family is settling right in as if we've always been here.<br />
Of course, we still have moments of adjusting- the coolness of the nights chills us all to the bone, even though it only is in the 50's and we miss our Tennessee friends. (Hi, friends! We love you!!)<br />
We've yet to make any new friends, but I know we will at some point.<br />
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But overall, life is good.<br />
Tim has been able to work several days with my brother Scott's boss doing concrete and replacing broken pipes, digging holes, that kind of work. Even though it's only part time and probably temporary, we're incredibly thankful.<br />
The kids have been playing outside and roasting hot dogs over a huge fire and digging in the dirt pit and helping Tim split wood to deliver to someone. (Another odd job to earn some money!)<br />
God is taking good care of us. :)<br />
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(Lest you think everything is perfect, Ethan is currently grounded in his room for repeatedly disobeying and hitting his sister. Life is not all sunshine and giggles.)<br />
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Here are a few pictures of our beautiful home, and some fun we've had since we've been here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctNql4nTqHo8NmH3Qn9fyVW_uQnvHuAIq4oeBlCOksBa3spbqf5bBmoN56moLecLkqSj5qs3nrW6HP1w8N2gR3KXTG0jKVIbcQwAR11bgI5XDCn5yaICr-8eaPW2dXDWd8d29xdui9PCS/s1600/P1012993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctNql4nTqHo8NmH3Qn9fyVW_uQnvHuAIq4oeBlCOksBa3spbqf5bBmoN56moLecLkqSj5qs3nrW6HP1w8N2gR3KXTG0jKVIbcQwAR11bgI5XDCn5yaICr-8eaPW2dXDWd8d29xdui9PCS/s400/P1012993.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am, taking pictures of clotheslines again..but isn't this one pretty? My daddy made it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A water pump in the back yard. It still works.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom's gorgeous hydrangeas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Itailan Prunes- what could be fresher than just picking them off the tree? Organic at it's finest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhee7LDUOYZh_CTM-di0YE1spBJjhmniYwdXTzJc3iYiLd2TL3KWMRz-V_vjSO7gcZgJ2v2pZt9yOh2aPZzeMU8V3Bic9_27kBRDi20CYVJI6E9BYvlEKE7YL1A-lZ9xO9CrOHSFo8SLiHF/s1600/P1012998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhee7LDUOYZh_CTM-di0YE1spBJjhmniYwdXTzJc3iYiLd2TL3KWMRz-V_vjSO7gcZgJ2v2pZt9yOh2aPZzeMU8V3Bic9_27kBRDi20CYVJI6E9BYvlEKE7YL1A-lZ9xO9CrOHSFo8SLiHF/s640/P1012998.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan watching the cows next door.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_X-FrXnF-mSG1kCNcQR2s5GLCVcPQwE2XcGyRgy99dfxvMhZJSeYjJjg4dNCnhQLoqdNh9UR8yusTK_yK8dKMEk0clhKIF8Oj1f4Ih2PnYQ1bakbdg-FIBso9MPDfK_zD0eYfPqY3eOb/s1600/P1012999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_X-FrXnF-mSG1kCNcQR2s5GLCVcPQwE2XcGyRgy99dfxvMhZJSeYjJjg4dNCnhQLoqdNh9UR8yusTK_yK8dKMEk0clhKIF8Oj1f4Ih2PnYQ1bakbdg-FIBso9MPDfK_zD0eYfPqY3eOb/s640/P1012999.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie going on a walk down the driveway</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh60e96H1yHChf3NnbxCuYtJJQbr8rmB0fbyEEHelJkwby0OMQdsy1Rn2Y17Lra5jgJRlJDXlWp8R7y4hE2KQCXtsUx8gtCIdXAJQzdSCHuJBoVZXBpuXYBV97rDAZ62gpffXWgEO53w6b/s1600/P1013004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh60e96H1yHChf3NnbxCuYtJJQbr8rmB0fbyEEHelJkwby0OMQdsy1Rn2Y17Lra5jgJRlJDXlWp8R7y4hE2KQCXtsUx8gtCIdXAJQzdSCHuJBoVZXBpuXYBV97rDAZ62gpffXWgEO53w6b/s400/P1013004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackberries from the bushes right down the driveway. I made blackberry cobbler with them Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK_gijEGIg-DbgkjKP7ZcV_Hm-1iGt6R_cHaBKrDHyZLsu0vTFk5Za5CHOIQRLhQvws_QTI_CmnnQtfXsr-4eWnRsEMpU71u1hz2MiWK_DfQQ0duiXIc7ueheU9fLLq2a1aDu7h7MQXcb/s1600/P1013005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK_gijEGIg-DbgkjKP7ZcV_Hm-1iGt6R_cHaBKrDHyZLsu0vTFk5Za5CHOIQRLhQvws_QTI_CmnnQtfXsr-4eWnRsEMpU71u1hz2MiWK_DfQQ0duiXIc7ueheU9fLLq2a1aDu7h7MQXcb/s640/P1013005.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome Daddy, workin' on the bulldozer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKbE5PF4RGcr9XYK2n39jGuVduGo-g8ZKPfoHQ_OD2TlVua3XCdWXctPsiVbwQ0u5UmyBVVCIrRfJjoQLK1gRp7LcoSLNwx1ooDJDoWEbV4aBv5aztT9cyxw10gJFUkzmKvjov98xMPKk/s1600/P1013006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKbE5PF4RGcr9XYK2n39jGuVduGo-g8ZKPfoHQ_OD2TlVua3XCdWXctPsiVbwQ0u5UmyBVVCIrRfJjoQLK1gRp7LcoSLNwx1ooDJDoWEbV4aBv5aztT9cyxw10gJFUkzmKvjov98xMPKk/s640/P1013006.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet Mom, picking blackberries with me</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxV3vk9kbt5loowiYMHknf9Pv1Ezd_UdlUQvWrI5A6irYfAkhQsqmy4NGl6hKk0x6EBKJ3DauCJYfyi5d6YPI-30CxQiZsi0AszVRAPk0h04DNAZR3vR0i4DXQ6r0OKYxcniIg4igH5B5/s1600/P1013007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxV3vk9kbt5loowiYMHknf9Pv1Ezd_UdlUQvWrI5A6irYfAkhQsqmy4NGl6hKk0x6EBKJ3DauCJYfyi5d6YPI-30CxQiZsi0AszVRAPk0h04DNAZR3vR0i4DXQ6r0OKYxcniIg4igH5B5/s400/P1013007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Parent's house- and now our's too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIb3hQq3bgN7PBU2szdoGi_f89m1SelaKntD1TW5FgssfpZe7SSCngGxQLLmqmSUJ-H62LUwazo-CFvhyPiWvy6ZbZB7-0FFJK4kQ4VeUAjMC0l6PIMyZU62Ud4GLvIZuR5YgJLT9VYfU/s1600/P1013010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIb3hQq3bgN7PBU2szdoGi_f89m1SelaKntD1TW5FgssfpZe7SSCngGxQLLmqmSUJ-H62LUwazo-CFvhyPiWvy6ZbZB7-0FFJK4kQ4VeUAjMC0l6PIMyZU62Ud4GLvIZuR5YgJLT9VYfU/s640/P1013010.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim and Ellie splitting wood together</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffVpTrXzoL0vU3hwg7GXeLXDo9JTFFvu-jLVZPivoaa9F0gjPdcoNUJFnNeMY179VTJ-kqZH8QXrGD65HRpBj6mjW_ETcjCns343Ndj0zsZqj5H0eWZR6zsCECxPx3MliG6mjTUeofiOk/s1600/P1013019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffVpTrXzoL0vU3hwg7GXeLXDo9JTFFvu-jLVZPivoaa9F0gjPdcoNUJFnNeMY179VTJ-kqZH8QXrGD65HRpBj6mjW_ETcjCns343Ndj0zsZqj5H0eWZR6zsCECxPx3MliG6mjTUeofiOk/s640/P1013019.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie's first time playing in the Puget Sound. She loved it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUHSSeew58fHnzI1ZojrZ_ub82pqP32OznEMhCLcPx2p95aFIrxeo8wcCViPaFTf_QS4qCDF-Bl-HenDeyfcFsDN4Ys9-Mme_-n0NhoFC4UxRMCh6KSNrSmaFedpkxcWBGVU9BhBL2g57/s1600/P1013021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUHSSeew58fHnzI1ZojrZ_ub82pqP32OznEMhCLcPx2p95aFIrxeo8wcCViPaFTf_QS4qCDF-Bl-HenDeyfcFsDN4Ys9-Mme_-n0NhoFC4UxRMCh6KSNrSmaFedpkxcWBGVU9BhBL2g57/s400/P1013021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing at Double Bluff- so much fun!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPXDKcp-QXpAUis1bfrebcsro_TlP_jE2xZovREJdEGIISziNwICNnDKJzXDdiBfaGTecfPK0JZJdGn1SE5xqRsuAaPtBDwAbwkTMwE5bA2VItPdrEfqFEy-cPZp2xL2xinLIgYLhRJaY/s1600/P1013038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPXDKcp-QXpAUis1bfrebcsro_TlP_jE2xZovREJdEGIISziNwICNnDKJzXDdiBfaGTecfPK0JZJdGn1SE5xqRsuAaPtBDwAbwkTMwE5bA2VItPdrEfqFEy-cPZp2xL2xinLIgYLhRJaY/s400/P1013038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookin' hamburgers with Poppa Don</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrJOs0XrD3L5F3gpWMQP6dLbg0AY9hKJB47mhrjPpjFCcL2zPRB2heLJ7PxNPrZT4dcnVXzPSG_NgFIP5keKUEU-9VVB7PQDKDcw6NmJF7KMl8t1YMd8_ChRFkexKFFsnRodncN-aPLG5/s1600/P1013040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrJOs0XrD3L5F3gpWMQP6dLbg0AY9hKJB47mhrjPpjFCcL2zPRB2heLJ7PxNPrZT4dcnVXzPSG_NgFIP5keKUEU-9VVB7PQDKDcw6NmJF7KMl8t1YMd8_ChRFkexKFFsnRodncN-aPLG5/s400/P1013040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cows!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6PojDJHWT_xREPuyAFhpkkGg6fRe3H01P60MqPa2xUWaP8CKDC6w4DKClPy7qsf5EF_zrCiIeKYLwnHjcmDREAFbbG3j2MghRyoYU0qlKjBvBRnVhQ9G46SLu7tlwr8eh9ywAVDLg5Yi/s1600/P1013044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6PojDJHWT_xREPuyAFhpkkGg6fRe3H01P60MqPa2xUWaP8CKDC6w4DKClPy7qsf5EF_zrCiIeKYLwnHjcmDREAFbbG3j2MghRyoYU0qlKjBvBRnVhQ9G46SLu7tlwr8eh9ywAVDLg5Yi/s400/P1013044.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What our mornings look like around here.</td></tr>
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-59264266671015105842012-09-17T22:35:00.000-05:002012-09-17T22:35:55.174-05:00Road Trip: Finished!We made it to Washington!<br />
A day early, actually.<br />
What a surprise and a blessing!<br />
<br />
Our trip was really pretty smooth, and we managed to make great time, even with crazy crosswinds in South Dakota and wildfires in Montana, Wyoming and Washington.<br />
We camped two nights and stayed in a hotel one night because I really wanted a shower and because I was really cold the night before. (we didn't have enough blankets!)<br />
<br />
The kids did have a really rough time on the second day and we were SO thankful when the day came to a close. Two crying cranky kids in a corolla is not fun.<br />
Try saying that three times fast! :)<br />
<br />
Overall though it was a great adventure! I can't say I'll want to do it again any time soon...I'm glad we're done travelling and can rest and have a wonderful place to live. It's so beautiful here!<br />
I'm thankful God brought us safely across the country and kept us from killing each other on the way. ;)<br />
<br />
Okay.<br />
Pictures.<br />
Here are a few of our trip- my favorite ones.<br />
I took almost 200 altogether but that would be way too many to share on here, so you get eight carefully selected photos.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxDOihZM0URHaTJT8HusXfdAB2AL2WN5865NW9-B5zJWPL3mUayumjernNr2LShnlTCYqfFXkKh65qgEtNpLpSSL7n3bOYzJScje_lLGUP1y1wC14u0ytOGjCNGtYG8GQC9dNd9TKYG4b/s1600/P1012809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxDOihZM0URHaTJT8HusXfdAB2AL2WN5865NW9-B5zJWPL3mUayumjernNr2LShnlTCYqfFXkKh65qgEtNpLpSSL7n3bOYzJScje_lLGUP1y1wC14u0ytOGjCNGtYG8GQC9dNd9TKYG4b/s400/P1012809.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a thing for barns...I think I probably took around 20 different pictures of barns or silos.<br />This one is in Missouri, I think.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy_NZj3v6f487rcKicQwIg6ljj0O1BK-3QoJju3lN2S5li51fG85Oe4u8qW4fRIeOW1fyK_kPkEra7pMcJHXeKuMMhrFmvhET_j3-2jjA2sI8XqxHmuzER-5ZKGemtA_AnRgdE6z8-Dl3/s1600/P1012812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy_NZj3v6f487rcKicQwIg6ljj0O1BK-3QoJju3lN2S5li51fG85Oe4u8qW4fRIeOW1fyK_kPkEra7pMcJHXeKuMMhrFmvhET_j3-2jjA2sI8XqxHmuzER-5ZKGemtA_AnRgdE6z8-Dl3/s400/P1012812.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C'mon though, how beautiful is this??</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5doBhnv8bhGmQGXDYTu-00vWElbxoYmI-2NLvIXzZnbeEg8Oxp96gimt1-CcVw1nSQ1L9hesKJqbq0XcYo1PPvsAkb1dgjVDQrhU2wkFo0Hjd71RzC3upVtNxWj5WbqJC1ZON5JHNYqwl/s1600/P1012823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5doBhnv8bhGmQGXDYTu-00vWElbxoYmI-2NLvIXzZnbeEg8Oxp96gimt1-CcVw1nSQ1L9hesKJqbq0XcYo1PPvsAkb1dgjVDQrhU2wkFo0Hjd71RzC3upVtNxWj5WbqJC1ZON5JHNYqwl/s400/P1012823.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden waves of grain in Iowa</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE860cLPlIWZ2VUga9j7eHEXodTBlpaV9WFz0YUz_CZLpcSfXFybAo1JVobn_DYu1F-dwttMob50_lfZHS_3UfeS89IbgpFxigoL2USRFcGfRMahZbRKGrsgEFa62i-b3dgMS5jhs2QbC/s1600/P1012850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE860cLPlIWZ2VUga9j7eHEXodTBlpaV9WFz0YUz_CZLpcSfXFybAo1JVobn_DYu1F-dwttMob50_lfZHS_3UfeS89IbgpFxigoL2USRFcGfRMahZbRKGrsgEFa62i-b3dgMS5jhs2QbC/s400/P1012850.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool stripey rocks in South Dakota</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXgKhuVWxw6iQk9Ismudqd9SIBP8GHKAFaw39a-Z-84fgA5Tp0joXO5n1ui1ReNJEgJI67_XpjU4AbRWt2D13tR1vVNIcaUOJ3lvXm09jDcZ5_NJEQNjpC3udkNqGfeleuv8zWFenM2ac/s1600/P1012878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXgKhuVWxw6iQk9Ismudqd9SIBP8GHKAFaw39a-Z-84fgA5Tp0joXO5n1ui1ReNJEgJI67_XpjU4AbRWt2D13tR1vVNIcaUOJ3lvXm09jDcZ5_NJEQNjpC3udkNqGfeleuv8zWFenM2ac/s400/P1012878.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunset near Buffalo, Wyoming</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QYLu8WPzCcHgxGh4PvU930ZSBMG8r0cnVzZL0mX-EIeY_efhNCeNQpdt5pUqSC5bmuRRAs7T0G2VcnOekS0zjMNopI7sRPMMN2z_rcj_bW80aGNXGNZEO7-_d2-JRzRtnKL_of4WHkC7/s1600/P1012887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QYLu8WPzCcHgxGh4PvU930ZSBMG8r0cnVzZL0mX-EIeY_efhNCeNQpdt5pUqSC5bmuRRAs7T0G2VcnOekS0zjMNopI7sRPMMN2z_rcj_bW80aGNXGNZEO7-_d2-JRzRtnKL_of4WHkC7/s400/P1012887.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of smoke in Montana- there were two wild fires burning there when we went through.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZtPM_vrn6iGNLF_iL0OobqzwvoosTpUnhn2QF93WPrS_HgenF6QKZ4IwcXfynNDt6w7yH4WcMLFK6K6EjVlOzFuVHggbdt9Zcf-J2IV6cdBHcHN_RA4lbnrETbXbESnz6X8aH9AEalgf/s1600/P1012938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZtPM_vrn6iGNLF_iL0OobqzwvoosTpUnhn2QF93WPrS_HgenF6QKZ4IwcXfynNDt6w7yH4WcMLFK6K6EjVlOzFuVHggbdt9Zcf-J2IV6cdBHcHN_RA4lbnrETbXbESnz6X8aH9AEalgf/s400/P1012938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was also a beautiful train bridge hugging the side of a mountain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi2c1N8gfAdZPNktqpMHFW2oxhmuQsO062l3amiswK0zmSeUxa2fVmktckO3lHSwW0iZ8HTr0ha9e5CM3rKxkcxFepv5Z6RffvzYttkQQwULbrebRU8zlsjaGOvTpAEx3PRfHUtQSLv0t/s1600/P1012954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi2c1N8gfAdZPNktqpMHFW2oxhmuQsO062l3amiswK0zmSeUxa2fVmktckO3lHSwW0iZ8HTr0ha9e5CM3rKxkcxFepv5Z6RffvzYttkQQwULbrebRU8zlsjaGOvTpAEx3PRfHUtQSLv0t/s400/P1012954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful colors in Montana!</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
I didn't get any pictures of Idaho (although I wish I did- I think personally it was the most beautiful part of the trip!) but I was driving and Tim couldn't find the camera.<br />
If you ever get a chance to take I-90 through Idaho though, you should. Its gorgeous. Just be prepared for tons of twisty turns and huge mountains.<br />
Next time I'm going to share some pictures of our new home, then after that I'll have some sewing projects I'm working on and maybe a few crafts.<br />
Thanks for sticking with me even though it's been pretty quiet here on the ole blog!<br />
Moving is always crazy, and I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine and trying to post two or three times a week.<br />
<br />
Check back tomorrow for pictures of our new home. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-34953477759306849142012-09-09T19:19:00.001-05:002012-09-09T19:20:00.001-05:00On The Road..Hello from St. Louis!<br />
Our family is moving across the country from Tennessee to Washington State- this is our first leg of the journey.<br />
My brother and sister in law live in St. Louis, so we stopped for a few days to see them.<br />
Today we hit up the zoo- it's free and its next to this beautiful park called Forest Park.<br />
I really wish we had more time to explore the Science Museum and the Art Museum there as well, they look amazing!!<br />
Maybe next time.<br />
<br />
Here are a few pictures from our trip today:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiY691-42oxxOMtCXnqJ-6C28RqRQhdUY1wBUklJrL1cawQjLYGSgRTxbiUkj6y6ZN-kcW972cWzeJKCfQdfm1DiqPXEknYQfXI-KLNzJmXe9Ntdyf1kI3Ea6L9VnIIL46CLYM1XQ246T/s1600/P1012755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiY691-42oxxOMtCXnqJ-6C28RqRQhdUY1wBUklJrL1cawQjLYGSgRTxbiUkj6y6ZN-kcW972cWzeJKCfQdfm1DiqPXEknYQfXI-KLNzJmXe9Ntdyf1kI3Ea6L9VnIIL46CLYM1XQ246T/s400/P1012755.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How beautiful is this?? It doesn't even look real, but it is. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6JO7ZREQa4nJlXiS4KBcwzFNvHepOpZyAygBWMkot7m7F5KSDOjac5gio9sLegd7-FFsZfJJioGxhZYSUgMxoSbdNRs9FzYFSOfGgZQz1yJlqNOC1h5gWmjzaJb2pJOfJceHQfMU2mEi/s1600/P1012765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6JO7ZREQa4nJlXiS4KBcwzFNvHepOpZyAygBWMkot7m7F5KSDOjac5gio9sLegd7-FFsZfJJioGxhZYSUgMxoSbdNRs9FzYFSOfGgZQz1yJlqNOC1h5gWmjzaJb2pJOfJceHQfMU2mEi/s400/P1012765.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The penguin exhibit was amazing. I got splashed by a penguin swimming by me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoEzYFe71xwccVnctO_StpgV8T3rzrCFK50r9Ei1TXj12UqkiifV4Fwcl-2PtpuL4anmRTHNKIcXTcLgcywZ7PMMXAa_hWglSYYZ9i1KZsP7ASRpcxKgyv4ik_EZEbI5VmMmYr8-cPMlr/s1600/P1012771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoEzYFe71xwccVnctO_StpgV8T3rzrCFK50r9Ei1TXj12UqkiifV4Fwcl-2PtpuL4anmRTHNKIcXTcLgcywZ7PMMXAa_hWglSYYZ9i1KZsP7ASRpcxKgyv4ik_EZEbI5VmMmYr8-cPMlr/s400/P1012771.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sweet Father-Daughter moment</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5FPLPAsHkJ2RU24Y1h_EHD6SOx3iI7Mmhz3RIzXm9fXJuB5U7tkzYM9MeG73C5dBUuzP9DBsAhGWhfdIXgxwUhwgkWgIGGzeSWz6ueSTjBDoNU9mJsyLWrHWPP6g6ZcDGBsHtcg4_vct/s1600/P1012772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5FPLPAsHkJ2RU24Y1h_EHD6SOx3iI7Mmhz3RIzXm9fXJuB5U7tkzYM9MeG73C5dBUuzP9DBsAhGWhfdIXgxwUhwgkWgIGGzeSWz6ueSTjBDoNU9mJsyLWrHWPP6g6ZcDGBsHtcg4_vct/s400/P1012772.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grizzly Bear- he was HUGE.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY5ttg2I1xlZMm_vb3FkHlX4SVArUx5kthlQGjYlERF6oRruftFWS8J3POfJXXxZQWmJ9wgBLSaMqiwODgZ_vmxE7OuU2H4sV6FVllscfmw6G62uK38dYdaQw_j24PN6auRdMRG4SsCTq/s1600/P1012774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY5ttg2I1xlZMm_vb3FkHlX4SVArUx5kthlQGjYlERF6oRruftFWS8J3POfJXXxZQWmJ9wgBLSaMqiwODgZ_vmxE7OuU2H4sV6FVllscfmw6G62uK38dYdaQw_j24PN6auRdMRG4SsCTq/s400/P1012774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andean Bears, just chillin'</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLUgGqTOZhTRPQ7oYaBybadsHnqwTM1qGIzn59o2Vj3mUDqoPUi9X_G1k9O9pAukaSaFzb6ULLPaSOAfqXV7GNlthQZX6w7oDIWj9ha9cHwo5Ms0TD0_TON1qXq3nhNH6q0JqpeXu5PEZ/s1600/P1012785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLUgGqTOZhTRPQ7oYaBybadsHnqwTM1qGIzn59o2Vj3mUDqoPUi9X_G1k9O9pAukaSaFzb6ULLPaSOAfqXV7GNlthQZX6w7oDIWj9ha9cHwo5Ms0TD0_TON1qXq3nhNH6q0JqpeXu5PEZ/s400/P1012785.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute camel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusNCT_BIJQwVdcoN7n_h4hcNuaNgXBD3nyHTQ4_LMOH_AzoSnKB7jX5wURysBM982GhJMiVd6cRwRyecOJcvBiYZ5OUyDsm4MDzUM317SKVNcLkIjyMDAbhAUTaCho5zgd4ZtLeVhihXc/s1600/P1012787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusNCT_BIJQwVdcoN7n_h4hcNuaNgXBD3nyHTQ4_LMOH_AzoSnKB7jX5wURysBM982GhJMiVd6cRwRyecOJcvBiYZ5OUyDsm4MDzUM317SKVNcLkIjyMDAbhAUTaCho5zgd4ZtLeVhihXc/s400/P1012787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lions catnapping in the sun.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxqJksxno3WMw_BUHHujmmUb8x4KtSLuhIKP8OMnnmKAX2_1kcpz7s8Dxlhw4S5AwE4Yp2NrhXb-VxYL4LontcaTbz9qb7Fkg7gUcnysDbW_xZPkSHxft3o5qUoLWEEj76Ch8PWANVQew/s1600/P1012790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxqJksxno3WMw_BUHHujmmUb8x4KtSLuhIKP8OMnnmKAX2_1kcpz7s8Dxlhw4S5AwE4Yp2NrhXb-VxYL4LontcaTbz9qb7Fkg7gUcnysDbW_xZPkSHxft3o5qUoLWEEj76Ch8PWANVQew/s400/P1012790.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan catching a bug on the sidewalk while we were waiting for the bus to come so we could get back to our car. :)<br /></td></tr>
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We had a nice day. Tomorrow we're back on the road- hopefully getting as far as northern Iowa.<br />
I'll probably not get to post until at least Saturday, so have a good week and if you think of us, keep us in your prayers- that we'll have safe travels. :)<br />Thanks!<br /><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-75308544852014334522012-09-04T11:51:00.000-05:002012-09-04T11:51:43.598-05:00Tips for Frugal Road Trips In four days, we are moving across the country.<br />
Four. Days.<br />
That's pretty soon!<br />
<br />
I remember when we first found out we were moving, we had 31 days and I made a paper chain with the kids so we could count down the days visually.<br />
This especially helped Eliana, who has pretty much no concept of time yet at age 2.<br />
(She knows that later is not right now...and that early is when we get up in the morning. That's about it. )<br />
Time has flown by and now we're just tying up the last bits of things that need to be done.<br />
<br />
Last night I was trying to think of some good travel activities to do in the car (since we'll be in ours for<b> five</b> <b>days</b>) and here's what I came up with:<br />
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~Use your imagination!<br />Games like I spy, counting games (count the red trucks that go by), the ABC game, things like that are a great way to pass the time. Even little kids can play. Best of all, they're free!<br />
<br />
<br />
~Activity books, coloring supplies, stickers, pipe cleaners, and tape are all great things to keep your kids busy for a bit while you're cruising along in the car. I would recommend<b> not</b> giving them all of these things at once- spread them out so you can do different activities at different times and they won't get bored with them.<br />
<br />
~I have each kid pack their "special bag" which is a small sized messenger bag; full of toys of their choice.<br />
These are the only toys they get to play with during the trip. (and in this case, all of their other toys will be in a suitcase on top of the car so if we need to we can change them out.)<br />The kids are responsible for choosing their toys, keeping track of their toys and picking them up when they spill. This teaches them that they need to be careful which toys they pick and careful that they don't lose any!<br />
<br />
<br />
~Books books books!<br />
We're bringing two tote bags full of books with us for the kids to read to themselves, and a few chapter books for me to read out loud to the entire family as we drive. We're going to be reading J.R.R. Tolkien's <i>The Hobbit</i>, Ronald Dahl's <i>James and the Giant Peach</i>, as well as one of the kids' favorites; Arnold Lobel's <i>Frog and Toad</i>.<br />
I'm excited to read to everyone, although I may lose my voice from so much reading!<br />
It helps pass the time so much more quickly when you're caught up in a book, and (bonus!) sometimes the little ones fall asleep while mommy is reading aloud.<br />
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~When you stop at a rest stop, make sure to run around, stretch your body, throw a frisbee back and forth, play tag! Make stops fun, even if they aren't for very long. You could even bring bubbles and blow them for your youngsters to chase and pop. Anything to break up the monotony of being cooped up in the car. Let the kids get some energy out and go crazy for a few minutes.<br />
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~Don't eat at fast food places! Pack your own food!<br />
This will save your money and your stomach. :) We always bring a cooler (even just a little one) and stock it up with lunch meat and sandwich fixings, homemade snacks like granola, cookies, rolls, carrot sticks, fruit, maybe a bit of chocolate.<br />If you don't have room for a larger cooler, stop at a grocery store and get food for a few meals instead of throwing your money and health away by stopping at those legendary golden arches next to the freeway.<br />
Even rotisserie chicken and rolls are healthier than a Big Mac.<br />
<br />
~Make sure to wear comfy clothes.<br />
Jeans are not a friend to road trips. (Have you ever tried sitting for 9 hours straight wearing jeans? NOT comfortable). I guess stretchy jeans would probably be okay, but if your gut is getting cut in two, you're gonna be cranky!<br />
Wear yoga or gym pants, lounge pants or a knit skirt (if you're a girl, of course!). If you aren't driving, wear shoes that you can slip off easily. If you're comfy, you're more likely to be happier.<br />
<br />
~Music!<br />Make sure to have a nice assortment of music while travelling. We're "old fashioned" in that we don't have an iphone or mp3 player so we use cds and make sure to have a good mix of upbeat, good driving music. You don't want to be stuck with slow tunes when you're tired!! And, of course if you get sick of the music you brought, you can always try the local radio station. Although, more often than not the only ones that come in are country western. ;)<br />
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Well! Hopefully these tips will help you on your next road trip. Hopefully I can remember them all in 4 days when we leave, and our road trip will be more fun and less stressful.<br />
Best of road tripping to you!!<br />
<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-80580278162705226112012-08-27T21:49:00.000-05:002012-08-27T21:49:49.632-05:00Change Is A Comin'....Things have been a little crazy around here (or a LOT crazy)<br />
<br />
Because...<br />
<br />
We're moving!<br />
<br />
In two weeks.<br />
<br />
Clear across the country, to Washington State.<br />
<br />
It's a long story but basically, we're losing our home here in Tennessee and moving to Washington to live with my parents in their big house out in the country.<br />
<br />
I feel like I have to add that we'll be paying them rent and getting jobs, we won't just be bumming around. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
Please don't feel sorry that we're losing our house.<br />
We know this is what God wants- He orchestrated the whole thing.<br />
He gives and takes away, and we know that this is Him taking (a big) something away for us to purify us from our attachment to worldly goods and comforts. Honestly, it's been really freeing.<br />
<br />
Okay so here's the scoop because I know you have questions so I'll try to answer some of them:<br />
<br />
We are WAY underwater on our house (a.k.a. owe more than we could sell it for) and couldn't sell it if we tried (and we wanted to in the spring!)<br />
But we just accepted the fact back in April that we couldn't sell or rent our house and were planning to live here for who knows how long and then...<br />
God opened a door.<br />
A big one.<br />
Not the one we expected, not the easiest one to go through, our pride (and credit) has taken a hit for sure!<br />
But the right door.<br />
So we're walking through it.<br />
<br />
We got behind on our mortgage and were frantically praying for God to provide, and he said, "No."<br />
He has something better for us in Washington, and I'm so thankful that even though it's been a hard process, I've had such a peace about the whole thing.<br />
I know He's got us. So I don't have to worry about anything. (which is hard, because worrying is kinda one of my favorite pastimes.) But I really feel at peace now. It's wonderful.<br />
<br />
We've sold almost all of our "stuff" and are planning to drive across the country on a 5 day road trip with whatever we can fit in our trusty little Toyota Corolla, along with our two kids and dog Lucy AND our kitten, Baby Kitty.<br />
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We. Are. Crazy. Who brings a kitten cross country? We do.<br />
Also: who names a kitten "Baby Kitty"? We do. Original, right??<br />
<br />
ANyway.<br />
I'm so looking forward to my parents being able to see the kids (every day!) and for the kids to get a rural upbringing without gunshots in the night and drug deals on the corner.<br />
<br />Yep. That really happens where we live now.<br />
Oh, and I forgot to mention the rednecks that live behind us that blast their country music and ride their go-carts around their back yard ALL DAY LONG and blow dust all over my clean laundry hanging on the line...<br />
<br />
Then there are the things that we'll miss here like our dear, dear friends; going running along the Mississippi, the fun free events that are available in the city and just the pretty leafy trees and the cicadas humming and the fireflies twinkling in the twilight.<br />
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Instead, we get to wake up and look out at fog-covered cow fields and run around in a huge yard and see bald eagles on a regular basis flying over the blue, blue ocean and not have to worry about getting obliterated by a tornado.<br />
We're going to be right near the beach so we're really excited about building sand castles and taking nature walks and just enjoying the things in life that matter-God and family and being outside with each other, enjoying God's creation together.<br />
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Please pray for us, that we wouldn't go insane on the trip and that we'd get there safely.<br />
My blog posting may be a bit spotty here in the next few weeks but I promise you I'm taking a TON of pictures on our trip across this beautiful country. I can't wait!<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-16009599098261742362012-08-21T12:15:00.004-05:002012-08-21T12:15:47.775-05:00Natural Body Care Series:A Discovery Of Face Wash From An Unlikely SourceA couple of nights ago I was taking a shower and reached for my face wash, then remembered that I'd used the last of it the day before and forgot to buy more.<br />
(drat!)<br />
<br />
Face cleanser is one of those things that I've wanted to make on my own but am kind of scared to/don't have the money to buy expensive essential oils and beeswax or shea butter or anything like that, so I haven't made it on my own yet.<br />
<br />
I was kind of in a pinch, because I needed to wash my makeup off before bed so I just grabbed our <a href="http://sweetswansongs.blogspot.com/2012/06/natural-body-care-series-simple.html" target="_blank">Homemade Tooth Powder</a> and used that.<br />
Now, before you think I"m crazy, let me tell you what's in it.<br />
It has baking soda, coconut oil, a tiny bit of salt and some peppermint extract.<br />
<br />
Guess what gals? It worked great!<br />
<br />
The peppermint made my skin all tingly and clean and refreshed, the baking soda and salt exfoliated my skin and the coconut oil moisturized it and took off my makeup, leaving my face fresh and clean and feeling soft.<br />
I am SO happy I discovered this!!<br />
<br />
I used it again last night and man, I loved it even more the second time since I knew what to expect.<br />
If you've ever used Burt's Bees Deep Cleansing Cream with Soap Bark and Chamomile, that's what it reminded me of. Except without the soap bark or chamomile. But you get that same feeling on your face as you do with the Burt's Bees cleanser.<br />
<br />
Anyway, if you want some frugal face cleanser, try this out! Just follow the recipe I have on my<br />
<a href="http://sweetswansongs.blogspot.com/2012/06/natural-body-care-series-simple.html" target="_blank">Homemade Tooth Powder</a> post and add in about a teaspoon of coconut oil and you're in business.<br />
I love that natural ingredients have so many different uses!!<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-32337079298368095222012-08-16T07:51:00.000-05:002012-08-16T07:59:01.834-05:00Natural Body Care Series: Homemade Deodorant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi!<br />
<br />
It's been a while since I did a Natural Body Care post, mostly because we needed to use up the rest of our store-bought deodorant before I delved into the world of making my own AND because I kept forgetting to buy coconut oil.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know you can get this way cheaper on Amazon, but I just wanted to try it<br />
with a little bit to begin with, so I didn't have a huge jug of coconut oil sitting around.</td></tr>
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<br />
I know. Excuses, excuses.<br />
<br />
If you're interested in any other Natural alternatives to store-bought hygiene products, check out the<br />
<a href="http://sweetswansongs.blogspot.com/p/natural-home-and-body-care.html" target="_blank">Natural Home and Body Care</a> tab at the top of my blog; all the other posts I've done on this subject are up there.<br />
<br />
So.<br />
Homemade deodorant.<br />
I have to confess that I was kinda scared to try this one, mostly because when I was a kid, my mom and dad made a switch from regular deodorant with aluminum in it (which can cause cancer) to the natural "crystal" deodorant and it did NOT work for them.<br />
<br />
At all.<br />
<br />
I still remember the B.O. and it wasn't pleasant. (Sorry mom and dad. Love you! ) :)<br />
They switched back to regular eventually and I was left with the distinct impression to NEVER use natural deodorant, unless I wanted to smell like I didn't use it at all.<br />
Which, for a high school girl would pretty much be the worst thing ever.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, I'm not in high school anymore -it's been 10 years...wow.<br />
I've overcome that fear of natural deodorant and tried making my own and- it works!<br />
<br />
So would you like to know how to make your own yummy-smelling, natural aluminum-free deodorant??<br />
<br />
It's pretty simple.<br />
<br />
I used about 1/2 cup baking soda<br />
4 or 5 Tbsp virgin organic unrefined coconut oil<br />
1 tsp or so of cornstarch<br />
<br />
<br />
Take these ingredients and mix them around until you get the consistency you want, then put it into the container of your choice. It looked like frosting when I was done mixing it and smelled <i style="font-weight: bold;">so</i> good, I may have tasted it.<br />
(It<i><b> didn't</b></i> taste like frosting.Unfortunately.)<br />
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I was using an old deodorant container that I'd rinsed, so I wanted the deodorant to be pretty thick so it'd stay in the container and not ooze out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take that, lady speed stick! I made my own, better version of you!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old deodorant was REALLY hard to wash out!<br />
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Keep in mind that coconut oil will liquefy when it gets warm, so keep your deodorant in the fridge if you don't want it to melt.<br />
To use, just take out of the fridge and apply as usual. The coconut oil will soak into your skin so it doesn't stain your shirts or anything, and you'll smell amazing.<br />
Every time I put it on, I want to eat an Almond Joy. Thankfully, I never have any around the house. ;)<br />
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This isn't an antiperspirant (which really you shouldn't use anyway since sweating is your body's way of getting rid of toxins and cooling itself- why trap toxins in your body on purpose?)<br />
so you'll still sweat, but it shouldn't smell.<br />
The baking soda neutralizes the odor and the coconut oil moisturizes your underarms and provides that amazing aroma of tropical paradise. :)<br />
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I love it, and its so easy to make!<br />
Don't think I'll ever go back to using store-bought deodorant, that's for sure.<br />
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Have you made homemade deodorant before? <br />
Did you use different ingredients? I'd love to get some more recipes and try them!<br />
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This post is shared at <a href="http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/08/frugal-days-sustainable-ways-40/" target="_blank">Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways</a>.Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559916076228265228.post-82994031668068146872012-08-10T18:01:00.000-05:002012-08-10T18:01:33.219-05:00Banana-Zucchini Bread- A healthy versionIt's zucchini season and no doubt if you have zucchini growing in your garden or you've visited the farmer's market or the grocery store lately you've seen it everywhere.<br />
I've seen it on sale like crazy, and I don't have any zucchini plants growing in my garden. I did, but they got eaten by snails or slugs or something. :(<br />
<br />
Anyway, I actually found this recipe because I had some bananas that were on the verge of going bad and didn't really feel like freezing them plus I had some frozen zucchini from early spring; that I needed to get rid of (we're working on eating through everything in our freezer) so I thought I'd make some banana/zucchini bread to use it up!<br />
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I found the original recipe on Allrecipes.com <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Zucchini-Bread/" target="_blank">(click here for the link)</a> but as always, I modified it a bit.<br />
So here's my modified version:<br />
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Beat 3 eggs til they are foamy.<br />
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Add:<br />
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3/4 cup olive oil,<br />
1 cup organic sugar,<br />
1 cup grated (and extra juice squeezed out if it's been frozen) zucchini<br />
3 bananas, mashed<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
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Mix!<br />
I didn't actually mash up the bananas first since I was using my stand mixer- it did the job just fine for me.<br />
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Next, add your dry ingredients.<br />
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour<br />
2 tsp. cinnamon<br />
1/8 tsp. allspice<br />
1 1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1tsp salt<br />
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Mix again, til everything is well combined.<br />
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Pour into two greased loaf pans and stick in a 325F oven for 50 min,<br />
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<br />
or until a knife comes out clean when you poke it into the middle of the loaf.<br />
I only used 1/2 cup of oil because 3/4 sounded like too much, but then my bread ended up a bit dry. Not horrible, but I should've just followed the directions there! Or added another egg or something.<br />
I like how it turned out though, minus the slight dryness.<br />
Hubby says it isn't dry, but I think it is <i>just</i> a tad.<br />
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We've already eaten one of the loaves, and the other one will probably be gone by tomorrow afternoon.<br />
So if you have some zucchini sitting around waiting to be used, go ahead and make some zucchini bread! :)<br />
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<br />Becca Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09445141282132937531noreply@blogger.com2