A Beautiful, Hearty Stew

The moment I learned that the author of a blog I follow had published a cookbook, I ordered two right away. One to keep, and one for a friend.

I perused through it a few times and found the recipe I wanted to attempt first.

It starts out very familiar - sauté carrots, celery, and onion in oil and butter. So I felt it was doable and wanted to give it a try.

It then becomes a very nutritious stew with chicken, beans and rice.

The author writes that she adds basil and bay leaves from her garden.

It made me long for my summer garden again.

I've planted a few small rows of simple vegetables in the past, such as lettuce, peas, and tomatoes.

I love stepping out into my garden on a warm afternoon to snip what I need to complete a salad or meal.

Nostalgically I was thinking of this, as I prepared a colorful salad to go with our stew.

The cherry tomatoes I was slicing up were cold and firm from the fridge, but the tomatoes I pluck out of my garden each summer are warm and surprisingly sweet.

Yes, it will be nice to have a garden again.

We enjoyed this hearty, nutritious meal tonight with homemade cornbread on the side.

In the cookbook, the author makes the eye-opening point that mothers can view their work in the kitchen as a ministry.

How inspiring!

Not only are we feeding their tummies, but feeding also their love and loyalty for home and family.

How can cooking become drudgery with an outlook like that!

I've always been fond of creating beautiful meals for my family, but I appreciate a renewed sense of purpose on the matter.

💐

~ Courtney 

Summer Days at Home

 Don't you love waking up to bright sunlight and birdsong in the summer?

May and June are my favorite months because summer is young and fresh. But even July mornings are magical because the day is young and fresh.

Plus, I just love a new start.

"His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22-23

My first order of business is to pour a cup of coffee and sit down for my Bible reading.

It's a beauty secret, you know!

Moses' face was radiant because he had met with the Lord. I make sure I never miss this morning beauty regimen.

Breakfast is always leisurely, and then it's straight outdoors for several appointments...

One is to taste the morning. I need to experience the extent of the warmth and humidity before I can go on with my day. Then I say, good morning to the chickens, cats, and flowers while I make my rounds with my watering can.

Once my "chores" are done, I walk through the garden.

I feel as though gardens benefit from us walking through them.

I enjoy having little stone walking paths for the occasion.

In May and June I am an avid weed puller, full of enthusiasm and false hope. By July I settle into - wasn't I going for the wild country look? Yes, let's go with that!

My showy lilacs and peonies are done for the year, and the hydrangeas are not quite fully there yet. When I find myself in-between blooms I just take my clippers around and snip one of every little random thing I can find. 

Instead of the statement arrangements lilacs, peonies, and hydrangeas make, I cobble together a haphazard arrangement and it's somehow just as charming.

I love the instant beauty it gives as I sit down to write a grocery list.

With both the dishwasher and washing machine humming along, and the kids done with their morning routine and chores, we all leave for the store.

Over the holiday weekend I spent some time researching new recipes as well as book lists for the upcoming school year.

In my research I discovered two things I was able to apply today.

I learned that fresh basil is a natural anti-depressant. I didn't know that! I've never been a depressed person but everybody loves a mood-lifter! So I checked my grocery store for a basil plant and sure enough... this cute (and very fragrant) little guy made its way home with me.

The second discovery was that a book that piqued my interest on the book list was one we had in our home library but have never read.

I pulled it out, dusted it off, and began a new journey with the kids.

Opening a book you've never opened before and beholding the words Chapter One is such a thrill, isn't it?

It's like opening a secret gate that will usher you into an unknown world.

I tried a new recipe for dinner...

These sultry summer evenings inspire me to play Bluegrass in the background while I putter around the kitchen.

I made chicken with parmesan, zucchini and yellow squash, with of course a sprinkling of my new basil as a garnish. Baked potatoes with a green salad were the sides. 

I like to make up a topping platter when we have baked potatoes. It makes it easier to carry everything over to the table, and it's nice to have the toppings for our potatoes in one spot. 

This dinner was so filling and nutritious.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up we changed into our bathing suits and enjoyed a cool evening dip down at the pond.

Perfect for wearing out the kids right before bedtime.

We are soaking up this summer! I may not want it to end!

But as my summer day at home has come to an end, I am feeling fulfilled, revived, and so very grateful.

💐

~ Courtney 

Warm, Healthy, and Happy in the Winter

 I just returned from a brisk walk out in our trails.

Actually, it was a "crunchy" walk, as my kids would say, as a walk in leaf-covered woods makes the most delightful crunch sounds under your feet.

This is a great time to go for long leisurely walks, now that the heat and bugs of summer are gone.

I am pleased that we still have a few blooms hanging on in the garden...

These are from a wildflower seed packet that Elsa and I sprinkled around this past May.

That one little seed packet sure brought us a lot of happiness this summer.

But I know winter is ready for its turn. Jack Frost is beginning his visits to us. We have awakened a few times already to his handiwork - sheets of glistening white covering the grass.

So, lately I've been taking baby steps towards getting us ready for winter.

Northern living has taught me a few survival tricks for the bitter cold, bleak days.

Washing up the kids' winter coats made me think to record a few of my ideas here.

In my opinion, there are three elements to enjoying a nice long winter:

Staying warm, staying healthy, and staying happy.

Many books have been written on this subject, so I know you don't need me; but here are a few simple thoughts anyway...

Staying warm in a Wisconsin winter:

I recently retrieved my electric blanket from storage to get it ready for the season. These are such a comfort to have around. You can easily and safely wash them at home, in cold water. Just be sure to remove the cord first, and don't let it get too hot in the dryer. Ours is draped over the back of the couch, freshly washed, and ready to embrace us for daytime read-a-louds and cozy evening movies.

The same goes for electric heating pads. These come in handy a lot. Even household pets enjoy curling up on a warm heating pad in the winter. I like to keep ours easily accessible in a basket right by the couch.

For when you must get out, HotHands packets are extremely helpful and make a big difference. We keep a bucket full of them downstairs by our boots. I've learned through many years of living in Wisconsin that the trick to boots is investing in a good quality, waterproof pair that are 1/2 size larger than your shoe size. This will allow room for a few layers of socks underneath.

Also make sure that every family member has a well fitting pair of long underwear. The fleece-lined kind are my favorite! Remember what the Norwegians say... There's no bad weather, only bad gear.

Staying healthy in a Wisconsin winter:

Not enough could ever be said about the powerful benefits of fresh air and sunshine, especially in the winter. 

We get out for nature walks all year round. The country air and wide open spaces have been medicinal for us.

Today's walk was in the woods, to the south of our house, on the Crazy Trail. (We have names for our trails.) It was a nice change of scenery because usually my route is the same: through the orchard, past the barn, down the hill and straight on to the swing.

I've been begging Micah to plant me a birch forest. Most women want romance and jewelry. I want a birch forest. It looks so glamorous in the paintings...

(I have several of these saved on my phone for inspiration. This one's by a Swedish painter named Edvard Westman. I think it's dreamy.)

I believe regular nature walks have saved our health and sanity many times. We almost always return with rosy cheeks and lifted spirits. Sometimes we just take off running as fast as we can and run for as long as we want. Just for fun. And I like to imagine we're in one of Jane Austen's books, as she seems to be fond of creating characters who love to run uninhibitedly through fields and meadows. 

(Her most healthful characters behave this way. The sickly ones stay indoors all winter long.)

But if we do get sick this year, I decided to put together a special "sick times" basket for the kids. It's something for them to look forward to. I allowed each of them to pick out an activity at Hobby Lobby, such as a coloring book, paint-by-numbers kit, or small craft, to keep in the basket with the heating pad. They enjoy these types of activities while they're resting and recovering. I enjoy knowing I will have something on hand to cheer them up if they come down ill.

I also like to keep a few special pantry items on hand such as Ginger ale, applesauce, jello, honey and Airbornes. We try to remember to take an Airborne first thing after arriving home from being out in the public. The other items are a comfort to any family member with a sore throat or upset tummy. 

Also, a lemon in the fridge at all times is a wise rule. It can be used for making hot lemon water, which is my cure for practically any illness. 

Staying happy in a Wisconsin winter:

If my home is filled with stacks of interesting books, fresh flowers on the table, and uplifting music in the background, I can be happy all winter long.

Sometimes intentionally enjoying these simple homey pleasures is all the contentment I need.

I like to always have a good cozy book I can escape into when life gets overwhelming, or when I just need a rest.

 I never read self-help books. 

*Yawn... what a bore. 

I want a story! I want admirable and humorous characters!

 These characters become companions and in many ways teachers. One can learn about the terrible health effects of a sour attitude from Mary and Collin in The Secret Garden, for example, in a far deeper and life changing way than from just being told to "be positive" in a shallow self-help book. 

Music is easy, since there are so many wonderful things to choose from. But I have my "winter music." Artists ranging from George Winston to Norah Jones are reserved just for the cold months, since their soothing sounds feel like a wool blanket, and fill my home with warm fuzzies.

Fresh flowers can be purchased at grocery stores all winter long, so when the budget allows I like to treat myself to a small bouquet. But growing bulbs can be just as satisfying.

I grew a pot full of paper whites in my living room one winter, and found that having something alive and green made me very happy.

This year I planted daffodil and tulip bulbs in my yard for next spring.

I will look forward to that all winter long!

Having something to look forward to is very helpful for lifting the mood in the winter. Like planning a social gathering with friends or just telling the kids we'll bake cookies when our school lessons are through.

Cooking nourishing meals for my kids makes me happy in the winter.

It feels quite luxurious to make a hot breakfast and linger over coffee and Bible readings while the world is out there chasing school buses.

There are still a few things left to do, such as replacing our humidifier. Micah researched them and has ordered one. I am looking forward to this since last year ours quit working and we didn't realize it until our hands were chapped and our bedding was staticky. Poor little Soren was even suffering from headaches due to such dry air. We will get a new humidifier installed and will be that much more prepared for a lovely winter.

Now all that's left to do is wait patiently for our signature bubblegum pink, winter-in-the-country sunsets!

They are a dazzling sight!

(We had a teaser last month...)

Being happy in the winter is attainable, and Christians should be happy.

"... rejoice and be glad and give Him glory." Revelation 19:7

"Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice." Joel 2:21

Wishing you a warm, healthy and happy winter, my friends.

~ Courtney ~

Making Elderberry Syrup

We've put in a full week of school so far.

It's been going great! 

It sure feels good to settle into a school routine again.

But it's always sad to bid another summer farewell, isn't it?...

Thankfully the homeschooling life allows much free time.

"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things."

~ Plato

Life has been very well here at the Downs' farmhouse.

Our hens are still laying beautiful, colored eggs...

Roman's still working on the illustrations for my book...

And I've been trying to make good, nourishing meals as often as I can...

Recently, I discovered a recipe for homemade elderberry syrup and decided to give it a try.

We've had elderberry bushes on our property all these years, but this is the first time I've ever done anything with the berries.

Did you know that elderberries have long been used for medicinal purposes?

They are not safe to eat raw, but once cooked they can be used as a dietary supplement.

I've read that elderberries are helpful for minor diseases like the common cold or flu.

This is the recipe I found on-line...

~ 3C fresh or 1.5C dried elderberries

~ 3C water

~ 1C raw local honey (I used 3/4C and it's still very sweet.)

~ 1-4 cinnamon sticks

~ 3-5 whole cloves

After I foraged for my berries, I had to separate them from the stems and leaves, and wash them thoroughly.

This was the worst part.

Not hard work, just time consuming.

Elsa helped me.

Her job was to pick out any green berries.

I had planned ahead for this project, and purchased a juice container for my finished result.

I made sure the berries and the container were washed really well.

The recipe says to place the berries, water, and spices in a pan and bring to a boil...

Once it's at a low boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Smash the berries to release the remaining juice, then strain the mixture.

After 30 minutes of cooking, the berries look like they have given up on life, haha...

All their color is gone...

Allow the liquid to cool before stirring in the honey...

And ta-da!... My elderberry syrup is ready for cold and flu season!

I read that this will last stored in the fridge for 2-3 months.

But I really don't think mine will last that long.

I've been feeding it to my children each morning with their breakfast...

And I drink a teaspoon of it in my tea each night at bedtime...

I think I might walk back out to my bushes to see if I can find more berries to make a second batch before winter.

But truthfully, I saw elderberry syrup in the homeopathic/vitamin section at Walmart just the other day, haha... That sure seems like the easier way to go!

What kinds of tricks do you do for your family to stay healthy this time of year?

Have you ever tried making elderberry syrup?

I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Until next time friends,

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Staying Well in the Fall and Winter

It's time to start thinking about how we want our lives to look for the upcoming cold weather months.

Comforting casseroles... Fires in the fireplace... Good books to read...

It's wonderful to think about, isn't it?

But on the top of my priority list is staying healthy and feeling well this fall and winter.

I practiced several health habits last year, and we had a very healthy winter.

I'm excited to try them again this year!

I would like to share them with you in today's post.

Because falling ill sure is miserable as a mother, isn't it?

And watching your children take to their beds sick is even worse!

Let's have a healthy year!

The best way I know to do that is by way of prevention.

As the famous saying goes, Prevention is the best medicine.

Well, everything I will mention here would be considered preventative. 

(I will warn you that I'm about to show you some products. I do not make money from my blog nor do I sell any of these products. The following is just a few tricks that have worked for us.)

When taking care of my family during cold and flu seasons, I like to think in terms of staying on top of our health, and being in control.

So, there are a few things I do everyday...

I start by giving each of my children one multi-vitamin and one Airborne every morning with their breakfast.

Even while we're healthy, we all get an Airborne a day.

I like them because they are packed with vitamin C, and keep our immune systems strong while germs are flying around.

Once the breakfast dishes are washed, I start up my diffuser with a few drops of Thieves.

I run it everyday, even when we're healthy.

Remember, the thought is to build up your health so that your immune system can fight off illness.

Diffusing oils has become so commonplace now that hopefully you already have a diffuser on hand.

I had a cheap one for a couple of years and it recently broke. I told Micah about it one morning and he came home that night from work with a new one for me.

He had stopped at Walmart and said he picked this one because he knows I like birds. Bless his heart.

I know you can get very beautiful and good quality diffusers, probably on-line. But for now this one works just fine for us, and I'm happy to have it.

Another thing I have done with Thieves, and it worked very well for me, is to mix a few drops of it in coconut oil to keep by my bed.

I had put the mixture in an old lotion container that I cleaned out.

I had read an article about how the pores on the bottoms of feet can absorb anything into the bloodstream quicker and better than other areas of the body.

So last winter I would put it on my feet each night.

I plan to do it again this year, because I remained pretty healthy last winter. 

Another great thing to have on hand is raw, local honey.

As you can see, I have already begun stocking my pantry, and we've already begun using it!

This is not to be confused with your everyday supermarket honey.

Even honey labeled 'local', may not be local to you!

(I read the fine print on a bottle of honey at Walmart recently that said "local' on the front, and it was manufactured two states away from where I live!)

I get our honey from a family friend who is a bee keeper in our area.

I drink it in my tea and feed it to my children.

Honey has a long medicinal history.

I have read that it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

When my children tell me they have a sore throat, I will make them warm honey water to drink.

I've also just given it to them to eat, straight from a spoon.

It soothes sore throats and can even act as a natural cough suppressant.

Speaking of sore throats, whenever I feel I am coming down with a sore throat, a handy trick that's worked for me is to gargle with hot salt water.

It kills the sick germs in your throat.

I like to put a pinch of baking soda in the water, too.

This works really well!

If I feel I'm coming down with something, but have an event or obligation on the calendar that I cannot miss, I will gargle with this mixture (I make the water as hot as my mouth can stand it!) and then take an ibuprofen.

I feel better almost instantly!

The last few things I'd like to mention have nothing to do with products - they're more habit and lifestyle tips.

But I feel they are just as important!

For me, protecting my and my family's health includes these two things - lots of fresh air and a low-stress life.

What good is eating well, using oils, and taking vitamins, if you're breathing stale, germ-y air and your nerves are on edge?

I know everybody's different, so take what I write and use common sense by comparing it to your own situation. I just know for myself that I break down quickly if I allow too much activity to stress out my life!

I stay home as much as I can. We go on nature walks and I am mindful about opening windows to air out the house.

I also sleep with my bedroom window open, even on very chilly nights.

"You would rightly think it horrid if anyone tried to drink dirty water or eat swill, but it is just as nasty to breathe bad air, even though you cannot see how bad it looks. Now there are many people in this world who are very clean and particular about everything, except about the air they breathe. Some of these people are afraid to open the windows and change the air because they say they catch cold so easily. But if they opened their windows often enough, and breathed nothing but fresh air, they would soon grow so much stronger that they would cease to catch cold so easily."

- H.A. Guerber, Yourself and Your House Wonderful 

A large part of what can add stress to my life is being around negative people.

I love to surround myself with uplifting people.

I am lucky that most people in my circle are lovely to be around.

The people who are not, I limit my time with.

"He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."

- Proverbs 13:20

Sometimes you cannot avoid such people entirely.

Perhaps it is a co-worker, a boss, or an extended family member, so you don't have the luxury of limiting your exposure to them.

When I am in such situations I do two things - I depend upon the Lord to give me the strength to be around these people. And then I focus on being kind to them, even though they are not kind to me. Because who knows? I may inspire and uplift them by my good example. 

But if I can avoid them, I certainly do!

I have politely declined invitations to social gatherings because of this.

Not because these people have control over me, but because I know the value of a peace-filled life.

For me, being around negativity can cause an inner turmoil to happen inside me. That leads to stress, and stress can potentially break down my immune system, leaving me vulnerable to getting sick.

It's best to pour my time and energy into my own family, anyway.

My husband and my children are my favorite people in the world!

"Learn what it means to be happy, and to make others happy in your own home."

- H.A. Guerber 

Of course, there are certainly other ways to stay healthy. Faithful hand-washing and regularly eating fruits and vegetables have great health benefits, too! This was just a post about what's been on my mind lately, and what I know has worked for me in the past.

You are welcome to give me any tips about how you stay healthy in the comments!

We can learn from each other!

Let's stay well this fall and winter!

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Some of the photos in this post were taken from Yourself and Your House Wonderful and A Child's Garden of Verses.

Fresh Snow

I had a bit of a sore throat and headache for about three days.

The weather here was dull, muddy, and completely uninspiring.

School lessons during this time of year lose their satisfaction and appeal.

We were just plugging away at the mundane...

Until I had heard that we were to receive a fresh blanket of snow!

I was excited for the change of scenery, and went to bed the night before in anticipation...

I could hear the storm rolling in as I laid in bed...

(The children and I enjoy flipping through the pages of our vintage children's books to look for stories and pictures that relate to the season and weather we are experiencing...)

Sure enough, we awoke to a glorious winter wonderland...

Every scene out every window was dazzling white.

Finally feeling back to normal, I decided on an early morning nature walk out in the snow.

(You can't fully see the sparkle and glitter of fresh snow unless you are out there in it!)

The children were busy with their morning routine and chores, so I quickly rugged up and told them I would be back in fifteen minutes.

The morning sky was a peculiar bright blue!

The air felt frigid on my throat and in my lungs.

I was thankful for tall warm boots.

Country life is still and quiet...

Just the trees and trails for neighbors.

(Our trees are great neighbors! They don't play loud music or stick their nose in our business. *wink)

This land has become my dear friend.

I know it inside and out.

Often I've escaped to these trails for alone time just to think and ponder and pray...

I always return refreshed, and thankful for this life.

I did nothing to deserve it.

It's a gift from the Lord.

My walk took me down to our swing...

My favorite spot on all of our land!

It sure looks different dressed in winter.

Hard to believe that in only a couple of short months, the green will be growing again!

I made it back to the house in under fifteen minutes. 

My fingers were frozen but the rest of me remained perfectly warm. 

(You learn to invest in a good quality winter coat when you live in the north. As Micah says, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.")

The children had completed their chores, Nola was on the piano, and Roman had begun his arithmetic.

My heart rate was a bit up from the brisk walk on unplowed trails, so I felt as though I had begun my morning with some good exercise.

It made me remember a time when an acquaintance said to me how she thought I had a nice life except that it was missing exercise.

I don't have any interest in bouncing around my living room in front of a workout DVD in order to get "exercise". I would always rather go for a walk, breathe in the fresh air, and soak up a little sunshine out in the fresh snow instead.

*smile

xo,

~ Courtney ~