Fabric rant..

Just a quick complaint to be logged into cyber-space. What in the heck is up with material prices!!!! I just got back from our local chain fabric and craft store and was dumb-founded by the cost of material! I bought enough material (cotton printed which was 30% off) for 2 kid's dresses and only MINOR notions. (Elastic, zipper, bias tape, 1 spool of ribbon, and 4 Rosettes) I also picked up a set of straight knitting needles for socks and a nifty lil wheeled yarn organizer (super clearenced for 24.97...I wouldn't dare pay the ridiculous original price of 59.00) My bill tolaled over $75.00. *&#%$^&! ABSURD! Oh and I had a 40% off coupon which went towards my needles. So on that note where does everyone else go for fabric? Sometimes I can find good deals on e-bay but unfrotunatly I needed the material to complete the dresses for next week.

No more lawn. And dandelion salad.

So last fall a thought occured to me. Why do I have so much lawn? What good does this stuff serve? I can't eat it...well I can eat the dandelions but then technically I'm supposed to kill all them. (Notice I say technically....I gave that fight up years ago) I was spending 6-7 hours mowing the lawn per week and about 3 gallons of gas per mow. (Someone stop me if they find logic in having a lawn.) Yes I'll admit that it's nice to walk around the yard and feel the soft grass under your feet but beyond that I see no purpose to it. So this year I have set out to reduce my lawn size. I've given back about 30% of it to the field for crops and the remainder is still being turned under for gardens, fruit plots and cut flower beds. I cut out a portion for the chickens and anothre for the dog. Now I'm down to a manageable area about 40% of what I had before, which can be maintained in a matter of 2 hours! I plan to let the horse graze on the open areas and help with the mowing as well. (Can't get much more green than that!) I'm happy with my little yard and I still have my dandelions only...a lot less by design! I encourage anyone out there to take a hard look at their prized lawns and decide does this benefit me or my family? If not then till away my friends!!!!



Dandelion Salad Recipe...(From the Miller Family Cookbook 2nd Edition)



4 c. fresh dandelion (washed and shreded)
3 Hard Boiled Eggs (chopped)
6 slices Bacon (fried until crispy and cut into small pieces)

{(Dressing)}
2 T. Flour
2 T. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
Mix together then add:
1/4 c. vinegar
1 1/2c milk or water

Add the dressing ingredients together in a skillet and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened then cool and toss with dandelion greens, bacon and eggs.

Dandelions are rich in protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus and insulin.

I think I'm in Love....

I took a day trip with the munchins to Shipshewanna Indiana yesterday. I had an amazing time. It was so reassuring to see the amish with the horses and the children being so respectful. Obvisously they are doing just fine with simplicity and I can do the same with my level of simplicity. Though I did have some strong urges to put my house on the market and move there! If you've never been to an amish community I would strongly suggest you do. They are truly and amazing culture deserving of our respect and admiration! And if you make it to Shipshe make sure to get a pretzle in the merchantile and take home some carmel corn from the little shop on the boardwalk area! Both of which are little pieces of heaven! Oh and you can never go wrong with a good amish cookbook. I just learned you can eat dandelions from my new cookbook! So today I set the kids to work harvesting our ABUNDENT crop. I will get back to everyone on how the recipe turns out and if it's edible :) But for now I have laundry to hang and a garden to plant. Blessings to all and happy sunday.