Living A Simple Life-Part 77: A Rainy Day

We are entering the beautiful rainy season (yes, I really mean that!), and it has been fun to see how Gen has amused herself now that the weather has changed.

Calvin and I giggled as we watched through the kitchen window while preparing lunch, spying on her playing on the back porch the other day. She was decked out in her red rainboots and raincoat, seemingly impervious to the rain at first. She watched a dishwashing basin (left from camping) fill with the pouring rain, and then decided to jump into it! Upon discovering that her knit tights were wet, she struggled to peel them off, and then wiggled her cute little toes in the rain, ready for more playtime. (I stopped her before she kept going, and took the dress off, too!)

We've been taking regular trips to the library (she is so much fun to go with!), and we recently discovered the Mr. Putter series. (A friend gave one of the books to Gen when Enoch was born, and we've giggled at the irony in this amusing series these past weeks.) These books have been a great "stretching" read for her, as there are some new words and concepts for her, but still enjoyable and understandable. (These are in the "early reader" section, marked for ages 4-6, but she is almost 3 and enjoying them.)

We've kept warm with "tea parties" with warm milk (with a dash of vanilla) or cups of herbal tea (she calls anything warm in a mug "tea.") We all have added more blankets to our beds, and Gen is fascinated with her own "new blankets." (I recently transitioned her from a pile of baby blankets, to a made bed of "real bedding" that I purchased at a 50% off sale at the thrift store during Memorial Day this year.) She is especially thrilled with a granny-squares multi-colored afghan that I topped her bed with.

I have stashed away some art supplies for rainy days, and we pulled out some paints last week for a fall art project. We used brushes and sponge brushes along with red, yellow, brown, and orange paints to create seasonal pictures of trees with fall leaves, inspired by this FamilyFun Foliage project.

It's definitely a season of some simple joys!

If you would like to put my "Simple Living" button on your blog, feel free to copy & paste the code located on the right side of the page. Let me know if you do, so that I can visit your blog! To read previous "installments" in my "Living a Simple Life" series, click on the "Simple Living" tab at the top of the page. You are welcome to leave comments on any of the posts; I read them all. Let me know if this has inspired a blog post of your own! Each Thursday, I write a new post in this series, so stop by next week!

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Simple Fall Recipe: Carrot-Apple Salad

One of our family's favorite fall dishes is my Beloved's Carrot-Apple Salad recipe, so I asked him if I could share it. Calvin graciously typed it up for me, so here it is! Yes, there is a bit of "non-measuring" involved; that's how we typically cook in our home. But you can't really "mess it up." (If all else fails, add an extra dash of cinnamon, right?) :)

Carrot Apple Salad

• Peeled and grated Carrots
• Grated Apples

The ratio of carrots and apples can be varied according to taste and what’s on hand. I usually start with three carrots and a couple medium apples.

• Handful of raw or roasted Sunflower Seeds
• Handful and a little more of Dried Fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc)
• A heavy sprinkling of dried shredded, unsweetened Coconut.
• A splash of Orange or Lemon Juice. Don’t get carried away. Start small and go to taste. The main purpose is to keep the apple from getting brown.
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon (or more)
• 1/8 tsp Ginger powder
• Pinch of Nutmeg
• Chopped Nuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Taste, and adjust seasonings as necessary.

This makes a wonderful seasonal side salad for a lunch or dinner. It even makes a fun light breakfast or snack, topped with a dollop of yogurt!

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Menu Plan Monday

We are definitely in the midst of fall! A sweet friend loaned me her dehydrator, so I've been working on dehydrating apples this past week. I'll continue on with pears this coming week.

We've been eating lots of baked apples for snacks, and squash for warm meals. Popcorn and warm milk (with a dash of vanilla) has also been a favorite treat for a "tea party" (when you're almost 3, anything warm served in a mug is "tea"). :)

Monday
• Breakfast: Leftover Buckwheat Porridge, Eggs
• Lunch: Split Pea Soup, Coconut Muffins, Apples
• Dinner: Millet & Cheese Casserole, Carrot Sticks
To Do: Make Sourdough Bread, Make Butter, Soak Beans, Thaw Moose, Soak Waffle Batter

Tuesday
• Breakfast: Buttermilk Waffles, Breakfast Sausage Patties
• Lunch: Baked Spaghetti Squash with Cheese, Apples
• Dinner: Black Bean Taco Salad, Yogurt, Bread, Carrot Sticks
To Do: Make GF Bread, Soak Rice, Soak Dried Peas

Wednesday
• Breakfast: Eggs, Toast
• Lunch: Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Apples
• Dinner: Stroganoff (with ground Moose), Brown Rice, Peas
To Do: Soak Porridge, Soak Millet, Soak Garbanzo Beans

Thursday
• Breakfast: Oat or Teff Porridge, Eggs
• Lunch: Cheese Sandwiches, Pears
• Dinner: Veggie & Garbanzo Bean Curry, Millet
To Do: Dehydrate Pears

Friday
• Breakfast: Pear Omelets, Yogurt, Toast
• Lunch: Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Carrot-Apple Salad
• Dinner: Salmon Crépes, Steamed Green Beans
To Do: Soak Buckwheat

Saturday
• Breakfast: Apple Oven Pancake (from Simply in Season), Eggs
• Lunch: Cheese Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks
• Dinner: Moose Burgers (no bun), Herbed Buckwheat, Pears
To Do: Soak Porridge, Pick Up Milk

Sunday
• Breakfast: Oat or Teff Porridge, Eggs
• Lunch: Cheese Slices, Popcorn, Apples, Homemade Pickles
• Dinner: Salmon Patties (include leftover grains), Bread, Carrot Sticks

Visit Organizing Junkie for more Menu Plan Monday ideas!

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Living A Simple Life-Part 76: Nurturing Marriage

Once we got past the intense "newborn stage" of having a new little one, my Beloved and I set a new goal of having a date night once a month (ironically inspired by a motivating article in Dr. Sears' Attachment Parenting Book). I don't know why we hadn't done this years ago, but we knew we really needed to do this!

It is so easy to become overly busy; whether it is from the kindheartedness of an inability to say "no" to too many obligations, or going to and fro to attend various "obligations" (even church-related ones!). Such busyness can really encroach upon a marriage.

We have learned over the years how important it is to cultivate the "best friend-ness" of our marriage. We love being together; why should this person whom we have a covenant to spend the rest of our life with, take a low priority on our "to-do" list for the week?

Our weekly date nights are frugal, of course, but absolutely priceless. We love being home together (we can really be such hermits, sometimes!) ;) and love taking the time to engage in conversation. Once the little ones are in bed (we try for early bedtimes on those evenings), we can dream and think deeply together. Over the past weeks, it has been so nice to discuss dreams and plans for the future, as well as reminisce over the past.

Our date nights at home have included a candlelit homemade dinner, juicing apples for homemade spiced cider, watching the Fireproof movie borrowed from the library, and a game of Scrabble with stove-popped popcorn, for example.

"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Matthew 19:6

Our marriage is a precious gift from God. We are so thankful for the work He has done in sustaining it, and we want to glorify Him by being good stewards of our relationship with each other. Simple, but challenging.

If you would like to put my "Simple Living" button on your blog, feel free to copy & paste the code located on the right side of the page. Let me know if you do, so that I can visit your blog! To read previous "installments" in my "Living a Simple Life" series, click on the "Simple Living" tab at the top of the page. You are welcome to leave comments on any of the posts; I read them all. Let me know if this has inspired a blog post of your own! Each Thursday, I write a new post in this series, so stop by next week!

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