Beautiful Day!!

It is absolutely beautiful outside.  The temp is around 70 and the sun is shining brightly. 

 I was sitting on my porch, working on my ETSY shop, thinking how blessed I am to have such a beautiful home.  My 8 year old little girl was asking me this morning if everyone had a shower.  I said, no, not everyone has a shower.  We are very blessed to have one.  We don't think about this often, if ever, but most of the world probably does not have an indoor shower with hot water and the turn of a knob.  We are very blessed here.  I told her that we should never take anything for granted. 

Now, on the eating front!  Several people at church this morning remarked about my weight loss.  It is all from the lack of sugar and wheat in my diet!  I am still trying to stick with the Trim Healthy Mama plan - mostly S plan - because of my sugars being so out of whack.  I baked the Chocolate Chip Cookies the other night and they were a big hit.  I believe I have posted the recipe in a previous blogpost.  If not, I will post it in the next one.  Last night, we had Big Mac's THM style.  It is called Big Mac In A Bowl!  It is a bowl of lettuce, hamburger with cheese, tomato, onion, pickle (I left this out) topped with Thousand Island Dressing!  It was really good.  Grace and I were the only ones who had it in a bowl.  Gene and Ben ate theirs on a bun. 

In shop news, I have a new goal of 211 views/day.  I did a numbers analysis on my shop, because, as I learned in sales, numbers never lie.  It is true, but you have to have accurate numbers!  So, after 4 years of my shop, I have some pretty accurate numbers to deal with.  Anyway, to reach my goal of $1500/month in sales, I need 211 views.  If you are interested in the formula, you can email me for the details.  So, on to the task of increasing views!  How?  More frequent social networking!  I am actually toying with the idea of a regular podcast. 

I have taken a few classes on spinning different types of yarns from Ashley @ Neauveau Fiber Arts.  She has a lot of YouTube videos, but she also has an ETSY shop where she sells various video courses.  I have bought just about all of them!   So, I have spun 3 different types of yarn as you can see below.  The blue one is a mohair wrapped wool yarn.  The red/green one is a supercoil, which I learned from Jace Boggs' book, Spin Art.  And the funky green/orange one is called Root Yarn Spinning.  It reminds me of Jamaican hair! 

My next yarn is going to be a fabric yarn spun out of this bunch of strips!

I can't wait to spin this.  I believe it will be something I love or hate the process of spinning it.  Hoping for love!  So many ways to spin yarn!  Love learning the new techniques.  I am so glad I invested in the Ashford Country Spinner.  It makes all of this possible! 

Until next time...
God Bless You!
Kim

 

Surviving the Storm

We have had quite the adventure on the Cumberland Plateau in the last couple of weeks.  We still have folks without power.  For those who don't know, we had a tremendous ice storm Friday before last.  I have never heard such scary sounds in my life.  The wind was blowing and you could hear the branches cracking and then breaking under the weight of the ice.  Then, BANG, they would hit the roof.  I lay awake all night praying for protection.  I love the snow, but hate the ice.   We were without power for almost a complete week.  It went out Saturday morning and was restored last Friday evening.  We drove to Knoxville on Sunday to get one of the few generators available anywhere!  My hubby hooked it up to our fuse box somehow and we had power.  Everything worked but the stove, the dryer and the hot water.  To get those to work he needed a different cord - a 220 or something like that.  Finally, on Friday, he was able to get one from Lowes.  But the power came on!  Praise the Lord!  Our friends had a gas hot water heater, so we were able to take a hot shower.  The hot water is what we missed most of all. 

There was some fun! Our lake froze!  This is not an every year occurrence for us.

Apparently, we are in for another round tomorrow and Thursday.  I felt kinda sick when I saw the alert on Facebook.  My husband went out last night and bought more gas cans and a tank we can use to heat water and have a hot shower.  One of us will have to stand outside the shower and pour it out from above, but that will be ok.  Teamwork!  Family!  A time of growing closer.  We are blessed with a gas fireplace and a gas grill, so we did have heat and a way to cook.  This time, we should be ok.  I just pray that all branches that were going to fall, have fallen!  No more trees down! 

In shop news, I am selling lots of Ashford products!!  Happy about that!  I have some yarns to post and my hubby is working on weaving some purses.  Can't wait for that! 

On the subject of cooking - I am using ground turkey in place of ground beef.  It is better for you and a lot cheaper than ground beef.  I have made hamburgers and tacos with it and my family loves it.  Even my 10 year old son loves it.  I am doing well following the THM S plan and keeping my sugar down.  I feel so much better!  I am going to host a THM get together soon and I will have some great recipes to share from that event!  Everyone will bring a THM dish that they really like along with the recipe.  That way, we can try different things and share ideas.  Great fun!!

Until next time, stay warm and may God bless you!
Kim

Good Eats!!

Ok, I am enjoying the Trim Healthy Mama S plan!  I really am.  I am still challenged in the baking dept., but I have found some really yummy recipes!  I am going to share 1 original and 1 from the files on the THM Mennonite Facebook page.

Blackberry Crisp - Really more like Blackberry Soggy.  I made this as an experiment for our small group on Friday nights.  I melted a stick of butter in a casserole dish - a 9x13.  I then added my blackberries to the melted butter.  Now for the topping.  I used coconut flour, almond flour - 1/2 cup of each.  Then I put in about 1/4 t. salt and 1 cup of xylitol with a 1/4 t. Stevia.  I cut up about 1/2 stick of butter and made the mixture into a crumble.  I then sprinkled it over the top of the blackberries and baked it for about 40 minutes at 350.  It never did get crisp, and I almost didn't serve it, but I had nothing else.  My hubby went out and bought some cookies from the store, but I hated not to have something homemade.  So, I put it out with some homemade whipped cream (Heaving Whipping Cream and a sprinkle of xylitol whipped up in the mixer).  It was almost gone!  Some even had seconds.  The taste was great but the texture - ugh.  But apparently not so bad to everyone else.  Some remarked that it was like a pudding.  Even my picky son loved it!  So, it is worth a try!  Experiment and make improvements!  Let me know how it works!  Remember to be THM - no flour and no sugar! 

This next one is great! 

Satisfying Low-Carb Pancakes
4 eggs
1 c. ricotta - I used 1 c. of cottage cheese
1/2 c. flax seed meal
2 t. baking powder
1/8 t. salt
sweetener to taste (8-12 dashes of Stevia Extract)  I used stevia powder
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1T. Cinnamon

Mix this all together and cook on a griddle.  It makes 12 4" pancakes.  I served them with real maple syrup, but you could also use Greek yogurt with berries.    This is considered an S breakfast.  Serve with Sausage or bacon.

I wish I had taken pics, but I didn't.  The recipe I followed had the cinnamon as optional, but I can't see leaving it out.  It really gave it a great flavor.

So, since I don't have any food pics, I will share a couple of yarns I posted to my shop last night!

I now am over 200 items in my shop!  I am at 201!  lol  More coming!  The Lord has renewed my motivation! 

Grab a cup of coffee, a good book and a blanket.  Snuggle in the arm of the couch and enjoy your day!  You have my permission!! 

God Bless You!
Kim

A Cold, Misty Morning

A misty, cold morning on the Cumberland Plateau! 

Yesterday, I got my 400th sale on ETSY!!!  A milestone that took 4 years!  My goal is to make 500 by the end of this year.  Can I do it??  Yes, I can!  With God all things are possible!  I also hit 200 items in my shop, another goal!  Well, it is now 199, as I sold something yesterday ( my 400th)!  So, not complaining.  I am going to dye some wool today and spin away.  I also have some cashmere, mohair and angora I could create with!  Hmmmm. 

I am running an idea around in my head - Yarn Home Parties.  I don't know exactly what that would entail, but with some creativity - who knows??  Any ideas from my readers???

I am still doing the THM S plan.  Last night, I had spaghetti squash with tomato sauce (which isn't really on plan).  But, the good news is, my family loved it!  I am so happy about this!  So, for lunch today, I am going to have spaghetti squash with a white sauce and salmon.  It sounds good, so I will let you know!  Also, after about 2 weeks of just using Stevia, I am developing a taste for it.  Yea!!!!

I am still participating in the Good Morning Girls reading the Bible through in 3 years!  Today, we read Exodus 28.  I want to share my SOAK with you today.  Remember SOAK is Scripture, Observation, Application and Kneeling in prayer.

 S: v.35 "Aaron will wear this robe wheneer he ministers before the Lord, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the Lord's presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die." O: When the God tells us to do something, He means business! We, too, need to heed God's commands and obey. I think we have lost the reverence we should have for God. We, as a Christian society, have dumbed Him down to our level. To think that you can appraoch God in any way but in fear and trembling is a lie from Satan. God has not changed. The God that killed Aaron's sons, is the same God we worship today. He is Holy, Holy, Holy!! Just because we do not approach Him in that manner, does not change the fact that He commands our respect. In Mal. 1:6 God says "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve?" Do you know everytime we use God's name flippantly, it is blasphemy? There is a whole marketing campaign, complete with products, using OMG. This is the way the devil works. It it socially acceptable to say "Oh my God" and not give God a thought. Christians do this all the time. I do it! I caught myself yesterday doing it, but thankfully, the Holy Spirit gave me a huge whack upside my head and I immediately repented out loud in front of my children. God is Holy. Do we really want anything less? Rev. 4's picture of God is tremendous. This is the God we serve. There is so much comfort in knowing that He is in control. A: I am praying daily, that I have a Holy reverence for God. I have the Holy Spirit in me and I can talk to Him and just be the messed up me. The Holly Spirit is God's Spirit, but it is not God Himself. God Himself sits on the throne in Heaven and is worshipped by angels who cannot even look at Him He is so Holy. Wow! And this God - this Holy, Holy, Holy God - loves me! He knows my name! He knows my thoughts. He knows me through and through and He desires a relationship with me! Unbelievable! Yet, through Jesus' sacrifice, I can approach His Throne. But I must have a reverential fear and respect. He is Holy. I must never think less. K: Father God, may I never, ever use Your Name in a flippant manner again. I want to always, always remember Your Holiness and treat you with respect and awe. I thank You that I can approach Your throne and that the veil was torn that seperated me from You, but that did not make You less Holy. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. I find great comfort in that. Thank You for Your Word, thank You for loving me and caring about the smallest details of my life, and for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide and direct my every step. In Jesus ' Name!

Well, time to dress, get my son up and begin a great day of school, fiber and food! 

Until next time!
Kim

Blood Sugar Adventures!

I am seriously doing Trim Healthy Mama - S plans - to get my blood sugar under control!  I have ignored this for too long!  Right now, all systems are working but I have got to take responsibility and do my part in regulating.  Cake and doughnuts for breakfast have got to come to an end.  So, that being said, I made some great cookies last night that were on plan.  Want the recipe??!!

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

1 stick  butter, softened

1 Egg

1 T. coconut oil, melted

1/3 c. Truvia ( I used Erythitol)

1 t. Vanilla

1 t. Baking Powder

Pinch of Sea Salt

4 T. Unsweetened, Vanilla Protein Powder

¼ c. Coconut Flour

¾  c. Almond Flour

Suger-Free Chocolate Chips to taste (I used Carob Chips)

Mix together softened butter, coconut oil, and egg.  Add baking powder, salt, vanilla, Truvia and protein powder.  Stir well by hand.  (I used a mixer).  When ingredients are well-combined, add coconut and almond flours.  Stir.  As the final step, add desired amount of sugar free chocolate chips to batter.  Mix until combined through.  Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet.  Optional:  you may choose to gently press the cookie batter down with a fork, but I like them to have the nice dome-shape to them!  Bake 350 for approximately 8-10 minutes.  These are a really soft cookie, so let them sit on the sheet for a bit prior to transferring to a cooling rack.  Enjoy!! 

I didn’t flatten  the cookies.  They definitely don’t flatten themselves.  They brown on top a lot. 

 

They spent the night in hiding in my oven - unfortunately, my family loved them!  No, I am glad they liked them, but they, like me, have a hard time denying themselves cookies! 

Also, if you are watching sugar in your diet, be sure to check out the ingredients in what you purchase at the grocery store.  Everything, just about, has sugar in some form, as an ingredient!  It is amazing! 

And!!  I have finally developed a taste for Stevia!  Now it just tastes sweet!  Love this, because Stevia is supposed to lower blood sugar.  I am also back to drinking my vinegar/turmeric/cinnamon, cayenne pepper/stevia water - sometimes lemon added.  This, too, is a developed taste.  But hang in there, and you will soon crave it!  Yes, it is true!!  I like mine iced, but some like it as a hot beverage.  I use Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and put about 2 T in a cup.  Then I do about 3 shakes of turmeric, a couple of pinches of cinnamon, 1 pinch of cayenne pepper, 1 pinch of stevia and then fill with water .  I give it a good stir and add ice.  It helps to give the glass a good swirl before each drink so you stir up all the spices that have fallen to the bottom. 

Anyway, this is what is going on in my life today!  What about yours???

Life Au Natural

I am finding and creating dishes that my family is liking this past week, praise the Lord!  I was beginning to think that my 8 year old son was going to have to get a feeding tube if he didn't start eating soon!  Smoothies saved the day!  His favorite contained everything but the kitchen sink!  It had Kale, wheat germ, flax seed, coconut, blueberries, strawberries, mango, vanilla yogurt, oj aconcentrate, and a breakfast blend all natural juice - oh, and some egg shell water ice.  What is that?  Well, I saw it on this YouTube.  It's good for bone health.  Anyway, he loved the smoothie!

I promised I would tell about my chili!  It was awesome!  I cooked some organic kidney beans in a pressure cooker with some sea salt.  I then put 1 tomato, 1 onion, some basil and oregano, banana pepper, and a hot pepper in the food processor.  I added that to my beans - water and all.  I also browned 1 pound of organic hamburger and added that.  It was still a little on the thin side,so I added a little cornstarch.  I'm going to order some arrowroot, which can be used to thicken and won't contain the carbs.  It was delicious!

I am in the process of reading Trim Healthy Mama at the recommendation of a friend.  It is really eye opening!  I love it!  I will share some of the wisdom as I read on!

I made 4 quarts of homemade vanilla yogurt this morning along with a pint of sour cream.  I haven't tasted the yogurt, but it smells fantastic!  My little girl had a little of the sour cream on a bean burrito we had for lunch.  It wasn't really ready, but there was a little bit of firmness on the top, so she got a little of that.

Oh, and the big news is I got my Wonder Washer yesterday!  We have done about 6 loads in it and it has worked great!  Drying the clothes is a challenge in this rain, so I'm having to use my dryer.  My goal is to try and take us off grid as much as possible. I have a pic of it on my  Facebook page.  Just click the link.  I posted it yesterday, so it should be pretty close to the top of my page.

I am stir frying this evening for supper.  No meat - just veges.  I have some whole grain rice.  According to Trim Healthy Mama, I should have a protein with this, but life goes on!  I just took some granola out of the oven that I made to go over my vanilla yogurt for dessert!  It has nuts in it, so there is a little protein!

Take care and Happy Living!!