December 4, 2009
The downside of taking time to write a post to link to the guest post at Zen Family Habits (convoluted or what) is that doing so didn't really reflect what's going on in my life right now. The post at Zen Family by the way took weeks to write and was in process for a couple months. It takes me a long time to write an article like that. Whether my post reflects that or not, well...
The guest post was started months ago and was written to help promote our family's adventure blog. Which we hope will someday play a part (the blog that is) in how our family earns a livelihood. It's a long term, kind of complicated but thoroughly exciting dream that we are holding close for the present, ie: no more details right now.
But before I start to ramble... what I had wanted to write about earlier this week was the here and now but I didn't have time because of the scheduled Zen Family Habits post. And although here and now is usually quite wonderful and always blessed, it's not always easy and certainly never trouble-free.
This week's troubles have been in my kitchen.
I screached for Damien to grab the fire extinguisher but any major disasters were averted by simply turning the oven off. The element was fried however. Thank goodness we have tenants in the basement with a working oven. Because not only did I need an oven for Thanksgiving (they were cooking later, phew) but for Brienne's birthday cakes. Disaster averted. Damien, always the internet researcher and ever so handy, ordered the correct replacement the next day and installed it in time to bake cookies for my birthday.
The one we use almost every day to make "milk" for breakfast hot cereal and other needs. We only use it in things, not to drink, but still we need at least a quart a day. Do you know how much a quart of organic, non-GMO, grown in the US, with no additives packaged soymilk costs these days? Way too much. We make our own. Plus that's a lot of packaging that needs to be recycled. We've had the machine for almost 4 years and it's saved us hundreds of dollars. So now we need to shell out another hundred or so (right before Christmas) to replace what no longer works. Bummer.
Trust me, he's given up most everything bad so now we're starting in on the good (but maybe not so good for him). Specifically certain fruits and a bunch of other whole and usually healthy foods that are high in fructose. It's his health journey and not mine, so I'm not going to share it all here, except to say I'm having once again to change my cooking.
The hardest thing right now? No onions. Onions!? I mean who could be sensitive to onions. Supper prep is heralded at our house with the sizzle of onions and garlic but not right now and I'm finding even this small change hard after all I've had to adjust through the years. Forgive the whining but if I can't whine on my blog, where can I?
During this time of over indulgence and over eating, where sweets and treats abound everywhere it's hard to say no - over and over again. No to myself, no to the kids. So I'm craving and caving, just a wee bit. The hard part especially right now is that we are making less treats at home with Damien eliminating dried fruits from his diet and he is the primary dessert maker in our house. So if he isn't making the healthy desserts and I'm not making the healthy desserts no one is. Which leaves me feeling sorry for myself and worried that I am depriving our children.
I had a little post supper, well I hadn't actually finished my supper before the tears starting flowing, pity party on Tuesday night. When I think of how much of the world goes without I am ashamed of my attitude. But it's there nonetheless. I sobbed about how I just wanted sugar, fat and was fantasizing about ground beef spaghetti sauce and I don't even like ground beef! My husband reassured me the only thing we are depriving our children of is illness and out of the kindness of his heart or simply to shut me up made me a decadent fresh roasted almond butter coconut milk chocolate ganache. I forgot all about my "deprivation". Oh yeah. I love that man! He received his dessert later (wink).
And that's the story from my kitchen this week. If you want to read something actually health promoting my mom posted recently about eating your greens. And I get to visit her and her kitchen for a whole week this month!!
Thank you all for the birthday wishes. It was a great day.
Thanks again for sharing from your heart. I've been having my own struggles and feeling teary from 'overwhelm' and yet, like you, not wanting to seem ungrateful through it all. But the feelings and struggles are real, nonetheless.
Based on what you've told me I think my struggles are easier to manage than yours Kika. Feel kind of silly complaining in light of your situation.
we all get those woe-is-me feelings from time to time and they almost always coming during the "when it rains, it pours" times for me. i get the post-pity guilt, too. we do all have so much, but sometimes, it is hard to see where we have more and easier to see where we have less. it is normal. and renee? of all people, i have no doubt you appreciate all you have and you don't take it for granted! i don't know how you do it, eliminating all you do. you are certainly not depriving anyone, but i think it is ok to slip sometimes when you feel deprived, especially on your birthday!! it sounds from the tone of this post that you are on the upswing. huge hugs. i hope your birthday was sweet all around in the bed. i mean end. nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com
nicola@which name?'s last blog post... kid made
On the upswing? Yes, definitely. That's the benefit of writing this kind of post after the fact (I was busy with the guest post during my "crisis") . You see things more clearer and life isn't quite so bad. I also ate a lot of cookies on my birthday (not healthy by any means) and that really helped!
No onions!? I don't blame you for complaining. I quite simply cannot imagine such a thing.
Abby @ New Urban Habitat's last blog post... Last days of Fall
So many comments this time this is point form!
so many replies to your comments so I'll do it in point form (feeling a little cheeky this am):
Good for you - think how much cleaning time you'll save with your new 'milk maker'. I'm up for the cooking challenge - with and without onions.
I know this is an exchange between you and your mom but the part about the dark chocolate made me laugh (with the greatest empathy). I now know to order more chocolate before it looks like I'll really need it because it is simply not good for me to be without:)
I lived in Africa for over 20 years, and on a daily basis was reminded of the poverty that surrounds you there. Here in this country of plenty, you and your family clearly do everything you can to live a responsible and moderate lifestyle, and I admire you greatly for that!
And cooking with no onions...that would totally bum me out too! I just recently had to figure out a meal with no garlic for a visitor who doesn't eat it. It made me realize how central garlic and onions are to all our favourite family meals!
Kami@Nurturing the tender years's last blog post... More about learning to read
Kami, that was a really nice thing to say, thank you. We'd like to live more responsibly and moderately, sometimes it seems we are just inching along.
Okay, so after all these comments, this one will seem a bit superficial, but I just have to say how ironic it is that the heating element went on your stove. My penpal just had that happen to her, and I've NEVER heard of that happening before! My parents always had an electric stove and no one has mentioned that happening, so imagine my surprise when the second time in one week I hear of a stove "blowing up"! Must be an oven virus going around....
You know what the scary thing is? Our oven has a self timer function that allows to put things in and set it to come on when I'm not home. Sometimes I do this if I'm running errands close to supper. If this had happened during that time we could of had a house fire! I don't think I'll ever use that function again for fear of what might happen.
I am glad I am not the only one feeling deprived! I, too, was craving ground beef spaghetti sauce! I made it, and it was fabulous, but my stomach ached for two days, because it doesnt' handle beef very well. I was sipping vinegar all evening.
Is there any chance Damien's recipe might get posted on here? I could use a little chocolate cheer around here myself!
That squash recipe looks fabulous... I'm going to give it a try! I stuffed a pumpkin this year with this GF stuffing (with curried apples and cranberries). (I used my sorghum bread for bread cubes, not corn obviously!) :) http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/11/maple-roasted-acorn-squash-and.html It was a huge hit with the whole extended fam.
Sorry for your kitchen troubles! :( Thanks for keeping it real... it gives others permission to be real too. :) xoxo
Spring's last blog post... Let it Snow!
I'll have to ask Damien about the recipe.
Check out Natasha Campbell McBride's Gut and Psychology. You can heal gluten intolorance forever. You will find it an interesting read. It is not so vegan friendly but I know there is information you can use. Your husbands rashes may be related to changes in gut ecology. Things have a tendency to come up and out. Could be a good thing indicative of healing or maybe not depending on what he is eating. If you read the book I would be interested in your feedback.
Thanks Annmarie. I agree, We do believe that his rashes are connected to his gut, absolutely. And he is attempting to figure that out, he's a pretty scientific minded guy so he's goes about these things rather logically. I doubt that he's be able to go back to eating wheat regularly but maybe other things. We'll have to check out that book. The good thing is that Damien is very proactive about his health and well being.
Oh wow, these things always happen at once. Hope your next few days are calmer!
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Jody on Dec. 4, 2009, 1:26 p.m.
Hugs, Hugs & MORE HUGS. xoxox Life IS Good! You have a wonderful, loving husband and fantastic kids. You are doing the BEST that you can at any given moment......Cheers to GOOD LIVING. xo Be easy on yourself ~ You are a wonderful mother & I'm sure Damien will say you are a loving, caring wife.
renee on Dec. 5, 2009, 12:05 p.m.
Thanks Jody.