Fakin it!

If you are like me and you can't have carbs or you are trying to cut down on them...these recipes are really good at making you feel like you are eating them when you are not!

Not deadly pancakes...(cause if I ate regular ones I would end up in the emergency room)

What you will need:

• 1 and 1/2 cups of almond meal  (easy to find in grocery stores)
  
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 tbs of cooking oil. (I use sunflower oil)
  
• 1 tsp of stevia or sweetener
• 1 tsp of cinnamon (optional but I think it makes them taste delicious)

* you could also add a dash of vanilla for a little extra sweetness.

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Measure out 1/4 cup of batter and pour onto a a hot pan will a little butter or oil. Cook them as you would normally cook pancakes.
   
3. Flip them when you see a few bubbles on the top and the underside is light brown.
4. Pancake mix or regular flour has about 24 grams of carbs for every 1/4 cup, almond flour has only 3 grams of carbs for every 1/4 cup. That is a HUGE difference!! Eating eight not deadly pancakes is the same as eating one regular pancake.
   

This looks like fun! I think we can do it...whose in?

I have always wanted to do this, my aunt made pickles when I was much younger.  I was kinda of scared of them she kept them in a dark place, behind the recliner and they would make this burping noise!  Well, this recipe doesn't look so scary.
It was also one of my favorite things to get at Disneyland a really huge pickle!
Fat Free...low carbs.

Okay...whose in?  Who is going to try this with me?  Don't be scared :)

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

1-1/2 cups distilled white vinegar
1/4 to 1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
3/4 teaspoon dill seeds
2 cups hot water
2 pounds kirby cucumbers, sliced 1/4-inch thick
3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

Directions:
1) Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seeds, coriander seeds and dill seeds in a heatproof bowl. Add hot water and stir until sugar dissolves and liquid is clear. Cool to room temperature.
2) Place cucumbers, garlic and dill in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Pour brine over all and turn to coat cucumbers. Cover them with a plate to weigh them down and keep them covered in brine. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, stirring once or twice. Transfer to an airtight container and store for up to two weeks. Yield

Curious...Am I the only one?

I have to say I have such a wonderful husband!  I have not been feeling well.  So he said he would go to the grocery store and he would cook dinner, BTW he is a wonderful cook!  He probably cooks about once every two weeks, sometimes more.  Of course, Chloe loves when he cooks...because lets just say it's usually comfort food.  High in fat, gooey and heavenly!  Things I would never cook.  The problem...me letting him go to the grocery store by himself!
Never again!  You see...Gunny...Bless his Heart...NEVER LOOKS AT THE PRICES! He comes home with things I never buy and I say...how much was that and he always say's "I don't know, I didn't look"! Are you kidding me!  You didn't look!  Please tell me does anyone else have this problem?

Jan. 16th, 2012

It has been a bitter sweet week...one filled with unspeakable joy...and one filled with incredible pain.

 The day before my 47th birthday...my two daughter's and son in law made me an incredibly delicious dinner.  Which started with a very unexpected present...one that changed our world.  One that well... made everything in the world okay, again.

 I had dreamed and fantisized about this day.  I was handed a very pretty gift bag...and my son in law was like a 5 year old on Christmas day...I was so anxious to open it because their excitement was so over the top they were actually jumping up and down.  I was dumbfounded.  I usually know what is going on in my family!

 I open up the gift bag ...to find a zales gift box...one that looked like there would be a bracelet in it.   I am not a jewelry person...  I kinda thought it was a gag gift.  So I opened the box...it was a pregnancy test...a positive pregnancy test!

 I didn't get it... I stood there and I stood there...then it hit me...my baby was going to have a baby!  I grabbed my face and then the tears started to flow...and wouldn't stop.  The day I had dreamed of for so long...more inportantly the day my little girl had dreamed of...finally.  But in reality...so soon.  She is only 21, and has been married for one year...just like me.  Married at 20, my first baby at 22.   All of us, could not get this stupid smile off of our face and we were all sooo silly and happy.

 The next day, Hunter, the father, our son in law, LCCP Hogan of the USMC deployed...following in the footsteps of both of their families... went to fight for his country.

 Yesterday, early afternoon the ambulance came and took my little girl to hospital...

It was confirmed today...she had a miscarriage.
I only wish I could take away there pain...but I know God can, and He will replace it with joy. 

Being present in the moment... A very popular statement...nice thought but!

If I was present for every moment...I would have slit my wrist or killed someone.  Honestly, if I was completely present for every moment it

just wouldn't be good.  In my older age, I have learned to remove myself...go somewhere else mentally at times.  Believe me it is for the best...makes me calmer, I don't react till much later or at all.  Really! try it...I think you might like it ; )  For instance, when your 8 year old has asked you what your name is for the 6th time in 5 minutes.  When your husband and daughter are antagonizing each other and you would swear they were brother and sister.  When you are waiting in line and the cashier is giving her review on each product being purchased by the customer ahead of you.  I could go on but I am sure you get it.  So join me in being somewhere else for some of those moments.  There are plenty left to be present for but by all means be choosy...

 

 

 

 

 

New day, New Year, New things we will accomplish this year...

One of the things we will accomplish this year is to go as organic as we can possibly stand.  I do believe in moderation and balance so we will sway on occasion.  One of the first things we will do is eliminate plastics from our every day life.  Which shouldn't be to hard because I have fallen in love with mason jars!
I challenge you to do the same...think of one thing you can do to be more kind to our earth and yourself.

• Buy food in glass or metal containers
• Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing fatty foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap
• Do not give young children plastic teethers or toys
• Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and furniture
• Avoid all PVC and Styrene products

Wow ...have things changed...okay ME!

So today we are in Walmart and I walked by a mirror and got a glimpse of myself and gasped.  I was wearing leggins, Joe's Marine Tshirt, and his jacket.  I was wearing muddy cowboy boots...my hair was up in a clippy, (I did have make up on). I reached in my pocket and pulled out a hand full of nails!  I won't be posting pictures...I was the girl who took my kids to the grocery store always dressed in a skirt and heels! Am I just getting old or just really happy and content in my life, huh...have to think about this :)
Okay...I think I am definetly getting old.  The kids ask us to go to Jacksonville to a country bar tonight...we canceled...because it didn't even open til 8pm and we like to be in bed by then.  Tomorrow night, New Years Eve...we are staying in, getting pizza, renting movies and turning the clock ahead... so Chloe thinks it is midnight much earlier!  Okay, I answered my own question...it's both old and happy:)

Southern Tradition Black Eye Pea Stew

A Southern New Year's Tradition

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups finely shredded Napa cabbage
• 1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 pound ham hocks
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• salt to taste
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen black-eyed peas
• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, well rinsed
• 3 cups water

Directions

Heat the oil in a deep pan or stockpot set over medium-high heat. Stir in the onions and garlic, and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the Napa cabbage; toss and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the ham hocks, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, Cajun seasoning, and salt, stirring for 2 minutes more. Pour in the chicken stock and black-eyed peas. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 2 hours.

• 
  1. Meanwhile, place the rice and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until all liquid is absorbed and rice is light and fluffy, about 20 minutes.
  2. Before serving, remove the ham hocks from the pot. Coarsely chop the meat, and return to the black-eyed pea mixture. Serve hot over Basmati rice.

Yea...Construction!

Chloe's gotta gun...and she is a great shot (like her mom)

Well, Gunny is always surprising me...didn't know he was so talented, he has begun expanding our store area.

 I am tilling the soil to get ready for our spring planting.  I was also hosing out the store today, and it is scarying there, but I felt pretty confident with my hard squirter and gloves on.  I was caring out these huge spindles when I looked down and there was a snake in it...Gunny poured lighter fluid and lit it up.

 It gave me the creeps that I was holding it so close to my face.  Needless, to say I left the other 18 spindles in there.  All in all, it was a nice day.

 We had a big fire in the evening, Brittney and Hunter stopped by to have a glass of wine with us and toast there one year anniversary.  So happy to have Hunter as part of our family, could not ask for a better son in law!

  Oh and Britts not to bad either...

Chance -Our Jack Russel

Tucker-Lab  My Favorite

Our doggies ...I am so tired of everyone telling me a dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans!  There is nothing about this that I believe.  I have never licked my butt, thrown up and ate it or ate flies.  So basically the dogs disgust me...but I do love Tucker...he is the perfect Farm dog.  He has such a great personality...we take him everywhere with us.  I am not the kinda of person that likes dogs in the house.  Both of them sleep in the house...I spray lysol everywhere...it kills 99% of all germs ;)

My Daughter, Tara

She is such an amazing photographer!  I love the way she captured the true essence of this abandoned house which is next to us! 

My Tara...

Little to much country...

On Saturday I had a little to much country for a day (maybe a week)!  First thing in the morning Gunny was out taking care of the animals...when Tucker ran up to Gunny with a treasure that he dropped at his feet...It was the leg of a deer!!!  On our way home from the Dover Christmas parade a little later, as we were driving down our little road.  A stray dog ran from our land with a rabbit in his mouth ...a very bloody rabbit!  Chloe and I screamed.  Later that day I ran into a fly strip which stuck to my face with dead flies on it...I am sure I can leave it at that ...but needless to say I was livid.  BTW...putting bleach on your face HURTS!

The parade was 10 minutes long :)

Time for Tea

I cannot sit and chat with you,
the way I'd like to do.
So brew yourself a cup of tea,
I'll think of you, you think of me...

Did you know that after water, tea is the most widely-consumed beverage in the world?

Why is it that so many people love tea? Is it the taste? The aroma? The relaxed feeling it gives you when you sip it from your favorite cup in the early morning?
Tea does more for us than we actually know. Some beneficial effects of tea consumption is the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.  The beverage normalizes blood sugar, prevents heart disease and diabetes.

-Black tea varieties include the Assam tea, the Darjeeling tea and the black Ceylon tea.

-For the mornings, I recommend English Breakfast (Black Tea) It has a robust flavor, and is amazing with added cream. Perfect with a slice of toast with butter.

-Red and white tea are the rarest types, but are the best for you health wise.

-In the afternoons I recommend something a little lighter, like a jasmine tea or earl grey which has a very floral taste.

-Finally, at evening I prefer to have a chamomile to relax, or an herbal tea with lemon and honey to soothe my throat.

Tea tip:
Did you know you can decaffeinate a cup of tea yourself? 85-95% of caffeine is released in the first 45 seconds of steeping. Therefore, simply steep your tea bag in one cup for 45 seconds, then transfer the tea bag to the cup you're going to drink for the rest of the steep time. There you have a decaffeinated tea.

So why not take some time out of your busy day and sip on a cup of tea. Your body and brain deserves it. After all, it's not a drink. It's a state of mind.

By Brittney Hogan (middle child)

Holy Cow!

As a mother...most of us have absolutely no down time.  There should be that time in the evening where noise, screaming, craziness stops so all of us can wine down...especially me! Uh, No such thing in this household.
I feel like I want to ...well as I am writing, Gunny...is banging on the window outside pretending to be a monster and Chloe is pretending to be Lady Gaga...singing ...I was born that way, wearing my black boots that go over her knees and some crazy outfit. She is home schooled, how does she even know that song!  I am screaming at both of them with what voice I have left...STOP IT OR ELSE!  Or else what... they laugh!
When it's bed time they both fall fast to sleep and I lay for hours, thinking are you kidding me...

I think I am allergic environmentally to North Carolina...I got sick three weeks ago and can't get over it.  Now they are doing there self defense lessons...the screaming continues.

They like the playdo...can you tell?

They look so sweet and innocent here...

Ouch!

We are off to continue clearing our land this morning...both of us in a lot pain.  Gunny's feet and back and my back, went to cross my legs and I couldn't.  Should be another fun day.  The girl's are meeting us at the land today.  Tara wants to go in the abandon house and take pictures.  Joe and I finally ventured in two days ago.  It looks like the last time someone lived there was around 100 years ago.  Two fireplaces, no bathroom.  The furniture in there is amazing...I found a very old water bucket...that I will plant flowers in.

Hopefully, we will make it through today.  This is the first time I wish I would have had boys...strong, big boys!  This is what Chloe does while we are working!

Things I learned today...

This is what I was thinking about all day...

Gardening in OC is much different than clearing farm land in the South!  Just because I like lady bugs and butterflies...does not mean I can handle the scary lions, tigers and bears here.  Okay...maybe I exaggerated a little but I have never seen spiders and weird bugs like this in my life.  Except for that spider in Arizona!  I wanted to call 911...actually I think I did.  So Gunny (my sexy marine) was busy clearing the land with a sickle mower, I raked and used the hedge clippers...when we were done we stopped at the little store so I could put a bag of ice on my back on the way home.  I have to say Gunny is actually very sweet to me.  He is use to telling young Marines what to do and he is pretty easy on me.  Because when he forgets and starts ordering Chloe and I, around we look at him and laugh. Last but not least I looked at what God gave us...and this song came to my mind all day..."Then sings my soul, my saviour God to thee...How Great thou art, How great thou art"...

Holiday Punch

holiday punch - cranberry juice, apple juice, ginger ale, and ice. Add Vodka if you are looking for a Cocktail.

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Project Farm...Moving along!

After a couple of days of visits to the Craven County planning, electricity, water, septic...

things are all going well and in place.  We will go to our land to place little flags out for them to see.  So they will know where to put meters and things!  Excited about going tomorrow...because in the little shed on our land they left...a... well a room full of antiques :)  Joe thinks I am not going to be able to do this... I will show him.  We will start clearing the land soon...which makes me happy because there is a bug problem there.  When we were there on Friday we saw deer prints...so hopefully we will have pics of Bambi soon.