Truth or Tradition- Should Christians Celebrate Christmas and Easter?

If you have any amount of love for the truth, PLEASE watch this video.

Truth or Tradition- Should Christians Celebrate Christmas and Easter?

Core Shopping List

Quite a few years ago my husband quit his casino job for ethical and personal reasons, and we had to really be creative about the money that was coming in. He took a part time job at a local fishery, smoking fish, and the money was NOT even close to what it was at the casino. (BUT we did get all the smoked salmon, trout and chubs we could eat!) We had to cut corners everywhere for him to be able to quit the casino job, and after years of being a spender, I had to learn to make do with what I had. I stopped buying pre-made food, and made everything from scratch. Eventually I got our food budget down to $250 a month. I am happy to tell you that I stuck with that and we are still only budgeting $250 a month for food. People think I am crazy when I tell them how much we spend. I know families that spend close to $800 a month to feed their family of 5-6. I can't IMAGINE having that much money to spend on food. I can tell you where it would go...into food storage!

Anywho...

This is my core monthly shopping list for our family of 5. With this list, I know that I can feed us all well for an entire month. Now, granted, I have a well-stocked pantry full of assorted whole grains, beans, rice, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and huge cans of tomato sauce and whole tomatoes which I purchase every few months. With this list and my pantry items I can whip up a ton of different meals, all fairly simple, and feed my family of 5 for about $250 a month. What you won't see on the list is fresh fruits and veggies. We eat them, but they come out of the "extra" money that is left over after I do my core shopping. When we want bananas, oranges, or a big container of salad greens we buy them, but we don't have a continuous supply in the house. We also don't buy a lot of seasonal foods when they are not in season. When salad isn't in season, we don't eat a lot of it. We eat lots of potatoes in the winter, and much more fresh fruit and veggies in the spring and summer.

I do buy bulk items from Azure Standard, such as spices, grains, and big huge bags of oranges or other fruit that's on sale. I also am trying to get to Costco every other month or so to the majority of my shopping. The less time I spend in Walmart, Safeway or Albertons, the more money I save. There are certain things I know are cheaper at Walmart, so I do buy them there, but for the most part, I am trying to stay away from that place :-) 

I look for sales on meat and only buy meat that is as natural as can be. Our local Warehouse Market has great all natural chicken that goes on sale every now and again. This past month I picked up 5 whole roasters for $20.  Last month I picked up 4 or 5 packages of drumsticks and thighs for about $18. I also buy our ground beef from the local meat market. It's all grass fed and is delicious. If I can't find a good sale on natural chicken, we stick with the ground beef or go without. I refuse to buy factory farmed meat. 

With all that said, here is the list with costs and location:

4 whole chickens ~ $24 ~ Warehouse Market

2 packages of chicken (breasts/drums/thighs) ~ $20 ~ Warehouse Market

4 lbs ground beef ~ $16 ~ Sackett's meat market

8 lbs cheese ~ $24 ~ Albertson's/Costco

6 gallons milk ~ $18 ~ Safeway

4 lbs butter ~ $10 ~ Costco

10 lbs organic sugar ~ $8 ~ Costco

15 lbs potatoes ~ $6 ~ Costco

5 lbs onions ~ $5 ~ Costco

Peanut butter ~ $5 ~ wherever 

Frozen fruit to make jam and smoothies ~ $7 ~ Walmart

Frozen veggies (any combination) ~ $15 ~ Costco/Walmart

5 lbs whole wheat flour (wheat montana) ~ $5 ~ Walmart

5 lbs all purpose flour (wheat montana) ~ $5 ~ Walmart

Sour cream (the big tub of Daisy) ~ $5 ~ Walmart

4 dozen eggs (until my hens start laying) ~ $12 ~ Safeway

5 lbs raw honey ~ $15 ~ health food store

20 lbs pinto beans ~ $15 ~ Walmart

5 lbs raisins or craisins ~ $10 ~ Costco

Organic beef and chicken "better than bouillon" ~ $12 ~ Costco

Total Cost ~ $237

I haven't been buying the bags of flour because I have so many wheat berries in my pantry now, but I do like to have flour on hand for making gravies and sauces or just to whip up a quick pan of rolls or a cake. I like easy :-) 

With this list I can make everything I want for dinners throughout the month...chicken pot pie, sloppy joes, soups of all sorts, scalloped potatoes and onions, chicken and dumplings, etc. I have a huge assortment of pastas in the house from my last few Costco trips, but normally, if we wanted pasta I would make my own. Since moving to Wyoming, I had to leave a ton of stuff behind...my pasta maker was one of those things, so I don't really care for rolling out pasta by hand, although it's not so bad for making big ol' noodles that will just go in a soup. We also don't buy bread (usually). We make our own English muffins, rolls, pizza dough, sandwich bread, flat breads, tortillas, etc. 

We also make our own breakfast foods, like oatmeal, granola, cornmeal mush, etc.

Lunches consist of leftovers, eggs and toast, peanut butter and jelly on tortillas, steamed veggies, etc. Basically whatever is on hand and quick. 

I also save all of my chicken bones (yes from every meal) and carcasses and put them in the freezer after all our meals throughout the month. At the end of the month I will make a big pot of stock, usually about 4-6 quarts, and that goes right in the freezer for the next months meals. (I could really do without the "better than bouillon" that is on my list, but I love having it on hand.)

The one thing that is not on my list is COFFEE and tea. I love coffee, am probably addicted, and will not go without it. It's not in my grocery budget because it is just for me, so it comes out of the money that is not allocated to bills, gasoline, or food. We drink water from our Berkey and sun tea throughout the month, and if you don't like those two things, well...tough patooties, drink it anyway :-) We have special drinks on sabbath, like Hansen's soda, but that does not come out of the grocery budget, it comes out of the "extra". 

So, there it is...I hope this helps you in some areas, and if YOU have a tight budget for food, let me know how you do it. I am always looking for ways to save money.

(We also purchase 5 gallon buckets of expeller pressed coconut oil from Tropical Traditions and use this as our main cooking oil, for frying, baking,etc., and  also for making deodorant and toothpaste)

The Confessions of a Wife

The following was given to me by a friend a few years ago when I was struggling with KNOWING who I was according to the word of YHVH. She told me to read it to myself every morning, believe it, and act accordingly...well, I haven't read it every morning, and if I were writing the true confessions of this wife, mother and keeper of the home, I would have to tell you that I fail in many, many areas. BUT, this is my blessing and this confession has found it's way back into my daily routine. I will speak this blessing over myself daily and rise to the challenge and calling of biblical womanhood, finding joy in it!

The Confessions of a Wife

{Philippians 1:6} Being Confident that He who began a good work in me will continue until the day of Yeshua Messiah.

I Confess That:

{Proverbs 31:10} I am a capable, intelligent and virtuous woman, worth far more than jewels.

{Proverbs 31:15} I rise early and get spiritual food for my household.

{Matthew 6:33} I seek first the kingdom of Yehovah and all good things are added unto me.

{Proverbs 31:30} I reverently and worshipfully fear Yehovah.

{Proverbs 31:31} I give of the fruit of my hands

{Proverbs 31:13} and my works praise me. I am industrious.

{Proverbs 31:16} With my savings I plant fruitful vines

{Proverbs 31:25} Strength and dignity are my clothing and my position is strong and secure. I rejoice over the future, knowing that my family and I are in readiness for it.

{Proverbs 31:26} I open my mouth with skillful and Godly wisdom, and in my tongue is the law of kindness, giving counsel and instruction.

{Proverbs 31:27} The bread of idleness I do not eat.

{1 Timothy 3:11} I am worthy of respect and serious, not a gossiper, but temperate and self-controlled, and thoroughly trustworthy in all things.

{1 Timothy 6:11} I pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentle-heartedness…

{Nehemiah 8:10} and the joy of Yehovah is my strength.

{Ephesians 5:22-23} I am submissive and adapt myself to my own husband as a service to Yehovah. He is head of me as Messiah is the head of the church.

{Ephesians 5:33} I respect and reverence my husband. I notice, regard, honor, prefer, love…

{Proverbs 31:11} and admire him exceedingly. The heart of my husband trusts in me confidently and he has no lack of gain.

{Proverbs 31:12} I comfort him and encourage and do him only good as long as there is life in me.

{Ephesians 5:2} I walk in love with my husband, esteeming him and delighting in him.

{Proverbs 31:31} My husband praises me above all women.

{Proverbs 31:28} My children rise up and call me blessed.

{Luke 1:38} May it be done according to YOUR WORD. 

~~~

Awesome Episode of Glenn Beck

Chickens!

Our chicks are growing so fast! In the top picture are two of our White Wyandottes the first day we had them. The other three pics were taken yesterday and BOY are they getting BIG. We had to build a new pen in the garage because they outgrew their first one. This is where they will live until they are ready to transition to the coop...which still needs to be built.

We have 15 chicks: 4 White Wyandottes, 4 New Hampshire Reds, 5 Black Australorps, and 2 Buff Brahmah Bantams.

We love having the chickens, but they have been somewhat difficult in the three short weeks we have had them. We have had one Wyandotte and one New Hampshire Red die within days of arriving. Two ladies have gotten pecked and started bleeding, both were Wyandottes. One of the ladies (whom we have named Coral) has a hole in her neck and was healing nicely until she jumped the divider and the others attacked her again. We now have her isolated FAR away from the others and while she is healing nicely (we hope), she is lonely and seems depressed. The other Wyandotte had her little tail feathers pecked, but she healed within days and is now back with the flock. I can't wait until Coral can join the others, but for now she must remain alone.

This chicken adventure has been interesting. They are stinky and dusty and very cautious about us humans. Coral is the only one that seems to really like us, but then again, we are the only company she gets.

I am excited for spring and loving the sunshine and warmer weather. We have been so blessed since moving here and continue to see the Father working in our lives and our childrens lives. Farming has been something we believe the Father has put on our hearts and it is awesome to see how He makes what HE has determined, become a reality.

Planning my Urban Homesteading Adventure

My back yard...the blank canvas. Approximately 1/4 of an acre to work with. 

Spring is right around the corner, and I am going nuts waiting for it to get here. I know that  time is precious right now, as there is so much to be done in preparation to start our first year of "urban homesteading" if you can call it that when you are renting...

Here are a few things we have planned:

Chickens- We moved to Wyoming 4 months ago, into a city that allows chickens! I have been wanting chickens for years, but have never been able to. To say I am excited is an understatement. Along with chickens, we have tons of other plans, but chickens and raised beds for a  garden are at the top of our list. 

In front of the red shed there is a frame that must have been used as a garden or something, but we are building our coop in it and fencing it in.

As far as what kind of coop...I am still leafing through books and magazines, and checking out websites to find the perfect one. Chickens start arriving on March 1st! I have to get BUSY! 

Raised beds and square-foot gardening- Last year was my first attempt at square-foot gardening, and for the time that I was there to tend to the ONE bed I had, we were harvesting quite a bit of food. We were a part of a community garden, and at the end of the summer decided to move here. I gave my bed to the local food pantry, and have NO idea what the final harvest looked like. I bet it was intense. We had 20 tomato plants in an 8x4 bed. I WILL NOT do that again. It was nuts. 

This past weekend my good friend stopped in at Home Depot and gave me a call. They had a bunch of  culled 2x6 boards. Each board is about 4 feet long, so instead of doing 8x4 beds, I am going to do as many 4x4 beds as I possibly can. Culled lumber is only $.51 a piece! 

Here is what I am planting:

beets

spinach

red carrots

radishes

a bunch of leaf lettuce

chard

Hubbard squash

Sweet meat winter squash

cayenne peppers

jalapeños

5 different kinds of tomatoes (including yellow pear and cherry)

bell peppers

bush beans

zucchini

summer squash

sweet corn 

and a bunch of herbs

It's the biggest garden I've ever had and I am really looking forward to preserving food for the first time as well! I think I will do a lot of dehydrating and some canning. 

These beds are filled with marigolds and mums. I think I am going to leave the marigolds that are on the bottom bed, and plant herbs in the top two. 

Angora Rabbits- IF I can find any, we are going to raise Angora's. I would really like start this spring, but it may have to wait until next year. Angora's are hard to find in these parts. At least from what I can tell. 

This will be an awesome adventure in harvesting our own fiber for knitting and crocheting projects in the winter. 

The rest is just a list at this point:

Vermiculture bin for kitchen scraps

Compost 

Grey water recycling 

Outdoor oven of some sort- cob, solar, etc. 

So, those are the plans for this year and we feel so blessed to have a place to carry them out. God has truly blessed us. 

Happy homesteading, folks!

My Opinion on the Ugly Urban Homesteading Trademark

On my own path to freedom I am going to start my urban homestead this spring; a little homestead in the city, per se. Oh wait…I can DO it, I just can’t talk about without giving credit to The Dervaes Institute.

Many of you have probably heard the news about the Dervaes family of Pasadena, California, and their recent (started in 2008) trademark of certain terms like urban homestead or urban homesteading. This has frustrated the urban homesteading community and has a lot of people wondering what they can say and what they can't. I don't offer any advice really, this is after all, just my opinion, and quite honestly, a rant that has been brewing for the past 48 hours. 

Their registered trademark will not stand a chance in court, if it ends up being challenged. ( Here is a petition to challenge the trademark )You can not lay claim to an idea that started prior to your use of it or implementation of it.

Can I trademark the term “homeschool” or “homeschooling”? I do not have exclusive rights to that term. I did not “coin” it nor was I the first one to implement the idea of homeschooling in my own life.

I am disappointed in the Dervaes family. In casting off the bonds of corporate America, they became a corporation themselves.

As for using the terms “urban homestead” or “urban homesteading” and having to put a big fat ™ after each of those generic terms used by people all over the globe, I will not do it. Nor will I put a big fat ™ after the word Meijer or Blackberry when making reference to them. Will those trademarked companies hunt me down and force me to give them credit for using their “name”…no, I really doubt it.

I think the following letter from the Institute of Urban Homesteading to its students (after receiving one of the “letters” from the Dervaes family, is great. It proves that the Dervaes family is in fact sending out those “letters”.  Response letter from the Institute of Urban Homesteading

What it boils down to is this: Registering a trademark is not the issue. There are many trademarked phrases or words (that the Dervaes family points out here Path to Freedom- "The original urban homesteaders") that we as a community of “simple living-backyard garden folk” use every day: “hobby farm”, “square foot gardening”, and “gardener”, to name just a few. The issue is not whether or not these terms are trademarked, the issue is whether or not the “owners” of those trademarks are going to hunt down every organization in the nation and put them in a legal headlock to try and stop everyone from using “THEIR” word. It seems counterproductive to the urban homesteading movement itself. If I want to have a little farm and name it Monica’s Hobby Farm are the owners of the magazine “Hobby Farm” going to care? I don’t know, maybe they would…but I highly doubt it.

The Dervaes corporation wants us to link back to them every time we use the phrase urban homestead because they started the concept and were the "first" to implement it…sorry to tell them, but urban homesteading was in my vocabulary long before I happened upon their site a year ago.

With that said…I am really looking forward to getting my chickens and planting my garden this year. I hope to one day have an urban homestead of my own…or should I say non-rural yard garden. Maybe I’ll move out to the country and trademark the word “Farm”.

If I seem a little perturbed…I am. I shall move on, I shall continue on my path to freedom and venture into my own urban homesteading adventure, but some things are just not right. 

For the record- the path to freedom, the original path to freedom, is Yahshua our Messiah, the Word of Yahweh, and the Spirit of Truth.  So now, every time those words are used..."path to freedom" do we have to link back to The Dervaes Institute?

One more thing- The Dervaes family states that they wanted to trademark the aforementioned terms to keep it out of the hands of greedy corporate giants, and for that, I commend them. What happened after is what most people have an issue with. They became the greedy corporate giant. 

“ We didn’t come up the name but we came up with the application.... We didn’t mean to bully anyone. These marks are what people do to make sure no one infringes on their ideas – they’re to give people who develop something protection. That’s why people like Apple and Nike do it. We did what other normal people would have done.” - Jules Dervaes

(You came up with the application? I think they believe they are the only urban homesteaders in the world. What else could you possibly mean by that? And for the record...Nike ain't normal people. They have possibly one of the worst enslavement, er...manufacturing practices in the world.)

Trademark the phrase, then let others use it just as they have been all along. Then, IF some corporation that does not have a clue about urban homesteading comes along and uses the phrase to sell one of their over-priced products made in China, just to bank on the name, THEN send one of those letters. THEN you can try to protect it. But, don't try to protect it from the people that are trying to move it forward and make it an every day common term, and more than that, a common implementation. 

Who are you?

If you are a believer in Jesus/Yahshua the Messiah, what do you call yourself? Who do you say you are? What does the bible say about you? What does the bible call you? Do you know?

You should.

This is the stepping off point. Once you grasp this fact, your life will never be the same. I promise you. Spend an hour watching the following video, PLEASE! If you call yourself a Christian, WATCH this.

Another Homemade: Toothpaste

The toothpaste looks rather gross all sloshy in the jars, as I look at them now. At the time, I thought this was the cutest pic ever. Ah well, it was late.

Regardless of the sloshy messy look of the toothpaste, it serves its purpose and is quite cheap! 

Here is our recipe:

8 T. coconut oil

12 T. baking soda

between 20-40 drops of the essential oil of your choice. 

Combine the coconut oil and baking soda and mix until the baking soda is fully incorporated into the coconut oil. 

Add essential oil, and mix thoroughly. 

Put a bit into individual jars or other containers for each of your family members. 

Remember, this is coconut oil, so depending on the temperature of the bathroom, your toothpaste might be runny or very solid. 

Homemade Face Wash

(Those are my little glass jars I got this past week on my thrifting trip.)

My skin is dry, it's oily, it cracks and peels, and then it produces way to much oil. I thought I was cursed with bad skin. No pimples, or anything like that, just crocodile skin around my nose, between my eyebrows and under my chin. That is, until I STOPPED using expensive store bought facial cleansers and decided to come up with my own. 

It's quite simple actually, on most days I just use a simple castile soap to gently cleanse my face. But, there are times, especially in winter, that I see that the return of the dreaded crocodile skin is imminent. So, a few times a week I mix together in my little Saki cup (above) a bit of organic course grained sugar, honey, baking soda, liquid castile soap and a tad bit of water, make a thick paste and give my dry areas a good scrub. The sugar scrubs away the dead and drying skin, the castile soap whisks away dirt and oil, and the honey softens my skin like nothing else. The baking soda...well, I have just become accustomed to adding it...I'm sure it does something good. :~)

Once a week or so, I'll make a bigger batch and scrub my entire body down with it. I love the feel of my skin after a good scrub down. It's so soft, and just has a glow to it. 

When my skin is extra dry and sensitive, I'll grind up a bit of oatmeal in the blender and add that to my mixture. If I'm out of sugar, I'll use cornmeal or salt. Sometimes a bit of lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar is nice to add to the mix. There are so many variations to a homemade face wash. Use what you have, and find what works for you. 

In the summer, as I become less dry and more oily, I use glycerin water to moisturize my face. In the winter, when I need a good thick moisturizer, I use coconut oil. Last year I used olive oil, but I find the coconut oil to absorb considerably better than olive oil. I LOVE it, and it smells like a mounds bar :~) I do have a stick of cocoa butter that I use when I need some serious, serious moisturizing, but other than that, there are no lotions of any sort in my home, something that I thought would NEVER be possible. 

I love my little glass jars. I can keep a tiny bit of my kitchen ingredients right there in the bathroom. It's so convenient and pretty. 

What's even better than convenience, to me anyway, is the frugality of it all. I love saving my husband money and finding creative uses for what we already have in the house. It's one of my favorite things.