New beginnings!

Getting ready for the Spring!

HH came home Saturday from work and was upset that I dug up 3 2x5 spots in his beloved grass. When I explained that the vegetables that will be grown int he additional space will feed us, and the grass simply takes, he declared "We are married and have to talk about these decisions first!!!"

Hehe... after he had time to cool down he realized we have a huge yard (almost 2 acres) and MOST of it is grass. Also the corner of the yard he had so graciously granted me to put the extra garden happens to be in shade most of the day.

The book stated to make permanent walk ways so you never step on the garden and compact the soil.
Also to lay something over the walk way to help prevent compaction form the sides. I will cover these with hay soon. 

Oh silly husbands! He is the one, after all, who gave me a gardening book as a valentine (I was thrilled to see how well he knows me :). And it was this book that inspired me to expand!!!

I am working on the deep bed method. They still need to be built up some, but its a start!

I also will be starting school back in the Summer! I know I have mentioned on here that I am wholly unsatisfied with my current career.  HH pointed out that it will be a while before we can afford to live off the land (I have to be able to buy the land first, and the acreage I want will not come too cheap).  With paychecks in my line of work being so irregular, and his not reliable, it is time for one of us to make a change.

I would like to say I am excited about this venture, but, eh.... so so.
It will be 2 years before I am eligible to get  a job in the new field. I know that is not a very long time, but it feels like an eternity!

I really just want to work on the land and sell  things I make and some produce. I figure the money I save us will make up for the loss of income. That is a bit of a dream at this point, but we all have to have dreams, right?

HH sees that as me being a stay at home. We always said who ever was making the most money when we had kids, the other one would stay at home (Yes, I would be fine with a stay at home husband).
Well, we are planning on (hopefully) starting our family soon and suddenly that has changed... Hmm... baby jitters? For the baby that's still just a twinkle in our eyes? Silly husband...

I will admit that since I have always worked, the idea of not working scares the pee-waddlen out of me!!! To be so reliant on another. It is hard to relinquish that control. To this day I still bartend one night a week because of the irregular nature of my paychecks, I like the added security of having a job where I can bring home cash in pocket at anytime.

Did any of you make the transition from 2 incomes to one? How did that work for you? Emotionally and financially?

Snack- To Buy or make?

I wanted a snack yesterday. I didn't really have anything munch-able on hand so I though I would make something. What do I have?

 Some flour, a can of chickpeas, oil, some garlic and a bottle of lemon juice. Most of these are staples I always have on hand. 

What can I make? Hummus!!! I love hummus. (with pita of course)

Why not just run to the store and grab it? It would take all of 30 mins to drive to the store, get in and out and back home.

Well in 30 minutes I can make it (yes even the pita) and it will be healthier, much tastier and MUCH less expensive.

The pita:
Flour-2.5 c
Water-1 c warm
yeast-1 T
oil -2 T
Salt-1.5 t
Sugar-1 T

Mix 1 c flour, salt sugar and yeast together in a  mixing bowl. Add oil and water, mix well. Add the rest of the flour, mix well. Separate into 8 balls and leave on floured surface 20 mins or so to soften.

Pre-heat oven to 500 F with pan inside.

~Meanwhile~
Drain can of chickpeas, add to food processor. Then add a dash of salt, one or two garlic cloves, a dash of lemon juice, and a tablespoon of oil. Blend well (adjust seasoning to taste, I like extra garlic and lemon)

If you have stonewear pan, stick it in the oven while it is preheating. If not use a cast iron skillet turned up side down.

Flatten dough balls to just under finger thickness. Put on heated pan in oven for 5ish minutes.

Tada!

Price difference? Well, hummus at the store would run you about 3.99, with pita at 1.50ish.

Mine was less then a dollar for everything! 4.49 in savings? Yes please!

What I'm thinking about

How many of you consume dairy? 

I am a vegetarian, however I consume milk products and eggs (also known as an ovo-lacto vegetarian).

 My Dad has become a vegan recently and said he already feels better.  

Now, don't get me wrong. I do not come from a vegetarian family. Most of the family are meat and potato people. My husband is a meat eater as well (favoring fish the most).  

My Dad did experiment with vegetarian eating as a teenager, but stopped when he moved in with some family. It was too much of a burden on them at the time.  Now, for health reasons, he has become a vegan. My Mom is not completely on board. She said anything that keeps you from eating ice cream is NOT for her.....  However she is happy to accommodate my Dad. She is used to it. After all, I stopped eating meat at age 12. So she has already been through this once.

My husband and I decided this morning to cut back on our cheese consumption (I love cheese, and apparently eat way too much). Has anyone else done this? Did you have positive results? Any results at all?

For the most part HH and I are pretty well informed about nutrition. I took many nutrition classes when I was a teenager and he when he was a personal trainer.  However this decision prompted a little debate between us. 

We both agree that milk was designed to add nutrients and calories to the body. It was designed to add body weight to young so they could develop healthily. 

He said specifically cows milk-

I said all mammals milk-

The argument is that cows milk is higher calorie to feed larger animals. I think it is similar in calories, its the quantity that changes. 

Any thoughts?