Off my feet ~ It's going to be a long 6-8 weeks ahead

I did a dumb thing.  I went and hurt myself, stretching a tendon on my foot, the wrong way.  The doctor is telling me it takes 6-8 weeks to heal it.  I am told to give my foot a rest and no working out except swimming (not happening anyway) and the exercise bike at the gym.

I’m already struggling with kids and providing help, but my son has surprised me.  He mailed a package for me this morning, and stopped at the library.  He brought back a stack of books and it’s been very welcoming.

Here is a list of what I have to read:

“The Have-More” Plan by Ed and Carolyn Robison (1973)

The Good Life, Helen and Scott Nearing’s Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living

Basic Techniques of Photography, The Ansel Adams Guide Book 1

Where Women Create, by Jo Packham

A Dozen 12-Hour Doiles by Judy Teague-Treece

The Ultimate Guide to Homesteading by Nicole Faires

A is for Apron, by Nathalie Mornu

The Big Book of Dishcloths, Pot Holders and Scrubbies, Annies Attic

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud (bedtime story for youngest)

And

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, by Arielle Eckstut and David  Henry Sterry

There you have it.  Most of my interests in my trip to the library, and more.  Most of these books I had pre-ordered, but I had no idea they were ready to pick up. 

Thankfully, my son is helping with the kid goat, hanging my laundry out on the clothesline (it has finally stopped raining), bringing in wood, doing dishes and more.  I just hope they can all pitch in.

I have to say, I’ve already started reading The Good Life, and I am very much enjoying it.  There is so much to learn from books.

Warming Up ~ Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

The weather has been colder, raining, and more rain.  It’s typical weather for here.  Last year, we had so much rain, we lost half of our carrots and beets in the garden.  

To supplement our food supply, we are raising meat chickens for the first time.  It will be interesting, and most likely a permanent change in our lifestyle.  After reading about what companies do to chickens, what the feed them, what they inject in them, we decided it was time to raise our own.

Nothing tastes better than a homemade meal, made from organic, and other safe ingredients.  This was made using part water and part free range/organic chicken broth (much lower in sodium than typical store broth/stock), Amish made noodles, organic onions, carrots, celery, hormone/anti-biotic free chicken, thyme from my own herb garden and salt and pepper.  The only ingredient I questioned, was the bay leaf I put in also.  

After making meal like this, I add notes to my journal, so we can make changes.  Changes such as making our own noodles more often, growing celery ourselves, raising meat chickens, drying more herbs and so forth.  By making a meal and looking at each ingredient, I can create healthier meals, and help our family become more self-sufficient.  For example, the broth/stock.  Once I have our meat chickens butchered, I can make my own stock and can it.  

It can all be done by ourselves, it just takes more time, and it's all worth it.