Zoo Trip

We have an Oregon Zoo membership, which we've tried to get our money's worth out of. It's hard to get down there though, as usually when we've wanted to go, it's pouring rain or there's heavy traffic between our house and there. We have gotten there a good amount of times, so that makes me happy, as well as our children. They have a new "Predators of the Serengeti" area that the kids love, so we always make a trek through there each trip while focusing on the other areas as well.













This time we ended up going in the summer (since it is now summer!) and couldn't find a parking spot anywhere in the 3 lots we meandered through. Instead of being frustrated, we decided to head further up the road to Washington Park and check that out instead. Well, low and behold there was a train that would take us right back to the zoo for the day, and there was a plethora of parking spots available. And we'd get to see a bird's-eye view of the zoo as we passed through it, so got to see elk, wolves and elephants from a totally different angle.














So, we hopped aboard and whizzed through the beautiful park back to the zoo. The zoo has 3 trains, so we rode the Oregon Express to the zoo that morning (which these pictures show us on, as well as a picture of the silver Zooliner which we met on the way).













When we got there, we decided to see the insect house and the Lorakeet Landing (2 areas we hadn't been before). The birds are so cute and chirpy, so the kids liked seeing those close up. Also seeing the walking sticks (they'd seen them in books, but didn't believe such a thing existed) as well as tarantulas and other bugs. Then we headed over to get an elephant ear (you can't leave the zoo without one, you know!) and eat our lunch. Then to see the lions, cheetahs, painted dogs, hippos, "giraffe eating hay" (James' request), zebras (we joke about them each time as Luke dropped his water bottle in their pen last summer which was quite a disaster to a 4 yr old), etc.













By then it was time to get going home, so we went back to the train station. The Zooliner was there waiting for us, but the line was long. When they loaded up, we didn't make it on it, as it was full up. So, we thought we'd be getting back on the Oregon Express, but low and behold up pulls the Steam Engine (which the boys had really wanted initially, and they only bring out on special occasions or super busy days). Well, today classified as a busy day, so they brought it out. We were the first riders of the day (in the first coach car, so we were able to see the firebox and all the workings), so got to be part of their engine checks and watch them fuel up and all. The boys just loved it!!













We then headed home on the Oregon side on Hwy 30, since the I-405 was totally backed up, and we knew we'd be in traffic for many hours if we headed home the usual way. After a stop at Sauvie Island for some fresh produce (yum, yum), we got home tired and happy! Well, Greg and I were tired, but the kids were ready to keep going since they slept the whole way home!

Daddy Time

Probably one of the things I love most about my husband (well, there are a ton of things, so it depends on which day he's doing what), is when he teaches the kids things. I just love watching the boys soak up whatever information he is giving them, and can see them getting empowered with skills and knowledge.

Yesterday it happened to be changing a bike tire. Luke's tire went flat, so he went to Dad to see what needed to be done. Here's a couple pictures of them grossly interested in patching the hole and learning about getting the tire off and back on the bike again.

I can just see them becoming more of little men each day with the skills their Daddy teaches them. I feel so bad for kids (boys especially) that don't have the blessing of a Daddy who takes the time to pass on what he knows to them. They love him so much, and I hear almost every day, "I wish Daddy didn't have to work, I miss him". And the welcome he gets when he gets home from work, would make any Dad smile. We hope and pray (and are saving and planning) so that someday Greg can work from home so that the boys can spend alot more time with him. Melts my heart!!

More Marriage/Dating Stuff

It seems like this topic has been on my heart alot lately, since I have friends getting married, friends newly dating, friends single and wishing they had someone, friends shacking up and justifying it, and friends getting divorced. Such a complex issue, in yet if we follow God's Biblical plan, we CAN guarantee love, happiness and security (which is what we all strive for, isn't it?)

The first thing that comes to mind is a story I heard the very next day after I wrote my last marriage post. My sister told me of some friends of theirs who got married in an arranged marriage (she was a "mail order" bride from the Philippines). They were married about 2 weeks when they decided it wouldn't work, so they went their separate ways. Now 15 years later (yes, 15!) they got back together, and are happily married and making it work. That gave me hope for those who may think that divorce means the end. It is never the end! We never know what God's plans are, and if the couple is willing to be mature, stay in contact and work through their differences; reconciliation is possible. Marriage is a contract between man, woman and our righteous God in heaven. The same God who made the heavens and the earth...in yet so many people these days regard it with less value than their mortgage contract.

The next thing is a list of things to look for in a potential spouse. These things should be in place before a relationship is pursued in any stretch beyond friendship. Because, once you are in a "relationship", getting out is very difficult if you are emotionally attached and then red flags appear (and there may not even be red flags, but a lack of green lights instead). (been there, done that...never again!) These tips are from the book To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl. I am going to paraphrase and sum up the paragraphs, since the chapter itself is quite lengthy. These were from letters they wrote to their own children to advise them what to look for in a spouse when their children were teenagers.

1) The person you marry will be the lifelong parent of your children (for good and for bad). That person will be 100% of the influence when you are not with your children, and at least 50% when you are. This is more important than the decision of who you will live with for the rest of your life. You are an adult; the children will be mold-able and vulnerable to all the influences in the home. Any traits that bug you now will likely show up in your children, and be magnified many times. Can this person be trusted with God's heritage for generations to come?
2) That the person love the Lord and be His true disciple. This means that they show that they use the Bible as their life's road map in all decisions, and are willing to follow God's truth above all else. A person who takes their Lord for granted will also take their spouse and children for granted.
3) Cheerfulness. There is nothing else that will help you endure whatever may lie ahead. No one can make a discontented person happy, and there is nothing worse than living with a complainer. Find someone with that wellspring of joy that comes from within, and you will have found one of the most valuable and practical qualities.
4) Thankfulness. Nothing can make an unthankful person, thankful. It is an outward expression of what is in a person's heart. Again, look for joy that comes from the Lord.
5) Attitude towards parents. Respect or disrespect. How do their parents treat each other? This has been every young man and woman's most important influence, so how have they been influenced will often show how that person relates to others, deals with stress, communicates problems, etc.
6) Avoid anyone enamored by their own looks. Better to marry someone homely who is content to love and be loved than one who is going to spend all their time trying to maintain their fading, imagined beauty.
7) (for men) Avoid a girl who wants to pursue their career outside the home. A wife must be your help-meet and be there for your children to raise them.
8) Love for children. If children come into your life, you want someone who will love them and give them the best that life can give them (time and energies)
9) (for men) Don't put yourself in an occupational position that will leave you out of a position to be a good father. Plan your trade/occupation to maximize your role as a father. Many successful business men are lousy fathers. (and get a trade/occupation before you look for a wife, as it is much harder after)
10) (this one is mine, for ladies) Make him work for you. If he lives far away, make sure he comes and visits you FIRST, before you go and visit him. A man doesn't appreciate a girl who is too available. He'll love you much more if he has worked hard to pursue and 'catch' you. If he can't find time or money to come and see you, he obviously doesn't want you bad enough to make some sacrifices! Talk is cheap, but baby, time's expensive!! (My dear husband borrowed money to come see me the first time, and then later sold his 2 favorite guns to buy my engagement ring. Now that, was sacrifice, if you know how much he loves guns!!) This goes along the same lines as sex before marriage. It reverses the order of how things should flow (but of course isn't sinful), and thus ends up in disrespect and lack of trust. Men are programmed by God to pursue women, period. Our society would like to convince otherwise, but don't be convinced. Why would a woman even want a man that can't be a man? You could later expect alot more disappointment out of him.

Another piece of advice I heard on Dave Ramsey the other day. It is the 4 causes of marital stress, usually caused by people not discussing it before and coming up with solutions before the problem hit.
1) Religion- not agreeing on basic doctrine/beliefs
2) Money- not discussing how to handle money/lack of money
3) In-laws- not discussing boundaries/time spent/amount of influence
4) Children- not agreeing on how to raise children
These need to be grounded and agreed upon before people ever get married, because they are foundational.

You will note that in the above lists, there is nothing about love. That is because if you find a person that meets all the qualities you want in a spouse, you will love them. And God will make them very attractive to you. Seeing the love of the Lord in anyone makes them beautiful, but even moreso in a future spouse. When I first saw how Greg handled a major crisis in his life (by relying on God), it gave me a pretty good idea how committed he was to being trust-able, and how committed he was to following God's Holy Word, and this made me very attracted to him in many ways. There is nothing like a crisis to reveal people's true colors, so it wouldn't hurt to hope for one to see how your potential mate will react! ;)

A Visit to the Dentist (again)

You may recall our last trip to the dentist. http://somerosaga.blogspot.com/2009/04/do-i-have-teenager-on-my-hands.html To add to that, the dentist was rather undesirable. So, thankfully we have a dentist friend (who I should have gone to the first time, but it was too long to wait, as I wanted an appt. that week). Anyhow, I saw this friend at our camp out, and was reminded again to get my boys in for a checkup. The difference about this clinic is that the parents don't go back in with the kids. I was hesitant about that, but she (the dentist friend K) said that kids do great with it.

When we got there, the boys waited patiently. When it came time to go back, Luke was called first. He went willingly, and let them do all their stuff. By the time James was called, he had lost his nerve. He had (mistakenly) thought he could go back when Luke did, so was afraid to go on his own. I then went back there with him, and he absolutely refused to do anything we wanted him to do. He finally opened his mouth, and she at least got a look in there. Everything looked fine, so we called it a day. He did proudly tell Daddy that he was "good" at the dentist so he got a toothbrush. Better luck next time.

I was asking K (the dentist) what the best prevention of cavities in kids is, since I don't care to have any more than I have to (neither boy had any, thankfully). She said, "without a doubt, eliminating sugar". Juices (sweetened or natural), sweets, candy, and especially those things with hidden sugars (breakfast cereals, peanut butter, chocolate milk, breads, condiments, mixes (pancake, cornbread) etc.) I can vouch for the chocolate milk (or strawberry, which is my kids favorite for rare occasions). When Luke was about 1, he had a small carton of chocolate milk for the first time at supper when we ate out one time. He bounced off the walls from then (about 5pm until 1am, non-stop) So, you can imagine what it does to older kids (the same only less noticeable, but still causes disobedience) I was appalled to hear a little boy from church tell me that he is the only kid in his kindergarten class that drinks white milk. Every other one drinks chocolate. No wonder they need Ritalin so they can sit still. Too much sugar!! (and too many ignorant parents!)

Not only is the sugar (of whatever variety) bad on the teeth, it's also bad from the inside out, which no amount of brushing and flossing can fix. In a book I'm reading called Nourishing Traditions (which I'll do a review of when I'm done), Sally Fallon states that "Last, but not least, sugar consumption is the cause of bone loss and dental decay. Tooth decay and bone loss occur when the precise ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the blood varies from the normal ratio of 4 parts phosphorus to 10 parts calcium. At this proportion, all blood calcium can be properly utilized. Dr. Melvin Page of Florida demonstrated in numerous studies that sugar consumption causes phosphorus levels to drop and calcium to rise. Calcium rises because it is pulled from the teeth and the bones. The drop in phosphorus hinders the absorption of this calcium, making it unusable and therefore toxic. Thus, sugar consumption causes tooth decay not because it promotes bacterial growth in the mouth, as most dentists believe, but because it alters the internal body chemistry. Orthodox nutritionists admit that sugar causes tooth decay, although they may be mistaken about just why this is so, but their warnings to avoid tooth decay by limiting sweets are disingenuous. Most people would be willing to pay the price for bad teeth as long as they did not have to stop eating sugar. After all, teeth can be repaired or replaced. But poor teeth are always the outward sign of other types of degeneration in the body, degeneration that cannot be repaired by mechanical means."

That tells me that not only teeth are being destroyed from the outside, but are weakened from the inside as well. I would have to vouch that in my own family that has been true. My parents both had horrible teeth. When I was growing up though, sugar was very limited in our house. My brother would get severe asthma if he ate any sugar (and I mean ANY), so the whole family went without. Out of us 4 kids, there were only 2 cavities by the time we had all left home, and one of those was under my brother's braces in a spot he couldn't brush!

Going without sugar is difficult to manage, since it is in almost everything you buy. But, the best way to avoid it is to make things from scratch. Avoid processed/packaged foods, and you eliminate the majority of sugars. Sugar is a wonderful preservative, so companies use it to increase shelf life. In a world where we want freshness, shouldn't we be avoiding "shelf life"? In most recipes (cookies, cakes, and other sweets) you can cut the sugar in half, and no one will notice. (try lowering it a bit each time you make it, and see how low you can go) There are many non-refined sugars out there too, which I intend to someday blog about, but have to gather sufficient info first. They are sugars still (so still spike blood sugar), but are good for using to avoid so much processing, and often have some health benefits, as opposed to none!

Another suggestion our dentist friend made was to chew Xylitol gum. She said that it changes the pH in your mouth which discourages bacteria growth. We can buy a brand called Spry at our health store, but Epic was also recommended (buy online). The regular gums at the store usually have some Xylitol in them, but not enough to be beneficial. (you need about 1 gm per day minimum, which is 1 piece) I've been keeping that in stock so when the kids want gum, they can chew something good for them. It's the same price as regular gum, and tastes the same too.

Anyways, there is our latest info from our trip to the dentist.

Summertime Eating

Well, we finally had our first "hot" day! It reached the high 90's in town, and is usually 10 degrees cooler here. (Got to 87 here). I love it. I love the heat. I love the smell of hot tar on the roads, whirr of the fans, and just being outside drinking iced tea (Good Host imported from Canada, of course!).

I go through phases of eating/making my favorite foods, and this is mine from last summer, and likely this coming summer as well. My cousin M (Adam's Apples blog on my favorites list) put it in our Kurtti family cookbook, but for those of you who don't own one of our family's fabulous cookbooks (which I use weekly), here is the recipe.

Pasta with Feta & Veggies
1/2 pkg. favorite pasta (we like shells or tricolor rotini)
3 T. butter
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. Feta cheese
1/2 lemon
2 c. veggies: tomatoes, peppers, green onions, zucchini (or whatever needs using up)
2 optional chicken breasts or meat of choice (we like turkey pepperoni or ham)
garlic salt
fresh ground pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, chop whatever veggies you want to use (usually a minimum of peppers, tomatoes and onions). Drain pasta and keep in pot. Add butter while hot. Stir until butter melts, then squeeze lemon juice over (or pour from bottle~) Add Parmesan, chopped veggies, Feta, and meat (if using). Stir until cheese coats pasta and veggies. Add garlic salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled.
(we also add 1 c. or so of shredded cheese too, if using it for a main dish, which we often do on hot summer nights.)

If you are going to be making it to serve later, add the Feta right before serving so it remains full flavored.

My other favorite is Southwest Chicken Salad, also in the same cookbook. For a couple summers we made it at least once a week.

Southwest Chicken Salad
lettuce/spinach
grilled chicken breasts (with Lawry's seasoning salt and pepper)
canned corn, drained
black beans, rinsed and drained
green onions, chopped
guacamole
tomatoes, diced
cilantro, chopped
black olives, drained and sliced
shredded Mexican blend cheese
tortilla strips
Dressing:
1/2 c. honey
1 t. dry mustard
1 t. salt
1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1/4 c. lime juice
1/4 c. finely diced onion
1 c. canola oil
Grill chicken breasts with seasoning salt and pepper (George Foreman works great). Slice into strips. Then top lettuce with any or all of toppings listed (or add your own). Make dressing out of honey, mustard, salt, vinegar, lime juice and diced onion. Add oil slowly while mixing until dressing is well incorporated. (makes 2 c. dressing) It works good to do buffet style with this salad, so then people can choose which and how much toppings they want.

Hope you're enjoying the summer thus far too!

Rascal Girl

Here's a few pictures of our littlest mess maker. This little innocent face can cause more damage than a tornado, in about as much time too! These pictures were taken with her cast still on her arm (you can imagine the damage with 2 good arms!), and she was quite proud of her damage. She keeps us saying, "grrr!" and "oh, I just love you so much" at the same time all day long!














"Um, yep. That was a white dress before I fell in the garden, sprayed myself with the hose, played in the sandbox and soaked my cast. My other favorite thing to do is chase chickens. Through tall wet, slippery grass. Mom loves those messes too!"


















I had just mentioned the week prior that I had never used the sweater drying rack that came with my dryer, and that I should just get rid of it, for the space it takes up. Well, it got use that day, drying out her splint for a couple hours! (They recommended using a blow dryer, but that would have taken much more time.) Thank goodness for Oxyclean!!

Cooking with Cast Iron

Last summer when my in-laws made their annual trip up here, my father-in-law was telling me (us) about something he had read or seen that warned of the dangers of Teflon pans. I used them mainly, although have owned this stack of cast iron all along. The dangers come when the coating on the pans get scratched, and many carcinogens seep out into your food. This can happen by scraping your pan with something abrasive, or by continual use so that the coating wears off, or by cooking with high heat (even if the pan looks good, the toxins can be leaching out if your heat is high).













Well, my pans were nearing the end of their life span anyways, so I decided to do a bit more research and after that, tossed them. Not worth the risk, especially since I had used them with high heat often enough (and who hasn't if you've ever made a stir fry?!) This led me to pull out my old cast iron ones that I've collected from garage sales, and begin to use them. I found out how to season them (http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/1999-12-01/Seasoning-Cast-Iron.aspx) and off I went. I followed instructions, and only cooked greasy things in them for a good amount of time, and never washed them with soap, scraped the food off when fresh, as well as reseasoning them if they looked like they were getting un-seasoned. Well, I've had pretty good luck (or my skill level has improved, I should say) and the only thing leaving me challenged is pancakes.

Cornbread has been awesome (as recommended by a friend). I also do Pannukakku (baked pancake or Dutch Baby) which turns out fabulous. But pancakes just don't turn out well. I need such low heat to keep them from burning, that the tops dry out before it's time to flip them. So, if any of you have tips on solving this problem, I'd love some advice. Perhaps a thinner batter would help, or more grease on the pan.

Now, all I need is a cast iron Dutch oven to use on my woodstove, and I'll be set. I need a good deal before that will happen. I'm sure as I'm scouring Estate sales or garage sales I'll be able to find one that someone doesn't know the value of, and will be willing to part with for a few pennies. I love the thrill of the search! Especially if I'm in no hurry to find something.

The Joy of Jam (or is it Preserves?)

A couple years ago, Greg's friend G was out garage saling and came across a 1953 version of The Joy of Cooking. Well, actually he came across 2 copies, so he kept one for himself, and gave the other to me. I haven't used the cookbook a whole lot, but have referred to it occasionally as well as cooked from it occasionally. It boasts nearly 1000 pages of recipes, tips and menus from the very plain to very elaborate. It is certainly a wealth of information on cooking, of which I am always wanting to learn more.

Fast forward a few years. New produce place opens in town. Selling Meyer lemons. I've heard they are simply amazing, so I buy a few with good intentions. They sit there for a little longer than they should, (as I'm waiting for the perfect thing to do with them) and they are overripe, on the verge of not edible any more. I look online for recipes, and find one for lemon marmalade. The author notes that she got her recipe from the Joy of Cooking. So, I pull out my book, and there it is. Not only a recipe, but one calling for just lemons and sugar. No pectin. Hmm. I had never heard of not adding pectin, but I didn't have any on hand, so was eager to try. Note: I did know that fruit had pectin already in it, but had never seen recipes as such. :)

In the Joy of Cooking book that I have it says that "no recipes for jams or jellies made with commercially prepared pectin are given, because a much greater proportion of sugar to fruit is required and because special instructions invariably accompany the purchase of this product." I found that to be a funny statement, because most people my age likely don't even know (as I didn't) that you can make jams and jellies without adding commercial pectin. It's just the thing you do!

Well, I whipped up a batch of Meyer Lemon Marmalade, and it was fabulous. I can't even describe the amount of flavor that stuff had. On whole grain toast. Oh yes, positively yummy! So, then yesterday Greg brought home a few pints of very ripe strawberries (remember, he has a coworker whose parents own a fruit/veggie farm and supply us with lots of goodies all summer) and I looked in my old faithful book and there was a recipe for me for strawberry preserves. Not seeing a recipe for jam, I went ahead with it. I was wondering what the difference was, and found this for a definition. "The difference being that preserves still contain chunks of fruit, whereas jam is more like a fruit puree." While it's cooling and jelling right now (and seems to be doing just fine, as I licked the bowl it was in), I did find a recipe for jam and it called for pretty much the same ingredients (berries, sugar, lemon juice for acidity) and same instructions.

So, if you are like me and happen to love reading cookbooks, look for an old copy of The Joy of Cooking and pick it up. You'll be doing yourself a great favor! I have learned so much from it, as it explains the 'why's' more than just the method. (My aunt used to read cookbooks before bed every night and I thought that was THE lamest waste of time. Now I do the same thing. It seems that pretty much everything I've said I'd never do, or say, or be...I happen to find myself doing, or saying or being!)

Thanks, G!













Strawberry Preserves
Wash and stem and mash 4 cups of strawberries.
Add 3/4 c. sugar per 1 c. berries (3 c.)
Sugared fruit is permitted to stand 3-10 hours before cooking. Heat very slowly with as little stirring as possible until all the sugar is dissolved. Boil the preserves rapidly for 15-20 minutes, taking care to prevent burning. 2 minutes before taking preserves from stove, you may add 1/3 c. lemon juice. Pour into sterilized jars and hot water bath to seal (as you can other jams).

I'm going to freeze them once they cool so I don't have to can them. This gave me 5-1 c. jars of preserves. Once you hit the 15 minute mark boiling, the jam starts to get more clear (as opposed to foamy), that was when I added the lemon juice. I also used a splatter shield while stirring the boiling mixture, as it burns when it splatters (even in a big pot). The lemon juice aids in the jelling process, and is necessary for 'low acid' fruits.