We're late!

We haven't forgotten about the ring giveaway this week; it will just be a day late =0). When I get through posting here I'll get pics of this week's ring and post again with the giveaway later today.

We didn't really intend to have a big holiday weekend, but you know how things can happen... we ended up with two other families and my Grandmother here for a cookout and fireworks on Sunday evening. We had chicken, cowboy beans, deviled eggs, macaroni salad, roasted potatoes, and lots of watermelon. Then the little kids got to play with a few sparklers and the big kids (that included Rob) got to do the bigger fireworks. All in all it was a great evening and we were so glad that we were able to have everyone over and enjoy the 4th. We hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend also.

Not holiday related, but I was excited this weekend to get to visit our local farmer's market for the first time. Since we grow a lot of our own stuff, I think that the veggies and milk there are expensive (especially for the amount of each veggie we need- it would cost us a fortune to feed our entire family veggies from the farmer's market. And the cost of milk is why we got goats, lol... I can't imagine paying $8 a gallon when we drink 2-3 gallons a day here. Yikes!) I went for one thing- grassfed meat. I am thrilled to have found a local source of hormone and antibiotic free grassfed beef, chicken, etc., at reasonable prices. We've already cooked some and were very pleased with the taste and thankful that we can enjoy meat from healthy animals that haven't been loaded with meds and hormones.

And speaking of veggies, look at our garden haul this morning! I'm so glad it's finally all starting to come in and produce. We got a basket full today and it looks like we'll have this much again tomorrow =0). I made a pint of hot pepper paste with our extra peppers last week, and will probably end up making salsa or something with our extra tomatoes this week. We love summer time suppers of just garden veggies- squash, eggplant, garden beans, and sliced tomatoes- yummy.

I'm trying to feed our family only minimally processed real food... it's a huge challenge and I don't manage it most of the time. It's nearly impossible to find food that hasn't been altered from its natural state in some way... even the cuts of meat at most supermarkets have been sprayed with bleach and most likely irradiated. Produce is often waxed or has chemical residues. And organics are expensive- too expensive for us to buy regularly. Our grocery cart doesn't look like the usual American-family-with-kids grocery cart. We don't buy boxed cereal or chips or cookies or boxed snacks. We stick to the outside aisles rule when we grocery shop and get the bulk of our purchases from the produce, meat, dairy, and bakery section and skip the inside aisles. I buy our flour, pasta, spices, beans, cheese, butter, etc., at a local Mennonite market.

Today's breakfast was one of my successes- grassfed lamb sausage with our own free range eggs (cooked with hormone and antibiotic free butter), sliced tomatoes from our garden, and fresh goats' milk. I'm blessed to have kids that not only eat this stuff but love it. And just in case anyone thinks I'm a food snob or don't let the kids eat junk food ever... I'm not, and I do. It's just that junk food and fast food have a place in our diets as an occasional treat and not as a big part of it. This approach doesn't leave them feeling deprived and it keeps junk food in the realm of "treats" instead of something they expect every day. Our kids are not overweight, they play OUTSIDE all day long every day, they're rarely ever sick, and they're pretty easy going most of the time. I attribute these things to a good, nutrient dense, minimally processed diet.

Anyway, this was a bit of a tangent, but I had a few minutes to sit and type, and I was excited about our garden veggies and about my breakfast success. I'll get pics of this week's giveaway band and post again in a bit =0).