Plath’s Adventures

My yogurt starter is still culturing on the counter, but I was just emailed this coupon code if anyone is in need of a culture to get started (and had failures trying to do it the “old school” way with store bought yogurt like I did). Use coupon code YOGURT through January 30 to get 20% off all yogurt starters at Cultures for Health! They have lots of different kinds ~ from thick yogurt, to thin and drinkable consistency, and many of them are serial-cultured, which means you won’t ever have to buy a starter again ~ you can use a little from your previous batch to start your next. They even have a vegan yogurt starter to use with non-dairy milks.

I’m bummed that I wasn’t able to keep up with my posts on a daily basis, but at least I’m ending the month with a post, I suppose.

20. I’m thankful for Eleanore, who is hilarious, just like her daddy.  It is so amazing watching her learn how things work and to witness that light bulb going off when she gets it, is inspiring.

21.  I’m thankful for our new homeschool co-op group that came over to have circle time and play today.

22..  I’m thankful for the library.  What a wonderful resource that we are blessed to be able to use.  Free books to check out, plus library story time, which Eleanore and now Adelaide both love.

23.  I’m thankful for Adelaide.  We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to have two children, but we are so lucky to have her in our family.  She just learned to clap and is so much fun. She absolutely loves to turn the pages in books, play with puzzles and her toys. Most of all, though, she loves her big sister. No one can get her to laugh like Eleanore can.

24.  I’m thankful for turkey, fresh from the farm and delicious oyster stuffing that reminds me of my Grandma, who always made oyster stuffing for Thanksgiving (which I never wanted to eat).

25.  I’m thankful for online shopping so I don’t have to deal with the crowds today and can stay home with my family.

26.  I’m thankful that Jason is home this weekend and we can all just bum around and hang out.

27.  I’m thankful that even though we’re all sick, that it’s nothing serious.

28.  I’m thankful for knitting and its ability to keep me sane.

29.  I’m thankful that Eleanore loves to craft.  She cut out and glued all the strips for our paper chain today and made her very first paper snowflake for our window in anticipation of the snow that’s coming!

30.  I’m thankful for our first snowfall!  Eleanore was beyond excited to see the snow all over the trees and the ground this morning.

30 things to be Thankful for in the month of November.  Sometimes we have to step outside of our worries and thoughts and find those things to be thankful for, but they’re always there to be appreciated. 

Jason’s out of town this week, so a simple menu plan, for the most part.

Sunday:  creamy pumpkin pasta

Monday:  tacos/burritos

Tuesday:  tuna noodle casserole, broccoli

Wednesday:  skirt steak in the crockpot, peas, brown rice cooked in turkey bone broth

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  either homemade or take-out pizza

Saturday:  chili (from freezer), toasted peanut butter and honey sandwiches

Will update with recipe links

Friday: spaghetti, turnip greens, 30 minute rolls
Saturday: tacos/quesadillas, Spanish brown rice
Sunday: homemade pizza with whole wheat crust
Monday: crockpot broccoli cheese soup with whole wheat bread
Tuesday: stroganoff made with leftover venison roast (in freezer), spinach
Wednesday: crockpot cabbage rolls, corn
Make onion dip, veggie dip
Thursday: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, oyster stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted carrots, chips with onion dip, veggies with dip
Friday: leftovers on homemade rye
Saturday: pesto gnocchi or pasta

3. I’m thankful for the leftovers in the refrigerator so I don’t have to make dinner on this crazy, homeschooling, busy day.

I did a bit of switching up with the menu last week, so a lot of these look like repeats, but they’re not

Sunday: chicken fajitas with peppers from the garden, fresh salsa with tomatoes from the garden

Monday: bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches on homemade bread, squash casserole and salad with homemade ranch dressing

Tuesday: stuffed green peppers from the garden, corn from the garden

Wednesday: chicken hash with homemade gravy

Thursday: chicken tetrazini

Friday: beef stew in the crockpot, roasted zucchini

Saturday: eggplant parmesan with eggplant from the garden!

Other:

bagels with yogurt cheese
quinoa porridge
zucchini muffins

Taking a break from the online world to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and feel of sunshine, cool breezes and nature. We’re keeping busy by:

watching baby birds being born in our Christmas tree from two years ago,

witnessing mama robin keeping them warm,

spying another mama robin under our garage overhang keeping her newly hatched babies warm,

We watched the daddy robin bring her a worm to eat yesterday. Families taking care of each other.

watching butterflies enjoying nectar from our wildflowers,

more bug hunting, we found a cool leopard moth,

hanging diapers in the sunshine,

and working in the garden.

Sunday: wild salmon Jason caught last fall, steak we were trying from a local farm we’re planning to order 1/4 cow from grilled on the grill, oven roasted local asparagus, baked potatoes

Monday: Spicy Sorrel Chive pesto~ really good. Next time I will use one garlic clove and note to self: do not attempt to make it creamy but cutting it with milk, steamed carrots, homemade bread

Tuesday: chicken and noodles

Wednesday: white bean and ham soup

Thursday: pulled pork in the crockpot with homemade bbq sauce on homemade beautiful buns, oven roasted local asparagus

Friday: spaghetti with ground venison and ground pork, garlic bread, broccoli

Saturday: calzones or homemade pizza with olives, onions and roasted red peppers