Country Life

We love living in a rural setting, but it's not always glamorous. Having a piece of land means a few extra chores have to be done outside when you'd rather be chillin' inside (like you might be able to living in a condo!). Hmmmm......

Time to spray some caterpillars who have tented in the trees before they emerge and eat ALL my flowers.

If you want a tree chopped and moved out of the way and you're not old enough to operate a chainsaw, here's how to get it done.

Sometimes you need to burn stuff. Not everyone calls this work.

Even with all the extra work, we wouldn't trade it for anything.

This weekend, I'm determined to do the final trimming of all the landscape plants and bushes around the house. Wish me luck. My sore arms will need it.

Love,
TCB

Iced Vanilla Lattes - The Champion Mom's Drink

I love my iced coffee, but I don't always love the steep price tag associated with purchasing one at a coffee shop. Plus, as y'all know, I'm not really that close to a coffee shop that I can run out for a morning latte. It's too far and takes too much time. Plus, school lessons await. Hungry chickens are cackling. A hungry dog is begging. A *starving* cat is scratching furiously at the garage door. My writing assignments for clients are calling me for some personal one-on-one time.

So I have learned to make my own version of an iced vanilla latte - only healthier. This one uses a natural, organic sweetener and is dairy-free. I have read about and used lots of others' recipes for iced lattes, but some of the ingredients - while super friendly to my taste buds - were not so friendly to my waist line. So here's my "healthy" latte for a real kick in the morning. I like to make it in a Tervis tumbler with a lid and built-in straw. No sweat rings on my table, y'all, and the ice lasts as long as I want to nurse my drink.

Homemade Iced Vanilla Latte

7-8 oz. of cold brewed coffee*
splash of almond-coconut milk
unsweetened vanilla almond milk
organic raw honey
sugar-free vanilla syrup
ice cubes

Put a heaping tablespoon (or an amount to your liking) of organic raw honey in a 16-oz. cup.

Since organic raw honey is solid at room temperature, I pop the cup into the microwave for 10 seconds to melt it. 

Add a tablespoon of sugar-free vanilla syrup. I found mine at Sam's Club.

Fill up the cup about halfway with cold brewed coffee. I have jars of cold-brewed coffee just waiting in my refrigerator.

Stir the honey to dissolve into the coffee. Add a heaping dose of ice cubes, then a splash of almond-coconut milk.

Fill up the remainder of the glass with unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

You are finished!

Now I can tackle math class! Or write like nobody's business!

Love,
TCB

* I use a very large, commercial-grade stainless steel mixing bowl and pour in a full bag of ground coffee, your brand of choice. I enjoy using the "donut store" coffee. Then I add 32 cups of cold water, mix, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit on the counter about 12-16 hours to cold brew. Next, I pour it into mason jars with lids and store in the refrigerator (as long as three weeks) until I need it for lattes.

What I'm Reading Now

From time to time and when the mood hits me, I write about what I'm reading. I do it for no reason in particular, mostly because I like to see what others are reading and I'm assuming I'm not much different from everyone else. Maybe they want to see what I'm reading, in case it's something they want to check out also.

1. My Delicious Life with Paula Deen. Told through her husband's vantage point, the book provides a glimpse into Michael Groover's courtship with Paula, with some pretty darn good recipes from his files thrown in as a bonus.

2. The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian. Good reading for a parent with children of any age. It's the third time I've read it. I'm reading it again because of the next book on the list.

3. How to Talk Confidently with Your Child about Sex. Do I have to do this? Bring me Stormie Omartian's book to get me through it.

Happy reading.

Love,
TCB

Related Posts:

What I'm Reading in May
What I'm Reading in September

Homeschool Freebie in South Carolina

Here's something I found out when I took my son to see the natural history, science, and other historical exhibits at the SC State Museum.

It's free to both homeschool educators and homeschool students! I had no idea. I just had to show a teacher i.d., which I fulfilled with my HSLDA card (or SCHEA card would work, too).

Super cool! Thought I'd pass it along to those in our state who, like me, are in the dark.

Love,
TCB

Flyday Relaxation

It's Friday, friends!

Stretch out and relax.

Love,
TCB

Here's a REAL Organic Egg

Here's my organic, home-fed chicken egg on the left, and the grocery store's "organic, vegetarian-fed" chicken egg on the right.

My egg can beat up your egg. Just sayin'.

Is that like birthing a baby with a big head?

Nothing can beat homegrown with a little love.

Love,
TCB

Cooler Weather Means Bye-Bye Pests

A small line of thunderstorms and some rain pushed through our town yesterday, so slightly cooler weather  is here. It's funny - the cooler weather always arrives in time for our State Fair, which begins tomorrow.

I am a warm weather fan; however, the cool days and nights are a huge plus down South.

They mark the end of scary, hairy creatures for a few months.

Imagine finding this on your bare leg when you remove the grill cover on the outside deck.

I just gave myself the willies all over again.

Happy Fall!
TCB