This weekend we worked on a project that has been on our minds for a couple years now.  Had to wait for the right opportunity and the free palm fronds given to us on Saturday night were it.  We turned the girls’ playset into a tiki hut by constructing a palm frond roof.  So much work but so much fun!  The girls are thrilled and so are we.  Fun for both generations I’d say!  We have plans for some shelves and lights in it too.  Lola is looking forward to “camping out” in it one day.  Haha! 

A great family project and another step closer in the backyard redo!  Hope your weekend was fun and productive!  Peace!

Springtime!  It’s finally here and my garden is rejoicing.  Everything is coming back green and strong.  I spent all week mulching and weeding, tending to new growth and planting some brand new companions for the beds.  The veggies are in and starting to grow bigger as well.  I just love this time of year…

These are just a few views of the front…the back is in the works, but all the raised beds have veggies flourishing back there!

New adventures are coming to our youngest little lady.  Thursday of this week marked a big day for her…we got her registered for Kindergarten!  She was thrilled to have Lola show her around the school after we submitted all her paperwork.  She was also relieved she still has a few months before actually starting…haha!  But all in all, she’ll do great!

Hope you all are enjoying your Spring wherever you may call home!  Peace!

Eight years ago today, one of my dreams came true…FarmGirl arrived fast and furious!  I can’t believe she is 8 today!  She is everything we could possibly have asked for and more.  I actually had a dream once a couple years before she was born that we had a little girl.  This little girl was about 8 in my dream and I can honestly say she was Lola with her dark hair and dark eyes and firey personality.  There are times I still want to pinch myself, she is such an amazing light in our world.  I love the way her mind works and the love she brings us each and everyday.  Not one to shy away from speaking her mind, I can only hope we can continue to guide her to be confident, strong and always curious.  Happy birthday my beautiful Lola….we love you more than life itself!

Peace!!

Spring Break!  I was just asked to get the word out about this.  Sounds like fun for the whole family!

This season, both girls are playing and we are all very excited.  Their first games were this past Saturday, however Lola’s early morning game was rained out.  Xiola’s was scheduled for later and when game time rolled around, it was sunny and perfect for the little one’s very first game ever.  And boy did she play!  She has benefited from watching her sister all these years, and it showed on the field.  Four goals and alot of pride in herself that day!  We were all so proud of her as well and so excited at her accomplishments. In the car on the way to lunch to celebrate she exclaimed, “That felt good out there!!!”  We are looking forward to watching her continue to grow with the game and build her confidence. 

Both the girls are going to have great seasons this Spring!  It’s good to get back to the routine. 

What events are you looking forward to this Spring?  Peace!

(Photos courtesy of my dear in-laws.)

This year is threatening to fly by.  I am watching the new growth appear in plants awakening from their Winter dormancy, was able to get several thing planted in the veggie beds, and even purchased two varieties of apple trees (Golden Delicious and Mollie’s Delicious) and two varieties of pears (Shinko and La Conte).  Will be getting those in the ground in the next couple of weeks.  I know they won’t produce for years, but I am still looking forward to that day anyway! 

My citrus seemed to have made it through the cold.  The Meyer’s lemon looked to be a goner, however there were still a couple good, green leaves and branches buried in all the mulch.  I pruned the frozen bits and this morning noticed flower buds on one of the tiny branches that survived!  I have no idea how these will produce, but life is there and I hope that means it will grow strong and sturdy in the coming months.  Same with the thornless lime in the back.  Top froze, even when quadruple covered…but the mulch saved the lower level so there are new bits of growth already happening.  Might not produce again this year, but as long as it lives I am happy!

Salvias are showing where they scattered their seeds.  Black and Blue coming up all over along with the Coral.  I’m hoping the Red survived as well.  I love digging under the mulch of leaves we put out and seeing all the new green making it’s way to the light. 

Tomatoes are sitting on the windowsill waiting for the night temps to rise a bit more so they can find their homes in the ground.  This year we are doing the yellow pears again along with Cherokee Purples, Brandywines, Better Boys, and Celebrity.  I’m waiting impatiently for Basil to be available and am looking forward to grilled pizza topped with fresh toms and Basil….a little pesto and goat cheese and yum!

How does your garden grow?  Peace!

A very inspiring family indeed!  Peace!

Zero Waste

I think this picture speaks for itself.  Peace!

I am very interested in nutrition.  Good food and nutrition is one of the driving forces behind AmLo Farms.  So I am very pleased to have been asked to help promote a new E-Course from Nourished Kitchen called, “Get Cultured!  How to Ferment Anything.”

It has only been in modern times that we as a society don’t eat as much fermented food anymore.  With preservatives added to most foods found on the grocery shelf, fermenting is quickly becoming a thing of the past.  But preparing foods in this manner not only preserves the food for up to 8 months in your refrigerator, it also provides specific nutritional balance to your digestive system, which in turn keeps your body working as efficiently as it can.

The book, Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, is a great starting point.  It advocates getting us back in balance through traditional eating.  Yes, meat is advocated as is the ever important fermentation of foods, including grains.  There are many sites which provide specific information about this way of eating.  A couple of them are:

The Family Homestead
Weston A. Price Foundation Wiki

And one of my favorite sites, Cheeselave, has listed 8 Reasons to Eat Fermented Foods.

I won’t go into the details here on the actual process, the sites above provide great information on all of that.  I would like to encourage anyone who is interested in learning the process in depth to check out this new E-Course Nourishing Kitchen is offering.  It is an in depth series of classes that will literally change your life.  Classes begin March 4th with registration ending Februrary 28th.  You can sign up here for the entire series ($149) or individual classes ($20). 

See for yourself the benefits and healing aspects of even adding just a few fermented foods to your diet.

Hope you enjoy!  Peace!

We woke up to a Winter wonderland in our hood.  The girls were out before the sun was even fully up and the beautiful silence that comes with snow was blissful.  The only sound breaking it was the girls happy laughter.  Today is no school for the FarmGirl, no work for the man and no extra kids for me until possibly later, but probably not.  The roads are icy and here in Austin, no one is prepared to drive on them.  We get so few days like this. 

Hope you all are staying warm and enjoying your Winter weather.  All those in the North, stay safe!

Peace!