Durango May 30, 2008

What a cool town. Kervin had 3 bike races. The one on Saturday was supposed to go from Durango to Silverton. That may not mean much to most people who read this but for those of you who’ve been there, you know why that’s something to talk about. Well, unfortunately (fortunately for me) it was cancelled since the mountain pass was covered in snow and slush. So we just hung out at the camp where we stayed. We stayed at a Christian youth camp called Cross Bar X Youth Camp. Here’s what our day looked like:

Then Sunday morning was Nora’s first bicycle race. She was so excited and up for the challenge. They went off in separate heats, by age. She was the first 3 year old girl, 4th overall. Pretty good. First and third place were also Like-A-Bike’s. She had so much fun. Here she is waiting for her race to begin:

And after the race her smile just got bigger:

After that Kervin got second place in his criterium bike race. Basically it’s a 45 min race plus 3 laps around 2 diagonal city blocks, so lots of fun turns for him and very spectator friendly. It was a long day and we spent almost all of it out in downtown Durango. Before long, this is what that looked like:

On Monday Kervin did a time trial and got 2nd so he won a cash prize for each of his second places plus more cash for doing the best overall in the combined races. Cool!

We stayed at the Cabin. Here are our friends kids we stayed with:

Luc, Ella, Chelsea, Isaac, and Nora

Then we decided to stay an extra night and leave early Tuesday morning. So we went to the pool again. This was Isaac’s first time in a pool. And look what Kervin thought he’d enjoy!:

 

Not so much.

Nora’s favorite part of our trip to Durango was Luc. Luc is our friend’s 10 year old little boy. He adores Nora and loves playing with her, lets her beat up on him and helps her out. She loves it.

But if you ask Nora who she’s going to marry she’ll still say “Daddy”…….well, 9 times out of 10 anyway. Sometimes it’s “Caleb”.

I love my little boy. May 30, 2008

Isaac is such a sweetie pie. He sleeps well…….relatively speaking. (that is, for a breastfed baby who sleeps right next to his mama.) He travels well. He eats well……..his typical breakfast: 2 egg yolks with a bit of celtic sea salt and some frozen organic blueberries. lunch: plantains fried in coconut oil. supper: whatever we’re having, chopped and mixed with his “baby pate”…….which is pureed liver and butter. Yum! Aren’t y’all jealous!? I love that I hear “he’s such a happy baby” so often. A happy baby. Isn’t that what every mommy wants?

Our daily bread May 19, 2008

We’ve been trying to cut back on our grain intake for various reasons. When we do eat flour products they are either soaked or sprouted. Soaking or sprouting grains before baking breaks down phytic acid, which robs the body of nutrients, it also helps to break down complex starches (something our bodies cannot do well alone), and it breaks down difficult-to-digest proteins. This includes foods like beans, which, when soaked will not cause upset stomach and flatulence.

Another bonus is that when baking with whole grains, this method softens the grain so that the final product is almost indistinguishable from one made with white flour. Also, pre-soaked baked products rise easily with baking soda alone and don’t require baking powder.

Next on my wishlist for the kitchen is a grain mill. Flour goes rancid very quickly. All flour found in the supermarket is rancid! There are some health food stores around here that have freshly ground flours that they keep in the freezer which works or they’ll grind my flour on request. But I think it’d be fun to have a grinder.

We’ve been buying sprouted bread and tortillas from Whole Foods, but they’re pricey and I’ve been wanting to try making my own sourdough using the traditional method. The only ingredients are flour, water and salt. Not only is this less expensive, but it’s the most healthful kind of bread you could eat. Plus it’s fun for Nora and I. Most kids don’t know how the wheat that grows on a field turns into bread. That’s a nice bonus.

First, you make a starter of freshly ground flour and water and cover it with a cheesecloth for 7 days, 

feeding it flour and water daily.

 

 

 

 

It ferments with good bacteria and yeasts from the flour and even from the air. Then on day 7 youadd salt and flour,

 

 kneed,

  let it rise, 

and bake. 

Tada!

Despite the dark color (it looks like a whole wheat bread but it’s actually a combination of rye and spelt) I was surprised that it’s actually got a nice sour taste.

Nora approved as well. Here she is eating a “kid-friendly” traditionally prepared meal: homemade saurkraut, homemade fermented ketchup, locally made grass-fed beef hot dogs, and of course some homemade sourdough bread slathered in organic butter from pastured cows. (no, dispite what some of you would like to believe, that is not a look of disgust)

“In books on baking and even in nutritional/medical writings, the two techniques {for making bread}, natural leaven (sourdough) and baker’s yeast, are often mingled and confounded….baking with natural leaven is in harmony with nature and maintains the integrity and nutrition of the cereal grains used….The process helps to increase and reinforce our body’s absorption of the cereal nutrients. Unlike yeasted bread that diminishes, even destroys, much of the grains nutritional value, naturally leavened bread does not stale and, as it ages, maintains its original moisture much longer. Alot of that information was known pragmatically for centuries; and thus when yeast was first intorduced in France at the court of louis XIV in March 1668, because at that time the scientists already knew that the use of yeast would imperil the peoples health, it was strongly rejected. Today, yeast is used almost universally, without any testing; and the recent scientific evidence and clinical findings are confirming the ancient taboos with biochemical and bioelectronic valid proofs that wholly support that age old common sense decision. ” ~ Jaques DeLangre

 

Like-A-Bike May 18, 2008

Kervin got Nora a bike. It’s been the center of all 3 year old attention around here. It doesn’t have pedals so kids learn to balance naturally and will never need training wheels. We get lots of looks and questions from our neighbors. Check out this video for more info if you’re interested:

Of course Kervin had a mini cycling jersey made for her with his company name on it.

Biking away with her best buddy, Caleb.

I have lots of good video footage of Nora cruising on her bike but I think I need a google video or youtube account to upload them. I’m too lazy to get one right now. Eventually.

Tea Party May 14, 2008

The mommies were all invited to preschool for a “Mother’s Day tea.” Nora was absolutely ecstatic!  They made us bracelets with our names on them, card’s, a bookmark, and a hanky. We had pink tea from Glen Eyrie and chocolate dipped strawberries. Then they sang us some songs. It was so cute.

This was the first big secret she has had to keep. She did very well, considering. I didn’t find out until the day of. We had a conversation in the car on the way to preschool about how she is supposed to keep this a secret from her mommy and she can only tell daddy and Isaac. I agreed. It was funny. Three-year-old’s are so silly and cute……..most of the time.

A Very Happy Mother’s day. May 14, 2008

I had a great mother’s day. I woke up to my favorite breakfast being made by my favorite guy. Yucca fried in coconut oil with fresh pastured eggs over easy and avocado. Actually, I was asked out to breakfast but I knew I’d enjoy a home cooked breakfast much more.

During breakfast Nora brought me a gift! And proceeded to open it for me, of course. It’s a brand new camera. A Nikon coolpix S550. Works much better than what we had. Sweet! Kervin needed it for work anyway so it really wasn’t too much of a splurge.

Kervin must have had this all planned out. After breakfast he immediately went to work in the backyard hanging my new clothesline. I never thought I’d be so excited over a clothesline! I guess it’s official. My name is Megan and I’m a stay-at-home-mom.

Without the usual nagging……ehem….Kervin got out the shovel and started the process of planting the tree we bought the day before. It’s a Profusion Crabapple. I wanted to plant a tree for several reasons. 1. Nora wanted a pink tree 2. The large Quaking Aspen in our yard is dying on one side 3. I’ll add curb appeal to our home which we plan to sell within a year 4. I’ve heard and used the phrase “plant a tree” numerous times and, being the crunchy, hippy, natural type that I tend to be……I thought I should actually have first-hand experience with this. Even if it is second-hand experience in this case. Someone has to hold the baby.

After that, we went to Whole Foods and shared some sushi, Kombuha and a quart of organic strawberries. Well, Kervin and I did, Nora and Isaac shared a meatball. I never realized how great fresh, cold sushi could be on a hot day.

We used our picnic table for the first time. And as perfect days would tend to go, Nora and Isaac both fell asleep just in time for Kervin and I to have a quiet supper together outside in the warm setting sun.

My Kervin may have  a funny name but he’s a keeper!

 

 

 

 

 

After supper I got to enjoy a very rare treat. An ice cold frappucino! Made with raw milk and decaf of course! Yum. The kids had strawberries and coconut cookies.

 

 

 

 

And Isaac getting some good vitamin D via his tush.