Top 10 Things That Make Me Happy

 Let's try something new. New and simple. 

10 Things That Make Me Truly Happy

1) Watching my children grow into amazing humans.

2) My friends and family that make feel cared for, seen, and maybe not always understood, but always valued for being myself.

3) Freedom to be myself.

4) My health and body for letting me live my life everyday as long as I promise to always stay on the path to caring for it. 

5) Love. In all of its many ways that it finds itself in my life. My friends, my family, new relationship bonds. I love to love and be loved.

6) Giving to others. Whether it be my time, my recipes, my knowledge, my joy from their joy, money, goods, art. All of it. I would give it all away to see the happiness in others.

7) Sunshine, wind, rain, sunrises, sunsets. Everything that nature has to offer and show us.

8) Gardening. Watching something grow as it is nurtured.

9) Self-care

, self love, self improvement. Becoming one with yourself, your spirit, your purpose, and the universe.

10) Creating things. Recipes, art, writings, plans for businesses, goals with others.

It's really quiet grand, this life.

 Into the heart of things!

I've been working on a lot of many different projects as of late. I've got so many things changing and whirling around that sometimes I'm not even sure I can keep up with myself. My assistant stuff, landscaping, handyman services, accounting, brand ambassador, etsy for paintings/gardening/fudges, photos on different apps, website designing, digital books I'm authoring... phew.. I know there are many more things I'm missing. The beautiful part is that it is all my own. Every ounce of that chaos, is me. It's all me. 

I've really been striving to just be my own individual. Daring to step into the world as me. Not working on someone else's schedule, building their dreams. 

New things around the homestead: Cowcow, 3 ducks, our 12 hens. In two days I will be picking up 15 guinea chicks, 15 rainbow hens, and 3 rare heritage turkeys! I need to set up the brooders today, and start building a smaller pig pen for the 2 piglets I will be getting in a couple of months as well. 

Around the gardens: started our seedlings and have sprouts everywhere. Today, we will be planting "3-sisters".  That is something that my family taught me as I was younger and something I hope to pass on. Planting corn, beans that will grow up the stalks, and squashes that will grow around the base. Utilizing all the space available while producing the base of stews. A well loved dish in our home. Nutritious and straight from the garden! My goal is to teach my children what little bits of Native knowledge I have and maybe we can learn some things I do not know or remember myself. Who knows how far I will get.

Alright, time to finish up this coffee, get the kiddos fed, animals fed, gardens watered and a workout in!

Have a grand day everyone!

P.S. Key Lime Pie Fudge listing on etsy is live! I'll share the recipe soon.

Hello hello hello... Can you hear me?

 Hello there world. 

How about this insane weather? Texas, Missouri, tons of other states. Snow everywhere, but not here, in Florida. Sad face inserted here. Can you imagine the rolling blackouts. I'm sure plenty of you are living it. As for me and mine, we are just being buys  with crazy life. Cleaning, sorting, feeding animals, planning food, workouts gardens, adventures, oh my! 

I've been going through a lot mentally. Emotionally. So I'm writing, taking photos more and more, attempting to re-learn the guitar. In retrospect, it's a huge task on its own. Work is slow just because of the current world pandemic. Realestate is not where you want to be. I've applied to college courses again. Eek. Not sure how excited or not excited I am about that. We will see what happens. Send good vibes!

Learning New Skills

 So... Life...

I've been in a funk for a while now. I'm trying to pull myself out so I've been trying new things. Tonight, if I dare, I'll be trying out a jiu jitsu place local to me. I'm hoping something will click that just makes me feel complete.
Work has been a struggle in it's own right just because of the fluctuating of the housing market during Covid. Praying for just some normalcy soon.
So new things so far, rock climbing, new workout area, new recipes, new farm animals. I think my life just needs some major overhauling.
I've been writing a lot more and decided it's time for a new guitar. I've been playing the lotto in hope of winning some extra cash, haha! I've restarted my Spanish lessons, my college aspirations, doordashing. Just need some peace and to get out of my head.

Send me some things on what's new or changing for you! I'd love to hear it.

Until another day...

Into the Heart of Things

 Diving into the writing part of things because emotionally, I'm drained.

I thought I saw you there

things are now becoming clear

I don't need you here

Now you'll be missing me

Funny how that was my fear for years

Maybe we're all the better for 

The mishap that happened

but how do I live with the death of love

how do I celebrate and ask for more 

Sunday Funday Biscuits

 This morning I made fresh biscuits and served them with my homemade persimmon and datil pepper jam. They were amazing! So because I'm a huge fan of both, I'm going to share them with you! 

Datil Pepper Jam

    12 oz datil peppers (about 60) finely chopped

• 2 cups cider vinegar, divided

• 10 persimmons, peeled & pureed

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup honey

• 2 3-oz pouches of liquid pectin

• 5 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

• 
  

• DIRECTIONS:

• PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

• COMBINE purée with 1 cup cider vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add in remaining apple cider and chopped peppers. Boil 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

• ADD liquid pectin, immediately squeezing entire contents from pouches. Continue to boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.

• LADLE hot datil & persimmon jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.

• PROCESS in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
  
• 
  

• Biscuits

• 4 C of all purpose flour
  2 T Baking powder
  2 T Sugar
  2 tsp Salt
  12 T unsalted butter
  1.5 C ice cold milk
  
  

• Directions

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  In a large mixing bowl sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening with fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  Pour milk into flour mixture while stirring with a fork. Mix in milk until dough is soft, moist and pulls away from the side of the bowl.
  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and toss with flour until no longer sticky. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch thick sheet and cut with a floured biscuit or cookie cutter. Press together unused dough and repeat rolling and cutting procedure.
  Place biscuits on ungreased baking sheets and bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
  
  
  
  There ya have it folks! Happy Sunday! 

Life as we know it

    My life has had so many ups and downs. I really can not count how many to be honest. Season change us. Life takes so many unexpected twists and turns. We change. We learn. We grow. We take the best parts and move forward and try to forget the bad parts. 

    My wine is going to be ready to filter one more time on October 11th. School has been trying for everyone in the family. Striving toward a more independent self is HARD. I can tell you, I will push my children to be independent before they ever get into a relationship. Find your space in education, and a career before deciding to be with someone. I'm about to start some datil pepper jam. We have processed a third of our meat chickens. 

    On with TODAY! In midst of conversation with a friend, we talked about a time I made carne asada fries. Wow. I have not had those in so long. What do I have in my fridge? A pork butt. I'm 100% making carnita fries! Carnita flavors, fries, guacamole???? Who could resist??

Recipe:

CARNITAS
9 lb pork butt
1 cup of orange juice
1 orange zested
1 12 oz beer, I prefer Corona
10 cloves of garlic minced
2 onions chopped (Optional*plus some finely chopped for topping)
2 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
2 cinnamon sticks
4 bay leaves
3 tsp salt (more or less to taste)
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp cumin

Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Mix all dry ingredient and rub all over pork butt. Place in roasting pan, poor in juice and beer. 

Place onions, garlic, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and orange zest in liquid. 

Cover with lid or foil. Use a ladle to pour liquid over meat every 1.5 hours. Cook for 6-8, or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.

 Let rest for 20-30 minutes, then shred with two forks.

FRENCH FRIES
4 russet potatoes cut into even strips
4 cups of vegetable oil for frying
Pinch of Salt to taste

Soak potatoes in a large bowl of water for about 30 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 275 degrees. Gently add the potatoes in the hot oil for about 5 minutes, stirring and flipping the potatoes occasionally. Remove potatoes from oil with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towel and to cool completely.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees. Fry the potatoes again until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Blot with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt.

GUACAMOLE

6 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed 

2 limes, juiced

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup diced onion 

1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Jalapeno finely diced

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic. Stir in jalapeno. Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor, or serve immediately.

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS

Sour Cream
Guacamole
Cilantro
Cotija Cheese
Cheese of your choosing, I prefer pepper jack


INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARNITAS FRIES

Place freshly made french fries in a cast iron or just a cookie sheet. Top with cheese of your choosing. Then place carnita meat on top. Broil until cheese is melted. Top with the topping you prefer!! ENJOY!


Will be posting a picture when completed!