I want to minimize my regrets.
At the end of my life I don't want to look at the "crop" I've grown and know that it was fake or impure (like genetically modified seed that produces the "real" deal with a few "characteristics" that belong to entirely something else.)
Or that I let fruit I should've shared rot on the vine.
I want my yes to be yes and my no to be no.
I want my life to reflect Jesus and the true me in Him. 
Commitment is only as good as the choices I make that show my level.
I committed to several things in the six month Cut the Crapola thing. I reassessed and reconsidered some and stuck like glue to others. In the six months of prayer for six people whom God laid on my heart, I missed two days and spent some shallower days not knowing what and how to pray. But I prayed. And most of the time it was heart-felt, burdened prayer.
I won't be running a 5K next week. I didn't lose 20 lbs. But I am healthier today that I was a year ago, and five years ago.
I won't be playing at Carnegie Hall, but I did pick up the violin and squeak out notes that almost resemble a song and my fingers are remembering, a little bit, about the violin.
I reacquainted myself with knitting and spent hours on the task...not making intricate sweaters...yet...but I made several gifts and rediscovered the pleasure of multi-tasking with yarn.
My books aren't done. I have more outlined, though the book is not ripe and I'm content to let it ripen, and I put my toes back in the water with the one that I'm writing with my friend. I finished a project that was hanging over me, too.
I spent time reading books on the Christian life, focused on health and abundance of life, and what I've taken away from those can be summed up in Matthew 6: 32-34.
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Seeking God is my primary need, and it's the commitment I need to measure all my other commitments against.
I have taken a long and winding trail away from the Cut the Crapola lessons learned. Way back in February I shared what I learned from my six month journey of doing without.
I'm going to finish it now. Refresh your memory by clicking here .
Lesson 6
Money is a tool. But, it's a tool that God provides to be used as He wants it used in my life. A new sweater may be a bargain at $7.99 but a prayer-filled conversation over latte's may be a better transaction in God's economy.
I have decided that I need to carry the weight of that with me as I make decisions on where and how I will spend money. I have entirely too many things and things are rust, thief and moth bait.
Happy Birthday, America. May we remember that God's blessing has been on us and it would be a terrible thing to lose. May we remember how much our freedom has cost others and may we act accordingly.
I'm nursing a new baby obsession.
An upcoming camping trip has thrown a new Vegan challenge down.
Are we up for it? Do we say "Fie on the Vegan way!" and hit every McD's and convenience store along the way and eat all the things we've been avoiding? Vacations can bring that mindset out in me.
How can we stick with the program, and possibly save ourselves some tummy trouble, too?
I feel more than slightly confident that we indeed can with a lot of planning and organizing I really, really think we can.
So, my friend Google has directed me to some recipes that, of course, I need to tweak and make my own. I have menus picked out, some of the ingredients frozen and ready to thaw for their proper meal while keeping other things cold in the meantime. Tofu may make an appearance, Seitan will, Tempeh is going along for the ride in two different meals. Quinoa is invited to the party and black beans will be joining him. Dahl and Vegan homemade naan are on the list. And. We bought meat and will serve it with a smile because meat eaters are traveling with us. But the meat is organic, so even though one of God's furry creatures died, we feel better about serving the product of the deceased.
While tweaking and planning I had a truly serendipitous moment. One of the sad facts about Vegan is the egg thing. As in eggs are dairy, have a mother and when hatched, a face, or at Easter time, too, but I digress.
You can make French toast without eggs. REALLY and TRULY. Oh happy day. Sometimes a girl just needs French Toast. This one anyway.
Crazy easy. Crazy good. Seriously. (I made a batch and froze them for quick reheating over the campfire.
French Toast
Ingredients.
2 Ripe Bananas (we used the overripe ones we've stashed in the freezer)
3/4 Almond Milk (TJ's organic vanilla)
1 and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. (Or a mix of cinnamon and other spices -- ginger, nutmeg)
1 teaspoon of almond extract or vanilla or 1/2 of each.
10 or so slices of bread (whole grain is good)
Prep a griddle with melted Earth Balance or Vegan fat. Toss bananas, almond milk and seasonings in blender or processor or just mix by hand really well, until smooth. Pour some of the "batter" on a flat plate or in a pie pan. Quickly dip and coat both sides of the bread and lay on the griddle. Continue. Cook like regular French Toast.
Not too bananay and I was afraid it would be...like the brownies made with banana (fail). Really, really tasty. And I'm wondering if we couldn't use pumpkin in the place of the bananas for a yummy fall treat. And use traditional pumpkin dessert spices. I'll let you know when I try that one out.
No doubt I will have stories about Vegans in tents, after a proper recovery time. : ) for all of us.
Couldn't have been a nicer day on the farm. Mid to high 70's with a sight breeze blowing. The ground was steamy and wet and odoriferous with green, growing life. At times, when I crouched low to snap a buried Swiss Chard stem, the heat from the ground was almost sauna hot. Picking was silent some of the time, just the pop of snipped greens, and the rustle of leaves. Other times easy conversation punctured the steamy silence.
My fingernails are stained olive drab and my fridge is full of produce.
Satisfying, satisfying, satisfying. Sigh.
The packing went quick and the boxes were pregnant with delicious offerings. Pictured are some of the gorgeous offerings... a handful of purple beans, garlic, broccoli and cabba
ge.
BROCCOLI "BEEF"
We made a stir fry out of just picked broccoli and snap peas. It maybe was the best stir fry I've ever had. I was starving...that always helps, but, yum.
We had Trader Joe's "beef" seitan in the freezer so we tossed that in. (Highly recommended!)
with the broccoli,
snap peas,
some frozen peppers,
onions and
brown rice that we had cooked previously and frozen.
Quick and delicious.
I made a sauce out of : 1/4 cup sesame oil,
1/4 cup plus
1 TBSP soy sauce,
1 minced garlic clove,
1 tsp sesame seeds,
1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes, and
3 TBSP slivered almonds.
Poured it over and stirred it up.
Yum!
