Good Friday

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Holy Thursday

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Legend of the Dogwood Tree

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In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew

To a stately size and a lovely hue.

'Twas strong and firm it's branches interwoven

For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress at this use of their wood

Christ made a promise which still holds good:

"Never again shall the dogwood grow

Large enough to be used so.

Slender and twisted, it shall be

With blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As blood stains the petals marked in brown

The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.

All who see it will remember Me

Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected, this tree shall be

A reminder to all of my agony."



~ Author Unknown

More Green Cleaning

The pine china cabinet my Daddy built is absolutely glowing! I found this great recipe for homemade lavender furniture polish. Just a little unrefined coconut oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil. The smell is heavenly - so fresh and inviting! I've never been so motivated to go throughout the house and polish furniture LOL!

Earth Fare also featured two natural cleaner recipes in their Healthy Savings publication this month.

Natural Tub & Tile Cleaner

1c water
1 c vinegar
1/2c hydrogen peroxide
30 drops lavender essential oil

ETA: I'm seeing comments from this thread at Passionate Homemaking, that mention vinegar and hydrogen peroxide should not be combined together as it changes the properties of both (okay to use together, just not mix). Also if using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning mixes, it should be stored in a brown colored bottle.

Natural All Purpose Kitchen & Bathroom Disinfectant

2c water
1c vinegar
2tsp baking soda
15 drops tea tree & eucalyptus oil
30 drops orange, lemon & lavender essential oil

*I added 15 drops of tea tree oil to the above tub and tile cleaner recipe and basically used it as an all purpose cleaner. Worked great and I loved the scent of the tea tree oil!

Grocery Shopping - Back to the Basics

After last week's grocery budget disaster, I went back to the basics and revived my price book to get on track with this week's grocery spending. Not only is a price book a useful tool in determining stockpile prices and sales cycles, but using the recorded prices can give you an idea of how much your proposed shopping list is going to cost before stepping foot in the store. On paper if things aren't quite fitting within the budget, you can easily adjust your menu plan for the week. For me, I find it much easier to plan out my trips on paper first than try and make huge revisions in store!

Whole Foods

2 gallons 365 whole organic milk
3 Synergy kombucha
2 loaves organic whole wheat bread
1 365 brand organic long-grain brown rice
1 Annie's organic cheddar bunny crackers
1/2lb organic green lentils (bulk)
2 cans 365 brand Wild Alaskan salmon
1 can 365 brand organic coconut milk
1 can 365 brand organic tomato paste
1 bunch organic Dino kale
1lb organic rolled oats (bulk)
1/2lb organic raisins (bulk)
1 Eden Foods organic shoyu sauce
1lb organic broccoli bunch
5lb bag organic russet potatoes

Total oop: $64.24

Earth Fare

2 cans Muir Glen organic chunky tomato sauce 28oz
1 Zico coconut water
1lb grass fed ground beef (local)
2lb organic bananas
1 container whole organic mushrooms 8oz

Total oop: $20.52

Lowes Foods (apple juice B2G3F - $6.08), Target (diapers - $17.33) and ALDI (toilet paper, paper towels and dish detergent - $5.84)

Total spent: $114.01

Container Garden - Getting Started

The kids and I took advantage of the beautiful weather today, to get started on this year's container garden! We're probably a month behind in getting our seedlings started, but such is our busy life :)

Today, we put the seeds for the organic Roma Paste tomatoes and Genovese sweet basil in toilet paper roll seed starters. Originally I thought about using a fish tank as a greenhouse for our starter rolls. But I found the rolls actually fit nicely in a large, plastic salad mix container. Once we get some more organic soil mix, we'll get our heirloom Rouge de Grenoblouse lettuce seeds started. Plus I'd like to pick up some green bell pepper seeds or seedlings.

Can't wait to get our little garden started again this year!

Need A Getaway?

I heart Wrightsville Beach!

Need a mental break from the constant gloom and doom talk?

Go On A News Fast - Take a break from the 24/7 news coverage and turn off the TV.

Start A Gratitude Journal - I've been keeping a gratitude journal since I first read about the idea in Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance several years ago. Each night write 5 things from the day for which you are grateful. Doesn't have to be anything major. Some nights you might be thankful the day is just over! But it helps to shift our thoughts towards to the blessings we have (big and small) even during stressful times.

Make a List of Your Simple Pleasures - This is another idea from Simple Abundance. Create a list of those small, ordinary parts of life which bring you joy. Sometimes they are so much apart of life that they can be easily overlooked. For me, it's the way Reedy's lips curl when he smiles. Or the feeling I get when I see Dave's car pull into the driveway at night, knowing we are finally all home and safe. Or eating an exquisite piece of chocolate. Writing out the list brings to your awareness the small joys you experience each day.

Focus Outward - Turn your attentions to the needs of others. Charity doesn't just mean large monetary donations or work out in the mission fields. It can begin at home with those who are around you each day, it can be a smile as you walk past a stranger, a held door or a simple thank you.