How to entertain Ghouls this Halloween

How to entertain Ghouls this Halloween.
Since we plan on trick or treating I start with a devilishly healthy meal. I make an extra large pot of witch soup which can be served with your choice of sandwiches. Guacamole dip and chips, olives and bowls of fresh fruit complete the meal.

If you have squeamish guest remind them, ghost, goblins, trolls and witches are out on Halloween night. Having a bowl of witch soup wards off evil sprits throughout the year. This may insure every child will have at least one portion of veggies on this night.

Traditional Split Pea Soup

• Bag of split peas
• Water or chicken broth
• Fatback
• Cup each carrots, celery
• Lemon juice

If you choose this method I suggest you cook an extra large ham a week or so before the Halloween and use that to season the stock. Yummy. Clean, wash and cook the peas over low heat for about thirty minutes in water/chicken stock. Add ham to this mix ASAP with celery and carrots. Simmer and serve with bread, sandwiches or sausages.

Vegetarian split pea soup

• Bag of split peas
• Water/ veggie broth
• Pepper, onions, carrots, celery
• Thyme leaf
• lemon

Clean and wash the peas cook over low heat with stock, adding veggies. You can also add potatoes to thicken the mix and make it hardier. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with garlic bread or bell pepper quesadillas with goat cheese.

It’s the perfect time of year to get your kids to eat something green and yucky looking. Your job is to make it taste so good they ask for it next year. Do what ya gotta do to fight off those witches goblins and ghouls.


Extra
Quick fun for older kids. Create a dark scary corner. In a small space place black garbage bags covering wall to ceiling. Replace the light with a black light. Instant spooky corner. Ours is in the hall way going to the bath room. It’s a great place to take pictures. A group shoot here is a blast. The Flash reveals all!

Live large.

Three steps to a fun family Day

Experiences Make Lasting Memories

A bonding experience with your family does not have to be expensive or elaborate. However, I do believe they should happen regularly. As children get older activities get harder to plan. Carve out a time that works for everyone and set it in stone. Nobody gets a pass. I also believe this should be a family only time. Be creative a few hours stolen here and there add up.

Plan an activity that everybody likes or no one has done before. A family hike, a walk in the park, tossing the football could be some examples. Game night, monopoly, cards, life or get mom on a video game you might besurprised. My family loves playing charades. It does not matter as long as everybody is involved.

Food is always a good way to keep things interesting. Let every one help cook a simple meal. You could put together something simple that does not keep one person locked to the stove. I like one pot dishes, roasted store bought chicken with sides is also a good choice. Take out. Food is not the star the family interaction takes center stage on this night.

So set a time, choose an activity and make some memories.

My Last Family Night

With three boys I usually start fun days with food. This time I picked up a few kayaking voucher on Living Social so I thought a picnic would be perfect. The picnic was mostly prepared foods except the sandwiches.

Because my hubby works most weekends we gathered after school and headed to Town Lake Rowing Center. This venue is close so we did not waste time getting to the fun. We rowed for about an hour pulled into a picture perfect inlet and ate our dinner. We laughed and looked at a hawk, teased and had a great time. It was a windy afternoon not perfect for rowing and we apologize the team we cut off in the lanes but we won‘t forget it. And we found another fun family activity we will do again.

Picnic
Tuna sandwiches
Chips
Strawberries
Baby carrots
Water/soda
Small cooler
Freezer bags

You can help feed the world

Take back the food agenda from multi National Corporations who only think about profit. We can feed the world, reduce pollution, and have plenty left over. How? Vote with you pocket books and don’t allow your elected representative to choose reelection and money over health and welfare. The largest situation to stop now is the use of food as energy. Corn use to feed the world, now it feeds the commodity markets and cars. Tell your congressman to stop subsidies for any food products that don‘t feed the people of the world. Ethanol could be made with a number of non food products. Let’s push from both sides and help change the tide. Talk to your government and take dollars away from companies who use corn as energy. Call the gas companies and congressman now.

Three steps to Healthy Kids

This question was posted at Circle of Moms:

8 Year Old Over Weight, Help!
My son is 8 years old and he is getting fat and I don´t know what the best to do. Sport, change the food, no candys...What can I do?
Thanks.
Make every choice a healthy one. Foods should be healthy. I give my kids the parameters to pick their own cereal. Less than 10 grams of sugar high protien and low calories; they make the choice with the guidelines. Bowls of fruit and raw veggies are between meal snacks. Be active. Take your child on hikes, bike rides swimming, and tennis. Video and TV are rewards we only have on the weekends. You may need to start with one change and add. But if you eat better and move more your child will benefit.

http://dbadart.blogspot.com/

The Coolest Toilet Ever!

Industrial Country Market: Columbus Texas

The best stop  on 71  is the greenest general store; the entire vibe is precious for a girl who loves hardware stores and solar power.  It's about 80 miles outside of Austin, Texas on 71 the Industrial Country Market.We were greeted the moment we entered the store and made to feel right at home. The shelves are filled with the practical and creative enterprises’ for the DIYer and those who love interesting things for the home and garden.

If you need to go you need to stop here for the super cool composting toilets. They are beautiful, practical and well you have to go to know. I’ll give you a little peek and you stop at 1799 HWY 71 in Columbus, Texas.
You can’t miss the solar panels and the signs. Check out the not so general store and use the compost toilets nestled in the water fountains and art.
You’ll be glad you did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chketHAJSjI

Daring Rescue

Daring Turtle Rescue

A turtle crossing a four lane road in Austin, Texas was rescued by a man in Honda Accord. I was turning left from Manchaca to Davis when I notice something  large in inside south bound lane crossing Manchaca, a Turtle.   I paniced in the left turn lane next to the turtle.  Suddenly  a dark colored Accord, going south,  stopped and a tall, bald man stopped in front of the turtle.   He  picked up the turtle and  ran across three lanes, moving north,  to deposited the turtle on the other side of the road. I stayed in the left turn lane waving to on coming traffic hoping no one would rear end the good Samaritan's car. Two cars swung by hooking not knowing of this daring rescue.    I’m glad I witnessed it. Thank you, and I’m sure the turtle thanks you too.

A real hero does  the right thing even when no one is looking.

stock photo Bob Moul May 4

Plan A Family Day

How to plan a Family Day

Like most families sometimes all our circles are moving in different directions. I decided to insist on time to reconnect regularly. I have two teenagers and a husband with a crazy schedule so I planned the day around dad. In the morning I made a family favorite dish that required a dose of cheese and heating up to be table ready. We lingered over dinner laughing and talking over how things were and any changes. The days have been loooong and hot so we took advantage of the cooler afternoon with a walk. I chose an area close to home and not too busy. We actually had the trails to our selves. I got to hold hands and ask serious questions. Through the long walk Mom and Dad got a little alone time with each boy and we connected as a family. I feel like our batteries were recharged and we are in sync again. I little undivided attention is all we needed.

Does DIY Laundry Soap Work?

Week Three: DIY Laundry Soap; Does it work?

I used a dry method to make laundry soap with borax, washing soda and a bar of Ivory soap. I like not having a huge bucket around the house so this appealed to me. The soap is easier to handle because it is concentrated. I washed several stained work shirts. I know lots of us have made the soap so I wanted to show how well the powder cleaned my clothes.

I found the powder left behind a fresh, clean smell. It took out some fresh stains but not the old ones but neither did my commercial soap. Washing my work shirts with bleach was much better. Colored and whites are clean and have a great smell with no artificial odors. I give the natural laundry soap a big thumbs up.

Ingredients:
Arm &; Hammer Washing Soda $3.54
20 Mule Team Borax $3.54
Bar of Ivory Soap $?

Mix one cup of each and a grated bar of soap. Wash with 3 tablespoons and bleach if needed.

Natural Whitening
Vinegar
Lemon juice
Sun drying

What not to do if some one breaks a bone.

House Park Broken Bones

Well, we got the call yesterday at about 5:30. My son broke his arm at House Skate Park. Another mom there with her younger kids brought him Brackenridge. I can not thank her enough; I was there a long 25, 30 minutes later. The break was bad; his wrist bones were crossed one almost coming out of the skin. The Doctor who usually handles these cases grimaced, "That is ugly.” True to heart my boy asked about his board before he got on the ambulance to move from Brackenridge to Dell Children’s Hospital so I hope this is the least of injuries to come. The staff at both hospitals were supeior making the best of a bad situation.

I learned a few things from this tragedy. First, I could not have stopped it. I can try to insure his safety by getting a promise that he will never skate alone. Second, I will find him the coolest helmet; but I can’t make him wear it. Finally, if someone is injured do not give them food or drink. This might be nice but if they need to go into surgery it can be very dangerous. Any food or drink can come up into the lungs while the patient is under anesthesia. And always grab a sweater on the way to the hospital.


Love you all. No skating for at least 6-8 weeks

Week Two Recycled Dish Towels

Recycled Dish Towels

I make batches of fun dish towels from fabric scraps. I used old clothes to clean up around my house for years. I would leave old t-shirts under the counter to clean up spills but I still used sponges to clean the dishes. I make dish towels that are easy to make and are great replacement for sponges. Look here for easy instructions to make your own

Della Badart

Texas is Buring

Good Bless Texas Families dealing with these awful fires. Let us all be there to support them in this time of stress. Please let the weather conditions change and pray for our hard working firemen.

One Step to more money, time & better health

I like to share recycling ideas; I am pretty extreme.  I hope by seeing some of my habits people can pick a few they can live with to make a better world.

Shopping List saves money, gas and time

I create my shopping list from the items  on hand and recipes for two weeks of meals. This way I rarely have wasted food and I save time and money. I buy all the ingredients to prepare dishes and I post my grocery list/menu on the fridge so my family can pull out a dinner without wrecking another meal.

I also carry this main list to the farmers market so I bring home what I need to complete meals not something that will rot. I will shop for perishables milk, fruit and on those trips I’ll pick up fresh fish or seafood.

This means less trip to the store, more planed healthy meals. It doesn't just save money it's good for you too. 

I suggest you plug in your family standards.  For example we eat pizza every Friday.  Two days done.  I have a few simple meals my kids and husband can make on hand. This helps if I am late, busy or tired.  Also, balance fresh with frozen, pickled or canned.  I hvae a few meals I can make double spagehtti sauce  to use with our version of sloppy joes.  I just pop the extra sauce in the freezer.  The key is planning. 
Real Simple has an awesome Take Back Dinner Challenge that is usper helpful.

The secret to dealing with a teenager

Good School Day

I just had a pleasant morning getting my teenager off to school. Taking myself out of the equation was the answer. I set the alarm for 7:30 as I went to drop his brother. On returning I knocked, said good morning, asked if he’d like me to make him some breakfast and gave consequences for not being ready on time. In this case I would keep his skateboard for one day over the weekend. I made breakfast and every 15 minutes I shouted out time left. Before deadline he was ready to go. Love it!

No threats, cursing, throwing or whinning.  Oh yea, all that bad behavior was mine.  Left a bad taste in my mouth.  Mostly my teenage did what he wanted laughed at my freaking out and we usually rushed to school. No cool conversation just nagging.  YUK.  Specific request, more specific consequences and  matter of fact points.  Why didn't someone tell me it could be this easy!

Recycling at Home

Over the next year I will be sharing home recycling ideas every week. On My Arts site
http://badartworld.blogspot.com I will share my pre-cycle and recycle arts and crafts projects.
I am continually creating and I am recycling obsessed. While I don’t expect most people to adopt all my practices for recycling and pre-cycling I hope one can read to lift ideas to fit their lifestyle. These sites are complementary because they help me with work, family and life in general. In all aspects, no matter how small my part is I am always concerned with creating a better world. If we all do just a little we could accomplish a lot.

One step parental advice

If you have a child of any age you need to check out Circle of Moms. I just read the best article there dealing with smart mouth teens. The article was right on target with wonderful advice. The site allows moms to ask question and give advice. It gives perspective on many topics and the valuable experience of others. It also helps moms connect in the real world. Circle is a good resouce for any mom or dad.

Last Day of Summer Fun

Deep Eddy Austin, Texas  Ausgust 21, 2011

We spent the day at Deep Eddie a popular watering hole in Austin, Texas. I had a great day with my boys. One fished off the pier most of the day in a mad competition of catch and release with a friend. I swam with my youngest son. We went for a walk and got to see an awesome game of Kayak Polo. That was an exciting high energy competition. My youngest a runner, avid swimmer and biker thought he'd love to try it. A cool Dad walked us through the rules and I know we'll be back to catch a game if not jump in a kayak. Well, tired we’re ready as we’ll ever be for the first day of school. Here’s to school. God Bless you all and I wish everyone a great year.

Skating and the San Marcos Library

I just love San Marcos Library. It is a open building with lots of comfy chairs and wonderful displays. I spent my time with magazines I like to look at but don’t purchase. The smaller branches in Austin don’t have as many subscriptions as they once did. I took a group of boys to the skate board park that shares the same parking lot as the library. The boys had a great skate session and enjoyed an empty park for an hour before the locals showed up. The park is larger than Austin’s Mabel Davis and has lots of street features. I will take the boys to this skate park again knowing I can enjoy this jewel of library.

http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/library/index.html

Recycle Hockey Jersey Baskets

Recently I was given a bundle of hockey jerseys that had been used to make quilts. Chris Wenz, of Over the Top Quilting Studio, apologized for the mess. I’m sure she was thinking what will she do with that. I spent the summer cutting a large bag jerseys into yarn. The rough, polyester fabrics turned out to be perfect for baskets. The colors are bright and bold while and the fabric is thick and durable.

All the handmade crochet rag rugs and baskets are projects of love. I like unusable fabric with no life. When fabrics are cut into strips the colors and textures change and have a new depth. The baskets show how even the must unexpected material can have a second life.

Barton Creek Farmers Market

I like to supplement my shopping at the local Farmer’s Market. I go with a pocket full of small bill and my shopping bag. I picked up okra, egg plant, natural cleaners and breakfast on a recent trip. Further, it’s a great place to find unique gifts. Bird feeders, by Dan Baker, caught my attention for birthday gifts. You can see Dan’s work on face book. Barton Creek has a tiny but extra special petting zoo too. Bunnies and chicks were my favs. Well, I’ll see you are the market.

What I needed

This song is just what I needed this morning. It's a very cool take on a Cars tune Check it out.
badart