fermentation giveaway over at a friendly blog

i am a food renegade.
i buy illegal milk. i do workshare on an organic farm for our produce. i visit the farmers market for our meat. i buy groceries at the co-op in the bulk bin. and i love fermenting.

we have a little crock of magic sitting on the counter any given day.

this morning i woke up to a favorite website, foodrenegade.com, having a give away of three starters from www.culturesforhealth.com. both websites are lovely and chock full of information about fermentation.

check them out for the chance to win three starter cultures:
choice of yogurt starter
choice of sourdough starter
&
kefir starter

good luck! don't forget about me when you've got some delish fermented foods to share.

beatrix speaks

all cards say "happy day"
all cake is "happy cake"
all christmas is "ho ho"

Beatrix's No. 2

(A tower of her very own!)

Beatrix is two! We had a wonderful visit from the grandparents. They brought party dresses and party favors and party cakes. Granddad built this wonderful tower that we love. Daddy bought her a play castle the girls colored and painted. And momma made a yummy spead of popcorn, fish cakes, dolmas, and fresh fruit and veggies with dips.
The girls (Shakti, Irina, and Bea) played with the castle, drew with chalk and blew bubbles till they dropped.

Better Late than Never...

Happy 2011!

Merry Christmas from the Family

(Beatrix on Christmas Day)

(Visitor on Christmas Day)

Beatrix, Daddy and Momma spent Christmas Eve at home with a big pot of Borscht.
Christmas Day Grammy, Granddad, and Great Gma Sally showed up with loads of gifts. Including a "strange" jolly man in a red suit.
The day after xmas, we all enjoyed an outing to the Austin Children Museum.. B and Daddy loved it so much I am almost certain we will be visiting again.

Keely and Marsden stopped by in the evening with some goodies, including a perfect sized wooden desk with a heart seat for B and boozy fruit cake for Momma.

Nana, Aunt Lisa and the cousins paid us a visit on the Tuesday after xmas. Despite the wet weather, the kids ran around in the backyard a bit and we all enjoyed a late lunch together.

Beatrix loves her family very much and it is always nice to spend time with everyone.

Beatrix Speaks

("Ready to Go")

We were playing with the helmets and the girls said "Ready to Go!". I couldn't think of a better picture to share.

I wanted to make note that today we are saddened by the tragic death of momma's dearest friend and one of Nugget's avid readers. Lacey loved looking through the pictures and Bea updates periodically. She is very missed.

Please drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.

Beatrix Speaks!!

Baby it's cold outside.....
So jackets are a common requirement to leave the house, she just walked up with her new hooded jacket and handed it to me a uttered the sweetest sounding "jacket" I have ever heard.