this week

 

This week we've had days where it snowed all day long and accumulated enough to build a four foot tall snowman and then the next day beautiful sunshine; inspiring a day of working in the garden and bubble play (notice Chip, my mom's husband who lives next door, peeking over the fence and teasing the kids).

I'm getting excited about planting a garden again and the fact that this year I won't be pregnant which makes it almost impossible for me to work in the yard. Shane is going to build some tomato planters on wheels that we can roll out under out sunny front windows during the day and roll into the garage at night because the deer eat everything they can get to in the evenings.

On Monday Mira and Annah attended a pioneer homeschool day at Champoeg State Park and had lots of fun doing pioneer chores and learning about the first settlers in Oregon. Shane drove a car full of giggling kids back and forth to the park.

I've been sewing, knitting and working in the kitchen in my spare moments. One of our favorite grain-free and sugar free (only sweetened by dates) treats  is chocolate date balls. You just throw everything into your food processor and whip it together. Recipe follows below.

Chocolate Date Balls

25 pitted dates
1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter
1/4 cup almond flour
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
Finely shredded unsweetened organic coconut flakes

In the food processor, process everything except the coconut.  The mixture will be thick, but make sure to run it long enough to get it well-mixed and smooth, not chunky.  Using your hands, take teaspoon-size amounts and roll lightly into balls.  Roll in coconut flakes to coat.  Store in the fridge.

This is adapted from an Everyday Paleo recipe.