Clean.

A treasure for you from LuSa Organics

The Autumn Treasure Box was a runaway hit! And while the products were limited edition LüSa, due to varying batch sizes we have a few left of several of the products.

Claim yours now! Place an order of $65 or more today and add a comment of "Clean treasure for me". We'll choose the perfect addition to your order.

 

Better yet, leave us a note of which product you'd most prefer and we'll do our best to accommodate. (If we are out of your top pick we will substitute with a different item.)

 

Choose from Foaming Hand Soap, Sea Spray Hair Texturizer, or Facial Polish. (While supplies last.)

 

We don't have many, so hurry!

Offer expires November 3, 2015. Retail customers only, please.

 

Shop LüSa now.

And just for fun, here is what a few customers had to say about the Sea Spray Hair Texturizer, one of Autumn Treasure Box items:

"What sorcery turned my stick straight hair into this beachy-looking wavy goodness?? Thanks for the sea spray hair texturizer in the Autumn Treasure Box! Loving it!!!!!!" - Laura F.

"Love love love! This product! I've tried making my own in the past and your was FAR BETTER. I'd love if you added it to the line permanently!" - Courtney D.

"This stuff gives me a good hair day every day, which isn't easy with naturally curly hair." - Kristina P.

 We've never gotten so many rave reviews about a product before!

The Winter Treasure Box will be delivered in December.

 

These goats

We never set out to have goats.

Honestly, I didn't think I even liked goats. And I knew I didn't like their milk. (Too  goaty.) A flock of sheep? Of course. Yes to sheep. I had always wanted them. But a herd of goats? Not interested.

And then I met some goats at a friend's farm and it was all over. They charmed my socks off. (And contrary to folklore did not eat them.) Before I knew it we had five goats on the farm. 

Pete just shook his head.

And sometimes we wonder if we're doing too much on this little farm. Should we cut something off the list? Are sheep too much? But that wool! What about goats? But I adore these goats. They win the farm personality contest, hoofs down.

I keep saying goats are like golden retrievers - but with milk. Each of these girls has more personality than all of our sheep combined. They're hilarious, and not as sassy as you've been led to believe. But I was nervous about the milk. What on earth would we do with all that goaty milk? Of course. Soap. We'd make more goat milk soap than ever before. 

And then I tasted it. And oh, my word. Goat milk is good. It's downright delicious. (As it turns out, properly handled it's not goaty in the least. Another goat myth shattered!)

Goats are sweet and a little naughty, affectionate and little dramatic. I like that in a farm animal. (Their brush-clearing skills don't hurt, either.) And now goats are inextricably woven into our lives on the farm. Our day starts with coffee and a trip to the barn. We sit together and milk as we talk and plan our day. Thirty minutes later we're back in the kitchen with more than a quart of fresh, sweet milk to drink, make into cheese, yogurt, and soap. Our day ends with one last trip to the barn to separate the babies from so that there is milk for us in the morning.

And while it's one more project on our longer-than-we'd-like to-do list, it's quickly become my favorite part of the day.

How to make easy, homemade applesauce (For canning or eating fresh!)

We picked two bushels of apples at the nearby organic orchard about a week ago. And because we don't have a root cellar, keeping them on through winter means freezing or canning.

So we put by a few bags of apple crisp and apple pie filling, ate more than we probably should have, and turned the rest into sauce.

Homemade applesauce.

Until you've made a habit of shunning that flavorless store-bought sort and making your own, you just can't know what you're missing. Because alongside homemade sriracha, dilly beans, and canned tomatoes, applesauce is a pantry staple around here.

If you care to make your own (for canning or fresh eating), my recipe follows!

Easy Homemade Applesauce

(made with or without a food mill)

I will confess to never having made a batch of applesauce this small. Double or triple or exponentially increase as needed. But know that too many apples crammed into a small pot may scorch. So if you're making a bigger batch, divide it among a few large pans.

Ingredients for approximately 7 pints of applesauce

10 lbs apples

1 1/2 c water

optional spices - cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, clove, orange peel, etc.

optional sweetener of your choice

With a food mill

If you have a food mill, making applesauce couldn't be easier. As a bonus, food mill applesauce is often rosy pink from all of those apple peels.

1. Quarter your apples. No need to core or peel them. Remove any bad spots and compost.

2. Combine quartered apple with water in a cooking pot. Ideally you will have a large, thick-bottomed pot. (If your pot is undersized or thin-bottomed, watch your apples carefully to prevent scorching.) Add water and set over medium heat.

3. When the water begins to simmer, carefully stir your apples, then cover the pot and set to low heat.

4. Every five to ten minutes stir your apples. (I prefer a wide wooden spoon or spatula so that I can turn the apples effectively.) If the pan is becoming dry, add another cup of water.

5. After 20 to 40 minutes your apples should be soft. Remove from heat and allow to cool for one hour.

6. Set up your food mill and transfer your partially cooled applesauce into the hopper.

7. Process apples.

7. Return processed applesauce to cooking pot. Taste and adjust flavor as desired. You may choose to add sweetener, cinnamon, ginger, or other spices. (We left our batch plain.)

8. If you will be canning your applesauce, bring to a simmer over low heat before packing jars.

9. Hot water bath can for 15 minutes for pints or half-pints, 20 minutes for quarts.

10. Enjoy!

Without a food mill

If you don't have a food mill, making applesauce is still easy! There is just a different first step you need to take. The best part of not having a mill? Perfect. Chunky. Applesauce. Oh, yes.

1. Peel and core your apples, then cut into approximately 1" cubes. Remove any bad spots and compost.

2. Combine your prepared apple with water in a cooking pot. Ideally you will have a large, thick-bottomed pot. (If your pot is undersized or thin-bottomed, watch your apples carefully to prevent scorching.) Add water and set over medium heat.

3. When the water begins to simmer, carefully stir your apples, then cover the pot and set to low heat.

4. Every five to ten minutes stir your apples. (I prefer a wide wooden spoon or spatula so that I can turn the apples effectively.) If the pan is becoming dry, add another cup of water. After 20 to 30 minutes your apples should be soft.

5. For chunky applesauce, proceed to step six. For smooth applesauce, either puree with an immersion blender while hot or allow to cool for one hour, then puree in batches in your blender. (Do not puree hot applesauce in your blender as it can volcano out the top!)

6. Return processed applesauce to cooking pot. Taste and adjust flavor as desired. You may choose to add sweetener, cinnamon, ginger, or other spices. (We left our batch plain.) If you won't be canning your applesauce, simmer with optional spices/sweetener for five minutes, then cool and refrigerate or freeze.

8. If you will be canning your applesauce bring to a simmer over low heat before packing jars.

9. Hot water bath can for 15 minutes for pints or half-pints, 20 minutes for quarts.

10. Enjoy!

 

P.S. When did this applesauce helper...

...become this one?

Oh, my heart.

 

Her own tree house

After we returned from our trip to Maine I came up with a new homeschooling rhythm for our family. While we don't follow a curriculum and we do follow our children's interests and needs, I was feeling the need for more structure - less for them and more for me.

So we set aside time for various things  with me and also devoted time with Pete. That means that now, each week while I'm at work, these three set to work as well on the project of their choice.

Project day with Papa! What could be more fun than that?

During the very first day of our new "project plan" I got a text from Pete's phone while I was at work. There was a picture of a wooden frame up in the branches of a box elder tree and the words, "My project today. Guess what it is! - Lupine"

Of course I knew what it was in an instant. Her tree house project had begun!

While she is quick to find "secret" trees and magical nooks around our farm, it was her first more-or-less permanent addition to one of her special places.

While Pete and Sage have been working on an epic tree house for the past year, Lupine had not been interested in building one herself. But last week, after watching a bit more work unfold on Sage's, Lupine decided that she was ready for a space of her very own.

And through this project so much learning will unfold. From basic math to basic construction, a bit of plant taxonomy and physics - and let's not dismiss the confidence building that's going on. All that - and only on the first day!

What a wonderful project to claim for herself. I can't wait to see what else they create.

 

Are you mother enough?

Sometimes you wonder.

After the hard days.

When you were not at your best.

You wonder, in secret, where no one will hear.

 

Am I mother enough?

 

Because you see them around you. Those other mothers. In your town and on your screen.

Gentle.

Peaceful.

Patient.

Kind.

 

They parent with grace and with joy.

Always.

In the flow. Harmonious.

Children smiling and holding hands,

while your kids whine and fight.

And your baby cries.

Again.

 

And you question if you even know what you're doing.

Because if you did, the children wouldn't argue.

And the baby wouldn't cry.

Constantly.

 

So you must be doing it wrong.

Of course you're doing it wrong.

And so you wonder.

And you doubt.

 

Am I wearing her enough?

Am I breastfeeding enough?

Should we co-sleep more?

But sometimes you're all touched out.

 

Am I patient enough?

Present enough?

Nurturing enough?

But sometimes you just need a damn break from it all.

 

Am I good enough?

Am I strong enough?

Am I enough?

And then, probably, you decide that you are not.

 

Because sometimes you yell.

You say words you regret.

Because you didn't babywear or breastfeed or co-sleep at all.

Because sometimes dinner comes from the drive-thru.

And they watch too much TV.

Because sometimes the thoughts in your head are dark and shameful.

Because every day ends with regret.

 

And all around you are those mamas who make you feel inadequate without even trying.

Those mothers with stardust in their eyes.

And when you look at them you measure yourself and you know what you suspected all along.

You are not enough.

 

Sometimes you curse this life you made and all the smallness that surrounds you.

But mostly you curse yourself for your shortcomings.

And then the baby cries.

Again.

Or your children set to arguing.

Again.

 

And you know you're right.

Of course you're right.

You're not enough.

Oh, but sister. Hear me when I say:

You are.

You are good enough.

You are loving enough.

You are mother enough.

 

You are brilliantly, beautifully - yes! - the mama your children came here to find.

No, you aren't perfect.

But none of us are.

 

No one has it all dialed in.

We have all made mistakes.

Even the "Dali Mamas" around you.

Oh, yes. This I know is true.

 

And every day you are learning and growing and evolving.

You are becoming.

And you are their mama.

The one they came here for.

 

And for all of your flaws, they are sheltered by you.

They know love because your love is fierce.

And they learn to get up when they fall and try again by watching you.

 

And best of all, they know they don't have to be perfect to be enough.

What a gift that is.

 

And also know this:

As that mama who seems to have it together, I have never been more humbled in my mothering than when I see you keep your head just above water as the rapids around you churn.

 

Yes, mama. I see you.

And I'm humbled.

 

Now it's time to see yourself.

 

So are you enough?

Heck yes you are.

 

: : :

More inpsiration...

There is no label for what you do.

Stop comparing.

What I need.

Ten ways to rock your parenting, where ever you are.

What I did not know: reflections on motherhood.

And you can find more of my reflections on motherhood and imperfection here.

: : :

Originally published in 2013

Save

Finding balance

This weekend - like every weekend - was full to overflowing with things to do.

From planting garlic to tending our animals to digging out from under the final hurrah of produce from the garden, our plate was full. But as we hustled headlong through Saturday trying to get it all done I wondered - when isn't our plate full?

Life is work, work is life. Even if the garlic was in there would be meals to cook and dishes to wash and laundry to fold. And if we actually got on top of those tasks I'm certain their would be floors to sweep and toilets to scrub. And if we managed that - well, you get the idea.

We'll never get it done. 

The to-do list will never be empty. And honestly, I'm not sure what we would do with ourselves if it were. So I'm putting away that subconscious goal that was tucked in the back of our minds - completion. I'm done with the notion that after we get it done we can make time for other things. Because now is all we've got.

And it feels liberating.

The truth is that whatever time we have will be filled by the tasks at hand. Work will expand to fill the space available - if we allow it to. It's up to us to decide where we place that privilege.

And so while we worked hard this weekend on all that we wanted to accomplish, we also carved out time for other things. Things that matter so very much, but not because of what we scratched off our list.

We made space for meaningful conversations, slow meals, and helping friends. We opened ourselves to community, connection, and creativity. We found a bit of balance amid the hard and satisfying work of life. 

And you know, it turns out these other things also expand to fit the space you give them and are just as rewarding as crossing another chore off of the list. Perhaps more. 

Because at the end of the day (or the end of a life) what will you wish you had spent just a little more time doing? The chores on your to-list? Or laughing, helping, loving, and connecting with the people who matter to you most?

I know my answer.

And it turns out that "finding balance" was the most satisfying thing I crossed off my list all weekend.