Sunday, October 2, 2011

Toot-Toot! Meet the New Summer Schaefer

This post is dedicated to those who knew me in my former life. I'm talking about those who knew the me that balked at everything house-wife-ish. And those who knew me to forget the lemon in a lemon meringue pie and literally explode a pan of brownies. Literally. I'm talking about my parents who got a phone call as I went from Florida to BYU as an 18 year old saying, "I can't be here! I don't fit in with all these MORMON girls who cook and bake and sing and play piano!" And I'm talking about friends who listened to me mentally gag at the idea of nursing, but it didn't matter, because I was sure I wouldn't be getting married anyway. That is who I dedicate this post to because, boy oh boy, THINGS HAVE CHANGED!
I, of course, did get married. And now I have three wonderfully fantastic and crazy kids. In a side note, I am now very pro-nursing and even nursed my oldest until he was 3 months shy of 3 years old!
I just feel the compulsion to list some of the changes that I, Summer Schafer, have made in the last few years (hard as they are to believe).

Changes:
-First I began to enjoy cooking. AND I wasn't so bad at it. Shocking.
-Next I learned to do Foot Renewal. I went to a school to learn the art of rubbing the feet in very specific ways to spark the signals of the body for healing. Its pretty amazing. I don't do it enough, really. But I can!
-I switched full board to brown rice. Even those picky kids of mine.
-I learned to use essential oils for health benefits. Some of my favorites are Lavender oil for calming (etc...) and DoTerra's Breathe for asthma and congestion.
-I often clean with a vinegar, water, and essesntial oil mixture.
-We did a garden last year and I kinda sorta liked it. I also used to mock these people. We were too busy to garden this summer though :(
-For my family, I started GRINDING wheat AND making homemade wheat bread! WHAT??? I used to mock those people!
-Now I am learning that I need to soak wheat and other grains and legumes before cooking them for my family. This removes dangerous and nutrient blocking phytic acids (and more).
-For myself, I make a homemade sour dough wheat bread. I'm the only one who will eat it, but it's worlds ahead on the nutrition scale.
-I grow Kefir from Kefir grains and use it in smoothies, dressings, and for other milk substitutes.
-I make (almost) green smoothies. I say 'almost' b/c I haven't yet acquired the taste for veggie dominant smoothies.
-I switched to a natural soap made with veggie oil. We use Real Salt. We use actual butter (I've even made some). I occasionally put down the Pam and use liquid lecithin mixed with olive oil. I only use EVOO and coconut oil when I cook. I grind flax seed.
-I rarely use the microwave. When I do, I make sure to cook on glass or ceramic.
-I made homemade (baby) brown rice cereal and oat cereal.
-We don't have cable. We cut it mainly for financial reasons, but with other entertainment options available, we probably won't go back. Instant Netflix is easier to monitor what our kids watch and we're not subject to all those commercials. Plus, I get addicted to TV series pretty insanely fast.
-I got off my anti-anxiety medicine and have been successful off thanks to oils and nutrition. But I will concede that if I need to be on meds, then I need to be on meds, and I would in that case go back on.
-I fought Quincy's eczema with either vinegar or bleach in her bathwater and lotion mixed with essential oils. None of that steroid crap.
-I'm finally starting to lose weight after an incredibly discouraging FOUR YEAR FAIL! I tried and I tried and I tried. For me (and I do think its somewhat unique to me) I have to eat the RIGHT foods (read: whole foods) rather than cut calories to shed pounds. True story.

Now I need to list the things I WANT to do:
-I want to switch to a aluminum-free antiperspirant/deodorant. I tried. Tom's. The crystal rock thing. I STANK. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
-I want to exercise REGULARLY. This could/should soon be a reality b/c I had my leaky bladder surgically fixed and just completed the "don't exert for 3 months" requirement. So I just purchased a trial gym membership.
-I want to make cultured veggies, like saur-kraut and pickles. The raw, no vinegar, fermented kind. I need to shell out cash for the proper equipment.
-I want my children to eat healthily, rather than eating a few healthy things as side-dishes to the crap. I have a game plan. The main prob here is I'm a softie. But I figure they get enough treats at places like school, so they don't need junk from me too. Wish me luck in the fight.
-I want to eat local and organic produce and animal products. I'll get on that.
-Going green. I'm just not there. I drive my car. I don't bring my own bags to the store. I use sandwich baggies. Things like that. Someday I'll be converted I suspect.
-I want to live on a large plot of land in a modest house in almost the middle of nowhere.
-Making cheese. Someday I will. Sooner than later I think.

And finally, a list of things I can't seem to wrap my head around:
-Home School. I wish I could... I think. But pretty sure I'd suck at it. And I do see some definite benefits to public schooling. But it kinda feels like throwing my kids to the wolves. Oh well.
-Sewing. Probably a useful thing. Or I could just keep my sewing friends who love me. Yeah, I'll do that.
-Crafting. Occasionally I try against my soul-deep better judgment. And I repeatedly fail. Blech!
-Cooking only with ceramic, glass, or stainless steel. I should, I know! But I love my non-stick pans.
-Herbal Remedies. YUCKY-YUCK-YUCK! Oils do the same thing, right?
-Cloth diapers. Can't. Get. Over. The. Gross. Sorry.
-Running a self-sustaining little farm. Amazing. But I'm pretty sure I'm too lazy for that.
-Reading consistently. A good thing, I hear. But, who's got the time?

Over the years, I have learned this about myself. Never say never. Maybe someday I'll be a marathon runner or something crazy like that. Maybe I'll sell homemade blankets or bows or jewelry. Maybe I'll be a vegan. Or maybe I'll SING AND PLAY PIANO! Who knows, because life brings you to crazy places when you're ready and not a minute before.

But, as it stands, I guess I'm a hippie of sorts. WHO EVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED???!!! I want to stay working at home as long as possible, just loving on that family of mine and nurturing their bodies and souls.

Note: While I have made a lot of changes in our home, I am not 100% at anything. Nothing. And I like it that way. Flexibility in the discipline.

25 comments:

tawnya said...

So much to say...

Summer's World said...

Tawnya, how much do we agree or disagree? You're leaving me hanging!

tawnya said...

A lot. Agree. But you know how I feel about the whole foods and the alternative medicine and I haven't used anything but vinegar and baking soda to clean in six years. And, well, kefir and I are besties.

Have you tried making your own deo? It's on my list to do.
Going green. I just finished my produce preserving for the freezer in all canning jars instead of plastic. Awesome.
My SIL makes cheese. She says mozzarella is super easy. I need to try.

I don't think homeschooling is for everyone. I really don't. I don't even think it's for a lot of people who try.

Why is there such emphasis placed on crafts? That is so not a "mark of woman", you know?

Yes. You should get rid of your nonstick. That's the only thing I would give you grief on! ;)

Well, that and the reading. You MAKE time because it's important!

I think this lifestyle we've both stumbled into is great, but we're not 100% either. I believe it whole heartedly, but also believe in moderation. I do what I am convicted in, but the other, I'm ok. I'm glad I'm conscious and learning and I think that's the most important thing.

The most important thing to say, however, is....SUM! YOU BLOGGED!

david said...

oh summer! i love reading about your life! i wish i could see you more often.

david said...

sorry...it's actually jenny using david's account :)

Summer's World said...

We really have a lot in common. A lot of things that I think are cool. Good point on the reading. Do things stick a ton when you cook on your stainless steel or is there a solution I don't know. I actually have tried to make deodorant. It was just baking soda and essential oils and it was a big fail. Let me know if you find a good solution there. I like having a friend here in the stumbled upon lifestyle! You have my respect on your efforts there too! And thanks! I BLOGGED!!!

Adam and Shari Crawford said...

Yeah!!! You're alive!!! I texted you a couple weeks ago, but didn't get a response, so I didn't know if you were still with us :) I do admire all you ladies and your changes. Shows GREAT strength and character (to switch to all the new changes in your lives and routines)
Sum, I'm not sure if living in a modest house in the middle of nowhere is all it's cracked up to be :)

Emily said...

Who are you??? Just kidding. You've told me about some of these changes, but seeing them all written out, wow, impressive! Just goes to show that you really don't know who you'll be in years to come. Miss you!!! Thanks for the blog update!

tawnya said...

I don't use Pam - we went straight to olive oil mister I got from Kitchen Kneads. And no. I don't notice the sticking, only sometimes, and that's what soaking is for! It's just not worth it to me enough to get nonstick.

Sarah Craig said...

When you wrote Kefir, did you mean Reefer. You grow your own Reefer? Awesome!!

Brimaca said...

Wow so many of us have gone greener in recent years. There are some of those things I'm way behind you on. If fact, I have to research some of it and why you do it....but anyway, I've changed a lot too. I like who I am. This somewhere in between the super-greenies and non-greenies. :) I also want to stay-at-home for a long time. Someone has to be that mom who can be room mom or voluteer at the school. How can I do that if I go back to work when they are in school? Who would drive the sister missionaries around? You know, stuff like that.

Danielle said...

Oh how I miss you! I still want to see some pictures of your, probably toddler now, but...baby!
So proud of you for all these changes! You make me want to do better. I did try kefir the other day though. I dry heaved, but I know it's good for ya so I might try it again. Oh and I had my mom rub some essential oils on my feet. See, we are almost the same!?! :) Miss your cute face.

attack of The Mouse said...

Okay, I want your baby rice/oatmeal recipe. I've tried to make it and I failed. I gave up and just buy the stuff. I'd love to make it. Your awesome, and a great example. Kristen

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About Me

My photo
Logan, UT
So I used to think... I used to think it was my world. Maybe Michael thought it was his. But we have been re-educated. By a 4 year old and a 2 year old. It's their world. We live in it.

A peek into our window

Birth of Child #1

Birth of Child #1
He looked like a blue alien. Luckily it didn't stick. And thank goodness we didn't go with Michael's idea to name him based on what he looked like.

Birth of Child #2

Birth of Child #2
Much less eventful, thank goodness! She was born with red hair and 2 teeth... and skin colored skin!

Quincalicious!

  • Quincy says "Where's Avy? I dunno." She talks sooo much and she's so small (5th percentile) that is seems like she shouldn't be talking at all.
  • She roams wildly during church and has become quite the scavenger approaching anyone with food. Its embarrasingly adorable!
  • Quincy's vocab has exploded to include the words, "please, thank you, outside, sucker, candy, Avery, Grandpa, slide, ride, hold you, ni-night, water, bird, doggie, airplane, etc.....! She seems so little!
  • One of the most "wow" things she has done is climb one of those HUGE blow-up slides and slide down REPEATEDLY, ALL BY HERSELF!!!
  • Quincy (with great effort) threw the upper couch cushions on the floor and then proceeded to dive off couch, climb back up, repeat.
  • She says"I want: cookie, go, this, that, drink, wa-wa, play." She also says no, baby, hello, bye-bye, and peek-a-boo. And of course she says "Mom and Da."
  • Quincy talks a lot now. But first thing in the day and then 100 more times: "I want coo-kie." Very telling about her love affair with food.

AVERYISMS

  • A day after being educated, Avery pulled down his pants and touched his boyhood saying, "Hey Grandma, these are my private parts." HA-larious!
  • (After using the bathroom) "I made a waterfall. Then I made it stop."
  • "Hey Dad. This is my [invisible] friend Caillou. Will you be a monster and scare us?"
  • "Grandpa, what's in your belly?" says Avery. Mom says, "What do you think is in there?" "A baby?" guesses Avery. "Nope. Just lots of cherries," says Grandpa Schaefer. HAH!
  • Quincy was crying in the middle of the night and Avery said, "Take a deep breath, Quincy." It was sweet.
  • Quincy was screaming like a pterodactyl for Avery's food, so he snapped "Chill Out Quincy!"
  • In Avery's first attempt at being a smart-a, he was playing with his friend Jaden Knight and we were asking the boys their full names. Avery responded that his name was Avery James Day. Might have had to be there.
  • Avery still tries to stick his hand down my shirt. When I won't let him, he occasionally asks if he can stick his foot down my shirt instead.
  • I told Avery that Heavenly Father lived in heaven. He thought I said he lived 'with Kevin', so in alarm he asked, "With Kevin and Melissa?!!!"
  • Avery was out cold and we had to go. It was odd how I couldn't wake him, so I threw him over my shoulder and started heading out. All of the sudden with startling gusto, he yelled "I see Jesus." I thought he was a visionary, but turns out he woke up just as I walked past a picture of Christ.