Magnolia Arkansas and Caddo Lake State Park Tuesday March 25

We went for a nice canoe ride in the bayou. I've always wanted to float around the bald cypress trees. 

Family 

She wasn't too sure about what we were doing! 

Looking at the trees and turtles. 

Enjoying the sunshine 

On our way to Caddo we stopped in the little town of Magnolia Arkansas to walk around the old town and check out its stores. They had a fantastic collection of clothes, gifts and toys. We bought local honey and it's delish! 

We drove along the "boom or bust" and a "civil war" highway. There are oil pumps every where  now that we are in Texas. 

Lake Chicot State Park, AR.

Here we enjoyed walking in the park and watching the sun set over the lake. It's a rather long lake that used to be a part of the Mississippi River before it changed coarse cutting off what is now an oxbow shaped lake. 

The drive to the park was an adventure thanks to google maps. We ended up on an old dirt road full of pot holes and cattle guard crossings. Not the type of road you want to be on when pulling a large trailer. 

The park was full of families on spring break which reminded me of camping in New Zealand. 

Ella fussed all day and she still does not feel well. The only thing she enjoyed yesterday was riding in her stroller watching the kids play and watching the migrating birds fly around the lake. Traveling is tiring but it's exhausting when you have a sick baby. 

Lake Lowndes State Park, Mississippi

We made it through Alabama to spend the night in Mississippi. I always like camping in MS. because the campsites are clean and cheap. You cannot beat $20 for a lakefront full hookup campsite. 

It turns out that Ella is very cautious around geese. She latched on to dad when they came close to us trying to claim the campsite as their own and she did not take her eyes off them the rest of the evening. Thankfully, the geese did not like gordo. 

I enjoyed reading in the back and watching the sunset over the lake. 

Ella had another tooth popping out on the bottom! For a total of 7 teeth. 

We just had too...

Mississippi 

Hanging out on the bed while dada cleaned the trailer

Plenty of sunshine on our bed

Road trip home 2014

We are on the road back home to Alaska.

Any guesses on how many miles we will drive this leg of the trip?  

We camped at Chattahoochee Bend State Park for two nights. 

It's a new park and very nicely arranged. 

Zumba Instructor Certified 

Saturday I spent the day at the University of West Georgia dancing and learning Zumba. I am now certified to teach Zumba! I will be leading classes this summer in Talkeetna. 

Ella is still sick, but thankfully she no longer has the stomach bug. I can handle her having a cold a little easier but I am ready for her to be normal again. We've been battleing sicknesses since she received her last round of vaccines. She is also about to cut two more teeth next to her lower incisors. She currently has 6 teeth and she weighs 24lbs 4.5 oz. and is 31 inches long

Highlights of the past 3 months. 

-spending about two months at the beach

-Regina's wedding and seeing friends 

-spending the night at the Whitley Home

and having some good quality time with them

-being able to see Ella grow and learn. Her personality is really beginning to show. She loves calling gordo and feeding him. 

Words- mama, dada, gordo, nite nite, tata (my moms name) and no 

- Ella's first 1st birthday party with family and nearby friends. She received some amazing toys and it was so nice to see everyone and celebrate our dear child before we left Atlanta. 

-making memories :) 

We are now driving through Alabama! 

You buy organic food? haha

 
I began buying organic, local, and food without antibiotics well before it became a mainstream idea. I remember my family and some friends making fun of me for driving out of my way, spending extra money, and demanding organic and local items at restaurants and grocery stores. I ask a lot of questions.  For some, I can be a little bit embarrassing to shop with when buying food or eating at a restaurant. (picture me with a huge smile) Over a decade later, they have jumped on the movement and even proudly proclaim when they are able to find this or that item locally and grown organically. I no longer have to battle with them over the importance of eating healthy and being green. Now I often receive emails, texts, and Facebook messages asking for my opinion on certain items.

I read a lot. My favorite place is in the library but I cannot deny that there is a wealth of information on the internet. The internet makes it easy to read both sides of the story, helping me to understand the entire problem. I also love to watch documentaries. Again, I watch documentaries from both sides and I often will search related articles to supplement and support/reject their main point further. There is more than enough scientific evidence to support my ways and this growing movement today. I enjoy watching others change their life entirely to make this a way of living. My dream is to one day be able to do the same thing. For us that would mean living in one location and traveling less. Until then, I will continue making friends with farmers all over the USA.


You might enjoy

Eating Alabama  (this link will take you to the Eating Alabama website)

       I watched this documentary on PBS. PBS is my favorite channel!

Food Patriot  (this link will take you to the Food Patriot website)

       I have not been able to see this documentary but I am going to be looking for it as we travel back home. Maybe it will be shown at Bear Tooth Pub in Anchorage some day!

Have a great day!

Free e-Book

   The one thing I love most about the internet today is being able to get free stuff and fast! I love to read and cook so this free book from Amazon is just perfect for me. Most free books are only free for a few set hours so don't wait! If you do not have a kindle all you need to do is download the app for your i(device) and you can read kindle books.

Enjoy!

Easy Paleo Slow Cooker Meals by Arsy

Goat Cheese and Spanish Meatloaf

You pretty much can make meatloaf with anything. Why not goat cheese and spinach? 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes

Nutritional Options: low carb, keto, paleo

Servings: 3 adults

Ingredients:

1. 1 pound grass fed beef
2. 1/2 onion
3. 4 cloves garlic
4. handful of organic spinach
5. a small tube of goat cheese (I used herbed goat cheese) 
6. 2 tablespoons italian seasoning
7. 6 turns of himalayan rock salt 
8. 1/2 teaspoon pepper
9. 1 egg 
10. 1/4 cup pasture raised whole milk 

Directions:

1. preheat Oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit  
2. mince garlic ( I always do this first)
3. chop up onion and slightly beat egg
4. combine meat, egg, garlic, egg, onion, milk, and spices
5. lay out a piece of cling wrap and spread meat 
6. spread goat cheese in the center and add spinach
7. use cling wrap to roll meatloaf together
8. place in pan and form into a loaf- make sure to close ends
9. place in oven and bake for 45 minutes (grass fed beef is naturally leaner, don't overcook) 

Tips:

• during cold and flu season I cook with more onions and garlic. I actually made this meatloaf with an entire onion
• the original recipe had a tomato based topping. I omitted it to have fewer carbs, I wanted to save them for dessert! 
• I found this recipe on the blog "Wicked Stuffed" but I modified it to fit our needs. 
• the next time I'm going to use Blue Cheese!