Friday, January 18, 2013

Denial is not a River in Egypt

Well, friends, the Barefoot Hippies leave tomorrow for the opposite side of the globe. As you can see, my toenails are painted. Because I am totally about denial and procrastination.
newly painted toe nails...I have my trip priorities right.
My suitcases are not packed.
the packing disaster that is currently my bedroom
This situation will be rectified-in part-before I go to bed tonight. So that I can go to bed.
there is a method to my madness...I think
I want you all to not think I won't be here, even when I am not HERE. There's a vacation for the Barefoot Hippies, but not for my readers. This is the wonder of the internet. I can access my stuff anywhere.

I am planning to have posts, 5 days a week, just like always. There will be regular posts from me. Plus guest posts from a line up of fabulous ladies. And I am planning to insert some posts of where we are and what we are doing. So look for them. And follow, and share and tweet.

(Btw, have I said recently, "thank you" for following Barefoot Hippie Girl and reading my posts? Thank you!!! You all are such an encouragement to me!)

My commenting may be a little sporadic, but I will still try to get to each of you within a day or two.

The Barefoot Hippies are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. We are excited and nervous. And we value your prayers.

Pray for:

Safe travel
Good kids-especially on the planes
Flexibility and peace (this would be for me in particular)
Luggage arrives at each destination with us
Bless the socks off every person we meet

This is the sight that greeted me one afternoon this week. Potatoes artfully arranged by Meres.


As you can see, she has always been rather into my raw potatoes. I periodically find little bitten chunks out of them as I go to peel a potato.

but how can I fault someone with those precious eyes?

 Meres, and her love of potatoes is sponsoring our weekly small kitchen adventure.

This recipe was given to me by Mrs. Guikema (one of my influential woman-here). It is a soup that she made for us one evening, and because we liked it so much, she shared the easy recipe.

And now, even though she has been gone four years, I still can have fond reminisces of her every winter when I make her delicious soup.

Like I said, it is an easy recipe. Aren't most of my recipes easy? The base is 2 family size cans of bean and bacon soup. I used to use Aldi brand because they had it, and it was cheaper. But, they no longer carry it, so I used Campbell's this time. The resulting soup was much thicker. It was amazing.

It is basically a doctored up bean soup. More complex than just eating it from the can. Quicker than starting dry beans from scratch with a ham bone.

Kielbasa Bean Soup
3 cups diced potatoes
3-1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
8 cups water
2 pounds (less or more according to taste) Kielbasa sausage, sliced thin
2 family size cans Campbell's Bean & Bacon soup
1 t. salt
1/2 t pepper

-Combine first 5 ingredients. Boil until done. Add the soup, sausage, salt and pepper and simmer for 30 minutes or longer-until you are ready to eat. Stir often to keep from sticking.

Enjoy with fresh biscuits and homemade jam. We do.

What is your favorite soup for the chilly winter months? Tell me in the comments!


A shout out to my sister, Bek! She delivered twins yesterday! Bethany and Gideon! But are in the 6 pound range and are doing well. I am so excited for her, and I can't wait to meet those babies!