About Shanda

wife, mom of seven, friend, child of God

life with preschoolers

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Shanda

In a few short years,

running errands will never be this interesting for me again.

heart

photos with captions

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Shanda

“Caleb helping Seth with his mitten”

“We found a gun”

“Seth tasted the ice”

“This is a very steep hill”

“Two of the cutest faces in the world”

“Writing out the entire book of John”

“Breakfast with dear friends”

“Another fabulous thrift stop find”

“Grace and her cat, Socks”

“Yours truly”

“Mine truly”

“Bitty Baby was dressed in an Valentine outfit”

“Oh Sarah you are too scrumptious”

“How did she get sooooooo many cheerios on her spoon?”

“Inside today::I’m matching a gazziollion bazzillion socks”

“Outside today::I’m going for a walk”

One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats. ~Iris Murdot

It’s a treat to hear from you today, friend.

Congrats to two of our bloggy neighbors, Dawn and Jannie, on the recent arrival of new grandbabies!

A warm welcome back to Danishdoll; it’s good to hear from you again. You were missed.

A special hello to any of my family reading this.

You are loved,

xoxo

“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Fred Rogers

saturday morning breakfast (a menu)

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Shanda

Cooking for six people is like having a cafe. Linda McCartney. (I cook for nine)

Blueberry buttermilk hotcakes, served with maple syrup and butter

Sausage patties

Hashbrown casserole

(I thought if I posted this menu today, those of you who would like to try the recipes have enough time to get to the store if necessary.)

Blueberry Buttermilk Hotcakes

This recipe is from a cookbook, now falling apart, that my Aunt Mary gave to me when I was first married. It’s a special recipe, with the addition of cornmeal and a touch of cinnamon. This is my tripled version of the original recipe.

3 cups flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3 beaten egg
3 cups buttermilk or sour milk (add a healthy splash of vinegar to regular milk and let sit a few minutes until it thickens)
1/2 cup cooking oil

In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together egg, buttermilk, and oil. Add to flour mixture all at once. Stir mixture just till combined but still slightly lumpy.

For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot, lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat about two minutes, adding a sprinkling of blueberries before flipping to cook other side. Serve warm with butter and syrup.

Hashbrown casserole (from allrecipes.com)

This recipe is a new one for us. I love the casserole at Crackerbarrel and wanted to find a similar recipe for home. I did not add the topping, but did sprinkle paprika on top before baking for a nice warm color~

2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons dried minced onion flakes
ground black pepper to taste
1 (2 pound) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
4 ounces extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup crushed cornflakes cereal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix together the soup, sour cream, butter, dried onion flakes, and pepper. Stir in the hash browns and 1/2 the cheese. Pour into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and top with crushed cornflakes.
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

I love cooking for my family

My assistant this Saturday was son Davy (9 years old), who took over pancake flippin’ so I could sit down and eat before everyone else was done. He was so proud of himself, and by the time the batter was gone he was an expert flipper. As we all know, it can be tricky.

If you have an opportunity to try these recipes, I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. I think you will. winky

Here are a few pictures that I couldn’t resist taking, this morning:

Sarah Joy, sitting in a sunbeam, busily coloring a nice picture for mama with her little tiny hands.

And this is really exciting. A SPRING FLOWER HAS APPEARED.

Yellow crocus, in the garden by our side door.

“I poured out my soul before God, and arose from my knees in peace, because the trouble that was in the soul was in believing prayer cast upon God.” George Meuller

“Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless-that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9

“Rise up, O Lord, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.” Psalm 21:13

journal cover

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Shanda

I wanted to decoupage this weekend. so after I went to the craft store with Grace, I came home and decided to begin by making a pretty cover for my plain green journal/daybook.

I’m happy with how it turned out. I looked through three magazines and chose the pictures that I liked the best. I glued them all onto the journal and after it dried, I put two more coats of glue on, to seal it.

This journal is almost full and I’ve very much enjoyed writing in it.

Journaling Ideas: Recipes, quotes, verses, book lists, menu ideas, thankful lists, weather reports, pictures from the children, pictures from magazines, diary entries of what I did that day, favorite songs, prayers, cards that friends sent me, inspiring people, interesting clips from newspapers or magazines, house decorating tips, thoughts, reminders, and goals.

“It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” Hebrews 13:9

her first manicure

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Shanda

On the way in, I told her to pick a light color.

But she got dazzled by all the choices and forgot.

What do I know anyway? The sparkly brown is perfect for our girl Grace.

I sat next to her and got mine painted pink.

Then, after our nails dried we went to the craft store. I’m going to decoupage today!

Hope your Saturday is going well, friends.

xoxo

{this moment}

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Shanda

A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

He can get his own cereal now.

vintage sewing basket

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Shanda

My Dad and Mom sent me a little somethin’ to spend for my birthday.

Remember my story yesterday, about the Valentine party and how I got out my Great Grandma’s punch set to use? Well…..I couldn’t find the ladle to go with the set so I thought I would venture to the antique store with my birthday money in my purse, to see if I could find one, and I did (find one).

Since I was already there and all, I took the opportunity to wander around looking at all the fascinating things on display, or, as in the case of the sewing basket, tucked away into a corner just waiting to be discovered.

It was pink, the perfect shade. It had a wooden lid. It was a basket and there were flowers on the lid and it was old and……….

………..when I lifted up the lovely lid, I found STUFF inside, sewing stuff!

Coats and Clarks thread on wooden spools, pincushions, a tiny pair of scissors, hooks, and little tape measure, safety pins, packets of needles, a little box of sequins, a white plastic thimble.

Very fun, and just the thing my mom herself would find irresistible. I bought the ladle and the basket and a couple of old books (perfect birthday gifts), thanks, Dad&Mom!

(The old books were: The Burgess Flower Book for Children (1923), and a brightly illustrated copy of Mother Goose rhymes).

The package of “Sewing Susan” needles is so dear. I may not do much sewing at this time, but she still inspires me.

I can’t be a sewing Susan, but I can be the best “Sewing Shanda” I can be. And my new vintage sewing basket will be by my side. heart

valentine party for friends

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Shanda

We have been friends together
In sunshine and in shade.
~Caroline Sheridan Norton

Six years ago, I hosted the very first “Valentine party for friends” at my house.

Although my desire was to have it every year, we missed four years because of pregnancies and new babies. Even though our original group is not the same (several ladies have moved away and two have been added heart ), I felt that the time we spent together was better than ever. We’ve all grown and changed, but our love and friendship has remained.

As I made preparations for the party on Saturday, February 11th, I prayed that God would bless our time together.

I washed up my Great Grandma’s punch bowl and cups in hot soapy water until it sparkled.

I gathered enough fiestaware for us all. Scarlet, Rose, Cinnabar, and White.

I got little valentine gifts made: Godiva chocolates wrapped in pretty paper and string.

(Grace was very fascinated by this and made one for her bus driver, Tina.)

Rich and I made a special trip to my favorite bakery for some pretty desserts; red velvet cupcakes and a small, heart-shaped chocolate cake.

The gathering began at 5:30pm. Soon we were all together again, laughing and talking non stop, just like always.

This is our wonderful friend Trish, with my adorable sister Amanda (in her fancy red pants!) We always wear red, white, or pink tops to the party….just for fun…..

This is my dear friend Caroline.

I made chicken florentine (Giada’s recipe=yum), rice, and salad.

Our dear friend Elissa moved back home to Illinois, but I’m wearing the cherry apron she gave me and she was in my thoughts often~

One of my favorite parts of dinner; watching the ladies serve each other.

Amanda, Alicia, Trish, Cathi, Caroline, Kathy, and Shanda. Five old friends who have been through thick and thin together, two new ones who don’t know what they’re getting themselves into (ha ha). God is SO good, to give us the gift of friendship. It’s our desire to nurture our relationships, encourage one another, and always be on the look out for other kindred spirits/sisters to join us as we fellowship in our area of Connecticut.

We gave cards and gifts, and wrote in our little book (pictured above with the red cover).

TRULY:

Good conversation is as stimulating as black coffee,
and just as hard to sleep after.
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Everyone left by 8:30 and I could not sleep until midnight I was so excited. It was very special for me to have these women in my home and in my life. We are planning another gathering, soon.

I love you, sisters!

happy valentine’s day

Image

birthday celebrations

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Shanda

This adorable (if I do say so….) card came in the mail on Saturday, my thoughtful mom made it herself. It made me cry, actually. However, it also made me laugh because the age is wrong, and the reason that it’s wrong is because there was a brief period of time in which there was no doubt in my mind that I was turning 35. OOPS. I even told mom, “Please come out for my birthday, it’s a milestone, 35!” I either sounded very convincing, or she felt sorry for me. Like a big dope, I told several people I was turning 35.

My friend Kathy eventually cleared it up, as she knows exactly the number of years between us and set me straight.

((happy to be:36))

Consequently, I didn’t fully understand how old I was going to be until just a few days beforehand. Has this ever happened to anyone else? I was telling a lady at church the story and she said that when she turned 49, she and her mother both thought it was her 50th! She got a year back, which is the much better way to forget your age, I think.

So, on my birthday, we went to church, like we always do on Sundays. Rich taught Sunday school (it was on a parable about prayer), and then we had a sermon from our preacher (about how God knows the very number of hairs on our heads). Darling son Seth fell asleep and I was able to hold him all through church, which was a gift. He was so sweet as he slept in my arms.

After church we were hungry, so did our usual thing: take out lunches. The children had Wendy’s burgers. fries, and nuggets. Rich and I had BBQ at a new place for us. It was very good. I had pulled pork with sauce on the side, coleslaw, and a very yummy black bean cold salad with cilantro in it.

But, the best part of all……..was when we arrived home and discovered this:

My sister Amanda, her husband, Jason, and their children (Abbie, Naomi, and Weston) came to the house and decorated for a party while we were at church! They were gone by the time we arrived, and it was so fun to admire everything they did for me. For all of us, really, because the children were just as excited as I was (Rich was in on the surprise).

I discovered pretty beads, and a “big fun button” to wear.

There were cookies, on a decorated table. These cookies reminded the children of marshmallows. In fact, Seth called them, “Lucky Charms.” hm.

There were notes taped to the window.

“Happy Birthday!!! 36 is very young. You have a long way to go Aunt Shanda” (from Abbie)

From Amanda:

From my brother in law (he’s such a wonderful guy!) He even did up my dishes that were in the sink.

Of course I had to take pictures of everything, and daughter Grace took these for me:

Here I am with my tall son Jacob!

(I wish you could see my feet, I was wearing some darling new silver flats!)

(mercy me, I just noticed Seth, pay no attention to that.)

Amanda and Jason even brought me a cake, candles, plates, and ice cream.

They thought of everything. (and what a great thing for the children to see::love between siblings, even grown up ones!)

Poor David was sad because he put the candles in the cake and pushed them too far in. We didn’t realize how long it would take to light *all those candles* so by the time Rich got to the end, the first ones were melting into the cake (and the big brothers were teasing him about it)….