4 large eggs 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon almond or lemon extract 1 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 cup sliced almonds (optional) (I used slivered because it was what I had) Preheat the oven to 325. Lightly grease a 9 by 13 pan. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the eggs well, until light colored and thick.
Add the sugar and salt, continuing to beat until shiny and pale yellow.
Add the extract, melted butter, and 1 cup flour, mixing it in gently.
Mix in the remaining 1 cup flour. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the nuts.
Bake the bars for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges are pulling away from the sides of the pan and they’re a very light gold color. Remove from the oven and cool before cutting into squares.
As we waited for them to cool, we read a few library books……
Then, we went into the kitchen to cut into the cookies. They had baked nicely into a soft, cake like bar, and the smell of almond was like aromatherapy. Unfortunately Sarah wasn’t partial to them. But her Dad and I liked them very much. (the other children are at school, so I don’t know what they think of them quite yet) I especially liked the almonds on top. Because they weren’t mixed into the batter they stayed nice and crisp, as a nutty nut should be.
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke
I am almost certain that the first time I heard of Kombucha was from Eyes of Wonder’s blog.
*********
A few months ago I was at the bookstore with Grace and I randomly found a book in the cookbook section titled Delicious Probiotic Drinks. I sat down with my daughter across the table writing, to browse through it, and liked it so much that I went home and ordered it through amazon. When it came in the mail I once again enjoyed looking through it several more times and felt determined to try to make Kombucha. (the book also contains directions to make kefir, ginger beer, and other naturally fermented drinks)
My friend Hannah-Banana makes it, which made the process seem much more doable. She has the experience and was a much needed inspiration.
I do sometimes make plans to make something (like soap) and never get around to it. I hoped that this wouldn’t be the case with the probiotic drinks. Eventually, after the cookbook had collected some dust, I bit the bullet so to speak, and went on Amazon to order the things I needed to make my first batch. “I want to do this, I’m going to do this, and it may as well be NOW.”
My bag of starter (SCOBY) came on Ethan’s birthday. So I set it aside on the counter (oh no, will I EVER get around to it??).
I felt that I simply must just take the plunge, so using the print out that came with the SCOBY, and my valuable book, I nervously sterilized my equipment and made my first batch on a Friday night. (the 6th of March, day AFTER the birthday).
In a nutshell, what you do to make the drink is to brew a tea solution with one cup of sugar, then add the SCOBY, put cloth over the top and let it sit for a week or more to ferment.
“The probiotics and yeast (the scoby) eat the sugar, which ferments the beverage and results in a drink that is acidic, probiotic-rich, and mildly alcoholic.” ~Julia Mueller
My gallon jar of tea and SCOBY was placed in my closet. It needed to be in a warm, dark, quiet place and after thinking it through I felt that my closet was the best room in the house for such things.
Over a week went by and I started texting Hannah through Facebook (she should live next door, but she lives in Alaska) about when my Kombucha should be done, did I do it right? Should I have used soap to scrub my jar? Should I have used tap water for the tea? She could sense my anxiety and told me not to stress, all would be well.
Indeed, the print-out did encourage saying a blessing over your beverage and sending it nothing but good vibes…..so I took a deep breath to release the stress, checked my jar, took a few pictures to send to Hannah, and she agreed that it really did look as though it was thriving. The SCOBY was growing.
Seeing the new scoby forming filled me with pride.
I put it back in the closet for three more days, when I decided to be brave and try a sip.
I’ve had Kombucha from Target before so I knew what to expect….and my taste-test tasted great!
On Monday night, with Grace sitting at the counter making me laugh, I chopped up a fresh pineapple and bottled the drink for it’s second fermentation.
I took the scoby off the top of the jar with my hands and put it in a glass pitcher with 2 cups of the tea (to use for the next batch), and then poured the rest into the plastic pitcher.
Then I poured the tea out of the plastic pitcher through a funnel into the bottles, in which I had added a few tablespoons of pineapple.
I ended up with six bottles to put back in the closet to ferment. I opened up the first one last night and it was delicious. Um, the kids don’t seem to like it though. Rich had to work very late last night so he has to try it later on today. He’s had the Target Kombucha and I sure hope he thinks our home-brew is just as good, if not better.
Did I mention that it is fizzy like soda? But it’s healthy! Low carb! Pro-biotic! Mildly achoholic! Pretty exciting stuff but you do have to have a taste for it. I’ll let you try when you come visit me, dear local friends. 🙂
I have another gallon of it brewing in my closet and it should be done by Monday. I told Grace that Monday night bottling will have to be our new tradition. It was fun to have her company in the kitchen. Next time I will try a different flavor, too.
With fingers shaking with exhaustion, I bring to you day four of our admiration for all things handmade. Yes, I am tired, but it is only the common tiredness of motherhood, so I am thankful. For instance, it’s taking a long time for Seth’s amazon.com order to come. He asks so much for his little dog Duke which he ordered days ago. Seems like forever. And another boy is having a little trouble, and another one (a girl) doesn’t get home until way after dinner is over, and a couple others stay up too late playing video games, and another one forgot to do his homework, and another one was so grumpy…..and several are still coughing. But, it’s not a big deal, the sun is shining and soon the snow will be gone along with all the problems. LOL
I read Seth and Sarah Curious George and the Pizza this midmorning which gave Seth a powerful hunger for pizza of our own. Did you know that when a child is recovering from being sick you’re supposed to do whatever they ask? Me neither, but in this case it seemed good and proper so we got in the kitchen, argued about who was going to stand where, and made HANDMADE pizza and they were so cute that I had to document the process with the camera.
Seth was telling her that his was going to be better but she didn’t care.
She was busy spreading around sauce and she was entirely capable…. sauce sauce sauce, rub, pour, slap, sauce.
And then when it came to the cheese…..she put a tiny bit right in the middle. Very amusing.
What she really wanted to do was eat all the dough raw but we talked her out of it.
Seth’s was stuffed crust.
We each made our own pizza and we all exchanged slices with each other.
Seth, can I have a piece of yours? Sure!
Do you want a piece of mine? Uh…. Okay!
Try mine!
She had to blow on her pizza a little bit and we made up a song about it.
I was pretty proud of mine, too! We were all proud of our pizza.
On Saturday, my Mom and Dad gave me a handmade wooden box , and they also gave me this handmade trinket hook board.
I hung it up today, it was obviously made for the wall above my sewing table. It should have only taken two holes in the wall, but of course it took me four since it was a struggle for me to get it straight…….(don’t tell Rich)…..
They decorated it with buttons from my childhood clothes. I loved these heart buttons then, and I still love them now. (first day of Kindergarten dress)
They used other little odds and ends, too. I hung some of my necklaces from the hook on the left.
And a beaded necklace, with a paper heart made by Dawn, was hung on the hook on the right.
The two metal pieces are an “S” for my initial, and a “38” for my age. Everything was meaningful……
Even the board was from my Grandfather’s chopper (farming machinery).
zzzzzzzzzzzzz
I’ll be back tomorrow with no words, for a “this moment” friday post.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you…write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 3:3
Today I have a delicious recipe to share with you. It is a cake that I began making many years ago, when I was a teenager. I am forever grateful to my Mom for giving me free reign in the kitchen to learn to bake before I was married. This recipe is special to me because everyone who tries it loves it. It is a very simple, quiet cake to make by hand; no mixer is necessary.
The cake itself is an uncomplicated butter cake with a surprise thickened fruit filling in the middle. The original recipe suggests raspberry filling, which is delicious, but I typically make it with strawberry, my favorite.
It is beautifully cream colored and golden, buttery, with a layer of pink, perfect for any time and perhaps Valentine’s Day, which is four days away. Men love cake. My dear husband Rich loves this cake, especially. Your man might be similar to my man and prefer this cake over any other. I am sure he would love this particular cake as an edible Valentine’s gift from his loving (and devoted) wife. Maybe for dessert after a juicy steak dinner?
If your man does not like cake, might I suggest baking it for the children?
S T R A W B E R R Y R I P P L E T E A C A K E
1 10 oz package sweetened berries in juice (from the frozen section at the grocery store)
1 Tablespoon cornstarch or flour
For the Filling: In a small saucepan, stir undrained fruit and cornstarch till combined. Cook and stir until thick. Remove from heat, set aside to cool.
For the Cake:
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup salted butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup sour milk (1 T.vinegar, add milk to measure) OR buttermilk
Grease and flour a 10 by 12 round tart pan. You may also use a round cake pan.
In a large bowl stir together flour and sugar, cut in butter. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping. Into remaining flour stir Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt. Make a well in center for combined egg and sour milk. Stir until just moistened. Spread 3/4 batter in bottom of pan. Spread filling on top of batter, spoon on remaining batter and crumb topping.
Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
This is what the unbaked cake looks like after dropping batter on top of the filling. The cake will spread and come together when it bakes, so don’t worry about covering the filling entirely.
The crumbs also cover the filling. This is what it looks like after sprinkling them on top, right before popping it into the oven.
Oh happy day, the cake is baked.
Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing..
for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
Baking a cake for a sad/lonely or happy/celebratory person/family would also be a good idea. This is a great cake to give away.
Enjoy.
*****
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life…It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” Melody Beattie
“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”
Super bowl sunday was an entire week ago but I must blog about it because it was such a fun day.
First of all, that morning Rich had a wrestling tournament to coach. He had Seth, Caleb, and David with him.
Second of all, Sarah Joy woke up with the stomach bug. Horrors.
Third of all, Isaac and Cass wanted to come to church with me which left me in a quandary because I typically don’t leave sick babies home with older siblings.
HOWEVER, she wasn’t sad or overly grumpy so Rich and I decided just this once that she would be fine if I left her home with Grace to take care of. Mike had spent the night that night with the boys so when I left for church that morning I had Cass in the front with me, then Mike, Ethan, and Isaac in the middle, and Jacob in the back (soon to be joined by Emily, whom we picked up on the way).
We talked and laughed all the half hour way to church. It was such a joy to me, as I spend most of my time with younger people (four year olds).
After church we went to the Chinese buffet where Isaac ate so much he got the “meat sweats”. As I predicted, he ruined his appetite for Super Bowl food. Anyway, it was hilarious and I took this group selfie when we loaded in the car after eating……
When we got home Cass and I started getting things ready for the party. We made a salad and some hot artichoke cheese dip.
Zak was one of our guests for the day. He is on the wrestling team and a friend of Ethan, Jacob…..and Parker the dog, too. 🙂
There was nonstop partying going on once everyone arrived. Another wrestler, Dom, came, and our good friends, the K’s came, too. Amanda and Jason came with their friend Inna, and their three kids, Abbie, Naomi, and Weston.
I was very distracted but tried taking some pictures of the evening, in the midst of socializing, keeping the kitchen going, and helping Sarah throw up. (Sarah was quarantined in my room.) Multitasking!!!
Isaac brought me a Christmas gift from Dave, which was in the blue container seen on the coffee table in the picture. ^^ It was a bottle of fancy cherry balsamic vinegar. Thank you, brother!
We piled on the couches, and the guys in the back of it were sitting at the black bookcase behind the couch, on stools. The game was great….so exciting!
I made Jason very uncomfortable by taking his photo.
Today is actually their six month wedding anniversary!!!!!!! Let me gush for a moment just because I’m their big sister……Isaac and Cassandra are such a great couple, I get all teary eyed thinking about them. They are in love like lovers, best friends, AND siblings…they tease, laugh, and snuggle constantly. Isaac won’t let Cassandra open her own car door. I mean, they are just the most encouraging people to be around if you have doubts about true love these days. They have it, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.
Our good friends, Caroline and Chris, are in fact Jacob, Ethan, and Grace’s “second parents”. 🙂 They live just a few miles away from us and have two teen children. We love this family so much.
I kept trying and trying to take a good picture of Gracie and Abigail and finally settled on this one.
Weston ADORES his big cousin Jake. He was so thrilled to sit next to him for a picture. As you can see, he also respects him highly, too. 😉
Rich and Jason, (my husband and my sister’s husband)….these are all around GREAT men in the workplace, family, and community. So thankful.
We had so much food it was ridiculous. I only took one picture of it and here it is. THE CRACK. It’s funny because Isaac and Cassandra make this as their specialty. It’s graham crackers with butter and chocolate and I don’t know what else….we call it crack. It was pretty much the hit dish of the night, along with Caroline’s meatballs.
Those two lovely ladies were adorable all night long. Love them. They helped out so much, too, making veggies and dip and bringing lots of food, and sangria, for the party.
GROUP PIC!
We kinda want to have a Super bowl party every weekend! Love you guys!
It is a cold, dark, and peaceful Saturday. My husband is away, at a wrestling tournament with our teenage boys. Dear daughter Grace is out shopping and lunching with a much loved friend.
I am home with David, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah. David is in Ethan’s room, reading. Caleb is downstairs playing, Seth and Sarah are napping. Small Sarah Joy has been ill since the 31st. With lots of tender loving care, her fever is finally gone and the bright redness of her cheeks has faded away. She’s still rather grumpy, but is getting her appetite back.
David has a slice of apple under a mound of salt in the kitchen. He says he is making an apple mummy and asked me to please not touch it. Soon I will do a blog post all about his Christmas Vacation Science Experiments.
There is a crock pot with chicken dinner slowly cooking on the counter. As I type, I am listening to the noises of the dishwasher and the washing machine. How thankful I am for my “maids”, doing the hard work for me. I mopped the floor earlier, and Grace vacuumed before she left.
Do you still have your Christmas tree up? We do, and it looks so pretty today. The house lights are off and the teeny white bulbs of the tree are glowing, and golden tinsel garland is glittery.
My legs are under a soft, warm blanket and the dog is at the other end of the couch, settling down for a nap.
My sister gave me a new bird feeder, which I hung on a post just outside the door, on the porch. I am facing the door from where I sit, and I can see chickadees taking turns flying in for a sunflower seed, and racing away with it to eat in the tree in the garden. The only motion I see are the birds outside the window, there is no wind today.
We have seven chickens and are collecting one single egg a day. Now that Christmas is over, I am determined to do what I can to nurture the hens, hoping that will a little extra care and attention we may get two eggs per day. Three would be nice. Four would be joyous.
It was on my way to the coop yesterday that gave me the topic for this blog entry.
I had bought a container of dehydrated mealworms to give to the hens for a treat. The hens adore mealworms. Yesterday, I walked to the coop, with only the thought of how happy they would be to have some delicious mealworms scattered into the grass to peck. Two cats caught up with me to join the fun.
If you have the eyes to see, and the necessary curiosity, you will soon come to realize that no two days are alike outside in God’s beautiful world. And I’m not just talking about the weather. There is endless delight in nature and almost always *something* exciting enough to journal, or blog about.
Yes, today is a cloudy day, but yesterday was sunshine. There was not a hint of warmth to the sun, but the birds still seemed to enjoy it because they were everywhere. I saw a bright red cardinal and several blue jays, along with the common chickadees.
But the tiny unexpected *something* which thrilled my heart, made me stop midway to the coop, prompted me to put the mealworm container down in the grass and turn back to the house to get my camera, were the bluebirds.
The only time I notice them on our property is this time of year, and their visits take me by surprise.
I counted at least six this time, sitting up in tree branches, in the sunshine.
Bluebirds possess *a stunning shade of* blue feathers, all along their backs. The breast is white over a burnt orange color. They kept their suspicious faces toward me, which meant that regardless of my prayers, I didn’t get to gaze upon their blue plumage as much as I would have liked……
And, as soon as they sensed that I was a bit too close for comfort, they would silently and gently fly to yet another tree…..
The blue in the sky matched their feathers.
Again I got too close, and away they flew.
I said goodbye to the bluebirds and sat at the edge of the pond. It was frozen over and admirably smooth. It wasn’t strong enough for me to stand on, but little Samantha-cat slipped and skated her way across the ice.
I scooted a small stone out to her and she batted it all over, slipping now and then.
I had a vision of a beautifully illustrated children’s book about blue birds and an ice-skating kitty cat. But this blog post will have to suffice……(maybe)…..
Creamy Mushroom Chicken
6 boneless chicken-breast halves
12 oz jar mushroom gravy
1 cup milk
8 oz package cream cheese, cubed
4.5 oz can chopped green chilies
1 pkg. dry Italian salad dressing
1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cover, cook on low 6 hours.
3. Serve over broccoli, mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it. A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. ~Roald Dahl
Oh Roald Dahl, you are such an interesting person. I love how you take truth and get it down our throats with a spoonful of good humor.
Here are a few little happenings that I am thankful for:
1. A morning of sunshine
Got no checkbooks, got no banks,
Still I’d like to express my thanks – I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.
~Irving Berlin
2. We went to the day spa, Sarah and I.
She was so fascinated by the yellow goo being squirted in my hair that I had to get out the phone and take a picture. She loves watching me get my hair done.
Rich told me to relax at the spa and I said, “Yes, but, how can I relax if I have Sarah with me?” “Oh Shan, she’s adorable! You let her get her nails done. See if they can get her in.”
I did ask, but the ladies were all booked up so I asked Amy (my hairdresser) to take Sarah in the other room to pick out some nail polish. While my hair processed I myself gave Sarah her manicure, including base coat and top coat.
3. Seth had a program at school so I buttoned him up in a handsome dress shirt (over a t-shirt). I fussed quite a bit with the hair, too. (you can sort of tell by the picture that he was ready to be let go again, right?)
Later, when Sarah and I arrived to school for the assembly, in walked Seth with the dress shirt OFF and looking all ordinary.
4. Breakfast at the diner.
5. My two oldest boys; Jacob (in back) and Ethan.
6. Michael and Seth (Sunday)
7. Reading books to silly Sarah.
8. The ice melted on Monday. I sent Seth out on the porch to feel the air, “There IS no air!” was his observation. It was a windless, warmish day. When they came home from school we went outside. Before I could stop them, Dave and Seth had their shoes and socks off in the stream. It really wasn’t warm enough for it, and their little feet turned pink.
9. Dave caught a crayfish which was a joy because every other sign of life in the waters was missing (frogs, turtles, fish).
How many of my friends are in the kitchen this week in preparations for Thanksgiving Day? I’m in the kitchen as I type. My body is sitting on the couch in the living room, but my mind is over there in the kitchen thinking about what I need to do next!
10. Yesterday I made my roll dough using my Grandma’s recipe. After the first rise, I formed the rolls.
I placed them in their pans, wrapped them up, and put them in the freezer. Tomorrow I will take them out, let them rise the second time, and bake them.
11. Yesterday we also did our big grocery trip for everything we needed on this list:
I would rather stay in the kitchen cooking all day than go to the store! So I was very happy to get it done.
12. We had a mini-thanksgivng feast yesterday. Jacob and Ethan had to miss their football thanksgiving dinner because their game was moved up a day. They were disappointed about it so I decided to surprise them. When they got home from school at 2:30 everything was ready. I roasted a butterball turkey breast, made (frozen) mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, corn, and cranberry sauce. I saved out some of my roll dough in order to make a couple little loaves of bread, too.
Not only did my children come home (Dave, Jacob, Grace, and Ethan) but also two extras. I loved watching them fill up their plates and go sit down in the dining room together.
13. Last night was Senior night at the football game. It was cold, but we had a lot of fun watching Jacob play his last game.
This is one of those pictures that I look at and see him as my own little baby, behind those eyes and that face, he’s still there.
14. sisters
I hope you have a lovely day today!
There is snow falling outside and it will be a cozy day to make pies.
It’s November 3rd and on my way back from the chicken coop I saw the first ice. It was on the patio in a plastic slide and I sighed because they were in school and would miss it. The first ice (and first snow) has always been so exciting for them. I made my way back into the house, ran Sarah her bath, cleaned her all up, dressed her, did some laundry and cleaning, and …… Sarah went outside to get a cat and discovered the ice all on her own. She giggled with joy and promptly ran inside to get socks, boots, coat, scarf, and mittens so she could COMPLETELY and THOROUGHLY enjoy it. She ate it, skated on it, insisted on sharing some with me (to eat), and because it was melting and her siblings were not at home, we bagged them each a piece. It’s waiting in the “white frozen refrigerator” (her words) for them as a surprise for later.
Despite freezing temperatures, there is still plenty of beautiful green parsley in the garden.
Seth is learning how to read and write by leaps and bounds in Kindergarten.
We just wish he would restrict himself to paper to practice on. He’s getting better about it now.
This artwork was done by Sarah Joy.
PUMPKIN COOKIES
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (I didn’t add nuts)
1 cup chocolate chip (I used peanut butter chips)
Combine pumpkin, sugar, shortening and egg. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together; add to pumpkin mixture alternately with baking powder, dissolved in milk. (I did not do this, I just mixed the wets and then added all the dry and mixed with the KitchenAid). Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Drop on greased cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.
This recipe is from a 1972 Pennsylvania State Grange cookbook. If you happen to have the same one, it’s on page 239. The cookies are a moist cake-like texture. I made them on Saturday and they are still fresh in a big ziplock bag on the counter. Unfortunately, the children don’t seem to like them……..I have to walk around and hand them out to get them consumed.
Yesterday morning I walked out of the house into a sparkling fall day. In my hands was a little vintage fiesta plate of leftover banana bread and cereal milk from breakfast, to serve the hens. They seemed to enjoy the treat.
They explored the grass along the fence. There are five full grown hens and two half-grown ones.
We do not let the little ones stay outside for very long because the cats come over to try and hunt them. The poor things.
I gave them a bowl of chick food in a yellow fiesta bowl. The way they hop in and out of the bowl, peeping and scratching food everywhere, is amusing.
The leaves were turning.
The fall flowers were in bloom.
My heart was singing.
You are the joy in my morning You’re my song of praise Just like the new day dawning Flooding my world with grace.
Isn’t this green and pink combination BEAUTIFUL?
Caleb was home sick from school yesterday. He had an upset stomach and a high fever. He was on the couch curled up in his soft blanket and as much as I was able, I was sitting by him. The children are so needy and love to have me near when they are sick. As much as I hate to see them suffer, and as long as I know it’s only a common children’s illness, I confess– I love the cuddle time.
Caleb likes to talk. It was an eye-opener to me when he said, “You know why I bury my head in the couch to sleep? Because I don’t want my picture taken.” My heart was so sad to think that I unknowingly made my poor boy uncomfortable with photography, it’s just that I think he’s so cute. He doesn’t like the feeling that I’m taking pictures when he’s sleeping. I told him I would never take another picture of him unless I knew it was okay and I asked him first. He told me that one day he was falling asleep on the bus and a couple of girls took a video of him. It bothered him. I told him some things he could do about it, such as telling them that their Dad doesn’t want videos taken of him, or going to the principal or the bus driver for help, or asking them to delete the video.
We seem to be living in a time when privacy isn’t understood or desired. I know that I personally love to share on my blog, but there is a part of me that almost envies that time not so long ago when families were in their homes and their lives were virtually unknown to the rest of the world. They had their own private and intimate lives within the walls of their “nest”, special and meaningful only to them.
It is something to think about.
(I asked Grace about this, too, and she said she was absolutely fine with me taking pictures of her whenever I wanted.)
I asked Caleb if I could take this picture and he agreed.
Rich and I purchased a coffee table and a loveseat this weekend. We needed more places for people to sit when they come and visit us and we were thankful to find things that we didn’t have to order and wait for. Ethan Allen was having a floor sample sale on a lot of their furniture. Both pieces have small problems but in our family we would rather buy things on super-clearance-sale WITH a problem, then to pay full price for a perfect piece that will get scratched the next day.
The maroon throw at the end of the love-seat is the latest loved comfort with everyone….it’s our very first electric blanket….and the children are all so very appreciative. Ethan had it last night after football practice when he was shivering cold. Seth fell asleep under it when he was sick last week. Sarah had it this morning when the house was chilly. Seth accidentally called it the “electra blanket” and the name has stuck. We love our “electra blanket”.
I have been having fun freshening up the house (after an inspiring visit to my friend Lydia’s house). I had Rich and the boys move the piano from the living room to the new addition and so far we all really like it in there. You can’t tell by the photo, but there is still a good amount of room between the table and chairs and the piano, so we don’t feel squeezed.
I bought our first full length tablecloth, long enough for our big table. It’s a linen fabric with golden leaves stamped on it. We have 8 chairs around the table, and one bench that seats 2.
I also bought the mirror on the right side of the picture. It’s reflection brings in even more of the sunshine.
I’ve been longing to use more of the rhubarb from my garden that Mr. G so thoughtfully gave me to plant before he moved last fall. I found a great recipe for a pie. I used a store-bought crust, and baked it yesterday afternoon. Everyone liked it.
Let rhubarb mixture stand at room temperature for 20-25 minutes, then stir and add to a pastry lined pie plate. Sprinkle on top of the filling 2 Tablespoons melted butter, 1 Tablespoon flour, and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Place the top crust over and pinch the edges to seal. Poke top of pie with a fork and bake in a 400 degree oven 45-50 minutes (or until done).
Recipe adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, A Return to Sunday Dinner, by Russell Cronkhite.
I love candlelight, and these days, my favorite is a chocolate layer cake candle from Yankee Candle. The children, especially Ethan, hate it because it smells so realistic that they are disappointed when there aren’t brownies or chocolate cakes in the kitchen (only rhubarb pie). The candle holder makes me laugh, it’s also from Yankee Candle, and it’s a spoof on Snow White and the seven dwarfs. I told the children it’s me and the seven of them. “But where’s Dad?” they asked. “He’s at work!” I reply.
After Seth got home from Kindergarten we went outside to play. Sarah cut a chunk of her hair off a few months ago so it doesn’t fit into a ponytail unless I use about five bobby pins. Still cute.
“Mom, bring your camera! David has a snake!”
The stream is low so there are plenty of rocks to step on, which makes it easy to walk up and down the stream, exploring. I got my head too close to the branch of a pine tree and it took my headband off and flung it someplace….it was black and I never did find it.
We found crayfish.
I watched this one for a little while. It was busy, I saw it pick up an acorn-cap in it’s little legs. It shuffled around, keeping an eye on me (the big monster?)
The boys like to eat them but yesterday I wouldn’t let allow it …. I became friends with this one.
I took this picture last night because Sammie and Sherlock were sleeping together on the couch. Would you believe they are from the same litter? Sherlock is so much bigger than his sister!
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” Augustine
It’s so good to be home, with this contented feeling after having a relaxing morning with my husband and children. I drank hot caramel coffee from a fiestaware mug on the porch in the clean morning air. I looked at a Mary Jane Butters magazine full of wholesome food and craft ideas….photos of the outdoors, chickens, flowers, gardens. I guess it inspired me to set the magazine aside and get my camera. With the mug in my hand, and the camera around my neck, I wandered around taking pictures, noticing and enjoying the morning.
Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in y Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives unto each day what He deems best– Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest. ~Carolina Berg
Sam is a little one year old female cat who loves being outside. She only comes in the house to eat cat food now and then. We beg her to stay and let us pet her but she wants to be out. We find her all over; at the stream, running up a tree, catching baby birds and eating them (so wrong), curled up on the porch. The only time she shows us love is if WE go OUTSIDE. Nine times out of ten if we go out for a walk, she shows up out of nowhere to “flirt” with us. She was with me as I took at the rest of these outdoor pictures…….
Rich played catch (football) with Seth & Sarah and then they did some pushups together.
I let out the chickens and gathered two eggs. Now I was juggling the camera, coffee, eggs, and no pockets. I love it.
Someone found a lovely place to sleep last night. See the moth?
This is called cardinal flower and it grows wild along our stream. It’s been said that it is the most true red flower…..
I was sitting on a big rock with Sam on my lap when I took the picture.
We spent some time cleaning and I made roasted vegetables; one squash peeled and cubed, one red onion, and two potatoes. Lots of salt and pepper, a healthy drizzle of olive oil. Roast at 400, take the pan out after 20 minutes to flip and stir the veggies. Let roast for another 20 minutes of so, until done (soft when pricked by fork). Rich and I love to eat vegetables this way. You can also add carrot, or a bulb of garlic with the top cut off and oil drizzled over top.
Billy, sleeping on our bed.
It’s been a quiet, nice morning. Now that Jacob and Ethan are home from football we are going to take them, plus Caleb and Seth, out school shopping.
As thy days so shall thy strength be. Deuteronomy 33:25
Unfortunately Sarah wasn’t partial to them. 
But her Dad and I liked them very much. (the other children are at school, so I don’t know what they think of them quite yet) 
I especially liked the almonds on top. Because they weren’t mixed into the batter they stayed nice and crisp, as a nutty nut should be. 
This recipe is from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion cookbook, page 191. (doubled) ******
Let love and faithfulness never leave you…write them on the tablet of your heart.
Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing..
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
Good to be Home 
