{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. inspired by soulemama
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{this moment}
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smitten
I’m not the only one smitten with her. Seth is always by her side.
Yesterday, he got up from his nap first and I sat on the floor, holding him in my arms as he drowsily woke up.
From out of the silence, his small voice called, “Sarah! It’s morning!”
A quiet minute later, as I continued holding him he tried again, “Sarah! It’s morning!”
“Mom, can I go wake up Sarah?”
“No, let her sleep.”
The conversation was forgotten (by me) as I slipped him off my lap to go tend to something else.
He ran right directly upstairs to wake up his Sarah. I didn’t realize until I heard the feet running around up there.
Although I thought he was a little stinker for waking his sister up from a good nap, I understood, and it did my mama heart good to see the love.
I get to see the love all day long. And I’m so very thankful.
Home
‘Tis whispered in the ear of God,
‘Tis murmered through our tears
‘Tis linked with happy childhood days,
And blessed in riper years.
That hallowed word is ne’er forgot,
No matter where we roam,
The purest feelings of the heart
Still cluster round our home.
Dear resting-place, where weary thought,
May dream away its care,
Love’s gentle star unveils her light,
And shines in beauty there.
by Fanny Crosby
6:30 am; View From My Porch
Five out of five children at my house were disappointed that there was school today; they were hoping for a snowday.
As you can see, the bus still came on schedule.
The view from my porch took my breath away. Sarah and I stood and gazed and said, “It’s so beautiful!”
I thought of God, and the abundant, indulgent, generous, overflowing loveliness of His creation.
You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.
Matt Redman, from his soul-stirring song “10,000 Reasons”
Have a blessed day, my friends! Seth, Sarah, and I are going to get ready for our Bible Study this morning. I can’t wait.
grandma’s french crust apple pie
“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past…….” Laurie Colwin
Family recipes connect us to a different time. I wonder where Grandma got her recipe for French Crust Apple Pie? I am thankful to have it, as it reminds me of the many years my large family of parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered at our Grandparent’s house for Holiday meals. She and Grandpa are gone now, and the big farm house belongs to someone else…..
I have a copy of the recipe in the family cookbook my aunt put together for us, and decided to make it for our Thanksgiving dessert. When I tasted a warm bite of apple pie not long from the oven, I closed my eyes and smiled. I was transported back to Grandma’s house, and missed her and her cooking, very much. The same feeling came back to me, even as I ate it for days after, at room temperature. It is perfectly seasoned, cuts wonderfully, and tastes better as it “sits” on the counter, making for days of yummy snacking, if it lasts that long.
The fact that this pie never gets boring, after all these years, speaks volumes of it’s deliciousness!
I began making my Thanksgiving pies when I put Seth and Sarah down for naps last Wednesday. My plan was to have Jacob, Ethan, and Grace help me peel the apples. However, they called from the school bus to ask if they could go to their friends’ house, and I was left to peel alone. Let me assure you, my right hand was aching by the time I peeled, cored, and sliced enough apples for four pies.
I don’t like making pie crust. I haven’t mastered it even after 16 years of marriage. So I had mercy on myself and bought frozen crusts at the grocery store.
I filled each pan with lots of apples and there was about a cup or so of apples leftover, for a sweet little snack….
After filling, I added the french crust topping. With one cup of flour and only half cup of sugar, it’s sweet but not too sweet.
I love how the filling becomes almost like a mild caramel around the edges from the brown sugar, baked to perfection.
By the time Sarah Joy woke up from her long nap, I had started to pull the pies from the oven.
Here is the little sleepy head.
Sarah and Seth each enjoyed a piece, warm from the oven. Did they like it? Yes!
French Crust Apple Pie
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of salt
6 cups sliced apples (or more, to fill to heaping)
Mix all dry ingredients together. Combine with apples and place into pastry lined pie plate.
1 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup cold butter
Combine all ingredients together with pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle and pat on top of filling.
Bake for 50 minutes at 425 degrees. Cover with foil for the last 10 minutes to prevent from over browning.
simple, and delicious, home cooking. 
ps. it’s snowing this morning
clipping wings
My flock of hens is six months old and recently they began flying over their fence to explore the other side. To their delight, there were plenty of enticing places to scratch with their little claw feet. “Clip the Hen’s Wings” was put on my to-do list.
We don’t let them free range because it isn’t safe for them. (dog)
On Friday afternoon half the flock was scratching around in the neighbor’s grassy lawn. After Caleb chased them home, I announced that we would be clipping wings the next morning. He cheered and said he wanted to help.
Early Saturday morning found us, with coats thrown over our pj’s, in the coop with a pair of scissors.
We shut them on one side. Grace threw the rooster out the open window on “our side” and she and Caleb started chicken wrangling. There was such quickness of feet, flurry of wings, and tremendous squawking, it was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement.
No more freedom for you, or you, or any of you.
We have twenty hens. None of them lay yet.
Only one wing needs to be clipped per hen. It makes them unbalanced, poor dears.
Only the feathers are cut, and it doesn’t hurt them a bit.
The most amusing part for me is when a squawking hen stops her noise to watch her feathers fall to the floor.
Once it was clipped, she was thrown out the window into the chicken pen, to recover from the trauma. Eventually, we were down to the last three, the smartest? or dumbest?
They are such soft little birds. Not quite full grown.
I paid my helpers generously, in chicken feathers. “Take as many as you want.”
Caleb remarked,
“I’m going to pin them all
Upon my wall.”
But they ended up as a centerpiece, in a wicker basket on the table.
Everytime I see it, I admire the feathers and feel thankful, for my fun children, and a job well done.
golden friday
It wasn’t black Friday at all.
It was fun!
Grace and I went out for hours and hours today.
(she didn’t want to go home)
We were together, and it was good.
I got Joanna’s Christmas present and a few things for myself. No lines, no hassle, no stampedes. Great bargains!
eye candy
it’s a treat just to browse with no little ones in tow.
We went to the bookstore and then she wouldn’t talk to me over lunch!
She had spaghetti and meatballs, I had chicken piccata. I love capers.
Then, she took her book to Starbucks for some more reading time. I bought Jacob a Sherlock Holmes book for Christmas, and started reading it myself, as I sipped my latte.
We had the whole couch to ourselves. It was quite cozy to sit and read in the midst of all the people noise.
I have the darndest time getting a picture taken of myself at home because the dog LOVES ME SO MUCH.
Rich noticed my new jacket! As soon as he saw me he said, “Hey. Why do you have that blanket on?”
Happy Golden Friday to you, my friends! Did you go shopping today? What did you get?
a relaxing thanksgiving day
It’s dark outside. The house is alive with the sounds of guitar as my son (not sure which one, because I’m in my room with the door shut) practices. The football game is on mute. Rich is reading, Sarah is upstairs with Grace playing and no boys are allowed in with them. I’m still smiling that Grace has a sister (they are 10 years apart) to have girlie time with.
I have on windpants, a long sleeve t-shirt, and sneakers. Hair up in a messy pony tail. We just ate a light dinner, a big tossed salad, because we are still pretty full from Thanksgiving feasting. I plan on eating a piece of pie later on tonight. I ran 2 miles this afternoon, so I could.
There has been a lot of damage to recover from, because of hurricane Sandy. New York and New Jersey were hit hard and as a result, the insurance company my husband works for had to deploy workers from other states to help with the increase in insurance claim volume. These folks have been working overtime, away from their families, for weeks now. Because it was Thanksgiving today, and these people had no place to go for a family-style meal, Travelers hosted an event for them. The purpose was to bring the “Travelers family” together and thank the men and women who have been helping the victims recover after hurricane Sandy. When Rich mentioned it to me a few weeks ago, and said we had been invited, to help host, we decided that it would be fun to go. (I didn’t have to cook!)
Actually, I did miss, even though I didn’t think I would, putting the stuffing and bird in the oven this morning…those smells! and the anticipation of a huge homecooked meal!
Instead, it was all a hustle and a bustle, getting ready to get out the door, but finally, with two apple pies in tow, we were on our way.
Sarah noticed geese up in the sky as we were driving and I had just enough time to point my camera UP through the glass of the sunroof.MA
At the event, we all sat at a big round table together. I got to meet a lot of the people Rich works with. Everyone was so nice.
Does this next picture make anyone else, any other mama, nervous? Hmmmm?
The children were most impressed with the drink bar. They could walk right up to the table and a nice lady would give them any soda they wanted.
There were NO spills.
A couple of boys passed around glow sticks as a gift to all the children, which was another big hit. Oh, and the name tags that they got to wear.
I thought Caleb was amusing, as he socialized with the men.
I had bread pudding and a piece of absolutely divine pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. Seth wanted pie “like Caleb” but didn’t like it.
Caleb had two pieces of pumpkin pie and dropped a third on the floor as he tried to balance it with one hand. Rich was mortified.
Jacob had a piece of my pie and said “Good grief, yours is the best pie here, Mom.”
It was my Grandma’s recipe (I will share!)
The most touching part of the day was when they showed a video on the big screens (here on the screen is the football game, can’t miss that, right?). The offices that sent employees to Connecticut each made a little video saying THANK YOU and they were all put together to make a presentation. They were very creative and there was a lot of laughter and a few tears as the audience watched. Even I got all teary eyed and I didn’t know anyone in the video except my husband, (’cause I’m a softie like that.)
It was good to think of all the people who sacrifice family time when others need help. Not just insurance people, but all the other workers around the US. It was good to say THANK YOU on THANKSGIVING, in a real and tangible way. We talked to one man who was away from home for 21 days. A lot of others were gone for just as long.
I wasn’t sure how to dress and ended up with a knit turtleneck w/short sleeves, a jacket, black slim corduroy pants, and gold wedge sandals. Make up and a ponytail.
I never dreamed I would spend a holiday with Travelers, as for years I felt that Rich devoted enough time there as it was. 
But, as the days go by and life settles down I have come to appreciate and love the work he does. We had a lot of fun today. I’m not saying I’d like to do it again, as it would take another catastrophe to bring us together, and I really missed my mom’s good cooking and seeing my dad, brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews.
Everyone at Travelers loved the kids (SEVEN? DID YOU SAY YOU HAD SEVEN CHILDREN?) and when we stepped outside to take one last, and hopefully, good picture of the children, a man got back out of his own truck to run over and take one of the 9 of us. I think his name was Steve.
When we arrived back home I went for a little walk outside around the ponds and down to the chicken coop, so I leave you with these nature pictures.
I’m thankful for home and pine trees.
I’m thankful for the glowing reflection of the trees in the water of the pond.
I’m thankful for little nature surprises.
I found fluffy white feathers and had to go count the chickens. (none were missing, *whew*)
A gray, very gray, girl with a dark head~ blends right in our very gray ground in the chicken yard.
I am thankful for my flock of hens. Soon they will start to provide me with wonderful eggs. Please?
After my walk I had a long bubble bath and the children took naps. It’s been a relaxing day.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. -melody beattie
Happy Thanksgiving!
life of praise
In my “hymn stories” devotional this morning I read this:
“A gladsome, joyous mind is the product of a grateful, praising heart. Gratefulness is the opposite of selfishness. The selfish person is boastful of his accomplishments. The grateful Christian, however, realizes that all achievements and blessings come only from God’s hand. This realization results in a life of praise.”. K. Osbeck
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1
Happy thanksgiving to you, friends!
{this moment}
A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
inspired by soulemama
my reading boys
at home
What’s been happening at home? Well, as you can imagine, in a household of our large-ish size, there is never a dull moment.
1. We’ve been putting on make up and fixing our hair.
I was standing in front of the sink, getting ready to go, not really paying much attention to Sarah’s new heights and then…..when I saw what she had done to grow “so tall”, I snapped a picture of my littlest best girlfriend.
2. We’ve been hugging on the couch.
This occurs daily.
3. The boys drew masks on their faces.
It was funny the first time but not the second. Or third. I never want to see another marker again.
4. We made pancakes on Saturday morning.
In our pajamas. I love flipping cakes for seven!
5. We got new coats.
From a children’s consignment shop. Sarah’s is BabyGap, Caleb’s is camo fleece.
6. They painted pumpkins.
But we did not carve any.
7. They played with my spices.
It’s one of their favorite things to do. Imagine, these blocks NEVER get scattered throughout the house and lost.
8. I got over a fear.
I haven’t had a panic attack in over a year but I do sometimes worry that I will.
9. Seth finally discovered the joys of Thomas the Tank Engine.
And it didn’t take him long to think of making repairs on Caleb’s old trains.
10. Seth read Sarah The Jolly Pancake.
He had Caleb fooled until I told him he had memorized it.
11. I made homemade bread and cinnamon rolls.
Oh yum.
12. Sarah had tea with her roll.
“Is it my birthday?” She asked.
13. David started another weaving.
He learned how to do it at school.
14. They played my phone.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s their phone, or mine?
15. Ethan got his hair cut.
Don’t worry, it’s just a BB gun.
16. I made a quiche.
Into an unbaked pastry crust, pour a mixture of 4 eggs, a cup of cream or milk, a half cup of chopped ham, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, 1/2 t. each of salt and dry mustard. 375 until done.
17. I made bean soup.
Combine 1 pound dry navy beans (rinsed and drained), 6 cups chicken broth, 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped celery stalk, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1/2 bay leaf….into a crock pot. Cook on high for one hour and then on low for 10 hours. When beans are tender, add one can diced tomatoes. You may also add a ham bone to the mixture in the beginning. A very fragrant soup. The children turned up their noses but I said it was “special soup that will produce magic sounds later on.” Ha ha.
18. I relaxed with my cat and some new books.
I love to read to the sound of purring.
19. David made a spaghetti dinner all by himself.
He is just like his Dad.
20. We went out on a date.
I love him.
Life is not
measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath
away.
— Unknown
Good to be Home 