My three year old boy settled down to nap today!  Oh, thank you Father, for the last 2 hours of peace and quiet …..I needed it so much!

I just spent a wonderful half an hour, reading this book.  I say, friends, you simply must read it, too.  You have to!  It’s only five dollars on the Kindle! 

  Cabin Fever, Notes from a Part-Time Pioneer, by William L. Sullivan

“Rich with humor and natural history, this memoir describes 25 summers of
back-to-the-earth adventure as author William L. Sullivan and his wife Janell
build a log cabin by hand along a roadless river deep in the wilds of Oregon’s
Coast Range. Along the way they confront beaver in the refrigerator, raise a
family, and puzzle out a murder mystery that had haunted their homestead site.
Cabin Fever takes readers to a warm world of kerosene lamplight, wood stoves,
and ghost stories that may be true.”  ~amazon.com

It has depth and feeling, mystery, cows, great dialogue, nature, and family.  I’m almost half done with it and am already sad that I’ll be finished with it soon.

I was so shaky-tired last night that I went to bed at 7:30 and then got up this morning at 6, still tired.  Deep, down tired.  After 15 years of experience, I have learned to not try to change much of the routine on tired days, especially if I have preschoolers in the house.  There really is no point in trying to lay around on the couch or whatever; I would just get frustrated when things didn’t go MY way.  (selfishness is wrong).  So, instead of going back to bed, I yelled at Ethan and Caleb as they got ready for school, got into an argument with my husband, and cried, all before 7:30.  (don’t worry, we all made up)  THEN, after they had all left I calmed down and went into the kitchen to empty the dishwasher.  Little Sarah loves to sit on the counter as I work so I plopped her into place, right by the kitchenaid mixer.  Would you believe, the baby asked for some butter?!?!  She wanted to bake!  Baking was certainly not in my plans but all of a sudden, because of her, I wanted to bake, too!  We made the most DEE licious chocolate chip cookie bars.

(Why didn’t I think of this sooner?  I’ve recently decided it’s MUCH easier for large families to bake up the cookie dough in a sheet pan, as one big batch of bars!)

We doubled the recipe, using four sticks of butter for Sarah, and four eggs.  Sethie helped, too.

As they cooled, we took a trip into town to fill a prescription (mind you, still close to tears with fatigue!)

Then, the McDonald’s drive thru because I still hadn’t had a proper breakfast.  (although who can say if a drive thru is the best place for a proper meal!)

Then, with my head aching and my cheek hot and throbbing (I’ll explain later), we went to the library to get books and dvd’s for the trip to NY tomorrow.

I stubbornly picked out books for myself in the adult section with some mild shenanagins by the two toddlers, grabbed a “Birds and Blooms” and headed for the children’s section.   Seth and Sarah got started with the toys and I….could it be…..was able to settle down for some quiet reading…..no, not yet.  Seth cried, “PEE!” and I jumped up as his pants began to darken with wetness, grabbed his arm and we rushed into the bathroom, too late.  I ran out to the vehicle to grab an extra change of clothes, leaving them with the toys, and rushed back.  I got him all changed and then he had to go #2.  I was so pleased that he made it to the bathroom, I cleaned him off, got him back to the toys, and sat down with my magazine…….no, not yet.  He hadn’t finished, and went the rest of the way, IN HIS PANTS!  I can’t tell you (oh, I’m laughing at the craziness of it all) how I felt.  We marched right back to the bathroom and I cleaned him up the best I could and yes, I finally finished reading that wonderful magazine.

We left just as soon as I was done, mark my words!

After another trip to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription (drive through pharmacies are such a blessing), we went home no worse for the wear, just a little bit MORE tired.

(children’s book recommendation, especially nice to read just before eating sausages for dinner)

I put the children to bed after they ate lunch, and ate a cookie bar.  It was so good I wanted another one right away.  But, I hadn’t had my lunch yet so I made myself a big spinach salad and THEN I ate another cookie bar.

I snuggled into bed with my book for a while, then went outside to wander around. 

Look at the pretty eggs I got, green and blue.

I heard a strange bird and ran to get my spring gift from Rich; a pair of binoculars.  I prayed that the bird would still be there when I got back but it was a let down to discover it was a brown headed cowbird.  I do not like those birds ever since I watched two of them silently rolling around under the feeder, fighting!  Plus, they lay their eggs in other bird’s nests, because they are too lazy(?) to sit on their own eggs or feed their own babies! 

Now I not only have a camera dangling around my neck, but binoculars, too!

Yesterday evening, Seth wanted me to throw the baseball with him.  He had found a glove and a ball and was so very adorable that I couldn’t say no.  We played catch for quite a while before it happened.  He threw the ball at me point blank when I wasn’t looking.  The pain was stunning, but I was and still am, very thankful that the point of impact wasn’t my eye, it wasn’t my nose or my jaw, but it was my cheek bone.  It swelled up and now it’s bruising.  It is hot and pink.  It HURTS like the dickens. My entire cheek is in pain.  It feels worse than it looks.  I’ve never been punched before, and I can’t understand why anyone would want to fight or box, honestly.  This is my first baseball injury.  Not entirely unexpected as a mom of five sons, right?

Now, about those cookie bars.  I used the recipe off the bag of Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips and I just dug the bag out of the garbage to type up the recipe for you.

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter (I used half salted, half unsalted)

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cups brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups ghirardelli milk chocolate chips (I doubled the dough but still used just one bag of chips, which is more than enough)

1 cup nuts (I didn’t add the nuts)

Cream the wet, add the dry, spread in a 9 by 13 pan, or if doubling, a sheet pan.  Or, bake up into cookies.  Bake at 375 until just barely done (light brown top).  You want them baked but not over-baked…and they’ll be wonderfully soft yummy cookie bars.

There’s no question about whether or not you should bake them, YOU HAVE TO! 

My mom called me yesterday morning to tell me that Grandpa had passed away.  It wasn’t entirely a surprise, as he has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for years and had recently begun declining.  However, we come from a close-knit family, and he was a huge part of my childhood.  With all my siblings and cousins, I grew up next door to my grandparent’s dairy farm with the sounds of the tractor and the cows.  My aunts and uncles and cousins were always around.  In fact, on our quiet dirt road lived only us family. 

For the past two days, my mind has been dwelling a lot, on childhood memories. 

The taste of family recipes and Hershey’s kisses.  Swimming in our big pond in those orange life-jackets and the outhouse nearby.  Barbecue chicken on a cinder block grill out in the yard.  Hammocks.  Chopping wood.  The milking parlor.  Exploring the woods.  The sandbox made with one of his huge tractor tires.  Riding my bike.  Helping to milk cows.  Country music radio. Riding in the back of his pick up truck.  Walking the gardens with grandma, mom, and the aunts.  Yellow violets.  Singing.  Holidays at Grandma and Grandpa’s with a full house.  My 10th birthday.  Hay fields, corn fields.  Video games (Mario and tetris).  Kittens and calves. Seeing Grandpa hold our babies, his great grandchildren.  Walking sticks picked up in the woods.  Trillium’s.  Spending the nights with my aunt.  Nestle quick in my farm-fresh milk.  Baking. 

Lots of good memories, we have.  The funeral is on Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Yesterday was the first day of spring and with Grandpa and family always close in my thoughts, the children and I had a big day of celebrating the new season.  As soon as I could get out of the house, I took Seth and Sarah out to the Post office (mailed out something for my mom and Kara), then to Agway (for flowers, seeds, and chicken supplies), and Kloter Farms (for spring decorations).

My mom and aunts also all like pansies and I brought home two flats of them, the kind with small faces. 

S P R I N G   T I M E :: time to get dirty

This next picture is disgusting, but I am adding it just in case you have a little boy nearby who would want to admire Davy’s special mud mixture that he made all by himself.

Caleb’s (my gifted reader::did I tell you that he was just put in the gifted reader group at school=I’m so thrilled, I taught him to read!) marshmallow peep!

Our pond reminds me of Grandpa’s pond.  Rich’s grandfather also had a pond, which is why we both really wanted to have one (or, two) at our place.

In the afternoon, I asked the boys to clean out the chicken coop. When they were done, I took the children all out for McDonald’s Shamrock shakes.  I made a big deal out of it, making it sound like a huge “First Day of Spring” treat…..and (can you believe it?) the local McDonald’s had an out-of-order shake machine!!!!  We had to go back and drive to another town!  Thankfully, as we drove the extra distance, we were all happy (everyone was barefoot except Jake and me, footloose and fancy free) and we had music blaring and lots of talking.  We were TOGETHER and it was FUN and look how happy Jacob is to finally have those yummy (way too sugary, I’ll never drink another one!) GREEN SHAKES.  Even Seth and Sarah both had one.  In fact, I accidentally ordered one too many (it can get confusing) and Rich got to have it when he got home, too. (I saved it in the fridge for him.)

This is a picture of part of my pretty flower garden with little daffies, a “HOPE” garden sign from Kathy, and newly planted pansies.  Yes, I planted all two flats yesterday in the sunshine.  Sethie and I got a bucket of water from the pond and he watered everything with a little cup.  “They all need a drink”, we said.

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune
without the words and never stops… at all.  ~Emily Dickinson

I came across these two toy tractors as I worked and they reminded me of grandpa.  He cut the stone they’re sitting on, too, from big rocks on the farm property.  I’m so grateful to have some of his New York stones here at my Connecticut home.

We made a small patio step (a few years ago) out of some of his stone (they lay flat)….and this plant was given to me today by my friend Kathy.  She said to plant it in memory of Grandpa and it will come up every year.  I was touched.

One more thing.  My grandpa gave me my cat Spot six years ago and we still have him.  I love this cat.  He definitely has that outdoor farm personality, he rarely comes in the house and is a fantastic hunter!

Happiness is……

wearing a pink t-shirt that says, “open your heart” on it

hearing the frogs chirp down by the stream

sunshine

first spring flowers

watching a brother and sister play

brushing my daughter’s hair, putting it into a twist at her request

seeing a bird couple fly about, in love

a cardinal, singing at the tippy top of a white birch tree

the washing machine humming

books

watching my three year old fly down the hill on his bike, he wasn’t afraid but I was

baking

little messes, made by the ones you love

filmy curtains, blowing gently in the breeze, because the window is OPEN

friendship

walking barefoot to get the mail

fresh and clean kitchen towels and bibs for the baby

an early morning walk with little ones

a cup of cold water

fresh eggs

an apron

making cookie bars

no make up

remembering that although I’ve given out the beater hundreds of times, this is all still so new, to her

seeing the loveprints of my hands, baked into the top of the treats we made

inspiration::food coloring:: five drops of rose, one drop of brown=the most beautiful shade of pink

buttercream

tea and cookies

“You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices.  And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are.”

“Who you are inside is what helps you make and do everything in life.”

Mr. Rogers

Hello,

Today is the last day of winter.  Tomorrow we celebrate another springtime, without reservation.  We are getting the small garden bed ready for planting {peas, lettuce, radishes}.  Soon the chicken coop will be thoroughly cleaned out.  Seth wants to swim in his kiddie pool.

I could have gone out to run errands (we need milk.again.) but decided to keep at home this morning.  We have enjoyed a slow morning, walking outdoors, and baking cookies for the schoolchildren to enjoy when they get home.  The spring birds don’t stop singing and whistling for one moment.  I have the door and windows open so we can hear them.

You are loved.  I hope you have a pleasant day, my friends.

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”  LM Montgomery

Beautiful & blessed day today.  I was able to eat lunch outside with a book while my little ones were napping.  When I was done eating, I put my book down and sprawled out on the lawn to let the sun soak into my body and soul.  After some time of half-dozing, I roused myself to go gather the eggs in the chicken coop.  I stepped in, and over the hay, to the chicken’s favorite nesting spot and took five out from under a hen.  Then, to my amusement, I found a teeny tiny egg about four feet from her.  I think that whoever laid it was embarrassed and kicked it away, so her sisters couldn’t see her disgraceful offering of the day.  It’s about the size of a quarter.

Here are a couple of verses I read this morning and copied into my journal because they struck me.  I think you’ll like them, too.

“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.”  Luke 1:45

“He has filled the hungry with good things.”  Luke 1:53

And, a recipe.  I made this for dinner tonight and it was a big hit.

THAI BEEF

1 cup teriyaki sauce (can use low-sodium)

8 T. vegetable oil, divided

6 T. fresh gingerroot, finely chopped (I grated mine)

12 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

4 T. rice vinegar

2 pounds flank steak, sliced thinly across the grain

In a large ziplock bag, prepare marinade by mixing first 6 ingredients (but half the oil).  Add beef and let sit in the fridge for 30 minutes. 

In a medium hot skillet, add remaining oil, heat, and saute until cooked to your liking.  Serves 9

Serve with brown rice and fresh steamed broccoli.  (From, Saving Dinner, by Leanne Ely; one of my favorite cookbooks)

I hope that you and yours are well.  You are loved.

LORD, our Lord,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory
   in the heavens.  Psalm 8:1

My brother Dave just called to tell the children to go outside and admire……

MARS,

JUPITER, and VENUS.

Underneath the quiet sky, there were five excited children running around, and a happy mama snapping pictures, breathing deep the soft dark air, and smiling.  Thankful. 

It’s a gorgeous night for planet gazing.

more info about this week’s night sky here

 ((BEFORE))

I caught up with the laundry this weekend.  Honest! 

 Hello, friends!  It’s so lovely outdoors.  Spring has arrived, I do believe.   I had a little pb and j picnic under the pine trees with Seth and Sarah today for lunch.  Then, we went for a ramble down the trail, across the field, and through the woods.  Sarah learned a new word, “discusting”.  She learned it when she heard me say it after I step into some dark brown mud.   We’re safely home now, and the two little ones are in their cribs for naps.  I just made myself some peppermint tea and thought I would sit down to post pictures from my weekend.  Did you have a nice one?  Yes?  We did, too. 

On Saturday morning, I discovered that one of my birdfeeders was broken and on the ground.  My chickens were happy with the available sunflowers seeds (on the ground so convenient for a treat) but I was not.  Imagine my surprise when Rich went out to run an errand and came home with a new feeder for me, even nicer than the old one.  It holds a lot of seed and looks so nice out there, the birds are already using it.  Thanks, honey!  I went outside to get a closer look (he even filled it up and hung it in place for me).  While I was out, I saw one of Davy’s projects.

His intent was to catch a wild bird (and has had success in the past), but unfortunately, this time the chickens ate up all the seed, and the cats couldn’t resist attacking the string. 

The girls (and I don’t mean my human girls, ha ha) are enjoying some tender new grass…..and the occasional bug or two.

I have all kinds of things coming up in the flower gardens.  These are tulips.  What a delight springtime is, to see the newness of life all around us~

Ethan did a little boating with the kiddie pool and a long stick.  He calmly rowed his boat gently across the pond (it took a while, but E has patience).

At one point, he conversationally said to me, “I think there might be a small hole in this pool.” He kept rowing until he made it to the other side.

I saw a robin on the top of a pine tree.

Ethan went on to fishing.  He sure loves the outdoors.  About a month ago decided he would like to work in forestry conservation when he grows up. (stay tuned)

He was joined by a brother.  Aren’t they so sweet?

And then another brother.

Rich found me outside (after he had a nice 2 mile run) and we watched the children playing, enjoying the beautiful cool spring afternoon.

Davy practiced his front flips on the trampoline.

And this is little Mr. Caleb.  They both say, “Watch this MOM!” a lot.

Meanwhile, Ethan got his hook stuck in a tree.  He climbed out to the end of the tree (bending it way over the pond), and fell in the icy water.

This was all done without any drama, with an occasional request for a stick or scissors. (we never did figure out why he needed the stick)

We didn’t know what was going on until we saw him at *this stage in the game*, back in the “boat”, and trying very hard to untangle his line.

He did get it, eventually, and was pink and shaking by the time he got his Dad’s pole reassembled.  And that was the end of fishing (and boating) for the day.

This morning, in the early morning sunshine Sarah colored.  She ended up doing more peeling off the papers on the crayons than coloring.  She was quite industrious about it.

Seth was gone and quiet for 5 minutes (yes, that’s all it takes) and all of a sudden I wondered if he was gone outside somewhere, lost.  Or writing all over a wall.  Or, something worse.

Thankfully, I found him  right away, in the boy’s room downstairs, playing with lego horses.  He played by himself long enough for me to ask him several times if he was sick.  “No!” he kept saying.  You see, he is usually all over the place like the energizer bunny, and is hardly EVER quiet and/or focused for long periods of time.  When Sarah discovered what he was up to, she also (of course) wanted a horse.  A horse?  Of course!

About a month ago, Davy brought home from school a form for SPRING PORTRAITS.  Frankly, I was shocked.  Now we’re taking TWO school pictures of the children?  Is this necessary?  After all, I already shelled out $$ for five pictures packages in the beginning of the school year.  I made the decision (it wasn’t hard) not to order, and didn’t fill in the form, but, guess what?  They took his portrait anyway and sent them all home with him on Friday.  I have the option of purchasing all the photos for the low-low price of 44 dollars!

The nerve!  But, look at them!  They’re wonderful!  He’s so handsome!  We all, the whole family, were impressed by these pictures!

I just can’t get over the feeling of being “tricked” somehow, into buying something I didn’t want.

Bless his heart, Davy is also proud of these pictures, and asked so dearly, “Can I please just have one sheet, Mom?” I notice him looking at them when he doesn’t think anyone is watching.  So you can see how torn I feel.  It’s the principle of the thing.  I do want the portraits, understandably, what Mama wouldn’t?

Well, that’s it for today. 

Oh wait, I almost forgot.  Just one more picture (I think I can already hear the “well done’s” and feel the pats on the back!)

((AFTER))

Have a grace-full happy day!!

Shanda

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. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.  inspired by soulemama

“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights,

one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.”  ~Julia Child

The kitchen is the busiest room in our house, and not only for eating.

Davy conducts science experiments (baking soda and vinegar, salt and water).

The naughty dog steals dirty dishes and carries them away to lick.

We sit at the table and read.

Cupboards and drawers open and shut.

The cats come and eat from their bowls.

Coffee in the mornings, tea, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks.   Hugs and kisses.

And nine nice people, all in a family, running into each other as we all buzz about getting drinks, eating, or (most often) cleaning the place up!

I’ve been snapping kitchen pictures here and there, over the last week or so and thought I would post them today.

Candy is a rare treat here, but someone (I confess) couldn’t resist some butterfinger chocolate eggs.

On this day, we had mints.  I went downstairs to dig my tangerine fiesta carafe out of storage, it looks so bright and cheerful on the table.  As I was digging, I also rediscovered an old picture of my husband…….

homemade berry cobbler, pineapple banana bread

We ate one loaf and then, after wrapping it and letting it “season” for a day, I put the other one in the freezer.  I’m going to get it out to serve to the ladies tomorrow, at Bible study.

Unsalted butter, tastes so creamy and delicious on warm banana bread.

Soft, late-in-the-day sunshine, on the wall.

HLC Violet platter, gift from my Aunt~

My brother David went on a trip to Greece with his wife last summer and brought me back an olivewood spoon and fork serving set.

One of the children ran my beautiful spoon through the dishwasher (a big no-no for wooden things) and it became quite dry, I wasn’t sure how to remedy the situation.  Thankfully, when Rich and I were out on a date, we found the solution in one of our favorite kitchen stores.

Now my wooden spoon is happy again.  The creme is made of beeswax and mineral oil, so I feel good about using it.  Highly recommended!  We found it at Stonewall Kitchen but I’m sure it’s sold in other stores, as well.  I’ve been using it on my other wooden handled spatulas and scrapers, and wooden spoons, too.

 Hope you’re having a lovely day, we are, too, here at the homeplace.  (in the kitchen and out)

Sarah Joy likes stars, and cars.  They are a good way for her Mama to teach her the colors, too.

“purple star, pink star, red star”

“yellow car, red car”

How are you today, friends?

I went to Target today and left the littles at my sister’s house so they could spend time with their (BFF’s) cousins.  So cute.  Thankful.

Seth fell asleep on the ride back home and ruined his nap.  boo.

I had a DD chai tea, yum.

It’s in the 50’s here today, which is downright springlike, here in the Northeast.  It’s making me feel giddy.

I hung clothes out on the line to dry in the cool sunny breezes.

Thank you, for being you.