Postcards

Hello?

2010-10-07T07:19:00.001-07:00

The End of the Road

2010-02-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

This blog has come to the end of it's road. At least for the time being. I want to thank you all for your company, it's been a great ride! :o)

Whew!

2010-01-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

44 policy debate teams, preliminary rounds, ESA reform, power match, topicality press, counter criterion, cranky judge, double loss, depression, Yucca Mountain, Qualify!, Octofinals, Plastic/Paper bag tax, passionate (and tearful) disadvantages, 4 hours of sleep, Quaterfinals, Natural gas cars, out of the running, Final round, critical coal, awards, 7th place team, 3rd place novice speaker, and everyone is happy it's over! :0)

Long Live the Dark Horse.

In My Window

2010-01-20T06:35:00.001-08:00

See the pretty snowflakes
Falling from the sky;
On the wall and housetops
Soft and thick they lie.

On the window ledges,
On the branches bare;
Now how fast they gather,
Filling all the air.

Look into the garden,
Where the grass was green;
Covered by the snowflakes,
Not a blade is seen.
~Author Unknown, Falling Snow

After the Storm

2010-01-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

A very stormy and frightening night indeed, involving wind gusts of up to 75mph, very large fir trees, a crushed hen house, gutters ripped from the house, and evacuating our home at 12:55 am in case another much larger tree should come down.

The clean up has already begun. My boys are happy to be turned loose with their hatchets and the chain saw. Livi set to work on a "giant sized" bow. *Sigh* As always, God is so faithful.

This is the Way....

2010-01-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

Bready Bears and an Oatmeal Honey loaf for lunch.

....we bake our bread. After we've been inspired. Inspired by reading The Little House on the Prairie, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook, and Apples for Jam. Delightful reading. And eating. All on a blustery winter's day.

Bone Structure

2010-01-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show." ~Andrew Wyeth

Like a spine needing a good stretch that's what this tree reminded me of. I needed to stretch my spine and legs today too. So we hit the walking trails. Indeed, everything looks and feels dead out there, but I saw some signs of life. Life that is just waitng. Waiting to spring forth in just a very few short weeks.

Lingerin' on the Simple Things

2010-01-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

For today....Nancy's New Year Daybook...Monday, January 11, 2010

Outside my window.....it is dark and wet. Typical for this time of year in the Northwest. But I have noticed that the days are becoming ever so longer. Yeah!

I'm thinking....or praying actually for my husband, who is right now on his way to New York. He'll be staying in Saratoga Springs for 7 weeks. I miss him already.

I'm thankful for....having all my needs met. And then some. It's easy for me to worry needlessly. I have to remind myself of all the times and amazing ways the Lord has taken care of us.

I'm wearing....my work-out pants, t-shirt, runners, and two kittens across my lap.

I am remembering....uh, I guess I've already forgotten what I was supposed to remember! I need to make a few phone calls and take something out for dinner. I'll try to remember that!

I'm going....to exercise when I'm finished here. Started the Turbo Jam routine from BeachBody.com I love it!

I'm currently reading.....the Little House Series. Owen and Olivia are enjoying them. Last night we had fried salt pork for dinner, just like Laura used to eat.

I'm hoping.....Scott arrives safely in N.Y. and the job goes well so that he may come home on time, if not sooner.

Noticing that....the Christmas kitties, Wednesday Mittens, and Muffin are growing. Way to fast.

Pondering these words....."Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous hand.....For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41: 10, 13.

From the kitchen....I haven't bake anything since Christmas Eve. I have a hankerin' for some cookies though.

Around the house.....kids will be busy with school and chores. I will be busy keeping up their spirits on this first day without Papa Bear around.

One of my favorite things.....kitties. They are so sweet.

A picture thought I'd like to share.....

Lit candles to chase away the dark and gloom on these dreary winter days.

The Winter Blahs

2010-01-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

"I like these cold, gray winter days.
Days like these let you savor a bad mood."

~Bill Watterson

My Love for the Scotty Dog

2010-01-06T06:41:00.000-08:00

I adore my Scotty Dawg. We will be celebrating our 20th in April. Woot Woot! But my newest or current obsession is with the Scotty Dog. I picked up some adorable iron-on transfers at Ben Franklin.

Not one doggy but two! See how mischievous they are? They're getting into the sewing basket. There are seven transfers...one for each day of the week. I'm making a pillow to put on the dawg basket. (My bed)

And look at this sweet little glass found at the Goodwill. So cute and vintagey. Why would anyone want to get rid of it??!

At .49 cents each I bought the set of three that was there. World Market had iron Scotty Dog doorstops I in November, and when I went back in December and they were all gone. Boo hoo. I guess someone else is in love too.

Something Cool for Your Coffee

2010-01-05T06:13:00.000-08:00

I like me some foam on my morning cup of coffee. It makes me feel special. Make me feel rich. (I can't afford a daily trip to Starbucks fiscally or calorie wise.) But now I can have foam!

We made a trip to Ikea this past week and I found this neat little battery operated gizmo for a $1.99. It makes foam! Soo cool.

Now every morning will be a latte more fun. :o)

Starbucks Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread Syrup Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup fresh espresso
8 ounces milk, steamed (with a little foam)

Garnish
whipped cream
ground nutmeg

Puttin' It All Together:

1. Make the gingerbread syrup by combining water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Be sure the pan is not too small or the mixture could easily bubble over.

2. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer syrup, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat when it's done and slap a lid on it.

3. Make a double shot of espresso (1/2 cup), using an espresso machine. I don't have one of theseso I just use regular old coffee from the pot. Use the machine to steam 8 ounces of milk, or heat up the milk in the microwave if your machine does not foam and steam milk.

4. Make your latte by first adding 1/2 cup espresso to a 16-ounce cup. Add 1/4 cup gingerbread syrup, followed by the steamed milk. Use your cool Ikea foam maker.

5. Top off the drink with a dollop of whipped cream, and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T18:34:00.001-08:00

From Muffins and me. May 2010 be the best year ever!

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1850

Wishing you all......

2009-12-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

...a very Merry Christmas.

The Christmas baking is done. The gifts are wrapped. The family has begun to gather. The candles are lit. *Sigh*

A Happy Birthday

2009-12-17T06:58:00.001-08:00

Hersey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake with a creamy chocolate glaze served with Dryer's Peppermint ice cream. For my mommas birthday! :O)

Christmas Kitties!

2009-12-16T06:46:00.001-08:00

Mittens playing in the manger.

Muffin watching her sister from the under the Christmas tree.

Here comes Muffin!

It's sleepy time again.

Under the tree it is warm and safe from happy children and exuberant corgis.

*Note: Maggy has disappeared. I have begun to think that evil lurks in my neighborhood. Human evil. Why do my kitties who always return home suddenly vanish? How is it others that I know can keep a cat for years and nothing ever happens to them? Scott thinks someone is harming them. And I have to agree.

"The deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers." ~Capt. Jack Sparrow

"And cat killers." ~ Miss. M.

Miss. M.'s Doodles

2009-12-14T07:57:00.001-08:00

In black ink on the back of her church bulletin. I do hope she was paying attention to the message. :O)

'Tis the Season for Secrets.....

2009-12-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

....and sewing miniature things that I can not show you yet, bloodied fingers, gingerbread men that threaten to steal Christmas, burning eyes, and emotional melt downs. I'm sorry it sounds all so vague. 'Tis the season for secrets!

Our All-Sufficient Savior...Or What's in a Name?

2009-12-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

On my tree are fifty-eight salt dough stars, hung with raffia, made seven Christmases ago by Zach, Miss. M, and myself. It was a cold and sunny day very much like today. We sat at our dinning table and searched the Bible looking for the many names given to Jesus. In the Old Testament and New.

We then made the ornaments using a salt dough recipe and three different sized star shaped cookie cutters. These are very sweet memories for me. And I can not tell you how encouraged I feel as we take turns reading a star as it is hung on the tree. Some years I am "just not into" Christmas, but as I read the names of Chirst the hope and promise that is held in each one reminds me of what it is truly all about.

So be encouraged friends. It's not about deadlines, crowds, best deals, new recipes, parties and all the other possible trappings. It's when we remember the Beloved, Lamb of God, the Word come in the flesh, our Friend and Messiah, the Lamb that was Slain, so that we may have eternal life forever with Him.

You can find the many wonderful names of Jesus here if you'd like to make your own. :o)

Afternoon Tea & Cookies

2009-12-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

An afternoon with Earl Gray is just what I needed. Earl Gray tea and cookies. Crispy, buttery, delicious. And with the wonderful aroma of Earl Gray. *Sigh*

Earl Gray Tea Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons Earl Grey tea leaves, from approximately 6 tea bags
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Pulse together all the dry ingredients in a food processor until the tea leaves are pulverized. Add the vanilla, 1 teaspoon water, and the butter. Pulse together until a dough is formed.

2. Divide the dough in half. Place each half on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a 12-inch log, about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

3. Slice each log into disks, 1/3 inch thick. Place on parchment- or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

4. Bake until the edges are just brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

My Chickadee!

2009-12-03T06:27:00.000-08:00

"God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December."
- J. M. Barrie

And digital cameras and free online photo editing (Picnic) and a feathered friend for a muse. :o)

Pink Peppermint Moon

2009-12-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

I just totally made that up.

My Susan Branch 2009 Calender says this month's (Decemberrr) full moon is called the Cold Moon.

But it looked like peppermint ice cream to me.

Or how about a Cotton Candy Sky?

Mr.Heron looks cold, but I doubt that he is.

I think he likes the chilly waters of Pudget Sound.

And I like Allyn's historical church. So clean and white. Like a pillow mint. :o)

December!

2009-12-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

A sweet and chubby friend who flew in from Google Images. Artist unknown.

"I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

A magical thing And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,

'I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December."

~ Oliver Herford

Advent Day 2: Creation

Genesis 1:26-31

Advent Begins

2009-11-30T12:17:00.000-08:00

The Meaning of "Advent":

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. ~ The Voice

Advent is a tradition the we have kept for many years. It has been a way for me to keep Christmas meaningful for my children. We celebrate advent with scripture reading, crafts, cosy lit candles, and songs.

See Revelations 22:16, Zechariah 6:12-13 and Jeremiah 23:5

Day 1: The Branch

"Then a shoot will spring up from the stem of Jesse and a branch from his root will bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him." ~ Isaiah 11:1-2

New Odyssey

2009-11-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Did you all have a happy, lovely Thanksgiving? We did, and a busy weekend to boot. Friday we went car shopping. *Groan*

Zach totaled the Passat two weeks ago...wasn't hurt...only sprained his thumb when the airbags deployed. That was something I on my "to be thankful for" list this year.

Of course when you purchase a new automobile you just have to go on a road trip. A maiden voyage so to speak. So Saturday we packed up the new Honda Odyssey and hit the road. Highway 101 to be exact. We drove "the loop" around the peninsula, an all day trip. It's a beautiful drive through the Quinalt, Queets, and Hoh rainforest's. I have taken this trip as a teenager with fond memories.

It was a cold and rainy day. We made frequent stops at points of interest including the Quinalt General Store for lunch, Forks, and La Push. Ha! We had to! Pictured above is the newest little Cullen. Her name is Scancy. (All you real Twilight fans will understand.)

Here we have Seth, the youngest in the La Push werewolf pack.

And oh my goodness! It's Jacob's house! See the motorcycle?! (:o)

While They Worked

2009-11-18T08:50:00.001-08:00

While they worked I sat with my camera.

The soft light shining through the windows was very pretty. A lovely break from the rain.

I couldn't resist his freckled cheeks.

So studious this girl.

Working cheerfully.

Hello, mom.

Okay, she had enough of me. And under the table she went.

So I turned my lens on the various items on the table:

Then I got bored and ate some huckleberry saltwater taffy Scott brought from Montana.:O)

Great Falls Montana

2009-11-16T06:46:00.001-08:00

Big sky Country....

Ain't she cute? I had the hardest time eating the sausage patties this morning...all I could see was her tongue hangin' out. Scott had a great time in Great Falls. He's ready to pack us up and move to Montana to live life as trappers and hunters. :O)

*All photos by Steve the Ninja...Scotto the Hunter's hunting buddy.

We Will Eat

2009-11-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

"Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, and the tree bears its fruit...." Joel 2:22

Well, maybe you should be afraid. Scotto, The Mighty Hunter, somewhere in the middle of Montana, got his first deer.

Cranberry Jalapeno Jam Anyone?

2009-11-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Finely chop 7 cups fresh cranberries.

Do the same to 1-2 jalapenos. I used one and half of another.

Add 1 1/2 cups water and 1 tsp. fennel seeds, plus 2 cups sugar. Bring to a boil and then simmer for maybe 20 min.

When it looks like jam, bottle it up. This ought to spice up those turkey sandwiches we'll all be eating soon.! :O)

Money Well Spent

2009-11-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." ~ Groucho Marx

Owen's twice weekly trips to Sylvan Learning Center this summer have been worth every penny. He has become the reader he has longed to be. Yay!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."
~ Dr. Seuss

Do re mi!

2009-11-09T07:03:00.000-08:00

Let's all sing together now, shall we?

Hello!

2009-11-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

When there's frost on the pumpkin.......

2009-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

....it's time to make soup! Yep. And I plan too make this very English soup using the recipe found at Wee Folk Art. And I wish I had one these lovely shalls 'bout now too. :o)

The Kauahi Family's 1st Annual Autumn Apple Krush Party

2009-10-25T10:53:00.001-07:00

First, we (and I use that word very loosely here) built the Kauahi Krusher using timber, a jack, PVC pipe, a metal trash can with a spout added and some other hardware stuff.

Scott found the plans online if you want to build one too.

Livi was his helpful helper as usual.

On the day of the Krush, Owen washed apples with the help of a little friend of ours. I bought 15 pounds of apples. It was not nearly enough.

Miss. Livi sliced the apples.

And I chopped them in my food processor. Next year we plan to add an automatic chopper using a garbage disposal. Those plans are online too.

Now we were ready to begin pressing the apples. Scott made three layers using cheese cloth, apples, and circular pieces of plywood. This was layered into the PVC pipe, which sat in the metal can.

Scott then used the jack to press the layers together and the juice started flowing! Notice the wood buring designs Scott added.

And in the mean time, Miss. M. made yummy pumpkin bread.

Once all the apples had been pressed
I strained out any little apple bits and bottled it up. Fifteen pounds of apples yielded 3/4 of a gallon. It was a fun and easy project. With just a few tweaks here and there the Kauahi Krusher will be perfected, and then we need only to find an affordable supply of apples. Free is good. :O)

Thankful....

2009-10-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

I want to make these.....

2009-10-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

....little pumpkin pie bites. Don't they look good? Maybe later when all my chores are done. :o)

For the Gift Shop

2009-10-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

Here's one sweet little apron. I used the Flirty-Skirty pattern, with some extra touches, designed by Jan Lutz. I have made soo many of these little sweeties that I can quickly whip one up in just a couple of hours.

Yes!

2009-10-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

".....It's finally Friday, I'm free again. I got my motor running for a wild weekend. It's finally Friday, I'm outta control, forget the workin blues and let the good times roll......"
Kenny Chesney

What's a Girl To Do?

2009-10-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.

~ E.B.White ~

What is a girl to do when her house is spic-and-span, her laundry has already been sorted, washed, folded and put away, the children have completed their lessons, it's wet and cold outdoors, and she has a plan for dinner?

1.) She reads. She is completely enamoured with Agatha Christi in particular and mystery novels in general. Did you know Portland has a book store devoted entirely to mysteries, thrillers and crime fiction? Well, they do. She wonders if there is one in Seattle? She fears another obsession coming on. Something concerning all things English, tea and Devon shire cream, and some knitting. She adores Miss. Marple and wants to be a sleuth.

2.) She bakes. Today she has plans for an apple cake topped with a brown sugar sauce. It's promise of appley awesomeness is calling to her even now.

3.) She sews. This girl starts yet another apron. She's so excited about it and just knows it will be the cutest one ever. She plans on selling it this time though at a local gift shop. That makes her excited too.

4.) She takes photos of the rain. She enjoys the sound of it falling. She offers up a quick prayer of thanksgiving for the abundance and beauty her garden has provided but is secretly glad she no longer has to work in it.

Ta Da!

2009-10-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

I finally finished an autumn apron this weekend....the one I started in August. Good grief. I start strong and peter out on my sewing projects.

I guess I should cut myself some slack though. The past three weeks we have been engaged in some grueling work....preparing our home for the housing market.

You'd think I'd have enough aprons by now. But to tell you the truth...I have given away every single one. I kept the first one I made three years ago...and it's still my favorite.

And to tell you the truth...it isn't easy taking pictures of yourself. Thank you Egor..er...Miss. M.

I'm Makin' Waffles

2009-10-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm on a bit of a waffle kick. I loove waffles.

Last Sunday I made Oat-Cornmeal waffles with Apple Cider Syrup from the lovely cookbook by Beth Hensperger, The Art of Quick Breads. Today I'm thinking the Spiced Gingerbread Waffles with Glazed Apples sounds pretty delightful.

Apple Cider Syrup:

1 cup fresh apple cider

2 TBSP brown sugar

2 TBSP corn syrup

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 cinnamon sticks

3 Tbsp butter

Combine cider, brown sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce liquid by one third, about ten minuets. Remove from heat, discard cinnamon sticks, add the butter, and swirl to melt. Serve the syrup warm. Keeps for one week, covered, in the refrigerator. Rewarm before serving.

Happy Cool and Crisp October Saturday Morning to ya! :O)

Feeling Nastalgic

2009-10-07T06:16:00.001-07:00

"People seem to get nostalgic about a lot of things they weren't so crazy about the first time around." ~Author Unknown

Seriously, it's autumn that makes me feel this way. Memories of smells and tastes from my childhood come rushing back. Smells of burning brush and leaves, hot tar being smeared on the school roof, my name written with black sharpie on brown paper lunch sacks (I did have a Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew lunch pail for a while), and new leather shoes (from Kinney's in Aberdeen). Anything made with or smothered in maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and all the other warm spices scream, "Eat me!", right now.

My mom always sent us out the door with a hot cereal breakfast. Usually oatmeal, but we (there were five of us kids) ate a fair amount of Cream Of Wheat and Malto Meal too. While shopping last week I picked up a box of Maple and Brown Sugar Malto Meal ( doesn't that sound so Autumn?) and I found a sweet princess handled Pyrex bowl (at the Goodwill). In short, I have been serving up good hearty breakfasts and loving it. Malto Meal is the best served with a little pat o' butter. And that's it. No milk. No extra sugar. It is wonderful to wash it down with a glass of cold, freshly pressed, apple cider though. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm. :O)

OMG!

2009-10-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

Did you Washingtonians see the beautiful sunset last night? It was breath taking.

Miss. M and I were oohing and aahing on our way home from debate club. I didn't have my camera with me and I was kicking myself for it. The sun was setting behind the Olympic Mountains and the clouds were flaming orange.

As we neared Case Inlet we saw the moon! We both screamed at the same time,"Oh. My. Goodness! Look at the moon!" It was huge and orange. And the sky around it was purple!

We quickly raced up the hill, Miss. M jumped out of the car, grabbed the camera, and we raced back down the hill to take pictures.

In ten minutes time the sky had changed from a light purpley gray to a dark purple with a bright orange ring around the moon.

I couldn't quite capture it though. If I could get the ring around the moon, I couldn't get the craters. I stood in the cold for nearly 20 minuets.

It was the most beautiful sky I have ever seen and the picture it etched in my mind , I hope will never fade. Get out tonight folks and take it in!

The Harastine Island Annual Apple Cider Smash

2009-10-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

My family has a thing for local festivals and this is one we have been wanting to check out for a few years now, but we always miss it. But not this year.

Scott had to work and I should have been painting. But I said, "no, I'm going to the apple smash." Yep. That's what I said.

I took Miss. Livi with me. The other kids had prior engagements. There were many tons of new crisp apples.

First, all the apples were washed and then distributed to the apple smashers.

Some were smashed the old fashioned way with one of these twisty press types.

Others were put through a homemade, electrical device. I want an apple smasher.

Lots and lots of apple bits left over. I didn't ask what they planned to do with it all, but I remember reading that the pioneers used the left-overs to make apple cider vinegar.

Empty jugs waiting to be filled.

Filled jugs waiting to be purchased. I bought two.

Lots of interesting old timers hanging around. I love old timers hanging around.

Old time music was being played inside the hall. I wanted to dance a jig, but I didn't know how.

There were ladies and their spinning wheels, spinning the wool from their own animals. (Sheep and alpacas)

There were corn husk dolls to be made. When we got home she made three more dolls just for kicks.

Livi also made a zipper pull made from leather with a little help from a leather crafter guy.

This man works with leather too, but he uses a leather burner to make his designs instead of hammers and chisels like the first fella. He was working on a portrait of Robert E. Lee, the commanding general of the Confederate Army. We got to talking polotics. We were of the same mind. That was nice.

Livi then had some caramel apple slices. She shard with me and they were good. Real good. And sticky.

We had a completely enjoyable day. I left loving the people that live near me, traditions that people keep alive, my country, fall, Livi, the sunshine, and I was anxious to get home and try some of that there freshly smashed cider. :O)

The Anatomy of a Noodle

2009-09-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nooo, not your brain silly, but homemade egg noodles. They are so simple and homey, and hearty, and just so good. Start with 2 1/2 cups flour, a pinch of salt, 2 fresh eggs (beaten), 1/2 cup milk, and 1 Tbsp. softened butter. Mix well. Knead and let rest for 10 min.

Next, roll the noodle dough 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch on a flour surface. Cut into desired lengths. Do try to cut them in consistent widths so that they will cook evenly. I use a pizza cutter for this. Let the noodles dry a bit before cooking. I made my noodles around 2:30 and let them dry until I was ready to cook them at dinner time.

Okay, now cook as normal and serve as you would any other pasta. I made chicky-noody soup (as Miss. Livi used to say), full of fresh herbs and vegis. These noodles are good too with a white sauce. Oh my gosh. So good.

As a side note, I used a free range chicken in the soup - it was a bit higher in price per pound than a conventional bird - but worth it to me. Since raising our pet chickens I have come to appreciate the life of the animals that give me the food that I eat. Whether it be a chicken breast, an egg, or a pork chop. I know that a free range bird is a happy bird! And a happy chicken is a healthy, tasty chicken! :O)

Aah....smell that? It's Delicious Autumn.

2009-09-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Autumn is the best season in which to sniff, and to sniff for pleasure, for this is the season of universal pungency.

~ Bertha Damon

Resting

2009-09-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

It's a day of rest - and I'm taking it. We have been working for the past seven days - stopping only to eat and sleep - getting our sweet little home ready to sale. We've landscaped the yard, cleaned up the garden area, stained the stairs and new garden shed, and numerous other things outdoors that I can't recall.

Yesterday, we began working on the inside. Mostly painting. Lots of painting. The trim that was put on three years ago was never finished in the master bedroom or the family room. While Scott cut and hammered trim, venting his frustration (very loudly)over the difficulty of the bull-nose corners, a concerned neighbor rushed over, fearful that Scott had sawed his arm off, I was hiding in another part of the house dreamily painting base boards.

Let me just say that being "sore" is an understatement. I can not begin to tell you how loudly my muscles are "venting" at me. So today I'm resting. I'm dreaming, baking, and perusing my favorite cookbooks. The most strenuous thing I have done is to bake O'dog some Snicker*Doodles and make my autumn menu grocery list. :O)

Monday Morning Meme

2009-09-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

Outside my window.....is an amazing array of spiderwebs, all various shapes and sizes, but each covered in dew. Just beautiful.

I am thinking.....nothing spectacular...just all the things that need to be done this week.

I am thankful.....for the best summer for growing vegis we've ever had. I'm still eating fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.

From the kitchen.....I'm planning to make Baked Pancake with Cucumber Salsa for din- din tonight. I'll let you know how it turns out.:O)

I'm wearing.....shorts, t-shirt, and my runners. I already walked /jogged 2 1/2 miles this morning with my DVD buddy, Leslie Sansone.

I am reading.....This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I started reading it last night and far it's not all that great. I recently finished Made From Scratch, Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life. That was an enjoyable read.

From the schoolroom.....we are studying chemistry, and geography, American artists and famous musicians.

I am hearing.....water drain from the bathtub, the youngsters make plans for after school, and my stomach growling.

I am hoping.....to get all the yard work done this week while it is nice. Need to pull weeds, get some booty bark, plant some bulbs and clean out the hen house.

I am loving.....all the Halloween candy in the stores. I love it way more than Easter candy.:O0

One of my favorite things.....is my food processor. It has earned a coveted permanent spot on the counter because of it's frequent use.

A few plans for the rest of the week......running hither and thither. Will be spending a lot of time in my car this week taking Miss. M and O'dog to debate, geometry, band, etc....

A picture thought I'm sharing with you:

Port Townsend's Point Wilson Lighthouse

Got Corn?

2009-09-17T08:21:00.001-07:00

Corn Fritter batter

I do! Several homegrown ears of sweet corn on the cob, given to us by one of Scott's co-workers. It's been awesome this summer exchanging produce with other gardening enthusiasts. I've traded lemom cucs, zucchini, berries, jam, and zuc relish for corn, apples, tomatoes, and plums. I've given bouquets of herbs and dahlias, and more pounds of apple zucchini than I could possible guess. It's been fun sharing God's blessings with others.

"Freely you have received ~ freely give." ~ Jesus, Matthew 10:8

Corn Fritters, salted and then slathered with butter.

Corn Fritters:
2 cups fresh corn
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup corn meal
1/4 cup flour

Gently beat the egg. Mix with milk. Combine dry ingred. Add the two together. Stir in corn. Drop large spoonfuls into hot oil. Cook until golden. Drain. Salt. Eat. With butter. Lots o' butter. :O)

Maggy...er.. Magnus

2009-09-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

He's a sweetie. Really. All fluff and cuddles. But.....

.....whatever you do, don't look him in the eyes! You'll be setting yourself up for an attack.

Thank you.....

2009-09-10T07:26:00.001-07:00

This is the second double yolked egg that my girls have provided in as many weeks. I can't help but smile and thank the Lord whenever I see a double yolker.

Why? Well, many years ago, when I learned that I was going to be a mama for the 4th time, and in less than 2 years from the birth of my 3rd baby, I was quite distressed. How could I possibly love and care for another baby? Lord, I don't need another baby. I love this one.(Owen was exactly 1yo when I learned of Miss. Livi) It may seem harsh for a mother to feel that way, but I did. I also had a 10 year old boy, and a six year old girl that I was trying to home educate, my husband had just been medically retired from 9 years of military service and was working three jobs to make ends meet. This wasn't a good time, in my opinion, to add another Kauahi to the mix. But what do I know? :O)

As the time drew nearer to the birth of my Olivia Grace, I began to feel God's peace and grace (the meaning of Livi's name) surrounding me. I knew the Lord would provide and that I would be able to manage my home and teach the older children, by His grace. But I still wasn't convinced I could love two babies at once. I only had 6 weeks until the due date and the fear was mounting. I hadn't shared with anyone how I was feeling. How could I possibly say that I didn't think I'd love my new baby? That sounds awful....but that was the fear I had.

I began to share with my mom, who then prayed with me, and tried to show me that it would all work out fine. She prayed for my peace of mind and that I would see that two just meant double.

Sometime shortly after that conversation and prayer time with my ma two funny things happened to me. The first was at a Chinese food restaurant. After we all had eaten and it was time to pay the bill, the fortune cookies were brought and Scott passed one to each of us. I don't usually eat the fortune cookie, just have never cared for them. But I was nearly nine months along and ate everyting that went past my nose. When I opened the cookie it had two fortunes in it. That was a pleasant surprise, I've never had that happen before, but I didn't give it another thought. I just gobbled up my cookie and went home.

The next day or so while making a batch of cookies, I got a double yolker! How exciting! I'd never gotten a double yolked egg before and had only seen one once when I was a child. I began to muse on the double fortune and the double yolk and what my mother had said about two babies being a double blessing. I began to cry and thank the Lord, for I knew he would double my strentgh, my peace, and my joy. The fear was gone. And to this day the double yolked egg reminds me of God's goodness, His peace and grace.

I love my two O'babies! And what a blessing they have been. Not just to me, but to each other!

If you give a girl a camera......

2009-09-09T17:38:00.001-07:00

....you'll see the world through her eyes. Thank you Miss. M. They are lovely.

Favorite Autumn Color

2009-09-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know it's not technically fall yet, but it's coming. I can feel it in the air. Scott can feel it......in his sinuses. Yes, it's true. He can predict a change in the weather with his sinuses. The alder trees in our yard have already begun to drop their yellowed leaves and the maples have a tinge of orange in the upermost branches. ***Sigh***

It is indeed going to be a cool and wet weekend and I have plans to sew (an autumn apron), read (Harry Potter), bake (from this lovely cookbook) and finalize plans for the school year. I predict that it will be a full and satisfying weekend. A cosy foretaste of the coming seasons delights.

Have you guessed my favorite fall color.....for this year anyway? I grew this lovely jar of beans. All heirloom and beautifully colored. From the top to the bottom is: Cranberry, Yin yang, and Peach Blossom Runner. I'm going to make a tasty soup one of these days. But not yet. I want to admire them a bit longer first. :O)

He's a Senior...Class of 2010

2009-09-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." ~ Psalm 126:5

Thank you for your mercies, Lord!

Happy September!

2009-09-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

"Don't you just love...fall? It makes me want to shop for back to school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." ~You've Got Mail

A new book bag for Miss. M., sewn just in time for the first day of school tomorrow, and a bouqet of newly sharpened pencils.....aah.

A Perennial Favorite

2009-08-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

It's that time a year again. Time to pull out our very own copy of Charlotte's Web, on tape, read by the great E.B. White. It's become a tradition to listen to this most wonderful children's story during the last weeks of summer break. And occasionally we top it off with a trip to the Puyallup Fair! It has become a way of marking the changing of the seasons from summer to fall, and having one last hurrah before the rigors of a new school year begins.

I love this story. No, I think I love E.B. White. I love his rich New England accent and I love how he tells a story. :O)

Oh, Help!!!!

2009-08-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

"Bok-bok-bok-bok-B'GACK-B'GACK! Bok-bok-bok-B'GACK-bok-bok!"

~Charity and Ginger, my laying hens

The codfish lays a thousand eggs,
The hen lays only one;
But the codfish never cackles
To tell us when she's done.
And so we scorn the codfish
While the humble hen we prize;
Which only goes to show you
That it pays to advertise.

So Sweet

2009-08-25T15:40:00.001-07:00

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."

~ Lewis Grizzard

Yep, what he said. And of all the things I planted this year, it's the tomato's I'm enjoying the most! Delicious. :O)

A Bunny and Her Egg

2009-08-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

“Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid.” ~ Mark Twain

Bunny Nugget as a baby.

Bunny laid her first egg yesterday. We are all so happy and proud!! This is what we have been waiting for. This is what I have become a rebel, coventant breaking, member of the chicken underground for.

Scott went out to the playhouse to investigate a bit of commotion and found it sitting under the roost. It's as small as my egg salt-n-pepper shaker. Thank you Bunny. :o)

Port Townsend, WA....

2009-08-22T04:40:00.001-07:00

....a favorite summer hangout. Does this picture look like an album cover to you? If so, what should this group or band be called and what name would you give their new album? Check out Owen the hottie. Should he be the lead singer or Miss. M?

Summer Reading List

2009-08-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I realize summer is nearly over, but it's better late than never. Right? I have done a lot of reading this summer; some books I enjoyed immensely and others I didn't bother to finish. Some on the list I have read in the past and I just wanted to reread them. Others I read for the first time. I even read one twice! It was that good. :O)

A lovely book chosen purely for its title. I loved this book.

And how do you choose a book? Recommendations from trusted friends? By topic or genre? Or like me, do you pick a book simply because if its appealing cover or title? And just how cool is that when the story is actually as good as the cover made you hope it would be? I love it when that happens. :o)

This is a book list. Not reviews or recommendations. We all have different reading tastes, and we read for different reasons (some want to be entertained, that would be me, while others are seeking specific knowledge, that would be me too. :O). So, take it for what it is. A list of diverse subjects written by a diverse group of authors, not all necessarily of the same mind as myself.

Books Read:

Blanket Statement
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Twilight Saga (all four books)
The Ivy Tree
The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia
The Self-Healing Kitchen Cookbook
Farm City; The Education of an Urban Farmer
Urban Homesteading
Simple Soft Furnishings
Cranberry Queen
Garden Spells
French General Sewing ( I think that's what it was called)
The Complete Agatha Christi Novels (started one didn't finish the other)
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven (did not finish)

Books On Hold or Waiting To Be Read:

The Time Traveler's Wife
Housekeeping: A Novel
Chic and Simple Sewing
Amy Butler's In Stitches
The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook much
The Forgotten Garden: A novel
A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen
Made From Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life
The Master Cleanser
The Sugar Queen
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects
Harry Potter book 1

Operation Coffee Cup Campaign 1961

2009-08-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

A warning from Ronald Reagan on the dangers of socialized medicine. Get your cup of coffee and educate yourselves. And then write to your congressmen, and keep writing them.

Gone Picking

2009-08-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

This morning after my walk, I went plum picking with my walking partner and her daughter. Free red plums. Yum.

While I was up on the step ladder I noticed a face looking up at me. A barn owl face. Can you see it? Or maybe just a heart.

Red plums on a red bench.

Miss. M.'s B.F.F. , Ashley.

Plums. Delicious plums.

Sew Easy

2009-08-10T11:26:00.001-07:00

I've seen these really neat looking camera strap slipcovers around on some of my favorite craft blogs and decided I'd make myself one. It was very easy to make, in fact, it was so easy I plan to make more. And because I was able to use scraps from previous projects, it didn't cost me anything. Only my afternoon nap. :O)

Killin' Two Birds with One Stone

2009-08-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

"Vegetables are a must in a diet.....I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie." ~ Garfield

See my cute little mug Miss. Livi gave me? I love it. She got it out of a "free" box someone had sitting in their driveway. Score!

So I have an abundance of zucchini and blueberries. I found a recipe on-line that uses both. Perfect. I made a batch of blueberry zucchini bread for breakfast this morning and enjoyed it with a mug of coffee while I mentally prepared myself for the day. Miss. M. is having a slumber party tonight. A Phantom of the Opera /nachos and chocolate frosting slumber party with 7 other girls. Huh?

Blueberry Bread:
3 cups flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups chopped zucchini
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Okay, you know the deal. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla Mix well. Add dry ingred. Fold in zucchini and berries. Spoon into 2 greased laof pans. Bake 350* for 1 hour. Cool and glaze with a powdered sugar and milk mixture if desired.

Happy Friday to y'all!

Can I get an "Aah-men"?

2009-08-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

aah

: to exclaim in amazement, joy, or surprise

I'm thanking the Good Lord for the cooler weather. It is so aah-inspiring that I have started a few new sewing and embroidery projects, chosen a paint color for my bathroom, caught up on all my laundry, cleaned house top-to-bottom, and am ready to get my baking groove on.

Aah-some!

Miss. M picks blueberries.......

2009-08-05T07:59:00.001-07:00

....and mama bakes a pie. A sour cream blueberry pie. So easy. So good.

Sour Cream Blueberry Pie:
1 9-inch pie crust
2 cups fresh blueberries (they taste best when you've picked them yourself):o)
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
Dash salt

Stem berries. Wash if you feel the need. In a mixing bowl beat the eggs and sugar together until foamy but not stiff. Maybe 5 min.? Fold in sour cream 'til mixed. Fold in berries. Pour mixture into pie shell and bake in pre-heated 325* oven for 60
minutes. Excellent served warm. Even better chilled and eaten for breakfast the next morn! Ha.

Beets, Baby

2009-07-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

"The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish is a cold fire, the fire of discontent, not of passion. Tomatoes are lusty enough, yet there runs through tomatoes an undercurrent of frivolity. Beets are deadly serious." ~ Tom Robbins

Basket o' beets '09

I made a most delish chilled beet soup with horseradish sour cream sauce topped with fresh dill. Everyone loved it, except for Scott. There's always one in the crowd. :O)

Cranky

2009-07-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

Do you know the most annoying question ever? Here it is: "Is it hot enough for ya?"

I hate it. I hate it when people ask me that. I realize that they are probably just trying to be friendly, or maybe they don't know how else to start a conversation, but come on. Don't ask if it's hot enough for me. I have never enjoyed temperatures higher than say, 75. It is certainly too hot when the thermostat registers 89 degrees at 8:00 at night.

I lived in Central Texas for three years. It is hot in Texas nine months out of the year. Stinkin' hot. I used to iron my clothes and then set them neatly in the freezer to cool before I would dress.

When I was nine months gestational with Miss. M., in Texas, during August, our air conditioner broke. It made me cranky. Real cranky. I also happened to be at height of the "nesting mode". The only relief I could find was to clean the showers with the cold water spraying down on me. Miss. M was born a few days later.

I'm not the only one who is cranky tonight. My kids are short tempered. Scott is gruff. The dogs are growling at each other and Magnus (our new grey kitty) doesn't want to play.

Do you enjoy sweat rolling out of every possible pore? I don't. So I will now go clean my shower and hope this crankiness washes off of me along with all the perspiration!

Rest

2009-07-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time” ~John Lubbock

Hawaii '09

2009-07-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Miss. M bakes a wreath....

2009-07-09T06:38:00.000-07:00

....a lovely, oh so yummy, cream puff, custard filled, lemon glazed, strawberry wreath.

Heaven in a pastry!

Miss. M bakes a pie.....

2009-07-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

....a strawberry rhubarb pie.

It was good. Real good. :O)

Preserving the Harvest

2009-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Cardamon Ginger Rhubarb Sauce

I was given 12 pounds of rhubarb this weekend! Thanks, Beanball! What do you do with 12 pounds of rhubarb? Make some yummy rhubarb sauce and can it of course! There is something so satisfying about growing your own food and then storing it away for later. I also plan to make Strawberry Rhubarb Jam with this recipe:

2 1/2 cups strawberries
1 1/2 cups rhubarb
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 8oz. can crushed pinapple
1 3oz. box strawberry jello

Combine in large pot the berries, rhubarb, sugar and pinapple. Boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20 min. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Pour into freezer jars. Refrigerate or freeze. Sounds good, huh?

Basket of Zucchini '09

As stated before, my zucchini is out of control this year. I have been keeping a tally of just how many zucchini that have been harvested. And to date I have picked 12 regular, dark green kind, and 6 Apple Globe type. Amazing. Last year I got 1. One stinking zucchini. Today I'm making a batch of Spicey Zucchini Relish. :O)

Lavender Syrup

2009-07-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

Making lavender syrup is very simple and rewarding. If you like lavender. And I'm going to assume that you do. (Scott says I should never assume anything. It makes an ass of u and me. Ha ha, he, ho. Get it?) This syrup is delicately scented, sweet and light, with only the faintest taste of the flower's heavenly perfume.

The process is very easy. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil. Stir in 1-2 Tbsp. lavender, depending on how strong you want the flavor, and immediately remove from the heat. Cover, and steep for a couple of hours, then strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clear glass container, so that you can see the lovely color. I used fresh lavender flowers and my syrup is a medium golden brown color. I have read that if you use dried flowers the syrup will have a blue hue.

Okay, now that you have some lovely Lavender (rabbit tobacco) Syrup what to do with it? Lavender Syrup can be used in hot teas, warm milk, lemonade, fruit salads, and a drop or two in a glass of champagne makes an elegant aperitif. (So I've read)

Lavender has been used historically for colds and nervous tension cures. Especially headaches. The syrup can be diluted with hot water and brandy in the winter, or carbonated mineral water in the summer. Try it! I had a glass of cold lavender syrup and carbonated water this morning.

I went poking around the 'net and found some recipes that I think look or sounded pretty good. Like this one. Doesn't Spiced Mango Fried Ravioli with Lavender Syrup sound awesome?

Our how about this lovely sounding recipe? Pound Cake with blueberries and lavender syrup. My blueberries will be ripe soon. I may try this.

Here's a simple one:

Strawberries in Lemon-Lavender Syrup

1 pound fresh strawberries
6 tablespoons water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
Whipped cream (optional)

Rinse and drain strawberries. Hull and cut into halves or quarters into a large bowl and set aside.

In small saucepan over low heat, combine water, lemon juice, sugar and lavender and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and lavender is infused. Remove from heat and strain syrup, discarding the blossoms.

Pour strained syrup over strawberries and toss gently to mix. Serve berries and syrup right away in pretty glass bowls or stemmed glasses. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

Note: You can prepare the syrup in advance and let it cool. Toss with berries just before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

And finally, if you are further interested in growing or using lavender check out all these book possibilities from Amazon.

Amazon Books

:O)

Hooray! for the Red, White, and Blue

2009-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

...forever in peace, may you wave....

Herbals

2009-07-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

This year I planted a 'lemon garden'. It has:

Lemon verbena
Lemon balm
Lemon basil
Lemon thyme
and Lemon cucumbers

I wish I had a Meyer lemon tree, but I am happy, for now, with my lemony herbs.

Lemon Balm ~ Upon consumption, for a brief period of time the eater will think and feel as he did in his youth. Please note if you have any former hellions at your table before serving. A time traveler flower. ~ Garden Spells

Lemon Balm Shortbread

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

3 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 splash vanilla

1 cup fresh Lemon Balm leaves, chopped

Preheat oven to 325

In large bowl with, a wooden spoon, stir together butter and sugar until they make a graint paste. Stir in flour and baking powder. Add beaten eggs and vanilla. Combine well, use your hands to knead dough if necessary. Sprinkle in most of Lemon Balm and mix until well incorporated.

Turn onto a floured surface and roll until just shy a 1/2 inch thick. Lightly press remaining lemon balm onto top of dough. Place on baking sheet and bake for15 minutes or until it gegins to turn golden brown at the edges.

Remove from oven, cool, and cut into shapes using your favorite cookie cutters. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve at room temperature.

Hot Dog!

2009-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Corgis are big dogs with no legs. If one jumps on you, you will know this is true.
~ Laughing Dog Press

The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's. ~ Polish Proverb

Completely Random

2009-06-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

This post card has no rhyme or reason. Just sharing....and enjoying the summer weather....and sipping a glass of homemade ginger ale....while wondering what's for dinner?

Last week was Scott's 39Th birthday. I baked him the most delightful birthday cake. Ever. He said he wants this cake every year. It's a flourless, dark chocolate cake, smothered with fresh strawberries and topped with strawberry ice cream and Cool Whip. So good.

The hens are getting big. Check out Henrietta's fluffy bloomers! I love it. I daily bring the hens a bouquet of weeds. They love me for it.

But I like to let them out of their play pen, one at a time, to visit me in the garden. (I don't know if I could round up seven birds without causing quite a bit of a commotion.) They are happy to scratch and peck around. I'm happy to let them eat my weeds and the roly pollies.

Do you like to use air fresheners but worry about the evil chemicals in them? Well, make your own with a bit of water and some essential oils. I like to make a lavender, orange, and mint combo. Heavy on the mint. Mmmm....smells so fresh and clean.

This picture is so disturbing to me on soo many levels. Scott took half the kids shooting yesterday after church and my little Livi ( check her out on Scott's bolg) thoroughly enjoyed herself. As dainty and girly as she is, she is forever surprising me with her willingness to try new things. Things I would never have tried at her age or even now. Guns freak me out.

Okay, have a totally awesome day, doing whatever random things you find yourself doing! :o)

Golden Bupestrid or Jewel Beetle

2009-06-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

Worm or beetle - drought or tempest - on a farmer's land may fall, Each is loaded full o' ruin, but a mortgage beats 'em all. ~ Will Carleton

Come on, Let's Tie One On!

2009-06-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Emmaline by Sew Liberated

An apron that is.

So put your aprons on and be inspired! Inspired to do, and love, and create. Yes, that's what my apron truly does for me. :o) I orderd the Emmeline pattern last month, carefully chose my fabrics, and have finally put it all together. It was a fun project, and as always, I learned a few things along the way.

Please excuse my dusty mirror....I'm now inspired to wash it.:o)

On a strawberry sundae kind of a day.....

2009-06-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

....all daisies and June sun. ~ John Vinocur

Tradgedy Strikes the Chickadee Family

2009-06-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is the birdhouse in my backyard that the clothesline is attached to. It has a large family of chickadees living in it; ma and pa and five new babies.

Little mouths to feed. Always crying for more food.

Egg halves. So very tiny, white with red speckles. And O'dog? Clip those nails!

Gasp! Two of the five babies have fallen or were pushed from the nest.

So sad. They were given a proper burial in the garden. Livi made a cross of sticks and string.

Lasagna Garden Update

2009-06-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

Can I just say, wow?! It has been perfect growing weather with 29 days of no rain and temperatures above 72 degrees. My lasagna garden has taken off! We have been enjoying delicious herbs and other homegrown goodness this past week. The rainbow chard has been used in a soup and I made a creamy herb salad dressing that was a big hit around here.

Creamy Herb salad dressing and Easter Egg radishes from the farmers market.

The beets are nearly ready to be pulled from the ground (flavor is best when the beet roots are 2 inches across) and I have some recipes I'm really excited to try. If they're any good I'll share them with you. :O)

Beet greens are perfect in stir-fry and soups.

But maybe the most amazing thing to me growing out there is the zucchini. It's only June and my plants are mammoth and loaded with zucs. I planted a new variety this year besides the typical dark green. I can't remember what they are called but they are small and round like an apple. A green apple. With stripes. They are loaded too.

A happy little Lady on a mammoth zucchini leaf.

Besides the rainbow chard, beets, and zucchini I also have patch of cabbage and three types of beans for drying. This lasagna garden has been a blast to make and very exciting to watch it grow. I'll admit that I was doubt full at first but Patricia Lanza has made a believer out of me. I don't think I'll ever use a tiller again!

The Countdown to Summer Vacation Starts Now!

2009-06-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ye haw! Only five more days of school left. I'm every bit as excited now, as when I was school girl. :o)

It's been a great year. The kids have learned and tried and succeeded and failed and grown by leaps and bounds. Zach is finishing his Jr. year, and his first year attending high school and a tech school. He has earned a 4.00 grade average and was Student of the Month for May at North Mason High School. And he has gotten his drivers licence. Way to go Zach!

Micaela has conquered algebra and developed a love for poetry, baking, sewing and of course art. Next year she will be a Freshman. Where does the time go? She'll be taking geometry and art at the high school. She also plans to got out for track and join a duo interpretations team.

Owen has finished the 4th grade. He excels at math and loves all thing relating to history and science. He is progressing in reading but is still struggling. I have been down this road before, so I'm trying not to panic. I'm thinking of hiring a reading tutor for the summer. O'dog wants to take up the trumpet and will be joining the fifth grade band at the local school. Oh, boy!

Miss. Livi will be a third grader in the fall! Yeah! She has done most excellently in all her subjects and is well on her way to becoming a certified bookworm. She loves to read and she loves drawing.

I'm looking forward to attending the homeschool fair this Friday. It is always an enjoyable time to look at books and supplies and to be inspired for the coming year. And then I'll relax and unwind and read and dream and plan and be free!

"No more pencils, no more books. No more teachers dirty looks!"

June Blooms

2009-06-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

"When I begin to write about flowers I lose all sense of restraint; and it's far, far too late to do anything about it." ~Beverly Nichols

The peonies have begun to bloom. I don't think I have to tell you what a lovely flower the peony is. They can speak for themselves.

Pretty Princess Peony.....

2009-06-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

.....becomes a mighty hunter. Does anyone understand cat psychology? Why do they drop these dead animals in places I'm going to step? Poor little mouse. He had such cute little buck teeth.

Totally Lovin' Rhubarb, Man

2009-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, when it's as stinking hot has it has been, ya gotta make ice cream. See this ice cream maker? Scott and I picked it up at a garage sale when Zach was a baby. For a dime. It works great and there is always much excitement when it's time to make ice cream. I made Buttermilk Ice Cream. It was awesome.

Look at this bea-u-tiful rhubarb. Why aren't more people excited about rhubarb? I think we should have a National Holiday devoted to rhubarb. Yes. It's that awesome.

This time I made Rhubarb Cornmeal Cake. The recipe came fron Nigella Lawson's cookbook called "How to be a Domestic Goddess." Yep, that's me. No, not really. I'm more like Roseanne Bar. Remember her?

This cake was good. Real good. Make some. Celebrate rhubarb with me. Okay?

Rhubarb Cornmeal Cake:
1 pound 2 oz. rhubarb
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. fine cornmeal
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilli
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. plain yogurt ( I used vanilla flavored because that is what I had.)
9 in spring form pan, buttered

Preheat oven to 350

Wash, dry, and chop rhubarb into 1/2 inch pieces. Put into glass bowl and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of sugar. Let sit while preparing the rest of the cake mix. Mix the next 5 ingredients together in another bowl. Beat eggs and add vanilla. In a smaller separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Gradually add the eggs and the yogurt. Add dry ingredients and then the rhubarb. Stir until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 45-50 min. let cool in pan on a wire rack 10 min. before unmolding. Serve with vanilla or buttermilk ice cream.

Pouring it On

2009-06-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Happiness is like perfume: You can't give it away without getting a little on yourself. ~Unknown

Livi made lilac perfume this week. Just 5 cents a bottle. I used to make rose and snowball perfume from my mothers' rose and snowball tree. Good times. Good times.

An Evening of Bat Watching

2009-06-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

After the sun began to set and all my chores where done, in an effort to cool myself off (it was a hot day and I made lasagna for dinner, thus warming up the house, and I've been fighting a stomach flu to boot) I went outside, lit some candles around my new sitting area, and began to unwind. It was glorious. It was much cooler than my kitchen. And it was quiet.

Soon the Little's were out out there with me. One commented on how quiet it was. There were no birds chirping, no mowers mowing, no children playing (it was after 9 p.m. by this time). The only sounds to be heard were the buzzing of mosquitoes.

Soon the bats were out flying overhead. Owen ran to get some binoculars and his blanket.

He said he wasn't afraid. Does he look afraid to you?

The night flying acrobats with their twisting and turning, dipping and swooping made it impossible to photograph them. And honestly, I didn't care. Watching them was enough for me. I was just enjoying the moment.

It was an unexpected, pleasant, evening of bat watching.

Dill Tummy Tea

2009-05-28T08:46:00.001-07:00

Dill growing happily next to lemon balm, lemon thyme, viola, and others.

Or

Sunshine in a Cup:
10 fresh dill sprigs
1 one inch cinnamon stick
8oz. water

Make into tea and sip slowly. Good for upset tummy, gas and hiccups.

Dill is at the top of the list as one of my all time favorite herbs to grow. It grows quickly, it grows easily, there are many uses for dill, and the seed heads look lovely in a bouquet of dahlias.

Growing on the Arbor

2009-05-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Like a beautiful wedding bouquet is

Clematis

and Lilac.

Two distinct flowers with their own lovely qualities, but impossible to separate, so completely have they become intertwined.

The fragrance of one and the beauty of the other complement each other. As a true marriage should.

Never Been More Nervous.....

2009-05-26T16:56:00.001-07:00

....than I am right now! What does a mother do when her first born gets his drivers license and wants to drive himself (alone for the first time) 15 minutes away to a Bible study? Alone on a twisty, winding, country highway. She prays! Hard. And then blogs about it.

Sweet Sweet Tweet Tweet

2009-05-24T09:15:00.001-07:00

In the woods surrounding my house lives this fellow; the Melospiza melodia, or the song sparrow. This territorial little fella sings his song, not merely to entertain me, but to define his 1/2 to 1 1/2 acre territory. And what a pretty song it is too.

See his central dot on his streaked breast? That is what identifies him from other sparrows. A song sparrow always has a central dot with a streaked breast. He sits on the branch of the wild cherry tree and let's me take his picture as he sings. Show off!

When the female arrives he won't sing as much as he will be concentrating on courting some lucky little gal. Or maybe not so lucky. Courtship involves the male diving at the female. Obnoxious males!

You may listen to the song of the Song Sparrow at this great site.
And of course to see this fella up close, just click on the image! :o)

Chillin' with My Peeps

2009-05-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Here is Milli and Vanilli....(girl, you know it's true)....my two little Americauna chicks. They are so sweet. So cuddly. And isn't Vanilli just the prettiest little bundle of fluffiness you've ever seen? She appears to be wearing eyeliner! And when they start giving me eggs, guess what? They are going to be blue-green. I'll have a lovely basket of eggs with some of my favorite colors from nature. When I chose which breed of chickens I wanted, I specifically made sure that there would be no white eggs in the basket! Only varying shades of brown, pink, and blue.

Last week rainy days sewing project......

2009-05-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here is my Jane Market Bag by Alicia Paulson. So quick and easy......I will certainly be making more of these and using less of the plastic! You can see what others have done here on Flickr.

The Hen House

2009-05-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Love and eggs are best when they are fresh. ~ Russian Proverb

The kids' former playhouse has been converted into the hen house. What happy little hens I have. What a happy little chicken rancher I am. To those who helped with this project, thank you...thank you for all the love that went into this sweet coop. :O)

It has a trap door underneath with a ladder, a door on the left side to gather the eggs when they start to laying, a full door on the back that allows me to walk inside to clean and feed, and it has an enclosed playpen. It took Scott and I two weekends and some help from friends to get it done.

The first night it took me 45 minutes to get them to go up the ladder and inside for the night. That was quite discouraging. The next night they had figured it out on their own and I was a proud mama!

Old Fashioned Rhubarb Crisp

2009-05-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Rhubarb is in season now. Do any of you grow rhubarb in your gardens? I'd like to. My great Granny Moe had rhubarb in hers. She made strawberry rhubarb pie and it was wonderful. My little sprouts had never tasted rhubarb before today. They liked it. And really, what's not to like? Its crisp and tart goodness bakes right up like an apple. Delicious.

Rhubarb Crisp:
3 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 tsp. flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup brown sugar

In a large bowl combine first six ingredients. Stir until well mixed. Pour into a prepared baking dish.

Topping:
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup butter

In small bowl, stir together the topping mix. Blend with fork until all flour is incorporated. Sprinkle over rhubarb mixture. Bake 30 min. or until rhubarb is tender. Serve hot from the oven with vanilla or buttermilk ice cream.

A Must

2009-05-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have used my local library and their great collection of award winning books on tape for years. It's my secret weapon. Books on tape are a must. They allow me to introduce more authors and their works than I could possibly do otherwise. They keep my children's minds occupied while in the car during the 20-30 minute trip into town (thus eliminating nearly all fussing and fighting) and they allow us all to enjoy a good book together....even dad, who usually misses out on read-alouds. We've just finished listening to Rascal by Sterling North, a Newberry Award winner....an excellent book! Here is the description from Books on Tape:

Eleven-year-old Sterling found Rascal–a mischievous, intelligent, and most engaging young raccoon–in a hollow stump in the woods. Adopted into a household that included Sterling’s absentminded father, four skunks, woodchucks, a crow named Poe, and a half-finished 18-foot canoe in the living room, Rascal became Sterling’s constant companion–and ate, slept, and even went to school with him.
In a very special, adventure-filled year, Rascal and Sterling swam, fished, and explored the countryside together–until the spring day when everything changed.
This heartwarming and delightful memoir of a boy’s friendship with a wild animal and his growing awareness of the world around him has become a treasured classic–and Rascal has taken his place among literature’s most captivating and endearing animals.

Totally up O'dogs alley. We all enjoyed it, but Owen was transported to another place and another time. I love it when a book does that.

Now we are listening to the Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. Read by the author himself. What a treat! This is a must story to listen to. E.B. White's New England accent is mesmerizing, and the story itself is humorous and warm. The Trumpet of the Swan is the story of Louis, a trumpeter swan born without a voice. How will he woo a female without a voice? This story is just sooo delightful on so many levels. I love the way White teaches about these magnificent animals so naturally through the story telling. I love too how he inspires my children to imitate, do and learn more. What parent wouldn't love a book like that? I love the the tenderness of the Old Cob (the father swan).This I believe, is my favorite of all by E.B White. An absolute must! Even if you are 40 years old. Or twenty something. Go out and find a copy of this most excellent book on tape, read by the author. You'll thank me. Really. You will.

Apple Blossoms

2009-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.
~Jane Austen

The apple tree near our home is all a bloom. The lovely clouds of fragrant, pink, blossoms are just too pretty to drive on by without stopping to admire and encourage them on. Apple pies, apple sauce, apple fritters, and all the other yummy appley possibilities found in a single apple blossom, is to me, amazing. The honeybees were happily doing their jobs. Pollinating. Yay. Ü

Livi and her Red Hen

2009-05-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka were three little girls who lived in Sweden. They had blue eyes and yellow curls, and they looked very much alike. ~Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Big Red Hen

Olivia has been enjoying this particular series of books by the Swedish author, Maj Lindman.In this particular book, the three girls care for their Aunts chickens while she is away on vacation. Maisie is a favorite with the girls.

Livi's favorite chicken is Ginger. Ginger chicken is my favorite too, from the local Chinese Palace.

In the story, Flicka, Ricka and Dicka help their father build a coop to keep Maisie and the other chickens in while Aunt Lotta is away. This weekend we began to build a place to keep Ginger and her sister chicks to live. It's not a chicken coop. It's a clubhouse. And no boys, er, I mean roosters allowed!

In the story, The Big Red Hen, Maisie leaves the girls a surprise in the bushes. A nest of newly hatched eggs. I don't want any surprises. These chickens have surprised me already by the amount they poop.

Olivia has also read the stories of the three Swedish boys, Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr by the same author. What's up with these names? I just don't know. I do know that, "today's young readers will find the warm, wholesome stories of these busy, independent children immensely satisfying," just as the back cover said, to be true.