A Snow Day

 

 

 

School was cancelled one day just before Christmas.  The boys ran out of ways to occupy themselves so I stepped in to help.  I had been stashing cans, cartons and boxes for a while for just such an occasion and it was time to pull them out.  I threw them out of the cupboard right to the middle of the floor which they got a kick out of.   "What is mom DOING?!"  After adding some essential supplies like masking tape, packing tape, scissors, wrapping paper and markers their imaginations took off.

Bud's imagination exercises took place on the computer.  He loves Spore, which allows him to create creatures, planets, universes, communities and the like.  We have to be careful, though.  He can get lost in Spore land for hours!

Games and movie days are other favorite ways for us to spend snow days.  What are some of yours?

French Press Fridays

**Excuse the spasmodic behavior of my blog.  The look keeps changing as I'm trying to figure out how to work the "controls"....still.  Thank you.**

We made Peppermint Dust a couple of weeks ago.  It's easy, really, and quite fun to have on hand this time of year.  Throw a bunch of candy canes in your food processor, or blender, cover your ears, and set that baby on "pulverize".  Voila!  Peppermint dust!  Transfer it to a fun little jar and keep on hand to add to ice cream, hot cocoa or anything else that needs a little holiday cheer.  It's also good in, yep, you guessed it....COFFEE!

 

 

 

 

So I'm dinking around on Pinterest early this morning and I come across a recipe for homemade Vick's-type shower disks.  Sounded interesting so I followed the link to the original website.  I'm intrigued by the blog I find as the blogger writes about many things I'm interested in...food, gardening, healthy eating and frugal living. 

In one post I read, her choice of words was colorful, not off-color, but colorful. And, I admit, it made me giggle because I had been in the situation she described and I related to it very well.  A reader replied that she would try the shared recipe but the vulgar language turned her off.  Fair enough.  We all know that a blog belongs to the blogger.  Ideas, thoughts, feelings are shared in whatever way the blogger desires.  "Reader Beware", right?  And, taking that a little further, bloggers need to be ready to receive comments that they may not want. 

That being said, here's what disappointed me.  The blogger's reply to the polite, albeit critical comment, included another colorful word.  Um, why?!  I think the reason is apparent; the blogger does not care what the reader thinks about the language used.  But what was the point of using another offensive word in the reply?  I just don't understand.  I find myself feeling sorry for the blogger.  And very saddened by the disrespect among adults.

And More Soup!

A simple vegan soup.  A favorite of Hub's and mine.



Black Bean Soup

2 cans black beans
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup salsa
1 tsp cumin (or more to taste)
sour cream (or Greek yogurt)

Drain and rinse the beans.  In a food processor, combine the beans, broth, salsa and cumin until smooth.  (Or you can do this with an immersion blender right in your pot)  Transfer to a pot and heat through.  Ladle into bowls and serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt on top.

I have experimented with blending about 3/4 of the beans and leaving the rest whole.  This gives you a slightly chunkier soup.  We like it this way.

(from allrecipes.com)

More Soup

OK, I have to admit I was very skeptical when I tried this one.  As I was making this soup, it just was not turning out the way I had expected.  I was leery even reading the ingredients.  And I tried it anyway.

WOW! 

Am I glad I did!  It was very good.  I really should have known it would be because I got the recipe from one of my favorite foodies, Sweet Pea.  I don't think I've used one of her recipes that I haven't liked.  After thinking it over, I was hesitant about this soup because what I pictured in my head was a chicken enchilada soup whereas this is a chicken tortilla soup.  There's a difference! ..duh..  Anyhoo, onward!!


Tortilla Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (10.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 cup whole corn kernels
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and shredded
tortilla chips
shredded cheese

Heat oil in stock pot.  Saute onion and garlic; cook til tender, 5-7 minutes.  Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, tomatoes and broth.  Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes.
Stir in corn, chiles, beans, cilantro and chicken. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Ladle into bowls and top with tortilla chips and cheese.  Sliced avocado, green onions and a lime wedge were also suggested as toppers.  Wouldn't that be delicious?!  I had none.  Boo.

(adapted from sweetpeaskitchen.com)

Stone Soup

Do you remember the story?  I remember reading it in first or second grade.  I loved it simply because it was a story and had a well-written plot.  Yes, even in second grade I recognized a good plot.  But I questioned the simple-mindedness of the villagers.  I mean, how obtuse could a person be?!  I had it figured out with the addition of the first vegetable.  Still, a fun story and probably a delicious soup.  So!  In honor of the cooler weather we are supposed to be having...AND in memory of Stone Soup and my first literary critique...I'm sharing some favorite soup recipes for the next several days.


Sausage Soup - simple name, but so delicious and full of health and goodness

1 pound Italian sausage
2 onions, chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes, chopped/diced/whatever, undrained
6 cups chicken broth
1-1/2 cups chopped cabbage
2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 cups bow tie pasta

In your soup pot, cook the sausage until no pink remains.  Add onions and carrots.  Cook til tender, about 5 minutes.  Add tomatoes, broth, cabbage, basil and garlic salt.  Bring to a boil, stir in pasta, cover and simmer about 10 minutes.  Serve in big soup bowls.  Yum!

A few personal notes:  I use Sweet Italian Sausage from Trader Joe's.  This sausage is so good and flavorful, and has no nitrates.  I use purple cabbage because I like the color and the boys eat it because it's purple.  I worried it would get soggy, but it doesn't cook long enough for that to happen. It's soft, but still has a crunch.  You can substitute any small pasta for the bow tie, of course.

Enjoy!

French Press Friday

Christmas, Simplified

As I sit sipping my coffee this mornig, my mind wanders to Christmas preparations and decorating.  Last night I was at church helping the ladies group get trees up and all the decorations out.  I wish I could say it was a wonderful experience.  I wish I could say we had music playing and everyone was in the holiday spirit.  But it was just a chore that needed to be done.  Question:  How many ladies does it take to hang garland from the balcony?  Answer: Only two, but about half a dozen stand below shouting directions.  Please don't get me wrong.  We all worked well together, we chatted happily and the church is beautiful, but it wasn't, um,...a Christmasey experience, know what I mean?  Kind of felt like Charlie Brown wondering what had happened to the Christmas spirit.

So I contemplate all of that and the Christmas decorating that needs to be done at my own home.  And the word that stands out in my mind is "needs".  So I allow myself to wander down a new path of thought. 

What if...

       ...I don't get out all those boxes full of Christmas decorations?
       ...I don't scatter Christmas memorabilia all over our home?
       ...I just use candles?
       ...I only pull out the stockings?
                    And our Advent wreath?
                            And our Nativity?
       ...I suggest just decorating the tree?

And do you know what?  I feel relief.  I feel joy and anticipation returning.  I think to myself, "So this is Christmas, simplified?"  I can do this.  I think I will do this.  I think I will spend less time adding to our clutter and more time baking, making gifts, sending cards, listening to music, watching classic Christmas movies.  And cuddling on the couch with Hubby.  These things bring me joy. 

I encourage you to find your "Christmas, simplified" this year.  Go for making memories and enjoying traditions of the past.  Enjoy Advent!  Anticipate the coming of our Savior and the salvation that means for us.  Find your joy.  Check your personal headaches of the season at the door.  They aren't worth it.

Here kitty, kitty!

Mouse stayed home with me the other day.  His little tummy was upset.  Looking at his pale face at the breakfast table caused me some worry and I expected him to make the mad dash for the bathroom any minute. But, my boyos seem to have pretty healthy immune systems because as the day went on, instead of getting worse, he got better.  Then I found him playing with one of Bud's creations.

I knew Mouse was feeling better when he asked in his sweet voice, "Can I shoot this at the cat?"

Let is Snow!

The first snow of the season is coming down and I can't help but look at it and smile.  It's one of my simple pleasures and it's definitely going in the gratitude journal tonight. 

There is something exciting about the first snowfall.  The flakes were small and wispy at first.  The kind that make you think it might not be real or at least the kind that make you think this isn't going to last.  But I smiled anyway and enjoyed the fact that it was at least snowing, if only a bit.  I glanced out the window later to find that the snowfall was less intermittent and I thought, "Hm, maybe it'll last longer than 5 minutes!"  Then a glance out the window a little later rewarded me with larger and heavier flakes.  Oh boy!  I can just see the kids at school, squealing with delight and eagerly awaiting recess.  Then the worry might set in.  "Teacher, I don't have my boots.  Do I have to stay on the pavement?"  "I didn't bring snow pants!"  The planning might begin, too, for forts and snowball fights and "skating" on the blacktop.  The excitement of children!  Never mind the fact that the snow is not building up or sticking to anything just yet.  They set their sights high and hope for the best. 

I guess I still have some of that childlike excitement in me when the first snow comes around.  I hope for heavy inches of the white stuff to cover the evergreens.  I hope for a blanket of it covering my front yard.  I hope for the stillness it brings with it.  I hope for the eager yelling of my boys as they run in after school wondering where their boots are.  But it looks like all of that will come another day.  The snow is tapering off as I write.  I guess it was just letting me know that it is out there.  It will come.  I just need to be patient.

Let it snow!

Let it snow!

Let it snow!

Enjoy the song here.

Pumpkin Oatmeal recipe

A month...a month!  It's been a month since I've last  written anything.  I wish I could say there is  a lot to tell, but alas.  I have had writers block and nothing else.  Onward!

I love pumpkin!  Last fall I started collecting pumpkin recipes...scones, pies, muffins, cakes....yum.   This morning I tried one of them.  I had about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of pumpkin sitting in the fridge left from another pumpkin recipe and it needed to be used.  Perfect amount for pumpkin oatmeal.  It's so warm and spicey and perfect for the cool, fall morning after Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

2 cups milk
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup oatmeal
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/8 tsp cloves
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts (or pecans)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp butter

In a saucepan, bring milk and salt to a boil.  While milk is warming, mix the oatmeal and the spices in a bowl.  When the milk is ready, stir in the oat and spice mixture, reduce heat to low and cook for 3 minutes.  Add the pumpkin and cook for 2-3 minutes more or til desired consistency.

Divide oatmeal into bowls and top with cranberries, walnuts, brown sugar and butter.  Adding a little cream around the edges is another delicious addition.

Simple and delicious!

Simplicities for October

I realize the month is almost gone, but maybe you can still take advantage of some of these ideas.  Maybe some of them you have already done and can reflect on the joy they brought to you and your family.  Either way, here's to a simple October!

* Plan an outing to a pumpkin patch.  Buy several pumpkins so you can carve, paint and otherwise decorate til your heart's content!  How about buying some little ones to turn into pies?  I cooked several last fall and had baggies of fresh pumpkin in my freezer through the summer. 

* Creat a seasonal table.  And it doesn't have to be the one you eat at!  Maybe use your piano or your mantel or a bookcase.  Angie over at Echoes of Laughter does a BEAUTIFUL job with seasonal decorating.  I get lots of ideas from her.  Thanks Angie!

* Try this fun idea for preserving fall leaves like they did in Victorian times:

                Trim branches from trees when the leaves have just turned and are at their best, before they start to dry.  Split the stems of the branches about 3 inches up from the bottom; stand them in a bucket of warm water for several hours.  If any leaves start to curl, pick them off.  Prepare a solution of glycerine and water by mixing one part glycerine with two parts water.  Glycerine can be found at pharmacies.  Bring the solution to a boil, gently simmer for 10 minutes and then let it cool completely.  Cut the bottom of your stems at a  very sharp angle and smash them with a hammer (wouldn't the kiddos love this part?)  Stand the stems up in the solution and store it in a cool, dark place until all the solution has been absorbed.  About a week to 10 days.  When you first notice tiny beads of glycerine beginning to form on the leaves, they are done!   Take them out of the solution, wipe them down with a damp paper towel and dry thoroughly.  The leaves will stay beautiful and bright for several seasons.  I think this one will have to wait til next season at our house.  Something to look forward to!

 

* Plant bulbs to show off next spring.  Tulips, crocus, daffodils.  How beautiful it will be!

* Mull cider and /or wine on the weekends.  Invite friends to enjoy it with you.  Our family enjoyed this on the first day of Autumn along with some gingerbread cookies.

 

So!

 

Before we get caught up in planning Thanksgiving dinner and all the other events in November, let's remember to enjoy October to its fullest.

 

 



Tomorrow

Yes, tomorrow.  Tomorrow is when I'll start.  Tomorrow, when things aren't so crazy.  Tomorrow, when I have a quieter day.  Tomorrow, when the kids are napping and the laundry is done.  Tomorrow...

Just curious...have you started a gratitude journal?  Have you started paying attention to the good gifts in your life?  Or are your intentions for beginning that "new project" scheduled for....tomorrow?  If you are making time to read blogs, may I challenge you to stop.  Right now.  Go find an odd, currently unused notebook (we all have them lying around, don't we?) and a pen and stick them under your pillow.  That's it.  Then you can come back to your blogging.

The life we live does not stop.  Just like the To-Do list is never finished, life rarely gives us a breather.  I don't know about you, but a common phrase running through my head is, "I really should be doing..."  There is always something I feel like I should be doing other than the fun thing I'd rather be doing.   I really should wipe down the baseboards, iron those clothes, scrub that bathroom floor, get Bud started on that school project.  What I want to do is spend some time scrapping, or decorating for fall, or practicing my crocheting.  But there's no time!  I'll have to put those off until, yes, you guessed it...tomorrow! 

In reality, what is the harm in delaying the scrubbing of the floor an hour while I bring out ceramic pumpkins and silk leaves?  Am I not making a home for my family?  What do I want my children to remember of their childhood?  A clean home with an unhappy mom, or a warm, inviting home (slightly less clean) with a warm, inviting mom?  It's about recognizing the things that make me happy and spending some time at them.  Then the dull To-Do list isn't so bad.  Like Mary Poppins sings, "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!"

Gratitude for yesterday:
a bird with its fluffed out feathers sitting in the lilac bush outside my kitchen window
the smell of ginger cookies baking
the smiles of my boyos as they eat those cookies
Classical Christmas music
watching Bud do his math with ease and confidence
hot coffee with half and half

What's on your list?

 

A bit more on Gratitude

(from Through Faith Alone: 365 Devotional Readings from Martin Luther)

"'It is better to look at what is in front of you than to go looking for what you want. Even this is pointless.  [It's like] trying to catch the wind.'    Ecclesiastes 6:9

Enjoying what you currently have is better than letting your heart wander.  You should make use of what is in front of you rather than wandering around full of desires.  This is what the dog in Aesop's writings did when he chased after the reflection in the water and lost the meat he had in his mouth.  You should use what God has placed before you and be satisfied with it.  You shouldn't try to satisfy your desires because they will never be satisfied.  Instead, you should use whatever God has placed in front of you.  All of it is very good. (Genesis 1:31)"


Luther goes on to challenge us to think about one who sees everything in front of him as nothing but a nuisance.  He doesn't use or enjoy these gifts.  Instead he lets his heart roam in discontent, searching for something different.  Maybe a different house, a different spouse, a different job, a different car.  More money, more possessions, more recognition.  And this does nothing but lead us to more despair and discontent.  It is, as quoted from Ecclessiastes, pointless.  It's like trying to catch the wind.  It cannot be done no matter how hard we work at it, how long we try or what methods we use.  We will never be able to satisfy ourselves. 

God has given us just what is needed for our seasons of life.  And, I believe, that when we respect that fact and give thanks for His goodness, He will grace us with even more goodness.   

 

 

 

Of Grace and Gratitude

The first phrase that came to mind when I sat down to write this was, "have an attitude of gratitude!"  That, and "remember to count your blessings!"  While both of these could be helpful in reminding us to be thankful, they make me cringe ever so slightly, like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.  Those phrases come across, to me, as requiring a joy-filled heart even to start.  Or at least causing a, "By golly, nothings ever going to get me down again!" reaction once the attitude has been changed and the blessings have been counted.  You see, I'm slightly pessimistic.  Add that to my struggles with depression and I quite often find it hard to believe that my joy-filled heart will remain so for long.  That's life in this sinful world.  Sorrows come.  But the Lord is a gracious and loving Lord who has, in reality, filled our lives with every good and perfect thing.  It's just hard to see all that abundance in our own lives.  It's easy to see it in other people's lives.  Ever notice that?  The grass is always greener...

So, let's start a Gratitude Journal!  Let's stop looking out at everyone else's seemingly perfect lives and let's look down and see the gracious gifts we have right at our own feet.  Let's reflect at the end of each day and make a conscious effort to acknowledge the bits of happiness we experienced during the day.  My Gratitude Journal is a small spiral notebook I picked up at Target or some such place.  I keep it in a drawer by my bed along with a pen.  And, when I remember, I write down the things that made me smile that day; the things that brought me joy.  I write down things like "Mouse's giggle", or "Creamy coffee on the patio, listening to the birds sing", or "a drive in the fall colors."  Some days there doesn't seem there's much to write so I write the basics.  Our health, my hubby, the dog, food on the table.  Doesn't really matter what gets written.  It doesn't have to be anything poetic, either!  Just get into the habit of acknowledging the good.  Eventually, we'll begin to see good in everything we have.  And the more we see good in what we have, the less we will look elsewhere for what we think we need.  God is good.  And so is everything He gives to us.

Gratitude is the heart's memory.

                  -  French proverb

 

 

Authentic Self

Some more thoughts on the authentic self.

"What is this sadness we cannot name?  Here is a question that deserves a loving meditation.  Perhaps the heart of our melancholy is that we miss the woman we were meant to be.  We miss our authentic selves."      -      Breathnach

When I was a little girl I listened to music and stories on my little record player constantly!

 

I just loved that thing.  I would set up tea parties with my dolls and we'd sing the afternoon away.  I loved books, coloring and crafts, baking cookies with mom, Christmas and pretty shoes.  I think I had a pretty good sense of my authentic self.  I knew what made me happy and I did those things.  When I was in high school, I started on the path of losing that authentic self.  Don't you think all girls do?  The struggles to fit in, to look good, to read the right magazines, see the right movies, hang with the right kids.  Our morals, our ideas, our opinions, our voice all get challenged.  It can be so hard to hold on to ones authentic self.  This is where the parenting role comes in so strongly.  This is another topic altogether, isn't it?  But I hope you see my point.  Losing your sense of authentic self can begin early.  And I think from then on it comes in and out of focus, sometimes more easily recognized than others. 

 

"What is missing from many of our days is a true sense that we are enjoying the lives we are living.  It is difficult to experience moments of happiness if we are not aware of what it is we genuinely love.  We must learn to savor small, authentic moments that bring us contentment."   -   Breathnach

 

 

What are the small, authentic moments that bring YOU contentment? 

 

- trying a new recipe?

- slowly arranging a bouquet in order to appreciate the colors and fragrances?

- planning a spring garden in the February?

- sipping coffee in the sun?

 

Spend some quiet moments thinking of the things that bring you contentment.  You'll begin to recognize your authentic self.  It's so fun to do!

 

"Let us consider our personal preferences and learn how to recognize, then embrace, moments of happiness that are uniquely our own."      -   Breathnach

 

 

 

Discovering Simplicity

The thought of living a simple life has been on my mind, and on my heart, for several years now.  And it seems it's been on other people's minds for a lot longer than that, according to Thoreau.  What I've been pondering so heavily the past days, though, is what does it mean to simplify?  We all read blogs and most of us have discovered Pinterest, so the ideas for simplifying are out there.  Hundreds of ideas exist for simplifying and organizing your life, everything from the baby's diapers to the influx of papers at the start of school.  And so many beautiful ways to do it all, too!  The choices and the ideas are endless and can be overwhelming. 

But while I can take someone's idea on storing pots and pans more efficiently, I cannot take someone's simple life and make it mine.  I think that has been my stumbling block.  Searching and searching for simplicity when in actuality it's been within my grasp all along.  Someone else's simple life would not fit my family; it would not fit in the home we have made.  I think finding the simple life is all about a person's vocation(s). 

I am a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a crafter, a teacher, a musician, a writer, a band mom, a scout mom.  The list could go one.  And each of these vocations keep me plenty busy, so living simply is not about being less busy, but about being busy with your own life.  Not the life someone else wants you to live.  Not the life you think you should be living, but the life you have been given.  Does being reminded of this truth make my days happier, easier, less stressful?  Not necessarily, but it is easier to see purpose in what I do.  And that makes a world of difference.

Yet, I think there is still more to living simply.  I shared a treasure of a book a while ago written by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  Since then I have found a daybook written by her which I have also found interesting and helpful.  It's called Simple Abundance and while she is a bit paganistic for me, she does a wonderful job at encouraging us to find simple pleasures for ourselves.  She encourages the reader to dream, spend time in quiet reflection, craft and create a little each day, begin a gratitude journal - which I'll share on Monday - and so much more. 

You see, living simply is not about cutting out all outside activities, nor is it about quitting your most hated household chores.  It's about working at your vocation and finding the joy within it.  All we have is a gift of God.  That means my very life is a gift.  A gift!  Something to cause me happiness and to grow me into a better person.  I tell my boyos that sometimes we have to do things we don't like.  That means sometimes I just have to spend some time ironing!  I just have to!  Like it or not.  But I can also spend some of my day cutting paper for cards and scrapbooking.  Love cutting paper!  Crazy, huh?  But that is part of who I am. 

So, my hope is that as I go through more of my ponderings of a simple life, and as I blog about it, you will share your discoveries of your own simple life.  Maybe we can simplify together.  Encourage one another to live as our authentic selves.  The women/mothers/wives/friends we have been created to be. 

 

"Though we accomplish much of what we set out to do, we sense that something is missing in our lives and - fruitlessly - search "out there" for the answers.  What's often wrong is that we are disconnected from an authentic sense of self."                

                                                                                                  -Emily Hancock


  

French Press Friday

I have decided....

Those are always exciting words, aren't they?  They conjure up thoughts of positive change, ambition, goal-setting and the anticipation of something new on the horizon.  Well, I have decided something.  No, I'm not giving up my French Press!  Am I crazy?!  But brace yourselves, because this decision is by no means ambitious or even very anitcipatory.  No, I have decided that...

my new set of dishes will be white or an off-white!

Not the model of amibition you were looking for, huh?  Hm.  I know.

Right now our dishes are of the melamine variety because we wanted the boys to be able to set and clear the table, and load the dishwasher without breaking the dishes.  Novel idea, huh?  Too many of our old dishes were broken accidentally so I went to Target and picked up some inexpensive melamine ones.  They are attractive and they work for us right now, which is perfect.  But a few years down the road when we graduate to "real" dishes once again, I'm getting white.  They will be so versatile and I can pair so many other things with them.  I went window shopping for some coffee mugs I might use.  Thought I'd share my findings.


Cute for summertime use, huh?  Having coffee or tea with a friend?







I love the print and colors on this set.







                  I like the green color and the pottery look of this one.





Nice for a winter table!








This one if Fiestaware.  I like the shape of it and all the versatility in color Fiestaware offers.






I'm sure they won't let me break up the set (!) but I love the polka dots!  Cute for Valentine's Day, maybe.





The crochet pattern on this one is beautiful!







So many beautiful dishes out there and so little time to window shop them all.  *sigh*  Hope you enjoyed this little browse through my world of dish-love.  What are some of your favorite ways to dress up your table?

(All mugs and dish sets found at Pier1.com and Kohls.com)

Christmas Wish Lists

 

Do your kids write out wish lists to give to Grandparents around this time of year?  Mine do.  I don't know that they've always made it to the G's homes, but at least I know what to tell them when they call asking that all important question, "What do they want for Christmas?"

This year I decided to make a cute Wish List "wallet" that could be tucked into a purse or pocket.  Here is what they look like:

 

 

I started by cutting an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock widthwise, into 3-inch stips.  Then I folded one end up towards the other end leaving 1/2inch at the top.  Made a sharp crease then folded the 1/2 inch top down, making another sharp crease.  I then pulled out scraps of Christmas paper and, after measuring the size of the front, I cut a piece to adhere to the front of the cardstock.  This fit under the 1/2 inch flap.  I measured and cut another coordinating piece for the back (no picture).  I took a wallet sized school pic of each boyo and glued it to the bottom corner.  Punched 3 scalloped circles and wrote "My Wish List" on each.  Used a little liquid glass to accent the dots over the I's and glued them down.  In the 1/2 inch flaps, I punched a little hole to thread my ribbon through and adhered it on the inside so it would stay put.  The cute little bows I learned to make on Pinterest, with a fork!  No kidding!  It's so cool.  I keep the fork in my craft room now. 

 



 

Anyway, on the inside I glued down a long strip of lined paper and folded it up accordian style so it would fit within the wallet.  The paper clip on the outside was a last minute "what am I gonna do" problem solver.  I wanted the little flap to stay shut so my first attempt was using sticky velcro, cut to size.  I just didn't like the way it looked.  Too bulky.  So I ripped them off. Carefully.  But some of the paper still tore.  Oh well.  Nothing a little adhesive couldn't hold back in place!  I really wished I had some tiny adhesive magnets...alas I did not. (Do they even make those?)  But I did have colored paper clips.  Clip to the rescue!  Now I figure if the G's have coupons, they can clip them right to the list.

  

 



 

 

Honestly, they didn't turn out to match the idea I started with in my head.  But I like them.  And there is always next year, right?  Always room for new ideas, improvement and change.  Love that about crafting.  Have you started any holiday crafts yet?

 

 

 



A Few Crafts

 

Here is our Family Fall Tree that we made since last posting.  We had such a nice time together.  I found some good music on Pandora we all could enjoy and we scratched pretty designs in our leaves all evening.  Great memories were made and possibly a new tradition was started!

Today's project was inspired by this:

The bookshelf in JoJo and Mouse's room was in need of a little, um, straightening.  Seems no matter how we try to organize it, it always looks like this in a matter of days.  I thought about the beauty of baskets and wondered if that would help.  Then I thought about how much moolah I've already spent this month and decided I needed to get creative.  I searched through my own cardboard boxes and decided on a granola bar box.




                                     


I taped the ends back together, cut off the top and the cut out a piece from the front.  Then I searched through my papers so I could cover it.  I pulled out my pack of superhero paper, knowing it would be loved by the boyos!

 

Here's the finished product.  Now to get it into their room.

 



                                                                      
 I think it's cute!  And the boys will think it's cool.  Here are the shelves after I resorted everything.  More boxes/baskets are needed and more sorting needs to be done (do we still need "Goodnight Little Rabbit?")  but this is a start.  They can pull out a box/basket and when they are done the whole thing goes back on the shelf.  I just hope they remember to put the books in it...




What have you been crafting?

First day of Autumn

I love fall.  The cooling off from a hot summer, the smells of harvest and of the earth being tilled, the tastes of delicious soups, breads and other oven baked goodness...it's all so wonderful!

We spent our first day of Autumn out of doors, doing yard work.  The boys didn't even seem to mind helping out.  I think we were all ready for some manual labor in the cool autumn air.

A little trimming followed by a lot of clean up.

 

 

Even our good ol' girl enjoyed the nice day.  At 13 years old, she was almost puppy-like!


I picked up this craft at Hobby Lobby the other day.  You scratch the black off to reveal pretty fall colors...

AND I've got gingersnap cookie dough in the fridge!  So later this evening we'll have an autumn party with leaf shaped cookies and apple cider.  We'll work on our craft and hang the finished products from a small trimmed branch I rescued from the yard.  I'll stick it in a pitcher or vase and we can enjoy it as fall decoration in our home.

I'll say it again.  I love fall!  Don't you?

Forever Fragile

The problem with having a chronic illness is that it somehow, strangely, begins to define who you are.   At least, that’s what I’ve found to be true with depression.  When I was in the throes of it, I truly felt fragile; like I could break apart at any moment, for no reason at all.  I was made of glass and might shatter at a touch, a word, a look.  Nothing could predict when it might happen.  I remember sitting at the ironing board one afternoon, no energy to stand, trying to do something productive, when a wave of sadness crushed me instantly.  I broke.  My head fell into my hands and I wept.  Why, I do not know.  I was fragile.  And I was angry because of it.  Where did this fragility come from?  Why did I have to suffer with it?  How would I regain control?  Could I regain control?

It's several years later and I have regained control, but I still have the label.  And I will always be managing the depression.  But I also have to manage the image that comes with it.  With a chronic illness there is always an image.  And we are all guilty of staring at that image at one time or another. 

Think about those with cancer.  We stare, quietly, wondering what it’s like to be them.  “How do they manage?  What are they feeling?  Does the chemo hurt?  How sick do they get?” 

What about those with diabetes?  “How can they stand to give themselves shots every day?  Should they be eating that dessert?  What if they go into shock?” 

And what about those with heart disease, fibromyalgia, arthritis,  epilepsy, bi-polar, or depression?  We quietly worry about that person having…an “episode” – whatever that might be.  We worry and want him or her to remain safe and healthy. We want to offer as much protection as we can. Funny thing is, we have no control over that person’s illness.  The only thing we have control over is our self; what we think, what we say, how we love.

I don’t want to be viewed as fragile.  I want to make it known to everyone around me, “Please!  No wearing of the kid gloves, no treading on eggshells.  Just be yourself!”  Sometimes I think what I see is a restricted version of selves.  I guess there is a certain pressure that comes with “being yourself.”  The intermittent worry one might have of, “How am I doing?”  If you find yourself choosing words carefully, avoiding certain topics, deciding for your friend what he/she can or cannot handle…you are probably not being yourself. 

Truth is, I'm not fragile.  I think I'm pretty solid if I do say so myself.  I have been through hell and back due to this depression.  I admit, I have my down days but nothing that leaves me feeling so fragile as I did before.  And if people want to know what it was like or how I’m handling it now, it's ok to ask.  I would be so happy to share. 

But I’m not strong; not in the eyes of society.  I have a chronic illness and I will be viewed as forever fragile.

 

*Let it be known that these views are my own.  These statements are not meant to blanket any chronic illness.  My feelings do not dictate the feelings of others who might also be suffering with some type of illness.  These views and these feelings are my own and no one else’s.  I did not write this with intent to hurt, harm, or offend.

Oatmeal Pancakes with Apple Cinnamon Syrup

The Boyos love pancakes.  And, really, what's not to love?  Especially when there is such a variety of things to put on top.  Pear butter, apple butter, jellies and jams, sliced fruit, maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream...oh my!  So when I saw Apple Cinnamon Syrup, I knew I had to try it.

I got the following recipes from a book I picked up at our school's book fair last spring called Potluck Heaven.  I've found lots of good recipes in this book.  Here are two of them.

Oatmeal Pancakes

1 cup flour
1 cup dry oats (rolled or quick-cook)
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 Tbsp oil
2 eggs, beaten

Stir together first five ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, blend buttermilk, oil and eggs until smooth.  Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients, just until moistened.  Drop onto hot griddle.

I used a 1/4 cup measure and got 18-20 pancakes.  So, you can cut this recipe in half OR freeze what your family doesn't eat.  Pancakes freeze so well.

After I stirred the wet and dry ingredients together, I wanted them to sit for a bit.  Let the oats soak and the batter rest a little.  So I plugged in the skillet so it would get nice and hot, and then I started the syrup.

Cinnamon Apple Syrup

2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup water
3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine cornstarch and cinnamon in a saucepan.  Gradually stir in water and apple juice concentrate and whisk until smooth.  Over medium heat, bring to a gentle boil and continue to stir until thickened.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Serve warm over pancakes.

Easy After School Snack

I find I always have apples and peanut butter on hand.  And almost always I have flour tortillas (either homemade or store bought) and bananas.  Combine these and you have an easy treat that can't be beat!



"Mmm!  These are my favorite!"

Apple Banana Roll Ups

1. Chop up some apple.  I used my peeler/corer/slicer to make it easier.
2. Mash up a banana.
3. Mix banana with some peanut butter.
4. Spread mixture on a tortilla
5. Sprinkle with chopped apples.
6. Roll up and devour.

That's it!  Sorry if you are one who needs amounts.  I just eyeball it depending on how many I'm making and what ratios the kids like (more or less PB for example).  If it helps, I used 1 small apple to make 3 roll ups today.  It won't be enough for the Boyos I promise you that!  These are just as good without banana and a little sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the apple before rolling up.

Hope your kiddos enjoy them as much as mine do!

 

 

 

Marching Band

It's football season!  Or more accurately spoken in our house...it's marching band season!

Our highschool had its first home game on the new football field last weekend.  All last season, the team had to borrow the field of another school for home games because our field was being redone.  And a lot of the school was getting remodeled.  So, first game on the new field!  It was a big deal, needless to say.  Very fun to watch.  Louisville Lions are in purple and gold.

 

 

 

But the highlight of the evening for this Mama was halftime!  Bring on the marching band!

 

Jr. High band (which is the one Bud plays in) got to join the Highschool band for this big event.  They played America the Beautiful.

 

 

 

 

Can you spot Bud?  Here, let me point him out for you...

 

 

Best darn trumpeter I ever did hear!

 

 

A very favorite scrapbook sticker I have says this:

 

                     "Hey!  What's the football team doing on the band field?"             LOVE IT!

 

By the way, the team did great.  We won the game although I don't remember the score.  I know.  How sad.  I took the two little ones home just into the third quarter.  Does that get me a pardon for not knowing the final score?  I really do enjoy watching football and am looking forward to the Homecoming game.  The Jr High band plays again!