A Very Messy Kitchen

The kitchen has been one busy place the last couple of weeks.  Besides the usual three meals a day cooking there has been some preserving and some experimenting.

I've been roasting our tomatoes with garlic and olive oil and freezing for soups.

Kate and I made this grain free granola.  I thought having her help make it would help her be willing to try it.  I think I had a good chance until "someone" commented that it looked like the birdseed we put in the bird feeder.  She will not touch it!  I love it.  Cameron said he liked it except too much chia seed.  He's right, there is a lot, but it doesn't bother me that much. Next time, I'll use about half.

Then, I made some really yummy muffins.  My friend makes a yummy peanut butter chocolate chip cake for breakfast on Sundays and I had been wanting to see if I could make it gluten free.  Boy did I!  I have found that a combination of flours gives the best flavor and texture.  We ate them up like crazy!  Yet another muffin I won't make too many of at one time because we didn't have too much self control with them.  It's peanut butter and chocolate chips for heaven's sake!

Today I baked four of the pumpkins that we harvested before the tree cutting.  Only one is still green.  The seeds will hopefully be roasted tomorrow.  I'm not sure if the girls will eat them, but Cameron will.  I might.  I tried making them several years ago and they weren't really crunchy they were just tough and hard.  I'm trying the soaking method this time, so we'll see how they turn out.

Kate and I have been reading about apples lately, so an apple pie is in the near future.  I'm undecided on whether this will be a yummy regular crust or if I am brave enough to try a GF crust.  We'll see.

My dishwasher is getting a work out!

Here is the recipe for the muffins.......

 Peanut Butter Choc. Chip muffins

1 c. almond flour
1/2 c. rice flour
1/2 c. sorghum flour
1/2 t. xanthum gum
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 c. milk (maybe a little less--the almond flour doesn't usually need as much liquid)
2 eggs
1/4 c. butter or coconut oil, softened (both give great results)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients in large bowl, add wet ingredients and beat with mixer for about three minutes or by hand until you get tired of it. :)  Spoon batter into prepared tins (or bake in bread or cake pan) for about 15-20 minutes depending on the flour combination and whether you do muffins or not.  

Enjoy!

This Week......

we have worn sweaters in the morning, shorts during the day and flip flops,

we packed away all of the camping gear after a great weekend camping with friends,

I found some totally cool fabric that I just have to figure out what to make with it and how much I can afford to buy,

we were at the ballet school four nights,

I listened to Kate read with a little more ease,

we went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and ate at Chipotle with our favorite field trip buddies,

I tried three times to write a blog post, but for various reasons could not,

one of those various reasons is going to have some new computer guidelines :),

I have done more laundry than I care to think about.  The only thing I hate about the change in seasons.

I have been very thankful for our washer and dryer,

and as always, I am very thankful for Cameron who makes the ordinary weeks better.

Oh the joys of being 6 years old! 

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Visit SouleMama for more

For Uncle Chris

Chinese Brush Painting

And the Trees Came Tumbling Down

Remember this?  It was quite obvious that the rest of those trees were going to have to come down.

Some brave, kind souls said, "We can do that!" so Saturday, that's what they and Cameron and few little helpers did.



The first big section came down fairly easy.

 

So they prepared to take down the rest of it.  Putting a rope around it to pull away from the cornfield if possible.

A notch was cut.

Pressure was put on the rope.

Cutting......

Wedge whacking....

More whacking......

More cutting......

More whacking.....

This sucker did not want to fall!!

Finally, they climbed up, sawed off the other large branch, then went at the large trunk bit by bit.  The wedges are still stuck in there!

It started raining so the second tree they didn't even try to main trunk and just did the "smaller" section.  It's an amazing thing to see something that large fall over.  Kind of strange to watch.

All of this was done just in time.  The next day brought crazy strong winds that actually blew down the part of the play set that had not been moved.  It may have irreparable damage.  We'll see.

All of the above limb was cut up into big chunks and then the rain really started coming down.  You can just imagine what our yard looks like!  That's okay.  We'll get it cleaned up, we'll have a few bonfires and hopefully get a whole lot of free mulch.  There are still other things to repair from that storm in August, but this was the most pressing since we get some pretty fierce winds out here and I'm sure the rest of those trees would not have held up during the winter.

Thank you to those who worked so hard to help!!!  And thanks be to God for keeping everyone safe!!

"But What About Prom?"

I will admit, back in the day when Cameron was the one who wanted to home school and I thought he was crazy, this was one of my concerns.  Now, I laugh and cringe at the same time when I think about how silly that was.  Do I really want my daughter going to a dance and doing what most school kids do on that night?!  NO!

Fast forward about ten years.......We have found ourselves in a community of believers who enjoy celebrating in ways I had never heard of.

 The little guy is a friend of ours who was here while we were getting ready.  He loves Kate!

For the past few years we have attended a Scottish Ball and it is looked forward to the whole year. 

 What is a Scottish Ball?  Well, it is an event where we get all dressed up, some in formal attire, others in our best church clothes.  I even knew a man who wore a Confederate soldier reenactment uniform one year. I actually know him really well. ;)  Last year I made Callie a dress, but this year we hit Goodwill and Once Upon a Child.  Callie's dress was less than $4.00!

We dance traditional dances like the Virginia Reel, the Broom Dance and I don't know what the other names are, but think Pride and Prejudice.  It might seem silly to some, but it is really so much fun.  There is a live band and a "caller" who helps us out, and tells us what to do.  Maybe some day they can just play the music and we'll all look like Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, instead of like someone who only does this once a year and forgets which way is right and left.  I'm only speaking of myself here!  What's really fun is when you are dancing with your six year old little girl and you forget if you are suppose to be dancing the Gentlemen part or the Lady part.

One of the great things about this dance is that it is a family event.  Adults and children, whole families, come and dance the night away and have a wonderful time. 

Callie was a bit sad Saturday morning because now, "There is nothing to look forward to."  She said the same thing after the ballet recital in May.  Oh the misery!

{This Moment}

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Visit SouleMama for more.

Needle and thREAD--A Sewing Failure

Well, it was bound to happen.  I figure it's not fair to show you all the cute little things that turn out well and the girls love without showing you the one that hasn't turned out so well.

I was very excited to try an Oliver+S pattern and the problem was not with the pattern.  It is very well written, great design, etc.  I was also very excited about the fabric.  I had been wanting to purchase some for a while.

I'm not sure what happened exactly.  Either I wasn't paying attention to Kate's measurements closely enough or she grew quite a bit between the measuring and the making.  We'll go with that!  I have had several people comment lately about how she has grown and it's not like I get something made in a day or two.

So I made this adorable little outfit that is just about already too small.  Too short to be precise.  The waist of the skirt is too big.  This child has no tummy or bottom to hold up anything! 

Once it was cool enough to wear the long sleeve shirt, I realized another mistake.  She doesn't like it.  She likes the skirt, but not the top.  I didn't have her pick out the pattern.  I forgot who I was sewing for.  Kate is rather particular about clothes.  She isn't rude about it, but she will let you know she doesn't like it and she will leave it in her drawer or closet untouched.  Callie is much less particular.

This is just another "hilarious" moment when I need to call my mother and apologize.  I was the pickiest child ever and remember a few outfits that she worked hard to make that I refused to wear.  Or rather tried to refuse. :)

So I think I can add a ruffle or something the make the skirt longer, but I'm not sure about the top.  I can't stand just giving it away.  Although that is probably what will happen.

As far as reading goes, there hasn't been a whole lot of that this week.  I'm still reading Charlotte Mason and I started reading Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell.  Kate has discovered Stellaluna.  She loves this book!  Her favorite part is when Stellaluna tries to land on the branch like the birds and can't do it and says, "How embarrassing."  Big belly laughs!  She has me read it over and over and then randomly through out the day she will just start quoting it and laughing.  Makes me smile!

Visit Elizabeth for more sewing inspiration.

Tuesdays

Tuesday is becoming one of my favorite days of the week.

When I agreed to baby sit two days a week, Cameron agreed to take "ballet duty" on Tuesdays.  He goes anyway because he enjoys watching the girls and sometimes getting to visit with other parents who are our friends anyway.

So what do I do during the couple of hours that I'm alone?  I should tell you that I clean the floors, listen to Christian music, drink green tea and/or exercise or read some really deep theological book.

Instead, I'll tell you the truth.  I do clean up a little, it wouldn't be very relaxing to relax while looking at a mess.  Tonight I am listening to Chicago 17 (don't laugh!  I am a child of the eighties you know).  Last week it was Adele.  I'm drinking the best hot chocolate ever (recipe to follow), I will not be exercising and I'm getting ready to read a Victoria magazine that I bought at the fabric store today.  I will be working on some school plans after that if they aren't home yet.

Yes, I could be much more "productive" during this time.  Sometimes I do sew the whole time.  This evening is a gift from Cameron that I look forward to very much.  When they get home, all starving, I'm ready to get out snacks and the much too long routine of bedtime with an over excited six year old.  If I spent the whole time working like crazy to get things done I would be nothing but tired and grumpy when they got home.  Not the goal I'm going for!

Thank you Cameron!!

Yummy Hot Chocolate

Basically this is on the box of Hershey cocoa, I just tweaked it a little bit.  This is very chocolaty!

1 1/2 c. milk
2 T cocoa
2 T sugar (I use 1 T and two drops of stevia--sometimes a little extra sugar depending on the Stevia)
1/4 t instant coffee (I don't like coffee, but one night I just wanted a different flavor and thought I'd try it.  If you like coffee, use more)
1/4 t vanilla extract

Whisk all together in small pot over medium heat until cocoa is completely dissolved.  Sit and enjoy!

13

I have so many thoughts running through my head tonight.  My oldest daughter, the one I gave birth to, will be thirteen years old tomorrow.

How can that be?  Sometimes I don't even feel like a grown up and now I have a teenager?  My sister asked me if I felt old.  Well I hadn't until she mentioned it! LOL

I feel mostly thankful, and yes, a little sad.  She hasn't been little for a long time.  She is already taller than I am.  But turning thirteen makes it so much more.....real.  She's becoming a young woman.  A very tall, beautiful, funny, generous, loving young woman.

 She has always been very funny!  Oh the pictures we could share!

Having a daughter has been everything I had hoped it would be.  And all that I was scared it would be too.  You know, two people who are just alike and will "argue with brick walls."  I had no idea just how much like me she would be!

I thank God for you Callie and I hope and pray that you know how much we love you and that He loves you more!

Yarn Along

I love how, with knitting, I can complete a project, from start to finish, in the car!  On our way to Indiana Dunes Friday,  I was able to knit this little bowl. 

I have been wanting to make something like this for a while now.  The pattern is from Rhythm of Family.  I finally figured out the double pointed needles and I had some leftover yarn that I thought would work.  I have a front loading machine so I think it doesn't felt things like a regular machine, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  I have washed it twice and I think I will do it one more time.  It's holding some of the treasures that we found during our camping trip.  I'm working on another one that will be a little wider and not as deep.

I recently came across the book The Gentle Art of Knitting by Jane Brocket.  I loved The Gentle Art of Domesticity  and have checked it out from the library a couple of times.  The Gentle Art of Knitting has a lot of things in it I would love to try and she has a way of writing which makes me think I actually could succeed.  Then I saw that she has written some children's books too.  Of course I ordered all of those from the library too! :) 

Ahhh

We have returned from a wonderful, fun and relaxing weekend of camping.  Oh yeah, and a quick trip into Chicago to the American Girl store.

This was the first time we had been camping just the four of us.  We usually go with friends or family, but this year the family trip didn't work out and I have been dying to go back to Indiana Dunes ever since the first time we camped there in 2005 BK, before Kate.


We had already been planning the camping trip when I realized how close we would be to Chicago.  I knew Callie had most of the money she needed for her doll and it all came together perfectly.  I was about to bust Saturday morning!  I had made sure that they had suitable clothes to go shopping in and told them we had a surprise and they needed to put those clothes on.  Then we went for a little drive.  They were dying to guess and after awhile I couldn't stand it any longer so we gave Callie a card that had come for her earlier in the week that had some birthday money in it and that also contained a clue.  There weren't loud squeals, but two very excited and happy girls.

Back at the campgrounds that evening we took a trail down to the beach of Lake Michigan.

Who needs Florida?  It's hard to believe this is a lake.  The waves are not near as big, but my favorite part of going to any beach is walking along and just relaxing and listening to the sound of the waves.  It is the most relaxing thing in the world to me.  I'm never ready to leave.

While everyone else was wearing long sleeves and jackets, here is Kate in her swimming suit.  We had taken it just in case for both girls.  The water was absolutely freezing and the air cool even though the sun was shining nice and bright.  Kate could care less though.  She loves the water and begs to play in it no matter what the temp.  We only let her get in up to her knees and she mostly just ran in and out and played in the sand.  She really wasn't cold until we went to the faucet to wash her off and that water was really cold too.  We got her into her clothes quickly and she was fine.

Callie even managed to work in some ballet.  Until she realized we were watching! :)

The weather was perfect all weekend.  Cold at night, cool and sunny during the day.  Everyone loved it.  We definitely plan to go back!