Blogging Break

I'll be back on Monday.

There's just too much that needs to be done this week.

Hope you all have a lovely week.

Go enjoy a cuppa tea !

Long May She Wave

Thanks to the Brave. For all who have served,

for all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,

thank you.

We remember and are humbled.

Evening Break

The boys are in bed. I'd say sleeping, but I know that Pumpkin is still up there talking and singing to himself. He's taken to making up his own songs now. It is hilarious.

Dumpling is out, luckily, as last night was a rough night for him. I think more teeth are on the way as he had such a hard time settling down, even after I'd done all I could to remove the pain. He and I sat and rocked for awhile. He snuggled in, relaxing against me, finally able to drift off. Typically, he falls right to sleep and you don't hear another peep out of him for about eleven hours, so when he's not falling right to sleep, you know something isn't quite right with him. Lots of kisses and more milk usually does the trick. He is the little cuddle bug of the family.

It's been a busy week here at home for us. I had a friend over Monday morning that I know through Mops. She and her family are headed off to China next month for two years. I must admit that at times I wish we were going, too. Other times, I'm quite content to stay right here.

On Tuesday, Janna and her two kids spent a few hours with us. Her daughter and Pumpkin are just two weeks apart. She was here just a few minutes before he leaned over and kissed her. Older women and all that, I guess. Janna got a cute picture of them holding hands later, but all my pictures were too blurry to post. (That happens a lot around here, hence all the flower pictures lately--the boys move too fast!)

It was so nice to visit with both gals. This was the first time I've just spent time alone with Tanya instead of with a group of us ladies. That's too bad as we had such a nice visit. Hopefully, it won't be the last, but I know she has a lot to do as they get ready to move.

Talking with Janna, you wouldn't know it was our first time hanging out together. It was so relaxed and fun just getting to know one another and watching the children play. She is also so sweet and simply showered me with gifts for myself and the new baby, including a nursing cover and burp cloth she made, a vintage dress I've already hung in the nursery, and some specially pampering things for me to enjoy. I was so surprised! She's very talented and kind.

We even discovered quite a few mutual acquaintances we have as her husband works for and they attend the church that has the elementary school I used to work at. Um, did that make sense? Anyway, we are even both planning on attending at least one of the graduation parties I've been invited to next weekend, so hopefully we'll get to see each other again.

So far, I've been invited to three parties for the some of the kids I had in fifth grade that are graduating from the high school next week. Two are open houses sponsored by groups of students and their families, so I am hoping to get to see a bunch of the kids and families that I loved so much. I was debating on what to do for gifts as I'd like to do something for the kids that have invited me to the parties, but I don't want to leave anyone out. There are probably close to 20 of them that were in my class that have continued through the Faith schools until graduation. That could really add up!

Luckily, while I was out with my Mom celebrating our Mothers Day a week late, I mentioned it to her. While we were shopping together we found some adorable sets of mini photo albums. I'm planning on writing personal notes and tucking them into the albums and giving those as gifts. The price was right and I know they'll all have lots of pictures from graduation acitivities to fill them with. However, I am still at a loss for the boys. There are a couple of them I need to figure out something for. Especially two of them as we have kept in much closer contact as families over the years than some of the others. Suggestions are welcome!!

Yesterday and today have been spent quietly here at home. Doing laundry, making baby food, making granola, working on the garden and just doing other chores have filled up the days and evenings. Tomorrow will be spent here as well, baking bread, cleaning, and working on some gift projects.

I also need to just buckle down and start cutting the fabric for the porch cushions. Oh, how that evil perfectionism rears its head when we least expect it! Just now, the pictures in my mind of the cushions are perfect---absolutely lovely. I fear reality though. Will I mess them up? Make them wrong? Give up in agony and despair? Drive my family nuts?!!?! Break the sewing machine? Dumb, I know. But I look at the fabric and freeze. Joanne, Janna---help! Just kidding. I do think (sometimes) that I can do it. I just need to try. Besides, they are just cushions and the world will continue turning whether I fail at making cushions, or not. The buds on the roses starting appearing just yesterday so I'd better get a move on!

BTW--For those of you watching the weather reports about Colorado the tornados (10?) passed by us landing north and northeast this afternoon. We had rain and a bit of wind, but that was all. Thank You, Lord! Clueless me, I didn't even know what was going on until Sweetheart called.

I had so many other, more reflective thoughts, I wanted to share with you all, but somehow they've gotten lost in the midst of my ramblings. Oh, how I miss my brain. If you see it, send it back please.

Odd Side Note---Do any of you purchase things on-line? I'm considering offering some of my favorite teas for sale. Sweetheart has been looking into it all for me. What's your opinion? I'm certainly not looking to turn this blog into a business, or fill it up with ads, etc. There would probably just be a link to a secure storefront and maybe a few pictures. I just have found some wonderful teas that I'd love to share that might be a bit hard to get on your own. Let me know what you think.

Good Morning!

Mmm! Pumpkin Muffins are yummy!

We love you Grandma! We'll miss you. Have fun in Texas!

We're all excited here. Today is the day Janna and her kiddos are coming over to play. This will be our first time to really meet--not counting recognizing each other in the lobby at FCA! Thanks, Joanne, for sharing your friends with me!

Another Iris

Signs of Spring

New Project

I found this lovely fabric yesterday at the fabric store. I thought it looked...happy. I liked it even more since it was 40% off! I was hoping to get some good, outdoor fabric, but was afraid it would be too expensive. Aren't sales wonderful? So, now it's time to get sewing!

I am planning to make cushions covers and pillows for the settee, as well as cushions for the rockers for the front porch. I am planning to make everything so that the covers maybe removed and washed as needed. I am encasing all the pillows and cushions in plastic garbage bags inside the fabric covers so that they do not get ruined in the weather.

While the porch is covered, everything on it is still very exposed to the crazy Colorado weather we get. (Please, no more snow! It's May!) We also live in a part of town which is heading out to the plains and high winds are quite common. In fact, one of the pillows that came with the settee when we bought it blew away one day, never to be seen again!

After sitting out on the porch for a few years, the original cushions were just to faded and worn to keep. Also, the fabric wasn't removable so one needed to shove everything into the washer and dryer to clean them Not good.

The wicker itself has also become quite weathered as well. Sweetheart picked up the paint for me the other night. I've already painted the table and am trying to just do once piece at a time as I am able, and as the weather allows!

I am really excited about this project and look forward to serving a lovely tea in time for the Blooming of the Roses. We'll see. I have lots of grandiose plans, but not the energy to complete them all as I would wish. Slowly, but surely what matters will be done.

I would love any of you lovely ladies ideas and suggestions, so feel free to share. Jody, I believe you sewed all your cushions last year, any tips?

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

National Apron Day

I made the Everyday Cake with Butterscotch Frosting from the Hamilton Beach Food Mixer Cookbook that is pictured above. I had that mixer for about 10 years, until the Tragic Banana Bread Incident of '03.

I was making a batch of bread for Sweetheart and shoved a banana into the beaters that it wasn't drawing in. However, I shoved with a bit too much force and sent my hand into the beaters as well. Um, ouch. Sweetheart was in the basement and I stomped and yelled until he came upstairs. See, my hand was still in the mixer. He ended up having to get his metal cutters and cut my fingers out of the beaters. I'll stop there. probably too much information already. Needless to say, that was the end of those beaters. We used a few replacement/thrift store ones for awhile, until Sweetheart got too freaked out that I would do it again and so he surprised me with my Bosch mixer.

Now, my Bosch and I turn out endless loaves of bread, brownies, cakes, and all sorts of nutritious foods, and a lot of yummy not-so-nutritous-treats. Today I wore my vintage red gingham full apron that I love. It's trimmed in white rickrack with a delightful ruffle around the bottom. Paired with my red gingham shirt it was a bit much, but the boys didn't complain.

I kept all my Hamilton Beach mixing bowls shown on the cookbook that I had collected over the years as they are wonderful white Pyrex bowls. I use them all the time. I have three large and two small bowls. They can even go in the oven. I still miss that mixer. *sigh*

Apparently, National Apron Day is the day after Mothers Day, so the date changes. Oh well. Everyday is Apron Day around here! (Sweetheart is getting seconds on the cake as I type. Woohoo!)

(I got the National Apron Day button here from her post last year.)

Tea on the Veranda

After posting the scone recipe below, I did bake us a batch of scones. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, I was able to cut out a dozen scones. I sprinkled them with some Lavender Violet Vanilla Bean Sugarbefore I baked them. Unfortunately...I used 1 Tbl of baking soda instead of baking powder. Um...yuck!! We each had one while I was trying to figure out what was wrong, but then I tossed the rest. *sigh* The strawberries and lemon curd were delicious though!

I decided to take a few pictures once I saw that Gracious Hospitality was requesting "Creative Afternoon Tea Table Settings". I figured this was somewhat creative as I usually break out the fancier dishes, cloth napkins and the like for Afternoon Tea. Today was our everyday plates, paper napkins and tea in mugs. Also, the settings usually do not include tractors.

However, since it was just "me and the boys" I figured I'd not make it too fancy. Sweetheart came from the garage where he was working to join us. He was happy the dress code was relaxed. :)

Pumpkin enjoyed eating and rocking on the porch.

My next project will be to paint all the porch furniture and sew some cushions for the rockers and the settee. I'd like to get this done before the roses blooms so I can have a beautiful rose tea. I really want to make the berry soup in teacups that was featured in this month's "Victoria" magazine and I think a tea in honor of "The Blooming of the Roses" on the porch would be just delightful!

Care to join me?

Glimpses at past Tea Time Tables so you can see that I can set a proper table!

Scones! Scones! Scones!

I love scones, don't you? They are so quick and easy to make with this lovely recipe from Emilie Barnes' If Teacups Could Talk which just happens to be my all-time favorite tea book. This is her Basic Scone Recipe. It is wonderful just as it is. It is also wonderful when you use it as a base and add your favorite things. I've added everything from dried cranberries and orange peel, to chocolate chips, to fresh strawberries, to candied ginger. I had posted another scone recipe awhile back, but realized that I had mixed two recipes up and this is the one I usually use.

I love this recipe because I can have hot, fresh scones in 20 minutes with ingredients I always have on hand. I've seen some other recipes that seem to always call for one thing I don't have like a special flour, or whipping cream. While I love whipping cream it is expensive and so not good for you!

Here it is:

2 cups flour

1 Tbl baking powder

2 Tbl sugar

1/2 tsp salt

6 Tbl butter

1/2 cup milk or buttermilk

lightly beaten egg

Mix the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. (Add any additions at this time.) Make a well in the center and pour in the milk. Mix until dough clings together and is a bit sticky, but do not overmix. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and shape into a 6-8 inch round about 1 1/2 inches think. Quickly cut into pie wedges or use a large biscuit or cookie cutter to cut out circles or shapes. The secret of tender scones is a minimum of handling. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, being sure the sides of the scones don't touch one another. Brush with beaten egg for a shiny, beautiful scone. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-20 minutes, or until light brown.

Yum!! I think I'm going to whip some up as soon as I post this. We've got some fresh strawberries to serve along side with lemon curd. We all love lemon curd, even Pumpkin who asks for it on his toast in the mornings. Cute! He also thinks scones are pretty wonderful, too!

I think I'll sweep off the porch while they bake so we can enjoy an impromptu porch tea after naptime. Of course, Pumpkin will have milk instead of tea and probably eat with a scone in one hand and a tractor in the other.

Thoughts

I've opened the window to do a new post many times in the last week. I've kept a few ramblings as drafts, but more often than not I just end up closing the window for lack of time or cogent thoughts to write. I've been thinking about ever so many things, and writing about none. The few moments snatched here and there are so often cut short by other things. I don't want to say interruptions, as Pumpkin and Dumpling should not be considered such.

But there are always little ones to hold, feed, & help that writing seems about impossible. I was copying some Scriptures into one of my Everything Books this morning before the boys woke up. I stared an an empty page, but just turned it as I could not gather my own thoughts. No matter, "His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts".

I sat a wondered when the last time I had even held, much less wrote in, one of my books. Too long. I know that it has been a few weeks. I've been quietly living close to home. We've had lovely visits from kind friends during the days and have just entertained ourselves the rest of the time complete with our naps in the afternoons.

It is not always easy to get the necessary things done from 10-12 each morning, which is about the only time we leave the house- coordinating life between naps. It has been an expensive week though, with some necessary purchases that could be put off no longer, grocery shopping, and a trip to Target today. I've been avoiding Target like the plague, but the boys did need those diaper things. (I stocked up so that I don't have to go again until next month, I hope.)

We've gone out at some point everyday this week and I am about done in. I am amazed at how much energy growing babies and raising babies seems to take out of me. I am resting in the afternoons most days just to make it through to bedtime. This requires that I do more chores in the evenings though, which is something I've tried to avoid.

As I snatch a few minutes here and there for little projects and chores, I am trying to focus on what it is I am doing at each moment. I am trying to live in the moment and be more aware of each little thing, not mentally racing on to the next thing, or doing a bunch of things at once. My ablity and desire to multitask is gone. And that's ok. It'll all get done that needs to and what isn't completed must not be too important.

Life is...

a gift

a journey

loving

laughing

playing

tickling

savoring.

It is not about...

racing around

accomplishments

acquiring

competing

perfection.

Life is good.

Now it's time to go rotate the laundry.