A Little Treasure

Sweetheart found this book for the boys. It is a book that contains copies of all the "Wide Awake" magazine issues from the prior year. Its copyright date is 1885. It is in excellent shape. I've enjoyed skimming through it and look forward to reading from it to the boys. Don't you just love the gold in the peacock feather design on the cover?

Go visit Kelli's for more fun Friday Show and Tells.

Doing Better

We are all feeling a lot better this week. The only down side is that Sweetheart had to return to the office to work. He worked last week from home while he was sick. The little guys are both doing well with just an occasional sniffle or cough. I weathered through it all with probably the slightest case of it. Even so, we need to go get more Kleenex!

The boys and I went grocery shopping this morning. We went to the Sunflower Farmers Market. What a wonderful grocery store! It's across town so we usually only go once a month. The main part of the whole store is the produce department. They also have a wonderful meat department with really helpful workers. Their bulk section is varied and well-stocked, though I did clean them out of all their wheat.

Besides the wheat, I was able to get everything from nuts to cocoa powder in bulk. I even picked up some different types of beans to sprout. I've got mung beans sprouting on the counter right now and thought it would be fun to try a few other kinds. I ended up with so many things in bulk that I'll have those sprawling bags all over the cupboards. I've got more bags than jars. I reuse almost all my glass and plastic jars, but it won't be enough. Oh well, maybe I can find some more jars in with the canning supplies I got off Craig's List awhile back.

How blessed we are! We live in a country of plenty. Amazing isn't it that we can find tomatoes in February, and not just one kind. I saw at least four different types of tomatoes there. We don't always think about this as most of us are just used to having it all available, but think if all we had was what we could grow ourselves. Wouldn't we appreciate everything more?

We are planning a large garden this year and I am learning how to can, but until then I just remain extremely grateful for the abundance He has blessed us with.

Update on Prayer Requests:

Molly's lump is benign. Thank you, Lord!

Kaylee received her pacemaker and appears to be doing well.

I haven't heard on the other things, but will post as I do.

Well, I need to sign off and get busy. I have ten pounds of ground turkey to turn into meatballs while the boys nap, and a ton of produce to wash and prep. I'm having a group of ladies over tomorrow night for supper and decided spaghetti and meatballs would be the easiest to make for the fourteen of us that will need dinner.

I baked six loaves of bread yesterday in preparation. They are waiting in the freezer until tomorrow when I'll defrost them and warm them on up. I'll get all the veggies ready today so that it will be easy to make the salad tomorrow. I'm making the meatballs all today as well. Tomorrow afternoon I'll just need to put them in the crockpot with the sauce. Then, I'll just need to boil the noodles just before everyone arrives.

Dessert, however, won't be assembled until tomorrow: Earl Grey Molten Chocolate Cakes. Wow. Sweetheart wanted a dessert the other night so I flipped through my recipes and found this treasure. It is pretty easy, but the taste is amazing. I'll assemble them tomorrow afternoon and refrigerate them. Then, while we're eating dinner I'll put them in the oven. They only bake for sixteen minutes and puff up like little souffles. Yum.

Well, I'm hungry. Guess I'll go peel some carrots and munch of those. Not the same, is it? I'll try to get some recipes up soon.

Love and Life

For Valentines Day I surprised Sweetheart by arranging for us to renew our vows. The church we used to go to when we first moved to Denver was having a special ceremony on Valentines Day for anyone who wanted to participate, so I signed us up.

The church itself is enormous. They held the service in their smaller chapel. Its walls are filled with beautiful stained glass designs. It really is a lovely, more intimate space.

When we arrived we joined about twenty five other couples; couples whose marriages ranged from two years to forty one years. (This summer will be our tenth anniversary.) They led the men down stairs and we ladies waited in the foyer with our beautiful long-stem red roses. Each couple was also given a beautiful certificate and a book on marriage. A photographer also took pictures of each couple which will be sent our way soon.

They played the music and each of us joined up with our spouses at the top of the aisle to walk down together. The pastor who used to teach our Sunday School class spoke on love and marriage and a few songs were played. All of the couples then gathered back at the front to exchange vows.

It was wonderful. Truly. After the ceremony there was a reception with cake and punch. We didn't stay long as I had made reservations for us for dinner at a nearby restaurant Sweetheart loves. It would have been neat to have stayed longer as we enjoyed each of the couples we had talked to.

Later, Sweetheart commented what a great time all the guys had downstairs laughing and visiting before the ceremony began. He said it was so nice to be around men who loved their wives and seemed to truly enjoy being married.

Each of the couples we talked to together were delightful. It was a special time. I am so glad that we were able to join in the celebration of marriage.

(I'm also glad I was actually able to surprise Sweetheart--not an easy task!)

Ahh...

A quiet moment, boys napping, husband working from home on the computer upstairs, sipping a hot cup of tea as I heat up some of last night's stew for lunch. Enjoying the light's reflection filtered through the lace curtains onto the tea . A moment of beauty and rest.

Thank you, Lord, I needed this.

Under the Weather

I've got three guys not feeling well around here, so blogging will resume when they feel better. It's apparently just a virus that makes one feel awful for 7-10 days. It's hard to see them not feeling well.
My heart is heavy and full of prayers tonight for people facing much tougher situations. Please pray for:
Kaylee- She's a 14 year old sister of a former student (Breanna) undergoing heart surgery a few times this week. She has a mass in her heart they are testing and may need a pacemaker installed. Her father died unexpectedly this fall. Please pray for this family.
Molly- She's the grandmother of a former student (RJ) undergoing tests for a lump. She's been a breast cancer survivor for ten years now. She's been taking care of RJ and his brother as their mother died this fall from cancer, and their father has been undergoing cancer treatments as well.
Aunt Linda- She has pneumonia and is feeling really bad. Her stepson (Michael) is in the hospital right now with some serious eye problems.
Rebecca- My mom's friend was just diagnosed with a brain anuerism. She's scheduled for surgery this week.
My Sister-There's a lot going on right now; big changes occuring and a lot of things up in the air.

Lord,
I am praying for healing for these dear ones. I pray for Your peace in their lives, and the lives of their families. May these hard times draw each one closer to You and Your love. It's so hard to understand so much pain. Help us to remember that this is just a part of it all; that there is so much more than what we see. May we each cling to You.
Hold us in the palm of Your hand. Thank you that we can trust we are not alone. Thank You that You are not distant, but right here with us. Thank You that You chose to come to earth, to live as we do, to experience pain as well. You are no stranger to what we are in the midst of. Help us to reach out to You and be comforted by Your love. Help us to reach out to one another and share your love.
Amen

Home Sweet Home

He did notice. He knew I was going to make some changes, but I don't think he quite expected me to do all that I did. He likes it. I still do need to fill in a few bare spots on the walls, but now I've got a sick little Pumpkin, so maybe next week.

The quilt is the one "new to us" item in the room. My Mom worked on quilting the top for years while I was growing up. She'd bought just the top and then added the back and quilted some of the flowers.

I have always loved this quilt. It was so nice to finally be given it after all these years. I remember thinking it was the neatest thing. My Mom has been storing it for years, but brought it over the other night. It's a full or queen size, so I just turned it on its side and placed it on the bottom of our king-sized bed. The duvet was what we had on our bed when we first married almost ten years ago.

I love how all the colors of the quilt allow me to add in any color I want. It's a nice break from all the purple, Sweetheart's favorite color. My Mom said the woman she bought the top from had said it was pieced from old aprons. Perfect.

I didn't paint. The walls in our home are all a lovely ivory color. It does look different because I used the flash in the "Before" pictures and not the "After" ones.

I'll take some better close-up pictures of the window lights as I love how those turned out, but not today. Today we've spent in the "new" room watching "Cars", Pumpkin's favorite movie. He, Dumpling, and I have snuggled down with our toys and books and have just been cozy all day.

Now, it's time to check the crockpot and finish up the dinner details. Hope you all are having a lovely day!

Think He'll Notice???

Sweet Dreams.

Below is what our room looked like last night:

Here's what it looks like tonight.



There's still a few things to do, but I think this was enough for one day, don't you?


Cost: $0.00

Sweetheart Tea

Tea for two, just Sweetheart and me. And food, of course.

Cashew Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Tomato Provencal Sandwiches, Scones with Lemon and Raspberry Curds, Banana Bread, and Brownies. A mug of Earl Grey for him, a pot of Harney's Valentine Blend (Chocolate Rose) Tea for me. Lovely.

A wonderful hour together by the fireplace, gentle music in the background, made possible by two little boys napping.

Thank you, Lord, for moments of Love and Peace.

Thank You, Ladies!

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with suggestions for what might be wrong with my sewing machine (besides the sewer!) Since the manual said that one need not adjust the tension unless sewing fabric like denim, or canvas, I decided to try a few things with the bobbin. I found a new red bobbin and threaded in some new red thread on top.

I sewed this up with out any problems at all! I even remembered to turn it right side out before I stuffed it with the lavender blossoms. (Read between the lines on that one. Did I mention before about my total lack of sewing skill?) Note to self: next time sew the buttons on first before sewing the hearts together. See previous sentences for help with that one. *sigh* Looking on the bright side, I'm learning something new with each project.

I love gingham, especially red. It's so cheerful. I sewed a bag a few days ago for the laundry room in this gingham. It's like a clothespin bag, but for those net bags I put all the bibs and baby socks into the washer all tucked inside.

I had a ugly, cheap looky bag before that I had the pins in, but I've always hated it. I tucked the pins into a little metal wall pocket so they're easy to grab with I need them. Then I just started cutting a sewing until I made my little bag. I used a baby hanger to hang it up on the rod. It's a bit dizzying with the gingham ribbon, but I'm leaving it on until I figure out something better. It has really brightened up the laundry area. I may make another lavendar-filled gingham pillow to use in the dryer.

I stopped using those dryer sheet things about a month ago. I'm now just adding a half cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle of the washer to soften the fabrics. It works really well. No, the laundry does not smell like vinegar at all. I was just thinking it might be nice to add a bit of a lavendar scent.

I'm planning to begin making our laundry detergent soon as soon as I finish up the regular store-bought stuff. I'll post the detergent recipe once I've tried it a few times to see how it goes. We're not having the best luck with alternative/natural dishwasher detergents yet, but we're experimenting. Once I have something that I feel like I can recommend, I post the instructions. Until then, we'll keep on trying.

I was also thinking that it might be nice to add some lavender to the next tea cozy as the heat from the tea would help release the fragrance. I wonder if the scent might be overpowering, though. What do you think? I may try first just sewing a lavender pillow to use as a trivet under the pot. Can you tell I'm having fun? It's neat to think of all the stuff I can make even without using a pattern.

Well, tomorrow afternoon I'm planning to do a simple Sweetheart Tea with my Sweetheart during naptime. I'll brew Earl Grey for him, and a pot of the Valentine Blend for me. I'll make some chicken salad sandwiches, scones, and something yummy for dessert. I'll include a few slices of the banana bread, unless he eats it all first! I have a million different heart-shaped cookie cutters, so everything will probably be served in little heart shapes. I love that.

Have a lovely weekend!

Food Storage

As we've been transitioning to a simpler lifestyle I've been changing how I shop for groceries. While I still am making runs to Target for mostly sundries and diapers, lots of diapers, I've also been buying more pantry food in bulk. I love it because it is sooo much cheaper, but I don't like having a million bags of things slumping around in the cupboards.

I've been storing a lot of little things in random glass jars that I've saved, but I've been known to forget what is in which jar. (Please tell me I'm not the only one!) This was also a problem for me with the bags.

While on the Farm Chicks site I read their great solution for labeling the jars. This is so perfect for me because I don't always reuse the same jars for the same things and writing on the lids and scratching them out isn't the best plan, but it looks awful. Their solution? Stick on labels made from contact paper. It's easy, cheap, and they peel right off. How great is that!

After I'd read about this idea I remembered some contact paper that I had seen a few weeks before at Target that I'd loved. I almost bought it then because it matched my dishes, but I set it back because I knew I didn't need it. Our cupboards are fine and don't need to be lined. I was so happy though to discover the same contact paper on the clearance aisle a few weeks later when I was hoping to find it for the labels and now, it was half price. Woohoo!

Here's another way to do it with fabric or wallpaper. These are really cute, but would take more time. I'm happy with just the pretty contact paper.

I have picked up a few nice glass jars. I'd love to get a ton of them and replace all my mismatched stuff, but it's not necessary. I figure I can pick up a couple every once in awhile over time and be just fine. I love these big glass jars because they hold a five pound bag of sugar or flour, unlike my old cannisters that only hold about three-fourths of a bag and then I'm stuck with a partially filled bag lying around.

These are also great because I can tell what I'm getting low on with just a glance instead of trying to remember what I've got in the ceramic cannisters. Not to mention trying to remember which cannister is holding the bread flour versus the regular wheat flour. And we all know that my memory isn't what it used to be!

Maybe someday I'll work up to a pantry like Shan's. Hers is beautiful! Go take a look.

Have a wonderful day! Do something loving and kind for the next person you see, even if it's just a smile. It may just make their day, and it can't hurt yours!

Now, what to do about those diapers....

PS~Thank you everyone for your suggestions about the sewing machine. I finished that pillow by hand, but will hopefully get some time this weekend to try and troubleshoot the machine. You all are so sweet!

***Added~ Just found a mystery jar in the pantry. No clue as to what it contains. Couscous, maybe?

The glass jars come in a bunch of sizes. I've bought them at both Walmart & Target. Of course, Target was out of them completely last night. They were also out of ginger, vinegar, bouillion, and barley cereal. Good thing they had diapers!

Help

Now I remember why I don't sew....

Any idea why the machine is doing this:

I've switched threads and fabrics, but it keeps on messing up.

I was hoping to get to post pix of the adorable pillows I'm sewing while the boys are napping today, but it's not working.

Tea

"The best quality tea must have creases

like the leathern boot of Tartar horsemen,

curl like the dewlap of a mighty bullock,

unfold like a mist rising out of a ravine,

gleam like a lake touched by a zephyr,

and be wet and soft

like a fine earth newly swept by rain."

~Lu Yu

Of course. Isn't this how you all describe your tea? No? Me either, but I like it!

Valentines Tea Ideas

The Valentine Blend I mentioned yesterday can be found here. The scent of chocolate and roses is heavenly! Harney's Teas are sold all around the country. They even sell them at Barnes and Noble Bookstores and I believe Nordstrom's, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.
They also have some tea gift ideas that look lovely as well.

Tea is such a wonderful thing! I say this even as I am drinking a mug of coffee. I enjoy both. I usually drink coffee for breakfast, or sometimes when I'm out an about. It's so hard to find a good cuppa tea out, so I usually just have a coffee. If I'm at home though throughout the rest of the day and evening I drink tea.

"I am a hardened and shameless tea drinker,

who has for twenty years diluted his meals only

with the infusion of this fascinating plant;

whose kettle has scarcely time to cool;

who with tea amuses the evening,

with tea solaces the midnight,

and with tea welcomes the evening."

~Samuel Johnson

I am rolling ideas over in my mind for a sweet Valentines Tea with my Sweetheart this weekend at home. I think I maybe able to plan something simple, but wonderful to enjoy while the boys nap. We'll see. I've got wonderful Valentines Day plans already in the works which I may post about, but I have to make sure Sweetheart doesn't visit here before then, or it would wreck the surprise. I am so excited!

I hope you have a wonderful day, wherever you are! Take a few minutes to just sit quietly and enjoy the beauty of the day. Maybe brew a cup of tea to keep you warm as you sit and reflect on life and love.

Random Post

Baking Bread for a Friend

Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I wish you were here. I'd pour you a cup of Harney's Valentine Blend Tea so you could enjoy it with me on this cold, snowy day. It's a Chocolate Rose Flavored Black Tea and it is really good! A sort of Dessert-in-a-Cup drink with no calories. A good thing these days. The boys are napping, a wonderful break in the day for this Mommy. It so rare for them both to sleep at the same time!

**We're still working hard at simplifying things around the house. I'll be posting on some of those things, like cleaning and cooking later this week as I can.

**I have been doublely blessed in the last week to have received the Blogging Award "E for Excellent" from two readers! I will post more on that as soon as I can get all the links up and running. Many thanks to Joanne and Donna. Wow! *blush* I never expected that!

**I know that a few of you have also recently started your own blogs. I'll link to those soon, too. Shan---Can you email or comment leaving your blogsite address? I thought I could get there from your comment links, but can't. Too bad I didn't discover that before I'd deleted your email. *sigh*

**Also, I was asked about Abner. That's a hard one. When Dumpling was about three weeks old, we surrended Abner to the Airedale Rescue people. It's still hard to write about. Yup, I'm crying. We had Abner for almost seven years, and we loved him. We still do. He was a wonderful dog, but became too much to handle with two little ones. He was an 80 pound dog with a strong will of his own.

Once the babies starting arriving, our time with Abner was reduced dramatically. He was spending more and more time alone in the yard, or the basement. He needed to be around us more, but he was too big and fast for the little guys. We realized that we just couldn't be the family he needed anymore. If the boys were older, that would be one thing, but they are just too little and too easily hurt. It wasn't worth the risk. He wasn't aggressive, or mean, but he could knock over Pumpkin and not even notice.

We knew we didn't want to send him to the pound, so we called the Airedale rescue folks. Hopefully, he's in a new family with lots of room and having a blast. Sadly, they have not remained in contact with us as requested to let us know where he is. We wish we knew. We hope it's a better place than we could give him at this time.

In some ways, I think it may have been easier to have had him pass away. If your dog dies, it's not usually your fault. You can miss him, but know that there was nothing more you could do. Giving him away because you can no longer give him the love and attention he needed can just make you feel like a failure. Sometimes, though, it's all you can do. Life changes.

**On a happier and completely unrelated note: the new tea cozy works great! I stuffed it with batting when I made it to help it insulate the teapots. It works so well that it keeps the tea hot, not just warm, but hot for three hours. How great is that!

Sorry--I know that was a completely abrupt change of topic, but I didn't want to end on a totally down note. Also, please excuse any typos. I'll proofread later, but need to go now and do some chores before the boys wake up.

e

Life's Just Ducky Around Here!

Guess what I did?

Can you see it?
No? Maybe because my fingers are in the way... I got my first tooth!!!

Hmm...I wonder what's for lunch? Steak?

~Love, Dumpling

From this Morning's Devotions

1 Peter 4:8-11

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides,

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen