An all time fav song of mine! This is why I don’t want to rush my kids to grow up. May their childhood feel longer then mine did! May they remember it as fondly and as clearly as I do mine and may we all be young at heart!
TTFN
Archive for October, 2010
Return to Pooh Corner (Acoustic version)
Share A Little Love
So earnestly and easily she learned to love him. This little girl was terrified of dogs only a few weeks ago and although Riddick has proven to not be perfect she trusts him already. Kids so easily give up fear for love. May I be the same. Braving love over fear in my daily life.
TTFN
A Week of October Suppers!
MONDAY -The ‘Gray Day Dumpling Stew’ I typed out for you in the previous post. It was a big success and with that kick off to the week I easily remained on the menu planning band wagon.
TUESDAY -Simple baked lemon pepper chicken with a fruit and nut salad that the kids couldn’t leave alone till not a stitch remained. It had a homemade apple vinaigrette dressing, apple and pear slices with roasted almonds and celery on a bed of lettuce. I love that my kids like salad!
WEDNESDAY -Finally I found a minestrone recipe that tasted like the minestrone of my youth! YUM, just like I remember but healthier even! It was FULL of veggies and topped with home made croutons it became special! It was from one of my husbands triathlon magazines and a really good find.
THURSDAY -Vegetarian meals are often favored around here! Starting with another winning salad and ending with amazing spicy black bean patties. Caramelized yams, onions and garlic are mixed in with mashed black beans, eggs and wheat germ. You then coat it in cornmeal and top with cool lime/paprika dip.
FRIDAY -After a week of the kids being so good about eatting my way I made a Mexican style lasagna for them. It is one of their favorite casseroles with loads of cheese, corn tortilla’s layered with zucchini, ground venison and lotsa tomato sauce (among other stuff).
I sure hope next week is as picturesque and as yummy!
TTFN
My Gray Day Stew (Recipe Request)
My stew usually has different veggies depending on what is in the fridge but it always has dill dumplings on top, the same broth and venison (although it is fine with any red meat). I have tried to share it with friends a few times but was always at a lose for how it all was put together. Yesterday was a perfectly gray day so I prepared a big pot of it and now I am enjoying left overs with our first snow fall of the year. I remembered to take some time and write it down this time so enjoy.
RED MEAT AND DUMPLING STEW
- 1 1/2 lbs red meat cut into stew pieces
- (MARINATE OPTION: about 1 cup of olive oil and 1/4 a cup of apple cider vinegar then salt and pepper to taste)
- 1 cup flour
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 large onion
- 5 cloves fresh garlic
- 6 cups water
- 1 Tbsp dill
- 1/2 Tbsp paprika
- 1/2 Tbsp celery salt
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup pureed yam
- 2 Tbsps mushroom flavored soy sauce
- 2 Tbsps worcestershire sauce
- hot sauce to taste
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 4-5 large chopped carrots
- 4-5 large chopped celery
- 3 large chopped red potatoes or 1 big yam
- 1-2 chopped young zucchini
NOTE: Stew is often about reducing and thickening so don’t be surprised if it takes a while for it to get nice and thick.
- I marinate my red meat over night as venison can be dryer and tougher then fattier red meats.
- Put marinade meat in zip lock back with the flour and salt and pepper and shake to coat.
- Fry up the onion and garlic in some grape seed oil and once they are soft add the meat. Stir till cooked through.
- Warm up the water and the next 9 items, stirring well to help the pureed yam mix in well. Heat to boil.
- Add all the vegetables but the zucchini and cook till they are soft but not done.
- Add the corn starch to some broth you have scooped out and mix till it is smooth, then add to the soup and stir as it thickens.
- Finally add the zucchini and the meat and onion/garlic mix to soup, stir while it thickens more.
- Top with dill dumplings and cook according to recipe below.
- Serve this complete meal hot.
DILL DUMPLINGS
- 3/4 cup white unbleached flour
- 1/4 cup barley flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp dill
- Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
- Cut in butter till crumbly.
- Stir in milk to make soft, kneed it so it sticks together nice.
- Drop by spoonful onto boiling stew.
- Cover stew and simmer 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
Ah yes, a stew goes so beautifully with a rainy or snowy day! Let me know if you try it!
TTFN
When Your Boy
When your boy takes your hand as you are walking down the mall you smile and try to hold in how melted you are right then and there.
When your boy hugs you because you are melancholy, and he knows it, and says ‘I need more hugs today Mom.’ you try not to weep cuz that will confuse him…
When your boy waves to you as he heads for the bus and yells very publicly that he does in deed love you, you beam with pride at the fact that he still thinks all should know that.
You take all of these things and store them away in your heart so you always no that he loves you… no matter what the years to come will do to his personality you hold out hope that he will remain that honest and affectionate boy… because the fact is you are his mom and you are supposed to crave his love returned.
TTFN
Domestic Treasures at The Thrift Shop!
OH SO PRETTY!
Some times you walk into a treasure trove when you hit the thrift shop! I found so many domestic treasures I couldn’t help but grin at the check out lady. I don’t think she got where my enthusiasm was coming from but no matter, I was thrilled with my finds!
Oh doilies! I was just talking about doilies in a post days ago and then I found two pretty little ones that match my couch colors!
I love cheery blue, and they are soft… I know they are napkins but they might become handkerchiefs so I can carry them in my purse.
How could I pass up a crochet apron! The work that went into this! AND it is pink! BONUS!
Speaking of aprons! Found two adorable ones for my kids!
Someone made this apron from tea towels!
Pretty sure these where meant to be place mats. There where four of them and they where sown together by hand! I grabbed the two that weren’t stained and intend to use them in doily fashion.
This last item isn’t nearly as domestic and definitely not handmade but nevertheless it is charming. When you have a baby boy that likes to play puppy all the time you don’t pass up a little puppy hoody for only a couple dollars!
Ah the life of a thrift hunter is so often rewarding!
TTFN
Timely and Sweet – Blessings
I have my share of posts about those rough mommy days, as is fair as is truthful, but this is not such a post. This is a deliberate ‘count your blessings’ kinda post. They don’t usually get as many comments but I hope it is encouraging in a up lifting fashion. Encouragement is good in many forms, there is a need for the honestly rough post, encouraging because of the ‘not being alone in my troubles’ factor and so a blessing counting post is encouraging in a different but special way…may you all see you are included in being given many many daily blessings!
Saturday at 7:10 The dog woke me up, what a huge blessing! My alarm didn’t go off and Anna was waiting for me outside, for who knows how long, so we could go early to the dog park! A beautiful morning greeted us as we march over the prairies with our dogs and conversation with Anna is always such a blessing. Around 8:30 I lost Riddick but he eventually came back to me. My friend began helping me with his obedience training right then and there. She encouraged me with her God given wisdom and patience. By the end of our walk I was confident and Riddick was being a real gentleman.
9:10 I arrived home to find a jewel of a friend, Crystal to be exact, had left me a little gift in my mail box. The gift, a new type of tea, was lovely and I got to put my feet up while I enjoyed it.
Noonish I was off shopping with my sister Mirelle and it worked out that I only had to take one child. Time away from the house and the individual time with Baby Boy was very special.
Afternoon, I watched my 8 year old daughter dancing with her friends in the driveway. She spotted me mouthing the words to the tune and proudly proclaimed I should come dance with her and her friends. Oh that sure made me feel special!
Later my 4 year old little woman went for her first sleep over at grandma’s and sensing my melancholy over it my boys managed to hug me more then is usual for the rest of the day.
An evening out with my oldest two came next. Movie night! We had great fun chatting and sharing some fries. I taught them a trick to get more ketchup on their fries without double dipping, ‘I call it the two-for’ and they applauded my genius, genuinely impressed by Mom. After the fries I cheered with great pride as they put two straws in their chocolate milk and chugged it in a matter of seconds so we wouldn’t miss the start of the movie. My oldest actually held on to my arm most of the movie, she wanted to be close. At the movies end they both thanked me and told me they loved me. I know they are my kids and generally pretty well behaved, but every now and then I am really impressed by how polite they can be.
There has been so much more! This whole weekend I feel as if I am walking into one joy after another! A very unassuming weekend, much less stuff going on then usual and yet it has been so full, full of blessings.
The biggest blessing for me has to honestly be the attitude of my children… only days ago the struggle in our home was one of rebellion of responsibilities and selfishness… I was busy trying to pick up the pieces and wearing out. The kids where obviously not happy with me of late. To have them trying harder and making an effort was a big enough blessing but to have them expressing love and appreciation more often my way again brings me to tears. A Mama has to do her job no matter what but it sure helps to have my little nest full smiling and hugging me.
Blessings are often reminders to me that people are thinking of me… timely blessings are all around… Taking notice of them reminds me that CHRIST is thinking of me:) Really I am appreciating the people in my little world more and more… As they bless me so I hope I bless them!
TTFN
Give A Dog A Bone
While he doesn’t chew at it very much he doesn’t seem to mind snuggling up with the bone.
TTFN
Ruth’s Doily
Doily- an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric named after a 17th century London draper. It originally meant ‘genteel, affordable woolens’. Often crocheted or knit with open work that reveals underlying objects. Although decorative they also have the purpose of protecting wood furniture from scratches caused by decorative objects place atop it.The above doily is not the typical round crochet type. It is rectangular and only crochet on the edges. Otherwise it is most appealing and decorative because of the embroidery. This cloth not only adds a flare of tradition to my sitting room because it is an old fashioned doily but also because it was crocheted and embroidered by my great great aunt (my grandmothers aunt). I had it sitting in a box of linens for a long time, waiting for the right spot for it. The day I found it again and placed it in my sitting room I was amazed at how cheerful it is and how much it makes me think of Aunt Ruth.
TTFN
Grandmother’s Ivy
Such a happy ivy! Spreading eagerly all around! I need to decide where I want to encourage it to grow and put up some tacks for it! This plant is practically a family heirloom! It came from the large hoop of ivy my mother has in her living room and I believe that hoop was originally started by my grandmother Smith. I am pleased as punch to have this little part of my grandmothers ivy growing in my own home as it so cheerfully did in hers years ago.
TTFN
