The Magic Pot

For my birthday (today!), my mom bought me some cast iron enamel pots with lids. I was so eager to try them out, that I faced my fear and made some bread. I love a really good, aritsan-style crusty loaf. When I happened upon a recipe for Easy-No-Knead-Crusty-Loaf, I drooled over it. It has to be cooked in a 6-8 quart dutch oven, so my cast iron is perfect.

I struck gold. The loaf is beautiful. I'm taking it to Fort Worth with us tomorrow, and we'll find out how tasty it is. Honestly, I'd be satisfied with just a pretty loaf. Sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy.

Blueberry Scones

These aren't really healthy (unless you count the fresh blueberries). But they're delicious. And easy to make. The proof is in the fact that I made them and they turned out! I was so excited I took pictures.

Blueberry Scones
Mix:
2 c. All-Purpose Flour
1/4 c. Brown Sugar
1 T Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Cut in and mix:
1/4 c. chilled butter
Mix and add:
3/4 c. half-n-half (or fresh, raw milk)
1 egg
Fold in:
1 c fresh blueberries (I used frozen that were partially thawed)

After adding blueberries, dough should be a sticky ball. Flour a surface and gently knead a few times. Press into a rectangle about 3/4" thick. Cut into squares, then triangles. Bake on ungreased baking sheet 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees (until edges are just browning). Cool on rack. Absolutely must be served with butter and fresh milk for optimal eating pleasure. :)

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Chad took this picture for us on Sunday.

Last week, Emma fell asleep on her back. J was right about this age, too, the first time he fell asleep on his back. She hasn't done it since.

Melts. My. Heart.

See her cute little shoes?

This was taken on Monday morning. I thought it was "picture perfect". A minute later I left the room to ge a CD, when a shrieking sort of scream erupted out of Emma, and she began crying hysterically. I ran into the living room to find Joseph running out - with a pair of scissors. Fortunately, he didn't get her eye, but he left a scratch on her forehead. How did he leave the place he was sitting, go over to the desk, crawl on the chair, get the scissors, get down, go to Emma and scratch her face - all in 30 seconds? It must be some sort of toddler super power. Needless to say, I won't be leaving them alone again.

Strange as Fiction

Last Saturday was spent outside, working on cleaning up the yard and tending to my baby plants (the few I have). Joseph enjoyed the pillows of clover growing in the back. Sadly, he also got his first sunburn. He started out the day fully clothed; by 5:00 pm he was in nothing but his skin and covered in mud. (You know how it goes - he's a boy.) Anyhow, 3 days later and he's finally no longer saying "Ow!" when something touches his shoulder. Poor guy!

And then came Monday...Apparently, Emma laughs in the face of Mondays. Literally. Actually, she looks like this all the time. She is my little, delightful girl who always has a smile ready for Mama.

It did turn into a wonderful Monday, though. In fact, it was almost a piece of fiction how beautifully the day went. It began with Emma's sweet smile and Joseph's compliant spirit. They both became groggy mid-morning, and this is what happened:

Yup. MY children. Asleep. Together. In the same room. The living room. With ME going about my chores. If you know my children, they do not sleep "wherever", and especially not "whenever". But here they are. More of this would be super.

While they were sleeping, I whipped up some blueberry scones and beer bread. I managed to clean up the kitchen, and was just placing the warm scones on a platter as they woke up. Storybook stuff, I tell you.

Emma was put on her mat to practice a thing called "playing by myself" - which she did wonderfully. So well, in fact, that she rolled right over - from her back to her front - for the first time! And I didn't see it! (Another quirky trait my children have: accomplishing developmental milestones surreptiously.) I snapped a picture just after I found her on her tummy.

At the end of this glorious Monday, Aaron and I stood outside and watched God create a stunning moonlit sky - complete with wispy clouds floating by and the occasional bright star popping out to say hello. It was a good day.

The Boy is in the Bed

Edited Wednesday, April 23: My efforts were derailed in less than 1 hour. Joseph woke up whining and crying because of his sunburn. So, the plan was aborted. We'll see what happens next time he asks to sleep in the bed...

Joseph has been napping in his bed (the bottom bunk) for the last week or two. Tonight, as we walked into his room to go to sleep, he climbed into the bed! I said, "Do you want to sleep in your bed tonight?" Clambering on, he said "Yyyesss!". So, we tucked him in with Bear and Puppy, and to sleep he went. Sweet.

I wonder how the rest of the night will go. It's funny being a parent. There's a lot of simply watching to see how things play out. Some things you can control, but most you don't. More than just a new experience, it's like a live-action show. Or something.

Anyway, before I get too excited, perhaps I should wait and celebrate in the morning? More later.

Coming soon: More pics and thoughts on "just as I am"

Hitting the Wall

Rod Dreher, the "Crunchy Con", talks about hitting the wall (perhaps literally and figuratively?).

I don't know very many people who wouldn't "amen" this article. Aaron and I would. We want to make changes now so that we don't have to deal with a family in poor health and unhappy hearts. We're praying about how to fashion our life so that we have time to live and truly enjoy it. That would mean very practical things, among them are: changing careers (in a way-outside-the-box sort of way), becoming debt-free and financially secure, eliminating clutter in our home, carefully choosing outside activities, having more people in our home, disciplining ourselves to work hard and enjoy the fruit of our labors. Who knows what else? We're only 25. We only know what we want the end to look like - how to get there? Hmm...

Ideas from wisdom and hindsight are always welcome here.

Little and Littlest

Joseph is a thumb-sucker. That little thumb is in his mouth a good portion of the day. (He's still a talker, at least.) From birth, it was obvious he was going to be a self-soother, and, at 6 weeks old, he became an official thumb-sucker. That was his beginning. It's nice, because Joseph will probably never be too dependent on anyone. In fact, he's displaying quite a bit of independence in lots of ways lately. Yes, he struggles with letting us help him, with us taking things away from him, and with us telling him to stop doing something. Yet, he's also a great explorer, unafraid (mostly) to go off on his own and discover God's world. That's great.

Emma is not a thumb-sucker. And she is not a self-soother. This also was clearly evident from birth. Within hours of being born, this tiny little girl nursed three hours straight. She loves to nurse. She loves to be held, to have her emotional needs met by soft, safe, comforting people like Mama and Daddy. It's nice, because Emma will probably never be too independent. She's happy to acknowledge her need for people. Yes, she struggles with playing by herself, with calming herself down when unhappy, and with going with the flow. Yet, she's also wonderfully affectionate and delighted to fellowship with us. That's great.

Of Yoghurt and Reflections

Abdicating Grandmothers

I suspect this woman will end up dying sad, lonely and bitter. I wish I could say I will feel sorry for her, but it would be difficult. I hope that pity and compassion would intervene.

And, as Cindy from Dominion Family asks, will she be surprised when her children put her in a nursing home and forget about her? I am so grateful that the grandmothers in my life (my own and my children's) love their children, and their children's children.

Happy Emmaline

She's come a long way, eh?

When's the last time you had fun like this?