Learning Curve

My new toy arrived yesterday, and I must admit that I am just a little overwhelmed.  It's going to take a little getting used to, but we managed to test it out a little.

Thankfully there are plenty of subjects on which to practice.

Say Cheese

To those who have missed pictures of the kids of late, never fear....

my new camera is on its way.

Five Alive

"My sons were not spoilt from infancy!" Neddie retorted impatiently.  "There was never time enough between them to tell one from the other, if you must know!  And I thank God for it."

Jane and His Lordship's Legacy - Stephanie Barron



How to Carve the Perfect Turkey

I don't really consider myself a guru in the turkey world seeing as I've only cooked a couple in my lifetime.  I have, however, tried many in Thanksgivings the past.  Sadly, it's not my favorite part of the dinner, largely due to the Cabbage Roll tradition of my Hungarian heritage but also to the tendency towards dry slabs of meat.  I just don't like the unattractive slices carved from the sides of the breasts.

No offense to those traditional carvers out there, but there is a better way. I stumbled across this method a few years ago in Better Homes & Gardens and was recently reminded when I opened up Real Simple. Combined with a brined turkey, it is both visually appealing and delicious to the taste (and guests don't risk death by choking).

And don't forget the cardinal sin of turkey roasting: don't throw out the carcass!  I must admit a little embarassment at my mother's shameless claiming of the turkey bones each year (come on....it's just a pile of bones), but it makes the most wonderful Turkey Vegetable Soup, especially combined with fresh-from-the-oven homemade bread.  If you don't have time to boil down the bones right away, put them in a couple of ziptop bags and toss in the freezer.  They'll be ready and waiting when the cold weather hits.

Chatty Cathy

I'm beginning to think that maybe some of the boys' tremendous verbosity has to do with their mother's strange habit of talking to strangers.  I could blame it on being a stay-at-home-mom, devoid of contact with the adult world, but the sad truth is that this has plagued me for years.  I admit to being rather shy when it comes to speaking in groups or with people I might see again (at least until I get to know them); complete strangers are a different matter altogether. 

Shortly after we were married, I stopped at a convenience store to get gas.  When I went in to pay, the cashier (an elderly man) and I struck up a conversation.  He asked me where I was from and went on to say, "I spent some time in Tazewell County."  Excited that anyone had heard of, much less been to my neck of the woods, I replied, "Did you like it there?"  He exclaimed, "Hell, no!  I was in prison!"  Flustered, I muttered something and left.  I should have learned my lesson living in NOVA. 

Back in the south, however, it's a common occurrence.  When we moved to Knoxville, I remember waiting in line in TJ Maxx and commented on something some one in front of me was purchasing.  Turns out it was a girl who had lived on the same hall with me in college.  Later that evening I ran into my college recruiter in Walgreens.

I've had all kinds of conversations throughout the Scenic City though they are generally mothers with kids.  One mom and I struck up a conversation in Home Goods.  She had just given birth to her 4th (a girl after 3 boys) and I was due in just a few weeks.  As we talked motherhood and babies and homeschooling, the boys discussed their collection of CARS vehicles.  For weeks afterwards Andrew asked when we could go play at their house.

Today our paths crossed again.  A simple comment about a clothing selection.  An innocent question about her two children in tow.  One thing led to another until I finally asked if we had had a conversation once before.  The lightbulb went off, and we caught up on the happenings of the last year.

I can't wait for my next trip out, just to see who I might meet!

'Tis the Season

There's nothing quite like Sam's Club on a Friday afternoon to get one in the holiday spirit.

We were in the area, needed a few things, and our trip coincided with a weekend of sampling.  It felt like some strange transformation in which I was surrounded by more food than was humanly possible to consume while people shoved like refugees in some third world country.  More than once I had someone reach over my shoulder to grab the bite-sized sample, acting as if their life depended on getting that tidbit of food.

The checkout lines were just as bad.  I was blessed to find a relatively short line and overheard a young teenager behind me tell her mother about how someone had stepped in front of her earlier.  The mother's gracious response?  "I hope you said something!"

Then it was my turn.  We stopped to get gas and all the lines were several cars deep, all but one.  I failed to realize the intent, however, of a vehicle stopped 3-4 car lengths back and off to the side.  When it was finally my turn, the driver of the red truck scolded and told me in no uncertain terms that it was rude to pull in front of someone else.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't realize you were waiting."  It did nothing to soothe her temper.

All of that for a 3 pound bag of almonds and a box of trashbags.  Bah humbug!

The Pie Feast That Wasn't

Disappointment reigns.

The house has been struck with nasty cold germs this week so we were selfish in trying to keep it all to ourselves today.  No fun science experiements, and even worse (for me, at least), no pie.

That is, until 4 pm this afternoon when I decided that we "needed" to have pie to round out our chicken noodle soup.  And of course baking for the Hamill home necessitates making more than one of a dessert in order to accomodate all tastes and allergy-requirements.

So I must eat my words and fess up to not serving a Foolproof Pie Crust, but only because Pumpkin Pie would have taken too long plus we were out of apples and lemons and coconut which eliminated a host of other options.  Instead we had a Frozen Chocolate Pie and a Raspberry Cheesecake Pie. 

Doug tasted both, Andrew preferred the first, I preferred the latter, and Stephen just liked the graham cracker crust (I can't say that I blame him and will proudly admit to sampling it before baking).

The Big Switch-a-roo

Unfortunately our climate doesn't allow for a single weekend (or even week) for changing seasonal wardrobes.  Weather is a fickle fellow, a cool week or two followed by highs climbing back into the 80s before dipping a little.  We cull a little at a time, putting away most of the shorts and short sleeves while adding a few pairs of pants and long sleeve shirts.  The whole process generally stretches out for two months. 

Now that November has arrived, I think it's safe to say we are officially out of short season and the final switches can be made, including the discarding of the worst of the worst stained and torn clothing.

After nearly seven years of scientific research, I have determined that the life span of children's clothes directly decreases in relation to an increase in age.  Four children is about the maximum usage for footed sleepers and most clothing sized 12 months and under; by 24 months, the life has been reduced to 3 kiddos and so it continues. Allowing for more tossing along the way, Jonathan will still have quite a wardrobe thanks to generous friends and relations.

Another reason to give thanks this month: the conclusion of this monumental task.  I can rest easy...at least until the March-May switch rolls around.

Pie Feast

A couple of weeks ago, our school director announced that we would be having a Pie Feast.  Heaven on earth, I do declare!  It causes a dilemna, however - what to make?

Nuts are eliminated due to allergies, so goodbye Peanut Butter Pie (I miss yours, Mrs. Howell) and Pecan Pie.

Apple is usually my go-to, but apple and pumpkin are a dime-a-dozen these days.



Black Bottom Banana?  Maybe a little too odd to suit the kiddos.



Lemon Meringue?  I don't think I've ever done one (but that's never stopped me before).

Coconut Cream?  It looks intimidating but it's one that I like just a single piece of every now and then.

Raspberry Cheesecake Pie?  I've requested this from my mother after the birth of my last two younguns.

I'm totally undecided, but thing is certain: It Will Have a Homemade Crust!  Therein lies the key difference between a good pie and a great pie.  (I can guarantee no one finishes up their Pillsbury-bottomed slice and thinks, "Wow, that was good crust!").

Here is my favorite recipe straight from the hills of Appalachia.

Foolproof Pie Crust

4 c. plain flour

1 3-4 c. shortening

1 T. sugar

2 t. salt

1T. vinegar

1 egg

1/2 c. ice water (straight from fridge)

With a fork, mix the first four ingredients.  Separately mix remaining ingredients. 

Combine the two until all are moistened.  With hand, mold dough into a ball. 

Chill at least 15 minutes before rolling into desired shape.

Yields 5 single-crusts (unused crusts can be frozen).

School Daze

Some funny happening from our weekly "church school":

Each week a chosen family gives a presentation to the entire school during the opening assembly.  As soon as this week's family launched into Psalm 1, the boys (in not-so-discreet voices) started declaring, "But that sounds sort of strange!"

Turns out they were reciting from the King James Version (not the NIV as we had learned).  In the afternoon I tried to explain about the different versions using different words to mean the same thing. 

Andrew saw the light.  "Oh, a scoffer is another word for a sinner."

* * * * *

The weekly science project was replaced with a service project which consisted filling bags of toiletries to be given to a homeless shelter.  The kids included a favorite Bible verse and decorated cards.  One of the other boys in Andrew's class drew a Jedi knight and Obi One Kenobi.  On the outside it read, "May the Forse Be with You" and inside, "God Loves You."

Off Track

"Falling back" is a sick joke for parents of small children.  If anyone were to need an extra hour of sleep, it would be us; but in my experience, this time change only wreaks havoc on our well-tuned routines.

The upside of waking at 5 am is that you can cram a lot into a morning.  Breakfast & dressing & brushing of teeth all before 7:00 means that school can begin shortly thereafter which in turn means being done about the time one would normally start.  No mid-morning snack needed; the kids were asking for lunch at 9:30.

Stephenisms

We were reading one of favorites today and came across an illustration of wolves playing croquet.

Stephen asked, "Are they holding sludge-mallets?"

* * * * * * * * * *

A couple of weeks back we were reading another book and the subject of rhubard arose, and more specifically whether it is classified as a fruit or a vegetable.

Stephen said, "I thought that's what you put down in concrete to make it stronger."

Life Plan

"I'm just going to eat candy and talk about NASCAR forever." 

Andrew

Scavengers

As if the weekend didn't produce enough sweets and sugar, the boys "hunted" during our afternoon walk and found some random dropped pieces that they enjoyed.  Andrew declared: "I found an unwrapped Cow Tail in our yard but Daddy wouldn't let me eat it because he says it gets dirty if it is left outside all night."  Fortunately, Mom doesn't have such strict requirements (I did insist that the candy hadn't been opened!) and the boys consumed all they found before we got home - all that is, except the Tootsie Roll they saved for Doug's lunch.