A Must Read

I think every mom needs to read this.

{Pause}

"Although we've come to the end of the road, still I can't let you go.  It's unnatural...."

I think I know just enough about computers, blogging, and the like to be dangerous.  And if it weren't for a very patient and helpful friend's husband  (thanks, Nae), I'd hardly be functioning technologically-speaking.

Anyway, Blogger has informed me that I have reached my allotted quota of photos so we will be pictureless until I get this problem resolved.

All in my spare time.

I'm working on it so that I don't have to resort to pulling quotes from boy-bands of my youth.

Birthday Celebration

The wild hair at birth should have been some indication of this kid's personality.  

The hair has tamed to slightly unruly curls, and I suppose the same could be said for the boy

(depending on the day, of course).

Being only 2, he was a little clueless about the happenings, but he quickly caught onto the siblings' excitement.  They were all sure he wouldn't know how to open presents and therefore remained on standby should he need any help.

Apparently Matthew thought Jonathan must have been a little exhausted after the first one and took over.

 

 Um, just a reminder: it's Jonathan's birthday.

Eventually, the others walked off with various opened gifts and Jonathan got to finish unassisted. 

While I was engrossed in decorating the birthday cake (a lovely carrot cake!),

a certain two-year-old grabbed a fork from the drawer and helped himself. 

We sang and he blew out candles,

and I marveled at just how quickly these childhood days fly by.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

Jonathan is 2

More birthday photos to come.

Ketner's Mill

This is one of our favorite fall festivals.

The scenery alone is beautiful.

There's a wide variety of vendors and *lots* of great people-watching.

And there's plenty of grease to coat your arteries for the next year.

The boys like the river.

Andrew has become quite the expert stone-skipper.

Matthew and Jonathan prefer to throw handfuls of rocks and sand,

and Josie just smiled and took in all the entertainment.

The Maze

There was corn, corn, and more corn.

As far as you could see,

towering over our heads.

Josie and I followed behind and got the most scenic views.

Stephen and Jonathan discovered field corn isn't very tasty unless you're a cow.

There were many diversions along the way.

What a great field trip with dad!



A Peck of Peppers

We had a bumper crop of bell peppers this year,

and I think it may have something to do with the ChickaPoo I snagged at Big Lots several years ago.

My Knight

Sure, it doesn't quite look like the sleek white steed of my dreams,

but the driver has rescued me from a lifetime of dishpan hands. 

He worked patiently, even with all his very helpful assistants.

After 4 months of being dishwasherless, I am glad to once again reclaim my countertops.

And the boys are excited to have a big box in which to play.

"No-Make Cookies"

Cooking around here is complicated.

Aside from the individual preferences of 6 family members, we have the issue of food allergies which further narrows the list.  Over the years we've managed pretty well on the whole, but the dessert category is a little tricky.  Egg substitutes, for example, are not always reliable and the results can vary from day to day.

Rice Krispie treats are quick and easy; so is Wacky Cake.  I've grown tired of both.  Then I remembered the No-Bake Cookies from my childhood.  With a little substituting they've become a treat the whole family can enjoy (they're one of Stephen's favorites).

No-Make Cookies

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. coconut oil

2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 c. rice milk

1/4 c. sunflower butter

1 1/2 c. quick-cooking oats

1/2 t. vanilla

Combine sugar, oil, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan.

Bring to a boil and stir for 30 seconds.

Remove from heat and stir in sunbutter, oats and vanilla.

Scoop onto waxed-paper and allow to cool.

Yield: 2 dozen

"Blooming Up"

Back in the spring Matthew laid claim to some cosmos seeds we received in the mail.  He begged and begged to plant them, and finally in late May he and Doug put them in the flower bed.  Within weeks he had flowers.

One morning Matthew ran to the window and looked out: 

"They're bloomin' up!  My flowers are bloomin' up!"

Unbeknownst to him, Nana had come along and planted some zinnia seedlings in the exact same spot.

"And his fib fooled the child."

Nevertheless, he and I are both thrilled with the bright pops of color, like confetti for your yard.

Matthew gets the thrill of using scissors; I get eye-candy for my kitchen.

Yes, mother, you were right.

(Just like back in my high school days when you told me to watch t.v. (gasp!) because you thought I'd enjoy Remington Steele.)

She's hounded me for years to plant these drought-loving, prolific bloomers.

These will definitely make the "ust-plant" list.

Two Worlds Collide

This Warms My Heart

Stephen saw this picture on a book we were reading one day.

"I know what book she has," he announced.  "The Little Train that Did."

The Pretty Girl

She's got lots of devoted admirers.

Matthew in particular likes to get about 2 cm from her face and say,

"You're a pretty girl, Josie.  Yes, you are."

Over and over and over again.

We remind him she needs a little space.

But I have to agree.

"You're a pretty girl, Josie. Yes, you are."

Make Your Own: Salsa

Forget candlelight and flowers, I fell in love over salsa.

A certain young suitor used to take me to Applebees for quesadillas (it never occurred to me at the time how he could afford it, but I think I have my in-laws to thank for that).  They had this amazing salsa, full of flavor and really, really cold.  It was delicious, and I was smitten (the company wasn't bad, either).

Time moved on.  Suitor and I married.  We pinched pennies.  Old El Paso and Pace seemed pretty tasty.

Then I met the refrigerated stuff: Garden Fresh Gourmet.  It's good - really, really good.  But at $3 a carton, which is easily consumed in one sitting, not very economical.



But now I can have my salsa and eat it, too, thanks to Pioneer Woman's Restaurant Style Salsa.  Using ingredients I always have on hand, it comes together in a flash, and even better, I can add LOTS of cilantro (that is, unless by brother-in-law happens to be around).  I don't ever want to go back to the jar.