Zamboni at Our House

Last week the ice storm had completely transformed our plain old driveway into a personal ice-rink!  I am not a fan of either snow or ice and on my driveway it is totally unacceptable.  So after several bags of Snow & Ice Melt, the pretty (NO) Crappy ice was shoved to the road with the help of  Mommy & a Little Man who thinks this is pretty cool. 

 The area between our neighbors home is the perfect ice rink….strap on your skates and come on over…I’ll have the Hot Chocolate ready!  Our zamboni machine works great!

Day After Christmas…. Preparing for a New Year

Waiting for the Train…. this little man is a seasoned Frontrunner rider!
This season is one I will never forget, my greatest gift wasn’t under the tree, it is this precious little man I am blessed to be with every day. 
 
We shared a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family.

  

Now it is time to prepare for a wonderful 2014……

and a Happy Birthday to my Brother!

New Years Eve…quietly at our home Italian Style

La Festa di San Silvestro - New Year's Eve. The evening begins with a traditional dish, “cotechino e lenticchie”  Cotechino is a delicious, savory, fresh pork sausage, typically sold either partially pre-cooked or raw.

Served with Lentils.   Lenticchie (lentils) are believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year to those who eat them on New Year’s Eve.  These tiny oval-shaped legumes, reminiscent of gold coins, represent the money that one will earn in the coming year. Needless to say, the more you eat, the better off you’ll be financially!  Polenta is the side dish served with this meal…not to many fans of polenta in our home, but Grandma said there will be a small serving anyway!

Followed by dessert of grapes…According to tradition, having grapes present on the table during New Year’s ensures that those sitting at the table will be wise and frugal spenders of money.  This is based on the idea that one must exercise significant willpower in order to conserve grapes taken from the grape harvest without eating them until New Year’s Eve.(Fall harvest in above picture…..  A person with such willpower will surely be a wise and frugal spender in the coming year!   So feast your eyes on this…grapes from our vines in the back yard growing in the apricot tree this very day!

 
 and this best idea I have heard to start the new year is……………..Drum Rolll Please………………

Red undergarments and lingerie are worn by men and women, respectively; in addition to espousing love and good fortune, the color red also represents fertility – both for men and for women – so wearers beware!  Additionally, the tradition dictates that these red intimates be thrown out the following day in order for the ritual to take full effect…..Not sure throwing them away fits in with the frugal aspect of Italian Traditions…so mine will be stored away for another day!
Happy New Year 2014

Christmas Eve 2013

A glimpse of Christmas as it comes near.  Tonight I will go to sleep blessed for having such an amazing family and friends.  And being able to cherish the memories of my loved ones in heaven.  Never will I forget you and I will forever cherish the place you hold in my heart.

May God Bless all of you during this season of our Lord.

Reindeer Poop

We were awakened when we heard Santa call,
Dash away, Dash away, Dash away all.”
But soon we discovered, out on our lawn,
Santa and his reindeer were all gone.
With our little shovel we started to scoop,
All of the droppings … “YUCK”, reindeer poop!
But then we so generously filled up your sack.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your snack!!!”

 

1 (8 ounce) bag puff corn
1 cup butter (do not substitute)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Place puff corn in a large roaster pan.

In 2 quart sauce pan bring the butter, sugar & corn syrup to bring to boil, then cook for 2 minutes.   I cook this until 310 degrees about 5 minutes.

Add the baking soda- this will cause the caramel mixture to foam up.

Stir well and remove from heat.

Pour over puff corn in roaster and bake in 250* oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

Remove from oven, spread out onto wax paper to cool.

Progress Matters……..

Each of us has a journey.  That journey is not the same for everyone.  Our strengths, our experiences, our goals and the season in which we are living all play a role.

Some of us hang on with all our might and some of us grow to new heights…we don’t have to run around with our hair on fire…that doesn’t mean we are not trying!

What really matters is our progress in life. 

Mine, Yours, and even the bird on a wire!

Remember that the next time you're tempted to judge or criticize another's journey.

There have been those who say “You are not enough.”

Today I gather all the strength I have in my weary soul and say these three words loud and clear, once and for all:

I am here.
I am here.

Someone is counting on me to be here, and I am.

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace, The gladness of Christmas give you hope. The warmth of Christmas grant you a heart filled with love.  

Thank you cousin Shauna for the beautiful picture from NYC

Grandma LeAnn’s Scone Recipe

 

1 teaspoon yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

¼ cup water

½ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/ 2 cup milk

1/3 cup oil

1 cup water

2 cups, or more, bread flour

Oil for deep frying

Steps:

Warm mixing bowl with hot water, then combine yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and ¼ cup water warmed to 110 degrees. Let the mixture sit until bubbly (about 10 minutes). Stir in ½ cup sugar, salt, egg, milk (warmed) and the additional cup of warm water. Slowly add in enough flour to make soft, not sticky dough. I like it to cling together and clean the sides of the bowl. Cover and let rise until double in size in a bowl that has been lightly oiled, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

In a large, deep pan or deep fryer, heat 1 to 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375 degrees. (the oil should be deep enough so the dough will float). Pull off a chunk of dough and stretch it into a flat disc about 8 inches in diameter and ¼-inch thick. Place dough in hot oil Deep fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn and cook on second side until golden. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Keep warm until ready to serve. Repeat process with remaining dough.

Dough can be frozen or stored in sealed container in fridge for several days!

What’s Inside

  

This morning on our drive the nakedness of the trees caught my eye. I began to notice something that has now be uncovered from the shelter of their leaves. Something that isn’t usually exposed when the trees are wrapped in the protected cover with leaves, and the background of the vivid blue sky painted a beautiful picture of……………

Nests – be they bird or be they fierce hornets!

The remnants of a summer home, some are little, some are big but all are abandoned and vulnerable against the cold December winds and snow. Once again I am reminded how much goes on in our every day lives that we are so oblivious to.

Far and wide, there are limitless dramas, big and small in concert right before our eyes. Nests built, eggs laid, baby birds and bees learning to fly. And it is all kept secret from the outside world covered within its shelter of the foliage of the tree.

Like the tree we all walk around holding our stories …..Yes my little man has a story, sometimes he keeps it very private!

Our neighbors who we never see except as we pull from our driveways in the dim morning light.

The clerk at the grocery store checking our goodies and placing them in bags, of course she/he has a story we just don’t know what it is!

Our newspaper is delivered by a stranger in the early morning hours.

And you my dear readers – yes you all have your own story.

I too have a story.

On the outer surface we are covered with a protective shell just like the leaves of summer trees. We are just individuals, unique and trying to survive.

Inside there’s the nest – the layer that is the authentic us, shared with only a few and protected from nearly everyone.

People always ask that assortment of questions in an effort to view our nests:

“How are you today?” The answer – “I’m fine, how are you?”, unless of course you’re feeling particularly great on that day. My question is do we ever give the real answer?

When at a social gathering we are often asked: “What do you do?” “Where do you work?” …my answer I love my son from sun up to sun down, and work my heart out to be able to provide him with life’s necessities. I do laundry, I shop at the grocery story, I drive 35 miles to and from work Monday through Friday, I fix meals, I play with him, and I climb into bed exhausted at the end of each day – but with love in my heart knowing that I am loved in return for all I do.

Today I discovered that underneath all those layers of who I am, to discover the nest - the heart of life I need to get beyond the leaves, I must look closely in and there is something beautiful and wonderful to reveal to each of you. I am entrusted with knowledge to pass on to my son that the only things we will be able to take from this earth and the only things we will leave behind aren’t possessions at all.

It is love, memories, and relationships. So during this Christmas season I am challenging myself and those who know me best to look for the true nest in others.

I will be baking some goodies to take to our neighbors and my co-workers just because.

On our blog we send you our Christmas blessings for an amazing 2014 to those of you near and far!

We will be exploring (NOTICING) those trees in our lives more closely and searching out their nests in 2014.   I know there are treasures that can be revealed if we are brave enough to look closely.

The Snow Angel Story

If you know Little Man well you know that he has an abhorrence for clothing of any kind.  You will find him at any temperature with the bare minimum on every day….that means a diaper!   Today he decided he wanted to make a snow angel and I told him he needed clothes on because the snow is very cold and will not feel good without clothes on……..a few minutes later he appears in the kitchen with his clothing attire!   Yes, that is snow boats and a warm up jacket.    See – Grandma I’m ready!    Fortunately I was able to convince him (and the cold temperature) that more was needed after I let him venture outside with his above outfit! 

 

Not much snow and 12 Degrees made our fun only last about 2 minutes……..First snow angel of the year!

At the Pool

 

What does a day at the pool look like………

A nervous little guy wanting so much to say 'It’s not scary…It’s Fun!”

Lots of laughter and lots of splashing…………

Happy Healthy Children and their grandpa

My heart is full

That feeling doesn’t just come from anywhere….it comes from places where family brings meaning to life.

A place of gratitude for so many blessings…

A place of contentment knowing that my Little Man is growing, learning, and loving,

A place of awe moments that will dwell inside me forever.

A family of harmony….enjoying the richness of life every minute of every day!

Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes

Good Morning Sunday – Everyone wanted homemade pancakes today and they actually turned out fabulous!  Watching Sunday Morning about Food reminded me that my passion is really cooking and watching the ones I love enjoy eating it.  This is definitely a recipe that will be used over and over again.  Fruit of choice will be substituted during season.   Of course, Blueberries are always in the freezer ready for any delicious moment!

 

Technorati Tags: Whole wheat blueberry pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp vinegar* (white wine or apple cider)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• blueberries as you like

Directions:

1. Combine the milk and vinegar and let the mixture curdle while you mix together the other ingredients.
2. In a big bowl, whisk to combine the whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, melted butter, and the curdled milk, until it looks fairly homogenous and smooth. Whisk this wet mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir the two together until just barely mixed. You want any visible loose flour to be stirred in, but there should still be plenty of lumps. If you stir out the lumps, the pancakes will likely be tough. Carefully fold in blueberries or dot the top of each pancake with them as you place them on the griddle.
4. Preheat a nonstick griddle to 375 degrees F and grease the surface with butter. Add small scoops of pancake batter and use the cookie scooper to gently smooth the scoop into a flatter circle. Cook for a few minutes, until you start to see little bubbles forming on the surface. Flip the pancakes with a turner and cook for a few minutes on the other side, until you peek underneath and see that the bottom is golden brown. Serve with butter and real maple syrup. Enjoy!

Where Are We Going

Kendry where are we going in this picture……..

”We are going to see Halie and Brevin and we are going to their cabin!”

Just the response I was hoping he would give us. The wonder of the beauty God gives us each day is something we need to be more appreciative of.  I love the canyon.. I miss it when the winter winds begin to blow and the snow covers the ground.    The above picture is not our canyon, it just called our name when we saw it on google search!

Already in Charge of the Man Toys

The masculine power is already evident!

Brownie Refrigerator Cake

Ready when you are………….

Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix
1 extra large egg
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 (8 oz.) containers whipped topping
1 (3 oz.) package instant chocolate pudding
1 (3 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding
3 1/2 cups milk
1 Hershey candy bar or chocolate syrup
Directions: Mix brownie mixes according to directions. Add egg. Bake in brownie pan. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 container whipped topping. Put this mix on top of the cooled brownies. Blend puddings and milk together and put on top of the cream cheese mixture. Top with another layer of whipped topping. Put chocolate shavings or chocolate syrup on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

Thanksgiving A Little Early

Tonight we enjoyed Crockpot Turkey Cranberry Delight

So easy to prepare – So delicious to share!

5 – 6 lb turkey breast – thawed

1/2 cup orange juice

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

1 can whole cranberry sauce

Mix those three ingredient together and pour over the bird!   Set the crock pot on low until the temperature reads 160 on the turkey.   I checked several times through out the day, was worried about it drying out and getting done before it was time for dinner.  I put it on warm for several hours.  2 hours before it was time to set the table I turned it back to low and finished cooking.   It was fabulous. 

The gravy was yummy over mashed potatoes – I strained it, added the package of gravy that was stuffed inside the turkey and thickened with cornstarch!  

Definitely a keeper!  

Carefree

The leaves dance around his ankles…he is carefree, happy and content.

I love how he runs with abandon.  It doesn’t matter what he looks like, he doesn’t care if his pants don’t match his shirt  he just runs!

His little legs jump to and fro inside the pile and I stand back on the patio and watch from afar. 

The sun goes down quickly these days because of the time change, but he fears not the setting of its light.

He is filled with joy and laughter and endless energy, because he is carefree.  He runs because he loves life and how strong his three-year old legs are.  He runs because he can, not because he has to or because he is worried about what he is going to have for dinner tonight…he is carefree!

He plays because he still knows how to celebrate being alive, rather than to challenge it or measure it by accomplishments.  He just absorbs every minute of it!

He runs through the pile with the bounce of Tiger and the leaves scatters as he comes their way!

Soon he looks over to find me and calls to me, “Come Mommy, come run with me in the leaves!”  I go to him because I can and I’m carefree of all of life’s trials if only for a fleeting moment! In beauty we run!

 

Sunflower Honey Whole-wheat Bread

 

Whisk together in mixing bowl:

1 1/4 cups HOT water (110 degrees works for me)

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup honey

Then add:

1/2 cup flour and whisk for 30 seconds

then 1 TBSP yeast and whisk for 30 seconds.

I let this sit for 5 – 10 minutes to make sure the yeast is fresh and active.

Add: flours(mix of white and whole-wheat) 1/2 cup at a time and mix together until it forms a ball around the dough hook of my mixer.  Add in 1/2 tablespoon of salt and flour as needed. At this point I threw in a handful of sunflower seeds.   Knead for 5+ minutes. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

Let rise in a clean, greased, covered bowl for about 30 minutes.  You can let it rise on the counter, but it will rise nicely in the oven.  Set your oven for 450 degrees for a minute or less then turn it off before placing the oven safe bowl inside.  When dough has risen, remove from oven and heat oven to 175 degree. Grease your bread pan and the counter with spray oil.  Roll the dough into a long oblong shape.  Kendry thought it was really funny that the dough popped!   You all know what he thought it sounded like ---!  Push all the air bubbles out is a very good thing so keep rolling until they are gone. 

Roll into a tight cylinder, tuck the ends under or squish them and place it in a greased bread pant.   Place loaf in warm oven (175 degrees) for about 1/2 hour or until the dough has risen to fill the pan.    Here it is ready for the second rise!

Now turn the oven up to 350 degrees and cook for about 30 minutes.  The bread is done when you hit the top and it sounds hollow.  Don’t worry about time as much as this indicator.  The bread isn’t done until you hear the hollow sound.  If you are worried that the crust is getting a little to brown, cover it lightly with a piece of foil.  Turn out on a wire rack and let cool completely before cutting.  Smother the top of the loaf with butter if you dare!

 

“Drum roll ….Fan Fare…..and Ta Dah”, said the Little Red Hen!