Seven things I am grateful for at the end of this week....
1. Clayton still loves reading. He turned down playing with his friends to stay in and read his home reading this week. And he ended up reading the entire chapter book.
2. We have managed to get up and read scriptures at 7:30 now for two weeks. What a tremendous difference in our home already! I think I'm sold.
3. Dan. It was his birthday yesterday and I hope he felt how much we love him. Life would be boring without you, sweetheart.
4. Friends. I love those friends you can pick up with after days...weeks...months and it's like you just hung out yesterday.
5. Church leaders who help re-motivate and inspire me in my calling. I was feeling quite burned out this week with primary, but we had a stake leadership that got me going again. Still a struggle, but I keep reminding myself that it really is worth it.
6. A home and food and clothing. I read a book this week by Jeanette Walls called the Glass Castle. It really made me think how grateful I am to have the basic necessities, but also love and structure to go along with it. I take for granted that everyone in the world sees life how we do and all children must go home to parents who worry about them and love them all the time. Not so, as I was reminded. I'm thankful I was raised this way, and I hope we can give that to some of those kids out there who don't have it.
7. A healthy, working body. Along with the scripture reading I have been trying to get up earlier and throw in a bit of exercise. I'm glad I can walk and move and play and run and swim and do all those things whenever I want to. What a different life it would be if I could not.
Since I can't be home for Thanksgiving dinner and give my two bits of what I'm thankful for, I hope this suffices!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Writer's Workshop Wednesday
Alright, here's your assignment for this week should you choose to accept it. :)
Think of the best (or worst!) trip you have ever been on. What makes it stand out in your mind? Tell about it.
Good luck. I'd like to hear where someone else has been...
Think of the best (or worst!) trip you have ever been on. What makes it stand out in your mind? Tell about it.
Good luck. I'd like to hear where someone else has been...
Monday, October 4, 2010
Make-It Monday
Today I was making pepper steak for supper and every time I do I think how my mom used to make it for me every year for my birthday because it was always my "favorite". That got me thinking of other favorite recipes, so this week the theme is, obviously, Favorites.
Pepper Steak - you will need to start this early in the afternoon. Just a heads up.
1 1/2 lbs beef cubes (I use stew beef - already cubed. Just cut them smaller)
some oil for browning
1 can beef broth
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. ketchup
1 Tblsp prepared mustard
1 clove garlic
dash Tobasco
1/2 tsp. salt
generous dash of pepper
Brown the beef, then add the rest. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. (Note: I am liberal on the liquid. I don't bother buying canned broth, I just use beef base in some water, anywhere from 3-4 cups. Do what you like best.)
Then add:
2 large onions, quartered.
Cook 20-40 mins more.
Then add:
1-2 peppers (the recipe calls for green. I don't like those, so I use red, orange and yellow. Whatever I have)
1 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms
Cook 20 mins more.
If you want, you can blend 1/4 c. water with 2 Tblsp of flour and use it to thicken the sauce. I never do.
Serve over rice. This is a "winner dinner" in our home.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
1c. margarine
1c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. rolled oats
1 1/2 c. coconut
2 c. chocolate chips
Mix and bake at 350 for 10 mins.
I got this recipe from my Aunt Jan about 12 years ago and it's been a favorite ever since - for me, my family, my sisters and my friends. I like to mess with it a bit. I add all kinds of different chocolate chips or caramel balls or smarties or whatever we feel like. It's a very versatile recipe that always comes out great.
Always-Soft Ginger Snaps
3/4 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. molasses
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
Mix, then roll into balls and roll them in sugar. Bake at 300 for 10 mins.
These are Dan's favorites. I do not like crunchy ginger snaps, and these are nice and soft. Delicious.
Texas Brownies
2c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
Combine in a mixing bowl.
In a saucepan, heat the following to a boil:
1 c. margarine
1 c. water
1/4 c. cocoa
Pour boiling liquid over flour and sugar and mix. Then add:
1/2 c. buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice/vinegar)
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix and pour onto a large greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. While brownies are baking, make the frosting. In a saucepan boil:
1/3c. margarine
2 Tblsp. cocoa
1/4 c. milk
Pour boiling liquied over:
3 1/2 c. icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Frost brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.
No favorites list is complete without chocolate. Ha Ha.
Enjoy! If anyone else has a "Favorites", feel free to share!
Pepper Steak - you will need to start this early in the afternoon. Just a heads up.
1 1/2 lbs beef cubes (I use stew beef - already cubed. Just cut them smaller)
some oil for browning
1 can beef broth
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. ketchup
1 Tblsp prepared mustard
1 clove garlic
dash Tobasco
1/2 tsp. salt
generous dash of pepper
Brown the beef, then add the rest. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. (Note: I am liberal on the liquid. I don't bother buying canned broth, I just use beef base in some water, anywhere from 3-4 cups. Do what you like best.)
Then add:
2 large onions, quartered.
Cook 20-40 mins more.
Then add:
1-2 peppers (the recipe calls for green. I don't like those, so I use red, orange and yellow. Whatever I have)
1 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms
Cook 20 mins more.
If you want, you can blend 1/4 c. water with 2 Tblsp of flour and use it to thicken the sauce. I never do.
Serve over rice. This is a "winner dinner" in our home.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
1c. margarine
1c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. rolled oats
1 1/2 c. coconut
2 c. chocolate chips
Mix and bake at 350 for 10 mins.
I got this recipe from my Aunt Jan about 12 years ago and it's been a favorite ever since - for me, my family, my sisters and my friends. I like to mess with it a bit. I add all kinds of different chocolate chips or caramel balls or smarties or whatever we feel like. It's a very versatile recipe that always comes out great.
Always-Soft Ginger Snaps
3/4 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. molasses
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
Mix, then roll into balls and roll them in sugar. Bake at 300 for 10 mins.
These are Dan's favorites. I do not like crunchy ginger snaps, and these are nice and soft. Delicious.
Texas Brownies
2c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
Combine in a mixing bowl.
In a saucepan, heat the following to a boil:
1 c. margarine
1 c. water
1/4 c. cocoa
Pour boiling liquid over flour and sugar and mix. Then add:
1/2 c. buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice/vinegar)
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix and pour onto a large greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. While brownies are baking, make the frosting. In a saucepan boil:
1/3c. margarine
2 Tblsp. cocoa
1/4 c. milk
Pour boiling liquied over:
3 1/2 c. icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Frost brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.
No favorites list is complete without chocolate. Ha Ha.
Enjoy! If anyone else has a "Favorites", feel free to share!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Good Scare - and Seven on Sunday
Yesterday Madison gave us all, and herself, a bit of a scare. She was climbing in a pine tree and the branch she was sitting on broke and she dropped to the ground, only her left arm caught on a branch stub on the way down. Unfortunately, the stub was sharp like a knife and when she got up she realized her arm was sliced open. She and her friends came screaming into the house, dripping blood all the way. Dan was home alone and got quite a shock at her entrance. He wrapped her arm in a towel and carried her to the car and they headed to the hospital. The doctor there told her she was very fortunate because it was such a clean cut and no tendons or muscles affected. She gave her 16 stitches (yikes!) and bandaged it up, then sent her on her way. It was highly ironic. Why is it we get after the boys day in and day out for climbing in the trees, and the one time our little girl makes her way up she comes back in pieces? Hopefully all the kids will learn a lesson from this one! She is sore today, but doing alright, and at least it is under her arm, so the scar won't be too much of an issue. Here are some pics of the offending tree and the resulting injury. Sensitive eyes turn away...
And now for the Seven things I am thankful for this week:
1. Madi was not too hurt and could be sewn up to be good as new. No lasting damage.
2. Having a hospital down the street. We're frequent visitors!
3. Doctors that have the knowledge and skill to heal us. Modern medicine is a marvelous thing.
4. Even though he kicks up a fuss about reading at home, Clayton's teacher has them up to reading 21 minutes at a time alone at school. He has already made it through the first Magic Treehouse book on his own and it's only the third week of school! I am in shock.
5. Spencer is almost completely potty trained. He decided this week he was a big boy and just went for it. Only one accident. Yippee!
6. We had almost 4 full days of warm sunshine this week. It felt like summer again.
7. General Conference. Not only is it inspiring, but it's a break from primary too. :)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Dark Helmet and other tidbits
I had to laugh when I saw Tyler in Trev's big helmet - first, because he's so cute, and second because we have had Dark Helmet in our house lately too. What a coincidence. Only this is how ours looks...
We had our first experience with crank emergency phone calls this week. Malcolm got a hold of my cell and called 9-1-1. Three times. They phoned me back and I got an earful from the cops about keeping the phone away from the kids. Yeah, yeah. It's hard because Dan thought he was doing a good thing teaching him that emergency number. It would be great - in an emergency. We're just lucky Port Moody calls back if they lose contact before sending anyone out, or Malcolm would have gotten to meet the police in person. Of course, that may have encouraged him not to dial it again for a while....
Clayton was Celebrity of the Week in his class this week. Today they all made him a "Fan Mail" book that tells him all the things they like about him best. It was nice to hear from his classmates how friendly and kind and helpful he is, and that he has cool tech decks and t-shirts. Mom will be happy to hear that the King's Road, which is the favorite book he shared, was a big hit for a lot of the kids who commented on it on their own. The best though was a little girl who told him he was cute and wrote him a poem:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I am so glad
That you is you.
We are glad that he is he too. Congratulations Clay on being such a celebrity among your peers!
We had our first experience with crank emergency phone calls this week. Malcolm got a hold of my cell and called 9-1-1. Three times. They phoned me back and I got an earful from the cops about keeping the phone away from the kids. Yeah, yeah. It's hard because Dan thought he was doing a good thing teaching him that emergency number. It would be great - in an emergency. We're just lucky Port Moody calls back if they lose contact before sending anyone out, or Malcolm would have gotten to meet the police in person. Of course, that may have encouraged him not to dial it again for a while....
Clayton was Celebrity of the Week in his class this week. Today they all made him a "Fan Mail" book that tells him all the things they like about him best. It was nice to hear from his classmates how friendly and kind and helpful he is, and that he has cool tech decks and t-shirts. Mom will be happy to hear that the King's Road, which is the favorite book he shared, was a big hit for a lot of the kids who commented on it on their own. The best though was a little girl who told him he was cute and wrote him a poem:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I am so glad
That you is you.
We are glad that he is he too. Congratulations Clay on being such a celebrity among your peers!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Catch Up
Hey. Okay, I really dropped the ball because I ended up with a head cold and migraines and whatever other excuse I need. So, this prompt was tough for me too, Em. Not because I couldn't think of anything-I came up with all kinds of ideas. But I haven't written from a prompt in a long time and I had to just sit myself down and actually put the pen to paper. And I don't generally write in first person. Mission accomplished in promoting writing, but maybe not my best work. Anyway, here's what I came up with. My favorite fall memory, told in present tense.
Fall is in it's final hours, winter sneaking around in the shadows of the night leaving windows etched with reminders of it's impending arrival. The morning air is cool, and we are all bundled up against the frosty chill. I have dressed in layers knowing they will be shed one by one as the sun journeys briefly overhead and temperatures rise to melt the weak frost away.
No one says much as we wait in the quiet field. Fall mornings are always like this - calm, quiet, empty of the trills of songbirds or click of insects. Even the wind sighs with a longing for summer now gone. Completely opposite of spring mornings which are full of hope and bursting at the seams with the sounds of new life. A large part of me would like to follow nature and return to bed to hibernate.
My thoughts of fall are broken by the chugging of a small red tractor as it passes before us. Dad's whistling greets us, challenging me to smile and enjoy the day. I only burrow further into my coat and fall in behind the plow. It lifts the gladiola plants from the near-frozen earth. There are rows of them, and each variety must be removed by hand and prepared for the winter. The fading green tops will be chopped off of the bulb, which will then be placed in the correct box until next spring's planting.
I pull the plants from the ground, collecting them in the crook of my arm like a beauty pageant contestant until I can no longer lift them. I smile to myself at the thought. My sisters and I would definitely not win any pageants out here in the hard dirt. I look at each of them as I carry my armload to the chopper. Almost in unison they straighten and join me in my journey - an assortment of durable work coats in brown and red; worn, comfortable old runners and work gloves completing the ensemble. Dirt smudges red cheeks, steam from sweaty necks rising in the chill. Murmured conversation passes between us as we approach the chopper.
The chopper is fairly simple in design. I have often thought of it as the gladiola guillotine. After years of watching us break or cut the bulbs off the plants, my Grandpa has designed a machine that does it for us, speeding up the process and saving our hands to boot. We place the glad plant in a pile at Mom's feet. She picks them up one by one, placing them bulb up between two long, horizontal metal bars with a conveyor system which carries them to the blade at the other end. With one swift chop the bulb is severed from the plant, which falls to the earth. Another sister waits to catch the bulb in the correct box and keep the pile of dead plant tops cleared away.
I watch for a moment, then turn back to the field. After a few more trip the sun is already warm and I shed my coat. I close my eyes and turn my face toward its rays, pausing to feel the fresh breeze blow past carrying the rich smell of plowed earth. Someone makes a joke and suddenly everyone comes to life as though a switch has been flipped. Jackets are shed and the heaviness of winter melts away with them. We laugh and sing and race to carry away more plants than anyone else.
My grandpa comes to survey the work and check his machine, making sure the blade stays sharp. Grandma and my little brother wander over from the house. My brother swings a bucket and Grandma carries lemonade and cups. Work pauses and we all sprawl to the ground in a heap for a well-earned break.
I take a cookie from the bucket - chocolate chip, my Grandma's classic. Hers are almost white and perfectly round with dots of chocolate peeking through. They remind me of countless visits to a place where everyone accepts me for who I am. And there in that moment I realize I am surrounded by the people who love me most. These are the people who have made me who I am. I have learned from them how to work and how to have fun doing it. We have grown closer as a family working together. My foundation for my life has been built here in these fields. But I am growing older, and my days of working with my family will end soon as I set out on my own. I breathe the fresh air deeply and listen to the laughter. I close my eyes and wish that somehow I could stay in this moment forever.
Fall is in it's final hours, winter sneaking around in the shadows of the night leaving windows etched with reminders of it's impending arrival. The morning air is cool, and we are all bundled up against the frosty chill. I have dressed in layers knowing they will be shed one by one as the sun journeys briefly overhead and temperatures rise to melt the weak frost away.
No one says much as we wait in the quiet field. Fall mornings are always like this - calm, quiet, empty of the trills of songbirds or click of insects. Even the wind sighs with a longing for summer now gone. Completely opposite of spring mornings which are full of hope and bursting at the seams with the sounds of new life. A large part of me would like to follow nature and return to bed to hibernate.
My thoughts of fall are broken by the chugging of a small red tractor as it passes before us. Dad's whistling greets us, challenging me to smile and enjoy the day. I only burrow further into my coat and fall in behind the plow. It lifts the gladiola plants from the near-frozen earth. There are rows of them, and each variety must be removed by hand and prepared for the winter. The fading green tops will be chopped off of the bulb, which will then be placed in the correct box until next spring's planting.
I pull the plants from the ground, collecting them in the crook of my arm like a beauty pageant contestant until I can no longer lift them. I smile to myself at the thought. My sisters and I would definitely not win any pageants out here in the hard dirt. I look at each of them as I carry my armload to the chopper. Almost in unison they straighten and join me in my journey - an assortment of durable work coats in brown and red; worn, comfortable old runners and work gloves completing the ensemble. Dirt smudges red cheeks, steam from sweaty necks rising in the chill. Murmured conversation passes between us as we approach the chopper.
The chopper is fairly simple in design. I have often thought of it as the gladiola guillotine. After years of watching us break or cut the bulbs off the plants, my Grandpa has designed a machine that does it for us, speeding up the process and saving our hands to boot. We place the glad plant in a pile at Mom's feet. She picks them up one by one, placing them bulb up between two long, horizontal metal bars with a conveyor system which carries them to the blade at the other end. With one swift chop the bulb is severed from the plant, which falls to the earth. Another sister waits to catch the bulb in the correct box and keep the pile of dead plant tops cleared away.
I watch for a moment, then turn back to the field. After a few more trip the sun is already warm and I shed my coat. I close my eyes and turn my face toward its rays, pausing to feel the fresh breeze blow past carrying the rich smell of plowed earth. Someone makes a joke and suddenly everyone comes to life as though a switch has been flipped. Jackets are shed and the heaviness of winter melts away with them. We laugh and sing and race to carry away more plants than anyone else.
My grandpa comes to survey the work and check his machine, making sure the blade stays sharp. Grandma and my little brother wander over from the house. My brother swings a bucket and Grandma carries lemonade and cups. Work pauses and we all sprawl to the ground in a heap for a well-earned break.
I take a cookie from the bucket - chocolate chip, my Grandma's classic. Hers are almost white and perfectly round with dots of chocolate peeking through. They remind me of countless visits to a place where everyone accepts me for who I am. And there in that moment I realize I am surrounded by the people who love me most. These are the people who have made me who I am. I have learned from them how to work and how to have fun doing it. We have grown closer as a family working together. My foundation for my life has been built here in these fields. But I am growing older, and my days of working with my family will end soon as I set out on my own. I breathe the fresh air deeply and listen to the laughter. I close my eyes and wish that somehow I could stay in this moment forever.
Monday, September 20, 2010
My Mom
Today is my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mommy dearest! Dan has been telling me more and more lately that I am getting to be more like my mom all the time. I don't see it, because to me we are completely different people, but I suppose she did make me who I am and I learned everything from her. After all, I spent the first 18 years of my life with her at home with me teaching me everything she knows. So, in honor of my mother, this post is dedicated to her.
Things I love about my mom
1. The way she snorts when she laughs.
2. She can sew circles around anyone, and quilt to boot.
3. She is one of the most hard-working people I know. She has never been afraid to tackle a tough job and do it well.
4. She always thinks of her kids before herself.
5. She is so good at remembering something you said once in April that you might need, then getting it for Christmas.
6. Her ability with flowers. She loves to grow them and arrange them. Two things I cannot do.
7. She loves the smell of dirt. Sadly, so do I. I guess that comes from growing up in the wild outdoors.
8. She can drive big trucks as good as any man.
9. The way she pulls out a book before bed so she can fall asleep with it on her lap. I must say I have never seen her engrossed in actual reading, but she taught me to love books, enough to take them to bed with you!
10. Her willingness to help others and take care of her parents.
11. How she cries about everything and nothing.
12. The way she's so humble about all the work they've done it that yard. Enjoy the attention in the paper and be proud of what you've accomplished. It's a work of art from the heart. :)
13. The way she spoils Steve but doesn't even know it. It's so cute, but I get it. I'll probably be just the same with Madi.
My favorite memories of my mom (so far!)
1. Sneaking out to see Natty Gan. Alone time with 5 sisters was pretty sparse, so that meant a lot.
2. Watching her try to make every Christmas something special.
3. Girls camp....an empty field....the screaming game.
4. Laughing so hard she snorts.
5. Her apron catching on fire and her screaming, "Put me out, I'm on fire!" to which Dad proceeded to throw an entire pitcher of water on her.
6. A huge water fight in our old house and her look of panic when we realized Dad would be home any minute. Racing to clean it up.
7. Seeing her hold her new grand-babies.
8. Watching her teach her grandkids how to help out in the yard or bake in the kitchen or read them books.
9. Her phone call to me telling me her new car had just been rolled and decimated. I guess that elevated me from daughter to friend.
The things I'm most grateful she taught me:
1. How to work hard and not be afraid of it.
2. How to make do with what you have.
3. The gospel.
4. How to dream.
I love you mom. I hope you get some alone time soon, ha ha. Have fun celebrating in Waterton. I hope the next year brings you even more joy and happiness.
Things I love about my mom
1. The way she snorts when she laughs.
2. She can sew circles around anyone, and quilt to boot.
3. She is one of the most hard-working people I know. She has never been afraid to tackle a tough job and do it well.
4. She always thinks of her kids before herself.
5. She is so good at remembering something you said once in April that you might need, then getting it for Christmas.
6. Her ability with flowers. She loves to grow them and arrange them. Two things I cannot do.
7. She loves the smell of dirt. Sadly, so do I. I guess that comes from growing up in the wild outdoors.
8. She can drive big trucks as good as any man.
9. The way she pulls out a book before bed so she can fall asleep with it on her lap. I must say I have never seen her engrossed in actual reading, but she taught me to love books, enough to take them to bed with you!
10. Her willingness to help others and take care of her parents.
11. How she cries about everything and nothing.
12. The way she's so humble about all the work they've done it that yard. Enjoy the attention in the paper and be proud of what you've accomplished. It's a work of art from the heart. :)
13. The way she spoils Steve but doesn't even know it. It's so cute, but I get it. I'll probably be just the same with Madi.
My favorite memories of my mom (so far!)
1. Sneaking out to see Natty Gan. Alone time with 5 sisters was pretty sparse, so that meant a lot.
2. Watching her try to make every Christmas something special.
3. Girls camp....an empty field....the screaming game.
4. Laughing so hard she snorts.
5. Her apron catching on fire and her screaming, "Put me out, I'm on fire!" to which Dad proceeded to throw an entire pitcher of water on her.
6. A huge water fight in our old house and her look of panic when we realized Dad would be home any minute. Racing to clean it up.
7. Seeing her hold her new grand-babies.
8. Watching her teach her grandkids how to help out in the yard or bake in the kitchen or read them books.
9. Her phone call to me telling me her new car had just been rolled and decimated. I guess that elevated me from daughter to friend.
The things I'm most grateful she taught me:
1. How to work hard and not be afraid of it.
2. How to make do with what you have.
3. The gospel.
4. How to dream.
I love you mom. I hope you get some alone time soon, ha ha. Have fun celebrating in Waterton. I hope the next year brings you even more joy and happiness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)