sweet surprise

Wasn’t that sweet!  My husband took me to a cross-county skiing progressive dinner for my birthday.  Being handed a map of trails with numbered locations reminded me of his marriage proposal 10 years ago in a similar location.   Since it was a night event we were able to enjoy the clear night sky and stars.  How cool that all the trails were lit, but I am glad I took a headlamp for the areas in-between!  Have you ever been x-country skiing at night?  I am thankful for another year and such a creative partner to navigate these trails of life with.

amethyst

Looking forward to February, its my favorite month of the year for a number of reasons…  I am loving these little geometric stones by illustrator Tabitha Brown of The Pairabirds.  The above is a print of amethyst, my birthstone and below “transition.” Both gorgeous, I would love one of these beauties to adorn my walls.

just make a wish

My new hat is now finished but I need to recharge my camera battery.  I searched all the normal and abnormal places for my camera charger today – It really rattles me when I lose things.  Little S told me I should make a wish for it , because she wished for 3 things for Christmas and got all of them, even if she had to wait a bit for the last one.  Oh to be seven!  I wish I could find my camera charger, the case, and my favorite gloves that all seem to be missing!

Last week was sunny, this week is snowy.  Little H pointed out the heart left from my tea bag stain.  double love.

butter pecan sandies ice-cream with my Dad

Last weekend my parents came up for a visit (the grandkids more than me.)  My dad, who is one of my best readers, loves nuts!  I asked him if we should make butter pecan ice cream and he pulled out a secret stash of pecan sandies cookies from his car.  In addition you can always count on a large jar of roasted peanuts to accompany any trip in that vehicle.  So we set out to work on this little father – daughter creation.  We used the Ben & Jerry’s butter pecan recipe and added 5 crushed Keebler pecan sandies cookies the last 2 minutes of churning, along with the toasted pecans. yummy and rich.

Something else cool about my dad is he is a faithful blood donor at the American Red Cross. I was reading on the Keebler website that the  Keebler elves donate more than 6 million cookies a year to blood drives. I don’t know if that would motivate you to give blood, but I bet that’s what keeps my Dad going back!

9

Ten years ago today we went our first date.

Nine years ago today we were married, surrounded by friends and family.

I have always loved this picture – and we still have fun together.  As we celebrate our anniversary I am reminded of God’s provision and timing – two elements which are typically very different from our expectations.  I am remembering his very romantic proposal, and how he had just enough to buy an engagement ring.  I ended up choosing the first dress I tried on and paid for it with just enough money that my late great-grandmother had left me.  Somehow the over the last nine years the just enough has felt abundantly, more than enough – we are so thankful!  We had a simple wedding but have invested deeply in our marriage.  Of all the things I have done, I am glad for this man the most.  It really is worth the wait for the right guy!

Happy anniversary babe.

 

leaps for joy

 

We got a bunny.  Not sure how this actually happened because up until this spring we were a no pet household.  At Easter my MIL surprised my girls with baby chick (which have successfully been passed on to a friend who has room and an actual desire to raise them.)  Last week was our local 4-H fair and my husband decided to take the girls one night to see the animals and to give me a little time off.  They all came home with hearts in their eyes for this little guy.

That saturday I went to the farmers market to sell some of my work and was actually accompanied by my older daughter who sold necklaces she made in order to buy this little fellow and a stuffed pony (the want list grows each year.)  I think she did better than I did and a few friendly folks donated money to her cause sans purchase.  Oh to be young and toothless again – irresistable!

There has been much excitement here over holding him, his cage, the ducky in the water bottle, feeding him clover and his “leaps for joy.”  The one saving grace is he is strictly an OUTSIDE pet, although now the pattern has begun I want a puppy…

who loves me for me

 

I love this song by jj heller.  especially this last bit.

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

the lost art of making

I made something today.  We are quite avid cloth napkin users because they are so easy and super handy.   We always tend to grab sets of napkins, or two of one pattern for the adults and two of another for the kids.  Inevitably they all get mixed up and we can’t remember whose is whose.  I saw a set that I really liked at a big box store but the price tag I did not…  so I decided to make some.  Scoring a sale on fat-quarter fabric, I wound up with six perfect different batik colors for honestly less than one priced in the pre-made set.

After cutting and ironing, I was somewhere between “these are pretty easy” and “man there are a lot of steps”.  I was determined to not sell out for convenience. The shame in buying would be the instant gratification, added price, and the cost of one more thing…  skills.  Sure there are lots of crafty people who make things for fun, but what if it was your job, what if you had no other option but to make the thing you needed?  Could you?  We are such a consumerist society buying all our needs and wants, but beyond shedding our wealth to huge companies and factory workers in other nations we are loosing this other precious resource. We’ve lost touch with what it takes to make.

This first seemed apparent to me in college when one of my roommates (sweet and innocent as can be) and I were trying to sew something.   After threading the needle and making a few stitches she turned to me unable to understand why they were not staying in…  she had forgotten to tie a knot at the end of her thread.  While this seems like a simple mistake, I ask the question is common knowledge becoming uncommon?

They may not be perfect but they will do more than fine for what they are.  Will you spend the time this week to make something – a home cooked meal, ride your bike to the store, or try something new like sewing?  It may take a bit longer and you might mess up a bit, but I can guarantee you will feel that sense of accomplishment, enjoyment in your toil and maybe just learn a new skill.

* did I say cloth napkins, I meant to say pirates hats!

itunes, new tunes

Music must be on my mind this week.  I was in want of some new tunes, I picked out this Kari Jobe from itunes along with Chris Tomlin’s new CD.  Love them, just what I needed to get though this wet week!

and downloaded these free tracks from noise trade:

une petite confession

My little confession this week, I made *ahem 3 batches of ice-cream….  all new flavors!  It’s a good thing I’ve been running, but this may begin to wreak havoc on my training schedule.  In my defense they have all been smaller batches which I shared with my family of four, and various visitors.  I love having it in the freezer for the sole purpose of being able to pull out something “homemade” to offer friends.  My husband just likes it being in the freezer, period.

Seriously this was too good to not share.   I made simple crêpes and sautéed apples in a little butter and maple syrup, but it was the cinnamon ice-cream that stole the show.   I couldn’t really find a recipe that I liked so I made up this one (something that I must also confess do quite often).  I am learning that following the steps are quite important even for something as simple as making ice-cream.  If you don’t whisk the eggs in properly you get little frozen bits of eggs – which ruins the creamy texture.

Cinnamon Ice-cream (aka heavenly!)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs beaten

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup half & half

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Using a whisk blend sugars and eggs in a bowl.  Gradually add creams and whisk until incorporated.  Add vanilla and cinnamon.  Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufactures instructions.

* My machine takes 20-30 minutes, then I scrape the sides and scoop the ice-cream into a freezable container.  I find it takes a few hours in the freezer to reach a true consistency.   This would be an awesome one to pull out in the fall with an apple pie or really anything!  Hope you enjoy.