I got the April 2014 issue of Better Homes and Gardens in the mail. The recipes in One Happy Easter Feast intrigued me. They had taken all sorts of Easter classics and gave them new spins. I normally don't like to try a bunch of new recipes at once but hey, there's a first time for everything. I wouldn't do this often especially when it's hard to gauge time with a lot of unfamiliar recipes. It would be awesome if these special meal plans would also have a timetable on what time to start each stage of the recipes.
The raspberry glaze for the ham was perfect. I'm not a huge fan of raspberries. But the glaze with it's honey and orange juice made the ham scrumptiously sweet.
The garlic potato rolls were made with roasted garlic and purple potatoes. The recipe called for 2-3 bulbs of garlic. I'll admit that I thought it said cloves when I went shopping. So I roasted one bulb. I think that was wise especially with younger children. I don't think they would eat it if it was packed with 2-3 bulbs of garlic. My husband agreed that 1 bulb seemed just right. These rolls tasted like they were from some specialty bakery. Yummy!
I thought the pink deviled eggs would tickle my daughter and have her eating more. No such luck. The relish was replaced with pickled beets which didn't really change the flavor, only the appearance.
The asparagus with lemon sauce will be made tomorrow night with the leftovers. The lemon sauce seems a bit involved with folding and monitoring temperature. I didn't feel like I could get it done with the major meal cooking. We steamed some brussel sprouts instead.
The Happy Easter mashed potatoes was the only fail. It tastes ok. The idea was to add a secret ingredient that would keep people guessing. Yes, it would be hard to guess that it had white chocolate in it. But it didn't add any great flavor. Only a little sweetness which seemed out of place with the rosemary. If I could do it over, I would make the potatoes without the chocolate and only a splash of cream instead of a whole cup.
Hope everyone is having a Blessed Easter celebration. We've had a wonderful Easter Vigil last night (the kids were pretty awesome to be up past bed time), an Easter egg hunt this morning, an Easter feast and a nap for the cook.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Good Friday
Intended on making a Greek lentil soup but my yogurt didn't handle being frozen as well as I had hoped. So I will make a Black bean and quinoa enchilada bake. This will be my fourth time making it. Super scrumptious and quite filling!
I think there is something completely beautiful and powerful about millions of people all over the world fasting (partial = two smaller meals and one regular meal) and praying.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB
I just know that has to change lives if nothing but our own.
I think there is something completely beautiful and powerful about millions of people all over the world fasting (partial = two smaller meals and one regular meal) and praying.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I just know that has to change lives if nothing but our own.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Holy Thursday
Today is my second Holy Thursday as a confirmed Catholic. I love the liturgical year and how we can place ourselves in the mindset of the particular events in the Gospels.
Today we celebrate The Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. It was Passover so the disciples spent much of this day finding the location Jesus told them about and preparing the Passover meal. This night, Jesus would go to the garden to pray. Before dawn, he would be arrested. By tomorrow, the only disciple that hasn't betrayed him, denied him or run for cover will be John.
How heavy his heart must have been! At least as a human, you could hope that against all odds that the ones you love the most will stick by you no matter what. But as God, he knew better. What deep love it had to have been to still go to the cross! Knowing how so many would fail you. For even those who would never call your name.
Friday and Saturday will be much more somber days. We will contemplate the cross as we bear our own. Remembering through all the trials and hurt feelings that life may bring, resurrection is right around the corner. And I'm sure that Jesus' resurrection was nothing like any of the disciples imagined his victory.
Today I spent time preparing. I don't want to be running errands that aren't absolutely necessary so I went to the grocery store, gas station, etc. I will make some Greek lentil soup for the fasting and abstinence from meat. Preparation of our space and time to be a little more reflective. I will still have young children to tend to so it won't exactly be quiet. But I will do what I can at this stage in life. And offer up my service in my vocation of motherhood in lieu of prayers that may not get said.
Have a blessed Easter season!
Today we celebrate The Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. It was Passover so the disciples spent much of this day finding the location Jesus told them about and preparing the Passover meal. This night, Jesus would go to the garden to pray. Before dawn, he would be arrested. By tomorrow, the only disciple that hasn't betrayed him, denied him or run for cover will be John.
How heavy his heart must have been! At least as a human, you could hope that against all odds that the ones you love the most will stick by you no matter what. But as God, he knew better. What deep love it had to have been to still go to the cross! Knowing how so many would fail you. For even those who would never call your name.
Friday and Saturday will be much more somber days. We will contemplate the cross as we bear our own. Remembering through all the trials and hurt feelings that life may bring, resurrection is right around the corner. And I'm sure that Jesus' resurrection was nothing like any of the disciples imagined his victory.
Today I spent time preparing. I don't want to be running errands that aren't absolutely necessary so I went to the grocery store, gas station, etc. I will make some Greek lentil soup for the fasting and abstinence from meat. Preparation of our space and time to be a little more reflective. I will still have young children to tend to so it won't exactly be quiet. But I will do what I can at this stage in life. And offer up my service in my vocation of motherhood in lieu of prayers that may not get said.
Have a blessed Easter season!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Crocheted trim for towels and bathcloths
I went to the Black Friday sales last year. Hardly worth the effort but I did get a few cool things. I knew I wanted socks and pajamas but they also had yarn and plain towels on sale. I bought a bunch of white towels and planned out five colors of yarn to fit my five children.
Davy and James were easy. Davy likes blue. James likes green. Katie Rose got the girly pink color. The two little boys are based on their bedding. John Micah got red for Lightning McQueen. Joseph got Thomas the Train blue.
Here is how I did it.
I used a small steel hook that would poke through the cloth and still be able to grab the yarn. I single crocheted all the way around the bathcloth and on each end of the towel.
Next row. I switched to a F hook and chain 3 and slip stitch (I used a slip stitch instead of a single crochet that other patterns may call for because I didn't want huge holes with the added height of a single crochet) all the way around or along the length. This sometimes meant that I skipped two stitches and sometimes I skipped three. I just tried to have it spaced evenly. If it is too tight, it will ruffle up the edges.
Last row. In each chain three space, I worked this pattern; single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet.
Cut your yarn and pull it through to finish with a small knot. Then weave in your ends. Easy Peasy!
I have several more that I plan to do. I found a coordinating green hand towel for the master bathroom and I have several more towels and bathcloths in my stash that need cheering up.
These hold up very well even in regular wash cycles. I actually used a similar stitch on some homemade pillowcases. The seam has come apart a little after nearly five years of use and washes but the crocheting is still perfect! So I figure that the towels will probably wear out long before the crocheting will.
Happy Crocheting! I will try to get a pic of the Hello Kitty hat that I made for my daughter. I hate having to wait for her birthday to give it to her. Maybe sharing it on here will help me keep the secret from her til May.
Davy and James were easy. Davy likes blue. James likes green. Katie Rose got the girly pink color. The two little boys are based on their bedding. John Micah got red for Lightning McQueen. Joseph got Thomas the Train blue.
Flu and RSV prevented me from finishing them before Christmas. So I wrapped yarn, bathcloth and towel together and told them what a creative idea that Santa must have had. I finished them in a few short weeks and they have been making good use of them.
They were so cheerful looking that I had to make some for the master bathroom. I found a red that coordinated with my towels and trimmed some of the beige bathcloths that were packaged in a stack with the white ones.
Here is how I did it.
I used a small steel hook that would poke through the cloth and still be able to grab the yarn. I single crocheted all the way around the bathcloth and on each end of the towel.
Next row. I switched to a F hook and chain 3 and slip stitch (I used a slip stitch instead of a single crochet that other patterns may call for because I didn't want huge holes with the added height of a single crochet) all the way around or along the length. This sometimes meant that I skipped two stitches and sometimes I skipped three. I just tried to have it spaced evenly. If it is too tight, it will ruffle up the edges.
Last row. In each chain three space, I worked this pattern; single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet.
Cut your yarn and pull it through to finish with a small knot. Then weave in your ends. Easy Peasy!
I have several more that I plan to do. I found a coordinating green hand towel for the master bathroom and I have several more towels and bathcloths in my stash that need cheering up.
These hold up very well even in regular wash cycles. I actually used a similar stitch on some homemade pillowcases. The seam has come apart a little after nearly five years of use and washes but the crocheting is still perfect! So I figure that the towels will probably wear out long before the crocheting will.
Happy Crocheting! I will try to get a pic of the Hello Kitty hat that I made for my daughter. I hate having to wait for her birthday to give it to her. Maybe sharing it on here will help me keep the secret from her til May.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Every day is not the same
Nor every week, month or year for that matter.
In organizing a household, you can find all manner of checklists for daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly tasks. But much of life doesn't fall so neatly into checklists. Sometimes you have to take whatever each day throws at you.
I like the daily draft by Ann Voskamp. I decided to try to follow it but my printer wouldn't work. That turned out to be a blessing. I used a plain piece of copy paper and started sketching it out myself. Then I started personalizing it to how my day works for me.
I kept The Dire. I like summing up the day's most important tasks in three parts. When I started this, we had just come back from a trip so laundry was a top priority. Another day, the younger three kids had a stomach bug so the priorities were keeping the diet bland, kids clean and cuddles. Some days, cooking a big meal might be a priority and others may be eating up leftovers. It takes each day, one at a time.
I have a personal section. This includes things like making up my bed, washing face, brushing hair, working out, shower, drinking water and brushing teeth.
My Domestic section contains laundry, dishes and trash. I include three bubbles after wash laundry and dry/hang laundry. Some days may only have one load but some days have three. Then a bubble each come after gather, fold, and put away. Dishes include load dishwasher, unload dishwasher, wash stones/pots and wash bottles. Then I have take out the trash. Things like dusting, vacuuming, mopping and such will get done when I can get to them.
I included a Notes and Shopping section. I can keep track of phone numbers or appt times that I get when making calls or checking email. These can be added later to the contacts and calendar but I am no longer trusting my head to keep track of them in the meantime. The shopping list can be compiled from several days whenever we are planning to go to town.
I included The Diner section to include breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. This is beneficial to me because I shop sales and then cook from my pantry and freezer. I find when I menu plan a week or more in advance that it is hard to work best. I often think of what I want to cook with what I have instead of what can I cook with what I have. My wants may require unnecessary extra ingredients that I end up buying when they aren't on sale. A day at a time is the way I plan when money is tight and I'm a much better steward then. I can be creative. I can be diligent about using my leftovers to create new meals.
I added a section for my kids. I listed each name and it gives me a place to record symptoms of illness, school objectives/events, needed clothes/other items, achievements, extra curricular activities, etc. My oldest asked me when the little ones were sick earlier this month how many times he had thrown up in his ten years of life. He is blessed with superb memory but I am not. But if I keep my lists in a binder, I can review before going to the doctor and have an accurate report of when symptoms started and any details related to their health.
I included a place for the date and the day (as in feast day, holiday, or weekday)
I included a section for spiritual things like Saint of the day, devotions, scripture readings, prayer (doing the St Peregrine cancer novena), light a candle, and memory verse. I keep track of my memory verses with Scripture Typer but writing them down also helps me memorize them.
So all in all, my New Year's resolutions are going well. I'm learning to focus on one thing at a time. Writing down my objectives so my mind is free from distractions. I really think slowing down helps to make the day longer and rushing seems to make the day shorter. It makes me think of the people on a rush on the road. They rush up behind you. They brake and pass, weaving in and out of the traffic. But oftentimes, the red light catches them and you end up right beside them. Rushing just stresses and doesn't provide any more forward traction.
In organizing a household, you can find all manner of checklists for daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly tasks. But much of life doesn't fall so neatly into checklists. Sometimes you have to take whatever each day throws at you.
I like the daily draft by Ann Voskamp. I decided to try to follow it but my printer wouldn't work. That turned out to be a blessing. I used a plain piece of copy paper and started sketching it out myself. Then I started personalizing it to how my day works for me.
I kept The Dire. I like summing up the day's most important tasks in three parts. When I started this, we had just come back from a trip so laundry was a top priority. Another day, the younger three kids had a stomach bug so the priorities were keeping the diet bland, kids clean and cuddles. Some days, cooking a big meal might be a priority and others may be eating up leftovers. It takes each day, one at a time.
I have a personal section. This includes things like making up my bed, washing face, brushing hair, working out, shower, drinking water and brushing teeth.
My Domestic section contains laundry, dishes and trash. I include three bubbles after wash laundry and dry/hang laundry. Some days may only have one load but some days have three. Then a bubble each come after gather, fold, and put away. Dishes include load dishwasher, unload dishwasher, wash stones/pots and wash bottles. Then I have take out the trash. Things like dusting, vacuuming, mopping and such will get done when I can get to them.
I included a Notes and Shopping section. I can keep track of phone numbers or appt times that I get when making calls or checking email. These can be added later to the contacts and calendar but I am no longer trusting my head to keep track of them in the meantime. The shopping list can be compiled from several days whenever we are planning to go to town.
I included The Diner section to include breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. This is beneficial to me because I shop sales and then cook from my pantry and freezer. I find when I menu plan a week or more in advance that it is hard to work best. I often think of what I want to cook with what I have instead of what can I cook with what I have. My wants may require unnecessary extra ingredients that I end up buying when they aren't on sale. A day at a time is the way I plan when money is tight and I'm a much better steward then. I can be creative. I can be diligent about using my leftovers to create new meals.
I added a section for my kids. I listed each name and it gives me a place to record symptoms of illness, school objectives/events, needed clothes/other items, achievements, extra curricular activities, etc. My oldest asked me when the little ones were sick earlier this month how many times he had thrown up in his ten years of life. He is blessed with superb memory but I am not. But if I keep my lists in a binder, I can review before going to the doctor and have an accurate report of when symptoms started and any details related to their health.
I included a place for the date and the day (as in feast day, holiday, or weekday)
I included a section for spiritual things like Saint of the day, devotions, scripture readings, prayer (doing the St Peregrine cancer novena), light a candle, and memory verse. I keep track of my memory verses with Scripture Typer but writing them down also helps me memorize them.
So all in all, my New Year's resolutions are going well. I'm learning to focus on one thing at a time. Writing down my objectives so my mind is free from distractions. I really think slowing down helps to make the day longer and rushing seems to make the day shorter. It makes me think of the people on a rush on the road. They rush up behind you. They brake and pass, weaving in and out of the traffic. But oftentimes, the red light catches them and you end up right beside them. Rushing just stresses and doesn't provide any more forward traction.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
My resolution for 2014 - Slow down
I was going to sit down and make resolutions for the year. Probably over-complicate things. But I found this manifesto from Ann Voskamp. I may adjust it to personally fit me in the future but right now, I can't think of any way to improve upon it. She is quite amazing in her writing!
One part really struck me.
Life isn't an emergency. It's a gift. Only the slow truly see their lives. Which makes their lives seem longer and richer.
Everyone that I know, especially this time of year, complain of how time flies by faster and faster with each passing year. Including myself. But what if it isn't time's doing. What if with all our rushing around, we are speeding through our life unnecessarily fast.
A decade ago, I wanted to do all the fun stuff. Cooking instead of washing dishes. Crafts instead of tidying up. That wasn't sustainable so for several years now, I have worked on routines. Routines have helped a great deal but my viewpoint is largely the same. I'm rushing through the mundane to get to the fun. My days fly by and it is my own doing.
This year, I want to slow down. I want to find the sacred in the everyday. It is those mundane things that done with love make us holy.
I took the manifesto and printed it on card stock. I put it in a frame that my second child, James, got me as a Christmas gift. I placed it on my kitchen window sill. Now I have a daily reminder to slow down and savor life.
One part really struck me.
Life isn't an emergency. It's a gift. Only the slow truly see their lives. Which makes their lives seem longer and richer.
Everyone that I know, especially this time of year, complain of how time flies by faster and faster with each passing year. Including myself. But what if it isn't time's doing. What if with all our rushing around, we are speeding through our life unnecessarily fast.
A decade ago, I wanted to do all the fun stuff. Cooking instead of washing dishes. Crafts instead of tidying up. That wasn't sustainable so for several years now, I have worked on routines. Routines have helped a great deal but my viewpoint is largely the same. I'm rushing through the mundane to get to the fun. My days fly by and it is my own doing.
This year, I want to slow down. I want to find the sacred in the everyday. It is those mundane things that done with love make us holy.
I took the manifesto and printed it on card stock. I put it in a frame that my second child, James, got me as a Christmas gift. I placed it on my kitchen window sill. Now I have a daily reminder to slow down and savor life.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
2013 in review - Counting my blessings
Another year comes to a close. They fly by faster and faster. But there is an excitement at the prospect of a new year.
A new beginning.
365 grace-filled days ahead.
365 days have past. Mistakes have been made. Some goals have not been met. But it's done. We now have the opportunity to try once again to get it right. Or at least more of it right.
2013's greatest blessing: Joseph Christian Harrill
It is amazing how your family feels complete and yet another is added making you wonder how you ever considered your family complete without this one.
Another blessing - My husband is still cancer-free.
Yet another - the wonderful elementary school full of people who love my boys and are doing a great job in educating them at this time when our home is too crazy for them to focus. And for being honest with me about their apprehensions of what they might face with homeschooled children who hadn't been in school for several years. And how their test scores and behavior have proven what a great job that I strived to do in giving them a quality education.
Another blessing is the Moms group at church that supported us generously and tangibly with our new addition. As well as my aunt who took a couple days of work in the middle of the week (the thing that I thought was an impossibility to even ask for) and came to stay with my older children while I was in the hospital.
We were blessed with 17 years of canine love. Our elderly chihuahua had to be let go. Several weeks later, we still find ourselves expecting to see him cleaning up something the children dropped from the table. I find myself checking to make sure the toddler isn't in the dog's bowl.
We are blessed with a couple of stray kittens. They have made Tito's absence a bit easier. It's been nice to feed and care for a couple of half-starved strays and see them grow and become healthier each time we open the door.
We are blessed to be where we truly feel at home. We are blessed with innumerable family and friends. We are blessed beyond measure. Whatever didn't get done in 2013 is really of no consequence. It was plenty full!
Here's to a great 2014!
A new beginning.
365 grace-filled days ahead.
365 days have past. Mistakes have been made. Some goals have not been met. But it's done. We now have the opportunity to try once again to get it right. Or at least more of it right.
2013's greatest blessing: Joseph Christian Harrill
It is amazing how your family feels complete and yet another is added making you wonder how you ever considered your family complete without this one.
Another blessing - My husband is still cancer-free.
Yet another - the wonderful elementary school full of people who love my boys and are doing a great job in educating them at this time when our home is too crazy for them to focus. And for being honest with me about their apprehensions of what they might face with homeschooled children who hadn't been in school for several years. And how their test scores and behavior have proven what a great job that I strived to do in giving them a quality education.
Another blessing is the Moms group at church that supported us generously and tangibly with our new addition. As well as my aunt who took a couple days of work in the middle of the week (the thing that I thought was an impossibility to even ask for) and came to stay with my older children while I was in the hospital.
We were blessed with 17 years of canine love. Our elderly chihuahua had to be let go. Several weeks later, we still find ourselves expecting to see him cleaning up something the children dropped from the table. I find myself checking to make sure the toddler isn't in the dog's bowl.
We are blessed with a couple of stray kittens. They have made Tito's absence a bit easier. It's been nice to feed and care for a couple of half-starved strays and see them grow and become healthier each time we open the door.
We are blessed to be where we truly feel at home. We are blessed with innumerable family and friends. We are blessed beyond measure. Whatever didn't get done in 2013 is really of no consequence. It was plenty full!
Here's to a great 2014!
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