Sledding at the farm

Me, going sledding at the farm at 12 years old.....

Note my scrawniness in stonewashed jeans, rubber boots, and single eyebrow stretched across my forehead.

Inspired.

My mother shares my obsession with old books. She however, perfectly displays hers on a shelf among framed vintage prints & vases of cut flowers while mine are scattered about, stacked and manipulated into something eccentric & uncivilized. Like these.

A new publication, Green Craft, featuring gorgeous wonderfuls out of re purposed somethings gave us this wonderful idea.

Me being entirely too influence-able couldn't wait to make one. So I dug out an old Junior High Literature textbook and made this...

And this....

"b" for besserina!

My Mother,
you remember my mother....


made this one...

It's huge and beautiful

Very fun, easy & cheap to make - just lots of staples, hot glue and what ever you'd like to use for the center. The center edging is a tea soaked king sized cupcake liner.

I don't even like radishes.

I'm finding myself longing for spring.

I realize I was just whining about this the other day, but let me just complain one more time and I promise I'll shut up and try to enjoy this lovely snow.

Honestly, I do love the snow. Especially how it comes through the night, and you wake up to this still snow globe, untouched and glistening. But it's so cold!

I eagerly bought packages of vegetable & sweet pea seeds today, counting down the days until the ground is workable. I try for the sake of my children to appreciate the seasons as they pass, but just to open a window & to let in some spring air would make my heart go pitter-pat. Danny opened some upstairs windows to knock huge icicles off our roof and I nearly died of hypothermia.

Our stores of canned green beans, cinnamon apples, peppers and tomatoes are

diminishing and the 'fresh' vegetables & fruits from the grocery store just aren't the same as our homegrown ones.

Until then, we'll bundle in layers, hats, mittens, scarves, boots and trudge along in the 14" of snow in the backyard.

This guy though..

loves the snow.

My very own Birthday Song

February 16, 19XX

I swear there should be a worn crater in front of my kitchen sink. I spend hours doing dishes, preparing meals, washing little hands, looking out the window snooping on my neighbors. Today, palms dripping suds, I stood audience to my very own birthday song. #1 and #2 prepared a thoughtful yet comical ballad in my honor that only a mother could love.

They started out together in sweet angelic voices:

Roses are red violets are blue
I love you you love us
you love us I love you

Then #2 took it and ran with it with her considerable 6 year old set of pipes.

yooooou take care of a 9 year old six year old two year old one year old aaaaaaand sometimes Daddy when he’s sick
sooooooooo you need a vacAAAAAAAtion (Big Breath)
you take care of 4 child-REEEEEEN everyday
you need some air you need some time
alone with you and Dada that is all you need (That's what they think I need?????)
Roses are red violets are blue
you make the sun shine all the way
the sun is beautiful that all I need is sun
violets are blue roses are red
all through the day and night
that’s all I know I keep on loving you day and night even when I fall asleep I dream about you and I sleep with good dream except when I have a night maaaaaaaaaaaare (Big Breath)
Roses are red violets are blue
today is mother’s birthday
I love her very much

(sigh....)

Love.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread. Step by step.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. very warm water

2 3/4 t. dry yeast

2 T. Butter

2 heaping T. nonfat dry milk

2 T. sugar

1/2 t. salt

4 c. High Gluten Bread Flour

1 t. cinnamon

3/4 c. raisins

 

In the bowl of a mixer with the dough hook attachment, ( I use a Kitchen Aid) Add the water, yeast, butter, dry milk, sugar, salt and flour.  Knead on low speed for 20 minutes. 

 Add the cinnamon and raisins, knead 5 minutes.  Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Punch down. With a sharp knife, divide dough in half.

Divide each half into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece 18" long.

Create a braid, tucking in the ends.

Spray 2 loaf pans with cooking spray and tuck in the braids.

Aren't they cute!? Cover and let raise 30 minutes,

or until the dough is 1 inch above the edge of the pan.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the loaves on the center rack of your oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Bread is done when it's golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped with your finger.

As soon as the bread comes out of the oven rub with just a bit of butter or margarine all over the top. This will soften the top crust.

Remove from the pans after cooling 10 minutes.

Serve warm or let cool completely and wrap tightly.

Below is loaves of the same bread recipe minus without the raisins and cinnamon.

Aunt Bess

I’ve spent the last 2 nights at the hospital welcoming babies. Both my sister-in-law and one of my dearest friends were expecting this month, and delivered just 2 days apart.

Last night was my brother and his wife’s turn and it was such an amazing night.

The way a family comes together waiting, watching the clock hands working their way around, guessing the gender, the weight, the minute of arrival.

Caffeine, crochet, nervous laughter, excitement; a room full of love and hopefulness.

I was captivated by this gathering of family, as for past 9 years it was my babies

for which they were waiting.

So nice to be on the other side of the door and without pain!
Our family was blessed with a tiny unfolding baby boy with reddish hair and I’ve never seen my ornery brother so happy.

And I have to admit, as complete as I’ve felt this past year with my four little Tiddlywampi, holding that little boy…. made me forget all the yuckiness that goes along with pregnancy and the seemingly impossible first few months caring for an infant.

Maybe.

Just maybe, I’ll think about it.

Don’t get your hopes up, Danny

…I said “Maybe.”