I a so new at this blogging thing. I am sure our children will find it very funny. Someday I will figure this out!
I just found a bunch of posts in "draft" status. Most are only partially completed, but they hold dear memories, so I am publishing them. They are out of chronological order, but I couldn't bear to part with them.
Okay, onward we go. Hopefully some recipes will be posted in the near future.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
A baby in the family
We are expecting. Actually, Linda and George are expecting their second child.
Their first, Jason, was born the year after Floyd and I married. I really believe he is the glue that bound our new family together. Not so much for Floyd and I, but for our children. The studies say that it takes many years for a "blended" family to feel secure. I think the love everyone felt and feels for Jason hastened that process dramatically.
It has been such a pleasure and incredible joy to watch Jason grow. Linda and George are amazing parents.
Their first, Jason, was born the year after Floyd and I married. I really believe he is the glue that bound our new family together. Not so much for Floyd and I, but for our children. The studies say that it takes many years for a "blended" family to feel secure. I think the love everyone felt and feels for Jason hastened that process dramatically.
It has been such a pleasure and incredible joy to watch Jason grow. Linda and George are amazing parents.
Saturday
I love Saturday. I love waking up on Saturday morning to a day full of possibilities. I love Saturday morning because Floyd Michael is home, and will be for two full days (three on this holiday weekend).
Weekends have historically been for visiting family. This has been true since I was a teenager. Once I learned to drive, I visited my grandparents on many weekends. Once my parents moved away, I've made the drive to visit them as often as I can. Weekends are also the time that we are most likely to see our away-from-home children. And, of course, no weekend is complete without spending some time with our grandson, J.
Weekends have historically been for visiting family. This has been true since I was a teenager. Once I learned to drive, I visited my grandparents on many weekends. Once my parents moved away, I've made the drive to visit them as often as I can. Weekends are also the time that we are most likely to see our away-from-home children. And, of course, no weekend is complete without spending some time with our grandson, J.
What now?
From the time I was a toddler, I wanted to be a mother. I just knew it was what I was meant to do and be.
When I was older and planning a career, I chose with motherhood in mind.
Every decision I made in my life revolved around that knowledge of what and who I would be.
When I was fortunate to have children, I believe I enjoyed their young childhood stage more than most. No matter that trial or hardship, the ordinariness, the same old same old, or the wonderful highs and joys, I took mind pictures. I absolutely knew I was fortunate and was doing and being exactly what I was meant to be. Perhaps not was well as I would have liked, but doing it to the best of my ability.
When the divorce hit, and work went from part time to full time plus, I went into survival mode. Not just figuratively but literally. It was my job to feed these young people and to make sure they were fed. Survival came first, and everything else became secondary. I missed so much during those years. And so did they.
So what becomes of a woman whose major emphasis in life has been mothering when her children are grown? Of course, I am still a mother and always will be. I love my children now as much as I ever have. Through amazing grace, I have been blessed with a "step" daughter and "god" son that are every bit as much a part of my mothering as my biological children. Very simply, I have five children. No "*" needed.
Loving and mothering adult children is so different than mothering small children. Definitely a work in progress.
With this stage came grandparenting. What a joy that is! Absolute, total joy. It helps so much that his parents are so kind and considerate and caring toward us. I can't express the happiness we feel when out of the blue the phone does its "you have a text" song, and right there, out of nowhere, is a picture of J doing something amazing, wonderful, different or even ordinary. How fun that is! Floyd Michael and I absolutely love that. I used to love seeing young fathers with their toddlers. I get the same feeling when I watch Floyd Michael with J.
When I was older and planning a career, I chose with motherhood in mind.
Every decision I made in my life revolved around that knowledge of what and who I would be.
When I was fortunate to have children, I believe I enjoyed their young childhood stage more than most. No matter that trial or hardship, the ordinariness, the same old same old, or the wonderful highs and joys, I took mind pictures. I absolutely knew I was fortunate and was doing and being exactly what I was meant to be. Perhaps not was well as I would have liked, but doing it to the best of my ability.
When the divorce hit, and work went from part time to full time plus, I went into survival mode. Not just figuratively but literally. It was my job to feed these young people and to make sure they were fed. Survival came first, and everything else became secondary. I missed so much during those years. And so did they.
So what becomes of a woman whose major emphasis in life has been mothering when her children are grown? Of course, I am still a mother and always will be. I love my children now as much as I ever have. Through amazing grace, I have been blessed with a "step" daughter and "god" son that are every bit as much a part of my mothering as my biological children. Very simply, I have five children. No "*" needed.
Loving and mothering adult children is so different than mothering small children. Definitely a work in progress.
With this stage came grandparenting. What a joy that is! Absolute, total joy. It helps so much that his parents are so kind and considerate and caring toward us. I can't express the happiness we feel when out of the blue the phone does its "you have a text" song, and right there, out of nowhere, is a picture of J doing something amazing, wonderful, different or even ordinary. How fun that is! Floyd Michael and I absolutely love that. I used to love seeing young fathers with their toddlers. I get the same feeling when I watch Floyd Michael with J.
Preparedness
Difficult things happen in the world, our country, our local community, in our familes, or to us personally. A lot of amazing, wonderful and positive things happen, as well. Often, as the difficult times fade into the background and are replaced by those blessed "nothing special to report" days, we figure out that something positive has come from the difficult experience - not that we would ever like to go through it again!
As a part of the human family, a citizen, a neighbor, a friend, an extended family member, a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, whatever the connection may be, when tragedy strikes we want to help in some way.
It is so easy to feel overwhelmed, to feel as if what little we could do couldn't begin to touch the calamity at hand. On the other hand, if no one does anything, where does that leave us?
Floyd and I have been talking at length about world issues, family issues, and life in general. This is nothing new for us. (Side note: I highly recommend a best friend and life partner who thinks deeply about life and is willing to entertain and discuss a myriad of options. Definitely makes life interesting). Again and again we come back to feeling the need to do all that we can do. It may never be enough, but it is surely better than doing nothing at all.
As a parent, and a grandparent, we would do anything to protect our children (yes, even the grown ones). This extends outward, until you get back to the extended family, friends, neighbors, local community, country, world.
So what are we to do? Obviously "nothing" is the incorrect answer here, at least for us.
As a part of the human family, a citizen, a neighbor, a friend, an extended family member, a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, whatever the connection may be, when tragedy strikes we want to help in some way.
It is so easy to feel overwhelmed, to feel as if what little we could do couldn't begin to touch the calamity at hand. On the other hand, if no one does anything, where does that leave us?
Floyd and I have been talking at length about world issues, family issues, and life in general. This is nothing new for us. (Side note: I highly recommend a best friend and life partner who thinks deeply about life and is willing to entertain and discuss a myriad of options. Definitely makes life interesting). Again and again we come back to feeling the need to do all that we can do. It may never be enough, but it is surely better than doing nothing at all.
As a parent, and a grandparent, we would do anything to protect our children (yes, even the grown ones). This extends outward, until you get back to the extended family, friends, neighbors, local community, country, world.
So what are we to do? Obviously "nothing" is the incorrect answer here, at least for us.
Who loves you?
When my children were young, I often played a simple word game with them. I would just ask them "who loves you?" and they would tell me everyone they could think of who loved them. Occasionally I would remind them of someone they hadn't listed who loved them. We did this quite often. I didn't really think a whole lot about it. It was simply what we did.
In recent years, I have done the same thing with Jason. Again, we do it pretty often. One thing that struck me as I ask the question of J is how very many people truly love this boy. For all the bad things divorce brings (and trust me, I know as well as anyone about them), I realized that there was a positive thing that came from our varied family connections. Jason has an amazing amount of people who love him.
Disclaimer: It helps that all of the various parties have been together since he was born. He wasn't around for the tearing apart portion.
For him, there are multiple sets of grandparents and great grandparents, lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.
I wish every child had the safety net that comes from having so many people who love them.
In recent years, I have done the same thing with Jason. Again, we do it pretty often. One thing that struck me as I ask the question of J is how very many people truly love this boy. For all the bad things divorce brings (and trust me, I know as well as anyone about them), I realized that there was a positive thing that came from our varied family connections. Jason has an amazing amount of people who love him.
Disclaimer: It helps that all of the various parties have been together since he was born. He wasn't around for the tearing apart portion.
For him, there are multiple sets of grandparents and great grandparents, lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.
I wish every child had the safety net that comes from having so many people who love them.
Mothering
Mothers Days is so much more than the Hallmark commercial holiday. Our connections and disconnections are incredibly varied.
As we become older, each year as I celebrate the day with my mom, I take it less and less for granted. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate this day with her each year. This year, Destiny and I went and celebrated with my mom - three generations of women, each at such a different stage of life, connecting in ways yet so dissimilar in others. My mother absolutely hates to have her picture taken, so I will have to store the memory away in a safe place, without that visual reminder.
I am in a somewhat unique position in that most of my closest friends do not have and have never had children, through birth or adoption, some by choice but others not. I know that I cannot imagine what Mothers Day must be like for them.
Many of my friends no longer have their mothers here on earth to celebrate the day with. Another thing I didn't think a lot about when I was younger, although I'm sure I knew people in that situation. Some take special measures to remember and commemorate their mothers on that day.
My maternal grandmother died two weeks after I was born. I was a preemie back a generation before I had my own preemie to contend with. I cannot imagine what it was like for my mother to have her first child in the NICU and to lose her mother at the same time.
My mother kept her mother alive for my brother and I, although we never met her. Throughout our childhood we saw pictures of and heard stories about Grandma Jean. I learned a lot through that experience. I feel as if I grew up with this grandmother in my life, and truly know her. What an amazing testament to my mom and the way she handled that situation. A very positive thing.
Now that my children are older, they are at the point in life that they get to see mom as a living, breathing, very fallable human being. I really hope that they forgive my mistakes, and know my heart. I with they could truly understand even a fraction of the love I have for them.
And now I am a grandmother. J is not genetically related to me in any way, in case you didn't know. I can absolutely, with 100% assuance say that I could not love him more if he were. Being J's grandma is possibly the only compensation for getting older!
Being a grandmother lets you watch your children parent. Linda is an amazing mother to Jason. She has such great balance with him. Firm but fair. Fun. Compassionate. Creative. Easygoing in a very Bays kind of way.
As we become older, each year as I celebrate the day with my mom, I take it less and less for granted. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate this day with her each year. This year, Destiny and I went and celebrated with my mom - three generations of women, each at such a different stage of life, connecting in ways yet so dissimilar in others. My mother absolutely hates to have her picture taken, so I will have to store the memory away in a safe place, without that visual reminder.
I am in a somewhat unique position in that most of my closest friends do not have and have never had children, through birth or adoption, some by choice but others not. I know that I cannot imagine what Mothers Day must be like for them.
Many of my friends no longer have their mothers here on earth to celebrate the day with. Another thing I didn't think a lot about when I was younger, although I'm sure I knew people in that situation. Some take special measures to remember and commemorate their mothers on that day.
My maternal grandmother died two weeks after I was born. I was a preemie back a generation before I had my own preemie to contend with. I cannot imagine what it was like for my mother to have her first child in the NICU and to lose her mother at the same time.
My mother kept her mother alive for my brother and I, although we never met her. Throughout our childhood we saw pictures of and heard stories about Grandma Jean. I learned a lot through that experience. I feel as if I grew up with this grandmother in my life, and truly know her. What an amazing testament to my mom and the way she handled that situation. A very positive thing.
Now that my children are older, they are at the point in life that they get to see mom as a living, breathing, very fallable human being. I really hope that they forgive my mistakes, and know my heart. I with they could truly understand even a fraction of the love I have for them.
And now I am a grandmother. J is not genetically related to me in any way, in case you didn't know. I can absolutely, with 100% assuance say that I could not love him more if he were. Being J's grandma is possibly the only compensation for getting older!
Being a grandmother lets you watch your children parent. Linda is an amazing mother to Jason. She has such great balance with him. Firm but fair. Fun. Compassionate. Creative. Easygoing in a very Bays kind of way.
Family Update
Wow, it has sure been a long time since I posted here. Floyd Michael and I started to pursue preparedness more consistently, and started a blog to that effect - which pretty much shut this one down cold. With work and family and well - life - one blog is more than enough for me.
Update on the family:
George and Linda are working hard, and raising our adorable grandchildren.
Daniel is working. He bought himself a new computer for the holidays, and is very happy with that.
Destiny is still working her "temp" job. They keep extending it month by month. She is busy and happy. I like that "happy" part. She has been doing some entertaining, and looking for recipes that suit her tastes. I hope to put more recipes on this blog that are family recipes she likes, or are simple recipes for basic foods so that she will have a starting point to work from.
Devin is driving trucks - big trucks. I sure do miss him, although I really enjoy our phone conversations. He has a great partner, which is really important when two men share such a small space so much of the time. He has requested some home time, so we may see him for a few days in the near future.
Eric is still in Germany. He seems to be having a great time there (when he is not working) and is taking full advantage the opportunity he has to see and do things. So glad for him!
Jason is 7. He really likes to draw lately. He tells me, "I am being creative". He is in second grade. He is typical "all boy" and sitting still and being quiet in school are not his favorite things. He loves weapons, and camouflage, and wolves. He is a good big brother.
Alexa is ADORABLE! Sorry, it just has to be said. She babbles, and apparently she knows what she is saying. I still can't make out a word though. She is dainty and petite and girly. And yet she does this deep growly voice is anything but. She will take your finger and take you to the door to let you know she wants to go outside. She will stomp her foot and snort through her nose (kind of like a horse) if you tell her no. She loves to take her bath when she comes to visit, and then I get to put baby lotion on her, and her fresh jammies, and just hold her sweet smelling baby self. It is one of the finest things in life.
Floyd Michael and I are fine. Work and family. That pretty much sums us up. If they are okay, we are okay.
Update on the family:
George and Linda are working hard, and raising our adorable grandchildren.
Daniel is working. He bought himself a new computer for the holidays, and is very happy with that.
Destiny is still working her "temp" job. They keep extending it month by month. She is busy and happy. I like that "happy" part. She has been doing some entertaining, and looking for recipes that suit her tastes. I hope to put more recipes on this blog that are family recipes she likes, or are simple recipes for basic foods so that she will have a starting point to work from.
Devin is driving trucks - big trucks. I sure do miss him, although I really enjoy our phone conversations. He has a great partner, which is really important when two men share such a small space so much of the time. He has requested some home time, so we may see him for a few days in the near future.
Eric is still in Germany. He seems to be having a great time there (when he is not working) and is taking full advantage the opportunity he has to see and do things. So glad for him!
Jason is 7. He really likes to draw lately. He tells me, "I am being creative". He is in second grade. He is typical "all boy" and sitting still and being quiet in school are not his favorite things. He loves weapons, and camouflage, and wolves. He is a good big brother.
Alexa is ADORABLE! Sorry, it just has to be said. She babbles, and apparently she knows what she is saying. I still can't make out a word though. She is dainty and petite and girly. And yet she does this deep growly voice is anything but. She will take your finger and take you to the door to let you know she wants to go outside. She will stomp her foot and snort through her nose (kind of like a horse) if you tell her no. She loves to take her bath when she comes to visit, and then I get to put baby lotion on her, and her fresh jammies, and just hold her sweet smelling baby self. It is one of the finest things in life.
Floyd Michael and I are fine. Work and family. That pretty much sums us up. If they are okay, we are okay.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Product Review: Harmony Valley Vegetarian Breakfast Sausage Mix
First, I am working on getting a camera as ours broke. Hopefully pictures to follow.
Having heard a horror story about how horrible TVP was, and how much money this person had wasted by stocking up on it before realizing they would never eat it, we knew we wanted to start small.
When shopping together at our nearby Henrys/Sprouts store, we came upon a packet of this breakfast sausage mix and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try TVP without spending a fortune (or opening a #10 can of something we would never eat again. Goes along with the whole "eat what you store and store what you eat" motto.
First thought, upon opening the packet was that it smelled okay. Not exactly like sausage, but no real off-putting odor.
The directions were super simple. Blend the packet ingredients with 1-1/4 cups water, let sit for 15 minutes, then cook (they had microwave, oven and pan-frying directions. I chose to pan fry (too hot to turn on the oven, and thought it would probably taste better than microwaving). The mixture formed very easily into perfect round patties. No nasty fatty yuck left on my hands as there would have been with pork sausage. The patties smelled good while cooking, browned beautifully, and were easy to flip over and also to take out of the pan.
Taste test:
Floyd says: It doesn't taste like sausage, but it isn't bad. Probably would be better on an egg sandwich or in a scramble (we had ours as a side with pumpkin waffles).
I say: Taste pretty good (I absolutely will not eat something I really dislike). Texture was good. No real off-putting taste. Not sausage, but not bad. I agree with Floyd that they would be better mixed into something.
I will probably try this again. There is a recipe on the package for a green chili and sausage quiche. I may try that.
We liked it well enough that we will try some of the flavored TVP products made for food storage.
Friday, April 13, 2012
I can run the world with...
How many times have you heard me say that I could run the world with 3x5 cards and my timer? I have tried so many organization systems over time, some high tech and some low tech, and the end result has always been the same - I have gone back to my 3x5 cards and timer.
Some jobs loom large as I procrastinate doing things that I really don't like to do. I tell myself that the job will take forever, that I really don't know how to do it, that I don't know where to start, that it won't turn out the way I want it to anyway. And then I think that I will have to start all over again once I finish anwway. Does that sound familar to anyone? How to get out of that kind of stinkin' thinking? Enter the timer.
Spring cleaning? I set my timer for 15 minutes, turn on the music, and just START in one room. When the timer goes off, I change rooms. It is amazing how many drawers I can clean out, how many closets I can go through, how many things I can prepare, dust, straighten, etc. in 15 minutes.
Writing papers for school? No problem. Research for 15 minutes. Write for 15 minutes.
Most jobs take way less time than we alot them. Hustle for 15 minutes and it is amazing what can be accomplished.
And then we come to my beloved 3x5 cards. Yes, I really do love them. They are sturdy. They don't bend and fold up on themselves. They are just the right size for nearly any kind of list. You can store them in a box, in a drawer, on a cork board, in a folder, in your purse or wallet, in the glove box of the car.
When my kids were young, I kept a 3x5 card in a drawer in each room, listing each task to be done to clean that room. When they told me they were done with their chore, I reminded them to make sure they had done everything on the card. End of nagging.
Favorite recipe? Inside of the kitchen cupboard or drawer on a 3x5.
Medication reactions/allergies? Inside the medicine cabinet drawer.
Grocery list? My card stands perfectly in the cart.
To do list? Perfect size, portable, and love to cross off items as I get them done.
Ideas? Projects? Books to read? A note to send? Need an oil change? There is a 3 x 5 for that.
My timers and 3x5 cards help me to be happier, more productive, more organized, and easier to live with. They make short work of the have-to's and give me more time for the want-to's. They make sure that important information is close at hand, without counting on often overworked brain cells to remember! They reduce nagging (always a good thing). They help teach good habits. They can remind me of happy times (oh yeah, I remember when we made those bunny pops, I had forgotten about those), and can be a reminder of happy times to come (birthday and vacation planning). I can't imagine my life without them.
I'd like to think that I've handed this dazzling, amazing, wonderful system down to my children. Unfortunately, their idea is to say "write this down for me". Come to think of it, Floyd Michael says the same thing. However, I think my beloved grandson J may just pick on this habit. He is happy to write his own lists, and makes sure everyone knows they are important and not to throw them away. He has had his birthday wish list going for several months now. Organized boy after my own heart!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Alexa Faith Montoya
As much fun as it was anticipating whether our new grandbaby would be a boy or a girl, we are so happy to know. We will be welcoming Alexa Faith Montoya in August.
How wonderful for George to have a daughter to adore and protect.
Linda, who has always loved dance, will have the opportunity to share that love with a daughter.
Jason will have a younger sister to teach and to love, and one he can protect from all of his friends!
Floyd Michael and George Sr will get to be grandfathers to a little girl. I'm pretty sure she ALREADY has them wrapped around her little finger.
As for the grandmothers, I'm pretty sure we will manage to enjoy this little girl, each in our own unique way.
Her Aunts and Uncles are already planning to adore and spoil her.
Welcome to the family, Alexa Faith. You are eagerly anticipated and already loved.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Birthday Theme of the Year
When we first married, our tradition was to take the entire family out to dinner to celebrate each birthday. After a few years, however, that got very expensive and kind of old. Been there, done that.
About two years ago, Floyd Michael and I found, by chance, a lovely little Italian restaurant in Diamond Bar, and celebrated our anniversary there. The decor was beautiful, the music was just perfect, the service fantastic. It was much nicer than a chain restaurant, and had a charming, upscale, romantic/feminine feel to it that we loved. We talked about how nice it would be to take our girls, especially, to this restaurant. Somehow our talk meandered from taking our children out one at a time to a nicer restaurant than our usual, to birthdays. Bingo! The idea was born. During the upcoming year, we would take out each "child" alone with their parent for their birthday celebration.
Devin and George were first, as they have January birthdays. I think George had barbeque. Devin and I went for sushi. Schedules being what they are in our crazy household, Devin didn't get his birthday dinner until some time in February, but we did go. One on one time was nice. Choosing just the right venue was crazy fun.
Linda was supposed to go to the restaurant that started it all, but it was CLOSED when she and Floyd went out. They ended up at a local barbeque restaurant. So much for the original plan!
Destiny is not a fan of fine dining, and really has a limited palate. We started out for BJs because she wanted to try a Pizooki. Apparently it was prom night or something, but it was PACKED. Same with the next two restaurants we tried. I thought that maybe we were going to starve before we found a place! She really wanted a steak, and we ended up at the same BBQ restaurant Floyd and Linda had gone to. Go figure! The girl got her steak, and we had a story to tell.
Dan wanted salad, and cheesecake. We actually "cheated" on his birthday, and went with his grandmother. I'm pretty sure he liked the extra attention, and I know my mom loved being included.
Eric was last in line, having a November birthday. I had not seen him for awhile, and was talking to him about getting together for lunch or something. He wanted me to come along when he had his birthday lunch with Floyd. I explained to him that I couldn't go because of our birthday theme of the year. The tone of his voice let me know he thought we were kind of crazy at that point! I'm not sure where he and Floyd went, but am so glad they got to have some time alone together.
We enjoyed our theme year so well, we decided to pick another theme for this year. After much discussion, we decided to do dessert parties. For each birthday, we would choose a different dessert and get as many of the family together for the celebration as possible.
George and Devin were first. We had banana splits for their birthdays. Amazingly, and unhappily, Vons called Devin into work on his birthday. He actually missed most of his own party. I was NOT NOT NOT happy about that. The banana splits were a hit. Jason particularly loved the maraschino cherries (I finally sent the jar home with them so they could dole them out to him).
Amanda (Eric's girlfriend) came next. We decided to go to Cold Stone for hers. Unfortunately, it turned out that they had no inside seating, and it was cold outside (okay, California cold, but still cold). Must remember not to do ice cream for the winter birthdays.
Linda comes next, and she was the only one we knew from the beginning. Friday night we will be having pie to celebrate Linda's birthday. I really wanted to learn to make pie for this, but really haven't had a lot of time to practice. I think she deserves real pie from someone who knows how to make it for her birthday, rather than my first attempt.
I think we will go out for Pizooki's for Destiny's birthday. We shall see. Dan is very likely to get cheesecake. Again, we shall see what he feels like at the time. We don't know where Eric will be for his birthday. I may have to send him a gift certificate for a birthday treat, and call him while he eats it.
I can hardly wait to pick out a theme for next year!
About two years ago, Floyd Michael and I found, by chance, a lovely little Italian restaurant in Diamond Bar, and celebrated our anniversary there. The decor was beautiful, the music was just perfect, the service fantastic. It was much nicer than a chain restaurant, and had a charming, upscale, romantic/feminine feel to it that we loved. We talked about how nice it would be to take our girls, especially, to this restaurant. Somehow our talk meandered from taking our children out one at a time to a nicer restaurant than our usual, to birthdays. Bingo! The idea was born. During the upcoming year, we would take out each "child" alone with their parent for their birthday celebration.
Devin and George were first, as they have January birthdays. I think George had barbeque. Devin and I went for sushi. Schedules being what they are in our crazy household, Devin didn't get his birthday dinner until some time in February, but we did go. One on one time was nice. Choosing just the right venue was crazy fun.
Linda was supposed to go to the restaurant that started it all, but it was CLOSED when she and Floyd went out. They ended up at a local barbeque restaurant. So much for the original plan!
Destiny is not a fan of fine dining, and really has a limited palate. We started out for BJs because she wanted to try a Pizooki. Apparently it was prom night or something, but it was PACKED. Same with the next two restaurants we tried. I thought that maybe we were going to starve before we found a place! She really wanted a steak, and we ended up at the same BBQ restaurant Floyd and Linda had gone to. Go figure! The girl got her steak, and we had a story to tell.
Dan wanted salad, and cheesecake. We actually "cheated" on his birthday, and went with his grandmother. I'm pretty sure he liked the extra attention, and I know my mom loved being included.
Eric was last in line, having a November birthday. I had not seen him for awhile, and was talking to him about getting together for lunch or something. He wanted me to come along when he had his birthday lunch with Floyd. I explained to him that I couldn't go because of our birthday theme of the year. The tone of his voice let me know he thought we were kind of crazy at that point! I'm not sure where he and Floyd went, but am so glad they got to have some time alone together.
We enjoyed our theme year so well, we decided to pick another theme for this year. After much discussion, we decided to do dessert parties. For each birthday, we would choose a different dessert and get as many of the family together for the celebration as possible.
George and Devin were first. We had banana splits for their birthdays. Amazingly, and unhappily, Vons called Devin into work on his birthday. He actually missed most of his own party. I was NOT NOT NOT happy about that. The banana splits were a hit. Jason particularly loved the maraschino cherries (I finally sent the jar home with them so they could dole them out to him).
Amanda (Eric's girlfriend) came next. We decided to go to Cold Stone for hers. Unfortunately, it turned out that they had no inside seating, and it was cold outside (okay, California cold, but still cold). Must remember not to do ice cream for the winter birthdays.
Linda comes next, and she was the only one we knew from the beginning. Friday night we will be having pie to celebrate Linda's birthday. I really wanted to learn to make pie for this, but really haven't had a lot of time to practice. I think she deserves real pie from someone who knows how to make it for her birthday, rather than my first attempt.
I think we will go out for Pizooki's for Destiny's birthday. We shall see. Dan is very likely to get cheesecake. Again, we shall see what he feels like at the time. We don't know where Eric will be for his birthday. I may have to send him a gift certificate for a birthday treat, and call him while he eats it.
I can hardly wait to pick out a theme for next year!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
new life
We are anticipating an addition to our family.
It has been six years since we last eagerly anticipated the birth of a baby. That baby, now that boy, is the most beloved of grandchildren to Floyd and I, the most beloved of nephews to his aunts and uncles. He is sunshine and spitfire, sweetness and sass, smart and silly, rambunctious and cuddly. He is all the contradictions that make up a five year old. Watching him grow and learn has been amazing. He has cemented our blended family into an emulsion of simply family. No step. No half. No part. Just family. Jason did that. If you want to love and claim Jason (and everybody does), then you have to claim one another. I never saw that coming, but will be forever grateful for it.
And now, another baby is on the way. A baby boy? A little brother for Jason to teach all the cool boy stuff he has perfected over the years? A rough and tumble mini-J to fall in line behind a beloved older brother? A baby girl? A little sister that J can protect and pamper? Pink and ruffles? Dresses and bows? Dance recitals, like her mama? How I love to see a man with a baby girl! I can just imagine George with a daughter. And Floyd with a baby granddaughter. How fun it would be to take a little granddaughter shopping, to teach her to cook and to do crafts with her. I do those things with J, but somehow I think it might be different with a girl - or not!
Boy or girl, I do know that this baby will be born into a family that will adore it. It will have wonderful parents. It will have grandparents and great grandparents that love it unconditionally. It will have aunts and uncles who enjoy playing with and spoiling it.
This child will change the dynanics of our family, as all babies do.
I am appreciating this time of anticipation, knowing it lasts only a short while before the whirlwind begins. I love having this knowledge, that a tiny new person is coming into our family. This time to prepare and eagerly anticipate.
I love being the grandparent. All I have to do is wait. Linda is doing all the hard work. I appreciate her more than I can say.
It has been six years since we last eagerly anticipated the birth of a baby. That baby, now that boy, is the most beloved of grandchildren to Floyd and I, the most beloved of nephews to his aunts and uncles. He is sunshine and spitfire, sweetness and sass, smart and silly, rambunctious and cuddly. He is all the contradictions that make up a five year old. Watching him grow and learn has been amazing. He has cemented our blended family into an emulsion of simply family. No step. No half. No part. Just family. Jason did that. If you want to love and claim Jason (and everybody does), then you have to claim one another. I never saw that coming, but will be forever grateful for it.
And now, another baby is on the way. A baby boy? A little brother for Jason to teach all the cool boy stuff he has perfected over the years? A rough and tumble mini-J to fall in line behind a beloved older brother? A baby girl? A little sister that J can protect and pamper? Pink and ruffles? Dresses and bows? Dance recitals, like her mama? How I love to see a man with a baby girl! I can just imagine George with a daughter. And Floyd with a baby granddaughter. How fun it would be to take a little granddaughter shopping, to teach her to cook and to do crafts with her. I do those things with J, but somehow I think it might be different with a girl - or not!
Boy or girl, I do know that this baby will be born into a family that will adore it. It will have wonderful parents. It will have grandparents and great grandparents that love it unconditionally. It will have aunts and uncles who enjoy playing with and spoiling it.
This child will change the dynanics of our family, as all babies do.
I am appreciating this time of anticipation, knowing it lasts only a short while before the whirlwind begins. I love having this knowledge, that a tiny new person is coming into our family. This time to prepare and eagerly anticipate.
I love being the grandparent. All I have to do is wait. Linda is doing all the hard work. I appreciate her more than I can say.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Everyone needs someone who loves them best
I truly believe that every child needs to have someone who loves them best, or at least makes them feel as if they do. Obviously, this is not their parent. Maybe an extended family member or close family friend.
My grandfather was this person in my life. For a variety of reasons my need may have been greater than most, and his love for me was akin to a beacon in the darkness. I can't overstate the effect that this had on my life. I doubt that even he knew how great my need was, nor the effect that his loving actions had on my life.
My fondness for and love of my grandfather never wavered. I was blessed (and I do not use that term lightly) to enjoy that special relationship until long into my adulthood. Although his last few years were difficult, I consider it such an honor to have shared so many years with him.
I have a picture of my grandfather on my desk. I look at him every day, and those loving feelings are still there. The love he felt for me, and I for him, did not die with him. It lives on.
Because of this experience with my grandfather, it was interesting to watch my childrens early years unfold. I recognized special relationships between each of them and a significant person in their lives. Why or how these special connections are made is something of a mystery. Perhaps it is chemistry. Perhaps a loving Heavenly Father provides these special someones to meet a particular need.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Recipes of the week
We tried a few new recipes this week.
Blender wheat pancakes turned out very well. Perfect for "eat what you store and store what you eat". The guys really liked them.
It was hot this week, so we were looking for cool dishes. Chicken apple crunch salad was good, but not spectacular. The guys must have liked it though, because it was gone in no time. I would definitely make it again. I would add nuts next time. Orzo and spinach salad was very good. I would make this again, as well. I also made zucchini refrigerator pickles, but combined a bunch of recipes and, as usual, I could not reproduce them if I tried.
Blender Whole Wheat Pancakes
From: Wheat Foods Council
1-1/2 cup wheat kernels
2 cups milk
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
¼ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ Tablespoon baking soda
Combine wheat and milk in blender. Blend on high for 2 – 3 minutes. Add eggs, oil, salt and sugar. Blend well. Pour batter into a bowl, STIR in baking powder and baking soda.
Pour ¼ cup batter for each pancake onto hot griddle and cook until bubbles appear on top. Flip (only once) and cook until lightly browned.
NOTE: This is the way I received the recipe at a wheat cooking class. No salt was listed. I added a few shakes of salt from the salt shaker. Unsure what the measurement should be.
Orzo and Spinach Salad with Lemon-Cranberry Vinaigrette
From CLBB adapted the recipe from What Can I Bring Cookbook by Anne Byrn
8 oz. orzo pasta
salt to taste -- I used sea salt
6 oz. Baby spinach
5 oz. or so feta cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup or so craisins
1 cup chopped sugared pecans or toasted pecans
Vinaigrette:
½ to 1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 Tablespoons or so fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
Boil orzo and salt for about 7-8 minutes, until just done. Drain in a fine sieve and shake off excess water. Set aside to cool. (While the orzo is cooling I put it in a flat container and pour a little of the vinaigrette on it to keep it from sticking.)
Meanwhile, mix spinach, feta, and craisins in large bowl. Set aside.
For vinaigrette, mix lemon zest and lemon juice and gradually whisk in olive oil, a little at a time, until it thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix cooled orzo with spinach mixture. Pour vinaigrette over everything and mix. Cover and chill a few hours or up to overnight.
Just before serving add pecans and stir. Taste to see if it needs more lemon juice, salt, or anything else.
Sugared Pecans
Pour about 5 to 6 Tablespoons of sugar in the bottom of a skillet. Turn stove to low or medium/low. Scatter about a cup of pecan halves over the sugar. Stir occasionally as the sugar melts. Be careful not to burn them! Remove them from the skillet to cool once they are coated with sugar and toasted.
Blender wheat pancakes turned out very well. Perfect for "eat what you store and store what you eat". The guys really liked them.
It was hot this week, so we were looking for cool dishes. Chicken apple crunch salad was good, but not spectacular. The guys must have liked it though, because it was gone in no time. I would definitely make it again. I would add nuts next time. Orzo and spinach salad was very good. I would make this again, as well. I also made zucchini refrigerator pickles, but combined a bunch of recipes and, as usual, I could not reproduce them if I tried.
Blender Whole Wheat Pancakes
From: Wheat Foods Council
1-1/2 cup wheat kernels
2 cups milk
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
¼ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ Tablespoon baking soda
Combine wheat and milk in blender. Blend on high for 2 – 3 minutes. Add eggs, oil, salt and sugar. Blend well. Pour batter into a bowl, STIR in baking powder and baking soda.
Pour ¼ cup batter for each pancake onto hot griddle and cook until bubbles appear on top. Flip (only once) and cook until lightly browned.
NOTE: This is the way I received the recipe at a wheat cooking class. No salt was listed. I added a few shakes of salt from the salt shaker. Unsure what the measurement should be.
Orzo and Spinach Salad with Lemon-Cranberry Vinaigrette
From CLBB adapted the recipe from What Can I Bring Cookbook by Anne Byrn
8 oz. orzo pasta
salt to taste -- I used sea salt
6 oz. Baby spinach
5 oz. or so feta cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup or so craisins
1 cup chopped sugared pecans or toasted pecans
Vinaigrette:
½ to 1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 Tablespoons or so fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
Boil orzo and salt for about 7-8 minutes, until just done. Drain in a fine sieve and shake off excess water. Set aside to cool. (While the orzo is cooling I put it in a flat container and pour a little of the vinaigrette on it to keep it from sticking.)
Meanwhile, mix spinach, feta, and craisins in large bowl. Set aside.
For vinaigrette, mix lemon zest and lemon juice and gradually whisk in olive oil, a little at a time, until it thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix cooled orzo with spinach mixture. Pour vinaigrette over everything and mix. Cover and chill a few hours or up to overnight.
Just before serving add pecans and stir. Taste to see if it needs more lemon juice, salt, or anything else.
Sugared Pecans
Pour about 5 to 6 Tablespoons of sugar in the bottom of a skillet. Turn stove to low or medium/low. Scatter about a cup of pecan halves over the sugar. Stir occasionally as the sugar melts. Be careful not to burn them! Remove them from the skillet to cool once they are coated with sugar and toasted.
Friday, July 1, 2011
LION HOUSE ROLLS
These may be the best rolls ever. Certainly the best I've ever made. I used just over 5 cups of flour, dough was slightly sticky but cleaned sides of bowl. Also brushed tops with melted butter.
Lion House Rolls
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
5-6 cups flour
Melted butter for brushing
In a large bowl, combine the yeast and water. Let stand 5 minutes (no need to do this if using instant yeast – just add the yeast and water together with the other ingredients). Add sugar, butter, salt, dry milk, 2 cups flour and egg. Beat together until very smooth. Add remaining flour gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) until a soft but not sticky dough is formed. Knead the dough for at least five minutes if using an electric mixer and for at least 10 minutes if mixing the dough by hand. When the dough is smooth, supple and elastic, place it in a lightly greased large bowl covered with greased plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled.
Separate the dough into two portions. Roll each section out to an 11X14-inch rectangle. Brush the top with melted butter. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into two pieces, the long way (see photos below). Then slice the dough into five or six strips across so you end up with 10 to 12 small rectangles. Roll each small rectangle up like a snail and place on a silpat-lined or lightly greased baking sheet with the roll resting on it’s open edge. Repeat with the second portion of dough.
Cover the rolls with lightly greased plastic wrap and let them rise until doubled.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes until they are nicely browned.
Lion House Rolls
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
5-6 cups flour
Melted butter for brushing
In a large bowl, combine the yeast and water. Let stand 5 minutes (no need to do this if using instant yeast – just add the yeast and water together with the other ingredients). Add sugar, butter, salt, dry milk, 2 cups flour and egg. Beat together until very smooth. Add remaining flour gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) until a soft but not sticky dough is formed. Knead the dough for at least five minutes if using an electric mixer and for at least 10 minutes if mixing the dough by hand. When the dough is smooth, supple and elastic, place it in a lightly greased large bowl covered with greased plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled.
Separate the dough into two portions. Roll each section out to an 11X14-inch rectangle. Brush the top with melted butter. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into two pieces, the long way (see photos below). Then slice the dough into five or six strips across so you end up with 10 to 12 small rectangles. Roll each small rectangle up like a snail and place on a silpat-lined or lightly greased baking sheet with the roll resting on it’s open edge. Repeat with the second portion of dough.
Cover the rolls with lightly greased plastic wrap and let them rise until doubled.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes until they are nicely browned.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Life Lesson That Stuck
Once upon a time, I was at K-mart with three small children in tow, ages 5 and under. I was spending more time instrucing the children on how to behave in the store than I was actually shopping, and was becoming frazzled.
A woman I had known from church since I was a teenager happened to be at the store and saw my plight. I had always known her to be kind, cheerful and caring, and never critical, which may have colored the experience. Her own children were older than mine and in a much different stage of life, but she had obviously been there with the preschooler and toddler stage. She came up to me and remarked that although it seemed like this stage would last forever, it would really be over in a moment, and I would miss having small children. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming witness that she was right, that this was but a small moment in time, and that I would miss having those small children to tangle with.
I took a "mind picture" on that day, at that moment, and it has stayed with me over the years.
I am so glad that she took the chance and shared with me that day.
A woman I had known from church since I was a teenager happened to be at the store and saw my plight. I had always known her to be kind, cheerful and caring, and never critical, which may have colored the experience. Her own children were older than mine and in a much different stage of life, but she had obviously been there with the preschooler and toddler stage. She came up to me and remarked that although it seemed like this stage would last forever, it would really be over in a moment, and I would miss having small children. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming witness that she was right, that this was but a small moment in time, and that I would miss having those small children to tangle with.
I took a "mind picture" on that day, at that moment, and it has stayed with me over the years.
I am so glad that she took the chance and shared with me that day.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness Class
Floyd Michael and I attended an earthquake and emergency preparedness class this weekend at Honeyville Grain in Rancho Cucamonga. It was taught by Linda from Just In Case Emergency Essentials. The class was really fantastic. I learned so much. Floyd Michael knew a lot of the information ahead of time, but much of it was new to me. Linda was an excellent instructor. Floyd Michael and I will definitely be attending more of her classes in the future. We had already decided to get CERT training, and this only reaffirmed that this is something we really want to do.
Historically, I have tended to bury my head in the sand, thinking I could never do enough and that preparedness seemed totally overwhelming.
After the tsunami in Japan, Destiny and I had some conversations about...what if it was our family. What if we didn't know where our family members were, whether they had survived, how to find them? Once we put J's name into the equation, the situation was magnified and brought home forcefully.
Maybe what we can do will never be enough. Certainly there are cases where that is true. But what if our preparations could have saved our family members, neighbors or community and we had failed to prepare?
Luckily, Floyd Michael and I are totally on the same page with this. As with everything, we each have our own areas of particular interest and knowledge, and we tend to complement one another. We have enjoyed learning and preparing over the past several months. This class was just the right class at the right time for us. Very good stuff.
Historically, I have tended to bury my head in the sand, thinking I could never do enough and that preparedness seemed totally overwhelming.
After the tsunami in Japan, Destiny and I had some conversations about...what if it was our family. What if we didn't know where our family members were, whether they had survived, how to find them? Once we put J's name into the equation, the situation was magnified and brought home forcefully.
Maybe what we can do will never be enough. Certainly there are cases where that is true. But what if our preparations could have saved our family members, neighbors or community and we had failed to prepare?
Luckily, Floyd Michael and I are totally on the same page with this. As with everything, we each have our own areas of particular interest and knowledge, and we tend to complement one another. We have enjoyed learning and preparing over the past several months. This class was just the right class at the right time for us. Very good stuff.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Taters!
This morning Floyd Michael brought me a bowl of small potatoes from the garden. We didn't actively plant potatoes. They seem to grow from compost material. Apparently we also have a compost tomato plant too.
We are really having so much fun with the garden. Floyd refers to the garden as his "crops", and communes with them both morning and evening.
Jason has his own strawberry plants, which he waters and checks for progress each time he visits.
The garden fits in really well with our preparedness and provident living goals.
We are especially looking forward to a ton of zuccini this year, since someone (me) meant to grab one more plant at Lowe's but instead grabbed a multi-pack of four (to add to our existing zuccini stash. Daniel should be thrilled, as he can't get enough zuccini. Hopefully we won't turn into those people who foist huge zuccini off on all of the neighbors!
We are really having so much fun with the garden. Floyd refers to the garden as his "crops", and communes with them both morning and evening.
Jason has his own strawberry plants, which he waters and checks for progress each time he visits.
The garden fits in really well with our preparedness and provident living goals.
We are especially looking forward to a ton of zuccini this year, since someone (me) meant to grab one more plant at Lowe's but instead grabbed a multi-pack of four (to add to our existing zuccini stash. Daniel should be thrilled, as he can't get enough zuccini. Hopefully we won't turn into those people who foist huge zuccini off on all of the neighbors!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Review: Honeyville Farms Scone Mix
Another weekend purchase. Just for fun.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy these were to put together. Dissolve yeast in water, add to mix. Let the Kitchen Aid knead it for awhile. Roll out. Rest for 20 minutes. Fry (yes, fry).
One-half of the dough had raisins mixed in (for Floyd Michael). The other half had chocolate chips mixed in (for Jason).
When Jason realized they weren't chocolate chip pancakes (I'm pretty sure he thinks my role in life is to keep him stocked in chocolate chip pancakes), he announced the didn't like scones. No suprise there! When I let him sprinkle a little sugar on top of the warm scones, he decided they might be worth trying. He loved them (chocolate, sugar, fried, um, why not?). He decided next time he spends the night he wants chocolate chip scones AND chocolate chip pancakes. We told him we'd have to rotate, and he seemed okay with that.
They were great. And I was impressed at how fast I was able to have a hot breakfast treat on the table. Definitely something I will want to have while my in-laws are visiting later this summer.
I believe they can be baked, too, and will definitely try that next time.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy these were to put together. Dissolve yeast in water, add to mix. Let the Kitchen Aid knead it for awhile. Roll out. Rest for 20 minutes. Fry (yes, fry).
One-half of the dough had raisins mixed in (for Floyd Michael). The other half had chocolate chips mixed in (for Jason).
When Jason realized they weren't chocolate chip pancakes (I'm pretty sure he thinks my role in life is to keep him stocked in chocolate chip pancakes), he announced the didn't like scones. No suprise there! When I let him sprinkle a little sugar on top of the warm scones, he decided they might be worth trying. He loved them (chocolate, sugar, fried, um, why not?). He decided next time he spends the night he wants chocolate chip scones AND chocolate chip pancakes. We told him we'd have to rotate, and he seemed okay with that.
They were great. And I was impressed at how fast I was able to have a hot breakfast treat on the table. Definitely something I will want to have while my in-laws are visiting later this summer.
I believe they can be baked, too, and will definitely try that next time.
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