Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Sprouting Pumpkin

I have had good intentions regarding this pumpkin, which I believe I purchased in January.  My intention was to bake, puree and can the poor thing so that I would have pumpkin puree for recipes. 

I may have let it sit a bit long, or should have put it in my cooler closet instead of the kitchen counter.  I thought if it was on the counter it would annoy me so much I would bake and can it quickly.  Then I realized I was out of jars, so I put it off, then....well it just sat.  It was still a nice healthy pumpkin when I opened her up this morning, she just had a little surprise for me. 


Sprouts.  I had never seen a pumpkin with sprouts inside.  From what I read online (because what else would you do to find out if this was normal) it is normal, and does not mean your squash is past its prime.  You can plant the sprouts if you choose, but February is not the time to be planting pumpkins around here, so I think they will just have to try to survive our compost heap. 

Learn something new everyday.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Dance Mom-That's Me!

This weekend, we had a crazy day yesterday.  It was big L's first dance competition.  To be honest it was a bit busier and crazier than I expected, but we all had a great time, the girls had fun, and they even won the platinum trophy! 

Not bad for a group of six year olds!

One more month and we are off for a second competition, then another month before recital.  I am very happy that she is enjoying this, and happy that she has partially conquered her stage fright. 


Friday, February 24, 2012

This Moment-Modified

I have been really horrible with the camera all week.  I forget to take it everywhere, and I don't use it when I have it. 

This morning, I planned on taking the camera and getting a shot at the top of the hill I have been walking.  Instead, I forgot the camera, and something truly beautiful happened.  The baby and I were heading up the hill after watching big L hop on the bus for school.  The bottom of the hill is a natural wash, filled with vegetation and critters.  It is not uncommon to see rabbits, bobcats and javelina.  In fact they are pretty common.  This morning however we saw a coyote.  The coyotes were pretty noisy last night, but you don't generally see them in the day.  The baby and I were quiet, I whispered to her, "look a coyote".  Then we watched as he/she proceeded to look both ways, pause and then run across the street.  We didn't see any other wildlife this morning except birds, but that was okay, because we saw a beautiful coyote living life and ignoring the human intrusion into it's world. 

If that is magically mundane, I don't know what is!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Diaper Covers

I finished another diaper cover.  The first one I made was functional but too small.  So I made the next size up.  It is a little big, but still works. 

I think it turned out okay, but I am still not an expert on using my sewing machine for anything other than quilts.  The elastic is better on this one, but could still use some improving.  I think it turned out okay all in all.



The key to a leak free night seems to be the inner lining, thus doubling the water proof material holding in fluid, and tripling up her diaper.  Her clothes were dry when she awoke in the morning. 

Now to make a few more inner inserts, and two more covers.  It should go much faster now. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Soup-yummy!

I made soup Friday.  I love making soup, but we only have so many months here when it does not feel silly to make soup.  I used the recipe for Kale and White Bean Soup found in this cookbook.  My soup looked like this:
 The soup in the book looked red.  I began to wonder when I am actually making the recipe, and at what point when I have modified the recipe it is no longer the same.  Thoughts? 

In this case, I had to leave out the tomato paste and miso paste, which I am sure affect the flavor of the soup.  It was still yummy though!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Pickle Jars and Treasure

My husband and big L love pickles.  We buy the huge jar from costco.  Which leaves me with a lot of large, nice jars to find use for.  I read in one of my books about origami paper being used on the jar, and paint being applied as well.  Instead, I used homemade mod podge, and stuck the pretty origami paper to the jar.  Now each L has her own treasure jar to put all of those little things I get tired of picking up all over the house, but that big L swears are so important to her. 

Pretty jars!  I will probably clean up the mod podge around the edges next time. 

I also have a new herb/succulent garden on my windowsill.  It was hard to get a good picture. 
All of those bottles in the sink are for future use, and accumulate they are not all from one day.  I have found the easiest way to get all of the glue off a jar (even that sticky hard as a rock stuff), is to let it soak overnight.  So after the baby gets a bath more of my jars soak!

Now to figure out what else to do with all of those pickle jars!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Mother's Intuition-Asthma

Little l has been coughing.  I think since Sunday, but time is difficult for me. 

I know the cough, truly I do.  I get it, Big L gets it.  It is a particular kind of cough that I was hoping little l would not have, but there it is.  Being a panicky mother I took her to the doctor yesterday, and much to my dismay she confirmed what I thought.  Little l is pulling hard to breathe, and likely has asthma.  While I like to pretend this is not a big deal, and it is nothing we can't handle, it kind of is.  I can handle it no problem.  I can give her a normal life and make it so that she can do whatever she wants, no problem.  We have an excellent allergy, immunologist, asthma doctor that has been treating big L since she was nine months old.  All of that I can deal with. 

I just feel a little guilty at times that both of my children developed this and it is because of my genes.  Not something I can control, I know, but still, it is a big deal to me.

I also felt bad yesterday because I don't seem to trust myself.  I knew the cough for what it was the first night she had it.  I was just hoping it would go away.  I also doubted myself, thinking, well it is just a cold.  The same thing happened last week with big L.  She fell and had a very bad (read would not stop bleeding) scrape on her chin, plus scrapes on her shoulder and knees.  I didn't think she needed stitches, but couldn't stop second guessing myself, so I took her to urgent care. 

I realize it will take some time for me to trust my instincts after big L's father, but this is getting a little ridiculous!  Any ideas?


Monday, February 13, 2012

Sleeping (?) Over

I am a bit wiped out from the weekend.  Ten girls, two moms, lots of fun, and not a lot of sleep.  After our big sleep over I planned on napping, however Big L wanted to work on stuff.  We started the rag rug, and the lists for our daily notebooks (idea from Sofia).  We are done with neither, but we have a start. 

I thought I would accomplish a lot today, but I am dragging.  The girls all went to sleep between 10:30 and 11:30, but half of them talk in their sleep, and one coughed most of the night.  Sleep for me was done in short snippets. 

Instead, i think I will take it easy today.  Do some laundry, try to nap.....post the pictures of the project we did finish tomorrow. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Gardening: First post baby's birth attempt

When I am pregnant, and after my child is born, is not the time for me to grow plants.  Any other time, I am good, or at least not bad.

L and I hit the garden center the other day and went crazy.



Flowers, flowers and flowers
That is a picture of strawberry and broccoli plants, intermingled with the sunflowers my husband was not supposed to plant.


Yes, I know there is a weed.  I thought, however, that I had killed my mint plant.  Yet look at that!  It is coming back!!  A nice little surprise.

This is all very exciting.  Big L is looking forward to eating her own strawberries, as she loved the last batch she grew.  Tomorrow I may show you what has moved onto my windowsill!



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

My apron!

Back to the I don't follow directions well comment, I also don't always like patterns.  I found an apron pattern online, but didn't bookmark it, so I lost it. 

I decided to wing it.  I pulled out some fabric my mom gave me (I think she said she and my aunt made aprons out of the fabric one year) and went to work. 
What I am most proud of though, as I am a beginner seamstress in my opinion, was that I lined those pockets up almost exactly to match.  :-)

One project done for the month!!!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Yummy!

I have come to realize that I don't like following directions.  Especially when it comes to food.  We have so many food issues in our home that by the time I modify a recipe to fit us it doesn't always look like what is in the cookbook.  Plus, I am a cook with what you have person at times, so I also modify to fit ingredients I already have.  Thankfully I am usually successful. 


Take my version of the barley and red bean bowl:
I of course forgot to take a picture until after dinner.  Barley, kidney beans, red pepper, some olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  YUMMY!

Friday, February 3, 2012

{this moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Borrowed from Soule Mama, visit her site to share and to see more.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Busy Week-Trying to live simply

I guess that being busy and living simply may not coincide with each other.  However, all of the things I have been doing this week, are things I enjoy.  I spent a couple hours at Big L's school helping out her teacher and classmates.  I have taken the time to hang out all of our laundry to dry (except little l's).  Little l and I have been playing, and as soon as I am done here I will be off to sew a bit and bake some muffins. 

Hope you are able to live life doing things you want to do.