Patrick Bowers, FBI

I've wanted to write more lately, truly I have.  But there have been two little things keeping me away:

1. A sick baby.  You don't get a whole lot accomplished when the children fall prey to a virus.
2. Patrick Bowers, FBI.  You don't get a whole lot accomplished when the mama falls victim to a good novel!

The Patrick Bowers thrillers are written by a Mr Steven James, and let me tell you, I got sucked in from page one.  His writing style is great.  Twists and turns at every page, and not once did I think I had it figured out.  These are the kind of books that you forsake lots of things to get to the end--sleep, food, housework.  Although I think that I did just enough of each of those said things as my family didn't complain too loudly.

Here's a quick summary of what these books are about.  Bowers, an FBI specialist is the one who gets the call when others are stumped.  His moody but witty teenage stepdaughter comes along for the ride, but invariably he gets sucked into the case deeper than anyone thought.  There is personal danger to them as the killer knows who they are.  A beautiful college who is one heck of a martial artist (whom Bowers is infatuated with of course!), and an old buddy who is the size of a gorilla make up the rest of the team.

It's like CSI meets James Bond (for the adventurous unknown) meets Dr. Kay Scarpetta (character written by my all time favorite novelist Patricia Cornwell).  Great material and I'm chomping my bit to get the next one!

Why I love Miss Miller

See this picture?  This captures the essence of sisterhood.  Sharing memories.  Bonding over books.  A mom can't ask for much more than that.

Most people know that we home schooled last year.  And while it was a great year, it was tough.  A firstborn teaching a firstborn who is a socialite, who are both stubborn and need to have their own way.  We ended on a sour note.  A note that haunted me, and made me think that something wasn't right.  My girl who loves books refused to read.  Even try to read.  She went from trying to complete despondency.  We were in a lockdown, and my being the teacher was ruining our relationship.  We questioned whether we were doing the right thing.  In the end we decided that since we doubting and had questions that in itself showed that home schooling wasn't working for us.

I read this and realize that I sound pat and trite.  But I don't think there are sufficient words to convey the depth of my heart.  A year later I still mourn not being her primary teacher.  

But, I have my girl back.  A girl who loves to be read to.  And who loves to read to us.  Many nights I find her reading to herself or sister by the light of the nightlight.  Not an easy task!

And so, while I am still sad that I am not the one who gets to watch her discover something new and exciting.  I get to see her love for learning and teaching renewed all because of her amazing teacher Diane Miller.

Miss Miller has more years of experience than I've been alive, and children are her life.  I am thankful for her playful attitude that keeps Abi loving school and in check.  I am amazed at all that Abi has learned under her tutelage.  And she taught my baby to read.  Currently in her short life, nothing has made me more proud than to see her go from not wanting anything to do with literacy to soaring and discovering new worlds through words on paper.

Miss Miller, even though it's been hard to let her go, your presence in Abi's life has made the transition easier for me.  I am certain that you will be remembered throughout Abi's life, as well as mine.  Thank you for your passion for children, and especially for all you have poured into my daughter.  We are most grateful for your service to our community and family.

Thank you Miss Miller :)

Gluten Free Muffins

I know some people who either live with celiac's disease, or have gluten intolerance issues.  Being a vegetarian, I understand being on the outside of the norm while around the table.  So I have tried to make a few gluten free goodies for those friends.  This is my latest creation that I modified from the Dining on a Dime Cookbook, it got rave reviews from all who tried it.  So you don't have to be a gluten free eater to enjoy these gems!  They are a nice and delicate moist crumb.  A bit tricky to get out of the pan in one whole swoop, so take caution when dishing up.

Oatmeal Raisin Muffins

1 cup quick oats
1 cup soymilk
2Tbsp ground flax
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 cup oat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1cup raisins

Mix all ingredients; batter will be thin.  Let sit for 10 minutes or until oats soak up some of the liquid.  Spoon batter into greased muffin tins.  Bake at 400 degree for 15-20 mins or 10-12 for mini muffins.  Makes 1 dozen regular sized muffins or 2 dozen mini muffins.

Notes: if you don't have flax, use one egg.  I made oat flour by grinding oatmeal in my 'magic bullet'.

Red Pepper and Walnut Spread

This month's menu was particularly agonizing for me to make.  Since the weather has gotten nice I had to axe the soups and heavy comfort dishes of winter.  But the good news (to me at least!) was that I got to pick out a lot of new recipes to try.  Tonight was a keeper for 3 of the 4 main food eaters around the table, so I thought I'd share it.

Promo:
Thank you to Robin Robertson's Quick Fix Vegetarian cookbook.  Out of the many recipes we've tried thus far we've liked all but one, so I highly recommend checking it out.  I had borrowed it from the Kearney Public Library and tried a few recipes out.  With the ease of her recipes and the tasty success it brought to the table, Phil gave me the green light to purchase it for my own collection.  Ok, commercial is finished, on to the recipe!

Red Pepper and Walnut Spread

makes about 2 cups

This spread was inspired by an appetizer called muhammara found in Middle Eastern countries such as Syria and Turkey.  In the original, roasted red bell peppers and walnuts are flavored with pomegranate syrup.  If you have pomegranate syrup on hand, you can use it to replace the maple syrup in this recipe.

1/2 cup chopped walnut pieces

1 slice white bread, torn into pieces, or 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

1 (12oz) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained and coarsely chopped

juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp pure maple syrup

1/2 tsp chili paste, or to taste

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional as needed

chopped fresh parsley or walnut pieces for garnish

In food processor, process the walnuts and bread until finely ground.  Add the roasted red peppers, lemon juice, vinegar, maple syrup, and chili paste until smooth.  Season with salt and cumin.  Add the olive oil and blend until smooth.  taste and adjust the seasonings and add more oil if needed for consistency.  Place in a bowl and garnish with chopped parsley or walnuts.

Note: if not using right away, cover and refrigerate.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with pita chips, crackers, or cut-up vegetables.

home made pita chips to dip, yum!

Personal notes: I used whole wheat bread, and no oil.  With the initial taste before adding the oil I thought it was amazing and choose to leave it out.

Keep the vinegar for the salad sister....

...or not!

I had a traveling salesman swing by this week trying to sell me some organic cleaner.  Usually I don't even entertain them with my presence (I know how haughty of me!), but he caught me outside, and I wasn't feeling good, so the distraction was nice.

Maybe you've met the guy 'a brother from another mother' who licks the solution from the spray bottle to prove that it's harmless?  Wished I had someone to snap a pic of his face when he showed me a list of 'common' household cleaners and I replied that I only used vinegar and baking soda to clean with.  Amusing expression, followed with 'keep the vinegar for the salad sista'.

At the end of his spiel I told him that I'd just keep on cleaning with my salad dressing.  But it got me to thinking about some of the wonderful ways that I use plain ol' vinegar around my house.  I used to think that a friend was crazy when she said that the smell of vinegar is the smell of clean for her.  I get that now because I'm there!  So here are some eco/kid/budget friendly ways that I use vinegar:

• toilets--put some baking soda and then add vinegar, while it's doing the crazy volcano in the pee-pot thing, scrub with brush then flush.  Leaves it sparkling clean!
• windows/mirrors--a bit trickier, I've done 1/2 water 1/2 vinegar and let the kids at it.  Didn't work as well as windex, but with kids does it really matter in five minutes?
• drains--dump baking soda down the drain until there is a nice pile then pour the vinegar on top, keep adding vinegar as necessary until all the soda has been dissolved
• pet odor removal--I have a naughty pup who likes to poo in the house.  I spray vinegar on the spot she left her deposit.
• flea carpet spray--when the dog brought fleas home last fall, I had to spray the carpets, and with babies who crawl around all day I wanted to make sure it was something safe for them.  I was totally thrilled to read that equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle with some peppermint essential oil would do the job.  And it did!
• carpet cleaner--tried this today.  Again equal parts of water and vinegar, took out old mud stains and pet piddle in the front entry carpet.

I'm sure that I've barely even scratched the surface of what I can do with vinegar, and look forward to learning more.  What do you use vinegar for?

Vintage with a twist

My sister and I have been drooling over our  mom's high school clothes patterns.  I'm sure it pains my mom to know that what she wore then is now called 'vintage', but she rolled with it pretty well considering.  This week sis finally had some time off, so we looked through and settled on this pretty package.

Date on pkg says  June 11, 1977

In case you are thinking, 'oh, I like that nice summer shirt, the stripes are very flattering' prepared to be shocked.  We opted to make the little green halter top!  We went into this project knowing that this would be worn in the back yard while the kids were out playing and we had some free time to catch some vitamin D (read: tanning).  But we are fairly modest people, and even the knowledge of a privacy fence couldn't convince us to show quite that much skin.  So we improvised and created a 'modesty panel' as sis calls it.  I just prefer to think of it as the missing piece of the outfit.

Nice stretch knit in purple for her and gray for me, but the beauty of the project was the gauzy colored material that we found.  Tie dyed purple/green for sis and gray/pink for me.

I am very thankful that sis has a mathematical mind, because the pattern was a bit small for us.  We measured each other and got down to it.  Sis played with the children and I sewed and sewed some more.  We felt like mad hatters trying to get it finished before her work called her away.  A good days (and nights) work later and this is what I got out of sis' financing and creativity (plus a whole good measure of sister time!).

I would show you sis' but she jetted off with hers before I was able to snap a pic.  And no, you won't find any pictures of us modeling in our sunning tops...because...you know...we're modest and all.

Ruffles and Rosettes

When I first got started sewing this spring I started out with the 20 min skirt.  I made a matching set for my friend's six year old and six month old girls.  She loved it so much that when she saw a magazine that had a baby wearing a onesie with stitched on ruffles with rosettes on the bodice and hairbow that she asked me if I could make it.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I said yes!

I did not know that ruffles are apparently the bane of many sewers existence.  And to top it off, the ruffles were sewn onto a jersey knit onesie.  Oh yeah, and the directions in the publication were this:

"Stitch along the ruffles approximately 1/4" from the bottom edge to make sure the fabric doesn't fray too far."

After a few frustrating trial and errors on making the ruffles, I opted for an old fashioned approach.  I pinned the fabric into the ruffles where I wanted them.  Sometimes it's a crummy deal being anal and symmetrical, because that was no easy task to get them 'just right'.

Single rosette w/pin backing.  Multiples are attached to aligator clip

The rosettes were a lot more fun.  When the directions call for a hot glue gun, I'm all over that!  I decided to embellish the first set of rosettes to match the set of skirts with buttons and fish rocks.  The large rosette for the older girl is probably my favorite of all.

Tightly twisted rosettes.  Maroon buttons in the center.  The single has a clear fish pebble glued on top of the button.

Favorite rosette with fish pebble glued on top of maroon button

So I did it!  One more thing on my growing 'can do' list for sewing.  My experienced sewing friend says that I can do anything now if I can make ruffles.

I don't know about 'anything' but maybe some vintage clothes from my mom's high school patterns might be kinda fun!

Week In Review

Building Blocks Together

This last week went by in a blur!  My family can down from Colorado for a visit.  My 'little' brother (6ft 2) is graduating this year and plans on attending UNK, so their trip started out with a college visit.  After that they headed down to our place for a few days.  There was lots of laughter and playtime for all.  And of course the time flew by and we were saying goodbye much too quickly.  At least Memorial weekend (graduation day) isn't too far off!

MyDad (Ken) and Wesley

Airplane

Kerplunk!

Brother Zach, baby of the family

Wesley, Grandpa, and Brother Taylor who is graduating this year

Squirmy Worm trying to get away

Grammy and Wesley

'Building' a tower together

Lizzi and Grammy

I would have liked to post this last night, but being married to a prankster, I don't believe anything that people tell me on April Fool's day.  This however was no joke and I didn't want anyone to think otherwise!  Last night Wesley went from crawling to standing without using any furniture to get there.  He just stood up!  I should probably take wagers on how much longer until he actually walks.  He's been trying to take steps unassisted this week.  It's only ended in faceplants on the floor, but he's trying.

Yesterday also marked the beginning of grilling season at our house with potato packets, burgers for the omnivores, and a thick slice of grilled vidalia onion for me.  If you've never tried grilling vidalia's you should it is super yum!
And to top off the night we went to the local art gallery for the open house and enjoyed hor-de-vours, and local talent.  I was thrilled to learn that they offer art classes and camps for the kids.  Picking up where the school district budget cuts have left off.  The kids thought that getting to hunt and munch on goodies was fun, and Phil and I felt more 'cultured and refined' after leaving.