Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
back when there were 2
On the cusp of Ruby's second birthday, this made me laugh. Who are these tiny little people?
Harissa
Harissa is a North African red chili sauce that is used to flavor soups, vegetables, and as a marinade for grilled meats. It is wonderful to dollop on some bean soup or with oven roasted potatoes.
Make a paste with 8 chili peppers and four cloves of garlic
Add a tsp of salt
Grind 2 tsp caraway seeds, 1 tsp coriander seeds, and tsp cumin
Chop a large bunch of mint
Blend all with 1/2 cup of olive oil
Refrigerate.
Make a paste with 8 chili peppers and four cloves of garlic
Add a tsp of salt
Grind 2 tsp caraway seeds, 1 tsp coriander seeds, and tsp cumin
Chop a large bunch of mint
Blend all with 1/2 cup of olive oil
Refrigerate.
cold oven pound cake
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
whisk these together
5 eggs room temperature
3 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups butter room temperature
1 cup milk with 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp lemon extract, and 1 tsp almond extract
Cream butter, and add 3 cups sugar slowly
Add eggs one at a time
Add flour alternating with milk
Pour into a greased and floured pan
Place in a cold oven.
Turn on to 300 degrees and bake 1 1/2 hours or until it is pulling away from the sides of the pan.
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
whisk these together
5 eggs room temperature
3 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups butter room temperature
1 cup milk with 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp lemon extract, and 1 tsp almond extract
Cream butter, and add 3 cups sugar slowly
Add eggs one at a time
Add flour alternating with milk
Pour into a greased and floured pan
Place in a cold oven.
Turn on to 300 degrees and bake 1 1/2 hours or until it is pulling away from the sides of the pan.
cornbread
preheat the oven to 425.
4-6 tbps olive oil, butter, or bacon drippings in the pan,
and put the pan in the oven.
2 cups self rising cornmeal,or 2 cups plain cornmeal
mixed with 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt
Add 2 cups buttermilk (or regular milk with a splash of cider vinegar) and
2 eggs beaten
Take out the hot skillet. Leave 4 tbsp oil in the pan and mix 2 in the batter
Quickly mix and pour into the hot pan
Bake 15 minutes until golden.
4-6 tbps olive oil, butter, or bacon drippings in the pan,
and put the pan in the oven.
2 cups self rising cornmeal,or 2 cups plain cornmeal
mixed with 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt
Add 2 cups buttermilk (or regular milk with a splash of cider vinegar) and
2 eggs beaten
Take out the hot skillet. Leave 4 tbsp oil in the pan and mix 2 in the batter
Quickly mix and pour into the hot pan
Bake 15 minutes until golden.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
sunshine
I really would have taken pictures of the other children, but they were in the water for five hours only stopping to gulp down some water, shove in some food and run back to their play.
summer
I always said that a two piece bathing suit was not the best choice for a young girl, and then I saw this one at Target and threw it in the cart. Who can resist? They had that whole Liberty collection, and then poof it was gone.
Speaking of bathing suits, I hate them. More specifically, I don't like putting them on. Even when I was a younger and had a great body, it just wasn't me. Now, it is just an atrocity really. Last year I bought one of those pricey Land's End one piece suits. I liked the top, but the leg openings just hit me all wrong. They are neither high nor low, just wrong. I keep thinking it is the kind of bathing suit that would look great with jeans and a white linen shirt.
In a fit of panic about having to go to the lake with my most lovely and also not skinny mama friends, I ordered a Land's End tankini top, the one with the adjustable sides that you can pull up tight or wear long at the hip. I love it. I could run in it, and with three children I will be running in it. Apart from that, it is also pretty. If only I'd planned what I was going to wear on the bottom.
ella art 2010
I've been trying to take pictures of the kid's artwork as opposed to trying to keep all of it. I've got a portfolio going for a few pieces from each year, and I'm keeping the self portraits from school, but I feel like I've been riding the wave of paper that comes home from school and then meets with the wave that is created at my dining room table.
I think that her art teacher at school does a tremendous job introducing them to the art world in an academic sense and then giving them the tools and time to create things that are truly their own. When it was decided that the school day would be lengthened Ella almost automatically commented that she would like her extra time to be in art class.
Monday, June 07, 2010
summer
Summer started today at our house with trip to the lake. The public schools are still in class, so we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. The humidity has passed, and we had the perfect blend of clouds, sun, and breeze. It was so gorgeous we ended up staying for five hours, and yet little John still pretended that the lake was pulling him in when I told him it was time to go home. My friend showed me how to get there on a country road, and now I think I'm going to buy a season pass there. I like going early before anyone can go in the water and watching the butterflies sipping along the edge of the water.
Tomorrow we will vacuum and put away our clothes, but today we had to play.
Tomorrow we will vacuum and put away our clothes, but today we had to play.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Friday, June 04, 2010
3
Guess who is going to third grade? We've spent two days celebrating the end of school. Last night was the art show and music program, and today was the graduation. Last night we picnicked on the school playground,and today we potlucked with school friends. I feel like I've been running into the house, making and packing food, and running out the door.
This afternoon daddy and John left on their first boys only camping trip. Tonight they are eating macaroni and cheese under the stars. They have books, games, trucks, and bikes. Back on the homefront, the ladies with be regaining order, organizing artwork, and enjoying the quiet.
button up shirt, plaid. flower shorts. a tail.
He went upstairs to get "very dressed up" for the art show tonight. Many were envious of his tail.
Monday, May 31, 2010
in the trees
Househunting is taking on some new and interesting twists and turns. The funniest part has been doing it without letting the kids know what we are doing. Can we downsize into a slightly smaller house after thinking that we were searching for something a little larger? Could the girls share a very small bedroom? Could it be the best of both worlds, all the way out and all the way in? John could bike to work in five minutes. School is maybe ten minutes away, maybe less.
I'd be giving up my dream of the old farmhouse and goats, but when the grass in our small yard recently went to seed I wondered how that was going to happen anyway. We could still garden to our hearts content, and chickens are a possibility.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
love in a mist
We celebrated our twelfth anniversary on sunday. Seems like about a hundred years but in a good way. Before we got married we were friends for another twelve years. So, twenty four years. Three children. A house with a whole lot of woodpecker holes. Significant dust bunnies and more laundry than I could have ever imagined.
We've got the yin and the yang, the east side, the west side, and all around the town.
I love you John.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
birdville
Birdville was pretty and sweet, but I couldn't find the fourth bedroom. It was either the sunroom or the living room. Sometimes I wonder about people trying to sell houses. Four bedrooms needs to mean four bedrooms. This house had a lot of good things, a huge garden space, a small barn, even a doghouse, and a rambling bed of peonies, but it also had a lot of fake wood flooring and a kitchen smaller than the one we have. Sometimes I think people do bad things to beautiful old houses in an attempt to restore them for the least amount of money.
I have to just keep believing that I'll recognize my house when I find it. Maybe it has 220 power, maybe not.
househunters
I think we'll know it when we see it. This one wasn't it, but we certainly enjoyed the early morning ride into our mountains.
garden
Ruby's doll got some new hair while we were on our trip to Amherst. Her original hair was monhair, and I added an entire skein of Cascade Eco-wool and some violet Malabrigo Aquarella. She got a new batik kimono and obi and some green flowered pants. Both girls have been thrilled with her new luxurious hair.
Monday, May 17, 2010
monocan powwow
On sunday afternoon we went to the Monocan Powwow in Rockbridge County. I really wanted to buy John a bow and a coonskin cap for his birthday.
my mountains
That is what Ruby said one day last week as we were driving down Spruce Run past cow fields and red winged blackbirds.
john man
If this small person gets any more hilarious (or any louder) I don't know what I'll do. He made it through a two mile hike but was quite envious of his baby sister in the backpack.
for mother's day
My sweet littles gave me this for mother's day. My favorite thing about it is that John swears he made this with a hammer.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
I own turbinado sugar and a blowtorch
I picked up our first bag of vegetables of the season, that one I've been dreaming of since the snows. There was lettuce, slender stalks of rhubarb, greenhouse tomatoes, thyme, and a quart of perfect strawberries.
My mama sent me the simplest recipe for my Grandmum's stewed rhubarb. It is simmered with water with sugar to taste, chilled, and then served over ice cream. Preferably that wildly thick and delicious local stuff.
On the other had I realized that I have a tiny little blowtorch for caramelizing sugar. My twelfth anniversary is coming up, and wouldn't he be just blow away by roasted rhubarb creme brulee.
My mama sent me the simplest recipe for my Grandmum's stewed rhubarb. It is simmered with water with sugar to taste, chilled, and then served over ice cream. Preferably that wildly thick and delicious local stuff.
On the other had I realized that I have a tiny little blowtorch for caramelizing sugar. My twelfth anniversary is coming up, and wouldn't he be just blow away by roasted rhubarb creme brulee.
Monday, May 10, 2010
weekend
I spent a lovely mother's day on wheels, but I think John was the most excited on his new bike. My boys were zipping around town. We had chinese food on the bird viewing platform in the park, and the weather was so sunny and cool. Ruby was strolling, and Miss Ella was both biking and roller blading.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Saturday, May 08, 2010
donna takes pictures with her supercool camera
This picture pretty much tells the story of why I want a new camera. Who needs ten Waldorf dolls, because I really want the D90.
I'm feeling far from Zen lately. My desires are running rampant. I'm looking forward to being released from all the unbloggables in my life, and I can return to my usual desires, bluebirds, swallows, chickens, front porches, wood floors, zinnias, and asparagus.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Homemade Deodorant
I can't wait to make this recipe. I'm pretty dedicated to the Kiss My Face Patchouli deodorant, but since I started making laundry detergent I feel like I should try a few more "recipes". I don't mind sweat, but I just don't want to stink. Summer is here, and I'm ready for some coconut armpits.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
miss
Ruby is bursting with toddlerness this week. She has opinions and has learned how slide down a sliding board. She is fast and strong. She and John had so much fun today at the roundy roundy playground swinging side by side in the sun.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
knitted
I feel like I haven't finished any of my projects in a long time, so here is the Snowflake Cowl knit in the softest wool, Twinkle Soft Chunky in Quartz.
ruby june
Someone is talking in full sentences and is so excited that she has "shoulders". She has one serious southern accent, climbs like a goat, and loves roasted asparagus.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
ella on her first birthday
Here is my little pre-digital baby walking on the Park Blocks in downtown Portland, Oregon.
ruby's easter nest
ruby's easter nest, originally uploaded by ellajohn.
It has been all flowers and fevers around here. The children and I have had a cold, then Ruby had a double ear infection. Today John has a fever and took a nap on a doormat. Somehow we haven't missed a day of school or slowed down. Today we went to the opening of our farmer's market. I've been dreaming of baby arugula for many cold months. We heard some music and saw a tiny baby goat. Over at the school, we worked on our herb garden in the warm sun. I'm betting John will need a trip to the doctor's office tomorrow. Before bed he absolutely hallucinated the location of the toilet and peed on the living room wall. Oh, the beauty of it all.
My friend made this little fairy and two others for John and Ella. She sells them in her etsy shop, Dancing Sky. Run, run over there. They are tiny and perfect with their hand embroidery and wool hair.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
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