We've had a rough time here lately. Seems we were sick most of April; it started the last week of March and just won't let go of us!
But I think, I hope, we're on the mend. Lily's sick today, but I think it's just the last vestiges of whatever we've all been fighting.
Due to all that, we got a late start on our Spring to do list. My seedlings got a late start and only a handful are ready to go into the garden. So I went ahead and bought some ready-to-go plants. Happened upon a local greenhose that had San Marzano tomato plants! I was so excited and of course bought a few. The ones I started from seed last year fizzled out...the ones we did manage to harvest were really good paste tomatoes so here's hoping we'll have more and more.
We're now home to 7 new kittens and 6 chicks. Scott built a great coop for them, I'll get pics soon (when I'm not holding a sick, snootchy kiddo lol). We're getting 6 more next month (the breed I wanted wasn't readily available yet) for a total of 12. I think that's probably as many as we'll do. I've been jokingly telling Scott if this adventure goes well we'll have to discuss a milk cow. :)
Other than that, we're getting some things done around the house and just enjoying the nice weather!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
It seems every year around Lily's birthday I get in a funk. This is hard to explain, because I'm crazy in love with the girl. I'm always gritting my teeth when I hold her becuse she's so cute I want to bite her :) and the crook of her neck is the sweetest smelling thing ever. Ever! Many evenings as she's falling asleep I just rest my face there and breathe her in.
So I'm madly in love with her. But I still haven't come to terms with the whole Downs thing. I'm an introspective person by nature, I think about things, I dwell on things. I think a lot about my pregnancy with her and how I never knew, she was right there inside me and I had no idea. That first year I remember just trying to get through it, get past those dates and times where I would think "the last time this happened, we didn't know". It still happens even now, thinking "three years ago, we didn't know". The other day in the car I heard that song by the Fray, Over My Head or whatever it's called. I will always remember that song as it was popular right after Lily was born. That's what it will always mean to me. I remember right after we found out (she was about a month and a half before we got the test results back definitively) my first instinct was to have another baby. I wanted another baby with ever fiber in my being. Not to replace her, because we already loved the girl. But that baby I had thought I was getting, that's the one I still wanted. In addition to, not instead of. That has gradually went away. Very gradually lol. I know we have enough kids, but still.
I start wondering if I'll ever get past this, will I always think about things in terms of Before Downs and After Downs? Will I ever be one of those people who say they wouldn't change a thing? I'm not sure I will.
And I have to add that I feel like a total jerk for feeling this way, I feel guilt for feeling these feelings. Because Lily has had pretty much NO problems and is a smart and sweet kid. She's really pretty high functioning as far as I can tell. But all the therapies and special orthotics for her feet, etc.. all remind me daily that things won't be what I'd always planned. So I'm giving myself permission, from here on out, to mourn that baby I thought I was getting, to mourn the life I thought I was going to have. This one isn't terrible, pretty far from it, but it's different and it's okay that I acknowledge that. Right? :)
So I'm madly in love with her. But I still haven't come to terms with the whole Downs thing. I'm an introspective person by nature, I think about things, I dwell on things. I think a lot about my pregnancy with her and how I never knew, she was right there inside me and I had no idea. That first year I remember just trying to get through it, get past those dates and times where I would think "the last time this happened, we didn't know". It still happens even now, thinking "three years ago, we didn't know". The other day in the car I heard that song by the Fray, Over My Head or whatever it's called. I will always remember that song as it was popular right after Lily was born. That's what it will always mean to me. I remember right after we found out (she was about a month and a half before we got the test results back definitively) my first instinct was to have another baby. I wanted another baby with ever fiber in my being. Not to replace her, because we already loved the girl. But that baby I had thought I was getting, that's the one I still wanted. In addition to, not instead of. That has gradually went away. Very gradually lol. I know we have enough kids, but still.
I start wondering if I'll ever get past this, will I always think about things in terms of Before Downs and After Downs? Will I ever be one of those people who say they wouldn't change a thing? I'm not sure I will.
And I have to add that I feel like a total jerk for feeling this way, I feel guilt for feeling these feelings. Because Lily has had pretty much NO problems and is a smart and sweet kid. She's really pretty high functioning as far as I can tell. But all the therapies and special orthotics for her feet, etc.. all remind me daily that things won't be what I'd always planned. So I'm giving myself permission, from here on out, to mourn that baby I thought I was getting, to mourn the life I thought I was going to have. This one isn't terrible, pretty far from it, but it's different and it's okay that I acknowledge that. Right? :)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sourdough Revisted
Just an update on my starter...I thought it looked "done" two days ago. I proofed it overnight and made bread yesterday in the AM. It really didn't rise much and I was very disappointed, though it tasted like sourdough should.
So I kept the starter going, and I'm happy to report that today it is much more healthy and alive than it was when I tried the bread. It's now doubling itself after a feeding, which it wasn't so much the other day. I'm not getting the separation of wet stuff, or "hooch", as I was...it's all cohesive and very bubbly! I'm going to proof again overnight and we shall see...
Though I still feel that I'm not a huge sourdough fan. My husband says he loves sourdough, so I'll keep at it. Maybe I'll learn to like it more.
I also started some whole wheat starter a few days ago. It's...there lol We'll see if it surprises me as much as my current starter...
I'll post pics if I have success tomorrow.
So I kept the starter going, and I'm happy to report that today it is much more healthy and alive than it was when I tried the bread. It's now doubling itself after a feeding, which it wasn't so much the other day. I'm not getting the separation of wet stuff, or "hooch", as I was...it's all cohesive and very bubbly! I'm going to proof again overnight and we shall see...
Though I still feel that I'm not a huge sourdough fan. My husband says he loves sourdough, so I'll keep at it. Maybe I'll learn to like it more.
I also started some whole wheat starter a few days ago. It's...there lol We'll see if it surprises me as much as my current starter...
I'll post pics if I have success tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
French Bread
I made french bread this week. We're not crusty bread fanatics here, my usual bread is a whole grain sandwich loaf. But I had to see that rerun of Alton Brown's artisan bread show...and I wanted to try it.
It tasted really good...we made french bread pizzas out of some, garlic bread for another meal, and just picked at it here and there until it was gone.
Here's the recipe I used...
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 tbsp white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
I used my bread machine to mix it all and for the first rise. Then I took it out, shaped it and let rise again, then baked at 350 until it looked done (was around 30 mins).
As I don't usually do french bread, I don't have a couche to use for the proofing/second rise...so they're kind of wonky shaped lol You could use anything really to keep them straight during the rise I'd think....I just didn't :)
Spring Lily
I've been so proud of my girl lately...she's been saying more and more new words!
For readers who might not know, our youngest, Lily, has Down Syndrome. She's going to be THREE in a month. Sure doesn't seem like it's been that long, then in other ways it's felt like forever if that makes any sense.
Already she's showing herself to be an "outside girl" as she brings us her shoes early in the mornings and wants to go, go, GO! The weather's been nice enough lately, but it's supposed to get back down in the 40's later in the week. Hopefully that's short lived as I'm sick and tired of the winter yuckiness. I'm not a winter lover to say the least.
My tulips are already popping up so I hope the warmer weather sticks around. We could really use some color around here - Ohio in Winter is pretty much brown all over, not pretty.
I don't think I'm going to be able to hold Lily off forever this morning, so I better go...
Monday, March 9, 2009
Garden dreams, 2009 edition
It's starting to look like Spring and I'm thinking gardening. I'll admit I've only really done this a couple years. My mother always kept a large garden and canned/preserved a lot. I'm sad to say other childhood activities and later teenage angst got in my way and I didn't learn all I should have growing up. Thankfully my mom is still with us and I'm trying to catch up now.
We've lived out here since 2007. Both that summer and last summer I had the same issue. I jumped in with both feet, read everything I could, talked to other gardeners...I was all gung ho until early fall. My interest waned and I hated all the weeding and such, and we ended up with a good kitchen garden but little else. Last year I canned more than the year before, and I'm hoping this year I'll do even better. I tried a small square foot garden last year alongside the larger garden. I loved it! It was relatively weed free, I could get in and out easily and it was so tidy! So this year, I'm going all sfg. And I'm cutting out things I grew but we didn't partake much of. I was excited to grow broccoli, but what with the space it occupied and little harvest it just isn't worth it. But isn't that what's great about gardening?! I can try, try again with the next growing season!
So this year, it's just the usual suspects. Of course, tomatoes. A few Brandywines for eating, then everything else paste. I've got Amish paste, San Marzano and Roma ready to plant next month (inside of course). Then corn; the raccoons made a feast out of most of it last year, but it was also in the big garden that I abandoned by September. Some potatoes and onions to eat and store. Peppers, many lettuces for wonderful summer salads, brussels sprouts, beans (black and pinto for drying, green beans and peas). We'll see what else I decide to throw out there...
I didn't get enough compost going this past year to make much use of that, but I'll add it and probably have more brought in for the new beds.
Along with the gardening, there is a lot of yard work and upkeep that needs done. I'm hoping we can clear out some brush and extend our yard by quite a bit. Some fruit trees need pruning and general maintenance. Overall, I'm looking forward to another great summer!
We've lived out here since 2007. Both that summer and last summer I had the same issue. I jumped in with both feet, read everything I could, talked to other gardeners...I was all gung ho until early fall. My interest waned and I hated all the weeding and such, and we ended up with a good kitchen garden but little else. Last year I canned more than the year before, and I'm hoping this year I'll do even better. I tried a small square foot garden last year alongside the larger garden. I loved it! It was relatively weed free, I could get in and out easily and it was so tidy! So this year, I'm going all sfg. And I'm cutting out things I grew but we didn't partake much of. I was excited to grow broccoli, but what with the space it occupied and little harvest it just isn't worth it. But isn't that what's great about gardening?! I can try, try again with the next growing season!
So this year, it's just the usual suspects. Of course, tomatoes. A few Brandywines for eating, then everything else paste. I've got Amish paste, San Marzano and Roma ready to plant next month (inside of course). Then corn; the raccoons made a feast out of most of it last year, but it was also in the big garden that I abandoned by September. Some potatoes and onions to eat and store. Peppers, many lettuces for wonderful summer salads, brussels sprouts, beans (black and pinto for drying, green beans and peas). We'll see what else I decide to throw out there...
I didn't get enough compost going this past year to make much use of that, but I'll add it and probably have more brought in for the new beds.
Along with the gardening, there is a lot of yard work and upkeep that needs done. I'm hoping we can clear out some brush and extend our yard by quite a bit. Some fruit trees need pruning and general maintenance. Overall, I'm looking forward to another great summer!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
I made these this week...the kids devour them...and I like them too lol
1 cup butter (I prefer butter for baking, but margarine works well too)
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Mix butter and sugars together well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Add vanilla and mix again.
In separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. I don't have a sifter and I've found that either whisking the dry ingredients or stirring with a fork gets the same light consistency.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet. When mixed, add the oats, chocolate chips and pecans.
Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes. Time it, don't let them start to brown. I always take them out before they really look done.
You don't HAVE to use bread flour...but bread flour tends to make them nice and chewy. If you use AP flour they'll be crunchier, but still amazing!
The pecans are also not totally necessary, but they really take them to the next level. We love these cookies and I hope someone out there enjoys them too!!
1 cup butter (I prefer butter for baking, but margarine works well too)
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Mix butter and sugars together well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Add vanilla and mix again.
In separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. I don't have a sifter and I've found that either whisking the dry ingredients or stirring with a fork gets the same light consistency.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet. When mixed, add the oats, chocolate chips and pecans.
Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes. Time it, don't let them start to brown. I always take them out before they really look done.
You don't HAVE to use bread flour...but bread flour tends to make them nice and chewy. If you use AP flour they'll be crunchier, but still amazing!
The pecans are also not totally necessary, but they really take them to the next level. We love these cookies and I hope someone out there enjoys them too!!
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