What brings me JOY!

In China a man is selling his son...is that legal? Whale Wars are trying to stop the killing of whales...what about that dolphin slaughter bay... Sometimes it just gets too much for me and I feel a lack of joy and I have to stop and think about what brings me joy.

Going out to my chicken coop and finding 16 eggs brings a smile to my face






Playing the accordian (yes, I took 6 weeks of lessons and don't play well) and having Maria "lead the music" brings me joy. Cooper is our audience...

Looking out my window and seeing the radishes sprouting brings me joy....

If I was THAT kind of Wife....

It finally happened! I was the kind of wife who when her husband called to say that he was taking two other guys out to lunch to Bob's Burgers and Brew...I could say, "Honey, why don't you bring them home. I just pulled some bread out of the oven and have some Meredith homemade Chili along with Chad & Rachel's homemade strawberry jam"

It certainly doesn't happen very often at all and that's what made it really sweet!

And for all you bread makers...this is Rachel's neighbor's bread...they call it Mama Bread. If you want instructions maybe Rachel will post them but here's the ingredients and essential information:

2T yeast

1/2 brown sugar

1/2 c warm water....together in bowl

1/4 c melted butter

3/4 c molasses

2 c warm water....put together and then add to yeast and then put into bowl big enough for all flour to be added

1 c white flour

1 T salt

6 c wheat flour... add 2 cups at a time until well mixed. You want the dough to be moist but not gooey...I had to add another cup of white flour to get it not gooey.

Rise in bowl...into pans...rise again...350 degree oven, 40 - 45 mintues cooking time. I put foil over top for the last 10 minutes as it was getting brown.

Considering this is a 6 to 1 wheat bread recipe....it's really really good.

Maybe you too could have one of those moments when your husband can bring home the guys for lunch!

Rachel's House

It fun to go to Rachel's House...of course it's Chad and Lily and Eden's house too and its so great to see them all.

Rachel is fun because she has some great ideas that she wants to do...doesn't always know how to accomplish them but that does not stop her. She cut up a single down blanket and made two out of it...then wanted pink and red duva covers for Lily and Eden. Not having enough of the pink and red didn't bother her...we added the yellow and white and a little strip of all the colors! Cute cute cute...how fun...
another p.s....the crib sized day bed....Toyke made it when Justine was little and he's going to make another one for Eden and Maria...when he gets his wood shop set up - and it's getting close...

My Favorite Things....

In my kitchen...on top of my new tile back splash that a FANTASTIC General Contractor installed for me...I have a new T-Towel!!!! Yeah for T-towels! Can't get enough of them...I love them. Heidi found this one in Holland - it's a circle with a tab in the middle for hanging on the knob....I love it! Heidi also brought me back some sugary sweet waffle cookies but I can't get a picture of them for you because....they are gone! They did come in a cute tin though...
and p.s. another of my favorite things is reusable grocery bags..."Australian Labradoodles" is my newest bag...thanks Heidi.

Birthday Time Again

Yup, Happy 29th Birthday for the 23rd time...you do the math.

TJ called on his birthday and said...we're the same age now! 29 and holding.

I am thankful for my mother, who without her none of this would be possible!

I'm also thankful for Toyke and all my kids - yes, that's you Stephanie, Marco, Rachel and Rick along with all the little ones.

I'm thankful for friends who are sensitive about my aging!

I'm thankful for these beautiful flowers from Cindy...thanks.