Winter Camellia in Melting Snow

Snow Day Bliss

 Mmmhmmm, that's right. We got a couple inches of snow, so school is canceled! Wahoo! Oh, the joys of living in the northwest. We like snow in our mountains, but when it hits the streets ... we must simply shut everything down.

Before breakfast was even eaten, the children made their dash to toss about in it. Sweeping the cul-de-sac with a push broom is always, for some reason, tops on the list.

And after the second outing, we had to partake in a little Sugar Snow. Lucette read the story while I readied the treat. It's very complicated. A scoop of snow drizzled with maple syrup.

Ahhh ... snow day bliss.

How to Cure a Bonked Noggin. Apparently.

Apparently little Jane bonked her noggin while I was out. Apparently, heads feel better when a bag of frozen edamame is wrapped in a towel and secured to head with a checkered orange scarf.

Dads always know just what to do. Apparently.

The Mark of a Decade

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues -- faith and hope.

-Charles Dickens

Happy 10th Birthday, my son. This decade has brought me more pride, more faith, and more hope than I ever knew to expect.

What I Wore

I always enjoy "What I Wore" posts on other blogs. Especially when they are moms and aren't actually at the playground in stilettos. After all, don't we all just wish for a happy medium somewhere between frumpy and glam? Wearing outfits that are doable, affordable, and washing-machine friendly? I love me a good inspiration photo. (Plus, they'll be great for a giggle in a decade or two!)

So. Here's my picture. It's my current momiform (mom + uniform = a good thing). Long, tunic-y top (gotta' cover the bum!), cardigan, skinny pants tucked into boots or with flats. Add a long necklace and bracelet if you have it. Ta-da! My momiform. I'm not saying I'm a style mavin, by any means, but it works for me.

I must take a moment here, however, to point out that I'm not good at posing for pictures. I seem to have an aversion to actually looking at the camera and I don't know how to stand. For instance, when wearing a horizontally striped shirt, perhaps not jutting out the pelvis so you look six months pregnant or like you just ate 3 hoagies would be a good idea. An observation I'm just now making.

Now then. What's your go-to outfit? Any tips for posing for photos?

Top: LOFT
Cardigan: old purchase from TJ Maxx
Jeans: ???
Boots: Thrifted
Necklace: F21

One of the Best Ever

When Pops and I were still in college, yet separated by geography, he gave me a hot water bottle. One of the sweetest gifts he's ever given me. Why you must wonder?

He bought an old fashioned rubber hot-water bottle, some fabric he thought looked cozy, and took the materials to a little lady who knew how to sew. He asked her to make a cover for it so it would be nice to cuddle up with. Knowing I'm often freezing cold, he thought the water bottle could keep me warm when he wasn't around to do it himself.

While my term-paper writing days are over (thankfully!), I'll often stick it under the bed-covers to keep my feet toasty (although, kicking it whilst asleep will jolt one awake thinking there is a jiggly, heavy, furry animal in bed with oneself). And today, I had my chilly feet perched atop it while paying the bills. A much nicer task, indeed, with warm feet and a cup of tea to boot.

And that, you see, is why it is one of the best gifts I've ever received. What is one of yours?

Invention in the Kitchen

Jane wanted to make some cookies as an after-school snack for the two olders. I believe she may have the gift of hospitality, that girl. We pulled out the standard cookbooks and were left feeling uninspired. So, off the bookshelf came the golden-tome: Fannie Farmer.

Fannie's great. First of all, she specifies the recipe by order of operation. She only tells you the ingredients as you need them, so you add everything in the right order. Drives me nuts when recipes list all the ingredients first, but out of order! Fannie's method is much more logical.

 She also gives you a basic recipe then encourages you to try all sorts of variations and concoction to suit your present hankerings. We went for the basic sugar cookie (or "cooky" as the the old spelling used to be) and transformed them into "The Petite Orange Sweet Cookies" ... as christened by Jane. We substituted orange juice for milk, almond extract for vanilla, and tossed in a little nutmeg.

We also noticed that this recipe suggested that the yield would be 50 to 60 cookies! They weren't kidding when they said "arrange by teaspoonful onto cooky sheet." I guess our modern serving size has, indeed, drastically increased in size. While we only managed to downsize to about 35 cookies (how tiny can one make them??), I am now rethinking how big a cookie really ought to be ... or at least how much equals a serving size!

Marcona Almonds in a Thrifted Dish

Unexpected Beauty

 Aren't these stairs amazing? They remind me of the rows of colored pencils my girls have been fawning over since yesterday. I think I'd like to fly to Wuppertal, just to sit on these steps and have a Coke and schnitzel.

A Little Somethin' Special

 While it was still dark out, we gathered together for breakfast, Valentine-style. Heart shaped pink pancakes, mini boxes of chocolates, colored pencils for the girls, a doodle book for the young man, and a book for Pops.

It's the little things, isn't it?

Handmade Love Day

 I love Valentine's Day. It's a gimmicky holiday, I know, but it just feels so sweet and good. Isn't giving and getting a Valentine so joyful? 

Jane had Valentine cards on her list of things to do and we decided to make a painting craft out of it.

I'm not sure where I spotted this idea online, but I thought it was charming. I penciled in a grid on an index card, mixed up some valentine colors, and Jane filled all the little squares in with paint.

Once she was finished and the paint was thoroughly dry, I scanned the card and printed them up on some white card stock.

All that was left was to sign her name on the bottom of her artwork and stuff them in a little cellophane bag with a chocolate.

If you ask me, nothing says "I love you" like handmade.

Mothers and Fathers

"What do you do? You're just a housewife and slave, aren't you? A nursemaid to a bunch of kids?" ---"No, I have a fantastic job, a terrific career. I am a curator in a museum --- a museum of memories!"

"You're tied down by a whole family. What a bore! Don't you wish you could get away with the fellows for a real good time?" --- "No, I can't waste my time that way. I'm a collector, you see. I have to spend my time collecting, whenever I'm not tied up in work. I am collecting memories for our family museum!"

-What Is A Family?, Edith Schaeffer

Hurry Back Home Choco-Rolls

Whenever I make crescent rolls, I always make a ton. They freeze so nicely and dress up most any meal.

Last week, Jane and I decided to make some of them into choco-rolls. Before rolling triangles into the crescent shapes, just add a few chocolate chips to the fat end of the dough wedge. Roll up, shake on some sprinkles, let rise, and bake for usual amount of time.

Serve warm as after school treat. Now that'll keep 'em happy to be home!

**What do you like to whip up to turn snack-time into party time?

13 Wonderfully Grubby Years

 Based on the size of Pops' eye-glasses, I figure this photo to be about 17 years ago. I'm not sure I ever really imagined the future ahead of me, but I've been swept off my feet ever since.

Today marks our 13th wedding anniversary. It's a good life to have someone to get grubby with year after year.

And She Had Happy Feet

Oh, Ladies. I've just found me the most perfect pair of flats ever. I'd been jonesin' for a pair of animal print flats for awhile, figuring they'd be chic, practical, and comfortable. But why, oh why, are comfy flats ... at a good price ... hard to find? Such a strange phenomenon.

But then I stumbled up on this pair at TJ Maxx. They only had one pair, in my size, fantastically comfy, in a groovy faux snakeskin/leopard print, for literally half of the retail price. Destiny.

Off to go chase my tots and make some grub all while happily shod ...

If I Could, I'd Dress Like This Gentleman

 Phoenix Zoo, Arizona

Jane Fosters Critter Love

Fast and Tasty

Squash on sale at your local market like mine? Peel, chop and toss with onion, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast 'til squash is soft and starting to brown. Mix with penne pasta, ground sausage, lots of sage, a little bit of cream, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Yum.