Aaannnd....Finished!

 We have had busy fingers around here. My good friend Emily put in an order for her sister's baby shower. She wanted fifteen coaster sets as party gifts (that amounts to 60 coasters for those counting) and I happily mixed and matched fabrics from my stockpile. This is the first time I have put together a miniature "trunk show" for a crowd. I am pretty excited. Oh, and we included some bibs and burp cloths for baby. Now we just have to package these up and ship them off to Illinois. Then it's on to the next baby sewing project I'm anxious to start.

Homework

  With spring just around the corner, my thoughts have naturally turned to the great outdoors. So these gardening books follow me when I take a break to nurse Adelaide. Only just now I do not have a green thumb. In fact I have been known to kill a plant or two. My best hope is Rebecca Cole's practical, fun book shown in the photo. She makes me feel like maybe I can do this whole gardening thing after all. Which is good because we have a lot of work ahead! We just bought a house last April and the yard is a mess. Last summer we uprooted at least a dozen stumps, "cleared" some holly and blackberry bushes (which are back with a vengeance), pruned trees, and planted some flowers. I imagine a lady in  her second trimester desperately hacking away thistles gave the neighbors a good laugh. This year I would love a vegetable/herb garden, flowers, a table and chairs for the patio, and a strategically placed spot for reading and watching the kids. Step one: Envision the space as it will be. You know, after the weeds have been cleared.

 Can anyone suggest other helpful resources for beginning gardeners? I would love to hear from you!

Hurry, Hurry

I know most of you are anxious for spring. Trust me, we are too. But when we woke up this morning, we were pretty excited to see large snow flakes falling from the sky. I  told Lucy it would not stick because the ground was wet. Fifteen minutes later we abandoned our morning chores to gather our snow gear and rush out the door. Better enjoy the trace of snow before it melts, because here in the northwest that's how we roll. One minute the snow is on the ground, and the next time you look out the window, it is gone. I learned growing up that if you want to enjoy the snow, it's best to drop everything and head outside. Even in the middle of the night. Even if it is a school night. You go.

Stir it with a Dance

A recipe for a good day: a crackling fire, good music, and lentil soup. I recommend dancing in the kitchen while stirring.

 I have never made lentil soup and was pleased with the results.  I will say it might be a good idea next time to serve it with bread or salad for added sustenance. I also want to add a yam next time, but was not willing to sacrifice my last one just yet. Otherwise, this was an easy meal to prepare while the kids colored at the table and thanked Daddy for the cozy fire. Ahhh… I love days like these.

Lentil Soup (Thanks Omi for the inspiration)

1-2 T olive oil

1 onion chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 c dry green lentils

About a dozen baby carrots or 4 medium carrots

3 celery stalks, chopped

4 large mushrooms, sliced

5 cups water

3 ½ T Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base

1 T Parsley

Salt and Pepper to Taste

¼ head cabbage cut into thin strips

Gorgonzola Cheese

Directions: Heat the olive oil in a large pot and saute the onion and garlic, about 5 minutes. Add the lentils and stir for a minute. Then pour in the water and add the chicken base, water, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and parsley. Cover and let cook on low for about 25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with cabbage and some crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Yum!

First Things First

Quilt for Lu

The other day I decided to try a new curried sweet potato soup recipe I spotted on a favorite blog of mine rosylittlethings. Along with the soup I even ventured to make the biscuits, which, surprisingly, I have never made. Since both turned out to be a hit, I am adding them to the recipe book and searching for other recipes to whip together.

That dinner is, in part, what inspired this blog. I have a long list of things I have wanted to make, bake, sew, knit, and try. Including learning how to sew my first zipper and draft my first pattern for a summer skirt. Or design a garden in my backyard. Fortunately some gardening projects will enrich our homeschooling endeavors, another first this year. Ambitious?  Absolutely. But I am excited to try and maybe learn from some mistakes along the way. First things first. We need lunch tomorrow and already I have an idea. I’ll let you know how it turns out.