Monthly Archives: July 2014
ode to the modest cottage
It is too wonderful, isn't it? We came across this cottage while walking a larger estate last weekend. I loved every little thing about it from the geraniums to sheep grazing nearby to the quirky fence. The best part was around back however….
“I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give."
Thomas Jefferson
cooking my way through… paleo perfection
I am cooking my way through Well Fed Paleo and we were well fed tonight! Like, I am over the moon giddy happy because, frankly, food and I do not always play nice together. Since there was a bag of (cheap) frozen chicken tenderloins in the freezer and a head of cauliflower handy we made The Best Chicken You'll Ever Eat complete with the Moroccan dipping sauce and the basic faux rice.
It came together quickly which is important because I have an exceptionally short food prep attention span. (as in, natural and healthy food is important to me but goll' darn, let's not take all day with it 'cause we've got things to do!) Last night I had bagged up the chicken in the brine. Tonight I just had to toss it in the spice mix and sautee it (the grill is out of gas). Bonus was that the brine totally saved the cheapie chicken which tends to run on the tough side. Remember that part.
We had a little pre-dinner pep talk because not all my kids eat anything spicy. They were all cooperative tonight. Probably because at the end of this all natural dinner there was leftover birthday cookie cake Alannah brought home from work. Conflict of interest? Who cares.
In the end they gobbled the chicken down in no time. The faux rice I didn't have to fight anyone for but it was a pretty exciting for me because I do miss the nutty crunchy texture of pilaf. (I am not a diet fanatic – I truly can't eat starch)
Anyway, big surprise was that Abbie got a second piece of chicken. Abbie is the Mikey of our family if you are old enough to remember this. We were every bit as amazed when she reached for seconds.
Initial thoughts would be that this book reminds me of the more practical cookbooks I have had over the years. Less complicated staple dishes. In other words these are the types of recipes we will most likely use most often. Good practical food. With no canned soups or sugar. So far, so good.
twenty
We are celebrating first's and last's at every turn right now. Tomorrow, a new decade. She slipped right out of childhood gracefully, quietly.
catch a wave
“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world."
Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams
It was the beach trip that almost wasn't. We had already had a couple full days of sightseeing after all. "We can be home by dinner time if we head back now…" It was decided that we would eat our boxed lunch in the shade and sit for a few minutes and reassess.
After our break we loaded kids and dogs and headed out, resigned to wrapping up our trip if the Dad driver needed to. But after a few miles I noticed the car was not pointing north after all. Instead, the buildings began sporting pastel hues and we spotted the occasional palm tree even. Yes – in England!
And then, the water came into view and all talk of heading home was long forgotten.
This was waterfront in Hastings and the 'sand' was manmade. More like a super thick layer pea gravel actually. No one was complaining though. At the end of that trek were icy white topped waves to splash through on a warm day. After they were all splashed out we explored the boardwalk area and hit up the ice cream stand. After which some very happy kids piled into the car and dozed all the way home, windows down and wind blowing hair dry.
a noble task
"Man has a noble task:
That of prayer and love.
To pray and love, that is the happiness of man on earth."
St Jean Baptiste Vianney
On our road trip to Leeds for a dance competition we squeezed in a few field trips. The big surprise was the Thackeray medical museum. We planned very last minute and the museum randomly pulled up in a list of local sights. I am glad I clicked on that link because this sleeper attraction was worth every penny.
The first part of our tour was the "Streets of Old Leeds" which I expected to be much like the much loved "Streets of Old Milwaukee" from my childhood museum. Yeah, but no. Truly this was one of the most realistic and disturbing recreations I've ever been through. Unique to this place was the smell. They piped in exceptionally realistic stench which had us a bit gaggy. There was audio too. Wailing animals and chopping sounds at the blood stained slaughter house, moans of the sick, vendors hawking their wares. At several points the little ones jumped or gasped or turned for an exit and Moira and I were half-tempted to do the same. We are glad we pushed through though. It made an impression few book explanations could have. If you are interested there is a virtual tour here. Without smell-avision you will have to take our word for the rest.
There were fabulous displays of vintage medical equipment and medications, complete with explanations of the procedures and how they've evolved. Lots of film footage was available. Just truly fascinating even for kids.
My only gripe came while I was completely engrossed in the maternity section reading the stories and seeing all the apparatus used over the years. The exhibit closed with huge quotes on the displays which led one to the conclusion that "people who love children only have one or two because you could never do enough for more." To which I just reminded children of mine – numbers 5, 8 and 9 – that love multiplies, it does not divide.
splash
This morning we had the great summer toy box purge. That went well so we moved on to tackle the indoor/outdoor half bath that was added to the outside of the house for farm staff years ago. (insert shudder) Meantime, the sun and the temperature were rising – a rare combination here. So we finished up and spent the rest of the day focused on vitamin D absorption. For a while there, if I closed my eyes, I could have been in the tropics. I think. I haven't actually been to the tropics, so it's just a guess.
It has been a big week. Doctor appointments, eye appointments, one sick child, one traveling parent, and two working daughters. It was pure joy to spend these hours just watching them smile with no place to be but right here.
sunrise
"That time of day when the sun hasn't come up yet but you can already feel it coming. It's an elusive warmth, like a subtle promise whispered in your ear, and you can go on with your day knowing you've been given another chance to get it right."
– Cassia Leo
changeless and calm
When I walked over to the pasture fence I thought again about the prayer I read earlier in the day:
"Help me to become wholly forgetful of self, that I may be immovably rooted in Thee, as changeless and calm as though my soul were already in eternity. May nothing disturb my peace…"
Starry Sky Journal 