Future Projects

Okay, so because my bookmarks are becoming an unorganized mess I've decided to link everything I'd like to do by the end of the year, here.

Bunting Quilt
Using the bunting from our wedding for a new bedspread for our bed.
Rainbow of Butterflies
For my niece Lilly's birthday.
Flower faeries
I thought these would make cute Christmas ornaments.
Felt Fishing Game
Too Cute. I know two little boys who might love these.
Handprint Pillowcase
For the Grandparents


That's a good start.

Menu Monday: Back to Business (Tuesday)

So it was going to be posted yesterday but I was having computer issues, and head-desk issues. So without further ado: 

Okay - enough savoring my birthday week and time to go back to cooking actual meals, not just skating by on grilling a protein and steaming some veggies. It's been hot, so I haven't been wanting to cook, but I'm pretty sure I'm legally obligated to feed my daughter so I've been forcing myself to do so. So, Sunday she and I both went to the farmers market to get inspiration. I let her point to some cherries, "brown grapes" in her language. I'm going to can those bad boys based on this post. I want summer in a jar in the middle of winter, too.
She also pointed to eggplants and asked if they were chocolate. Then looked only more confused when I said they were eggplant. I also got some Yukon gold potatoes, apricots, and grape tomatoes "sweeter than a mother's smile," according to the farmer's sign. I didn't end up cooking the pulled pork last week because of a scheduling error. I ended up being the only one home on Friday so I had Indian food instead. So it's in the slow-cooker for tonight.

Monday - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Oven baked green beans
Tuesday - Mexican Eggplant Casserole with tortillas and re-fried black beans
Wednesday -  Turkey Spaghetti Bolognase and Snap Peas
Thursday - Grilled Parmesan Chicken Skewers over Vegetable Couscous
Friday - Family Pizza Making Night (zucchini, bacon and mushrooms)
Saturday - Leftovers night
Sunday - Farmer's market surprise probably involving the grill.

Project Wrap-up: Kitchen Curtains

So, June's project was making these curtains. I made them, or at least my version. I changed the bows to tabs, and used some of my leftover wedding fabric and some cute white linen embroidered with pairs of cherries.

Sorry about the lighting. Really small space, bad light fixture, bright window all not great when taking pictures. You can get the idea though. I'm going to paint a bakers rack red and add a wood work surface to it, probably a shelf from IKEA. I'm very happy with them. Total cost was $8 dollars for the curtain rod. I had all the other fabric leftover from other projects. So I guess I'm picking red, pink and white for my kitchen.
I feel so happy that I finished the project completely. Next I plan on making some matching quilted trivets and maybe some matching Mommy-Daughter aprons.

Product Review - Black Mission Fig Goat's Milk Ice Cream

So, as someone who should not eat normal ice cream - at least the kind that involves large quantities of whole eggs - I'm always on the look out for new kinds of ice cream. This is especially true when I'm wandering the aisles of my local Whole Foods wondering what three items I can buy for under fifty dollars. When peering through the foggy glass doors of the ice cream aisle, I spied, on the very top shelf,  in a corner, LaLoo's Black Mission Fig Goat's Milk Ice Cream. The ingredients list egg yolks, not whole eggs, so it's good for me. Even better, there are only a total of seven ingredients, as it should be.  Before even going to the website I decided to do my own tasting and really try and focus on the flavors I was getting from it.
First bite, definitely fig newtons. Even the taste of the soft butter flavored cookie outside was coming through from the butter-rich creaminess of the goat's milk. As I continued, I was reminded of eating a good quality coffee ice cream, slightly bitter in a good way. Then peanut butter came to mind with its creamy earthiness. As I kept tasting, I found the the floral aroma of the goat's milk coming through - that combined with the deep burnt sugar taste from the mission figs reminded me almost of Cajeta - without being sickeningly sweet. It is,  without question, the most delicious ice cream I have EVER tasted. I have tasted some ice cream people. I know my ice cream. I will warn you, if you don't like figs or fig newtons, do NOT try this ice cream. The fig flavor is so pure and prominent that it would be wasted on you rather than savored by me. It even has the occasional grit of a seed that is always involved when enjoying a fig newton.
Summary: A fantastic evolution of a childhood snack into an adulthood luxury. I disagree with the website in only one regard; In my opinion the only thing it should be paired with is a spoon.

Whole Foods - $6.99 for a pint
A+++++

Thanksgiving Thursdays

No. I didn't hit my head and wake up thinking today was Thanksgiving. I decided today, after receiving so many thoughtful wishes and surprising gifts yesterday that I would begin a new blog day unique to this blog that tons of other blogs are probably doing. Thanksgiving Thursdays. Well, I could call it Thankful Thursdays, but I like thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday and I think it is close to being put on the endangered list. It sits between its two natural predators, Halloween and Christmas, with very little hope of holding its own unless we intervene. We have a lot to be thankful for. Medicine, Air-conditioning, Tacos...the list is practically infinite. That's the problem. We have tooooo many things. So instead of being thankful, we're complacent. Maybe worse, we're expectant and take most of it for granted. Did I mention coffee?
Anyway, so Thursdays are now my little day in the middle of my little week where I am going to stop and think(like Dora!) and remember some of the things I am truly thankful for.
I can't teach Ruby to say thank you and mean it if I don't understand and practice the concept myself. Not convincingly at least...and lately she's got to be convinced of EVERYTHING.

So This Thursday's Ten Things I am Thankful For:
1. The Internet
2. The Power that brings me and provides the internet
3. That my daughter's favorite vegetable is peas. (That she has a favorite vegetable.)
4. That my husband has a job, and works it solely for his family.
5. Refrigeration
6. Corn dogs
7. Hugs
8. My friends remembering my birthday in all of their own unique ways.
9. Quiet time
10. Gentle Breezes

Menu Monday: The Blueberry Edition

Went to the farmers market yesterday and found one of the vendors selling California plums. Complete with code stickers on them like the ones found in the grocery store. Not awesome. I don't think they should be allowed to do that. A farmer's market is for local produce. We have plums in Wisconsin and Michigan. Not yet, but in a couple weeks. The whole point of the market is to sell fresh local produce that is in season. It made me sad because the same vendor has the sweetest most delicious cantaloupe I've even had. I dream about it in the winter. Watermelon is awesome too. The melons are local, like thirty minutes away. It broke my heart a little. Did buy the watermelon though. Can't wait to break into that puppy.

Also picked up some yellow wax and some green beans, black raspberries, fresh red onions, cabbage, split-pit peaches, sugar snap peas, and a tomato. Yum.

Monday - BLTS with Apple Coleslaw Salad
Tuesday - Fish Tacos, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Corn on the cob
Wednesday - Spaghetti Pie
Thursday - Beef and Green Bean Stir fry with noodles
Friday - Family Pizza Night
Saturday - Burgers and Hot dogs
Sunday - Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I've got Blueberries and Black Raspberries to deal with. Here's some things I'm thinking about doing with them: 
Chicken with Blueberry Salsa
Blueberry Buckle
Classic Blueberry Muffins

Weekend Getaway

So the second scheduled field trip of the month was a success. We went to the lake house. For Ruby's sake we brought along a brand spankin' new sprinkler that propels balls into the air using a jet of water. It's pretty cool.

Look at my awesome new sprinkler!!!

Then we went canoeing in a lake with jet skis and power boats pulling tubers and water skiers. That was an adventure. The whole time Ruby said we were looking for treasure and a pirate ship. She even brought along a treasure map.

Look Mom! Like Dora!


We had a pretty good time. Very relaxing.

Ten Things that I learned on this trip:
1. I am good a canoeing.
2. Being around water relaxes me.
3. I love driving around trying to find cool stuff in strange places.
4. I still love my daughter's laugh.
5. My daughter has no fear.
6. My husband and I passed the dreaded canoeing/communication test with flying colors.
7. Hippies can't make sandwiches.
8. I love my bed.
9. I love my family.
10. Everything is going to be all right.

Menu Monday:The Birthday Edition

In an effort to observe my birthday and that it's way too hot to eat/cook/breathe, this week's menu is brought to you by the letter L, for lazy.

Monday: Fishsticks, Sweet Potato Fries, Peas, Watermelon. 
all courtesy of Trader Joes (except the watermelon)
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken, Blueberry Salsa, Spinach and Whole Wheat Orzo
Wednesday: My Birthday - Going out for Mexican
Thursday:  Grilled Turkey Cutlets, Jasmine Rice with Corn, Asparagus, and Carrots
Friday: Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Green Beans
Saturday: Chicken Apple Sausages, Broccoli Slaw with Blueberries
Sunday: Crawfish Boil at my Boss's house

I like to think he's throwing that crawfish boil for me...I know it's just good timing. So I'll pretend it's the universe throwing me a party.

Et tu motivation?

Motive[moh-tiv]  according to dictionary.com

-noun

1.something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.

2.the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.

3.(in art, literature, and music) a motif.

 –adjective

4.causing, or tending to cause, motion.

5.pertaining to motion.

6.prompting to action.

7.constituting a motive or motives.

 –verb (used with object)

8.to motivate.

 

What makes us go? What makes us do? Besides food, warmth, and water - why do most people do what they do every day? Most of the things we do daily or are supposed to do, for some reason, aren't only for food, warmth and water. Why then? 

I'm asking this question because my daughter is starting ask this question. 

Why can't she touch everything?

Why can't she go up to strangers that she greets as, "Hi friends?"

Why can't she have a freezer pop for breakfast?

Why does she have to go to bed?

Why can't she have a hang-glider for her birthday?

Sure I can give reasons for why or why not that are rational and sensible explanations but I honestly have no idea why she can't do any of those things. Just like I have no idea why I have to do any of the things I have to do. So, what's my motive? What is making me do the things I do or not do the things I don't do? What's your motive? Maybe that's the difference between happy people and unhappy people. Happy people have a motive. A reason for doing the things they do, other than because that's what's expected. Ruby doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do. Three-year-olds can't be expected to do anything. They won't do it if they don't want to or don't understand why they shouldn't - even then it better be a really good reason like it's scary or a potential owie. You might get them to do it with some incentive but don't ever count on it. I'm starting to think that three-year-olds seem as bad as they do because three is the year that we as parents begin to expect things from them that they aren't capable of doing. We get frustrated and wonder why they aren't conforming to our world, or listening to what we say, or acting the way we want them to be. When I read that sentence it seems like a viscous cycle to me. Aren't we like that even as adults? Sixty-year-olds look at thirty-year-olds with the same contempt. Thirty-year-olds look at teenagers with the same eye-roll and head shake that I give my child daily. No one will ever be the person WE want them to be. No one will ever be the person I want them to be. All Ruby will ever be is the person she wants to be. I'm just the salesperson giving her the costumes to try on before she decides. 

So Mr. DeMille, before my close up, What's my motivation? Who am I in this scene?

Blueberries and Birthdays

Today we FINALLY went blueberry picking. This is what I asked to do to celebrate my upcoming birthday. We went to a little family run place about and hour away from home called Valley Orchard.
I'm so glad I went searching yesterday one last time to triple check that there weren't two hours south of us.

Look Mom! Strawberries!

I spent about a half hour picking blueberries while J spent the half hour wrangling Ruby, occasionally picking a stray blueberry, either from the bushes or other stranger's buckets. It was quick but fun. We went home with about a quart of blueberries. Not a lot, but plenty for the three of us considering only one of us eats blueberries. Ruby vehemently dislikes berries of all kinds and calls anything resembling a berry a strawberry. This of course is only in my presence. For her babysitter, she eats strawberries. For her Grandmother, she eats blueberries. For me, she eats cookies.

All in all I had a nice experience. I got to see what blueberry bushes looked like. I got to taste a fresh berry from the bush. I got to feel the sun on my skin, hear my girl 'make friends,' and walked away with a quart of blueberries for all under five dollars.

Real Blueberries

So far, the end of my thirtieth year is looking pretty good. A nice quiet trip planned for next weekend. Going out on my birthday courtesy of a friend. My boss is even having a crawfish boil the weekend after my birthday that I am jokingly referring to as my, "birthday boil." July is looking pretty sweet.

July Syllabus

July. My birth month. My Month. Starts with independence, parades, and fireworks. Has some grilling, cherries, berries, sun and family fun in the middle. Ends with presents and a celebration of me and all of my awesomeness.
Okay, so I like July. Realistically. It's hot, humid and almost always end up with a sunburn, but hey...it's summer and that's how it's supposed to be.

Whitewater WI 4th of July Parade




Field trips scheduled for this month:
I am determined to go Blueberry picking. There are some farms west of us and a little south. That may happen next weekend but we'll see. There's really only a month worth of Blueberry season and it's been open a week now. Pressure is on people.

We'll be taking another trip to J's parents summer house, on a lake in Wisconsin. We went for a big family gathering for the Fourth of July weekend. We all had a great time. No phone, no internet, no TV. That's what I'll be doing in honor of my birthday. A nice quiet family getaway to bond as a family. How nice is that?

"Hi Grandpa, do you like parades too?"


On to the Syllabus:

Personal Project for July

Since I went through all my magazines last month and now have a mags worth of recipes I'm interested in trying, I feel like I need to put them together somehow. Organize them. Maybe in a binder of some kind. Though not a binder because I think that's ugly. This project will take a trip to the office supply store to check out my options.

House Project for July

Finish the curtains, hang them in the kitchen window. Find new desk, table, workspace to make cooking dinner with Ruby, safer, easier and more fun. Maybe some new pot holders and an apron.

Group Goal for July - Exercise/Activity

I want to get out, once a week, all three of us and walk, bike, play lawn games, kick a soccer ball, or even just my Roo's favorite game of 'runa round.' Acceptable activities include going to the botanic gardens, walking in the forest preserves. Going to a field park and kicking the soccer ball for at least and hour. I know J and I aren't getting enough activity and I'm starting to think Roo would be a little more compliant sometimes if she was a little more worn out toward the end of the day.
To encourage this goal, I am instituting a no TV on Sunday, before 6pm, policy. If I said all day, J and I would never get to watch our shows together. We barely have time to now and we really enjoy the time together.

I am continuing the cleaning schedule I cam up with last month. Seems to work well. I'm also going to continue to try and not throw out leftovers. Speaking of leftovers, Menu to follow.

"Ruby loves swimming and Grandma"

Menu Monday and a PSA

 Public Service Announcement: 
From now on Brine your Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. 
If you choose not to listen to me, fine. Your loss. I have recently started to brine them and I now feel as though I have been missing out on delicious, moist, flavorful chicken breast my whole life. No more rubber protein source for me thank you very much. Next week I'll be trying it with Pork chops. Yum.


As for this week:
 
Monday - Fish and Chips (Oven roasted potato wedges) with Peas
(didn't have these Saturday as we ate at J's parents cabin that night)
Tuesday - Grilled Chicken, Black beans and Rice, Carrots with honey and lime.
Wednesday - Turkey Chili Cottage Fries
Thursday - Caesar Pasta Salad with broiled Chicken breasts
Friday - Date night cook-in (edit:Sandwiches and a "Lost" marathon)
Saturday - Papa-Grill Hot Dogs, and 'Mac an Cheese' (A Ruby request)
Sunday - Farmer's market bounty mystery meal
Edit: Grilled Peaches and Pork Chops, Sugar snap peas and beerbread


Nothing too exciting. We're pretty much at the mercy of my fridge and pantry until Friday when we can go grocery shopping. Still sounds pretty acceptable, though. Yay me for my stocked supplies!

June Report Card - Solid B

Farewell Month of June. Filled with Family, Father's Day, Farmer's Markets and FUN! 
Apparently, June was brought to us by the letter, F. Thankfully that does not also reflect the grade I'll be giving myself this month.

Goal #1
This month my personal project includes making a new bag for myself.
DONE!!

 

Goal #2
My house project will be new curtains for the kitchen.
Partial Credit.  I have finished one panel of the two. The other is pinned and ready to sew and will be finished today. Since today is technically a Holiday Monday, I'm taking it as a "teacher work day" and doing some extra credit on my holiday to bump my grade up a little.


Group Assignment Goal for the month: NO THROWING AWAY LEFTOVERS!!! 
Done. We threw out one small container of one portion of a stir-fry because it was originally intended for my lunch the day after having it for dinner, but I got a little bit of a stomach bug. Even though J and Roo didn't experience the same thing therefore ruling out the food as a possible culprit, I was gun shy and threw it away to be better safe than sorry.

I finished the Great Magazine Clean Out. Going from having about 40 magazines to about the size of ones worth of pages. My cleaning schedule has slacked off this week. I'm blaming to holiday and a little more stress than usual. Though even in that slacking it's nothing like it used to get.


For the Month of June, I'm going to give myself a Solid B. There was effort, mostly success, clear goals and working toward them. Some things were left off but overall I believe the was a general understanding of the assignments.