18 February 2014

Tinkering



My babies are in bed, as I should be too, but instead I am tinkering away at another hat.  Tis the year of hats.  I am so happy though to have the desire, enthusiasm and energy to be making them.  After being pregnant and going through a bit of a funk, it is not something I take for granted anymore.  



We had a lovely weekend at the Dormition monastery.  I would love so much to bottle up the immense help and benefit we receive there to have  it at my disposal for those days... those gray , overcast days.  I'm sure I could live there.  I dream of living there!  Even my children hate leaving and beg to stay.  I see them enveloped in such spiritual warmth and wholesome activity that I am at peace.  They themselves are quieted inside and we all come back with a greater inner stillness.  



And as I look around me and take stock - the mountain of laundry that needs folding, the floors that need washing, the dishes that need washing - I come back to earth zealously with a purpose!  There are things that need doing, my friends!  And I am up for the job, though I work on a slow-and-steady-wins-the-race policy.  I actually enjoy being profitably busy without the stress of deadlines.  After all, we have managed, J and I, to finish dinner for tonight and Thursday!  There is creamy chicken and broccoli, and prime rib roast (still roasting in the oven) with potatoes and salad.  Thank God.  When meals are done, I am almost always stress-free.

Wishing you a stress-free week too!  




CREAMY CHICKEN & BROCCOLI BÉCHAMEL

This is my own improvised recipe and I think of it as a kind of blank slate, so feel free to tweak it according to your own tastes. 

4-5 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed
1 package frozen broccoli (I also use the broccoli + cauliflower mix)

BÉCHAMEL SAUCE:

3 Tbsp butter
1 3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup flour
salt and pepper, to taste
3 tsp dried sweet basil

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in medium saucepan.  Add flour and whisk until smooth.  Cook for 2 minutes on medium heat whisking constantly.  Whisk in milk until smooth and cook on high, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens.  Remove from heat.  Add basil and salt and pepper to taste.  

Place chicken and broccoli in a large casserole dish.  Pour béchamel sauce overtop, toss to combine and cover casserole with aluminum foil.  Bake until chicken is cooked through.  


10 February 2014

A smattering of Monday




It's Monday.  I'd rather prefer Friday, but I'll take it!   I finished my owl hat.  It's a nice change to be crossing things off my list instead of adding them on.  But then again, adding is so much fun...





J and I made a big batch of play-dough this morning.  It's been a while.  The kids love anything to do with dough.  I haven't made play-dough in so long because we make savoury dough so often - they get their fix while helping me bake in the kitchen.  (And I get two birds with one stone!)  But today we did play-dough.

My only lament is the state my floors.  Play-dough and carpets are not fun to clean.

Speaking of cleaning, I wonder sometimes how other people clean their homes.  Is there a routine involved, or it's just a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants affair?  I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but during most weeks, a mood will strike me.  It's a sort of nesting instinct minus the pregnancy.  It's a primal "I MUST clean" feeling.  I cannot rest or eat or make anything until it is appeased.  There is no logic involved.  Just me and the mop.  (Or sponge.)  And that is how my house gets cleaned!  Well, almost.  I try to do a chore a day so that it's not a huge affair come the weekend.  Usually it works.  Sometimes it doesn't.

But that's another story.

6 February 2014

Tidbits for the soul

 I came into the room this morning and this is what I saw.  J was playing dress-up with S.  (Oh ya, ya gotta love those two holes she's put in the toes of that sleeper, eh?)  Ya, they were having a ball together... no pun intended.  Adorable!



We've been having some pretty bad winter storms this past while.  It is beautiful though afterwards.  The trees are veritably enrobed in snow and there's a pristine quietness in the air.  Here's a view from our balcony of the last storm to hit.  


 This is the fox mask I made for M.  A little primitive and done on the fly - I had a dozen owl masks to finish people!  Thankfully, my son does not seem to mind.  He's now asking for a pirate patch and a wolf mask.  I can't win with that kid.  As much as I'd love to sit around all day making things (hello, dream come true!), there is work that needs attending.  For instance, dishes do not wash themselves.  And last I checked, dinner has never spontaneously made itself.  Don't even get me started on the laundry.  Laundry actually does move by itself.  It moves upwards that is, at an exponential rate.  

So, I think I'll put mask-making on the back burner for the time being.  




I was forced to make a couple peg people this evening though.  The kids wanted to make their own in fact.  So I let them.  They went to town and covered their pieces from top to bottom in paint.  Then Mom was solicited to "fix" them.  "Princess" and "soldier" were my orders.  So I spent my after-hours making these cuties.  I'm sure they'll both love theirs.  Too much so that I'm bound to be bombarded by orders for more.  Especially M.  He'll want a whole battalion of soldiers so they can have a war.  (Is it me, or are all boys like this?)

Anyhow, that's the story of why the stuffed grape leaves never got done.  *sigh*


I have been reading an excellent book that I just have to pass along.  It's called: Hold Onto Your Kids, by Gordon Neufeld.  Great read for parents, teachers, caregivers and basically anyone who works or deals with children.  Definitely changed my perspective on a few things for sure.  And I'm pretty sure most public libraries carry it.  At least that's what I hear.  (And that's where this baby came from too!)

So, that's me for now.  A bit of this and that in the goings on department.  

A few more tidbits to share...

  • This shop is dangerous.  I especially love those seasonal craft boxes.  What a great idea!  I should make up a few for the kids... especially with all the spare time I have.  *sigh*
  • I'm dying to get a hold of this book.  A sweet little story for kiddies, a lovely collection of patterns for mama.  
  • M and J have been really into owls, amongst other things, this past little while.  I was trolling around etsy and found these little darlings.  I wish I knew how to felt.  One day...  (As if my to do list needs any lengthening.)    
  • While I'm on the topic of animals, I've been wanting to crochet a hedgehog ever since I saw one on one of my favourite sites.  This little critter is by far the cutest I've seen, yes?  
  • As if I'm not "hatted" out, my son has requested this furry friend.  Can't blame him, but yeesh!  
  • These are the slippers my kids dream of.  Happily, this is a dream I can make come true!  Hurray for dreams and hurray for more yarn projects!  

3 February 2014

A little older, a little wiser


We've been keeping busy these past few weeks with some projects.  They've been very absorbing - too much so to put down.  

The kids are really into masks, especially M.  He loves playing pretend and a mask makes it that much better!  I made a fox mask for him, and then we made a whole bunch of owl masks.  They were so much fun to make.  I think designing them is my favourite part.  And the help along the way from various family members (ie: babysitting and cutting felt) made them easy to finish.  

Can I just say it out loud?  I love making things!  Ok, I'm done.



Today my little girl turns 3.  My sweet little one.  Three years ago we held her tiny self in our arms for the first time and we fell in love.  She is her father's daughter.  The first to kiss him in the mornings; the first to run to him when he comes from work; his first playmate and confidant.  She brings sunshine and curls to our lives.  Our girl.  

She wanted a pink owl cake.  Pink owl cake it is.  I should take a cake decorating class.  One day my decorating skills (or lack thereof) will be inadequate for their tastes.  Thankfully, pleasing a 3 year old is easy.  A pink cake, some jello, maybe throw in a tiara and poof.  Happiness!  



Hoping that as she grows ever older, her happiness will not depend on grandeur, but on the simple.  Happy Monday to you!