It's time!

I can hardly contain my excitement! It's March and I have my Martha Stewart Living magazine (special gardening issue) in hand and it clearly states...It's time to start planting!

And if Martha Stewart says it's time, then it must be time! 


Obediently I pulled out my graph paper and quickly sketched a plan for my vegetable garden. It's a sloppy sketch I know, but it's time, so I felt I needed to hustle!

Then I hurried to check and see if I had all of the seeds I needed...it's time you know!

Now, I am all set. I have my garden plan. I have my seeds. Now all I need...is spring to arrive in Minnesota!  

It's time!


Christine

Sewing class #1

I am a total crafter wanna be, so when the girls told me they wanted to learn to sew I was ecstatic! They want to be crafty too! Yippee! 


Because I have more desire to be crafty that actual skill, I purchased the book Sewing School to help me teach them (and me) the basics of sewing.

We invited the girl's good friend, the lovely Miss Em to join us and filled our sewing boxes with all of the necessary equipment, minus our first projects: an apple shaped pin cushion and a needle book. These projects taught us how to use a pattern,

how to sew on a button,

and how to hand-sew a running stitch.

As a bonus we learned that having Band-Aids in our sewing kits is a good thing. No blood this time, just a small needle poke, but we'd like to be prepared, just in case! And we realized it's manicure time...for all of us!


All in all we had a great time.

Our projects turned out very nicely...if I do say so myself.

As teacher of this little sewing class, I gave everyone an A+! I didn't even have to send anyone to the Principal's office. Whew!!


I can't wait for next weeks class!


Christine

Sugar and spice

Girls are made of sugar and spice...or so the saying goes.  

I agree, but I would also add...a dash of drama,

a pinch of fantasy,

a splash of pink,

a smidgen of silly,

and a whole lotta ROCK STAR!

Now that's what my girls are made of!!


Christine

The recipe file

This is my recipe folder. Yep, I know. It's very full. 

I enjoy finding new recipes. But, I am a creature of habit. Therefore I find new recipes much more regularly than I make them. I have a tendency to fall back on the tried and true meals I know my family will like. I can't stop collecting new ones though. You see, magazines like to supply a photo along with a recipe, which makes the food look so good, that before I know it, I have added another recipe to my file. 

To clear out my overflowing recipe file, I have decided that I am going to attempt one of the new recipes every week...every other week...why don't we just say, as often as I can. Once I have made a recipe, and if the family approves it, I will immediately write it on a recipe card and file it in my recipe box! If it is not approved, in the trash it goes. I should have this mess under control in no time! Right?

The first recipe I cleared out was pan-seared pork with potatoes and lemon from Martha Stewart's Everyday Foods. It's a one skillet meal. Gotta love that! I used my big electric skillet which is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. My absolute favorite is my beautiful, red Kitchen Aide mixer. I think I'm getting off track. OK, Pan-seared pork.

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil on med-hi heat in skillet. Add 1 pound of red potatoes that have been cut into 1/2 in cubes (I used plain old brown potatoes—still good!); season with salt and pepper. Cook tossing occasionally, until golden brown. (8-10 min)

Once browned, add 1/2 cup of water; cover and cook until potatoes are tender and water has evaporated. (5 min) Then add 3 scallions that have been cut into 1 in long pieces. (1 min) (I also added a few I had left over that had been chopped, it was fine!)Transfer to a bowl and keep warm. I put my potatoes in an oven safe bowl that I placed in the warm oven.

Cut a 1 pound pork tenderloin crosswise into 12 equal slices. Press slices between hands to flatten evenly. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in the same skillet over med-hi heat. Cook pork slices until browned, 1-2 min per side. While pork begins to cook, thinly slice one lemon. 

Wearing the red nail polish for this photo may not have been the best choice, but it is a really pretty color and super sparkly! I did not cut my thumb.

Add lemon slices during the last 2 min of cooking.

Serve pork with lemons and potatoes. If you like, top the meal with cilantro. The family does not like...I skipped the cilantro.

This meal got a four thumbs up from the family! I highly recommend it. It is quick and easy and delicious!

The recipe is now written on one of the lovely recipe cards given to me by a good girlfriend and placed in my recipe box. 

Yippee! One down...only a file full to go!

Christine

I love my man reason #10,001

It's Science Fair project time for Emma bean. The Science Fair is a requirement at our elementary school for all fourth and fifth graders. I am ashamed to say it, but I get stress hives just thinking about the Science Fair!


The first time we experienced the fair was when Sofia was in fourth grade. She came home with a packet of information explaining what was expected of each student. I may have panicked ever so slightly as I began to consider all that would be involved. She'd need to; choose an area of study, research it, write a report, determine how to conduct an experiment, build any necessary structures for the experiment etc,etc,etc. Let's face it, this was something most fourth and fifth graders wouldn't be able to do on their own.

Please don't get me wrong. I think the Science Fair is a wonderful learning opportunity for students...it is also a lot of extra work...homework...for the parents. I am already responsible for making sure the girls do their daily homework, and help them if they are struggling, and regularly the school sends work home specifically for me...sign this form, fill out that form, read this, and print out that. I also have a daily list of my own "home" work to do...laundry, clean, help at school, make meals etc,etc,etc. Adding a Science Fair project, on top of everything else, was too much!  


I may have had a bit of a rant that day. Maybe. I don't remember for sure. Whatever happened, Jason, being incredibly supportive, offered to be in charge of the science project and he has been helping the girls with them ever since.


He patiently listens to all of their wild experiment ideas, and helps the girls settle on something doable. Then he pulls out the tools...well, not all projects need tools...Beans project needed tools. They are studying inertia. I know nothing more. I am not about to interfere! He has it under control!

He and Bean worked all last Saturday afternoon. He taught her the proper way to use sand paper—with the grain—and how to use a drill.(No actual drilling was done in this shot, she just really wanted her photo taken) Bean delighted in time spent working with her Daddy!

Lilo tried to help, but she bores easily and gave up after only a few minutes. She hasn't admitted it, but I think Science Fair projects stress her out too!

Jason and Bean were both very proud of their finished, working model. What it does...I don't know yet. They are doing just fine without me.

With the model completed, the two of them will move on to writing up the report and tacking the support materials onto a presentation board. Voila, they will be done. Jason and Bean will have had some awesome Daddy and daughter time and I will not have hives! I love my man!!


Christine

The spring line

It would appear that I am raising a couple of budding fashion designers.


When I opened iphoto on my Mac the other day, I found, what I have no doubt is what we will be seeing on the red carpet in the near future!


I suspect this will be worn by an actress, whose career is just beginning to bloom. With her incredible fashion sense, she is likely to be around for a while.

Some actress, who is trying to revive a career that has begun to dry up, will make a splash in this little number.

This fabulous piece will be worn by the hottest star in town! Hopefully she won't be just a flash in the pan!

And this will be seen on the girl, who feels lucky to be walking down the red carpet, arm in arm, with the most popular actor of the evening.

Though I have some sewing skills and can offer some assistance, I have no idea how the girls will execute these particular designs, but I will encourage them with the same words used by the fashionable and fabulous Tim Gunn..."Make it work!" Then I will go in search of flame retardant thread!


Would you believe...they even have Lady Gaga covered!

Christine

The happiest place on earth

Last summer, my parents took me, Jason, and the girls to Walt Disney World. We were so excited. We were getting to go to the happiest place on earth!

True to all of the advertising, Disney World was magical. We saw princesses, we went on rides, we watched parades and we even met Mickey Mouse. Disney knows fun!

Three days into our vacation we received news that a friend had died in a tragic accident. Not even the happiest place on earth, with all of it's parades, balloons and Disney magic could prevent heartache and loss. We put on happy faces and did our best to enjoy what we could of the rest of our trip for the girls. We did not share the news with them because we wanted them to have joyful memories of their time in Disney World and we knew they would spend the remainder of the trip worried about us if we told them. Disney characters and rides, no matter how spectacular, provided little comfort to grieving souls.


We did find comfort though. Broken hearted, yet in the happiest place on earth, we were reminded in the most unexpected and surprising way that our true and lasting happiness could be found in only one place. Twice while we were in Disney World, once before we heard the sad news and once again after, we witnessed a sky writer leaving three messages in the sky: U + God = :) , Trust Jesus and God loves you. 

I am increasingly amazed whenever I think about the perfect timing of that skywriter. His message reminded me that God will keep me in perfect peace when my mind is stayed on Him: because I trust in Him.(Isaiah 26:3) He knows the pain I am suffering and I can rely on Him in every circumstance. He is trustworthy!


Though I may not understand it, He has a plan, a purpose, and if I allow it, He will work good out of even the worst situation. And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God. (Romans 8:28) Knowing that God can and will work for good in my life and the lives of those I love is the place of true happiness.


I am deeply saddened over the loss of my friend and I would be lying if I said I have never asked God why. Sometimes He allows things I would prefer He not allow, but my faith is not just for today. My faith is for eternity. And though I grieve, I also have joy because I walk with the Lord and He promises comfort!


Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

Image by Ann Tristani

Christine