A toast to one whole year! It's Unexpected Daisies blogaversary!!
I absolutely can't believe it!
I thought for sure I wouldn't make it 6 months.
But I'm still blogging! Been blogging a whole year!!!
And I will admit...I like it! It's been fun!
I've enjoyed sharing the silly, and the everyday. I've even enjoyed sharing the not so silly, sometimes emotional and difficult as well.
You have been very kind readers.
And readers from all over! What a thrill it is to have readers from not only the United States, but also from Russia, Germany, Canada, Singapore, Israel, Brazil, India and several other countries. Please forgive me if I didn't specifically name your country...the list is getting long, and listed or not I am so grateful that you take the time to read this blog!
I'm also so very thankful for family and friends who offer so much encouragement and support! You are the best!!
Most importantly, I have to thank the Husband. Without his insistence I would never have even begun to blog. He said he thought I should blog. He said he thought I would be very good at blogging. He said he thought I would enjoy blogging. I thought he was crazy. So here...for all to see...I say...ahem...
The Husband was right!
And I love him for being a man who can accept that humbly and without the need to gloat.
Anyway...
I love you all for reading Unexpected Daisies!
I look forward the another wonderful year of blogging, and I hope to hear from you and get to know you better too!
Christine
My eldest. My Sofi Bug. I love this photo of her! She looks so very grown-up. I hate that she's already so very grown-up! (sniff)
She's participating in the school's production of Mulan this weekend. It's all so very exciting! I can't wait to see her and her classmates perform!
She has always been one for the dramatics!
It's one of the things I love about her!
But as exciting as it is, it's going to make for a CRAZY schedule for the next five days, with little time to catch our breath!
Miss Sofia has a late practice tonight, a later practice Thursday night, for which a bunch of us parents will be bringing in dinner for all of our busy actors. She'll have her first performance Friday Morning as well as a Friday evening performance, I get to help hair and makeup! Fun! There is another performance Saturday evening. The Family, with Grandparents in tow, including Great Grandma, will get to watch Saturday's performance. I will try to refrain from screaming, "Woohoo Miss Sofi Bug! You're awesome!" And finally she has an afternoon performance on Sunday, after which all performers and some parents will be needed to help take down the set. The Husband will be helping. He's the best! When all the clean up is done, the performers will be celebrating their efforts with a party. I get to help supervise.
I've been asked to be on my best behavior at the party. In other words, "Don't embarrass me Mom!"
I made no promises. Well, I did say I would refrain from singing out loud in front of her friends...but that's all...I didn't promise anything else.
I'll be good.
Probably!
And somehow Miss Sofia is going to have to find time to get her homework done in the midst of this crazy schedule. Poor girl! She's feeling a little overwhelmed. I tell her one day at a time. It will be fine!
Then, on Monday, if the girl has any energy left, we'll take her out for dinner to celebrate her 14th (sniff) birthday. My baby...14...already?
One day at a time, right. It will be fine. (sniff)
Christine
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face forevermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth. Psalm 105:1-5
I love the way this amazing world God has created fills my heart with Psalms!
Have a beautiful day and rejoice!
Christine
The Family gets very excited for the Super Bowl. Which is weird. We don't particularly care about commercials the rest of the year. (I should say the girls and I don't care about them. The Husband on the other hand works in advertising. He cares!) But we do look forward to the promise of an extra effort to roll out some spectacular advertising during the Super Bowl. And there's a football game in between all of the commercials which can be fun too.
However, as we are not huge football fans, we've only watched a couple of games this year, and we knew nothing about the teams playing in the Super Bowl, we had no idea who to cheer for. The Super Bowl is a lot more fun if you have a team to route for. But how to decide?
The Family came up with some very elaborate ideas for determining a team we'd support.
One idea for choosing a team involved a squirrel in a Patriots costume, a squirrel in a Giants costume, and an American eagle. I had no clue where we would find the tiny costumes on such short notice! That idea was rejected.
With the squirrel idea out, we decided to seek the guidance of someone we trusted.
That's right, we let Lilo choose for us!
At first she wasn't sure about our plan, then we told her there would be treats involved. She got on board immediately!
Initially we thought we should fill her in on all of the stats for the season. Then we realized that would take too much effort on our part. So we did the next best thing.
Look Lilo. The Giants or the Patriots?
Please disregard the cute pink lamp in the background. I swiped it from one of the girl's rooms so I could see the 1,000 piece puzzle I'm still working on a little better. Our living room is NOT that cute! Wouldn't you feel badly for the Husband if it was?
Anyway...
Lilo paid very close attention as Miss Sofi Bug showed her the options to choose from!
She was still a little unsure about this whole scheme. But she was a good sport! Especially when she saw the treats!
Miss Sofi Bug placed each option on the floor. Placed one treat on each and Lilo made her choice!
She didn't even hesitate!
She chose the Giants! She didn't even go for the Patriots treat! She made her choice and that was that!
We gave her a few extra treats for being such a good sport!
So we cheered for the Giants between commercials!
Did you find the vampires bursting in the Audi's headlights commercial as funny as I did? Or the Doritos commercials? And Honda's Ferris Bueller's Day Off commercial!? All very fun and clever!
There were a few companies who clearly relied on the idea that sex sells. Boo! That's all I have to say!
I understand that M&M's had a very good commercial too. I missed it. I must have been making the chicken wings at the time.
Oh they were good! The chicken wings!
About mid-game Lilo began to worry about her pick.
She couldn't even watch the game.
We assured her we would love her no matter what, we were behind her all the way...or behind the Giants all the way, no matter how bad it was looking for them!
Then it happened. In the last few minutes, the Giants won! Good call Lilo! Woohoo!!
She said, "Yeaaah, I never doubted the Giants for a second!"
That's her story and she's stickin' to it!
Christine
Another hazy, gloomy day.
I like it.
I have no explantation as to why, but I do.
Mind you I wouldn't want every day to be gloomy, but I do likes me a good stretch of gloomy, mopey weather. It puts me in a mind to do some cookin'! It apparently causes me to give up using proper english as well. hmmm
Today it gives me a hankering for stew!
The Family loves this meal! Everyone asks for seconds. Everyone! It gives me great satisfaction, because everyone loving the same meal is not the norm.
While this meal is delicious, it does take some time. It's easy to make! Don't distress!! You just have to be ready to commit the time to make it. It's not a toss everything in the pot, brush off your hands, and let it cook away kinda meal.
Maybe I shouldn't have started with that.
Hello? Anyone still here? Drat! Well, I'll continue on for all who are curious enough to come back once the anxiety has passed.
Begin by browning 1 pound of peeled, pearl onions (in a pinch I've also used one small yellow onion, diced) and 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces, in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat.
Remove onions and carrots to a bowl and set aside.
In remaining oil brown 1 pound or so of stew meat. The Family never complains if there's more beef. They will point out if there is less!
Once beef is browned stir in 32 ounces of beef broth, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon dried Thyme.
Heat pot to boiling. Scrape brown bits! Cover, reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes.
Now do not walk away! Start peeling and chopping 3 pounds of potatoes into 1 inch cubes. Also chop 3 celery ribs.
When the beef has simmered for 20 minutes add the potatoes and celery, as well as the onions and carrots previously set aside, to the pot.
Bring stew to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer covered for 40 minutes.
Now, once you have the oven preheating for the rolls you want to have with the stew, because stew is sooo good with a nice crusty roll, you may walk away...until you need to return to place the rolls in the oven so they will be ready in time too. Occasionally I have forgotten the rolls. It happens.
Once the stew has simmered for 40 minutes, blend 2 tablespoons flour with 2 tablespoons water.
If you don't have one of these hand dandy shakers you can use a small jar...works just as well.
Blend the water and flour well and add to stew. Boil stew for about a minute. This will make your stew nice and thick. Mmmmmm
Perfect!
Now the only question is...bowl or plate?
The Family likes to use plates.
Stew is not easy to photograph on a plate, but it is easy to toss a pat of butter on top and then mash all of the potatoes and carrots together and that's how we like it. Again I have no explanation. We just like it!
Christine
There is a soft haze drifting over the landscape this morning.
It comforts me, this haze. It suits my mood.
I've noticed that lately I have times when I feel like I'm in a bit of a haze. I struggle to get a grasp on the Family's schedule, which is very full right now with the Husband's work, Miss Sofi Bug's practices for the school musical, Mulan, we're very excited, and Miss Emma Bean's choir practices for an upcoming concert, very fun, but sometimes I feel like I'm scrambling to keep up.
I've noticed that there are times that I don't have much to offer in conversations with others, that in fact my mind drifts.
Some days I feel like I've lost my groove. You know, that rhythm of the day? Sometimes I feel out of step.
I've also noticed that tears flow freely at the most unexpected times.
It's grief. It does the strangest things to us.
That's why the haze this morning suited me, inspired me to go to the park to take some photos.
It was as if the world was reflecting my heart today. A little cloudy, but still beautiful.
Funny thing is, when I got to the park to take photos of the haze covered world, the haze had begun to lift.
I laughed. I feel that too.
Some days, some moments are clear and bright. Life feels like it's all it should be.
Yes, grief is a strange thing.
I will be okay, even in these hazy days, because I remember...Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted, Matthew 5:4.
Sometimes comfort even comes in the simple form of a haze drifting over the landscape.
Christine
Unexpected Daisies has a new look!
It has me so very excited!!
The Husband mentioned a few weeks back that he thought it was time I got a makeover.
I was totally taken by surprise. I thought I was looking pretty good. I mean, okay, sometimes I wear yoga pants and I look a bit casual. I try to keep it cute casual though. Maybe I'm not keepin' it as cute casual as I thought I was!
Seeing my stricken expression the Husband quickly told me he was referring to the blog.
In the future, I think he should definitely lead with that!!
I wasn't convinced he wasn't just trying to cover until he showed me the idea he'd been working on. For the blog!
I may avoid the yoga pants for a week or so anyway.
I'm super thrilled with the blog's new look! A huge thank you to the Husband, Genius Graphic Designer Extraordinaire!
That's not his official job title. His official job title is Senior Art Director. Boring. I think it should be changed to Genius Graphic Designer Extraordinaire. That's much more exciting! And in my opinion, accurate.
Since I'm talking about job titles, I would like to change my job title as well. It was fine to say I was a stay-at-home-mom when the girls were little, glazed over looks aside when I told certain people that's what I do, but now that the girls are older I think I need something more official. I think I would like the title of Vice President of Operations for the Van Tassel Domestic Cooperative. I like it! I especially like the sound of it when I say I'm the VPO of the VDC! How cool does that sound? Yep, I'm going to use that title from now on.
Anyway...
I'm delighted with the fresh new look the Husband created for the blog. It's very light, and easy breezy. It makes me think of springtime. And springtime means that the Husband will be sporting his kilt once again. YAY!!
I can't wait!!
I'm even wearing a very springlike blue nail polish in celebration of the new look of the blog!
Of course I'm still drinking hot beverages to keep warm because it's not spring yet. Not even close! We have, at the very least, 3 months before we'll see anything remotely springlike outside in Minnesota. Bah.
So anyway...leave a comment and let me know what you think of the new look? Please and thank you!
Christine
P.S. I've added several blogs that I enjoy to my favorite blogs list. Check them out!
