Sunday, March 24, 2013

First Day of Spring 2013

Here's a little visual imagery to go with Megan's poem.  It may help illustrate why we are feeling like this winter may never end.  Two feet of snow and a cold frosty wind is still blowing.  The sun is getting warmer though.








Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Where Is Spring?

   
Where Is Spring?

Today's the first day of spring,
looking for a sign, can't find a thing,

yearning for green buds on trees,
but snow, snow, snow, is all I see!

I know three feet is good for lakes,
ice and cold, for those with skates,

dreaming of tulips: peach and pink,
instead, we're headed back to the rink,

toques, mittens and winter coats,
waiting for songbirds with cheerful notes,

weatherman tell me blizzards are done,
waiting for spring: to skip, bask and run.


-Megan


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

You stink.


What is it about sisters?

I found some old journals. My elementary school entries are full of Megan. I love her. I hate her. She's "going out" with ---, and things like:

Age 10: "Today I was humiliated by Megan, my painful sister."

I have some stuff from CASS days too:
Me in grade 9- "Megan and I were in a fight from Friday, but we're friends again."
......."Megan told me she read my diary to find out what was going on. Nice! I wrote some pretty shafting things in here. She cried for awhile. She said she was just shaking when she read this..."


"Megan came home on Saturday. When she got off the plane, no one was there to meet her 'cause the van broke down. Mom and Steven ran down the road to see her. She got home at 11pm. I was glad to see her. She has a really dark tan and big muscles, but she's still the same. We had a surprise party (welcome home/sweet 16) a bunch of people came and it was pretty fun..... It's great having Meggie home again. It's like a missing part of me is there again." 

"Megan is doing well. She says tree planting is the hardest thing she's ever done but that it's a good experience for her. I think she will hate it in a few more days. She's really excited about going to school together. I used to joke about going to whatever school she goes to, but I actually feel that way. I wouldn't be happy anywhere else."

(Just off the plane-home from Cuba) "Megan was the first one I saw. I think someone said "oh my word" and Megan yelled my name."


 "...I cried that morning." (Megan's wedding day)


Having sisters has been one of the best parts of my life.

Have a happy day, my lovelies.

Art Wall

For many years the kids have been taping all of their paintings, poems and paraphernalia onto the blank wall in the kitchen/dining room.  It's a little haphazard looking, but we are a house full of kids, so it seemed fitting.  However, I saw a picture on pinterest a while ago that inspired me to try something new.  I picked up a few frames at the share shed and Value Village to add to the one I already had and a few pots of Benjamin Moore sample colours (plus white paint I had) and this is what I've come up with.


I love white but I have a new love for red, so I thought I would add a little fun with colour.




These frames have been waiting for over a month now for me to feel brave enough to punch nail holes in the wall and try arranging them.  David (who's home sick-ish) and I laid them out on the floor first to get a feel for it, then I started hammering away.  I am debating about putting some cork or chicken wire in the frames to make it easier for the kids to add their works (and to hide the wire), but for today I am digging them empty....





I will probably add a few more smallish white ones eventually, but I wanted to try it out and see how we like it.  Keep your eyes out for some neat frames - the wooden ones are often at yard sales and junk shops. What do you think??

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Apple Doughnut Muffins


The P&T ladies at our school make muffins for the kids every Tuesday.  The hottest muffins at school are called "Muffins that Taste like Donuts".   I took the recipe which is basically a lot of white sugar, white flour, and oil and made it into something even better (and healthier).  I made a double batch of these after church today and when I heard Isaac cheer happily when he saw them I thought I would share the recipe with you.

Mix dry ingredients:

1 cup flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
(you could add 1/2 tsp. salt if you like, but I never do)

Mix wet ingredients separately:

1/3 cup melted butter or oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup milk, cream, buttermilk or a combination.
(I threw in a little applesauce I had today too - maybe 1/4 cup or so)

2 or 3 large apples, peeled and chopped

Mix the wet into the dry and stir only to combine, fold in apples and fill muffin tins lined with papers.

Bake @ 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Topping:

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

 While muffins are still hot, dip tops first in melted butter and then in the sugar & cinnamon mixture.  Cool a little on a wire rack.

Makes about a dozen.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Three Cheers for Ana White







Ana White is inspiring and empowering!  I followed her plans for the farmhouse bedside table and LOOK WHAT I MADE!!!!  I did have help from my dad with some of the wood preparation too.  It is so satisfying to take a few pieces of wood and turn it into a bedside table for Emma!  I just keep peeking into her room and smiling!