breakfast for dinner

If there is one kid of mine that knows their way around the kitchen it is Tallie. She made us breakfast for dinner last night completely on her own.  She found the recipe in a book from the library we picked up the day before. What a treat to be able to sit back and take pictures while she prepared our dinner.

Tallie likes to follow directions and do everything in order. I suggested doing all the eggs at once.  No, she said the book says to do them separate. Okay, be quiet. Continue taking pictures.

The recipe is called eggs nest.  Egg tucked within a piece of bread rolled out and fit into a muffin pan.  We added diced ham and cheese.  I did help with putting the muffin pan into a cooking dish 1/2 filled with water. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. Food is so much fun.  Tallie is a keeper.

the measure of my success

I received an email this morning from a co-worker from my previous position.  She has since moved onto a new job making lots more money.   She wrote of her husbands thriving business.  Her daughters private school. The success of her daughters sports teams.  She bothered to tell me about their families 4 weeks of vacation this summer.  Her new car.  Their plans for skiing this winter with all their new gear.

I have yet to reply.  My kids are going to public school.  I work on a good day about two hours.  My daughters team has won one game so far.  We didn't take any vacations this summer with the exception of one camping trip which I came home early.  My van is fairly new but if I could I would sell it to be free from the payment.  We are thinking about going skiing once this winter if we can afford it.

I want to say that I am happier now than I have been in many years.  I am happy to be working very little.  I'm so loving my kids new school. Tallie's team is not winning, yet she is having lots of fun with no pressure.  No, no vacation plans.  No skiing trips.  Lots of weekends spent at home.

Maybe I should add this:  I love taking pictures.  I love being home in the mornings.  I love eating dinner together at night.  I love seeing my husband off to work and I'm so glad for his supporting our family.  I love collecting my eggs everyday.   I love knitting and trying to love sewing.  I love wondering what each day may bring.

I wonder what she will think.  Success is measured in many ways.

it's been decided

Over dinner tonight which was also in front of football, I brought up this blog to my family.  Don't you think it's weird that I take pictures of you, food, our home, our garden our chickens and post them on the internet?  Nobody said no.  Of course, nobody had read my blog from last night to know where I was going. Blogging is what you do.  There's nothing wrong with that.  You can't stop now.  You enjoy it. 

Through blogging I have found friends I may have never found. Friends in places I may never visit.  A friend that once lived down the street. Friends who tell me that they like me just as I am. Friends that share my faith. Friends that think my kids are cute and my chickens even cuter.  Friends that share the same interest.  Friends who take time for me more than my friends in real life. 

I don't want to lose my friends.  I don't want to stop sharing my life.  Sometimes I just need to evaluate things.  Be back in a few days.

this place

Two days away from a computer does a body good.  Or maybe it was two days away at yoga that is making my body feel good.  After leaving the yoga training tonight I made my way to Whole Foods.  It was not too far away from the beautiful club where I spent my weekend.  Explain to me how Whole Foods can be busy on Sunday night but it was.  I saw lots of Lobotome products at Whole Foods - that was pretty cool.  I was like I know her - I read her blog.  And, actually just bid on her Anthropologie dress.

Two days away from my normal life was actually quite good.  I found my voice in a new way.  A voice that I have learned to trust.  For some reason coming home tonight I thought about this place.  About blogging.  About writing in this space.  And I wondered what's the point.

I'd really like to start journaling.  Talking time and seeing my words on paper instead.  Jotting down thoughts.  Lots of prayers.  And things I learn each day.  Maybe even sometimes pictures from a magazine or perhaps one just drawn by hand.  I'm intrigued by this thought.  And, may even start tomorrow.

So what about this blog.  What will become of it.  I'm not sure.  But I'm bored with what it is.  A grown up show and tell.  I'm not expert at anything so it's always been a glimpse into my life.  Yet, I think it can be more.  I just don't know right now.  So I'm going to take the week off.

As I got back into my van outside of Whole Foods - I looked up at the big city lights.  Lights I don't see very often.  If I keep myself in my small little world I'm worried what I may miss.

the real deal

Tomorrow and Sunday I will be at a yoga conference. I should be excited but I am not.  I am nervous.  I have not been away from my home for that long in a long time.  I think I have become a bit of a hermit.  Yet, I am not a hermit.  I am an extrovert.  I thought.  What is going on with me?

In my previous position I was with people ALL day right from work I was with my kids.  No time alone.  Now I have lots of time alone.  And, I like it.  I like my cozy new schedule.  I don't need tons of people in my life.  But, I love people.  I'm confusing myself even more.

The first of November I am starting two new group exercise classes.  I am the instructor.  I will be up in front of groups of people.  I used to do this all the the time in my previous position.  I loved the feeling of being in front of people sharing and talking about exercise, wellness and stuff.  Everything I love.  Now, I have butterflies.

I find this all very strange.  I am not sure I totally like this new person I have become.  I have always been very outgoing.  Or maybe I like parts of her and like parts of this other person I have been lately too.  I think that is okay.

All this to say, I am hope the kids, chickens and dog get fed and watered over the weekend.  And, I hope I wrote down the soccer schedule correctly.  Big Daddy does not like to be late.  I'm also sad that I won't be going to church on Sunday. Most of all, I hope that my family will not miss me too much because I know I will miss them this weekend.

maybe chickens do not belong in the city

I actually had that thought while we were out raking leaves on Sunday.  I allowed six chickens into our backyard last spring.  From that point forward our yard has been a disaster. Let's not even mention the garden.  But the latest thing is that one of them pooped in my Patagonia shoes.  I pretty sure those were around $80.00. Thankfully it washed out but still.

One might think I was the president of PETA with the freedom I have allowed these birds. They sit at my back door asking to be let in on a rainy day.  Somedays I am actually tempted.  I considered putting down a blanket and have them here in the kitchen to talk too.  But come on, REALLY?  They are chickens!!

I love collecting eggs everyday.  I love giving them our kitchen scraps. They go crazy over bread (thanks to Burbs and the Bees) but I don't love what they have done to the place.  So, if they are staying they are some rules to be made come next spring.  Like less freedom for sure.  I remind myself that they have so much compared to a factory farm chicken.  They should be happy with their little coop and outdoor space. They don't need to claim the whole backyard.

Okay. Really the chickens have to stay thanks to this sign that now hangs on their coop.  Thanks a lot Mom and Dad who found the sign for me.

i know better

I had the best of intentions.  I made a yummy treat for my husband to take to work on Friday.  While making it, I only sampled the mix once (or maybe twice). It did not have eggs in it so I was safe. When said husband did not go to work on Friday as he was feeling ill there became a problem.  The yummy dessert was staring at me all day and I swear it was also saying "eat me".  So, I did.  Like a lot.

The dessert had everything in it that I had not been eating for a few weeks.  Saturday was my day for soccer snack.  (I plan on posting on my other blog about that soon).  I must admit I ate a cookie or two or was it three?  I just don't do moderation very well.

My tummy has been upset ever since. A minute on the lips is not worth this.

So today, I am back to the basics.  A little detox.

thirty days of the everyday - 18

Maybe I do like to sew after all.  Or maybe I just like the finished product.  Regardless, my first quilt is finally done.  It was started practically seven months ago. Notice I tied the quilt in the end.  That was decided when I was out running one day.  Hand quilting is not something I desire to do.  It is the perfect little quilt for putting down on the floor for a baby to sit on.  But, we have no baby and no baby plans.  So, for now it is on our bed.  Half of our bed.  If there is a next quilt, it will be full size but with bigger squares.  That was a lot of sewing for me (and ripping out when I made my mistakes).  I have my eye on a new bag now to sew.  It is from a Anna Maria Horner book. I have pulled all the materials together. I certainly hope it does not take me seven months to complete.

If only it were a paid position

Of all the things I am doing right now, I am loving being a mom the most.  I have been a mom now for 13 years. The first few years are kinda a blur. Three kids in roughly four years will do that.  Working mom years unfortunately a blur too. I'm still wondering how I did that.  It is only fitting for me to make the most of my days now.  Things I used to dread like helping with homework, making lunches and dropping off/picking up are now my delight.  Yes, delight.

I told Big Daddy the other night that I'd love to be a family coach although I am far from being qualified.  The message that I'd share the most is that it is okay to be just a mom and a life on the slow is the way to go.  Being a mom is enough for me.  Past decisions are not making that possible right now but someday. Thankfully, I don't need to earn that much.

Yesterday morning I made waffles for breakfast.  This was unheard of in years past.  Waffles during the week never happened.  Tori pushed her plate towards me and said that she was full.  What she made with her leftovers was definitely worth a picture.

thirty days of the everyday - 17

I drove the kids to school yesterday.  Tori is taking a knitting class.  The teacher said parents could come to class and I wanted to take advantage of that.   I had an hour between drop off and the class.  So, I drove around the corner to a nearby park.  Had it been a clear day, Mt. Rainier would have been in this picture.  I don't mind sitting in my van. I am used to it by now.  With soccer, there is lots of waiting time.  I just throw a few things together.

Like my Bible study.  Started this a few weeks ago.  We are studying Esther.  It is a Beth Moore study.  I go on Wednesday nights while Josh is at youth group.  I like it.  I think.  I'm not into girly get-together's but I am into the Bible.

Next, some knitting.  Tis the season.  The more I knit the more I want to knit.  Something about those needles.  I couldn't help but notice this orange just outside my van. With my fondness for photographing food and all, I could not not take it's picture.

And, before I knew it my hour was over. Not wasted by any means.

30 days of the everyday - 16

You know how you have so much to say but the words are just not coming out right?  That is where I am at today.  I could easily just not post anything but I like these pictures too much to do that.  These are the same leaves I captured just last week.  They have changed so much like me. My life is far from perfect. Not even close. But, I like it.  I had to change my perspective on many things and a lot of things had to change to be in this place.  But, I wouldn't change a thing.

30 days of the everyday - 15

For the umpteenth time, I thought I would stop drinking coffee.  You know because of it's addictive qualities. So I did.  Cold Turkey.  Last Thursday. I was still making it for my husband though because I don't subject him to my every whim.  I drank tea instead.  And the tea upset my stomach.  Or maybe it was the lack of coffee.  Regardless, I caved yesterday mid morning.  It was the third day of the low grade headache.  I missed my coffee and it missed me.  I'm back to drinking coffee.  Joyfully.

my first paycheck

I paid myself last week.  The bills were all paid.  The groceries were bought.  And, there was a little left over. I felt it was only appropriate to write myself a paycheck.  It was for twenty dollars.  That's right.  Twenty dollars.  Somedays it is hard to believe that I stepped away from a paycheck that was many dollars over twenty that came predictably every two weeks.  It paid the bills and bought groceries with much more than twenty dollars left over. 

Yet, I am making so much more now and I'm paid in so many different ways.  I'm definately not paid enough for all I do around this house but that is another subject.  So, with that twenty in my hand to the thrift store I went.  I knew it be the only place where I could get more than one thing.  I did good.  All three of the cute bowls in the picture above and the food server below.  Yayers, no plastic!  And, since the girls were along - they both got a new shirt.  Three happy campers. 

30 days of the Every Day - fourteen

That's about the only green left in the garden.  And, it is from a flowering plant that I thought was dead all summer.  I can't remember it's name.  The garden though has gone to the birds.  Really.  I have opened it up to the chickens.  As if they didn't have their way in there all ready.  Anyhow, the garden is officially done.  After last night the remaining green tomatoes will probably be toast as it went down to the thirties.  I have big plans for this space next spring.  It will take me all winter just to devise a plan to keep the chickens out of the garden next year.  Speaking of which, Big Daddy bought a new bulb for the heat lamp for the chicken coop.  I like my chickens warm.

30 days of the Every Day - Thirteen

I've just come back from dropping my kids.  It was one of those mornings. Specifically with Tori. Everyday it is something with her. Either it's not finding a certain shirt that she has to wear or now losing her coat for the fourth time.Yesterday morning before church it was about shoes. She makes me so angry  Getting back home, I know I needed a dose of the Christian station. A story was being shared about a seven year old child that died very suddenly due to septic shock over the weekend. Then I read Soulemama's blog. I can't imagine her yelling at her kids like I just did. And, then I felt bad.

Tori is like a rose. She is very delicate.  She has her thorny moments but is extremely beautiful in the end. Morning like this, I wish we could do over.  And the mornings before too.  But, we can't.  We just have to do better.  Love a little more.  Dig a little deeper.  And it would help to be a bit more organized too.

thank you Dad

I don't talk much about my dad on the blog.  Extended family is very much apart of my life but not always shared here.  I'm sure he has made a presence here in a picture probably from camping.  Today I just wanted to thank him.  Thank him for not changing the station.

When I saw the above video posted on Boho Photography's blog, I couldn't help but watch.  It is Friday.  I have a little extra time on my hands.  I immediately smiled.  And, as I said in my comment, I then started singing along.  I knew every word to the song.

Because of my dad.  In the car growing up, we listened to his music.  He sang along.  We sang along with him.  Although probably reluctantly. Regardless, he didn't let us change the station to the crap we wanted to listen too at the time.  He probably couldn't stand it that we listened to Casey's top 100 every Sunday morning while getting ready for church.

I love music.  All kinds.  There is something about music.  Something it does to me.  It makes me happy.

30 days of the Every Day - twelve

Too cold yesterday morning for a green smoothie to start the day.  

Suddenly warm foods taste so good.