Giggles on the Prairie

Something I learned

2010-08-12T13:26:00.000-06:00

If you give Eli 10 minutes of unsupervised time (which in our house means, all the doors are locked and the kitchen gate is SUPPOSED to be shut), normally it goes by without any problems. He plays with his train set, and I get the upstairs tidied up.

Not today. Because the mama left the kitchen gate open. I realized at the end of the time that it was very, very quiet downstairs. Too quiet. I go downstairs, and notice the gate open. Oh no. Then the scent hit me from across the house, and I knew from 50 feet away what I was going to find.

It was the distinct scent of Nestle Chocolate powder.

Sure enough, a brand new container of the powder I occasionally put in Eli's milk (or mine.........) to make it a chocolate treat was all.over. All over him, and all over the chair that he'd pulled over there to get it, and all in the canister of flour that he'd started digging into to sprinkle OVER the chocolate powder.

You might be asking, well, what did you do about it ?

I have no idea yet. I'm writing this blog post so I can ignore the kitchen for a few more minutes to think of the best way to solve this problem. I wish I had my camera fixed so I could snap a picture of it. Oh well.... the house smells like a giant chocolate cake now at least !

A quick update

2010-07-21T09:42:00.000-06:00

Many things have changed since my last post. It has been an extremely busy 5 months.

- first off, my absence coincides with my pregnancy. We are expecting a little girl in early November. I'm 25 weeks now, and she is incredibly active. I feel much more regular and strong movement than I ever did with Eli. No decision will be made on her name until we see her, although we have several leading choices. I have another ultrasound to see her on this Monday, as she was too active in the last ultrasound to get a good look at her heart. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, as last visit she simply moved too much to get a good look at her !

- We bought and moved into a house. We moved in the middle of May, and we are finally getting settled. It is a wonderful 1904-built two story with hardwood floors throughout. It is a gift from God.

- We've been in the middle of home improvements. We've redone the garden beds, taking out the covering of river rock that was 3 inches deep in all the beds, discovering and removing the concrete pad that was UNDERNEATH a couple inches of dirt, and finally improving the soil with lots of compost, adding my plants and covering with lovely mulch. I've got a large vegetable garden going, with 8 buttercup squash, 4 cabbages, 6 muskmelon, a watermelon, and 2 rows of green beans. There are also zinnias in there for cutting, which I've greatly enjoyed. There are also 4 mature rhubarbs on the property, and I have a freezer nearly full with chopped rhubarb to bake with ! Finally, today the final stage of my dishwasher will be finished. This is why I've had no time - I've been hand washing dishes for 2 months. Ben finished the plumbing this past weekend, and the electrician is coming today to finish the wiring work. We found a very high end dishwasher on clearance at Sears, and I'm just thrilled with how it will look in the end.

- I've been continuing with my New Year's Resolution to declutter a thing every day. It continued throughout packing at the old place, and maintained it through unpacking here. I just started conquering some of my hanging clothes and went through my lingerie and threw away what was clearly junky or no longer a practical option. I added 3 bags to the donation/garage sale pile and a full bag of trash. We've gone through our books and gotten rid of some easy pickings, and we're focusing on reading books that we own that will likely be one-time reads. On my radar for today is to go through some of my knicknacks (and Ben's knicknacks...) that are stored in my blanket chest right now and getting rid of the things that are not in use. We don't have a linen closet in this house, and I need to actually put blankets in that chest !

- We've had Ben's parents out (to help us move) and my parents over the 4th of July weekend. We will be seeing my beloved Uncle Bryan and Aunt Linda and their dog, Emily (who Eli ADORES) this coming weekend and we are very excited for it. We feel like we live in a situation now where we can have people come to see us. There just wasn't room in the last few places.

- Eli is his charming cute self. He has picked up a lot of speaking skills in the last few months and now chats our ears off. He loves everything boy, especially trains and tractors, and just discovered jumping and loves to jump wherever and whenever. He hopped on the scale when we were at the Vet's last week, and he's weighing 39.4 lbs. He's just under 40 inches, so he's still a very BIG boy. He enjoys going for bike rides and helping me with chores (holding the dustpan while I sweep is a favorite), and Heidi is still his best friend.

I need to move along with my day, but I do hope to be back more regularly. It's going to be pictureless for a while. Our camera is (probably irreversibly) broken, but is at the repair shop right now. Otherwise I'll need to start camera shopping !

My new addictions...

2010-02-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

A few of the things that are occupying my time lately (because I obviously have not been spending it blogging ! I do have an excuse - my laptop has been broken for almost a month now. It has squashed the normal in bed blogging I was doing)

I am positively drooling at all of the goodies over at Knock Off Wood . She looks at different Pottery Barn, West Elm and other lovely furniture looks, and then makes plans to make that same item at a fraction of the cost. I've already received promises from Ben to make a couple of the pieces, including the Hyde Coffee Table.

I'm in love with my new Olfa Circular Cutter . That thing has seriously changed my crafting life. I used to hate cutting circles - trying to find the right bowl in my house to make a good template etc. I now sit in front of a movie with Ben at night and cut out all my circles for felt food like tomatoes, cucumbers etc. Zip Zip Zip.

We're knee deep in working in my New Year's resolution of getting rid of/donating/selling one thing a day. It's been very successful and I dropped off 3 bags/boxes at Salvation Army this past weekend, and have sold quite a few things, earning several hundred dollars in spending money. Yahoo !

Catching up..

2010-01-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be posting frequently to catch up on the topics I've been meaning to cover. Let me skim over the Pre-Christmas-Trip-Home bit.

I won a lovely giveaway during the Sew Mama Sew blog giveaway from Angie over at Quilting Melodies . She had chosen my sewing tip as one of her favorites, and said she's send me a surprise.

Sure enough, a few days later, these beauties appeared in the mail:

Two delicate, beautiful, crocheted snowflakes for our Christmas tree. They hang beautifully and are a much appreciated addition to the tree !

We also took advantage of a community event where they were given horse drawn wagon rides around the GreenWay in East Grand Forks. It was bitterly cold, but enjoyable. Eli really liked the horse and their jingle bells.

While we were waiting for our turn to ride the horses, we went inside the mall, where Eli got to ride a horse all by himself. He LOVED it.

In the next edition of catching up from a month ago - our trip back to Michigan and Christmas !

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming

2009-12-31T22:08:00.000-07:00

I know there's been a gap in posting - I've just been so busy ! We drove home to visit family in Michigan for 10 days around Christmas. It's been a busy few days recovering from the drive and getting our family up and running again. Highlights from the break:

- We drove through the winter storm (known as Blizzard Alvin here in the Dakotas). It was a very long trip and a couple of more difficult bits, but all and all not a bad drive back from Michigan.

- We visited twice with my beloved friends Andy and Joanna and their little guy Jordan, and the second time we saw them we also spent the morning with Jo's parents, and one of my best friends, Bill. It was a blessed time and so wonderful to be with people who know your 'back' story and you don't have to explain everything to.

- Got to see my beautiful niece Cora several times and be enchanted with her whimsical personality. She is such a GIRL compared to Eli, I could scarcely believe it.

- Speaking of my Eli, at my parent's house, he liked to drive their toy size shopping cart around the most. He also enjoyed their child size table that is perfectly set up for coloring.

I need to close this post now, because I could type for hours to detail all the wonderful aspects for spending over a week with family. I have lots of my current sewing projects to show off tomorrow, including a peak at the giveaway I won during the Sew Mama Sew Dec. 2 giveaway !

Advent

2009-12-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

I love the weeks of Advent, leading up to Christmas. Coming from a family that didn't have many Christmas traditions, Advent was one of a few things that happened every year, whether we celebrated Christmas in any other way. The Protestant church has such little pagentry compared to the Catholic tradition, and the ritual of lighting one more candle each week of Advent has such a deep meaning to me. There is something so beautiful in that most churches do relatively the same ceremony, and it gives such a feeling of continuity to my Christmas celebration.

The anticipation that builds up to the celebration of Christ's birth, symbolized by the gradual addition of a candle each week, reminds me of the greater anticipation that His birth began - a longing for His perfect creation. As my family continues to prepare for Christmas, I hope the Advent season finds you being restored in hope and anticipation for the celebration of Christmas, and the eternal hope that it symbolizes for all those who believe.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. " Romans 8:19

Helper

2009-12-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick shot of my little helper, watching the bread machine make the dough for our pizza.

We've been doing a tradition since October that every Saturday night (it's just what works in our life, with Ben on night shift during the week) we hang out around our house and we make pizza together. It's so nice to not worry about what is for dinner once a week - it's an easy meal for mama to make !

Saturday Night Pizza:

3/4 t. salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 t. active dry yeast
1 and 3/8 cups water
3 T. olive oil
Optional: Good shake of garlic powder

1. Combine all ingredients in bread machine pan and follow machine's directions for dough setting.

2. After dough is completed, press it out in pizza pans (we make this into a regular crust, regular size pizza, and then make another thick crust one in a 9' cake pan. There's probably enough dough for 2 full size pizzas).

3. Prick the surface of the pizza all over with a fork, and brush it with an additional drizzle of olive oil. Season surface liberally with a pizza or italian seasoning, and another shake of garlic powder (only if you like garlic !)

4. Add sauce and toppings. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Enjoy !

Yummmm.

Craft Update

2009-12-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd spotlight several of the things that have been coming out of my sewing room lately - these are just a few of the things. I've been sewing frantically, trying to get things wrapped up for Christmas.

A clutch ball for a Christmas present for my niece Grace.

A gift diaper for my beloved friend, Joanna.

It's in one of my favorite fabrics - the "Guess How Much I Love You" print !

A boy and his daddy

2009-12-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

We had a rather quiet weekend over here. The weather has turned bitterly cold and so we're spending many of our hours indoors. Eli has been quite a rascal lately and makes me want to tear my hair out on occasions.

But, as so frequently happens in all species that don't eat their young, he has moments that just melt your heart, and make you decide not to put him on ebay.

After a day just FULL of naughtiness, Eli was an absolute doll during the time right before bedtime, and I let him stay up super late just because I was so craving his hugs and kisses after all the crud we'd done all day. I don't think he's been feeling well, and he's been spitting out his juice all over and trying to turn over furniture - just being a boy. I think he's starting to get a little too pent up in here, and I have to try better to remember that just because Ben and I enjoy staying indoors, nice and snuggly, all winter long, that little boys don't necessarily feel the same. I need to try to get him to burn off more energy.

I had a cookie exchange with my MOPS group tonight, and so Eli and daddy got to spend some time together. Ben was running late at work, and I needed to go by work on the way to the exchange, and so I bundled E up and brought him to Ben's job and we exchanged E. Then the boys went out to Burger King for a special treat, and then went and played in the mall play place. It sounds like they both had a great time, and Ben appreciates all the cookies I brought home !

And then, as Ben was tucking him in at night, he apparently said quite clearly "Night night " !! This is very exciting to me - E isn't a huge talker, even with words that he already has said, and a new word is a big deal here... especially a sweet little phrase like "night night". He has been melting me and saying "Mama, mama !" more often now.

I wish I were a better photographer. I was trying to take some artsy photographs of my Christmas decorations tonight, and they stink. I wish I had an eye like my sister-in-law Casey does.

Oh well. I've been trying to think of a cute name for having a regular weekly update on my sewing projects, and I'm trying to come up with some time to create my header for this blog.... maybe after Christmas !

~ Libby

A chocolate milk story: by Eli

2009-12-05T00:13:00.002-07:00

Mama and I went to McDonald's for a special lunch today. I got nuggets and dipped them in ketchup. I took my chocolate milk home to finish.

I loooove a chocolate milk.

At first I sipped it like a good boy, but then I started to get goofy with that big bottle

So mama substituted in a straw - which worked really well for a while. .

Then - the inevitable

I spilled the milk !

So I grabbed a towel and wiped up my mess, all by myself.

The end ! ~ Eli

One more sleep

2009-12-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

We're getting excited around here - Ben has his annual holiday party tomorrow night. We're looking forward to the door prizes. I think that officially makes us boring - most people who are 25 would be looking forward to the open bar, but nah.... Target gift cards sound AMAZING to us.

I'm thinking of posting weekly a picture of crafting/sewing that I'm working on - I'm trying to think of which day in my life I"m most likely to carry through on that. It would be good for me to communicate what I kind of have going on in my craft room.

Managed to divert disaster in fabric-world lately. I was prewashing my flannels that I'd bought on Black Friday, and the one I liked the least bled all over on the one that I absolutely loved (isn't it always that way !?). Well, after several different remedies and another washing... I've restored the loved flannel to its previous glory.

We have our tree up and fully trimmed. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow. When we went to Menard's yesterday, Eli decided he needed an Elmo and a Big Bird ornament. Ben wanted him to decide between them, and of course I'm a sucker and my heart melted. He adores them and wants to carry them around most of the day. We also have a big stack of already wrapped presents under the tree. Whenever we get a present in for any of Eli's cousins or I finish a project that is a present, I just wrap it and get it under the tree. Eli has no interest in them once they're wrapped. I realize that this is probably the only year I can ever get away with this strategy.

Tomorrow I need to go to the DMV and get a new driver's license. For some bizarre reason, I had taken mine out of my wallet and (of course) forgot to put it back in, and instead just put it in the pocket of my hoodie. Well, now I can't find the hoodie. I'm pretty bummed out about it actually too because I really liked the hoodie - it was pretty much brand new. I know that I'll go get a new license, and that'll be the day that I find the hoodie.

Tweakin'

2009-12-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

I think I'll continue to tweak and add features over the next few days, but I'm much happier with the look we're going with right now. Here's a newish photo of Eli, taken by a lovely lady from our church:

Don't you want to be my friend ?

Starting afresh

2009-12-02T15:49:00.002-07:00

I've been thinking of revamping this blog and posting regularly again. If there is anyone in the world who reads this, stay tuned for possible large changes !

Raspberry Cream-Cheese Muffins - LIGHT, and IC variations

2008-02-08T21:27:00.003-07:00

Yummy yummy muffins, very moist and you would have no idea they were the "light" version.

Ingredients
2/3 cup (5 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter/margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (heaping) teaspoon baking powder
1/4 (heaping) teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add sugar; beat until fluffy. Add vanilla, egg whites, and egg; beat well.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture and buttermilk to cream cheese mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Gently fold in raspberries and walnuts.
Place 24 foil cup liners in muffin cups. Spoon batter evenly into liners. Bake at 350° 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans; cool on a wire rack.
Yield
2 dozen (serving size: 1 muffin)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 142(32% from fat); FAT 4.7g (sat 2.4g,mono 1.3g,poly 0.7g); PROTEIN 2.7g; CHOLESTEROL 19mg; CALCIUM 31mg; SODIUM 138mg; FIBER 1.1g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 22.6g
From Cooking Light

This recipe can also be made with fresh/frozen blueberries, or you can take a 1/2-3/4 cup (or more, depending on your taste !) of seedless raspberry, strawberry etc. jam and swirl it in. This will drop the fiber content, but sometimes, you just need a lil' berry. I am also going to try this with either just canned pineapple or a pineapple/berry mixture. I made them without walnuts and they are delicious.

Frozen berries work awesomely because they don't stain the batter and hold up really well. I added the (heaping) instruction to the baking powder and soda because they don't rise very much and are a little denser without the heapingness.

If you want to make them giant-muffins ( my batter yielded 12 regular muffins, and 4 giants for Ben's lunch) then bake them at 350 for the alloted regular muffin time, and then turn it down to around 325-315 until the big ones are done.... about 10 minutes longer.
I used dried buttermilk, added in with the rest of the dry ingredients, with the water added during the egg and vanilla stage.