And if You're Bored...

I'll put you to work! We took a trip to the local everything DIY store and picked up some bricks. The same bricks that we did our front yard wall with. It took a while to get everything loaded in the truck for the return trip home. And then, surprise surprise, we were working in a light drizzle of rain. Our family really enjoys fresh veggies, so we put in a garden box in the back yard for that purpose. Ahhh, the joys of being together!

Welcome to Spring

Yeah. This is the area we live in... We have two seasons: Lots of Rain and the Occational Drizzle. (in other words Fall and Summer) Don't it look like fun?! Ahh, the good old Pacific Northwest (particularly the most northwestern corner). It's a good thing I like rain!

And Quite Suddenly

As you all know, I have two children; Mr O and Peaches. Well over the weekend Handsome got a great idea for a field trip of sorts. We went to the book store, ate lunch at a cute little 50's diner, and then headed down the freeway towards our destination. The end of the road was a huge motorcycle shop. Huge as in Costco size huge. They had everything! Racing bikes, off roaders, dirt bikes, motocross gear, off road quads, racing quads, antique bikes, and even a used section. I mean WOW! These guys really did have something for everyone all under one roof! it was fantastic! We've been hemming and hawing about getting quads for the kids. Not racing ones, just quads that we can go off-roading with as a family. Just a fun activity to do whenever, type thing. So we went to this store to do a little comparison shopping, look at a couple different products, work the math, just looking. Now to fully understand, you need a little history. Back when we lived in a different city and we were still dating, I met a wonderful woman who is now one of my dearest friends. She has three sons, one graduated from high school, one in high school, and one in kindergarten. They are all very much into riding. Dirt bikes. Quads. The feel of the wind rushing by. They love it! And after watching them for the last few years, we feel that it is something that we could all really get into and enjoy. I'm the only pansy of the family, so I'd be the only one eating dust (once the kids got going). So, we'll probably be getting quads for the whole family within the next year. Oh, and all the protective gear too... Whee! Mountains here we come!!

Sometimes Words Cannot Explain

This morning as I was walking my beautiful children to school, there was a space in time that seemed to suspend itself in my mind. Nothing huge or revolutionary. Nothing catalystic or even story worthy. My children were singing, holding hands, and just generally getting along together. Being best buds. As I watched them, I thought back to my own childhood. The times were very different, we grew up in a different environment, and we had a much larger family. But some similarities can be found. My sisters were my best friends. I could tell them anything, have adventures with them, and sing with them. The relationship of best buddies was the same. We were inseparable. Growing up in the middle of nowhere really helped that, but still. Having someone there all the time that you can rely on, love unconditionally, and have them love you like that back, is amazing. So even though my kids do fight, they work through it. Because they know that if they don't work it out, they won't have anyone to play with. That is what friendship is; having differences but working through them, together.

Awsome Yummyness

Ok, so I rock. Well, no, not entirely, but mostly. I just made the awsomest yummiest stromboli that I've ever made, like ever, tonight. Starting with some left over sourdough bread dough (say that five times fast) and braided it around some thrown together filling. Oh. My. Word. Goodness! Yummieness! Eat three pieces cause it tastes so good! Wow, I actually cooked a good dinner... Ok, so here are the recipes since I know ya'll are going to ask.

Sourdough Bread
3 cups warm water
1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast
1 Tablespoon Salt (I prefer table salt, but it doesn't give the dough quite the tang that coarse sea salt does. If you want the more "sour" flavor right away use sea salt. If you like the "aged" sour flavor, use table salt)
6 1/2 cups flour

Mix until incorporated. Do Not knead; cover loosely and allow to double. Refrigerate in a large bowl (larger than you think you need, it will continue to rise until completely cooled) tightly covered for up to 14 days (it will sour more as it ages). Pull off desired amount of dough and fold into round loaf. Place on parchment paper. Let rest for 30 min. Set oven to 450* and allow bread another 10 min while oven heats. Bake for 30 min or until it sounds hollow when you tap the top. Allow to cool a bit before slicing. Makes two medium boules or four small ones.

Filling:
1 pound ground beef, cooked and seasoned with garlic and a dash of salt
1/2 pound bacon, diced and cooked
one good handful of sliced mushrooms (about 3)
1-2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Flatten out 1/2 of bread recipe above until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Layer filling onto the middle third of flattened dough in order listed. To braid cut the sides of the dough into one inch strips perpendicular to the filled portion (cut from next to filling to the outside of the dough). Slice 8-10 strips (the same number on each side). Beginning at one end, pull one tab of dough over the filling to just past the center. Pull the opposite strip over the filling and just to one side of the first tab, forming a "V." Continue pulling opposite tabs into the middle, slightly overlapping them and giving it the "braided" look. Tuck the last tab end under the end of the loaf. Bake as you would the bread, run a cube of butter over the top of the loaf just fresh from the oven for the nice shine. Allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing. Makes about 6 servings.

With or Without Galoshes

As I wandered about yesterday I realized there was something very lacking in my posts. Puddle jumping. Now I know the impulse of any 4 to 8 year old is to jump in any and all puddles they see. But what most kids (and people) don't realize is that there is a specific art to the jump. You can puddle jump in any shoe, no really you can, without splashing yourself. Now I do know that if you are wearing any kind of open-toed footwear, be prepared to get your toes wet. But if the impulse to jump in a puddle is strong, you have no need to resist if you take a few simple precautions. First, when jumping, jump into the shallow part of the puddle, 1 1/2 inches of water or less. Secondly only jump in on one foot. This will create only one circle of water to avoid instead of two. Thirdly, lift the foot opposite the one that you are jumping with up, preferably to the height of your knee. Lifting the opposite foot allows the water that you splashed up to fall back down harmlessly without leaving large wet spots on your leg. After allowing the water to fall back into the puddle you need to step back (if the puddle is deep or very wide) and continue on your way. Following these simple steps will enable you to puddle jump to your hearts content without getting wet. Puddle jumping will also cause other things to happen in your life. Your mouth will stretch into a huge grin that is impossible to hide; the people who see you will smile indulgently and secretly wish that they were gutsy enough to puddle jump; and you will feel happier, more buoyant, and that type of mood is impossible not to share. Enjoy your next rainstorm!

Gingerbread Recipe

When planning a party, remember that mixing, baking, and construction need to happen at least one day before hand so that the "glue" holding the houses together can set. If you want to do a gingerbread party, here's what you'll need:

Gingerbread Cookie Dough:

Cream together:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar



Add:
1 cup molasses
2 Tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend together.



Add:
1/3 HOT water (just short of boiling)
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons soda
3 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg



Put in large bowl and chill for at least one hour. Roll out and cut.



Bake at 350* for 10-15 minutes.



One batch makes one large house or 1 1/2 cottages.

Allow gingerbread to dry for a few hours or overnight, before assembling the houses.

Cut squares of cardboard and cover with foil to act as "yards" for the houses.

Glue (Royal Icing):
2 egg whites
powdered sugar

Mix together until it is thick, but smooth. Put into ziplock freezer bag. Snip the corner on the bag, use it as a cheap icing bag. Put the icing on the corners and then press them together. The icing sets fairly quickly, so you shouldn't need to hold it more than just the first press to get it together. Glasses are handy if you need extra hands. Put the houses together a couple hours before you try to put the roofs on, let the icing set. When putting roofs on, it is handy to have a second pair of hands. If desired (I usually do), cut small pieces of cardboard to fit inside the house to help hold the roof up. Since most of the decorating tends to happen on the roofs, I like to brace them against collapse.



Lollipop: (if you want to do the cut out windows)
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter (optional for clear windows).



wax paper or lightly greased aluminum foil.



Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. set over medium heat and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Do not stir anymore. Bring to a boil. Cook without stirring until you reach just shy of 320*. Remove from heat and allow bubbles to subside. Stir in coloring if desired. Pour out onto wax paper or the foil.



To make breaking into "windows" easier: score lollipop with a knife into large squares before it cools too much. Then when completely cool, breaking apart is fairly easy; no small slivers. Use Royal Icing to "glue" into place before constructing the houses.