Jack’s First S’More

We are skiing in Colorado with my family this week and today Jack has his first s’more.  He wasn’t too sure about it at first, but then devoured the whole thing. My mom has been keeping Jack to let us ski.  Thanks Mom!

It has been great to be out here. Its been about 6 years since we came out here and it is soo fun and beautiful.

Jack playing in the snow

Not sure if he likes it...

my first taste

mmmmmmm

I really like it

the Aftermath

I want MORE

Snow Pictures

Moroccan Chicken

I know I kind of gave Matt a bad name by sharing his dish soap pancake  making story. But he isn’t always a terrible  cook. In fact I would say he is often a more careful cook than I am.  Last Friday he came with the copy of an exotic stew recipe that he whipped up before starting work.  We ate it for lunch with friends and it is delicious and easy.  We served it over quinoa instead of couscous and we’ll be making it again.  Thanks Matt! He  did get the recipe from BHG.com

Moroccan Chicken Stew

4 carrots sliced

2 large onions halved and thinly sliced

3 lb. meaty chicken pieces (breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks), skinned

1/2 cup raisins (we used craisins with good results)

1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped

1 14 oz can chicken broth

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 T. flour

2 T. lemon juice

2 cloves garlic minced (I used 4 bc I always add more garlic bc I LOVE it)

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

hot cooked couscous (or quinoa)

Pine nuts, toasted

fresh cilantro (we used parsely)

1. In a slow cooker (we used our clay pot*) place carrots and onions.  Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt.  Add to cooker. Top chicken iwth raisins and apricots. In bowl whisk broth, tomato paste, flour, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and 3/4 tsp. ground black pepper.  Cover, cook on low heat setting for 6 1/2 to 7 hours or on high heat setting for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.  Serve in the bowl with couscous (or quinoa).  Sprinkle with nuts. Garnish with Clilantro.

*the clay pot is a two piece clay cooker which you soak in water and then cook- I think we had the oven on 275 for a few hours and then turned it up to 350 for the last few hours.– It is almost impossible to overcook since its a stew. It was very yummy!

Organizing Help with Photos

Okay

Here is a picture of all the unorganized photos in the house.

Now.  Given that I am chasing a toddler around all day and have lots of other things to do. What ideas do you have for me to organize them in a more attractive and user frisdly way that does not involve scrapbooking?  These photos include wedding pictures pictures from college and pretty much ALL of the pictures of my husband from birth on.  I don’t have time to make scrapbooks of everything but I would like for it to be more user friendly and attractive than it is now.  Shelves? Boxes? Ideas?

I’m embarrased, but also ready to do something about it.

Jack Making Animal Sounds in Three Acts

Lentil Stew

We made this the other night in the clay pot. I’m really on a roll with the clay pot- I’m loving how I can literally THROW ingredients in there and come out a few hours later with something really really yummy. This was no exception

Lentil Stew with Sausage

1 1/2 cup dried lentils

3 cups chicken stock

1 large onion chopped

4 cloves garlic

3-4 carrots diced

1-2 green or red peppers diced

1 T. soy suace

1 tsp. fish sauce

1/2 lb. hot Italian sausage or other sausage of choice cut into bite sized pieces

1 tbs. balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste ( I didn’t add any but am saying that in case you want some!)

minced fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a clay cooker or crock pot for a few hours on 375.  Taste and adjust seasonings, serve with parsley or cilantro.

Very very very yummy.

Jack’s First Hair Cut

Tuesday I took one look at Jack’s shaggy mane and decided that it was time to trim his locks.  I contemplated cutting them myself with some orange all purpose scissors we have at home but after consulting with a neighbor decided that we would venture to a salon of some sort.  I decided on Great Clips mostly because its a chain– so it can’t be too bad– and because its 5 minutes from our house.  We arrived and  asked them about cutting hair.  Joy– a family friend documented the whole episode/ordeal.  Jack started crying the minute they put the fish covered cape over his head.  He was not to be distracted by the efforts of the hair stylist to point out the fish.  No, I think he knew something was up.. And then the cutting began.. As I began to contemplate what it must be like to be a small person, confined to a chair, and having a much bigger person coming at you with scissors– very frightening I am sure!

The after — is so wonderful– I can’t believe I waited so long to cut his hair!  I had no idea how shaggy it was getting. It is soo much easier to take care of — I no longer have to get it wet every time he wears a hat or a hood or gets up from a nap. He still  has his precious curls but they are just more manageable.

Armadillo Scales anyone?

My new herbal formula to supposedly help with my cysts includes armadillo scales.  It tastes terrible and now I know why. If any of you are curious and would like a taste of armadillo scale tea, please let me know. I have a nice pitcher of it in the fridge.

My huband has encouraged me to also add the caveat that I’m still not sure of the efficacy of the said tea, and that I daily wonder why I’m doing this as I’m downing my two glasses of the stuff.

That said– the acupuncture does make me feel relaxed–I know —its weird that having needles stuck in you is relaxing but I almost always fall asleep during treatment.

So acu/herb “traditional Chinese medicine” (TCM) regimen is both horrifyingly gross, relaxing and of somewhat uncertain help in conceiving a baby  and balancing organ systems.. Although I will say that it’s not like the traditional RE’s have been much help either– ie  I didn’t ovulate this cycle of meds.

So Far– if we’re counting living children

TCM=1

traditional medicine=0 but 1 miscarriage

so TCM wins out for now.

But I don’t want to discount that fact that Jack’s conception and birth are feeling more like miracle and gift that any sort of formula or regimen that will result in a child.  Thank you Lord for your provision.

Lenten Journey

This Lent I have given up some things that I felt were distracting me from life– escapes if you will.  Specifically I decided to give up all superfluous internet.  I’m still checking email and writing on the blog.  But I’m not reading other blogs, checking news sites or looking things up on Google unless I have too– ie I need directions,etc.  Its been really good for my spirit and soul to take a break. I’ve also really enjoyed reading some novels, including mystery novels.  Jack and I have been more regular about our weekly pilgrimage to the library. He picks out some books too.  He LOVES the library almost as much as I do.

I’ve also taken on some disciplines.  At my Pre-Lenten retreat I read some of Life Together by Bonhoffer.  He was a German Christian theologian living around WWII who was violently opposed to Hitler. I’m sure there are better was to explain his life if you read the Wiki article.   Life Together encouraged me to begin the practice of reading and praying aloud as a family.  He talks about the importance of Christian groups embracing the simple discipline of reading the scriptures aloud morning and evening.  I realized that we were a little group of Christians, a family.   At Richmond Hill I bought a little book called the Moravian Daily Texts.   It has a chapter of the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms.  I think you read through the whole bible in two years.  During this season of infertility and failed cycles and struggling to be excited for pregnant friends it has been very comforting and humbling to read about God’s faithfulness over the millenia.  We’ve rebuilt the temple with Ezra and the walls with Nehimiah.  We’ve been shipwrecked and  snake bitten with Paul.  I have been reminded that God is at work.  That he has been and will be accomplishing his work in the world.  That he is concerned about my life.  Every one of those men has written intense prayers to God, asking for his help.  I am not alone in my need to ask God for provision and I am not without hope.

In another related encouragement, Monday night I was at Richmond Hill for services and we prayed about  Richmond Hill’s financial needs (they have seen contributions decline as a result of the economic slowdown)  We all prayed simple prayers, asking and believing God for provision.  I received an email yesterday that they received a check for $10,000 in the mail yesterday. The check was already in the mail when we were praying.

Mystery Solved

I’ve been reading some mystery novels lately– from P.D. James’ The Private Patient to The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time which is a mystery novel written from the perspective of an autistic teenager.  The latter is really a good read. Its a YA (young adult) novel and therefore is pretty short and easy to read. (which is good when your eyes are droopy at night after a long day chasing a toddler around!) It purports to solve the mystery of a dog murder but actually solves more than that.

We had a mystery amongst our family too. It was not a murder mystery but instead involved pancakes that tasted like soap.  We were visiting my grandmother Grand’s house in Burlington, NC over the weekend. Matt woke up with Jack, who decided that the crack of dawn was when the day needed to start  on Saturday morning.  He made Jack some pancakes and my grandmother and I ate them a little later.  I immediately noticed the strong  taste of dish soap, Joy to be specific.  While Joy smells divine, I can attest that it tastes terrible.  I immediately said—”These taste like soap! Does anyone else think they taste soapy?”  Well, my grandmother is the very polite kind that wouldn’t say anything even if you were accidentally burning her house down– so she demurred.  And Matt was silently thinking”Well, I guess Grand is getting older and she must not wash her dishes very well.”  I meanwhile changed plates, forks, anything I could think of to get that awful taste away from the pancakes.  Well– they kept tasting like soap.  Matt just said “Put more syrup on it.”  I did but they still tasted like soap. Every bit tasted and smelled– soapy.    We finished our soapy tasting breakfast and went on with our day.

End of story. Or so we thought.  Later that day, my aunt was doing the supper dishes and Matt started laughing very hard.  He sputtered “I know why the pancakes tasted like soap.”   I’m wondering at this point if any of you have any guesses?

I’ll start by backing up a little. At home we put our olive oil into a tall glass jar with a long metal spout.  At Grand’s Matt saw a tall glass jar with a long metal spout that had a yellowish liquid in it.  In the sleepy haze of 6 a.m. he decided to make the pancakes with this liquid.  Grand DOES NOT keep her oil in said glass jar.  She keeps her Joy dish soap next to the sink in a tall decorative glass jar with a long metal spout.  Hence the origin of the soapy pancakes.  In case you were wondering this is not a recipe.  I don’t recommend cutting down on the fat in pancakes by replacing the oil with dish soap.  It really doesn’t work well.

Mystery solved.