Of the hundreds of pictures I’ve taken recently a handful take my breath away. As I prepare to spend another few days away from my babies, these carry me through as my best shots!
Sunflowers ~ Best Shot Monday
I remember when we first walked through the house where we now live. After seeing many homes ~ some great, some absolutely NOT ~ we’d kept coming back to the pictures of this one online. When we finally decided to look at it, even though it wasn’t in the location we really wanted, we knew it was the one we would buy. I snapped dozens of pictures on our second walk-through and would scroll through them back at our apartment. Before long, the house was ours…one week away from our first wedding anniversary.
Recently, I found a few of those pictures and was amazed to see the ways in which the home both inside and out has changed to fit the needs of our growing family. Projects such as landscaping, painting, or updating the deck, or installing the new playset have really changed the look over the nearly five years we’ve lived there.
A few years ago we pulled out the dead and dying lilac trees that resided in the back corner of our yard. I was sad to see them go because the smell of lilacs is something I remember fondly from days spent in Grandma Gert’s backyard. We’ve tried wildflowers, which ended up looking more wild than flowery. We’d thought about turning it into some type of sitting area with a bench, arbor and fountain. But none of those plans ever felt right.
This year, Garth sprinkled sunflower seeds (aka leftovers from a winter of feeding the birds) into converging rows. I liked the idea, but it was really his thing. He’d be out there watering or thinning them while we played in the yard. Even when they were small, it already looked so much better than any of our prior attempts. Then, after two weeks of rain and the sudden warmth, they exploded. What was once a cute patch of knee-high plants, became a forest through which Calder was suddenly wary to explore.
The first signs of buds appeared. Our excitement grew.
We watched and counted the numbers of buds appearing on a single stalk. Did you know there could be more than one per stem? I observed the pride on Garth’s face as his laboring was paying off. While our time away has been refreshing, we’re anticipating a sea of sunny yellow to smile upon us when we arrive home.
My best shot this week is the first one, I love all the possibility that it holds, and yet wince a little to think about how quickly the time will pass when he really will be forging out on his own, exploring the world around him. And yet, if you look closely, you’ll see his daddy’s hand, outstretched. It’s enough to make my heart melt.
How about you? What’s blossoming in your world this week? What are you exploring?
Bedeviled Ham and Eggs
I think it was about a year ago that I first had this dish. Whenever we come up north to visit my husband’s family, we always joke that we’re going to the resort, or the bed and breakfast, or some other vacation get-away. From the moment we turn down the half-mile of tree-covered road ~ sometimes snow-covered, dripping with fresh rain, or painted with golden rays of sun ~ it’s like we’re entering a separate little universe, where the pace is slower, even in the midst of large family gatherings with boisterous noise and fun.
Often, we get the call or email before we arrive to put in requests for favorite meals or snacks. This week, before the whole crew arrived, I literally jumped for joy when I saw the makings of this breakfast dish! Admittedly it is fairly time-intensive, but oh, so worth it! Thanks, Mom!!
Ingredients:
6 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 2.5oz can deviled or “potted” ham
3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
6 English muffins or toast points, toasted
Roma tomato slices
parsley and/or basil
Sauce:
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
6 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
- Peel and cut the hard-boiled eggs in half. Remove yolks and mix with melted butter, vinegar, sugar, mustard, ham and chives. Blend until smooth.
- Stuff the yolk mixture into the whites as for deviled eggs. Arranged on a greased pie plate. (Note: Eggs can be covered tightly and refrigerated overnight at this point).
- For Sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan. Whisk in the flour to form a paste, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and bouillon granules.
- Cook over low heat until bubbly and thick. Stir in the dill.
- Heat stuffed eggs in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
- Toast muffin halves. Place a tablespoon or so of sauce on the muffin. Place an egg half on sauce, then top it with more sauce. Garnish with tomato slices and/or parsley or basil.
Makes 6 servings
This recipe comes from the Wake Up & Smell the Coffeecookbook. This recipe in particular is from the Morningside Bed & Breakfast in Frankfort, MI.
Coming Together
Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.
– Jim Rohn
Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.
– Brad Henry
The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduced yourself to, had life not done it for you.
– Kendall Hailey
Has it really been almost six years? I remember how my nerves made my stomach dance as I met everyone for the first time, knowing that in a few short months this would be my family. I remember being prepared in advance to be called the wrong name. I was. I remember that instead of feeling uncomfortable, I felt calm and relaxed because this was a family just like mine.
Now, my own children are introduced to aunts, uncles, and cousins. Pictures are taken to preserve memories, despite their limitations ~ how do you capture the smell of the breakfast prepared on the campfire, the spicy-ness of the gumbo that tickles your nose, or the sounds of squeals and giggling by the many great-grandchildren bustling about?
Again, we come together across the miles by air and by car, we have come together for a brief moment before going again our separate ways. Wanna glimpse of our family fun? Go ahead, take a peek!
It’s Not You, It’s Me
Don’t worry, I’m not breaking up with you! I figured I’d better clarify a little bit in case you’re wondering if your reader has gone haywire! I finally sat down with the intentions of getting “caught up” with the posts that have been rolling around in my head, some started on paper and others in the form of titles scribbled in my planner.
I know there are those out there completely appalled by such “backblogging” (by the way I think I invented this word. I kinda hope I did, but probably not!) but when I really ask myself why I blog I arrive at a simple answer. I want to remember the little things, the big things and all those in-between that shape the past, present and future of our lives. OK, so it doesn’t seem simple when I re-read it. But it is.
Maybe I am breaking rules. If so, I guess I’m doing so intentionally. There are very few places where we can control time. If doing this on occasion means I get to enjoy a clean house, some fun with my kids, AND a creative entry that shares those adventures…that’s good enough for me! Thanks for allowing me to flood you with feeds…and rest assured I’m pretty much back on track. It feels good to write. Here’s to making it happen more regularly!
Cornwell Crew 