At least mine did, this morning.
I was having a hard time wading through the weeks old layers of dried cereal on the carpet. Our living space had become a maze of clean and dirty laundry. I woke up and wondered how I was going to chase a two-year-old around for another 12 hours when I could barely roll over.
But my angel woke up and sent me to the shower. He changed, dressed and fed our little wild man. He sent me out the door to my appointment only 10 minutes behind schedule, still in his pajamas.
And in the meantime, he vacuumed.
Showing posts with label Michael. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael. Show all posts
"I Am A Strong Pole!"
Well, Michael is redoing his blog and we were reminiscing over some of his old posts. One of the most notable is the post on movie quoting. It inspired me to post about non-movie quoting, which is quite pervasive in our family.
The title quote is from Michael- when he was bracing himself for a (well-deserved, I'm sure) tickle attack by yours truly. This was last October. Most of the rest of them are years old. These are the ones that have stuck around. :)
Does she have hair--I know her! (Monta)
Ha ha. Funny joke. (Dad D.)
It's a potato and it's a bug. It's a potato bug. (Y mountain girls.)
Whap-whap-whap-whap. Well, I'm all scuttled out. (complete with actions. James.)
That is all. (Okay, that is from a movie--Mr. Roberts.)
Suckers! (Actor who played Charlie in Playmill's 2005 The Foreigner--amazing!)
I guess this post is mainly for me to remember these funny moments. But if any of the people involved happen to stumble by, they may chuckle too. :)
The title quote is from Michael- when he was bracing himself for a (well-deserved, I'm sure) tickle attack by yours truly. This was last October. Most of the rest of them are years old. These are the ones that have stuck around. :)
Does she have hair--I know her! (Monta)
Ha ha. Funny joke. (Dad D.)
It's a potato and it's a bug. It's a potato bug. (Y mountain girls.)
Whap-whap-whap-whap. Well, I'm all scuttled out. (complete with actions. James.)
That is all. (Okay, that is from a movie--Mr. Roberts.)
Suckers! (Actor who played Charlie in Playmill's 2005 The Foreigner--amazing!)
I guess this post is mainly for me to remember these funny moments. But if any of the people involved happen to stumble by, they may chuckle too. :)
Getting Settled
Here's the run-down on our lives, list-style. :)
Our apartment is perfect (for us), and we love our ward. The neighborhood is so safe and cozy--we don't feel that we're in the city at all. (Very different from last summer--we had a very urban place.)
Also, Michael is loving his job, which is the key element.
We've dived (doven?) right in at church too. I've already sub-ed in the Primary, we're doing a ward temple trip tomorrow, I've been to one enrichment with another one on Saturday, and the Bishopric is stopping by tonight to visit us. Also, we're having the missionaries over to teach us a discussion on Saturday.
Wow. No wonder I'm tired. When I put into words, I'm doing a lot.
As for the home front, I'm grinding wheat and baking bread Little Red Hen style. I've been "grocery store shopping" the past few weeks. That is to say, I'm shopping for a grocery store. I've found a few good ones, but now it's time to price compare! :)
Otherwise, I've been working on getting up earlier so I can have some time to myself before Nathanael's up, as well as reading the Book of Mormon in that time. It's an uphill battle, but I'm still climbing! :)
It is amazing how not-new I feel. It seems like I remember so many people from last summer! That part is very good news! :) Well, I guess I get to go back to making our clean-out-the-produce-drawer-before-it-goes-bad dinner.
This moment has been duly noted, and will be deducted on your timecard, "That is all." (Michael, do you ever read this--'cause you're the only one laughing. Well, maybe I'll send a link to Peter too.)
And, my photos for the day.
Our apartment is perfect (for us), and we love our ward. The neighborhood is so safe and cozy--we don't feel that we're in the city at all. (Very different from last summer--we had a very urban place.)
Also, Michael is loving his job, which is the key element.
We've dived (doven?) right in at church too. I've already sub-ed in the Primary, we're doing a ward temple trip tomorrow, I've been to one enrichment with another one on Saturday, and the Bishopric is stopping by tonight to visit us. Also, we're having the missionaries over to teach us a discussion on Saturday.
Wow. No wonder I'm tired. When I put into words, I'm doing a lot.
As for the home front, I'm grinding wheat and baking bread Little Red Hen style. I've been "grocery store shopping" the past few weeks. That is to say, I'm shopping for a grocery store. I've found a few good ones, but now it's time to price compare! :)
Otherwise, I've been working on getting up earlier so I can have some time to myself before Nathanael's up, as well as reading the Book of Mormon in that time. It's an uphill battle, but I'm still climbing! :)
It is amazing how not-new I feel. It seems like I remember so many people from last summer! That part is very good news! :) Well, I guess I get to go back to making our clean-out-the-produce-drawer-before-it-goes-bad dinner.
This moment has been duly noted, and will be deducted on your timecard, "That is all." (Michael, do you ever read this--'cause you're the only one laughing. Well, maybe I'll send a link to Peter too.)
And, my photos for the day.
Whole Wheat Pancakes a la Deardeuff
I keep getting requests for this recipe, so as I typed it up for a friend, it occurred to me to post it here. Next time I make it I will take pictures and post them, as I always enjoy illustrated food blogs (a fun one is http://pinchmysalt.com/).
I originally got this recipe from a book entitled Essential Mormon Celebrations. The recipe was called Papa's Whole-Wheat Pancakes. My recipe really doesn't look very much like the original, but just so we're all clear, I didn't start from nothing.
That being said, these are my favorite pancakes. I make them quite often, and even Michael asks for them! (That's when I know I'm on the right track!) They have been quite versatile, and in a pinch, I will use leftovers as bread in a lunch meat sandwich (unfortunately, there are usually not any leftover). Also, I like to double the recipe, but not if I am trying something new (see variations).
Here it is:
1/2 cup milk (I use rice milk)
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (this is the measurement for fresh ground flour. For store bought, I would start with 1 cup and add more at the end to balance the consistency as needed.)
1/4 tsp sea salt (1/8 tsp if honey is omitted)
2 Tbsp raw honey (may be omitted for yeast cleansing or other sugarless diets)
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
Combine flour, salt, milk and water well with whisk or fork. Add remaining ingredients, reserving the baking soda and baking powder until the end so they will be active while the pancakes are cooking. It is also a good idea to mix those last two ingredients with one of the liquids or a small amount of reserved water first and then add to batter to avoid lumps in the pancakes.
Using a 1/4-cup measure, pour batter onto a moderately hot griddle (nonstick or greased). I set mine to 250 to 300 degrees. Any hotter, and they get too dark before the centers cook. Flip when partially done (you get to check, these usually don't bubble like white flour pancakes do). Serve with real maple syrup, blue agave nectar, or apple butter (I made some homemade apple-saucy stuff that was really yummy on top of these).
Variations:
Flour: Use buckwheat flour for some or all of the whole wheat flour. We have also experimented with some brown rice flour and potato flour with good results. The potato flour made them fluffier (although these are already very light for a whole wheat recipe), and we were careful to only add a small amount of rice flour, otherwise the rice taste was noticeable. A general guideline for flour substitutions: start by substituting small amounts (in a 1:1 ratio) and watch the batter for consistency. Then, add more liquid or flour as needed. (Different flours absorb different amounts of liquid. I find this is true even for different batches of whole wheat flour.)
Add-ins: I usually toss 1/4 to 1/3 cup of vegan carob chips into the batter just before cooking. They get all melty and remind me of my pre-no-chocolate days. :) Michael likes texture, so one time he added our usual carob chips as well as some chopped walnuts and raisins. Those were exciting pancakes! :) We also did small cut up pieces of apple once which was nice. Frozen blueberries (or other fruit) work well, the fruit thaws as the pancakes cook, so there's no need to plan ahead (that's my favorite thing in recipes).
Fruit/Vegetable Puree: I have only experimented with butternut squash, but I imagine applesauce or other purees of similar consistency (pumpkin, zucchini, carrot, etc.) would work just fine. Make some amount of the puree (or use leftovers). I would start with 1/2 to 1 cup for this recipe (un-doubled). Simply add it to the pancake batter after it is mixed entirely. There is no need to adjust liquid or flour, the purees usually are about the same consistency as the final batter, so it just increases the volume of the recipe. The nice thing about the squash was that Nathanael just thought they were regular pancakes, but he was getting vegetables too! They were barely noticeable as tiny pieces, and not at all in the flavor of the pancake itself.
Wow! I didn't realize we had relied so much on this recipe! I've made it a lot in the last six months!
If you make these please post a comment and let me know how they turn out. I'd love to hear about any experimentation! :)
P.S. Michael asked me to be sure to include the word 'delicious' in this post. I assure you, these are wonderful!
I originally got this recipe from a book entitled Essential Mormon Celebrations. The recipe was called Papa's Whole-Wheat Pancakes. My recipe really doesn't look very much like the original, but just so we're all clear, I didn't start from nothing.
That being said, these are my favorite pancakes. I make them quite often, and even Michael asks for them! (That's when I know I'm on the right track!) They have been quite versatile, and in a pinch, I will use leftovers as bread in a lunch meat sandwich (unfortunately, there are usually not any leftover). Also, I like to double the recipe, but not if I am trying something new (see variations).
Here it is:
1/2 cup milk (I use rice milk)
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (this is the measurement for fresh ground flour. For store bought, I would start with 1 cup and add more at the end to balance the consistency as needed.)
1/4 tsp sea salt (1/8 tsp if honey is omitted)
2 Tbsp raw honey (may be omitted for yeast cleansing or other sugarless diets)
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
Combine flour, salt, milk and water well with whisk or fork. Add remaining ingredients, reserving the baking soda and baking powder until the end so they will be active while the pancakes are cooking. It is also a good idea to mix those last two ingredients with one of the liquids or a small amount of reserved water first and then add to batter to avoid lumps in the pancakes.
Using a 1/4-cup measure, pour batter onto a moderately hot griddle (nonstick or greased). I set mine to 250 to 300 degrees. Any hotter, and they get too dark before the centers cook. Flip when partially done (you get to check, these usually don't bubble like white flour pancakes do). Serve with real maple syrup, blue agave nectar, or apple butter (I made some homemade apple-saucy stuff that was really yummy on top of these).
Variations:
Flour: Use buckwheat flour for some or all of the whole wheat flour. We have also experimented with some brown rice flour and potato flour with good results. The potato flour made them fluffier (although these are already very light for a whole wheat recipe), and we were careful to only add a small amount of rice flour, otherwise the rice taste was noticeable. A general guideline for flour substitutions: start by substituting small amounts (in a 1:1 ratio) and watch the batter for consistency. Then, add more liquid or flour as needed. (Different flours absorb different amounts of liquid. I find this is true even for different batches of whole wheat flour.)
Add-ins: I usually toss 1/4 to 1/3 cup of vegan carob chips into the batter just before cooking. They get all melty and remind me of my pre-no-chocolate days. :) Michael likes texture, so one time he added our usual carob chips as well as some chopped walnuts and raisins. Those were exciting pancakes! :) We also did small cut up pieces of apple once which was nice. Frozen blueberries (or other fruit) work well, the fruit thaws as the pancakes cook, so there's no need to plan ahead (that's my favorite thing in recipes).
Fruit/Vegetable Puree: I have only experimented with butternut squash, but I imagine applesauce or other purees of similar consistency (pumpkin, zucchini, carrot, etc.) would work just fine. Make some amount of the puree (or use leftovers). I would start with 1/2 to 1 cup for this recipe (un-doubled). Simply add it to the pancake batter after it is mixed entirely. There is no need to adjust liquid or flour, the purees usually are about the same consistency as the final batter, so it just increases the volume of the recipe. The nice thing about the squash was that Nathanael just thought they were regular pancakes, but he was getting vegetables too! They were barely noticeable as tiny pieces, and not at all in the flavor of the pancake itself.
Wow! I didn't realize we had relied so much on this recipe! I've made it a lot in the last six months!
If you make these please post a comment and let me know how they turn out. I'd love to hear about any experimentation! :)
P.S. Michael asked me to be sure to include the word 'delicious' in this post. I assure you, these are wonderful!
Rollercoasters & Readiness
Yesterday Michael was invited to the Wild Waves water and amusement park with his team at work. I decided to take the opportunity and came along with Nathanael. We had such a fun time! The wooden rollercoaster was the best--what a thrill! But even the so-called wimpy-looking rides were great fun and we both (all three) had a great day! Nathanael was such a good sport and played and laughed on the ground while his parents rode around making themselves dizzy.
As for the readiness, Michael and I are both in a state of preparation as we are speaking in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. My mind has a thousand tracks it wants to explore, but as it gets later and later, my body is putting it's foot down--it's time for bed!
Here's a couple photos of our fun day:
As for the readiness, Michael and I are both in a state of preparation as we are speaking in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. My mind has a thousand tracks it wants to explore, but as it gets later and later, my body is putting it's foot down--it's time for bed!
Here's a couple photos of our fun day:
My Savory Plant Named Sage
I wrote this on July 26th but didn't have the gumption to finish it. Anyhow, here it is, with my follow-up entry. Bonne Journee.
I bought a Winter Savory plant at the Farmers Market four weeks ago. The first week I did my best to kill it by leaving it out in the heat and consistantly neglecting to water it. The second week I brought it in and nearly stained the carpet by over-watering it. Now the lower branches are brown and brittle, but the tops are shooting up like rockets. (Imagine Meg Ryan in I.Q.) I feel like I should go back and read Jacob 5--what have I missed?!?!
Something deep inside me is telling me to prune. Prune like mad! (I told Michael this and he keeps quoting it!) I haven't done it yet, but I know that the longer I wait, the weirder this thing is going to turn out...
8/2/07: Well, I finally pruned and it's getting browner by the day. Now I think it's getting overwattered and undersunned. So yesterday it went back out on the patio. I get to remember to water it out there though. There are quite a few new shoots, so I'm positive about it's future.
p.s. It's called Sage because Michael couldn't remember which herb it was. We attempted a re-christening, but Sage stuck. :D
I bought a Winter Savory plant at the Farmers Market four weeks ago. The first week I did my best to kill it by leaving it out in the heat and consistantly neglecting to water it. The second week I brought it in and nearly stained the carpet by over-watering it. Now the lower branches are brown and brittle, but the tops are shooting up like rockets. (Imagine Meg Ryan in I.Q.) I feel like I should go back and read Jacob 5--what have I missed?!?!
Something deep inside me is telling me to prune. Prune like mad! (I told Michael this and he keeps quoting it!) I haven't done it yet, but I know that the longer I wait, the weirder this thing is going to turn out...
8/2/07: Well, I finally pruned and it's getting browner by the day. Now I think it's getting overwattered and undersunned. So yesterday it went back out on the patio. I get to remember to water it out there though. There are quite a few new shoots, so I'm positive about it's future.
p.s. It's called Sage because Michael couldn't remember which herb it was. We attempted a re-christening, but Sage stuck. :D
Happy Birthday Dad!
Isn't he handsome? This is a good opportunity to post an old favorite picture and say I love Michael!p.s. I now call your attention to the new area of the sidebar dedicated to links to my Picasa web albums. Now you no longer need to search through old posts for links to see the sweetest baby in the world!
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