Whoopsa daisies

Ay ay ay, it's been six months since I've sat down to write here.

Next weekend, my Mom is having an estate sale where I'll be a giddy employee (love sales) and we just returned from a heavenly trip to Manitowish Waters over the 4th of July...

Each and every weekend this summer has been and continues to be filled, almost to the brim, with family, friends and good fun.  Thank You God...and thanks for the moments of peace and ease with "nothing" to do peppered in there, too.

Working from present to where I left off in...January?!

Graham won the limbo contest!

More of this -- less TV!

Spring bike ride

Dapper little 1st grade schoolboy

Nature seems perfect sometimes

My lovely Mum

Book character day at school

And Estelle couldn't be left out with the face painting

Got direction and tips from Jay and Ken, got the permit and the coop is built...now we need chicks!

And check!  Thanks to the Merton Feed Store!  What a great experience...
Graham named 'Maple' (partridge Rock)

And Estelle named 'Goby' (barred Rock)

First day of 'school' - summer preschool at Miss Connie's once a week

Graham begged for a summer buzz cut and here just the bangs are left

Chief Graham

Daddy and Stelly

We went to Puerto Rico in April and a tour guide was making hats from  a tree's huge fallen leaves - they were everywhere

Hiked to this waterfall in the El Yunque rainforest

We were lucky enough to see two of these special birds in the rainforest - a Puerto Rican Tody - see the two of them?

Tuckered from all the PR fun

Jason 5/15 and Estelle's 5/14 birthday dinner

Team Brazil soccer buddies

Estelle and cuz Brooklyn taking a break from dancing the day away

The birthday buddies opening presents

She's 3!

Setting up a gift with Kacky and Papa

Kack and Stelly

Watching Estelle's (and Graham's) little concentrating faces while writing is  heart-melting

All dolled up with fairy wings and all - prancing up and down the hallway

Graham and James ready to sub

Stelly biding her time and living vicariously through her big brother until she gets to go to school

Last day of school -- excited?

Andi and Debby on Deb's 60th celebration

Mike at Deb's party - dapper dude

Auntie Kack and Uncle Tim at the party

Estelle and Graham with beloved papa

Peonies!  The smell, the beauty -- heavenly

These three above pictures are from the Monches Mill House in Merton (say that 5 times fast) built in 1842 --  stunning property for sale we looked at but a bit too much to take on for us -- we have a longing to have more peaceful surroundings and space to roam -- someday...

The kids with Nanny on the bluebird trail while Jason...

...did the Horribly Hilly for the ummmm, 5th year in a row, I think

Downer Days!  Estelle did the 3 year old race - she's been talking big about it since spring!

Graham did great, too!  His 4th year riding in it!

Out of order but coconut juice straight from vessel accessed by machete in PR

And the reason we were in Puerto Rico -- Jason's work

Gotta love the in-pool bar stools

Fun feature of the resort's pool -- jumping ledge

Cute fishy

Celebrated Papa's birthday along with Debby's milestone birthday

Graham's school had a Sock Hop in late winter -- pretty fun dressing up and greasing Graham's hair back...

...and Estelle was a dance machine

Brooklyn is 4! -- and Jen the spectacular birthday party thrower was in full effect -- unbelievable cake along with every other rainbow themed detail!

Painted the dark red living to a light green and finally replaced acoustic ceiling tiles  with drywall -- yahoo!

And this little bugger turned 7 in March - magic wand cupcakes because...

A magician came!  Great time!

The magician had a live dove and rabbit and made balloon animals for each kid -- great, great show -- but we had time to kill so I fumbled around making up games...

Graham got Estelle suited up NBA style, too!

One of our favorite living room games -- airplane

A gorgeous cauliflower and red onion

Jason semi-surprised me with a trip to Vegas (he had a job and I got to hop along).  Jason's parents are extraordinary.  It was  unreal -- I've come around from loathing Las Vegas to really loving it...not sure what that says...when in Rome, I guess -- to an extent...the shopping and the food, I mean...

OK whoops - back to PR

That big leaf hat on Stelly

Hope you and yours are having a relaxing and fun summer -- God bless ya and see you soon!

Missed A December Entry

Hoo, what a ride the holidays were.  Many Christmas celebrations - 6 in fact - and in 4 different WI cities!  Humbling and such blessing to have places to go and most importantly people - family to see...and love.

Each moment was special and it's so extra special to see family members that we don't get to see but maybe just this time of year.  These were a few of my favorite things:

seeing and hugging each family member

the album Lord Huron that my cousin gave us because he loves it and it reminds him of my sis Robin and he thinks she would've (does!) loved it

feeling like Clark Griswold putting up our outdoor 'lights' - about 3/4 of them didn't work and we never turned them on

picking, smelling and then admiring (still are!) our imperfectly perfect Frasier fir Christmas tree and keeping our 10 min. picking-out time-limit

my sister Brynn being home

all of special 'true meaning' of Christmas learning and experiencing Graham has at school - including his darling Christmas concert

My Mom and sister coming over to make a gingerbread house with the kids


hearing my cousin's husband talk about having a baby after many years of marriage

having my angelic 5 year-old cousin whisper 'captain underpants' in everyone's ear and giggling heartily every time

experiencing the hostessing brilliance of aunts and my mother-in-law

giving gifts...and receiving is great fun, too

focusing more every year on the wonder and miracle and humility of Jesus being born in a barn - the light and hope and joy He brought to the darkness and still brings

watching my brother plow a track around my Dad's backyard for Jason with him skiing behind

Seeing my nephew's endless smiles

safe travels

listening to Christmas music - Little Drummer Boy and Silent Night especially

Going to church Christmas Eve with Graham in a suit coat and tie that the athletic-clothes-devotee himself planned and packed to wear for the Christmas service

Amid the busyness, prepping, packing, shopping, wrapping, planning there is a calm and a peace and a subtle joy - warm fuzzies - that is hard sometimes to stop and connect with but is always there for the experiencing.  Renewing of ourselves and of the hope that love and peace and joy will prevail over madness of the moments and the world!

Warming up for the school Christmas Concert

All the lovely ladies on my Mom's side of the family + Graham  ( :

Eric, Ken and Jay

One of the things Graham was hoping for - an indian costume

The one thing Estelle asked for!

Graham is sitting on the craftsmanship of his Dad!  Jason made a  big, beautiful trunk for Graham for  Christmas

This is getting long but here are some foods for good measure!

Jason has been hunting at his cousins' home for a few years now and this year got a buck!  I had the honor and joy to join Jason in the evening and hang with Jay and Ken for the night!  The whole visit - and 'hunt', I'm sure - were spectacular in a calming, awesome and heart-warming way.  I can't say enough about our visit - these two men are pure pleasure to be around!

This picture looks a bit nasty but was so delectable - this is his deer - venison tenderloin and Jason made mashed potatoes from scratch with his Mom's corn on the cob from summer

The whole process of retrieving the deer from the woods to loading on the car was impressive to say the least.  I didn't witness some of the gory details but Ken and Jason made it all happen without a hitch.

So HEALTHY and crazy tasty, too.  Some lovely salmon, carrots sautéed in honey, soy sauce, garlic and butter, basmati rice and roasted cauliflower

The most beautiful cantaloupe I'd ever seen - the green on it was the most brilliant, pure color

This was a kale soup I made that the kids even ate.  I got on a soup making kick - they were all great but we're souped out for a bit, I think.

Another phenomenal omelette by Jason

And another phenomenal pizza by Jason!  Graham says 'Peace!'

...Robin...

Oh my little sister.  Robin T. Bate - that's how she signed her artwork.  Thirteen years ago today she flew to heaven.

I am so thankful for Robin.  So thankful for her life and death.  Getting to have a sister like her.  Her death has freed, molded and taught me so much of what life is about.  I trust so much that I know God took her for divine reason.  One we can't understand.  The agony, depression, fear and acute sadness seemed bottomless.  But I am so thankful for the choice to be able to move with it, through it by subscribing to Grace and seeking joy in suffering - the blessings that can come from such heartache and tragedy.  The Calling to be happy and think of good things and draw nearer to the One who never changes and is a haven and the ultimate comforter.

Robin, despite the difficulties in her life, had a light, kind, accepting, peace-invoking, fun-loving free-spiritedness that inspires me even more today than ever.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and humility that we have so many choices everyday about how we think, act, react.  That we can always be forgiven and are renewed every day.  To have the choice to carry on, learn from our experiences and not let earthly grief, stereotypes and expectations rule us is incredible!

Here's to Robin, my amazing sis, to you, to all those you've touched and have touched you.  To peace and love and acceptance and humility.  ( :

Lotso Foodo

I

YOU

Is Jason getting getting better and better every meal he prepares?  Seems like it.  He has no shortage of ideas, experiments or radar for new things and recipes to try.  It inspires and puzzles me..and spoils us!  Everybody has their unique gifts and talents - cooking is definitely one of Jason's (...many).

Love using leftover/extra stuff - the baguette from previous night with eggs, avocado and almost-too-ripe tomato for breakfast - SO GOOD.

Fish Taco Fridays

Frittata with asparagus and goat cheese

Ravioli lasagna with tomatoes and herbs from our garden with homemade sauce

Tilapia with a wild and brown rice and roasted cauliflower and broccoli - so good and nice and healthy

This is Posole soup - Jason crock potted a pork roast from the pig from Aunt Dar and they pulled it.  Such a nice, nice flavor and the hominy (soft white corn - garbanzo bean-esque but smoother) is so good.

Individual blueberry cobblers in ramekins

This pizza dough is from Glorioso's/Sciortino's that Jason doctored with fresh herbs from the garden and the classic corn meal - a many step process - even more when he makes the dough from scratch.  Jason's patience and labors astound me.  Nothing is ever never done to the fullest.

Roasted pepper, asparagus, turkey italian sausage and goat cheese with penne - fantastic flavor  fiesta

Our favorite salad - grilled chicken, craisins, goat cheese, a nut item (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.) over arugula with the wonderfully biting balsamic and garlic dressing Jason makes

Based loosely on a recipe - a Thai inspired dish with basmati rice, peapods, cilantro, cashews, roasted red pepps - fantastic

This is more summery but still sensational - fresh herbs and a sweet tart dressing over a medley of grapes, apples, celery, raisins, almonds and on...

This is from a chick pea, raisin and marinara pasta recipe Jason found

A tomato app replica from a Greek restaurant Jason went to out east on a biz trip - lemon juice and feta make it great

Fresh lime pie - bags of organic limes were on sale and we had quite a few left over and so genius just whipped this number up - so fresh and bursting with fresh lime flavor

Frost has arrived so Jason harvested the rest of the herbs and is hang-drying  them to use over the winter

Whole chicken with those herbs stuffed under the skin and into the cavity - yummmm

This is a minestrone soup that I actually made, surprise, surprise - it's from a book on Parkinson's disease and highlights marjoram and turmeric along with fava and canellini beans - Jason approved it and even the kids really liked it!  Patting myself on the back a little, too.  The three components of health (from another book I'm reading on hormones - lovin' the self help books apparently) are diet, lifestyle and stress management.

Did I already post this verse?  Maybe, but it's so good, a calming favorite - Isaiah 30:15
In rest and repentance is your salvation
In quietness and trust is your strength
Quite the opposite of what the world pushes and such a refuge for when I feel lost or alone or on the wrong track.  God is sooooooooooooooooooo good.

A visit to Holy Hill

After a somewhat brief visit with my dear friend Clare at the Holy Hill Art Farm, I stopped at Holy Hill itself and walked around a bit as I'd never been there and when I do get that way, we're visiting family and friends.  Very beautiful and peaceful grounds.  The grottos of the stations of the cross are stunning.  There is an air of peace and calm and solemnity there.  So very beautiful.

While walking through the extensive gift shop, I read a framed piece called the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann who passed in 1945.  It's new and fresh to me and just wanted to share with you...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.  Especially, do not feign affection.  Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 

Be careful. 

Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927