I received Someday
Reading: Someday
Category Archives: Blog
Creating: Apple Puff Pancakes
Apple Puff Pancakes are easy, good and will definitely get you in the mood for fall. Our fresh apples made it even better.
The Pancake
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 Tablespoon melted butter
Mix ingredients until smooth. Pour into a greased 8-inch square pan and bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned.
The Apples
Two cups chopped tart apples
1/2 cup apple juice
1/8 cup sugar
1 tea. cinnamon
Combine in sauce pan and simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender and syrupy.
Cut the pancake in fourths and serve with the apples.
What is your favorite way to use a bounty of apples?
Creating: A New Tradition
Our weekend was filled with fresh air, apple orchards and a drive in the country. We loaded my little guy’s wagon with two pecks of Royal Gala and MacIntosh apples that are destined to be slathered with peanut butter for our afternoon snacks, sprinkled with sugar for apple pies and diced up for apple puff pancakes. This was our second annual apple picking adventure, and I think it is destined to become a new tradition. Stay tuned for a few recipes as I use up these little red beauties.
Living: One Big Blur
This week may go down as one of the busiest we’ve had in a long time! Here are the highlights (that I can remember–at least):
One popsicle party hosted by my friend Sarah.
One well-child two-month check up.
Two surgeries (my hubby said goodbye to two large kidney stones and my baby girl’s hemangioma got zapped).
One dentist appointment.
An oil change.
One story submitted.
People watching in Times Square.
One corned beef and pastrami on rye and a slice of cheesecake at Carnegie Deli.
More loads of laundry than I can remember.
Twenty one late-night feedings for baby girl, which also means 21 late-night diaper changes.
Whew! Time to do the dishes and get to bed!
Living: A Retreat
re·treat
Pronunciation: ri-ˈtrēt
Function: noun
1 : an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous or disagreeable
2 : a place of privacy or safety
While life with a three year old and an infant isn’t necessarily dangerous or disagreeable, it has been, at times, difficult. A little one who eats every three hours on the dot and has an amazing set of lungs along with a little guy who sometimes struggles with sharing his mommy’s attention and a sweet hubby who often has to work late have left me a bit exhausted. So, I sought solace in a mini retreat at my parents’ house.
Nearly two weeks of my mom’s cooking, kind words and extra help definitely soothed my soul. We baked, chatted, played and just relaxed.
Every time I am “home” I struggle with dividing my time between visiting friends and extended family or spending every possible minute with my parents. On this trip being with my folks won out (except for a few days I spent with my in-laws so they could see the kiddos), and I hope everyone understands. The time went too quickly, as always. It feels like we’re always on the run and the next month is no different. It is jam packed with work deadlines, a family lake vacation, another surgery for Madelyn and some well-child check ups. I’ve always said that I like to stay busy! This month will put it to the test.
Freelancing: A How-To Guide
There is a great guide to freelancing on the Writer’s Digest website—the type I would like to write for the blog if I could ever find the time! In the meantime, check out the WD article here if you’re interested in the freelance life.
Living: Bird Watching
Living: Bird Watching
Living: A Favorite Quote
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more commonplace than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. –Calvin Coolidge
Living: Six Things I Know About My Son
He has a big heart. He sings to his sister and can’t give her enough kisses. He kisses my head when I casually complain of a headache to my hubby. He promises he will call me each day when he is away at college, then he asks me what college is. He is the first to ask why someone is sad and he always asks me what is wrong when I don’t have on “my happy face.”
He has an impressive vocabulary. Last week he asked me what a killjoy is. He has called me one four times since then. Each time I was, in fact, being a killjoy. He has also picked up on a not-so-nice word his daddy likes to use when discussing certain politicians. It both mortifies and impresses me that my little guy has used this word in context now and then. I’m not going to say what it is, but let’s just say that if he is caught using it on the playground at his church-run preschool, I will insist he is calling the other kids juice bags.
He is a bear when he is tired. He gets that from me. Now that I realize what is going on, I’m a bit more empathetic with him. However, things go downhill quickly when we’re both tired. I mean fast—really, really fast.
He is a worrier. He has a double dose of the worry gene in him as his dad and I are both worriers. My little guy is still asking about his daddy’s kidney “bones” that landed him in the hospital six weeks ago. He is also distraught that Percy took a plunge into the ravine. Remind me not to let him watch the Spills and Chills Thomas DVD again.
He is all boy. He likes to play rough and get dirty. This makes my hubby proud. It makes me proud, too. It also means I buy a lot of Shout and Oxi Clean. He likes to figure out how things work and he has an endless stream of questions. I’m grateful he still thinks I can answer them all.
He is drawn to water. The hose, the kitchen sink, the bathroom faucet and the bathtub all call his name. So do puddles. I’ve learned to be patient and I go through more towels than I would like during the course of the day. That said, I can’t wait to see how he reacts to our lake trip later this summer.