in one hour

This was what was cooked: tuna noodle casserole for dinner tonight and leftovers; red rice, millet and quinoa for freezing; broccoli, squash and onions prepared for dinner (and leftovers and freezing), one dozen boiled eggs, and....

a sink full of pots. Why? Getting ready for the big day of course, whenever that will be. This summer I purchased a cookbook by Heidi Swanson call Super Natural Everyday. My hope was to incorporate more whole grains and veggies into our diet. Her book is amazing and her blog equally so. So many simple, delicious ideas. One entry on the blog discusses cooking extra grains and beans and then freezing the leftovers for future use. Of course this makes total sense, but takes a little extra effort (cooling, packaging and then cleaning) and is not part of my habit of cooking. So I thought today I'd see "how long" it takes to go the extra effort. Just a little over an hour, including the kitchen clean up. The grains, aren't mixed with anything so when its time to use them that'll be an additional 15 minutes to add veggies and seasoning but it nice to know they are there. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Another key is to have a handy 6'3" helper who, 90% of the time does the dishes, empties the dishwasher and leaves a clean kitchen for me to work in. I washed all these pots (not quite fair to ambush him with all those pots) but having a clean slate each day sure helps with the motivation to cook. I am so thankful!

while we are waiting

Finished a little project that I started last spring. A very small baby blanket, for an apparently not so small baby who should be here very soon. Did you hear me sweet baby? Soon! Not that a baby needs a blanket in this heat but I am told when inspiration hits, it's best to run with it.

My inspirations were two books which I have enjoyed reviewing over and over again. The first provided the design idea: Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartmann and the second the colors mixing and machine quilting style: Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky. I was very limited in color and amounts of fabric so I just went with some Moda fat quarters I had and a lightweight voile pattern for the backing by Anna Maria Horner.

 

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"Bloom Where you are Planted" is a philosophy of my mother's, one that molded who I am today, but a perspective I think I have lost in my discontent over so many things. An old family friend reminded me of this saying this summer, as she was talking about her own daughter adjusting to a new home far away from home. And it struck me that I haven't been doing a very good job of blooming in the situations in which I have found myself. Mom used to have a framed version of this saying on the wall in our home and I wanted a reminder of this perspective, especially as we embark on our second year in the Virgin Islands. A reminder that there is important work to do, here and now and beauty can be found here and now. So while at  home this summer, I used some scrap fabric to cut out the letters and then stitched each letter in black thread outline
with the sewing machine.

a theme is emerging

I had some time today for the first time since being back to pull out my sewing machine. Last spring I had collected some t-shirts from various venues (yacht club event, Stand-up paddleboarding event) in hopes that I could use the material for some baby clothes. Color choice was limited - green and white but they were brand new and probably just going to be donated anyway. So I used Heather Ross, Weekend Sewing Huck Finn pattern to make a pair of pants. I had the pattern already traced and cut from a pair I made for M and then as a gift for a friend last summer.

Placing the new pants with all the other layette items we have been gifted or I have gathered or made, I am seeing a pattern emerge. Green, farm, sailing - it looks very BOY to me. Hmm. Time will tell.

Birthday weekend

Our now five year old has a birthday that falls while school is in session. This is a first for us, as we are all summer-time birthdays so there is not need to take into account "school" on your birthday. So we opened a few presents the day of, sent chocolate chip cookies to school to celebrate with friends and had Texas sheet cake for dessert that night. We also planned a party, flowers and princesses to be exact, for the weekend with a few of B's friends. The weather was threatening a cancellation of the party - tropical storm Maria was supposed to turn into a hurricane and everyone here was in a fuss about this one being big and bad (boats pulled out of the water, curfew in effect, businesses closed). But luck prevailed and the storm didn't amount to much and the party went on as scheduled. B and I made the invites last week, ordered a HUGE cake from a local wedding cake bakery. We didn't realize it was a 10 inch 3-layer-chocolate cake for our party of 15 adults and children...We now have cake coming out our ears! I had planned some crafts to do inside for the party but the kids we were having such a good time playing, we only made the shrinky dink necklaces and didn't play a single party game. It was just a suped up lunch time play-date! Nothing fancy for lunch either. PBJ, tons of fruit, chips, juice, carrots. Something for everyone.

But I cannot believe she is 5. So helpful, so curious, quiet, intense and focused and a big spirit for adventure. We love you B!

Sleepless in St. Thomas

Getting to the end and not getting much sleep. 3 weeks and counting.

New words

M at Magen's bay dressed in her new "zucchini".

morning at beach

M was insistent that she bring the boogie board to the beach. I did not want her to because that would mean I would have to carry it and probably a few other things back up the steep 90 steps to our condo. She threw a fit, sat down, B and I walked down the steps a little ways to sit in the shade and wait for M to cool off. Well, she took matters in her own hands and walked back to the condo, grabbed the board and headed to the beach just like this. Can't argue with that. Yes I did have to carry two boogie boards - and almost one little girl back up the stairs at the end of our morning.

Once at the beach, not a wave in sight. We would have stayed all morning but I didn't bring sunblock for the girls or a suit for myself.

I relaxed in the shade, which was pretty cool for a tropical 9 in the morning