Driving

Today I didn't get very domestic, just a loaf of banana bread. Maggie followed me around doing the sign for "more" and verbally saying, "mo, mo!" So I guess my half attempt at being somewhat creative turned successful for my biggest fan. It was raining for most of the day and we were feeling a little couped up so I loaded Mags into the car for a quick trip to Moscow. I ran out of hair gel this weekend and you who know me well know that I cannot survive without my gel. I just didn't want to hop onto the highway to town but find an alternative route via a dirt road. I found a great back road full of farms, rolling green hills, great vistas, gardens and beautiful homes. When I was in my early 20s I took drives all the time. Where ever I lived you would think I grew up there because I knew all those back roads so well. Now, as I drive home I pass so many great dirt roads and think to myself, "I have never been down that road and I've passed it 2 times a day for the past 3 years." Oh my 20 year old self would be so disappointed in me!

My goal this summer is take more aimless drives just for the heck of it.

Good things come in small packages

My mom has a little tradition. She gives all of her granddaughters a small gold ring for their first Christmas. I tucked Maggie's ring up high where it wouldn't be lost. We brought it down the other day and tried it on. Can you believe that it is too small for her except for her little pinky?

She loved to wear her little precious.

I can dream can't I?

I'm starting my Christmas wish list early. I've been hearing some good things about this little dream machine, the Singer Featherweight. They were built in the 50s (?) and don't do any fancy stitches past your basic stitch. These machines are built like tanks and last forever. And no, it's not one that you operate by pumping a foot pedal.

Just look at it. Isn't it beautiful?

They are also a little pricey. Anywhere between 200$ - 500$. But I sure want one.

Random pictures of our spring

Reading books in her fort.

Daddy, Mommy and Baby egg. Lucky chicken who layed that itty egg.

2

Cory's first ride in his car, even if it was being towed. Look closer at that towing set up. He is being towed by a 2 X6 because he doesn't have brakes at all, this way his car didn't crash into his buddy's car. Make sense? This made Cory very nervous, but he survived and now his car is in his buddy's more equipped garage.

Hey, at least he has steering.

Domestic Mondays

We are feeling a little lazy these days due to the tremendous amount of rain we are getting. If it wasn't for those pockets of sunny days we would be going crazy. (um yes, I am well aware that my zipper is down in this photo) I was able to get a few rows of seeds put into the ground and trying to patiently wait to put the rest of the plants in.

Today is Monday and on Mondays I get a little domestic. Today I made homemade fig newtons. I have noticed out of any sugary goodies out there fig newtons make my teeth hurt because of all that sugar. And that's coming from a sugar addict. So I found this great little recipe which has no sugar added. It goes a little like this:

Fig Apricot Bars

Crust:

3 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. baking powder

3/8 tsp. baking soda

1/4 c. ground flax seed

dash of ground nutmeg and clove

1 stick of butter

1/2 c. whole milk

1/2 c. honey

2 eggs

Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter until tiny pebbles. Mix eggs, milk and honey with a fork add mixture to dry ingredients. Make dough into ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Filling:

2 c. dried figs

1/2 c. dried apricots

2 c. juice (your choice)

1 c. water

While dough is chilling, cook figs, apricots, juice and water over low heat until soft and fruit is reconstituted. I think this took about 25 minutes. I had a lot of juice left over and just poured it out. Puree in food processor. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Pull dough out, divide into 2 halves. Knead about 10 times on a floured surface. Roll out to about pie crust thickness. Place bottom half on prepared sheet, spread puree mixture on top and then put second dough half on the top of mixture.

Put in oven and bake 15 - 20 minutes. 15 minutes cooked mine perfectly.

Let cool and cut!! Maggie, my official taste tester approved.

Mother's Day

My gift from Maggie, a cedar potting box decorated with her hand prints (as flowers).

My baby girl and I dressed up in our aprons, just for fun.

What to do, what to do...

So I was a blubbering mess saying goodbye to Cory and Maggie. They headed to Ellensburg for the weekend. I was so excited to have a weekend to myself but as soon as they left I sat on the couch and wondered what I should do. What did I do before Maggie!?

This is the first time in 26 months that I have been without baby, including pregnancy. Quiet feels weird. I have a list of things to do and all I can do is sit here.

A few weekends ago I went to a quilt show. I cannot believe how talented some women are. I've been trying to sew a little more and I was inspired by their creativity. Here is just a sampling: