Bellingham Thames

A while back Greg got me this book.  I have loved it!  It explains all those things you wonder about when it comes to bread and things you never considered like the water content of your bread. 

Most cook books I skip the introductions and get right to the recipes.  With this one I started at the beginning.  So much information and very detailed.  For example do you really know what it means for your bread to be soft and elastic.  Until I read this I really had no idea but she tells you to beat the dough on speed 4 of your Kitchen Aid for 5-7 minutes.   Such a difference!  I love that all of my bread recipes have improved not just the use of her recipes.  OK, I’ll stop now but I just really love this book and I still haven’t read everything.  At some point I just needed to make some really yummy bread.  Like this Cinnamon Swirl Bread.  This is addicting.  It also makes the most wonderful French toast.  I will admit, though, it takes time and planning.  Most of the recipes are not the whip up some bread real quick type recipes.  Just ask Ruth.  We had quite the interesting day making sandwich bread.  Make that two days.  It’s a good things our tummies (and our family’s tummies) were happy with the results.

We have figured it out.  Well, actually, a friend’s husband figured it out.  You see I have this condition.  I am a binge blogger.  It feels so good to get that off my chest.  So, I hope you enjoy my next batch of binging.  How long it will last is anybodies guess. 

Yes, we did.  We headed to donkey basketball at a local high school.  It was so much fun.  Despite the fact that Greg didn’t want to tell my brother why we had to cut our visit short.  “It’s so country” he said.  Greg, not my brother.  Well, actually they both said it and lets face it, it is country.   But that’s the fun of it.

You can’t see it but there is a very stubborn donkey on the other end of that fire fighter.  The donkeys moved pretty well when they had riders on them but as soon as they jumped off to get the ball the donkeys stopped any hint of movement.  Greg (in all his donkey experience) had great tips for these players.  “They get off their donkeys too soon.  They need to ride closer to the ball before getting off.”  He didn’t share his wisdom with the players but I think next year he may need to volunteer.

Zoe had a blast as you may have guessed.  The announcer kept trying to get the crowd to make noise and cheer on the players.  Zoe was making her share of noise but I knew she could do better so I told her she could make as much noise as she wanted to.  And boy did she ever take me up on that. 

This is what Zeke looked like most of the night.  What he looks like most of the time.  Tongue and all.  It doesn’t get much cuter than this folks.  Except when he is wondering around in footed PJs.  And the other great thing…in less than a year I’ll have another little curly haired boy wondering around in footed PJs.

I have decided baby smiles are a gift from God.  A gift for tired Mamas.  It doesn’t matter if some say they are brought on by gas.  They are precious.  I was fortunate enough to at least have my cell phone nearby to get these pictures.  Priceless!

To say this Christmas didn’t go as planned would be an understatement.  Christmas Eve was great.  We did our family Christmas then since Greg had to work Christmas day.  We went to the candle light service at our church and then headed over to a friends house for some snacks and visiting.  All seemed well.

Then, I woke up in the middle of the night throwing up.  Did that for about 4 or 5 hours.  I couldn’t even get up to feed Oliver.  I was so thankful Greg was not working nights.  He left at around 5 (at which time I was still unable to walk upright without getting dizzy).  But, the kids were great and stayed asleep until I could move a little better.  Our dear friend Monica brought me some sick people food and hung out a little to let me sleep and the kids played outside.

All seemed to be going OK until Christmas night at 11:00.  Zoe started throwing up.  I spent the night camped out in her room.  A long night.  Lots of laundry.  The next morning…Zeke threw up.  More laundry.  I still wasn’t feel great but the Lord gave me enough energy to keep everybody clean, cared for and get all the sick laundry done plus some.  Monica dropped off some more sicky foods and we made it though the day.  Last night everyone slept.  It was wonderful!  Zoe work up this morning requesting an omelet for breakfast.  We’re back and it feels good.

Who doesn’t just love finger-painting?  It’s always been a big hit around here.  We were beginning to run out of colors (and I wanted more exciting colors than what you get from the store) so I looked up a recipe and made some.  It turned out great!   Greg wanted to put it to the test for color and consistency.  I like the homemade better!  The “red” from the store looks orangey in comparison.

Here’s the recipe:

Note:  The only change I made was the temp to cook it at.  It was taking too long on low so I upped it to medium  It worked a lot better but watch the consistency closely.  It changes fast.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cold water
food coloring

Directions:

In a medium pan, mix all the ingredients together to make the finger paint. Cook over low heat 10 to 15 minutes. Keep stirring the finger paint mixture until it is smooth and thick. After the finger paint has thickened take the pan off the stove and let the mixture cool.

After cooling, divide the finger paint into storage containers depending on how many colors you would like. Add a few drops of food coloring to each container. Stir the coloring in to the paint to determine the shade of color. You’re ready to finger paint! Cover tightly when storing.

Zoe and Zeke headed outside to play on our first snow day of the year.  Zeke decided he would hang in the car.

Zoe decided she didn’t want to be caught on camera.  She’s shy you know.  I almost had her.  If only the camera was a few seconds faster.  Oh well, a good game of chase if nothing else.

Boy, December has gone fast!  A couple weeks ago we bundled up and headed out to get our tree.  After searching and searching we finally found THE tree.  Zoe tried her hand at it first.

Then dad came in to help.  It’s funny I didn’t get a final picture of the tree but oh well.  Maybe next year.  After the farm it was off to get hot chocolate and coffees!  A fun day out in the cool, crisp, beautiful winter day.

I recently bought a new kind of holiday coffee and as I was opening it (and inhaling the freshness) Zoe wanted to know what it was.  I told her and asked her if she wanted to smell it.  With a disgusted look she said, “No! Kids don’t smell coffee!”  They don’t?  “No, they just drink their Mama’s coffee when their not looking.”

Hmmm…gotta keep and eye on that one.

…whole toilet paper roll.

Zeke has completed one of the many tasks bestowed on toddlers around the world.  And yes, he is walking…been walking for a while now (as in a couple months I guess it is.  Shame on Mama for not posting it sooner)