telling the stories

Posted on November 5, 2010 by heidiannie

I forgot my cord for uploading pictures onto the computer.

I keep forgetting to take pictures, anyway.

We gave Kieran his first bath today.

We went to Whole Foods to do some shopping.

And we went to Aidan’s music class and danced and sang and beat rhythm sticks on the floor and laughed and laughed!

I’m having a wonderful time playing with Willow and the grandchildren.

And I realized tonight as I was telling Aidan my version of “The Elephant’s Child”, that we depend too much on pictures today.

His eyes got so big when I told him about the many spankings the poor Elephant’s child got for asking his questions. He giggled when I told him about the child pulling bananas from the trees as he walked down to the river- and when I told about him creeping up – closer and closer to the “greasy grey-green Limpopo River” to ask the crocodiles what they like to eat- Aidan clapped his hands in anticipation. If you have never read this story by Rudyard Kipling, I don’t want to ruin the surprise for you- and if you have then you know what the crocodile’s answer was!

I told the story from memory- I missed some parts and embellished others, but it is a masterful story from a masterful writer and it held his attention better than any of the books I have read him lately.

So- no pictures, today- I’ll just tell you the storiess.

How Aidan covered my left arm with stickers until I looked diseased.

How Kieran has the sweetest little bow of a mouth that he opens and shuts like a little birdie. When I hold him, I aim him away from my chest- no milk there, little one!

About the marvelous meals Willow makes- Roasted chicken with za`tar and green olives and escalloped potatoes – Baked eggplant and pasta with garlic and tomato sauce-apple and carrot bread- I could go on and on!

The sweetness of Aidan’s face when he saw my Hawaii’an print shirt and told me I was beautiful with those big blue and white flowers.

The lovely bells ringing in the hours from the towers of Trinity Seminary- just across the street.

The happiness that surrounds Aidan when he sees that I am here, still, in the morning as promised.

If you need a picture- look at the one of me next to the header- smiling.

Because that’s what I’m doing.

SMILING!

And the sock saga continues…

Posted on November 1, 2010 by heidiannie

I admit it.

I have a fascination with socks.

Funny thing is- I don’t even like to wear socks.

I don’t even like to wear shoes- I’m mostly barefoot or in sandals.

But I like making socks! 🙂

Only, I make them from the bottom up instead of from the top down.

So the sock is made for individual feet. You need to have an image of the particular foot to make them this way.

Who would have thought it was so hard to get people to give you a hard copy of their foot? I asked my brother at least two months ago for a cardboard cut out of his foot. I still don’t have it. I asked his daughter to help him draw around his foot and send me a copy on paper. Still – no foot.

I asked my niece, Meredith, for a cut out of her foot. She lives in Japan- I can’t just go and do it myself.

I have pictures of her feet-

but that doesn’t help when I need a pattern for her foot.

I told her of my dilemma and she put her foot up to the Skype camera.

I will spare you that particular picture.

I finally traced Cynthia’s foot which is the same length and general size- pared it down to make it slimmer-

and-

here they are! Knitted with wool Meredith brought me from New Zealand.

Now I’m working on a pair for Luke!

Bamboo and wool in a charcoal grey!

A Basket of Bread bears…(subtitled Lord of the bears)

Posted on October 25, 2010 by heidiannie

In my family, we sing the children to sleep. There is a bathtime ritual, a couple of books read, prayers said, and then- songtime.

It can last a long time. But it is comforting and quieting and bonding time and well worth spending. My oldest son, Luke, has been singing my grandson to sleep with simple little tunes – and recently he heard Aidan singing one of them to his stuffed bear as they danced in a circle, bear swinging wildly-

“I am the Lord of the bear, bear, bear!”( to the tune of “Lord of the Dance”)

Today I am the Lord of the bread bears!

I made whole wheat bears, I made Italian bears, and I made spelt flour and oat bran sourdough bears! And they all kept their shapes and minded their manners whilst in the oven- coming out pretty much still in the same shape they entered.

Here is a whole grouping of photos- bears in and out of disguise- all to please your fancy on this Monday before Halloween!

-bears in the basket awaiting costuming.

-whole wheat bears, masked and ready.

BOO!

-bears with little brothers!

Italian Bear and spelt and oat bran sourdough bear- bears in pairs!

-bears getting dressed!

– bears bagged and ready to go!

They looked so cute, I couldn’t keep the pictures all to myself.

An armful of blessing

Posted on October 21, 2010 by heidiannie

Kieran Justus- born 10-20-2010

Small boys= Great joys

Posted on October 11, 2010 by heidiannie

These two big boys make me pretty joyous as well!

Scenic Ridge Apple Orchard- Ripe for picking!(and picnicking)

Posted on October 2, 2010 by heidiannie

We got a hay ride out to where our favorite apples were growing.

The trees were heavily burdened with Melrose apples.

It was a beautiful day even though the forecast was for rain and cold.

This is the third year in a row we have gone here to pick apples and celebrate Luke’s birthday and have a great picnic. I love our picnics, we all bring our favorites and it ends up being perfect!.

I made bread ( sourdough and whole wheat ) and West African Chicken soup and cruditees, Willow brought pate` and ham and crackers and chocolate zuchinni cake with ganache icing and Ally brought cheese and flat pretzels and artichoke dip- it was a wonderful Fall picnic.

I had Jordan take some pictures of the group.

Actually, I asked him to take some pictures of the table and got two shots of the table cloth before I told him to get serious and take a picture of our family!

I forgot to take any pictures of the food, however.

It was good.

Here is a recipe for West African Chicken soup.

I got this recipe from Allyson, who I think got it from her sister in law, Kymi- where Kymi got it from I don’t know- but I think you will like it!

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced

2 boneless chicken breasts, cubed

3 TBSPS Sesame Oil

2 1/2 to 3 cups diced tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup peanut butter

3 TBSPS tomato paste

1 tsp cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Saute onions and chicken in sesame oil, until onions are translucent and chicken is no longer pink. Add tomatoes and simmer on low for 15 minutes, add chicken broth and continue simmering for another 15-20 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir well. Add peanut butter and cayenne pepper along with s+p- simmer for another 10-15 minutes,but do NOT allow to boil. Serve with chopped peanuts for a garnish and extra hot sauce for the fiery hot lovers in your group.

This is a great soup for a coolish day.

Happy Birthday, Luke (and beautiful skies!)

Posted on October 1, 2010 by heidiannie

Happy Birthday to my handsome son!

– Thirty two years ago we were gifted with our first son- it was a beautiful day- warm and mellow with just a hint of fall in the air. The trees were bright with the promise of more color to come. And then, there he was, our child, filled with all of the possibilities and problems that we all travel to this world with as baggage.

And yet, as he grew, the problems were few, the blessings many, and the joy he left in his wake made us all richer.

I took some pictures of the skies this week- some were so bright and some rather threatening – just like our lives. This is the world we share and enjoy- it is all we have to offer to our children- this and the love that God has given to us- a heritage of the holy- a hope for a better world.

Searching for St. Nicholas

Posted on September 28, 2010 by heidiannie

My daughter in law asked me if I have a cookie cutter for St. Nicholas.

Or if I would consider making cookies for Aidan for that day in December.

I looked at my cutters and I have many of St. Nick dressed up as Santa- but none in his bishop’s robes. So I am going to cut them out freehand and decorate the cookies with appropriate crosses and mitres and bishop’s crook.

But seriously, I have hundreds of cookie cutters. I have made thousands of cut outs over the years I have been baking professionally and you would think I had at least one St. Nick.

I have bears and soldiers, snowmen and bells, pigs and cats, flowers and horses-

rabbits and lions and gingerbread boys and girls.

reindeer, woodland deer and moose- hands and feet.

Ra bbits and birds…

teapots and teacups.

And santas…

But not even one St. Nicholas.

———————–Update——————————————————–

No, not one- but possibly two.

I was working with some rather strange shaped “santas” last night and look what I came up with!

Some cookie cutters just don’t look like anything specifically.

Decorating them can be a real art project!

Yankee Peddler and eucalyptus wreaths

Posted on September 25, 2010 by heidiannie

Every year in September- there is a huge craft show/sale with an American Colonial theme here in NE Ohio. The crafts and foods are made without the use of modern technology, the crafters give demonstrations of their work and there is the wonderful fragrance of wood smoke and cooking food in the woodsas you go from booth to booth.

Aidan and Willow and I had a great time this morning watching the blacksmith make hooks and the candle wicks being dipped into the beeswax, the ladies weaving baskets and peeling apples for fritters. We ate corn on the cob and fought off the yellow jackets. We listened to dulcimers being hammered and fiddles being picked and bag pipes being tortured (just kidding, I like bag pipes).

We saw brooms being made and used a hand drawn drill.

And danced with the music that was sung for the enjoyment of a happy little boy.

I also bought some eucalyptus and made some wreaths.

eucalyptus, rosemary and lemongrass

It smells so good and fresh and looks so ready for the holidays.

Why is it still September?

Creeks and Gingerbread cemeteries!

Posted on September 17, 2010 by heidiannie

Here are a couple of pictures Jordan scanned in for me.

The first couple are of Yellow Creek- summer and winter.

My sister, Robin, took these pictures about 14 or 15 years ago, but they are much better quality than I could get from the bridge or road.

These are so filled with memories of happy times- watching our kids grow up messing about down at the creek.

The next pictures are from a scrapbook Allyson made me that holds the pictures of the gingerbread houses I’ve made over the years. On Celia’s blog, Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, I mentioned in the comments that I had made a cemetery in one of the gingerbread creations I made, called The Village.

I thought you might like to see the Village- but I ~~didn’t~~ couldn’t take the pictures off of the page, so you may have to click and zoom to see them better.

The cemetery is next to the church in the upper right hand picture. In front of the bare brown trees and behind the big evergreen tree. The Village has all sorts of activity going on, children sledding and throwing snowballs, dogs chasing sleds, and a snowman being built.

I’m sorry the picture quality is so bad. I am not a great photographer now- but 15 years ago I was even worse!

A little history for this September evening.

Steps On The Journey

walk with me a while

Category Archives: Family