Just reviewing some of my crafts for Christmas.

Anyone got any good craft ideas they’d like to share?

Aidan is always ready for a good story with a small song and lots of finger play to go along and illustrate the point.  That is because he recognizes the elements of story and wants to participate in them.

He likes the definition of the characters. 

He likes the movement from questioning to answers.

He likes the drama.

Or maybe he just likes the pictures.

His involvement with books and story warm this old storyteller’s heart-

and his happy book  reading smile makes my imagination sing.

Because I foresee many hours of happiness ahead.

Reading together.

I don’t usually like to do book review’s, because I know myself too well and sometimes I can be downright snarky.  I try not to do food reviews for the same reason, but sometimes I can’t keep quiet- it has to do with a bad taste left in my mouth,  I think.

Anyway, yesterday I read Aidan Before You Were Born , written by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Linda Saport, Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (2002). 

I was overwhelmed… the art is vivid and rich- it almost saturates your vision in a totally fulfilling way- and the text- Oh my- the text had me in tears within moments.  The first sentence-

       “Before you were born

God wrote your days in a book.”

- gives away the background text for this book- Psalm 139:13-16.

But the words and emotions are so personal and real that you are taken on a journey of love in a land of ” Before you were born” and ” But when you arrived” .

This is a book of welcome and affirmation and praise and joy.

If you are a grandma or an aunt or ever plan on reading a love book.  If you love art, if you love beauty, or just if you love.  Get this book.  It will be on your favorite book shelf in an instant.

Because this is love defined- parental and godly love. 

The last pages say it so well-

“So as years and years and years

pass by

and the land and the sky

and the woods all around change -

and we too-

our love for you

will be worn the same way

only more.

And we can say

we know full well

that before you were born

God wrote your days in a book

and sent you to us.”

Yesterday, that is.

I had ” some essplainin’ to do”  as Ricky Ricarrdo used to say to Lucy on the old “I Love Lucy Show”.

Frank doesn’t really get the concept of spontaneous celebrating.

His idea of fun is something planned well in advance and budgeted into the family economy.  Time spent traveling to have fun should not exceed 3o minutes- unless we are talking about vacation or family get -togethers.

So, the idea of going down to Circleville yesterday was not met with great joy.

I did some fast talking, some psychological input, some cajolery and added a couple of hugs and kisses, and promised not to spend much money- and he sent us off with a smile.

And today, as I look at the rain coming down, I’m glad that I used my day as I did yesterday.  Because, I came home to dishes, and a quick supper, and very tired legs.  But I brought back the smiles and hugs of a happy little boy, and the conversations with a young woman I love, and the rich and colorful  tactile memories of a harvest festival.

And today, the rain is beautiful and seasonal-

and my view of my world is grey and wet-

yet- it seems even better because the beautiful weather we had yesterday

was not squandered sitting here at the computer or cleaning the house-

It was admirably used and enjoyed.

Living the moments and enjoying the journeys.

Ally and Aiden and I went to Circleville, Ohio today.

It is the home of the 103rd Pumpkin Festival.

There were pumpkin waffles and doughnuts, pumpkin ice cream and cheesecake.

Pumpkin candy and brittle, eep fried pumpkin blossoms, the world’s largest pumpkin pie and a whole lot of normal sized ones, as well.  Giant pumpkins, carved pumpkins, decorated pumpkins.  Pumpkins for sale and pumpkins on display.  PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN- everything pumpkin.

It was so much fun.  They had a pumpkin parade and cordoned off ALL of their downtown streets so that crafters and vendors and civic organizations could display and sell their pumpkin paraphernalia.

PUMPKINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prize winning pumpkins

Warted cheese pumpkin

Decorated pumpkins

(some were so cute- see the one with curly Q’s out of chenille stems? That one and the one next to it were decorated by siblings.  The curly Q won a ribbon- the next one did not.  There was one very unhappy little sister looking at those pumpkins!)

And there was a parade- which we didn’t see- but we met up with two members of the parade a little later!

These dogs weighed over 200 lbs and

are still growing!  Sweet tempered and friendly!

AND VERY VERY LARGE!!!!!

Aiden rode on the Ferris Wheel-

and ran around on this big obstacle course-

While Momma Ally watched and encouraged from below!

And then he went on this mixer- and we were done with the rides.

We went into the craft area and I had to take this picture.  Really, I had to – because it just amazes me what people….

will wear on their heads in public!

Aiden fell asleep on the way home.  I nodded off for a little while,

But it was a wonderful adventure.

And we found the great pumpkin-

He lives in Circleville!

It is 3:44 AM and my mind is set on BUZZ!

I couldn’t fall asleep.

There is too much going on in there.

So I decided to get up and put the menu down here.

Maybe then I won’t keep thinking about the ingredients.

Dinner menu for Sunday, October 11, 2009

- Thai Chicken Soup

-Sourdough French baguettes

-Orange Chicken with braised fennel and onions

-Basmati  rice

Broiled Angel food cake slices with chocolate syrup,

sliced strawberries and homemade granola

I’ll post some pictures and recipes later (after I make them!)

Until then, here’s a picture of my homemade granola.

We’ve all heard it, I think.

That encouraging statement from our spiritual family.

“Honey, God is just trying to stretch you with this ____________(fill in the blank).”

I have been guilty of saying it.

I’m sorry.

Because although stretching is important.  And sometimes it feels good to stretch when you haven’t moved lately.

BEING stretched is a different story.

That is torture- you know like on the rack?

I am a short woman.  I have short arms and legs- I’m built like a hobbit.

And my kitchen is built for an Amazon.  So I stretch all the time.

Getting stuff out of the cupboard, putting stuff into the cupboards, looking for stuff on the top shelf of anywhere is difficult and hurts.

I KNOW all about stretching- and when something is out of reach- stretching is not always the answer anyway. 

I WANT TO GROW!

I went out to look at my rosebush in the rain this morning.

Pretty, isn’t it?

It’s not stretching out there.  It’s growing.

It’s mid October and still growing.

It is beautiful.  And when it does finally stop blooming and the leaves curl in the frost and cold.

It will still be growing.

Underground the roots will continue to grow-

going deeper-

becoming stronger-

preparing for additional growth in the Spring.

And isn’t growing what the Lord wants us to do anyway?

I’ve never seen a scripture that says, Stretch into grace.

Or to stretch out your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I understand the concept behind the statement.

I just don’t like it.

God is doing a work in me.

Ephesians 2:10 says we are his workmanship,

and that we are fitted to grow into a holy temple

so that the Holy Spirit can live within us.

I am committed to growing.

BEING STRETCHED?

Not so much.

Because I want to end up looking like this in God’s hand-

(being stretched makes me think of plastic surgery- the skin stretched so tight that you can’t even smile.  I don’t want to look like Joan Rivers!)

I have been feeling rather frail emotionally and spiritually.

And I know why.

I’m too busy.

I’m trying to keep up with the schedule of my life.

And my husband’s life.

And my children’s lives.

And attempting to conduct the business from the lives of other loved ones who have needs right now .

And in all that business, I am neglecting quiet time.

I’m wondering if I need an exorbitant amount of time to reflect.

Because without time to just sit and wonder,

and without time to just be in God’s presence,

I become frazzled.

I’m not even talking about the time I need for prayer and study and devotions.

I’m talking about being time.

Quietly, silently, consciously being myself before the Lord.

Like my rosebush that continues to send out flowers and bear fruit without fanfare or undue cultivation.

Continuing to consistently continue.

This is my prayer.

Jill asked for the slow cooker applesauce recipe.

This is so easy, I’m ashamed to call it a recipe.

Basically, you peel, core, and slice the apples and put them in the slow cooker on high for about 1 hour.    Then turn your slow cooker to low and cook until you like the texture.

When the texture is the way you like it (smooth or a little apple lumpy),

you can taste and add sugar( depending on how sweet your apples are- 1/2 -3/4 cup will make it sweet) and cinnamon (1/2-  1 tsp. to your taste) or those red hot cinnamon hearts and it will end up with a little pink look to it.

That’s it!

Yesterday I made seafood gumbo.

It was so good, my mouth is watering just writing about it.

There are a lot of great recipes on-line if you want to make your own batch.

This is the one I used.

But it was the first time I actually did all the work and completed a good roux.

And I finally figured out why my roux wasn’t that great before.

It takes patience.

and perseverance.

And I think they should show pictures.

So here is a pictorial journal of the many colors of Roux.

I KNOW roux means red in French.

But there’s red and then there’s red.

Here is where I started.

1/3 cup bacon fat and a scant cup of flour.  I added the flour left over on my pastry board from making the pie.  Because I have a hard time wasting food.

Even flour.

The color is light beige.

Now stir, stir, stir !  Find a stool and sit down next to your stove, because the next 30 minutes or so is STIR.  This is harder than making Risotto- because that only takes about 22 minutes.

Are you still stirring?

Good.

Look! It is turning to a light tan color!
And it has only been about 7 minutes!

Same color- better picture.

This is darker-raw sienna of roux.

Here I have been stirring for about 17 minutes.

You have to keep stirring or it will burn.

And then you wasted all the time you put into it-

and have to start over  again.

It is hard to tell the color here- but I have put in my 30 minutes and it sure looked mahogany red to me!

So I added my vegetables.

And sauteed them in the roux.

The guy who gave the recipe said you could brown your flour in the oven and it is a lot easier.  I might go that route next time!

And now for some show off cookie time!

I’m not really SHOWING off- I’m just very pleased with how these turned out.

I baked these gingerbread cookies yesterday.

And painted them with white and dark chocolate today!

Gingerbread ponies,apples and sea gulls!

Aren’t they cute!

Today it was pie and applesauce!

Making the applesauce in the slow cooker was easy.

And the pie was delicious.  Alas it is all gone. (Who knew Jordan would eat the applesauce by the cupful!  Tomorrow, I’ll make more and maybe have some to freeze for later.)

I saw a recipe on Mennonite Girls can cook for Caramel Apple Cake with individual  bundt cakes that looks heavenly.  I’m going to try that one!

Got any more recipes that feature apples for me to try?

I’d really like a GOOD apple crisp- I have some recipes- but I’d like something spectacular.  If you have one you like, please share.