Dulce de Leche

In cleaning out the pantry I found a can of sweetened condensed milk.  I can't remember what it was originally purchased for but I do remember while living in China some friends and I use to simmer it for hours to make a dulce de leche dip.  That was 14 years ago!  I looked online to refresh myself on the technique because it can be risky if you don't do it right.  Left unattended it can explode and end up all over the ceiling, that did happen in China.

So here's how to do it:

First take the wrapper off the can and place in a small pot.  Cover the can with water and bring to a boil.  Turn down to a simmer and allow to simmer for 3 hours.  Be sure to keep the can covered with water, adding more as needed.  Remove with tongs and allow to cool before opening (if it is hot there may be too much pressure and the dulce de leche will jump out upon opening).  Open carefully and enjoy!

We served ours with apples and pretzels for family night treat.  In China we use to melt in a chocolate Dove bar then dip in all sorts of tropical fruit.

Be sure to have napkins, or even better baby wipes on hand because it is just as sticky as it is yummy.

Fun at Friends Lake

I took the kids to Friend's Lake last week to escape the heat.  We saw a couple of snakes and all sort of fish in the lake.  That was exciting for some of the kids but it scared Henry so he retreated to a bucket of water.

George enjoyed the swing.

And a nap with his brother in the hammock.  While I enjoyed watching it all and in the shade.  This may be a frequent summer activity. 

Country Skirt Makeover

Here's a skirt I recently picked up from a thrift store.  I don't know if its trendy, maybe it was nostalgia or maybe I'm just a country girl wannabe, but the skirt spoke to me so for $2 I brought it home.  It is very similar to the Espirit one my sister Mary had in middle school, it was white and she was always kind to let me borrow it.

I love how this skirt is comfortable and has pockets - perfect "country" mom wear.  What I didn't love was the color but that was easy (and fun) enough to fix.  Here is the before:

And here is the after:

I used the same dye combo as my babywearing poncho and I am happy with the result.  This modern pioneer look may suit me when we move to the farm, and if it doesn't, I won't be seeing many folks anyways.  Archie the dog seems to like it.

If you're curious about the green linen shirt, it was made years before I started blogging and is one of the projects I created without a pattern then later wished I couple replicate, I just don't love pattern drafting.  But I do love dying so back to the skirt.  Here it is in "full" action:

I think I'm going to like country living, or at least dressing for it.

Lederhosen

We picked up these lederhosen in Germany several years ago.  We were there for Christmas visiting my parents who were serving as mission presidents.  That Christmas my Dad dressed head to toe in this traditional dress, he has for every Christmas since, so, so have my boys.

Besides Christmas my boys sometimes wear their lederhosen to church.  But that is usually because I'm way behind on laundry.  You see, made of suede, these things are indestructible and never require washing, a perfect uniform for any boy.  And who can resist the cool pockets and the one especially designed for a pocket knife (Peter promised to not bring his to church).

The only problem is the uniform is a bit heavy for little guys.  George actually had a hard time walking and keeping them up.  At church the lederhosen keep falling to his feet.

Looks like I'm also behind on haircuts.  Maryanna told me that as she followed George and Henry around the house with a pair of scissors.  She told Henry his curls were starting to look like Oma's hair.  But the boys suggested the curls looked more like a Congressman wig.  George and Peter too have little mops, I actually haven't touched George's hair since I shaved it last year.  Why is it so hard for me to cut off little curls?

The curls make this guy all the funnier, he's usually in dress up of sort everyday, even if it is just carrying around a hanger as Captain Hook.  The lederhosen must have felt like costume because he couldn't contain the bounding and jumping.  Or maybe he's just celebrating his Swiss and German heritage.

A day with my girl

We have started a new tradition in our home, each month one very special child gets to go on a date with mommy.  Yesterday, after weeks of anticipation and daily inquiring, it was Maryanna's turn.  

For our special day together I had arranged private horse back riding lessons.  This was Maryanna's first time leading a horse on her own and my first time on a horse in 18 years!  I would have gotten a better picture but we were both admittedly a little nervous.  

The instructor was trained in natural horsemanship, and sensing our nerves, he had us hold our arms out to the side while singing a gentle song, this to help us breath deeper into our seats and feel the rhythm of the gait.  We were to lead solely with the gentle pressure of our legs.  This was far from the tightness of the English method that I had learned so many years ago.    

Someday we'll have horses of our own, but not until we have several more lessons under our seats.  The instructor convinced me it would serve any young girl to learn to work with horses, for if they can command a 1,000 lb half wild animal they will be sure to have the strength to hold their boundaries with the young men who seek to date them.  I never thought of that - I like that.

Back in the car Maryanna told me it was the best day of her life, she continued even with a few tears and said she was so glad she chose me as a her mother.  I guess that's what happens when children get the special attention they need.

We finished with an ice cream cone and a 30 minute ride home filled with all sorts of chatter about horses.

It is easy to get lost in the business of taking care of children. For this reason I'm glad I chose to abandon a sink of dirty dishes and piles of unattended laundry, all to remember the joy of spending time with a child.

Just this morning I once again picked up Sharifa Oppenheimer's book Heaven on Earth and read this beautiful reminder:  

Looking inward, I find that when I give myself wholeheartedly, opening into the moment with curiosity and wonder, time elongates and I surrounded with the deliciousness of Now.  Those moments that I can approach with true gratitude and wonder live somehow in the realm of timelessness.  Perhaps gratitude is one of the doorways to Eternity.  Our young children still have one foot in the Eternal, in Heaven.  We can join them there, if we give ourselves enough time.

Stuff and "the stuff" it takes to contain it

This week I've been busy dealing with "stuff".  I'm pulling it out, sorting it, throwing it out, giving it away and mostly wondering why I have to live with so much of it.  I'm also wondering why it is so much easier to bring in than to send out.

One thing I know, for as beautiful, useful and sentimental as "stuff" can be, it is equally draining.  It has taken me several moves to learn this, I'm grateful to be finally "getting it."  

It was close to 90 degrees today and I sweated through the task, I was ruthless.  The kids questioned what I was doing and I explained the concept of simplifying.  I sincerely told them how much I'd rather spend my time playing with them than cleaning up.  Some of them got it and were supportive but others are still hanging on.  

Here are my boundaries:

Each child has a small suitcase for treasures.  They also have a small metal bucket for personal toys.  Their desks contain their school work and a small locker is provided for larger homeschool projects.  All of the shared toys must fit into a set amount of bins and all of the stuffed animals must fit in the two drawers below the bunk bed (without jamming it).  Each child has a medium sized rubbermaid that they can fill with whatever sentimental stuff they wish, most of them are still pretty empty but James' is now bursting.  We weeded his out and got it securely closed and discussed the possibility of allowing a second rubbermaid for the teenage years - any thoughts?

The funny thing about this process is the temptation to bring more "stuff" in to help me.  I sent Paul to Target with a request for $200 worth of new bins and then tempted to order these three books Authenticity, Voluntary Simplicity, and Clear the Clutter.  Don't I already have a whole shelf of Don Aslett books?

The other funny thing about this process is it is hard to find cheerleaders.  Along the way there are those who accuse you, maybe not so directly, of being a "kill joy", or suggest you are "cracking early" and experiencing a mid-life crisis.  Some may make you feel guilty about the gifts they have given you and or even suggest the regret you'll someday feel.  It sometimes takes guts to get rid of stuff in the face of others.

The other issue I recognize here is it is not just about purging, every box I fill reminds of me how guarded I need to be on what "stuff" comes through our doors.  Every purchase (even a fantastic garage sale deal) needs questioning.

 I've said it here before.  May we be cautious not to fill our homes with the kind of "stuff" that can never fill our hearts, instead, may we ever be fed by the forces of life that already surround us, the kind of "stuff" that flows constant and uncontained.

And here's what Paul has to say about the "stuff" in the garage.    

Funny little kids and the things they wear

Opa bought Clara a pink John Deere hat and she has worn it everyday since.  She cried when I told her she couldn't wear it to church but agreed to leave it in the car.  Today she wore it with fairy wings, rain boots and a beautiful beaded tunic and chiffon scarf from India.  She is modeling it in "tree pose".

Maryanna also got a matching tunic and scarf.  She chose to wear her's with white capris and red cowboy boots topped with a long sleeve waffle knit "love" tee.  It was Mary's neighbor who passed on these beautiful pieces and it has always been Maryanna's dream to dress up as an Indian princess.

They spent the day playing at Uncle Bry's farm with Oma and Opa.

Henry's been dressing up like Captain Hook for weeks now.  He usually wears an eye patch and pirate hat and carries around a clothes hanger for the hook.  But today he chose to be a knight.  The armor actually served as an extra layer of protection against the nasty mosquitoes at the farm. 

In my early years of motherhood I use to carefully dress my children, layering them like Gap or Crewcuts models, as if how well my children were dressed was a symbol of what a good mom I was.  I have since moved in the opposite direction and take great joy in the early expression of their personality, or what they want to be just for the day.  This is liberating.

That said, I stand by certain boundaries such as cleanliness, modesty and reverence when our outings take us beyond simply playing.  But on the days that we play the clothes seem to be half the fun and so I am recording it here.