Behind the Scenes: My Garden

So, I may be cheating just a little bit in today's Behind the Scenes, but I just have to add more than one photo... Please take note: these are the garden items that are producing, because I can't "SHOW" you the failures, I just have to tell you about them! :)

I am a first year gardener! This is a big deal because I am a girly girl and don't like getting my hands dirty. The biggest thing that has held me back from having a garden is dirt... and weeds! I don't want to have to deal with them. Enter my garden gloves (I used them profusely for the one year we had chickens). I also am kinda lazy, not really a fan of hard work... but when you have four kids, work is a given, so God's working on me in this area.

But back to my garden... some of my successful items are tomatoes and zucchini... but can't just about anybody grow those?  I told my husband the other day that zucchini were a best bet when starting a garden because you just can't kill them, they just keep multiplying! To which he replied, "Doesn't that make them a WEED?" ... isn't he funny?



And tomatoes, I have soo many, but not many red ones!





But in reality, I have no idea what I'm doing. My dear husband bought me the book Square Foot Gardening, and I have been trying to follow that method for the most part. It was a huge investment in dirt and set up, but the good news is there is hardly any weeds!! Even when the garden went unattended during the first 2 weeks of July when my life followed God's plan instead of my plan.

Another tiny success in my garden is the strawberries... they are supposed to be "ever-producing" or something like that! My daughter, who has been begging for a garden for some time now (years) also begged for strawberries, so these were planted for her.  But the behind the scenes is the birds that I love so much were caught picking at them the other day! I'm not sure how much fruit WE will enjoy from this plant, but it was still fun... and I *think* they come back every year, so who knows!



And then, Watermelon... also one of those, "I doubt they will work, but we will try it" plants! and they are growing and there are at least 4 of them already and lots more flowers, so I might even have some to give away!!



What I'm not showing you are the pea plants that never happened, the green beans that have maybe THREE beans hanging, the lettuce that bolted, and the pepper plant that is being crowded by the weeds... I mean, zucchini! I also have some pathetic looking grape tomato plants that I'm still holding out hope for!!

By the way, since I took these photos last week, the watermelon has almost tripled in size, I found 2 tomatoes actually turning red and fresh strawberries that have NOT been pecked... yet!

Community Conversation: Do you have a garden? What are your favorite plants? Any gardening advice for this newbie? 

At Lake Erie

{this moment}

A Friday ritual (on Saturday). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

inspired by Soule Mama

photo captured by my love

Behind the Scenes: Pool time

Just a little Behind the Scenes look at one of my recent Instagram shots. What does it look like when you take a picture?

So, I have four kids, which makes capturing a perfect picture ... Impossible!! And as much as I love candid pictures, and I even attempt to capture them in the moment... Occasionally I try to "pose" a candid and it just doesn't work. Like this cute picture of all my kids enjoying the grandparents' pool...

Behind the scenes there was a little bit of traffic direction by me and a little bit of me getting frustrated when I couldn't get them all in a square for the perfect Instagram shot. And a little bit of four kids swimming four different directions. And there may have been a few deep sighs from my husband as I tried to set up the perfect shot of my kids all in the pool together.

But life is not perfectly posed family shots, or even perfect candids. In real life, it is not so easy to get four kids all looking the same direction and smiling (unless they are watching the Disney Channel on TV). I used to want to be a photographer... and even had it in my blog profile (it might still be there--needs updating), but I've let that one go. Now I just want memories, preferably ones that aren't blurry and an occasional one where everyone is looking at the camera!

So I thank God for my four kids, each unique, each on their own path that God is directing. I thank God for my husband who lets me attempt to take "posed candids" until it takes too long.

And me, I will just keep learning patience and learn to let go of the perfect Instragram shot!

Community Conversation: Which do you like better, candids or everyone looking at the camera shots? Are you an Instagram addict?

This remarkable event of two blogposts, two days in a row, brought to you by the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Christmas Cutout Cookies

It's December 21, just 4 days until Christmas and the last week of an attempt at a Christmas blog hop with some of my bloggy friends. I am supposed to be the host of the cookie week and I have not fulfilled my duties...


Now to be fair, my oven IS broken and I did deal with a stomach bug with 3 of my kids over the last week... but I did know about this intended post over a month ago so you would think I would have had it written well ahead of time. But I didn't...

I have so many awesome cookie recipes that I could share with you. But I'm just going to stick with one today... Maybe next year I'll do a cookie post each week! :)

As a little background... I don't EVER remember doing cut out cookies as a kid. Yes, I have lived a deprived childhood, or else I have a terrible memory ... Mom??? Sisters??? did we do cut outs?

Then I met and married my ruggedly handsome husband, and he introduced me to Sour Cream Cutouts. And I thought, "Seriously? you put sour cream in your cookies?  ... AND the frosting?!?! and it tastes good??" But you do, and it does tastes great (when I can get the frosting to turn out right).

Now my poor 4 1/2 quart Kitchenaid isn't quite big enough for all the flour, sugar, butter and sour cream that goes into this, but I make it work! :)


Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
4 sticks butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
7 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Cream together sugar and butter; Mix in eggs, vanilla and sour cream; Then add flour one cup at a time mixed with baking powder and salt. Chill batter over night.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Split batter into 4-5 portions for rolling out. on a lightly floured surface, roll out the batter to desired thickness. Cut out cookies in all different shapes and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 minutes.

Frosting ingredients (must be at room temperature)
1 cup sour cream
1 stick butter
1 tsp vanilla
tons of powdered sugar

Mix first 3 ingredients together. Add enough powdered sugar to thicken frosting to the desired spreadability. (seriously, that is what the recipe from my in-laws says, given to me 14 years ago on my first Christmas as a married woman) ... not even a ballpark figure of 4 cups or something! :)  Thin enough to spread, but thick enough to stay where you want it. Separate into smaller bowls and add coloring as desired.

I take the most pictures of the cutting and  decorating steps. My kids have so much fun (especially when I get over my perfectionism and let them decorate however they want!)




It really is one of our favorite recipes and we've been known to make a batch at Easter, or Valentine's Day, or in the Fall ... I really must invest in some summer themed cutters so we can make them in July!!

Printable Recipe




I would love to have you share one of your favorite Christmas Cookie recipes with us...






Also, share in the comments some of the must-have cookies for your house during Christmas!

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Finishing up Project 52

Just finishing out the year with Project 52... don't expect many photography posts from me next year. I have other dreams I'm pursuing!!


So I'm just picking up where I left off last time...




Week 47: Food  Delicious Apple Pie served warm on a vintage Fiesta plate.

Week 48: Giving Thanks our display of thankful leaves taped up throughout November.

Week 49: Oh The Rush! I couldn't wait to get a Christmas tree... So we got it early this year... It's dropping needles like mad already! :)  Here's my kids posing dutifully for me! 

Week 50: Christmas Cards some of my favorites that I have made... maybe next year I will sell them in my online shop.

Come back soon for the finale!!!

Week 51: Anticipation

Week 52: Merry Christmas!

A month of Project 52

I have come to the conclusion that I am not a photographer... just because I use a camera, that does not make me a photographer.  I am however, a moment capturer, a memory keeper, snapshot taker, a noticer of God's beautiful creation.

I do hate leaving things undone, however, so I will make an attempt to finish out the year of Project 52.
Here are some of the ones I missed last month!

Week 41 – October 6 – October 12: Cool Evenings

Week 42 – October 13 – October 19: Sad (never ending days of gray sky makes me sad....)

Week 43 – October 20 – October 26: Leaves

Week 44 – October 27 – November 2: Happy Halloween!

Week 45 – November 3 – November 9: Happy (my kids make me happy... little gifts make them happy)

Week 46 – November 10 – November 16: Harvest/Autumn

attempting to finish Project 52

My daily battle for joy

I wrote this one October evening in my garage after I arrived home... just finally getting it up here on the blog, while I count gifts, count blessings, give thanks, and fight for joy.

 

The seasons are changing, they've already changed and I can feel the blues settling in right next to the cold down to my bones, down to my soul. It's pressing me down and I dread the winter. And I know I need to give thanks, even in this.

I take my son to karate one evening. It's getting dark earlier and if there is one thing I can't stand, it's driving in the dark. I feel my neck tighten, my shoulders contract and my back spasms. My eyes keep blinking, somehow assuming that I might be able to see better if I try harder. Twice in the outskirts of my high beams, I see the reflection of the deer's eyes in the farmer's fields and I give thanks in safety on the country roads and find joy in God's protection.

I read Ann's post---why the battle for joy is really worth it (twice) and I sob, literally tears streaming down my face. While I don't remember consistent anger or yelling in my past, it has seeped into my present and I don't want to leave this legacy for my kids. I snap, I shout, I cry, I ask for forgiveness. I keep fighting for joy, fighting to give thanks.

Maybe that's why Thanksgiving is this time of year; when the season's change and we have less light and the depression takes root. A reminder to continually give thanks to THE LIGHT, see His gifts and fight to find the joy, then share the joy.

and so I keep counting and I start another gratitude/gladitude journal and I pick up the JoyDare sheets again and I count, count, count... just keep counting (I'm just gonna post October thanks here, I'll be back with November next week).

891. blog posts from Ann Voskamp that make me cry... and keep counting
892. wind chimes
893. pumpkin spice coffee
894. thistles... that remind me of my mom

895. sleeping in
896. reading to my kids
897. a deer in the back field... at just the right time (it could be a whole nother blog post)

898. "tumbleweeds" from the boys
899. hug, kiss and a smile from my 6YO in the morning (she's not a morning person)
900. a thunderstorm
901. a bluebird out my porch window

902. French toast made with Texas toast
903. special order for a handmade birthday card

904. sharing a coffee with Wes
905. date night (Shakespeare play @BBC)
906. FREE Fun Day for community at church
907. hayrides, jugglers
908. laundromats
909. ice packs for aching backs
910. the power of healing prayers
911. finishing a project
912. pumpkins

913. Bible reading
914. actually completing house chores
915. warm sunny fall day
916. "Bob the Tomato" in the BBC pond

917. ombre colored trees

918. fresh highlights and a haircut
919. rain
920. family pictures... in said rain (by the fantastical Daniel Lanton)

921. lasagna soup/ fresh bread
922. writing class
923. laughter
924. friends that tell it to me straight
925. kids and "grand prix" cars and races

926. leaves dancing across the road

ALLUME THANKS (927-955) (no photos here, I will get some up in my recap post... someday)
enjoying a road trip with Donna
meeting online friends IN REAL LIFE
hearing "Bob the Tomato"
FMF Party LIVE
writing on voice
hearing others sharing their words
enjoying Avodah coffee
comfy pajamas
extravagant meals
amazing speakers, sharing their hearts
"The message, no matter what we write about is Jesus Christ, crucified" (@kjtanner)
time spent in the prayer room at Allume
cupcakes
open mic night in the (in)courage lounge

encouragement from Debi, Zohary, Katherine and so many others
silly moments, crazy moments
small may be big enough (@ProBlogger)
Monty Python reference (and re-enactment) with Logan
"Your target customer may not be you!" (@GussySews)
meeting Ann Voskamp ---she's a great hugger!

Saying goodbye with prayers to real friends
Seeing Jesus with skin on
safety in travels
welcome home hugs from my kids
being home again
pizza takeout with friends
a hot shower
being in Wes' arms again
anticipating a day off for kids

Giving thanks in the midst of Hurricane Sandy (956-982)
sleeping in
scrambled eggs for the kids
not losing power all day
words
grace, every day grace
protection in the storm
family Monopoly game
trip to Starbucks, Target, Perkins (for coffee, light, a hot meal)
extra blankets on beds
showers and laundry at a friend's house
cheese quesadillas for lunch
sharing tears with my dad (via phone)
provision of housing and meals -post Sandy
a college dorm adventure for the kids

library books
"reverse" trick-or-treating (bag of candy for my kids)

my daughter eating chocolate cake without a fork... the reminder to "Lose the Fork" and feast on Jesus

movie theater popcorn
free meals at the college while we were without power
snuggling with my girls during a movie matinee
internet access
free cappuccino from the Underground Cafe
childcare allowing me an hour of quiet
comfy pajamas
smiling all day long
fellowship with neighbors in lounge
redoing Five Minute Friday - Roots

stopping there for now... something tells me that I've reached 1000 in this month of November and I will be sure to share them with you soon! :)