Nov 272009
Nov 262009
…and for the loved ones that fill it!
God send us a little home
To come back to, when we roam.
Low walls and fluted tiles
Wide windows, a view for miles.
Red firelight and deep chairs
Small white beds upstairs
Great talk in little nooks
Dim colors, rows of books.
One picture on each wall,
not many things at all.
God, send us a little ground
Tall trees stand round.
Homely flowers in brown sod
and Overhead, thy stars, O God.
God bless thee, when winds blow
Our home and all we know.
-“A Prayer for a Little House” by Florence Bone
Nov 252009
I’m sitting here in disobedience to strict orders from my husband to take a nap. My cold is getting worse rather than better and he thinks I need more rest. But writing is almost as relaxing as shut-eye. And if I didn’t write I’d be lying there thinking about what I would write, instead of sleeping. So it’s okay to write then nap, right?
It’s been a busy, busy couple of weeks. (Here we count the ability to schedule posts amidst our blessings, so that a few hurried moments of inspiration once a week can make me look like a disciplined daily blogger!) I can’t believe that my daughter has already turned two and we’re into the holiday season, when I had a baby just yesterday—or rather, nearly three months ago!
We’re spreading our Thanksgiving celebration out over several days, in order to spend time with family who can’t be here on Thursday day because of work. But meanwhile, “work” is high on our list of blessings we’re counting. Merritt and I have both been overwhelmed with random jobs these past few weeks: I’ve had several websites to set up (Do check out the lovely music on the Martenson’s website!), he had a shed to build up and a shop to jack up! It’s meant for crazy days, un-done laundry, and a couple who has felt rather scattered. But we’ve been thankful for the income that came just as things were slowing down here on the farm
Oops. Hold that thought. Those two little people who were napping are now wide awake. There went my golden opportunity for both nap and restful writing! But those two little people are two of my biggest blessings. So I’m off to rock my blessings… Have a happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. Watch for a post from me (about inlaws!) on ylcf.org on Friday (product of the earlier part of this stolen moment of naptime inspiration)…and be sure to read my friend Lanier’s post there today
Nov 252009
My sister-in-law’s recipe is a favorite “special occasion” bread in our family…
2 1/2 t. yeast
2 T. warm water
1 c. cooked, pureed winter squash
1/3 c. warm milk
1/4 c. soft butter
1 egg
3 T. brown sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
3 1/2 c. flour
Glaze: 1 egg, 1 T. water, beaten
Dissolve yeast in water. Combine remaining ingredients, adding flour gradually to make soft dough. Knead, let rise until double. Divide dough into thirds. Roll each third into 18-inch rope. Place on greased baking sheet. Braid ropes together, pinch ends. Cover and let rise until nearly double. Combine glaze ingredients; brush over braid. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until golden.
Nov 202009
I’m not sure when I’ve refreshed my FaceBook feed as often as Wednesday, watching for each update from my Aunt Shannan (aka “Grandma”) and cousin Lindy (aka “Auntie”) who were in the hospital waiting room: part of the huge team of prayer warriors interceding for the safe arrival of a precious little man. I finally had to go home and cook dinner instead of checking FaceBook, but my mom called me with the news: “he’s here!”
my brother William with our cousin Brian
When I told Ruth that Brian and Jordyn’s baby was here, she ran to the front door, expecting him to have arrived at our house. But then I explained that Jordyn had him in her tummy like I had Mary in my tummy—and the entire rest of the evening was spent discussing babies in tummies! Ru kept pointing to her own tummy and I explained that when she got big maybe God would give her a man to be a daddy to her babies and she could have a baby in her tummy. And we had the same conversation about Mary having babies in her tummy, too! Multiple times. All with frequent looks at the Brian and Jordyn’s picture which has been up and down off the fridge, covered with magnets to keep them company, and carried around again excitedly.
Ruth displays the emotions of excitement and thankfulness we’re all feeling—that this little man arrived safely into the world, despite all the complications with his bladder and intestines being outside his body… And that his mommy made it through labor and delivery okay, in spite of her own rare heart condition! We are praising God even as we continue to bathe little Davis Blaine in prayer—he has a lot of growing and healing to do. You simply have to go look at the adorable pictures. Davis looks just like his daddy did at that age. Not that I remember very clearly (my cousin Brian and I are a year apart), but there are plenty of pictures to enhance my memory!
me with my cousins Craig and Lindy (Brian's siblings)
Yes, Davis’ Daddy Brian is one of my simply amazing cousins. (Bri is a really great guy with a tender heart.) I am really, really blessed in cousins. I grew up with the best of them. And my cousins have chosen the most beautiful, godly wives. (Jordyn is a sweetheart—and I really admire and respect her courage and faith through all of this.) And I married into a family with even more wonderful cousins!
So yes, when we count our blessings this Thanksgiving, we’ll be awhile in counting the cousins…and second cousins!
P.S. Just for fun, I pulled out some old pictures. As in, pictures from 20 years ago! Yep, we’re all pretty cute. 
Nov 202009
We really like onion rings at our house. And fried zucchini. I know. It’s so healthy. And all that. But we still like to splurge and deep fry some onions and zucchini a few times a year. We can’t let the last of the zucchini disappear for the summer without having fried zucchini. And onion rings are the perfect complement to barbecued hamburgers (made with homegrown, grass-fed beef, of course—or venison shot on the farm, also fattened on that same alfalfa and grass!). Even though my husband would prefer for onions to be left out of most other dishes, he will eat his fill of my onion rings.
It’s taken me a while to find the perfect batter. Roll and dip? Or just dip? Runny or thick? Cornmeal? I’ve tried a lot of recipes. But the only one that works consistently is this one from my mother-in-law. (No mother-in-law jokes, please. She and my sister-in-law are both really good cooks. And I’ve learned a lot from their culinary arts. I’m thankful they are always willing to share their secrets, as we all love to cook to please the men in our family!) And just so you know, you always need more salt—before and after frying!
Mix the batter:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt (or more)
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk, plus 2 Tablespoons (add more if necessary—but it’s better to start out with your batter too thick and have to add a bit more milk: the thicker the batter the better it sticks to the vegetables)
Heat an inch or two of oil in a deep pan (the sides keep your kitchen from becoming entirely splattered with oil!).
Slice sweet onions or zucchini to the desired thickness, separating onions into rings (I fry the center part of each onion slice as one chunk—just let it cook a bit longer than the others so the onion gets well cooked).
Dip in batter until well covered. Let excess batter drip off before dropping into hot oil.
Turn with a fork when the bottom side is golden brown. When golden on both sides, remove with slotted spoon and let drain on a paper towel.
Salt as desired and enjoy with ketchup or by themselves!
Nov 182009
Apparently our little girl has been missing the corn on the cob she so enjoyed this summer. Last night she got out two of her little books from her soon-to-be-aunt Natalie. Each page features brightly colored pictures of fruits and vegetables. And both books happen to have a page picturing ears of corn. Ruth opened both books to the page with corn, and emphatically pointed at the pictures and then led her daddy to the kitchen, showing without a doubt that she wanted corn to eat.
He tried to explain the concept of seasonal eating, but it didn’t catch on. Finally he thought of the canned corn in the cupboard as a temporary solution to the apparently quite urgent need for the yellow kernels. When Daddy got out a can of corn, Ruth was overjoyed to see the picture on the label. She was ready to eat it then and there. At half past bedtime!
Ru was finally convinced to leave the canned corn on the table, with a promise that Mommy would let her eat some on the morrow. It was the first thing she wanted to eat this morning. But we opted for a slightly more traditional breakfast. With plans to make bell peppers stuffed with corn (among other things) for dinner tonight.
Nov 182009
It’s hard for Ruth to understand the concept of cousins yet. But when I got Brian and Jordyn’s Christmas card picture off the fridge this morning and told her they were going to have her baby cousin today, I think she understood a little more who and what we were praying for.
Ruth and Mary’s little second cousin Davis is on his way. Mommy Jordyn was induced last night. Please keep them in your prayers!