I got a new book called "Wild Fermentation". It's about pickling, basically. Maddie and I started our first batch of sauerkraut last night. We shredded about three pounds of green cabbage and about two pounds of red cabbage. It has been salted and is still being pressed. According to the book the salt should pull enough water out of the cabbage to completely submerge it within 24 hours. We started it last night, around eight, and it is about an inch from the top already. So it looks like things are going well so far. We can hardly wait to taste our crunchy, homemade kraut, but it will be 1 to 4 weeks before it is done.
We used the red cabbage because it should result in a pretty, pink kraut. I need to hunt down some better pickling containers so that I can try some of the other recipes. My current batch of kraut is actually in my salad spinning bowl. It's not ideal, but it works for now. And because the bowl is clear I can see my water level without opening it all up.
Well, the kids are doing their worst, so I better go. There is enough screeching and whining to drive a person mad.
Enjoy your Thursday!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Happy 30th Birthday Ben!
Ben taking a photo of the Microsoft Tag on his notebook (linking to www.benmarch.com)
Smiling for the camera
Ben's new SIGG bottle, custom printed with his Microsoft Tag logo.
The very delicious cake. Man, that's a lot of candles!
3rd Child Syndrome
You might have noticed there are a lot of photos of Callie here lately. I am trying hard to take more photos of her. I don't want her to have the "3rd Child Syndrome" :-P
I have thousands of photos of Maddie, hundreds of Reese, but only a handful of Callie. Well, I have to be fair to myself and say that I DO take photos of her. Because she is always on the move I have a lot of photos of the back and top of her head though. It is not easy to catch her!
She has gotten very adventurous and learned to climb. It's her favorite thing to do now. She gets into her toy boxes, on top of toy boxes (got her first split lip the other morning falling off of one), onto chairs, and in the last few days has learned how to get up on the couch. She can walk, but for some reason is still a bit chicken, so she continues to scoot most
of the time.
I have thousands of photos of Maddie, hundreds of Reese, but only a handful of Callie. Well, I have to be fair to myself and say that I DO take photos of her. Because she is always on the move I have a lot of photos of the back and top of her head though. It is not easy to catch her!
She has gotten very adventurous and learned to climb. It's her favorite thing to do now. She gets into her toy boxes, on top of toy boxes (got her first split lip the other morning falling off of one), onto chairs, and in the last few days has learned how to get up on the couch. She can walk, but for some reason is still a bit chicken, so she continues to scoot most
of the time.
Callie holds still
That's right people, you read right - Callie actually holds still once in a while! Perhaps "NutNut" has something to do with it (the new baby doll she sleeps with). I had to get the photo of her with the "horns", seems slightly fitting for her...ahem..."strong" personality. :-)
Trip to Como Zoo
We decided to take the kids to the Como Zoo in June. It was very hot, but they seemed to enjoy it anyway. Well, Maddie enjoyed it as much as an angst ridden teenager is allowed to - according to the teenager's manual entitled "Acting like the world is a cesspool of despair and always making a face like something smells terrible for dummies". Standard issue for all teenage girls, along with "Your parents are unintelligent and here to make you miserable". If you thinks me jest, please note her less than jubilant face in the photos shown here. :-)
We all got through it and look forward to visiting the Minnesota Zoo next.
We all got through it and look forward to visiting the Minnesota Zoo next.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I couldn't resist
The two babies have coordinating pajamas, so I couldn't resist getting a picture before they grew out of them. Reese will be too cool to coordinate with his baby sister before too long, I have to take these opportunities when I can.
Wow, has it been that long?
I see it has been a very long time since I last posted. Well, I guess that's a good thing - living life rather than just writing about it? The silver lining.
We are still plugging away on the kitchen. We bought and installed some new light fixtures in the back entry way and our bedroom last weekend. Ben recently put the first coat of actual paint (the colored stuff) on the kitchen walls and we painted the walls in our back entry way (covering up that awful burnt orange color). We haven't painted the trim on anything yet, and I think Ben wants to refinish the wood floors first, so that will wait for now. He hung my kitchen cabinets back up the night before last, and with the new paint we are starting to see what the finished product will look like. We are getting really excited, because the reality of listing the house soon is finally sinking in. The kitchen was our biggest project, after this we just need to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls and install some more modern light fixtures (nothing difficult). I'll include here some photos in another post, but I don't think I want to give too much of the kitchen away until it's completely done and then we can do the "big unveiling". Ha ha. Other than the kitchen/home improvement projects we have been enjoying the wonderful weather by spending time in the yard/gardens with the kids and we are really getting excited for Calista's first birthday! It's her very first one!! We are so excited for her big day and looking forward to watching her experience the cake and ice cream, the balloons and presents. This is the last "First Birthday" we will ever celebrate, and we intend to savor every moment of it. I still remember both Reese and Maddie's first birthdays very well. They had similar reactions to the cake, so I'm guessing the whole "I need a fork to partake" came from me. Silly kids. Callie doesn't strike me as the type to require a fork though. If I were a gambler I would bet she will lean over and stick her face right into the frosting (and throw a major fit when she is finally cut off later). To say she has a strong personality may be an understatement. We will find out in less than a month! Well, I have a long list of "computer errands" to take care of today, so I better get going.
We are still plugging away on the kitchen. We bought and installed some new light fixtures in the back entry way and our bedroom last weekend. Ben recently put the first coat of actual paint (the colored stuff) on the kitchen walls and we painted the walls in our back entry way (covering up that awful burnt orange color). We haven't painted the trim on anything yet, and I think Ben wants to refinish the wood floors first, so that will wait for now. He hung my kitchen cabinets back up the night before last, and with the new paint we are starting to see what the finished product will look like. We are getting really excited, because the reality of listing the house soon is finally sinking in. The kitchen was our biggest project, after this we just need to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls and install some more modern light fixtures (nothing difficult). I'll include here some photos in another post, but I don't think I want to give too much of the kitchen away until it's completely done and then we can do the "big unveiling". Ha ha. Other than the kitchen/home improvement projects we have been enjoying the wonderful weather by spending time in the yard/gardens with the kids and we are really getting excited for Calista's first birthday! It's her very first one!! We are so excited for her big day and looking forward to watching her experience the cake and ice cream, the balloons and presents. This is the last "First Birthday" we will ever celebrate, and we intend to savor every moment of it. I still remember both Reese and Maddie's first birthdays very well. They had similar reactions to the cake, so I'm guessing the whole "I need a fork to partake" came from me. Silly kids. Callie doesn't strike me as the type to require a fork though. If I were a gambler I would bet she will lean over and stick her face right into the frosting (and throw a major fit when she is finally cut off later). To say she has a strong personality may be an understatement. We will find out in less than a month! Well, I have a long list of "computer errands" to take care of today, so I better get going.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Maddie's Day
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE!!!
Our Madaline is celebrating her 14th birthday today.
Can't talk, time for food and cake.
Our Madaline is celebrating her 14th birthday today.Can't talk, time for food and cake.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Saturday, March 14th
Firstly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER!!! It's my sister-in-law's very special day today. We will be celebrating this afternoon. Our Madaline will be 14 on Monday, so the celebration today will be in part for her as well.
I don't have a lot to report today. I started my tomato and pepper plants on Monday, but have yet to see anything sprout. Callie continues to demand lots of attention (there will be no third child syndrome here), Reese is in the midst of potty training, and Maddie is still an angst filled teenager who is too cool for everything (especially smiling). It's become a sport around here to try to get her to smile. It's not for the faint of heart. :-P
I am trying to find some motivation at the bottom of my teacup. This last stretch of winter gets me down every year. We get those little hints of spring, only to be punched in the face with another blast of winter. Green tea might not be strong enough, I might have to hit the coffee today.
We have been talking about putting our house on the market lately. There are no adjectives to describe just how much I dread selling a house. Having people tramping through my house, having to lug the dog and kids out every time there is a showing, and having to keep the house spotless should be worth it in the end though. We have some painting to do, and Ben has to finish the trim in Reese's room. Other than that we don't have a terrible lot to do in order to sell (luckily). I would like to replace the vanity mirror in our bathroom and we might rip the paneling out of the kitchen to make it look brighter. Neither project is necessary, but would pretty things up a little for (hopefully) a quicker sale.
Reese just came in, reeking of maple syrup, chanting "tickle me". Toddlers are quite possibly the most enjoyable part of parenting. They still have that yummy baby I-could-eat-you-up quality, but it's swirled in with the hilarity and wisdom of a child reconstituting what they absorb from the adults in their lives. Unfortunately, toddler-hood lasts approximately 12 minutes. You look up from your work and they are in high school. I'm afraid to look away sometimes, because time is so slippery where growing children are concerned. Speaking of which, I am off to enjoy my children now.
Have a great weekend!
I don't have a lot to report today. I started my tomato and pepper plants on Monday, but have yet to see anything sprout. Callie continues to demand lots of attention (there will be no third child syndrome here), Reese is in the midst of potty training, and Maddie is still an angst filled teenager who is too cool for everything (especially smiling). It's become a sport around here to try to get her to smile. It's not for the faint of heart. :-P
I am trying to find some motivation at the bottom of my teacup. This last stretch of winter gets me down every year. We get those little hints of spring, only to be punched in the face with another blast of winter. Green tea might not be strong enough, I might have to hit the coffee today.
We have been talking about putting our house on the market lately. There are no adjectives to describe just how much I dread selling a house. Having people tramping through my house, having to lug the dog and kids out every time there is a showing, and having to keep the house spotless should be worth it in the end though. We have some painting to do, and Ben has to finish the trim in Reese's room. Other than that we don't have a terrible lot to do in order to sell (luckily). I would like to replace the vanity mirror in our bathroom and we might rip the paneling out of the kitchen to make it look brighter. Neither project is necessary, but would pretty things up a little for (hopefully) a quicker sale.
Reese just came in, reeking of maple syrup, chanting "tickle me". Toddlers are quite possibly the most enjoyable part of parenting. They still have that yummy baby I-could-eat-you-up quality, but it's swirled in with the hilarity and wisdom of a child reconstituting what they absorb from the adults in their lives. Unfortunately, toddler-hood lasts approximately 12 minutes. You look up from your work and they are in high school. I'm afraid to look away sometimes, because time is so slippery where growing children are concerned. Speaking of which, I am off to enjoy my children now.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, March 06, 2009
Tyrone and Pablo
Reese and Maddie got to meet Tyrone and Pablo (two of The Backyardigans characters) at the Mall of America. Reese still talks about his, it blew his mind that he actually got to meet them. It still makes me chuckle, the fascination and innocence of childhood. Ah, to be young again! :)
Hard at play
Reese has really developed an attachment to his little sister. He wants to be where she is, worries if she fusses or cries, begs me to pick her up when she is fussy, and even wants to keep "in touch" while watching a movie. He was holding her hand in the photo below, but she wiggle away to get down to the business of playing.
Callie is getting a tutorial on how to be a nerd and play Gears of War 2 online. Look how proud her Daddy is! So cute!
Callie is getting a tutorial on how to be a nerd and play Gears of War 2 online. Look how proud her Daddy is! So cute!
Calista tries baby food
Callie tried some organic peas on her six month birthday (December 27th). She was not fond of any kind of baby food for the few few weeks. She loves it all now, and really enjoys the teething biscuits she recently started experimenting with. She also gets fresh fruit slices in her "mesh bags" feeders. The photo below is of her enjoying some fresh pear slices.
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