Show-and-Tell Friday: Folk Harp

 

For Show-and-Tell Friday, I would like to show you the harp that my parents gave me for my birthday. It is a 19-string folk harp. I am learning to play it (the electric tuner Hubby bought for me a couple weeks ago makes it a more pleasant-sounding experience!); I can play a couple of simple songs fairly well. I need to practice, practice, practice!

If you would like to see a video of someone who knows what she is doing on the harp, click here. This woman is playing a song called "The Golden Eagle." Check out how effortlessly she flips the sharping levers (to make a particular string a half step higher). Such a lively, cheerful tune!

Make sure to visit There is No Place Like Home for more Show-and-Tell entries!

One Corner of Our Living Room

 

I mentioned last week that I did some redecorating while Hubby was away on a trip. Here is one corner of our living room. The area above the fireplace is actually a couple feet deep. It is intended for a TV (if you look closely, you can see the jack), but since we don't have one, I just use it for decoration. Right now, I have two plants, my harp, a pregnant lady Willow Tree figurine, and a tart warmer up there. I enjoy changing the knickknacks around every once in a while.

Who Knew? Homemade English Muffins

Yeah, the fall baking bug has bit me good. :-) Before I saw this recipe for Whole Wheat English Muffins, I thought English muffins could only be bought in a store! These taste way better than store-bought, and they come out with all those nice little holes that are perfect for soaking up butter and honey. Well, I haven't tried them that way yet, but I probably will soon. Tonight I topped them with roast beef, Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and horseradish mustard for dinner. Mmm.... I think tomorrow morning I'll make an egg "McMuffin." And, uh, I'm still on the South Beach Diet. Yeah.

Lemon-Raspberry Scones

I just made these Lemon-Raspberry Scones. They turned out great, even though I used thawed frozen raspberries instead of fresh, as the recipe calls for (because I'm too frugal to pay $3 for a few ounces of fresh berries!). My scones were done after about 18 minutes (the recipe says 20-22).

Oh yeah, I still haven't gained any weight this pregnancy (I'm at 10 weeks), but we'll see how long that lasts if I keep eating pumpkin pie and scones! Something about fall weather makes me want to bake up a storm....

Edited to add: I tried to take a picture of a scone to post here, but it didn't turn out, and our camera's acting up. Anyway, just imagine a lightly browned biscuit-y-looking wedge with raspberries in it. :-)

WFMW: Dirty Dishcloths

 

I've been waiting for today's Works-for-Me-Wednesday Backwards Day so I can ask: what do you do with your dirty dishcloths until laundry day? I’ve found that I can’t just throw them into the hamper with everything else, or they make everything stink. So, I’ve been keeping them in a little plastic basket under the sink until I’m ready to wash them, but even so, they often get moldy and gross and I have to use a ton of bleach to get them to smell fresh again. So tell me, what works for you?

Make sure to visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer for other Works-for-Me-Wednesday ideas, and feel free to post your own "advice-needed" question on your blog for Backwards Day!

Nice Kitty

When 1-year-old and I take a walk to the park, we always pass a house that has two lion statues guarding the driveway. This morning, I stopped at the first statue and made a big deal over it, asking 1-year-old, "What does a lion say? A lion says ROAR!" 1-year-old just smiled. Then I went to the second lion statue and again asked, "What does a lion say?" I waited for a moment, and then 1-year-old very clearly enunciated, "Meow!"

The BEST Pumpkin Pie

 

I hear that some parts of the country are still in the high 80's or above, but where I live, today was a pumpkin-pie kind of day...chilly, blustery, and off-and-on rainy. Since I was heading to the grocery store anyway, I picked up a few ingredients, and whipped up a couple of pies using my favorite pumpkin pie recipe. What makes this pie so yummy is that you scorch the pumpkin puree to carmelize the sugars. It has such a good flavor! I doubled the recipe below and made 2 pies.

This recipe comes from my most treasured cookbook: Meta Given's Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking. It is a 2-volume, 1500+ page work from the 1950's era. Someday maybe I will do a blog post on why this cookbook is so awesome and stands out among all my other cookbooks. The short version is that the recipes are very descriptive and detailed.

I will quote the recipe exactly as it is printed in the cookbook.

PUMPKIN PIE No. 1--BAKED AT TWO TEMPERATURES
A delicious mildly spiced pie. Scorching the pumpkin, as Grandma did, gives excellent flavor

Pastry for 9-inch Single Crust
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree or home cooked
2 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar, pkd
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp boiling water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup 12% cream, half-and-half

Adjust rack 4 or 5 inches above bottom of oven. Start oven 10 min before baking; set to moderately hot (425 degrees F).

Make pastry. Roll out and line a 9-inch pie pan, fitting well into angles. Trim off with scissors 1/2-inch beyond pan rim; turn overhang under so fold is even with pan rim. Crimp with fork leaving edge flat or flute with fingers. Do not prick pastry. Turn pumpkin into a 3-qt saucepan, place over direct heat, cook and stir until it is dried out and the natural sugar in it is slightly carmelized (scorched but not burned). This takes about 10 min. Remove from heat. Beat eggs until just mixed, stir in sugar, milk and spices that have been blended to a smooth paste with the hot water. Stir in pumpkin, salt and cream until thoroughly blended. Pour into pastry-lined pan. Bake 15 min; then reduce heat to slow (300 degrees F), opening oven a min or so for heat to drop rapidly to 300 degrees F. Bake about 25 min longer or until custard has coagulated all except a small circle in center. This will set later. Remove to cake rack to cook to lukewarm before cutting. 6 servings.

Meta Given's Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking. Copyright 1969, by Meta Given. Published by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago.

Ingredients for 9-inch single crust pastry shell

1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp vegetable shortening
3 1/3 tbsp room temperature water

There are some very good, detailed instructions for making pie crust in this cookbook, which I don't have time to type up tonight, but if anyone wants them, let me know in a comment, and I will do a pie crust post soon.

Someone smart, please help me

Random question: I have a book from 1969 that has been out-of-print for a long time. I would like to type up some passages from it and share them on this blog. Is this legal?

Babies at church--any tips?

Hubby and I are part of a house church of about 30 people. We meet every Sunday night at the home of someone in the church. We eat dinner together (prepared by different people every week), then we sing, pray, usually have a teaching time, and share what's going on in our lives. I love getting together with other believers, listening to the Word being taught, etc., but nearly every week I dread going to church because there's no easy solution as to what to do with 1-year-old. Usually we bring a playpen and set it up in a back bedroom, then I nurse him, sing to him, do all the usual things, and then put him in the playpen and tell him to go nigh-night. He always screams for a long time before (sometimes) finally drifting off to sleep, and I feel so bad for making him to try to sleep all alone in an unfamiliar environment with the noise of 30 people swirling around him. The other choice is letting him stay awake and be out with us, which usually means that he is a distraction to everyone and neither Hubby nor I (especially I) can focus on the teaching or what anyone else is sharing at all, because we're too busy trying to keep 1-year-old quiet and occupied. It's such a huge hassle that sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it.

Tonight 1-year-old was acting so extremely fussy right before it was time to leave for church that we decided that I would just stay home with him. He is teething and must be in pain, because he is constantly crying and pointing at the little tooth that is pushing through, plus he still has a bit of a cold. Hubby had to go to church because he is teaching the Bible lesson to the older kids tonight.

Anyway, I guess I am wondering if anyone has ever been in a similar situation and what you have done. I don't want to dread going to church every week! Also, I suppose I'm getting ahead of myself, but I keep thinking about how crazy and challenging church will be when this new baby is born. 1-year-old will be 20 months old then.

The weekend, so far

I am feeling much better. I haven't had morning sickness for the past few days, I have more energy, and my senses of taste and smell are returning.

Hubby has been on a trip with some other men from our church for the past few days, but he is getting home tonight. I can't wait to see him again! I miss him so much when he is gone. I think 1-year-old missed him, too. 1-year-old did end up getting what I had, but he is almost better. We had a few rough nights with lots of waking up and crying, partly because of his cold, and partly because he is getting in another tooth (his 8th)!

While Hubby was gone, I shopped around at various craft stores and discount stores and bought a few items to go on the walls in our living room, which were previously quite bare. We had been waiting to decorate until we could afford a slipcover for our very retro-looking couch (green and brown flowers, plus stripes--I've been waiting to cover that thing up for a long time), which we were able to do last week. We ordered it online, so we're still waiting for it to arrive, but we measured carefully and made sure to choose all the right options (T-cushion, wing back, etc.), so I'm pretty sure it will work. It was hard to tell the exact color from the little sample swatch on the manufacturer's website, but it is a deep red/burgundy, which will coordinate well with the dark teal-ish armchair and loveseat that are also in our living room. I like the way our living room looks now (well, except for the ugly couch that I'm eager to cover!). I bought a wall planter and some moss and silk ivy vines to go in it, a burgundy wooden sign that says, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," and a tri-colored dried eucalyptus wreath (green, burgundy, and brown--it smells so good!) that kind of ties everything together, AND, I got out nails and hammer and hung them all on the walls, all by myself, thank you very much! :-) Hee hee, I have always had someone else around who knows what they are doing when it is time to hang things on the walls, so I had actually never done it myself before. I was pleased that I didn't smash my thumb and actually managed to get things to hang straight. I think Hubby will like the living room's new look. It seems a lot homier now. I plan to post a picture soon, but I can't at the moment because Hubby took our digital camera on his trip.

My mom came over to spend some time with 1-year-old and me. My parents live 2 1/2 hours away from us, so we don't see them as often as we'd like, and it is always special when they visit. 1-year-old had a great time with her. She read him lots of stories, which is a sure way to win him over. She and I had some good girl bonding time, too. We watched a chick flick together last night, and today we browsed some antique stores.

Sick Again

I am sick...again...with a bad cold, plus my morning sickness today was the worst it's been so far this pregnancy. Fortunately, Hubby and Baby Boy seem to be staying healthy. I feel a bit discouraged because my house is a mess and I have no energy to clean it; the kitchen is the worst--there are (nonperishable) grocery items from Hubby's shopping trip today still in bags on the counter, as well as unwashed dishes (although not too many, as Hubby has been helping a lot with dishes). For the past few days, the smell and sight of dirty dishes has made me feel nauseated....I can't even go near them. Blech.

Morning sickness stopped with my last pregnancy around week twelve, so hopefully I've just got to hang in there for a few more weeks!

I haven't gained any weight so far this pregnancy, which is fine with me. I think I started packing on the pounds almost immediately after I found out I was pregnant last time--I craved carbs and freely indulged in eating lots of bread products. This time, I'm trying to only eat one or two servings of grains a day. It is strange being pregnant and yet not feeling (except for the morning sickness) or looking pregnant.

Anyway, please just say a little prayer that I will feel better soon so I can take care of my family the way I want to!

Big News!

Now that I've told my family and friends in real life, I can finally announce here that we are expecting our second child at the end of April 2008! Baby Boy will be 20 months old then. I can't figure out how to put a baby ticker under my header above, so I put one all the way down at the bottom of the page.

Today is my 24th birthday. My parents came over last weekend to celebrate and gave me a beautiful 19-string folk harp! I was completely surprised. I had mentioned to my mom just once months and months ago that I thought it would be nice to learn to play the harp, and she remembered. I also received a lesson book, so I am beginning to learn to play.

Tonight Hubby is bringing home takeout from our favorite Thai restaurant, and then we will probably watch some more of the movie we've been watching, a 6-hour BBC production of Jane Eyre.

Oh, my mom also gave Baby Boy his first haircut when she was here. I miss the curls, but he looks so handsome and grown up! I will try to post a picture later.

Birthday Boy

Yesterday, my parents, brother, and grandma came to our house and celebrated Baby Boy's first birthday with us. Here is a picture of Baby Boy diving into his birthday cake (gingerbread with real whipped cream on top):

 

And here he is testing out one of his presents, a little Radio Flyer push-wagon to help him learn how to walk:

 

Sorry I haven't posted lately; I have been under the weather with a bad cold. I am on the mend.

Please may I take a bath, Mama?

 

Yesterday, I turned on the bathtub faucet to run some water for Baby Boy's bath. He was at the opposite end of the house in the living room. Within thirty seconds, he crawled all the way down the hallway, through the bedroom, and into the bathroom. Then he quickly pulled himself up on the bathtub and began making all sorts of squawks and squeaks to show me that he was very excited and wanted to get in that water and play!

Graphic from allposters.com.

Curiosity

20 “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son: ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; 22 and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. 23 Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. 24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.’” Deuteronomy 6:20-25, NKJV

Children are curious. God makes them that way to help them learn. I see it every day in Baby Boy when he confidently approaches and masters a new challenge, whether pulling himself up on the couch to reach a desired object; opening the drawer under the oven and methodically taking out each pot, pan, and lid; or super-crawling down the hallway, giggling all the way, when he sees that the office door is open (there are so many fun things to grab and explore in there!).

What a privilege it is to pass on knowledge, skills, and spiritual truths to our children. I want to live according to the Word, so that when my children observe my life and ask why I do things a certain way, I will not be ashamed, and I can take the opportunity to point them to God. I look forward to sharing stories of God’s provision and guidance with my children. I want to help them see how He is working in their own lives every day.

Graphic from art.com.

Giveaway

This week, Crystal at Biblical Womanhood is giving away a $25 gift certificate to Vision Forum, as well as 5 CDs from her own store. For more information, go here.

Saving Our Pennies

My husband and I went over our budget tonight and we have decided to start saving toward a down payment for a house. It will probably be several years before we have any significant amount put away, but you have to start somewhere. The first step we are taking is to cut our grocery budget. I am going to try to get all our groceries for $50 a week. The cost of living in our area is pretty high, and food isn't cheap, so I am going to have to get creative. I am still trying to follow the principles of the South Beach Diet, so that that makes things even more challenging, as I'm trying to stay away from starches, which are the cheapest foods! What I have been trying to do is only have one grain a day, so maybe I will save it for dinner so I can eat "normal" dinners, such as chicken-and-rice casserole, tuna-noodle casserole, etc. However, I did just get The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer cookbook from the library, and haven't had a chance to peruse it yet. Maybe I'll get some good ideas there. My one splurge will be raw milk for Baby Boy, as I really feel the nutritional benefits are worth the cost. It is--YIKES!--$7 a gallon. So my total grocery budget will actually be $57 a week, as soon as I start Baby Boy on raw milk. I still want to continue nursing him for a while, but I want to wean him very gradually, so I may start substituting cow's milk for one nursing session a day pretty soon.

Haircut

I got my hair cut this weekend. I had had long hair for several years, and I was ready for a change, partly because of the heat lately, partly because Baby Boy likes to pull hair, and partly just for fun. Here's a pic:

 

I got to watch Baby Boy stand up all by himself in his crib today. I heard him babbling to himself after waking up from his nap, so I quietly opened his bedroom door. He didn't see me poke my head in. He was sitting up, and then he grabbed hold of the crib bar and pulled himself up and started chewing on the bar! It was so cute! Eventually, he noticed I was standing there, and he smiled, like, oh, you caught me, Mama. :-)

Not too bad for $19.30

 

I had a fairly successful couponing trip to Walgreens today. I got these products for a total of $19.30:

3 25.4-oz. Pantene shampoo+conditioners
3 25.4-oz. Pantene conditioners
3 12-oz. Herbal Essence products
1 13.5-oz. Aussie conditioner
1 6-oz. Aussie mousse
3 16-oz. Infusium23 products
1 Venus Divine razor system
2 15-pack Gillette disposable razors
1 2.6-oz. Secret deodorant
1 Oral-B Indicator toothbrush

The total retail value of these products is $96.37, so I had a savings of $77.07. I know that is a good deal, but I had been hoping for an even better one. I had talked to the manager earlier in the day, and he told me that the Walgreens registers were printing out $16 worth (a $10, $4, and $2) of Register Rewards (which can be used like cash) for every $20 transaction on select items, as listed in the Walgreens advertisement. So I thought I would get everything for around $1. But when I went to Walgreens this evening, the registers were only printing a $10 coupon for every $20 transaction. I bought everything anyway, because I had a tired Baby Boy with me and needed to get home. To get this price, I used a combination of manufacturer's coupons (I had several buy one, get one free) and Register Rewards.

A Day at the Park