Happy Birthday to Margaret!

Today little Margaret turns six! How did this happen? Margaret has turned out to be a fine little lady. She is helpful, sensitive, considerate (most of the time), and her biggest dream in life is to become a religious sister.

newbie
Moments after her quick labor!

 

karol_meets_margaret
Meeting Karol for the first time.

 

baby_burrito.jpg
Baby Burrito

 

For those interested, here is her birth story.

Filed under: General Stuff

Pregnancy and Food

I’ve not blogged much about being pregnant, and heck, just let the cat out of the bag here recently, but I’d say it’s been a different pregnancy all together.

For starters, while I had morning sickness and the first trimester fog, I didn’t lose much weight. My record is losing 25 lbs with Caecilia, but this time, I think I lost 5, at most. So with that, I am working hard to make sure to eat well (something we’ve been doing as a family anyway) and trying to have healthy snacks instead of ice cream each night. So I keep my veggie intake up, as well as protein. I avoid refined sugars and processed foods as much as possible. Most of all, I am watching my portions, making sure to not “eat for two”.

On my healthy snack list are: pecans, almonds, fresh baked bread (and made with fresh ground wheat, which means a little goes a long way in filling me up), honey, milk, yogurt, and lemon water.

On my not so healthy, list are a dark chocolate, home baked cookies, soda (from the natural section of the store so made with sugar and not high fructose corn syrup and 8 oz or less.), and hot chocolate (made with homemade chocolate sauce but tons of sugar).

On my limited, very bad for me, yet oh so yummy list is ice cream, HFCS filled soda, french fries, and candy.

Thankfully, when I eat something with too much sugar in it, I feel it, within minutes, either heartburn or an icky headache that requires some big dish with tons of protein.

All that to say that for the past few days I’ve really wanted ice cream. No biggie, right? Well, I don’t just want ice cream, I want some sort of sundae with chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cups, hot fudge, brownie pieces, and whipped cream.

Do you think if I went to the local DQ and asked them to make me a peanut butter cup blizzard, with chocolate ice cream, then put it in a peanut buster parfait container, with brownies instead of peanuts and tons of hot fudge (Just put the whipped cream in a small sundae dish, I’ll get to that later.) they’d laugh at me, or see my belly, make it, then charge me $10?

Filed under: General Stuff

Epiphany Dinner

When I was younger my grandmother would make a dinner of pork roast, sauerkraut, and kanadles (sp?). The kanadles were potato dumplings. I’ve been wanting them for a while, but I have a fear of pork (if I is not cooked right I just cannot stomach the taste) so I’ve been holding off on making them. However, I had a pork loin in the freezer and decided to go for it.

In the end, dinner consisted of the pork roast (with a caraway mustard coating), potato dumplings, green beans with a onion bacon-fat glaze, and sauerkraut with the same glaze. The bread I was going to serve didn’t make it out of the kitchen. (it wasn’t even sliced!)  It was such a great dinner, I wanted to share the recipes with you all. (I didn’t get any pictures, because I was too busy enjoying the goodness on my plate.)

Pork Roast

5 pound pork loin
1 onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp mustard (I used Dijon)
2 tbsp  crushed caraway seeds
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp oregano
salt to taste

1. Place the pork loin in to a roasting pan. Place the sliced onion around the roast.

2. In a small bowl mix the remaining ingredients and smear over the roast (use your hands here, they are the perfect tool for the job.)

3. Add a bit of water to the bottom of the pan (I used about 1/4 cup), cover and place in a 350 degree oven and roast for about an hour and a half, or until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees.

4. Allow the roast to rest for about 15 minutes after taking it out of the oven. (Use this time to make the gravy.)

 

Gravy

Dripping from the pan (about 2 cups)
2 tbsp arrowroot (or cornstarch)
2 tbsp cool water

1. In a saucepan, pour the drippings from the roasting pan (straining out the onions).

2. In a small cup, dissolve the arrowroot in the cool water.

3. Mix the arrowroot with the drippings in the saucepan and stir to combine. Heat over med heat until it thickens. (Keep an eye on this because it can happen pretty quickly!)

Serve the gravy over the meat and dumplings.

Potato Dumplings 

(makes about 12)

1 large russet potatoes (or 1.5 cups of left over mashed potatoes)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or more)
1/8 cup cornstarch (I used arrowroot)
1 large egg

1. Peel and cut the potatoes, then place them in a pot with water and set to boil over medium heat. When they are tender, drain, mash, and set them aside to cool.

2. Add salt, flour, and cornstarch, then mix. (again your hands are the best here). When the dough is no longer sticky, add the egg and continue mixing (I know, strange, I think next time I’ll just mix it all at once.)

3. Drop by rounded teaspoons (I used a cookie disher) into boiling water, making sure not to crowd the pan. (I used a huge stock pan I have. so I was able to do this all at once.)  Let the dumplings cook for about 10 minutes, then remove using a slotted spoon. Place in a bowl and cover until all batches are done or until ready to serve.

 Green Beans with Bacon-Onion Glaze

3-4 tbsp bacon fat (I keep bacon fat in a jar in the fridge)
1/2 onion, sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp molasses
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1 tsp arrowroot (or cornstarch) dissolved in a bit of cool water)
1 lb cut green beans (I used frozen, if you use fresh blanch them first.)

Melt the bacon fat in a frying pan over medium high heat, when liquefied (not hot), add the onions  and cook until translucent.  Reduce heat to low, then mix in the sugar, molasses, and  apple cider vinegar. When sugar is dissolved,  add cornstarch to thicken. When thickened, add  green beans and stir to coat. Heat until warmed/cooked as desired. Remove beans with a slotted spoon and place in a serving bowl. Add a little of the glaze as desired to the beans in the serving bowl.

Sauerkraut with Bacon-Onion Glaze 

(Uses the remaining glaze from above, you will need to trust me on this one, it’s really good!)

1 cup (or more) of jarred sauerkraut

Place sauerkraut in the pan with remaining bacon glaze and stir to coat, then heat until warmed.  Remove to a serving bowl and pour glaze over as desired.

 

 

Filed under: Food, General Stuff

Happy Epiphany!

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom Heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

Adoration of the Magi by Gentileda Fabriano 1423

Before we were married, Joshua and I would discuss how we wanted Christmas to be celebrated in our (future) family. I felt, as did he, that gift giving on Christmas Day in many ways, took away from the celebration of the Feast, as it put the focus on the getting of things. We settled, quite quickly, (giving the radical nature of the ideas), on two things: 1. We would not give gifts to each other, only to future children, and those would be limited in number (most likely three) and 2. The gifts we would give would be given on the Feast of the Epiphany, so that we may celebrate the Season of Christmas without the focus on the stuff we’ve received.

Today we had the gift  giving festivities with the kids. Here they are playing with a few of the things:

 

 

 

Filed under: General Stuff

Thankful Update

…it’s silly, but I am thankful that the van is all fixed. Joshua took it in this morning and they said it was an easy fix and would cost $10. The back tires also needed to be replaced and the back wiper needed to be looked at (I don’t think it is supposed to point straight down) so Joshua had them look at and replace those. All said and done, the repairs were done for less than we planned for the one problem and looking at the receipt, Joshua doesn’t even think they charged for the initial problem.
That being said, we both commented about how thankful we were for the two places we take our cars to for repairs. (One place does great things and has a $10 oil change, BUT they don’t fix everything, the other place does tires and often times the other things the first place doesn’t do.) The last time I took the van to a chain place, they gave me a list of $1500 worth of things that “needed” to be fixed on the (old) van, or it would die on the side of the road. I went in to have the A/C checked AND most of those issues were already addressed or not a problem. (Note: We drove the van for another year and half).

 

So, yea for honest mechanics!!

Filed under: General Stuff

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Our van has been acting up (and of course, only starting to do so at 500 on the Friday evening that starts a long holiday weekend.) Basically, the break lights aren’t working, so we have stuck close to home for Mass this weekend.  I followed behind Joshua in his car, while he drove the van, so we could go to Mass on Saturday evening and then today the lights were working so we all went in the van. (There is a  mission parish in the town we live near, with daily Mass and a Vigil Mass on Saturdays. We attend from time to time, when there are sick kids, car issues, or schedule issues for Sunday (that is seldom though.))

The pastor is on vacation, so today we had a priest who, from what I understood, is with the Army Chaplin Corp and is based in Washington State. He didn’t do anything special, but was reverent, and his homily, wow. I was blown away. Simple, yet full of catechesis about our Lady. One of those homilies that I keep harking back to as the day goes on. I didn’t catch his name, but he was wonderful! At the end of Mass, he thanked us (all in attendance) for the our devotion. I can only imagine that it was in part because the little mission church was full and it was the morning after a big party day, and we were there.

Father spoke with Caecilia after Mass, asking her if there was honey on her thumb, because it wast stuck in her mouth. He asked Margaret if she was going to receive her First Communion soon, a question that made her smile. (No, we haven’t started prepping her yet, but soon.) Benedict ran from him.  I love when priests show interest in families (not just my family, but families in general, we need support!!)

So, thank you, Father (From Washington State), thank you for your devotion and your willingness to preach the truth, even when it is not popular or easy!

Filed under: Catholic

2012 Review

For year end 2012, our family has only had one address, one W2, a 1099-misc, and no moving expenses.

For year end 2013, hopefully that will remain the same. We will, thankfully, have another deduction to claim.

 

Happy New Year, everyone!

Filed under: General Stuff

A Cold Morning

Yesterday Benedict was running a fever, as was Caecilia.  He even took himself upstairs for a nap yesterday afternoon.

At some point last night, we had three of the four kids in our bed. Three of the four kids all running fevers. Joshua actually turned the ceiling fan on at some point because it was so hot in our room. I think I managed about 10 minutes with Benedict next to me then I had to vacate the room, I could not breathe. The boys share a double bed and knowing that both of them were in my bed, I grabbed an extra pillow and headed there. I got a bit more sleep, then woke up to the alarm for Mass.

Since the kids were sick and all running fevers (including Margaret), we decided that I would go to Mass and Joshua would stay home with them. (His throat was scratchy and well, I brought the cold home from my travels and I am getting over it.)

 

When I got in the car, this is what I saw:

 

I could almost pretend it was a heavy snow covering the windows.

It was a nice chilly drive to Mass this morning. I actually wore my heavy winter coat and a scarf. (To be honest by the time I got to church, I did not need the scarf and by the time Mass was over, the heavy coat was overkill.)

I was able to bring our Lord home to Joshua and Karol, so the half hour drive home was extra time I could pray with our Lord, something both needed and desired!

 

Filed under: General Stuff

A Trip to Iowa.

Last weekend I was able to fly up to Iowa and visit with my uncle and aunt. My uncle is doing very well, he started Radiation yesterday, but the blizzard of 2013 has kept him away from his first Chemo treatment today. The visit was great, we sat around, talked, watch TV (I watched the Packers/Bears Football game and well, it was fun), then visited with other family I have in the area.

I was even able to head down to Leon, where my grandparents retired to, and attend Mass at the parish there. Let me just say that it is wonderful to find little pockets of orthodoxy in the middle of small farming towns! Mass was beautiful and Father even mentioned in his homily that we are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays still (or in the US, do an act of penance.) How often do we hear that?

Before Mass started, I noted that I would probably be one of the youngest people there, because the community is dying out and most young people are moving to Des Moines for jobs. Then, about five minutes before the beginning of Mass, the sound of Children began to fill the church. There were quite a few families there, with small children (and some families with more than three). The woman in front of me, who introduced herself after Mass, was there  five of her nine. The best part was, the small children made noise and they weren’t taken out, unless they were crying. Nursery? What is that??! Okay, the really best part was, I got to enjoy that, but didn’t have to worry about it, because they weren’t my kids! 🙂

 

image

I drove through town after Mass and went by my grandparent’s old house, scooped the loop (meaning I drove around the courthouse) and then headed to the cemetery to visit my grandparent’s graves. It was a cloudy but warm day, so I stayed for a bit, said prayers, listened to the cows moo, then tried to find the grave of my great-grandmother, but I didn’t.

image

 

 

One thing I seem to forget each time I go to Iowa is just how hilly it is. No, really, there are hills in Iowa. Take a look at this: image

 

I am not sure if you can tell, but there is a huge valley between the cemetery and courthouse. South Georgia doesn’t have many hills, well, in the part we live in, so driving up and down hills while there was pretty interesting. (We might be able to go back next summer for a visit and I know my kids will love them!)

And not to forget, did I mention a few weeks ago, we (Joshua and I) were able to go to Atlanta for a Birra Nursia  (this is related to Iowa, I promise!). While there we met their director of development here in The States. He just happens to live outside of Des Moines, and in talking we all realized we have a lot in common, so he invited me to stop by when I was in town. I took him up on the offer and hung out with Bryan and his wife, for a few hours on Friday afternoon. It was a good time. It is so nice to meet like minded people.  We knew we’d be friends when we discovered that both our families homebirth, own a copy of Nourishing Traditions, use cloth diapers, and of course are Catholic. The icing on the cake (hold on to your socks, Andrea): they had a Ron Paul sticker on their mini-van as well. How can we not be friends now!?!

So that we my trip last weekend, it was hard to leave, even though I was going home to my loving husband and dear children. I am a Midwesterner, I really love the cold/cool weather of December. I like the seasons. I even prayed for snow (it arrived a week late…).

Filed under: General Stuff