happy birthday, Peter!

The Many Faces of Peter

Happy Birthday Mr. Twelve Year Old!!!

May God bless you and keep you close to Him! 

Praise God for His Goodness!

A date!

Exciting news!

Mary and Grant St. Andrews on June 22, 2013  time tbd.....

Last summer camping

this was our campsite at Shenandoah River State Park.

It is a beautiful park and not very crowded.

Looking forward to more camping this year!

Baled Steel Cut Oats from the internet Interesting!

I'd like to try this soon!   Nonie and Nano, you might like this too!

Had you ever heard about soaking the oatmeal to neutralize the phytic acid?

Baked Steel Cut Oats.
And bonus for mommies with little ones: Baby Cereal Bars

1: Soak oatmeal overnight in water with tablespoon of plain yogurt, buttermilk, or kefir. This is not absolutely necessary, it's just a really good idea. Grains contains phytic acid, which prevent you from being able to absorb all of the grain's nutrition. Phytic acid also make grains harder to digest. I even read that soaking grains can help a person with a mild gluten allergy be able to eat some different types of grains.Yogurt, buttermilk and kefir all have natural enzymes that neutralize the phytic acid.

2. Drain oats in mesh collander. There is no need to rinse, just get rid of extra water. Put back in bowl.
3. Chop some nuts. 

 3. Whisk together the eggs, milk and maple syrup.  Or substitute brown sugar instead... same amount. 

4. Add egg mixture to oats along with fruit. I have some blueberries and raspberries in this one from my frozen fruits stash. Add cinnamon and canola oil. You could add nuts here too (unless you are making baby cereal bars too), but I just sprinkle mine on top. (They get toasty this way... yummy)

 5. (Optional.) I have a little guy (10 months today!) who will eat just about anything (yep. broccoli, peas, carrots...) so long as he gets to be the one who puts it in his mouth. This has made me have to be creative in how I feed him. Since this has little sugar in it and is minimally processed, I decided to make him his own batch of cereal bars. I just pulled out a little bit, put it in the food processor (to make it easier to eat... he doesn't have many teeth to handle the chewy oats), didn't include the nuts, and put in a little mini bake dish. (Do double check with your baby's pediatrician if you have concerns about whether your baby can have this... My baby can, but all babies are different, the allergen advice keeps changing, and I am no doctor)

 6. Place mixture in oiled pans. Sprinkle nuts on top. Bake in a 375 preheated oven for 20-40 minutes. It's done when a toothpick comes out clean. 

Serve warm with eggs on a Saturday morning.  Drizzle oatmeal with maple syrup.

Baked Steel Cut Oats Recipe

Ingredients:
3 cups Steel Cut Oats
1 TBS plain yogurt, buttermilk, or kefir
½ cup chopped nuts
3 eggs    
1 cup of milk                        
½ cup dried fruit or 1 cup of fresh or frozen fruit
1 TBS cinnamon
2 TBS canola oil
2 TBS maple syrup

Steps:

1. Soak oats overnight. Place oats in large bowl, fill with water till water is an inch over the oats, place a generous tablespoon of plain yogurt in bowl.
2. Preheat oven to 375. Grease pans.
3. Drain oats in colander and place back in bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and maple syrup until frothy.
5. Add egg mixture to oats along with fruit, nuts, cinnamon, and oil. Fold until combined.
6. Pour into pans.
7. Bake for 20-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean or oatmeal has no liquid on top.
8. Serve with maple syrup. 

  

Baby Oatmeal Bars: 

Prepare just like above, except omit nuts, and place in food processor before putting into baking dish. 

small sewing project

One good use of a damaged tablecloth is to make cloth napkins out of it.  We had a vintage cotton table cloth purchased from a consignment store which I had thought we could use for a baptismal gown.  Well, it was a dismal-baptismal choice for sure, as light sheer fabric is the really the only option.  However, there was enough material leftover to make 8 large cloth napkins!  So all is not lost!

This is a fun option since a) cloth napkins are so expensive and b) when you can find them at thrift stores they are usually a polyester blend, skimpy in size, and a dreadful color.

mikey bday celebration

Yesterday we celebrated Mikey's birthday (February 23)  at Tony's and then returned home for quick cake and ice cream.  Charlotte was tired, but postponed her bedtime for the party.

Happy Birthday, Mikey!!!!!

some late pregnancy cartoons in honor of tee and pat

tee and pat on the way to the hospital?

Happy Valentine's Day

"Today is the day that we give our hearts to Jesus!"  Poor Clare nun to Nonie.

Falcon's Visit today

Today we celebrated St. Valentine's day with the 'greats'.

Teresa was able to come, and we enjoyed anticipating the upcoming (week or two) arrival of her little 'whozit'.

nonie showed us some items from the store: a beautiful mohair throw, 

as well as this amazing sterling pin of a DC 3.

Nonie and Nano gave Peter a bag of grapefruit (his absolute favorite) for his birthday.

Beside the front door:

On the drive up, tee was telling peter that it is legal to own giraffes here in the United States.

They do cost $40,000, though.

Peter replied, "For $40,000, I'd like to have a pet Audi."  

We had a great time discussing all of the cars that mom and dad have owned, and i will be putting up posts on them.  It is very interesting!

Heard around the family this week

can you guess who said what?

"I'm not either a morning person, or a night person.  I'm more like a 'Hit me about 11 o'clock in the morning person.'."

"The sun was the first to congratulate Mary and Grant."

"ba ba ba ba ba"

"If you die, could I go to live with Nicholas and Isaac?  At least there'd be an upside."




answers:  mimi, nonie, charlotte, pete

Lent begins

this pic taken after a lovely visit with aunt betty, who graciously

gave tee a pep talk about labor and delivery.  tee has just about 

2 weeks to go...

before Gabrielle Gretchen Grenier 

hits the scene!

1 rutabaga "also known as a Swede"

found this recipe online, did you know the other name for rutabaga?  does this mean betty and i are half rutabaga?  that  nano might be all rutabaga?

Roasted Rutabaga

• 1 rutabaga (also known as a Swede) about 6 inches in diameter
• 2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. dried Italian Herb mix
• 2 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tsp. sugar

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Peel rutabaga and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
3. Place rutabaga cubes in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
4. Cover bowl with a plate and shake to coat rutabaga with oil.(You may need a bit more oil.)
5. Sprinkle rutabaga with remaining ingredients and shake again distribute.
6. Transfer rutabaga to a parchment-lined or non-stick baking sheet.
7. Roast in center of the oven until edges brown and rutabaga is tender - 30 to 40 minutes - stirring about halfway through to minimize sticking.

A beautiful prayer for this Lent

In  Meet John XXIII, by Patricia Treece,  is a prayer that Don Roncalli (10 years a priest at that time), said while assisting his dying Bishop.  At that time, in 1914, Pope Pius X was also dying, so the prayer included petition for the new Pope...

"Oh Jesus Crucified, I willingly offer you the sacrifice of my life,

in union with Yours on the Cross, 

in atonement for my sins and the sins of my people,

for the Church, for the new pontiff,

my priests, my seminary, my country.

The F37 Charger Mustang

Quotes on prayer

My daughter...why do you not tell me about everything that concerns you, even the smallest details? Tell Me about everything, and know that this will give Me great joy. I answered, But You know about everything, Lord." And Jesus replied to me, "Yes I do know; but you should not excuse yourself with the fact that I know, but with childlike simplicity talk to Me about everything, for my ears and heart are inclined towards you, and your words are dear to Me.(2; 921)
--St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul


Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.
--Saint John Vianney


I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world - mercy triumphed over justice. My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant. I claim veneration for My mercy from every creature, but above all from you, since it is to you that I have given the most profound understanding of this mystery. (1572)
--St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul

Without Prayer nothing good is done. God's works are done with our hands joined, and on our knees. Even when we run, we must remain spiritually kneeling before Him.
--Blessed Luigi Orione

We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.
--St Frances Xavier Cabrini

Read some chapter of a devout book....It is very easy and most necessary, for just as you speak to God when at prayer, God speaks to you when you read.
--St. Vincent de Paul

Are you making no progress in prayer? Then you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God His fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness.
--Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, from a letter

A Mardi Gras dance move for you

Our Lady of Lourdes

Today is the beautiful feast of our Lady of Lourdes!  Praying for healing, and in Thanksgiving for the Holy Mother of Jesus.

Robert Hugh Benson wrote an interesting account of his three day visit to Lourdes about 100 years ago.  It is available on Project Gutenberg and well worth the reading.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18729


Today, Pope Benedict announced that he will be stepping down from the Pontificate by February 28.

Prayers, prayers, prayers!!!!

Charlotte in N.C.

 a wee señorita named Carlotta

 left her wheels parked at the car lotta.

she can't go wrong

while singing her song

she sings all the way to the watta. 

(water...you know, beach)  :-)

Such a Cute Photo, thanks Laura and Mikey!

pics from tee's ninth month, taken by laura

nine months later

Happy Day!

Yesterday, Mary and Grant were engaged!

Congratulations!

May God bless you abundantly as you begin this happy time of 

prayer, planning and preparation!

To Plant a Garden for Daily Living (found in a magazine)

To plant a garden for daily living,

Plant three rows of peas:

Peace of mind

Peace of heart 

Peace of soul.

Add four rows of squash:

Squash gossip

Squash indifference

Squash grumbling

Squash selfishness.

Add four rows of lettuce:

Let us be faithful

Let us be kind

Let us be patient

Let us really love one another.

And no garden is complete without turnips:

Turn up for meetings

Turn up for service

Turn up to help those in need.

Finally, a garden requires thyme:

Time for God

Time for family

Time for others.

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.

You'll have much fruit in your garden, because you reap what you sow.

All Saints Cabaret

Johnny opened the show with "Putting on the Ritz"--and he was also in several other numbers.

Jeanne sang a duet and was in several other numbers.

we saw the Hillearys and some other families.

i enjoyed being in the kitchen salting 6 dozen precooked frozen pretzels, and baking them at 400 degrees for 3 minutes a pan.  talent all over the place!  haha