A Perfect Moment

Sometimes, I have to stop and remind myself to soak in these moments.

A Crafting Break

So, this weekend, after scrapping for almost 72 hours with just two short 4 hour breaks for sleep, we needed to venture out of the craft room for a little bit.

So, uhhh, we took over the garage.

Because what to scrapbookers do when they need a break?

They put pretty paper on wood.

Duh. 

Earlier that day we had stopped by the grand opening of the new Wood Connection in American Fork, and they had some adorable spring crafts. So even though we had planned on ONLY scrapping... in fact Andrea was trying to finish a HUGE scrap project (over 200 pictures)... we all agreed that it would be a good distraction! 

So, here are the cute little birds I made... the lighter one actually has sheet music on it.    They make me happy. 

Reason 2,124 My Boys Love Aunt Robyn

Because instead of just making sandwiches and putting them on plates, she packed them a picnic lunch that included girlscout cookies.

Scrappy Crap

I spent the better part of the weekend locked in a room with two very talented friends.

Andrea, blew the socks of my page count, completing close to 500000000... errrr.. maybe it was 30?  I dunno.  It was a lot. 

So, anyway... Sorry the pictures aren't the best, I just wanted to get them uploaded before I had to return to the real world tomorrow... but let's not talk about that.

Where I Live

Sometimes, I forgot how lucky I am to live where I do.

I've been in Utah for almost 15 years now. 

I still struggle to say it's "beautiful", having come from a place as magestic as Alaska.

Then, on a warm March weekend, as I walk to the park wearing flip flops and a t-shirt, my boys riding their bikes down the tree lined streets in front of me... it strikes me. 

It may not have fish as big as my 3 year old, snow capped mountians untouched by man and glacier run off fed rivers as blue as the sky.... but within walking distance of our beautiful home there are two parks.  Within 5 mins, a library.  Within 10, movie theaters, shopping centers and anything you really want that money can buy.  Within 20, the mountains... within 45 farmland and gravel roads leading into the country. 

On most weekends, we drive a few hours south to visit some family member or friend.  My boys get to run and play in the enviroment that I grew up in... where you rode your bike up and down the street with no worries for cars, because there aren't any. 

It may not be "majestic", but it's comfortable, like home should be. 


 And it's beautiful in it's own way.

A Blank Canvas

Okay, well, it's not blank anymore.

When we purchased (I'm still in shock over this) a dresser set for our master, I needed a place to put my beautiful red linen chest (Ikea beauty), so I moved it into our living room.

Against the Giant Wall.  (Need a reminder?)

The problem was that it left this weird gap.

And I wasn't about to take everything down and re-position.

I have family pictures IN the cabinet, on the window frame (yeah, yeah, still haven't printed a picture of me for the top right corner), and just out of sight of this picture is a family picture on the hearth. 

So no pictures.

I wanted something... solid.  Grounding.  Something in the "Umber" category. 

So I pulled out a bunch of my wooden African pieces, picked out the phrase, and went to town. 

So I ended up with this:

We like it.

Soda Bread and a Kick in the Pants

I told myself this morning, I either needed to blog or exercise. 

And since I'd do anything but exercise right now....

A BLOG POST is BORN!!

(Nothing overcomes writer's block like an ultimatiom.)

So, let's start with some randomness.

Did you know I'm Irish?

Well, my Dad is 1/2 Irish, my Mom is a mixed breed, but since her family has been in the US since the Revolutionary War, I'm sure there's some Irish in there.

But that doesn't matter.

As it was explained to me by my Auntie Anne:  Irish blood trumps all.  If you have a drop, you might as well be full blooded.

So, tonight, we will be having Corned Beef and Cabbage (despite my husband's protest) with potatoes, carrots and soda bread. 

Mmmmmmm... Soda Bread. 

What????  You've never had Soda Bread?????

Well, you're in luck. 

It's easy. 

1 cup of soured milk  (one cup of milk plus 1 tablespoon of vinegar) OR 1 1/4 cup of buttermilk
3 cups of flour, plus a little more for kneading
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt

First up, sour your milk:  add the vinegar to a cup of milk and set it aside while you do the next step.  Mix the flour, soda and salt.  Make a well in the middle.  About 5 mins after you've added the vinegar to the milk, pour it into the well.  Slowly mix in the flour, pulling it down into the center.  After it's all mixed together, dump it out onto the counter, knead in 1/2-1 cup more flour.  You want a really loooooooooose dough, but not sticky.  Make it into a ball.  I always slam it on the counter to make it a little more flat than round.  Place it on a baking sheet, cut a cross in the top, and bake in a 400 degree oven for about  40 mins.   You will know it's done when you knock on the bottom because it will sound hollow.  I like to butter the top when it comes out, but it's optional.

PS.... Left over soda bread is GREAT for a fried egg sandwich the next morning!!

After 5 years of blogging...

My friends are giving me the silent treatment.  I've been relying on cute adorable pictures of the boys... but uhhhh... I'm struggling to put words down with them. 

Maybe they will forgive me soon, and start talking to me again!

Double Fisted Sword Fight

He's cute, but he doesn't play fair!

Two swords against my one... and I even had a camera in my hand!

Piggy Chop

When James came to visit a few weeks ago, he brought a little big shaped piggy bank full of coins for Evan to go through for his collection. 

Ryan thought it was the best. 

He kept asking to dump all the coins out so he could put them all back in... one at a time.

James, being the good sport of an Uncle that he is, sat on the kitchen floor and helped!

No wonder my boys love when Uncle James visits!

Operation

Some things never stop being fun.

A Long Time Coming

 Evan has been collecting the State Quarters for years. 

And he gathered them all, with the help of family and friends, through general circulation.

All of them, that is, except for Puerto Rico.

A few years ago, his Aunt Sara bought him the display board, and he has proundly displayed it on his wall... but it's been missing that one last quarter.

Until the most recent visit from Uncle James! 

He was SOOOOO excited to finish his collection!!

Well, James not only brought him the last coin for his State Quarter set, he also brought him the Puerto Rico National Park quarter. 

SO I guess we better get going on THAT group now!