three little words

Mom was relaying

a day spent

with her friend...

we'll call her...

Donna.

She and Donna

went shopping

but

instead of going out to eat

as usual

they decided to 

"just go home"

since the weather was 

damp, gray, ugly

and make...

here it comes...

grilled cheese sandwiches

instead.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

 Immediately my mind wandered...
I know mom saw that faraway look...
I even spoke
like a long forgotten memory

of a place
with easy, always reliable, quick meals.

My new world

of whole food, plant-based eating
(there's a mouth full)

has me working
in the kitchen
a lot!

I was actually longing...

at this part of mom's story,

for those days gone by.

Days when grilled cheese and 

Campbell's Tomato Soup,

a garbage omelet

mac and cheese from the box

with tuna tossed in

were considered meals.

Not only that
but
meals that my family really
loved.

I know I could

slap some Daiya cheese on whole

grain...Ezekiel bread...

make tomato soup with soy...

make a tofu scramble...

ditto with the mac and cheese...

but

my family has taste buds like

an elephant...

and their Sherlock skills

come out in full as they try to

explain the crime scene

known as dinner.

But I trudge forward

in the name of

health.

My new revised

always updated life

is on a path towards summer

with easy-breezy days
that require... 
no...
demand
that I go outdoors
and escape from my kitchen.

My criteria:
Fast.
Easy.
Tastes good.
(even to the kids!)

Yesterday,
Coscto
got the ball rolling
with a sample of this burger
that James declared
delicious.

With fingerling potatoes
that were
rinsed...dried...
sliced in strips
lightly coated with olive oil
sprinkled generously with
paprika and Cajun seasonings
a shake of sea salt

baked at 450
for 25.

Served with
 ketchup and malt vinegar

for that Cedar Point vibe.

Maybe not as fast as
the grilled cheese
but close...
getting there...
with one foot out the door.

Did I mention

Summer's Coming!?

P.S.
I'm a summer gal and

that's what I call
 Spring...

"Summer's coming."
yippee!

this moment

A moment from the archives

known as "the seventies"

Dad and brothers
Father and sons

labeled

"cool guys"

Yeah...I totally get that!

asked & answered

I spent time with my girls today.

We watched a little Arthur

an episode of Dora

while

grazing

on peanut butter and jelly

apple slices

raisins

and chocolate milk.

Then Kierstin looked down at

her tights

and pointed out a teeny tiny hole...

"Grandma...you can fix this...

can't you?"

Somehow I have become her

go-to-fix-it-gal.

Ever since I noticed a tear in her shirt 

and I remedied it... 

the day she discovered  that magical space

known as my

craft room.

A small room filled with
strange
wonderful and
mysterious

things to explore.

After getting her input on color choices
 I cut and crafted

while she camped-out beneath me...
 an old quilt serving as tent

a found pillow

blanket

flashlight

and little thing-a-ma-jigs that

were gathered like
 treasures.

She invited sissy in to join her

while I mended

and remembered little boys at my feet...
just so.

The patches in those days

were your basic sew-on

the occasional iron-on 

rather boring
variety.

Well...

Grandma Jenny can do much

better than that.

A pink daisy

for my
wildflower.

When she put them on and

inspected my work

she said,

"You did it! 
You fixed it!"

A proud moment

indeed.

When she started modeling

my handiwork...

well,
come-on...

I had to share it with
all of you.

File this one under:
Brag Book Blogging.

:)

transitions

This blog world is strange.

It changes.

I change.

It is a reflection...maybe sometimes

an imagining...

at best 

a glimpse

of one's life.

Like a photograph

that shows the smiles

without the tears.

Those rare occasions that 

we get up-close and personal

and really see inside...

rare in this world

of blogging.

Rare. (period).

Segue...

It's hard to imagine

how my babies

got so big

and yet

there I was right along with them

growing and changing.

When I visited FIMBY

this morning 

Renee
(so you can blame her for this post)

discussed the changes happening

in her homeschool routine.

She is riding the wave

and going with the flow.

I know that wave.
I surf that wave.

The waters can be rough...

with doubt

fear

uncertainty

and like a surrender

you find ways to navigate

until the calm returns.

Times like

illness

when most kids were in school

and mine were in and out of

hospitals

rehab centers

hospice facilities.

Making changes to our

"routine"

as our life demanded.

Funny...

every year seemed to bring

its challenges.

Every year

my boys learned and grew

in astounding ways.

Maybe not with the typical

A+ in Science 

BUT

with immeasurable life experiences.

Oh...

and those are the true
 benchmarks.

They aren't memorizing

facts and dates

to ace an exam...

they are observing

processing

evolving.

Constantly learning.

This isn't meant to be a

condemnation of the public school system.

My older two graduated from 

that system
and they are fine young men
who contribute to society.
(If that is the gauge to measure by)

Instead
 I hope to

show others who are taking this path

that it will be 

alright.

We need to support each other 

during the highs

and 

lows

of the ride.

Because life

 isn't a competition.

We are better

than that.

As my boys transitioned through

elementary...intermediate...to high school

courses changed

interests changed

styles changed...

 we changed.

By constantly adapting

being a chameleon

to our needs
we grew
together.

This process is
and has been
amazing.
Like the proverbial
light bulb
I now realize fully that
they were molding me
as much as I was molding them.

A give and take.
A take and give.

A little thing we call...
lifelong learning.

they still gotta eat

So I know you're wondering

what happens to all my vegan goodness

during project mode?

I really wish I could

tell you that the boys step-up.

Not.

Unfortunately

or fortunately...

I have them doing yard demo

and clean-up while I'm working

indoors during this glorious

mid-sixties

weather.

Leftovers made new
are my stand by.
I am so happy I froze so much
soup this winter.

Soba noodle
toss is a
fast option.

Because...

If I completely abandon the food

and left them to their own devices

we would be
steaking-it-up
over here...

I'm not fooling myself.

Old habits.

Well on this day...
the sun was shining
(key for me)
and the temps neared 80.
Pizza on the grill.
Except late rains brought the party
indoors and I created
a pizza pie.

Here is my pizza crust recipe.
The hour to rise allows ample time to
finish up a project for the night.

Super Easy Homemade Pizza Crust

and

Super- Delicious

COMBINE:

1 Cup warm water (warm like baby's bath)

1T sugar

1 packet dry yeast

IN A FOOD PROCESSOR 

and let sit until foamy

about 10 minutes.


SET OVEN
to its lowest setting
NOW.
(Mine is 170)

ADD:

3 T Olive Oil

3 Cups flour

1-1/2 t salt

PROCESS

until dough comes together

and forms a ball on top of

the blade

(about 1 minute)

Turn dough onto floured surface

that is sprinkled with

Italian Herb Seasoning.

KNEAD

(roll it and press down and roll some more)

until dough 

is smooth and elastic

adding flour to the surface as needed

to prevent sticking.

About 5 minutes.

Don't sweat this step.

Lightly oil a large bowl.

Add dough and roll it around to coat

with the oil.

Cover with plastic wrap and a towel.

TURN OVEN OFF.

Let the whole thing sit in the

warmed oven

for 1 hour.

This will be waiting for you.

THE FUN PART.

PUNCH it down.

knead in the bowl gently

for about 2 minutes.

ON THIS DAY

I divided the ball in 2.

Froze half for another day.

Pressed the other half in a well

oiled pie plate.

Topped with 1/3-1/2 cup of your favorite marinara

and toppings.

I used leftover sauteed peppers and mushrooms

onions

kalamata olives

and dollops of chimichurri sauce.

Feta if you must.

I must.

Fresh basil.

Really Good Food.

OH YEAH...

I brushed a little olive oil

on the edges and

Baked in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Pizza Pie, anyone?

p.s. when I am making the grilled version
I divide the dough in fourths and
everyone makes and tops
their own with vegan and non-vegan
choices.

forecast: sunny

Extended Forecast:

Finishing a Project

that apparently I can only

do if the sun is shining.

And somehow

that makes perfect sense

to me.

With a weekend of sunshine

I got geared up to 

paint.

It's one of those projects that

looks REALLY

bad

before (hopefully!)
it gets better.

I primed that red

right off of my walls.

I'm diggin the brightness

factor already.

I told Rudy to put

his shades on before coming 

downstairs in the morning.

Sunday

brought with it a

first coating.

The wainscoting is politely

waiting its

turn.

I may not be working at

break neck

but it's

more about

the journey...

watching the mental greet the physical.

Very cool.

Which is why 

I can pull this look off.

Ha!

It is very gratifying to watch it come together

using these two hands

of mine.

Only asking for help

when 

absolutely

necessary.

Knowing they are happier

on the sidelines...

I thinks me a tyrant

of sorts.

oops.

Personality flaw rears its ugly...

I guess I gotta have one.

Truthfully

they get to hear this 

old song of mine entitled,

"Just leave...

and let me finish what I've started."

It must be tough 

being them!

Love ya guys!

Really I do.

*this moment*

Capturing it quick

before it is

 gone.

Happy Saturday.

a frame's story

A tutorial of sorts

Pictures

Over

Words

Start with an old wooden frame.
This one came from Savers
and cost three dollars.
Then get to work with a vision.
Remove print
and staples.
Smudge paint it.
I did the wipe-on/ wipe-off method.
Glue a new piece of wood as backing
and then

Almost there.
Lastly
Give it an old sign look with maple stain.
Add handles.
These came from Lowe's
for like $1.50 each.
I backed mine with felt
so no snaggles
and then...

Enjoy your crafty design

as a tray

or

funky piece of art.

Boulangerie patisserie?

French pastry and bread chef.

I'm not French
 but

I certainly am
 a chef.

Enjoy your tray!

:)

3-D

"Life will find a way."

"Clever girl."

They're moving in herds. They do move in herds!"

"You never heard of chaos theory?

Non-linear equations?

Strange attractions?

Ms. Sattler, I refuse to believe you are not

familiar with the concept of 

attraction."

"God created dinosaurs. God destroyed dinosaurs.

God created man. Man destroyed God.

Man creates dinosaurs."

"Dinosaurs eat man...

woman inherits the earth!"

"Welcome to Jurassic Park!"

Who could forget

that spoonful of jiggly green jello?

Water rings due to impact tremors?

Seeing a real T-Rex for the first time?

For the first time in 3-D...

on the big screen...

I had that strange feeling

like I had done this before in another life...

with two other boys...

a deja vu...

only this time the dinosaurs were real!

A family fun night with goofy

black glasses...

a big bucket of popcorn...

watching an enhanced classic...

does it get any better?

*sound cue*

family dinner night

Like a party on a Wednesday

or in this case

Monday.

A suggestion

from my oldest son

Jacob

who is usually out-of-town

on the weekends

visiting his fiance who lives

two hours north.

After a year of this pace

he started wanting 

get-togethers

for days other than

holidays

and thought a weekly meal would be
 the ticket.

The idea being
 we all pitch in.

Nothing too fancy.

Regular.

Good.

Food.
But last night I took over the
reigns and made the whole
shebang.

In my attempt to remain

plant-based in this

world of

meAT EATERS

that I have raised

I made 

a pot of

Black Bean and Quinoa Chili

and I made it thick

to be served over

baked potatoes.

(old pics mom came across that we laughed over)

It got pretty hectic

once the girls arrived so I don't have

a picture of the spread I created 

for the
chili baked potato bar.

Toppings included:

daiya cheese

tofutti sour cream

(and their all dairy counter-parts)

fresh chopped cilantro

salsa

sriracha hot chili sauce

diced avocado

Good stuff

and a real hit with the gang.

Little by little
meal by meal

showing them the way.

About 1 hour before their arrival

I thought...

dessert.

I hadn't planned a thing

but wanted a sweet to offer.

Headed over to see what

Isa Chandra at

Post Punk Kitchen

was up to

and my search was over.

Butterscotch Cupcakes with Coconut Bacon.

I had everything
except

the butterscotch and

coconut bacon.

No worry

she includes a vanilla variety.

In my opinion

the star of the show.

Plopped a tray of cooled cupcakes

on the table

as a centerpiece

along with

little saucers

and then 

we passed around the frosting.

spoons 

OVER

knives!

I was surprised I had enough frosting

for the cupcakes

after all my earlier taste testing.

Creamy.

Sugary.

Vegan.

Heaven.

I would break-off a piece of cake

and top it with

frosting

so that each bite was 

like a perfect little

delicacy.

Have I made you hungry for 

cupcakes?

Well head on over to PPK

(see my sidebar for directions)

and whip up a batch.

This little fellow is the lone

survivor.

Mom wasn't able to be here

because of her

busy social life...

aka bunco.

I could save it for its rightful owner

but it beckons me to 

come...

eat.

Life is Good.