Sorbet = Sorvay

Firstly, Thanks, Mom and Dad for the new toy!  They got me this for my birthday.  It's pretty cool.

Secondly, thanks, Mom for the peaches.

I took my first attempt at making such sorbet, or as the boys like to call it "Really healthy sorvay". I'm good with that.  I don't have the heart to correct them.

I added a simple syrup with lemon juice to my pureed peaches.  Transferred that mixture to my ice cream attachment and let it whirl.  Aside from all the steps in prepping, stirring, waiting, it was fantastic.  The peach flavor is robust, the lemon gave it a zing.  I used this recipe as a starting point, increasing the yield.  I used 6 large peaches and 1/4 cup sugar.  I was amazed that my ingredient list:  peaches, water, sugar, lemon juice made a much better sorbet than anything you could buy in the store.

 The best part for my family...not a stitch of artificial food coloring.  There is absolutely no reason why we ever should need artificial color in our foods. 

Next up...Mojito Sorbet for my friends (oh, yes, with rum) and strawberry ice cream for my boys.

{this moment}

This moment, a single photo, no words.  A moment I want to savor.

There is a New Cat Coming to Town

I know, it's been a long time since you saw anything creative here on this blog.  So here you are, a new monster purse.

This is what they look like out of the washer.  And after some trimming and patience, they begin to take shape.

This guy is a little dull, so some accessories will be added, along with a zipper.

And because I've allowed the summer to take it's strong hold over my creativity, I'm going to do another month of Thing A Day.  I first heard the idea from another blog, but it was too big and involved for my taste, so if you'd like to join my little group, please do.  September is the perfect time to crank out some new items for the shop and Christmas gifts.  Yes, Christmas is coming!

Here is the image to add to your blog, if you have one.  If you don't, just add a comment to my posts and tell me what you have done. 

Stay tuned and wish me luck for a very productive September!

Forty Years

40 Today

40 Years old


Wow.

Spending the day in the most spiritual place I know, LilyDale.

{this moment}

No words, just a single photo that I want to savor and remember.

Looking Back Forward

Last year around this time, I was preparing for my first 5K...which has turned out to be my last one as well.

My knees just can't handle the pain.  They still aren't back to the way they were before I started running.  I suppose I shouldn't blame it all on the running.  It's age.

As I think to the next year of my life to come, I wonder how my body will revolt.

This summer has been great, still two more weeks until school starts.  Each summer seems to go by faster than the one before.  I guess it is good, but sometimes I wish I would slow down. 

Then the red guy on my shoulder pulls my ear "Do you really want to slow down?"  There are so many things I want to make, experience and accomplish.  The sun is only up for so long.  I want to pack the days full of busyness so that we have a summer of exploration to look back on.  Or forward to, for next year.

As I embark on the final year of Tom being a college student, I seem to be looking forward a full year, not just a day or a week.  I think about how next summer will be different from this one.  We have made so many sacrifices as a family, due mostly in part to money or time away from studies.  Tom has no control over his schedule, it controls us.  Our friends are venturing to a vacation home this week where our five favorite families will spend time at the beach.

And we will be home.  It's sad that we had to make yet another sacrifice.  I'm sure the kids would have loved playing with their friends. 

It is at this point that I skip to next year.  I gloss over all the holidays, and birthdays, and just think "will we be able to go next August?".

I think I've carried on too much.  Am I alone?  Or is it this L'Occitane shampoo that is affecting my mind?  It's such a strange smell.

Share with me.  Show me I'm not alone. 

Show me it's good to look back and forward at the same time.

Road Trip Recap: In Photos

 "Yes, it is okay to jump on the bed.  And the couch.  Go ahead, bounce away, and they did."

Quiet walk on paths at the West Hartford Reservoir

 Boys donning their new gifts from Uncle Keith. It's important to stay hydrated.

A "very weird ant with a red butt".

 Then...to the beach!

This was the East Haven Town Beach and just perfect for our short visit.

 Uncle Keith!

Sweet goggles from Uncle Keith.  The boys wore their goggles in the car, the whole way to the beach (over and hour).

One last stop: Herkimer Diamond Mines

 

We had a great time. 

I hope they remember this trip when their teachers ask them:  What did you do this summer?

Funny Faces

I found this one on our Reservoir walk in West Hartford

But this one, Sam gets all the credit for this.  Hint: It is not the faces of my kids.

Saturday Morning Breakfast Tacos

In 2007, I went on the South Beach Diet to lose my baby weight.  I liked the diet, it worked for a bit, but me and diets just don't jive.  We are like oil and water, you can get them to blend, but eventually, they separate.

Shortly after that diet, I was visiting my brother in Madison and he served some fantastic eggs (I think breakfast is his best meal).  Within 40 minutes of eating those eggs, I had severe stomach pain. More pain than any gluten reaction I've had.  It was gross. 

I thought it was a gluten reaction.  Perhaps I had some toast crumbs on my plate?  A couple days after that, I had another egg.  And another episode of severe pain.  Then, I knew.  Eggs.  Perhaps I overdosed on the South Beach diet where an egg for breakfast was my number one meal.  I stayed away from eggs for many years.  Seven years, to be exact.  I would have foods that had eggs cooked into them like cookies or cakes or meatloaf.  It was more the egg that you can visibly see that I stopped eating.  I even stopped eating a gluten free fried rice because of the quantity of egg.

Then this March, something came over me.  I felt like the egg allergy was suffocating me in a way that I couldn't handle.  I mean, I already deal with the gluten free dietary needs, and I don't want to have to deal with egg anymore.  So, I had a couple bits of quiche.

Then a couple more.  That was the day that I'll remember for a long while.  My body has succumbed to my mind and heart.  Thanks, body!

I've been eating eggs ever since...just like the ones above.   This is my "Breakfast Garbage Taco".  All the leftovers in the fridge.  Crumbled up sausage meatballs; last half of zucchini; and cheese on a corn tortilla.  I know the photo doesn't look entirely appetizing, but let me tell you...delicious! 

{this moment}

No words, just a single photo that I want to savor and remember.

Twins

On Monday, upon picking up my boys from day camp, the counselor said, "Tomorrow is Twin Day".

Why O' why do I do this to myself?

My kids have matching clothes.  No problem.  We could figure something out.

No, not this momma.  Not this crazy momma.

And when I say crazy, I mean stay up all night to paint at 2:50 AM!

We thought Thing 1 and Thing 2 would be perfect.  I ran to the store and picked up some red t-shirts, white and black fabric paint.

But more on that later, because what is a Thing without blue hair?

Why it is a thing not at all.

Sally Beauty encouraged me to buy Shocking Blue temporary dye.

I sat the boys down, stained my white toilet seat, and gave my boys blue hair.

This momma doesn't need no girls...the boyz have the style!

And as my boys slumbered.

I painted.

And painted.

I used the ole' freezer paper method.  But then thought I'd just freehand the words with the black metallic paint I had.  Big old mistake.

I should not, would not, could not use that paint at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Hey, I did use that paint in the morning and it did not dry by 8 o'clock in the morning.

I should not, could not, would not send two Things to camp with wet shirts.

I did send two Things to camp with wet shirts.

They only wanted to play.  That is all those things wanted to do.

{this moment}

No words, just a single photo that I want to savor and remember.

August...Already?

The boys just got back from a couple days camping at Letchworth without me.  All boys.

They had a great time, they are quite tired, as well.

I enjoyed what little time I had after I worked two days, cleaned up the house, scrubbed the tub, and drank some wine with my folks at a great Thai restaurant in our neighborhood.  I stayed up much too late last night watching Love and Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.  Laughter and tears...just the way I like a good chick flick.

Coming off of those couple days of alone time, I realized that it's August. 

August.  The month right before September. 

Just over one month until the big yellow school bus takes my boys off for a year of learning (aka alone time!).  I have a love-hate relationship with summer.  Not being a big fan of oppressive heat and living in a non-air conditioned home, the thought of an 85 degree day makes me cringe.  Heck no, it makes me sweat, just thinking about being sticky and clammy.  I get anxious about my boys getting bored if they happen to be home one day while I'm working from home, it is somewhat of a challenge.

But then, September reminds me of packing lunches every day.  It reminds me of getting boys ready in the morning in time for that bus.  Boys that don't want to get up, no matter what time they went to bed the night before.

I have a couple trips with the boys on the calendar in August, bunch of birthday parties, maybe a couple visits to the pool and maybe even one day for myself.  Alone.

I feel a pattern forming.

It's important to be happy being alone, as long as you are more happy when surrounded by family.  Right?

September is coming....

(alone time)