Fun With New Friends

This morning the kids and I travelled southeast to visit my bloggyworld friend Annette and her children, Meghan and Evan.



Some of you may think it odd to find friends this way. I admit it is very non-traditional. But I am grateful to have found a new friend--and one who is similar to me in so many ways.



We had a welcome break in the heat and humidity this morning, so it was a beautiful day to spend outside.





We are still attempting to get a nice shot of all 4 of them.

Oh that our efforts would have materialized. Alas...

My little boy is such a thrill-seeker. He LOVED the slide!

The girls.

Stauffer Camping Weekend 2010

It was a hot and humid one, but this past weekend is one I look forward to each year.

It's an action-packed, laughter-filled weekend with my dad's side of the family.

We pack our sites full of tents, strong-arm 4 or 5 picnic tables together, raise the big blue tarp, and set up the fire pit. It has become a science over the last 3 1/2 decades.

(Double click on the slideshow box to see it enlarged.)

Stauffer Camping Weekend 2010

A few of my favorite things:

*worship and sharing time on Sunday morning
*the meals prepared over the campfire
*my family's ability to make even the most mundane task into a game or competition
*the endless supply of funny stories
*my grandpa and grandma, still toughing it out in their 80's!
*having my children experience a piece of MY childhood

It's certainly not easy--this camping with little ones thing--but I know it'll get easier. For now I'm thankful for lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents around to help.

~~~~~~~~~
To see last year's slideshow, go here.

Anniversary Weekend

While we would have loved to travel internationally for our 10th, we knew it'd be better for our kids if we waited till they were a bit older...and our finances. Ideally a trip to Europe is about 2 weeks long. Maybe our 15th...or when the kids are in junior high. :-)



My parents were able to keep the kids, and we decided that instead of spending money to stay elsewhere, we'd do things in the area along with a daytrip to Washington, DC.



Since Pete is working construction this summer and this was his first full week of work, I made steak, salad & orzo for dinner Friday night after dropping off the kids. We decided on a movie to go see, pick up our tickets ahead of time, then stopped at Pine View Acres Dairy for some homemade ice cream. (It's incredibly yummy and organic!)



Saturday we took our time getting ready (no diapers to change!!!!) and were headed to DC by 8:30. We wanted to visit the Museum of Natural History, but also wanted to be free to wander, so we purchased a day pass for the Metro. It's perfect for daytrips, especially since parking is plentiful and free on the weekends.



We found some lunch at a Panera-ish place called COSI on Pennsylvania Avenue. I'd rate it "good". It was cool, clean, and worked for what we needed, but I'd probably try another place the next time we visit.



We walked through the National Post Office en route to the Museum of Natural History. It was a beautiful old building, but when we saw the mini-mall they had created inside we kept going.



The Museum of Natural History seemed the place to be that morning. Literally everyone and their motherwas there...but we got to see what we wanted. I especially liked the Mammal exhibit. Perfect for kids (or "big kids" like us) who want to see to-scale animals up close, albeit still life. The two lions taking down a water buffalo, the giraffe, and the hippo were my favorites.



Other highlights were the Dinosaur and Ocean exhibits, the elephant in the atrium, and the Hope Diamond.







We also enjoyed a visit to the National Gallery of Art and the various gardens and fountains nearby.






















The Impressionist gallery was moved due to them grouping together one contributor's varied collection, so I'd say our favorite part of our visit was the Dutch gallery...and watching these overly enthusiastic gentlemen. Tee hee. Such a sneaky shot.






Flies, beware!



The next time we're in DC I'd like to go to the American History museum, Union Station, and Ford's Theatre. We just ran out of time and steam--it was a very hot and humid day.


During our drive to and from DC I co-piloted and read excerpts of "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls to Pete. I had recently read portions of her "Half Broke Horses" to him. What a C.R.A.Z.Y. memoir! (Which reminds me of some more book reviews I want to post.)


The rest of our weekend included a stop to Five Guys for burgers, Carrabbas, alittle window shopping and time to relax.


My favorite part? Time alone with my best friend.

10 Years Ago Today...

...I married my best friend. At the time I couldn't imagine loving him more than I did that day.

Today I know I do.

Happy Anniversary honey!

Madness At SPAZ-ROAD Railroad

That's what Natalia calls it: SPAZ-ROAD.

Natalia has loved trains and specifically Thomas the Tank Engine for awhile now.

I've had a few friends share that when Thomas comes to visit Strasburg Railroad, they simply pack some snacks, walk around and enjoy the little rides, and watch Thomas come in and out of the station instead of purchasing a coach ticket to ride behind him. (They can't even see him when they're riding.) This rationale of course works better on younger children who are just thrilled to see the trains.

I thought it to be a great idea, especially since we will visit Strasburg later this summer as a family and will cash in some free coach ride passes thanks to our local Library Summer Reading Program, and an Educator's Day event. (And the coach ride price is hiked up when Thomas is in town.)

Since my mom is now retired, she joined us. The weather was looking really overcast and they were predicting thundershowers for the afternoon, but we thought we'd be okay going in the morning. We pulled into the parking lot at 9:30, just as the heavens opened with a downpour. FUN FUN!

Thankfully, it was over within 20 minutes, and we used that time to fortify ourselves with some snacks in the car before joining the accumulating crowd by the station.

You should have heard Natalia's squeals! Oh my word. To say she was excited would be an understatement. She was especially delighted that Thomas had his face on. (See last year's post.)

She got to ride the two little rides for $1 each, while Adam was wide-eyed and content to sit in his stroller and say "choo choo!"

We were in and out in 1 1/2 hour...and that was enough. :-)

Natalia is tickled pink with her Thomas puzzle and Pez dispenser. Thank you Grandma! (Thanks for helping me brave the madness, Mom!)

Houston, We Have A Problem

There are a few blog posts waiting in the wings here. Alas, you'll have to wait a bit longer for them.

Last week my computer was attacked by a virus and while Pete got most of it up and running, it's still not 100%. It doesn't appear that I've lost anything, which is good. I'm just taking a break from blogging and throwing off any mental deadlines until my hubby's full plate lessens.

We had a great 10th anniversary weekend though, and the kids did really well for my parents while we were gone. I look forward to sharing about it and our most recent adventures with you all soon!

Lovely

My friend Danielle posted "A Little Bit of Lovely" earlier this week. Check out her beautiful hydrangeas.

I decided to follow suit and share my roses that are climbing the trellis out front.

As soon as I brought them in the dining room smelled so wonderfully fragrant.

And though they aren't fancy, I just love my petunias. They make my deck look so colorful.

Natalia's Shadow

...also known as ADAM, is determined to do E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. his big sister does.




This has given his mother more than her share of gray hair.

Yet he is his own little person, more serious and sensitive than Natalia was at this age. He is quick to snuggle and give hugs to his favorite people. He loves books. He is mischievous, playful, determined, and curious. He is all about barnyard animals, especially horses. He loves to find sticks in the yard, play in the dirt, kick and throw balls, and RUN! (I think he has inherited his father's need for speed. Who knows? Maybe he'll beat his daddy's track records.)




And he loves his big sister. They are quite the pair. :-)

Grunt Work

My biggest project this past month was creating a new 8' x 12' flowerbed in our backyard. I use the word "our" loosely, as I've mentioned before that all of the grass/yard in our neighborhood is considered common area...no fences. Not so nice if your children are wanderers, but nice because we don't have to mow. Not so nice if you have ugly utilities right behind you, but nice if your association will let you make a pretty flowerbed to disguise said ugly utilities. (AND agree to pay for the topsoil, edging materials, and mushroom soil mulch!)


First I needed a plan. (Those of you who know me well won't be surprised that this was my favorite part. Any excuse to draw a diagram and make a list--I'm a happy girl!)


Now, I'm a novice gardener. So I also needed a good resource to help me figure out the kind of plants that would do well in full morning sun, partial/full afternoon shade, heat zone 5/6.



A couple of weeks ago I was perusing online and found this.




PERENNIALS FOR EVERY PURPOSE by Larry Hodgson



I can't say enough about this book. I found it in the used books section on amazon.com, in new condition, and I think I paid $12 with S&H. It had the information I needed, was straighforward and organized, and the author didn't shy away from saying things like, "this plant is commonly pushed in your box stores, and it has some merits, but it'll completely invade your space, so just beware." And at 502 pages this book will be something I pull out often, especially during those long winter months when I need some inspiration.



Because this project was my baby and not my hubby's, I was the "grunt". (He has had plenty else on his plate.) This meant using the claw of a hammer to remove the grass (no digging because of buried lines), corraling my youngest in a playyard when he wasn't napping, keeping my 4 yr. old from digging up everyone else's grass, muscling 50 (40 lb.) bags of topsoil, and attempting to keep the sweat out of my eyes. It was...an undertaking.



In keeping with my thrifty heritage I was delighted by friends and neighbors who shared plants with me, and by the wonderfully low prices at a local plant sale Memorial weekend. After reimbursement I will have only paid for the plants--a whoppin' $35. Not too shabby!



BEFORE:


AFTER:

(I planted: Echinacea, Shasta Daisies, Rudbeckia, Russian Sage, Liriope, Old-fashioned Primrose, Coral Bells, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Maiden Grass, and 2 kinds of Hosta.)




I still need to haul some small river rocks from our neighbor's creek to put around the outside edge.

I'm looking forward to seeing everything fill in and bloom.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to prop up my feet and enjoy a glass of iced coffee.

Extraordinary True Life Stories

I just finished two books recently, both excellent! Funny thing is, they are both true life stories written by granddaughters about their grandmothers, who were both born in the early 1900's. That's where the similarities end though. One was born into an impoverished family in west Texas, the other an aristocratic family in Pyongyang, North Korea.


Still Life With Rice by Helie Lee

This one was full of surprises. It came recommended by my friend Lynn, who said she especially enjoyed it since she and her family recently lived in South Korea for a year.

It starts off with granddaughter Helie, living life much like any other young adult in America, but being at odds with her Korean mother and grandmother and their inquiries into what she is doing with her life. She decides to take a sojourn to the place where her family originated, in hopes of finding her purpose.

The rest of the book is her grandmother's life story. Here is a sample from the dustjacket:

"Born in 1912--"the year of the rat"--to aristocratic parents, Hongyong Baek came of age in a unified but socially repressive Korea, where she learned the roles that had been prescribed for her: obedient daughter, demure wife, efficient household manager. Ripped from her home first during the Japanese occupation and again during the bloody civil war that divided her country, Hongyong fought to save her family by drawing from her own talents and values."

What was such a pleasant surprise in the midst of this secular novel was the story of how Hongyong, her husband, and her children became believers of Jesus Christ, and how they persevered in their faith despite the horrendousness of wartime.

An utterly fascinating and beautifully written memoir.


Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

This is one of those books that you know is a true life story, yet throughout you keep uttering, "seriously?!" because it's fantastical. And I don't mean in a ridiculous sense, but in that this woman's story is incredible!

Maybe our generation has life too easy. (Okay, so I know that's true.)

This is the story of Lily Casey Smith, born in 1901. A no-nonsense kind of gal growing up in west Texas. She spends the first 10 years of her life living in a dugout. At age 6 she is helping her disabled father break horses. At 15 she makes a solo journey on horseback to a teaching assignment 500 miles away. Drought, flash floods, tornadoes, the Great Depression--hardship follows her throughout life, but her pluck and ability to made do through the most challenges circumstances is inspiring, and she does so with a wonderful sense of humor.

Summertime

Taking a manditory break from the scorching sun.

It's practically torture in her eyes.

This is her idea of "smiling for the camera".

Perfect For Your Next Cookout--Macaroni Salad

This has become a staple for any meal involving burgers in our household. Easy to make, great when you want to make a dish a day ahead to save time, and oh so delicious.

Macaroni Salad
(modified from "Amish Macaroni Salad" on allrecipes.com)

2 c. (scant) uncooked elbow pasta
2 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. sugar
3 Tbsp. prepared yellow mustard
2 1/4 tsp. vinegar
3/4 tsp. celery seed
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 hardboiled eggs, chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 sm. red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 dill pickle, minced (or 2 Tbsp. dill pickle relish)



1. Cook macaroni in salted water for 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse. Set aside to cool.
2. In large bowl combine the dressing ingredients, then add the vegetables and egg. Toss gently. Then fold in the macaroni.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving, if possible overnight. The macaroni soaks up some of the dressing and has better flavor the day after it is prepared.


Makes 8-10 servings.

Enjoy!

MIA?

You may be wondering where I've been.


I'm wondering where the month of May went.


All is well here in the Winkler household. I've just been in overdrive, doing the dailies while tackling a couple of projects (that's a whole separate post), chasing the kids, and holding down the fort while Hubby is finishing out the school year and knocking out 2 graduate work classes. Come on June 11th!


Those of you experiencing twinges of jealousy just now thinking teachers have it easy (with summers off) have, with all due respect, no idea. Thankfully it looks like Pete will have a steady income this summer, sweatin' it out on the construction site. It's been 11 years since he last built houses. I'm confident he'll do fine but am stocking up on aftersun lotion and IcyHot.


One major change this past month, (to us it's been major), is that Natalia is now officially pottytrained! WOO HOO!


One day she woke up and decided that being a big girl had its benefits. We knew she could do it all along (she was successful when we first started), hence the frustration of the last 10 months. I think it may have also been to teach me more about forbearance, perseverance, faith and hope...


I just finished two books, both excellent! Funny thing is, they are both true life stories written by granddaughters, about their grandmothers, who were born in the early 1900's. That's where the similarities end though. My reviews will be posted shortly.


I've also been planning our 10th wedding anniversary weekend. We would have loved to travel internationally, but due to a number of factors we're staying semi-local, farming out the kids to the grandparents, and taking a daytrip to Washington, DC.


And, I've been trying some new recipes. I'll post a few of my favorites soon too.


That's about it for this newsy post. Check in with me again tomorrow.