On Your Mark, Get Set...

Go! Go! G0!

Helmets...good for riding and scootering and barreling through narrow hallways.

Until Mom bellows "take it to the basement or outside!"

(I've given up being shocked when I sound like my mother.)

Fun for all ages.

The kids think they look sporty.

The parents get a chuckle out of how much bigger an already-unproportionately-large-toddler-head looks when encased in a brightly-colored plastic and foam orb.

Silliness, indeed.

Birthday Boy

Well, he's still a boy at heart anyway. ;-)

Only 2 until forty. Oops, did I say that out loud?

Pete,

You are the one I needed, the one I wanted. I am so proud of you.

Kocham cie!

Easy Shmeasy--Smoked Sausage with Sauteed Veggies & Orzo

This is one of my go-to meals when I don't want to spend more than a 1/2 hour in the kitchen on dinner (start to finish).

It's a meal that I created and it's so simple.


Smoked Sausage with Sauteed Veggies & Orzo

(Groff's Meats in Elizabethtown processed our pig last year and the link at left is 1-1/2" wide and 12" long--at right is the same sized link, sliced. I only use the amount shown sliced.)

1/2 -- 1 whole link of your favorite smoked sausage (depending on size)
1/2 onion
1/2 red or green bell pepper
1 Tbsp. butter
1 small can tomato sauce
1/2 c. water
dash of salt, black pepper & basil
orzo pasta

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

2. Thinly slice onion and bell pepper while preheating deep, large skillet over medium heat. Add pad of butter and toss in onion and pepper slices.

3. Slice sausage on the diagonal, about 1/2 inch thick. When onion in skillet is becoming translucent, add sausage to pan until it and everything else is lightly browned.

4. Then, carefully pour in tomato sauce, followed by the water and spices. Stir and cook until sauce is warmed.

5. Serve over orzo.


Makes 3-4 servings.

Wordless Wednesday

It's Been A Long Process...

...me becoming a domestic. I fought it initially. I rebelled inwardly. But, by God's grace, I have come to not only enjoy being at home full-time--I love it.

Do I enjoy every part of it? Um, NO. It's full of menial tasks and there are 101 things I'd rather do somedays. But, when I have a proper focus, I know that I am doing important work, and what my husband and I feel is best for our family.

It is during weeks like this past one, that I appreciate all-the-more my heritage of hard-working homemakers. Last Thursday the peaches I had ordered were ready to preserve, so my mom and Nana Ruth came to help. (Thank you Lord, again, for the blessing of living close to our families! After 7 years of living apart, I appreciate it so much more.)

Goodness. What a job! It took us 5 hours to finish the 3 crates (1 1/2 bushel). The result = 44 quart jars. (Well, if you count the 5 jars I forgot to put syrup into before canning. Silly me!)



Natalia was such a willing helper. She put the peaches in the sink so we could wash them, and helped me mix the raw sugar into warm water to make syrup. (What a difference a year makes!)

Grandma and Natalia taking a little rest while Mommy finished up the cooking part.


Waiting for them to pop, pop, POP! :-)

I didn't can any other fruit this summer, just blanched and froze corn, lima beans, and green beans. I may still can some tomato or spaghetti sauce if our transition-back-to-school schedule allows for it. And in late September I'll freeze applesauce.

It sure is a lot of work, but when I open up that jar or container of whatever come January, it'll be satisfying to know where it came from.

Short But Sweet

They're here!!!!!

My youngest brother Ryan, and his girlfriend Sarah are in town for the week. They moved from Philadelphia to Berkeley, CALIFORNIA a year ago, and this is the second time we've been able to see them. Needless to say, we've missed them!

The entire family spent Saturday evening together at my parent's house, along with Sarah's dad and mom. They are just the nicest people and we had a really fun time chasing watching the kids and talking. On second thought, read "chasing"--the kids are 1, 1-1/2, 3, 4-1/2, and 5-1/2 years old. We tried to talk. :o)

Sunday night we celebrated my nephew Eli's 1st birthday at my brother Joe's house, and Ryan was able to join us.

Then today Ryan and Sarah came to our house for part of the morning and lunch. Since this is the only week Pete has off between his summer job and heading back to school, it worked out perfectly for him to be here, and my mom joined us as well.

Each visit seemed too short, but we're just glad we could see/hug them in the flesh and that all of their nieces and nephews could reconnect with them again.


Safe journey home--we miss you already!

Giddy Up!

Daddies.

Daddies are wonderfully different from mommies.

I am blessed to have married a man who shares so many qualities with my dad. One being that he gets down on the floor and PLAYS.

No matter that he just spent the day on a roof in the scorching heat, or a mentally-draining day in the classroom--my hubby makes time to play.

Our babies and I love him for it.