tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073696340056891092011-12-29T19:41:06.570-06:00Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.comBlogger3311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-79883959295316772652011-12-29T14:09:00.000-06:002011-12-29T14:09:45.448-06:00

For Christmas this year we decided to give the kids a few experiences, instead of more things. Yes, they got a few things, but nothing can compare to the grins on their faces with cousin Berik upon arrival at Vertical Endeavor's climbing camp for kids. 9-1 p.m. today.... what an adventure! Of course, Gus being Gus, I got a call half-way through the camp saying that Gus had hit his head, was

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-28120809006903101302011-12-04T21:47:00.004-06:002011-12-04T22:10:41.958-06:00

It is December and we are feeling excited around this house. Generally we wait until after the birthday season to start decorating, but this year my birthday hasn't yet arrived and we already have the stockings hung on the piano with care. Such joy!Our favorite decoration is the advent calendar and the kids take turns choosing which pocket to select an ornament from to hang on the tree. It is fun

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-55680075409733919442011-10-25T23:15:00.002-05:002011-10-25T23:21:26.575-05:00

I went out to our gardens this week to see if there might be anything left, just in case. To my surprise I found over 65 items (Gus counted!) that were ready to be picked and brought in. Some were things we planted this summer like carrots and tomatoes, but there were plenty of self seeders and mystery plants that appeared out of no where.The harvest? 3 cantaloupes, a squash, yellow pear

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-24062554362160215322011-10-17T22:54:00.005-05:002011-10-17T23:30:54.060-05:00

This fall may win awards in Minnesota for being our best, most beautiful, ever. It has been sunny, warm, cool, crisp, barely rainy and absolutely wonderful for colorful leaves and playing outside in the piles of them.Two weeks ago we visited my mom's cousin's apple tree (same place we've picked in the past) and brought home FIVE large cardboard boxes of apples. They aren't beauties, but the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-83557133247649748272011-08-28T22:13:00.004-05:002011-08-28T22:35:56.119-05:00

The month of August is just about over and I'm finally sitting down for a breath. The warm, slow days of summer blended into a quicker pace as we ran into cabin season, cousins visiting from out of town and then finally my trip to Angola for two weeks. The shock was great upon my return, with just a day of rest before I dutifully returned to my teacher's meetings. Tomorrow, of course, is the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-57026713576837365182011-07-25T19:03:00.001-05:002011-07-25T19:05:53.988-05:00

My favorite, all time summer food is grilled veggies. If you serve it with a side of roasted red pepper dip, I don't need another thing. Well, maybe a glass of wine to help wash it down. I don't think I've ever shared this recipe (from an old Bon Appetit), so here goes:Roasted Red Pepper Dip2 large garlic gloves 1/2 cup diced drained roasted red pepper from jar (or your own roasted ones)1/2

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-61318460271811613552011-07-10T22:58:00.003-05:002011-07-10T23:13:50.379-05:00

Last night we were kid-free at a friend's wedding and received a call: Gus had bumped his head (on his cousin Berik's chin) and was in the Urgent Care, headed for some repair. We soon learned that the injury merited some metal, some cool looking staples. He was there with his auntie who is a nurse, was in a great mood, eating a DQ Blizzard and giggling. We left the wedding to join them at the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-31365599625905103352011-07-07T23:11:00.002-05:002011-07-07T23:24:13.814-05:00

At the beginning of every summer, we sit down and make a list of all the activities and projects we want to do during the summer. Usually the list is long and we don't check off every item off the list, but we're going to try our best to do most this summer. Many are making their bucket lists, but I've never fallen in love with that term. I love lists, so I make lists. If I knew how to make a

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-4840311084261543662011-07-07T00:27:00.000-05:002011-07-07T00:27:00.976-05:00

The summer officially started for us just two days after school got out for the kids: we went camping with our original ECFE (early childhood family education) group that we've been camping with since Carl was one. We've taken two years off with newborns, but otherwise, it is a trip we look forward to sharing with old friends. The kids were delighted to find some other old friends near our site,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-87327697938294999182011-07-06T00:16:00.003-05:002011-07-06T00:26:46.100-05:00

Yes, I'm back. I've been mentally composing blog entry upon blog entry, even taking all the photos to share with you the fun things we've been doing so far this summer, but that's it. It is all in my brain. Until tonight.Hope your summer is going well. Many of you are taking trips, growing things, cooking the treats growing in your gardens, sneaking out of work for inpromptu picnics, playing with

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-64875873887463965202011-05-10T21:05:00.000-05:002011-05-10T21:05:00.490-05:00

Not really shooting and killing, just shooting photos of the chocolate frogs we made for Carl's Harry Potter birthday party this year. If you've read any of the books, you'll know that Harry and his friends enjoy a little sweet treat here and there. One of them is a chocolate frog. These were the hit of the party as cake toppers. They were so wildly successful that the kids barely touched the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-2076271420705518762011-05-09T20:58:00.001-05:002011-05-09T20:59:51.587-05:00

Gus wanted to join the Mexican Dance and Culture class at his school to become famous. Maybe it was an excuse to get up on stage, or maybe just an opportunity to wear some amazing costumes, but I think he's well on his way to becoming famous. I mean, really. A kid this Scandinavian looking, dressing up in a Mexican Viejitos (Little Old Man) costume and understanding most every little Spanish word

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-43819658375682977542011-05-08T21:34:00.000-05:002011-05-09T21:38:02.338-05:00

My friend Amy just sent me an email with some information about an exciting day coming up. Free stuff will be available in neighborhoods all over the World (hopefully) on May 14, 2011. Really. It is a day when you put stuff out on your curb and then anyone interested can pop over and help themselves. We regularly do this anyway because it is much easier than driving a load over to the thrift

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-68959975052438994662011-04-28T22:34:00.005-05:002011-04-28T23:27:07.436-05:00

If you've been following me here for more than a post or two, you'll know that food and photography are definitely in my top five list of favorites. Toss in a little travel and a language or two, and we've nearly hit all five.Imagine my excitement when I read about an opportunity to take a class with Penny de los Santos, a food photographer, in Seattle. She shoots for Saveur (love it!) and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-30819271130454587822011-04-24T21:56:00.004-05:002011-04-24T22:18:49.660-05:00

This is a wonderful time to be alive and awake in Minneapolis. We have THREE new bakeries in South Minneapolis. We're a bit sad that Rustica headed for Uptown, but are quite glad that Patisserie 46, Sun Street Breads and Sweets Bakeshop have arrived and are in a lovely bikeable proximity from our house..If you're in the mood, may I suggest the amazing raspberry scones at Sun Street, where I got

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-4391502720270939492011-04-23T21:50:00.000-05:002011-04-24T21:56:00.038-05:00

The weather has been on-and-off here lately in MN. Recently as I was trying to wrangle the kids into the house for a bath and bedtime, I spotted Louise in her studio, er, in front of the garage with a masterpiece.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-52299022687213895432011-04-13T21:58:00.004-05:002011-04-13T22:08:30.314-05:00

Carl turned 8 recently and I missed the occasion to send well wishes out into the blogosphere. He said no to a cake, unless I could quickly whip up a crazy cake in an hour, so we went with his old favorite treat to bring to school on his birthday, donut balls. Yes, good old donut holes. They make for a great cake, don't they? This Carl guy isn't so little anymore, and is starting to do things in

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-61084926086850599212011-03-16T21:04:00.000-05:002011-03-16T21:04:00.323-05:00

My brother is starting a catering business and asked for some help with a dessert for a recent event. What better way to avoid correcting papers and planning curriculum? Staying up late, testing various brownie recipes and discussing the finer points of sea salt. Mmmm.... salty caramel on seriously tasty brownies. Who needs fancy doilies or brownie wrappers? I just got out my roll of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-67008234135746577712011-03-15T20:58:00.002-05:002011-03-15T21:48:32.352-05:00

As the temperatures have been rising and the snow doesn't seem to want to disappear, we've been spending a lot of time outside. Now that we've had a full five months of winter, we have made the executive decision that it is time to get creative with how to be happy outside, even when you're ready for some green. Enter: the colored water spray bottle! Ah, the smiles and laughs and interesting

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-88836718165758145712011-02-24T22:15:00.001-06:002011-02-24T22:15:01.041-06:00

We bought a huge bag of oranges recently at the local grocery store... maybe it was even 18 pounds. We all love oranges and have been eating them at every meal. After a while, however, we decided that no matter how good the orange might taste, 18 pounds of anything is too much!.I enlisted a little help from the kids and got down to business. The cool old-school juicers are from Mexico City,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-78526491121022021322011-02-23T22:07:00.003-06:002011-02-23T22:15:21.848-06:00

On Valentines Day I set the table with all kinds of hearts and red things, just like my own mom used to do for us. I hid behind the fridge to watch their faces when they saw the fun! .For dinner that night, of course I had to make this loaf of bread.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-32855957778447712422011-02-01T21:35:00.001-06:002011-02-01T21:35:00.507-06:00

We've had our farm in the country for over four years now, but we don't feel any closer to moving there than we did when we first bought it. Thankfully we have wonderful people who rent from us and take great care of it, but it is difficult to spend much time there when we have little or no access to the house while it is occupied..Instead of visiting, we dream. One of my largest dreams for the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-21267861486304754842011-01-31T21:14:00.000-06:002011-01-31T21:14:00.920-06:00

While the oven was out of commission for five weeks, I had a difficult time adjusting to life without fresh-baked bread. The night the oven died, my lovely neighbor Sarah allowed me to bake my five loaves that had risen on my counter at her house (last minute teacher and school friend gifts... gasp!). Later I baked at my parents' house, but nothing compares to hanging out in my robe, mug in hand,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-80386343482344427932011-01-30T20:41:00.004-06:002011-01-30T21:13:45.212-06:00

Tonight was the last night for our dear old friend and neighbor: Liberty Frozen Custard. About seven years ago an inspired couple bought an old-school gas station and refurbished it into a beautiful neighborhood charmer, a locally owned ice cream, er custard shop that sold kiddie cones for less than a buck. They ran a lovely business for those seven years and realized that they just couldn't

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-3308247338735143392011-01-26T21:40:00.002-06:002011-01-26T21:40:00.617-06:00

We hosted officially ONE event here during the Christmas season, a post-Christmas pageant brunch with our parents. Our oven had just officially died and we were faced with the prospect of making brunch, oven-free. As a baker, I wonder if there is a more difficult fate? Alas, we remembered the electric fry pan and realized that our brunch could be saved! Hello beignets! We served a southern

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-14980013050184094132011-01-25T21:22:00.000-06:002011-01-25T21:22:00.647-06:00

I let Christmas pass by my blog this year, accidentally. Oops..In the spirit of the new year and starting over, I'm forgiving myself and allowing myself to go ahead and post a few highlights, knowing that someday I'll be glad that I just went ahead and posted them, end-of-January-or not..Here was our holiday card this year, designed by Flipawoo. I found her on Etsy and loved her speed and quality.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-71746704637230030112011-01-24T21:14:00.003-06:002011-01-24T21:22:51.929-06:00

Here I am, back at the computer hiding in the cold basement. I can't quite figure out what my writer's block has been related to.... the cold in the basement? Being back at work? Keeping up with the laundry? There must be a way to find balance, right?.One thing we have been doing well lately is finding ways to keep busy inside. One cold, snowy afternoon recently we popped popcorn in our

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-50331461959531827862010-12-23T00:37:00.003-06:002010-12-23T00:44:59.968-06:00

Do you buy foam soap? Our kids love it. We find that its much easier to get the right amount of foam soap and not be wasteful with the regular soap refills. After we used up the soap in this Method brand dispenser, I wondered about refilling it. I looked on line and figured out that a 3 parts water to one part refill soap is a great ratio. The best part, though, is choosing the color. One drop of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-39791650157719031862010-12-14T14:32:00.000-06:002010-12-14T14:32:00.535-06:00

While we were stuck indoors from the blizzard, the kids and I found many, many fun things to do. The boys mostly played with Legos, thrilled that I allowed them to spread them all over the living room and dining room instead of the cold basement playroom. Louise helped me make the dough for gingerbread cookies that we'll bake later this week and practiced cutting things up with her scissors. (Is

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-7211036858830390352010-12-13T14:19:00.001-06:002010-12-13T14:19:00.424-06:00

I'm keeping the Christmas decorations minimal this year, mostly because I think I really dislike putting them all away after Christmas. With my birthday in early December, we usually wait until afterwards to put up the tree. Ron's birthday is in early January, so I like to take things down before then. The time is so short... so I'm focusing on my mantle this year. Er, my piano, since we have no

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-65035077944737612062010-12-12T22:07:00.002-06:002010-12-12T22:18:55.696-06:00

We spent the weekend at home, trapped by the snow! It is beautiful and was wonderful to play in, though a bit tall for Molly-dog's tastes..It took over an hour to unearth the van to go and pick up the kids from an overnight on Saturday morning. Once Ron did pick them up, the van got stuck in the snow trying to figure out the best way to get home. Once he did near our house, there was a car stuck

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-10992260053953471062010-12-10T14:20:00.000-06:002010-12-09T22:05:14.893-06:00

Gus wants to be famous someday. We told him that it might happen if he joined the Mexican Dance and Cultural club at his school, a great fit for a kid that loves to sing and dance. He was excited about it for a day, then begged me to tear up the application and my check. With a little extra prodding, he made it to the first session and hasn't looked back. He danced this week at a fundraiser at a

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-75096929083540761112010-12-09T14:27:00.000-06:002010-12-09T14:27:00.421-06:00

Every year since Carl was born we have taken him to Bachman's to see the annual Santa and Albert the elf skit. It is a 25 minute show, filled with magic tricks by Albert, a little back and forth banter between the two of them and a sing-along at the end. This year, I was very brave and brought my two nephews along with our three, by myself. All were well behaved during the performance, but

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-90783989140667550242010-12-07T22:07:00.003-06:002010-12-07T22:20:33.037-06:00

It was bound to happen. My home life and work life collided last week. I baked cinnamon and pecan caramel rolls for my 1st hour class. For 24 students. At 8:30 in the morning..At school we had a contest between first hour classes to see which class could bring in the most items for the annual food drive. The winning class would also be able to deliver the food down to the food shelf and unload,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-77371118115833934012010-12-03T14:00:00.000-06:002010-12-03T14:00:03.933-06:00

We've been enjoying the wildlife here lately but weren't sure just how the turkeys would fare. Imagine our delight a few days ago after a big snow storm when these funny birds came fluttering down the block. Poor guys... they were so hungry because all of their food is hidden under the snow so they started hopping up and down, trying desperately to get the few remaining crab apples off this tree.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-47973211186737875522010-12-02T14:00:00.001-06:002010-12-02T14:00:01.938-06:00

... though not for the holidays. Carl was in charge of this from-scratch cake, a volcano!.At school if the students in 2nd grade speak only in Spanish throughout the day, they get to keep a star by their names all day. If this continues, they get to keep the star all week. At conferences we learned that Carl was having difficulty keeping his star because one of his friends was consistently

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-38562481404683348502010-12-01T10:24:00.000-06:002010-12-01T22:43:28.085-06:00

Over a year ago I began a lovely project with my friend Kristine. I think I'm finally finished. Today it went up on the wall. As pictured, the kids hadn't yet visited to hang day one of the Advent Season.Stay tuned for the end of the month when all of the handmade tree ornaments are on the tree. Merry Christmas season to you. With our dusting of snow these past few days and the shiver-inducing

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-64992769211538016622010-11-01T23:35:00.000-05:002010-11-01T23:35:00.359-05:00

Last week I got to go out for the evening with two great friends Sarah and Kerry. We met for dinner before catching the Weepies concert at The Cedar Cultural Center. The concert was AMAZING and we all sat in awe at the beautiful, enchanting sounds coming from the stage. Maybe it was the good, local and strong beer we had with dinner, but I thought it was the best live concert I've seen in years.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-87144925360805271792010-10-31T23:10:00.002-05:002010-10-31T23:15:52.121-05:00

The Shadow Ninja, Witch and Anakin Skywalker are all in bed after a warm evening of trick or treating. I'm coming down off of my sugar rush. Must get to bed. Maybe just one more Almond Joy? They won't notice if I sneak another one, will they?.And you? What's your favorite thing to score from their loot bags? Special Dark is my other fave!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-82610115584007856672010-10-20T23:20:00.000-05:002010-10-20T23:20:00.192-05:00

Every year when we celebrate my sister's birthday at our monthly family soup night, I get the honor of making her cake. For the past several years I have made the cakes on the cover of Country Living magazine. I wasn't too inspired by the cupcakes on the October issue this year, so I went back to my all-time favorite recipe from a few years ago, just tweaking it a bit. Here's the spooky

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-70242602489520835242010-10-19T22:43:00.000-05:002010-10-19T22:43:00.127-05:00

Last weekend we were joined by in-town and out-of-town college friends for a beautiful fall day. Kevin and Julie came up from Des Moines with their kids and asked to take a little road trip from the big cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We joined them and Jenn, Charley and their daughter on an excursion to Axdahl's pumpkin patch and market and then to beautiful historic Stillwater.If you've

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-9416398455849597532010-10-18T21:59:00.000-05:002010-10-18T21:59:00.287-05:00

We have had a lovely fall in Minnesota this year. Usually by now all of the tender plants have long since wilted or been zapped by bitter overnight frosts. This year our tomato plants and impatiens are still blooming-- or at least for those people who have continued to water them. Mine grow in spite of a lack of regular watering, weeding or much tending. We've been busy watching the turkeys run

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-63628646709035099492010-10-17T22:14:00.005-05:002010-10-17T22:43:33.300-05:00

While the Vikings played today, I got a chance to be outside by myself. Usually I have many little bodies and paws surrounding me to play with and chase and inevitably spend my time making mental lists of all the things I'd like to accomplish. Today was just the day I had been hoping for. With the kids inside with Daddy, I grabbed my rake, bags and trimmer and got to work.To do:-cut down/dead

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-19614595848297273052010-10-07T22:13:00.002-05:002010-10-07T22:36:39.966-05:00

We went apple picking on Sunday with my siblings and their families as well as two of our childhood friends' families. We've lost track of how many years these five family groups have been gathering to pick apples together, but know that every year, as the kids age, it just keeps getting better! Because the spring came early in Minnesota this year, the apples peaked early too. We've always

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-9204945925449506122010-10-03T21:13:00.003-05:002010-10-03T21:23:43.671-05:00

I'm back at work teaching Spanish and have been quite absent here. It has been difficult adjusting to the challenges of not having complete freedom over my days and my time. It feels wonderful to have an audience again, a group of co-workers and colleagues and a sense of independence and professionalism. But there are many, many things I miss. Reading the entire newspaper, having more than one

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-1169199782940969422010-09-02T22:06:00.000-05:002010-09-02T22:06:00.563-05:00

Our nieces from Charlotte visit every summer with their family and I try to find time to sneak away with them for a little craft time. Ron's sisters are both very good at making time for each niece and nephew, so I've joined them in this tradition. This year I had promised Ingrid and Annika that we would make stuffed animals or dolls or something they could hold. Last year we made tote bags..

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-27998521179545518512010-09-01T21:57:00.002-05:002010-09-01T21:57:00.338-05:00

I planted a bunch of seeds in my cedar planters that my Dad made last year. The planters are lovely... long and custom designed for our patio. The idea was to plant enough tall beauties to slightly disguise the fact that we have a chain link fence in our back yard. .The flowers are doing well despite me. The soil is crumbly and dry, the leaves are getting wilty and cringe when they see me. I've

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-15819893850095668062010-08-31T21:47:00.003-05:002010-08-31T21:57:26.480-05:00

There's a family of turkeys that has been hanging out in our neighborhood for the past month or so. Although I haven't gotten up close to inspect, it would appear that it is a Momma turkey and her five babies. They showed up one day in our back yard, in the fenced-in part where our dog likes to hang out. Gus spotted them from the window and shouted, "Mom, there's a pack of wild turkeys in our

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-65885455560571059032010-08-27T13:13:00.003-05:002010-08-27T13:24:46.773-05:00

We did a bit of harvesting this week. The carrots were planted this year, but planted a little too closely. They're a bit stubby, but perfect for little kid hands. The potatoes were planted last year and mysteriously showed up again this year. The kids and I imagined an alien potato hovering under the dirt all winter long, waiting and waiting for the spring and warm sun to return..We are well

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-34005574477417542052010-08-22T22:00:00.000-05:002010-08-22T23:19:32.664-05:00

We went away for our 10th anniversary this weekend to a lovely place in the country called A Journey Inn. It is an eco-friendly Bed & Breakfast located on 66 acres of prairie and woods with winding paths throughout the property. We left on Saturday afternoon on a leisurely drive and arrived in the nearby artsty town of Maiden Rock, Wisconsin in time to visit a funky gallery owned by my friend's

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-5629025774742856962010-08-19T23:47:00.003-05:002010-08-20T10:04:48.575-05:00

Ten years ago today... it was a beautiful 73 degree day. We were married in South Minneapolis, then proceeded to Uptown Lunds in our wedding clothes (where we met) for a little stroll and then to the reception at the Nicollet Island Pavillion. We've been busy... a house, a dog, three kids, a farm, lots of travel, and so much fun. I love you, Ronny! We celebrated with a quick dinner at Pizza Luce

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-47733970444680861202010-08-11T00:27:00.002-05:002010-08-11T00:34:24.947-05:00

We harvested our first ever cabbage from our garden last week and declared that a big bowl of coleslaw was in order to celebrate..The boys hauled up the food processer from the basement (an old-school one that once belonged to my grandma) and tried to patiently take turns running it..We're really into making our own salad dressing, but there is no better coleslaw sauce than Rudolph's.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-67948729831700964112010-08-06T13:44:00.001-05:002010-08-06T13:49:16.213-05:00

Hope you're enjoying every little watermelon filled moment of summer. We are!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-73917848079644240762010-07-30T13:11:00.004-05:002010-07-30T13:20:55.508-05:00

Our tomatoes are starting to yield a little bit of fruit around here. We planted three different varieties: cherry tomato, yellow pear tomato and an Early Girl, I think.Gus called me over to the tomato plants the other day and said, "Mom, there's something that looks like a yellow egg plant growing!" Sure enough, our first yellow pear tomato was ready and Miss Louise was more than happy to be the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-17762180422650760882010-07-26T15:46:00.000-05:002010-07-26T15:46:00.400-05:00

For Louise's birthday this year, I really wanted to sew her a birthday dress and continue a tradition I began when she was one. A week before her birthday I found the perfect fabric and although I knew I had no time to be attempting such silliness, I decided to go ahead. The fabric was only found at faraway fabric stores or even a local store in NE Mpls... but that meant packing up three kids to

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-30017468451049991952010-07-25T21:30:00.004-05:002010-07-25T21:45:23.601-05:00

Carl recently learned about the Geek Squad, Best Buy's computer tech guys who dress the part and live up to their name. He digs the way they drive geek-mobiles and dress up in ties to go to work. He also loves that he is the first kid to make his own Geek-Squad lego mini-fig. (Geek Squad: if you come across this post, drop the kid a line! He'd love it!).These pictures encapsulate much of our

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-54401576173071825072010-07-23T15:16:00.002-05:002010-07-23T15:19:22.348-05:00

I saw a picture of kids in green crowns on my friend Kerry's blog and asked her how she learned to make them. Her response, "Really? I just wrapped them and twisted 'til they looked right."So we made crowns of green and pretented we lived in a green kingdom with Gus as King and Louise as Queen for the afternoon. Next on the list? Dandilion crowns... but I think we're a little late in the season.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-56530053630223796162010-07-17T14:44:00.003-05:002010-07-17T15:02:32.718-05:00

We love berries around our house. We have three varieties from which the kids make their daily rounds of pre-breakfast sustenance. Many years ago we planted red and golden raspberries from cuttings from my parents' plants. Mysteriously one day some black raspberries popped up and appear to be on steroids. No matter how much I whack them back in the fall, they come back full force in the spring.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-27390433100112288072010-07-13T22:14:00.004-05:002010-07-13T22:31:59.106-05:00

My dear friend Stephanie came to visit last week with her boyfriend Rolf. They live in Angola (in SW Africa where they speak Portuguese) and she visits the midwest once a year. Minneapolis and Iowa are always her stopovers to see friends and family and we happily play hosts for as many days as she allows us. We had a lovely time hanging out... cooking, eating, drinking, playing with the kids,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-55617223523370575552010-07-12T23:34:00.003-05:002010-07-12T23:49:38.918-05:00

We have had a wonderfully jam-packed summer so far. Camping, cabin, friends, hikes, swimming, reading, Chicago, house guests, cooking, playing in the garden... and so much more. As I sit down here at the computer (which is a million times faster than it has ever been, thanks to Rolf!) I realize now that I need to sit still for a few days. .This afternoon after our lovely guests left, the kids and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-38966900075601974622010-06-16T11:00:00.001-05:002010-06-16T11:00:03.790-05:00

We had an indoor BBQ on Friday night with Kerry and Sarah's families. It has been raining almost non-stop here lately and we had hoped for a little break. The rain continued, so we just took the party indoors. Since we met we've been gathering with kids and just as women, so this was the first time we included the husbands. Of course, they got along fabulously and it was very difficult to get

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-18862194795597674722010-06-15T10:53:00.002-05:002010-06-15T10:53:00.810-05:00

There's nothing like discovering there's nothing that looks good for dinner... and then rallying with something that everyone loves. This time it was pizza. I remembered about 20 minutes before Ron came home that I had a bucket of Artisan Bread in Five dough in the basement fridge. Shredded mozz from the freezer, a can of stewed tomatoes from the cupboard and a few bits of this and that. Mmmmm.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-42356280202839143262010-06-14T10:31:00.000-05:002010-06-14T10:31:00.149-05:00

There's nothing like some face paint and a few costumes with the neighbor kids to make the afternoon pass quickly by. I have a sneaky suspicion that we're going to be doing a lot of this.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-13039702701504722672010-06-13T20:24:00.001-05:002010-06-13T22:30:57.178-05:00

A few weeks ago, Saturday morning came very early. My alarm went off at 5:15 in preparation for my day trip to Seed Savers, near Decorah, Iowa. My friend Janet had been wanting to visit for at least ten years and asked me a few months ago if I might have any interest in going. Need she even ask? I, too, had been wanting to visit for years. She found a tour of Seed Savers with an early morning

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-83461547141604864342010-06-04T06:30:00.004-05:002010-06-04T06:39:13.369-05:00

We've been in search of beautiful flowers here. As May tumbled gently into June, the spring and summer flowers have been at their peak of beauty. Gus and Louise helped me remember to stop and smell them. My favorite flowers of the early summer have always been tulips and irises, but this year the peonies have been calling my name. Poppies too. I think when we move to the farm I might just have

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-7418032972789727632010-06-01T19:33:00.000-05:002010-06-01T19:33:00.185-05:00

Memorial Day. The true beginning of summer. A day of picnics and family time. A day to remember. Our day was filled with all of these important events. The kids and I went to Lakewood Cemetary with Ron's parents to visit the family graves. The cemetary was filled with people, flowers and flags in hand, some smiling and laughing, others with tears streaming down their sad faces.For us, it was a

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-26227800044673472402010-05-31T22:15:00.000-05:002010-06-01T10:33:11.049-05:00

I'm joining in on the fun with The Yellow Door Paperie. These folks are on a journey to find as much summer as possible. Follow the link on the side bar and see what everyone has been finding. Gus, Tacky and the neighbor girls.We've been hanging out with Tacky the penguin, the penguin featured in a fantastic and funny book series by Helen Lester and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Gus's preschool

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-81455013054544219302010-05-27T08:00:00.001-05:002010-05-27T08:00:00.509-05:00

Ron and his friend Pat are going to be in a Barbeque contest this summer. To prepare for it and to enhance his techniques, Ron recently acquired a very cool new addition to our entertaining palate. A smoker. A very big, sturdy, serious smoker..This weekend he went to the store and bought a little bit of everything, from a whole chicken to peaches, in order to give the smoker its maiden voyage on

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-59057445309824852202010-05-26T08:00:00.000-05:002010-05-26T08:00:03.132-05:00

Louise grabbed my hand and pulled me into the porch. She didn't want me to finish what I was doing. She needed me *now*! I looked down and she was wearing big brother Carl's boots on her feet and had one of her ladybug boots on her other hand. She pointed to the window-- at a bug that was trapped between the glass and the screen.."I'm a BUG CATCHER, Mama. I have to catch it."She stared

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-66286405725315634242010-05-25T08:00:00.000-05:002010-05-25T08:00:10.484-05:00

Do bubbles bring smiles to every child's face? We sure do love them around here.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-91658053348401092532010-05-24T10:39:00.001-05:002010-05-24T10:41:20.899-05:00

The other day at the grocery store we were wandering through the produce department and it occurred to me that my kids probably have never tried sprouts on their sandwiches. When I was little, sprouts were my favorite part of eating a sandwich. I let Gus put them in the cart and he begged to open the container. When we got home, I explained what they were and suddenly, both boys had a mouthfull

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-37795900290337562692010-05-20T10:08:00.004-05:002010-05-20T10:23:11.801-05:00

This is a simple version of provolone. Simple, well, not really very simple, but simple compared to the fancy stuff you buy at the grocery store. The kids decided that it is even squeakier than Wisconsin cheese curds. This one was soaked in a salt brine for one hour after it had been air dried for 24 hours. Yum. This one is queso fresco, a crumbly, squeaky Mexican cheese. I was delayed in

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-30732779572854585142010-05-19T11:18:00.003-05:002010-05-19T11:27:15.217-05:00

I shouldn't be making cheese this week because I have a list a mile long of things I need to get done. But sometimes, when fresh milk arrives by the gallon, you just gotta make cheese. A friend of mine has property about an hour from here and has a few cows in his herd. A while back I casually mentioned that I'd love to try some fresh, raw milk if he ever had extra milk. Last Monday, two gallons

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-77009372107988608332010-05-14T00:07:00.002-05:002010-05-14T00:24:12.290-05:00

These past few nights as I've been staying up late sewing Louise's birthday dress, I've been multi-tasking. I've been watching and listening (while I stitch) to Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. If you haven't heard about this show, clear off your schedule and get watching. You'll be glad you did.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-90334902325943182822010-05-12T13:01:00.002-05:002010-05-12T13:28:26.423-05:00

Yes, we have another birthday in our family this week. Gus and Louise almost shared a birthday. She was born 18 minutes before midnight, and we all sighed a collective sigh of relief. He has never minded sharing a birthday week with her... in fact, he loves the idea of having not one, but TWO cakes in a week. Mr. Gus turns five today and we couldn't be prouder. It has been an exciting spring

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-72404404605191732062010-05-11T12:30:00.001-05:002010-05-11T20:09:57.141-05:00

May Day Parade 2010 May Day Parade 2009What a difference a year can make!Our little Louise is not so little anymore. She is turning three today and we're so proud of all that she has been doing lately. She wears underwear, sleeps in a big-girl bed, likes to help feed our dog Molly, wants to serve herself food from the freezer all day long, enjoys meat more than any other food (meat: want it!),

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-79837106809794014872010-05-10T21:20:00.004-05:002010-05-10T21:31:37.780-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's day. I felt very loved. When the kids and I returned home from church, Ron (with help from his Dad) had a lovely brunch prepared and ready to serve to his parents and our five. We used fancy dishes and silverware and lingered at the table long after the meal was over. In the afternoon we went to my parents' house for a fun gathering with the two new babies, my

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-11449027136162215842010-05-06T11:13:00.004-05:002010-05-06T11:22:51.885-05:00

My favorite way to clean a room is to rearrange it. I love to totally switch things around, leaving no thing untouched. That way, I am forced to clean everything... even the little dust balls that lurk in the teeniest nook and cranny. Recently, it was the porch. Over the winter I had let piles of stuff for thrift store donations pile up in the corner along with other random stuff left over from

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-74144417187851244202010-05-05T10:12:00.003-05:002010-05-05T10:24:36.459-05:00

I'm back. Sorry for my absence. I've been taking a lot of pictures, playing in the yard with my kids, helping an almost five-year-old learn to ride his bike without training wheels (more on that soon!), baking, doing some watercoloring magic with my mom, a bit of laundry, gardening, weeding and picking lots of flowers from our yard. Much fun, indeed. I hope to be a bit more regular here, but with

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-71035543638526266392010-04-20T08:41:00.000-05:002010-04-20T08:41:00.729-05:00

My friend Kristine and I taught a handmade book class at the women's retreat we attended recently. We were invited to teach a craft and settled in on making small, handmade books we called "chap books," that could be used as a place to keep important quotes, fun pictures, memories, random thoughts, or interesting ephemera. Of course we had to wear old school aprons, both thrifted and full of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-72561831477184212422010-04-18T22:30:00.000-05:002010-04-19T22:40:51.468-05:00

It was raining a bit last week and we've been loving our rain boots and hand-me-down raincoats. And don't forget mama, in those orange polka dotted boots. I'm dancing in the rain just as much as those three little ones.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-80206750251606527182010-04-14T20:43:00.005-05:002010-04-14T21:09:40.361-05:00

I have found my dream craft room and it is within walking distance of my house. Oh my, it is a beauty! Think anyone would notice if I casually pulled my minivan into the Bachman's parking lot in the middle of the night and casually absconded with the contents of this room? I think it would be perfect in our future farm house.Bachman's Floral and Garden Center, a Minneapolis landmark of sorts, is

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-14690012575175352382010-04-12T21:51:00.002-05:002010-04-12T22:03:31.456-05:00

I spent the weekend at a women's retreat. After having all the meals cooked for me and a schedule to follow with no one but myself to worry about, I am entirely relaxed. It was a beautiful, spring-shiny day here and I feel as alert and perky today as these tulips I recently had on the dining room table. Happy Monday to you. More details on the craft class I taught at the retreat soon!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-12465624440917707372010-04-04T22:17:00.002-05:002010-04-04T22:25:04.723-05:00

We celebrated Easter today at my parents' house. It was complete with a sunny day, an egg hunt, snuggles with the two new babies and lots of great food. Have you made the challah from Artisan Bread in Five? Mmmm. What are you waiting for? It is THAT good.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-66978244519327532462010-04-03T06:00:00.001-05:002010-04-03T06:00:04.272-05:00

I love to bake cakes. I look forward to family birthday parties so I can look up a new recipe and try my hand at creating something beautiful and tasty. For Carl's family birthday party last week, I found a fun recipe in the latest Bon Appetit magazine for a classic Chocolate Mayonaise Cake. Yes, mayo sounds a bit wierd, but I've learned throughout my marriage to Ron that mayo has its place in

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-52226941647040446972010-03-31T23:45:00.000-05:002010-04-01T23:56:57.826-05:00

Cooper- 15 minutes oldI've been quite absent from here lately. Carl and Gus are on Spring break. When they're on break, we have great fun with many different activities and outings, but there's little time for myself or the computer. .Also, in the past 12 days we've had two babies arrive in my brother and sister's families... Edward and Cooper. The boys are 10 days apart and at least two pounds

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-7825828040162249362010-03-29T12:20:00.008-05:002010-04-01T23:45:00.157-05:00

I picked up an adorable kit at Paper Source last week. It is something that I'm sure I could have figured out myself, but sometimes, it is just nice to get all the pieces in one package..The kids and I drove out to visit my grandma and thought that she might enjoy doing a craft project with us. The chicks were a huge hit! I can now see using the same idea and making squirrels, owls, bats and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-45305878119736065172010-03-25T06:45:00.000-05:002010-03-25T06:45:00.085-05:00

Gus is into making little piles. He likes to leave them all over the house. He doesn't do it to be a pest or to drive me crazy, he just does it because he loves little things. This is the guy who at the age of two started a collection. We'd be out walking or at a park and he'd run up to us to tell us to put his _______ (fill in the blank with screw, nail, stick, rock, hair band, bead, eraser

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-67646796434773580782010-03-24T06:22:00.001-05:002010-03-24T06:22:00.642-05:00

Carl turns SEVEN today. Yes, that means I've been a mom for seven years too. Seven years ago today I went to work, taught a full day of classes and suddenly during my prep period at the end of the day, my water broke. Luckily I was prepared with extra clothes, but my adrenaline kicked in so much that I insisted on staying after with students to do detention and finish my sub plans. My brother

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-63424716693442316472010-03-17T16:27:00.000-05:002010-03-17T21:34:22.527-05:00

We're not Irish, but it has never stopped us from celebrating with the best of them. Tonight we're off to an Irish dinner with my family... complete with cabbage, corned beef, onions, carrots, potatoes and soda bread. I've heard rumors that all of the appetizers are going to be green. This should be interesting. .Last night I got to eat a leprechaun... or, well, Janet's leprechaun bars. Isn't

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-61033959417138594592010-03-11T10:35:00.003-06:002010-03-11T10:49:55.232-06:00

Does your compost pile look like mine does after a long, snowy winter? Next fall we're going to have to remember to empty the bin out prior to the winter, so this vegetable and fruit explosion doesn't happen again. Yuck... or yum.... depending on your perspective. There's a mama cardinal that likes to drop by for bits of fruit, a raccoon that has been known to haul off egg shells and coffee

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-71658869632129885692010-03-10T16:07:00.005-06:002010-03-10T16:50:35.701-06:00

On Wednesdays I get to take the boys on an afternoon date while my Mom takes care of Louise. It gives my Mom some alone time with Louise and my nephew Logan and allows me a few hours to myself, plus afterschool time with just the boys to do more grown-up activities.Since the snow is quickly melting away today with the rain and a forecast that predicts 50s soon, I figured it was time to get

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-78604240523337445732010-03-09T12:46:00.003-06:002010-03-09T12:53:44.355-06:00

I couldn't resist buying a case of oranges at Costco yesterday when I saw these beauties. So bright, so juicy, and almost better than a bouquet of flowers on the table. They bring the spring sunshine straight into our lives and our bellies. And you? What signs of spring are showing themselves to you and your family?

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-53483066087849316712010-03-05T07:00:00.001-06:002010-03-05T07:00:03.142-06:00

Last week, Sarah Jane tagged me to name 10 Simple Things that make me happy. Here goes:1. Kid art.2. Play dates with friends with babies.3. Playing dress up with the neighbor girls.4. Thoughts of summer and putting in the garden.5. This tutorial (I have wanted to order some for so long... now I can make my own.)6. The Slow Food Movement.7. This stair case (compliments of Elly for sharing!)8. Two

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-63998725280384157872010-03-04T11:23:00.003-06:002010-03-04T11:29:48.219-06:00

Many days when Louise, Gus and I are home together, I allow them to have time with the art supplies at the kitchen counter while I'm in a nearby room, cleaning the kitchen, or running up and down the stairs doing laundry. Most days, they get along well and create pretty fantastic things. Recently I was folding laundry in my room and came down to find them in the kitchen looking like this..

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-53813089363631530842010-03-02T07:12:00.000-06:002010-03-02T07:12:00.740-06:00

Have you seen this? The collection of photos alone are enough to inspire me for days, weeks, and more. Watch the credits as they roll to learn about the project.What inspires you these days?

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-50815292366227851482010-03-01T12:07:00.003-06:002010-03-01T12:30:02.580-06:00

We made banana cupcakes last week, the delicious ones from Martha Stewart with the Cinnamon Honey frosting. Around the same time we checked out Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola book called "This is Actually My Party" from the library..The book is a sweet story about Charlie's birthday party where Lola really wants to help out. She opens his cards that come in the mail, she opens presents at the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-87018020509155008772010-02-24T17:17:00.006-06:002010-02-24T21:24:03.073-06:00

Last night my Mom and I got to bake with Zoe. Zoe Francois from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, or in this case, Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day. We took the class at Cooks of Crocus Hill, a fabulous cooking-supply store in St. Paul and location extraordinaire for cooking classes with notable local and national chefs..If you've ever spent any time on my blog you'll know that I've been

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-7091844485988106862010-02-23T16:41:00.004-06:002010-02-23T16:45:02.471-06:00

Guess who came to our house again? This time, an orange fairy! What kind of tooth fairy traditions do you have at your house? p.s. I'm headed to the Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day class tonight with my mom. Can't wait!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307369634005689109.post-5501555376841133482010-02-19T15:56:00.000-06:002010-02-19T15:56:00.148-06:00

Have you been out stomping in the puddles lately? It feels like March around here and we don't mind a bit!Louise finally fits in the skirt I made from recycled fabric many moons ago! The fact that she didn't mind sitting in the freezing water when she fell might indicate that we are ready for some serious potty training. Ouch, so cold!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08720978276410791673noreply@blogger.com1