Take My Breath Away

No, I don't mean in the Top Gun Berlin love song kind of way - I mean the stop and stare sort of way. So lovely that you want to take in every detail. You know, the kind of beauty that just makes you want to linger.

Now that the weather has improved, the kids and I walk to and from school just about every day. Sure there are the days that I would rather struggle with buckling three children into the car than tell Spencer and Owen to get their shoes on one more time, but then I miss the chance to see these amazing poppies.

Actually, it is a bit ironic because it is one of the few times that they actually tell me to "hurry up".

Not now kids I'm basking!

Interested

We are very lucky to have many talented people in our family. We have artists, seamstresses, knitters, needle workers, quilters, and even origami masters. Our house is a home because it is filled with many creations from our family members. It is so nice to fall asleep and wake up to every one's handiwork that is all about. Personally, I always love to see how people have made their houses homes. Yeah, you can call it nosey, but interested works too. So, to indulge those who may be "interested", this is basically our upstairs. (Sorry the photos aren't better - I was in a bit of a hurry)

A tweet little cake

I will start by apologizing for the title - I just couldn't help myself.

That being said, I made a cake. We are celebrating Sam's birthday Saturday with a sushi party. Since he already got his chocolate mousse and I need the practice, I decided to make a cake. We are making our own rolls and because rolling California rolls is about as time consuming as making a fondant covered cake, I thought I would get the cake out of the way today. Plus, I need the practice! I am making a cake this June for a non-family member's big birthday party. As you can see, I made a big grown-up mess. An "ace of cakes" I am not.

Quite a mess I know, but I think it turned out well.

The one thing that differentiates a grown-up mess from a kid mess - inevitably, grown-ups have to clean it up.

Oops, I did it again

What did you just say? Did I hear what I thought I just heard? My darling boys singing Britney Spears? Nawww - couldn't be! After the third time I just had to ask,

Me - Owen, Spencer, what are you singing?
Boys - Oops, I did it again.
Me - Uhh, guys, where did you learn that?
Boys - From Nicholas
Me - Ohhhh.

Nicholas does have an older sister. I am really hoping that she heard it on a commercial and not from actually listening to the raunchy pop princess, but I suppose it is bound to happen.

Yesterday was Sam's birthday and, just like every other year, he asked for chocolate mousse. I get it, he is not a cake kind of guy, but mousse? I have tried and tried to make mousse, but have never had a success. I think it was after the third failure, chocolate soup, that I said I would never ever make it again. Since then, I have tried to steer Sam toward lemon meringue pie, flan, ice cream pies - you know, things I can actually make.

I have been made a liar before, something about no more kids, but I decided to give it a go. I scoured my cookbooks, looking for a good basic recipe that I had not yet tried. The whole time I am looking, what do you think is playing through my head? Yeah - "oops, I did it again".

Well, it wasn't an oops after all. I picked a recipe that used gelatin instead of eggs and...success!

Foolproof Chocolate Mousse

adapted from Women of Great Taste

3 Tbs Water

1 envelope (1 once) unflavored gelatin

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted (I would use more next time)

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1 cup hot milk

3/4 granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups whipping cream, whipped

Combine water and gelatin in a bowl and set aside. In a saucepan melt chocolate. Once melted, stir in confectioners sugar. With a whisk, add hot milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat just before mixture boils. Stir in gelatin, granulated sugar, vanilla and salt. Transfer to a large bowl and chill mixture about one hour, or until thickened. Once chilled, beat mixture until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped cream and spoon into serving dishes. Chill for several hours.

Happy Birthday Sam

Happy Birthday Sam!

Photo from Trek.com

Hope it is as much fun as being married to you.

The check is in the mail

Did you see the May 14, 2007 issue of Newsweek? There was an article titled, "Baby Needs A New Pair of Shoes", which, as you probably guessed, is about the cost of raising children. I thought the article was a bit ridiculous, actually, it was like propaganda for population control.

It is probably a bit hypocritical for me to dismiss the majority of the article and then advocate one portion, but I am going to do it anyway. I must say that I wholeheartedly agree with the opening of the article which states: "It seems that if homemakers were ever paid for the myriad jobs they perform—from chef to chauffeur to psychologist—they'd command a whopping $138,095 annually." I would like to be paid bi-monthly please.

Sam said he loves me and appreciates all that I do and my check is in the mail.

I thought he might say that, so I bought this lamp ($30 at TJ Maxx) so he could show me how much he cares. Nice isn't it?

My Expensive $21 Chandelier

I found this chandelier on Ebay and, since I had been looking, and since this one was in Michigan, I bid on her. The best part - I got her for $21. Well, after getting her home, I found that she needed a bit of a face lift. After a nice hot bath, a scrubbing behind her ears and a $50 shopping spree at Lowe's for some new clothes and a few unmentionables, she was finally looking presentable. She was now ready to find her place in the dining room. It was not until we got her into the dining room that we began to see her true colors. This blue and white chandelier was starting to show her shades of red - as a redhead, I am allowed to say this. Sam tried to put her up and boy did she spark up. Literally, she sparked. I guess when I gave her her bath and reassembled her, with a struggle I might add, I pinched a nerve. Well, after some more sparks from her, a blown dimmer, and many, many unpleasant comments from Sam, she found her place and, the best part, she only cost $21.

As Promised

To have four generations sitting around the table and dancing to jazz with my guys made for an extra special Mother's Day. No, I am not quite sure what they were doing at that moment, but the guy with the trumpet said Owen dances like Michael Jackson. Because he said "dances", I took it as a compliment - that kid really can dance.

As promised here are the seersucker suits and saddle shoes:

The pretty dress:

The sprouting bulbs:

The horses in the fancy gear:

The museums rich in history, okay, okay, the second one is actually a store, but I love the color combination.

Sorry, I have no fudge to show - it just didn't last that long. Instead, how about some moss and lichen growing on a 100+ year old lilac? Not quite the same, I know, but it's all I have.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jeanette!



You inspire many.

We're Off

We're off to the land of seersucker suits, saddle shoes and pretty dresses. We will be staying at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island for Mother's Day. The boys love the carriage rides and taking the ferry over, but truth be told, I go for the fudge. Sure the island is pretty with all of the bulbs in bloom, yes, there are plenty of museums filled with interesting history and the horses look lovely all decked out in their fancy gear, but they have fudge there and lots of it.

Photo from the Grand Hotel

Fairy Frenzie

We have been struck by a fairy fever. It started with cute little doors that popped up here and there around town. The wee winged folks have become so popular, now you can buy your own urban fairy door at a local shop, Red Shoes. The fervor for fairies even hit Spencer's Kindergarten class - the kids made their own fairy houses in art class. The cottages were styled to appeal more to the rural fairy rather than the Ann Arbor urban fairy. The woodsy little houses were made from a peat pot, some moss, a few feathers and a whole lot of glue. Each child was asked to bring in something special for his house and Spencer chose to bring in a miniature set of wind chimes that he made with Sam. It came out very cute, but one sometimes wonders what goes on in that brain of his - Spencer's that is...

As a surprise for the kids, another mother and I made these fairies. They were intended to be a kid-craft, but for older children because they require some fine motor skills that my boys do not yet have. The first 10 were fun, the next 5 tedious and the by the time I got my production line going for the next 5, I could have made 20 more. "Could" being the key word.

Tooth Friendly Cherry Almond Biscotti

Cherry Almond Biscotti

2 1/4 C Flour

1 C Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

3 Eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

1/4 C Sliced Almonds

1 C Dried Cherries

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

Combine dry ingredients in bowl . Add eggs and vanilla, mix until moist. On a floured surface, fold in almonds and cherries. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion of dough into a log that is approximately 14 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Bake 30 minutes, or until firm. Cool.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Cut biscotti into 1/2 inch slices with serrated knife. Stand upright on cookie sheet and bake an additional 20 minutes or until golden brown. They should be crisp, but not hard.

Treasure

Today we had three of Spencer's friends over after school - it was our turn to host the gang... For those of you keeping track, the tally was:

• Four 5 1/2 year old boys,
• One 3 1/2 year old boy who thinks he is 5,
• One 1 1/2 year old girl who thinks she is 5.

They played, lunched, played, crafted and played. The craft was to make their mom a photo magnet for Mother's Day. As I was checking out at Jo-Anne's this weekend, I found these for 50 cents a piece.

They were chalkboards, but with a magnet, a digital photo and some 3M Post-It photo paper they are, hopefully, a mom's "treasure".

Wrapped and ready to go home.

So Soon?

Am I the only one that did not know about the Midwest gardening rule? This weekend I was politely reprimanded by my neighbor when she found me out in our yard planting away. “Oh, you’re planting already?” she asked. Apparently there is some “rule” about planting before Memorial Day, but after the long Michigan winter who can wait that long? I sure couldn't. Full of spring fever and ignorance, I bought my annuals, a few strawberries, tomatoes and, the necessary counterpart, basil. What can I say, I am a rebel (yes, without a clue)!