Three Down; One to Go

Yep, three weeks of N being away down and one more to go. 

I must say that this week has been mentally tough and I am SO ready for N to be home again with us!  So to keep things from spiralling downwards here is one tale of woe (in three acts) and then me counting my blessings (so they cancel out the woe - I hope!)  Once again, no pictures sorry.  (You'll be glad in a moment!)

A Cautionary Tale: How NOT to Get Organised to Go to Playgroup on Wednesday Morning

Playgroup is an informal gathering of mums and young'uns at our apartment complex and/or with connections to a local church.  We take turns hosting the group in our homes from 10am - noon each week.  This week we were not hosting.

(Act 1)
Me: It's nearly playgroup time, J.  Please pack away your toys.
J: (starts to hunt for his shoes and repeatedly tries to open the door.)  Pway-grup, pway-grup, pway-grup!
Me: It looks like C needs a quick feed.  Hold on a moment, honey. Pick up your cars, please. (Settle to feed C only to have him fall asleep in my arms, while J gets more agitated.) I guess we're going to be a bit late for playgroup after all.  Why don't you read a story for a little while? (Transfer C to crib to sleep. Read multiple books multiple times to J for 10 minutes.  Whip up a quick recipe - ginger crunch from the Edmonds Book - to bake while C sleeps and J plays again.)

Act 2:
(Twenty minutes after C falls asleep, the baking is in the oven, J is happy playing and I am preparing the icing.)
C: Waaaa!
Kitchen Timer: Beeeeep!  Beeeep!.....
Me: Bother! Hold on a moment. (Switch off timer, turn off oven, get tin out of oven.)
C: WAAAAAA!
Me: Okay I'm coming. (Hurry in to C.)
Me: (to J, while carrying C) Right, now we can get moving.  Come with me to the potty.  That's it.  Now try to go while I change C.  I'll be back in a minute. (*Disclaimer: this has worked well in the past!)
(Go to change C in bedroom.  Put him on the floor mat then move to kitchen to pour icing quickly onto warm base.)
J: (running into the living area with nothing on below his navel) Oh-oh! Oh-oh! Oh-oh! Naughty!
Me: Who is naughty?  Show me what's wrong.
(Walk into bathroom to discover entire new roll of toilet paper is unrolled on the floor.  It makes a big pile!)
Me: Oh, J!  That is naughty.  You know you shouldn't do that.  Now we need to roll it up and we'll be even later to playgroup. (Grumble to self while starting to roll up paper for next 3 minutes.)
J: Oh-oh! Naughty! Time out. Naughty! Time out. (Runs to bedroom, shuts door in self-imposed time out - still amuses me that he'll do it before I even think of sending him at present!)

Act 3:
(Me still in bathroom rolling...)
J: (as he opens the bedroom door again) Oh-oh! Naughty! No.  In the potty. Oh-oh!
Me: Yes, that was naughty but I'm nearly done.  (Pause.) What do you mean, "in the potty"? (Turn to look at J.) Oh man!
(* J hasn't done anything in the potty, but has lost control while he was in his room.  And since he has nothing on to catch it, has left FIVE deposits on the carpet, in gradation of viscosity!  The least solid has been left right behind the door, so as he opens the door it is spread in the gracious arc of a monotoned rainbow.)
Me: Delightful!  Okay, now you can bring me some of the toilet paper that is still on the floor in the bathroom. The biggest piece you can find. (J brings a scrappy strip maybe one square long.) No, I said the BIGGEST piece you could find. No, don't rub! Arrrgh!... ( You can imagine the rest!  Now you are glad I didn't take photos, eh?)

Postscript:
I also managed to split open my finger in my rush to unfold the stroller before we finally got underway to playgroup - arriving at 11.25am!

Counting My Blessings

1. That C was relatively immobile while the comedic tragedy above unfolded and stayed happily rolling around between two toys the whole time.
2. That I can now laugh about this event!
3. For the Hunters, who looked after both boys on Tuesday morning so I could have some time to myself and then invited me for lunch too. Yummy dumplings Georgian style (not US Georgia).
4. Shopping without kids.
5. Mocha.
6. A needed time of reading, prayer and journalling.
7. My wonderful hubby sending an anniversary present - fancy boxes filled with sweets and treats.
8. Friends who you can visit anytime (B particularly this week).
9. Thankful for our sermon series on Ephesians - I love this book!
10. C's passport has arrived.
11. The house is relatively tidy, considering all we have done today.
12. The weather is warm enough to dry most of the washing outside, so I don't have to run the dryer as much.
13. That when J doesn't nap he will go to sleep by 7.30pm.
14. For skype and those I connected with this week.
15. For those praying for us.
16. That this time next week N will be home! :o)
17. That there is more worth counting but that I needn't bore you with it.

Halfway Mark

We've reached the halfway point of N being away, and today happens to be our 13th wedding anniversary (in NZ, it's tomorrow here).  I guess, unlucky for us, given we can't celebrate together this year.

We've had a less hectic week, but still haven't much to show for it!  Some highlights:

* Playgroup at our place this week

* A bunch of skype conversations with family and friends (Thank you all)

* An impromptu playdate with J's friends that ended up with them staying for dinner after splashing in the paddling pool

* Hearing a friend preach at church on Ephesians 4:1-16

* Fun at Kai's 4th birthday party at a spray/splash park. Left my camera on the countertop with our sunscreen, but it was awesome to watch both boys having fun with the fountains of water, and chowing down on watermelon.

* Dessert for one (or two if you're not as greedy as me!)  Here's the recipe and my modifications.

Dangerous Chocolate Cake In-A-Mug (from St Matthews Church Recollections Recipe Book 1961-2011)

Ingredients:
1 coffee mug
4 Tbsp flour
4 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp milk
Small splash vanilla essence
3 Tbsp chocolate chips (optional)

Method:
Put dry ingredients in the mug and mix well with a fork.  Add egg, mix thoroughly.  Pour in milk, oil and essence, combine then add chips if using.  Put mug microwave and cook for 3 minutes (1000W oven).  Cake will rise over the top of the mug, do not be alarmed.  Allow to cool, then tip out.  This can serve 2 if you want to feel virtuous!

And WHY is it the most dangerous cake inthe world? - because you are now only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!

My notes: a bit stodgy for cake so better as pudding eaten right out of the mug.  I have also made a variation (when cocoa was unavailable) substituting orange essence for the vanilla and spooning a couple of tablespoons of caramel sauce/icecream topping over the cooked cake still in the mug.  Yum!

One Week Down

Well, we are one week into our time with N on a business/family trip to NZ.  We haven't had time to get bored, nor to take any photos.  Here's the lowdown...

*Monday: dropped N at the airport in the late afternoon.  Grouchy C in the car on the way home.  Discovered he had cut his first tooth when I got home.  No biting yet - yippee!

*Tuesday: I volunteered at Vacation Bible School (VBS) at church in the morning.  Cool programme.  Had said I could be thrown in the deep end given my teaching experience and was... led the preschool video viewing, discussion and drama session.  Got a bit sick of acting like a pig by the fourth rotation!  Boys had fun in nursery.  Skyped with Daddy each afternoon since now.

*Wednesday: regular playgroup in the morning.  C cut his second tooth.  Had a friend and her Russian visitor over for dinner.  They brought yummy mini pies from an orchard to sample. :oP

*Thursday: volunteered at VBS again.  Much simpler this time - assisting the Godly Play/ Montessori style scripture reading/drama, switching lights on and off and preparing glow-sticks.

*Friday: VBS final day.  Same session but this time I doled out gummy fruit snack fish - no such thing as chocolate fish or Spratz here!  J inadvertantly (I hope) brought home a 'mighty mixer' with his toy cars today.  Knows it will be returned next time we go to church but is making the most of having it at home!

*Saturday: library visit as usual.  Signed up for the Mayor's Summer Reading Program.  We already read at least 3 hours a week, so no extra effort required for child passes to local attractions and chance for prizes at the end of summer.  Hope to use some of the passes in the coming weeks.  Fort Worth Museum of Science and History was this weeks' pass.  Grumpy afternoon and then both boys had temperatures at bedtime. That's what happens when you're in nursery for half the week!

*Sunday: skipped church because of yucky colds, grotty moods. I am sick of their whining but otherwise fine.

*Monday: getting better, ventured out to the shop for some milk and to the post office.  Bought 'Cars 2' stickers for J.  Big mistake!  Tantrum each time I only give 1 sticker.  Goes to sleep with packet under pillow.

*Tuesday (today): J is croaky but otherwise fine.  C testy but okay on the whole.  Hunter family kindly comes over to babysit with their 2 boys (essentially a playdate where I didn't have to mind anyone).  They bring their lunch, lasagne for our dinner (delicious!), and squash & jalapenos from their garden.  Take boys for a walk while I indulge in a long shower, make bread and start tidying the closet.  What a blessing!  J still sleeping with stickers under pillow.  Off to bed for me soon.

May Madness

May has been super busy.  Here are some snaps of our happenings.

Mother's Day at the park

 C is sitting...

 and J is feeling snuggly!

 How many toys fit on the truck?...at least 4

 It's warming up - lots of time on the patio now

 J drew a 'picture for Daddy' to celebrate his exam being over... just not on paper!

 Auntie April stayed

 J wasn't in the mood for pictures!

 This is the end of a half hour concert

 Mr Independent

 C can roll almost anywhere... wanna play?

 I finished N's kindle cover...

 ...at last!

 Belated Merry Christmas!

 And N finished building his model car

Whew!  What will June bring?

Berry Nice

The kitchen has been busy here lately, despite the heat.  I got a good deal on some blackberries (12 x 6oz punnets) through our food co-op a fortnight ago and this week I've ordered strawberries.

One punnet was made into blackberry and apple galette based on Sophie Gray's "Free-form fruit galette" (from Destitute Gourmet: Everyday Smart Food for the Family, p. 51).  The pastry is deliciously 'short' and easy... 1 heaped cup flour mixed with 80g butter until crumbly, add enough water (a few tablespoons) to bring it together in a smooth dough.  Rest in fridge 20 mins.  Roll out in rough circle of 35cm and place on baking sheet.

The recipe calls for egg yolk to seal the pastry but I didn't bother.  It is then supposed to be sprinkled with 2 Tbsp of semolina, which I didn't have.  I didn't have quick cooking tapioca either (the US pie-making staple) so I substituted 2 Tbsp of dry baby rice cereal (of which I have plenty at present!) to absorb the fruit juices as the galette cooked and prevent soggy pastry.  Then pile prepared fruit in the centre (about 700g).

Fold up the edges to encase the fruit and sprinkle with sugar, up to 1/3 cup.  Instead of using egg white to glaze the pastry, I dampened the exposed edges with water and sprinkled some sugar there too.

Bake approximately 35 minutes, or until fruit is cooked and pastry golden.  Serve with cream or icecream for a decadent touch. :o)

This one wasn't as spectacular as another galette I baked earlier in May with super-ripe apricots, mangoes and blackberries... odd but delicious combo!  This is a very versatile recipe that can be used with preserved, tinned or fresh fruit in virtually any combination (draining the juice or syrup off, of course).

Two more punnets of blackberries have been frozen for use in future pies, muffins, etc.

The remaining punnets were cooked in two batches of apple and blackberry jam.  The recipe is from a NZ food magazine but I've lost the reference (I think it may have been the inaugural issue of Dish).

Wash and thinly slice 350g of apples, leaving the core in and skin on. (I took out the stalk.)

 Place in a large saucepan with 1 kg of (washed) blackberries and 2 c water.  Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer until apples are very soft.

 Remove the fruit with a slotted spoon and blend in a food processor until smooth.

 (Weigh the bowl you are about to use, or reset your scales to zero with the bowl on top.) Place a sieve over a bowl and push the fruit pulp through using the back of a spatula or metal spoon.  You should have about 1/2 c of seeds to discard, or else your sieve may be too fine. (I had way more to discard but I wasn't about to ruin my flour sifter!)

 Strain the cooking liquid over the sieved pulp and whisk together.  Weigh the mixture and add an equal weight of sugar, e.g. 500g of fruit pulp needs 500g sugar.  (See why it was important to weigh the bowl now?)  Put fruit and sugar back into the cleaned saucepan.  Add the juice of 1 lemon.  (I had frozen lime juice so I used about 4 Tbsp.)  Heat gently to dissolve the sugar - important so jam doesn't crystallize and go sugary when stored. (Put a saucer in the fridge to cool.  Sterilize jars.)

 Increase the heat and boil rapidly to setting point (see below), skimming any foam from the top.  (It only means the finished jam is more attractive, but I figure that the apples here are usually waxed so skimming of the froth can't be a bad thing!)

 Pour quickly into sterilized jars and seal.  (I finally found a use for all those baby food jars that are accumulating.)  Seals should 'pop' in when cool.  Store in a cool dry place.  (If seals don't pop, store in fridge and use within 6 weeks.  Makes about 4 cups.

Setting point:  To test for setting point, place a small amount of jam on a chilled saucer.  Gently push it with a spoon (not your finger - this stuff is hot!).  If it wrinkles it is at setting point otherwise, keep boiling.  When setting point is reached this jam sets quickly!
Sterilize jars: put through a hot cycle of the dishwasher.  Or wash in hot, soapy water; rinse well; place on an oven tray on a cold oven; heat to 250*F and leave for 1/2 hour.  Handle with care!

Milestones

We've hit some milestones in the past couple of weeks. Some just growth, others glad to have made it!

* C turned 6 months old.

* C is fitting 12 month sized clothing that J was still (just) fitting at age 18 months!
* J has been weaned from a bottle at bedtime - at last!  We celebrated big boy status when the bottles were ceremonially put in the dumpster by going to the park.

* C has started solids.  Rice, oatmeal and apple so far.

* N has finished his first year of PhD classes (the 2nd semester is over but the summer holds 2 field exams and a language exam)
* J is wearing big boy underwear - and we are still working on avoiding accidents.
* April is staying with us for a couple of weeks.  She's finished her first PhD year too.

The Word of the LORD

I had to smile today.  There's nothing like some literal scripture reading :o)

Our lease is up for renewal in July and we just received a notice about this and a rent increase.  We decided to renew it for 12 months, despite the remote possibility that we would need to break the lease and move somewhere cheaper if N's contract in NZ is not renewed after January 2013.

In my prayer time I was seeking confirmation of the decision and God spoke pretty clearly.   The assigned psalm in my devotional today was Psalm 16, verses 5, 6, and 8.  Even v.7 is relevant!  The passage reads:

5. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

6. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.

[7. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.]

8. I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. [my emphasis]

Had I gone searching for something to back me up, rather than just asking God to confirm or deny the decision, I may be accused of proof-texting!