Monday, July 24, 2006

7.24.06






Happy Monday! Most people don't like Mondays, but I do. Sort of like a "fresh start" day. :D I've been up since 5:15 a.m. when Noah came into my room, tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Mommy, my heart hurts." Poor baby...so I gave him a Tums and let him get into bed with Daddy. I came downstairs, turned on the coffee to brew, and had some quiet time to myself. I really love that quiet, dark time in the early morning hours. Gives me time to think, pray, and plan my day.

Do you have this magazine yet? If you don't, GET IT. Seriously...it is WONDERFUL! And best of all, it's only $6.99. I got it on Saturday at Barnes and Noble and can't put it down! It's full of fun questionnaires and quizzes for you to ask kids, family members, friends...anyone who you'll be scrapbooking. I think I'll choose one and ask Noah some questions today. :) How FUN to read these years from now!

Noah and I are going to have a fun day today. I told him the only thing I must do is laundry, so we might go to a movie or bowling. :) (something indoors!!)

I found this huge box on my porch Saturday morning. Yay! It contains supplies that I'll use for the class I'm teaching at the retreat in September. I guess it will just sit here in my dining room. Noah just wanted the bubble wrap, not the contents. Of course. :) I'll share the project soon, when it's posted on the retreat site.

Speaking of Noah..... He recently got a small Pirates of the Caribbean journal in a happy meal at McDonald's. He loved it and started writing in it. I told him, "this is for writing down things that are in your head that you want to remember." So the other day he was writing when he was mad at me (for not letting him do something he wanted to do). I peeked at it later and he had written..."I am KING of this house. P.S. I like to eat." Bahahaha! I decided right then that I'm going to buy him a real journal and let him write in it each day. He is going to love reading it when he's older! (me, too) :D

Saturday night I made one of our favorite desserts as a special treat. This is more of an autumn dessert, but so many fruits are in season right now that I decided to make it anyway. I used fresh cherries and Gala apples, but you can use other fruits like fresh peaches, blueberries, green apples, blackberries...whatever you like. (well, not watermelon)

Homemade Fruit Crisp




1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/8 c. old-fashioned oats
1 1/8 c. packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 c. toasted walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" cubes and softened
4 1/2 lb. sweet-tart apples (like Gala) *(or 3-4 cups of any fresh fruit, cut and peeled)
2-3 Tbsp. white sugar
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a large casserole oval dish (3-3 1/2 quarts). Stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture forms small clumps. Peel and core apples (or fruit you are using) and cut into 1/4" thick wedges. Toss with lemon juice, white sugar, and 2 Tbsp. flour in a large bowl. Transfer to baking dish, spreading evenly on the bottom. Crumble oat topping evenly over apple mixture and bake until topping is golden and apples are tender, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly and serve warm. (with vanilla ice cream or a little 1/2 and 1/2 poured over the top!)

We had this dessert at a bed and breakfast 2 years ago and I had them give me the recipe. :)
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Thank you to all of you who tell me that my blog inspires you. There really is no bigger compliment. :D Have a blessed day!
- Jennifer

"Cultivate your own capabilities, your own style. Appreciate the members of your family and your friends for who they are, even though their outlook or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don't fly. Eagles don't swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don't have feathers. Stop comparing. There's plenty of room in the forest." - Charles (Chuck) Swindoll

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have this book and LOVE it!

Bonita Rose said...

love your blog.. and I gotta try that recipe.. yum.. and yes, that mag looks like a keeper, I just may see if I can get one later today!
thks for sharing,
bonnierose

Anonymous said...

I must go out and get that magazine! Looks so fun!

I'll have to try that recipe too, but I hate turning on the oven when it's so hot outside. Maybe I'll save it for fall. :)

Courtney

Sophia C. said...

Your crisp sounds heavenly. I'll be trying it when the temps drop below 90! Love that you've organized in binders for your different hats. I started doing that in the early 80s and to this day I can still just grab a planner notebook and know what I'm looking for in seconds. I love your way of thinking, Jen! I'll be checking out the shortcuts book asap! Thanks for the heads up!

Sophia

Anonymous said...

love your blog!!! I'm sooo going to get that book!

Unknown said...

I've seen that book and I've been thinking about getting it. Glad to hear you really like it!
Love that fruit crisp! Yummy!

And thanks for giving me a little kick in the behind to remind me that I need to get up early again to have my quiet time and pray.

Heather said...

Love that mag. Planning on interviewing the kids soon.

Scrapbook retreat . . .I gotta know where!

Anonymous said...

Guess I'm going to have to get that book. I thought it cost more than that and I've kind of been limitiing my idea book purchases of late. Wish I too had some quiet morning time before the kids got up, but my kids are often up at 5 and I just am NOT a morning person. :) Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

OHHHHHHHH...how I have missed reading your blog. My life has been a whirlwind the past few months and unfortunately, reading blogs was pushed off my daily schedule. How fun to receive a box full of supplies. My boxes always sit in our dining area until I use them too....LOL! It drives Chas crazy. This fruit crisp recipe sounds DIVINE! Can't wait to try it!

staceykingman said...

Yes, get him a journal! That was hilarious!!

TracieClaiborne said...

I love what Noah wrote! Too funny!

I love that SS book too. I love anything by SS.

Love the quote too, you always have the best quotes.

I LOVE your binders from the last post. Wowsa! Too cool!

I'm just lovin' you today! :)