Wild Blackberry Jam

We haven't had wild blackberry jam since we moved to this house 4 1/2 years ago.  I was so happy that John found some wild blackberries in our backyard this summer!  He and Luci picked enough to make 3 pint jars plus have a little left over for tomorrow's breakfast, and enough to make a little-bitty cobbler just for John.  Since Luci didn't pick very many, John got rewarded, plus, there's that whole "I hate the seeds!" thing that Luci has.  :)

We also had a few jalepeños from the garden that needed pickling.  There are not enough yet to make many jars--just enough for one and a half pint jars (I don't have any half-pint jars; they are on my shopping list now!).  I added carrots to make up the space in the jar. 

Here are the recipes I used for the blackberry jam and the jalepeños.

Why did you buy THAT?!

I get a lot of ribbing from my family when I go to Idaho.  One of the reasons I get teased is because I always buy a big bottle of vodka (they tease me for plenty more, believe me!).  Now, those of you who know me, know that I don't drink anything stronger than Diet Coke.  Maybe, sometimes, I'll even have unsweetened iced tea.  Yes, UN-sweetened!

So, Why did you buy THAT?!

Because I make vanilla extract with it!

The next question is usually, "Why buy it in Idaho?  Why not back home?"

Do you live in the Bible Belt?  If you do, and you don't drink, you probably don't want fellow church members seeing you leave a liquor store with a bottle in a brown bag.

That's why I buy that big bottle in Idaho, and trek it all the way back home.

When we started the Feingold diet for ADHD/ADD, one of the things to leave our house was artificial flavorings.  Guess what the affordable vanilla extract is?  Artificial!  So I learned how to make our own, and it's much better than the artificial stuff and much cheaper to make than buy the real thing in those dinky, pricey bottles at the grocery store.

Here's how to make your own:

Take about 15 vanilla beans per BIG bottle.

Slit them down the middle and shove into the bottle.  Yes, that's Luci helping.  It's her first time using a real kitchen knife and she felt so proud.  She was nervous, though, and only slit one bean; I did the rest.

Here's the newest bottle next to my last one.  There is still a long ways to go on that half-full bottle.  It can only get better, steeping longer.

Making a label is a must.  I always record the date and how many beans added to the bottle.

Here is a link to what vanilla beans look like growing.  I get my beans from amazon.com.  It is cheap.  You can use the cheapest vodka you like, and if gluten is an issue, look for gluten-free vodka.

Luci-isms

Just a few from our trip:

Upon biting into a banana nut muffin at one hotel:  I don't want this, it has an omelete in it! (we think she meant "nuts")


Upon driving through Kansas:  We are on the other side of the world!


LICENSE PLATE!!  We keep track of license plates and try to spot one from each state.  I even go so far as to carry a blank USA map, to color in each state as we find them.  Every once in a while, Luci would spot an unusually colored one and scream, "License Plate!"  thus ensuring the driver was fully awake.


On Day 14 of our 16-day trip, Luci says, in a mournful tone, I miss Bryan.  It took fourteen days, but she did eventually miss him.  (I missed him all along, but he didn't miss us at all.  Of course.)

Home again, home again, jiggedy-jig!

We all survived the trip out West to see my folks.  My folks even survived the visit!  That's saying something.  We added lots of noise to their house.

Today is our first day home.  This morning, before ten a.m., Luci has tried on four different outfits and modeled them all.  This is the latest today:

Her Williamsburg dress, and baby doll.

Mom, this is what they wore in the Sixties.  When they had ruffle-y sleeves and had babies.  And wore high heels all the time.  That was before America was invented.

I guess my job as teacher is not over, since there's lots of history in that statement of hers that needs correcting. 

After all the Western scenery (which was gorgeous in its own way), it is so nice to see our lush backyard!

More on the trip in future posts.

Luci-isms

Today was HARVEY day. 

That's Harvey and his Mommy, Tori, with Luci.

Isn't he adorable?  Really an angel.


Luci has been so excited to meet baby Harvey.  Tonight she was in Seventh Heaven!

She was Harvey's entertainment, and he, hers.

Here is Harvey when he got his first look at Uncle John. 

Harvey did warm up to Uncle John, and this was the sweet face we saw most of the time tonight:

 Luci-isms from today:

He's older than I was when I was a baby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aunt Quinet told us to grab our buns to make our own hamburgers.  I grabbed Luci's bottom and said, I've got Luci's buns!" and she got mad at me! 

Mom!  Don't say that in front of the baby!  It's a bad word!

I'm just not hungry enough.

We have a vegetable garden.  It is not a big garden.  John planted it one day with Luci while I was in town.

I came home to find he planted a whole row of turnip greens. 

He's the only one who really likes turnip greens.

I'll eat them--sometimes.  Sometimes.  Very rarely.  Almost never.

John decided that we need to put some up for later, so he brought in about half a bushel of greens.  I got about one-third of my way through the mess (properly, they should be called a "mess o' greens") and my hands and forearms were itching!  I did not remember that from past times of working with greens.  I killed a few bugs, too, and washed much dirt off the leaves.  That might be why they are called a mess.  Pretty sure of that.   I am fairly confident that I got most of the dirt off before blanching the greens. 

After all that work, I had enough for three side dishes at suppertime stashed in the freezer.  After all that itching, and chasing some bugs down, I declared that I was done with greens.  I'll wash up a supper's worth at a time, and cook them for John, but no more blanching big messes all in one night.

If times get tougher here than they are now, I might change my mind on greens.  But for now, I'm just not hungry enough.

She said WHAT?

Yesterday, as I was driving Bryan to his ACT test (more on that in a minute), he and Luci were tattling on each other. 

Yes, Luci was along for the ride at 7:15.  Because John was pretending to be asleep when we left home, and so Luci had to come with me.

Anyhow, Bryan tells me that Luci is no fun to babysit.  He was on the list for babysitting because John and I planned to go out for lunch later that day for our anniversary (20 happy years!).

Luci pipes up with, "Mom!  I don't want Bryan to babysit!  I want JT!  Because Bryan makes me watch bad videos, like Star Wars Lego Version!"  Yes, she really starts her sentences with "Because."  Because she learned that from me, her mama.

Bryan fired back with, "You shouldn't tattle on me."

"Oh yeah?  That's how I operate.  That's how my mind works."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, for the ACT test part.  I am Mrs. Calendar, Mrs. Plan-Ahead, I could have run all of the World War II campaigns (Africa, Europe and the Pacific theaters) all at once.  And done it well, too.

So, when it comes time to go on a trip, I pack.  I plan our trip.  I know well ahead of time where we are staying, what we are seeing, how much we can spend, and what to do if some child should have an accident. 

You can imagine my surprise when, about 5 minutes into our 25 minute trip home, Bryan calls me and says, "Uh, Mom, we are one week early.  I don't have to be here until next Saturday!"

NEXT Saturday.

Something tells me he's never going to let me forget this.

But you know the best part?  Some other kid's mom messed up, too.  That kid is the one who let Bryan borrow a cell phone (because you are not supposed to bring one to the test, I confiscated Bryan's) to call me.

Today's Market Activity

Helium was up.

Feathers were down.

Paper was stationary.

Fluorescent tubing was dimmed in light trading.

Knives were up sharply.

Cows steered into a bull market.

Pencils lost a few points.

Hiking equipment was trailing.

Elevators rose, while escalators continued their slow decline.

Weights were up in heavy trading.

Light switches were off.

Mining equipment hit rock bottom.

Diapers remain unchanged.

Shipping lines stayed at an even keel.

The market for raisins dried up.

Dr Pepper fizzled.

Caterpillar stock inched up a bit.

Sun peaked at midday.

Balloon prices were inflated.

Scott Tissue touched a new bottom.

...written by Anonymous, that clever soul!

Making the Sale

My conversation with Luci this morning.  She was so complimentary about her big brother. 

Then she got real.

Mom, Bryan would make a good daddy.

Yes, he would.

But first, he needs to go to college.  Then get a job.  Then get married because he's not living here!

.

Then I get to use his bedroom for my Barbie doll collection.

Time in an Ice Cream Bucket

Hmm, that does not have the same ring as Jim Croce's Time in a Bottle.

As soon as breakfast was over this morning, Luci dragged John outside to go on a treasure hunt.  They followed JT's map (you know, 40 paces this way and 67 paces that way) until they got close.  Then Luci said, "No, Daddy!  Dig here!"

So they did.  John was mystified by the treasures inside, until I reminded him that a six year old chose the treasure.

Reading the map.  John discovers that JT needs a new handwriting teacher.  Or, maybe JT should become a doctor, the handwriting is that bad.

 Following the directions...

 Aha!  There is something down there!

 Luci reads the love note to Daddy.  She has her own spellings, so deciphering it for him is a must.

 Someone's got to fill this hole in!  John chose Luci for the task.  That's Luci's pumpkin plant right next to the hole.

 Luci's first Redish.

Betcha she won't eat any redishes tonight.  Any takers?

Time Capsule

Luci wanted to bury a time capsule...to be unearthed at the late, late date of...
 .
(are you ready for this?)....
 .
(drum roll, please!)...
 .
Tuesday!

So, she and JT put some things in an ice cream bucket and dug up a corner of our vegetable garden.  Our ground here is as hard as concrete.  The garden has been tilled, and this corner next to Luci's pumpkin plant is not in use.

What does a six-year-old put in a time capsule?
.
A Love Letter to Daddy.


A Calculator.


A Fanger-Mayer Glass.
.
.
What?  You don't know what a fanger-mayer glass is?  That's Luci-speak for  Magnifying Glass.

Harder than It Looks

I don't know how my mother did it.  She made the most gorgeous dresses for my Barbie (and for my sister's Barbie, too--can't forget Janet!).  I remember one that was golden and had an overlay of something gauzy that was just incredible.  At the waist, there was a little rosette made from shiny golden rickrack.  Amazing.

So, that was the standard I had in my mind when Luci begged pleaded sweetly asked me to make Barbie dresses for her Barbie. 

Today we went shopping, found a pattern with six different Barbie-type outfits in it, and found "the perfect pink fabric, mama!"  I was thrilled that Luci could see a red dress on the pattern envelope and decide it would be even better as pink.  Not that I'm so in love with pink (it is a fine color, don't get me wrong) but happy that she could imagine it different, and better in her eyes.  It is a true blessing to be able to see "what can be" instead of only "what's there."

Here Luci is pinning the pattern piece for the bodice to the fabric.  With seventeen pins.  SEVENTEEN, y'all!  And every single one of those pins (did I mention there were 17 of them?) were pinned through the material and directly to the tablecloth below.  Which is exactly why we have a cheap plastic tablecloth.  Because we have kids.

Don't you think Luci looks like a real fashion designer, with her side-pony tail and flower in her hair?  She thinks she looks the part!

It got pretty exciting at one point.  I was pleased with myself being all calm and everything, letting Luci "help" me pin the seams, tie the bow, stuff like that.  Until.  Until I noticed Luci crawling under the table, near the sewing machine's foot pedal.  It took me a few seconds to realize that she was getting awfully close to the foot pedal and then ZOOM!  The machine sewed the most delicate seam on the dress like a bunny rabbit!  No more calm mom.  When I got done yelling, I hugged Luci and told her she could help me, but NEVER touch the foot pedal again.  She walked away muttering something about a "psycho mom." 

The finished product.  I am so happy that Luci's happy, and that you cannot see the flubs in this photograph.  And that she chose the simplest dress from the six in the envelope for me to make.

Yes, that's the ironing board blocking the front door, and a water gun on the dining room table.  Not a big house.  And filled with KIDS.

This week

 Luci helped me with the crossword puzzle today:

Yesterday, Luci found her doll cake pan.  I bought it for last year's cake (it was going to be a princess cake) but she decided on a wedding cake instead.  All day yesterday she pestered me.  I think she's more stubborn than I am (and that's saying a LOT).  I caved.  Here is the mermaid cake we came up with last night.  I did not have the correct tips for sea shells or the fishy scales that mermaids have, so here is my best shot.  I also made her more modest than the cake decorations asked for.  I used India Tree natural food coloring, and could not match the colors in the Wilton directions.  Luci was happy with our results, so that's all that matters.  She had fun helping me ice the cake.

At one point last night, I heard Luci tell her daddy, "I have mommy wrapped around my little finger!"

Yup.

Luci-isms

Mommy, I have this crunchy part here on my arm.  Luci, it's a scab.

Hamsterdam--the capital of the Netherlands.

Hamster-- what Luci talked Mommy into getting.  Not to be confused with Hamsterdam, or the Hamster Dance.


Hambony--the machine that cleans the ice at the skating rink,

Mommy, I'm singled. You are married.

Suspenders--being in suspense. Mommy, I'm in suspenders!!

Luci had a doctor's appointment a month or so ago. Everyone (and I mean everyone--from the receptionist, to every nurse, to the doctor and learning specialist) we saw told me that Luci is so verbal. Of course. And I'm paying through the nose for this diagnosis? That she's verbal? On the way home, I told Luci that everyone said she was verbal. Luci got very upset, and told me in no uncertain terms, "I am not a fur-ball!" I guess this is not the time to mention that they also said she had a great vocabulary.

I Won't Let Go

This is a wonderful montage with a song by Rascal Flatts. Get a hanky.

Please don't forget the tremendous losses here in our state and the work still to be done.

I Love My Children

This week, they have all done us proud.  They all worked for the tornado victims in some fashion.  Bryan and JT went out into locations that were hard-hit.  

I've already told you some of what they've done.  Here's a post about Bryan, and the work all of us did in our church's Friendship Center.

JT went to Hatton today--it is only thirty minutes from here.  30 minutes!  So close.  We all keep thinking, "It could have been us."  I think that thought is what is spurring us all on to do what we can.

Here are some photos from JT's day, all taken with his cell phone.

He texted me once he got out to Hatton:  "This place is messed up."  Understatement of the year.

 This photo is right-side-up.  It was taken of a mobile home that flipped multiple times.

 JT's comment with this photo:  "This used to be a house."  Burning what's left to reduce the amount that will need to be removed.

 Luci worked today on a shoebox to send to Kids 4 Alabama.  Please check this group out, and if you can, send a box, too.  You've seen Tuscaloosa on the news, but many more people were affected than just that one city.  Some whole little towns were literally wiped off the Earth last Wednesday.  The children there could use something to hold on to.  The deadline to get something in the mail is May 16.  Luci picked out some necessary items (toothbrush and lipgloss!), and some fun things (lollipops and paint and several other things). 

 After writing a note and drawing a picture, the box is complete.

If you participate in the Kids 4 Alabama box program, please let me know.  It really warms my heart to see something like this get started for our littlest ones!

For Nana

Mom, Luci now takes better care of her dolls, so I let her have the American Girl Ivy  doll that you gave her.  Our homeschool group is going to start up an American Girl club next fall.  I think Luci will love it.

A few weeks ago I ordered "Dollie and Me" dresses--they arrived today.  So cute!

How we are helping...

You can help, too!  Check out this site from our church:

Turning Point Ministry

Check out these sites, too:

Samaritan's Purse

Josh Willingham Foundation

Red Cross

Here is what we've been busy with this week.

First, we took items to our church--that was Thursday, immediately after the tornadoes. Here is Luci with Rhett (Josh and Ginger Willingham's oldest--no relation to us, but we'd be happy to claim them).

Bryan went to Tuscaloosa with a group from our church.  This was yesterday, Monday.  Here are some shots he took with his cell phone.   Here is some furniture the guys brought down.

 Do you remember seeing the Tide--Loads of Hope commercials about Hurricane Katrina?  Bryan was happy to see Tide set up here, too.

Getting items ready for give-away.

Bryan's group had to come home the "long way."  Normally it is a two-and-a-half hour trip down to Tuscaloosa from our town.  Straight down, through some of the worst-hit areas.  Since there is a curfew on many of the roads between here and Tuscaloosa, they had to come home the "long way"--it took an extra hour.  Bryan got home after 9 pm.  Thank you, Randall, for dropping Bryan off on your way home instead of taking him all the way into town to church.  That saved us a 50-minute round trip to town to pick him up.

~~~~~~~~~~

Today we went to the Friendship Center at our church to help sort and put away things.  Lots of things that people are donating are just useless to folks out in the field--come on, people, why on earth are you bringing WINTER clothing?  Summer is almost here, and this is HOT and HUMID Alabama.  THINK, People!  Also, don't bring worn-out things, or dirty items!  Please THINK.

So, we put away winter clothing and hung up other items.  Luci worked harder than she ever has, and did a very good job. JT helped her some, when she would let him (where does she get this stubborn streak?).  (these were taken with my cell phone)

 Mrs. Diane (in the background) got the men to build some hanging racks to fit in this new trailer (bought by these men!  WOW) and Mrs. Diane set up a "store."  Tomorrow morning, she and several others are heading out to Hatton Community to give out children's clothing.  Later they will go back with clothing for adults. 

 Some of the men who worked on the shelves.  They are taking it easy now, but they really worked hard, and did a fantastic job.  John (on the right) supervised--he is having surgery on his shoulder tomorrow and can't do much right now.

 Of course, Sonny had to get silly.  Here he is right before he sneaked up on the others. 

Today has been hard on Luci.  It has been raining all morning.  Pouring at times--we got over an inch of rain today (totaling more than 8.40 inches since last Monday!).  Today John was going to meet us at the church building and take Luci with him to go shopping (Mother's Day is coming!).  Luci would not leave my side.  She cried, and cried, and cried.  She was worried that something bad would happen to me, or to her, while we were apart.  The weather was scary to her.  We reassured her that it was only rain, that the weathermen (all of them!) said NO TORNADOES today.  Prayed with her.  Nothing helped.   So she stayed with me and worked with me while John had to wait until I was done--he waited over two hours as I hung up clothes.  (I think he enjoyed the male companionship in the other part of the Center, though.)  By the time we left the Center, it was just sprinkling hard and she willingly got into John's truck.  I got to go home by myself.

So much going on.

My thoughts are all over the place. 

Certainly with the survivors all over the South.  We've donated to our church's relief efforts, and will continue to do what we can.

Trying to not dwell on the bad stuff too much, for fear of Luci's over-analyzing things to death, and for keeping me out of a depressive state.

So, when Luci is around, we have watched some of THE wedding videos, kept the TV off of the news as much as possible, and generally tried to lighten the mood around here. 

Not to the point of hilarity, that just seems wrong.  But lightening it, certainly.

As evidence of my mixed up thoughts: At this moment I have open in my tabs here on the computer a story about the Royals:  What did the lip-readers pick up on the conversations during the big day?, and a video of Hackleburg, one of the hardest hit areas in Alabama.  The town was closed off, even to help, until late yesterday.

THE Wedding

Luci and I did not get up early today to watch THE wedding of William and Kate.  But...we have seen videos on the internet already, and looked at many photos of the happy couple.  This is one of our favorite compilations of photographs.

The big question from Luci: Will my big teeth come in before I get married? I do not want to get married with these holes in my smile!

Luci thinks this is the blooper reel from this morning: