Monster Sunflowers

Dear Mom,

I was inspired by The Great Sunflower Project, a program to help with bee conservation. Participants are asked to watch and record the bees at sunflowers in their gardens. The sunflower chosen for this year's bee study is "Lemon Queen". As I was scanning the large variety of sunflower seeds, a came across "Sunzilla".

These giant sunflowers will reach up to 16 feet tall! I intend to plant them in a row on the outside of the fence (out of reach of the chickens) where they will make a living hedge.

They are off to a good start, and they are growing fast! I feel like I'm in first grade again, excitedly watching the seeds sprout and then magically bend toward the sunlight!

Love, Bonnie Jo

Yesterday

Dear Mom,

After too many cold, wet days, we were treated to a beautiful, sunny, warm day yesterday. A good day to spend working in the yard, tending to the lawn and gardens, and remembering.

I always think about Daddy when I am mowing with his John Deere. Now my John, Dear. I remember the time he came out trying to help me figure out what was wrong with my old John Deere, which always worked just fine when he got on, started it up and whipped around my yard at lightening speed, giving me that look that was pretending to be irritated with me for the interruption but the sparkle in his eye, the tilt of his head and the barely concealed smile told me that he was really tickled with the situation and his dumbstruck daughter.

I moved some perennials and planted some new ones. I planted hollyhocks, foxglove, delphinium, shasta daisy, as well as a few that I was not familiar with but looked pretty: silene, soapwort and viola labrador. Now I just need to keep them watered and hope the bunnies don't eat them.

I weeded a bit and cleared up some of the dead stuff from around the perennials. I could spend the entire day today doing the same, but the inside is looking neglected. I need to find some balance. The weather is predicted to be nice through the weekend, so I should be able to manage keeping up with both, and still find time to sit on the porch with my knitting and enjoy it all.

Love,

Kim

1 Corinthians 13:7

Dear Mom,

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love,

Kim

Missed

Dear Daddy,

I miss you.

Love, Wendy

A Frog Pyramid

Dear Mom,

I think we have acrobatic frogs in our pond.

Look...there is another one in the water coming up to complete the pyramid!

Love, Bonnie Jo

A Sweet Poem

Dear Mom,
I was cleaning out paperwork and doing some filing the other day, and I came across a poem I had cut out of the newspaper several years ago. It was worth saving.

KIDS WHO ARE DIFFERENT

Here's to the kids who are different,

The kids who don't always get A's,

The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,

And noses that go on for days...

Here's to the kids who are different,

The kids they call crazy or dumb,

The kids who don't fit, with the guts and the grit,

Who dance to a different drum...

Here's to the kids who are different,

The kids with the mischievous streak,

For when they have grown, as history's shown,

It's their difference that makes them unique.

Copyright 1982 by Digby Wolfe

I like that poem.

Love, Bonnie Jo

I surprise myself sometimes

Dear Mom,

It shocks and shames me to admit that last week, as I stood in the long line at the grocery store, I caught myself perusing the latest issue of Country Music Weekly magazine. It was a slow moving line. I could try and blame it on GinaWhoCanParallelPark, but she wasn't there to put the issue into my hands. Because I did take a swift glance, I was able to give her the scoop on Toby Keith's new clothing line. GinaWhoCan ParallelPark has her finger on the pulse of celebrity gossip, so scooping her is a significant achievement.

As if that admission isn't bad enough, later that day, in an effort to put myself in Time Out so as not to "lose it" while dealing with the kids, dinner and homework after school, I found myself in my bedroom with the door closed and the tv tuned into QVC. (for the record, I didn't intentionally tune into QVC, I just somehow landed there) I was weak. Other than the one time I ordered the "Miracle Mop" when the kids were really little, I have never ordered anything from QVC.

I was vulnerable. There he was, telling me that I was worth it, that I could do whatever I needed to do. All I needed was to believe in myself, and that he believed in me. And it was the QVC deal of the day. I caved.

I ordered the entire library of Richard Simmons' "Sweatin' to the Oldies" DVD's.

I have "Sweatin' to the Oldies" 1, 2, 3, and 4. I have "Party off the Pounds", Richard Simmons SuperSweatin' Aerobic Workout and finally, I have "Boogie Down the Pounds", Richard Simmons SuperSweatin' Disco Workout. The QVC special included the bonus disc "Richard Simmons Love Yourself and Win, Six Steps to Self-Esteem and Permanent Weight Loss" which I suppose next time I put myself in Time Out I should watch rather that flip through the channels and land on QVC again.

Love,

Kim

Audrey Kay

Dear Mom,

I would like to tell you about my beautiful friend, Audrey Kay. She is a librarian at my local library. She sits right there at the front desk. She is the first person we see. Always smiling; always helpful. Not just to us--to everyone. A welcome sight. Take a deep breath and get drunk on Audrey Kay's kindness.

Audrey is also a cancer survivor. I didn't know her when she was battling her cancer but I think she fought with grace and humor. I'm also sure she dug her heels in and fought with anger, too. She was NOT going to let cancer win!!

She is a mother of 2 very beautiful children. Sarah is very much like her mother, humble. Will has a wicked sense of humor, also like his mother.

Audrey knits and crochets. She is involved in several ministries at her church; she knits or crochets prayer shawls AND comfort afghans. If she isn't knitting them herself, she is sewing squares for comfort afghans that people have given to her. I don't know that she has ever knit anything for herself. She is always giving afghans away. I was even the very privileged recipient of a poncho handknit by her for my birthday!!

Are you getting that Audrey Kay is some kind of wonderful?!?!

Sadly, Audrey Kay's husband suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last Thursday. The memorial service for her true love was yesterday. A cold, rainy April day. The kind of weather that puts an exclamation point to a memorial service. The service was full. To honor her husband, but also to honor Audrey Kay. Hopefully we banded together and got to show Audrey Kay what a difference her life is making in our lives. I think, though, that Audrey Kay was more of a comfort to us. She is strength. Grace. Beauty.

Today is her birthday. And while it is marked with sadness, my birthday wish for Audrey Kay is that she will know. KNOW. that she is loved. Deeply loved. Appreciated.

Kim blogged once about channeling her inner Audrey Hepburn. My hope is that I will be able to tap into my inner Audrey Kay.

Happy birthday, dear sweet Audrey Kay!

Love, Wendy

Apple Oven Pancake

Dear Mom,

On a cold, rainy April day, nothing tastes better than eating breakfast for dinner!! One of our favorite "dinners" is an Apple Oven Pancake.

Baked in a deep dish apple pie plate, it comes from the oven like this:

While the "pancake" is baking, I prepare our apples. The apples are finished at about the same time as the pancake and get poured into the hollow pancake. Like this: We slice the pancake while it is still very warm and sprinkle powdered sugar over each slice.

This particular piece is huge and did get cut in half. Our apple oven pancake is pretty rich and sweet and goes superbly with a cold glass of milk. We have talked about serving this with sausage links but we never do. A fruit salad takes away from the cinnamon-y apples. Toast isn't worthy. Apple Oven Pancake is perfect just the way it is. And for dessert? A snuggle with the sweeties!!

Apple Oven Pancake
1 cup milk

6 eggs

2 Tbsp. melted butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray dish with nonstick spray. Combine milk, eggs, butter and vanilla. Whisk in combined flour and salt until egg mixture is smooth (this is a runny batter). Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 350 degrees and continue baking 15 minutes or until sides are crisp and golden brown.

While the pancake is baking, prepare apples as follows:

7 apples, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg
Melt butter in medium skillet. Mix apples with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg until apples are coated. Saute apple mixture in melted butter (cover skillet for approx. 5 minutes to soften apples). Remove lid from skillet to caramelize apples.

Serve with powdered sugar. Enjoy!!

(Note: if you are weird with textures, the apple oven pancake is an eggy pancake and not your typical bready pancake. Just lettin' ya know. I don't want to hear about weird textures from any of ya'll . . . .)

Love, Wendy

How I know she's mine

Dear Mom,
Often I feel like I am an outsider in my own home. In so many ways, our kids are very much like their Dad.
Every so often, though, something happens and I know part of me is in there somewhere. One of those somethings happened Friday evening.
The Young Lady was hit "in the eye" with a tetherball. And she didn't see it coming.
Yep, she's mine.
Love,
Kim

Free Radical

My most recent finished object- The Shipwrecked Shawl

Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.- Voltaire

Dear Mom,

Enough is enough.
Reading that people who drink soft drinks are 2 and 1/2 times more likely to be anxious and depressed is making me more anxious and depressed.
Free radicals are caused, among other things, by stress. The fight against free radicals is Stressful.
Avoid the sun, but get out there and absorb the Vitamin D you are deficient in.
Combat free radicals with antioxidants and Stop the Aging Process! But embrace the "you" you are today, you've earned those laugh lines, stretch marks and gray hairs......
Go organic! But those naturally occurring free radicals? Well not that organic.



Enough is enough. My head hurts.






I am choosing to embrace my inner free radical!

Free- easy, independent.
Radical- a person who holds or follows strong convictions.

And Knitting is my organic, stress-relieving antioxidant.





If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.- Mary Engelbreit


Love,
Kim

Chicken Breath

Dear Mom,

My chickens like chives! This is a problem I had not anticipated. I try to shoo them off, but they sneak behind my back and eat more!

When they were back together in the coop, I noticed their breath smelled like chives! Can you imagine...chive-smelling chicken breath?! I hope their eggs don't taste "chivey", although that might not be too bad in an omelet!!

Love, Bonnie Jo

I can't make this stuff up

Dear Mom,

Just a few days ago, the Young Man was standing about where I was standing when I took this photo:

He couldn't find a hanger.

Why is it that I am the only one who can walk into a room that any member of my family promises has been thoroughly searched for whatever that one thing is they can't find and put my hands on it immediately?

It has come to this: Now when I am told "I can't find blahblahblah", I respond with, "Well, if I find blahblahblah, then you owe me $x.xx." Sometimes this works and they go scurrying off to find it themselves, but not always. I have yet to be paid.

So, knowing he was looking for a hanger, I tried to step outside myself and observe as a scientist might observe animal behavior in nature as the Young Man opened the laundry door and began his search. Search= stand here until the hanger magically appears in my hands. Or until my mother finds it for me. As he began to turn in my direction, the question on his lips, I said "Turn around. Face the washing machine. Right there, directly in front of you. Reach your arm straight out. It will touch a hanger."

"Oh, thanks Mom."

Love,

Kim

Just Dandy!

Dear Mom,

There is a new project brewing at Peacemaker Farm...we are attempting to make dandelion wine.

Cheerful neighbors looked on as we "harvested" chemical-free dandelions from their yards, and excited children were eager to help us collect the yellow flowers! Approximately 2 quarts of dandelion flower heads were collected. The wine recipe requires most of the green material to be removed from the flower heads, leaving a heaping pile of petals. The petals were then covered with boiling water and left to steep for two days.

We are new to the art of wine making, so we are learning as we go. The ingredients are simple: dandelion flowers, sugar, oranges, water and Champagne yeast. It will take six months to a year before we will even know how it tastes!

Love, Bonnie Jo

Cancer Survivor

Dear Mom,
Gracie is my neighbor's granddaughter. Today is her birthday. She is four years old. A lively, active, very funny four year old. She is also a cancer survivor. When she was 15 months old, the doctors found a tumor in her kidney. She had her kidney removed and months of chemo, with a central line in her chest because chemo tubes and needles are so painful for a not-even-two-year-old. We had to be careful when we picked her up, even though that is all we wanted to do. Pick her up and snuggle with her and try to make her feel better. We wanted to try to understand. She has a scar that covers the entire width of her belly; a scar from one side to the other side of her. But two years later and if you don't know Gracie, you would never know she had cancer. She is a survivor. And she is also a deep comfort to me in a way no one knows. She is the baby that we held and cradled and drew comfort from when Daddy died. She was only days old when Daddy died so suddenly. In the shock of Daddy, a baby. In Gracie, there are reminders of time without Daddy. Four years already? I still remember my last conversation with Daddy, like it was yesterday; the laugh of Daddy during that conversation. I also draw strength from Gracie, the little four year old that has survived so much already. Gracie, the baby that provided quiet comfort on a cold and rainy April day.
Happy birthday, Gracie girl!!!
Love, Wendy

Happy Easter and A New Family Tradition

Dear Mom,

The Young Lady's Chocolate Eggs were a delicious success, and I think a new tradition is born. She will be making these again. And again. We've even discussed modifying the decorations for other holidays. The recipe is simple and she made them herself with just a little bit of guidance.

Chocolate Bunny Eggs

makes 2 dozen

1/3 cup butter, softened

3.9 oz. package instant chocolate pudding mix

1/3 c boiling water

3 cups powdered sugar

8-oz. package semi-sweet baking chocolate squares, broken up

tubes of frosting, candy sprinkles for decorating

Combine butter and pudding mix and mix well. Add boiling water and stir until well blended.

Stir in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mix well until you can form a ball. Chill for about 15 minutes.

Using your hands, shape tablespoonfuls of chocolate mixture into small egg shapes about 1-1/2 inches long. Set eggs on a tray or baking sheet covered with wax paper. Chill for 30 minutes.

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate squares on high setting for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes, until partly melted. Stir until smooth.

Dip eggs into melted chocolate with a fork or toothpick. Return to wax paper a chill. Decorate with frosting and sprinkles. Keep refrigerated.

Happy Easter!

Love,

Kim

Meanwhile

Dear Mom,

While Wendy was having the new sprinkler system installed, things continued on pretty normally around here. Normal for Spring Break, anyway. The highlight of Spring Break (for me): The Annual Purge.
We accomplished the annual purge of the kids bedrooms in One Day (a new record!), leaving no surface untouched and every toy, trinket, article of clothing, bead, bobble and scrap of paper evaluated. "Keep", "Trash" and "Goodwill" were the buzz words of the day. I didn't stop to cook. My Hero brought pizza home. With a professional beauty shop hair clip in place to keep my bangs out of my face, we moved furniture, rearranged the Young Lady's bedroom, sweat, dusted and vacuumed our way to completion. They have come to realize after so many years, that I Mean Business and the sooner it is done and behind us, the better.


We rewarded ourselves with a movie the next day.


Last night My Hero took us downtown to Iaria's, an Italian restaurant, family owned since 1933. Curvy red booths. Chianti and calamari. Pizza with real cheese that stretched and stretched from the slice to the Young Man's mouth. The food was delicious, reasonable and plentiful. The bread was still steaming hot when it was delivered to the table. The Young Lady's description of Spumoni ice cream: "It tastes like taffy!"


After dinner we went duck pin bowling, which nobody is really good at, and the Young Lady did better when she used the ball that was so beat up that it wobbled all the way down the lane if that tells you anything about the skill level. Of course, "the boys" did lots better than "us girls", but we all had fun.



That leaves coloring eggs. We tried a recipe the Young Lady found that used beets, onion skins and blueberries to make the dye. An interesting experiment, but if vibrant colors are what you are after, nothing can replace the good old food coloring and vinegar dyes.

beet colored egg

Today we try making chocolate eggs for Easter. If successful, we will bring them for dessert to your house tomorrow.
And it is time to get a grip on laundry and the reality of setting the alarm and back to school on Monday morning.
Love,
Kim

This Can't Be Good, iii

Dear Mom,

After yesterday's post, this is what happened:

The source of the water main break was in front of my neighbor's driveway (the neighbor to the right of us). The water company dug up the street. And we lost all Internet, phone and cable service. For the entire day.

Then this is what happened to my other neighbor's yard (the neighbor to the left of us):

And we lost the free water. For the entire day.

I baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and shared with the repairmen. They were afraid to tell me what was coming so they did this:

This is my front yard. The repairmen drove this into my front yard, parked it and left it there for several minutes. To prepare me. For this:

What you can't see are the repairmen in the hole behind that huge pile of dirt. The work was finished at 7:00 p.m. All of our services are restored. I can do laundry again, but not for free; we can surf the web and talk on the phone again. It was a beautiful day so everyone just played outside anyway. I knitted and read outside. The cul-de-sac and its residents have new copper water pipes. And the water company is sending a lawn service to reseed the yard. Woo hoo!

Love, Wendy

This Can't Be Good, ii

Dear Mom,

The water company came out last night and tied our water together with the neighbor's water. We are sharing water so that neither of us will lose water.

On the upside, the water company has taken our water meters so that our water is "free" since we are inconvenienced and sharing with the neighbors. I have since washed all of our bedding, curtains and anything else I feel needs to be laundered. I have also taken several jacuzzi bubble baths to recover from all of the laundry . . . anyone need to wash a blanket?

Love, Wendy

This Can't Be Good

Dear Mom,

Uh-oh. The water company has been called. I predict the cul-de-sac and several driveways being dug up during our spring break. Specifically, our driveway.

I will keep you posted!

Love, Wendy