Thinking Day

So, this morning was not our typical try to sleep in while the kids watch cartoons in the next room kind of morning. First, I got up late 0700 - not late you say? My alarm went off at 0500, but I decided I wasn't ready, so I shut it off and went back to sleep.

Bad decision. I had a beef roast to boil and bake, a black bean spread to be made and used to frost some flat bread, 10 cups of rice to make, 10 passports to finish, all the while trying to get a shower, get dressed, etc., get 3 kids moving and doing the same to get on the road by 1000 to pick up 2 girls to arrive at our destination by 1045. Didn't happen quite like that.

Thankfully, Jesse's TDY didn't happen as planned and he was back last night, awaiting the new flight schedule. He was such a sweetheart this morning and helped the kids get ready, me get packed and on my way. Even with the extra help, I didn't get on the road until 1045.

It's 10:26 P.M. and I just finished another email for cub scouts and made a list for the Blue and Gold tomorrow afternoon...*deep breath*

I'll try to get some pics up from Thinking Day tomorrow and maybe even the Blue and Gold...really.

{hugs}

angi

Where did the time go?

So, 2 weeks have gone by and the pace at home hasn't changed much. It's 1230, like in a.m. and I am now just getting a few moments to myself! Jesse was gone part of this week. Off visiting another country (again) and that left me all the driving for the week! Not complaining, it's just the way it is.

I am truly enjoying my last year of sharing my days with one of the kids. Evelyn will start kindergarten in the fall and I am already preparing for those "lonely" days. I've started attending a monthly craft class (I'm starting small!) and am working on organizing the family photos and my craft room - so I can do something with the photos!

Trying to downsize the commitments - but I struggle with this one. I'd rather be at the school volunteering or planning the next GS meeting - the laundry and dishes will still be there when I get home! I have gotten so used to being busy (not necessarily productive, though) that I'm not sure what I will do when Evelyn goes to school...I doubt it will take me long to figure this one out! Leave me some suggestions in the comments!

Here's a little something from Evelyn:

Evelyn: I can't wait for Daddy to grow up!

Me: Why is that?

Evelyn: He'll be funner when he doesn't have to go to work!

Does that mean I'm all grown up?!

{hugs!}

angi

Picture, please!

Just taking a quick break from the "have to do today" list...

Wow! Just when I think I've found something uniquely interesting...so have hundreds of others! A while back I saw this blog where this guy was taking a picture a day for the entire year. I thought, "Self...this is an interesting concept! I think that I will try it and see what happens."

(It just so happens that Donna Downey also is doing this! She talks a bit about it in her January 2008 newsletter Creative Playground.)

So, I've been taking a(t least) picture a day. So far, so good. Now, if I had only said, "Self, a picture a day and then post it for the next 365 days..." I suppose that would have been something else entirely! Then you would have expected me to actually post, right?! Well, those of you that don't know me, anyway...

Not too much going on here out of the ordinary. Dance classes for all of the girls now, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, youth groups, school...of course it is the new year, so we are halfway to being finished with preschool, second grade, fifth grade and *gasp!* junior year! Where has the time gone? It definitely hasn't slowed down.

Jess gave me a new camera for Christmas - the Nikon D40x - love, love, love - him, I mean! ;) The picture definition is wonderful, working on the quality of the pics. Unfortunately, it does take longer to upload, so that will have to wait until later (today? Friday?...maybe this weekend...)

Banana Cupcakes

Mmmm! This is my most requested recipe to date by my kids – many times by my picky son for his classroom snack! The original recipe came from a recipe book that my mother used while I was young. I believe my grandmother gave the book, the Pennsylvania Grange Cookbook, to her when my parents were newlyweds! It's one of those cookbooks that clubs and groups put together with members contributing the recipes. This compiled cookbook was first published in 1972!

It is full of old fashioned goodness before the downfall of shortening and sugar. The original recipe is sinfully delicious! Sweet, buttery, fine crumb cake with a hint of banana. I don't ever remember my mother using frosting as called for in the recipe.

It's a great recipe. Over the years I have made hundreds of cupcakes and the recipe is very flexible - I have made the cupcakes with ½ the sugar; part wheat flour; applesauce for part of the fat; added citrus flavors; used plain yogurt instead of buttermilk; used flavored yogurt; soy milk instead of the buttermilk; added crushed flax seed… It will even take up to a cup of additions such as chocolate chips, nuts, raisens, oats… double it with no problems!

Here's my modified version of the original recipe that I use most often…

½ cup sugar
½ cup butter (1 stick, room temperature)
1 tsp. vanilla (any flavored extract or oil)
2 medium eggs
2 cups of unbleached flour (or half wheat)
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
about 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
¼ cup yogurt (without gelatin)
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F (about 190°C) and place papers into muffin pan or grease muffin cups.
1. Sift baking soda, salt and baking powder into flour; set aside.
2. Cream the butter and sugar till smooth; add vanilla.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Add dry ingredients and bananas and yogurt alternately, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate chips.
5. Fill muffin cups ½ full for flatter tops, ¾ for full tops.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly golden on top.

Makes about 21 cupcakes with additions.
Enjoy!


The original Banana Cupcakes recipe from the 1972 Pennsylvania State Grange sent in by Mrs. R. Paul Grim of the Virginville Grange No. 1832:

1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup short.
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 ¼ cups sifted cake flour
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
1 cup mashed bananas
¼ cup buttermilk

Cream shortening and vanilla; add sugar gradually, creaming till light. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together dry ingredients and add alternately with mashed bananas and milk to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Fill greased or paper lined cup cake pans ½ full. Bake in moderate oven at 375° F for 20 min. or till done. Cool and frost.

Dare I say "New Year's Resolution?"

I know...been awhiiilllle since I've posted, but if you check out my track record, regular posting is not on the "to do" list. Holidays and all...I do have a lot of pics to share and the kids are on winter break, so I may find some time between the Cosmic Catch, trying to figure out where to put the Wii and taking care of those little details like dinner (Thanks, Jesse! I owe you...) I hope to get back on here with some life moments to share!

Hope you're having a great winter holiday!