The Boat Builder

I doubt Mom anticipated the production of a sea-faring vessel when she brought out the craft box for my begging daughters Saturday. Boat building is always on the agenda for my dad. We just didn’t realize the condition was genetic! The girls had moved on to other distractions, while my oldest boy kept toiling away at his sail-equipped canoe, probably inspired by the ship... Read More

A Dad Can Change a Legacy

I rediscovered this snapshot of my parents last week. I don’t know if I love it more because of my mom’s big smile or because my dad made her feel like smiling like that. Music was playing, which meant my dad had to snatch up a dance partner. Be prepared to twirl across the farmhouse floor, even if you can’t dance! I like this picture, too: my dad playing guitar... Read More

An Update

In the last couple weeks I’ve: 1. Said goodbye to my sister-in-law. She went back to the city where she was living before she came to stay with us. We are very sad to see her go. 2. Made an awesome-tasting angel food cake with my sister. Pictures and recipe coming soon. 3. Watched Food Inc. and am pondering going all-natural, buying only organic, local food (except angel food... Read More

Learning to Receive

I introduced one of my husband’s younger sisters a week or so ago. We don’t know how long she’ll stay with us, but we’re glad for whatever time we have. One time, shortly after she came, she said, “Debbie, I don’t know how you handle all these little kids without help.” I don’t know, either. She’s really good with our kids,... Read More

Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

The smell of whole wheat bread, just out of the oven, is one of my favorite childhood memories. Our family never bought bread from the store. Mom always baked it. I was embarrassed to take the odd, thick slices to school as a sack lunch sandwich, but I was plenty happy to eat it straight out of the oven at home! Warm and smothered with butter and honey, it is a glorious piece of... Read More

"Favorite Things" Salad

Today marks Day One of a race with family to see who can lose ten pounds first! I’ve been pulling salad ideas out of the recipe box. For Christmas Eve dinner on my side of the family (where we made bets on who could lose the weight first) we ate a salad that was full of my favorite things. I went home and created my own version: (Click here to read more or leave a comment... Read More

Another Man's Treasure

This past Friday, my in-laws arrived from Colorado. They planned to close on their new house in Kansas at noon. Unfortunately, the bank didn’t have all the paperwork processed, and the closing was delayed until Monday… and then until Tuesday. I started to head to town for food for our weekend guests, when my husband went to the freezer and pulled out that vat of chili... Read More

Fish Faces

(Fair warning: If you’re squeamish, you might skip this post. It’s for my teenage brother-in-law. And for his pet carp, may he rest in peace. 🙂 ) My in-laws came for a visit last week. I’ve explained some of their story in a previous post. It poured rain the entire weekend of their visit. Two of my husband’s younger brothers came along, as well as the... Read More

Annie Had Her Baby…Shower!

Last Saturday we threw a “Bee My Baby” Shower for Annie! She plans to use Burt’s Bees Baby products for her little boy, so we had fun planning a bee theme, with some daisies thrown in for good measure. (Click any image to view it larger. Click here to view my bee baby shower idea collection on Pinterest with links to ideas and places to buy supplies.) I had just... Read More

Aaaaahhh…..

We’re HOME. I’ve been waiting a long time to write those words! This has been a jam-packed week, and we’re only gearing up for more! There have been the usual frustrations with moving: – a sprinkler that won’t turn off and is watering the paved drive – a gas fireplace that is stuck in a no man’s land between on and off – a hitch... Read More