Albert and Darling

I hope you don’t mind, but today is not about our aviary patrons. It’s about a brother and a sister. Let’s meet them, shall we?

Here they are.

They started off as two wee little seeds planted in a plastic cup by Luke at preschool. Oh, yes- those kind. We all know, the likely-hood of those seeds growing into anything but a soggy mess (due to zealous watering) is pretty slim. But somehow, Albert and Darling made it past that initial stage and into the actual ground.

We watered, monitored, watered again, checked on them, let God water them, let God grow them and waited some more wondering if we would ever get anything beyond those first few leaves.

Albert took off like a shot! Oh my! We were always surprised at his growth whenever we checked on him. He was tall, he was handsome and he went out for track where pole vaulting was his favorite event.

One night a strong wind blew through town and besides re-arranging everyone’s lawn furniture and causing a general ruckus, it also knocked the wind out of Albert. We found him laying in the bushes, not uprooted, but still with a neck injury. So Bill made a splint from a fence post, propped him back up and we waited to see how Albert would recover.

Well, Albert is quite tenacious. What was thought to be an career ending injury, straightened back up and on he grew!

Meanwhile, little Darling was never much of a sprout. She just didn’t grow. If Albert and Darling are twins (paternal, of course) then I’d say Albert got the lion’s share. We watered, watched and waited on her just as much as Albert and on she grew, but at her own pace. We were never negligent of her, but when Albert was such a show-off, we sort of forgot about Darling.

Then, lo and behold, one day while picking tomatoes, Audrey said there were two sunflowers. I rushed out and there was Darling, peeking from behind one of Albert’s gigantic paws. She was so pretty and quite shy. With her permission, we were able to capture her fleeting beauty.

Overshadowing her was her big, hulk of a brother. That old neck injury had played it’s hand again and there stood Albert drooped over. Since his glory days have long gone, he’s resorted to gloom and despair and is now an emotional eater. Darling just waits for her glimpses of the sun as the breeze attempt to lift brother’s shade for her.

I saw her the other day and she was fading fast. She always was a delicate thing and the onset of heat had “done her in” as she quoted a line from her favorite musical character, Eliza Doolittle. Perhaps, if I get a chance, I will see if she is available for one more autograph. I have no doubt there is more to be heard from her brother. He may yet have another moment in the sun.

Charles and Phoebe

Thanks to a birthday gift to Ben a few years ago, (build your own birdhouse) we’ve been slowly establishing the Ward Fly-In Diner. Over the years we’ve added a couple of things to the menu and a few more dining areas. Here are a few of our regular customers.

At this feeder we have thistle seed and our first American Goldfinch. His name is Charles.

Charles likes to check things out for himself, but keeps to himself for the most part, except for his pretty little chirp to us know he’s there. He’s not quite as formal as his name implies, but Charles still fits the best. Only once, when I put fresh seed in the feeder, did I hear him talking while he was eating. It was then that I learned that he sometimes goes by Chuck and that his manners are not as impeccable as his bright coat might suggest.

Charles is not single. He’s got a wife. Her name is Phoebe. (He’s quite loyal to her, so not to worry.) I believe Phoebe is much more refined than her husband. (She would’ve tsk, tsked at some of his table manners had she been there.) She is quiet and reserved and afraid of too much publicity because she is a very good, protective mother.

Mostly Charles comes and he can stay for quite a while. Phoebe will come, but very irregularly. I think she must visit her mother often, getting wise advice on being a wife and mothering.

We have had one other goldfinch visit. He is much younger, perhaps the son of Charles and Phoebe, but I can’t tell yet. When he’s around the two males squabble a bit. I have another two feeders to put up and I could fill this one further so there was more leg room, so once I’m done expanding the dining area, we will see how these two interact.

New Territory

In case you missed the back to school post, or are new to reading my blog or know nothing about my family, let me fill you in. All of my children, and I only have three, are now in school. Translation: I don’t have any kids at home during the day.

In case you missed my last recital for a while post, or are new to reading my blog or know nothing about my former job as a piano teacher, let me fill you in. I’m not teaching anymore. Translation: The two things that filled my time during and after-school are no more.

Summary of my life right now- This is all new territory for me. I’ve never been here before.

Questions asked.. So did you cry when they left? What are you doing now? Do you miss teaching? What are you going to do with all your free time? and more.

Questions answered…

I actually didn’t cry when the kids left, which is surprising because with Audrey I sobbed on her first day of preschool, kindergarten, okay, both. I didn’t jump up and down for joy but I wasn’t sad either. This is life. The next right step is for my kids to go to school and I’m not going to hold them back because I don’t want our life to change.

The next three questions are all answered in one, sort of. Last Monday I would have started my first week of lessons in the studio. I didn’t do that. When I realized that, I was sad a little. Why? Because I love teaching piano. But I was glad to not have to do that on top of what I’m doing now because where would I fit that in?!!! I’ve been busy.

As a coordinator for the Rosebud Exchange Program, I’ve been at my computer or on my phone a good amount of time, helping host families work out details and fielding questions and exchanging texts and listening to praises and problems. Though I didn’t do as much this summer as I thought I would, I’ve certainly made up for it in the two weeks the kids have been here. This doesn’t take up all my time and comes in waves. I am thrilled to do what I can.

Our home has been an open door to lots of people over the last month, also. I’m so glad for all who stayed. I plan on keeping it that way!

I’ve also spent time with my family as we now work through estate things after the death of my uncle. This definitely comes in chunks and is often a sad, sorrowful thing. My family is never far from my heart as I seek the Lord through it all. I love them and I want His glory to shine through us. Psalm 119:68 says “You are good, and what you do is good.”

I found that verse today in my time in the Word and that’s another thing that I continue to relish- my alone time with Him. I soak Him up as much as I can with these quieter days. It’s not always this way but while I’ve got it, I’m trying to store up as much as I can.

I’m spending time with friends. My friend, Kate, had a little get-together the first Friday of school and then Angie had her craft day. Plus, I’ve had lunch with a friend and other occasions with friends. Yay! I’ve definitely missed that over the years.

I love being there for the kids when they get home. Yup! I look forward to them coming home. I don’t always have fresh cookies or treats, but that was never an integral part of my plan. Yummy, but not integral. We have all sorts of things to share, not to mention a bit of teenage drama to talk through.

My new nephew. Oh, I can’t get enough of him!! He’s growing and doing really well, being 21 days old- yes, ask me, I know. And when I do hold him, I take a picture of him with my phone and send it to Bill to make him jealous. It’s fun.

Other things I’m supposed to be doing…

• laundry. Hah! Just the other day I realized I should do Bill’s and my laundry. Our routine has been turned upside down for the last few weeks, so laundry and planned meals just happens, sort of.
• planned meals. No more what’s for supper at 6:00, especially since kids have to get to bed earlier now that school has started. When I taught, I would plan a crock-pot meal, a casserole and a soup as part of every week’s menu. Menu. I should make a menu.
• cleaning and sorting through every nook and cranny in the house. Yeah, right. That will happen. It actually got started at the beginning of August, but when my uncle suddenly died, everything was put on hold and I’ve literally been too busy to finish it. I should. I will. The stair landing looks like a Goodwill store, according to Aunt Denise. All the nooks and crannies are going to have to wait their turn. 

That’s it. That’s what this new territory looks like so far. I fall into bed each night, more exhausted than I have ever been, with exception to when the kids were babies. My life is good because God is in it and he has told me “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21b

Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Dip

You all know I love Ina Garten’s food from the series of Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. I just think her recipes are great without a lot of tinkering to get them right. That being said, I tinkered.

I’ve loved her sun-dried tomato dip from the first cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook but thought that it always needed a little perking up. Perhaps part of that came from the fact that I never added the amount of green onions the original recipe calls for. So when I volunteered to bring some veggies and dip to Angie’s craft day, I thought of this dip and I thought of all my basil growing in a pot on the back deck and the two collided in a tasty mix (similar to chocolate and peanut butter in a Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup, but not). This is what I served up.

Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Dip

• 1/4 c. sun-dried tomatoes, in oil, drained and chopped finely (about 8 tomatoes)
• 5-6 fresh basil leaves, chopped finely
• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1/2 c. mayo
• 5-10 dashes Tabasco sauce
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 3/4 tsp. pepper

Combine the tomatoes, basil, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Serve with veggies, crackers, etc. Makes 2 cups

Once you taste it, you’ll have no problem imagining other tasty possibilities. Such as on a BLT. I tried that last night and I think the heavens may have parted and I heard singing. It was that creamy, tangy, salty, smoky, juicy, crispy good.

Craft Day!

My friend, Angie, hosted a craft day earlier this week. Ten of us gathered at her house for crafts and conversation. We crafted during the day while our younglings were all at school (at least, those of us who have younglings). Let me tell you, it was bliss. I wasn’t so focused on making every single project as I was just being with women. It just happened that fabric, paper, tile, hot glue guns, chalkboard paint, Mod Podge, and a die cutting machine were also a part of it.

What/Who was your inspiration for craft day? Meg Duerksen of the Whatever blog!! Here’s Angie showing us Meg.

Meg, we love you from the bottom of our hearts and since we may not ever be a part of your fab-o craft day, we made our own!

Here’s the fabric flower table. We took strips or cut out fabric and made a few varieties of fabric flowers. You can pin them on your gorgeous bag, on your blouse, in your hair or add a magnet, like I did.

Here’s the tag table but also has the chalkboard tiles some of us painted. Die cut tags were embellished with doilies, stamps, fabric and knock-your-socks-off calligraphy by Mary. Some were going to use the chalkboard tiles as menu planners. I might get some larger ones, 6x6 and make them as a note station for my kids. The rest of us used Mod Podge and adhered scrapbook paper to the tiles to make coasters or trivets.

Here’s an gathering of our crafts endeavors. The bright perky fabric is for Becky’s office. The bag is Nicole’s but the button on the purse is her creation. See the handwriting on the tags? Mary!!

We also had lunch and Angie made chicken salad. You can immediately taste the sweetness, but it is a pleasant surprise and not overwhelming. Yum!

Angie, thanks for clearing off your basement tables for all of us. I had a great time!!

Because Non-Riders Deserve Blog Time, Too

Winterset Harescramble

If you’ve been keeping track, this week’s harescramble coverage is the 3rd one in 3 weeks. That’s right- 3 weekends in a row of racing! We love it. The boys love it. I love it! But I am also ready to not load up again. In my dreams, I hear brrrapppp and see bikes and bikes and bikes. This momma needs a break!

That being said, we loaded up not only the kids, but also three birthday buddies to celebrate Ben’s birthday early. He wanted to bring friends to his race for his party and this was the closest not only to his birthday, but also to where we were willing to drive to with three extra boys in tow.

Ben’s race was super early- 8:30 A.M. so we had the boys spend the night before. That alone would have been enough to call it a birthday party- supper outside, campfire s’mores, boy banter, armpit farts, bike riding, toad catching and more before off to bed at a very reasonable time. After all, they were going to have to get up at 5:30 A.M. so we could get to the race!

At this particular race, it was not only the Iowa Enduro Riders but also the national race with the pro-riders. That means that there are the racers that come from around Iowa and nearby states to race, as usual, plus others who are willing to race the national circuit all over. The pro-riders are the fast, fast guys. It was going to be quite a day.

There were twelve kids in Ben’s race and it was the most difficult one Ben has yet to race. The national riders got off like a shot and flew around the track. Our local boys did their best. Ben ended up getting 7th overall! He’s a bit disappointed because he was hoping for a really good finish. We’re proud of him because he got through the course and rode a good race.

Bill’s race was next and it was a good one, too. Fairly technical- logs, water, rocks. Bill likes that kind of racing. Good thing, too because he got first in his class!

Finally, before we watched the pros and A and B riders rip it up, the pros had an autograph session. Let me just say, these guys were nice to our boys (and girl). I think that ought to be the #1 requirement of a pro-anyone of pro-anything: Be good to your fans!!! You were once a little kid with high hopes and now you are that inspiration to many kids; you set a example of how an professional should behave to your peers and you earn the respect of your “elders”. If you can’t be nice, you shouldn’t be a pro!

Our friend, Joe, was able to come down from MN for the race! Yeah!

The ultimate fan club always includes Aunt Denise!

Maybe the first time all day, all 4 sat down together?! They were hot, tired, dirty yet still smilin’!