needle & thREAD

I'm finally hitting my groove with this costume thing. Dance costumes are outrageously expensive. So, when they arrive, one naturally expects something well-made from quality fabric. That's the first piece of education. They are never well made and the fabric is cheesy. The next piece is that there will always be mistakes in sizes. Then, there's the greatest piece: don't be afraid to improvise and rig it to make it work. 

This dance season has been quite the education for a fairly new seamstress who has been fighting perfectionism all her life:-). 

But I'm hitting my groove. I'm learning to cut and piece and make do. I'm also learning that not much can happen that sequins don't improve.

Reading has been light. I can't find my copy of Magical Journey: An Apprenticeship in Contentment. It's here somewhere. I'm counting on it reappearing next week when I have some calm days for binge reading. Maybe I'll finish Kristin Lavransdatter , too.

In the meantime, I picked up Second Nature, Michael Pollan's new book. I'm a fan of Michael Pollan, so this one is the perfect to fit into my tidy threesome of Mother Culture books.

"There is no sadder sight in life than a mother, who has so used herself up in her children's childhood, that she has nothing to give them in their youth. When babyhood is over and school begins, how often children take to proving that their mother is wrong. Do you as often see a child proving to its father that he is wrong? I think not. For the father is growing far more often than the mother. He is gaining experience year by year, but she is standing still. Then, when her children come to that most difficult time between childhood and full development she is nonplussed; and, though she may do much for her children, she cannot do all she might, if she, as they, were growing!...

Is there not some need for 'mother culture'? But how is the state of things to be altered? So many mothers say, 'I simply have no time for myself!' 'I never read a book!' Or else, 'I don't think it is right to think of myself!' They not only starve their minds, but they do it deliberately, and with a sense of self-sacrifice which seems to supply ample justification.

Mother must have time to herself. And we must not say 'I cannot.' Can any of us say till we have tried, not for one week, but for one whole year, day after day, that we 'cannot' get one half-hour out of the twenty-four for 'Mother Culture?'--one half-hour in which we can read, think, or 'remember.'

The habit of reading is so easily lost; not so much, perhaps, the power of enjoying books as the actual power of reading at all. It is incredible how, after not being able to use the eyes for a time, the habit of reading fast has to be painfully regained...

The wisest woman I ever knew--the best wife, the best mother, the best mistress, the best friend--told me once, when I asked her how, with her weak health and many calls upon her time, she managed to read so much, 'I always keep three books going--a stiff book, a moderately easy book, and a novel, and I always take up the one I feel fit for!' That is the secret; always have something 'going' to grow by. If we mothers were all 'growing' there would be less going astray among our boys, less separation in mind from our girls...

A brisk walk will help. But, if we would do our best for our children, grow we must; and on our power of growth surely depends, not only our future happiness, but our future usefulness.

Is there, then, not need for more 'Mother Culture'?"  

~Charlotte Mason Volume III, no. 2 The Parents' Review

 

 

Do you have three books going? Would you like to have three books going? Which three?

needle & thREAD

.

.

It's nearly spring recital time, so "sewing" looks like this around here today. I admit; I kind of love this kind of "to do" list. 

I've been reading Shakespeare with the kids this week. We're loosely following this plan. I love this plan. I loved it when we wrote and love it even more today, because there it was, ready and waiting for me. And we are tightly following the syllabus of the class Christian is taking. Yesterday morning, when big bodies and littles one were all sitting in the great room listening intently to "Much Ado About Nothing," I couldn't help but breathe a giant "thank you" heavenward for the inspiration all those years ago to do something really crazy and educate these children in our home.  They thought nothing unusual about being gathered on a June morning--this crew from 4-21--to listen to Tales from Shakespeare. 

I have days--many, many days--when I question the sanity of the way we live. Yesterday was not one of them.

I've also begun to read Katrina Kenison's new book, Magical Journey: An Apprenticeship in Contentment. Many years ago, when both Katrina and I had two little boys, I read Mitten Strings for God and truly loved it. It was a book that filled me up, inspired me, and resonated deep in my heart. A couple (maybe 3?) years ago, I eagerly looked forward to The Gift of An Ordinary Day. I tried, but I really couldn't dig into it. It made me sad, the way it makes me sad when a friend from many years ago has drifted away. 

I'm only a few pages into this new one, but I admit I am eagerly looking forward to sitting in the waiting room at 8 AM this morning while Mary Beth has an hour of physical therapy. This book will make that time feel like an indulgence. Here is the obligatory caveat: If you are the kind of person who can hang out in the park and watch your kids play, while chatting with a neighbor who doesn't share your faith or even your particular philosophical bent, but still come away from the conversation having learned something and, especially, having acknowledged that women can share some of the deepest true feelings of a mother's heart without coming from the same worldview, you might like this book. If you wouldn't be inclined to have the conversation at all or if you'd spend the whole time arguing with her in your head, don't bother.

I'm eyeing that quilt fabric and thinking the moment is around the corner. As soon as the recital is over, I'm looking to start some home dec sewing. What about you? What are you sewing or reading?

Farmer's Market Happy

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The fresh flowers are the first colors to catch my eye.  They beam a welcome and beg me to bury my nose into their midst and inhale this early summer day. It is still a relatively cool morning and only the foreshadowing of a hot and humid day teases in the morning air.  I hold the hands of my little girls a wee bit tighter and tell them to take a deep breath and smell. Sweetly scented  strawberries and those amazing cream filled whoopee pies fill our noses.  The Friday morning ritual has begun.

A local farmer’s market is a delight for the senses: smells and sights and tastes of the season inspire healthy eating and the opportunity to invest in meaningful community relationships. My girls smile and say hello to the farmer who offers them a taste of her strawberries; my boys scan the scene, looking for baked goods. I stop to chat with the farmer about the baby spinach and we exchange ideas about a salad that combines her spinach and strawberries with the fresh goat cheese to be had a few stalls down from her. It is early in the farmer’s market season in my town and we are meeting new friends and re-acquainting ourselves with familiar faces from last year.

I have a list, the fruit of careful research about what to expect this time of year. I’ve sketched some menus based on what I can reasonably hope to find. But I know that I will happily skip away from the plans on the list should one of the farmers have something different to offer, particularly if they can suggest a way to prepare it.

Sarah, my smallest child, holds my hand tightly, her eyes wide with wonder, scanning the scene. Tugging me just a bit, she is eager to absorb it all. She doesn’t remember last year’s visits, when she rode through this market snuggled up against me in a baby carrier. This is a playground for a child who is an adventurous, enthusiastic eater of all things fresh and flavorful.  Sarah is eager to taste and see. And so am I. It is market season at last and we will fill our basket with the fresh and flavorful: brown eggs, free range chicken, spring greens, abundant ripe strawberries, asparagus, and a bouquet of those wildflowers. Tonight, our dinner will be fine, fresh, and rooted firmly in the local soil.

 

.

.

.

Make the Most of Your Trip:

• Go early . You will find the best selection if you arrive early. Early mornings at the market are cooler and everything (and everyone) is fresh and crisp. The sensory experience of fresh produce artfully displayed, piled high, and smelling unmistakably of summer is not to be missed.
• Go late: If you arrive at the end of the selling period, there are fewer people there. You won’t have as much from which to choose, but you are likely to score a bargain or two. Farmers begin to discount deeply in order to avoid transporting their goods again.
• Bring bags or boxes. Some vendors will provide their own bags, but you can’t count on it and bringing your own will endear you to the man behind the table.
• Bring a cooler (or two) and pack it with ice packs. You don’t want to limit your buying ability by worrying about whether everything will wilt and spoil on the hot ride home.
• Think big! The best deals to be had are the ones where you are willing to work in bulk. Whatever is at harvest peak will be most abundant and least expensive. Buy large and take it home to freeze, can, jelly, jam or dehydrate.
• Bring cash. It’s definitely the preferred currency and, in many cases, the only currency. Some vendors might participate in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program. If your family qualifies, be sure to ask about it.
• Have a teachable spirit. Ask lots of questions. Farmers are passionate about what they’ve brought. If you see something unfamiliar, ask about it. You’ll broaden your horizons and you are very likely to go home with some new cooking tips, too.
• Do a little research ahead of time. Get to know your local growing times. If you know when to expect each crop to be at its peak, you’ll make better decisions at each stand. Talk to the famers and ask what to expect in the coming weeks. This is community-supported agriculture. Get to know your community and be a part of it.
• And, since you know what you are likely to find, because you know what is in season, have a rough sketch of a meal plan in mind before you go. You need to be flexible, but a plan that can change is a good idea. It will keep you from wandering aimlessly, either unable to decide what to buy or buying too much too impulsively.
• Prepare to be spontaneous. Particularly if you are sharing the experience with children, it’s good to be ready to grant them each a small treat, whether it’s the season’s first strawberries or something new they’ve never tired before, indulging in unexpected bounty is part of the experience.
• Expect a little dirt. Root vegetables will still have greens attached and you’ll have to shake the dirt from them. Everything will be fresher—but it will definitely look it, too. Learn to clean and store fresh-from-the-farm treasures.

Books for Little Market Shoppers:-)!

Farmer's Market Day A sweet little girl has happy adventures at the Farmer's Market.

Let's Go to the Farmer's Market

To Market, To Market

Cookbooks:

Simply in Season: Recipes that Celebrate fresh, local food in the spirit of More with Less by Mary Beth Lind; Herald Press

Fresh From the Farmer’s Market: Year ‘Round Recipes for the Pick of the Crop by Janet Fletcher, Chronicle Books.

Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmer’s Markets, by Deborah Madison, Clarkson Potter

.

Fettuccine Gazpacho Salad

Serves 8 to 10

2 cans (14 ½ ounces) diced tomatoes (do not drain) or use 10-12 whole fresh tomatoes, about 2 pounds. You can peel the fresh tomatoes, if you like. I don’t—it all gets chopped fine in the blender and peeling tomatoes in a hot kitchen isn’t my favorite thing to do.

3 medium cloves garlic

½- 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (more or less, according to taste)

¼ cup packed fresh basil leaves

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

sea salt

1 pound fettuccine (fresh fettuccine takes it to a whole new level)

1 medium cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch pieces

1 medium red bell pepper , chopped

1 medium yellow bell pepper , chopped

2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes , halved

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves (Alternatively, cilantro is a different flavor, but also really good. And then again, fresh basil is another good choice. Go with what looks best at the market.)

3 scallions, thinly sliced

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

½ cup pitted black olives , quartered

Directions:

1. Puree diced tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, basil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and ½ teaspoon salt in blender until smooth. Transfer to bowl (don’t use metal), cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Bring 4 quarts of water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta and cook until al dente. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
3. Place cucumber, red and yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes, parsley, scallions, and oil in large serving bowl and toss well to combine.
4. Add pasta and pureed dressing and toss again.

Salad should be allowed to sit in the refrigerator at least two hours and can be refrigerated overnight. This is a great do-ahead dish for a summer party. Scatter olives over top. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Blueberry Cobbler

Serves 6

3 cups fresh blueberries

3 tablespoons white sugar

1/3 cup orange juice

2/3 cup unbleached flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

1 pinch salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup white sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In an 8 inch square baking dish, mix blueberries, 3 tablespoons sugar, and orange juice. Set aside. In a small bowl, thoroughly mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream butter and ½ cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Gradually add flour mixture, stirring just until ingredients are combined. Do not overmix or your crust will be tough and chewy. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons over blueberry mixture. Try to cover as much of filling as possible.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling.

Fresh Greens and Strawberry Salad

Serves 6

2 tablespoons strawberry vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
5 ounces baby spinach, baby lettuces, and arugula (8 cups)
1/2 pound strawberries, cut lengthwise into thick slices (1 ½ cups)
1/2 cup pecan halves (3 ½ ounces), toasted and cooled

goat cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. Whisk together vinegar, a rounded ¼ teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.
2.  Add oil in a slow stream, whisking well.
3. Put mixed greens, strawberries, and pecans in a large bowl and toss with just enough vinaigrette to lightly coat.
4. Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese.

Roasted Beets in Balsamic Vinaigrette

Beets “bleed,” so to keep the juices in while they cook, leave on the skins, the roots on the bottom, and at least an inch of the green stems. It’s especially pretty to cook both red and yellow beets—you don’t want the colors to bleed on to each other. After they’re cooked, peel the beets over a bowl, since beet juice stains are nearly impossible to remove from wood or plastic surfaces. Expect that your hands will be stained.

This makes enough for a summer side dish for 4 people. Toss with toasted pecans and crumbled goat cheese.

OR

Roasted beets are really good in a salad of mixed greens; the marinade makes a salad dressing.

8 medium beets (about 2 pounds total)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, to taste
1 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.         Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2.         Trim the beets, leaving on the skin, an inch of the stem, and the tail on the bottom of each, then scrub and drain. Place the beets in a small casserole dish just big enough to hold them. Pour the water and olive oil over the beets then cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil and bake until tender and easily pierced with a sharp paring knife, about 1 ½ hours.  (Honest disclaimer: I do this in a disposable pan. The beet juice carmelizes, which is delicious, and incredibly hard to clean off the pan.)

3.         Remove the casserole from the oven and uncover the beets carefully, keeping your face and hands away from the steam. Let them cool completely in the dish.

4.         Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the salt, and pepper in a medium-size bowl and whisk to blend. Taste and add more olive oil, if desired.

5.         Peel the cooled beets with the back of a paring knife and cut into ½-inch slices. Add to the dressing in the bowl and toss gently but thoroughly to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator, for up to 24 hours.

Zucchini Bread

Makes one medium loaf

1 medium zucchini

1 medium carrot

¾ cup sugar

½ cup butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 ½ cup unbleached flour or white whole wheat flour

zest of one lemon

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon allspice

½  teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon baking powder

½ cup walnuts

1 large egg

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Finely shred the zucchini and carrot.

3. In a large mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients and mix by hand until just blended.

4. Fold in carrots and zucchini.

5. Transfer to a greased and floured bread pan and bake for approximately 65 minutes.

Peruvian Roasted Chicken

Serves 6

2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the pan
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
1 ¼ teaspoons ground black pepper
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 large sweet onions, peeled and thickly sliced
1 chicken, cut into 10 serving pieces
2 red or yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded and cut into rings

1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Oil a large roasting pan and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice and oil to make a paste.
4. Place onions in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of the paste.
5. Rub chicken pieces with remaining paste and place in prepared pan.
6. Cover the chicken with onions, peppers and lemon.
7. Roast, basting occasionally with pan juices, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are very tender, about 45 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.  
9. Serve over rice.

~ a variation of this post originally appeared in Faith and Family Magazine. Now, we go to the Market on Saturday mornings, even closer to home.

needle & thREAD

Remember how I said I wanted slow? Turns out I have it in the reading and sewing departments;-). I've made very little progress since last we chatted books and sewing. The voile frays easily and I think I need to use French seams. Anybody have French seams advice?

I intended to put this sweet little top together yesterday afternoon, but there was a crowd of children who all look very much alike gathered in my great room watching Midsummer Night's Dream and I kept being inexplicably pulled into their presence.

Especially delightful was watching how perplexed Mary Beth and Christian were when Karoline kept explaining plot and characters. At first, everyone (except Karoline and Sarah) were a bit at a loss with the language and the names. When Karoline kept filling in the blanks for them and then Sarah embellished Kari's tutorial, the big kids were more than a little chagrined. How were the little girls comprehending so well when they were struggling? Then it was revealed that they'd recently been reading this excellent picture book and listening to this read aloud.

The whole scenario did make me wonder though: print version first or performance first? Shakespeare's plays were written to be viewed by an audience. But the language does make it tricky to follow along the first time you see it.

Last night, we found ourselves at Michael's and Kristin's house. Knowing I had no sewing to report, I asked Kristin about  her quilt. I think perhaps she'll come back and report on it another day. Stephen is trying out for a new soccer team that is 24 minutes from our house and 4 minutes from theirs. I currently allocate an hour to get to the team where he's played for the the last five years. That team is dissolving. This one sure looks like an answer to prayers. Is it fair to ask your prayers on this one?

How is your summer sewing coming along? Leave a link and show and tell or just chat about it in the comments:-)

Gathering My Thoughts

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

::noticing God's glory

We spent lots of time in the yard last weekend. Kristin started plants indoors late in the winter and she brought her little baby tomatoes and peppers over to plant in our ground yesterday. After much weeding and dirt hauling, a few new whiskey barrels, and a trip to deBaggio’s, my little piece of suburbia is looking much greener.

::listening to 

The cappuccino machine in the orthodontist’s office. Seriously, this guy makes me want to start drinking coffee again. Then again, his tea selection is impressive, too.

::clothing myself in 

Lightweight jeans above my ankles and an oxford cloth shirt. My feet are happily ensconsed in crocheted TOMS, a Mother’s Day gift from Mary Beth.

::talking with my children about these books

Shakespeare. Christian is taking a Shakespeare course this summer and I’ve seized the opportunity to immerse us all in the bard once again. His first assignment was to read this article and a few others. Well, that’s interesting! Perhaps Shakespeare wasn’t the Shakespeare we thought we knew? I’m planning to tweak these plans, gathering baskets of books today.

::thinking and thinking

that I wish I could see myself the way my husband sees me. Particularly when I’ve been stung by the words of another woman, Mike’s insight is always such a revelation to me and I come away from our conversation wishing that I could just see through his lens occasionally. 

::pondering prayerfully

“When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”  ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey

You know? I think this one suits me again this week.

::carefully cultivating rhythm

Could we please talk about email management this week? There are currently 1265 unread “new” emails in my inbox. These do not include blog emails. Clearly, I am a poor email manager. Everything pretty much gets dumped into the same box (except blog mail). I read it (or not) and then move on. If I know it’s an ad or whatever, I’m likely to just skip it. Why don’t I delete it? I have no idea. I never archive. I never trash. It’s just a giant mess. So, how do I clean it all up and unclutter without losing something I might actually need or missing someone with whom I might need to connect? Oh, and I’d rather not spend hours fixing this. Ideas? Suggestions?

::creating by hand

The girls need some summer clothes as soon as possible. My sewing mission is critical. This week, I’m focusing on tops.

::learning lessons in

time management. Always. But more than that, I think I’m learning lessons in emotional investment. There’s only so much of me. Where is the best place to invest my time and emotional energy, even my affection?

::encouraging learning 

It’s been about five years since I made detailed plans. I think, back then, that I was planning on paper (or digitally) because those plans gave me a sense of security and maybe of control. To some degree, they were also a creative outlet. Sharing them was an opportunity for community. But then Sarah was born and we leapt as a family into a new season. Somehow, I’ve been propelled into an incredibly active existence that leaves me little time for pondering with pen and paper or even keyboard...

Besides, keyboards make me ache: my neck and shoulders and fingers and wrists. Writing is laborious. Words have long been my constant companions and, in many ways, my comfort and joy. They still are. Giving them voice in print, however, is exceedingly challenging for a myriad of reasons. I remind myself all the time that God has a plan. 

::begging prayers

for our prayer community, particularly for veterans and their families, who still struggle mightily with scars both seen and unseen.

::keeping house

I’ve started to get some deep cleaning, decluttering, and organizing in the works. My house looks very neglected lately (probably since I haven't been home nearly enough to keep things running smoothly). I’m trying not to go after it all gung-ho. My style has always been to make a long list and then prusue it relentlessly until the job is done and I’m totally spent. That’s not going to happen this summer. I can’t afford to deplete myself that way. So, I’ll chip away at it, certain that no tragedy will befall us because my house isn’t ship-shape perfect.

::crafting in the kitchen 

I’m going to roast chickens from our co-op tonight. I’ll smother them with herbs from our garden and garlic from the farmer’s market. Alongside, we’ll have summer squash from the farmer’s market and a salad with greens and beets from the same farm. Nothing inspires me more in the kitchen than local food with which to create. 

::loving the moments

When we manage to squeak out a date night despite the ridiculously demanding weekend kid schedules.

::giving thanks 

for good news and the promise of new beginnings.

living the liturgy

This is not some earthshaking revelation, just a simple truth: the most effective way to live the liturgy is to go to Mass as often as possible. It’s all there, available every day. You don’t need a craft closet. You don’t need a grocery shopping list. You don’t even need much advanced planning. You just need to show up. And a priest who gives relevant homilies is plus, too.

::planning for the week ahead

Tomorrow is orientation at James Madison University for Christian. Mike’s taking him. I’m going to spend my day with Mary Beth at physical therapy and Stephen at a soccer match. I will be actively working to silence my inner teacher that would very much like to hover.

Nutcracker auditions are this weekend. See? It’s not my imagination. There is no offseason.

Stephen will play in the State Cup semi-finals on Saturday. If he wins, the finals are Sunday. It’s seems so incredibly unlikely that we could have two state champions in the same year. We are, however, only two games away. Say a prayer for him? It would be most unpleasant to lose this one;-)

Memories Captured on an iPhone last weekend: