{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
... I remembered to announce the winner of the Stories from the Homeschool Heart Giveaway!
I'm so sorry it's taken me this long!
The winner is
Holly, send me your address and I'll forward it on to Theresa Thomas and she will send you your book!
Congratulations!
New Year's Eve is the perfect night for "family time." I really prefer that no one is out driving--much better to settle in for a long night home together.
Fondue makes a perfect New Year's Eve dinner. As Christian so aptly put it, "It takes forever to dip and cook enough to make a meal."
Three Cheese Fondue
1 cup White Wine
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Unbleached Flour
7 Ounces Gruyere, grated
7 Ounces Emmenthaler, grated
7 Ounces Cheddar, grated
Bring the wine to a boil in a small saucepan and turn it off. Then, melt the butter in a different saucepan, using medium-low heat. Stir the flour into the butter until it's smooth. Stir the wine into the flour mixture, slowly, using a wire whisk. Over medium-low heat, slowly add the cheese, stirring with the whisk as you go. Before we were finished adding, we had to switch to a wooden spoon. When it's all smooth, transfer to a fondue pot and keep it melted and gooey on low.
We dipped Granny Smith apples, hearty rustic sourdough, and blanched broccoli florets. There was no three-cheese left over, but we had bread, broccoli, and apples left on New Year's day. So, I used the above recipe, substituting a cup of beer (not too dark) for the wine, and four generous cups grated cheddar for the cheese. Before adding the cheese, I sprinkled it with a healthy dose of garlic powder and cayenne.
Very yummy.
At the other end of the island, we cooked marinated cubes of London Broil in equal parts butter and olive oil. I had marinated over night in bottle Italian dressing. Simple and really addictive.
Sarah Annie was one happy dipper.
If you give a gang full and happy tummies, they might just break into wild dancing.
(Poor Christian is a bit concerned and maybe just a little bored.)
When they were all danced out, it was time for chocolate fondue. I melted equal parts chocolate chips and heavy cream.
We dipped pretzels, pineapple, and angel food cake.
Pound cake, pirouette cookies and marshmallows are other favorites.
When things got a little too chocolatey and sticky, a little whipped cream, straight from the can, did the trick.
A little sparkling cider before going up to bed.
Goodnight, sweet princess.
Happy New Year!
Outside My Window
It's damp and cold and getting dark. Lazy Sunday afternoon weather.
I am Listening to
Karoline. Always to Karoline. She's incredibly loud.
I am Wearing
Jeans, slippers and that same old, gray cashmere sweater (it survived being accidentally thrown in the wash--a little felted but not terrible).
I am so Grateful for
~email, Facebook, cell phones, and Skype; I do recognize how much easier it is to stay in touch than it was even a generation ago.
~safe travel
~sweet time together as one big family and sweet memories to warm my January
~a chance to rest and relax with my husband at home
~dinner with friends
~a reassuring conversation with Christian and Patrick when I started my inevitable, year-end self-doubting session
~Karoline and Sarah Anne and the perpetual good cheer and joyfulness of blond babies
~watching how those very little girls warm the twilight of Mike's parents' lives. Everyone should have little girls in the twilight.
I'm Pondering
– St. Padre Pio
Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace in hardback (but there is a Kindle version of that one, too).
I am Thinking
Way too much. I am sad. There's no doubt about it. It was really hard to see Patrick leave today. We still don't know when we'll see him again. I've heard from other moms who understand, who empathize from the bottom of their hearts and share similar experiences. And I've heard from mothers who say it stings for a day or two and then they just move on, blithely going about whatever it is they do. They are almost unmoved by emotions that seem to nearly drown me. And then there are the mothers who tell me about the happy dances they do when their kids move out.
I am thinking--wondering--what the difference is. Why the difference?
I am Creating
Virtual pages. This week will be about documenting our celebrations, so please bear with me as our family's Christmas bursts all over this space. Still--we have more to record and we're moving rathing slowly on that project. Life is happening faster than we can record. But Mary Beth is helping me and we are going to catch up this week.
On my iPod
Rich Mullins. Katie found him on an old iPod. I heard her singing along and needed a good dose for myself.
Towards a Real Education
We got word this weekend that Patrick's GPA ranked first among all the kids on the National Team. I distinctly remember the night he posted this status on his Facebook account:
Tomorrow is my first day of school. ever.
I didn't sleep all night. I tossed and turned and worried about whether he was at all prepared for a classroom, epsecially a prep school classroom so far away. Honestly, I'm still sort of astonished by how well he's done. Astonished. Grateful. And just a little proud.
We're doing good things here. Carry on.
Towards Rhythm and Beauty
Candles. I'm thinking candles. As we move towards the time to pack Christmas away, I want to keep the candles. I've loved the light of this season, the way candles can light the rhythms, warm the transitions, bring a glow to the traditions of even ordinary days. More on that thought later, I think.
We're having a Kind Conversation about
Do you have a word yet? Comments are open. Do share!
To Live the Liturgy
I'm looking forward to our January 6th celebration of Epiphany. It always a little disconcerting to celebrate it on a Sunday and then celebrate it again later, but I do like that day set apart, a ways away from Christmas Day. I wrap a book for each of my children in gold paper--makes for "wise men" in the new year.
I am Hoping and Praying
for blessings yet to be imagined in the new year. God doesn't really need my wishlist. He usually outdoes anything I can dream up.
Around the House
My plan is to verrrrrryyy slowly put away the Christmas decorations. This was the Christmas of the deleted Christmas card mailing list. I very carefully reconstructed that list. I keyed it all into a new template and I kept careful track of cards that came in, updating and adding as I went. I'm very pleased with the orderly list that awaits me next year. I'd like to bring that order to everything we store. Slow and thoughtful will be my friends.
From the Kitchen
Michael is home. I am pretty sure that officially relieves me of grocery shopping duties. I'm looking forward to creating new menus and long, detailed grocery lists.
One of My Favorite Things
When the three big boys (not all at once) come flying into my bedroom and plop themselves on the bed, usually while I'm trying to put Sarah to sleep. I've given up scolding for it. I realized in August how much I miss it when it's not there. So now, I sort of hope one of them at least will fly into our presence every night.
Sarah Annie this week
I have a hunch this little girl is going to absolutely fall apart when Mike leaves for work tomorrow. Me, too.
A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week
Back to the books. In a big way. The CM Organizer has been dusted off and updated. The book baskets are tidy and uncluttered. We're ready to rock and roll. This week will be the first meeting of the new girls' club at our mission church. Lots of basketball and some soccer.
Picture thoughts:
comments are open. a new year; time to be a little brave...
I'm Elizabeth. I'm a happy wife and the mother of nine children. I grab grace with both hands and write to encourage myself and others to seize and nurture the joy of every day. I blog here with my daughter, Mary Beth, a wholehearted young lady on the brink of adulthood.
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