tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812538553533445672024-03-05T16:18:21.395-05:00all the pretty flowersFlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-34482076978438295562011-02-21T09:52:00.004-05:002011-02-21T10:24:38.105-05:00Happy 6th Birthday Rosie!<div style="text-align: center;">She's six years old already! She started kindergarden this fall and after Christmas switched to a full day kindergarden program where she is doing great! My Rosie is growing up!<br /><br />We spent the weekend celebrating starting with a trip to a hotel that had a small water park, thanks to Grandma! We all had a blast! Rosie LOVES to swim and asks for the same thing every year for her birthday! She's a great swimmer and takes it very seriously. I'm going to have to sign her up for some lessons very soon.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJguYZrAHW0ZojpY5mF9FOYTSd7vaMCmY3yxV2FlzqqFAJJT4Gn1WuuVY5Ca9TmsFWaf9PWuM83NombMccy4Vh_lyz9QurD_qm4MalUIG5qcQsaLP1mJy3wWBE8tmRGS5ZEVbiamm9OWZ7/s1600/IMG_1323.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJguYZrAHW0ZojpY5mF9FOYTSd7vaMCmY3yxV2FlzqqFAJJT4Gn1WuuVY5Ca9TmsFWaf9PWuM83NombMccy4Vh_lyz9QurD_qm4MalUIG5qcQsaLP1mJy3wWBE8tmRGS5ZEVbiamm9OWZ7/s400/IMG_1323.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576162266359094418" border="0" /></a><br />She's such a sweet big sister. Here she is comforting Daisy thru a scary trip thru the carwash!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvib-efA9e61rQWz8E3g6id48Iia-maT3TYdce9k371QHGyJbazzJSRdDRw-a99orel2uR3SyW6UhNYJxyN9_0qwWUmONm3GDGIcBy0qIEkYOzZLEcyQANNJpy9how-Kq9aS-z4aXTv0Z/s1600/IMG_1329.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvib-efA9e61rQWz8E3g6id48Iia-maT3TYdce9k371QHGyJbazzJSRdDRw-a99orel2uR3SyW6UhNYJxyN9_0qwWUmONm3GDGIcBy0qIEkYOzZLEcyQANNJpy9how-Kq9aS-z4aXTv0Z/s400/IMG_1329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576162274079838146" border="0" /></a>Saturday evening Grammy, and Aunt Heidi, Uncle Mark and the cousins came over to celebrate.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here her cousin Kyle is trying very hard not to blow out her candles! He just turned 6 last month and they are best buddies.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YiCHcD_iNERS1n81wq5nysKrVXZKRd0TqXqcKNcsK3TVoDXfnzOkbEaAFD7jLEHBuxn8rPfc_mewnuZwbbJdl6PuQ0ENj5jINm4UnZnHYtNzgGHUuUZANyhJOaK5IHF9BFDiWeqYj-oj/s1600/Last+Import+-+17.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YiCHcD_iNERS1n81wq5nysKrVXZKRd0TqXqcKNcsK3TVoDXfnzOkbEaAFD7jLEHBuxn8rPfc_mewnuZwbbJdl6PuQ0ENj5jINm4UnZnHYtNzgGHUuUZANyhJOaK5IHF9BFDiWeqYj-oj/s400/Last+Import+-+17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576161452710000114" border="0" /></a>She got a pillow pet she's been hoping for.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdZtT2Y_E-aOHPWluylh86gqgw2xjKXaoSVHdB4wqNPy4-FEvj-nCV2HbQIeJCOMGc9_FC7ktgQ0GcxdNdWcIMC6Uyis2u0xN-H0Ga7BuQlXSxVl4ai1qJ8Rhee5a59kWYcg3ZNw4Oik7/s1600/Last+Import+-+09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdZtT2Y_E-aOHPWluylh86gqgw2xjKXaoSVHdB4wqNPy4-FEvj-nCV2HbQIeJCOMGc9_FC7ktgQ0GcxdNdWcIMC6Uyis2u0xN-H0Ga7BuQlXSxVl4ai1qJ8Rhee5a59kWYcg3ZNw4Oik7/s400/Last+Import+-+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576161444362634242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHliU-mpAxmkSU65QN63fbLPIA5lh78MxrG8YWPPQMrxqTqzCcRX7-EjNCHSPzlXN5r87wgA60paFYVze0Er1kpoj8ZWdNFbQnCLKQb3EDjNIUjOr1rT4UY640Eh-qCY9mpzxMNgYpva0S/s1600/Last+Import+-+02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHliU-mpAxmkSU65QN63fbLPIA5lh78MxrG8YWPPQMrxqTqzCcRX7-EjNCHSPzlXN5r87wgA60paFYVze0Er1kpoj8ZWdNFbQnCLKQb3EDjNIUjOr1rT4UY640Eh-qCY9mpzxMNgYpva0S/s400/Last+Import+-+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576161427592520690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We ended the festivities with a tea party with the girls at a local restaurant. What a bunch of cuties!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tOE3eJiBkpnhWcBWVVngb6QmVWDiISPoSL1dN9__Bp7_8wGeRZ6IIYxXGv6IbbgkKU-leO6lljH8eqzTzU55ewLVdvBEEBOU0G9rCJ-vqECLDdXsB4aqIxcdDMNwGHwnStIEPusno3Sv/s1600/Last+Import+-+20.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tOE3eJiBkpnhWcBWVVngb6QmVWDiISPoSL1dN9__Bp7_8wGeRZ6IIYxXGv6IbbgkKU-leO6lljH8eqzTzU55ewLVdvBEEBOU0G9rCJ-vqECLDdXsB4aqIxcdDMNwGHwnStIEPusno3Sv/s400/Last+Import+-+20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576161459681925874" border="0" /></a>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-39792530547248205692010-12-09T11:14:00.002-05:002010-12-11T15:00:58.419-05:00My Nephew!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVzi40SfBHzlObOI8ktqPSd3volsAbgq-Io-Wx381weyC_UlQ2tlt9vpmLj8kUyHYnPRVU-GAw-1b91pyQSHSyG-GC8loiH2d3osaoS1u0HWTs29CuwrDd3_gCWxRksSWqc9lbBKLzwXP/s1600/_DSC5345.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVzi40SfBHzlObOI8ktqPSd3volsAbgq-Io-Wx381weyC_UlQ2tlt9vpmLj8kUyHYnPRVU-GAw-1b91pyQSHSyG-GC8loiH2d3osaoS1u0HWTs29CuwrDd3_gCWxRksSWqc9lbBKLzwXP/s400/_DSC5345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548719613609559106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Announcing my nephew!<br /><br />Giovanni Zaccai Torres was born at<br />7:18pm on Friday November 5th, 2010. He weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz and<br />was 18 1/2 " long<br /><br />This is a big deal for my side of the family! He's the first boy!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyyhJcK289gKPNjYOfsqxg46XaMpIdEaxB51Y3yRCmzAiqM22HgDg68vf9KKedgh2C7QlczW7DEU2kQIS7Hje9d4FwoMb9IZqb7K0_Tz3KOERi_nmtcTf_RMv1-tIzj-xrPdongypQ8pt/s1600/_DSC5339.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyyhJcK289gKPNjYOfsqxg46XaMpIdEaxB51Y3yRCmzAiqM22HgDg68vf9KKedgh2C7QlczW7DEU2kQIS7Hje9d4FwoMb9IZqb7K0_Tz3KOERi_nmtcTf_RMv1-tIzj-xrPdongypQ8pt/s400/_DSC5339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548719609161980114" border="0" /></a><br />I was blessed to have been at his birth. I was able to serve my sister as doula throughout her labor at the hospital. It was a beautiful natural labor. She is an amazing mamma!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlyJA_60PjtBACQljyEGWE-vVYsuUf7vC_aggvo1BUWgdtGx33Igo1UDknBJ1kiAkhouPoQyOJAhINxiZ5H38YIoQAJwzAV-JRjMtlyhjbVGAyrPeAVpp2FEGyxQJiZNefl4NhNWV02DM/s1600/_DSC5318.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlyJA_60PjtBACQljyEGWE-vVYsuUf7vC_aggvo1BUWgdtGx33Igo1UDknBJ1kiAkhouPoQyOJAhINxiZ5H38YIoQAJwzAV-JRjMtlyhjbVGAyrPeAVpp2FEGyxQJiZNefl4NhNWV02DM/s400/_DSC5318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548719602238351570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkRM7-7cAh-XixF5OmJqn6NsF_Q1RwkorzQifnsSgZljySJKBeUFaV2CBC8BoYcPgYCkyMtuSrcvvmjyHRNGyWBMZPWU0CJUH4iW-Nw2DvF-lbqfbV5b__acaaiomLY9xyguzOWHFT0Pe/s1600/_DSC5303.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkRM7-7cAh-XixF5OmJqn6NsF_Q1RwkorzQifnsSgZljySJKBeUFaV2CBC8BoYcPgYCkyMtuSrcvvmjyHRNGyWBMZPWU0CJUH4iW-Nw2DvF-lbqfbV5b__acaaiomLY9xyguzOWHFT0Pe/s400/_DSC5303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548719597299690642" border="0" /></a>These are my girls' hands feeling his sweet softness as they met him for the first time. Rosie is holding him in this photo. She is especially enamored of him. She has been wishing for a baby boy in the family. She is so wonderful with babies and really prides herself on her baby holding skills!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc25lXszMTl5bJ1Xc0qNnfXGOnsO6P_XzoljKsYfEbPkltx9wr5Ai1ZbnAJB0qNMjHZc5yJF5vdumZ7UwMuKiCymZq1TTf0ZsXfaTC4jA533VQyIhfyPrvqvpYjNRmt7bR8QbNwFR5Wgou/s1600/_DSC5264.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc25lXszMTl5bJ1Xc0qNnfXGOnsO6P_XzoljKsYfEbPkltx9wr5Ai1ZbnAJB0qNMjHZc5yJF5vdumZ7UwMuKiCymZq1TTf0ZsXfaTC4jA533VQyIhfyPrvqvpYjNRmt7bR8QbNwFR5Wgou/s400/_DSC5264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548719591679710162" border="0" /></a>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-9481820219019023382010-09-27T14:45:00.000-04:002010-09-27T20:23:05.542-04:00Plan BRich and I have been collaborating with the Beerhorst family on an <a href="http://www.artprize.org/">Artprize</a> entry this year! It has been an exciting opportunity to put on public display some of the practices we have been learning and exploring in our lives over the past few years. <a href="http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/1092">Here</a> is the link to the artist Bio on the Artprize website.<br /><br /> Our Artprize 2010 will be an out door installation that will simulate a post peak oil world where electricity is only intermittent and almost everything used to keep daily life humming along has been<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> made out of preexisting products and materials. A combination of very old technologies with what can be patched together out of the rubble of what has been made before, fallen apart and left behind.It's exploring the idea that Plan A which we are currently living is very much taken for granted, but it's not as stable and secure as we all want to believe. We need to think </span><span class="text_exposed_show">about having a Plan B should this current infrastructure fail us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4keDQOz4JF5FdMXtpJRZ_HsSWpCywI1_bkBBrGT87w-qmmqsAggi4UdLFXUjeXv74xDGk9UEGv24OOjrmlP6a9LRmnh0kVEsp043g9QLxRdq3V2rp7faU7oDIC3ixbGRp9BtX95BX7uop/s1600/_DSC3592.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4keDQOz4JF5FdMXtpJRZ_HsSWpCywI1_bkBBrGT87w-qmmqsAggi4UdLFXUjeXv74xDGk9UEGv24OOjrmlP6a9LRmnh0kVEsp043g9QLxRdq3V2rp7faU7oDIC3ixbGRp9BtX95BX7uop/s400/_DSC3592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521730966408446002" border="0" /></a> My involvement in this project is around food security and learning to feed ourselves with out relying on massive amounts of resources to grow and ship food all over the world. We have built a beautiful outdoor kitchen (once again I find myself cooking outdoors!) that is fully functional, with Rocket stoves, a solar oven, an Ice box, displays of preserved foods and containers of growing lettuce and tomatoes!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgou9ALS9n6dyffw8gEDX6JCcyg9AmRSBxlwXbVG6A9oRiC295DRG69B7ssXT-X0h0gFaQOWHwxOkYwEAJO6U2y2nICZ8-ZR6SqOU0aS6adtDBKMFFUyKl3TJBpauZ2fstF-o1hPaY5cc/s1600/_DSC3584.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgou9ALS9n6dyffw8gEDX6JCcyg9AmRSBxlwXbVG6A9oRiC295DRG69B7ssXT-X0h0gFaQOWHwxOkYwEAJO6U2y2nICZ8-ZR6SqOU0aS6adtDBKMFFUyKl3TJBpauZ2fstF-o1hPaY5cc/s400/_DSC3584.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521729104045963986" border="0" /></a><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGny-DMXVGYERHjAQzdkqknaXs-oAtN1zar2QBPLENPUrwygb1wXMAeXHuaFhvwH86AcaAI4PMFriu7nB0omKaogf9kAEHOeTXe-qgmsjFeIeC8QlJ-nbnxmHCNU5-hJH__Yv-zUV3vZc/s1600/_DSC3586.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGny-DMXVGYERHjAQzdkqknaXs-oAtN1zar2QBPLENPUrwygb1wXMAeXHuaFhvwH86AcaAI4PMFriu7nB0omKaogf9kAEHOeTXe-qgmsjFeIeC8QlJ-nbnxmHCNU5-hJH__Yv-zUV3vZc/s400/_DSC3586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521729113664086882" border="0" /></a><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">Rich's composting toilet outhouse that we used on the farm last summer has been beautified and is also on display!<br /><br /></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaGLADQ-pLHvjM7axoG6RLc9lOnig6pkAbStkyfMQ0CK_epX0Ft-5mjHfIb1meSv8FgVUAZWL5SPmbEiNWx4jo6LHbj11PJeUHNJDDhqgwAoqcGeGJEhkJy1YJQQQULtdOpYyDLP6E-Bg/s1600/_DSC3540.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaGLADQ-pLHvjM7axoG6RLc9lOnig6pkAbStkyfMQ0CK_epX0Ft-5mjHfIb1meSv8FgVUAZWL5SPmbEiNWx4jo6LHbj11PJeUHNJDDhqgwAoqcGeGJEhkJy1YJQQQULtdOpYyDLP6E-Bg/s400/_DSC3540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521726884375108498" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"> On opening day of Artprize, we had a procession with the Wonderwagon from the SE side of town all the way over to the Plan B venue on the shore of the Grand River. The kids rode in the wagon all the way and we were accompanied by drumming and chanting and banjo playing!<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuPZc2eTCBoMrN4kpz53p9F-FtM03L8j2q6NHsOg4rVaO09ixNvpb_cTyAg_JwhYnANsFvuLrP0kENZLxLsDtQQWt0c6nmOTqOVcGlHueaE7Xhhs7Nmue38j4V309VfH0_0Vt9swwH_J8/s1600/_DSC3601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuPZc2eTCBoMrN4kpz53p9F-FtM03L8j2q6NHsOg4rVaO09ixNvpb_cTyAg_JwhYnANsFvuLrP0kENZLxLsDtQQWt0c6nmOTqOVcGlHueaE7Xhhs7Nmue38j4V309VfH0_0Vt9swwH_J8/s400/_DSC3601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521736209747718098" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuPZc2eTCBoMrN4kpz53p9F-FtM03L8j2q6NHsOg4rVaO09ixNvpb_cTyAg_JwhYnANsFvuLrP0kENZLxLsDtQQWt0c6nmOTqOVcGlHueaE7Xhhs7Nmue38j4V309VfH0_0Vt9swwH_J8/s1600/_DSC3601.JPG"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4c1Xkfry-eKph8PkvFLxTdkfmmf0TNu1eqe1_92GMToVK1LVbFnAcnwvTCdEIjCfOhdLhAucl8DbJZsvATVP7SEMTcZnSuLupdKrAakzZQt0cfVPXWfFdN_wWH4-lVM3fuEbSwLahqvS/s1600/_DSC3623.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4c1Xkfry-eKph8PkvFLxTdkfmmf0TNu1eqe1_92GMToVK1LVbFnAcnwvTCdEIjCfOhdLhAucl8DbJZsvATVP7SEMTcZnSuLupdKrAakzZQt0cfVPXWfFdN_wWH4-lVM3fuEbSwLahqvS/s400/_DSC3623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521738817493187154" border="0" /></a><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9IRPRNGiU5I5DknxSEr7oy0udYdHnSCPo9oTSaUeUIdulpchXI1iYB4M9BDnxdYgVSmFwG2I39YLZqYJzUjCUvLdacq71eRAZNHaOeTwQi2poTkDXGVn3eC0S3eVoMe95s1vUkDdxhVO/s1600/_DSC3639.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9IRPRNGiU5I5DknxSEr7oy0udYdHnSCPo9oTSaUeUIdulpchXI1iYB4M9BDnxdYgVSmFwG2I39YLZqYJzUjCUvLdacq71eRAZNHaOeTwQi2poTkDXGVn3eC0S3eVoMe95s1vUkDdxhVO/s400/_DSC3639.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521738823038086962" border="0" /><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBv4dbplO5yR2xv7aAVn-ff4DJs61drwyBPvQMHkWoqiX6Vlqx5W_jBbN68tbLZA5mISgK5jXj5Ueia9KfFAcEAHCMumqWrhmkKUM6HvlGoCH0s5A7IC_5fYVRmJlGqhokhABjsvdhFmx/s1600/_DSC3662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBv4dbplO5yR2xv7aAVn-ff4DJs61drwyBPvQMHkWoqiX6Vlqx5W_jBbN68tbLZA5mISgK5jXj5Ueia9KfFAcEAHCMumqWrhmkKUM6HvlGoCH0s5A7IC_5fYVRmJlGqhokhABjsvdhFmx/s400/_DSC3662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521738827929045602" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"> Artprize is a new event for Grand Rapids, and I can't believe the excitement and traffic thru downtown it has generated. If you are nearby, or can make a trip to GR it would be well worth it. There is so much to see and do! We'd be happy to provide some hospitality while your here!<br /><br />There is daily family entertainment at the Plan B stage and live music every evening. Visit the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/beerhorstplanb?ref=ts">Plan B facebook page</a> or the<a href="http://beerhorstplanb.wordpress.com/"> blog</a> to </span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">learn more about the schedule of events. If you are registered to vote, please consider voting for us! We are currently in the top 100, out of nearly 1700 entries!</span></span></span><abbr title="Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 11:10am" class="timestamp"></abbr>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-55740693166332628202010-09-26T08:29:00.000-04:002010-09-26T12:18:02.263-04:00Art Show<div style="text-align: center;">I have been invited to show some of my recent photographs in an art show at Destination 1111 next weekend. I will be hanging some of my hipstamatic prints. If your in town, come out and see!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Mg0JA0KGQjyTMDRNcKT5jLO5lXfWHkU-4iQTw1Zi0Z6Je-HzpBbbaERJi4d32cfooyaGcXiO-7vSLkSwwU1pqxKWWW6erlgvF3TQAHS7c6cX_tN2rdTRSeGY58EpO8I44JUslSkzX6GN/s1600/Destination1111+Poster+blog.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 451px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Mg0JA0KGQjyTMDRNcKT5jLO5lXfWHkU-4iQTw1Zi0Z6Je-HzpBbbaERJi4d32cfooyaGcXiO-7vSLkSwwU1pqxKWWW6erlgvF3TQAHS7c6cX_tN2rdTRSeGY58EpO8I44JUslSkzX6GN/s400/Destination1111+Poster+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519714226483284386" border="0" /></a>Here is a link to the woman's <a href="http://http://thekalifactor.com">blog</a> who is putting the show together. She has a nice write up on each of the artists.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wXjomNa_LNbueJe21XhJOMwi3Rv9FG2QY9xCG8Ivb3ORGDXyGU7YktslSFkkQZ0q_6MSBwoByeZbiyMbeR4Vg4iz2Z9WPxUeXmBPIlN9VHbJFftOFYtg2vWmq1VyS-WdDg9yfWwHKSYt/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wXjomNa_LNbueJe21XhJOMwi3Rv9FG2QY9xCG8Ivb3ORGDXyGU7YktslSFkkQZ0q_6MSBwoByeZbiyMbeR4Vg4iz2Z9WPxUeXmBPIlN9VHbJFftOFYtg2vWmq1VyS-WdDg9yfWwHKSYt/s400/IMG_0465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521255541680704130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist Statement:</span><br />I am a wife and momma to three beautiful little girls. I have worked as a photographer for over 10 years and I am also a professional Doula and Midwifery apprentice, which is a whole lot to juggle and I am always working at maintaining some kind of balance. Our family is living back in the city after an adventure living on a farm together last summer, learning to live more sustainably and interconnected to our local food supply. This year we are growing food in our neighborhood community garden and have been visiting local farms to pick fruit and most of my recent artistic work is based around these activities. I am learning and practicing old techniques of food preservation. Because as a mom, my hands are always full, I have taken to often photographing my life with my iphone as it is always in my pocket. I made these photographs with a vintage camera application that mimics photographs from toy cameras from an earlier era. I apprietiate the irony of using such a modern technological tool to create images that explore old ideas and practices that my generation has become so disconnected from.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-22397359327834731272010-09-24T10:40:00.003-04:002010-09-24T10:54:01.934-04:00Daisy's First Day of School!!Daisy started school! The Montessori school in our neighborhood where Rosie has been attending for the last 3 years, starts preschool at 3 years old. The classes are multi- age rooms so 3 year olds, four year olds, and kindergardeners all learn together. Daisy started school 2 weeks ago and she Rosie is going into kindergarten. Daisy is in Rosie's class and feels so special going to school with her big sister. Rosie feels very proud to take her under her wing and show her the ropes. It's nice because Daisy only goes 2 days a week, so Daisy can get used to things and Rosie still has plenty of space. Next year Rosie will move up to a 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade room and Daisy will have the class all to herself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrWmUZchkBbJIqRpBUuQiC14uPBDwHtb2NWj6NFq_EgFfJjHKCK4O9INFCdYVtBWe4XvNNMSlWd3RakP3ftvNaZBeYabG3-g7RC8QOjiYnWOOlPpCRQmByglvEd8OOToV3Lpxf-a67vBS/s1600/_DSC3436.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrWmUZchkBbJIqRpBUuQiC14uPBDwHtb2NWj6NFq_EgFfJjHKCK4O9INFCdYVtBWe4XvNNMSlWd3RakP3ftvNaZBeYabG3-g7RC8QOjiYnWOOlPpCRQmByglvEd8OOToV3Lpxf-a67vBS/s400/_DSC3436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520492267068055282" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvmliGe-O3xGUMgTzhFpNn0DmXxXHdHh_PoNlHpSK95FtJ3RNzuqZNDqmtEAocoMjWm00lb7d9wyTpy1fml340n5B_OpXV0oMKthwqBR2a7y5SpSf-7iqSWtvgE2kqQ-z7fEXJqWUtOia/s1600/_DSC3435.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvmliGe-O3xGUMgTzhFpNn0DmXxXHdHh_PoNlHpSK95FtJ3RNzuqZNDqmtEAocoMjWm00lb7d9wyTpy1fml340n5B_OpXV0oMKthwqBR2a7y5SpSf-7iqSWtvgE2kqQ-z7fEXJqWUtOia/s400/_DSC3435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520492256427509842" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKbh0Ip9XbJx8SMK2WCHH6Y0fJnKHcMuyFaktFyvKRHbVUS4azS2JoWKLl2AmiItUhjcUZDXomFTXpJFFjSEpoyFD-0Pxk3w9hgtVoHP6xsML_u-VccC8v-KzTG5V4Vf8F20IKKywy04i/s1600/_DSC3437.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKbh0Ip9XbJx8SMK2WCHH6Y0fJnKHcMuyFaktFyvKRHbVUS4azS2JoWKLl2AmiItUhjcUZDXomFTXpJFFjSEpoyFD-0Pxk3w9hgtVoHP6xsML_u-VccC8v-KzTG5V4Vf8F20IKKywy04i/s400/_DSC3437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520492273899119570" border="0" /></a>Daisy was so excited the morning that school started! She ran to get in line and followed Rosie with a huge grin on her face and clapping! She never would have looked back if Rich hadn't yelled goodbye to her. She turned and waved goodbye excitedly! When I picked her up at noon, she didn't even want to come home. I asked Rosie how she did at school and she said with a little smirk on her face, "She just sat at the snack table and ate snack the whole time!"<br /><br />She's got some work to do learning about line theory and keeping her shoes on, but so far she loves school!FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-36259866688383884192010-07-30T10:34:00.003-04:002010-07-30T10:42:30.478-04:00Gluten Free baked goods for Sale!!<div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">It's legal to sell baked goods made in a home kitchen! So I am going to give it a whirl.<br /><br />Here's an <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/state-eases-cottage-food-industry-regulations-1/">article</a> about the new law.<br /><br />Here's what I will be making this week:<br /><br /><a class="actorName" href="http://www.facebook.com/jenniferholshoe" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=703421182"></a> <div id="id_4c52e2e599ec800662490" class="text_exposed_root">Peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies $.75each<br />Peach pie (pick up Sunday only) $15<br />Peach Cobbler $10<br />Zucchini bread $4<br />Banana bread $5<br />Zucchini brownies $5 a pan<br />whole chocolate cake $15<br />chocolate cupcakes $.75 each<br /><br /><span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><br />Let me know today if your interested in ordering anything to be picked up either Saturday or Sunday this week. Spread the word to anyone you know who eats gluten free. If it goes well at home, I might work on getting a permanent spot at the market for next season.<br /><br />Feel free to leave a message here or call me: (616) 318-1825</span><span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><br /></div></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-22477742547188146092010-07-26T23:06:00.003-04:002010-07-26T23:24:19.758-04:00Learning about Food PreservationWe are on a journey of finding a new way of eating, a way that is healthier not only for us, but for the local economy, our neighbors, and the planet. I just finished this book, it has provided me with a whole new sense of importance about this journey and a whole new set of tools for how to live in a more sustainable, healthy way. It was a really great read and I will be checking out her other books next.<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border:0px" src="http://books.google.com/books?id=m5TFl0ONPEEC&lpg=PP1&dq=Independence%20days&pg=PP1&output=embed" width="500" height="500"></iframe><br /><br />and here's a poem I came across tonight that I thought was a sweet summary of what's so wonderful about preserving food:<br /><blockquote id="s0eo"><p>When I go to see my grandma I gain a lot of weight</p> <p>With her dear hands she gives me plate after plate.</p> <p>She cans the pickles, sweet & dill</p> <p>She cans the songs of the whippoorwill</p> <p>And the morning dew and the evening moon</p> <p>‘N’ I really got to go see her pretty soon</p> <p>‘Cause these canned goods I buy at the store</p> <p>Ain’t got the summer in them anymore.</p> <p>-<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=WjdOB1AnCZ8" id="k72q" title="Greg Brown, Canned Goods">Greg Brown, Canned Goods</a></p></blockquote>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-88824121791122493862010-06-28T23:36:00.006-04:002010-06-29T12:47:01.451-04:00Picking Cherries!<div style="text-align: center;">We picked Cherries at <a href="http://www.wellsorchards.com/">Wells Orchards </a>last week. 49 pounds!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0sOHOBbvfYFv11jP378WUBdyTkyu-DakTq6Pf49ICTByBJgfUA_h2A1hp6l31JIJ6zzNIR4YdAbNZXigvHZOwttHqnRaPJ1E-lybtwSKHalrOMcDme4AA_Oobfr8Feh511C5jbObgaH8/s1600/IMG_0448.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0sOHOBbvfYFv11jP378WUBdyTkyu-DakTq6Pf49ICTByBJgfUA_h2A1hp6l31JIJ6zzNIR4YdAbNZXigvHZOwttHqnRaPJ1E-lybtwSKHalrOMcDme4AA_Oobfr8Feh511C5jbObgaH8/s400/IMG_0448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035735645647698" border="0" /></a>It was a beautiful day in the orchard with friends! The kids had fun and were very helpful! This is Lily with her detective hat on!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1UgicrmZM35e72tjpmXLSx4SyGnS4gW-3BMz6E8FWUedrqTMSLRRRYjRLqNtEKDS3lSNfkpZrvmh0Ux4g6EmDLbVY7OLp1O_lHOHJHvC3XD4zULLeq8UAs_0HB49vafb5INwr_qoUjJA/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1UgicrmZM35e72tjpmXLSx4SyGnS4gW-3BMz6E8FWUedrqTMSLRRRYjRLqNtEKDS3lSNfkpZrvmh0Ux4g6EmDLbVY7OLp1O_lHOHJHvC3XD4zULLeq8UAs_0HB49vafb5INwr_qoUjJA/s400/IMG_0449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035159634894898" border="0" /></a><br />Daisy ate A LOT of cherries!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKo7bSTyGPiVIUjn1QodtOD4Nnfd8LtMEutH4lMbLmxRn67SKza3e_9WDlkpvyJ3P08Zcl2mgabQV3Nx0wuYOIzxcTOYhkhyphenhyphenRt9P-lIb-n1iCPpQr0oROjtz0Sbt5VUbDNQfoVJPvZ0Vlz/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKo7bSTyGPiVIUjn1QodtOD4Nnfd8LtMEutH4lMbLmxRn67SKza3e_9WDlkpvyJ3P08Zcl2mgabQV3Nx0wuYOIzxcTOYhkhyphenhyphenRt9P-lIb-n1iCPpQr0oROjtz0Sbt5VUbDNQfoVJPvZ0Vlz/s400/IMG_0447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035740397733842" border="0" /></a><br />Rosie in her bonnet.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1y12m0ucBIHmv67zBhdqpR7XYZCTOfXob7jnLTSK9zBz_FTcDcyx37YNxdUHYElOO6MaKh52V3JJfqs83cIIy0M83fJ09DeGmJ4gJv-bXO0sEIhgxlc9NQsRIp9zBoUFVD7DdFcLM1ZS/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1y12m0ucBIHmv67zBhdqpR7XYZCTOfXob7jnLTSK9zBz_FTcDcyx37YNxdUHYElOO6MaKh52V3JJfqs83cIIy0M83fJ09DeGmJ4gJv-bXO0sEIhgxlc9NQsRIp9zBoUFVD7DdFcLM1ZS/s400/IMG_0450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035150988333282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We packed a picnic and had lunch under the cherry trees!<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk8snfhoJx2fVbk3KFw8yflQAU_Z-6dEeXJgebq1RglbBQLmU6CpI0-x97AuSdsW5pZ7pR6vTirji0SsiiTBeeG-H8yJp6jxKX2HWiwbQVvABAZzNzoYaOYOp-AXCnbArk0xaVJ1CpbJc/s1600/IMG_0457.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk8snfhoJx2fVbk3KFw8yflQAU_Z-6dEeXJgebq1RglbBQLmU6CpI0-x97AuSdsW5pZ7pR6vTirji0SsiiTBeeG-H8yJp6jxKX2HWiwbQVvABAZzNzoYaOYOp-AXCnbArk0xaVJ1CpbJc/s400/IMG_0457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035143087799858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluIXW-3jNewH6kNL1pek14StYdwD10fLXwhI_6BS9MsTVEHjjWPzQPyXuhnxC0BhyvOWXKTpI6Aq3-W1uf2Xs5uDYa9d_gKs44xaPrcUteFiZkXgDprhRnVTBpqRAoo1Tmb4SHpuiJxIr/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluIXW-3jNewH6kNL1pek14StYdwD10fLXwhI_6BS9MsTVEHjjWPzQPyXuhnxC0BhyvOWXKTpI6Aq3-W1uf2Xs5uDYa9d_gKs44xaPrcUteFiZkXgDprhRnVTBpqRAoo1Tmb4SHpuiJxIr/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035134746431330" border="0" /></a>Emilie and Rich picked most of those 49 pounds I think!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtM9eIbsOFNXaDWq79eL5u-fGwcF1wp49GFxHGNfucKri_7UfBgUyAeptCi_hq2wGTJwSTKwycw5fIXpaiKR7FvLWwalPL3T9rC4g08-LkLg0xd9hkMd7blq9vm8bM_nxIj9va7yQZsH2/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtM9eIbsOFNXaDWq79eL5u-fGwcF1wp49GFxHGNfucKri_7UfBgUyAeptCi_hq2wGTJwSTKwycw5fIXpaiKR7FvLWwalPL3T9rC4g08-LkLg0xd9hkMd7blq9vm8bM_nxIj9va7yQZsH2/s400/IMG_0452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488035126519847010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We spent the rest of the weekend washing and sorting cherries. I was worried that 49 pounds was too much, but we made short work of it! Emilie spent most of the week making cherry sauces and jams and canning. I froze 2 large freezers bags, made cherry sauce and dehydrated some. I also shared quite a few pounds with friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijVMWjwb_i3ls9S77Y4IM21eoFB8I-lXrJjYgT26DeHyQDu6sCaQmTyvhfGmDERnEWqFmsBoGJRJexo1RjsZrZJo7xM9iKrDjeU6AqKtE_VDG1ckugeN1NlplRNFX9ryevjC1bLj68-xz/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijVMWjwb_i3ls9S77Y4IM21eoFB8I-lXrJjYgT26DeHyQDu6sCaQmTyvhfGmDERnEWqFmsBoGJRJexo1RjsZrZJo7xM9iKrDjeU6AqKtE_VDG1ckugeN1NlplRNFX9ryevjC1bLj68-xz/s400/IMG_0465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488234315717591570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcqstku9qHX-Q0QKa7zGZ92pXbn_UGoZcIFAfvVp6P6MfBljH2uLQNXD3ehQ4movjp6IFofv9190e3vBCpnqcx_4GYgD5WDd5ZsIAEhFutBPB19JpNxi7NfPVg74CaWiYLM3ylrGMlxxr/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcqstku9qHX-Q0QKa7zGZ92pXbn_UGoZcIFAfvVp6P6MfBljH2uLQNXD3ehQ4movjp6IFofv9190e3vBCpnqcx_4GYgD5WDd5ZsIAEhFutBPB19JpNxi7NfPVg74CaWiYLM3ylrGMlxxr/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488234301743589826" border="0" /></a><br />We have also been eating lots or rhubarb while it's been in season too. Kinda sad to see it go. I've got a few jars of sauce in the pantry for this winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMMFtP151NGnrsdTD1NrXQZseQbzglDa_vFOVJ_ZFzoXTJWTi7lD_6sV7JCW8wgr3bp9oCj-u2SOdbMiPW3sonfix1pAoxQYoah1qnJsLX1zlOFd4_nr1I2pWio61jTpklZTHrrEXUMra/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMMFtP151NGnrsdTD1NrXQZseQbzglDa_vFOVJ_ZFzoXTJWTi7lD_6sV7JCW8wgr3bp9oCj-u2SOdbMiPW3sonfix1pAoxQYoah1qnJsLX1zlOFd4_nr1I2pWio61jTpklZTHrrEXUMra/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488234307391982018" border="0" /></a><br />We're looking forward to Blueberries and raspberries!<br />What's your favorite fresh local food?<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-22287546009513627472010-06-12T13:29:00.001-04:002010-06-12T13:29:00.210-04:00Picking StrawberriesA big family goal this year is to buy or pick and preserve as much local food as we can as it comes into season. So far we've been eating lots and lots of asparagus and rhubarb from the farmers market and we have been really falling in love with simple fresh eating!<br /><br />Last weekend we picked organic strawberries together at Carmody Farms in Marne. We had a great time and came home with three flats of beautiful berries. They are smaller, but don't even compare to the pesticide laden huge ones that come from the grocery store. I will never buy those awful things again!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQEdVdWoo60HJ01e67MbIFJDvSo6XMlKRPbvfuHkdXLXS0UZ-gzYOodQ1Rnq-TtPIf0vd7Nq_f9zNv5TBJzk9aJ2biKZUQAwx2yn6uCjHLOc3_MHonkElWxbbZJQGyCXOeJ5VNut76edW/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQEdVdWoo60HJ01e67MbIFJDvSo6XMlKRPbvfuHkdXLXS0UZ-gzYOodQ1Rnq-TtPIf0vd7Nq_f9zNv5TBJzk9aJ2biKZUQAwx2yn6uCjHLOc3_MHonkElWxbbZJQGyCXOeJ5VNut76edW/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481571444400192914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The girls had fun. They were great helpers for about the first hour, but got board and ended up playing in the lane on a picnic blanket with a few other kids who had tired of picking with their families.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4xhM8ACtOLLTPbn8sBR_0hFkdNdCIe5eYXoleLQadPEQjRv6kvPVjLHuc98G81-Fqf-UxhOUj0tizYRVP6VtbkPSEJImJje4beKYDlpup8J3UZcIbnELmaZEUXmXdzeyI7-ht4uXul56/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4xhM8ACtOLLTPbn8sBR_0hFkdNdCIe5eYXoleLQadPEQjRv6kvPVjLHuc98G81-Fqf-UxhOUj0tizYRVP6VtbkPSEJImJje4beKYDlpup8J3UZcIbnELmaZEUXmXdzeyI7-ht4uXul56/s400/IMG_0424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481571448253488946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCb5YUyEAzwrQgeXNaG109ycOfe2Mgnqv0e5wzVkSNouCbN3Bn_WqPR5g-6Vm2XZ5T2bmPaRKodS2RC9WK5xecqk09xUb6qibtfIQ02raM22b5ski8s2WtoeTI1amEZn8fZojWo622M0l/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCb5YUyEAzwrQgeXNaG109ycOfe2Mgnqv0e5wzVkSNouCbN3Bn_WqPR5g-6Vm2XZ5T2bmPaRKodS2RC9WK5xecqk09xUb6qibtfIQ02raM22b5ski8s2WtoeTI1amEZn8fZojWo622M0l/s400/IMG_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481571426641908306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikontPXn4mZbNrqinBvTSgPkHIn6sdRNKPErOO4ItdIEItmpNGKRUQItwK-XPuq97Xu9X-Lzic5Ky_AQ8LSZCQ_vT0RWIxz8m38kxn2i-gc2VFwj2x9orvWB3bwwUCy9EYTLMigZnxWQt5/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikontPXn4mZbNrqinBvTSgPkHIn6sdRNKPErOO4ItdIEItmpNGKRUQItwK-XPuq97Xu9X-Lzic5Ky_AQ8LSZCQ_vT0RWIxz8m38kxn2i-gc2VFwj2x9orvWB3bwwUCy9EYTLMigZnxWQt5/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481571422941122226" border="0" /></a>thankfully as they showed us which row to pick, they gave instructions to eat as many berries as you want! The kids took full advantage, especially Daisy!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf8J8aptBHVNU8yjk6a2wAiIKRlEOAL-N3WZDLxzSdJqtjAJDlOq02n-RC92Ity15P9gyfJPBmRSgaXbW5xtxso2sQInH8TRYy_YXyYsbRUtIKd9Jla3AiCKfYxwlzkAsNWfZsSW0pPMS/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf8J8aptBHVNU8yjk6a2wAiIKRlEOAL-N3WZDLxzSdJqtjAJDlOq02n-RC92Ity15P9gyfJPBmRSgaXbW5xtxso2sQInH8TRYy_YXyYsbRUtIKd9Jla3AiCKfYxwlzkAsNWfZsSW0pPMS/s400/IMG_0429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481570793184665826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX9MfS-q6bw6IJybexin8_Q_toQF3MmoLMnyYh_SNhzQ_B70aDC2PgAHIruGj75QFOokUcDXaGcJX2mSQCod6mFt75HvzTaLndmIdKA7RGMYnUSapSolzr-yE_Lc93-uEnQ42SynDapUS/s1600/IMG_0431.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX9MfS-q6bw6IJybexin8_Q_toQF3MmoLMnyYh_SNhzQ_B70aDC2PgAHIruGj75QFOokUcDXaGcJX2mSQCod6mFt75HvzTaLndmIdKA7RGMYnUSapSolzr-yE_Lc93-uEnQ42SynDapUS/s400/IMG_0431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481570788501779586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I spent the rest of the weekend in the kitchen with their sweet smell, washing and cutting their tops off.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY99hr6jlZGnAxfRlxZIjjSABGVyFErvzzeyUYeD7-IcdNAjzOo27e6irpJjb7x8OSK8T8eYhyz21-fqxVVnJ6aOwY26LGzlN2t9nKHF7R3pyIHqKS0x6wVs6iSGXlmBZZBK6RpaxnqrV/s1600/_DSC0468.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY99hr6jlZGnAxfRlxZIjjSABGVyFErvzzeyUYeD7-IcdNAjzOo27e6irpJjb7x8OSK8T8eYhyz21-fqxVVnJ6aOwY26LGzlN2t9nKHF7R3pyIHqKS0x6wVs6iSGXlmBZZBK6RpaxnqrV/s400/_DSC0468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481570760815899538" border="0" /></a>Sunday morning we ate homemade waffles with strawberry sauce.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWhjUFqJ0LnbIGD5-c8_dJlPVo7ou3TpBnuI9fqVJdV0IQaevmPW4rq1ppS80JF4cD_4ri-n5rdc95-fQdiyhSHyZ10HuiIteWXmwYYEJYOGFdXV9uRyK4cj7EgviNHlCeVwxDKbrp9Zu/s1600/_DSC0479.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWhjUFqJ0LnbIGD5-c8_dJlPVo7ou3TpBnuI9fqVJdV0IQaevmPW4rq1ppS80JF4cD_4ri-n5rdc95-fQdiyhSHyZ10HuiIteWXmwYYEJYOGFdXV9uRyK4cj7EgviNHlCeVwxDKbrp9Zu/s400/_DSC0479.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481570780455803298" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We froze most of them and I made two batches of strawberry jam.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w792w9rwUG4u39uEKrdexM7bJDMNK0S_3Mf3K7H8VIePtG1KIAXPaatbRpzEgnrSyUJ8T2rgbetQuCKQPPyIa5bwxDAFNJ9p0lrzqCt4Z5IdqlRvBJVHEWuO9VopeeUHEOrzNy1pY3G2/s1600/_DSC0473.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w792w9rwUG4u39uEKrdexM7bJDMNK0S_3Mf3K7H8VIePtG1KIAXPaatbRpzEgnrSyUJ8T2rgbetQuCKQPPyIa5bwxDAFNJ9p0lrzqCt4Z5IdqlRvBJVHEWuO9VopeeUHEOrzNy1pY3G2/s400/_DSC0473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481570773820777378" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I also canned some rhubarb sauce. It was very easy- just cook it down with a 1/4 cup of water and 3/4 of a cup of sugar. Oh, it's so amazing. I have heard we should try it on pork chops, but I know it's also going to be great on ice cream!<br /><br />The thing I love the most about this journey, is realizing that these things are not as difficult as I imagine them to be, and they are also much more rewarding than I expected. Give it a try, I think you'll be surprised!<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-27798060492891903452010-06-11T10:52:00.001-04:002010-06-11T13:28:00.720-04:00hatching chicks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1x7GHBH6El7XKRyGZdM4iXc6mq5aiNjI1_ddlFNHBs2_elM7KzkQQoA9u12kvSq8S4sBo4TJuUGEqbu7kh1mp1GwoLP5ZXS3Hh4Db_a-02izegW24iEbUSaQWOR2Ny5NTT8IuPiriTHQ/s1600/_DSC0261.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a>On a recent trip to visit the farm, the girls all scurried out of the van immediately upon our arrival and ran with their friends to the barn to collect eggs. It's their favorite job on the farm and they came back with a huge bucket of eggs. They put them in cartons and put them in the fridge. A bit later, I caught up with Rosie and her pockets were bulging and she was cradling something in the front of her shirt. She backed away from me defensively when I approached her and I saw that she had half a dozen eggs. I said, "Rosie we need to put those in the refridgerator, they are going to get broken." She looked at me with wide eyes and exclaimed, "But Mommy, these ones are not food!!!" I didn't really know how to respond, but I convinced her to at least put them in a carton and we set them aside and brainstormed how to handle the delicate situation. Jenna suggested we bring home the incubator and hatch them. The chickens on the farm free range with a couple of roosters so they were fertile eggs. Being the brave Momma that I am, I figured we'd give it a try. It'd be a good educational experience, right?<br /><br />So we brought 15 eggs home. The first thing we learned was that the eggs don't start to develope until they have the right temperature of 102 degrees. So in the meantime they can be stored at room temperature on their sides. We did a little research and made up this calendar with the guidelines of how incubate the eggs, to hang by the incubator.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1x7GHBH6El7XKRyGZdM4iXc6mq5aiNjI1_ddlFNHBs2_elM7KzkQQoA9u12kvSq8S4sBo4TJuUGEqbu7kh1mp1GwoLP5ZXS3Hh4Db_a-02izegW24iEbUSaQWOR2Ny5NTT8IuPiriTHQ/s1600/_DSC0261.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1x7GHBH6El7XKRyGZdM4iXc6mq5aiNjI1_ddlFNHBs2_elM7KzkQQoA9u12kvSq8S4sBo4TJuUGEqbu7kh1mp1GwoLP5ZXS3Hh4Db_a-02izegW24iEbUSaQWOR2Ny5NTT8IuPiriTHQ/s400/_DSC0261.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480179665914037490" border="0" /></a>The incubation period was 21 days and since we didn't have the luxury of a self turning incubator, we (mom) had to turn the eggs a half turn, 3 times per day. We marked one side with an * and the other side with a number, 1-15 so we could keep track of the turning.<br /><br />Exactly 21 days later, the hatching began! we just saw a little piping on most of the eggs (I guess that's what you call the little cracks they make with their egg tooth) I had started spraying the eggs with water a few days earlier to keep the shells moist, and when I sprayed them that morning, I jumped with surprise when I heard them peep in response from inside their shells! I called the girls downstairs and they sat next to the incubator in silence listening for the tiny little peeps! It was Memorial Day, so it was perfect, nobody had to go to school or work and we had no plans, so we just hung out and watched the eggs all day!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs1JK05gTECJhAYuNwzDc4K8BkCUVphSHdXybir6Du5a-VH3Xoe_LxmIR2wgxrDuqnGnZhaPDG9zZkOufnhky1q09wjsu996MgvJiHISLXCFZotfYtkJbkkSIrVTN_0-EyGGHmSmO-XC4/s1600/_DSC0274.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs1JK05gTECJhAYuNwzDc4K8BkCUVphSHdXybir6Du5a-VH3Xoe_LxmIR2wgxrDuqnGnZhaPDG9zZkOufnhky1q09wjsu996MgvJiHISLXCFZotfYtkJbkkSIrVTN_0-EyGGHmSmO-XC4/s400/_DSC0274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480179655650274402" border="0" /></a>Lily made a book and sat at the kitchen table taking notes and documenting the whole process. She recorded which chicks hatched, what number they were and what color egg they came out of.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjJpfRxXNOesqLZHh28B6nFjYu5a09Wk1I0Jabad2Wf2lFWMWTvYUh5f3CXi6dP5Leq9e_vpU-fbPSGpfF4IfwayB6m9gBKvzbfQ-GDoAYN3pd4oIrs1jvao_YDzjzibZqfLIN_UL3kfJ/s1600/_DSC0268.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjJpfRxXNOesqLZHh28B6nFjYu5a09Wk1I0Jabad2Wf2lFWMWTvYUh5f3CXi6dP5Leq9e_vpU-fbPSGpfF4IfwayB6m9gBKvzbfQ-GDoAYN3pd4oIrs1jvao_YDzjzibZqfLIN_UL3kfJ/s400/_DSC0268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480179674003954402" border="0" /></a>She awarded the first little chick to make his way out of it's egg with a blue ribbon:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT1GSRHCY1S2KfoxAvt-jg0NCLSSnZq7oBAv0_rj9fxXPSn_bx49DSyeNRcBsE-qgHAa69gZ4Byeq_C8o8LdhC1MYH4wXXOFtLHCLNk9SUUMIU-EqGtFDzDJP6nWByWAyygH-7FPhyQDC/s1600/_DSC0272.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT1GSRHCY1S2KfoxAvt-jg0NCLSSnZq7oBAv0_rj9fxXPSn_bx49DSyeNRcBsE-qgHAa69gZ4Byeq_C8o8LdhC1MYH4wXXOFtLHCLNk9SUUMIU-EqGtFDzDJP6nWByWAyygH-7FPhyQDC/s400/_DSC0272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480231878983259938" border="0" /></a>It was so amazing to watch how hard they had to work to get out. They were so weak when they first hatched, it was hard to believe they would make it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp8ror3vIraLBbZLH6EhSwckShKgXjwJBjw2FkTLGLs7WEMOlqNtw6ukP0MlmvEHTb0IfSp5lsJKogF3TfkEC_xR6dZARg0H-beF0s-SgxWs3mpBiVTb5BP3CGtC-ISX56UWhA6jMmgon/s1600/_DSC0279.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp8ror3vIraLBbZLH6EhSwckShKgXjwJBjw2FkTLGLs7WEMOlqNtw6ukP0MlmvEHTb0IfSp5lsJKogF3TfkEC_xR6dZARg0H-beF0s-SgxWs3mpBiVTb5BP3CGtC-ISX56UWhA6jMmgon/s400/_DSC0279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480179678099513106" border="0" /></a>But they fluffed up in no time and began pecking around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhUMv02SNUm_swKEuT8S24dseyAHw58rLzWmevA0_n6bC1pQssLbhu5XnB_DrscgXiC8Lg2DpiIgmO0thAti-6niMNtWad_ZeoGaQGsIphy_hBt9GyBcxyM7vxHEF3RLgnnnIof7Pu174/s1600/_DSC0433.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhUMv02SNUm_swKEuT8S24dseyAHw58rLzWmevA0_n6bC1pQssLbhu5XnB_DrscgXiC8Lg2DpiIgmO0thAti-6niMNtWad_ZeoGaQGsIphy_hBt9GyBcxyM7vxHEF3RLgnnnIof7Pu174/s400/_DSC0433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480231852106196274" border="0" /></a>Thanks to Rosie the egg collector (as she signed her name on a gift carton of food eggs for grandma) these eggs were not food, they are little chicks and she got to be a part of the whole process!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_xMMEF4xg3g4QlpKRF8XZtl0_ajcS5mc3eMJSuVDrzRp4nWLdxZj05L9K6Dd4X9gqlbucvhZaogk0LrbhTgHJTVo-mWapP7okNzMjJvm6SaW_fAKrC1UhVcGRfMrDzTRqBxgDNEB76uX/s1600/_DSC0443.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_xMMEF4xg3g4QlpKRF8XZtl0_ajcS5mc3eMJSuVDrzRp4nWLdxZj05L9K6Dd4X9gqlbucvhZaogk0LrbhTgHJTVo-mWapP7okNzMjJvm6SaW_fAKrC1UhVcGRfMrDzTRqBxgDNEB76uX/s400/_DSC0443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480179684732959586" border="0" /></a>There were 5 eggs that didn't ever begin to hatch. One of which was a full grown chick. One chick made significant progress pecking thru the shell and died sometime during the process. There was one poor little chick with deformed legs who didn't make it and another that never seemed to grow and died within a few days. The girls handled it very well. We had tried to prepare them for this reality from the beginning, another very hard, but valuable life lesson. I think we would have done much better if we had a self turning incubator and could have kept the temperature more constant. It seemed to fluctuate a lot and that can cause a lot of problems as the embryos develop.<br /><br />In the end we have 7 healthy chicks who are growing sooo fast! We'll ship the roosters back to farmer Brian. If all goes well, we hope to keep a few hens in the backyard. The motion to change the city ordinance to allow chickens goes before the city this month and we're hoping and praying it gets approved.FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-81508004540296473122010-06-08T14:57:00.002-04:002010-06-08T15:00:19.203-04:00Radical Homemaker: Reclaiming Domesticity From a Consumer Culture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://books.google.com/books?id=Wq_8EESvDdUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=radical+homemakers+by+shannon+hayes&ei=BJAOTI29DJLQM_Dzqb0I&cd=1#v=onepage&q=gold&f=false"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCg1UXYVPr65IKa0kUFhtiyg-d6RwWIb9UsboqJZl2sU7NCZK8phFz0ptsFlYLPpIlvaIKtrdpBy1DYdU-PDD6C2MiPDcZ0JT6MulpRd6iYMJh9ufkgB0NQ02QCbMFolYPrCB54DhcmFg/s400/radhomecover-200x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480479132616400258" border="0" /></a><br />I can't do this book and the subject matter any justice by trying to explain it to you, you just have to read it!FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-43524953136621426712010-05-17T14:13:00.005-04:002010-05-17T14:56:18.921-04:00Your InvitedIn case you didn't know, I am now a trained professional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doula">doula</a>. I am working with families as both a photographer and a labor assistant. My passion is to equip and educate families to make the best choices for themselves to have an empowering and beautiful birth experience.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a couple of upcoming local events. Please pass the info on to anyone you know who might be interested!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKihyGD6-LHbGk2qqWw76rDQz1epqI8UPcErMRwn63ayCea6aaTR419eMvPh0p1TQFFAIW-RYAUoUhd7Y97vtgNgCnkIIzi0ME6-GSKPXD4XGC_BnnIlOLD_Cya9Wp6oKgAzFWFw8C9KU/s1600/myBirthbellyfyer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKihyGD6-LHbGk2qqWw76rDQz1epqI8UPcErMRwn63ayCea6aaTR419eMvPh0p1TQFFAIW-RYAUoUhd7Y97vtgNgCnkIIzi0ME6-GSKPXD4XGC_BnnIlOLD_Cya9Wp6oKgAzFWFw8C9KU/s400/myBirthbellyfyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472311158147286338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoa1xnm9SZ_sH6YxTS0wJRtqgY2XWvhFpNowNfcQXVJX6JtKP3XUN7cCLAFnGy0YMpQC3WtqVfb7rLq4kCvCv9oE-ciERRaqeRKU6aDNs7voHMC1SLIlrjTLHAOwpuA2sR8xfOjHu2dNg/s1600/June+Maternitea.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoa1xnm9SZ_sH6YxTS0wJRtqgY2XWvhFpNowNfcQXVJX6JtKP3XUN7cCLAFnGy0YMpQC3WtqVfb7rLq4kCvCv9oE-ciERRaqeRKU6aDNs7voHMC1SLIlrjTLHAOwpuA2sR8xfOjHu2dNg/s400/June+Maternitea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472311149152687394" border="0" /></a>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-73170421036449502482010-04-14T16:45:00.009-04:002010-04-30T10:12:25.483-04:00our fave restaurantsEating out can be sooooo frustrating when you have a food allergy. (*Please note, I understand that celiac is not an allergy, but I use the term because it's the one that everybody seems to get, and for the benefit of those here who are gluten free for other reasons) Even if the restaurant has something you could eat sometimes it's impossible to find out for sure because the staff is not educated on the issue. I get so upset when we encounter people in the food industry who lack the knowledge needed to answer our questions about the menu. I continually meet people who honestly don't even understand what wheat is! If you don't believe me, here is an example:<br /><br />One time in a burger place I ordered my youngest daughter a burger without the bun, the waitress looked at me confused so I told her that my daughter couldn't have wheat. She replied, "Oh, we don't have wheat buns, we only have white buns." No joke.<br /><br />Our worst experiences have taken place while traveling. It's so hard to go someplace your not familiar with. For a very long time after going gluten free, we didn't eat out at all. We still don't eat out as often as we used to, but it is so nice to be able to go out to eat sometimes, especially in social situations and on special occasions.<br /><br />Here's a list of the places we frequent because they have gluten free options and are knowledgeable about it. Click on the name to visit their website.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.noodles.com/">Noodles</a></span> - They really only have one gluten free entree, Pad Thai, but it's Lily's fave dish. I think some of the soups and definitely the salads are gluten free. They have great allergy info both in the store and on their website and when you order you tell them 'gluten allergy aware' and they will flag the order so that it is prepared separately from any gluten ingredients. Get a punch card, every 10th meal is free and be sure to sign up for their email list. They will send you a coupon for FREE noodles from time to time.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.qdoba.com/Allergen.aspx">Qdoba</a></span>- They actually have a lot of gluten free options. My kids love the gumbo soup. You can get any of the burritos 'naked' and have chips instead of the flour tortilla. If you go, make sure you get their loyalty card because every 8th entree is FREE! They also send good coupons to your email.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://http//www.mariecatribs.com/">Marie Catrib's</a></span>- What a great local place! They always have the best gluten free options, including gluten free bread for the sandwiches! They have both rye and white. The first time Rich went there and ordered a sandwich on Rye, he panicked after the first bite because it tasted sooooo good he couldn't believe it was gluten free and assumed they had made a mistake. The waitress reassured him it was gf and he enjoyed every bite! They also make really good hummus!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.brickroadpizza.com/">Brick Road Pizza</a></span> - has gluten free Pizza! It's good and we love the atmosphere of the place but think it's quite pricey. But can you place a value on pizza night? Our eating habits have changed a lot over the years, and we don't crave pizza very often, but everybody deserves a pizza party from time to time!<br /><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=palace+of+India+Grand+Rapids&fb=1&gl=us&hq=palace+of+India&hnear=Grand+Rapids&cid=11587265248991684345"><span style="font-size:130%;">Palace of India</span></a>- Oh, soooo yummy. We have come to love Indian food, especially after discovering that the breading on the vegetable pekora is not wheat flour, but chickpea flour! Mmmmmm, fried califlower! Our favorite dish is the curry chicken.<br /><br />I just bought a bunch of coupons for Brick Road, Palace of India and a few other local places at <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.restaurant.com/">restaurant.com</a>. </span>They are having an 80% off sale till tomorrow, so hurry over there to buy yours! It makes eating out a whole lot more affordable! If you miss this sale, become their fan on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/pages/Restaurantcom/102950680273?ref=ts">Facebook</a> to find out when they go on sale again!<br /><br />One place we don't eat: APPLEBEES! and we learned that the hard way. I don't think I have ever had good service there and they are not very gluten free friendly. The last time we went there (we were traveling and didn't have a lot of options), poor Daisy had to sit sadly coveting me and Rosie's (glutenous) food, waiting for her dinner because they brought her food on a bun even after a lengthy conversation with the waitress about wheat and the fact that she couldn't have it. She obviously had no understanding of what your basic foods are made out of cause while ordering, AFTER I explained, she offered us pasta! Really. I just think if your gonna work in the food industry you should be required to have a basic knowledge of food. Maybe I'm asking too much.FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-84544690215645669122010-04-14T16:32:00.000-04:002010-04-14T17:02:39.172-04:00Flour Mix Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu2WRymkuSlsK7QKI9m0J3fDGYx8Xq01AIt49kE0-zde0abuMKQo_PTtK3JVG4wqXfYB_vdO6z5qus0N8_SOCpeZUtF8JtxdZKTIeXkvnsfxu00EBeL2TEpapgKqM89oOUxhOVIXYfpIk/s1600/_DSC0022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu2WRymkuSlsK7QKI9m0J3fDGYx8Xq01AIt49kE0-zde0abuMKQo_PTtK3JVG4wqXfYB_vdO6z5qus0N8_SOCpeZUtF8JtxdZKTIeXkvnsfxu00EBeL2TEpapgKqM89oOUxhOVIXYfpIk/s400/_DSC0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454796079904522930" border="0" /></a>I want to share again how I make my <a href="http://alltheprettyflowers.blogspot.com/2008/05/gf-flour-mixture.html">gluten free flour mix</a> that I use for most of my general baking because I have developed a new system that is much cheaper and easier than buying flours at a health food store. These days I shop at ethnic markets.<br /><br />On this journey of learning to eat gluten free in a culture that seems to think wheat is the only grain that exists we have learned that most other cultures in the world use a lot of other grains. We have always loved ethnic food. These days we eat a lot more of it and we have grown to love our local ethnic grocery stores.<br /><br />For only about $1 a bag, I buy the flours for the flour mix at either the Wei Wei palace on Division Ave. near 44th St. or at Adong Asian Market also on Division near 36th st.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">To make a batch of the flour mix, combine 3 16 oz bags of White Rice Flour<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGP2m8A2JhbA1Fuqs3ReUvv7zUFLzHK3sUF0aZHD9nKyma1euk3o0lISSlJXyQI6rxQdP4pOVab6QmloQt83YmmOh9-cj7whXCkqzndx3VdgVl_FF8WeZE3tKqIHIg1AP0GiKz2gHN0vG/s1600/_DSC0024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGP2m8A2JhbA1Fuqs3ReUvv7zUFLzHK3sUF0aZHD9nKyma1euk3o0lISSlJXyQI6rxQdP4pOVab6QmloQt83YmmOh9-cj7whXCkqzndx3VdgVl_FF8WeZE3tKqIHIg1AP0GiKz2gHN0vG/s400/_DSC0024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454796089678611682" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">three 12 0z bags of Potato Starch<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vStEIWKS8VYUROzdb-lXrMbaw65_Sbs5U7UpSoC4W77A6T9h_Z2-el8wm9plhmSIO6Ndouln070QJGUY8efiNK3An_TLUGMTeGoKLCIFQVVqJ0irZl5XAlAwSfxDzl5rfMGYbcmtWHzd/s1600/_DSC0026.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vStEIWKS8VYUROzdb-lXrMbaw65_Sbs5U7UpSoC4W77A6T9h_Z2-el8wm9plhmSIO6Ndouln070QJGUY8efiNK3An_TLUGMTeGoKLCIFQVVqJ0irZl5XAlAwSfxDzl5rfMGYbcmtWHzd/s400/_DSC0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454796105791638770" border="0" /></a>and 1/2 the bag of tapioca starch<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn72LBVJDSuQSI1kHOCCm259ip6wV7l8rdDJWirfJzJYzePFXcDKOzDYHa84jqAG68_aIT7FqEf6xYfrEduE3C4oDI5roOsTSbqL20Kk1lQgPyILCE4WM4s-A7dvtrBxlDFm6T0ay9OgU/s1600/_DSC0025.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn72LBVJDSuQSI1kHOCCm259ip6wV7l8rdDJWirfJzJYzePFXcDKOzDYHa84jqAG68_aIT7FqEf6xYfrEduE3C4oDI5roOsTSbqL20Kk1lQgPyILCE4WM4s-A7dvtrBxlDFm6T0ay9OgU/s400/_DSC0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454796097866167458" border="0" /></a>stir the flours together well and store in an airtight container.<br /><br />I usually mix up a double batch and it fills my BIG yellow tuperware container that I keep in the pantry and a smaller canister that I keep out on the counter.<br /><br />I also buy sweet rice flour (glutinous, but don't worry, it contains no gluten) to use in cookies. Using 1/4 or maybe even less sweet rice flour of the total required flour amount for a cookie recipes makes them a little chewier. Don't use too much cause then it makes things very sticky.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5uRQEUwOLe2nAGLMIJ7ZtofoElAoncsX4vJBNthGJg4YC7M5vXtsAMcVrHgmpJNxCIKpTzOlrDolSR5VQeHKtSX2_EUU4wJl_QmhetO8eectz4Ot0ieLnHRt0AQ7c9wbnY380ieXMKmp/s1600/_DSC0020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5uRQEUwOLe2nAGLMIJ7ZtofoElAoncsX4vJBNthGJg4YC7M5vXtsAMcVrHgmpJNxCIKpTzOlrDolSR5VQeHKtSX2_EUU4wJl_QmhetO8eectz4Ot0ieLnHRt0AQ7c9wbnY380ieXMKmp/s400/_DSC0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454796067289357346" border="0" /></a><br />We have also been shopping at the Indian market and expierimenting with Chic Pea flour. It makes the BEST batter for fried cauliflower by the way!<br /><br />Hope this helps! Let me know what you bake and how it works for you!FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-1539654919723157002010-03-25T12:50:00.003-04:002010-03-25T12:54:56.654-04:00Midtown Garden Clean Up DayNo more snow!! It's spring!<br /><br />Wanna see the Midtown garden and lend a hand to clean up and get ready for planting? Come out this weekend!<br /><br /><table id="Time and Place" class="profileTable info_table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="label">Date:</td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap">Saturday, March 27, 2010</div></td></tr> <tr><td class="label">Time:</td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap">10:00am - 2:00pm</div></td></tr> <tr><td class="label">Location:</td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap">61 Holland St. NE Grand Rapids</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />You don't have to stay the whole time, just come when you can.<br /><br />To make sure your in the know, we're on Facebook! Become a fan!<br /><br /><!-- Facebook Fan Badge START --><div style="width: 100%;"><div style="background: #3B5998;padding: 5px;"><img src="http://www.facebook.com/images/fb_logo_small.png" alt="Facebook" /><img src="http://badge.facebook.com/badge/360236448825.703421182.1521195001.png" alt="" width="0" height="0" /></div><div style="background: #EDEFF4;display: block;border-right: 1px solid #D8DFEA;border-bottom: 1px solid #D8DFEA;border-left: 1px solid #D8DFEA;margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 5px 0px;"><div style="background: #EDEFF4;display: block;padding: 5px;"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://www.facebook.com/images/icons/fbpage.gif" alt="" /></td><td valign="top"><p style="color: #808080;font-family: verdana;font-size: 11px;margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jenniferholshoe" title="Jennifer Holshoe" target="_TOP" style="color: #3B5998;font-family: verdana;font-size: 11px;font-weight: normal;margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Holshoe</a> is a fan of</p></td></tr></table></div><div style="background: #FFFFFF;clear: both;display: block;margin: 0px;overflow: hidden;padding: 5px;"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Midtown-Community-Garden/360236448825" title="Midtown Community Garden" target="_TOP" style="border: 0px;color: #3B5998;font-family: verdana;font-size: 12px;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://www.facebook.com/profile/pic.php?oid=AAAAAwAgACAAAAAM_l9x50pZSbI87AkkDt_NiBYjzZtjuOaz6W_jk-C0KHyZyeB7jQ8p6d9cCP0KeevZ96SHdEIsU3wXAiOKJRTvmzcX4jLYWw0rkuk_lugYB43Fd7vL6n9IExRej1oTeXpx&size=square" style="border: 0px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;" alt="Midtown Community Garden" /></a></td><td valign="middle" style="padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Midtown-Community-Garden/360236448825" title="Midtown Community Garden" target="_TOP" style="border: 0px;color: #3B5998;font-family: verdana;font-size: 12px;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-decoration: none;">Midtown Community Garden</a></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="display: block;float: right;margin: 0px;padding: 4px 0px 0px 0px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/facebook-widgets/fanbadges.php" title="Create your Fan Badge" target="_TOP" style="color: #3B5998;font-family: verdana;font-size: 11px;font-weight: none;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-decoration: none;">Create your Fan Badge</a></div></div><!-- Facebook Fan Badge END -->FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-984908032716014542010-03-18T13:24:00.007-04:002010-03-18T14:21:59.743-04:00Seed Starting party!It's Spring!! (I know, I heard it's still going to snow, I don't care!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/event.php?eid=10150155086450319"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs2co-yRgOQz6LWVqexBzFFhzzqnTEFq7p5OXFQZFnZqqwCefuNoZfD1oxk1ZC1mDcx9bHzJO88fXd1Hb-onJ2M-4Cu1Fd2w5S5ffxgbet_lTnI17ct9eMLadbJeD-ei6p21lCmg8-s_P/s400/MidtownGarden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450030587040996482" border="0" /></a>Click on the pic to see the event on Facebook.<br /><br /></div>Come celebrate with us! Saturday, we are going to start some seeds for the Midtown Community Garden, but you are welcome to come out and get your hands dirty with us! We are going to do some indoor seed starting and some <a href="http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/How_to_Winter_Sow.html">winter sowing</a>. Bring some milk jugs or other plastic containers and seeds if you've got them, we've got dirt and some seeds to share. You don't have to be a Midtown neighborhood resident or commit to working in the garden. If your excited about spring and gardening, even if you've never done it before, come on over and let's get our hands dirty together! If you want to help us start the plants for the garden that's great, or if you want to take some starts home, that's fine too. We'll be working inside, so don't worry about the weather report!<br /><br />We went out to the farm last night for the first time and saw all the brand new baby sheep! I love spring! There are something like 17 baby lambs so far this spring, 7 lambs born yesterday alone!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-_yHLz9bhDAC8-2p7YsduYdyXYPsLzYw9Z_3adgrmjb2681aTYo-eMBqMZ6j7E2xEnmol90JO_P5yncU_7mBjGRWd7CRrhBv6PryMqnAVqXgFV6Dqv5gzBXWHNveugXF7nFNCgdqc2kY/s1600-h/_DSC0114.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-_yHLz9bhDAC8-2p7YsduYdyXYPsLzYw9Z_3adgrmjb2681aTYo-eMBqMZ6j7E2xEnmol90JO_P5yncU_7mBjGRWd7CRrhBv6PryMqnAVqXgFV6Dqv5gzBXWHNveugXF7nFNCgdqc2kY/s400/_DSC0114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450033495391189810" border="0" /></a>This is Percy! Her momma isn't doing a very good job at nursing her so we fed her a bottle. She is soooo sweet! Her name is short for persistent, because in spite of her mom's (sheep are not very smart) head butts she doesn't give up trying to nurse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgvmjxCU1XiMRLrlWfTrp-N3xdz6hs77ye950kVeW7KEV-grCV39sZ4Uzlmk4cLTg5WWCUVOTEslB9kwFyyDlmJr_QWblKMPSd0rZJtCQpNtNssouO0JTv_bExkOqtHVrQVS8qhzhPKO8/s1600-h/_DSC0146.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgvmjxCU1XiMRLrlWfTrp-N3xdz6hs77ye950kVeW7KEV-grCV39sZ4Uzlmk4cLTg5WWCUVOTEslB9kwFyyDlmJr_QWblKMPSd0rZJtCQpNtNssouO0JTv_bExkOqtHVrQVS8qhzhPKO8/s400/_DSC0146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450033511429949122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY0Eqc0v0VhBby-hBFN_UCx0gmFQQ92UIBIkOzVbn1scR-2w-TWV16Z32KUamm5Gm7iHj1-kBxZ6WFhEEE0dcV_qMTVXuuf2mZfl9O4WquwUHhFrL60o_Fq-CZoHEeCNSXdtHFqYAUyPK/s1600-h/_DSC0155.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY0Eqc0v0VhBby-hBFN_UCx0gmFQQ92UIBIkOzVbn1scR-2w-TWV16Z32KUamm5Gm7iHj1-kBxZ6WFhEEE0dcV_qMTVXuuf2mZfl9O4WquwUHhFrL60o_Fq-CZoHEeCNSXdtHFqYAUyPK/s400/_DSC0155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450037068802247314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Remember <a href="http://alltheprettyflowers.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-life.html">Pìo</a>?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET1UghkBflilokJHihUpk2LSLXdnI1cA9NkGkfeMxrsZ9n8PstD8MLGhxwFjkTH8qfRgve12caVnxPUTnZaHOL5tasNg5cz5bWKTv62rneDdFTxKTt-Mtm29jRNlPJTWGBDgfn6dUZQJE/s1600-h/_DSC0882.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET1UghkBflilokJHihUpk2LSLXdnI1cA9NkGkfeMxrsZ9n8PstD8MLGhxwFjkTH8qfRgve12caVnxPUTnZaHOL5tasNg5cz5bWKTv62rneDdFTxKTt-Mtm29jRNlPJTWGBDgfn6dUZQJE/s400/_DSC0882.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450037088316314258" border="0" /></a>She's big now!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc34od_sr5exXcWAenijbk65HMIqJirIG7S5X51q7vtLxykUGfuJxTBwZqI2jEFRiH46Ch4v6dGFrGpavtMv9MOpg0DxK9sGJO6ZOPcR373Xikbn3-cgj82jfNMx212BOIlkN9Dr6ran0c/s1600-h/_DSC0129.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc34od_sr5exXcWAenijbk65HMIqJirIG7S5X51q7vtLxykUGfuJxTBwZqI2jEFRiH46Ch4v6dGFrGpavtMv9MOpg0DxK9sGJO6ZOPcR373Xikbn3-cgj82jfNMx212BOIlkN9Dr6ran0c/s400/_DSC0129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450037061149352130" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY SPRING!<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-17277561936015093812010-03-13T16:39:00.000-05:002010-03-14T00:23:30.343-05:00Lily is 7!...and I just can't get my mind around it. Time keeps moving faster and faster. How is my baby seven years old??!!...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWu29FM-I3x5GiFw1K17GvKTVrvCaA4IaphXJN1MEBlW4mnVC1bEugoGM7rqAUFK612lYpKUmBEUuwcoLgMZ1wemGg1PTsZo691CqmO8tW5Is4VAqqFEbeD9YEr7Xy9clYJ2KiYS3VSvr/s1600-h/1507-R3-05-7A.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWu29FM-I3x5GiFw1K17GvKTVrvCaA4IaphXJN1MEBlW4mnVC1bEugoGM7rqAUFK612lYpKUmBEUuwcoLgMZ1wemGg1PTsZo691CqmO8tW5Is4VAqqFEbeD9YEr7Xy9clYJ2KiYS3VSvr/s400/1507-R3-05-7A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448351107494751506" border="0" /></a><br />my teeny little 6 pound baby I used to bath in the sink<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIKhihOZOBRP8M9NjwDl5CSwIWs0yioXLh9oUDscQMcfuN6-6jouptJwIfhLtthezbBh4FVYrYc04uF-zyzvBHVu8v46ABPiVNoh7jpD3ELupbJLMoC5GtISKVFsqs1_omzmFqfI3fS8T/s1600-h/Picture+012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIKhihOZOBRP8M9NjwDl5CSwIWs0yioXLh9oUDscQMcfuN6-6jouptJwIfhLtthezbBh4FVYrYc04uF-zyzvBHVu8v46ABPiVNoh7jpD3ELupbJLMoC5GtISKVFsqs1_omzmFqfI3fS8T/s400/Picture+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448352646918581042" border="0" /></a>My toddler who'd spend hours playing in the water "doing the dishes"...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4auANbrG0xem9vQg4lcjflYQcm_Y1goDYt1aAItzw4hHYcGX1x-yjfXICuSyAeplZjdSRl6yK8Cbp7FNq83LQET8Z-eZ31IW_US_DTb1PtC88iEcLxPnk1xPEbULckB1eJm_Jjcj59UE/s1600-h/DSC_3587.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4auANbrG0xem9vQg4lcjflYQcm_Y1goDYt1aAItzw4hHYcGX1x-yjfXICuSyAeplZjdSRl6yK8Cbp7FNq83LQET8Z-eZ31IW_US_DTb1PtC88iEcLxPnk1xPEbULckB1eJm_Jjcj59UE/s400/DSC_3587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448351123790559010" border="0" /></a><br />the little girl I couldn't get out of her pink flannel nightgown once for over a week and who wore a leotard everyday for a year?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyBEIoIrz8bdnLzwG_PInw98KDs6oEpBZ4S-SSFhm6poYOJ0S4HiG9E2xSovgJFzoC0HQdSbBBdm-seIVfHpJfpeRINglmFmJ96EnzUtrXMUwSfGnCjt6ktk9cp5CXDH4gLMcUapAoYGi/s1600-h/DSC_4885.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyBEIoIrz8bdnLzwG_PInw98KDs6oEpBZ4S-SSFhm6poYOJ0S4HiG9E2xSovgJFzoC0HQdSbBBdm-seIVfHpJfpeRINglmFmJ96EnzUtrXMUwSfGnCjt6ktk9cp5CXDH4gLMcUapAoYGi/s400/DSC_4885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448352619552180098" border="0" /></a>the kid who celebrates Halloween everyday...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9jW7eszkBYMV-K-Ct9kMY0w8xQz1RyXPUHiJGcf5VZ7TSWlemRce58iB61wyrF6toVy9HiclX3dunAh5ZOF6Ka4dT3xt68cM6GM1JvPqC4GY35dNigw2Mz7GNjfy8z51IcpgKlRiTf2i/s1600-h/DSCF0044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9jW7eszkBYMV-K-Ct9kMY0w8xQz1RyXPUHiJGcf5VZ7TSWlemRce58iB61wyrF6toVy9HiclX3dunAh5ZOF6Ka4dT3xt68cM6GM1JvPqC4GY35dNigw2Mz7GNjfy8z51IcpgKlRiTf2i/s400/DSCF0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448352626762492002" border="0" /></a>and can always make you laugh...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXev7QI-S7biv2A6FXDX0FeWK8QJJFFwEutnDjPTZQGg3N8sCPAhTcXBv-ijsmpc42HYvg3HtI9f4LBAD_gbIA5UGrX956D6a0Goy5h4FQQaUdl6Cs1ClROXuK54w0mI5Tyqb_eoHgCbtI/s1600-h/_DSC0610.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXev7QI-S7biv2A6FXDX0FeWK8QJJFFwEutnDjPTZQGg3N8sCPAhTcXBv-ijsmpc42HYvg3HtI9f4LBAD_gbIA5UGrX956D6a0Goy5h4FQQaUdl6Cs1ClROXuK54w0mI5Tyqb_eoHgCbtI/s400/_DSC0610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448351088646161058" border="0" /></a>the most photogenic child I ever aimed a camera at...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g-aDJ1KB9BTXHBh1UILZYegT9vLmJWywWRJIcLr91aC_vUfbe9EhPfiLKzzog-RSOc7IXrEhNYVd-VQrHKPuJp05QYUh6VX1QOCrsjQsoV-p4wvV3TP5t-uUoQNzuDETURI74EqdoxES/s1600-h/IMG_1827.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2lmPaz4WRwvV7MeXiNKyV-yMjS2o-YyWJW_xDiv6P92RhrSa-N_jwYlu6wTGzyHK0uwi_u_QIC2f6Oa_xJQA8GhKirt3najO_HjnBR4bac7-6C7ZmElJz977qnP8IxJ5al6ViISrBG0Q/s1600-h/recovered0514.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2lmPaz4WRwvV7MeXiNKyV-yMjS2o-YyWJW_xDiv6P92RhrSa-N_jwYlu6wTGzyHK0uwi_u_QIC2f6Oa_xJQA8GhKirt3najO_HjnBR4bac7-6C7ZmElJz977qnP8IxJ5al6ViISrBG0Q/s400/recovered0514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448352652703977778" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">is 7 years old.<br />She's growing up.<br /></div><br />She's always been a very intense child, with a VERY strong will and full of energy! None of that has changed, but she is really learning how to channel her energy in a more productive way and she has matured so much in the last year, it brings me so much joy.<br /><br />Just as any mother's first baby does, Lily has changed my life in every way and I am so thankful for her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYd1usdz8TyZz_9YNyeJxJt5GT7hi9A_55kFYlpEbPfmyXlxlsalM7dxQdWLILc0zkxSD7P6SVr0hxNWmR30yiEpiMw73XSgD4tGimAM_i7W2Wa8_sUFcN_1S4S3CYgWktHcmeihBbrvC/s1600-h/_DSC0730.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYd1usdz8TyZz_9YNyeJxJt5GT7hi9A_55kFYlpEbPfmyXlxlsalM7dxQdWLILc0zkxSD7P6SVr0hxNWmR30yiEpiMw73XSgD4tGimAM_i7W2Wa8_sUFcN_1S4S3CYgWktHcmeihBbrvC/s400/_DSC0730.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448351094186538978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY!!<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-75781972171784980492010-03-12T16:05:00.006-05:002010-03-12T16:38:24.402-05:00Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, YUM!<div style="text-align: center;">Lily's birthday is this weekend and she wanted to bring some chocolate chip cookies to school today to share with her class so I tried the Better Homes and Garden's chocolate chip recipe because I wasn't too impressed with the gluten free recipes I have made in the past. They turned out amazing and I really don't think most people would even be able to tell that they are gluten free.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3fpOtc2P_2XYT_WK_80NWjxqyd7VlUL25L5lG__qemeBY8e4QDIG8t1QyCFdkO-UZw9clhWJjhTXr0wCuyfeOMEaAxQHTTp7eHdKjlqA-7rgb9Li0GzZaR7BnN4kDRD9hx7IBfuYlnTZ/s1600-h/l_R135911.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3fpOtc2P_2XYT_WK_80NWjxqyd7VlUL25L5lG__qemeBY8e4QDIG8t1QyCFdkO-UZw9clhWJjhTXr0wCuyfeOMEaAxQHTTp7eHdKjlqA-7rgb9Li0GzZaR7BnN4kDRD9hx7IBfuYlnTZ/s400/l_R135911.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447860858269621874" border="0" /></a>Most of my best gluten free baking recipes have come from the<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Homes-Gardens-Cook-Book/dp/B000P1O85C/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268428610&sr=8-7">Better Homes and Garden cookbook</a>.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sFgGbm8HI_gPHeMxZ-0q7yLVen-AEvAJ8EIEvd_Z4NelW-SPp8Xb3kL12RP3vU0q4Kg8QJvOPZ-7MBEfI7q2bdzOlsGXIortRBVhFf-o__LO2mMX9Ufo_tixRcvru1kSYdBMcuS-QXEK/s1600-h/5157EfyQGmL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sFgGbm8HI_gPHeMxZ-0q7yLVen-AEvAJ8EIEvd_Z4NelW-SPp8Xb3kL12RP3vU0q4Kg8QJvOPZ-7MBEfI7q2bdzOlsGXIortRBVhFf-o__LO2mMX9Ufo_tixRcvru1kSYdBMcuS-QXEK/s400/5157EfyQGmL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447859744422563906" border="0" /></a> I think it's because they are very standard recipes using basic old fashioned baking techniques.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the recipe:<br /><a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/desserts/essential-chocolate-chip-cookies/">Essential Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe</a><br /><br />and here's how I converted it to gluten free flours,<br />it calls for 2 1/2 cups of wheat flour so instead I used:<br /><br />1 cup of the <a href="http://alltheprettyflowers.blogspot.com/2008/05/gf-flour-mixture.html">flour mix</a> (stay tuned for an update about this)<br /><br />1 cup chick pea flour (look for Ladu Beasan at the Indian Market)<br /><br />1/2 cup sweet rice flour<br /><br />and I added 1 tsp xanthum gum.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The end result was chewy inside and crunchy around the edges. The texture and consistency was just like good old homemade chocolate chip cookies! If you try this recipe yourself, let me know what you thought and what flours you tried!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-29226957578925528062010-03-12T13:34:00.003-05:002010-03-12T14:05:31.573-05:00The Midtown Community Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_tppFWe5wrARmcZ5ckFnNIOGrrNo6gXBGV9iN2j5-L1ODIU22k4MlnwY5DBdiq2mSEimsuZuV-VMV6rcX_5r2_pe9SLC0AcZ4nUuh5iSs7t4NtrqcmLI2jdX9RGnO0JZ_mth_grHaPOg/s1600-h/MidtownSunflower.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_tppFWe5wrARmcZ5ckFnNIOGrrNo6gXBGV9iN2j5-L1ODIU22k4MlnwY5DBdiq2mSEimsuZuV-VMV6rcX_5r2_pe9SLC0AcZ4nUuh5iSs7t4NtrqcmLI2jdX9RGnO0JZ_mth_grHaPOg/s400/MidtownSunflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447818361697547186" border="0" /></a><br />Rich and I are getting more involved with our new neighborhood and have decided to take on organizing the Midtown Community Garden along with Amy this season! If you live in the Midtown Neighborhood, we have a great <a href="http://www.midtowngr.com/">neighborhood association</a>, and there's lots going on!<br /><br />We've created a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/pages/Midtown-Community-Garden/360236448825?ref=mf">Facebook group</a> for the garden. Become a fan to find out about upcoming events and see us grow!<br /><br />The first order of business is cleaning up the site. March 27th is the day! Time and Directions to follow. Come on out, pitch in and see what's going on.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Other upcoming neighborhood events:<br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal">April 24: Fulton Street Farmers Market Clean Up</p> <p class="MsoNormal">May 15: Perennial Plant Exchange at the Midtown Green</p><p class="MsoNormal">Happy Spring!<br /></p>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-26522683479579341632010-03-12T08:56:00.000-05:002010-03-12T11:29:27.141-05:00ApplesI wasn't much of a fan of applesauce until I made it myself. It has been an amazing addition to our winter meals and tastes nothing like that stuff you buy in the store. These are the four very special cans of chunky cinnamon applesauce I made (the chunky is a little more work because you have to peel the apples). We just finished off the last one the other night, so sad. We still have regular applesauce and applebutter in the pantry though to get us thru the rest of the winter. <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8xR1Qt0ZeXkPxarRQS7lPgKU-grX5GbSvVIEutfNZzdnJ7jGZrh1lOvMAqbLpOXBAMbF_r95BDsqea44uPl-7pa0rKrH2HIHwGBRWGoqJ2nNCuZk3WAW9S6pRrk2lhr45uSzg3XqD0-U/s320/_DSC0197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430677173587075234" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;">Making and preserving applesauce is so easy! If I can do it in an outdoor kitchen while living in a camper trailer with three kids, you can too!! I promised I'd show you how so here it is:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> First gather your supplies:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*apples - its good to have a mixture of different apples, some sweet and some tart.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Dfb9JD1DxL1-OiIq8NNRMb5kPRdf-8jaydH6GtahiEIKNp3ytn-XhLuAE7o00TmFrDHRFfUIxkuNk_bjfIbromtIGVL3ovJHYYx5yX4jBVlBQeQnfh_UQ6pww76wKL6Mvho2BJUpwYE9/s1600-h/_DSC0202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Dfb9JD1DxL1-OiIq8NNRMb5kPRdf-8jaydH6GtahiEIKNp3ytn-XhLuAE7o00TmFrDHRFfUIxkuNk_bjfIbromtIGVL3ovJHYYx5yX4jBVlBQeQnfh_UQ6pww76wKL6Mvho2BJUpwYE9/s320/_DSC0202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430686414025837010" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*sugar and cinnamon and spices</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*canning jars and new lids - you can't reuse the lids, just the bands.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*water bath canner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLFup46QESE-Dfdf-fHdGFZEyNNH6f08LHKByJTBpD80QcC2nm863ywMIj-j8KSCMP2-xmMifD572VFZ70fVabmPAbG2trqH4DaZ6IX3-bJv4gL1CuZLQs00diSVpfpZYEzm2E9_ZBvhn/s1600-h/canner.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 89px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLFup46QESE-Dfdf-fHdGFZEyNNH6f08LHKByJTBpD80QcC2nm863ywMIj-j8KSCMP2-xmMifD572VFZ70fVabmPAbG2trqH4DaZ6IX3-bJv4gL1CuZLQs00diSVpfpZYEzm2E9_ZBvhn/s400/canner.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447782229264169538" border="0" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*big pot for sterilizing jars</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*pot for sterilizing lids</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*jar lifter, hot pads, thermometer and timer, a magnetic wand to pick up the lids is helpful too.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3XtTkCF37xNmdhzwKtaEkFi_gJyhof7a561LZSBiD2lXTAXcEfB_UdrUvGTH8YIhFPRjEf1XGwPVuNOCvpYZEFoWtMjAmi1QuKr7eszPUCijcDgrttf0lJ4SpHAuMxnEowOa2Ns879Bj/s1600-h/canningsupplies.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3XtTkCF37xNmdhzwKtaEkFi_gJyhof7a561LZSBiD2lXTAXcEfB_UdrUvGTH8YIhFPRjEf1XGwPVuNOCvpYZEFoWtMjAmi1QuKr7eszPUCijcDgrttf0lJ4SpHAuMxnEowOa2Ns879Bj/s400/canningsupplies.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447782236237389762" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*crock pot or two</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">*food mill</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F-unHOtIRqfSwAQznCTcSt_6-UljI0V_GvqjqHtRCMT99zr5jJ6K_XYyV7YvHDDJkWRgfo-3uwLXjwdhOWEGYVkDPri6R-9mYWeaOHhWXF5oGYIf8hu_oYm8p_jq4kt_KkjCJViL0c1o/s1600-h/_DSC0205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F-unHOtIRqfSwAQznCTcSt_6-UljI0V_GvqjqHtRCMT99zr5jJ6K_XYyV7YvHDDJkWRgfo-3uwLXjwdhOWEGYVkDPri6R-9mYWeaOHhWXF5oGYIf8hu_oYm8p_jq4kt_KkjCJViL0c1o/s320/_DSC0205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430686424313043938" border="0" /></a>Cook up the apples. I used a mix of apples from the farm, which were very tart, and some big sweet apples from Rich's <a href="http://www.wellsorchards.com/">Grandad's orchard</a>. We buy their seconds for applesauce. They are much cheaper, they are just irregular in shape or have some blemishes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09c4e76yyLA-LDq_6yY7rxL7J1mi074Fa8gXXW-JiG5Yay_BNhMJcCtLHMhm7FmW4UTEVreG4hj8t1yzIC5-T7eGzp0KnyS1bQ8Oc2-I1nPkpahspR2Hfvsi3psptyyaDHyUEgb-7KqrC/s1600-h/_DSC0207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09c4e76yyLA-LDq_6yY7rxL7J1mi074Fa8gXXW-JiG5Yay_BNhMJcCtLHMhm7FmW4UTEVreG4hj8t1yzIC5-T7eGzp0KnyS1bQ8Oc2-I1nPkpahspR2Hfvsi3psptyyaDHyUEgb-7KqrC/s320/_DSC0207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430686440165792114" border="0" /></a>I love using the slow cooker and letting them cook on low over night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAUAbqgceZBAbTpewo9wo_zG5DGqFPoSeiLZHrJAm6vlAxqg4JL2CEQtASQ1kVNxgJu4_GY2L8s64nF7j_YkANwsVTCCyotYt2DtDs2d2utp_kkSK90s7M0LJvUdEMXFenBuqvQVZHGCE/s1600-h/_DSC0206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAUAbqgceZBAbTpewo9wo_zG5DGqFPoSeiLZHrJAm6vlAxqg4JL2CEQtASQ1kVNxgJu4_GY2L8s64nF7j_YkANwsVTCCyotYt2DtDs2d2utp_kkSK90s7M0LJvUdEMXFenBuqvQVZHGCE/s320/_DSC0206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430686427379886738" border="0" /></a>Next, run the apples thru the food mill to get out all the skins.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimy2mXJEx3Yz-gWyo0WaRYp25eBp989zy0_-tI64RPvkeSIpDIU7yV5KQIAKgG_K4xgfGVxdTjucDWXPT8edd0-JkZCy-S2JJM38os-vc01FXfQfy5deIGDTZu6juht9YCj8HlhXqTEo2x/s1600-h/_DSC0201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimy2mXJEx3Yz-gWyo0WaRYp25eBp989zy0_-tI64RPvkeSIpDIU7yV5KQIAKgG_K4xgfGVxdTjucDWXPT8edd0-JkZCy-S2JJM38os-vc01FXfQfy5deIGDTZu6juht9YCj8HlhXqTEo2x/s320/_DSC0201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430677194132428274" border="0" /></a>then add your cinnamon and sugar for applesauce, and nutmeg and allspice for apple butter. Cook a little longer then can it!<br /><br />Here's a good <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2816.asp">article</a> with step by step canning instructions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisybn7IcsCHnSn5tlwXw3_tvTNnV1SqudVb4JDPxaCFnaz8uzvAgdKh_kxmh-oktEw6CQmonLH14_U-1sQ_rIkoQAELREkz-uE4O_60CgE2g-jIskmuQjuOZh7PA5o7j-Ln6uQuNIswkVU/s1600-h/_DSC0200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisybn7IcsCHnSn5tlwXw3_tvTNnV1SqudVb4JDPxaCFnaz8uzvAgdKh_kxmh-oktEw6CQmonLH14_U-1sQ_rIkoQAELREkz-uE4O_60CgE2g-jIskmuQjuOZh7PA5o7j-Ln6uQuNIswkVU/s320/_DSC0200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430677184090236690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeEzhe7ZBUUUu2W0u-MDLjD6m5VcEdiEKrpQF-XgsM0EwB0QdPAQiWQw7zYZzwqdhwaSp60vNA-Sor2Ja098pwmh4733dZBgXSVll0bN-fim3kuWPDn-xrvdIUUuDDOW_YXxFJyW6SnFx/s1600-h/_DSC0199.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeEzhe7ZBUUUu2W0u-MDLjD6m5VcEdiEKrpQF-XgsM0EwB0QdPAQiWQw7zYZzwqdhwaSp60vNA-Sor2Ja098pwmh4733dZBgXSVll0bN-fim3kuWPDn-xrvdIUUuDDOW_YXxFJyW6SnFx/s320/_DSC0199.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430677177328870306" border="0" /></a>I am looking forward to lot's more preserving this growing season! I was thinking it would be very fun to form a local canning co-op. We could get together and bring all our produce and work together. We could have a pickle party when the cucumbers start coming in. When the peaches are ripe we could get together and peel peaches together, making a very monotonous task a little more fun. What do you think?<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-57269456345491479742010-03-10T12:39:00.003-05:002010-03-31T13:20:26.505-04:00Mommas! Your invited to the April Materni-Tea<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fJb9hN8vJppFCwRMCgGzllKSMAUXrb6pd2ItbL9TVJqf7zCocts6eL77POXgtFHPCcJvmoBvA7uBww_NGo9cv9gFHcfxOpxSu1xpfSaU4Tf-ECFvYiONl6qTamYCpH7LBeoWttj2q1ZK/s1600-h/April+MaterniTea.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 432px; height: 560px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fJb9hN8vJppFCwRMCgGzllKSMAUXrb6pd2ItbL9TVJqf7zCocts6eL77POXgtFHPCcJvmoBvA7uBww_NGo9cv9gFHcfxOpxSu1xpfSaU4Tf-ECFvYiONl6qTamYCpH7LBeoWttj2q1ZK/s400/April+MaterniTea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447061737873309010" border="0" /></a>If you are pregnant and interested in learning more about birth and parenting options and resources, this would be a wonderful event to attend! The Sage Birth Co-op hosts one each month.<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-13783634011696369742010-03-10T12:30:00.000-05:002010-03-10T12:45:39.854-05:00Lily's new DressI'm a sucker.<br /><br />Lily found some fancy fabric in my stash and was determined to sew herself a dress out of it. So I found a pattern for a dress in her size that said "very easy" and figured I could whip it out for her, I put my projects on hold again...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It took two days and the "very easy" statement kinda made me feel very stupid!<br /><br />The pattern is Butterick B4906<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgY52xVB3sbvr4yWcYc0aEkTm8O0uqYyNEWuui6yVTlt5_T_E-rToUWdkwVVrm5qJt0aN_r17cQ2gydqd2WSyYXrgc3Bqd4q8SiZ5V_lUVzyRC1kVpbrYUJlLwwgJaWKWRHjl16glbT62/s1600-h/B4906.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgY52xVB3sbvr4yWcYc0aEkTm8O0uqYyNEWuui6yVTlt5_T_E-rToUWdkwVVrm5qJt0aN_r17cQ2gydqd2WSyYXrgc3Bqd4q8SiZ5V_lUVzyRC1kVpbrYUJlLwwgJaWKWRHjl16glbT62/s320/B4906.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446698379696942642" border="0" /></a>It's not a bad pattern, I have just never attempted a dress before, which is why I wonder now why I thought I would be capable of "whipping one out"!!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But anyway, I did manage to finish it and here is the end result:<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYU58-5yr7ZfJ8Y1jaoEUlRqLHNC0UTa58qkFlYxhH0YHCMCwqijXB-cgasL4Tu-0K-kvLRoO52ytIJyoHVD-USs-RzWi2jqAt-DF4POdLAq0xgdzjW3s-u5rz9QV74hWtU9HNJ8ipnV4/s1600-h/_DSC0856.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYU58-5yr7ZfJ8Y1jaoEUlRqLHNC0UTa58qkFlYxhH0YHCMCwqijXB-cgasL4Tu-0K-kvLRoO52ytIJyoHVD-USs-RzWi2jqAt-DF4POdLAq0xgdzjW3s-u5rz9QV74hWtU9HNJ8ipnV4/s320/_DSC0856.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446697488426816482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6IJi1TGrzOi370GmeC-CMTJFFDrsCZzxoaECup4ePryEFmQRQktzclQGE3ZqA7BYuhO4Ucj-1YIYRDVvgZ-ZVvNSANFDGbkyLM4qHSK5W1JPvbYYbsuYGVURbLZps-cL6nB3X5k2a-mq/s1600-h/_DSC0858.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6IJi1TGrzOi370GmeC-CMTJFFDrsCZzxoaECup4ePryEFmQRQktzclQGE3ZqA7BYuhO4Ucj-1YIYRDVvgZ-ZVvNSANFDGbkyLM4qHSK5W1JPvbYYbsuYGVURbLZps-cL6nB3X5k2a-mq/s320/_DSC0858.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446697492824449410" border="0" /></a>It looks good in the photo...You can't see my mistakes! I will just tell you, I thought I would make things easier and do buttons rather than a zipper, but it turned into a disaster. I accidentally put the button holes on the wrong side and my machine went crazy and messed them all up! I was able to salvage things, but next time I'll go for the zipper.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKEPbU9qtbNuhd23RzWrPf6_7gYhZk1EVXI3oN3I9nWICiQcntHrm_Q77ikIVBLtmjS0GNa4IM6MqboDI_5a4RZt2sX1Jj9iSkejtO293i35EjwMVYTMO50iRndL2TMOQFhiIuPEyvufE/s1600-h/_DSC0847.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKEPbU9qtbNuhd23RzWrPf6_7gYhZk1EVXI3oN3I9nWICiQcntHrm_Q77ikIVBLtmjS0GNa4IM6MqboDI_5a4RZt2sX1Jj9iSkejtO293i35EjwMVYTMO50iRndL2TMOQFhiIuPEyvufE/s320/_DSC0847.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446697472824923874" border="0" /></a>I made some barrettes out of our fabric scrap roses and they looked pretty in Lily's hair. She wants this be her Easter Dress, so know I feel obligated to sew two more!! Maybe they'll go fast since they'd be smaller and now I know what I'm doing!?<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-51022121388457974022010-03-09T12:55:00.000-05:002010-03-09T12:58:39.976-05:00Ayana<div style="text-align: center;">Just wanted to share a few pics of my adorable niece Ayana!<br /><br />I went to my sister's house to take these. There's something so precious about a wet baby! I just love it when they still fit in the sink! That's how I always bathed my little ones.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu_dXTkbIXqqA_0j1pUmPrjNnQGucha2X-fxtCtKg3f_3Etv5k3YulR6xSxHRBUadqBpHa2uk6H52Kx05vqVhBdn6ox2eheyw-GedPMqPmWcDSxFqGWZU1isDod-DRil5yA8mlm6cqjd7/s1600-h/_DSC0167.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu_dXTkbIXqqA_0j1pUmPrjNnQGucha2X-fxtCtKg3f_3Etv5k3YulR6xSxHRBUadqBpHa2uk6H52Kx05vqVhBdn6ox2eheyw-GedPMqPmWcDSxFqGWZU1isDod-DRil5yA8mlm6cqjd7/s320/_DSC0167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441886998185868626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLEssk8-Iu5TUGrCDTsWhlw02Mz_3t8yropxop7jfKS-mDCrIR-SLQ1U7Z56b_BpIpu50UhDAplp6qevWdANp9JarSckPp7tUA0YWe4b1TzQFb-AggCAle4SijgWoOMSAqrHxDn0cZamW/s1600-h/_DSC0172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLEssk8-Iu5TUGrCDTsWhlw02Mz_3t8yropxop7jfKS-mDCrIR-SLQ1U7Z56b_BpIpu50UhDAplp6qevWdANp9JarSckPp7tUA0YWe4b1TzQFb-AggCAle4SijgWoOMSAqrHxDn0cZamW/s320/_DSC0172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441887008489667170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfq8lJkDGRAh6xay78UfMzQjv2xaCNL44-8t8PVQL90Rx7jqdyd7epMoTUoofxiCfEooas1kZqT5FFeL_IgBSip5eVas1jRTHmqiJdjLwovGmL7l4LNE4F4OmbKwG2LBapQJ1OnTqyPHz/s1600-h/_DSC0187.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfq8lJkDGRAh6xay78UfMzQjv2xaCNL44-8t8PVQL90Rx7jqdyd7epMoTUoofxiCfEooas1kZqT5FFeL_IgBSip5eVas1jRTHmqiJdjLwovGmL7l4LNE4F4OmbKwG2LBapQJ1OnTqyPHz/s320/_DSC0187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441887019716887890" border="0" /></a>I've been taking lots of pictures lately and really enjoy working with natural light theses days. These are in her room:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3kRfEvUhG9qO9IkxvDFGIUdIT3mqK4-9JNa9inQ1qOHqAOllywcSJra033CjC2z1_AorZJV1sTl2aBD4mbppL2RBuSM02WKgSowLKNETJakVCKufsqQgFVfdwpbJJ4EUtH6cmBbvi9w7/s1600-h/_DSC0228.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3kRfEvUhG9qO9IkxvDFGIUdIT3mqK4-9JNa9inQ1qOHqAOllywcSJra033CjC2z1_AorZJV1sTl2aBD4mbppL2RBuSM02WKgSowLKNETJakVCKufsqQgFVfdwpbJJ4EUtH6cmBbvi9w7/s320/_DSC0228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441887725859016290" border="0" /></a>She LOVES her sunglasses!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1j9STVLoKd9zfLw8TztWPIx4ukMU567DWGm08iqQ9vKAls-8xsMY9Wh57c-Fet84Sr_r66xk0juMGktBrAnhXyE-mxTgjcnl9Awqa3Vv8jLSWbluQw7p-GsVjQh-mB_jlkRHxFa67JeI/s1600-h/_DSC0253.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1j9STVLoKd9zfLw8TztWPIx4ukMU567DWGm08iqQ9vKAls-8xsMY9Wh57c-Fet84Sr_r66xk0juMGktBrAnhXyE-mxTgjcnl9Awqa3Vv8jLSWbluQw7p-GsVjQh-mB_jlkRHxFa67JeI/s320/_DSC0253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441887732821411938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-67D6tnoj99wRfnzauTWW4fVtFYHfKuuWrbw59eheoNFLxm82j9S7LmrpRvIasQak-0b1CfBXk-HuJTrBPEV-FSpohjT_BimMd4w2GeSOhEnlJHm9xzNzFgZV7YmYlQBayRdeCpEIwnf/s1600-h/_DSC0224.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-67D6tnoj99wRfnzauTWW4fVtFYHfKuuWrbw59eheoNFLxm82j9S7LmrpRvIasQak-0b1CfBXk-HuJTrBPEV-FSpohjT_BimMd4w2GeSOhEnlJHm9xzNzFgZV7YmYlQBayRdeCpEIwnf/s320/_DSC0224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441887038551485778" border="0" /></a>Uncle Rich<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-67D6tnoj99wRfnzauTWW4fVtFYHfKuuWrbw59eheoNFLxm82j9S7LmrpRvIasQak-0b1CfBXk-HuJTrBPEV-FSpohjT_BimMd4w2GeSOhEnlJHm9xzNzFgZV7YmYlQBayRdeCpEIwnf/s1600-h/_DSC0224.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLBhNlAj9FERqRKbPVWJhnT1GIVJ0eWsNiCRlzG62i0TkTA5OUSsLPqBZqlaq4PyxgQ27IzRUBJcGQcj5qc9u83KgAHICIXf1M1Ht1GEWDOo89vKOZr4CBZf_oQlimIPp2g7RjVGF5ADn/s1600-h/_DSC0219.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLBhNlAj9FERqRKbPVWJhnT1GIVJ0eWsNiCRlzG62i0TkTA5OUSsLPqBZqlaq4PyxgQ27IzRUBJcGQcj5qc9u83KgAHICIXf1M1Ht1GEWDOo89vKOZr4CBZf_oQlimIPp2g7RjVGF5ADn/s320/_DSC0219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441887026503123682" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-35936118344771148062010-03-09T11:59:00.000-05:002010-03-09T12:50:19.647-05:00PrayersI have been meaning to share with you a very special craft project for a while now.<br /><br /><a href="http://alltheprettyflowers.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello-again.html">What my niece went thru</a> in December was very scary. It was a very difficult time for our family. It was had to know how to deal with such traumatic news. She is so sweet... It was so hard to watch her go thru all the poking and testing in the hospital.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrHBpIyC__2zmebUCqinK3reK-J1nolR_T4oG2s-u-gz7lufR8uT5dC-CMzm1qm-7iMIWbubMeiuy_x3TNl6ZN7fnJ2uWluvWjPQMa1Y5e98bdQ-Xit2PaDVGCk_iqhNjcpTTeB6r9Tgt/s1600-h/IMG_0919.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrHBpIyC__2zmebUCqinK3reK-J1nolR_T4oG2s-u-gz7lufR8uT5dC-CMzm1qm-7iMIWbubMeiuy_x3TNl6ZN7fnJ2uWluvWjPQMa1Y5e98bdQ-Xit2PaDVGCk_iqhNjcpTTeB6r9Tgt/s320/IMG_0919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435735002366174002" border="0" /></a><br />The hospital room was overwhelming and scary, so clinical and medical. I wanted to bring in some flowers to brighten the place up, but for allergy reasons or something, there were no fresh flowers allowed on the pediatric oncology floor.<br /><br />I decided to make her some flowers out of my wool sweater stash.<br /><br />I cut and I cut...all the cutting became my silent meditation...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUvq3sZ_UFVtFRZFtfsYmY938l50ciUjk2Qtyi-SoOWPPJ-Iv4-TiOwHtOKwwKWty8GJtkhNHEVklGrPUMBQZJtzLVfmlRCRcisZMKzUdk-0v3GTsCOs_zGfcPsEagx62DD_rHuDQ7pjH/s1600-h/IMG_0904.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUvq3sZ_UFVtFRZFtfsYmY938l50ciUjk2Qtyi-SoOWPPJ-Iv4-TiOwHtOKwwKWty8GJtkhNHEVklGrPUMBQZJtzLVfmlRCRcisZMKzUdk-0v3GTsCOs_zGfcPsEagx62DD_rHuDQ7pjH/s320/IMG_0904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435733040130379138" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and the stitches of each button are a prayer. I worked on them a little everyday. They took me so long to finish that by the time I had a bouquet, Ayana had been sent home. I set out to make something for my sister and my niece but it turned out to be for me. It got me thru.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZRi07ii10svX7Ist6MJ3uUx2vc6Z1qrHzhVWw7DCvxx0YMP0akm4pdNe1qd8m9dZ3A1JVYaeItYIPRYBA2gpCxZlMmRBK1Fef0y0kBwyBalDFwwyuFLy1PByam6T3FGyNEnW5wLuJqCN/s1600-h/_DSC0785.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZRi07ii10svX7Ist6MJ3uUx2vc6Z1qrHzhVWw7DCvxx0YMP0akm4pdNe1qd8m9dZ3A1JVYaeItYIPRYBA2gpCxZlMmRBK1Fef0y0kBwyBalDFwwyuFLy1PByam6T3FGyNEnW5wLuJqCN/s320/_DSC0785.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443760476589569570" border="0" /></a><br />Praise God, our prayers are being answered. Ayana continues to do well and all the monitoring and testing is showing that the tumor is receeding, and she has not needed any chemotherapy. She recently had a CT scan and the tumor had regressed to such an extent that she they will just monitor it now with ultrasound.<br /></div>FlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781253855353344567.post-81292576391635202992010-03-01T10:40:00.009-05:002010-03-01T14:55:00.569-05:00Creative SundayWe had a fun family day yesterday crafting and creating together. No church, no housework, just good ol' mess making creativity!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The girls wanted to try a recipe for some natural ink from this book:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbaJcWl4TNzYc-SMxm0AL-aj2BlviyoTuzbGkvq4nzFk1Nh75wGrXeqGA819Ia5OZ8Jhyphenhyphen6YY1zKarcLBZSmHfJfH4ueBMS3SjKJY3XYXpolQ6GwkUnQejN6mNluxlEGpQMtMez3PkkQeC/s1600-h/green-crafts-for-children.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbaJcWl4TNzYc-SMxm0AL-aj2BlviyoTuzbGkvq4nzFk1Nh75wGrXeqGA819Ia5OZ8Jhyphenhyphen6YY1zKarcLBZSmHfJfH4ueBMS3SjKJY3XYXpolQ6GwkUnQejN6mNluxlEGpQMtMez3PkkQeC/s320/green-crafts-for-children.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443737417559945778" border="0" /></a><br />Rich strained some frozen berries and added 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar to it and the girls used a couple of their feathers to draw with it. It was fun and interesting to see how the colors changed from red to darker purple as they dried.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyysNB3fphyIcX9GqH7kLk_zWuWJRk4uEguzCv8bHY9pZd3WHCsrk-2dKeafL390srqNJscjANKDM2fVFrsX6Mzrr4469BK-hW3_cqzP-GhFMLCQkuer1KCHGc5uif1h34MPqaZ9tULk_W/s1600-h/_DSC0780.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyysNB3fphyIcX9GqH7kLk_zWuWJRk4uEguzCv8bHY9pZd3WHCsrk-2dKeafL390srqNJscjANKDM2fVFrsX6Mzrr4469BK-hW3_cqzP-GhFMLCQkuer1KCHGc5uif1h34MPqaZ9tULk_W/s320/_DSC0780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443744945478200738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx-Uwo5tgFDvWSsjpyMTkEHELo_vXR1TRfmTkX3ckMbovyDaKKHc9pbqyXZHmUBm2tAAXUPLEbb2Lb7cGbMmEL-pFXk7gwXvAOAtPZUTcMCVlv4yi-XhJT_0FTpWmXyLkjmtCEMEQzs1E/s1600-h/_DSC0777.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx-Uwo5tgFDvWSsjpyMTkEHELo_vXR1TRfmTkX3ckMbovyDaKKHc9pbqyXZHmUBm2tAAXUPLEbb2Lb7cGbMmEL-pFXk7gwXvAOAtPZUTcMCVlv4yi-XhJT_0FTpWmXyLkjmtCEMEQzs1E/s320/_DSC0777.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443744935516997698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q0WXmiBMvNpvUIV6LLm0anXu9q8L9VPUYo56UaIDgyOJiImo85_LiGgUOVf_hbHrNFbuSM7MJU_TKmdl1cd0rkM4ATdPn1vQlgXenTf5R1AOe-tyteYwuGfspkV1Tkye1z4DkyKnLCzN/s1600-h/_DSC0776.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q0WXmiBMvNpvUIV6LLm0anXu9q8L9VPUYo56UaIDgyOJiImo85_LiGgUOVf_hbHrNFbuSM7MJU_TKmdl1cd0rkM4ATdPn1vQlgXenTf5R1AOe-tyteYwuGfspkV1Tkye1z4DkyKnLCzN/s320/_DSC0776.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443744930124026082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CuGeJYrGVfJTU8HitsDGiof7bfP_4peH1uWEDPCfEpqT1INcw3xLEan8-GrR6e-IzUygdPAhPit53psEOQFXch6TsemyO3ndn0E02t-vW9kpJIm8RhxyidSdQwrEfhYl4j_1Yo9hUwGB/s1600-h/_DSC0775.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CuGeJYrGVfJTU8HitsDGiof7bfP_4peH1uWEDPCfEpqT1INcw3xLEan8-GrR6e-IzUygdPAhPit53psEOQFXch6TsemyO3ndn0E02t-vW9kpJIm8RhxyidSdQwrEfhYl4j_1Yo9hUwGB/s320/_DSC0775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443744919606582802" border="0" /></a><br />I had decided that I was going to do some sewing for myself so, in an attempt to get the kids occupied with a project so that I could sew somethings for my self, I cut some long strips of scrap fabric for them to try and roll them into these <a href="http://bridgetbaxter.blogspot.com/2009/11/tattered-fabric-roses.html">tattered r</a><a href="http://bridgetbaxter.blogspot.com/2009/11/tattered-fabric-roses.html">oses</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqO19tplY3YHpupVsncFtEh4HOSLPHUq7jyA34SCJHvSQa9dYuGUJ9AUMiyY3jNFp3o9QAgI_lx0AZusp9rG8BLjbtrYouYJV1xHhvXvfEGfTZo3vhtC8aR9tjOLszMcqSLvxeBks7zZOS/s1600-h/_DSC0793.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqO19tplY3YHpupVsncFtEh4HOSLPHUq7jyA34SCJHvSQa9dYuGUJ9AUMiyY3jNFp3o9QAgI_lx0AZusp9rG8BLjbtrYouYJV1xHhvXvfEGfTZo3vhtC8aR9tjOLszMcqSLvxeBks7zZOS/s320/_DSC0793.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443732220015871282" border="0" /></a>I had overestimated their manual dexterity and coordination though, and they were pretty frustrated by it. I loved how they looked however, so I ended up making about 2 dozen myself. I think we will put them on some headbands and hair clips.<br /><br />My next idea for the kids, I thought for sure would keep them busy for sometime. I pulled out an old pair of tights, cut the legs off and gave one to Rosie and one to Lily. I pulled out the scrap fabric bag and had them stuff the legs to make a snake. They stuffed the snake in record time and then wanted my assistance to pick out buttons for eyes and make tongues, it was fun, but I still hadn't started my cardigan.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP2Oe2qFr_z5Q7Q9Go3w4kByXlEt58rHiWKD9bmnyCOcfgsNto5NP2Et2A8Dqk2H3QLZybKkhn5lcEpvGeNnaqpJsgUx9D7UJXkl9iWOYHxRoYDYj7r7cte5VG9UL3ii3wYUEvNASLy04/s1600-h/_DSC0789.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP2Oe2qFr_z5Q7Q9Go3w4kByXlEt58rHiWKD9bmnyCOcfgsNto5NP2Et2A8Dqk2H3QLZybKkhn5lcEpvGeNnaqpJsgUx9D7UJXkl9iWOYHxRoYDYj7r7cte5VG9UL3ii3wYUEvNASLy04/s320/_DSC0789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443732206907982530" border="0" /></a>and these are the conditions I now had to work in:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyVwACuIQ1hwGVAZU7MZTG2Tjwqgi8_rNE-NGoUOvgX9hfA88yuYEwNmP-txAjIPaBj0D80y5lu5YZbpyvOZ_AmjzNsG1brUVtBEPPF59O-3Jwh9ki_0yyClvaAQBO7n0gP-OSMXRS7JE/s1600-h/_DSC0786.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyVwACuIQ1hwGVAZU7MZTG2Tjwqgi8_rNE-NGoUOvgX9hfA88yuYEwNmP-txAjIPaBj0D80y5lu5YZbpyvOZ_AmjzNsG1brUVtBEPPF59O-3Jwh9ki_0yyClvaAQBO7n0gP-OSMXRS7JE/s320/_DSC0786.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443732210844825698" border="0" /></a>I cleaned up a bit and pulled out my knit fabrics to select the color I wanted to make my cardigan out of. I am using a pattern form this book:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.makeworkshop.com/content/sewbook/images/SEW-Box3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 270px;" src="http://www.makeworkshop.com/content/sewbook/images/SEW-Box3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I chose a heathered off white heavier knit and started cutting, only to discover I only had enough fabric for a size small and I am a size large! I snuck out of the house to check Joanne's Fabric for more, but no luck.<br /><br />So I pulled out my flannel and finished up some blankets to replenish the stock at <a href="http://www.hopscotchstore.com/">Hopscotch Children's Store</a>. It felt better to have accomplished something of my own!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIupi-_PMifv7rkh_mCLLRPRfEyWHh6crwXkpmSHLddxnexIQg868SPqoqGZBhfxoxrB49U562FCi6AJxLRfh4tg6Ch2zu0iCceNMtQqPAIDCNSUY-NafTNhuaN-vv7fFxeuQh938VlQN3/s1600-h/_DSC0794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIupi-_PMifv7rkh_mCLLRPRfEyWHh6crwXkpmSHLddxnexIQg868SPqoqGZBhfxoxrB49U562FCi6AJxLRfh4tg6Ch2zu0iCceNMtQqPAIDCNSUY-NafTNhuaN-vv7fFxeuQh938VlQN3/s320/_DSC0794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443732229148465602" border="0" /></a>We ended the day with some family worship time, lead by Rich and his guitar and all went to bed early.<br /><br />So now here's my Monday to do list:<br />*Clean the house<br />*Take Blankets to Hopscotch<br />*Search the fabric store for more fabric for my cardiganFlowerMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968847056980865961noreply@blogger.com3