Saturday, June 28, 2014

Kitty-Palooza


Race, race, race. Attack. Climb. Eat. Potty. Chew. Claw. Hide. Retreat. Attack. Eat. Drink. Potty.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.


The life of kittens, going all out until collapse.

Kitty-crash.

Please, Lord, give me energy to keep up!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Help Comes in Small (Furry) Packages


It's true. I have two such bundles of help on my lap as I type. And both are getting very interested in my clicking fingers and the moving mouse.

Meet the Motley Two - Monet and Mabel.


Born April 15, tax day, the twin sisters arrived at our home just two days ago. Potty trained, adorable, wild, energetic, and quickly becoming adjusted to life on their own in the big new house.

Today they discovered the office. Where I type and write. And they are only happy when they are on my lap. It is nap time.


Somehow, I don't think I am as productive with this extra assistance. Hot flashes are certainly more prolific as I wear little fur coats on my lap.


Welcome girls, to our home and our hearts.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Parsley Anyone? How About Homemade Tartar Sauce?

One ladybug, three earwigs, two baby green worms, several egg cases, a million aphid-looking things, mud, grass, weeds...


Details such as those listed above required triple washing and vigorous rinsing before I could pop the harvest from two parsley plants in the dehydrator. It was rough work - spoon at the ready to smash offenders (not the ladybug), continuously moving water, and icy hands - completing this early morning task.

But I won! A good dunk and swish (times three), a turn in the salad spinner, and the dehydrator was soon crammed full with pungent yet delectable parsley springs. A good mornings' work.


Have you ever noticed the slight cigarette smell to crushed parsley? I kept smelling a faint cigarette scent, like old smoke. I'm not sure how else to describe it. Thank You, Jesus, that it does not taste like old cigarette smoke! Parsley is delicious, especially in the tartar sauce I am making for dinner. Triple mmmmm.


Homemade Tartar Sauce
(I mix and match my ingredients until it looks like I want it. I adore onions, so there is quite a bit of diced onions in my tartar sauce).

1/2 jar of dill relish (cheating, I know, but much easier)
good handful-sized batch of fresh parsley, washed, dried, and chopped
1 small onion, diced
Saffola (or your preference of mayo)

Add relish, parsley, and onion to a bowl. Add enough mayo to make a creamy tartar sauce. Stir well. Let it steep for at least half an hour.

Serve. We love it with salmon.

Next on the list? Attacking the sage.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Hello!

Spring flowers found up Little Naches side road

Well, hello there!

It has been a long time. Both in number of days and mental overload with lack of availability of actually having time and thoughts to compose a blog post. Or any sane thoughts to compose. Period.

But I'm back! It's time to do some blogging. I have multiple ideas scribbled on scraps of paper around the house. Probably won't find them all - or will find them and will not understand what I was thinking/imagining/planning.

That's OK.

School is out. Only one more week of post-school paperwork, cleaning, and packing. Summer is almost officially here. 3 of 4 writing deadlines have passed. No new kittens yet to distract me (more on that to come, just wait - Monet and Mabel on the way). Garden has already passed my ability to keep up. Dead lavender has been replaced. ??? Why did it die? No idea. Guess? Too much dog pee. Since they sit right next to the road.

And a new adventure. It's the changing of the career. Full-time teaching is out. Full-time writing is in. Well, there will still be some teaching and lots of ministry. But more time for writing. Hurrah!

So let's get this thing going. Missed you.