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A & E had their second piano recital on Saturday and this one was twice as special as the last: it was a duet recital and, while the other students' partner was their private instructor, the girls had the special honor of inviting John to be their partner. It comes in handy having a Daddy who plays piano!
Abby, Elise, and John - it has been such a treat watching the three of you work together. There were moments of frustration followed by moments of celebration! I have enjoyed taking a backseat while you tackle this project without me. And, on Saturday, your hard work more than paid off! It was a show of poise and dedication as well as teamwork and love. Definitely love.
It is difficult for me to go a day without baking something, especially this time of year when we're inside quite often and keeping the thermostat turned down is a lovely excuse for turning on the oven. And I thought it should be made public that I bake for our animals (except the cat, Lucy, who is a butterball and needs no extra calories). Dog treats are a great baking activity for kids - it doesn't matter if the ingredients are out of whack, everything is edible (minus raw eggs), and they can be rolled, cut, carved into any shape. Go spoil your mutt - these treats are so good that Charlie is yet to have actually chewed one. Wait. Charlie doesn't chew any of her food. But I still believe that she finds these to be top-notch.
Homemade Dog Treats
adapted from A Kitchen Muse
- 2 1/2 C whole wheat flour (I can't remember, but I think we did 1 1/2 C organic whole wheat pastry flour and 1 C organic oats)
- 2 backyard eggs
- 1 C organic canned sweet potato
- 2 T organic peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp salt (can omit if your PB already has salt in it)
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Mix wet ingredients; add dry
- Roll out (using flour if sticky), cut into fun shapes, and bake for approximately 40 minutes (more or less depending on size)
- Spoil your dog... and everyone else's! This made a big batch - we shared them with at least 3 other puppy families and they lasted about 3 weeks. We also baked half of the dough and refrigerated the rest for a few days before baking the other half.
In April 2013, we entered the world of backyard chickens... from raising the fluffy chicks in the house to building a coop to collecting eggs. Over that time, I've been the main chicken caregiver. The girls have been wonderful playmates for the flock and good egg retrievers and John is my reliable coop-closer at night. I've religiously cared for the ladies, building their humble abode, keeping them fed (well fed - I've learned that hens love warm oats, a nice bowl of yogurt, or a good helping of quinoa), watered, and clean, freeing them each morning to roam about the yard as chickens love to do. I've spent more time in the backyard, rain or snow or shine, tending to the flock. It hasn't bothered me one bit and, actually, I've quite enjoyed it (except during my first trimester, during which time the sight/smell/thought of the chickens made me wholeheartedly question my sanity in getting them - thank goodness that passed). I've only bought 6 eggs since July, and that's only because I dropped a carton of our girls' eggs. I had to tend to a dead chicken in the Fall when the neighbor's dog feasted upon Plum; I had to rescue a chicken from being pinned to the ground when a hawk attacked Lavender. No problem!
Last week, after dinner out, we got home around 8:30. John headed downstairs to let the dog out which was when he discovered Lavender on the patio. In the dark. Long past her roost-time. Strange? Yes. Worrisome? Not yet. I scooped her up, grabbed the flashlight, and headed to the coop. Hmmmm.... the fence was all closed up around their corner, so why was Lavender out and about? Strange? Yes. Worrisome? Not yet. I opened the fence, chicken still under my arm, and leaned in to stick her in the coop. I gave the doorway a quick shine of the flashlight and was met with two very large beady eyes. Strange? Yes. Worrisome? HELL YES! I screamed. Loud. Girly. Twice. And in that moment, for the first time, I thought "what have I done?".
We learned that night about opossums. Very large, ugly, chicken-eating opossums. Both Lavender and Pip had dug their way underneath the fence and escaped; sadly Peep was not so lucky. After a lot of pacing (with Lavender still under my arm, mind you), us non-farm-folk did the best thing we knew how to do: call someone who is. Within a 30 minutes, and sparing you a lot of details, one of John's co-workers came to our rescue and left with both the opossum and the dead chicken. And I'll tell you what - if you're a city-dweller who wants chickens, make sure in your network of contacts you have "that" person to call. Because I don't know a lot of others who would drop everything to wrastle a giant rodent.
Cabin Fever. Those are two words that I rarely use - I love being home and, much like my children, can easily occupy hours upon hours within the walls of our house. There is always something that can be crafted or baked, built or drawn, listened to or read. And still, in my second year away from the school system, I still eagerly await the announcement that it's going to be a snow day. I can't explain it but, if you're friends with me and work in the schools, you probably got a text, as usual, sharing my excitement over the cancellation.
The snow days two weeks ago were different because they hit us at the very moment that we could either be devoured by or triumphantly overcome Cabin Fever. Within a week's time, Abby got sick, Elise got sick, I got sick, Abby got better, Elise seemed to be better, I got better, Elise got an ear infection, and we got snowed in. Cabin Fever clearly sunk it's claws into us.
The girls and I pick up a respiratory cold about once a year. In fact, I had Elise at the doctor on February 3rd this year and the last time I had been there with a sick child was on January 21st, 2013... one year ago. I don't dislike doctors; I believe in the power of healthy bodies to heal. I am not anti-medication; I believe in the power of healthy bodies to heal. It is hard holding steadfast to that kind of belief when I live in a world where people inundate their bodies with medication... pain relievers and cough syrups, antibiotics and antihistamines. Do the research: illnesses and diseases are smart - they learn to navigate drug-infested systems and grow bigger, stronger, and more resilient. And I can't help but wonder what it does to a healthy system to be attacked by these power-house germs? Stepping down from my soap box now. Just food for thought next time you reach for the medicine cabinet instead of a cup of tea.
We are all well... the snow has melted... and we kicked Cabin Fever's ugly face to the wayside. Enjoy some pics from our time together, both in and out of the house!
Making salt-dough Valentine magnets...
KU Women's basketball game...
From snow to shorts...
