Funny or Embarrassing?

As a mother it's surprisingly easy to embarrass your teens. I managed to do so again yesterday, somewhat spectacularly.

Our library announced that they'll be reopening their drive through for pick ups. I hadn't even realized they have a drive through feature, but with Rosie Mae having the day off work and a stack of requested books ready for me, I decided we'd go find it.

I pulled up alongside the building, past the book drops I had known existed to a window that was set back a little father than the rest of that side of the building. I stopped and the window slid open. The friendly librarians greeted me cheerfully before going to retrieve my books.

As the librarian leaned out her window with the first stack of books, I semi contorted myself and did a weird lunge stretch out my window to get them. In doing so my right foot hit the gas pedal, revving the engine in a most satisfyingly unladylike manner.

Rosie Mae shriveled down, willing herself to quietly disappear. Her dismay heightened by the fact her boss's wife was one of the librarians.

A few more lunges to receive the rest of my books, while successfully not hitting the gas pedal and we were on our way, with me way more amused than she was.

Bits of Random

    Our library has opened and is offering curbside service. For someone who was really missing our weekly visit to the library, you would think I'd be jumping up and down in excitement.
    Instead I am surprisingly unmotivated to go.
    I will be returning some books, and picking up the requests that had come in before this whole shutdown thing happened. But the desire to request more books simply is not there.
    I'm trying to figure out the why behind that.

~~~~~

    Spring keeps hanging on and warmer temperatures are reluctant to arrive, but that means I get to enjoy our spring flowers for longer than some years.

~~~~~

    I have started a monumental project. One that I simultaneously love and decidedly don't love. Strange how that works, isn't it?
   The project is creating an entire year of menus and ingredient checklists.
   That means 365 full meals.
   In addition to those 365 meals I'm also including 150 desserts, 225 breads, and 104 breakfasts.
   If you see me sometime during the next several weeks looking wild eyed and tired you can blame it on this project.

~~~~~

    I love my wind chimes. The rich, deep, melodic tones it produces when caressed by a breeze ... I'd say make me happy, but I'm already happy. Let's just say I really enjoy hearing it.
    Apparently a little chickadee does as well. It has taken to sitting on the sail as it sways in the breeze.
     One of these days I'll get a picture of it.

Life with Steven

    ... is never boring.

     Sunday evening as we were all relaxing doing our various things, he was engrossed in a cookbook.

    "Mom, do you think we could make dandelion jelly?" he asked, looking hopeful as he studied the recipe in front of him.

    I looked at required ingredients.

    Water ... check

    Lemon ... check

    Sugar ... check

    Pectin ... surprisingly ... check

    Dandelions ... check, as soon as we gather from the abundance growing in the yard.

   "Yes, I'll help you make it tomorrow," I told him.

    He was excited as we discussed our plans for the following day.

    We got up yesterday to a cold mix of rain and snow. That didn't keep Steven from bouncing out of bed early, eager to start on our plans for the day, only to discover all the dandelions had shut their blossoms as they endured the weather. 

    "I'm sorry," I said. "We'll just have to wait to make the jelly until a sunny day."

     He nodded his head and said, "That's why I like days so much. You never really know what is going to happen in them until it does. It's fun finding out!"

Currently

Reading ... the Psalms again. They're so restful and encouraging. I enjoy soaking them in every morning.

My stack of library books are beginning to get old. Had I known the last time I was at the library would be the last time, I would have maxed out the limit of books (100) I can have out at one time. The girls say they would have done the same.

I also would not have checked out these two books for Steven, had I known I would still have them in my house two months later.

Yesterday the mail brought a surprise package from a friend. This book was inside. I haven't read it yet, but from what I've gathered after flipping through it a little, it looks good.

Watching ... not much of anything. We have a few DVDs here that I keep thinking I want to watch, but so far I haven't got around to do it.

Listening ... to the happy, happy sound of birds singing. The air is filled with their songs this morning. Robins in the spring time have some of the prettiest songs. The phoebe birds are calling, and a number of other song birds that I haven't identified are singing their little hearts out. All these different songs happening at the same time make beautiful music!

Thinking ... in order to be able to say 'I told you so' I would actually have to voice my opinion first  for it to mean anything. But in a world of shouted opinions I prefer to keep mine to myself and instead focus on the sweeter things in life. There's still beauty all around us, there are still funny moments, the simple things still bring me joy.  And Philippians 4:8 is still the same.

Wearing ... a polka dot dress. I like it, it's comfortable. The only thing that would make it better is if it had pockets. I have debated opening the seams at the side and putting in slip pockets.

Baking ... Yesterday I baked pie. I chose to make a Vanilla Crumb pie this time. I used to absolutely love this pie, so well in fact it was one of the pie we had for the bridal party at our wedding.

This is the first time I've made it since we're married. Making it yesterday reminded me why. It takes longer than I like with all its steps. Mix this, set aside. Boil that and set aside. Combine this and add boiled stuff, but careful! You don't want the eggs to curdle. Continue with this and that until pie is ready to bake. Make sure oven is lined with foil because it is guaranteed to spit over even though the pie shell is only about half as full as normal pie.

In the end it turned out to be every bit as delicious as I had remembered. The children wondered why they've never had this pie before as they enjoyed their piece. The recipe makes three pie, so they get to enjoy a few more pieces. I hope they savor every bite because it could easily take another twenty years before I want to make this pie again.

Cooking ... a lot of potatoes. We got a 50 lb bag of them, so I've been consulting Pinterest to help me come up with new ideas on how to prepare potatoes in hopes we get them all used before they start going bad.

Tonight I'll be making spiced potato wedges to accompany some leftover meat we have. A salad will complete the meal, and then there's of course still pie to be enjoyed for dessert.

Cleaning ... besides the daily dozen we've been doing a little extra everyday. Yesterday I went through the drawers in our big book cupboard in the living room. I emptied two of them and filled them up with little games. But now I'm not sure I like them there. I may have to redo them again today.

Playing ... an assortment of games, but most often Hoagie. A fun little sandwich building card game. Steven is competitive when it comes to games, and even giving it my best it's a challenge to win against him when we play Hoagie.

Loving ... our home and family. In a world that seems to be spinning out of control, I love having an oasis from it all.