Big Brood

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We had a rain day at our house today.  Kind of like a snow day with lots of cuddling, snacks and book reading.  And we didn’t forget to send a few goslings out to play in all the puddles and streams.

The syrup house

Our crew

Tom the turkey

Making cheese

The final product.

Yesterday was truly a blessing!  We went on our first out doors field trip this year and had a great time!  We had to rise very early to drive to our destination (over 2 hours away) but it was so worth it!  It rejuvenated me and brought a smile to my face.  I think the goslings had a good time too! 

We went to a maple syrup farm.  We got a great tour and even got to smell the sap bubbling away, then taste the wonderful fresh syrup.  We made sure to buy 1/2 gallon to use on our pancakes and waffles at home too.

Next we went to a jersey cow cheese farm.  We were able to taste many kinds of cheese, watch the cheese making process and even pet the calves and ”chat” with their pet turkey 7 year old Tom.  He was a little intimidating blocking the door as we pulled up but quickly found out he was the resident ”farm dog”

I loved the time outdoors in the 70 degree weather and cherished even more the time to learn and spend time with the goslings and great friends!  I feel ready to tackle the rest of Lent!  Have a blessed day.

This post really gave me something to think about.  I often wonder/worry about what all the emailing,online chatting,etc does to the friendships I have.  I often feel very detached by this kind of communication and often wonder if I am the only one who feels this way.  I try to convince myself that this is the way a busy mom has to communicate but I think in the end this is really a deception and I am depriving myself of vital relationships! 

 What do you think?  How has the electronic communication of today affected you and your relationships?

I was thrilled to see my hibiscus send out a flower this week!  I sure needed a sign of spring!

This is such a simple recipe and always turns out great!  It is adapted from a recipe I found in a magazine.  I can never seem to leave a recipe alone!

6 3/4 tsp yeast

5 cups warm water

2/3 cup honey plus 1 T.

2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil

2 tsp sea salt

6 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup wheat germ

4-6 cups bread flour

Disolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water with the 1 Tablespoon honey.  Let sit about 10 minutes until foamy.   Add with remaining ingredients into mixer ( I have to split this into 2 batches in my kitchen aide mixer).  Add enough flour until it forms into a soft ball, it will be slightly sticky.  Knead for 6-8 minutes in mixer or by hand.  Place in a large bowl coated with oil, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.  Punch dough down.  Shape into 4 loaves.  This is where you can get creative.  We will often make 2 into cinnamon sugar loaves by rolling out and spreading with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and rolling up jelly roll style.  I also have added raisins at this point to the dough.

Place 1/4 of dough into each bread pan or shaped onto a baking sheet.  Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.  If you are unsure if the loaf is done, remove from the pan and tap the bottom.  You should here a hollow sound.   Remove from pans and let cool on wire racks.

I couldn’t find my camera for a couple of weeks :)  and I have been meaning to post a picture of the cloth napkins I made.  I have about 20 napkins right now with hopes to double that.  I am really enjoying the beauty cloth napkins adds to a simple dinner!  Have a blessed St. Valentines Day.

In a hope to get our school days started on schedule I have been trying to make a huge batch of something every weekend to feed the ever hungry goslings.  Lately it has been my new favorite bread recipe.  It makes 4 loaves.  I have been making 1 loaf into raisin bread (to satisfy my finicky pregnant stomach), 1 cinnamon sugar and 2 regular.  This particular recipe makes great toast.  But this weekend I made a family favorite,  gingerbread waffles.  I found this recipe here several months ago and it joined our breakfast rotation.  I forgot how much this recipe actually makes and did my normal thing and doubled it.  YIKES!  I didn’t get all the waffles made and frozen as hoped last night!  I guess one morning this week will be fresh waffles.  Note to self: one batch is plenty for our crowd!

Have you noticed a trend in my posts.  Seems they all revolve around food!  I guess not much else is going on in my first trimester mind besides getting everyone fed, clothed, educated and loved.  I am looking forward to feeling better and getting the goslings out for some fun field trips.

Have a blessed day!

Well we finally spilled the “beans” to all our family so we thought it was time to share with everyone else.  Pa goose, Ma goose and all the goslings are overjoyed to share that we are expecting another little gosling in late August! 

We lost our little John Mary last August so this is a wonderful gift and reminder that God is ever present and working in our lives!

I AM READY FOR SPRING!!!  I am tired of germs! 

 We spent the whole week at home due to a yucky stomach virus that struck our house.  We had to miss both our co-ops and several other outings.  Yesterday we were all stir crazy and pretty much healthy so we made a trip to the library and the grocery store.  Everyone was so well behaved LOL!  So the secret is to keep the goslings cooped up and sick for a week and you will have very obedient, quiet children. 

I did spend some spare moments this week perusing this garden catalog and working on my current sewing project,  cloth napkins.  Here is were I got my idea from.

This a picture of the star cake gosling 2 made for our Epiphany celebration (a few days late).  We have yet to do our ephiphany blessing over the doorways.  Hopefully this weekend.