Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .
. . . checking the Weather Channel's website, and discovering that it was 103 in our town this afternoon. Thank goodness for air conditioning.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . Daniel giggles.
. . . remembering that God can ultimately turn my weaknesses into strengths if I humbly, consistently seek His help (Ether 12:27).
And another thing . . .
Dear Martha Stewart,
A friend recently shared with me the Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin recipe from your website. I made it tonight, and though it was rather tasty (as things tend to be when one adds cream, garlic, and bread crumbs), I have one quibble with it.
As you are, no doubt, aware (since I'm sure you're one of the half dozen people who checks my blog on a regular basis), I am a chronic under-seasoner. Consequently, when a recipe just says "add salt to taste," I can virtually guarantee it will come out bland because I never seem to sprinkle in enough of that good old sodium chloride. Such was the case today. The gratin, though fairly good, would have been much better if I'd added more salt to the veggies.
I realize that your readers vary widely in the amount of salt they like in their food, but I humbly request that you at least give me an approximation of how much you use. You can even tack on "or to taste" at the end, if you want to.
Regards,
Kimberly Bluestocking
P.S. I would also encourage you to post instructions on how to cook this dish in a solar oven, since firing up my conventional oven on a 103-degree summer day is not a pleasant experience, even if the gratin is only going to cook in there for ten minutes.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Inspiration and More Yogurt
Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .
. . . Daniel's occasional tantrums featuring a truly piercing scream.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . visiting a new member of our ward. She seems very friendly and cheerful, and it's always fun to be around someone like that.
. . . playing games with Joy (though I can only handle so many rounds of Candyland before I need a break).
And another thing . . .
. . . I tried making crockpot yogurt again last night. This time I used a thermometer to check temperatures, and discovered that my initial heating didn't get the milk hot enough. That's probably why my first result was so thin and soupy. My second batch was definitely thicker and more yogurty, but it still wasn't as thick as store-bought versions. That will be fine for lassis (which no one will complain about), but my goal is to make yogurt my kids and I would want to eat with a spoon. I've read that adding powdered milk can thicken it some more, so I think I'll try that next time.
. . . today I read Elder Holland's talk "An Ensign to the Nations," in which he notes that General Conference speakers are rarely assigned a topic. Rather, each speaker will "fast and pray, study and seek, start and stop and start again until he or she is confident that for this conference, at this time, his or hers is the topic the Lord wishes that speaker to present regardless of personal wishes or private preferences." It occurred to me that I have the same privilege--and responsibility--to earnestly seek God's inspiration any time I teach in church, at home, or when I'm visiting someone on the Lord's errand.
. . . Daniel's occasional tantrums featuring a truly piercing scream.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . visiting a new member of our ward. She seems very friendly and cheerful, and it's always fun to be around someone like that.
. . . playing games with Joy (though I can only handle so many rounds of Candyland before I need a break).
And another thing . . .
. . . I tried making crockpot yogurt again last night. This time I used a thermometer to check temperatures, and discovered that my initial heating didn't get the milk hot enough. That's probably why my first result was so thin and soupy. My second batch was definitely thicker and more yogurty, but it still wasn't as thick as store-bought versions. That will be fine for lassis (which no one will complain about), but my goal is to make yogurt my kids and I would want to eat with a spoon. I've read that adding powdered milk can thicken it some more, so I think I'll try that next time.
. . . today I read Elder Holland's talk "An Ensign to the Nations," in which he notes that General Conference speakers are rarely assigned a topic. Rather, each speaker will "fast and pray, study and seek, start and stop and start again until he or she is confident that for this conference, at this time, his or hers is the topic the Lord wishes that speaker to present regardless of personal wishes or private preferences." It occurred to me that I have the same privilege--and responsibility--to earnestly seek God's inspiration any time I teach in church, at home, or when I'm visiting someone on the Lord's errand.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Laugh and a Sigh
Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .
. . . opening Daniel's door and discovering I had forgotten to put his zippered PJs on for his nap. Sigh--laundry time.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . visit teaching a new sister in our ward. She's bookish and she likes to cook, so I suspect we'll have plenty to talk about.
. . . my mom sending me a funny email.
. . . opening Daniel's door and discovering I had forgotten to put his zippered PJs on for his nap. Sigh--laundry time.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . visit teaching a new sister in our ward. She's bookish and she likes to cook, so I suspect we'll have plenty to talk about.
. . . my mom sending me a funny email.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Pancakes and a Pediatrician
Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .
. . . stocking up on a few grocery items that were on sale, then forgetting to use the coupons for them. I always do that unless I stick the coupon next to my debit card. Must remember to do that in future.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . meeting with a new pediatrician who two friends highly recommended. She seemed very capable, and she genuinely cared about everything Joy had to say. In fact, she was so friendly that I accidentally called her by her first name when we left. I'll be curious to see how my first impressions compare with our experiences in the coming months.
. . . swimming with the kids.
. . . eating pancakes for dinner. We've started giving Daniel his own plate and fork, and he ate two whole pancakes himself. No sausage, though.
. . . stocking up on a few grocery items that were on sale, then forgetting to use the coupons for them. I always do that unless I stick the coupon next to my debit card. Must remember to do that in future.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . meeting with a new pediatrician who two friends highly recommended. She seemed very capable, and she genuinely cared about everything Joy had to say. In fact, she was so friendly that I accidentally called her by her first name when we left. I'll be curious to see how my first impressions compare with our experiences in the coming months.
. . . swimming with the kids.
. . . eating pancakes for dinner. We've started giving Daniel his own plate and fork, and he ate two whole pancakes himself. No sausage, though.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Hugs and Buffett
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . cuddling Daniel as we rocked in the glider this morning.
. . . Joy volunteering to share some fro yo with her brother (he was bummed that Daddy didn't get sour gummy worms this time).
. . . hugging my sweetheart. I'm so glad he's home.
. . . reading Warren Buffett's New York Times article asking Congress to "stop coddling the super rich" and significantly raise their taxes to increase revenue. He said many of his super-rich acquaintances donate much of their income to charity, and would be willing to give a larger percentage to their country. I'd link to the original article, but the NYT won't let me view it a second time. Here's a summary, though.
. . . cuddling Daniel as we rocked in the glider this morning.
. . . Joy volunteering to share some fro yo with her brother (he was bummed that Daddy didn't get sour gummy worms this time).
. . . hugging my sweetheart. I'm so glad he's home.
. . . reading Warren Buffett's New York Times article asking Congress to "stop coddling the super rich" and significantly raise their taxes to increase revenue. He said many of his super-rich acquaintances donate much of their income to charity, and would be willing to give a larger percentage to their country. I'd link to the original article, but the NYT won't let me view it a second time. Here's a summary, though.
Tarts and Playtime
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . watching Daniel and Daddy run around my parents' yard together.
. . . taking my mini tart shaper on its maiden voyage.
. . . watching Daniel and Daddy run around my parents' yard together.
. . . taking my mini tart shaper on its maiden voyage.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Books, Breezes, and a Homecoming
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . savoring the cool breezes of an overcast morning.
. . . drinking strawberry lassi with the kids. We all agreed it was much better than the mango one I made last night.
. . . Phillip coming home from his trip. It's so good to see his face and hear his voice again.
. . . reading an essay called No Good Stopping Place by a man who adores good books.
And another thing . . .
. . . you know you're a parent if you invite a four-year-old to help you bake and she dumps a few things into the mixing bowl, then accidentally upends the flour canister when she's horsing around, and you still thank her for being helpful.
. . . some friends loaned us their Candyland game this week, and it is Joy's new favorite pastime. I enjoy it well enough, but I find that as an adult I feel greater trepidation about picture cards the closer I get to the end. As a child I only thought about how close I was getting to my goal; as a grownup, I am increasingly conscious that the more I progress, the more likely it is that a picture card will send me back (possibly WAY back) instead of forward. I suppose you could debate whether that reflects a mature, big-picture perspective or jaded cynicism.
Also, whenever I look at the illustrations on the Candyland board I find myself craving peanut brittle.
. . . savoring the cool breezes of an overcast morning.
. . . drinking strawberry lassi with the kids. We all agreed it was much better than the mango one I made last night.
. . . Phillip coming home from his trip. It's so good to see his face and hear his voice again.
. . . reading an essay called No Good Stopping Place by a man who adores good books.
And another thing . . .
. . . you know you're a parent if you invite a four-year-old to help you bake and she dumps a few things into the mixing bowl, then accidentally upends the flour canister when she's horsing around, and you still thank her for being helpful.
. . . some friends loaned us their Candyland game this week, and it is Joy's new favorite pastime. I enjoy it well enough, but I find that as an adult I feel greater trepidation about picture cards the closer I get to the end. As a child I only thought about how close I was getting to my goal; as a grownup, I am increasingly conscious that the more I progress, the more likely it is that a picture card will send me back (possibly WAY back) instead of forward. I suppose you could debate whether that reflects a mature, big-picture perspective or jaded cynicism.
Also, whenever I look at the illustrations on the Candyland board I find myself craving peanut brittle.
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