Friday, March 30, 2012

Oh yeah!  Break up is coming!  The last few days have got above freezing and it looks like we might be nearing the end!  Fynn has been positively fascinated by the drips of liquid water falling off the tips of the icicles this last week.  When I drove into town today, there was water on the roads and the banks of snow were beginning to wither!  I love it!  No more coat for me!  I was even able to force a couple willow boughs to put on the table.

Our venture into town included a stop by the library.  Why don't I do this more often?

The glorious sun shone enough yesterday to bring the temperature up into the 50s!  I took Fynn out to feed the chickens without his snowsuit and it was so nice we decided to stay out a bit.  I plopped him down on the porch where all the snow had melted.   At first he wasn't so sure, then he got really excited, discovered a pile of hay and then some pine cones.  What joy!   A walk followed, and both Fynn and Clancey were just ecstatic!  This time of year is so much fun!







The winters here are undeniably long and many get cabin fever, especially stay at home moms.  Although I found myself plenty busy and am a bit of a home body anyway, I made it my goal to learn something new this winter.  So now, I can proudly say I have acquired a very modest ability to crochet!  All thanks to the patient guidance of my dear friend Willow.  It is so addictive, I just want to crochet all the time, but as it is warming up, I think I'll soon have to put away my needle and yarn and break out my gardening tools.  Speaking of witch, I also started planting my indoor seeds this week!  Have I mentioned I love this time of year.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Technically Spring and Turkish Kebabs

Happy spring!  Well, officially I guess.  It was still 12 below zero when I got up this morning, but it is bright and sunshiny out!  I am so ready for break up (Fairbanks version of spring.  Not very pretty, but it means summer is on its way!)  I got my seeds in the mail this week and I am so excited to get them started!  There were a couple drops of melting ice from our roof yesterday that Clancey started barking at incessantly.  I could tell that Fynn could feel the heat from the sun on his back because he kept reaching back to try to touch it.  Oh, promises of spring!

We had a pretty mellow St. Patrick's day.  I pinned a felt four leafed clover I hastily made on to Fynn's cap and we went into town for the trapper's fur auction and to see the dogs before the race.  After that we came home and made Guinness brownies for Josh's poker night.  I think they turned out great (really dark and rich).  You can find the recipe here.) 

Here's our trek into town and a little people watching: 









My weekdays have been a lovely blend of trying to keep the house in some semblance of order, playing with Fynn, errands in town, quick spurts of working on any of the gazillion projects I have going on right now, and visiting with friends.  Fynn has transitioned to only needs one long nap a day rather than two, and is adjusting quite nicely.  He also has learned to climb on top of things: boxes, the dishwasher door, the dog, and all the way up the stairs!  Crazy boy!

Last night, Josh requested one of his latest favorite dinners:  Turkish Kebabs.   So I thought all kebabs were little bits of meat and veggies and what-have-you skewered on a little stick, right?  Well apparently not.  I've been working off this slow cooker recipe for a bit, but since I'm not often one to plan my meals ahead of time (though I'd like to improve on that), I've tweaked the recipe a bit for our life.  It goes a little like this:

1/2 lb. moose steak, cut into thin slices
1/2 onion, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 pinch curry powder
1 teaspoon salt

4 pita loaves


Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until onions are translucent.  Then add meat, lemon juice, and spices and cook until meat is done. 

Tzatziki Sauce:
1.5 c. sour cream
3/4 c. plain yogurt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
3 cloves garlic, crushed

Mix all ingredients in medium bowl.  It makes a lot, but don't fret!  We just finish up ours the next couple days as a chip/cracker dip!

Heat pita for 15 seconds to soften.  Top with meat, tzatziki, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and feta or goats cheese and enjoy!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Irish Eyes

For my handsome husband and little laddie:

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away. 



There's a tear in your eye,
And I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow'r in your smile,
Sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's
Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away. 


For your smile is a part
Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet's sweet song,
Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life
Is the sweetest of all
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours
Throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Language of Angels

Precious: Life's A Dance  (Loren Entz 1949 American)
(Painting by Loren Entz)

My Bible reading this morning.  I think this is such an eloquent passage!

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,  but have not love, I gain nothing”
1st Corinthians 13:1-3

Monday, March 12, 2012

World Ice Carving Championship

 Fairbanks is home to the World Ice Carving Championships!  So Saturday we bundled up against the zero degree temperatures and hit the acres if intricate art of ice harvested from local ponds.  I really liked their new location and all the beautiful entries.  Fynn really seemed to enjoy it, too, despite the cold that turned his little face all rosy!   There were tons of ice sculptures for kids to play on, but Fynn isn’t quite old enough for most.  We did take him down some of the ice slides, though!   What a fun evening!  Enjoy the show:










Thursday, March 1, 2012

Nine Months

It's Fynn again, back for his quarterly update as I'm now NINE MONTHS OLD!!!

Last month began a lot of changes for me.  So I mentioned before that I hate riding in the car.  Well what I couldn't get across to Momma and Poppa was that my long legs were all scrunched up against the back of the seat!  The doctor told Momma that I am now big enough for a forward facing car seat, and now the car rides are almost fun!  I sit and can see out the window and kick my free legs the whole way!  So much more room!  I've always hated being restrained in any way.

I got all four of my front teeth at the end of January and am working on a fifth right now.  I decided this means I shouldn't have to eat baby food anymore.  Whatever my folks are eating is what I want.  My favorite taste right now is when I get a nibble of cheese, but I'm more concerned about being able to feed myself than what it tastes like.  And I must touch my food before it goes in my mouth.

Also, I can now MOVE!  I crawl forward, backward, round and round.  I love to walk with a little help and can pull myself to a stand (I even stood without touching anything for 2 seconds yesterday!).  Look out critters!

Some of the things that make me giggle are Clancey being goofy, watching Poppa start the snow machine or Momma scrape the ice from our steps, and when tickeley snowflakes land on my face.  I get so excited when Poppa gets home from work and when it's warm enough to take a walk.   I also love watching the moose from my nursery window.



My average day still just consists of napping, eating,  playing, and helping take care of the animals with the occasional run into town to do errands.  I still like to help Momma cook, but am becoming more interested with staying on the ground so I can practice moving!  It's so exciting I don't even want to sleep at night.  One day, I'm going to catch those cats!



Some of my favorite toys right now are not toys: empty bottles, cooking utensils, boxes, etc.  But I do really like balls, blocks, and stuffed animals, too.  I really like my books, too.  Momma says my favorite is the one called "God Gave Us You," but I really like them all.  And more than anything I really love my family, my friends and my critters.


Well, just a couple more months now and I'll be back to tell you how my first birthday party went!