Scottish Shortbread

Fynn's had a bit of a bug for a couple of weeks and it's really settled in his lungs.  It had been sounding better, but then the wheezing and junky coughs came back, so I decided to call the advice nurse at his pediatrics.  She told me to bring him in immediately, and I got kinda nervous.  Turns out it's bronchiolitis, a viral infection, but not terribly serious.  The NP told me that I'm already doing everything I should be and  to just wait it out a couple more weeks.  My poor baby's going to have one amazing immune system at this rate!  I really am so grateful for his overall health, though!

Then I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon yesterday regarding my wrist.  It has been painful to me for months, but has been getting worse lately to the point where it always hurts to pick up Fynn.  Sometimes its so shocking it makes me lose all strength, and I'm so afraid I'm going to drop him.  The PA discovered I had what they call "Mommy's Thumb."  I guess it's pretty common for new moms, especially with big babies.  It's just an inflamed tendon, irritated by all the picking up motions that happen.  And Fynn likes to be held.  A lot!  So I'm trying a brace and an anti-inflammatory for a bit, but if that isn't working, then they'll give me a steroid injection. Fun times!  But it really is just so good to know what is happening so we can move ahead with making it better.

The rest of this week involved a little grocery shopping and packing up and shipping a couple items I sold on Etsy (yay!)  Other than that it was mostly just trying to keep the house clean.  For those of you that know me, that is a constant challenge.  My artist's heart is more concerned with so many other things than house work, and thankfully, it doesn't bother Josh to much that our home isn't immaculate (I saw his bachelor apartment before we were married.  He has no room to talk! =) But now that we're having Bible Study here every Wednesday, I try to have it semi-presentable.  We had a small but good group this week.  Josh has been working 12 hour shifts and was just wiped, so I played piano and led a couple songs instead of him.  One verse that stood out to me this week was First Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."  What a perfect combination, and I am trying to attain both.

Okay, so on a lighter note, I pulled out the short bread recipe for small group this week.   It's always been a favorite and went really good with our chai tea (see previous entry).  I was thinking after I had them in the oven that these might be fun to cut out with cookie cutters into Christmas-y shapes.  Hm, maybe next time.  Well, I decided I could at least make a Jenga stack with mine, this time. =)

Scottish Shortbread

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add 3 to 3 3/4 cups flour. Mix well.

Sprinkle board with the remaining flour. Knead for 5 minutes, adding enough flour to make a soft dough. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into 3x1 inch strips. Prick with fork and place on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

Half a Year!

Hey all!  I'm filling in for Momma today because it's my first half birthday!  Momma keeps saying it's going by fast, but I have been learning and growing so much!  At my last check, I weighed 20 pounds and an ounce.  I can sit pretty good by myself, but sometimes I still tip over.

I haven't quite figured out how to crawl yet, but I sure am working hard at it!  And no teeth yet, either.  I really like to jump and roll over, bite my lower lip and fly like an airplane.  Oh and be upside down.

I make all kinds of fun noises and am very fluent in my own little language.  My favorite sounds to make are like a motorboat and clucking my tongue!  Momma and Poppa's favorite one is my laugh when they tickle me.

 Oh and I love to eat!  Last month I started having cereal with Momma and Poppa at dinnertime!  And for Thanksgiving, I got to try carrots from Momma's garden, blackberries from Grandma Walsh, and a little taste of ice cream and mashed potatoes!  Yesterday I found out that I love squash!

My three favorite things are when Poppa gets home from work at night, my puppy Clancey, and spending time outside.  I get pretty grumpy in Momma doesn't take me out at least once every day.

I discovered my feet recently, too!  Wow, what amazing built-in toys God gave me!  I can't even imagine what other purpose they may have in store!

  I don't like riding in the car, but I'm much better at it now, especially if Momma sings one of my favorite songs.  They're "Old McDonald," "The Yodeler," and "Lilly the Pink."  My days usually involve a couple naps, a lot of eating, some play time, feeding the animals, helping Momma cook dinner and a bedtime story or two.  And then there's the trips into town.  I love the music at church, but often get a little grumpy during the sermon if I don't have my bottle.  And I'm sitting by myself in the shopping cart now!

So, that's me in a nutshell.  I'll keep you posted on my progress!
~Fynn~

Sprinkled White Fudge

Listening to Cumberland Christmas music and shopping for gifts online!  I love this time of year, but it has a whole new sense of wonder now  Well, I did it!  I called the rescue mission to see if there was any need there.  I had to just leave a message, but the ball is in their court now.  Really having a lot of pain in my wrist.  I got a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, but so far, I've just been leaving him messages...

Here's the recipe for the white fudge.  Sort of a different take on the Christmas favorite.  Great texture!

·         ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk

·         1 12 oz. package white chocolate chips

·         3 tsp Vanilla Extract

·         1 tsp Almond Extract

·         Sprinkles

Pour milk and white chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 2-3 minutes, or until white chocolate is almost completely melted. DO NOT OVERHEAT. Stir until completely blended, melted, and smooth.  Immediately add vanilla and almond and combine thoroughly. Add a handful or so of rainbow sprinkles and fold in quickly, because they will melt (and if they are stirred for too long they’ll turn the fudge an ugly muddy color).  Transfer to an aluminum-foil lined 8×8 inch baking pan. Let cool.  Once set, cut into cubes. Store in a cool place.

Pocket Hand Warmers

We got an exciting update at church this morning: we're moving ahead with buying a new building!  This is so great, we're sort of bursting at the seams and desperately in need of more space, so this will be great!  (For more info, see the link for our church at the right).  Something that I've had on my heart for awhile was addressed in the sermon today, and that is to get out into our community rather than just have all my human contact be with other believers.  So I'm using this page as a place of accountability today:  I'm going to at least call a couple outreaches this week and see if they have any needs I might be able to help with.  Okay, now I have to do it! =)  And hopefully something I can bring this little cutie along with me.

Here's another simple Christmas gift idea, or maybe stocking stuffers.  And the fun thing is you can really do any shape you want.  Just cut four pieces from felt, embroider a design on two if desired.  Then blanket stitch most of the way around the edges, fill with either rice or rice and lavender, then finish off!  Place in the microwave for a minute or two, then tuck in your pockets (or your sweeties pockets), and then your ready for the frosty day outside!  (PS: you can find mine for sale at my etsy shop "Way up North": link also at right.)

Bacon Cheese Moose-loaf

I just got sweet little Fynn out of a bath.  He just has so much fun splashing himself in the face and trying to catch his rubber duck, it makes it a joy to give.  That and the honey-scented soap Katka gave him!

So Josh didn't think he liked meatloaf until I made this recently, now he can't get enough! =)  I just love it when my experiments turn out!  Anyway, I thought I'd share this way to a man's heart:

Bacon Cheese Moose-loaf

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1-2 eggs
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup dried bread crumbs
• Herbs, salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 slices of bacon, 2” sections
• 1-2 cups grated cheese
• 1/3 cup ketchup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the moose, egg, onion, milk and bread crumbs. Season and place half in a lightly greased 5x9 inch loaf pan.  Layer cheese and bacon, then add the rest of the moose. 
3. In a separate small bowl, combine the mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour.

Granted, it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it is pretty simple and fills the stomach.  I don't like bacon, so I end up picking that out, but I love the moose!  Hope you enjoy!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I hope you had a great day with family, friends, good food and much thanks!  We were so blessed to be able to go over to our friends’ house and celebrate with their family as well as a few others.  Fynn was mesmerized by the other little ones running around!  And, he got his first real food since his cereal:  carrots from our garden that I had blended right after they had been harvested.  He was not so sure at first, then he couldn’t get enough!  He also had a couple tastes of potatoes and blackberries that he seemed to enjoy.  And he’s been drinking from his bottle so well by himself as well as out of Momma’s cup with just a little help.   We played Dominoes and Apples to Apples—so much fun!  We also got the honor of celebrating with a couple of ladies who were from Australia, one of whom had never celebrated Thanksgiving before.  I loved hearing about their home and it made me see our Thanksgiving in a new light.  

 

Fynn's hand turkey

Writing what we're thankful for on the tablecloth

Fynn's doodles (with a little help)

Thankful for Daddy!

 

Our gracious host and hostess

  

Cutting the ham, really fast!

Feeding himself!

 

First taste of carrots!

Yeah, he liked them

I didn’t do the Thanksgiving challenge, so I’m going to catch up here:

1.       New life from God through Jesus: grace, forgiveness, love, and hope.
2.       My wonderful, handsome husband, the amazing father, provider, and best friend
3.       Our sweet baby, his health, and the joy he brings to our family.
4.       My Washington family, all their love and support (especially with cooking help yesterday morning! =)
5.       Our Fairbanks family: our amazing church family and their welcoming spirit
6.       Our cozy little home
7.       Woodstove and the heat it brings!
8.       Good jobs
9.       The time I can spend at home with Fynn right now.
10.   The beautiful snow.
11.   The internet so I can keep in contact with friends and family afar.
12.   Blackberries, dark chocolate, and peppermint.
13.   A car and tires that do well on the ice.
14.   Music: listening to, playing, writing.
15.   Paint, super glue and embroidery floss.
16.   My new fur slippers!
17.   Good books
18.   Our wonderfully goofy critters
19.   Fresh eggs, Moose meat, and veggies and herbs  from the garden
20.   Living in a state with such beautiful scenery, wildlife, adventure, and a PFD
21.   Goofy songs that make Fynn stop crying in the car
22.   Boogie wipes
23.   My childhood—we had so much fun, thanks Mom and Dad!
24.   A Wonderful Thanksgiving: good food, good fellowship, good times.

Tea Wreath

Boy, what a cold week it has been!  I’m so thankful for our warm cabin and firewood to burn!  Our poor little chickens have probably been suffering the worst.  I can’t keep their water thawed for anything, and we’ve had several eggs completely frozen and cracked open.  Last night I found the oddity below (I think eggs are just so beautiful!). No, things just aren’t quite right in chickenland!

I just can’t get enough tea of any kind on these days. It warms my bones.  I found a cute little project of Tea Wreaths that I thought would be a sweet Christmas gift on a budget.   Supplies would include individually wrapped tea bags of choice (12), willow swatches (3-could use other branches or even thin dowels), decorations to taste and glue (I’d recommend hot glue or superglue for this one.)

I ended up whittling down the middles of the branches first to have a flat area to work from.  Glue all three in the middle.  You could even do a bit of a God’s eye at this point by wrapping yarn or embroidery floss through the branches for added support.   Then glue a tea bag to the ends of each branch and fill in the gaps by gluing the corners of the tea bags together.   Decorate as desired with ribbons, bows, or sprigs of evergreen and gift generously!  Total cost < $5.