Kauai

Wow, it's been awhile.  A long while!  So much has happened since I last posted, it seems!  I'm not too ambitious today, but here's aquick run down of our Hawaii trip.  The nutshell: awesome!  The heat did us good.  Fynn and I were recovering from a nasty bug (I got a temp of 105 and he had had trouble breathing...yikes!)  And Fynn did just awesome with the actual travel!  Something about take off just put him right to sleep and he wouldn't wake up until we landed.  Made a 17 hour, 3 legged trip much more tolerable.

It was great to spend some time with Josh's family and for Fynn to meet his Uncle Kevin, all of whom he loves!  I loved watching him as he discovered an unfrozen world!


The sand...

 The ocean...

Hiking in the rain forest...

On a boat...


 Meeting new friends...

Trying new foods...

Finding new plants with green leaves...

 Oh the discovery!

Laughter

It's the best medicine...

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.

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!

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.

Language of Angels

(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”

1^st Corinthians 13:1-3

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: