Today

Today- I began composting.
Today- I lovingly steamed and pureed fresh organic snap peas, only to have them unceremoniously spewed out by my unimpressed baby (even mixing in applesauce would not convince her).
Tomorrow- we'll stick to applesauce.
Today- I made my husband beef jerky.
Today- I designed a logo for said husband's new business.
Today- I shopped for houseplants.
Tomorrow- I'll pot said plants.
Today- I cooked three meals, finished a book, made phone calls, worked on plans for the garden, took care of two babies, showered, boxed up fall decorations (don't ask), made two separate to-do lists (and a packing list), played with Rory, added six things to the get-rid-of pile, took out the recycling, made the bed, drank a cup of coffee, did the dishes three times, earned a few swagbucks, and updated this blog.
Tomorrow- Repeat. With a few variations.

But really, I love love love being a housewife and mom. I think I get more satisfaction from these duties than the most prestigious job in the world could offer me. Even though I'm tired, sore, and annoyed that Rory doesn't like peas, I'll chalk it all up to another good day!

Reflections on Good-byes

There are times when we turn our backs in the kitchen and someone whisks the soup to the dining room before we can finish seasoning it; we’re left dumbfounded, gripping the spices in our hands and knowing the soup is good but could have been better. These are the moments when our intentions cease to matter and become “what-could-have-beens.” There is a temporary end to every relationship this side of Heaven, and so often these ends are frayed and dangling- “But I never…” “But we didn’t…..”. God said, “Done.” And it was. Left to mull over the “if onlys,” it is too easy to question the goodness of God- because it’s either that or questioning our own. How many times was brusqueness offered instead of kindness? Disinterest instead of care?

My grandma left this world on Sunday. It was a day I’d been expecting for years, the death of my first grandparent. She had been ill, but it happened much sooner than we all expected. She lived in another state, but was always such a presence in the lives of all her grandchildren. I am so grateful     looking back at the quarter century we spent together with precious few regrets. I intended to call her Saturday but bumped it to Sunday’s to-do list, and though I lost that one chance to say “I love you,” I made it a point to call often. We never did go to Paris together (something she had spoken of to me many times), but I was always more interested in Spain anyway, though I never had the heart to tell her that. No, there are very few regrets, and quite a few lovely memories. Grandma saw me married (she thought Blake was quite cute, and openly (if not tactfully) hoped that our baby would get his hair genes). She held my first child. Was I ready for this day? Not at all.  But our Lord is as sovereign as he is good, and anything I would have told Grandma that last almost-phone call can surely wait the short sweet time until I see her again.

An Aussie Shower

Marti F. and I planned an awesome Outback themed shower for our friend Samantha and her new baby Hannah! Sam lived Down Under for five years, so we determined an Australia theme was the way to go; it had its challenges, but we were up to it! I think the Outback would make an adorable nursery theme too, by the way... Here are some pictures!

We served breakfast "joey pouches"

Also on the menu: "curried cuckaburra salad"

Some guests, along with koala balloons and kangaroo paper chains

Koala "bear claw" pastries

We put kiwis in the punch to make it Australian, although I think really it's more of a New Zealand thing.

Sam's sister holding Hannah, and Sam in her "G'day" shirt!

My mother in law made this little platypus!

My Funny Valentine...

I love Valentine's Day. I love any excuse to celebrate my hubbycakes and our mutual commitment and affection. Generally we go all out, meaning the day will include some sort of special meal (probably take out BBQ from Satchmos this year) and of course, gifts! I'm super excited to give him his awesome present, but I can't say what it is here since he periodically checks this blog. So, here are a couple ideas for really cool Valentine's gifts for those of you who are (wealthy) procrastinators:

Personalized Tree Stump Cookies! 
I saw these on Etsy, and since I've always loved the initials-carved-into-a-tree-trunk romanticalness, I think they're just super!

 

And from the same seller, mustache cookies! Even men who do not themselves sport facial hair seem to have an innate fascination with it, so these mustache cookies would cry "I understand and appreciate your manly heart!" to your guy:

And since I'm on a browsing Etsy kick this morning, what guy wouldn't love these:

A gift that nods at a passion for sailing and books? I think yes!

And, just in case he surprises you with a fancy dinner out, you can present him with one of these nautical-inspired ties:

I think travel mugs are generally pretty girly, so how about sending him out the door with his morning coffee in one of these masculine receptacles ? They're hand carved out of ash and maple, and the seller offers other varieties!

Perhaps you've found some inspiration here today! Or maybe you've had Valentine's Day taken care of for weeks. How are you going to celebrate (or not) this year?

A Coffee Caper

A strange and amusing thing happened today. It began at Christmas when my husband gifted me a lime green Keurig one cup coffee maker, which I adored from the moment I set eyes on (and continue to adore every morning when I drink from its goodness). I love having a cup or two in the morning, but it seems so silly to go through the effort of brewing a pot when I'm the only one home, and then the leftovers sit there for days and days and get gross- I always hold out for someone to drink them, and nobody ever does; the mini Keurig has been perfect. The only downside to my darling machine is that (until Blake bought it a mini filter for ground coffee) it takes little coffee pod things, called "K-Cups," which could "roast" our budget if we were to consume too many a day (while not exactly "grounds" for divorce, it could cause Blake to regret his thoughtful gift).We found them for the best price at Amazon, and I ordered enough to last a couple months. I waited all day last Friday for the delivery, to no avail. By Saturday I was frustrated, so I checked the order status and found that they had indeed been delivered, and "left at the front desk." There's no way on earth dropping a package on our porch could be considered "left at the front desk," so I emailed the mix up to Amazon and they replied that my K-Cups were likely gone forever and they would send some more right away. End of story.
Until this morning.... the doorbell rang and to my shock, a uniformed police officer stood there, patrol car in the driveway. She peered at me: "Are you Brittany Bowen?" Gulp. I confessed that I was, and she smiled and presented me with a cardboard box. "This was delivered to the station last Friday. By the time we had investigated it for explosives and contaminants it was too late to bring it to you. So here you are!" I guess if you want your lost mail returned to you, better pray it ends up at the police station, by one means or another!