Here's Eric and I down in Williamsburg by the Pond next to the Governor's Palace. We had a lovely couple of days and I have to say that this is absolutely my favorite picture EVER of Eric and I. I love the setting, Eric looks good, we look like ourselves and I think it shows the peaceful sort of comfort that can come if you just keep working on a relationship.Twenty Years Marked
October 29, 2006
Here's Eric and I down in Williamsburg by the Pond next to the Governor's Palace. We had a lovely couple of days and I have to say that this is absolutely my favorite picture EVER of Eric and I. I love the setting, Eric looks good, we look like ourselves and I think it shows the peaceful sort of comfort that can come if you just keep working on a relationship.All-nighter
October 26, 2006
When a mother leaves home without her children for any reason, the process can be compared to a space shuttle launch. The preparation involves huge effort focused on escaping from gravity's pull. Most of the fuel is used up for that purpose. Arranging everything so Eric and I can get away tomorrow for exactly 48 hours has taken two weeks of unrelenting effort. But, like the space shuttle, once we break free of the earth's atmosphere, we will be floating free and settle into an orbit that will allow us to enjoy ourselves knowing that everything is just fine down on the surface of the earth. My support network is just about as large as mission control and how grateful I am for Johnathan, my mom, and everyone else that is helping me out. So, tonight as I wait for seminary handouts to print and wrack my brain to come up with something interstesting enough to keep them all awake tomorrow, I thought I'd just relax with a little blogging. I still have two more loads of laundry to do so I am probably just going to stay up all night and sleep in the car. Eric likes to listen to music or the news, so he won't mind. Then, we will be in beautiful, glowing-with-fall-foliage Williamsburg, ensconced in the lap of luxury at the Williamsburg Inn. It's our twentieth anniversary so we are seriously splurging.
Seminary went well this morning and in exactly 5 hours and 30 minutes, we will play catch-phrase to end up the week. This morning, as I was taking Evan to school, the sun was just peeking over the rooftops and through the trees and this is what greeted me from across the street as I walked out the door. To me, it is a little reminder that God is indeed good and that he knows my needs. Seminary is so frustrating sometimes, and asks so much of my family, with little evidence of any success, but then the Lord gives me a moment like this to warm my whole soul.
Seminary went well this morning and in exactly 5 hours and 30 minutes, we will play catch-phrase to end up the week. This morning, as I was taking Evan to school, the sun was just peeking over the rooftops and through the trees and this is what greeted me from across the street as I walked out the door. To me, it is a little reminder that God is indeed good and that he knows my needs. Seminary is so frustrating sometimes, and asks so much of my family, with little evidence of any success, but then the Lord gives me a moment like this to warm my whole soul.
Giant Journaling
October 24, 2006
Tonight was Giant Journaling. It has become harder for me to go because Eric has appointments on Tuesday nights, but tonight he was free, so I could go! Such good women. Such fun to connect like that. It just does my heart good to be around them. I was a good girl and left early so I could come home and get the room set up and finish my lesson, but I'm so glad I got to go. Yesterday was another photo shoot. Guinevere called on Saturday to tell me Cassie is going to the Courthouse to get married on Monday! I was so happy Guinevere asked me so I could congratulate Cassie. I enjoyed it. It was so nice to see Guinevere and her girls. They are all grown up and GORGEOUS!
Put Your Hands in the Air and Scream!
October 22, 2006
I'm waiting for the Sunday Ham to cook, Steph's birthday cake is done (We are going over to Mom's as soon as we finish eating) and I am getting ready to make biscuits. I have to time it right, though, so I'll tap out a few thoughts while I wait for the right moment. So, this week was great! A far cry from last week as I sadly chronicled in my other blog. Read it and weep for me.
The week ended up very productively with me getting several projects well on their way to completion, including the knitted womb I am making for my new pal Kris, the ATC's I am making for my one-skein pal Kristin that are too late for the exchange, but oh well, and a return to spinning. I got to go out to dinner with my birthday ladies and go see Nanci Griffith in concert! She was outstanding. I was a teeny tiny bit afraid it would be a protest concert, but she was very classy about expressing her opinions and really let the music speak for itself, so I was not forced to stand up and remind people that NOT all republicans are warmongering, gun-toting, redneck jerks, some are really nice people.
Yesterday I had two classes which went really well because knitters are among the nicest people in the world. Things at home are settled and peaceful for the last few days, and life is just good, even though it was really busy and there were moments when I felt like I was orchestrating a military operation. Overall though, it was a lovely, serendipitous week. Funny how life just goes up and down, eh? Just like a roller coaster. All we can do is put our hands in the air and scream!
Its time for Biscuits. Here is my favorite easy recipe. I use powdered buttermilk and keep it on hand at all times, and it works great.
Tall and Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits
7/2004
We prefer to use low-fat buttermilk in these biscuits, but nonfat buttermilk will work as well (though the biscuits will be a little lighter in texture and flavor). For the highest rise, use a double-acting baking powder, such as Calumet, Clabber Girl, or Davis. Store leftover biscuits in an airtight zipper-lock bag. Reheat by placing them on a baking sheet in a 475-degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes.
Makes 12 biscuits
Nonstick cooking spray
Dough
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 ounces)
1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups buttermilk cold, preferably low-fat
To Form and Finish Biscuits
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (5 ounces), distributed in rimmed baking sheet
2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Spray 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Generously spray inside and outside of 1/4 cup dry measure with nonstick cooking spray.
2. For the dough: In food processor, pulse flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda to combine, about six 1-second pulses. Scatter butter cubes evenly over dry ingredients; pulse until mixture resembles pebbly, coarse cornmeal, eight to ten 1-second pulses. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add buttermilk to dry ingredients and stir with rubber spatula until just incorporated (dough will be very wet and slightly lumpy).
3. To form and bake biscuits:Using 1/4 cup dry measure and working quickly, scoop level amount of dough; drop dough from measuring cup into flour on baking sheet (if dough sticks to cup, use small spoon to pull it free). Repeat with remaining dough, forming 12 evenly sized mounds. Dust tops of each piece of dough with flour from baking sheet. With floured hands, gently pick up piece of dough and coat with flour; gently shape dough into rough ball, shake off excess flour, and place in prepared cake pan. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging 9 rounds around perimeter of cake pan and 3 in center. Brush rounds with hot melted butter, taking care not to flatten them. Bake 5 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees; continue to bake until biscuits are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Cool in pan 2 minutes, then invert biscuits from pan onto clean kitchen towel; turn biscuits right-side up and break apart. Cool 5 minutes longer and serve.
STEP BY STEP: Shaping the Biscuits
1. Using greased 1/4-cup measure, scoop 12 level portions of dough onto floured baking sheet. Lightly dust top of each biscuit with flour.
2. With floured hands, gently pick up piece of dough, coating outside with flour, shaping it into ball, and shaking off excess flour.
3. Place 9 biscuits snugly around perimeter of pan, then arrange last 3 in center.
The week ended up very productively with me getting several projects well on their way to completion, including the knitted womb I am making for my new pal Kris, the ATC's I am making for my one-skein pal Kristin that are too late for the exchange, but oh well, and a return to spinning. I got to go out to dinner with my birthday ladies and go see Nanci Griffith in concert! She was outstanding. I was a teeny tiny bit afraid it would be a protest concert, but she was very classy about expressing her opinions and really let the music speak for itself, so I was not forced to stand up and remind people that NOT all republicans are warmongering, gun-toting, redneck jerks, some are really nice people.
Yesterday I had two classes which went really well because knitters are among the nicest people in the world. Things at home are settled and peaceful for the last few days, and life is just good, even though it was really busy and there were moments when I felt like I was orchestrating a military operation. Overall though, it was a lovely, serendipitous week. Funny how life just goes up and down, eh? Just like a roller coaster. All we can do is put our hands in the air and scream!
Its time for Biscuits. Here is my favorite easy recipe. I use powdered buttermilk and keep it on hand at all times, and it works great.
Tall and Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits
7/2004
We prefer to use low-fat buttermilk in these biscuits, but nonfat buttermilk will work as well (though the biscuits will be a little lighter in texture and flavor). For the highest rise, use a double-acting baking powder, such as Calumet, Clabber Girl, or Davis. Store leftover biscuits in an airtight zipper-lock bag. Reheat by placing them on a baking sheet in a 475-degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes.
Makes 12 biscuits
Nonstick cooking spray
Dough
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 ounces)
1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups buttermilk cold, preferably low-fat
To Form and Finish Biscuits
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (5 ounces), distributed in rimmed baking sheet
2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Spray 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Generously spray inside and outside of 1/4 cup dry measure with nonstick cooking spray.
2. For the dough: In food processor, pulse flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda to combine, about six 1-second pulses. Scatter butter cubes evenly over dry ingredients; pulse until mixture resembles pebbly, coarse cornmeal, eight to ten 1-second pulses. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add buttermilk to dry ingredients and stir with rubber spatula until just incorporated (dough will be very wet and slightly lumpy).
3. To form and bake biscuits:Using 1/4 cup dry measure and working quickly, scoop level amount of dough; drop dough from measuring cup into flour on baking sheet (if dough sticks to cup, use small spoon to pull it free). Repeat with remaining dough, forming 12 evenly sized mounds. Dust tops of each piece of dough with flour from baking sheet. With floured hands, gently pick up piece of dough and coat with flour; gently shape dough into rough ball, shake off excess flour, and place in prepared cake pan. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging 9 rounds around perimeter of cake pan and 3 in center. Brush rounds with hot melted butter, taking care not to flatten them. Bake 5 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees; continue to bake until biscuits are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Cool in pan 2 minutes, then invert biscuits from pan onto clean kitchen towel; turn biscuits right-side up and break apart. Cool 5 minutes longer and serve.
STEP BY STEP: Shaping the Biscuits
1. Using greased 1/4-cup measure, scoop 12 level portions of dough onto floured baking sheet. Lightly dust top of each biscuit with flour.
2. With floured hands, gently pick up piece of dough, coating outside with flour, shaping it into ball, and shaking off excess flour.
3. Place 9 biscuits snugly around perimeter of pan, then arrange last 3 in center.
More Photography
October 14, 2006
Today I did a photo shoot with my nephew. We had a great time and these are my favorite shots. He is a senior and he requested that I do his pictures. I have 2 other requests for photo shoots in the hopper and I have to make some serious decisions about whether to make this a real business or keep pretending. I need to charge more, but I don't see myself as a pro yet. I just enjoy it so much, it seems to good to be true that people would pay me real money. I also feel like I have so much to learn to be good enough to charge money. Sigh...but sheesh, what a dilemma to have. I certainly can't complain. I sure am grateful I get to do ii at all. Take pictures that is. It is amazing to me how my life has unfolded. I can so see how I've been prepared for these times when I can do things I truly enjoy, that have the potential to become actual careers as the kids continue to grow up. Even though I don't have a degree, I feel like I am successful because I've taken time to try and do one thing at a time. The best part is that I still have time. I see women 10 and 15 years older than me with new lives unfolding in glorious splendor. Life really is good.
Photos, phinally.
October 6, 2006
Okay, so now it is working. Beta-blogger is having known issues with Safari, but I am having trouble with Firefox, too. Gack! Technology. Anyway, The first is the tranquility that I was able to experience with my pals from Cloverhill as we retreated to the West Virginia woods for a day. Highlights included hearing John Denver's "Country Roads" while I was actually crossing the Shenendoah River with no planning on my part. It was just a delicious moment of serendipity. On the way home, the sky was putting on another incredible change-of-seasons show, and this time I DID have my camera with me, so Sammy snapped this one through the car window. Not bad for 65 miles an hour.
For some reason, blogger beta is not letting me upload photos. I am working on it because I really want to write about the view at the lake at the cottage I got to visit on Monday. It was a day of Ahhhh in the middle of the busy fall. A lovely deep breath to energize me for a while. I am continuing to enjoy fall even though today it is raining cats and dogs. Its all good because the moisture will help the trees to have better color instead of just going straight to brown and dead and falling off in despair. More later when I can include some images.
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