Plan B or How to Make Play Dough

What do you do when you've been planning all summer to get together and hike with some of your favorite little friends (because we love to hike and picnic and wade in the water), and every time it's planned, it rains... and your running out of time, because school starts next week, and you've promised them we would play together before school starts... and those sweet little faces look up at you in serious expectation on Sunday morning, while giving you a big hug (how's that for the best run on sentence you've seen in a while!)?  You say, " This is the week and we will definitely play, rain or shine!"  And then you begin developing plan B because the weather forecast calls for rain.  Surprise, surprise.

The rain however, did not stop us from having a great time.  We put on our aprons and began our day in the kitchen making play dough.  It's been a long time since I dug out this recipe card, but we found out, it still magically produces the best dough for creative play possible.  It's way better than the stuff you buy in the stores (although as a child I loved that smell of a freshly opened can of Play-doh, the smell of chemicals - weird huh? -that smell that takes me right back to my grandma's kitchen table). 

The girls loved this project, because they could do it themselves.   From measuring the flour, 

vegetable oil,

salt,

and cream of tartar,

to pouring in the water, it was all done by little hands.

The most exciting part was squeezing in the food coloring.

In less than five minutes, while constantly stirring,  the liquid became a solid and then the real fun began.

We learned what it means to "knead" and kept our hands moving quickly, because it's pretty warm when it comes out of the pot.  It sure feels great between your hands, though.

So, what colors should we make?  Everyone had a different favorite color, and some of us had more than one.  

And then we couldn't forget little brother, who would be playing with this when they took it home, so we had to make green for him. 

Oh, what the heck.  We decided we'd just make all of them.  Aren't they pretty?  I loved the way they lined them up ROYGBIV style.  Some things we learn in school, really do stick with us for a lifetime.

It was hard to decide where we should go for lunch, but after much  deliberation, we settled on "mexican".  It was all about the chips and cheese!

Next stop, was shopping at Claire's.  This store is heaven for little girls.  I loved watching them "ooh, and ahh" over everything!

Miraculously we made it out of that store, with just two bottles of fingernail polish and a long wish list.  Then we went home and painted our nails orange and watched a movie.

It turned out to be a pretty good day, even if we didn't get to go hiking.  Sometimes plan B can work out to be even better than you imagine.  I love these girls and the memories we make each time we hang out and play.  They help to keep me young!

Perfect Playdough

1 cup water

2 t. cream of tartar

1/2 cup salt

1 cup flour

1 T. vegetable oil

food coloring

Combine ingredients in saucepan and cook over medium heat,

stirring constantly until mixture becomes thick and pulls away

from the sides of the pan. This usually takes 2 - 3 minutes.
  Knead until smooth.  Keep in airtight container.

* Some moms don't like play dough in their house, so I had this activity approved before we started.  I was never one of those moms. 

Dressing Girls Around the World

I'm going to do a little bragging here.  I have a great mother-in-law.  I call her mom, and since my mama's death fifteen years ago, she has in many ways helped fill that void for me.  She's kind and gentle  and loves in a maternal way.  Around here, most people (and not just family) call her mom or grandma, and she wears those titles proudly.  She loves children, so it's really no surprise that she has spent the last year making 150 dresses for little girls all over the world.  But what an accomplishment!

The idea to make dresses came to her as she visited with a friend who had served a mission with Hope International Ministries. This friend told her about the children, living in poverty, who would line up to receive supplies and gifts.  The wheels started turning in her mind and she began searching for ideas on the internet.  When she came across "dressagirlaroundtheworld.com" she knew she had found what she had been looking for.  This site had patterns and directions for making the dresses and she took from them ideas and made her own designs.  Not overly impressed with the pillowcase dresses shown on the site, she wanted to make something that would be beautiful as well as functional.  She said, " I wanted to give to other little girls something that I would be happy for my own grandchildren to wear and I would think about that as I made each dress."

Once she got started, she just kept on sewing.  In August of last year, she set a goal to make 100 dresses by her next birthday.  As it turned out, she exceeded her goal.  On August 14th, of this year, she celebrated her 73rd  birthday and all of these little dresses are  now stacked  in her guest room, waiting to be delivered.

I think her design is so clever.  She starts with a girl's shirt, from 3 months to 12 years in size.  Then she finds matching fabric to add the skirt, making it into a dress.  She pays less than $2 for each shirt, often receiving donations, when people find out about her ministry.  She brings the shirts home and washes each one before making them into dresses.

I asked her where she found all the fabric for the skirts and she smiled when she told me, "everywhere".   She's used pillowcases and other bed linens, as well as curtains.  Some adult and teenage clothes have enough material, that they can be taken apart and used. This is recycling at its finest!

All three of these little dresses had the rose print skirts that came from "Barbie" curtains that she found discarded and unopened. She says, "Once you start making these dresses, you always have your eyes open for fabric that could be used to make the skirts."

This picture shows how she sewed the skirt onto the shirt.  What an easy sewing project, one that even I can do.  Just a few straight seams and it's finished.  Sometimes she adds embellishments, like this little pocket, onto the dress.  In fact, she says it often takes longer to come up with the design, than to actually sew the dress.  But matching shirts and fabric, adding a little pocket or buttons, that's the fun part!  It's surprising what you can do with a simple, plain t-shirt.  She has even taken baby Onesies and cut the bottoms off to make dresses for the smallest girls.  She admits the littlest dresses are her favorites.

When each dress is completed, she holds it up and gives it a hug.  "I want my love to go with that dress to the little girl who will wear it.  I want her to know that someone in the world loves her", she says.

There are so many things about this ministry that impress me.  But  one thing I keep thinking about, is how motivated she was to begin and complete this on her own.  After some serious health challenges in the past few years, she is feeling much better and wakes up every day thanking Heavenly Father for the gift of a new day.  She says, "I have been so blessed and I want to spend my time giving back."

I find it's easy to get caught up in a service project with a group of people, but to see a need and then act upon it, by yourself, is something all together different.  How  many times have you thought, "well there must be something I can do that will make a difference," and then quickly dismissed the idea, because it seemed too hard, too inconvenient, too big to do by yourself?   I know I have done this more than once.  Mom has reminded me that one person can do so much good, one little dress at a time.  Personal ministries, we all can have one (or more), and wouldn't the world be a better place if we did?  Maybe we won't be sewing dresses for little girls, like mom has done, but surely there is something we feel led to do that would make a difference.  I'm already beginning to think of some things that might work for me.  One thing I'm definitely going to be doing is shopping for shirts and fabric, at yard sales and thrift shops, because Mom has plans to make more dresses by her next birthday.  It wouldn't be fair for me to reveal her goal, but I will say it's lofty!  Thank you mom, for inspiring me, to seek out new ways to serve.  I once heard someone say, "a need seen, is an assignment given."  As disciples of Christ, our eyes should be open to the needs around us, and with prayerful questioning, I believe the assignments, as well as the means to accomplish them will be made evident in our lives.

Happy Birthday #1

I've had a lot of fun this year writing Birthday posts for my kids.  Today I'm going to wind that down where it all began.  The first shall be last.  Last, but not least.  Ok, enough of that.  I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I have an adult child (once a child, always a child to your mama) who is 29 years old today.  Travis, how can this possibly be?  When I look at this picture, I realize I was practically a child myself, when I had you. ( I figured it was only fair play for me to share in some of the embarrassing pictures.)  And you've survived, and even thrived, in spite of it.

Being the eldest child brings it challenges.   Parenting was new to us and we experimented on you, but love covers a multitude of mistakes and we were so in love with you!   There is nothing in a mother's life to compare to the first pregnancy, first birth, first bath (my mom had to come and help me), first Christmas (how many babies get to be baby Jesus?), first everything!  It's all new and exciting.

For twenty- two months, it was just you and me and I loved every minute of it.  Well, of course Dad was there sometimes, but most of the day it was just the two of us, with life revolving around naps, feeding schedules and outings.

Shortly after you were born, we moved to Vermont (much to the dismay of the grandparents) and started our New England adventure.  

Money was pretty tight back then, but we found plenty to do, as we took delight in discovering a new part of the country and introducing the world to you.  We hiked, we went camping, we played in the leaves.  Dad had the car and I had the stroller and on nice days we would walk through our little town (complete with covered bridge) and go to the park or to the Dime Store and maybe even buy a new toy or book.  I look back on those days with the fondest of memories.  It was an idyllic place and time.

I attribute your love for reading to the fact that we read books every day, multiple times a day.  There was plenty of time for reading, as this was before the days of computer programs and we could only get one fuzzy channel on our tv.  Now don't you feel old?  ( As you can see in this picture, baby brother would soon make an appearance and your only child days would be over.)

And then in the winter, there was snow.  Lots of snow.  You could barely walk in all that snow.  We sat you down on the top of the picnic table for this picture.

You were a fun, precocious little boy that made everyone around you smile.  With an early grasp of language skills, you could tell some amazing stories.

Being the eldest, your brothers were always trying to keep up with you. ( wonder why you were wearing Dillon's shirt...)

As a teenager, you experimented with the spiky hair and found outlets for your musical talents with the symphony, singing your heart out as lead in the senior play and in the basement bands.

I will never forget all those band practices in the basement....

Although you weren't a difficult teenager,  this was all new for me too.  Riding this roller coaster was one I wasn't prepared for and once again you were our guinea pig.  All I can say is, sorry for the hard days.  I felt like those years would never end, maybe you did too, but they did and we both survived them!  And now...

look at you!  Your a man (who in some of these pictures, looks very much like your dad did at this age), finding your own way and making a life for yourself.  You're in that season of hard work, of establishing relationships and a career.  It takes so much time and effort to figure it all out.  But with your talent, intelligence and work ethic, you're doing a fine job and we know you'll find success in whatever brings you fulfillment and joy.  With your current interest in food and dining, I've enjoyed having someone to introduce me to fun restaurants and talk the foodie lingo.  Mothers never stop learning from their children, in fact, sometimes I think I'm learning more from you than you ever did from me.  And even though we don't see you as much as we'd like, when we do get to spend time together, it's precious time.  

Happy, Happy Birthday Travis!  Heavenly Father sure blessed our family when He sent you to us. You are one special son and we love you bunches!

The Cookbook Project

I have a thing for cookbooks, which is understandable, because I have a thing for food!  I love everything about it, growing it from seeds, shopping for it in a great market, trying new recipes, looking at and taking beautiful pictures of it, dining in wonderful restaurants and sharing all of these experiences with people I love... yep, I just adore food.  Sometimes maybe too much, but that's a subject for another post.  Back to my cookbooks.

I have stashed, in nooks and crannies throughout my kitchen, and overflowing into the family room, cookbooks that I've collected over the years.  My Christmas wish list usually has a few titles on it and I'm known to spend whatever mad money I might have on a new volume.  Some girls buy shoes, I buy cookbooks. 

For relaxation, I will take a cookbook off the shelf and read it from cover to cover, as one would read a novel.  Because a good cookbook includes much more than just recipes.  There are stories around those recipes that make them come to life.  If you've ever noticed over on the right sidebar, under "What I'm Reading", there is almost always one book dealing with food. 

 This month I've been reading The Homemade Pantry.  It was while I was reading it, that I had an idea.  I thought it would be fun to have a cookbook project, where every month or so, I would pull one of my cookbooks off the shelf and share it with you.  This is mostly for my benefit, so I'm spending less time dusting off my books, and more time using them and because I'm motivated by projects.  But I hope you might enjoy it as well.  With Pinterest and so many great cooking websites, a person would never really need to have a cookbook in their home and still turn out some great meals.  And because life's busy, more days than not, we just stick with the tried and true, get it on the table quickly, meal.  It's easy to get in a cooking rut.   But when we can make the time,  there's something exciting about pulling a cookbook off your shelf and creating something new.    

As much as I love this cookbook, I know it would not be for everyone.  Some people have no interest in making their own cheese or yogurt.  Or Poptarts.  Yes, that's  homemade Poptarts on the cover of the book.  I think they look delicious.  But for those who like to challenge themselves to produce foods that others would only buy in a store, this one's for you.  I already make a lot of my own food from scratch.  But at times I get lazy and this book has motivated me to start cooking and baking again.  I'm going to dig out the yogurt maker this week and I've already been munching on granola that I made a few days ago.

In the introduction, the author says,
"If we are to become people who do make butter, we might have to shift the way we see ourselves a bit.  We might have to get into the adventurous spirit and unearth our own curiosity about where our food comes from.  We might have to make a colossal mess of the kitchen. And we might have to slow down, at least long enough to knead a loaf of bread before the day begins.  Here are a few reasons I have found myself to be the kind of person who makes butter:
1- Food made at home is better for you.
2- Food made at home tastes better.
3- Food made at home usually costs less.
4- Food made at home eliminates unnecessary packaging.
5-Food made at home will change the way you think about food.
You won't make all of these recipes every week.  You might make pickles just once, and then decide that the experience is not for you. But I promise you this- after making your pickles, you will think very differently about all pickles."

I concur.  Not only does this cookbook have some great recipes, for simple and nourishing foods (which doesn't always translate as quick and easy), but the pictures are amazing.  I would love to follow her photographer around for a while and learn her techniques.  In this book, she has captured not only images of beautiful food, but  a lifestyle that centers around wholesome eating.  In another life time I'm sure I would have been a food stylist and photographer.  After reading through The Homemade Pantry a couple of times, I feel like I know Alana and her family.  Take a peek.

Every recipe begins with a little essay about why this food is important enough to be included in her cookbook.  True stories about food and a family. I loved them. 

Alana gets excited about food, just like me.  She talks about the thrill of cooking this way for her family when she says: 

" Whether it's your inner pioneer expressing deep satisfaction when you look at your rows of bright-red jam-filled mason jars or your inner five- year- old (or real five -year- old) celebrating when the butter breaks from the buttermilk, the thrill is what keeps me cooking and sharing."         I totally get this.

So, here are the recipes I plan to try in the next month or so.

*mozzerella cheese - I have to hurry while I still have some basil and few tomatoes left.  I can only imagine a caprese salad with fresh mozzerella that I made myself.  If it turns out well, that is.

*toaster pastries - There is a big kid at my house who likes Poptarts.  I won't mention any names.

*basic pie crust -I've never been able to master a good pie crust consistently.  Maybe this will be the recipe that works for me.

* cheese crackers-I hope these will make me forget that I love CHEEZ-IT's.

* lasagna- yep, I'm going to make my own noodles and sauce, and who knows, maybe even my own mozzerella and ricotta.  This will be my piece de resistance.  I'll have to set aside a chunk of time for this one, but I bet it will be the best lasagna I've ever made.

That should keep me busy for awhile. I'll keep you posted as I try each new recipe.  How about you?  Would you like to be a part of my cookbook project?  Just go ahead, pull one of your favorite cookbooks off the shelf and make something new.  I would love to hear about your cooking adventures.