The Rainy Day

Rain 

The rain is raining all around 

It falls on field and tree,

it rains on the umbrellas here, 

and on the ships at sea. 

Robert L. Stevenson

Today we went to the farm to buy fresh milk and free range eggs. The rain didn't stop us, we put on our rain coats and boots and went exploring. Here is Henry in his pretty cool, dinosaur, rain coat.

Lucy was very sweet to pose for this pic of her in her 
red, polka dot, slicker.
Love the pink camo pants and sneakers  ;) 

We were inside the store. Zackary and Henry had a lot of fun playing with these rough and tough cowboys. The cowboys came out with their boots and cowboy hats, their wooden guns. They were a grave posse. I had to chuckle ...  Henry was equally serious in his intent on shooting the bad guys, but his shiny, dinosaur, city rain slicker made it hard to be taken seriously. 

Zackary's really cool rain boots. 

Kimberly's really pretty bleeding heart plant. 


It's been a really rainy day, kids have been inside a lot so mom let them use some of their internet tickets .. 


a good time 

And then dinner ... mmm ... 

A wonderful day

La Cucina di Elisa

This was Elisa's big day. She was in charge of the whole kitchen. They sold over 50 meals and it was her job to plan the meal, plan a cooking schedule, provide recipes and manage the fellow culinary students as they followed her instructions. 

The menu for the day

Chef gave her a thumbs up. She did a wonderful job. 

Her fellow culinary students enjoyed working with her. 

Happy Easter.....

The Baby of the Family

My baby is growing up. 

Elisa.
This is the weekend she took care of the Vermillion kids. 

She and Benjamin did an awesome job.
We all remember when Elisa was a chubby, adorable toddler.
Her blonde, wispy hair, her charming smiles.
Her screams and her giggles.
As a little one she held onto family and wouldn't let go.
She's still the same.
We all love you Elisa.
<3

WAITING for pictures and stories 

from my wonderful daughters 

Looking for Spring

speedwell

A light exist in spring

Not present on the year

At any other period -

When March is scarcely here 

... Emily Dickinson

Emily and Rebekah

Photo by Rebekah

A color stands abroad 

On solitary fields 

That science cannot overtake 

But human nature feels

 It waits upon the lawn

It shows the furthest tree 

Upon the furthest slope you know

It almost speaks to you

Henbit

 Robert Lewis Stevenson

 So when the earth is alive with gods

And the lusty plowman breaks the sod,

And the grass sings in the meadows.

And the flowers smile in the shadows,

Sits my heart at ease, 

Hearing the song of the leas,

Singing the songs of the meadows. 

Now

I've been thinking about my seemingly constant longing for what I don't have. I struggle to live in the moment I am in; thinking that things could be, and should be, so much better. Where is the line between wanting to do better, to be better and to wanting to have better? And even this begs the question, why must I always be better? Why can't I just be?

I am trying to quiet my mind; trying to hear God rather than to keep filling my mind with more and more and more information about what I should do, be, and have. Live now, not live for later.

However, this discipline is escaping me despite my best intentions.

I think this will be a longer process than I originally thought. Probably will be a day by day reminding, to put down the information, the opinions, and to pick up the quiet.

Discontent

I have heated tiles in my upstairs bathroom. Well, the heater vent does an amazing job of making the tiles very warm in the winter. My house is not very drafty, we can keep the heater at 66 degrees and, while wearing a sweater, stay plenty warm. My van has a "room" of it's own, I never have to scrape the ice or snow off. I never have to go out into the rain, wind or snow to get into my car. I have a great floor plan, I can see the kids from anywhere in our main area. I have beautiful wooden floors and a working fireplace. My main living area is bright and open with nice looking cabinets and appliances in the kitchen. I can watch the children while they play outside because of the many large windows facing the yard. The yard is fenced and is small enough to see what the kids are doing. Our deck is so nice and large, it's like an extra room in the warm weather. I love quaking aspens and God was sure to have several in my yard. I have a nicely sized  bedroom which is on the same level as my children's rooms so that I can hear them if (when) they call in the night. My laundry area is right by the bedrooms, I don't have to carry laundry all over the house. I live within walking distance to the train station yet not too close to be bothered by the noise. A small neighborhood park is right down the street. I live within two miles of the library and a tree filled park with five playgrounds. A fairly nice grocery store is within a mile. Five minutes away is a delightful nature trail, 20 minutes away are incredible mountains.

And I keep telling God I'm ready to move. And I keep complaining about my neighborhood. And I keep pining for life in a more rural area with less people. And I keep wishing I had an older house, one with more character (and more drafts I'm sure). And I keep dreaming of a larger yard, one with more trees. And I keep coveting those houses by the mountains.

When will I stop and just enjoy all that God has given me?

easy, cheaper-than-cereal granola

4c old fashioned oats
1c raw almonds
1/2c sunflower seeds
optional: coconut, chia seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds
1T salt
1/2c oil (coconut oil or olive oil)
2/3c honey
optional: vanilla and almond extracts
optional mix ins:

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, then stir every 10 minutes until browned

The difference between old-fashioned oats and quick oats and instant oats is the size that the oats are cut. You want the old fashioned because they are more substantial.

I like to chop my almonds into smaller pieces but it's not necessary.

Add your dry ingredients to the oats, your almonds, sunflower seeds, optional items, and salt. Then mix together.

A word about coconut oil - this is the best oil for you. It's amazing for your skin but has incredible healing health benefits if you care to research it. Make sure you get organic oil that is unrefined and pure white. Otherwise you are missing out on all that goodness or if it is not pure white there is mold present (mixed in - yuck).

I mix all my wet ingredients in the same large measuring cup.

 It would probably be beneficial to use raw honey but at the rate my family eats this I use pasteurized honey to make it a little more cost effective. I figure that I'm cooking it at a pretty high heat anyway.

Mix it all up.

It's going to be pretty clumpy but still falling apart. Stick but not gooey.

Set your oven to 325. Line your pan with parchment (really... don't skip this step). Flatten the mixture onto the pan.

VERY important... set the timer for 15 minutes

After 15 minutes, stir it a bit, being sure to pull the edges in.

Again... VERY important... set the timer for 10 minutes.

It's a little bit browner, stir it again

yep.

And browner still... maybe just a little bit more (although it looks pretty dark in this picture... )

do it.

Pull it out of the oven and let it cool, be sure to pull all the granola onto the parchment paper otherwise you'll never get it off (in a edible form)

Oh, and this is the time to add the dried fruit or other mix-ins if you want them. If you add it first they will get too crunchy and dried out.

Happy husband, happy kids.

Tea with Auntie Phee

The goodies 

Happy Auntie Phee.

 Her hearts desire is to see you.

 Come as soon as you can  :)