toddler toy

This is quick, easy, & entertaining for the littler ones. Leviah gets 2 uses: 1. rolling to a new destination & 2. opening the top, dumping, and refilling the can. (if the second use isn't one you approve of, just tape or adhere the lid on so it's not an option for your child).

What you need:
Tube container (oatmeal, yogurt, a can with a cardboard end)
about 5 feet of yarn
Dried beans

Using a hammer and a phillip's head screw driver punch holds in either end of your tube. String yarn through both holes & tie knots to keep it from pulling through (a small stick to tie the yarn around would be great, too)

Fill the can with beans & put the lid on.

Roll away!

{this moment} - swingin' sisters

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along.

Moosewood Cookbook Challenge: Stuffed Squash

Just when you thought I'd forgot this challenge...lo n' behold.

So, the cookbook likes to stuff things into squashes. Or maybe I'm just drawn to these recipes...or maybe stuffing squash is more common than I'd known. Either way, we stuffed some butternut squash (& because we had some, acorn as well). In hopes that cool weather will present itself at the appearance of such vegetation on our tables, I keep craving these delicious buggers. & because they're such pretty cuisine I couldn't help but take advantage of a little photo opportunity. (& i've been wanting to do a b&w with Natural Suburbia...)

As to the recipe. Not great. Officially will not make again. Cottage cheese & squash just don't go together. It was against my better judgement but it occurred to me that the adding of apples would make it all come out right. Not so. Skip this one--skip it good. Everyone ate without complaint, but it was just odd & left us seriously craving an actual dinner. Perhaps if I'd followed the recipe for the elaborate 'thanksgiving' version appetites would have been satiated, but this was--at best--an intriguing side dish.

"...is this....cottage cheese?"

Tea Party Today (unaffiliated)

We had a little party.

We had a little fun.

& of course, did a little show-tune dancing.

To eat? Egg salad, pb&j, pb&mallow cream & pb&nutella sandwiches cut into shapes, blueberry lemon scones for authenticity, raspberry tea with mango puree and seltzer, veggies, fruit salad with plucots & basil (yum), and good company.

I took the opportunity to discuss good hostessing with Naomi. Manners & courtesy being a theme I've heard some ladies talking about, I realized how important it is that our children have these character traits & being a hostess seems like the perfect opportunity to learn. I believe we'll continue to think of ways to incorporate and build 'playdates' around this notion...

Prairie Style Sourdough Starter

{FYI} to anyone who's noticed, I've not been blogging much these past few weeks. Distracted by the heat, and preparing for the fall. There are lots of things coming, including some small changes that are meant to make this space more cohesive. I've experimented with the blog a lot and am really enjoying how it encourages me to really stop and notice the little stuff. It also encourages me to take pictures, which is something I knew I enjoyed (believe it or not I minored in photography), but as a mother and homemaker there are opportunities to 'catch' things that can be overlooked. So, thanks again for visiting.

Making a Sourdough Starter is so simple!

We have this great book that breaks down many of the prairie activities throughout the Little House series. I love it and can't wait to try lots of them with the girls over the years.

Today I decided to give the Sour-Dough Starter a try. It's extremely simple & yet completely complicated. It's really chemistry at it's simplest--but you can ask my 10th grade lab partner, i'm NO good at it. Somehow I managed to get a bachelor's without ever taking it again, not sure how.

Anyway, my mother in law got  this book and I'm anxious to move in that direction with our bread, but the simple instructions provided in the Little House book have been too long nagging...

So, all it requires is 1 & 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup (probably not city) water from 80-95degrees & 80-95degree temps, humidity preferred (which NC has PLENTY of).

I put the 'batter' of water & flour in a quart jar and with a rubber band around the top (which helps you notice rising/bubbling). It's covered with a piece of cheese cloth & sitting on our back patio. There are a lot of factors that can go wrong, not sure what exactly, but any pointers are welcome. I'm sure some of you have tried this!

I have the  back up of this sweet blogger's offer to share her starter, but I wanted to witness this process...if you need inspiration to make good bread, Joy has it!

**this starter was destroyed by our cat. Apparently, she too likes sourdough & while she almost certainly would blame other local pests (as it was outside absorbing humidity), the footprints led directly to her favorite nap-spot...hmm. back to square one!

Vintage Swap

Things are much less grim feeling. Refocused...
Yesterday, in particular, was a good day. We had some extra kids over for some extra craziness and we had a really fun time crafting paper bag puppets. What a simple & fun craft. what can't you use to add a little character? Plus, then the girls performed a silly little puppet show from behind the couch. There was an awful lot of giggling involved!

And then I got a package, which is always exciting, but it's even better when you don't know what's inside and opening it is like meeting a new friend. I used to send letters and packages to friends from camp all the time and it was SO exciting to check the mail & read a little about their lives. There's just something so personal about a packages that's obviously been handled with care. I hope my swap partner is as happy with her goodies as I am. Take a look!

doll cloths, cute hankies, play colander, adorable blue apron, carrot art, and a cookbook with lots of vintage-style goodies. THANKS JENNIFER!

the carrots have already settled into their new home comfortably. Yay for the vintage swap!

re-boot me please.

I'm having a difficult time being motivated to 'start' this week. I did actually accomplish some things, like made a loaf of bread yesterday, with some dough for later still in the fridge. This recipe is so simple & really the perfect answer to what I'm going to do with 50 lbs of flour I have from our local mill.

I also canned some salsa last night using this recipe I followed last year. We only had enough for 6 jars due to the small tomato crop, but they're still coming in, so we're hoping to make some sauce as that was a much loved treat all through last year.

But, usually I'm more motivated & I'm just not feeling it...any suggestions? Perhaps we partied too hard over the weekend.