Jennifer's Nest

Simple Summer Dinner

mrsbbking — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:43:14 +0000

Two round steaks, cut up into chunks and marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic and sugar. Put onto kabobs and grilled by Hubby with assistance from six-year-old Sam.
Farmer’s Market zucchini, sliced (by 9 year old Alex), seasoned with butter and salt and pepper, wrapped in foil and cooked on the grill.
Served with simple brown rice on the side.
And not so simple but terrible yummy brownies for dessert to celebrate Sunday.
Oh, Joy! Summer.

The Big Blue Bowl

mrsbbking — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:11:47 +0000

Hubby says he’s learned to look in the big blue bowl when he’s packing his lunch. He’s learned that there are often good things in there. This was his find today:

I expect that since the boys know what’s in the big blue bowl tomorrow’s contents will be different.

Father’s Day

mrsbbking — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:53:00 +0000

I guess I was slacking because my dad called me today. They were on their way out so he wanted to be sure he caught me. We had a nice talk. And I told him I loved him and I was glad he was my dad. And he said he couldn’t be prouder of me or my husband or my kids or my family as a whole. We far exceeded expectations.

I thought I was supposed to say nice things about him on Father’s Day. On the other hand, there’s probably nothing better a Dad can get from his kid than their success.

Summer Blogging

mrsbbking — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:27:52 +0000

Let’s try this again, shall we? I have been neglecting the blog because homeschooling and puppyraising is a lot to do. We are done with formal school for the summer so I think I’m going to try for a bit of blogging again.

We finished classes last Tuesday and went on a day of field trips on Wednesday. Thursday my Mother in law arrived for a long weekend visit. Friday we went strawberry picking. That resulted in 5 quart bags of strawberries in the freezer, three batches of strawberry jam and two strawberry pies (one Saturday and one today) and lots cut up to eat.

Also produced in the kitchen today were two loaves of Tonia’s Honey Whole Wheat Bread.

If you’re moving from white bread to wheat this is a good in-between bread. And it’s a pretty easy loaf to make.

One last thing to come from the kitchen this evening-homeade pizza. (That’s the dough rising behind the wheat bread). It’s nice to have some energy to cook!

Spring Break

mrsbbking — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:37:44 +0000

Over Christmas week, we took a break. In February, we took another week off for Winter Break. We just needed one. Next week, we are taking Spring Break. We only have 6 more weeks of school to finish after that, and we could use some time to enjoy the nice weather. We’re going to the park. We’ll paint. We’ll have picnics. We’ll read outside. We’ll plant our vegetable garden and our new butterfly garden. I’m looking forward to it. I will just to have to make myself rest and not just use the whole week to make headway on the never-shrinking to-do list.

Spring!!

mrsbbking — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:30:52 +0000

Everyone seems to be complaining about spring’s delayed arrival. Maybe it’s because we’ve had so many rainy, gray days. This weekend, though, Miss Spring arrived in all her glory sending every plant in my garden into a panicked growth spurt. Brian and I took the time to clean all of the flower beds of last year’s detritus and lay a beautiful layer of cypress mulch. It all looks clean and fresh. We still have much work to do in the yard (replanting grass from grub damage, staking a peach tree, planting the vegie garden and so on), but we got a large chunk of work done this weekend and it feels so good.

Now, if I only had time to tackle the spring cleaning of the inside of my house. At least it’s getting a good airing.

These are my tiny irises that bloom around the same time as crocuses. They are one of my favorite flowers.

A Growing Family

mrsbbking — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:31:04 +0000

Remember Chocolate, Sam’s guinea pig? We got her in January. She was little at the time, but recently I had noticed how much plumper she had gotten. Turns out it was more than baby fat. Chocolate is now Momma Chocolate to two babies who have (at least for the moment) been named Vanilla and Mint. They just were there in her cage this morning after breakfast. And Chocolate, by the way, is a lot skinnier.This kids are thrilled. It’s kind of fun. We’ll figure out what to do with the unexpected arrivals after they’re older. Here they are: They really are only a day old. GPs are born furry with eyes and ears open and teeth. They do nurse from mom, but they have already been sampling the hay and carrots.

An Addition to the Family

mrsbbking — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:50:07 +0000

I am pleased to introduce you to “Chocolate”

She’s a baby guinea pig that belongs to our son Sam who is nearing his fifth birthday. Our tradition has been that as a fifth birthday present our children get their first pet of their own. Brian’s sister recommended guinea pigs, and it was good advice.

Sam’s birthday is a few weeks away, but we found this sweet little girl and so we brought her home early. He loves her. He is so very happy and excited which is good as he’s been a little sad and grumpy lately with the attention that older brother gets in school (and lots of other places.) Alex still has Brown–White and we still have dogs, Louie and Britta, so we are currently even on the people/animal ratio. We’re planning getting a second Canine Companion in the next couple of months. If so, we will be outnumbered by the animals. I’m wondering if I should be concerned about that.

Sam was particularly funny about her this morning. He urgently wanted me to call our house-sitter so that she could come meet “Chocolate” so she’s familiar with her. We don’t have any need of her services anytime soon, but Sam wanted to be proactive!

January Comes

mrsbbking — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:11:48 +0000

I like January. January is a month of new beginnings, fresh starts, clean slates. Something about clearing away all the Christmas clutter offers a chance to look anew at my house and get ideas for how to make things warmer, cozier, homier. (The mantel needs new blue taper candles in the sconces and something green…so I have started ivy cuttings to plant.)

It’s time to relax after the Christmas hullabaloo. I have had time nightly to stitch while sitting on the couch, surrounded by dogs, near to my husband. It feels like a luxury after a month of a mindful of to-dos. Our calendar is fresh and uncluttered allowing us time to spend a whole day with friends. A chance to make a double batch of bread to share. A chance to take the home-grown frozen raspberries and turn them into a precious single-batch of jam. My heart finds such joy in simple things.

Simple things…like eggs. Farm fresh from our friends chickens. They are a small breed and therefore lay smallish eggs, but they are little and clean and delicious. Perfect.

Simple things like spending the night on the floor of my son’s room. No snuggling. No chitchat. Just the simplicity of being near each other.

Simple things like a comforting meal, a few minutes talking with friends, making a dog’s tail wag with a treat and a scratch and kind word.

Simple things…that I choose to fill my January with. Simple things that make my heart burst and sing to Him who made all things.

mrsbbking — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:52:22 +0000

Every New Year’s Eve Brian and I discuss our goals for the coming year. We plan everything from home improvement projects to vacations to what projects I want to sew or what things we want to be involved in. Last year’s list was long and there were many things that we didn’t get to, but that’s okay. There were many we did. And of course we plan these things having no idea what Life will throw at us.

Last night I was pondering what I might put on 2008′s list, and I started thinking about 2007 and what that brought. What am I proud of about 2007? What do I wish we had done differently? I am going to use those as a jumping off point to write my 2008 list.

Here are some of those things:
* We survived. We came through the loss of Carla and some other family troubles with grace and strength. If nothing else we are not bitter because of those things. Grieving, yes. Bitter, no. And ever grateful for what we had and still have.
* We persevered through losses and hard work. Through homeschooling (which was very difficult).
* We continue to strengthen our family and our marriage. Constantly talking through problems and concerns. Always trying to do better.
* We travelled, and it was wonderful. Such great memories.
* We are starting to look beyond this year and starting to plan for longer term goals.

Things I want to do differently:
* I want to think about the things we put on our calendar and not just put things on because of obligation. Even those things should be deliberately thought out. And I will not feel guilty when I do not do everything everyone else wants me to.
* I want to relax more with my kids, with my schedules and with making everything perfect.
* I want to carve out time and regularly read my Bible, pray and make time for creativity.
* I want to be more content with what I have. I am not the kind of person who wants every new thing…far from it. But I still find myself obsessed with getting things that have gotten into my mind. I want to let go and be content with what I already have.

I think 2008 is going to be another good year. I hope and pray so.