Grandmother Wren

We went on a nature walk yesterday afternoon, looking for signs of spring. And we found them!

There are tiny green sprigs at the base of the lavender

Some sort of bulb sending up shoots. I didn’t plant these, so I can only guess at what they’ll be. Probably crocus – it seems early for anything else.

Maya found a bird’s nest from last year

The Very Best thing?  Our first visit to the Climbing Tree since winter began.

Looks like we’ll make it after all!

Today’s post on Grandmother’s patternbook – knit one piece baby sweater

Today’s post on Thrifty Creativity – Use up that leftover yarn! – Wednesday – leftover slippers

There seems to be so many children with nut allergies these days – add to that the current problems with peanuts and peanut butter and it’s enough to make you pause before using nuts in your baking.

Here’s a solution -
Brown some raw oatmeal in a bit of butter or margerine and use the crunchy flakes as a substitute for chopped nuts in candy or cookie recipes.

read other tips from other Tuesday Tip Jars – Click Here

Today’s post in Grandmother’s patternbook – knit a bolster pillow

Today’s post in Thrifty Creativity – Use up that leftover yarn! Tuesday – the Leftover Poncho

Outside my window… squirrels running everywhere – chasing each other up and down the tree trunks, racing across the yard. The young man from maintenance was out front early this morning scattering rock salt in the parking lot, but there was no snow to shovel – I am Very Happy about that!

I am thinking… how very nice it is to have Maya back with me this morning.

I am thankful for… Rachel returning to work, Maya returning to spend her day with Grampy and Grammy, the safe delivery of my brother’s first grandchild, little Caden. I’ll be going to see him later this week. There will be pictures!

From the learning rooms… we will be easing back into our preschool routine. We’ll begin today to do workbook pages. I haven’t picked a theme for this week – I’m thinking maybe Jan Brett’s The Trouble with Trolls, but that will depend on whether or not Maya thinks trolls are fun or worrisome…

From the kitchen… The question came first thing this morning – “is this fish stick day?” Technically, no, it’s not. We have fish sticks on Friday. But today is “I’m back at Grammy’s house” day, so I’d say that’s a good reason for fish sticks.
There is also a huge pot of vegetable broth in the refrigerator, enough to last me for the week. I read an article that said many people with “connective tissue disorders” (a lovely phrase, new this week, but really just another name for the same old-same old that I already knew about)-
anyway, people with connective tissue disorders may be low in magnesium. The author of the article raved about the value of vegetable broth. Okay… well, I love soup, crave soup in fact, and it certainly can’t hurt. Everyone can benefit from more vegetables, so vegetable broth it is! ( I suggest that the prescribed meds are also a Very Good Idea… )

I am wearing… a denim skirt, cranberry turtleneck, thick sweater and (gasp) no bra. A regression to my flower child – hippie days? Nah…chest x-ray later this morning. Let’s keep it simple….

I am creating… a troll wardrobe. Troll clothes seem to be selling well on ebay at the moment. Go figure.

I am going… to be very busy this week.

I am reading… and sorting through boxes of craft patterns and magazines – a bounty from my Mom who is sorting through her collection.

I am hoping… that this round of tests doesn’t end up being another “thing”. You know – a “thing” – where “they” pick you up and plunk you down in the center of some sort of medical merry(not so merry)-go-round and start the spin. I have so many other things I want to focus on.

I am hearing… the woosh of the dishwasher, Maya piling her pennies in careful stacks on the coffee table while finishing up her morning hour of TV

Around the house… busy, happy, hectic Monday morning. I’m loving it.

One of my favorite things… was the narcissus that blossomed last week. Until I started wheezing and getting hives on my neck. Maybe the new meds aren’t so good? Nope – it’s not the meds – turns out that I should not have a huge pot of narcissus directly behind my chair. Someone left a comment last week about loving the flowers, but finding the scent too strong for in the house. Um…yeah…I guess so!

A few plans for the rest of the week: I’m going to see the new baby. A brand new little boy.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

first morning back at Grammy’s – for breakfast I’ll have… a cereal bar. And alphabits. And toast. And yogurt like Grammy. And oatmeal because Grampy’s oatmeal looks good. And toast like Grampy too. And orange juice.
Fine for today, my dear one, but tomorrow…
pick a breakfast, any breakfast.
One Breakfast.
(Grammy loves you)

Visit the Daybooks of other Simple Women – Click Here

Today’s Post on Grandmother’s Patternbook – knit sofa pillow patterns

Today’s Post on Thrifty Creativity – crochet a rug from leftover yarn

Maya loves (Loves!) baked apples. She likes them even better if I cook them, then put them in the freezer for a half hour or so, until they’re “cold, cold, really, really cold – please, Grammy!”
Go figure…

Here’s the slow cooker recipe I’ve found that turns out apples to please our Little Miss

You’ll need:

6 to 8 medium cooking apples
2 or 3 tablespoons raisins
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter or margerine
1/2 cup of apple juice

Core the apples and peel away the top 1/2 inch or so of apple peel.
Mix the raisins, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a small bowl;
fill the apples with this mixture.
Place the apples in the slow cooker, dot with the butter or margerine and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon.
Pour 1/2 cup apple juice around apples.
Cover and cook on LOW for about 6 hours, until apples are tender.

We like them warm with a bit of vanilla ice cream -
but who’s to say? Maybe you’ll find Maya’s “cold, very cold” freezer method worth a try…

Find more great Slow Cooking Thursday Recipes – click here

Today’s Post on Thrifty Creativity – the Thursday Thirteen – your desk, at work/at home – it’s the little things

Today’s Post on Grandmother’s Patternbook – neat and feminine! A knit sweater pattern, vintage 1942