Hiraeth

I wouldn't recommend it

2008-07-04T17:09:31Z

Cooking tip for the day: I wouldn't recommend grating chocolate over a styrofoam plate.

It seemed OK at first, but as soon as I reached for the plate, the grated chocolate took wings and flew all over the counter and the stovetop. (and the floor, and the toaster, and the dog who was waiting for me to drop something. . .)

Static electricity is not your friend when grating chocolate.

I'm just saying. . .

Will Rent for a Song

2008-07-04T13:52:09Z

Oh, I am so delighted! This morning, I discovered that a pair of wrens are building in our wren house, which has been totally unoccupied since moving here 5 years ago.

Why am I so excited? Well, it might be because, as you know if you read my blog, I love birds and had a great time watching a Mama Robin raise a brood of baby robins from egg to flight. Having a nesting pair of wrens in plain view of the window over my kitchen sink will be such a delight!

But it's more than that. Hearing the wren's call and seeing the Mama and Papa hopping around the house brought back a flood of wonderful memories.

When the boys were small, nearly every spring we would get a phone call from my mother-in-law, Carolyn, inviting us over for home made cookies and fresh squeezed lemonade. When we got there, she'd have lawn chairs set up in the driveway behind the house and a couple pairs of binoculars at the ready, because "the wrens are building!"

And so we sat. And listened. And watched. And enjoyed every minute of the day, treasuring up memories--for the boys, of wrens and cookies and lemonade--for me, of what it means to be a grandma.

With the birth of my own grandson three weeks ago, I have thought of those days so often, imagining what it will be like to share small joys with Elliott. How wonderful it is to me and what a delightful blessing from the Lord that, after five years of an empty wren house, a pair of wrens would choose to nest here now that I've got a grandson of my own who will someday sit in the driveway eating cookies and drinking lemonade and watching the birds.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

Dictionary Word of the Day: Dapple

2008-07-04T12:46:54Z

dapple \DAP-uhl\, noun:
1. A small contrasting spot or blotch.
2. A mottled appearance, especially of the coat of an animal (as a horse).
transitive verb:
1. To mark with patches of a color or shade; to spot.
intransitive verb:
1. To become dappled.
adjective:
1. Marked with contrasting patches or spots; dappled.

I've always liked this word; almost as much as mote.

I've been busy. . .

2008-07-04T00:48:25Z

Finished size 81/2 x 11

also available as a bookmark

Finished size 8 1/2 x 11

Close up of lettering

Finished size 8 1/2 x 11

Also available as a bookmark

More to come. . .

July Yardscape

2008-07-03T23:41:03Z

Look Who Came to Dinner

2008-07-02T01:34:50Z

Grandpa has still got the magic touch.

I Kid You Not

2008-07-01T23:15:52Z

Last night we watched Frasier for the first time since the doorbell incident. (We only watch our favorites and last night's was one of the best--the Crane Boys Mysteries; a classic) Only a few minutes into the episode, Ivy hopped down and made a dive for the desk. There wasn't even a doorbell this time; we think she must have recognized the voices. No amount of cajoling could get her to come back out into the living room.

I don't know if tonight's episode is a good one or not, but I'm just curious enough to tune in just to see what she does.

Pictures at 11:00.

Mashed Potato Salad

2008-07-01T17:45:19Z

I first heard of Mashed Potato Salad when we lived in Lancaster, PA, the heart of Amish Country. I never had occasion to try it. However, a week or so ago I had a bunch of leftover mashed potatoes and I remembered this odd dish and did a Google search for a recipe. They all seemed to treat the mashed potato salad like 'regular' potato salad--adding hard boiled eggs and pickles--and I wanted something different, so I decided to see what I could come up with.

Confetti Bacon Ranch Mashed Potato Salad

Start with cold leftover mashed potatoes

Add:

Finely diced red and green peppers, celery, red onion, carrot, and bacon bits (or crumbled bacon)

Stir together and dress:

Dressing will be 1 part mayo or sour cream to 2 parts ranch dressing

Amounts of add-in ingredients will vary depending on how many mashed potatoes you start with. If you try this, let me know how you like it.

Today is Monday, today is Monday

2008-06-30T12:22:04Z

Monday wash day

Everybody happy? Well, I should say!

That's a song we used to sing at church camp. Maybe you sang it, too.

Ivy is not happy this morning. Nobody reminded her that it was Monday before she settled into our cozy, unmade bed. She absolutely refused to move when I started stripping the sheets from the bed.

I reminded her that if she didn't get off, I'd roll her up in the sheets so she could visit Mr. Kenmore.

She was not impressed.

Chew on This: Psalm 4

2008-06-30T00:05:05Z

Psalm 4
Answer me when I call,
O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds,
and be silent.
Selah

Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Oh, this Psalm takes me back about 20 years, when Jake was a preschooler. He used to be afraid at bedtime and always needed an extra hug and a night light. Many was the night that I would sit on the edge of his bed in the semi-darkness just sitting there with him, talking to him about this thing and that; praying with him. Those were the days of one more drink, one more hug, one more question, one more story.

I told my sister, Kathy, about Jake's night fears and she gave us a little piece of paper (might have been a sticker) with a cheerful little blue bird and the words of Psalm 4:8. This became Jake's comfort in the night. We taped it to his headboard and it was always there, reminding him that God was always there, giving Jake relief when he was in distress.

Did David have any idea that the psalm he had penned would give comfort and peace to a little boy so many centuries later? No, but God did.

I remember your name in the night, O Lord Psalm 119:55

You can find more meditations on Psalm 4 at Light Came.