Creating Warmth

The stay inside, snugglely  days of winter always feel even better to me with a cup of hot cocoa, giant marshmallows, and some sort of yarn and hook to make a bit of warmth with.

Almost like that’s what winter expects of us…

what winter is actually for.

I’m finding that it’s not just me either. The girls are starting to feel more comfortable with the yarn and–surprisingly–not hooks, but needles. My they are brave. Teaching themselves to knit from books or blogs and then just…you know, knitting. Knitting little sweaters, and scarves and hats for their own little loves.

Personally, I’m amazed at how one keeps the yarn on that pointy stick when there’s no…hook…at the end. 

But then, Mamas do find a way–don’t they?

Hooks or needles, sweaters, scarves, hats or headbands—it isn’t only the thing that’s being crafted that feels so good and right. It’s coming together–and doing that womanly thing, the gathering to talk and laugh and sip and nibble all the while creating warmth for the baby birds we love.

In my heart, I’m certain…

that’s what winter is for.

Two Years of Two

 

 

Seriously? Is this where we are?

Could our sweet babies honestly be turning two?

Truly? Madly? Deeply?

It’s hard to believe…

that we’ve had all this sunshine…

for two years straight.

And yet, somehow…

it must be true.

Whether or not I’m ready for it…

the babies are not such babies these days.

The only thing growing faster than these little dew drops…

is our love…

for them.

The Preparedness Tab

72 kit

Now I know that the topic of preparedness is not exactly the most interesting and certainly not the most fun topic on earth–but…I feel compelled.

Did you know that this week–our lovely state of Utah has experienced 2 earthquakes–right here in Utah county? One on Sunday night and the next on Monday night. Yeah. Who knew?

In an article on the Ready.gov site, it says:

“You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer.”

With this in mind—the Preparedness tab is the newest addition to our site and feels very important right now. I have big plans for this place–not because I think I know something–but more because there are some great links that we can tap into and share with each other. The info is all around us–we just need to gather and then act. I’ll add more each week or so.

In the meantime, checkout:

Ready.gov

to see what you can do to be more “emergency prepared.”

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Happy Birthday Beckham!

Happy Birthday Lily!

Say Cheese!

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Something very peculiar is going on these days.

Whenever we hold up the camera, and say, “Smile!” this is what we get.

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Or this.

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What the…?

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Awww…come on.

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I think these babies are on to us and our blogging ways.

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It’s getting so that…

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to get a really great smile from either of them…

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somebody’s got to stand on their head!

Ah, well–as long as it isn’t me….

Buttermilk Doughnuts

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It’s just not a particularly fair planet–is it?

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I mean, come on.

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Haven’t I been doing really well…

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resisting every snack…

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every treat…

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every goodie, for weeks now?

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All for the sake…

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of the dreaded scale?

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Doing quite well, too–thank you very much.

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And then, my talented kids…

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take an otherwise innocent afternoon…

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and pull this.

Chanting, chanting, chanting…

“Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.”

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No.

But I bet it’s dang close.

Sheesh.

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Buttermilk Doughnuts

Ingredients

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5-1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups buttermilk
Oil for deep-fat frying
Additional sugar, cinnamon-sugar or confectioners’ sugar, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light and lemon-colored. Add butter and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; add to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. doughnut cutter.
In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, for 1 minute on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Roll in additional sugar if desired. Yield: 4 dozen.

(Recipe from Taste of Home Magazine)

Buttermilk Doughnuts
 
Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5-1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • Oil for deep-fat frying
  • Additional sugar, cinnamon-sugar or confectioners' sugar, optional
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light and lemon-colored.
  2. Add butter and vanilla; mix well.
  3. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; add to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ½-in. thickness.
  6. Cut with a floured 3-in. doughnut cutter.
  7. In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°.
  8. Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, for 1 minute on each side or until golden.
  9. Drain on paper towels.
  10. Roll in additional sugar if desired.