The Kitchen Madonna

   My birthday and Mother's Day are always very close to one another. (Sometimes even on the same day!)  I had a wonderful Mother's Day Sunday. Tony and the kids made a great breakfast of french toast and coffee.  Then we were off to our home parish for May Crowning and Masss.  Later that day the children had their Easter choir concert and festival at St. Augustine's.  (Check out Bridget's blog for pictures.  You have to take a look the pics of Lydia - very very sweet!)   We arrived home late and tuckered out!  The next day was my birthday. My husband is the best gift giver I have ever known.  He always chooses very thoughtful and personal gifts.  This year I woke to find a beautiful statue of The Kitchen Madonna gracing my place at the table. 

"Mary was not only Jesus' Mother, but also a housewife. Her utensils are earthly and heavenly symbols. The key represents the safety in the house and also the way into heaven. The kettle symbolizes nourishment for body and soul. The broom represents cleanliness in the home and in thoughts and deeds."

 

May Daybook

Today, Tuesday May 10, 2011

Outside My Window… Spring!  Beautiful, colorful, muddy...bikes being repaired, flower beds being cleaned out and in bloom!!  It's lovely.  


I am thankful… for two working clothes dryers!  No more waiting around for clothes to dry - we get twice as much done in half the time.(?) math is a strong point of mine...
 

From the kitchen... I just got of the phone with a local farmer - our steer goes to slaughter on Friday.  Next week we will fill our second freezer with fresh beef.  The other freezer still holds plenty of pork,  venison, and two wild turkeys. 

From the garden... Nothing just yet,  but many plans in the works. We are not living there just yet,  but we are very blessed to know the current owners.  They are being very generous and letting us get started.   Next week the children and I will be cleaning out the garden bed and giving the ground a good work over.  My goal is a no-till garden,  but this year a good tilling will be necessary.   We will put out some greens next week also.  I am so excited to put some fresh organic greens on the table soon! 


I am wearing...We spent the morning painting fences at the new property.  I am very much a skirt kinda gal,  but between the painting and the wind,  I opted for capris and a quarter length tee.  It is so nice not to worry about socks or tights!

I am creating…lists, plans, and designs.  Lists of things to be done before and during the move.  Plans for the garden,  and designs for setting up an efficient household.  Ana White - Homemaker  is inspiring and motivating my imagination right now. 
 
I am reading… I have been picking up and reading The Catechism of The Catholic Church  in bits and pieces lately. (Yep, the big green book!)  Just picking up and reading whatever page I happen to turn to.  It's like sitting down and chatting with a (very!) wise old friend.  So comfortable and so right. 

I am hearing…Errr... the radio in the kitchen is on the local country station...if the children were in the house,  I'd probably rush to turn it off.  Something about tequila and losing items of clothing...
 
One of my favorite things…I get a huge kick out of how eager a little one can be about losing a tooth...until they see a little bit of blood!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…Tomorrow we will finish painting the fence.  We have girls group meetings,  fencing practice,  a birthday on Friday.  Have I mentioned that the older children are already done with school for the year?  Math will continue for a while yet,  but I highly doubt any writing will be going on...

Here is picture thought I am sharing…  The cutest baby EVER!

                                                

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Easter Week

{pretty}

Celia's Smile!

{happy}

A happy little girl splashing in the mud!

{funny}

I asked him to smile!

{real}

My goofy brood at Easter dinner

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Tuesday Tips for the Homestead!

This week I have another kitchen tip.   I learned this from Storey's Basic Country Skills. When you drop an egg (or your child, or your husband, or you trip over the cat and the egg(s) lands on the floor, under the kitchen table when your nine months pregnant and everyone else in the house is still sound asleep...)  sprinkle it liberally with salt,  wait a few minutes and sweep it all up with  your whisk broom.  Works like a charm.  Thank you Martha Storey. 

Beautiful Celia!

A Simple Mama Daybook - Easter Monday!

Outside my window... Rain rain go away come again in mid July when everything is thristy!

I am thinking… About packing - again.  We packed up a big part of our household over a year ago when we planned on renting a house - the same house we are buying now.  Everything was in boxes for months after plans changed and we continued our search for our house and farm.   I was nesting while pregnant with Celia,  I unpacked and made our house look like a home again instead of a college dorm.    We will close on the house sometime in the next few weeks (banks underestimate the patience of a woman in limbo!)  and I believe we will be moving in about seven weeks.  So,  here I go packing - again.  The children finish up their year at the HEP the first week of May.  That will be the perfect time to pack up the school room and this years books.

From the kitchen… I milled flour and made four loaves of bread this morning.  For dinner I prepared two quiches from the leftover Easter ham and asparagus.  There has been lots of nibbling on chocolate today  - as we continue to celebrate the Glorious Rising of Our Lord!  I love that Easter is not a day - rather a season! Alleluia!

I am wearing… I am totally disregarding the cold rain by wearing a springy blue floral skirt,  white t-shirt with blue smocking,  and bare feet!

I am creating…  Abby ended up making a sweater for Molly that looked beautiful with her Easter dress. I just had too much on my plate to make the swing sweaters for Celia and Greta.  I would love to get the sewing machine out and make some pillow case dresses for them for the summer.  My mom gave me the most beautiful vintage pillow cases that beg to grace a sweet little girl on a hot summer day.

I am reading… A lot of gardening blogs and books.  Though we are only moving a tad further north,  I want to make sure I plan the right things in the right spots.  I plan on starting out small this year,  especially since our move will be late in the spring and we will have tons of other things to tend to,  but I am crazy excited to put lots of tomatoes and peppers out so we can  put up salsa and sauces late in the summer. 

I am hearing…The baby nursing.  It amazes me what a loud eater she is. A seriously rowdy Euchre game, and the radio from the kitchen.  We turned off all 'noise' during Holy Week.  It is kind of nice to hear some music again while I cook/clean.  Right now,  Brad Paisley is singing about his love of water. 

One of my favorite things... The the little *gasp* from the young children when we walk into the church on Easter morning.   They look in awe at the uncovered statues,  the white and gold altar cloths,  the fragrant lilies, hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips all around,  and the lighted sanctuary candle that tells us that Jesus is back in the tabernacle again. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… The children are on spring break this week.  We need to play some serious catch up on laundry and math lessons.  I hope to squeeze in a trip to the park later this week.  If the rain keeps up we'll probably end up going to Cabelas for an outing.  On a side note,  I do plan on doing  Tuesday Tips tomorrow - please share some tips with me!


Here is picture thought I am sharing… Two pictures this week: (an odd pair for sure!)
The biggest Butler Garter snake I have ever seen:

And Celia's first bites of homemade sweet potatoes:

{this moment}

{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. 

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