Rosemerry Christmas

Several years ago Mat and I stumbled upon this simple and delicious holiday cocktail.  By request, the recipe is below.  

 

 Rosemerry Christmas 

 Boil 1 cup of water

add 1 cup of sugar and

2 sprigs of fresh Rosemary

simmer until the sugar dissolves

let the syrup cool then remove the Rosemary

In a glass (old-fashioned is a good size)

add ice

pour 1 shot of Vodka 

2 drops of Orange extract

1-2 Tablespoons of syrup

top with Seltzer or Club Soda (aka Bubble Water)

adjust any element to your preference

and enjoy!!

ONE

One little cupcake for a sweet little girl!

 Who wanted to touch the candle more than blow it out...

...what is this?

More fun to play with than eat!

...and then icing on the camera lens.

After a bath she proved that the box is still more fun than the actual toy.

TEN

Ten

Can  you believe it?

Time flies.. and attends 4th grade, and wears size 7 shoes!

(and is still my baby)

Swing Set Cardigan

Happy to report I have finished a project!

This is the Swing Set Cardigan

Pattern by Linda Permann from the book "Little Crochet:  Modern Designs for Babies and Toddlers"

Made in Bernat Softee Baby yarn, Grey Marl

Buttons are from Quinn's Great Grandma's collection.

They grow so fast...

 I read this over at Heather Bailey's blog and was very touched by it and just had to share.  Whether you have 1 child or 10, this is a great poem! 

Song for a Fifth Child 

By Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep. 

Delicious

I made this in the slow-cooker today.  It turned out delicious!

I used 1T of liquid smoke vs 1/4 c and about 1/4 c of water.  

Recipe here.

 For coleslaw I make my dressing different each time.  Usually about 1/4 c mayo + maybe a T of white vinegar...then a pinch of salt, a bit of sugar and this time - dill, caraway seed, and celery salt.  I taste and adjust accordingly.  This dressing was tossed with some green cabbage, red bell pepper and a green onion.

We haven't had much "summer" this week.  Our highs are in the mid 80's, and down to the mid 50's at night.  I like this - good sleeping weather.  

Despite that, the kids have enjoyed some watermelon - the Costco watermelons have not disappointed this year!

Banished to the stoop - Quinn will get hers next year.

I think of my dad every time I cut the ends off of the watermelon...now my boys fight for the "bowls"! 

Quinn Harper

What Quinn has been up to for the past 7 Months...

What a wonderful time it has been so far.  She is such a joy to have as part of our family!