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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Spring Holyday Weekend

Every year around this time we celebrate our spring holydays. This year was extra special because my brother and sister-in-law from Florida just had a baby a couple of months ago. They decided to make a trip out here to see us and let us meet the new addition to our family. So of course, my other brother who lives nearer to us, came to see us all as well. So we had a big family bash of a weekend surrounding the beginning of our spring holyday season.

Night To Be Much Observed:
This is a special dinner where we make a large, very special meal.


The tablescape.


Mom, John and I working in the kitchen.


Jake and Nick getting the lamb and salmon ready.

 
 Pops keeping the kids happy!


Gram and her boys.


New family! Jake, Kelly and Lorelei.


John and Andrea.


Ryder, Nick and me.


Yum Yum! Time to eat!


Our menu consisted of:
Roast with wine sauce
Lamb with pesto
Asparagus with fresh squeezed lemon juice
Greek salad
Cottage cheese rolls
Stuffed mushrooms


Mom and Kelly working on dessert.


Kahlua mudslide trifles. So good!


Of course, when we see Andrea we always take advantage of her amazing haircutting talents. She gave my hair a trim then cut Ryder's nice and short.


Pops hangin' with the girls.


The kids did really well playing together. They're really starting to get along and act like cousins.


The kids eating their breakfast together.


Nick and Ryder.


Gram was putting on her makeup when Selene came over and decided to try it out herself.



Aren't they a beautiful family?

The Flynn Clan
Family photo fantasy...


Family photo reality.
That's what happens when you have four kids under the age of three.

We had an absolutely fabulous extended weekend, and we can't wait to see everyone again for the Feast in the fall.


Berry Good Sauce

I love to make a fresh fruit sauce to go along with pancakes or waffles in the morning. This is a simple and delicious recipe that works for almost any fruit (any fruit you would make a sauce out of) and makes it thick and tasty. It's a recipe from a piece of paper my mom had with several blueberry recipes on it.

 
I cleaned out my fridge a couple of weeks ago, and accidentally bumped the temperature control for my fruit drawer. I had over 2 pounds of strawberries in there that got frozen solid. So instead of throwing them out or trying to eat mushy berries, I made a batch of sauce. Came out beautifully.


Fresh Fruit Sauce

1/3 c. white sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
pinch of salt
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp water
2 c. fresh fruit, chopped



In a medium saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt until well combined.


Add lemon juice and water and mix thoroughly.


Add fruit and stir gently. Cook on high for about 2 minutes or until sauce has thickened and liquid becomes clear. Remove from heat.


Best. Sauce. Ever.

If you want to can it, process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.




Tuesday, March 5, 2013

New Life To An Old Chair

Last year we salvaged a wicker loveseat from my great grandmother's old house. It was in relatively decent shape, apart from the color and the smell and the wicker that was coming unwound. Oh and the seat was sinking in. But I knew it could be brought back to life with a coat of paint and a nice cushion. I bought the cushion and then the paint, and then it just sat there. For a year. This big white eyesore on our porch, which is already sporting the unfinished look.

Then last Sunday came. It was a beautiful day, so warm and inspiring. Nick was around, and one of us suggested that we should get that chair painted. So after repairing what I could with the wicker using zip ties, Nick reinforced the seat and got the paint rig set up. We got busy painting. It turned out sooo good!

Unfortunately, I was so sidetracked with setting up that I forgot to take my before picture. I had the camera out and everything. And sadly, we never took a picture with anyone sitting on it. So this is the best I've got so you'll have an idea of the coloring before.



Beautiful! And it's so comfortable now that the seat is fixed and the cushion is new. We can't wait to build our big deck and truly enjoy it!


Friday, March 1, 2013

Daffodil Walk

There's a garden in the area that is solid daffodils. This is the perfect time of year to visit because the daffodils are in full bloom.


Daddy and Ryder crossing the bridge to the flowers.


Ryder following Uncle Jeff.


The flowers were beautiful.


Family picture time!


4 months along!

I think I've felt the baby move here recently. That's a month sooner than last time, but everything seems to be happening a month sooner this time. Let's just hope the baby doesn't decide to come a month earlier, I want him/her to be fully cooked. Although Ryder was 8lbs 5 oz and born a few days early, so maybe I don't want this one to last as long because I don't want him/her to be any bigger than Ryder was! We'll just wait and see.