Friday Farmgirls - Canning

I finally got around to doing some canning a couple weekends ago. I was going to post about it last Friday, but I came down with an upper respiratory cold. Avery got it as well, but he wasn't as bad as myself and seems to be over it already. I, on the other hand, am still feeling under the weather, but I do seem a bit improved.

Anyhow, while the hubby was off bagging his first deer of the season, I spent the day canning applesauce and salsa with my oldest granddaughter, Harmony. She turned five this summer and started kindergarten in the fall. Harmony has been sitting on the counter helping "Nana" cook since everyone else thought she was too little and that I was crazy for having her up there next to the stove.

Cooking has to be one of the best ways to spend time with children...in my humble opinion. It's a universal language. You don't have to say much if you don't want to, but you can have fun together nonetheless. Each year I have the grands over to make chocolate bark. No matter their skill level or experience in the kitchen there is a task they can master or be in charge of, and it makes them feel so special. (Pictures of this year's gathering will be shared in December.)

I always enjoy a connection with the past when I am cooking. My most prized possession in my kitchen is my Great Grandma Sheldon's pepper grinder. So, borrowing my Grandma Sheldon's old sieve from my mom for the applesauce made the experience all the more special. Here I was sharing the old art of food preservation with my granddaughter while using my grandmother's old kitchen tool. Awesome!

Oh, I almost forgot! We also roasted tomatoes. Harmony is pretty proud when she gets to use a real, bona-fide, sharp knife, and "Nana" let her bask in the lime light that day. If you have never tried roasting tomatoes you just have to. It is SUPER simple, and they taste so amazing. We've plucked ours right off the pan and eaten them like candy, put them on sandwiches, and added them to spaghetti sauce and salsa. There are so many uses for them, and you can just throw them in the freezer. Here's the recipe if you'd like to give them a try:

A bunch of tomatoes, any variety

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Kosher Salt

Fresh Cracked Pepper

a bunch of garlic cloves

Preheat oven to 325

Arrange cut tomatoes in a single layer, skins down, on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Mince garlic and sprinkle over tomatoes being careful to let most of it drop directly on the tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Place in oven and cook for 2 1/2-3 hours, depending on the size of your tomatoes. It usually takes about 3 for romas that are halved. If you quarter them they'll get done a little faster. Keep an eye on them after about 2 -2 1/2 hours. Take a peek through the window. The juices will have dried up, and some of the tomatoes will start to get dark around the edges.

*Each time I roasted tomatoes I used Roma tomatoes cut in half.

I hope you enjoy making these tomatoes and getting creative with ways to incorporate them in your cooking. They freeze well and keep for a couple weeks in the refrigerator. Maybe you'll even find a little helper to share in the fun and make some of your own memories.

He Has a Name, and Other News

I have discovered a few things since my last post. My first consultation with our lawyer was just over a week ago. It sounds like the process should be pretty simple. Fortunately, family adoptions are very relaxed in our county. It will run about $2000 for the legal services. We have some basic documentation to gather; birth certificates and the like. There will be paperwork to fill out. We will go before the judge as a family in a very informal setting; not the court house. The most anxiety provoking part will be the home visits from Department of Human Services. Although, I have been assured that they are very nice, ever as intrusive as they may be, by a very reliable source.

There have also been some developments with the pregnancy. The baby is for sure a boy. After some research and some encouragement to name the baby from our lawyer, we have decided on Avery Thomas. Avery means counselor, wise, sage, and Thomas is in honor of the first born son that my husband's parents lost while he was still a baby. This carries on my personal tradition of connecting the children to the family through their middle names.

That's the fun part. The other developments aren't as fun. A big concern is that her placenta is covering the cervix. This is very dangerous. There is a risk of hemorrhage that could cost either or both of their lives. Another ultrasound will be performed next week to see if the placenta has moved. If it has not, we will meet with a specialist to set a date for c-section. The reason for the precaution is so that she experience no labor. Just one contraction puts their lives at risk. The goal would be to deliver the baby before labor has a chance to start. An ultrasound would be performed right before going into surgery. If the placenta has moved even at that point the c-section would be canceled, and the pregnancy would be allowed to progress naturally to and through labor and delivery.

Also, she has RH-. If you are not familiar with this pregnancy twist, being RH- means that your blood cannot mix with the baby's blood until they find out the baby's blood type. If the baby is also negative, then there is nothing to worry about. However, if the baby has positive blood, and the mother's blood mixes with the baby's blood the mother will begin to form antibodies making her womb inhospitable to future babies. A shot is given at integral points throughout the pregnancy and again after delivery if necessary. There is no risk to mom or the baby. The steps are taken to protect future babies.

We are learning a lot with this pregnancy. Oh! Harmony, the oldest grand, and myself both felt the Avery move for the first time last week. It was SO exciting! I totally forgot how equally cool and weird that is. Harmony is really coming to understand the whole situation. She told my girlfriend the other day, "Auntie is having a baby for us!" She also signed up to be the babysitter. Happily, she doesn't even care that he's a boy, and not a girl!

I have purchased some things in anticipation of the wee one, but I have to say that I've not bought that much. Pat of it is that I really don't have anywhere to put it yet. Once our daughter moves out we will be able to better prepare the home for Avery's arrival. I am really trying to honor her wishes and respect her presence. Part of that is keeping the baby hoopla at a dull roar. She asked to not be included in the preparation process. I am doing my best to respect her wishes. I do have to say that I didn't realize how much went into preparing for a baby until I searched online for a checklist. Holy cow! Babies need a lot of stuff even when you are being conservative. Maybe we'll get lucky and have a baby shower. Who knows? I do know that we will not go without. So many people have offered to give us things that we will need. God always provides, so I know I can just relax and let things take their course. It truly is a beautiful process.

The First Time

Pat and I had the privilege of taking my niece to the Detroit Zoo for the first time. We took Jordan and Harmony, our granddaughter, this past Sunday. It was a lot of fun! We saw some animals that we haven't seen in previous trips, explored areas that were until then unexplored, and paid a small fortune to ride the train.

What is up with that anyway? Do you know it cost the four of us $12 to ride the train from the back of the zoo to the front of the zoo; a one-way trip behind the zoo with no real sites to see! It just blew my mind. When we used to take all seven of our kids it was a mere 50 cents. That was just a few years ago, really. At today's rates it would have cost us $27 for a quick ride from the back to the front of the zoo! How on earth could we have justified doing that? I guess three dollars is the new fifty-cents! Sad...

Anyway, despite my sticker shock at the cost of the train ride, we had a spectacular time. See for yourself:

Jordan and the Big Blue Dog!

Amphibiville is very interactive!

Everyone has to get their picture taken here!

She's trapped in a dino cage!

This feels great on a hot day!

The Arctic Zone is awesome!

The ice wall is C-O-L-D!

Harmony pushed Jordan for quite a while!

The prairie dogs are so cute!

These prairie dogs aren't too bad either!

Who knows what this is?

"I want to ride the zebra!"

The zebra.

Waiting for the train to leave.

The zoo was fun...

...for me too!

The train is loud!

Ahhh...

Harmony's 4th Birthday!

Well, the oldest grandbaby turned four this weekend. There was a big party to celebrate the occasion. She had many grandparents in attendance, and her cousins came in from out of state. This means that we actually had all six grandkids in the same place at the same time. Can you imagine?

It's amazing just how fast we forget about how quickly a baby grows. We saw the new twins, Jordan and Audrienna, when they were just about two weeks old. Now, they are five months old, and what a difference. They are too cute!

So, here's another photo journal for you:

The birthday girl is ready for her party!

New big brother, Rocco, with his twin siblings, Aurdrienna and Jordan.

Rocco playing in the water.

Dustin and Papa get everyone wet!

Do you think she's having fun?

Dustin got a good workout!

Kiley gets a drink from Great-Grandma.

Cousins are like sisters: Jordan and Harmony!

The little ones get their toes wet!

Kiley blowing bubbles with Great-Grandma!

She posed with EVERY present she opened!

Uncle Andrew and Jordan.

"Sisters", Jordan and Harmony pose by her cake.

All the twins!

All the grands: Harmony, Audrienna, Rocco, Jordan, Dustin, and Kiley!

Back to Meniere's Disease!

Well, I visited my ENT doctor for a follow-up after the MRI. He rechecked my ear by looking in it and re-doing the hearing test. Everything was the same, of course, and the MRI showed no tumors or nerve damage.

So, guess what he diagnosed it as? You got it, smart one! Meniere's Disease, just like I already knew. Of course, he prescribed diuretics and a low-salt diet. Well, I don't plan to get the prescription filled, and I already eat a low-salt diet. Oh well. At least I know for 100% certainty that I do not have tumors, and I do not have nerve damage. I have the $800 test to prove it, too!

Monday, I am going to follow up with my chiropractor and go over the MRI report with them. There are some things listed that I have questions about, so I'll see what they have to say on the subject. I also will be having the anointing done by the church elders very soon. Should it not be God's timing or will for my ear to be healed I am perfectly okay with that and ready to accept the fact that I cannot hear out of one ear.

However, as a responsible caregiver for my body I plan to pursue alternative care to reestablish wellness and harmony within my body. Obviously something is out of whack. Even if I do not regain my hearing, I can improve my overall health. I'll be sure to share what I learn through this process so that it may inform and educate those of you that may benefit from my experiences.

Times, They are a Changin'

Well, as I mentioned previously, I am caring for our oldest grandchild, Harmony, this week as her sitter is on vacation. It is quite an experience. I have been noticing how things are different for those growing up right now, and being with Harmony has really shined a light on that subject for me.

Where I seem to notice it most is the consumerism. Remember? She is only three years old. It catches me a little off guard when she asks to go to the store to buy something. I don't recall any of my children doing that at that age, and I know darned well I didn't do that at that age. She thought her little play earrings were broken, but I managed to fix them. Before that, though, she said, "Oh well. We go to the store and buy new ones." What?

The real big one that caught my attention was yesterday. She loves McDonald's. Well, this Nana does not go to McDonald's, ever. It is a moral choice that I will not get into here. I am not quite up for controversial subjects of that nature at this time; maybe at a later date. Anyway, she wanted to go there, and I reminded her that Nana doesn't go to McDonald's. Of course she was upset. I told her that I would make her something to eat. She said, "My don't want to eat here. My want to go out." Again, I say, "WHAT?" What three year old in times past ever even considered that going out to eat was an option?

We are such a fast paced society. Everything is on the fly. Our kids, and ourselves for that matter, have SO MANY options. It's no wonder we are all in debt. It's no wonder our children start out in debt. In light of this concept becoming more and more evident to me, I discovered a very interesting book. It is titled, Generation Debt: Why Now is a Terrible Time to be Young and is written by Anya Kamenetz. I am not finished with the book yet, but it is very well written. I would definitely recommend you read it. Anyone from 17 years old on could benefit, in my humble opinion.

Harmony's Chili Hot Soup

It's been a while since I last posted due to the "sometimes too busy" nature of my life. Harmony, my oldest grandchild, just turned three. We hosted her party at our house since her mom lives in an apartment. This way the kids got to play outside and have a BBQ. It was a lot of fun.

Currently, Harmony's babysitter is on vacation. She has been coming to my house in the meantime. So, we spent last Friday together, and she is here again today to spend the night. Harmony just loves soup. Of course, that is what she wanted for lunch. Today she made up her own recipe, and it was really good! So, I thought I would share it here:


Harmony's Chili Hot Soup


1 - 32 ounce box roasted red pepper and tomato soup

1 - 15 ounce can chili-hot beans

1 cup oyster crackers

Mix box soup and beans together in large sauce pan.

Heat through.

Serve with oyster crackers.

YUM!

Making Memories

About a week ago, Pat and I took two of our grandchildren, Harmony and Dustin, to the Detroit Zoo along with our youngest son, Adrian. What a great time we had! It was so much fun to see the kids get excited about the animals, the fountain, and the train.

Despite the fact that it was so hot that day it was pure joy for all of us to experience elements of nature that are rare and exciting. How often do we see a flamingo or a penguin? Harmony just loved the penguins. Although, it did take her a few minutes to warm up to the reptile house.

The highlight for Dustin was the train. Oh, how he loved the train! We had a great time sharing in his joy. Isn't it fun to watch the uninhibited enthusiasm of a child? He was so excited!

Our time was maximized due to the fact that we went prepared. We all had our hats, sunscreen, and plenty of snacks and water. We had everything that we needed to stay comfortable and healthy without having to spend a ton of money while we were there. Although, since our membership does give us a discount in the gift shops, we did get the little ones a memento from the day.

Despite the fact that they are two and almost three both of the young ones remember our day at the zoo. Harmony asks if we are going to see the animals every time she comes over now. Even Adrian, 14 years old, enjoyed the day and looks forward to going back. I am sure we will see many visits to the Detroit Zoo before our pass expires next year.