My inspiration for this record of my days:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” -Anna Quindlen

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Happy Housewife

If you would have told me, 15 years ago, that one day in the future I would be collecting eggs, making butter and homemade pies, I would have laughed really hard.

Jeff probably would have been laughing harder!

But today that is just what I did.

Several weeks ago, when things were feeling a bit less hectic, I ordered strawberries for making jam.  Unfortunately, some storm or something delayed the order until TODAY of all days!

Today was my turn to cook dinner group.  I had planned a chef salad with rolls.  I happened to drive by a roadside stand selling sweet corn this morning, so I added that to our menu.

Plus… Friday is Lindsey’s wedding, and I volunteered my backyard for the after-the-temple dinner.  Turns out there will be 135 people at my house in 2 days!  I have some getting ready to do.

So of course the strawberries would choose today to show up and demand to be dealt with.

I had 3 flats of strawberries sitting on the counter pressuring me to hurry as I chopped veggies, boiled eggs and waited for the rolls to rise.

Enter Caleb and his friend Robin, who roam the neighborhood together looking for adventure.  They saw the strawberries sitting there, and after eating several, asked if I would help them make a strawberry pie.

Well how many times in your life does your son, who is all about spying and exploring, ask if you will help him make a pie???  Of course I will help them!

We started in on the pie crust, which called for butter and buttermilk, neither of which I had handy.  BUT, I did have a big jar of cream in my fridge.  We decided to just make some butter, and then we could use the buttermilk, too.

Long story short… I had Caleb and Robin, plus Josh and Savannah in the kitchen with me all afternoon.  Making strawberry glaze, making butter, rolling out pie crust, shucking corn, peeling the hard boiled eggs, etc. etc.  We all just worked together and enjoyed it.

It ended up being a really great afternoon.  I felt like someone should be taking a video of this happy family (and friend) in the kitchen, working together and bonding!  I wish I had thought to take a picture earlier.

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And here is what I have waiting for me tomorrow:

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4 comments:

  1. BethJune 10, 2010 at 9:24 AM

    I just had a taste of that strawberry pie...YUMMY!!! Happy Housewife indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JeffJune 10, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    It does make me laugh. That pie was a long ways from quesadillas :) You are an awesome wife and mother. I'm so happy we got you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. LeahJune 10, 2010 at 2:19 PM

    What a wonderful day! Love all the pics...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cara @ Gardenview CottageJune 10, 2010 at 8:08 PM

    That is just awesome! I always new you would have a farm with chickens, and orchard and a gaggle of kids! Be proud sister - be proud!!!!
    PS do you need help tomorrow for the lunch/dinner?

    ReplyDelete

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