Monday, March 31, 2008

I was tagged a long..long time ago by momto4nmore.

I apologize for the delay but better late than never! So here it goes -

7 Random things about me -

1. I do not own a microwave.

2. I like washing dishes - which is a good thing because we don't own a dishwasher either.

3. I have an insane fear of onions - I like the flavor but cannot stand that creepy crunch they have - cooked or raw. There is just something wrong about a cooked food that can be both crunchy and slimy at the same time.

4. I occasional enjoy a dark, dark beer - if I can't see through it, I'll try it - I think my favorite right now is Beamish.

5. I would rather receive pounds of colored fleece or soft wool yarn over jewels any day.

6. I love the beach.

7. I am still madly in love with my husband - fourteen years later!

The Rules -
1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.

2. Post these rules on your blog.

3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself

4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.


I'm tagging Jill,
Anne
Rebecca
Donna Marie
Marianne
Kim
Arwen

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

For our family Easter begins with Hannah and Mama attending the Easter Vigil Mass - we both sing in the choir and it is always a joy to watch the new members being Baptized, Confirmed, and welcomed to partake in the Eucharist for the first time.

The next morning, there is a bustle to get Papa, Katie, and two rather reluctant boys out the door to attend the 8:00am Mass - but we did it.

While they were at the morning Mass, Hannah and Mama had time to get a little something ready for breakfast.
Papa put up the dough for these yummy bunnies the night before to slowly rise in the frig overnight. They were shaped and baked just in time for family's return.

The rest of breakfast comes later after the Egg hunt. Each year the Easter Hare lets us know that there are eggs and spring flowers to find in the field across the road from our house by leaving a single red egg in the Moss garden we prepare on Good Friday.We were a little worried that with the cold nights there might not be any flowers but we were not disappointed. The hunt was enjoyed by all - especially Mewster who thoroughly enjoyed racing around with the boys.










































The rest of the day was spent enjoying Easter baskets and preparing for dinner. Hannah put the final touches on her Chocolate Carrot Cake eggs with a cream cheese frosting.

Katie baked a lemon meringue pie.And Mama set the table...















We enjoyed having Uncle Joe over for dinner which featured Pork Roast with a Maple Pecan glaze, mashed potatoes, honey carrots, and a homemade Rosemary and salt crusted bread. Yum!
Ed adapted the pork roast recipe slightly for our bone in roast from his favorite meat cookbook "The Complete Meat Cookbook" by Bruce Aidells and Denis Kelly. I don't think there is a recipe that we have tried in this book that hasn't turned out well.

Pork Roast with Maple Pecan Glaze

Glaze -
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup light brown sugar (we would cut this back next time)
1/2 cup rum (omitted)
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 cup chopped pecans
Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until sugar is melted.

Rub the pork roast with 1/2 teaspoon sage, salt, and pepper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown the pork in a large cast iron pan in 2 tablespoons olive oil on the stove top. Pour glaze over the roast and roast for until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Our 4-5 lb pound roast took about an 1 and 1/2 hours.

So good....made extra special with our very own maple syrup. That adventure is coming up next!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008


There has certainly been a lot happening here in the Grove since the Eve of St. Nicholas but I thought I would share how the pattern for St. Nicholas looks when transformed into St. Patrick -

I made this figure while sitting with Katie in the hospital last year on St. Patrick's day while she was recovering from her appendectomy - having something to do with my hands was very soothing and St. Patrick certainly cheered up the room when he was done.

This year I found three different varieties of Shamrocks at a local Springfest event held at our county fairgrounds - I am hoping that St. Patrick won't mind that were actually grown in Canada! The little ring of stones calls to mind the kindling of the fire in our story "St. Patrick at Tara" as well as the Trinity.