Zucchini Recipes

It's that time of year. Zucchini in abundance!  We didn't plant any in our own garden, but with major garden changes planned for next year, I hope we are able to grow a few plants.

So I'm starting my zucchini recipe idea list now.

• Zucchini Bread or Muffins - I've made these as muffins and love them!
• Zucchini Fries - Ryan made these one night this week.  Fried but good.
• Spicy Veggie Quesadillas - a favorite I keep forgetting about.
• Broccoli Cheese Soup - or as the blogger calls it 'Cheddar Cheese Soup with Veggies.  I've made this before and if I can just hone my roux making skills it will be delicious.  A way to use up shredded-then-frozen zucchini.
• Cheesy Zucchini Rice - haven't tried this yet, but looks good.
• And the good ol' shred and freeze to bake with later.
• Update: Chicken and black bean casserole - I have been waiting for the first zucchini

 

A Dictionary

In the event you are ever in need of such a reference, here is a short list of what Caleb says and what he means.

• peenah daya  ~ peanut butter
• torta! ~ tortilla  (and he always shouts this one)
• oatee ~ oatmeal
• mooszie  ~ smoothie
• meena  ~  banana
• nappy  ~  napkin
• nap  ~  nap
• muttee kookie  ~  I'm hungry (not necessarily for a muffin or cookie)
• weeamp  ~  ramp (for cars, trucks and such)
• fween ~ swing
• Candy ~ Camden (our dog.  Kid has only had maybe 3 pieces of candy in his life)
• piwee  ~ pillow
• ahda ____  [hat]  ~ I'm all done with _______ [wearing my hat.]
• daddy wurking firetruck ~ self explainitory (said often on days Dad isn't home)
• sippries!  ~ slippery (he always shouts this one too)
• kish huh ~ please give me at least 5 kisses and hugs before you leave the room and I have to go to sleep.

 

Perfection

Reading this today realized I just cannot say it or even think it any better.

Proverbs 2

My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.


So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.


So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

 

On Books

I'm currently reading Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt.  It is an inspiring book of one woman's opinion about children and books.  She includes various thoughts on why to read and what to read, with an extensive book list in the back (that I have not yet come to).

Inspired by another blogger, I've been thinking about reading aloud more picture books and even chapter books to Caleb now and as he grows.  Honey for a Child's Heart also promotes the idea, with much emphasis on reading good books.  Many of the books recommended are classics that I also would like to read for the first time or re-read.

So here begins my book list.  First current favorite pictures books to remember for future kids or to recommend to others.  Then my list to-read aloud to kids, which will probably be quite extensive and require some future selecting and narrowing.

Our Favorites

• Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
• Curious George - the original
• Picture books by Sarah Weeks - love the rhymes
• Little Blue Truck
• The Hungry Caterpillar & Brown Bear, Brown Bear
• The Very Lazy Ladybug
• How Many Veggies & Pa Grapes Shapes 
• The Bear Snores On & more by Karma Wilson
• Ruth Krauss

The To-Read List
All classics are the original writing

• A Hole is to Dig
• The Story of Babar
• Caps for Sale - one of my childhood memories
• Hand Rhmyes
• Lois Ehlert 
• In the Small, Small Pond
• In the Tall, Tall Grass
• Where Once There Was a Wood 
• Make Way for Ducklings
• The Mitten
• The Jacket I wear in the Snow
• Winnie the Pooh
• Little House on the Prairie series
• Mr Popper's Penguins

• The Secret Garden
• The Jungle Book
• The Courage of Sarah Noble
• The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
• Daniel Boone 
• Ginger Pye
• Black Beauty
• The Railway Children
• Charlotte's Web
• Alice in Wonderland
• The Wind in the Willows
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Pilgrim's Progress
• Hans Christian Andersen
• The Princess Bride - One of my faves because of the movie, but as usual, the book is better!

• The Story of King Arthur and his Knights 
• Chitty-Chitty, Bang-Bang
• Paddle to the Sea
• Sarah, Plain and Tall; Skylark; & Caleb
• The King's Equal
• The Boxcar Children
• Swiss Family Robinson
• Snow Children
• The Lord of the Rings
• Treasure Island 
• Call of the Wild
• Old Yeller
• Where the Red Fern Grows
• Patricia Mary St. John

...to be continued!
(Maybe I should have alphabetized this long list...)
 

Sewing from Pinterest

My problem with Pinterest really isn't a problem.  It's just that I'm one of those people that has to make time to actually try the things I pin.  Lately that has meant a fun bunch of sewing.

Here's my sling bag

It's a bit bigger than I like for an everyday purse, but I decided while I was sewing it would make a good traveling purse.  My camera, a book and maybe even a few toys (if I decide to let the Dude invade my space) will fit in it.  No more having three things slung over my shoulder while wandering around a new town.

Since I'm not always that against the Dude ;) I made him something.  He loves cars and I just love this little car caddy.  Seems like a great way to limit the amount of cars he can take somewhere while providing it's own entertainment value.

This Easy baby skirt is SO easy and so cute.  I definitely see more of these in my future.

And not from Pinterest but fun sewing projects non the less.  Caleb's twin bed quilt.

 and some bibs and burp cloths for the little lady on her way.

Part of my sewing 'philosophy' is re-using materials.  I love creating something new from old worn clothes or sheets -which provide a TON of material.  Materials used for the above projects include:
Sling bag: thrifted fabric & a thrifted bed sheet
Car Caddy: old jeans, Ryan's dress shirt, oops, I guess there is a scrap of some fabric I purchased a while back.
Baby Skirt: my old t-shirt
Quilt: Thrifted bed sheet, holey jeans from several friends and family, thrifted yarn
Bibs: old flannel pjs, worn bed sheet and thrifted material.
 

Outside

Merry Christmas

I [tried to] take this cute photo of this cute little toddler today and learned to get a really cute photo we need two people, one to keep him in place and maybe even get him to smile with one to take the picture.  Cute nonetheless!