Tuesday, October 26, 2010

What's for dinner?



I cooked this for dinner tonight and it was yummy for sure.  It is a recipe from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond's awesome website.  If you have never been to her site, I suggest you get there fast!  Cooking is not fun around my house lately because my timing is so out of whack with kid's naps and bedtimes.  So I went out on a limb and tried this tonight and it was definitely worth the craziness!  I used basil, parsley, and chives from the garden and served it up with sauteed spinach with chives, also from the garden.  I think I would sub hamburger meat for the Italian sausage next time. You should try it!

Fall Surprise


Today after school and work, I had a little surprise waiting for the kids.  A pile of leaves!!!
Harrison couldn't wait to dive in.  Emerson was not impressed, at all.




Happy Fall!

Outside Lisa

Monday, October 25, 2010

The Acorn Didn't Fall Too Far From the Tree

This evening, I left Harrison alone to finish his homework while I gave Emerson a bath.  I returned to find he had completed his homework and had done so beautifully!  I really think most people, even I, would have chosen brown to color this acorn.  I absolutely love his fearless use of color and total disregard to any preconceived notions of how an acorn is SUPPOSED to look!   I think my love for color has rubbed off on him.  Now, if only I can be so brave.


If you pay attention, your kids can teach you a thing or two!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Pumpkin Patch at Love Creek Apple Orchard

A few weeks ago my Mom and I took my kids to the Pumpkin Patch at Love Creek Orchard in Medina, Texas.  The day began with my two little bambinos sprawled out on the kitchen floor coloring some wooden owl masks.  Harrison wanted to use them in a play that evening around the campfire.  It was quite a busy day...we went to the Pumpkin Patch mid-day and camping with my parents on the ranch where we live that evening.  Needless to say, we were wiped out on Sunday!  It was an awesome way to kick off Autumn.  I will post camping pics next.


Emerson insisted on doing her own hair with her purple headband.  Nice, huh?


Poor Billy got wrangled into going.  He was a good sport and even helped paint pumpkins.


We visited the apple shed and drank some yummy apple cider.


Look at those gorgeous pumpkins and gorgeous babies (if I do say so myself)!  I made it out of there with three big "designer" pumpkins and two painted pie pumpkins.  I wanted more but somehow I managed to control myself.  We rode in a train made out of barrels and pulled by a lawn mower...yes, a lawn mower!  I love these pictures of my beautiful mom with my sweet sweeties sitting on the hay bales waiting for our hayride back to the parking lot.  What a great day and awesome memories!


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A Date with Destiny

The Zero Cookie


Here's the thing...this morning I'm not Lisa...or Mama...or Mommie...or Outside Lisa...or Lis...or Sis...
I am Zero the Hero!!!

Every 10 days in my son's kindergarten class, Zero the Hero flies in to talk to the students about counting and the number zero.  He/She hands out a special treat and flies off into the morning sun promising to return when 10 more school days have passed.  It has been a tradition in Mrs. W's class for years and today it's my turn.  Harrison has been mentally preparing me saying things like, "Okay, Mommie...I told my friends Zero is going to be a girl tomorrow.  They were expecting a boy."  and "Maybe you shouldn't do that move, Mommie."  "But, Bub, that's my best move."  "Oooookay, you can do it."  These kids are gonna eat my lunch!  I'm prepared though.  I made Zero Cookies.  A tie-died (wow, I really don't know how to spell that) version of my Mom's famous iced sugar cookie.  I will share the entire recipe at a later date.  These are the steps, however, for making my Zero treats.  I am counting on them to save me!  I'm going in!

First you roll out the dough.  I had some in the freezer from the last batch I made, so all I had to do was let it thaw a bit, not too much, though because cold dough is much easier to work with here.  I like my cookies fat, so I don't roll the dough too thin. Maybe 1/3 inch thick?

I used one of those funny soda can toppers to cut out my zero shape.  It worked great!

First I cut out the big circle.


Then I cut out the middle with the smaller end.

Carefully lift the circle and move it to the cookie sheet.

I thought they were too much like "o's" and not zeros, so...


I pinched in the sides a bit to make them look more like a number and not a letter.


Place them in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.  I like them nice and soft.

I mixed my icing.  I will post the icing recipe with the cookie recipe later.

I tried something new accidentally.  When I dropped in the food coloring and began to stir I liked how it looked all swirled and not mixed completely.

I dip them in, giving them time to drip any excess icing.

This technique made a nice tie-died effect.  Neat.  I put mine on a paper towel or wax paper lined cookie sheet to let them dry.  This step is critical.  Wet cookies do not stack well and sure are messy!

Okay...I'm off to get my hero sleep.  Zero's going to need some coffee in the morning...it's late and I've got a date with destiny!

Zero the Hero








Sunday, October 17, 2010

Mum's the Word

Homecoming has come and gone around here, but I thought I'd post the pictures of the mum I did for Billy's date in case you ever have to make one and need some ideas.  If you are unfamiliar with what mum's are, here is an explanation based on my experience.  

It is tradition around these parts (Central and South Texas) for high school girls to wear a mum on Homecoming game day.  The mum is given to the young lady by her Homecoming date or boyfriend.  It is pinned to the chest in the same way you wear a corsage.  I believe it is okay for parents to give their daughter's a mum these days, as well, but I am no expert on the exact etiquette.  Anyway, they come in sizes varying from about a foot long to three feet long.  They are basically an artificial mum flower that is backed with a thin piece of cardboard and adorned with lots of ribbon in the school colors.  They are made to reflect and represent the boy who gave the mum, as well as the girl receiving it.  Mums are worn with pride and often kept as a keepsake for many years.  (Until one day when your parents call and say they're throwing out all of your old stuff from high school and you yell "NOOOOO" and speed over to their house so you can look at your mum's one last time before they go to the burn barrel...I'm not talking about me, of course...I've just heard of this happening ;).  They can also be an indicator of status or popularity depending on the size of the mum and how elaborate the adornment.  In other words...they're a big deal around here!  There are mums for boys to wear now, too.  These are worn on the arm and are much smaller than the girls'.  Mum's can be custom ordered at flower shops or craft shops, or they can be made in varying degrees at home.  

I didn't start completely from scratch.  I was able to purchase a base mum from our local craft store.   They sell all the ribbon, bells, ornaments, stickers, etc. there, and will even do custom orders if you give them enough advance notice.  Since we do not DO advance notice in our family and I have the "it needs to be unique and original" thing that I have, I bought all of the "add-ons" and designed and created it myself.  All you need is some scissors, a glue gun and glue sticks, and some really thick skin- You WILL burn your fingers, and your work will NOT be appreciated by your teenage boy child!  


I basically took the base and added more color and texture with ribbons in several colors, widths, lengths, and prints.  This is done by cutting ribbon in slightly varying lengths and gluing them under the cardboard form the flower sits on.  Be very careful that you do not glue the entire thing down before you have a chance to add all of your ribbon.  I also found it helpful to use a stapler when positioning one ribbon on top of the other so they are held in place while you are gluing them onto the base.  


I personalized the mum by adding stickers with Billy's name, his date's name, and their jersey numbers from the sports they play- football for him and basketball for her.  I wanted to make it cute and girly for her, while still keeping with the spirit of the event which is centered around football.  



I used many different widths of ribbon and even made some little bows to embellish the ornaments I tied on.  I made a loop out of yellow and white polka dot ribbon to hang some little antlers.  We are the Tivy Fighting Antlers in case you are wondering.  I added a little glue inside the loop to keep the antlers from sliding out of place.


I added another bow-laden helmet ornament, numbers to the little blue jersey, some gold and blue star garland to the flower, a few bells for some noise, and some basketball ornaments since his date plays basketball.  And there you have it...my first mum! The last two pics are the before and after shots.  I do have some left over ribbon that I will save for next year.  If I'm lucky, I'll only have to do this about a dozen more times!  Just curious...is this a tradition that takes place everywhere or are we Texans the only ones who wear these big gaudy things?


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ode to Superman



Dodging bullets all day long
Making plans and righting wrongs
Putting fires out with just your words.

Starting early, ending late
There's no time to hesitate
You make it work and if it won't you make a change.

A single man who leads a heap
If only you could get some sleep
You burn the candle at both ends each day.




Flyin' high, and speedin' round
Makin' tracks to gain some ground
Landing hard each night you hit the sack.

Superman, it's plain to see
I need you and you need me
Or how on Earth could we get through each day?




Superman, those tired eyes and frown lines caught me by surprise
Can't you see you're Superman to me?

I wish I may, I wish I might
Let me be your Kryptonite
Can't you see you're Superman to me?
Can't you see you're Superman to me?


I love you, Superman.




Take a Hike


My little naturalist.  
I know he needs a haircut, but I love this picture of him in his exploring gear.  


Look at that smile.  Ready for a hike with her big brother.  This girl is fearless.


Thursday, October 7, 2010

Them Bones, Them Bones, Them Sleepy Bones


I love this picture of my sleepy little skeletons taken in October last year.  They finally crashed out after a warm bath, a bit of jumping on the bed, and listening to me read a handful of Halloween books.  It is a moment I'll never forget and that I will try to recreate every year as long as I can!  Happy October!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Squam Art Workshops Fall 2010




I've been home from my trip to Squam Art Workshops for two weeks now and I can't believe it has taken me so long to write about my experience there.  I think it has a lot to do with my tendency to hang on to big events by avoiding the final task on the to do list.  This tendency is why I still have the proofs from my wedding photographer in a box under my bed.  It's hard to let go of momentous occasions like these.  Especially the ones you know have changed your life forever.  This experience really has changed me and my life forever, and as much as I would like to pour over every detail, I have decided to let my photos speak for themselves for the most part.  I think there is magic in the intrigue, and magic is what we all need a little more of these days.

To my instructors-
Thank you, Jen, for opening my eyes through writing and your kind, gentle words.  Your stories are spellbinding and your heart is as big as the lake we gazed upon.  I'm more of a Dr. Phil, but this Texas girl will drink your Kool-Aid any day!  You have a gift.

Beatrice, your class was so much fun and so helpful for what I do in writing and photographing recipes for my blog.  You have changed the way I look at food forever.  Your patient and soulful demeanor made the day such a joy. I will never forget your smiling eyes.  Thank you for sharing your amazing talent.

Flora, to put it simply, you are a rock star.  Your captivating presence makes you seem larger than life.  You have a natural gift for teaching.  Before your class I was paralyzed by deciding what to paint.  Your fingers-in-the-paint-no-brushes-needed-get-it-on-your-clothes-create-now-explain-later method is so liberating and fun, it was just what I was missing.  I was a beginner painter who now, thanks to you, considers herself an artist.

To my cabinmates-
Kate, Jen, Monica, Elizabeth, Helen, Aleece, and Cinderella...thanks for the fireside stories, the gut busting laughter, the birthday dip in the frigid lake, the constant atmosphere of acceptance, encouragement, and love.  I can't imagine seven people I'd rather shack up in the woods with!  You all are beautiful and so amazing.  Thank you for giving me a little piece of you so willingly and openly.  You made my Squam!

To Peg-
Your tireless attention to detail and positive attitude are what makes a good thing perfect.  I want you to know how much I appreciate you taking the time to send Cinderella and I the "Things to do in the area" email that helped make our trip so great.  I loved getting to spend the day with you and your daughter in Beatrice's class.  You are so amazingly kind and true.

To Elizabeth-
You have created such a truly unique and magical experience.  The lake, the trees, the fire, the food all seem like a dream looking back now.  But the faces of people I met, the relationships I made, and the feelings that stirred deep in my soul are still very clear to me.  You are a magic maker, and everyone needs a little magic in their life.  Thank you for having the courage to follow your dream.  I bet you never knew what an impact that would make on so many others.

To Cinderella-
We could have gone our whole married lives just going through the motions at family events year after year having no idea what kindred spirits we are.  Think of all the years we wasted.  Imagine all the years ahead.  I am so blessed to have you as a sister-in-law and so glad I got to share this amazing experience with you.  What an unforgettable adventure!

To those who make the magic,

Outside Lisa

Friday, October 1, 2010

Today in the Garden


It's a glorious day in the Texas Hill Country today.  Everything in my Fall garden is thriving in this beautiful weather.  We are in the high 50's at night and high 80's during the day.  

In the vegetable and herb garden

eggplant
bell peppers
jalapenos
leeks
okra
green beans
mustard greens
lettuce of all kinds
basil 
arugula
stevia
oregano
thyme
chives

In the flower garden

Zinnias
Celosia
Mexican Bush Sage
Purple Cone Flower
Red Bachelor Buttons
Purple and Orange Cosmos
Pink Dahlias

In the coop

Buffy has gone broody, AGAIN!  We are getting 2-3 eggs a day.  There should be more.  I have a feeling she is keeping the other hens from feeling comfortable laying in the coop and they may be laying elsewhere.  Guess we need an egg hunt!


Enjoy your day,

Outside Lisa