The Ides of March Is Near

Hmm, I wonder why I'm thinking of the Ides of March today. It's only the 10th, and not the 15th. I even had to look it up and refresh my memory about the whole meaning of the thing. The word Ides comes from the Latin word "Idus" and means "half division" especially in relation to a month. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. So there you have it.

My file got corrupted and I had to re-do January's Scrap Last Month layout, one of them anyway.

And, February is finished also. Lots of sweet baby pictures grace my pages these days, and I'm so happy they do. Keep praying for baby Gabe, he's back at Children's this morning. I'm looking forward to the love of my life returning to me tonight from several days in Florida. I stay up too late when he's gone to satiate the night owl in me. I'm not used to that, however, and don't end up feeling well when I do that.

It's windy and will be in the 60's this weekend. Last weekend's snow is long gone. Time change is this weekend also, so it will remain daylight even longer into the evening now. Spring is officially around the corner, but it has kind of been spring all winter this year. Enjoy your day, each and every day.

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful (Not!)

Ah, December! A green December. I don't suppose you can read the journaling on my pages ... I know it's small. I have a lot to say in my year books! December was nerve wracking for me. Worrisome some. Emotional. Anxious. Waiting! Of course, Scottie got cuter by the minute. And on the evening of Wed., December 7th, Gabriel Arnold was born. Why did I worry about how it was all going to go down? Gabe's birth mom and her mom graciously decided Sarah & Ryan should be witness to his birth. His first surgery was on Fri., December 16. The celebration of another baby's birth ~ the son of God, Jesus our Savior ~ brings peace. By the grace of God and the skill of the doctors, Gabe is with us and doing well as of the end of 2011. New Year's Eve was our family celebration, and Gabe was with us in spirit if not physically. It was a very good year. Thanks be to God!

Eleven Eleven

I finished off 2011 right after the first of the new year, but I haven't yet shared with my blog followers. Here 'tis. Time to get 2011 published!

The Faster I Go, the Behinder I Get It Sometimes Seems

Did you see those huge, fluffy white flakes coming down yesterday and today? The first snow of the season, always so pretty. Especially when it doesn't stick ~ just not quite ready for that yet! So, I came home sick mid-day on Tuesday. I am normally off on Wednesday anyway, but oh what a miserable day. I kept my germs here at home again today, Thursday, but I am feeling somewhat better. I think it's the work of all my prayer pals and the Good Lord hearing and granting them. September was busy enough, but oh my goodness ~ October was worthy of three double page layouts. November may be fairly quiet here, but I've a feeling December is going to bring ... well, very good things. Don't forget to click on the layout to get a bigger version. And now, you can sign up to get an email notice when this blog is updated. You will want to stay tuned ...

Well I'm having some trouble here. I'd like the layout to be large enough, when you click on it, to be able to read the journaling. The Help file says it's being uploaded at its original size. If that is so, it should be plenty big enough. I'm experimenting here. Bear with me.

I Had Forgotten How Sweet ...

... it feels to hold baby, see baby smile and hear baby sounds. I also got pooped on and puked on today. But I loved it! Here are some 6x4 prints I made for a little album. I can always adjust them to be 8x8 or 12x12 for a book of Baby's First Year later. Enjoy!

Ping!

Well, maybe I can post a little more often than monthly here on the blog. Like a mid-month, or something. We'll see. The weather has been so perfect recently. Ken planted Roma tomatoes and another kind; both are doing well. He brought in a huge pail of Romas in last evening, and I peeled them. Then today, two kinds of salsa. The first is how Ken's mom makes it, and I fell in love with it but never really made it myself. The Roma is perfect for this.

I made two batches and this is all that's left. Ken calls it "addicting," and I agree. Mom (and now me) puts the cut up tomato chunks in the food processor, together with some onion, 2 jalapenos, and some cilantro. She adds a little lime juice, and I had some so I added it too. Just a little salt, but not too much because we're really watching the salt for Ken. Okay, all the rest of those Romas? Made 21 pints of "The Best Salsa" today, with a full quart left over.

Gosh, it's a lot of work and some mess, but I do love to hear the lids pinging sealed. Music to our ears. Today's work was made easier due to a big bag of frozen jalapenos from a couple of years ago that were ready and waiting in the freezer. Anyway, my favorite recipe for canning salsa follows. I got it years ago from someone who shared it online:
12 c. chopped tomato
2 c. jalapeno peppers
3 c. chopped onions
2 t. cilantro
2 t. ground cumin
2 T. salt
2 T. red hot sauce
2 T. olive oil
8-10 garlic cloves, minced
6 oz. can tomato paste
1 T. black pepper (optional)
3 green peppers, chopped (optional)
Simmer for 1 hr. and then process for 1/2 hr. Run through blender (optional). I probably used too few onions today, and I threw in more cilantro than this too. Didn't have any extra green peppers today either. I have never run it through the blender. My 21 pints were about a triple batch, and I have a huge kettle and could cook it all up at once. Yum!

Sleptember

Ha! Silly title. I chose it 'cause it's September, and also 'cause I'm sleepy. The Labor Day holiday has begun, and Ken will soon be home from work (Saturday, works until 1 p.m.) I've been busy finishing my August Scrap-Last-Month layout this morning, but had to do an extra double page spread of course to include Scott Donald's first month of life here on this earth. Oops, he's home. Gotta run! Don't forget to click on the layout to enlarge it. Not sure the journaling is going to be legible though. I guess I still have some work to do, things to learn.