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.
 

 


 




 

Caught Up!

The second quarter of the year went by in a flash! I got a tad behind in creating and posting my Scrap Last Month layouts, but we got 'er done, and bring on July! Will this be the month our newest little family member will be born, or will he make us wait until August? Remains to be seen. For now, we're looking forward to more warm weather, lots of garden produce, some bike rides, and a Happy Independence Day. Click on a layout to see it larger.

Lynn Blogs On

March is going out "like a lamb," I suppose. It's going out, anyway. Sun is shining, that's good. I'm home with a head cold today, and taking advantage of the time to finish my month of March summary and publish February too. I've been loving the Wednesday evening Lenten services, with food prior to each service. We're doing the Holden Evening Prayer by Marty Haugen. Pastor Matthew has a beautiful voice, as does Heidi, Diana, and the children.

Anyway, here are three double-page layouts for February and one for March. As always, you can click on them to make them bigger.

A Year Closer to Heaven in 2011

So, the Story of Our Life, 2010 edition, was published. I like it! I didn't leave quite enough room down the gutter, though. It got a little pinched. I will adjust for 2011. Here's January. I'm learning a new camera, and I'm not sure I bought the right one. Time will tell. Happy New Year!

Finishing up

So, I completed The Story of Our Life for 2010 and had the book printed by LifePhoto. My bad, I should have left more space in the gutter. I knew better. Oh well, it's still very cool. Here we go!