.. in our home is the smell of tomato soup.
11 quarts of soup to be precise.
I can now tick off one of the to-do items from the post few days ago! Yay
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
The View From Way Up Here...
I can barely see my toes when I look down!
Wow- we are such big fans of this baby! I cannot wait to see what it is! I know I really do need this preparation time and the weeks ahead for 'nesting' but I'm terribly excited! In a way I feel like I've been on a long journey and it is coming to a close. It boggles the mind, we're 31 and 1/2 weeks!
Wow- we are such big fans of this baby! I cannot wait to see what it is! I know I really do need this preparation time and the weeks ahead for 'nesting' but I'm terribly excited! In a way I feel like I've been on a long journey and it is coming to a close. It boggles the mind, we're 31 and 1/2 weeks!
Tomato Soup and Tomato Plants
I guess it is just the season for tomatoes!
I went to the Farmers Market here in Columbia today and bought a beautiful box of tomatoes. My plan for tomorrow is to make tomato soup from a family recipe. I grew up with this recipe and am thrilled to be able to attempt making it myself and sharing it with my family. I'm mostly comfortable with the canning process. I did a small batch (yeilding only 3 and 1/2 pints) of applesauce a while ago to sort of ease into it. At the end of the day we'll hopefully have 10 quarts of soup canned!
Steve and I (well mostly Steve) grew tomato plants from seed this year and they are finally bearing fruit. They were a little stunted because of our laziness at putting them in the ground! But they are big and beautiful now. We're very proud of our nine plants! Although we planted a variety of types of tomato the Romas are our only survivors. Early this morning I weeded around the plants. Steve keeps them watered so the least I can do is help tend the garden every now and then. The fruit are still quite small, about the size of a thumb. Hopefully as they ripen they will not become snacks for bugs or birds. This has also been a learning experience. One we both enjoy and next year perhaps we'll become more adventurous including other vegetables in our plot.
I went to the Farmers Market here in Columbia today and bought a beautiful box of tomatoes. My plan for tomorrow is to make tomato soup from a family recipe. I grew up with this recipe and am thrilled to be able to attempt making it myself and sharing it with my family. I'm mostly comfortable with the canning process. I did a small batch (yeilding only 3 and 1/2 pints) of applesauce a while ago to sort of ease into it. At the end of the day we'll hopefully have 10 quarts of soup canned!
Steve and I (well mostly Steve) grew tomato plants from seed this year and they are finally bearing fruit. They were a little stunted because of our laziness at putting them in the ground! But they are big and beautiful now. We're very proud of our nine plants! Although we planted a variety of types of tomato the Romas are our only survivors. Early this morning I weeded around the plants. Steve keeps them watered so the least I can do is help tend the garden every now and then. The fruit are still quite small, about the size of a thumb. Hopefully as they ripen they will not become snacks for bugs or birds. This has also been a learning experience. One we both enjoy and next year perhaps we'll become more adventurous including other vegetables in our plot.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Top Ten Things to Do
1. Day of Canning #1- homemade applesauce
2. Day of Canning #2- mom's tomato soup
3. Preparing frozen 'Postpartum Meals' (color coded for ease of assembly)
4. Have the Volvo's air condition fixed
5. Pinch myself- Is this all a dream????
6. Order appropriate items for birth (aka birth kit)
7. Choose the poor innocent child's name, for pete's sake... (ooooh, 'Pete', nah....sigh)
8. Interview and choose a Pediatrician
9. Bring down the baby supplies from the attic and organize them
10. Get rid of this incessant heartburn....
2. Day of Canning #2- mom's tomato soup
3. Preparing frozen 'Postpartum Meals' (color coded for ease of assembly)
4. Have the Volvo's air condition fixed
5. Pinch myself- Is this all a dream????
6. Order appropriate items for birth (aka birth kit)
7. Choose the poor innocent child's name, for pete's sake... (ooooh, 'Pete', nah....sigh)
8. Interview and choose a Pediatrician
9. Bring down the baby supplies from the attic and organize them
10. Get rid of this incessant heartburn....
Reflections
This weekend Steve and I spent time reminiscing, where we've been and where we're headed. The nostalgia we basked in was good. Tunes from the past and literal walks down memory lane served to usher us to a crack in time, between which we balanced with what was and what is to come. It was blending 3 1/2 years of marriage with the start of a new lifestyle as we move into parenthood. I took a few moments to grieve the loss but at the end of the day I simply wanted to come home to the present. There is some strange security in today. At the rate at which time flies, tomorrow is essentially today! So, living in the past is futile. With God's help we are ready to tackle whatever will happen today.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Ducks in a Row...
All of the sudden I feel the pressure.. or maybe it's just hormones.
We are on a serious count down. Baby is coming in... +/- 10 weeks!!!
My heart was heavy yesterday, not for regret of procreating- but simply grieving for the loss of our 'two-person' relationship. The intimacy and bond is amazing in marriage and that will never be done away with- I am sure, but it will change.
So, to facilitate one "Last Adventure" before baby comes out Steve and I are heading to the Mountains for the weekend. (Props to my mom for leaving the house available for usage.) I have a whole itinerary planned out. Mostly relaxing, but some planned events. As I requested of my dear, tolerant husband, 'just keep your mind open'.
Friday night we'll be hitting up the movies for the opening of Bourne Ultimatum. Saturday will be full; Enjoying a walk up memory lane... to the place where Steve asked me to marry him. We'll take some fun photos there together with baby in belly. Then we'll head to downtown Asheville for sightseeing and dinner at Barley's Taproom, the best pizza ever... and then for the FUN part! Saturday evening we're hoping to go Square dancing in Hendersonville! We'll see how that one pans out, but it's on the agenda non-the-less. Sunday morning will be for old times' sake- we're going to go to the Grove Park Inn for coffee (er, whatever I can drink) and enjoy music by the two guitarists who played at our wedding. Most romantic, no? And this special time will conclude an era--at least for a few years.
All of you experienced parents out there, feel free to leave me hope-filled messages of how you have kept your relationship healty after having kids. And please leave any thoughts on how to get my Ducks in a row in the next 10 weeks! There is so much to do, prepare for and expect! It's truely overwhelming.
We are on a serious count down. Baby is coming in... +/- 10 weeks!!!
My heart was heavy yesterday, not for regret of procreating- but simply grieving for the loss of our 'two-person' relationship. The intimacy and bond is amazing in marriage and that will never be done away with- I am sure, but it will change.
So, to facilitate one "Last Adventure" before baby comes out Steve and I are heading to the Mountains for the weekend. (Props to my mom for leaving the house available for usage.) I have a whole itinerary planned out. Mostly relaxing, but some planned events. As I requested of my dear, tolerant husband, 'just keep your mind open'.
Friday night we'll be hitting up the movies for the opening of Bourne Ultimatum. Saturday will be full; Enjoying a walk up memory lane... to the place where Steve asked me to marry him. We'll take some fun photos there together with baby in belly. Then we'll head to downtown Asheville for sightseeing and dinner at Barley's Taproom, the best pizza ever... and then for the FUN part! Saturday evening we're hoping to go Square dancing in Hendersonville! We'll see how that one pans out, but it's on the agenda non-the-less. Sunday morning will be for old times' sake- we're going to go to the Grove Park Inn for coffee (er, whatever I can drink) and enjoy music by the two guitarists who played at our wedding. Most romantic, no? And this special time will conclude an era--at least for a few years.
All of you experienced parents out there, feel free to leave me hope-filled messages of how you have kept your relationship healty after having kids. And please leave any thoughts on how to get my Ducks in a row in the next 10 weeks! There is so much to do, prepare for and expect! It's truely overwhelming.
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