Springing

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. 

You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So is it with everyone born of the Spirit.”

John 3:8

““[Jesus said,]I have come that they may have life,

& have it to the full.”

John 10:10

“The wilderness & the dry land shall be glad;

& the desert shall rejoice & blossom as the rose.”

Isaiah 35:1

Five Minute Friday {Rest}

Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday -

"We write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write bold and beautiful and free. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just write or not."

Writing prompt this week: Rest

Go.

Rest.
How?
So much to do.
Menial tasks, which must be done.
But also important things.
So many people to serve & help.
So many things to make & do.
So much work.  Work, work, work...

We were created to work.
We were created to serve.
to care, to reach out beyond ourselves.

And we can get pretty darn tired just thinking about all that can be done.

Rest.

We were created to rest.
We require rest.

Don't just call it "me time" or a "luxury".
It is a real need.

We were created to rest.

Don't be quick to judge rest as selfish or lazy.
Be still.  Stop. Be slow to speak.
Rest.

God rested & He is perfect.
How much more do I need rest.

Our only purpose is not just to care & serve for others.
Our first purpose is to love God.
yes.  Part of that is doing.
But a lot of that is resting.
Leaning on Him.
Believing He will.
Growing in faith...

Stop.

Join in over here - 

You Capture {Pink}

I am participating, for the first time, in 

You Capture photography project.

Beth at I Should be Folding Laundry is the host.

This week's assignment was PINK.

My pink ranunculus.

Ranunculus is a one reason I love spring.  

Beauties!

Another beauty - 

My eldest is a lover of pink.

And she herself was pretty flushed in pink,

after an afternoon of tree climbing, 

bird watching, Godzilla fighting, 

& watermelon eating.

And how about these pink lips?

This little sweetie is a waiting orphan girl.

Waiting for her forever family.

My friend Love is coordinating an effort 

to raise up the money for her adoption.

Go check out all she says here at Moments with Love.

The plan is to have a party, with 10 people bringing $20 each.

She is trying for 150 parties.

10 people x $20 x 150 parties = $30,000.

Wow!

If you live near me, come to our park party on May 2nd.

Or, have your own party!

It can be anything.

7 Ways to Celebrate Spring

      1.  Fresh Lemonade
               Does that remind you of summer, not spring?
               Our little lemon tree says wrong- the season is now.
               It is loaded down with lemons.

We put some mint & fresh thyme in there, 

following the Shaker Style instructions of my Country Breakfasts book.

(One of my favorite cookbooks of all time.)

      2.  Carrot Cake
              Yes please!  This cake recipe is SO good.

I tried this Rachel Ray recipe here.

Does anyone know why she says to let the layers sit for 24 hours?  

I don't get why.  But, I do know the cake is super tasty.

My second attempt at rosy top cake wasn't a whole lot better.

But, I am loving the haphazard prettiness.

       3.  Champagne
               Just the husband & I.  Kids didn't get to join in on this one.
               I love champagne...

       4.  Dine Al Fresco

pizza on the lawn

       5.  Flowers
                Spring flowers are my fave.  My viburnum is blooming. 

          

          6.  Iced Hibiscus Tea
                   Maybe that's summery?  But, the color seems celebratory, regardless.

 

                7.  Fresh Pea Soup with Minted Cream
                           It can be hard to find fresh English Peas.
                           But, now is the season.  Try the Farmer's Market.
                           Or, Trader Joe's has bags of shelled ones.
                           That's what I used.  Easy peasy.
                           This recipe is from a cookbook.  Argh!
                           Wish I could just be lazy & give a link.
                            Thankfully, it is short & sweet.

Fresh Pea Soup with Minted Cream

from Greens Cookbook by Deborah Madison
(I'm using my own words here, though)

To make the stock, pretty much put green salad in a big pot.

pour water on that & bring to a boil.

More specifically

3 lbs. Fresh Peas in the pods  *

1 Carrot, peeled & chopped **

1 Celery stalk, chopped

10 Lettuce leaves

1 bunch Green Onions, chopped

1 Bay Leaf

1 1/2 tsp. Salt 

7 c. cold Water

Shell peas & use 2 - 3 cups of the pods, chopped up, for the stock.  

Set aside all the peas for later.

Throw all this stuff in your pot & bring to a boil.  

Then lower the heat & simmer for about half hour.

Strain the liquid.  Compost all those slimy veggies.

Now for the soup.

3 Tb. Butter

Stock

4 Shallots, Thinly Sliced

3 lbs of Peas (you already shelled these when you made the stock)

1/2 tsp. Salt

Pepper to taste

Melt the butter in your soup pot with 1/2 cup of stock.  

Add the shallots & gently stew for about 5 minutes.

Set aside a couple handfuls of peas for later.

Add the rest to your soup & cover with stock.

Bring to boil.  

Simmer until the peas are tender, but still bright green.

If you still have more stock to add, pour it in & blend the soup.

(If you have an immersion blender, that is best.  

Moving into a blender can be messy & dangerous when the soup is hot.)

Season with salt & pepper.

Bring some water to a boil in a small pot 

& cook those two handfuls of peas you set aside.

Now - whip 1/3 cup of heavy cream into soft peaks.

Chop a handful of fresh mint & stir it into the cream.

Ladle the soup into your bowls.

Put a spoonful of mint cream o the top.

Sprinkle with a few whole peas.

(This makes about 4 big bowls worth)

*If you get the English peas from Trader Joe's, use two bags.

For the pods that go in the stock, I just threw in old sugar peas I had.

**I ended up using all my carrot for the cake.  I put turnip in the stock instead.

Stocks are flexible.  But, this soup is "delicate" in flavor.  

So, don't add anything too powerful.


<

linking up at Heather's for a Life Made Lovely

h is for horse (& Holiday Hiatus)

h is for horse

We pretty have done close to no preschool work since before Thanksgiving.
I guess "h" has really been for holiday around here.

I haven't had much creative energy for school prep & such.
I guess my brain has been elsewhere.

I didn't come up with anything genius to do with the horse theme.
We got the Horse Eyewitness book from the library.
We are slowing going through that.  It's a little tedious for such little kiddos.
But, they enjoy it a page or two at a time.
We just borrowed a horses & ponies board book from my little sister.
The kids are liking it a bit more.

We did horse races.
We tried doing a slow walk, a fancy trot & fast gallop.
The kids thought it was a blast.
I got worn out real fast.

Anyway.  There is the proof.  That's about all we've done for H is for Horse.
That is over a few weeks time, too.
The holidays have overtaken us.

Not that we've been doing mountains for Christmas stuff.
We haven't really.
We've had some out of town family visits.
We've decorated some cookies.
I had a last minute bridal bouquet order -

Mostly I've been working to organize a fundraiser event for World Orphans.
We are holding a Dessert Auction this Sunday.  It should be fun.
I am baking away.
And, trying to make sure I have everything we need.
And, reminding people all the time to come.
And, praying for all the right people to be there.
I am hoping there will be a good group of people in this area
who get excited about the work that World Orphans is doing.

No Kids Allowed

I went to a local flower grower this morning, with my little crew in tow.

I've been taking my little ones to the growers & into flower coolers ever since I had a little one.

4 years ago I did just have a little tiny babe, who snuggled in the baby carrier.

The crew has grown in number & has been aging.

Over the years, I've gone to numerous different places 

& they have always been very welcoming of us all.

Until this morning.

We walked into the rose warehouse.  

I was holding Moira & Gillian & Peyton were close to my side.

It was lunch hour for most of the work crew.  

There was very little activity in & around the coolers.

The sales manager walks by & sharply asks, "can I help you with something?!"

I told him we were there to pick up the red roses on hold for Erin.

He went to get them & came back & said,

"This is not a safe environment for children."

He printed out my invoice.  

I paid him & said, "I guess I shouldn't shop here anymore."

He rolled his eyes & said, "that's not what I said..

This is an industrial area & it is not safe for children."

So, I took my change & said,

"Well, I work with my children.  So, I won't be back.  

I'll just go back to buying roses from __________ 

(the other guy, the local competition)."

"I didn't say your children can't come!" (Him)

"Thanks" (me, leaving for the last time.)

I had been using this rose grower for awhile.  Every time I go, I bring my kids.

They have a great quality rose, a great selection of varieties & a great price.

But, if I get rude customer service & my kids aren't welcome, then I won't go back.

To describe the "industrial" environment, I think comparing it to Costco is fair.

That is, there is an occasional, singular, slow moving fork lift in the warehouse.

I would say, being there is less dangerous than going for a walk down the street.

I understand that a business has the right to ask anyone to leave.  

But on what grounds are you asking us to leave?

My kids were not being unruly.

I am not going to get a babysitter, 

so I can stop in at your business without you feeling uncomfortable.

La Playa Carmel by the Sea

I finally feel a bit more normal.

Last weekend I had a wedding job in Carmel.

And, it turned out Scott had to be out of town.

Ah!

And, immediately following the wedding,

I drove all 3 kids for 7 1/2 hours, so we could be with Scott again.

Exhausting.

My parents took the kids all morning on Saturday while I finished up the flowers for the wedding,

finished packing for the trip, finished making sure the house was in good order.

That was a huge help!  Thanks mom & dad!

No traffic to or from Carmel.

I got all the flowers there safely & set up was pretty easy.

Don't you love the table numbers? 

The bride's parents borrowed them from a friend.

I guess they were made from wine barrels, or something.

Dahlias, Hydrangeas, Roses, Mums, Chocolate Cosmos, Mini Calla Lilies

 - Happy Autumn beach wedding!

Today's Flowers

A good husband ordered these for his wife, for their anniversary.
I was the happy florist.

White Wedding on Pajaro Dunes

This weekend may have been our hottest weekend yet, this year.  

Not sweltering, I suppose.  But, it seemed hot to us coastal folk.  

Towards 90.

I had a small wedding job.  

All white!  

I get a little paranoid with white flowers in the heat.  

But, they turned out fine.  

Hopefully they made it through the whole wedding without showing wilt...

\

Receiving Love & Giving Love

Remember these?  The flowers my husband gives me?

The plants are bursting with love.

When our cup is being filled up with love, 

it makes it easier to give love away.

Don't you think?

So, I brought these to a friend today.

She is going to pass them on to another friend, later this week.

Jesus gives us love beyond what we can comprehend.

That should help inspire us to give love away.

He'll just refill your cup.

Don't be afraid of running out of His love.