Thursday, April 14, 2011

strawberries

What a cute little fruit strawberries are!



This time of year they are always on sale... and always delicious! While enjoying some at breakfast, I decided that I just had to blog about them. So, here are seven of my thoughts about strawberries:

1. A favorite breakfast of mine is a side of bacon, a slice of oatnut toast with butter, and a big ole pile of sliced strawberries! Something about the way the textures and flavors compliment each other....I don't know. But try it, I'm sure you'll agree!

2. This year I am going to try growing my own strawberries in a container on our patio. I never have tried before, so this should be interesting. But aren't the little blooms they have are so adorable!?! More on this as the summer progresses!
 
solitary strawberry bloom



3. My Papa had a favorite dessert, and I must say it competes for my top three (I just don't think I could commit to saying any one of them was my absolute favorite, because the next time I had another of the three, I would be changing my mind - I just can't decide!!). Anyways, its a version of strawberry shortcake. A post coming on it soon, detailing how to prepare such wonderfulness. In the meantime, its my grannie's recipe for pound cake, covered in sweetened strawberries and vanilla ice cream. (Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin....ahem).



4. I saw this idea on Martha Stewart for these adorable little strawberry pincushions ages ago. Maybe one day I will get around to making one or two. Get the how-to here. Let me know how they turn out!



5. I learned this little idea from my Pampered Chef consulting days - slice up a bunch of strawberries and put them in a pitcher of water and give 'em a stir. Very Kool-Aid like. No sugar even needed! You might want to strain it before pouring, but not completely necessary.

6. My mom uses an egg slicer to slice them. They come out so perfect and with such little effort! My mom is so clever!



7. And how could you talk about strawberries without mentioning that sweet little childhood icon, Strawberry Shortcake? Who else grew up scratching and sniffing her stickers and wanting to be her?


What about you? Any strawberry inspirations??

Monday, April 11, 2011

Night Nights

Bedtime is my favorite part of the day. Mostly because it marks the start of my actual free time, but it doesn't hurt that my boys are two adorable young men! We, of course, have a little routine because babies function well in routine. After diapers are changed, pjs on, teeth brushed, and "night nights" given to all members of the household, Elijah climbs into his firetruck bed, and I lean over to tuck him in and give a kiss. Then its Clint's turn. I lay him in the crib and rest my hand on his sweet little head. 

But if I linger around too long in the room once Elijah has been tucked in, the inevitable request comes - "Mommy, sing"

Ashamedly, I sometimes roll my eyes at the request. I don't have a great voice at all, and I'm pretty much ready to just crash by this time. But I always give in! And he always wants the same song. "Mommy Daddy wed song. Wed song." Its the song that I walked in to during our wedding - O Love of God.

Its such a great start to the kid-less part of my evening. Not only is it a sweet memory that I have of our wedding, but the words are just so precious. Reminding me that I've done nothing to earn my standing with God, but He freely gives His love. His measureless love! 

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair bowed down with care
God gave his Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from all sin

O love of God! 
How rich and pure
How measureless and strong
It shall forever more endure
The saints and angels' song!


Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God! 
How rich and pure
How measureless and strong
It shall forever more endure
The saints and angels' song!