36 years and counting....

Today I turned 36...
Birthdays always give me mixed feelings. I tend to be just a little moody, but this year I feel very happy and blessed. I am surrounded by the people I love and those missing sent their wonderful messages of love. I am a blessed woman and today I feel that immensely. So although my ankles cracked as I walked down the stairs this morning, at least I made it down the stairs.
The awesome presents my children made for me. The picture on top is a painted flowerpot decoupaged with pictures of the kids and I made by Tera. Inside are flowers that are actually fountain pens. The bottom is a bill organizer to take care of that big pile I keep accumulating on my kitchen counter decoupaged also with pictures. This was made by my son, Daniel. I love it when my husband helps them make me stuff. It's always so thoughtful


I decided against cake this year so we all enjoyed hot fudge sundaes. We almost never buy ice cream so it was an awesome treat.

My poor husband is so tired from helping kids with crafts. He always outdoes himself on my birthday, buying me things that I forgot I even asked for months ago. He's making me dinner tonight as well. Chicken with capers, wild rice and broccoli. He is a great cook but doesn't often have the time and energy to do it. He blesses me on Mother's Day and my birthday for which I am very grateful. Today I turned 36 and it's great!

Blueberry Recipes

This is our second year to pick blueberries at our local blueberry orchard/farm (I'm not sure what they call it). They give you a recipe sheet and last year's sheet had several recipes that I really enjoy. The cobbler is our absolute favorite. We've made syrup, pancakes, smoothies and muffins.

Blueberry Cobbler:

Bob Childs of Childs Blueberries

Mix 2 c. flour, 1/2 c. sugar, 4 tsp. baking powder, 2 tsp. melted butter, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 c. milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, together on low speed until smooth. Place into a greased 13 x 9 pan. Scatter 1 pint fresh or unthawed blueberries over the batter. Sprinkle with 3/4 c. sugar. Pour 1 1/2 c. boiling hot water covering everything but do not stir or mix. Carefully place in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 30 mins.

Blueberry Snack Cake

Taste of Home magazine

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cold butter or margarine

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup milk

2 eggs separated

2 cups fresh or frozen unthawed blueberries

Combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Set aside 3/4 cup for topping. Add the baking powder, milk and egg yolks to remaining mixture; mix well. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into batter.

Pour into greased 13 x 9 in. baking dish. Sprinkle with blueberries and reserved crumb mixture. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Blueberry Banana Bread

Falls Blueberry Farm

Blend 2 beaten eggs, 1/3 c. canola oil, 2/3 c. sugar and 1 c. mashed ripe banana. Sift together 1 1/2 c. flour, 2 1/4 t. baking powder, 1/2 t. salt and add to wet ingredients. Stir in 1/2 c. uncooked oatmeal and then sprinkle 2 T. of flour on 1/2 c. blueberries and stir in mixture. Pour into greased floured 8 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Let cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely. Better stored one day before slicing- (if you can wait that long)

Simple Joys of Summer- Blueberry Picking

JP found a look alike in our garden!
Earlier this week, we went blueberry picking with some friends. The kids had a hard time focusing on the actual picking part. It was more fun to follow mazes and duck under the tunnels made by the blueberry branches. We still got a great deal of blueberries. The only thing missing was my mom. Last year, she came for a visit and went blueberry picking with us. We sure missed her- our lean, mean, blueberry picking granny machine. Also the next time we go, we are bringing our own buckets and marking them on the side. If the kids fill to a certain line, we'll have a treat that goes with that many blueberries. We are definitely not above a little bribery for hard work.



Our 8 lbs. of blueberries


One happy little blueberry muncher.

Michael and his blankey

This is my second blanket lovin' boy. He loves his blankey!

Simple Joys of Summer: Slip Slidin' with Friends

Some friends joined us last weekend for some Fourth of July fun. Slip n' Slide, patriotic popsicles, water balloons, foamerator, homemade t-shirts and a whole lot of food. They brought over their Slip n' Slide and we extended it with a plastic sheet. We needed that plastic sheet because with our sloping hill, those kids were almost airborne. They had such fun, it was worth sitting outside in the heat. I think Slip n' Slides are one of the best things of summer!

Simple Joys of Summer: Water Balloons

Happy Fourth of July

Thank you, Lord for the freedom we have in this country. Freedom to assemble together, freedom to educate our children, freedom to be whatever you call us to be. We thank you for those men and women who continue to give their lives so that we may enjoy this freedom. More than that, thank you for giving your Son, Jesus so that we may be free from the bondage of sin. Help us never to take either of these freedoms for granted.Amen.

Happy Fourth of July!

Simple Joys of Summer: Pillowfights

Grab a pillow and go at it!