When the pantry gets too full for groceries, you know it's time to stop spending and start surviving.
As the new year rolled around, we found our shelves too full and freezer overflowing - so Survivor Pantry began. What's nice about forcing yourself to use what you have is that creativity seems to abound. We allow ourselves to buy fresh meat if needed, and of course, food for the kiddos. The other thing we instituted is a weekly pizza night, which is a lifesaver in the middle of the week.
So, week one was a great success. It's been freezing here, so comfort food is on the mind.
Saturday :: A good ol' lasagna -- this recipe from The Pioneer Woman is great.
Sunday :: Sante Fe Chowder from Moosewood Restaurant - I love this soup! Super easy and pantry-friendly.
Monday :: Lasagna leftovers
Tuesday :: Chowder leftovers
Wednesday :: Pizza night!!
Thursday :: Five spice pork tenderloin and roasted sweet potatoes
Friday :: Tomato, red pepper and spicy sausage risotto - no recipe, sorry...it's a Dugald special.
Week one was a success. In the queue for week two - Saturday morning scones, homemade barbeque chicken with cornbread topper (ala Rachel Ray), breakfast potatoes and poached eggs, and whatever else we can figure out...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Holly-day
Better late than never, right?...
It was such a nice Christmas.
Although we are always happy to visit family, staying at home for our first Birmingham Christmas was a welcome new addition.
No bag packing, kid wrestling, no plotting and scheming...just a little cleaning and we were off to the races.
Emma has reached the age where Christmas is much more exciting. Her reaction to every Christmas tree, plastic yard Santa and ornament is pure elation...and quite amusing. It was also wonderful to have her learn more about the true celebration of Christmas, although I must say that Jesus, Santa and reindeer are all a bit confusing for a three year-old.
I, personally, was very emotional throughout the entire Advent season. It was quite a mix of emotions, really. This was our family's first Christmas at our own home, and our first Christmas with sweet Eleanor.
At 7 1/2 months, didn't have a clue about what was going on, but was thrilled to have three more people to entertain.
It was such a sweet time, but as with most holidays, it was bittersweet. With family all over the world, we don't have the opportunity to celebrate with everyone...at least in person. That said, Skype keeps the smiles coming through the ability to video chat. It melts my heart to see running to the computer the moment she hears the familiar voices of Grandma and Grandpa.
Life is sweet, folks. We have to take every moment captive, as we don't know what is around the bend.
Enjoy our photos!
It was such a nice Christmas.
Although we are always happy to visit family, staying at home for our first Birmingham Christmas was a welcome new addition.
No bag packing, kid wrestling, no plotting and scheming...just a little cleaning and we were off to the races.
Emma has reached the age where Christmas is much more exciting. Her reaction to every Christmas tree, plastic yard Santa and ornament is pure elation...and quite amusing. It was also wonderful to have her learn more about the true celebration of Christmas, although I must say that Jesus, Santa and reindeer are all a bit confusing for a three year-old.
I, personally, was very emotional throughout the entire Advent season. It was quite a mix of emotions, really. This was our family's first Christmas at our own home, and our first Christmas with sweet Eleanor.
At 7 1/2 months, didn't have a clue about what was going on, but was thrilled to have three more people to entertain.
It was such a sweet time, but as with most holidays, it was bittersweet. With family all over the world, we don't have the opportunity to celebrate with everyone...at least in person. That said, Skype keeps the smiles coming through the ability to video chat. It melts my heart to see running to the computer the moment she hears the familiar voices of Grandma and Grandpa.
Life is sweet, folks. We have to take every moment captive, as we don't know what is around the bend.
Enjoy our photos!
Friday, December 10, 2010
A Change Gonna Come
I saw a dear friend today, and she said something that really struck me. We were talking about life and its stages, and she said (to paraphrase), "Not every friendship is meant for a lifetime." It doesn't mean that the friendship didn't serve its purpose, but sometimes people and places aren't meant for forever.
This just isn't something I've been able to incorporate without serious angst...yet.
Whenever I start to feel a transition creeping in, it paralyzes me. I tumble into this over-thinking mess, running through every possible scenario and its resulting negative effects. The troubleshooter in me tries to figure out a way to fix the problem -- when there might not be a problem at all. Maybe it's just time to move on to the next thing.
I worry about the loneliness that I will feel. I worry about what people might think or say. I worry it will be the wrong decision. But honestly, it rarely is.
I have to learn to trust. I must trust that when my heart feels the transition on the horizon, maybe it's the Lord's way of preparing me for what new adventures He has for me and my family.
This just isn't something I've been able to incorporate without serious angst...yet.
Whenever I start to feel a transition creeping in, it paralyzes me. I tumble into this over-thinking mess, running through every possible scenario and its resulting negative effects. The troubleshooter in me tries to figure out a way to fix the problem -- when there might not be a problem at all. Maybe it's just time to move on to the next thing.
I worry about the loneliness that I will feel. I worry about what people might think or say. I worry it will be the wrong decision. But honestly, it rarely is.
I have to learn to trust. I must trust that when my heart feels the transition on the horizon, maybe it's the Lord's way of preparing me for what new adventures He has for me and my family.
Monday, November 22, 2010
A blog...
A blog can many things to many people. At times, an online stream of consciousness, others a photographic journey through the life and times. This little blog has been more the latter than the former, but I'm thinking times are a changin'.
I've not kept up with the blog because I haven't really had the time to put together a beautiful sequence of photos complete with cute descriptions. Maybe it's because our life hasn't felt like beautiful photos and cute descriptions, although I dare say that, since Eleanor is pretty cute.
So, for now, I've decided to use this blog as defined by many is a stream of thoughts...and maybe throw in a cute picture or two.
I've not kept up with the blog because I haven't really had the time to put together a beautiful sequence of photos complete with cute descriptions. Maybe it's because our life hasn't felt like beautiful photos and cute descriptions, although I dare say that, since Eleanor is pretty cute.
So, for now, I've decided to use this blog as defined by many is a stream of thoughts...and maybe throw in a cute picture or two.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Big Little, Little Big
Let's just say that Emma and Eleanor are a bit different...at least in size.
We went to Emma's three year check up and Eleanor's two month.
Here are the stats:
Emma (Little Big)
Age: 3
Weight: 26 pounds, 14 ounces (15 percentile)
Height: 33 inches (not quite on the chart)
Eleanor (Big Little)
Age: 2 months
Weight: 13 pounds, 4 ounces (95 percentile)
Height: 23 inches (95 percentile)
They are both in great health, and all is well!
We went to Emma's three year check up and Eleanor's two month.
Here are the stats:
Emma (Little Big)
Age: 3
Weight: 26 pounds, 14 ounces (15 percentile)
Height: 33 inches (not quite on the chart)
Eleanor (Big Little)
Age: 2 months
Weight: 13 pounds, 4 ounces (95 percentile)
Height: 23 inches (95 percentile)
They are both in great health, and all is well!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
In the Kitchen
We (the girls) have been at my parent's house for the week. It gives us a chance to visit with everyone and gives dear ol' Daddy Dugald a brief respite, too.
One of the benefits of having extra hands to help with the kiddos is time for me to cook in the kitchen. Their have been a few recipes (well, maybe a hundred) that I have wanted to try, but life at home isn't really set up for that right now.
So...
I got to try out this incredible coffecake and these great potatoes. They both turned out really well -- I highly recommend them. They are courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, as are the images.
Not approved by the American Heart Association :)
One of the benefits of having extra hands to help with the kiddos is time for me to cook in the kitchen. Their have been a few recipes (well, maybe a hundred) that I have wanted to try, but life at home isn't really set up for that right now.
So...
I got to try out this incredible coffecake and these great potatoes. They both turned out really well -- I highly recommend them. They are courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, as are the images.
Not approved by the American Heart Association :)
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