Finally...

... I figured out that the cord wasn't working, and used a different cord, so these lovelies aren't trapped on my memory card anymore!

Helping... that is a child's rolling pin in his right hand, and hammer in his left.  Yup.  He's a boy.

Miriam woke up in the middle of getting the bread into pans, so she cuddled on my back in the podaegi while Nathan ate bread dough helped me.

The finished product...

Miriam has mastered pointing, and loves to point with both hands when excited... and I finally captured it!

And this handsome munchkin has a birthday this week... and a date with some scissors.  Those darling blond curls have never even had a trim, but he's getting pretty fuzzy, so that is scheduled for his birthday.  Hopefully he doesn't hate it...

We just got this loaned out mei tai back from a friend, and we're enjoying having an old favorite back to play with! :)  It is a minty, cheerful green... so perfect for spring, which seems to have actually (finally!) arrived. 

The daffodils have bloomed, the grass is greening up, and it has been warm enough for some evening walks.  I'm really looking forward to the kiddos getting to play outside more this week... it isn't any fun for anybody being cooped up!  Hope you're all having a great Monday so far...

Saint Patrick by Jonathan Rogers

I've heard lectures on Patrick, but hadn't read a biography before.  Rogers gives an overview of the political and historical situation, looking at everything we know about Patrick's life, and interpreting it in light of what we know about Patrick's world.  He also analyzes Patrick's surviving writings, his Confession, and a letter he wrote his superiors.

On the whole I  enjoyed his look at the historical context, and the Patrick legends he retells.  Also, I love that while the  Confession is available on the web, it (as well as the text of a letter written by Patrick) is in the book for easy reference!

While I mostly liked this book, I disliked his his characterization of Patrick as an "antiauthoritarian" "renegade".  Also, Rogers suggests Patrick may reveal "his own prejudices" by referring to the Picts as "blood-thirsty", "wicked, abandoned, and apostate."  Puzzlingly, he interprets this as Patrick dismissing them as hopeless despite having seen the Irish convert.  I disagree. He isn't calling them unsaveable, he's stating the obvious- these are violent barbarians. They need Christ, just like the Irish did.  As do we all.

(Thomas Nelson provided me with a complimentary copy of Saint Patrick to review via Booksneeze.)

 

(Oh, and there's an Online Reader's Guide available, too.)

Coconut Oil Fudge

I tried Lindsay's coconut oil fudge recipe recently... it is such a simple recipe that even though I've never made fudge I thought I'd give it a try. 

Honey, coconut oil, and cocoa powder in the blender...

The first time I made it I used the inexpensive coconut oil that we had on hand.  I liked it ok, although I felt that it was more "fudgy" in texture when frozen.  Micah felt that it had the texture of shortening and disliked the honey flavor.  Only he said it more tactfully than that. ;)

Undaunted, I tried it again, this time with Tropical Traditions coconut oil*.

 I also melted two squares of baking chocolate in the melting coconut oil.  

Yes, only one is pictured, ignore the discrepancy! ;)

 The fudge in the pan, before being cooled down... 

I stored it in the fridge, but didn't have to freeze this batch for a good fudgy consistency.  The flavor was so much better... probably partly because of the difference in coconut oil, and partly because I added the baking chocolate.  Either way, that batch was approved by all.  Yay! 

Another perk of this recipe? No eggs, so I have no qualms about letting Nathan perform the very important job of taste tester!  He approved. ;)

____________________________________________________________________
* I will be reviewing Tropical Traditions coconut oil in a separate post.  
I will be repeating this disclaimer then but thought I would tag it onto this post as well for full disclosure.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Monday miscellany

Spring is in the air. We've been getting outside and taking walks in the evenings sometimes, and playing outside some afternoons. I am ready for spring!

And with spring, of course, comes spring cleaning!  I stripped all the couch cushions of their covers, 

leaving a pile in the middle of the living room like a deflated couch, and hauled the living room rug off to the clothesline.Then all those covers went into the washer, and from there onto the line for some sunbleaching and fresh air.

 

Of course, there were plenty of interesting things under the couch cushions.  A spoon.  Multiple clean socks (I regularly fold laundry on the couch).   A small toy car.  And debris, which you must promise to ignore before viewing the following picture, shared for the exceptional cuteness of the serious small helper...

Love those wispy curls.  He is slated to get his First Haircut Ever on his 2nd birthday in a few weeks.  He's never even had a trim.  Yes, he was a very hairless baby!

One week old...                                                           Five months old...

 Seven months old. Check out the double chin!

Photo taken by our friend Clay.

I digress.  Good thing I labelled this miscellany, right? ;)

Now one more picture of cuteness to close... Miriam looooooooves peekaboo.  

Speaking of Podaegis

I'm guest posting over at Creative Madness today... hop over there to see a picture of the second podeagi that I made! I promise it shows more podaegi than the one of Miriam  in the podaegi above! ;)

Spring IS on the way!

It was warm enough last week to take the kiddos outside without spending hours bundling everyone up to go out and freeze for ten minutes, so we went out and enjoyed the sunshine!

 

Nathan started out holding my hand and walking sedately.

Then the wild grassy spaces intoxicated his boyish soul,

and he was off, trotting in erratic circles in the still brown grass,

 

exploring the daffodils that are peeking out.

 

And Miriam and I traipsed along behind, 

(she is in the new podaegi I made, which I love)

(post planned on that on Friday)

enjoying the sunshine and fresh air 

and chasing the small explorer with camera in hand.

 

  

My caption for this one-

"Mama, haven't you taken enough pictures?"

 

"I have to go explore tree bark, and sticks, and fallen walnuts, 

and then I have to throw them for the dog, and throw them at the tree, 

and wave and say 'bye!' to every truck or car that goes by on the road..."