Punishment Pie

Today, I dutifully worked away in the kitchen, working culinary wonders to transform the fresh rhubarb from Genevieve into delicious rhubarb custard pies. Four of them.

Now, I don't bake very often. (That's a bad sign.) It's not that I can't, but I find it tedious to follow an exact list of ingredients, in exact proportions. (That's a bad sign too.) I love to cook, where I often add a little of this and a little of that. All that being said, I was very proud of the fact that I was not just going to make one pie, but I thought I'd use up all the rhubarb and make extra pies - one for Mark for celebrating Father's Day, one for the freezer, one for the neighbour who resodded our dilapidated lawn, and one for our friends, the Windsors. There, four pies.

When it comes to baking, I rely heavily on trusted sources. People I know can bake... and I've tasted their recipe before. Mum's recipe for apple bundt cake can't be beat for a delicious, not-too-sweet dessert, that begs for french vanilla ice cream. She also passed on her recipe for brownies, which I must say, cannot be beat. There is not a better recipe out there for brownies. Stop looking. I have it... well, Mum gave it to me. My other trusted source is my mom. Pineapple squares, rice pudding, and rhubarb pie are her classics. I look forward to this time of year when summer begins because it means I can pull out my recipe box and dig for the rhubarb custard pie recipe, made with Bride's pastry, which has been passed down for generations of Newfoundland brides, one to another. Thus, I've learned to make amazing pie crust. I don't mind tooting my own horn. Well, you know how it goes... pride goeth before the fall.

We had homemade pizza for supper tonight - yummo! The house had been filled with aroma of baking for a while, and we were all so anxious to get to dessert. However, in the midst of getting it ready, the kids got into a bit of a row and it was Time Out on the Naughty Spot. Once the episode was over, we all regrouped around the table. The suspense was too much. Hannah dug in first...

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! This is too spicey!!!"

I took a bite... it took 45 minutes for my face to unpucker and come out of its contortions. It was obvious that I had forgotten to add something... sugar. After diligently chopping 16 cups of rhubarb, 4 cups of strawberries... beating 12 eggs... grating fresh nutmeg... adding a bit of flour... I neglected to add even a speck of sugar.

We peeled back the top crust of our pies and sprinkled a spoonful of sugar, much like Mary Poppins, to help the pie go down.

Mark's brilliant comment: "Hey, instead of the Naughty Spot, you could just make the kids eat the pie!" Yeah, thanks.

So now, I have 3 pies for the freezer...

I give up.

Paging Sparkles, the Tooth Fairy

Yay!!!! Party time in the house! Mark got the job! Woo hoo! (I told you Mr. Employer that it would be worth it!!)

Good bye traffic jams... crummy commute! He's close enough to come home for lunch if he wants to! Thank you God!

btw...making good progress on sock 2, just turned the heel... I always feel like it goes quickly after that. Sock 1 is really nice... I love the pattern. It's a dream to knit - just 2 pattern rows, one of which is soooo fast, the round just flies! I totally recommend this pattern! A pretty pattern, good intro to lace-ish type socks... I'm hooked. Hannah's were variegated, but with one colour, the beauty of the stitches totally shines. I was bummed to find a wee mistake... is it really a mistake or just untidy stitching?? Hmmm... does it bother me enough to rip it out? No... but seeing as they are destined to be a gift for someone, I'll just have to make another pair for them after these are done (and I do Mark's socks, and then this....)

It's my summer project planned for Dorcas camp. More about that on another day...

It was a big day around here... Jordan lost one of his top front teeth... the one beside is ready to come out any day as well...gotta love a kid in the summer with front teeth gone! I'm trying hard not to giggle at the whistle when he speaks... he's finding it weird (and not as cute as I think it is...) He's sporting his new shirt, feeling goofy about the gap in his teeth and raring to pose... I think he totally looks like his daddy... (not necessarily the toothless goofy part...)

Ok, this one's a little more normal... He's all set for Sparkles the Tooth Fairy to come tonight.

Also captured this photo... they have the same expression... way too cute...

Dear Employer

Today you will meet an extraordinary man.

You will not meet a man who is more faithful, diligent and hard-working than he. He is brilliant at what he does... he speaks to computers in their language, causing them to swoon and bend to his every desire ( it might be the Italian in him...) He has won accolades, awards, and contests for his abilities (Google his name if you'd like) and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would be a greater asset to your company.

I implore you.... hire my hubby.

There's a place I know in Ontario...

Marineland!! Thru the homeschooling network, 194 people showed up at Marineland to enjoy a fabulous, fun-filled day. I can't figure out what was the highlight of the day... it was so amazing... but I was bummed out when... ah crap... the battery died midway thru the afternoon.

Our indoor show pics didn't turn out that well... it was really dark in there... but I will never forget the startled expression of glee on the kids' faces when a massive walrus entered the stage! His rumbling bark resonated thru the auditorium... it was so cool.

Hannah and Jordan both loved the rides...

but to varying degrees as can be seen here...

the faster the better for Hannah... the smoother and more predictable for Jordan, the better.

Jordan is in the third car... he grew paler and paler each time the ride went around the track. Hannah screamed at the top of her lungs the whole time... she got off the ride and exclaimed, "That rocked!"

We couldn't get Jordan off the space ships (where he could control the movements of the ship)! Daddy had fun on it too...

They enjoyed feeding the deer and walking amongst them.

This is when the camera died. sigh.

They fed the belugas and touched them. Jordan said that he would never forget the experience for as long as he lives. Jordan was tall enough to reach over the side of the aquarium, and give caplin into the mouth of Baffin, the largest beluga at Marineland. He could see the teeth, tongue... all the way down her throat, he said. he touched her smooth skin, which felt like hard jello to him. For Hannah's turn, I had to hold her in my arms so that she could reach over the side. I thought her heart would pound out of her chest! She was speechless afterwards... a rare occurrence... so I know that she was moved.

Black bears were wrestling and swimming and climbing trees... and there was a little romance going on by the trees...

I am amazed by the vastness of Creation and the Creatures that live amongst us. There is such diversity and beauty, it overwhelms me.

Excerpts from Psalm 104

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

O LORD my God, you are very great.

How many are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,

teeming with creatures beyond number

— living things both large and small.

These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;

when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are terrified;

when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,

as I rejoice in the LORD.

Cash, credit or... yarn??

I went to the grocery store.

I went to the check out.

I opened my purse to pull out my wallet... and there it was... the long lost sock! ... and no wallet.

I guess in choosing my priorities when preparing to leave the house, I (subconsciously) decided that my knitting was more valuable than my cash and i.d.

Mark, my darling, you are not (entirely) a muggle, and I am very sorry for blaming you. I know you didn't hide my sock, and while I may prefer to believe that evil knitting fairies did it, I (probably) put the sock in my purse. I'm sorry lovey. I promise, when grumperina is finished, your socks are next. Perhaps in time for father's day.