homemaking

Recharge

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Sorry for being away for a few days longer than normal this weekend, but my hubby and I took a long weekend to relax, recharge and reconnect.  Despite the fact it didn’t seem like the trip was needed, once we got on the road and the distance between us and our home lengthened, we realized that indeed this trip was necessary.  It is so easy to get caught up (and let’s face it, sometimes bogged down) by the day to day.  It was extremely refreshing to take a break from the normal hum drum of our daily lives and just be at peace for a bit.

Now, when normal people go to exotic places to get away, my hubby and I went back to Champaign, Illinois…the place where we went to school, the place we lived and worked for five years of our adult lives, and the place where we started our family.  There was a lot of walking, dining and just plain hanging out.  It was divine 🙂

Wishing you all a lovely week!

Putting Food By: Black Raspberry Jam

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Is there anything better than homemade bread smothered in freshly made jam?  I really cannot think of a single thing that sounds better than that at this moment.

I have been eating freezer jam from as far back as I can remember.  Each and every time I went to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Dietmeier, I could be assured that there would be a fresh jar of homemade jam in the fridge just waiting for me to dig in.  My all time favorite treat was when my Grandpa Dit would give me a scoop of butter pecan ice cream with homemade jam on top.  Oh my.  My mouth is watering right now at the simple thought of it!

I want to be sure my girls have these same fond memories of delicious home-preserved food as I do, so I have been making freezer jam for the past four years.  I normally make my jam from strawberries I buy at the farmers market, but this year I whipped up a batch with the black raspberries we picked this past weekend.  It seemed to make the entire process so much more invigorating to know that we picked all of the berries with our own hands, and then made the jam as well.  Yummy!

Another first this year is that I switched away from the pectin I was using in years past and moved to Pomona’s Universal Pectin.  And let me tell you, I loved it!  I ended up using 6 cups less sugar than I would have to make the same amount of jam with the other pectin!  The taste was amazing because you could taste the tartness of the berries so much more than you could when all of that sugar is in there to cover up the natural flavor of the fruit.  I would recommend Pomona’s to anyone thinking of making jam this year.

Something For Mama

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I have been getting the itch to sew a bit again, so late last week I decided to make a little something for myself.  Since my sewing skills are by no means fabulous, I settled on a Butterick Fast and Easy pattern, B5757 to be exact.  The pattern is for a long skirt, but I decided to shorten it up a bit to make it a little more conducive for these scorching days we have been having of late.

As you can see, my little mermaid decided to set up her ironing board and iron a bit with mama and keep me company 🙂  The finished product turned out to be a comfy skirt, perfect for playing in the back yard and hitting up the farmers market.

Berry Pickin’

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This past weekend the whole Fagan crew was out in full force, making our way through the wild black raspberry brambles.  There was picking’, snacking’ and laughin’ going on all afternoon.  It was perfect.

The little ones really got into the entire process this year and picked for quite a while before they retired to the cool pool that awaited them just a hop, skip and a jump away.  So while the little ones swam with Grandma, the rest of us slowly made our way up the property line, continuously amazed by what the earth was providing for us.  These brambles were not planted here, but rather sprung up from the earth as a form of nourishment to those animals and people in the vicinity.

The day was of course an absolute blast, but I found myself often pausing to think of all that the earth continues to provide for us.  It is a true miracle that so often times is overlooked because of our fast paced lives and our constant desire for more.  This day gave me a chance to just sit back and marvel, to not be overcome with the craziness of our world, and just enjoy some good ole berry picking’ 🙂

At This Moment

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At this moment I am…

~preparing a list of supplies to make black raspberry jam.

~reminiscing upon the fun times had this weekend celebrating Daddy.

~contemplating a multitude of ideas floating about in my head involving a potential new project that could impact my children, as well as my community, in a positive way.

~mulling over the powerful words and ideas contained in Will Allen’s book The Good Food Revolution.

~trusting that rain drops will fall from the sky today to give our garden some desperately needed hydration.

~thanking God for my wonderful family.  I am so truly blessed.

~wishing you all a wonderful week filled with fabulous memories!

A Summer Tradition

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Yesterday evening marked the beginning of a great summer tradition at the Fagan abode…Tuesday Night Dinner.  Our entire family gathers on our back deck for food, drinks, and lots of fun and laughs.  While talking last night, I think we all agreed that Tuesday Night Dinners are our favorite activities of the summer months, and we were all thrilled that it is that time of year again.

Last night’s theme was Mexican fiesta, and it was fabulous.  My hubby and I prepared some Rick Bayless recipes from this cookbook and this cookbook, while other family members brought other scrumptious dishes for all to share.

Here is a glimpse into the fun that was had by all last evening…

A World All Her Own

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Whenever I look at my little ones, I marvel at the imagination coursing through their tiny minds.  “What are they thinking right at this moment?” I ask myself multiple times throughout the day.  I often wish that I could go back to that time, when perception is broad and the possibilities are completely and utterly endless.  Anything is possible.

While my oldest was away at camp yesterday, I took some extra time to simply sit back and observe my tiny three year old daughter.  I heard clinking sounds echoing down the hallway, so I followed the sound to find this beautiful girl, decked out in a mermaid costume.  When I entered the room she didn’t know I was there.  She just continued to tinker way in “her” kitchen, picking up various utensils, humming and speaking quietly to herself in the lilting tones of a young child.

After a bit of time passed, she noticed me standing in the threshold.  She looked at me with beaming eyes, held out a kettle and said, “Mommy, I am making egg pie with blueberries and lemon.  It is going to be soooo yummy!”

Yes, yummy indeed my little one.  Such imagination.  Such creativity.  Such a precious being standing right in front of my eyes, in a world all her own.

At This Moment

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At this moment I am…

~missing my five year old who has ventured off to summer camp for the day.

~devouring multiple books all at once.  I just can’t seem to get enough summer reading!

~planning our menu for our first “Tuesday Night Dinner” that we hold each week in the summer months.

~looking forward to a fun evening this Saturday when my husband and I treat his clients to a lovely evening of local food and nectarous wine.

~surveying the garden that is full of new growth and potential.

~indulging in a devine cup of coffee made with my new french press that my hubby got me for Mother’s Day.

~acquainting myself with my new computer.

~wishing you all a lovely week!