The kids and I all arrived well and relatively happy (We had one really long 12 hour day. By the end, we all were crying) and quickly made a home here in my mom’s place that she generously offered to share with us. We’ve been doing a lot of relaxing and some fun trips here and there. Our first week here was really hot and sunny. This week has started off rather dismal, but as I said, even the rain seems different here.

We have one more week before we start our trek back to Saskatoon, with one stop in the Okanagan to visit some friends. In the meantime, here are a few highlights.

A nice walk by the river. Which could not be complete without throwing rocks into said river. A family get-together for burgers and a lovely afternoon. Which included ice cream, of course. A morning at a playground. Cassia was tired. This girl’s first intentional food – avocado. She loved the idea of it, but couldn’t get over the texture. She’s now on puffed kamut and is enjoying that tons. Probably because she’s also teething and can gum it pretty good. Greater Vancouver Zoo with friends. The Mighty Turkey. The Cheetah, who became interested in the world upon hearing the sound of children. Yummy. Good thing there’s a fence or I would have been forced to show off my mama bear. Tuckered out at Beak Creek Park. Beautiful magnolia trees in bloom! Playing with some artwork. My “little” girl’s new favourite thing to do. Loot from our US trip. Oh, how I’ve missed Trader Joe’s.

The girl and I watching a little Star Trek Going all ‘Mission Impossible’ on me Zoolander? Her first time getting herself stuck under the couch (at 6 months) Spencer needs to learn how to say the letter ‘L’ … he constantly asks us if we’re going to play this game (sans L) Kanzashi for mama and daughter

Biding his time My smallest kanzashi My seedlings. Here’s hoping the weather eventually will be favourable to planting! She sneezed. All snot broke loose. Delicious stroganoff. Made from scratch. Amazing Value Village find! She’s starting early, folks. Just like her brother tried to do at this age. Don’t forget to brush your teeth! She sure tries! He sure loves his colouring. Though he is now ‘marker-free’ for awhile, after constantly telling him to stop colouring the floor.

Easter. It was a party. Joy, joy, joy! And now we’re on the other side of resurrection hill. We had such a great Easter celebration! Thanks to all who were able to join us in our celebrating – we loved sharing good food and good company!

We bought plastic Easter eggs for the Easter bunny to fill and lo – Easter morning, the bunny must have come by because they had nice little chocolates in them!

We had a lovely brunch at my friend Jacqui’s parents’ place, then we came home and slept more. I mean, what else do you do when you get home from a huge party at 2:30 in the morning? Woke up, had eggs Benedict for supper (nice and simple) then went back to bed for the night.

Monday we had our Easter Lamb! It was awesome – we BBQ’d it and highly recommend that method – it was so juicy and charbroiled. Kate came over to join us, then we watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, just because of the line, ‘What do you mean you DON’T-EAT-NO-MEAT?’ … ‘That’s okay, I make lamb.’ I love that movie.

Tuesday we painted Easter eggs. Towards the end of Holy Week I had been getting flustered thinking of the things I wanted us to do to celebrate Easter and how hard it was going to be to fit it all into one day. Then it hit me – it’s Easter all week. As Catholics, we really have it good. Every day is considered like Easter Sunday for 8 days (hence the Octave of Easter). So I threw out my stress and instead of doing these Monday, we did them Tuesday.

My family did not have a history of decorating eggs for Easter. Andy’s family did often when growing up, so it was very nostalgic for him. I used natural dyes to dye the eggs – they came with very mixed results. We soaked them in the colour overnight to enhance the dyes, but it only worked in some cases. This is what we used:

Red cabbage – blue
Beets and red onion skins – red
Turmeric – yellow
Spinach – green

We had some solutions left over, so we mixed them and tried to guess what they’d turn out as.

So, the nearly white ones were the green. Next year we will have to find something else to experiment with, cause this did not work. Even when we were looking at the solution we were hesitant to believe that it would do much. The blue turned out amazing. The yellow turned out amazing (the one with the cross on it and the one under the blue). The greenish-grey one to the bottom right of the picture was the purple solution…it looked neat, and that was by mixing the red and the blue mixture together. The yellow-brown ones on the top & left of the photo were the ‘orange’ – wouldn’t do that one again. And the red you can sort of see underneath and at the bottom of the pile. They turned out more browny and not so great looking. The egg itself (inside) was pink, which was neat, but the shell not so great. We think that if we had soaked them for a shorter period of time that the red might have turned out better. Next year we’ll try again! It was lots of fun experimenting to figure out which foods would give us colours! And I much prefer the natural method to colour dyes that can be found in stores, what with concerns about the chemicals in them.

Next morning we hid our Easter eggs that we decorated and Spencer had to go find our breakfast. He sure enjoyed looking for them!

And other duties now call me away. More on Easter later this week!

Taken yesterday. This was clear last week. We used the BBQ.

The fact is that I could call it March and April blues too. I am, like so many of my other Canadian citizens, sick of winter. Yes, it should rightly be finished by now, yet we are still getting snow (it is snowing as I type this). Andy’s mom recently commented, ‘Well, we usually joke that it’s winter 6 months of the year, but it’s nearly true this year.’ We have had snow since before Hallowe’en. That is over 5 months. Enough is enough. It also means our growing season will be much, much shorter.

I am combating the blues with plans for a trip somewhere warm. Thankfully, the countdown is officially on! In 3 weeks 2 days, the kids and myself will be heading on a 3 week trip to Vancouver to visit with my mom and other family. It does make the whole ‘starting a garden’ thing a bit of a muddle, but it can’t be helped. I need to get away, and that is precisely Andy’s busiest season at work, so we have worked out that it would be in all our best interest if I go on a trip somewhere with the kids. And what an adventure it will be – I’m not sure how I’ll do with two kids in tow, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve managed to make all of our driving to be only 6 hours max per day, so that will help too. I’m very excited, and really, it’s all that’s getting me through this horribly long winter this year.

In other news, we bought a car. A nice, spiffy 2009 Pontiac Vibe. Works exactly as well as we anticipated and is lovely to drive. Can’t wait to take it across these 3 provinces.

See mum, everything does fit.

There’s a lot more news, but I’m planning an Easter post for tomorrow, so I’ll save it for then. Anyone else hit with some Monday blues?

Join me and many others’ at Fine Linen and Purple‘s

Hardly the most flattering picture, but today is not my day for pictures, it would seem.

Dress & sweater: Reitmans (years ago)
Hairband (fascinator, as others say): a market in Victoria, years ago
Jewelry: Reitmans

And in my defense, socks were not visible while I was wearing my boots. I had been hoping that it would be nice enough to forgo the socks and wear some cute shoes, but it was bloody cold outside and I nearly froze my fingers off scraping the windshield.

Hand-me-down shirt and some black pants that were a birthday gift.

Cassia didn’t get dressed up today; she stayed home with Andy, who is sick.

I love Palm Sunday. Spencer’s been looking forward to Mass today because we’ve been reading him the story of when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (colt). He was quite pleased to have a palm branch and proudly waved it around during the entrance into the church and hung out in the aisle while others were filing in, waving his branch around and making sure everyone saw him doing it. But he did get bored with the gospel reading. I don’t blame him. For a 3 year old, he did amazingly well. Overall in our prayer times (and outside of them too, come to think of it), he is surprisingly clever at remembering the things we talk about. Andy and I debated for a very short period how we should introduce the topic of Jesus dying and then rising. It didn’t last long though – we believe that the story speaks itself well and he has heard the biblical (not children’s) story of it. He has heard Jesus talking about going to Jerusalem to die (in the readings). He is curious about death – an innocent curiosity by one who has not felt the “sting” of death. I wonder how long that will last for. Hopefully quite awhile.

Bishop Don celebrated the liturgy with us; I love his homilies. He referred to Palm Sunday as the liturgy that kind of takes him by the scruff of the neck and throws him into Holy Week, whether he wants to or is ready for it or not. It’s true – we hear the story of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem through to his condemnation and his death on the cross. There’s no beating around the bush about it – we are here to celebrate for a reason and this week is a whole reminder of that reason. We’ll hear this reading again on Friday but with more finality.

Oh, how I love the liturgies of Holy Week. Sombre, reflective, painful. But full of hope. Around the corner, there is a light shining. Only one more mile of this race left. Exhausted, we endure to experience that light, knowing it will not fail us.

1.

As everyone can testify, we have a new pope! Crazy, exciting & unexpectedly early in the conclave. Those are the words that come to mind when I think of how I was feeling when I heard the news.

Do you remember where you were at when the news hit the public eye? Over at Hot Cup of Ministry, we’re having a joint venture with the SportsFathers to talk about this amazing event, and we want to hear what your reactions were when you heard the news! Interested in sharing? You can

• Write it in an email to us: feedback@hotcupofministry.ca
• Comment at the bottom of this blog post
• Record your impressions in audio form and email it directly to Fr. Darryl: frdarryl@saskapriest.com

2.

We bought a new-to-us car. Pontiac Vibe. 2009. Pictures will follow once we have less snow (it snowed a good foot over the past day and it’s still coming down). We’ve had it since yesterday morning. I sure like how well it drives. Apparently it’s a relief to drive a car that I’m sure won’t randomly die on me at any moment with two kids in the back.

3.

Car shopping really takes a toll on our energy. Andy and I are both exhausted. And the kids are too. I’ve discovered that Cassia is no longer sleeping well in the car seat, which makes most activities out of our house more frustrating, cause I know she won’t get a nap anymore. She sleeps fine in her crib, but anywhere else is a ‘I-don’t-think-so-Mummy’ from her. Oh well. Maybe it’s just a phase.

4.

Our place is a disaster. My friend Jacqui was supposed to come over for coffee this morning, but she couldn’t get her van out of the parking spot due to the snow. I was sad and disappointed (what can you do?). However, now she doesn’t get to see how much of a pigsty we can really live in when all things are neglected while in search for a car. I feel like I can hardly walk from living room to computer room without knocking something over or stepping on something. It’s a humbling experience when friends see how horrible your place looks and are still willing to a) be friends and b) come over again the next time.

5.

I’m starting to get back into my garden planning. Yes, even with the foot of snow. I bought a little greenhouse stand with 4 shelves for outside. We really have no room to start seedlings inside this year, so this seemed like a viable option. I also bought some stakes from Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and I’m hoping that I might be able to build a short fence with them for the garden. I love this ReStore – it’s much bigger than any I’ve encountered before and it has a lot of good items that I’m gonna need for this garden! I’m excited to be planning this garden with reused items!

6.

We will also be investing in a worm composting system. From all that I’ve read, they are scent-free and work through compost in as quickly as 2 weeks. Given that we haven’t much room for a bigger outdoor compost, and they can be housed inside during winter, this is a great option for us to have some good compost!

7.

Tonight we dine on fish & chips! I’m tired, but it’s going to be delicious, even with the little extra work that it needs. Tomorrow is Saturday and we will be transferring all the stuff from the Cavalier to the Vibe and dealing with the snow. Tonight will be for fun!

Hopefully I will soon. We are on the verge of purchasing a better car than the one I’ve been complaining about for the past 8 months, but we aren’t quite there yet. Hoping for before the weekend.

There is a plan in the works for me and the kids that involves said new car.

And, of course, there is the ever-historical and momentous event of this papal election.

I’m sure I’ll be writing again by the end of the week, and I’m finding that occasionally silence is the answer to the question of busy-ness.

New favourite thing to do She usually has 3 legs when she wakes up in the morning…

I was realising a couple days ago that I have been uploading a number of photos and not using all of them. So I’m tying up some loose ends and collectively posting their randomness with some stories interspersed. They are mostly food ones from our Lenten suppers.

Spencer was helping Andy to shovel. The yellow item in the pictures is his shovel. Instead, he ate ‘popcorn,’ which is just snow. By the handful.

We made homemade pizza for supper a couple of weeks ago (Feb 22nd – Feast of the Chair of St. Peter!). It was heavily laden, so we took a measurement. Approximately 2.5″ in height. It was delicious!

Two weeks ago yesterday: Penne with Chickpeas, Spinach & Roasted Asparagus. We always augment the recipe to what we actually have.

4 cups penne
10 stalks of asparagus
3 tbsp. oil
salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, finely diced
2 carrots, shredded
1/2 cup fresh basil, sliced
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, re-hydrated & sliced
1.5 cups chickpeas (not a dry measurement)
1.5 cups baby spinach, sliced
1 cup chicken stock
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated.
- preheat oven to 450; cut asparagus into 1″ lengths (discard woody bits)
- toss with 1 tbsp. oil and a dash of salt and pepper; spread on baking sheet and roast for about 8 minutes
- heat remaining oil in large pan, add garlic and cook, then add onion and carrots, then add basil and salt, saute.
- stir in sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, spinach and stock; bring to boil, lower temperature and simmer 5-10 minutes
- toss hot pasta with cooked veggies; stir in pepper and cheese; add roasted asparagus and toss well.

This particular day we used green beans instead of asparagus. I wouldn’t recommend it. Zucchini works much much better as a substitute. We hardly have Parmesan around anymore, so we use whatever cheese is in our fridge. I really love this recipe.

Chickpeas + grain (pasta) = protein!

Spiced Lentil Coconut Soup. (This is supper tonight )
1.5 cups green lentils, washed
4 cups chicken broth
1.5 tsp. tumeric or curry powder
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tbsp. coconut oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 stalks lemongrass, 1″ chunks and bruised
1 tsp. sea salt & some more to taste
.5 tsp. cardamom
.5 tsp. cinnamon
1.25 cups coconut milk
3 tbsp. citrus juice (lime, lemon or orange)
handfuls of spinach, kale or swiss chard, sliced
dash nutmeg
1 cup shredded coconut, toasted
cilantro, chopped (optional)
- add lentils, broth, thyme and turmeric to large pot; bring to boil, turn down and simmer 20 minutes
- heat oil in new pan, saute onion, add lemongrass, salt, cardamom, cinnamon & nutmeg – saute
- add this mix to lentils, continue simmering
- add coconut milk and greens, simmer 5 minutes
- season to taste, finish with cilantro, coconut and citrus juice

a) we never have coconut milk around. Andy’s sister Heather introduced us to the magic of Pure Creamed Coconut, which when added to hot water makes basically the same taste, but it lasts longer.
b) I add the whole of the shredded coconut to the soup at the end. It makes it much more stew-like – I’ve added water to thin it, but the taste is really amazing. I’ve started telling Spencer it’s called Coconut Stew.

When served with some bread, it’s a whole protein! (lentils + grain = protein!)

I may have mentioned a few weeks ago that I made marzipan chocolates for Valentine’s Day. They were delicious. Recipe is dead simple, though I imagine most western-minded people will cringe. You can watch the video on youtube that I watched if you want.

Equal weight ground almonds and icing sugar (250g) and one egg white. I think I doubled the recipe. I also ground my own almonds (blanched variety), but you can just purchase them ground as well. Next time I’ll have to grind them longer I think.

I needed to add extra almond; I don’t know how much, but it was waaaay too sticky for my taste

There are ways of making marzipan without raw eggs, but I haven’t yet looked into them. I think there’s one that might use custard powder instead, but I can’t remember.

I told him he could only bring one car downstairs for nap.

It was one car. Just stuffed with 3 others. Cheeky kid.

Crazy brother shot.

Aunty Heather – you should be proud of your nephew – he had it down by the end of the first bowl of pasta, so I gave him cheerios. He conquered it no problem!So we ate supper with chopsticks that night. He did really well. Though…Sometimes the rice got to him.

And this – this is how I kill supper. Or at least delay it. Significantly.I have two more pictures of recipes, but I’m gonna save those for another day. Apparently it feels like too much work   Hope you found something to enjoy!

Join me and many others’ at Fine Linen and Purple‘s Me (I’m liking my red sweater lately…)

And the kids:

This one’s just because she’s smiling:

We heard the gospel of the Samaritan woman today. I love this reading; a story of isolation and exile turned into hope and community. And it is love that drives. It is Jesus’ love and his desire that no one feel lost and forgotten, especially to God the Father. And it is once again a reminder that God works through those who are weakest and most vulnerable to change the world.

1.

Andy wants me to be quick because we’ve set aside today to do our taxes. So, these are essentially his 7 Quick Takes today.

2.

Diapers. Diapers everywhere.

3.

Dishes. Too many dishes. Not enough free maid servants services.

4.

Andy feels popeless. This is what it looks like.

5.

Our microwave died again. This time by popcorn.

6.

Spencer and I (Jane) made bird feeders.

7.

Spencer has become a slug on my (Jane’s) leg. I was wondering when this would happen.