How I spent my Saturday Morning

Ethan’s class has been growing celery grass in their science class for the past few months and this morning we planted them at Mason Neck on the Potomac.  The grasses are important producers, habitat and erosion control.  By planting these submerged aquatic vegetation, we are helping the Chesapeake Bay heal.  It is pretty exciting…and fun.

The Crown

It all started when Ethan casually noticed in the car on Monday, “Hey mom…you gotta lotta grey hair!”  To which Riley retorted, “And you’re the one who gave ‘em to her.”  A statement which I strongly disagreed with.  Imagine a 13 year old girl trying to pin her momma’s grey hair on someone else!  Brilliant strategy.  But completely incorrect. 

Grey hair appears on my head independent of my children's behavior, health status, or school performance.  It’s not the soft, silver grey kind either – these guys don’t know how to stay in their place, all squiggly and pokey-outty.  I would have to use a gallon of hairspray to make them behave if I actually styled my hair.  As it is, they get away with craziness since I ‘m more of a brush-n-go kinda gal.

It is my firm conviction that, as the Bible clearly states in Proverbs, my grey hair is a crown.  (At which point you should imagine me making “the crown” hand motions like Sandra Bullock in that FBI beauty pageant movie.)  I do seem to get a larger crown every time we move, but a crown none the less.  The squiggly, pokey-outtiness just adds interest. 

And tonight Ethan prayed that I wouldn’t be so stressed out at the dinner table.  I sense a theme here.

Phone surprises

On one of my many trips to the airport, Riley got ahold of my phone. And left me some blessings.

I feel like a hippy whenever I make these…

I was so excited when I found this recipe on King Arthur’s website.  Reading recipes is one of my favorite hobbies.  I like it almost as much as cooking and eating the new recipes I find.  And since I am trying to get you back into my kitchen I thought I’d share this relatively new find.
The description on the recipe places it in the hippie genre, more specifically in the “back to the land” era.  It made itself at home among the granola and banana bread I made today.  I won’t bore you with the play by play for this recipe, you can check it out at King Arthur Flour here.

Discover for yourself why these are called Morning Glory Muffins.  Three whole carrots and an apple went into these…not to mention the flaxseed, coconut, and orange juice!
(I did change a few things with this recipe.  I used flaxseed instead of wheat germ and unsweetened for the sweetened coconut.  I also used only one egg, substituting ground flaxseed soaked in 1/4 cup water for one of the eggs and 1/2 banana mashed for the other omitted egg.  In previous editions of this muffin I have also used apple juice instead of orange juice, they were great!)

Its Mother’s Day

And everyone is going to bed early.  We have had a busy few weeks and I think this weekend finally caught up with everyone.  Here is what has been happening on the Munshower Homestead:

1. We sold our house.  We close in July.

2.  Riley was the lead role in a play at school.  She was terrific!

3.  Ethan’s last football game was this weekend…he ran for two touchdowns.  His legs are lightening fast!

4. In the past month I have been to the airport eleven times.  I might be Super Shuttles biggest competition.

5.  We found a house we like and have put an offer on it.  I will let you know what comes of that.

6.  The slugs are making quick work of my garden. Again.  Time to put on my Sluganator boots and go to work tonight.

7.  We had a great time with Michele and Izzy when they came for a visit.  Next up, Heather and her family.

8.  I don’t have an 8 but it comes after 7, so here it is.

9.  I just finished Bringing It To The Table by Wendell Berry…I think the librarian was planning to wrestle it out of my hands the next time I tried to renew the book.  So I made time to read.  (You should read this book too.  Really.  It will change your food life.)

10.  I decided that I will miss weeding in Virginia.  It is soooo much easier than weeding in Florida.  But I will get a longer growing season – more home grown produce for me!

First bloom

I'm glad to see these antique roses happy...when I planted them last year I wasn't sure there was enough sun to keep them blooming. I hope they bless the new owners of my house!

Dessert Date

While Riley was busy at a youth meeting Ethan and I headed to a local place for dessert. I'm not sure why he looks so angry at his homemade ice cream sandwich, but he is nine...there is a lot I don't understand.
This I do understand: he glories in his physical abilities, struggles to control his passions, lights up when he talks about Jesus, grows like a weed when loved and encouraged. He reminds me a bit of myself at that age.