Bringing in Spring.

70* and sunny. Can I get an "Amen"?

It's been such a long winter, I'm so happy to see spring!

Now the challenge... Trying to bring it inside.

Here is what I came up with for the shelves in my kitchen.

BOTTOM SHELF:

(right) - A nest Big Z found on a walk.

(left) - Feathers and some apple tree twigs tied with raffia.

MIDDLE SHELF:

 - Apple tree twigs, tulips, and daffodils picked by EZ$.

 - A little bitty turtle shell we found on a walk last summer. You never know what you'll find while walking in the country.

TOP SHELF:

- Tulips in an antique sugar bowl found at the "G W Boutique."

[Big Mama]

Feathering our nest.

We have a dozen chicks.

We are all in love.

With out any further delay, here is their formal introduction:

Father Abraham came home from work today announcing that his chick is going to be named "Loverdale." I promise, folks, I don't make this stuff up.   

L O V E  this guy. (His partner, Tonto, is only a day old and is too small for a photo shoot -- but his picture will be posted as soon as it is safe to play with him)

Leave it to EZ$ to pick out the "Black Sex Link" chicken. Really that is the name of the breed, look it up. Ironically, she doesn't walk, she struts. And if you ask me, this chick has got it going on.

Lavonne is the name of my grandma... And we thought Louise complimented Lavonne well.

When my grandpa was a boy one of his chickens suffered from frostbite on its foot. So the name "Frozen Foot" came to be. Him being unable to speak clearly he pronounced it "Posey Put."

Father Abraham decided on their names in honor of his father-in-law's imaginary golf partners Arlo T. Smoot and the Doogan twins (Mandrake, and Sherlock). The sad part is his "friends" usually beat him. ;)

We have three more that are not pictured. They are only a day old and it is not safe to handle them... But they will be up within the week.

-[Big Mama]

What's up, chicken butt?

And so it begins.

Say hello to our newest members of the family.

Formal introductions to follow (along with more pictures). 

[Big Mama]

Brotherly Love.

Poor little Pancho is sick. The yucky kind of sick. The not hold anything down for 24 hours sick. The coming out both ends sick.

While Big Mama was busy taking care of Pancho, EZ$ made quick work of a "get well" card. Complete with rainbows, balloons, and hearts.

Do you like the background? EZ$'s artistic side is emerging. 

"Take the picture on my bed, Sis!" 

"You sure? We could take the picture downstairs on the table... Yeah, I think thats a good idea."

"No, I like the cowboys!"

For those who cannot read "little boyish" it says, "I love you, Silas(Pancho). I hope you feel better. Love, Eli(EZ$)"

-The Girl.

Tip: Vinegar.

If you haven't figured out by now, we live out in the country.

That means we not only can with our jars... We drink from them.

Don't judge.

One downer about being out here is that we have really hard water. After a while our glasses start to look like this.

But I stumbled upon a solution for our problem in an old canning book I found at a garage sale: vinegar. Long known for its cleaning properties, a warm water vinegar bath makes them look as good as new (we've also used this on some glassware we've found while junkin').

 The book says to do a certain ratio, but I just dump a generous half a cup of vinegar into a sink filled with warn water and a little soap. Let them soak for a couple minutes, then scrub and rinse.

Also, there is this scrubbing sponge called "Sterling's." 

It's magic. Pure magic.

It can get everything off of anything.

It's a staple in this house.

Happy cleaning.

[Big Mama]

Do you know the muffin man?

I do.

His name is Father Abraham(... has many sons. And many sons has Father Abraham).

This morning, we made delicious blueberry scones.

Not to be rude or say names... but it blew Starbucks' scones out of the water.

(click to enlarge.)

((Out numbered is not responsible for any drooling stains due to the yumminess of this picture... you were warned.))

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces

2/3 - 3/4 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

A handful of frozen blueberries

Number one:

Preheat oven to 400*, make sure that the rack is in the middle of the oven.

Number two:

Mix all of the dry ingredients together(flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt). Once the dry ingredients are mixed, add in the small chunks of butter. The mix should look like course crumbs.

Number three:

Next, add the buttermilk and vanilla extract. DO NOT over mix. As soon as the dough comes together, stop.

Number four:

Put dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it. Add in the frozen blueberries. Continue to knead until it is thoroughly mixed.

Number five:

Make little "rounds" of dough, about 1 inch thick and two wide. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Brush a litte buttermilk over the top of each and then sprinkle on a little sugar.

Number six:

Put in the oven for 2o minutes.

Cool, and enjoy!

(Makes 6-8 scones.)

-The Girl... and Father Abraham.

I want to long savor whatever this day holds.

Today I sat. Sat before the Lord, sat in the midst of this crazy good life.

God has really been laying on my heart in multiple ways the importance of living in the present. Not just physically but fully.

I'm coming to the realization of the quickness of time. The fleeting moments that will soon past. Recognizing this time is a gift, and giving thanks.

Jesus' mother, Mary, "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart," (Luke 2:19). May this be the cry of my heart. I don't want to be so caught up in the little things -- laundry, messy rooms, uncleaned counters -- to neglect treasuring these moments, knowing that Batman and a wooden boat won't long keep his attention.

"The real problem of life is never a lack of time.

The real problem of life - in my life - is lack of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks - take the 'just one loaf,' say it is enough, and give thanks (John 6:11) - and He miraculously makes it more than enough." - Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

From the heart of [Big Mama].