L is for Living Things

My favorite part about spring here on the plains is the dramatic transformation from brown (and I mean everything, even my "ever-green" Rocky Mountain Cedars turn brown!) to GREEN. A month ago we were having our last snow storm, and now everything is green and growing. We have had some good rain, and even our corn field is sprouting.  This week I finished planting the last of my garden, while the things I planted first begin to really shoot up. 

We always plant radishes in the first round, just because they grow so fast. In only 4 weeks they are nearly big enough to harvest. My peas are finally up (maybe too late), and the lettuce is looking good! We've had unseasonable cool weather, so the lettuce is actually happy. Most years in June I'm already worried the heat will cause it to "bolt". My asparagus is feathered out, and the green onions are thick. The potatoes are finally above ground, and should be ready for hilling in a couple more weeks. 

Also sprouting:

• broccoli
• beets
• second round of radishes
• garlic
• corn
• beans

This week we planted from seed:

• cucumbers
• cabbage
• watermelon
• pumpkins (3 kinds)
• cantaloupe
• more corn

New plants from the garden center:

• Peppers: Anaheim, Santa Fe, jalapeno, habanero
• Tomatoes: cherry, early girl, bush, and roma. 

The best part about this past month has been the new growth in my heart. After a long dry spell of feeling very lonely and lost spiritually, I've been having a spring of my own. I'd really been struggling with a hunger for the Word, but not really getting into it. I went a little overboard and joined up with three different book/Bible studies. I'm reading through 1,000 Gifts with some homeschool mom friends, and also Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe* with some other moms. By far they most rewarding has been A Woman After God's Own Heart®* , by Elizabeth George. I can't fill the pages of my prayer journal fast enough as the Lord speaks to me in a million ways each day. I know we can't always live in the springtime, and there will be summer scorchers ahead. But I'm so thankful to be drinking from the cool banks of a River that will never run dry.

Linking today:

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G is for Graduations

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This photo is a treasure to me. When I graduated with my associates degree, my grandfather was able to present me with my diploma. He had been a professor at that same school years before, and they invited him to do the honors. It was a special day.

I have my associates degree in business and accounting. When I attended my Doula training in Philadelphia, they asked what my major was. . . The response: "You were really running from this calling weren't you?!" :)

If I went back to school now, I don't know if I'd go for elementary ed. for teaching my kids, nursing for more Doula knowledge, or finish my business degree. Even so, I'm sure I've learned more in life than I ever did in school.

My, then-fiancee / now-husband, took this photo:

Grandpa Virgil, me, and Grandma Bettie

Over the next several weeks we have many graduation related events to attend. There will be a pinning ceremony, several graduations, and receptions. Nearly two or three every weekend. My head is spinning. I've been surfing pinterest to find grad gift ideas. The year I graduated from college, a family from our church gave me a copy of Stepping Heavenward by E. PRENTISS. It is a fictional diary of a young girl all through her life as she grows in the knowledge of the Lord. This book was a complete hit with me, and spoke into my life in so many ways. It has become my go-to grad gift for girls. I'm still looking for a good gift book for boys, so it may hay have to be gift cards for now. :)

So what is your favorite grad gift to give?

Linked:

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com *This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy. *

C is for Cabbage Burgers

Recipe originally posted in March 2012, I've updated with changes I've tried out this year. MUCH better dough! Faster time too.

I did not invent this recipe, but it is my version of what was given to me. :) Tweaked with the advice of my dear German Grandma, Lydia. The smell of onion cooking takes me right back to her kitchen. this month would have been her 99th birthday. It's been a bit more than 3 years since she left us, and I miss her lots. How else would I have learned to love sauerkraut enough to brave trying it on apples? ;) The following recipe has nothing to do with that. ;)

Cabbage Burgers

Dough:
 8 cups all-purpose flour (plus 2-3 cups for kneading)
2 tbsp. yeast  [I used SAF Instant, worked wonderfully]
4 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. salt
4 cups hot water (120-130 degrees)

mix dry ingredients well and slowly add warm water, until a good dough forms. Knead and add flour as needed (until not sticky) for about 8 minutes and put aside in a warm place to rise for 20 minutes. That's it!

Filling:
   1 and 1/2 lbs ground beef, browned with
   1 onion diced
season with salt and pepper to taste
   add 6 to 7 cups finely chopped cabbage (1/2 a large head, or one small head)
mix with meat and onion mixture and let cook until only slightly wilted. The cabbage will finish cooking in the oven.

Divide dough in four parts, each rolls out to make 6 squares (make a rectangle and cut). Spoon cabbage mixture in the middle of each square, and pull in the corners of each to make a square pocket. Turn over and let rise in a greased pan until double, then bake at 350 until golden brown.

A variation my husband loves, is to omit the meat and cook the cabbage with lots of black pepper, until it is completely caramelized. Then wrap with dough and bake as above. Very yummy, very spicy. Something akin to Hungarian Cabbage Strudel, which I also plan to try sometime in the future. But that is another post all-together. :)

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

"V" is for Van Gogh

Back in September, a homeschool-mom-friend of mine embarked to arrange group tickets for students to see the Becoming Van Gogh  Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. As a world exclusive exhibit, it was an awesome thing to have an opportunity to see. Given the long lines and the crowds we encountered, I'm amazed we got in at all. I'm so thankful for my friend arranging it! In anticipation, we ordered the Usborne Children's book of Art and worked through it daily so we would have the book finished just before we went. Tyler loved the Van Gogh painting Sunflowers, and even made a sketch of it for me. Considering how much Tyler struggles with artistic pursuits, I was seriously impressed. We really loved this book as a prep introduction to art before our big trip to the museum.

I carpooled with my dear sister (in-law) and my neices and nephew. That made it even more fun! After the 4 hour drive, we arrived in  Denver around 11 and easily found parking. We enjoyed a self guided audio tour where the kids could tune in to more audio explanations of each piece that were right on their level. As grown ups we could listen to more in-depth critiques and about Van Gogh's life as he evolved as an artist. There's an excellent write-up about the exhibit here on the Denver Post.com.

I don't have any photos from the exhibit, as photography was prohibited. Honestly, I didn't want to photograph the art, but the adorable way the children were interacting with it. Imagine my 6 year old nephew, seated before The Potato Eaters, pondering the audio descriptions of how Van Gogh admired their hard-working hands. I wasn't sure how my littlest children would enjoy the exhibit, so I only took my older two, and they enjoyed it immensely. Experiencing it with them on a more one-on-two ratio was also really enjoyable for me.

After a lunch in the park across from the museum, we went back and enjoyed the rest of the Denver Art Museum, or at least what we could see in an afternoon. I must admit I was a bit jealous of the museum guards on each floor who I'm sure got to see it all much more in detail...

My cousin, Kate, who lives in Denver, met us there and served to help us find the most interesting points quickly. We moved quickly through some areas, and more slowly through others, but overall I know I could easily take a week there and not take it all in. A few highlights:

Classical Art

Modern Art

Another of my favorite parts of the trip was the architecture of the museum. The original Denver Art Museum is tall and unique, and we found the windows offered views that nearly competed as framed works of art. But the newer addition of the Duncan Pavilion and the Hamilton Building, really completed the picture going from ancient art to modern. Coming from a flat wide open prairie life, my children and I are always amazed at the city sky-line anyway.

holding up the roof on the Hamilton Building

It was well worth the visit, and when the other two are a bit older, I look forward to going again, and seeing what new and amazing exhibits will be available then. I was impressed by the collection they had brought in from around the world, and I expect great things in the future.

Originally Posted 11/4/12

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"R" is for Recipes!

My Favorite Recipe Posts of 2012:

Cabbage Burgers

Chocolate PB Crunch bars

Cuban Bread

Dairy Free: Ham and Potato Chowder

Donuts

Easy Overnight Yogurt

Fried Chicken (and how to prepare a chicken)

Home-Made Chicken Broth

Home-Made Granola

Lemon Bars

Sweet and Saltines

Two Chili Recipes (scroll to end of post)

Using Dry Beans

And there will be more in 2013. 

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Click here to read her post: "R is for.... Retreat!"