Wednesday Thoughts

While drinking a cup of coffee in the quiet/dim hour nearing 6am, I managed to eat two blueberry muffins.  All while pa rousing pinterest.  And I didn't even realize it.  I hate that.

I'm going to try one of these dinners- pasta and vegetables and water all in one pot?!  It seems kinda crazy.  But we've harvested two zucchini's, so it seems like a good way to use 'em up!

Not day goes by that my husband and I neglect to talk about our future "jobs"- what do we really want to be?  We still don't know, anyway, but we still use everyday to find it.  Yesterday, I got a text saying "I hear Knoxville has some really beautiful country".  Oh, Jesse.

Molly has suddenly developed some sort of modesty- what?!  I mean it, she asks for "privacy" now when using the potty.  Of course, she's not yet 3, so she can't wipe herself, which means we're close by.  But the thought?!  This young?!  It's kind of said, you know.  "Privacy".  Sheesh.

I posted this amazingly comforting coffee picture, because it's kind of a hint to my husband (who doesn't read my blog), to get me a chemex for my birthday.  I've got a french press- which I use daily at work.  And a regular old drip coffee pot.  But doesn't that Chemex look so dreamy?  I want one. 

I love having Wednesday off, each week.  I'm still deciding if it's the best way, though, with a baby coming.  Should I shorten all the days by a couple of hours instead?  Which is best for a baby and a new big sister toddler?  Do we ever really know?  I think I'll always be robbed by Mom guilt and question my parenting daily, multiple times.  I guess this is normal.

 And Molly will be three- 3! In just a short month.  How this happened I'll never know.  But she'll be three.  Of course, she wants to ride a horsey, eat a pink cake, and wear a dress.  That's it.  I like that about her- no mention of "stuff" (minus the cake, but that doesn't count).  And of course, the dress doesn't have to be fancy.  You should see what she picks out to wear these days!  Oh, that's the other thing- she wants to pick out her own clothes!  And she wants privacy?  Ahh, three is the new thirteen, apparently.

Onto Wednesday, I hope it's a great one!

Image.

Ethan's Baptism

 

 

 

 I'm a Godmother, again!  If I haven't said this before-  I love being an aunt.  I love having sisters who have babies.  It's really, really fun stuff.  And this weekend, I'm privileged to become my newest nephew, Ethan's, Godmother. 

And if I also haven't mentioned, our family is truly blessed with my Dad's cousin, Father David.  There's nothing like having a family member to really personalize our services, especially in light of the growing number of children!  We're always glad to come together for such a sweet occasion.

Molly, the little "mommy" herself, was in her glory on Sunday, with so many little ones to tend to.  Noah will gladly accept her hugs and kisses, and even Ethan was happy to see her.  We're just so excited for her to become a big sister.  Even now, shes asks about her baby brother or sister everyday.  And the best part- she really doesn't care either way- boy or girl.  "'How's my baby doing in there, mummy?'  Growing really big, Molly, and kicking away!  'That's good (pats my belly)- keep  growing, baby, until you're so big (sticking her belly way out) so you can come out! And I can hold you!'"   It's really fun, being her Mommy.

Blueberry Peach Rustic Tart

The blueberries are ready in Pennsylvania!   We spend hours picking, cleaning, tasting and baking these little beauties.  I've always been a fan of berry picking.  And baking.


I had a few ripe peaches and quarts of fresh blueberries, so after a few delicious pins, I decided to make a tart- basically a short cut pie, in my case.  I've seen it pinned as a galette, but I'm not really fancy enough for "galette".  Thus, it's a rustic tart.   A pie crust that's slapped onto a cookie sheet, filled with fruit, and edges folded over to partly cover the top.  Easy, peasy.

 

Blueberry Peach Rustic Tart

Recipe makes 2 small (8") tarts

1 1/3 cup flour

1 1/3 cup cornmeal

2 tblsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 sticks salted butter, cold and cubed

6- 8 tblsp ice cold water 

3 peaches, sliced

4 cups blueberries

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

juice of 1 lemon

For the crust:

   Combine cornmeal and flour with sugar and nutmeg.  Using a pastry cutter, cut in cold butter cubes until flour mixture resembles small peas.  Slowly, 1 tblsp at a time, add cold water until a dough begins to form.  Shape dough into a disc.  Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

 When chilled, preheat oven to 400 F.  Roll out into circle, fill with fruit.

For the filling:

 Slice peaches (I left the skins on).  Toss peaches and blueberries with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon.  Add filling to the center of the rolled dough, leaving at least a two inch border.  Gently fold the excess dough over the center of the filling as far as it will extend.  Brush crust with egg wash (1 egg, 2 tblsp whole milk), sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 400F for 35-40 minutes, until filling is bubbly and crust is golden brown.

Cool for 20 minutes.

Serve warm (with ice cream or whipped cream, if you're at my house!)

For a dose of reality, this is what the rest of my table looked like while I was taking these pictures:

Recipe from this site, I adjusted it (didn't have thyme) slightly.