"Spiritual Steps To Christmas"

As a little Advent project for myself -- and just because I'd like to share a special book no longer in print, I've been typing into a blog format the book Spritual Steps To Christmas by Msgr. Aloysius F. Coogan.  There is a daily read for every day in Advent and, though it was written in the early 1950s, it's amazingly pertinent to today's world -- though I guess it should be no surprise, should it?  The truths of the Faith are eternal -- and the human condition is always... well, the human condition.  I hope you will run over and take a look, though!  If you like it, feel free to pass the word that these daily readings are available.  I love the idea that I can share the spiritual blessing of this book with the whole world through the miracle of the internet!

You will find it at:  http://veniveniemmanuel.blogspot.com/

Makes My Monday

Advent Fun!

Early season preparations are underway here -- with a twist for us,and a very fun novelty!

Come along and see!

First, just a little "hitch in the gitalong" of a Christmas expedition...

Jon, Dan and Dominic, intrepid tree hunters that they are, criss-crossed the Uncompahgre Wilderness on a quest for the perfect Christmas tree Saturday afternoon.  Armed with a Christmas tree license, a handsaw, the long-bed Dodge, a little brain and some brawn (OK, so maybe more than just a little...;o),  they were determined to find the biggest, most symmetrical tree in the Colorado high country.  Here you see the one picture the boys took of the expedition, taken when the truck got stuck in the snow.

A little bit of a snowy ditch, miles from civilization and out of cell phone range, didn't daunt  these Colorado boys, of course. They made it out of the snow, carried on with the tree hunt, and, for an eight dollar license, a little gas money, and a day in the cool fresh air, look what they came home with....

 The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever!



Approximately 11.5 feet tall!




And here they are -- Jon, Dan, and Dominic -- three happy hunters, showing off their trophy.

The biggest tree we've ever had!  In fact, this is one of very few Christmas trees we've actually had in the life of our family.  Our little farm house on the eastern prairies was just too small to fit one, so we always surrounded our Nativity with a slew of rustic faux trees.  And we were content with that.  But, in this house, with its wonderful Great Room, there's no reason not to have an elaborate Nativity and a big ole' Christmas tree, too!  And, boy oh boy, did the guys bring us home a tree! 

Now to decorate it!  The girls and I have our work cut out for us.We have basically no ornaments!  But, we do have some ideas... Hopefully, I'll be able to get some pictures on here as we work it all out.  Stay tuned!

Happy First Week of Advent, Friends! 

Make sure and run over to Cheryl's for lots more Makes My Monday Christmas season goodness!

Gave Thanks

 For Games to Play!


And Lots of Friends and Family to Play Them With!



Apples to Apples Wednesday night -- a total blast.
Anna's a reader now and can join in on this game!



Kevvy (21) playing Candy Land with the Littles
Shown here: William (5) and Anna (7)

  

Michelle and our friend Cathy G. playing chess.
(Jon, Cathy, and me in the background.)


 

William womping Kevin at MarioCart on the Wii.
(Not really.  But he thinks he can do it yet!)

 

Jon and Cathy -- doing what?  I don't know, actually.
Just being silly, I guess.


For Good Food to Eat!

More than enough for the main feast...

YUM!



Plus plenty to snitch before...



...and after the turkey.

For William!

Whose Birthday Was the 26th

And who is not just five years old.
He's "a whole hand full!"
(Or maybe I should say "handful")

For Time To Just Be Together!

I wish it had been more time! Everyone arrived Tuesday evening.
 It's Saturday night now --  and all the big kids,and  my sis, Nina,
have all left to head back to their respective stations.  We miss them already. 
The house is way too quiet all of a sudden.

Can't wait 'til Christmas!



*Sorry about the weird "boxing."  I think I know what I did wrong, but it's running late and I'm too tired to fix it... Can we just call it artsy and I'll call it a night?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best Wishes From Our House To Yours!

May Peace and Plenty Bless Your Day

Three Amazing Things -- Thanksgiving!

The Family Traditions Edition

We have a lot of holiday traditions -- some that I expect we take for granted, such as the simple fact that our house this time of year is just plain ole' packed with people: loved ones, loved ones, everywhere loved ones.  No doubt we're spoiled!  But it truly is the flip-side of having such a large family; we're never lonely at the holidays -- or ever, for that matter.  This year, though,  we're feeling deprived  because our move over the slopes has kept us from spending Turkey Day with my parents and most of my siblings, and Paul and Nicole couldn't make it home from Virginia (especially since Nicole is nine months pregnant and ready to pop!).  Alas!  But we still have nine of the children home, plus Aunt Nina and our good friend, Cathy G. who got to come home from school with Michelle for the holiday, so the numbers, though fewer are not paltry.  We are blessed and thankful.

 Other than the high base number for plate count, though, I think our Thanksgiving is fairly run-of-the-mill.  We serve all the traditional fare: turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce, creamed corn and green beans, mashed potatoes (a vat), and rolls... And pies.  Oh, boy do we have pies at Thanksgiving, thanks to a couple of children who think it's their duty every year to surpass the number of pies from the year before. 

Through the years, we've also tried to incorporate various crafts and activities to help "bring home" to the children the many graces and blessings we have to thank God for.  We've done "Thankful Trees" and decorated with an ever-changing assortment of turkeys, pilgrims, and Indians.  And each year invariably brings a new board game obsession. ( Last year it was Apples to Apples. We had such a blast with that game, I'm curious to see if anything can top it!)   But, in the flux and change as the children grow and my energy and initiative waver from year to year, there remain always  certain traditions that are tried and true, things we do that never change, and that must be observed for Thanksgiving to proceed.  Here are three:
Amazing Traditions We Love

1.  I don't actually remember when we first brought him home, but I think I found our little stuffed squirrel at a  yard sale and he's been part of our fall tradition for many years -- going back to when our big boys weren't very big.   Every autumn, starting around All Hallow's Eve, and continuing through Thanksgiving day, our little squirrel scampers through the house, looking for a hiding place.  And every morning, the little ones get up and hunt him down.  It's tradition, a rite of passage from fall to winter that we can't imagine not having part of our days.  This past summer, I found a little friend for our squirrel that I just brought out this week, and he's been flying around the house looking for places to hide at night, too. 

 Meet Tom Turkey, our newest tradition!

2.  Isn't it funny how food -- especialy sweets -- take up such a large portion of our holiday memories?  My last two Amazing Things have to do with food.  No surprise, huh?  Isn't it funny how food -- especially sweets -- take up such a large portion of our holiday memories?  Not that it's a bad thing, mind you!  It's wonderful when we can appeal to all the senses to make happy memories for our families!  For many years now (again, I have no idea how long we've been doing it!), we've taken out the Candy Squirrel every autumn.  He stays out in a prominent place through Thanksgiving, and is only put away when the Christmas decorations come out.  Traditionally, he stores coffee flavored Werther's candys, but sometimes that changes out with caramels or candy corns.  Getting to snitch a piece of candy from the squirrel is a treat, reserved for well-behaved children, and has been employed for some time as an effective bribery technique of the season.  Viva la tradition!

3. The other food-related Amazing Thing we have in our repertoire for Thanksgiving is the traditional Thanksgiving Day Apple Ring dessert.  My mother invented this treat when I was a child, and I can only give an approximation of how it's made, because I don't honestly know if it's ever been put down in print before, but I highly recommend trying it if you can lay your hands on some spiced apple rings.  They're easy, festive, and delicious!

Apple Rings Dessert

Take:

A jar or two (or three or four) of spiced apple rings
a package (or two or three) of creamed cheese
walnuts or pecans if desired, chopped
powdered sugar
vanilla or almond extract
maraschino cherries
a bed of frilly lettuce for garnish

Remove the apple rings from the jar and let drain thoroughly in a collander so they're not too drippy.  Beat softened cream cheese with approximately a half cup of powdered sugar per package of cream cheese (or to taste) and about a half teaspoon of extract. You want the mixture to "hold" when spooned out, to be firm, not runny, but not too "globby" either, if you know what I mean.   Stir in chopped nuts if your gang likes nuts. 

Then, take your apple rings ( I do this on a couple layers of paper towels to absorb any extra drippiness at this stage) and layer them with spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture: apple ring -- cream cheese -- apple ring -- cream cheese.  Then top with a maraschino cherry.  Arrange on a platter on a bed of lettuce.  The red, green and white look so pretty together and usher in the coming Christmas season!  Easy!  And yummy!

Sidenote:  I looked through all my files for a picture of these from last year, but couldn't  find one!  Durn!  I'll be sure and take a photo when we make them this year.  They're pretty easy to envision, though, I hope, for anyone who might have time and inclination to give this recipe a try...

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Simple Woman Monday

7:20 a.m. on a Monday Morning

Outside my window...  The light is pearl grey, sifting through low clouds.  A coverlet of snow lies on the ground.  The Mesa has muscled its way out of the clouds  and is showing off a mantle of snow over its dark blue shoulders.

I am hearing...  Theresa playing "Two Horn Pipe" on the piano, William and Gabe chattering and playing with an airplane Gabe made out of a kleenex box, Anna asking me to check her spelling on a paper she's bringing to her teacher about the first Thanksgiving.

I am thinking...  I'd better get a move on and get the kids to school.  It only takes five minutes to go down the driveway and around the bend to school so it's easy to take time for granted.  It's pitiful.  Here we are so close to school, and we've come perilously close to being late on more than one occasion.  How would we explain that to the Sisters?

I am wearing...   a rust-colored, wrap-bodice tee and a long black hoody sweater over my hippy-gypsy skirt.  I love this skirt; it's made of  patchwork quilt in several patterns based in black: houndstooth and buffalo checks, a couple different florals, and squares of velvet.  It's warm and cozy and goes down to my ankles.  A perfect skirt for a cold, snowy morning.  A pair of cozy moccasin boots and I'm on my way to take the kids to school.

I am wondering...  when I'll see the rest of my kiddos.  Jon drove back with Dominic and Michelle from Omaha to Denver yesterday and the story is that they are meeting up with Kevvy, who lives there now (as does Jon).  They're spending a couple of days visiting friends and relatives in town, they say, before they head over the mountains and home with my sis, Nina.  Tomorrow, I think. Weather permitting.  I'd love to have them here sooner (selfish as I am), but it's actually a good thing they're pausing on the eastern slope today because the western mountains are getting socked with a big snow storm right now.

 Praying... that it lets up before they head over tomorrow!

I'm laughing at...  William, who thought yesterday's dinner was "Slobber Joes."  And who, after belching at the dinner table said:

 Excuse me.  [pause]
That was rude. [pausepause]
And unkindly. [pausepausepause]
 And I shouldn't drink my drink up so fast. [pausepausepause]
 I'll try not to let it slip out again. [giggles from his crowd]

(And proving that this four-year-old's got the patter down cold and we don't really need to bother with correcting him, because he can do it himself.  Which is progress, I guess)

I'm planning..  Thanksgiving dinner, of course!  But I  also have to figure out how I can have Christmas 100% taken care of before I leave for Virginia on the 12th.  The plan is for me to drive back cross-country with Paul to bring their car west (as they'll be stationed in San Diego after Christmas -- and Nicole is taking my return ticket to fly back to Denver with the baby), so I won't get home until the 21st or so.  Yikes!  The challenge will be to make Christmas at home as cozy, warm, and normal as I can -- without me being here.  I'll keep you posted on what I figure out...

I'm sharing these photos... of a day in the life at our house.  Here's the rest of the family hard at work after Theresa, Anna, and Gabe headed off to school this morning. (Not pictured: me, obviously hard at work blogging and taking pictures... ;)



Cathy working on penmanship

 

Dan doing whatever it is he does (I think checking investments here)



And then there's William.  Ain't it the life? I wish I were four years old! 

Filed Under...

... I don't want to hear about it!

Now this girl seriously needs to lose some weight, don't you think?

But, get this, I caught the flu bug that was going around, and had the worst of it last weekend, but for whatever reason, my stomach just hasn't been able to get back on track, so I've hardly eaten anything for a week.  And in that time of eating significantly less food than usual, I've lost --

Are you ready?

Drumroll....


I've lost...

 all of two whole pounds.

!

Hmph.

So, well...  I guess I'm not giving up, but I must say it's downright discouraging!

I went to my naturopath and told her about my lack of weight loss problem and she said, "Welcome to the world of perimenopause."  But then she did some thyroid testing, too, so maybe that can be my new excuse. =sigh=  In the meantime, my sis, Nina and I have a pact that we will at least not gain any weight during the holidays.  Then, in the way of New Year's Resolutions...  well...  I guess we'll figure that out when the time come.  But the idea is that all the New Year's weight loss ads might get us psyched to do some real dieting.

Mmmmm...  Well, may be.

But now I have to get through Thanksgiving without gaining more than the two pounds I lost this past week.

Yeah, riiiiiight.

You know, of course, that just smelling the pies the children will be making is going to add at least two pounds to my plumpling middle-aged figure.

Again, I =sigh===

It may be a lost cause.

The Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Repost from November 19th, 2008 

(Check out how little the girls look in the photo below.  Goodness how time flies!)

One of my patron saint Elizabeths, this dear saint is one of the examples of sanctity within a happy marriage. Though betrothed to Ludwig of Thuringia when she was only four years old, and married at the tender age of fourteen, she and her husband were well matched and loved one another deeply. They had three children and were the model of wedded bliss and harmony, while being always true children of the Church, patrons of the poor, and examples of piety to all.

But, a tragedy of crosses interupts this happily-ever-after story at a heart-achingly early chapter. When Elizabeth and Ludwig's youngest child was still an infant, Ludwig was killed while fighting in the crusades, leaving Elizabeth to cruel treatment by the royal court. She was dispossessed of everything she owned, and forced to beg for herself and her children. At one time she was resigned to shelter in an abandoned pigstye, shunned by everyone. But, Elizabeth suffered all these crosses with perfect patience. She became a third order Franciscan, devoting herself to those poorer than herself, and supporting herself by hiring out her skill in spinning. Her constant goal through her troubles remained always her eternal reward ~ and the promise of resting in Christ, reunited with her beloved husband in heaven.

She died at the age of 24, in the year 1231.

She is the patron saint of: bakers; beggars; brides; Catholic charities; charitable societies; charitable workers; charities; countesses; death of children; exiles; falsely accused people; Franciscan Third Order; hoboes; homeless people; hospitals; in-law problems; lacemakers; lace workers; nursing homes; nursing services; people in exile; people ridiculed for their piety; Sisters of Mercy; tertiaries; Teutonic Knights; toothache; tramps; widows.

Celebrating the day:

One of the legends of St. Elizabeth is that of the miraculous roses. Most of us are familiar with this image in St. Elizabeth's iconography. The story goes that Elizabeth was bringing bread to the poor and was surprised by her husband, who (for some reason) disapproved of this practice. When he commanded her to show him what she carried in her basket, the bread she had baked for the poor was miraculously transformed to roses, and at this obvious proof of his wife's sanctity, Ludwig was converted. This is not likely to be a true story, as Ludwig is known to have been a pious Catholic, supportive of his wife's openly giving to the poor. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful legend, and one that inspires the tradition of baking bread on this day.


Here is a great picture-filled bread making tutorial we found for beginners.

But, today at our house, I think we'll make Theresa and Cathy's Easy Breadsticks.

**Since St. Elizabeth spun for a living, it would also be appropriate to practice any of the "yarn arts" today in her honor.

Knitting and crocheting, besides being practical and fun womanly arts, can be applied to the corporal works of mercy.


You can find details about crocheting for preemies at the Crochet Cabana or the Preemie Project. Or you can contact your local children's hospital for details on specifics there. We are personally grateful to the sweet ladies who crocheted the teeny tiny hats donated to the NICUs where four of our children spent their first days of life!

If knitting and crocheting are not your thing (we're really not very good at it at our house), here is a wonderful, simple pattern for making soft little blankets for preemies. No sewing involved! We made these for all or our babies in the NICU, and noted that many were donated to the other children there. The skin of preemies is so very tender, that all but the softest knitted or crocheted things irritate, so these soft fleece blankets are ideal.
Crafting for a Cause is a site directory for all things charitable ~ from making blankets for the elderly in nursing homes to knitting teddy bears for policemen to carry in their cars for emergencies involving children.

And, last but not least...

Prayers for widows and widowers are very appropriate for the day, as are prayers for the homeless. And here is a Litany of St. Elizabeth.


PS~ I almost forgot! Run over to Charlotte's at Waltzing Matilda for a coloring page!

Turkeys,Turkeys, Everywhere!

And not a one to eat!

A few of the turkeys hanging around our house these days:

Here's the Elvis Turkey on the Fridge (by Cathy)
This is a foot and hand turkey.  See how it's made?

These next two, I just drew the turkeys' bodies and snipped out a bunch of feathers for the little boys to glue in place.   



Gabey made this one and had me help him with some spelling for the sign
he wanted to make for it.  Can you see what it says?  "I was born on Thanksgiving.
I am a mean turkey.  My name is Bob.  Don't eat me."





Gabe's turkey gave William the idea for this turkey's sign, dictated to Mommy:

Can you believe it? Only seven crafting days until Thanksgiving!

Here are a handful of simple projects we'd like to fit in:  

Here's a print-out turkey to color, cut, and paste.

An easy origami-style turkey can be found here.

Thee cutest printout Thanksgiving pinwheel can be found here.

 I LOVE, LOVE the squirrel and acorn Thanksgiving theme shown here.

(If I can get my printer working, I'm definitely printing out little "Chippy" the squirrel for placecards)

And here's the turkey we'll be making in art class Friday at the children's school.

Three Amazing Things

The Husband Edition

First, many thanks to Heather over at Faith, Fun, and Family for getting my butt self in high gear.  I appreciate her reminder about the Amazing Things posts -- and her idea for a topic is perfect, and appreciated, since I forgot to post one over the weekend.  Woops.  Sorry.   I've been more-than-usual absent-minded this week, as I'm still trying to fight a flu that seems to have grabbed on and won't let go. To tell you the truth, it's been amazing that the children have somehow managed to be fed, clothed, and to school on time this week. Which segways perfectly into the topic of the day...

Three things I find  amazing about my better half:

1.  Dan has never felt it was beneath him or outside his realm to participate 100% in the raising of our children or in the keeping of our home. Through all ten children he's taken his turn at diaper duty and late night floor-walking with criers.  He cheerfully pitches in to wash dishes and do other housekeeping duties that might need to be done if he's the one available to do it.  He gets a bang outof grocery shopping because he considers the challenge of finding the best deal better than big game hunting, I think.   And, I hate to admit it, but I think he may be a  better cook than I am.  (Just don't tell him I said so.)  The only thing he won't do is choose clothes for the children to wear or brush the little girls' hair.  And we're all good with that.

2.  My husband rubs my back.  Every night. 

3.  The guy is just -- unexpected.  Dan has always reminded me a little of the stories you hear told of St. Thomas Aquinas.  There is way more beneath the surface of the man than anyone would ever guess.  He's not a big talker, and tends to be somewhat slow and methodical in his ways, so if you didn't know better, you'd might think he was dull; you might not expect much.  But, like St. Thomas, he's a man well worth taking the time to know.  Smart.  Oh, my word.  He doesn't broadcast it, but he's got an edge on most anybody in the areas of politics, economics, and Catholic philosophy.  But, what's more important,  I never met anyone as nice as Dan.  He's just plain old good.  He can't help it; it's just in his bones.  I don't believe I've ever heard him badmouth another human being and his first inclination is to give others the benefit of the doubt.  Without a word of complaint, he sacrifices most everything he can give for others, from his time given to teach at the school -- to giving in to the children's choice of movies  to watch -- to giving his best pair of church pants to one of our sons because the son mentioned he needed some.   He is generous to a fault.  And more generous and forgiving with me than he probably should be.

My husband amazes me.  He humbles me.  I don't deserve this man.

(I love you, Dan.)

If you'd like to join in, please feel free!  No linky, but I'll add you here

next to:

Heather at Faith Fun and Family

November poem

November

by John Updike

The stripped and shapely

Maple grieves

The ghosts of her

Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,

As hard as stone.

The year is old,

The birds are flown.

And yet the world,

In its distress,

Displays a certain

Loveliness---

Makes My Monday

Paul and Nicole at the  annual Marine Corps Birthday  Ball in Richmond, Virginia.

The History of the Ball

The Marines have marked the anniversary of the "chartering" of the Marines since the inception of the Corps in 1775, but the formal tradition of marking the event with a ball has only been around since the early n1920s, when  Major Edwin McClellan, who was in charge the Corps' historical department, sent a memorandum to Commandant John A. Lejeune, suggesting the Marines’ original birth date of November 10 be declared a Marine Corps holiday.  Lejeune responded with the following memorandum:

MARINE CORPS ORDERS

No. 47 (Series 1921)
HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS
Washington, November 1, 1921

759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.

1.On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

2.The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and is the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

3.In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine" has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.

4.This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.

JOHN A. LEJEUNE,
Major General Commandant

As you might guess, the Marines, a group of men given to tradition and ceremony, were on board  about the formal reading of this tribute from the get-go  -- and the troops were even more enthusiastic about organizing an annual party to accompany the reading. It was in 1925, then, that the first formal ball was held, and on different bases throughout the world the men organized celebrations that ranged from the almos- always-present formal ball to mock battles, musical performances, pageants, and sports contests.
 
In 1952 Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.decided that there should be a standardized celebration throughout the Marines and outlined the now essential cake cutting ceremony.  Traditionally, the first slice of cake at any Marine Corps Birthday  Ball  is given to the oldest Marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest Marine, symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing their knowledge to the new generation of Marines.  A reading of Marine Corps Order 47 (above) is read every year, as well as a message from the current Commandant, and, whenever possible, a banquet with dancing is included in the celebration.  To recognize the historical context of the day, a pageant of current and historical Marine Corps uniforms is often held, as well.  The tradition of the celebration of the birth of the Marines is an important part of the corps; Marines throughout the world mark the day, regardless of where they may, even in deprived environments or combat. 

It's a big deal!

Back at Our Homefront...

On November 10th of this year (a little over a week ago), our Marine son, Paul, and his wife, Nicole, were delighted to attend the Marine Ball in Richmond,  (they're currently finishing out the first segment of Paul's Officer's Training in Quantico).  That same Saturday, we were in Denver and I had met up with son #3, Jon, to catch a movie and take him for some "essentials" shopping (read: mandatory-annual-mom-says-you-probably-need-socks-and-underwear shopping excursion). 

So, Jon and I were heading into W-mart, and  I was texting back and forth with Nicole, who was at the Ball in Virginia -- when entering the store just ahead of us we spied a dashing young Marine -- a tall, handsome redhead -- in his dress blues and his pretty little date in a formal gown.  You know of course I had to run over and say hello to him, and, of course, as all Marines are, he was sweet and respectful, and happy to talk to the mother of another Marine, no matter what my son thought.   Jon, you see, is a reserved melancholic and not a nosy sanguine like  his mother, and he was more inclined to hide in the socks than stay and chat with a stranger...  but I grabbed his elbow and dragged him with me.  'Cause I'm just that kind of pushy mother. ;)

 Anyway.

It turns out the Marine and his date were on their way to a nearby hotel to celebrate the Marines' birthday at the Denver equivalent of Paul and Nicole's event and he really was excited to hear about my son doing the same thing back on the east coast.   He also told me he was shipping out to Afghanistan in two weeks.  And I told him I would keep him in my prayers.  The only thing is, I forgot to ask him his name.  So, in heaven, they're hearing about him as "that tall, handsome, redheaded Marine."  (Would you mind saying a prayer for him, too?)
 
 
Anyway ---  Before I go.  Here's something else that makes my Monday...

Our beautiful Nicole, and our grandson, Gavin...

who is due on  December 15th.

One month from today!!

(I've already got my ticket to Virginia, btw.)

For more Makes My Monday posts, run over to Cheryl's!

Because Fried Eggs and Bacon Go So Well With Coffee

(And because a couple people asked)

How To Care For Cast Iron 

I. Before you use your cast iron, make sure it's well seasoned.
   Sometimes -- in fact, most often if you buy your cookware new -- it will come already seasoned.  However, if you inherit it, or if you get it at a thrift store or garage sale (great places to find cast iron!), you'll likely need to give it some "lovin."  Very often people give away their cast iron because they haven't learned how to take care of it themselves.  But (HA!) their loss is our gain.

So, here's what you do. 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 and put a sheet of tin foil (or two), a little bigger than the size of your pan on the middle rack.
2. Using the cheapest oil you can -- don't waste your good olive oil -- coat the bottom of your pot or pan with a thin layer of liquid oil (If you're using Crisco, melt it first).  It should be more than a "spraying" of oil and less than a puddle.
3.  Turn your cookware upside-down over the aluminum foil and let it bake for 1 hour.
4.  After an hour, turn the oven off and let the pan slowly cool inside the oven.  This takes a couple of hours.  Then you're set to cook.

II.  Now that your cast iron is seasoned, there are certain measures it's important to take in order to keep the seasoning.

First, what not to do:

1.  Never, ever wash your cast iron with soap.  I know this is counter-intuitive, but the process of oiling and heating your pans kills any bacteria.  And soap will literally wash off your seasoning and cause your cast iron to rust.
2.  Never soak your cast iron, as this will also wash off your seasoning.
3.  Never take a hot pan and put it directly into water.  Let it cool before washing.

Now what you should do:

To wash
1.  Always scrape your pan well for cleaning, removing all debris from all the sides.  You can use a good metal spatula for this, a spoon, or something like my favorite little scraper gadget, shown here.
2. Wash with plain, lukewarm water.  Scrub with a wire scrub  brush or an abrasive sponge if needed.
3. Then dry thoroughly with a dish towel.  Avoid drip drying.

To cook
1. Either right after washing and drying or right before cooking, give your cookware a good coating of cooking spray or a rub of Crisco or other such grease. 
2.  When beginning to cook, heat your pan slowly, allowing the grease to "settle" in your pan. Avoid bringing your pan to a high heat too quickly.

A well cared-for set of cast iron can be a family heirloom, lasting many many years.  It's easy today, being used to supposedly non-stick pots and pans, to think that we shouldn't have to spend any care on our cookware.  But, seriously, how long has a non-stick pan ever lasted in your house?  Unless you are the most meticulous of cooks (Monk-like) and/or you don't cook much, the non-stick doesn't last more than a couple of years.  In our house, it's even less.  It scrapes and peels off eventually, no matter how much I warn our cooks to use the rubber spatulas.  We've tried many brands over the years, from the least to the most expensive, but we always come back to the old cast iron.

It takes  just  a few seconds more attention to grease the pans, and only a little detour from the norm to remember not to wash with soap.  And it's lovely to use the good, solid, thin-edged metal spatulas with no prick of conscience whatsoever.  We think it's worth the effort.  I expect my children to fight over who gets these pans in the will someday.  Especially the beloved Egg Skillet. (Shown left)

Check it out.  Just the right size for a two or three-egg breakfast.  Over easy, a little salt and pepper.  Side of toast with butter.  And a cup of coffee.

 Perfection.