A Prayer for BI

Last May I wrote a post here about a student of mine whose mother had gone in for surgery. had complications, and went into a coma. That mother has been in the coma since and I have the student BI again this year. He has not talked a lot about the whole thing. I want to say a prayer today for BI and his family. They unplugged her from all life support yesterday. Students shed tears today. It will be a difficult time for all of us in our classroom. We care for BI and have felt a sense of loss since that time in May. We will go through this one day at a time.

Sibling Assignment #41: Do I Enjoy Rain?

Inspired by a rainstorm in Eugene this week Raymond Pert gave us this Sibling Assignment: "Do You Like or Enjoy Rain?" My answer is YES! Here is the video I put together to illustrate why I do enjoy the rain. How about you? What do you enjoy about the rain? You will find my siblings' assignments here and here soon.

A Special Delivery from Blog to Blog

My friend La Tea Dah created this beautiful framed cross-stitch as a give-away on her blog and I was the winner. Arriving home Friday and finding this package was a perfect way to end a busy week. This gift with the comforting verse surrounded by fall flowers found a spot on my hall table right away. Thanks so much again La Tea Dah.

If you haven't visited her blog Gracious Hospitality, please stop by. Her photography, recipes, words of wisdom, Bible verses, and vast knowledge of topics from drying lavender to making beeswax ornaments are just a few things that keep me reading her blog.

I stumbled across her blog when I was first deciding to design my own. I kept returned and learning more with each visit. We became blog friends and learned that we had taught at the same school at different times years ago. She left right before I came and our classrooms were side by side. We found another common thread with the dear people we both had worked with at that school and had to leave behind.

Thanks again La Tea Dah.

Happy Birthday GH and a Keeper from the Recipe Box

Our friend and neighbor GH celebrated his birthday today. When we found out he was free for dinner I put together a meatloaf comfort meal I hoped he would like. Apple crisp is an easy and favorite dessert at our house. Here is the recipe from the birthday dessert I served tonight after dinner.

Divine Apple Crisp

6 to 8 apples, peeled,sliced

1/3 cup sugar

1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon

Toss apples, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.

Arrange in a 1 1/2 qt. casserole or 9X13 pan

Combine:

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup melted butter

Mix until crumbly. Spread over apples. Bake at 350 for 45-50 min. until brown and bubbly.

from "Home Sweet Habitat, Habitat for Humanity" cookbook

Paying Attention to Grapes

When I lived in a rental years ago grapes came with the house. They were Concords and made delicious juice, jam, and jelly. It was the first thing I ever tried preserving. I was hooked.When I moved to my current home I wanted to have grapes again. When we bought small plants it was one of those times we didn't do research or pay attention to what type of grapes we purchased. I still don't know what kind of grape we have. They have lighter purple skins, lots of seeds, and when they are cooked they make a lighter jam and the flavor is not as rich as the Concords. We always have bunches of them and I do use them for jam, but they aren't like those plump grapes I had so many years ago that stained my fingers and filled my kitchen with a heady grape aroma.We have discussed pulling these up and getting what we wanted originally, but the vines are so hardy and the leaves add texture and color to that part of the garden. They provide a perfect napping place for the cats during the heat of the day in August. I think we will just keep nurturing these mystery grapes and have a lighter colored jam when I am done canning. I know grape seed extract is supposed to be good for something! Maybe I will use the food mill and do some extracting during this harvest season!

"My first act as Queen of the World will be..."

This week's Sunday Scribblings is "My first act as Queen of the World will be..." This first reminded me of Mary Engelbreit's print above " The Queen of Everything." Second it reminded me of Judith Viorst's classic poem " If I Were in Charge of the World." With apologies to Ms. Viorst I will imitate her poem with:

If I Were Queen of the World

If I were Queen of the World

I'd cancel poverty,

Work on week-ends,

Flu, colds, and also

Nasty germs.

If I were Queen of the World

There'd be brighter evenings in fall,

No cancer, and

Climbing roses forty-eight inches higher.

If I were Queen of the World

You wouldn't have abused,

You wouldn't have broken,

You wouldn't have kids without coats.

Or " Don't forget to give me a hug."

You would give lots of hugs.

If I Were Queen of the World

A double mocha with whipped cream and a double shot would be good for you.

All news on T.V. would be uplifting.

And a queen that sometimes forgot to hide her fears,

And sometimes forgot to stop the tears,

Would still be allowed to be

Queen of the World.

To find other Sunday Scribblings go here.