Monday Morning Musings Vol. V

Right now... it's almost noon. I'm mulling over whether I should fight for my job at the parish or resign quietly.

This past weekend... was interesting. On Saturday I was called and informed that my husband was in the emergency room from a "farming accident." How's that to make your knees go weak and your heart completely stop? As it turned out, he'd caught his little finger on the baler and nicked the end of the bone, requiring stitches and a splint. By the time I got to the hospital (mind you, they waited 45 minutes to call me!) he had already been discharged. I knew it was a "minor injury," but we both joked later that our hopes of a distraught-adoring-wife-racing-into-the-hospital-and-ignoring-the-nurse's-cries-that-no-visitors-are-allowed-so-she-could-race-to-his-side-and-wipe-his-brow scene were dashed by the quick turnover time.

My poor darling. He's such an example to me. An injury like that would've sidelined me for a month; I've got such a low pain tolerance and high sympathy garnering needs. He hasn't muttered so much as an "ouch" and besides requesting BBQ and homemade ice cream, he hasn't hammed this up at all! It's expected that he will have a full recovery.

On Sunday we went to the park at the river, got snowballs, and um... OH YEAH, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!  Our baby chicks have arrived!

Some plans for this week:  Keep the chicks alive. Cherry harvest (starts tomorrow or Wednesday) and all the prep-work that entails.

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... there won't be any time for myself this week.

Special prayer intentions: For a smooth cherry harvest (and in thanksgiving for the miraculous cessation of rain). For the meeting on Wednesday at the church. For my husband's finger, and for my friend in the Holy Land to continue there in safety.

Something that makes me smile: Howard, the baby dark brown chick (below) with the fuzzy head.

This post is graciously hosted by Patch O' Dirt Farm.

All the Difference in the World

"Behold the heart that has loved men so much, and is loved so little in return."

As we near another milestone in our marriage, I invariably become a little downcast about our as yet unfulfilled dream of little hands and feet around the dinner table. Chubby cheeks, dimpled fingers, toddler speak and the like.

But God has the dearest way of sending love notes. Yesterday there was, again, a full double rainbow at the farm.

A dear priest I know used to say, "People have always had crosses. But the difference of Christianity is that now Christ is on that cross with you, stretching out his arms to embrace you and sustain you. And that makes all the difference."

And you know what? It does.

Small Successes this Week

1. Have started playing the piano a lot more. An 88 year old man in the area who can no longer play gave me his entire stash of piano music... mostly Broadway tunes and country music from the 40's and 50's (some of my favorite stuff). It's really fun, and my husband really enjoys it when I play.

2. Have gone to daily Mass more this week than I did all of last month combined (ouch... and it's only Thursday). The possibility of having your cherry crop wiped out by the weather brings you to your knees pretty quickly. We just have another 12 days or so to make it. Please please pray for us!

3. Have started cooking again since I realized I don't have to make a new recipe every night... I can reuse old ones. (Don't scoff. I was on a kick for a long time of having to outdo myself with each dinner. Sometimes, though, dinner needn't be an event or production and doesn't have to have a "wow factor," it can just be good ol' sustenance).

Check out others' small successes this week at Faith & Family Live.

Garden Update

I grew this from a seed! ME!! Growing basil!

I grew this from a seed, too. I planted 32 radish seeds and 3 came up. Yay for my abundant crop!

My beans are positively thriving, though!

We have pea plants!!

Fresh salad, anyone?

This is the first tomato plant I haven't murdered.

Parsley and more basil are doing splendidly. But you know what makes me so upset?

Last week, when I was sunning and shading and watering and weeding and babying these stupid plants, they were dying. (Don't you love cilantro?)

I haven't looked at the garden in a week, and I wake up this morning to see it looking like this.

Maybe I should leave my garden alone and move.

Sticky Chicken

Grab the button here and come join us, or just link to another site with a recipe you're going to try... or post a recipe in the comments!

My little sister is here!!

For weeks I've been fretting about meal plans, especially for the first night. Homemade ravioli, panko asparagus, Swedish meatballs on homemade fettuccine, lobster bisque, ribeyes with roasted garlic mashed potatoes?

But when she got here yesterday, all I could think to make was a staple from our childhood: Sticky Chicken with white rice and peas. My mom made up the recipe.

It's simple fare. It's flavorful. It makes a great gravy to go on the rice (if you don't put gravy on your rice you can just stop reading my blog, please. Thank you.). And you know what? It was perfect.

Sure, you could add fancy vegetables or herbs, but sometimes simplest is best. It's what makes comfort food comforting.

Sticky Chicken

• pat of butter
• pack of chicken legs (they make the chicken sticky... don't ask me why... chicken breasts don't stick)
• salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
• water
• bottle of Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, brown the seasoned chicken legs in butter. When they're brown on both sides, add 1/2 a bottle of Worcestershire sauce, and enough water to cover the chicken a little more than halfway. Cover and simmer on medium-high for 20 minutes. Flip the chicken, lower the heat, add a little water (if needed) and continue to cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes.

Serve with white fluffy rice (USE THE GRAVY) and a side of buttered peas.

What comfort foods did your mom make growing up?