"Not me!" Monday

Welcome to "Not me" Monday, the blog carnival where you can share your garbage, yet the points don't matter. This is MckMama's creation - hop on over to her blog, My Charming Kids, for a delightful read.

While without a vehicle this week, I was not too chicken to take the boys to the playground at the apartment complex. I did not think through an entire scenario involving broken limbs, coupled with an inability to drive to get medical attention, and instead opt to stay holed up in our apartment. That would be utterly paranoid, and brand me a total worrywart. So...nope, not me!

Speaking of vehicles, our van is definitely not still dumping steering fluid, right and left. No way! We would certainly have had it repaired by now, regardless of the fact that Jeff's "drive the train station and back" car is refusing to run.

After Jeff's parents were gracious enough to offer their Honda Pilot for our drive to Idaho (and back), I did not breathe a huge sigh of relief when we returned it to them, a week later, with neither damage nor theft inflicted upon it. Absolutely not! I don't still carry any "what's next" feeling with me, and I would certainly not worry while using someone else's (nice!) vehicle. Not me!

When Jeff and I read through the guidelines and tips for an exciting upcoming vacation, I did not immediately begin to think "I need new clothes!" I'm sure I have plenty to wear, and I have no hankering for fun new duds to sport around the deck. That sort of thing wouldn't matter to me at all.

So I definitely didn't spend a bit of money today while shopping the sales racks at my local maternity store. Nope, not me!

A day or so after discussing an upcoming midwife visit, and the sonogram which I hope to schedule within the next two weeks, I was certainly not at a complete loss when Kyle began to speak of wanting to hear the "vulture noise." I am highly intuitive when it comes to my children, and I knew instantly that he was referring to the ultrasound.

And I don't find it utterly breathtaking when the boys kiss my belly and say sweetly "Good night, Little Bit. I love you!" Nope. Not at all.

fresh roasted pumpkin

I recently took a whack at my first pumpkin.

Truly. I received one from the CSA one week, and considering that it was organic, I decided to use it for food purposes, as opposed to a purely decorative one.

So I did some research. In the process, I came across this website. I found it extremely helpful, and, in light of the fact that I had a "small pumpkin" and had very little interest in removing the pumpkin's shell with a knife (I had hacked away at a round squash not too long ago, and it was less than enjoyable), I decided to go with the method the website used on pumpkin #2.

So I cut it open, removed the seeds and pulp, and cut it into wedges.



I then roasted the wedges at 350* F. It didn't take nearly the 2 hours suggested, though. In fact, I wish I had taken it out a bit earlier.


Still, the peel came off beautifully. I then pureed the pumpkin flesh in my food processor.

Please excuse the poor quality of this photo. My camera and I were having a serious disagreement. This is the best of my efforts, if you can believe it.

I used it in a loaf of pumpkin bread. This was my first attempt at using fresh pumpkin, and I think it's safe to say that I learned a lot. But I will no longer be intimidate by the classic and charming vegetable!

check it out!

Framing is just so stinking exciting!

roasted summer tomatoes

One of my favorite things to learn this summer is to make roasted tomatoes. So simple, yet so delicious.

I've been enjoying such a bounty of tomatoes, between the CSA and our friends' garden surplus. I've loved making extra batches to put into the freezer for some cold rainy day this winter. I'm convinced that the wonderful taste of tomatoes will be like a ray of sunshine.


Preheat the oven to 375* F.

Prepare:
-approximately 4 lbs (about 8 cups) tomatoes, cut into 1 or 1 1/2 inch wedges
-1 sweet onion, cut into 1 or 1 1/2 inch wedges
-15 or 20 garlic cloves, peeled

Place the vegetables into roasting pans. (I used metal pans before, but since the move my edged pans are MIA...so glass it is for me.) They can be crowded, but try to keep the vegetables in a single layer.

Top with:
-1 c. fresh basil, torn (if on hand, I've recently been using dried basil instead)
-generous drizzle of olive oil
-salt and pepper sprinkled over


Roast about 1 hour, but check frequently. You want the skins to be wrinkled, but you don't want them to be burnt.


After the pans come out, let the vegetables cool. My preference at this point is to transfer them to my food processor, and process into a chunky sauce. We love it on pizza, as well as served over noodles. Delicioso!

overheard

1) Kyle, while playing in his room with Ben: "A baby is in Rack, Shack, and Abednego's castle!"

2) Kyle, after Bible study at a friend's house: "When I was on the trampoline, I told the other kids to sit down, because I was going to sing a song to them."

3) Owen, saying his own name: "Oh-eee."

4) Kyle: "When I was on the trampoline, if anybody stood up two times while I was singing, then they had to get off that trampoline..."

snapshots of our trip to Idaho

In explanation of my absence, I thought my loyal readers might enjoy a few photos from our recent visit to my parents' house in Idaho.

I continually find it impossible to get these three to look at the camera and smile, simultaneously!

Here I am at 18 weeks & 5 days pregnant.

My dad took Jeff and the two older boys for a ride on the "mule." Benjamin even got to steer for part of the ride. It was a definite highlight!

Ben and Kyle examining some deer tracks while on a hike.

Owen rode in style.

We had a great time, took lots of hikes, a trip to city beach in town, a visit to the best pizza joint on Earth, enjoyed fresh air, the scent of pine needles, saw plenty of wildlife, and ate wonderful food (they've even started buying raw milk!). But the best thing of all was the company. Thanks for the wonderful time, gracious hospitality, and unconditional love, Mom and Dad. You're terrific!

new lot photos

I promise not to subject you to photos each and every week. But we stopped by the lot again last night, and were so excited to see the progress that's been happening on the house.





It was such a beautiful evening, and we were glad to spend part of it at our future home. How exciting for our boys (and us, too) to be able to watch the house's progression as time goes by.