still dreaming...

sisters, check this out...

KETTLE FALLS WASHINGTON HOME & BUILDINGS FOR SALE
CERTIFIED ORGANIC ORCHARD 13 TOTAL ACRES

i'm probably crazy for thinking this could actually happen, but after a sleepless night last night i've convinced myself that it actually can. if one of us lived in a place like this, please tell me why the others wouldn't follow. we all followed each other here, and mel, it's only 8 hours from boise. :) oh, and don't forget to check the measly little price.

Dreaming...

Once upon a time I had a dream about raising my family on a farm.

This dream included:

"a little old farm house or cottage with wood floors and a fireplace
pine trees
chickens laying fresh eggs
a stream
fields of grass for the cows (including a sweet milk cow with big brown eyes and long lashes)
a huge garden filled with heirloom tomatoes, purple potatoes, beans and squashes of every variety
fruit trees to climb in and eat from
beehives and honeycomb dripping with honey
open spaces and fresh air

me - knitting, baking, sewing, canning, kissing chubby baby cheeks, walking through the pastures with the kids, packing lunches with thick slices of homemade bread and cheese for the boys in the fields, and curling up in front of the fireplace with mark at night to read books or trade foot rubs

pete - putting in the hay, feeding the cows, fixing fences, surveying the land, and returning in the evenings to a home filled with children, a stunningly beautiful wife (that's me), the spicy, sweet smell of hot apple cider, and a huge mug of chicken noodle soup.
the kids - spend most of the day outside climbing trees, helping dad, gathering eggs, picking and eating fruit with juice dribbling down their chins, building castles or kitchens or forts in the trees, tracking mud into the kitchen over and over again, baking or cooking with me, painting pictures of cows, and chattering to each other as they fall into bed at night"

she and i have the EXACT same dream; she just happened to write about it and execute it before me. this is my 5 year plan. :)

Chicken Pot Pie

my sister keeps complaining that she doesn't have the domestic art cookbook. i don't think she really wants them; i just think she wants this recipe. it's the best chicken pot pie ever.

2 1/4 c. chicken broth 3 c. chicken breast, cooked & shredded

1/2 c. celery chopped 1 c. frozen peas

1/4 c. onion, chopped 1/4 c. fresh parsley, snipped

2 med. carrots, coarsely chopped 1/2 tsp. dried sage

3 tbsp. cornstarch 2 pre-made pie crusts

1 3/4 c. evaporated milk

preheat oven to 350. in medium saucepan combine 2 c. broth, celery, onions, and carrots. bring to a boil then reduce heat. cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. in a small bowl stir together the remaining 1/4 c. broth and cornstarch until smooth. slowly add cornstarch mixture to vegetables and broth. stir in milk. cook and stir for 1 minute. stir in chicken, peas, parsley, and sage. coat 2-qt. casserole dish with cooking spray then line with dough. gently pour chicken mixture into casserole dish and bake for 35-40 minutes until crust is golden brown.

* i do make a few changes. i omit the carrots and peas and add almost a whole bag of frozen mixed veggies. instead of baking in 2-qt. casserole dish i divide it into 2 pie pans and put one in the freezer; this recipe makes an excellent freezer meal. i use 3 pie crusts. i put one in the bottom of each pie plate and use the 3rd to cut into strips and lattice on the top of each pot pie.

LOVE this recipe! now maybe my sister will leave me alone about getting the cookbooks.  or maybe she should wait until mother's day, or her birthday, or another holiday where you receive gifts. :)

American Idol Junkies Reunite

it's back on, and i've always been a fan, but no one holds a candle to last year's brooke white, david archuleta, carly, or michael johns. sorry! hopefully it will get better. 

Check Your Mail, Meghan

Meghan should've received her 'prize' for the wedding ring post today. i didn't want to spoil the surprise for her, so i'm waiting until now to post what i've been working on. i got this bright idea when all my sister wanted for her bday were dish towels, and i've been whipping them up non-stop ever since. they are so cute and fast to make. they make great little gifts; i've even been known to use them for wrapping paper. they are much more practical and don't produce the waste, not to mention they are much cuter. looking for a great gift idea to wrap them with? you've got try the Domestic Art cookbooks by Patty Wright. they are F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! i know she sells them at some little boutiques and by word of mouth. if interested, let me know and i can give you her contact info.  and if you're looking for some great wrapping, i know where you can find some. i have one blank towel left. if you're interested, leave me a comment letting me know your color preferences. if i have that fabric on hand, i'll make you one just to share the fun.

Sleeping Woes

I know after the last post many of you may be thinking our kids sleep with us at all times. well, they don't, but perhaps they should. our sweet little scooter bug (will) doesn't want to sleep anymore. gone are the days where we can just lay him in his crib and walk out and have him go to sleep. this has been going for over a month now, so i'm afraid it's not going to be a passing phase. it takes around an hour of crying and coaxing to get him to sleep at night. i'm patient because i did this with sam for, um, 3 years (??), but it doesn't mean i love it. any suggestions? it does seem like i remember sam getting worse around the 18-24 month with his sleeping. is this true with anyone else? i know it will pass, but any magical secrets would still be appreciated. here's to happy sleeping....

Tight Fit

this is what a typical morning looks like around our house. the boys make their way into our bed almost every morning by around 5-6. i've enjoyed the snuggle time and the chance to all to be together, but let's face it, it's getting a little crowded! i'm totally getting squeezed out! i guess i should be happy everyone wants to be close to mother. :)