how to make a pumpkin pie

Bring home two little pie pumpkins from the farmer's market and be very proud.

 Scoop out the seeds very carefully.

Little brother does the same.

Roast the squash until it is tender (350 degrees for an hour or so, skin-side down on a baking sheet).

Run the pumpkin through the food mill.

Stir, stir, stir.

this one is our favorite, even though we're no longer dairy-free

Eat the pie and want some more (before I manage to get a decent picture of a slice).

the first ER visit

Well, I no longer have to wonder when we will have that inevitable first ER visit with River. It was Sunday night, and it was scary.

Before I freak anyone out, let me assure you that he is okay.

Okay enough to run in the sprinkles for a long time this afternoon. He's doing good.

Sunday afternoon, the boys were playing in the backyard while my mom and I chatted in the living room. We could hear them out the window. Nothing wild and crazy. And then there was a clonk followed by River's screams. He had fallen off the side of the deck and landed head-first on the concrete pavers.

We rushed out there, found the monster goose-egg on his head, and I held him until he calmed down. He was acting kind of strange. Dazed. And then he shook it off and played in the dirt with Liam until dinner time. He gets quite a few bumps on the head. Most of them with significant goose-eggs thanks to his vWD. He seemed fine.

After going to bed a bit early, he awoke an hour or so later, screaming and holding his head. And then he started vomiting. And vomiting some more. At this point, I told my mom and Gabe that River needed to go to the ER. Something was really wrong.

We packed up River, the diaper bag, and his medication, and my mom took us to the ER while Gabe stayed home with Liam. The hospital is just two blocks away, so within a matter of minutes we were rushed back and with the doctor. He ordered a CT scan and gave River some zofran to help with the vomiting. Despite everything going on around him, River slept through most of the ordeal, another sign that this was not his average bump on the head.

The results from the scan showed that he didn't have any swelling or bleeding. Huge relief.

He does have a concussion. And, it turns out,  a double-ear + sinus infection. And they still sent us back home. We had to get up every 2 hours throughout the night to make sure that he would respond to us trying to wake him. He did. 

And then yesterday we went to the pediatrician for a followup and some x-rays. He was stable, albeit a bit woozy and out of sorts. My mom stayed with us all day. It was a huge comfort to have the extra help.

We went back to the pediatrician one more time this morning. Everyone was happy to see that River is so much more himself today. Happy. Playful. Still a bit wobbly, but definitely on the mend.   

The whole ordeal was scary, but it could have been so much worse. I spoke with River's blood disorder specialty nurse in Little Rock this morning, and she said we did everything right, going to the ER when we did, but next time I need to insist that they start an infusion of his factor medication before they do any tests or scans. Just in case he does have a bleed. And I need to insist that the doctor call the hematologist at Children's. The staff at our small-town hospital took excellent care of River, with all the urgency that the situation demanded, but I had to give the doctor information about vWD. Apparently, that's to be expected at just about any hospital except ones which specialize in bleeding disorders.

Now I know more for next time. Unfortunately, there is certain to be a next time. But at least it won't be the first time again.

In the meantime, we are still keeping a close eye on River for the next few days. Swelling could occur up to 5 days after the accident.

But mostly, I am just enjoying his happiness. And planning a deck rail for Gabe to build this weekend...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. And hope is not repeated anytime soon!

 

Inspired by Amanda. 

the times, they are changing {cranberry ricotta muffins}

This sumer was a doozy of high temperatures and little rain. It was only a few weeks ago that we could barely take the heat.

This was a summer for popsicles.

And then, in a matter of days, it cooled enough for the first fire of the season (the only fire until we can scrounge up some more firewood). And just like that, the summer was replaced with welcome warmth, tea, and coziness. This is my favorite season. I'd like it to go on for months and months. In fact, I'd skip winter entirely and just have an extended fall. Since that's not likely to happen, I am soaking it up while I can.

After our months of popsicles, I'd like to declare this the autumn of muffins. Specifically, these ones:

Cranberry Ricotta Muffins

I used some homemade ricotta cheese that was taking up space in the refrigerator, some frozen cranberries, and a good portion of whole wheat flour. They are light and moist with the ricotta, grainy and hearty with the whole grain, and the tartness of the cranberries is sweetened with the sprinkling of demarara cane sugar on top. They are good.

They would be fabulous with some chopped pecans added in, but then I'd be the only one in my family who would eat them. I don't need a dozen muffins to myself, so nut-free it is for us. But maybe you'd like them that way?

Cranberry Ricotta Muffins

3/4 cup ricotta, preferably at room temperature

2 large eggs, preferably at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

6 tablespoons oil

2/3 cup sugar (I used sucanat)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup cranberries (I used frozen, each berry sliced in half, but dried cranberries would work too)

2-4 tablespoons demarara cane sugar, or other sprinkling-sugar (regular granulated white sugar or turbinado are good choices)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a 12-muffin tin with liners or oil with non-stick spray of choice.
2. Whisk the ricotta, eggs, vanilla, and oil together in a medium-size bowl (one of my favorite uses for the 4-cup pyrex measuring cup).
3. In a large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and and salt. Add cranberries, stirring to incorporate.
4. Add ricotta mixture to dry ingredients. Fold to combine, being careful not to overwork the dough. It should be a fairly thick batter, but not so thick that you can barely stir. I added several tablspoons of milk to make my batter the right consistency. It probably had more to do with my homemade ricotta being extra thick.
5. Divide the batter evenly in the muffin tin, sprinkle tops with sugar, and bake for 20-25 minutes.

These were scrumptious warm, but they still disappeared quickly once they had cooled to room temperature.

sewing the days away

Lately, I have spent a lot of time with my sewing machine during naptime. There have been plenty of bibs for Baby Vardo (and more on the to-sew pile), but also some gifts for friends.

I made this sweet little boy's layette for a friend from church.

The pants are made from the sleeves of an Italian merino wool sweater. The fabric is incredibly soft. I didn't get a picture of the backside, but they have a big butt panel sewn in to accomodate Patrick's cloth diapered bottom. I didn't have a pattern, instead just making it up as I went along.

This was my first attempt (technically, the 2nd since I gave up the 1st one midway through, realizing that I needed to adjust my technique...those slippery knits) at Meg's Sweet Pea Pilot Cap. It will be a lot cuter on a chubby baby than it is here, flat on my table. At least I hope so. I recently bought a walking foot, hoping to make sewing with knits a little easier. It's been good sometimes. Other times it seems more trouble than it's worth. But the more I sew this tricky fabric, the better I get at it (and the more I want a serger...).

 From Meg's Growing Up Sew Liberated, I finished this "Heartwarming Reversible Baby Sweatshirt" with upcycled t-shirts and a bit more of that sweater. I love that it's reversible.

I also made a little gift for Crystal: A cute gift bag I made up as I went along. It has Ikea fabric on the outside, chocolate brown dupioni silk on the inside, a vintage yellow zipper, and an embroidery-thread-turned-tassel.

And this is my pathetic attempt at a picture of the drapey cardigan tucked inside the gift bag above. Liam was screaming at me, River was crying, and we needed to get to the post office so it could go on its way to St Louis. Anyhow, the sweater turned out awesome even if my picture didn't. Crystal, you'll just have to send me a picture of you wearing it instead. She said it made her feel like a winter swan.

I traced one of my favorite sweaters, and recreated it with this awesome white knit I scored at the thrift store. Apparently, I am on a sewing-with-knits-kick. And there's more coming. But first, I have to get that next stack of bibs done...

impromptu camping

Saturday morning, we were eating breakfast and deciding what to do for the day. And then, just like that, a decision was made, a campsite reserved, and the car was packed (quite literally...our little civic could barely contain the camping gear, the children, us, and the dog...but we got great gas mileage).

::hiking/sleeping in::

::setting up the tent::

::the campfire::

::the hike::

::the little one rides::

::discovering an old cabin on the shore::

::the bigger one rides::

It was a beautiful weekend, perfect for camping. Unfortunately, the mosquitos agreed and my legs are covered in the bites to prove it. But the blood donation aside, we had a great time.

labor day weekend: War Eagle Mill

On Labor Day, we went out to War Eagle Mill with my mom and Grandparents.

We ate at the Bean Palace Restaurant.

We shopped arund on the 2nd floor, where River had a lesson in opening woodstoves with Great Grandma.

The little boys had lollipops (Thanks, Grammie).

We walked across the bridge and over the river. My paranoid-mom instincts came out in full force: Gabe, watch him! Gabe, he's getting too close to the edge. Gabe! And yet, we all made it safely across and back again.

The boys splashed in the water.

After the Mill, we drove over to the Hobb's State Park Visitor Center. The kids loved all of the exhibits, especially the caves.

It was a relaxing day. But most of all, it was just wonderful to spend it with those we love.

labor day weekend: terra studios

We spent the extra long holiday weekend with these wonderful people.

My grandparents arrived Friday afternoon, and we had a wonderful visit despite the stomach bug that rushed through the family - and all over the backseat of our car. Thanks, Liam and River - I think it was only me, my Mom, and Grandma who were spared the intestinal upset. But we still had a good time, went some fun places, ate plenty of good food, and just enjoyed each other's company.

On Sunday, we drove out to Terra Studios, where whimsy rules the day. The boys loved all of the miniature sculptures and secret doors.

River was especially taken with this sweet little troll. He stopped to sit with her several times.

He was smitten with this purple-skinned family as well. He tried to climb up on each and every one of them.

Liam and Gabe explored the labyrinth, but Liam climbed up and over the walls whenever he wanted to take a short cut.

My mom joined the fun, taking both boys up and down the tower a few times. She's a good sport.

Do you see Liam and Gabe on the opposite shore? They were looking for frogs, and in all of that searching and finding, Liam was down in the grass and mud enough to collect 37 seed ticks that we didn't discover until they were feasting on him when we got home later in the night. Gabe had to hold our screaming boy down while I removed every last one of them.

Oblivious to the drama unfolding across the way, Grammie and River enjoyed a tea party by the lake.

Here is Liam, fascinated with the glass sculptors at work. I am behind the camera, following Liam's every move to keep all of those Bluebirds of Happiness on the shelves where they belong. My worry turned out to be unwarranted. He did great, and not a single bluebird was lost.

Look at all of those bluebirds. That's a lot of happiness.