Sprinkler Fun

Roses at the front of the house.

Tyler playing in the sprinklers tonight. He had some extra energy to burn off!

Grandpa

Saturday, Tyler and I went to visit my Grandpa, David. He is now too weak to feed himself, but can drink from a straw and will eat if someone feeds him. He was finishing lunch when we arrived (the aide was trying to wake him to eat some more). But he was just too exhausted and couldn't stay awake. I first ran into Elaine Yoder (pictured with Grandpa). She and another staff member had lots of very nice things to say about Grandpa and his sense of humor. They both said he had changed a lot recently...he is more and more confused, sleeps more and more and is much weaker. Grandpa slept the entire time we were there. (Thus, the only pictures I have are of him sleeping). I'm still glad we went; it had been way too long since I've seen him.


Most of the time I was there, I felt sad and choked back tears several times. I was surprised by feeling that way. I wouldn't say I felt like I knew Grandpa that well, but I missed seeing the Grandpa that I did know. I see him as a man with wisdom, who I always felt deserved respect and admiration. I love his sense of humor, which was usually subtle.

Before we went in, I tried to talk to Tyler about appropriate nursing home behavior (as if I know). The first lady who talked to him was very friendly and he just stared at her... until I said he was shy. He perked right up and told her that he is "3 and 1/2" and chatted a little bit. When we walked away, he told me, "I am not shy."

Overall, Tyler did really well - other than at lunch when he kept telling me to look at the (droopy/closed) eye of the lady sitting next to us. Luckily, I don't think she could hear very well.

Tyler being silly in the backseat on the way home. He was quite the little singer.

Breakfast

Last night, Wayne asked Tyler what his favorite food is...as usual, he replied, "Eggs!"
Wayne asked what is the best way to eat them. Tyler replied, "Stab them!" Wayne soon got out of Tyler that he likes them scrambled. That is what he requested for breakfast, with homemade bread and jam.


Here is my favorite whole wheat bread recipe. I think my aunt, Anna, got the recipe from her Amish neighbor.

Whole Wheat Bread

2 T yeast
1 c warm water
1/4 t sugar

2 c hot water
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c shortening, melted
1/4 c oil
1/4 c honey
1 T salt
2 c whole wheat flour
5 1/2 c All-purpose flour (I add 2-3 T gluten or use bread flour)
Optional: I usually add around 1/2 cup of flax meal, wheat flakes, oat bran, or wheat bran

1. Mix the yeast, 1 c warm water and 1/4 t sugar; set aside.

2. In an 8 quart bowl, mix 2 c hot water, brown sugar, shortening, oil, honey and salt. Add whole wheat flour and mix well. Add yeast water, mix well. Add white flour a few cups at a time until it is all worked in and the dough is smooth and elastic. Occasionally I have to add a little more or less.

3. Let rise until double (around 1 hour); punch down.
Let rise again until double (around 45 minutes); punch down.
Roll out 3 or 4 rolls. Place in greased loaf pans.
Let rise until doubled (30-45 minutes).

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped). Let sit in loaf pans for a couple of minutes then move to cooling rack. Brush with butter. I usually make a batch or two and freeze it until I'm ready to use it.

Swimming Lessons

Tonight Tyler told Wayne he smells like "swimming lessons." Wayne looked puzzled for a few seconds until he realized he had just used bleach.

Quiche

Tonight we had one of Wayne's favorite breakfast foods for dinner, quiche. I don't remember anymore where I got the recipe, and I usually alter it from the original recipe anyway, but I like to have a base to work from.

Quiche
9" unbaked pie shell
2 c chopped tomatoes, green beans, onions or mushrooms
1/2-3/4 c chopped chicken, sausage, ham, bacon or ground beef
1/2 t dried basil, sage, thyme or oregano
1 t salt
dash pepper
1 c grated Swiss, Cheddar, or mixture of whatever you like
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 T flour
1 c evaporated milk (or I've used a little milk and/or cream if I don't have it)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake pie shell 10 minutes.
Lightly saute veggies and meats (or not - I didn't saute anything tonight). Spoon into pie shell.
Sprinkle seasonings, salt and pepper on top. Cover with cheese. Combine egg, flour and milk. Pour on top. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until set. Let cool at least 5 minutes before cutting/serving.

I'm not much of a pie maker - that's probably why I love the pie crust I found. It's easy, turns out well, and is very tasty! I got it from a Food Network recipe for an apple pie. I will give the original recipe which is for a double crust, but I only made half (1 crust) for the quiche.

2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/4 t baking powder
2 sticks cold, unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 t salt
About 1/3 c ice-cold water

Put the flour and baking powder in a bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse a few times until the mixture begins to become mealy and the butter forms plainly visible pea-sized nuggets.

Dissolve the salt in the water. With motor running, pour the water in and let mix until the dough pulls together. Do not over-mix dough.



I also dipped our strawberries in sour cream then brown sugar. It is a very yummy treat.

A lesson

Tonight when I told Tyler that Pat, Lisa, and Oliver, were coming over, he said he was going to "teach them a lesson."

He explained that he would teach them about dinosaurs.

I don't think he yet understands what it implies when you teach someone "a lesson." :)

Enchiladas

Tonight I made Chicken Enchiladas from the most recent copy of Taste of Home. I served the enchiladas with cilantro-lime rice, recipe thanks to lifeofadomesticgoddess.blogspot.com, with chips and guacamole. Pat and Lisa came over - we have no enchilada leftovers. I think everyone liked it. (I only served half of the recipe, because it's a big one, and froze the other half).

Chicken Enchiladas

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese
2 T water
2 t onion powder
2 t ground cumin
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
5 c diced, cooked chicken
20 flour tortillas (6 inch)
2 cans (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
2 c sour cream
1 c milk
2 cans (4 oz) chopped green chilies
2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Beat cream cheese, water, onion powder, ground cumin, salt and pepper. Stir in chicken.
Place 1/4 cup filling in each tortilla and place in 2 greased 9x13 inch pans, seam side down.
Combine sour cream, soup, milk and chilies. Pour over.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for 5 minutes more.
Yield: 10 servings

Hard Attack

Tonight at the playground, Tyler sat on top of the large concrete turtle, hit it with a branch and declared he was "giving it a hard attack." (Heart attack). So, I would surmise that when he has scared me and I say he will give me a heart attack, he thinks I said hard attack. I had to giggle to myself.

Happy Weekend

Last evening, to celebrate our birthdays (Michelle's and mine), we left the children with their grandparents and headed to Salina.

Michelle was not so sure about taking pictures.

Michelle being goofy.

We were riding in the back...Wayne being silly this time.

A view of the rain. (You can't see the wind whipping around. As Tyler learned from his Grandpa last night, wind is invisible...in case you didn't know).


Here we are at The Scheme...They serve delicious pizza with honey to drizzle on the crust.

Matt and Michelle

We stayed the night in Hesston.

Luann Yutzy gave the sermon this morning. (I believe she is Lynette Showalter's sister, but I'll have to check).

Afterward, Ted made a Mother's Day lunch. It was delicious!

After lunch, Ted and Sue went to help serve at their friends 50th wedding anniversary open house. Tyler went for a trike ride down the street.

We stopped to smell the irises.

Right after I took this picture, the man of the house, who must have been observing what we were doing, came out and asked if he could cut the iris for me. I told him that we were just admiring, and not to cut one, but he did anyway. How sweet! It is the little gestures like this that remind me of falling in love with Hesston when I was here in college. The people in town are so warm and giving. It is a welcoming place.

Tyler was following the "worm track."

Posing by an oak tree in the backyard of Grandpa's house.

Celebrating with Grandpa and Grandma.

Tyler gave me this lilac and declared that it was my birthday present from him.

Spring is in the air!

Here are some pictures from the yard tonight. We've been getting a lot of rain, and I enjoy trekking out to find out which plants are starting to bloom.

The first roses of the season.

Chives (Tyler enjoys getting oniony breath from chewing on these).

I didn't plant these, but I like how bright and cheery they are.

Azaleas that I planted a couple of seasons ago.


Tonight I cooked my very first bird... a 5 pound chicken. I know, not big, but why waste a lot of money on something I could very well have ruined - Luckily, it was very good. After all these years of being afraid to try it, I am pleasantly surprised at how simple it was. We had roast chicken with fennel, carrots, and potatoes. Michelle gave me some fresh tarragon which was a nice addition. We also had strawberry spinach salad, homemade bread with strawberry jam, meadow tea, and pecan pie bars with butter pecan ice cream for dessert. It was yummy.



We had planned on the Pankratz's for dinner - but both Wayne and Leo were sick today, so that didn't work out. I am still fighting a cold I've had for nearly 3 weeks.
It makes me wonder, will we ever all be well again?
I hope so!