Harvest Photos

I am always admiring others' photography and trying to replicate it with my own humble camera. Thanks to picnik.com, a photo editing site, I can usually get my prints to my liking and avoid spending a small fortune for someone else to take them!
I had been waiting for the perfect day to take some outdoor photos of my kiddos. Wednesday afternoon was that day. It was sunny, calm, not too hot, and they were all in a reasonably cooperative mood.


The wheat field has always been my canvas of choice--it is just so beautiful! Watching it wave in the wind is so soothing. I just love riding in the combine when David is harvesting wheat--if I can get a turn in amongst our children!

I cropped this one of Nathan as he was throwing wheat into the air.

And . . . my personal favorite, which was suprisingly difficult to shoot. I had never tried to get my children to hold hands and walk away from me at roughly the same speed. Now I know why! It didn't take too long, however, and they cooperated. This is on the road right by our farm. I LOVE how it turned out!

Surprise Monkey Bread

One of my strange habits is that if I am eating alone, I MUST have something to read at the same time. Anything will do--even the "Green Sheet" (our local agricultural supplement)--will do in a pinch.
Recently when I've found myself in this situation, I've started going through my stash of "Simple & Delicious" magazines. I love the magazine, but I know I'll never make anything out of the issues if I don't cut out my favorites and move them to my recipe box.
This is one recipe I found yesterday. We had a coffee guest this morning, so it was the perfect day to try it. They turned out very yummy, but can anything with caramel and cream cheese be bad? I haven't tried it if there is!

Surprise Monkey Bread
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 tubes Grands biscuits
1/2 cup sugar
1 T cinnamon
1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese
1 1/2 cups walnuts (I didn't use.)

Heat the brown sugar and butter until melted and set aside. Combine the white sugar & cinnamon in a small bowl. Flatten each biscuit a bit and sprinkle 1/2 tsp of the sugar & cinnamon mixture in the center. Top with a cream cheese cube and fold over. Pinch the edges to seal tightly. If using walnuts, sprinkle 1/2 cup in the bottom of a greased bundt pan. Layer with 1 tube of filled biscuits, half of the brown sugar/butter mixture, and 1/2 cup walnuts. Repeat the layers.
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Invert immediately onto a serving platter. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

What's the Difference?

Today the boys have been playing tractors and dreaming of what they will do when they grow up. This has been a favorite conversation for them lately. When I put them to bed, Nathan asks his brother, "Should we talk about our (John Deere) Gators?" They either talk about them or the other equipment that is on their mile-long green dream lists.

Here is a conversation from this afternoon:
Nathan: "When I get big, I am going to get a new mom."
Landen: "You mean a wife."
Me: "What will a wife do for you?"
Nathan: "Cook supper for me."

He did say, however, that he is going to keep the same grandma. :o)

Summer Reading

I uncovered an old friend this summer--my love of reading. Earlier this summer, my college friend Michelle posted on Facebook that she really liked the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
I hadn't read a novel in awhile and thought I'd like to, so I went online and ordered it, not knowing anything about it at all other than its title. As soon as it arrived and I began reading it, I could barely put it down! It is about 1950's-60's Mississippi, the black "help" and the white families they served. I really, really loved it--both the story and how beautifully it was written.

I also ordered Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum at the same time. I finished the fictional novel about WWII Germany and the Holocaust last night. This one was equally well written, although often necessarily unpleasant to read as required by the subject matter.

As I turned the last page on Those Who Save Us, I thought back to watching Schindler's List and touring the expansive Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. in high school. I am deeply grateful for having experienced them, but even then did not want to do it again. Now that I have children of my own, I am not sure I could make it through the museum without weeping the entire time. I am putting Those Who Save Us on that list as well--a worthy experience, but not something I want to experience repeatedly.
Next on my bedside book pile is Firely Lane by Kristin Hannah, another recommendation by Michelle. I can't wait to get started on it!

Along the same lines, have you seen the previews for the new Beezus & Ramona movie? My favorite book series as a very young reader was the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. I have already bought the first three Ramona books to share with my children when they are a bit older. I am not sure how this new movie will relate, but I hope it does not disappoint.


I always appreciate book recommendations, so send some my way if you have any! Happy Reading!

Counting

I just wanted to document that Teresa counted to 11 yesterday. She put her doll in my lap, stood back, and started counting. Then she would run back to me. I told David, "She just counted to 10!" Then we listened and she made it to 11. She wouldn't let Nathan help her. She told him, "I counting!"
Nathan makes it to 20, but skips 15. We'll see who makes it to 20 first! :o)