Britton Family Photo Shoot

A few weekends ago, on the hottest weekend ever, I did my first photo shoot. I must admit to being nervous, but it was really a lot of fun! The Britton family are a beautiful family in the first place so it wasn’t hard to get lovely pictures of them, and despite the heat, they held up well. By looking, you can’t tell how sweltering it was! Check out the side bar to see the link to Flickr to check out more images. I’m new to Flickr and just figuring out how it all works. I’ll be adding more photos in the future there, and I’ll be using it to organize my photos for my website as well. I’d love to get feedback on my shots as well as comments as to proofing them (hem, Bethany and Megan). I’ve done preliminary proofing, but once they choose which images they want and choose the enlargement size, I’ll do a more complete edit

Literature-Map

I found this cool website called Literature-Map where you enter the name of a favorite author, and then you’ll get a visual of various authors’ names with the one you entered in the center. The closer the other names sit next to yoru favorite, the greater the likelihood that you’d like that authors’ work. Check it out!

Summer Toddler Days

Duncan

Loves the camera!

One day he was just laying on the floor having fun.

Love that little lower lip he sticks out!

Duncan is in love with golf balls! Do you think Daddy’s happy?

So serious.

Owen

Owen has a cute little walk, and he often sticks out his little tongue like that.

Another “Owen face”.

Daddy & Owen

I captured this because this is the usual “after morning nursing” lounge Owen does. He lays in the corner and just sits there contentedly.

Pool time fun!

Brotherly love.

Doing Good

Yesterday felt like a day from Hell–literally, considering the heat.

Owen had gotten a fever Friday night that had inaugurated a cold and was still feeling under the weather and had a runny nose. I also had the same cold and felt especially bad Saturday and Sunday, however was doing better. Duncan had spiked a fever during Monday night and had slept badly (and thus so did I). Thankfully we’d put in the window unit air conditioner, so at least their room was a cool sanctuary from the heat of the night. His fever had not abated by morning and was feeling very bad Tuesday morning. Duncan is a little trooper, and for him to by crying unless I was holding him meant that he really did not feel well.

By 9 a.m. I was looking at my watch with two crying boys at my feet, wondering how I was going to get through the day. Thankfully, naptime was soon.

I put them down early and they seemed to go right to sleep. Good, just what their little sick bodies needed. I hoped to get a moment to regroup, eat breakfast, do my devotions. It was not to be. Thirty minutes later they were both awake crying, if Owen had ever fallen asleep, I don’t know. He was coughing a lot and I think it woke up Duncan.

And so the day wore on. Nap number two went no better. We were supposed to go to my mom’s for a celebration of my sister’s birthday, so I decided to go up early, because I couldn’t bear dealing with them alone any longer. I also hoped the drive would put them to sleep. It did Owen, but poor little Duncan was restless and crying off and on.

Once at my mom’s the day went on much as it had. They really only wanted me to hold them. Duncan barely would eat solids. But at least we were able to enjoy my sister’s birthday and at last Duncan fell asleep while I held him and was laid in a quiet room to sleep while a terrific thunderstorm blew out the oppressive heat and humidity, and Owen got a second wind.

I was able to read Ephesians 2 yesterday, and was struck by verse 10 which says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

During various moments of the day I was reminded that “doing good” meant comforting Duncan and helping him feel my love and care as his fever came and went. There were lots of other things I needed and had wanted to get done the past two days. I’d actually set those two days aside to focus on an article due on Friday and proof photos from a photo shoot I’d done on Saturday. I’m behind on those tasks and relying on God give wisdom as to how to accomplish them. But I’m thankful for spiritual growth I’ve experienced to find peace in my circumstances yesterday. The reason I found peace was because I knew exactly the good works that God had prepared in advance for me to accomplish for that day. That was to care and hold my sick little boy. And I could rest in the fact I was doing exactly the good work I needed to do.

Natural Beauties

I’ve been doing a lot of gardening lately. I’ll have more pictures shortly of our new vegetable garden (which will hopefully stay ground hog free) and some flower beds I’ve planted. But for now, enjoy my beautiful purple irises (above). They always remind me of my “Nanny” (grandmother on my mom’s side). I can still remember the tall, stately irises that were at her house.

Then there’s my pansies. I love little pansy faces, all soft and velvety. These I put in a hanging vase that’s on my deck. The whimsical little vase was used with others as decoration when I got married, almost four years ago now.

These pansies I put on a little bench on my porch at the front door to welcome visitors. Now they welcome you as visitors to this blog! What are your favorite flowers and why?

Chocolate Cloud Cake

I’ve posted this recipe before, but my friend Jessica, over at Life as Mom is having a chocolate contest, so I thought I’d join in the fun!

This recipe is my favorite chocolate cake EVER! It’s from Nigella Lawson’s book, How To Be A Domestic Goddess:

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa solids

half cup unsalted butter, softened

6 eggs: 2 whole, 4 separated

three-quarters cup superfine sugar

2 tablespoons Cointreau (optional)

grated zest of 1 orange (optional)

9 inch springform cake pan

for the cream topping:

2 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon Cointreau (optional)

half teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Line the bottom of the cake pan with baking parchment.

Melt the chocolate either in a double boiler or a microwave, and then let the butter melt in the warm chocolate.

Beat the 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 1/3 cup of the sugar, then gently add the chocolate mixture, the Cointreau and orange zest.

In another bowl, whisk the 4 egg whites until foamy, then gradually add the remaining sugar and whisk until the whites are holding their shape but are not too stiff. Lighten the chocolate mixture with a dollop of egg whites, and then fold in the rest of the whites. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake is risen and cracked and the centre is no longer wobbly. Cool the cake in its pan on a wire rack; the middle will sink as it cools.

When you are ready to eat, place the still pan-bound cake on a cake stand or plate for serving and carefully remove the cake from its pan. Don’t worry about cracks or rough edges: it’s the crater look we’re going for here. Whip the cream until it’s soft and then add the vanilla and Cointreau and continue whisking until the cream is firm but not stiff. Fill the crater of the cake with the whipped cream, easing it out gently towards the edges of the cake, and dust the top lightly with cocoa powder pushed through a tea-strainer.

Serves 8-12

Summer Salsa

This delicious salsa is a great way to use up fresh herbs and vegetables you may have. This is Josh’s dad’s recipe and is a favorite with us.

3 medium tomatoes

1 medium onion

1 “bunch” of cilantro (to taste)

1-3 small to medium jalapenos (to taste)

Juice of one lime

Garlic salt (to taste)

Recent Reads

I’ve been reading lots of non-fiction lately, and thought I’d share my most recent reads with you.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Recommended by Libby, this was one of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read! Superb storytelling that keeps one spellbound. The author juxtaposes the building of the Chicago World Fair (”The White City”), which demonstrated man’s finest achievements up to that point in art and science against the story of a murderer who used the fair to lure his victims. The various architects I learned about in American Art class in college came to life in this interesting narrative.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

An interesting story about climber Greg Mortenson who ended up in the unlikely role of building schools in middle eastern countries. It’s a well written story that was at times engaging and frustrating. The beginning and ending of the book were interesting, but it lost momentum in the middle. Also, picking up the book between chapters was hard. Although each chapter was interesting in and of itself, but the author, in my opinion, didn’t build interest to keep you wanting to read the next chapter.

When Sinners Say “I Do” By Dave Harvey and Love That Lasts by Gary and Betsy Ricucci

A book about building a marriage based on a biblical foundation, this book was excellent. Much better than the marriage book I read last year, Love That Lasts. In that book the bad writing got in the way of the content. It did have a good chapter on communication and excellent questions to go through, however, the negative aspects were the excessive use of “Sovereign Grace cliche” phrases and when the perspective would shift between the male and female authors it could get annoying and confusing. Thankfully, this book had none of that. The writing was fresh and the illustrations used were interesting and helpful. If you had to choose between the two, I recommend When Sinners Say “I Do”.

I am now ready for some good fiction. I think I’ll try Cover Her Face by P. D. James. Any other good fiction recommendations? I love classics and (well written) historical fiction best. What are your summer reads?

1st Birthday

The big day finally arrived; Duncan and Owen’s first birthday party! (Click on the photos for larger views.)

The Birthday Cake.

The Birthday Cupcakes. My mom made the boys cupcakes from the same recipe she made my first birthday cake from now almost 30 years ago. (30 years tomorrow, yikes!) It’s a spice cake with raisins, whole wheat, and honey for sweetener and cream cheese icing sweetened with fruit juice.

Duncan decided to see what this thing was, while Owen wasn’t so sure he’d like it. Owen ended up not liking the texture of the icing.

Owen finally decided he liked it after all. The cake part, that is.

Duncan loved the cupcake!

Opening their first birthday present.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby boys!

Commander in Chief

It’s amazing to me how much the boys look alike in the above picture, even to me! (Duncan’s on the left, Owen on the right.) The boys are wearing their camo onesies that came from the online store over at Losing Weight After Baby. You can get them for $12.95 and the fabric is so soft yet thick and durable. It’s hard to see in my picture, but they say, “Commander in Chief” and “Major Miracle.”

For any of you who’ve had a baby in the recent past, Losing Weight After Baby is a great resource with articles and podcasts about fitting exercise and healthy habits into your life. Check it out!

I love this picture, especially, with Duncan giggling and Owen doing some sort of Karate chop!

Monday was Duncan and Owen’s first birthday party. Pictures will be coming soon!