evening

Moving from our house and all the things I loved there (the hardwood! the tile! the paint that didn't resemble the color of baby spit-up!), it was hard to transition into a teeny-tiny apartment again. Much harder than I anticipated. The hormones don't help I'm sure, but I've been hard pressed to appreciate much about this space.  

Except the lovely light that filters in the wall of windows in the early evening. 

That, I love. 

lunch

How big of a faux pas is it to post a picture of half eaten food? Probably no bigger than eating in your bed... again. If it wasn't so delicious AND if I wasn't going to give you the recipe, I wouldn't subject you to viewing so you gotta give me something for that. 

I am more than slightly embarrassed that I saw this recipe featured on Oprah, and not only that, but every time I feel the urge to whip these burgers up I add to the number of hits on Oprah's website. Ack. The shame. My husband is probably shaking his head at the mere mention of her name on this blog. While I'm on a roll and my cheeks are already burning I may as well add that I actually type Oprah's Favorite Turkey Burger into the search bar on Oprah's website when I go looking for it. For real. 


Trust me though. It's delicious. You can play around with it to your heart's content and it's really unlikely that it will turn out bad. The last time I made them I left out the parsley and tobasco and used barbeque sauce instead. Sometimes I use regular onions instead of scallions. Do what you like, but DON'T leave out the chutney. Store bought really is your best bet. I tried it with a chutney from the farmer's market once and it wasn't nearly as good. Major Grey's or not, just use store bought... and don't feel like you need to puree it either. It's just one more step that slows up getting it on your plate. 


There really is no limit to what you can top this burger with either. Plain old ketchup and mustard work fine, but cucumber, avocado, cheese, tomato, lettuce, more chutney, mayo, barbeque sauce and pickles usually make their way onto ours. Try it.

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 3 Granny Smith apples , peeled and diced
• 1/8 cup canola oil
• 4 pounds ground turkey breast
• 2 Tbsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. black pepper
• 2 tsp. Tabasco® chipotle pepper sauce
• 1 lemon , juiced and grated zest
• 1/2 bunch parsley , finely chopped
• 1/4 cup Major Grey's Chutney , pureed

Directions:

Sauté the scallions, celery and apples in the canola oil until tender. Let cool.

Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add sautéed items and the remaining ingredients. Shape into eight 8-ounce burgers. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Season the turkey burgers with salt and pepper. Place on a preheated, lightly oiled grill. Grill each side for 7 minutes until meat is thoroughly cooked. Let sit for 5 minutes.

the airshow

All in all, one of the worst days we've had in a long time.
The kids grumped. We grumped. The kids yelled. We yelled. The kids whined. We whined.
But we pushed on. And made it through.

can anything bad...

... come from a bowl that starts out like this?

Nope.

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

thrifting//the globes

Everytime I walk into a thrift store I say a little prayer under my breath that they will have a globe or two for me to bring home. I rarely get an answer. But I remain undeterred and truth be told, it makes the rush of finding one all the more sweet. I think Rob was scared by the single-minded determination with which I bee-lined for that tall beauty in the back there.  

I've found four in the last year or so. A surprisingly low ratio when you consider how often we frequent the second hand shops, but with inspiration like this floating around out there I'm sure I'm not the only one on the hunt. 

One of my finds was gifted to my sister for Christmas. Not because I didn't want it, but because it was the only way the husband was going to let me leave the store with it and I digress. I would have rather left the store with it and have to give it away than to leave it there for some other map-loving thrifter to find. At least this way there is a chance, small though it may be, that one day it could come to live with me again. And she really loved it. Better to give than to receive, right?

the snuggler completed

I cannot wait to stuff this little swaddler full of little Wren goodness. This has been the most satisfying sewing project I've undertaken for awhile. So much so that I couldn't resist sewing up another for a little boy only days away from making his appearance. 

The second time around I added the velcro before piecing the snuggler together and I like the results much more when you can't see the stitching. I also decided to hand sew (like the pattern suggests) the opening closed instead of topstitching (like I decided would be easier) and the result is much cleaner as well. 

As pleasing as this project was, I'm sure it won't be long until I'm itching to revisit. I think my go-to baby gift has been found! 

the snuggler

A late addition to my list of things to make for baby. 
And a pleasantly easy project. 

I have yet to add the velcro so completed pictures will follow in the next day or two. Pattern is from this book.

A love story.

When I first saw you, I hated you.
I was sure we would never get along much less become inseparable.
I thought I was above you and your trendiness.
I thought there was no way I could be comfortable with you.


And then I got to know you. 
I was curious, I guess, so I asked Leah if she would walk me through our first encounter. 
Just to see if we could maybe, possibly be compatible. 
Our first date was strange and slightly awkward. 
I wasn't used to all the closeness that you were obviously meant for. 


I dropped you off and wasn't sure what the next step would be. 
But I couldn't get you out of my mind. 
I kept coming back to you and over time I chose you. 
You and no other. 
Every time. 


You saw me through my struggle to lose all the weight of baby #1. 
You saw me through my struggle to get pregnant with baby #2.
You saw me through my pregnancy with baby #2.
You even got bigger as I got bigger and I will always remember your sympathy.
You waited while I recovered from delivering baby #2.
I came back to you as soon as I could. 
By that time I knew I would never question my devotion to you again. 


Now I am pregnant with baby #3 and my own body feels foreign in ways it never did with the other two and our relationship has become strained. 
I think about you everyday. 
I have tried to alter those that have tried to replace you to feel more like you, but my efforts fall short. 
Things are so different now. 
I miss you. 
I can't wait to get back to you. 
I see you waiting for me and it motivates me.


You are the greatest jeans I have ever known. 
There is no boot cut, no flare, no boyfriend cut, no straight leg that holds a candle to you. 
You, skinny jeans, are my constant. 
You have survived and surpassed the dreaded 'trend' phase. 
Sure, there have been versions that have fallen by the wayside and extremes to which I will never take you, but you will ever have a place in my closet. 


I love how you never make your way under my feet. 
Your hems never wear out. 
You look great in every wash.
I can wear you with boots and flats and sneakers and flip flops. 
You never make me feel bad.


You and no other. 
Until we meet again. 

2 kilos

In a little more than a week I have polished off a 2 kilo bag of raisins.
Ta-da! I think I have found, for the first time in 3 pregnancies, a craving!


Also. Today marks the beginning of the end.
Hello, third trimester!
I think this calls for some more raisins.

a summer frock

In an effort to avoid actually accomplishing anything on my ever-growing to do list, I spent last night sewing up a new little summer frock for our suddenly very girly girl.

Dresses are the only thing that make the cut these days. Skirts are for days when ALL the dresses are dirty. And pants and shorts have yet to make an appearance this summer. If it wasn't for bathing suits and trips to the pool I would never get her out of these new found favorites.

I sewed this one up using this tutorial and a $3 remnant I found scrounging around Fabricland for some decent purple (after the little diva's request for a purple dress) fabric. She says this is white and purple but it's as close to purple as this mama is going to let her come. At least it's a break from all the pink I guess.  The tutorial and pattern were easy-peasy to follow, though I was surprised at how long it took to come together.  Ironing rounded hems just is not my forte I guess. Next time I think I would favor buttons over  snaps, but for now this fits the bill quite nicely.

If the new little one is anything like her sister, I forsee many, many more opportunities to perfect this little pattern. Such an odd thought still... two little girls in little dresses. Next summer will look so different than this. 

Yesterday/Today

Yesterday I:

1. Sorted the mountain of laundry in our house. 
2. Cleaned the bathroom.
3. Changed the linens on every bed in the house. 
4. Put away 2 baskets of kids clothes.
5. Vacuumed.
6. Finished sewing all the liners for the diapers.
7. Sewed up some wipes. 
8. Wore jeans... and a bra.
9. Made a balanced supper for the first time in months. I have never seen our kids eat their veggies so well... nothing like 26 weeks of daddy made meals and take out to inspire some appreciation for the greener things in life. 
10. Went to the fabric store.
11. Built puzzles with the kids. On the floor. (Of all the things I accomplished, getting up off the floor should be the one thing I get an award for.)
12. Went to the Doctor. Baby is good. The scale was not.
13. Washed at least three loads of dishes. 
14. Took lunch to the husband at work. 
15. Made snacks.
16. Gave Elin a bath.
17. Joined the kids and daddy in their otherwise exclusive bedtime routine. 

Today I:

1. Ate a bowl of watermelon.
2. Threw up. 

Good days and bad days, I guess. 

I hate the bad days. 

Home.

I grew up with a very real sense of national patriotism. Not of the Canadian variety, either. With an immigrant for a father words like home and family often meant a place and people thousands of miles of blue water away. No one I knew grew up like this. It was completely normal and completely strange at the same time. 

Hearing strains of different languages every Sunday when Dad called any number of aunts and uncles and cousins was comforting and special and often produced the oddest looks from friends that may have happened to be visiting during these calls. (Truth be told, I think it still throws the husband a little bit and he's been coming over for the last 14 years.) I don't think I have ever eaten a turkey for Christmas dinner, opting instead for traditional pork (with rinds) and candied potatoes and rice pudding for dessert. I have never opened gifts on Christmas morning. Until I got married no one ever pronounced my last name properly. I am forever ruined for North American made candy. I have an unnatural love for rye bread smothered in mackeral in red sauce and mayo. Sandwiches are always better open faced. I have an appreciation for teak that runs so deep it can only be genetically based. I think this heritage also would explain my love for all things mid-century modern because really does anyone do it better than the Scandinavians? Didn't think so. I can't even tell you how many times I've mourned the loss of the free education, extended vacation time, unreal healthcare, pension, insurance... and on and on it goes. The highest taxes in the world seem a small price to pay, right? Ah, maybe not, but it just sounds so good.  And while my dad never taught us his language (for my thoroughly Canadian mom's sake)I think it's one of his biggest parenting regrets. 

Until we were grown it was never an option for the whole family to make a pilgrimage 'home' but in 3 days time the only remaining one of us to not make the journey will get to. In fact everyone but me and my own little family will be there together in just hours. And it makes me sad. For a time we thought the trip would be possible, even with our meager new budget. Alas it wasn't meant to be and with good reason because as life unfolded in front of us and a baby came into being we realized it just wouldn't have worked. 

Or it would have. But just like it did the last time. With me in a foreign bed, throwing up foreign food, while the husband explored on his own. 'Home' didn't feel so much like home then. Saskatchewan seemed liked Utopia for the agonizing few days that 5 week holiday actually lasted.  And even though I can see all of the blessing's God's given us weave back to that trip and our early marriage I would never willingly go through that again. So while I wish I could make the trip... I am content to stay here, with the people who really make me feel at home, and wish bon voyage to the rest of them. 

Don't forget to bring me some candy. The orange ones are my favorite. 

the list

I have lofty goals for the making that is to be done in preparation for our little birdie and not so lofty energy levels, so in an effort to simplify the process and keep my brain from exploding I introduce:


The List.
Separated neatly into the following categories:
The Have-to's.
The Would-be-nice's.
The Dream-on you sweaty, swollen, puking mama's.


The Have To's: 

• Diapers (10 done out of 36 in total)
• Wipes
• Crib Sheets
• Change Pad cover 
• Crib Bumper (I know, I know... unsafe you irresponsible mama, but after seeing this little yellow beauty I couldn't resist and a steal of a deal on some yellow striped (which reminded me of this wedding that ultimately provided the whole color palate of the room, er... corner) and linen fabric at Value Village told me it was meant to be... even if it's just for a picture or two when it all finally comes together. Plus, it's done already. Sue me) 
• a pair or two of these sweet little shoes (I guess not really a have to but I already bought the pattern and to not use it now really would be a shame)
• Find, buy, and paint a secondhand dresser to double as a change table.
• A wet bag.

The Would Be Nice's:

• Birdies for a mobile something like this. I figure I need 10... Three are sewn. Two are stuffed and blindstitched. I hate blindstitching. 
• Some little jersey and bamboo wool hats. Our kids never fit the standard baby head size, so handmade it must be. 
• Artwork for the corner. There are some ideas mulling around in my head but my skills in execution when it comes to computer illustrations are iffy. We'll see how keen the husband is to help.

The Dream On's:

• A stack of smocks à la angry chicken. My dream would be a little girlie who wears a daily uniform of onsies, leggings, and smocks. She will need more than the one sitting half finished in a pile that was intended to be a present for another little girl months ago. All that bias tape and those tiny little arm holes plant this one firmly in the dream on category. 
• A stack of bibs. Again, the thought of repeatedly preforming the 'right sides together, turn, press, topstitch' thing just isn't all that appealing. 
• A mommy made quilt. Seeing as I've only made one quilt before and it was less than stellar I will leave this for a time with more patience and more bend in my body.

I know there is more, but for now this is where is stays... a start anyway. 

the view from here

Not even the third trimester and my toes are no longer visible. Ack. Slow down little Wren... all day sickness, all pregnancy long and too stretched out stretch marks are too much for one mama to handle.