Chivalry is not dead

For about a month and a half I have been raking the leaves in our front garden in hour and a half increments, a baby strapped to my front and a toddler running around playing in the dirt. Today, for the first time, I was asked if I needed help.

An old black man, probably in his 50s, was driving by in an old beat up silver pick up truck when he stopped on the opposite side of the road and shouted across asking if I needed any help. I've almost finished, there are really only the wind blown stragglers left, so I said no but thanked him whole-heartedly. Out of all the people that have walked, run or driven past, all the people who have stopped to talk, or waved hello, this man was the only one who offered help.

What a wonderful example of Charity!

Nostalgia

Upon reading a blog entry written by one of my Sisters-in-Law, I felt I should write a similar post. So here goes.

On Sunday the 7th of September 2003, I felt inspired as I listened to testimonies in my Young Women's lesson, to start a journal. Before then, I had been encouraged by my Mum, but as a child I didn't understand and my entries usually consisted of quickly scrawled "I got up. I went to bed." or "I went to school then I went to bed.". Occasionally I would write a sentence more, but often I would write nothing. Since that Sunday, I have written regularly, not every day, but regularly.
I had just turned 16 at that time, and my entries, I'm sad to say, do not reflect whatever maturity I had at that point, if indeed I had any. They consisted of boys, horrid parents, me - the victim, college, church, and more boys... More pleasant memories were recorded as my teenage angst faded, and then even more as I realised that my childhood was slipping away from me, and that soon all that would be left would be memories. Amongst all the every day nonsense that I wrote, there are occasional gems of great value. These are what I was writing for, these few precious memories from my 'childhood' that I would have otherwise forgotten.

For all of this to make sense here is a little background. I have two parents and two sisters. My sisters are Hannah, 1986 and Martha, 2001. I remember little from my childhood, mostly just fractured memories or impressions. My overall impression is that I was a happy child and was well loved. I adored my older sister, Hannah. I drove her crazy following her everywhere and wanting to do everything together, she was SO MUCH FUN! I loved my parents as well and though I would get cross with them often, I felt a great sense of gratitude for the many sacrifices that I knew they made for me. I remember more from my teenage years, but still not a great deal and often when I read a journal entry I have no recollection of the specific events described, which makes me eternally grateful for that impression I received to keep a journal.

(Idea: As my children are still so young, I want to record things that they do and interactions we have so they can have some sort of record of their early childhood. I started a journal for my eldest a few months ago and often record things in my own journal as well.)

I would like to share certain memories with the world, or at least my blog readers. I'm no Anne Frank, but I understand the value of history and I love reliving the sweet gem-like memories I have from my past and others that I have recorded in my journal.

I will entitle these posts 'Memories' and 'Journal Entry', sort of like a series mixed in with the things that are happening now.

Ee-ee-ya

Olivia has a friend over to play and they are sitting eating their lunch at the table. A few mintues ago, I heard Olivia calling, "Hold on! Hold on Eli! Hold on to leg! Hold on to *Eeeya's leg! Hold on tight! Hold on tight Eli!". Eli just sat there, eating his sandwich.

Children are so fun to observe interacting with each other!

*Eeeya is how Olivia says her name (Ee-ee-ya)

Aesthetically Pleasing

Here is the first installment of photos that I love. No copyright infringement intended.

This is a Cooper's Hawk that graced my garden with it's presence.

I love this picture from the wickedly curved beak to the savage red eyes. When I think that I took it, I feel like a wild child that nature has embraced and welcomed by showing me a deep beautiful part of herself.

Taken by me, Dec 2010.

I love how the background is mute and misty whilst the subject is vibrant and crisp and I especially love the bright red frills that are spilling out of the bottom of her skirt. I find a sort of effortless ease to what I assume is a jump, which creates a feeling of youthful whimsicality in me that is hard to shake off. I feel as though I want to prance around shoe-less in a field infested with moles and that by doing so I will attain eternal youth.

Unknown photographer/model.

And the Greatest Mother Award goes to...

I just trapped Olivia's thumb in the bathroom door. I guess I'm out of the running.

Little Letters for Growing Brains

I made some letter magnets for Olivia so that she can start learning how to piece words together herself.

I think I installed the handles of our filing cabinet upside-down...

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Truly one of life's little pleasures.

We had company for tea last night and though I'm not a wonder chef, there are some recipes that are worth the work. This is one of them.

1 1/4 C sugar (divided into 3/4 c and 1/2 cup)

1 C flour

7 tbs cocoa powder (divided into 3tbs and 4 tbs)

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C milk

1/3 C butter (melted)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 C packed brown sugar

1 1/4 hot water

Combine 3/4 c sugar, flour, 3 tbs cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Blend in milk, butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Pour into pan (8x8 or 9x9)

Combine 1/2 c sugar, brown sugar, 4 tbs cocoa. Sprinkle evenly over batter.

Pour hot water over top. Do not stir!

Bake for 40 mins at 350°F

Let stand for 15 minutes.

It's best served hot and tastes so good with ice-cream! The recipe says that it serves 8-10 but I would say it serves about 6 with ice-cream because we often have seconds, it's just that good.

Enjoy!