Pictorial update

The “special snack” James chose for his recent sleepover with best friend Alexa. They had both been religiously eating their vegetables without complaining in order to earn this special occasion. The sleepover was not at our house, but from all accounts went swimmingly. They did: sleep in a tent in the basement, play with Legos, run around uproariously, stay up until 10PM talking, eat “peanut butter puffs” for breakfast. They did not: watch the movie we sent along, eat pizza for supper (at least James didn’t), or have any tantrums due to exhaustion. Well, not during the sleepover anyway…

The boys reading the latest stack of library books. Owen looks like a tropical bird with his hair sticking up like this. I was unable to get a blur-free picture due to the excited turning of pages.

The book that made me cry three times in Barnes and Noble just skimming through it. Was promptly purchased via Amazon for $10 cheaper and I’m positively engrossed. So many doubts and frustrations lately regarding the church and how it relates to the world at large. Rachel Held Evans freely admits that she hasn’t figured it all out, but she gives voice to the questions I’m asking and is exploring them boldly and without fear. I’m happily tagging along for the ride.

Now that the first trimester is a thing of the past I want desserts again. These brownies are my strongest argument against boxed brownies, which I freely admit are almost always better than the average baker’s homemade version. Add a perfectly creamy, barely sweetened, salted peanut butter frosting and WELL.

The next wish, because there’s always a next wish. Doesn’t have to be Le Creuset because, well, that would destroy our Parisian adventure budget for the foreseeable future. Doesn’t have to be (probably shouldn’t be) white. But a cast-iron, enameled Dutch oven that I can stew, braise, and bake in. Consider it an investment. Please and thanks. 

The other book that I read in Barnes and Noble and bought on Amazon for half price. A textbook for bakers, which is thrilling for somebody who still doesn’t understand thoroughly why batches of bread vary from bake to bake. Currently testing a cookie recipe…I’ll keep you posted.

Like his mother, Owen is recently showing a propensity for needing WEIGHT on him. Being tucked down by cushions, pillows, and blankets has been his preferred hideaway all morning. It’s certainly been a quiet, peaceful morning at that.