I Want

 I want the opposite of

AI. 

I want to wonder about something and actually think about how to find the answer. I want to look for the answer and try to understand it. I want to actually think about things, without the empty, soulless, instant gratification that yields little understanding.

I want the opposite of

Unlimited Information.

I want to live in a world where I know what I need to know, without the incessant barrage of news, opinions, personal information, and unnecessary drama. Our parents and grandparents lived in a much smaller world than we do and had much less access to what was happening outside their circle of friends and family. They learned what they needed to know from the unbiased information reported on the nightly news. This is not a bad thing. They weren't bombarded with news reports of plagues, airplane crashes, political disagreements in foreign countries, or the political views of their favorite movie actor. 

I want the opposite of 

Forced Familial Obligations.

I want to be able to choose what family events and get-togethers I attend without judgment from others. I was told not that long ago that everyone in the family would love to get to know me better, and wished I was more involved in family events. I want to attend the events I choose without doing it because it is family. And not  because I will be a topic of conversation if I don't. 

I want the opposite of 

Drama.

I want to live in my house with my family. I want to cook, clean, read, and teach. I want to reach out to those in my life who care about and love me, too. I want to help who I can, learn, grow, and be content. I want to live like my mom and my grandma before. I want less of the crazy world outside and more of my cozy home inside. 

But that's just me!

Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo

(Pinterest for the images.)

Monday Morning Coffee On The First Of June!

Good Monday morning! Welcome to June, otherwise known to me as the quiet, slow-down, rest-and-relax month. June is for us a month of calm, ordinary days with almost nothing on the schedule. It is the month tucked cozily in between much busier times, a chance to pause and reflect before heading into the second half of the year. 

This past weekend was productive around here. In addition to our regular weekend activities of attending Mass and going to dinner afterward, Flynn had work, Steve went to the farmer's market with Madison, and I got around to doing some much-needed organizing. If you ask my kids, they would say, "Mom is in one of her moods!" This translates to Mom is going to start organizing everything in sight! Nail down your belongings! Seriously, though, we moved in here at the end of last August, and I never got around to making sure things were as functional and aesthetically pleasing as possible. In the past few days, I suddenly decided to tackle that situation.

I emptied my makeup drawer, threw away old, caked-on, empty products, and finally opened the new makeup brushes I bought on sale in December. I moved to the refrigerator, which was really crammed with things long past their usefulness, wiped the shelves, and put everything back in order. I dumped the "Junk Drawer", where everything without a home ends up, and was able to consolidate it down to a notepad, some pens, scissors, tape, and a phone charger no one seems to want to claim. 

Perhaps the most daunting project of all was the pantry. This house was built with a beautiful pantry, and during the survival-of-the-fittest moving process, items were assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. This worked until it didn't, or at least until I couldn't take it anymore! So, I got a few baskets and bins and spent the better part of Saturday afternoon making it more functional and less chaotic! Here is how it looked before... 

And here is how it looks now...

It is so much easier to see what we have now. And I was able to toss some things that were way past the expiration date. 

These three were all comfy with a YouTube video when we headed to Mass.

Things you see on your way to Mass. 

And lastly, my Peyton Rose celebrated a birthday yesterday! While miles may have separated us, she was right there with me all day long. She had a wonderful day made even more special with dinner and a beautiful cake from her mother-in-law, Sheri, phone calls, texts, and a lovely trip to Parker Dam with Christopher. My littlest baby, born with dark hair and a tiny turned-up nose, is twenty-six. To me, she will always be that little girl with the clippy in her hair, swinging on the swing in the backyard without a care in the world.

Have a wonderful day, my friends. Enjoy the fresh air and summer scents. I hope you have many lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, as my Mom used to sing. And I hope you have plenty of moonlight nights, too.

Billie Jo

Friday Photos

Hello! How was your week? The last week of May. Can you believe it? May, as so many of you have also mentioned, can be quite busy. Good busy. But still busy. As we head into June, I am looking forward to more cozy, regular, ordinary days. Here are some photos of how the last week of May looked around here.

I enjoyed my early morning walks and met a few new friends, too.

Our little Cosmo celebrated his third birthday! He is so very sweet, loving, and funny. We are happy he joined our family!

He loves most everything, except maybe Algebra.

Christopher sent us this sweet photo of Peyton choosing her flowers. Peyton always has the most beautiful garden. 

Mocha and I enjoyed a lot of time on the screened-in porch this week. 

I finished this book out there, and it was good.

I made this breakfast for Flynn before she went to work yesterday. She really enjoys it, and I am so happy for her!

It is strawberry season here, and Madison loves strawberries! She made a delicious Danish dessert that Nicolas' grandmother used to make for him in Denmark. I asked her for the recipe because I think you would love it as much as we do! We call it Danish Strawberry Porridge.

Jordbærgrød |  Makes 5-6 servings

3-4 pints of fresh, local strawberries

zest + juice of half a lemon

1/4 cup granulated sugar + more for topping

2 tablespoons of cornstarch

3 tablespoons of water

heavy cream for topping

1. Wash the berries and slice off the tops, preserving as much of each strawberry as possible.
2. Add strawberries to a pot. Add lemon zest and juice. Add sugar. Note: You may need more or less sugar depending on the berries' sweetness.
3. Stir to combine, then simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until the strawberries begin to cook down.
4. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water. Add to the strawberry pot and continue simmering for 5 minutes, until the mixture is thick. Note: Feel free to use your spoon to mash the berries some. This is all about personal preference! I typically leave the strawberries somewhat intact for a more rustic porridge.
5. Let cool. Place porridge in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
6. Time to serve! Add a few spoonfuls of the jordbærgrød to a bowl. Add a drizzle of heavy whipping cream and a sprinkle of sugar. Note: This amount of sugar depends on how much you have already added to the porridge as well as the sweetness of the berries. I always try to add less when cooking and add more on top if needed. Lately, I've been using Turbinado sugar for an extra crunch. 

This week's salad was delicious! Just lettuce, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, hard-boiled egg, leftover corn off the cob, and some leftover steamed shrimp. Leaving you with a few little thoughts of someone who is not me, but which I do agree with wholeheartedly!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

Billie Jo

Things I Like And Things I Don't: Summer Edition

Memorial Day has always signified the unofficial start of the summer season. To commemorate this momentous event, I bring you some things I like about summer and a few I don't! 

During summer, I like...

Late afternoon and early evenings, reading on the beach.

All the summer food, like hot dogs, corn on the cob, garden lettuce, and tomatoes.

Mid-afternoon thunderstorms.

Earlier morning walks.

Eating dinner on the porch.

Shark Week.

After dinner ice cream runs.

Three months of Big Brother.

And dreaming of autumn every single day.

Some things I don't like about summer???

The sun. And the heat. And the sun.

And the heat.

Bugs. Mosquitos, bees, wasps, hornets, moths, and on and on and on.

And crowded beaches.

But that's just me!

Happy Wednesday!

Billie Jo

(Pinterest for the fun.)