Afternoon Coffee And Evening Tea

August 18, 2014

Summer Berry Strudel

So I had some berries to use up. They looked like this...

Pretty, right?

And Madison came home from work with the perfect recipe to use them in. You will want to give this one a try. Promise.

Summer Berry Strudel

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbl. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
5 Tbl. Crisco
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
3 cups berries ( I used blue and blackberries)
1 cup sugar
2 Tbl. butter
Powdered sugar and water

Directions:

Mix by hand flour, baking powder, 1Tbl. sugar, salt, Crisco, milk, and egg.
Spread out on sheet pan.
Mix berries with 1 cup sugar.
Put filling on top of batter.
Dot with butter.
Fold like a calzone. Pinch edges.
Bake 25 minutes at 425 Degrees.
Stir powdered sugar and water together.
Drizzle over top.
Slice and enjoy!

August 14, 2014

Today I'm thinking about...

...How much difference a year makes. Last year at this time we had finally been given a name for the awful disease that was taking my father further and further away from us. Dementia. And it was heartless and cruel. I remember many days when my dear father would call me several times...confused, anxious, agitated, and sad. I would talk to him for hours, calming him down, reassuring him, and loving him. My children would tell me how wonderful I was with him. And I smiled and replied with the question...Wouldn't he do the same ? Didn't he do the same my entire life? And won't they do the same for me someday? Because that is life. And that is what loved ones do.

...About the upcoming Feast of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on August 15, and is my very favorite feast day. Year after year I bring my intentions before Our Lady on this day...and pray for a blessed and healthy new school year. We will be attending Mass on Friday morning, and perhaps even convince Steve to join us for breakfast after. : )

...How frustrated I am with clothing choices for my Flynn. My heart is breaking as I have to leave those cute Toddler sizes behind, and let me tell you...those little girl clothes are not making me happy! I wish these manufactures would realize that not all mothers want their preschoolers to dress like preteens! And then ...I realize that honestly, Flynn spends most winter days in her jammies. So I am happy.

Here are some pictures of the past week around our country home...

Sunny mornings mean my baby takes spins on her big wheel...

and other days on Peyton's old princess bike. : )

This little guy hops from bed to bed in the morning. He goes wherever anyone is still sleeping. Most days...he ends up with Madison. : )

You may know my love for all things fall. Yet, I wait every year until the day after Labor Day to fill my home with autumn. Except this year. I couldn't resist setting out these amazing fall scented votives in the mudroom.