TulipGirl

From my friend, Kathryn.

Sand Tarts or Saint Hearts

from the Mennonite Community Cookbook by Mary Emma Showalter

1 C shortening (we’ve always used butter instead)
2 C granulated sugar
3 eggs
3 1/2-4 C flour (I always end up having to add more)
1 tsp salt
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

Cream shortening and sugar together.
Add eggs and flavoring and beat until fluffy.
Sift flour (we’ve always skipped both sifting steps without problems)
Measure and add salt and baking powder.
Sift again.
Add dry ingredients.
Stir until a medium-soft dough is formed (you may have to add a lot of extra flour to get to this point depending on the humidity)
Chill several hours in the refrigerator.
Roll very thin and cut into fancy shapes. (I’m lazy so I just cut them into squares with a pastry wheel)
Brush tops with rich milk and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Decorate with pecan halves (when we use nuts, we’ve always used chopped walnuts)
Place 1 inch apart on a greased cookie sheet (parchment paper also works well instead of greasing the cookie sheet)
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 8-10 minutes.

One thing I like about the recipe is that since it dates back before modern ovens, it’s a lot harder to mess up than a lot of more modern baking recipes.

She brought this to our little cookies-and-eggnog Christmas get together last night. They were so delish, simple, splendid. Posting the recipe so I can find it when I want to make them myself.

Listen here. . . to Steve Brown talking about Nov 22

(Btw, this is the first time I’ve tried to upload an audio clip. . . so, let me know how it works for you!)

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And more. . . scroll down this Prime Time Florida page to listen to an interview with Steve Brown, discussing this weekend in Bradenton!

One year ago. . .

The boys ran to me and said, “Mom, mom! There is an ambulance outside!” They were looking out their bedroom window, watching the commotion in front of our next door neighbor’s house.

They wanted to go outside. Get a closer look.

I didn’t know what was going on. . . “Boys, give them space. Give them privacy. We’ll find out what is going on later.”

Ambulances signal emergency. In this case, it was a tragedy.

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Earlier this week I read about Job’s friends. They often get derided for the counsel they gave Job. But before they said anything? “they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.”

I didn’t sit with Janice. I cried, but didn’t raise my voice and tear my clothes. Honestly, I don’t know how to weep with those who weep. We went to Derek’s memorial service. The community was there; friends, family mourning for Derek and his family and the other kids around here who are struggling in so many ways.

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One traditional proverb a friend in Ukraine shared with me is “Little children, little problems. Big children, big problems.” My children are still pretty young. I like to think they are immune from the hurt and pain and problems in life. While I know that isn’t true, part of me still hopes it is. But it reminds me of what my mother has told me, what was recently echoed by my pastor,

“It is surprising how seldom books on parenting talk about prayer. We instinctively believe that if we have the right biblical principles and apply them consistently, our kids will turn out right. But that didn’t work for God in the Garden of Eden. Perfect environment. Perfect relationships. And still God’s two children went bad.

“Many parents, including myself, are initially confident we can change our child. We don’t surrender to our child’s will (which is good), but we try to dominate the child with our own (which is bad). Without realizing it, we become demanding….

“Until we become convinced we can’t change our child’s heart, we will not take prayer seriously….”

Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life

Little Soldier

Little soldier, little child
You’re still too young to know,
The impact of the battlefield
Or how its memory lingers so.

Playing war is now a game,
Its truth you can’t conceive
Should you defend, until its end
Our freedom to believe.

In God, in man, in liberty
With rights for one and all,
Little soldier, little child,
That day you’ll stand as tall.

Written by Maureen Kuehne
Copyright 2003

Remembering.

I saw this over at Clever Nesting, a daydream site for the wannabe crafter in me. I like the idea of the 3/50 Project — I like supporting local businesses.

I do slightly disagree with the idea of “spend it online, and nothing comes home.” Sure, it might not come directly into my community, but most of what I spend online is from mompreneurs or small businesses that are local to their own communities. That wouldn’t be the case buying from the big online retailers, but the small, handmade or home-based businesses? Online sales can help keep them going when they are still building a sustainable, local customer base.

Some of my favorite local businesses:
Funtoysia
Lifestyle Hearing
Cinnamental Bakers
Bangkok Restaurant
Bella Coffee House
Rudolph Clay Studios
Lambrix-Bush Warehousing
Haley Lamourt Chiropractic
Fruitville Grove Market
Dr. Jaworski and Dr. Moricz
Orthodontists of Lakewood Ranch

Some of my favorite independent, non-local businesses:
Old Bisbee Roasters
High Desert Market and Cafe
Kristen Stewart Photography

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What are some of your favorite local businesses? How can you direct some of your normal, budgeted spending to support them?

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Update: After I posted this, I saw another local blogger, Somber and Dull, had just written about one of his favorite local stores — Funtoysia! (Doesn’t that just beg for some ironic comment?)

Good friends, good conversation, good coffee. . .

Hubby and I had a night out tonight with the ThinkTank discussion group (if you are local, you’re invited next time!)

The topic? Happiness.

Very thought provoking. Though I’ve got to say, coffee and convo hit the top of my “happiness” list.

Update: At the next ThinkTank, we’ll be discussing the movie Idiocracy and a bit about postmodernism. Come, bring some questions and ideas, and enjoy the conversation.

Today was a beautiful day. Ski clear and cool, perfect weather for studying out on the lanai, which I did most of this afternoon. A perfect day. The boys running around playing cops and robbers in the backyard.

And then.

C7 ran in, “It’s important! Alex’s little sister is in the pool!” Not our pool, thank God. But the way he said it, I thought he had just found her there.

I ran outside.

Already a firetruck, ambulance and police were at our neighbor’s house. The medics were moving quickly, so I’m hopeful she has a chance. But I don’t know. I’m scared. A bit panicky. All the neighbors are outside. Stunned. One tells me, “This is enough. When will it end?”

Less than two months ago, another neighbor lost a child. A teenaged boy. The shock, the mourning. The surreality of it all. They are our next door neighbors. I know they are still reeling from it all.

The boys play with Alex. He is 10. I don’t know his family. His little sister is less than 2 years old. The boys don’t know her name. I don’t know how to reach out, how to comfort, how to be in someone’s life in tragedy when I haven’t involved during the normal seasons of life. A friend of mine has been the gentle prodding example of community, within the church and within the neighborhood. Community appeals to me, community invites anxiety within me.

Please pray for Alex, his little sister and their family.

I don’t want this to be a grey autumn.

UPDATE: 10/27 — No news yet from the neighbors. Thank you for your continued prayers.

UPDATE: 10/30 — I haven’t seen the neighbor’s at home. Another neighbor said the little girl was taken to All Children’s Hospital, which I take as both a good and scary sign. Good, in that she’s made it so far. Scary, in that she’s probably having serious complications. Thank you for continuing in prayer for this family, and being encouraging to me as I struggled with the shock and upset.