For the beauty of the earth

Yesterday I woke up with the idea that we should go to CEFC (where I grew up) for church and then head over to my parent's place so my Dad could take some decent pictures of our family in the pretty October colors. As I thought this about 20 minutes before we would need to leave, let's just say I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. But nonetheless, our day turned out to be absolutely beautiful. After church my dad ( in his classic spontaneous way) wanted to take us to St. Peter's village to try this very old/ newly renovated Village Inn restaurant where we had a lovely brunch ( and we even got to sit on the dining porch outside overlooking the rocky creek). After we ate we took Luke down to play with the rocks, which I think he would have contentedly done for 3 hours straight. 

Alas, he was SOOO enamored with throwing little rocks onto the big rocks that out of about 50 pictures my dad took we managed to get about 3 decent family photos =: ) And if you're happening to wonder why Evan is wearing a Small Paul freaky monkey shirt that I love (my sis sent that to me from Seattle =: ) for our family photo the answer  is that this little bundle of joy pooped through his whole outfit while we were eating brunch. So thank goodness I had something for him to wear. You know the motto:

"Always be prepared"- ish!

So here's some of my favorite shots from St. Pete's: 

"For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies.

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies.

Lord of all to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise."

 Have a wonderful, crisp, beautiful October day!

Business and Pleasure

This is the week of a good friend's first anniversary, and with it came the recollection of the cake I made her, which got me thinking how long it's been since I've made a cake for someone (or myself for that matter). I've been dying to make a pumpkin cake lately, but due to the pumpkin shortage I've been unable to do so until this week when, joy of joys, I found pumpkin in the store! And since when it rains it pours, I also got a 'baby pie' pumpkin in our produce share this week, so pumpkin cakes, and pies, and cookies, here I come!!

But I also wanted to share a little taste of what I've made in the last year, so if you know anyone who's getting married, I'd love to get my hands back into some cake and fondant soon =: )

 This cake was for Robyn and RJ, who've been married over a year already! Congratulations guys!

 I didn't know the girl I made this cake for, but she married an Asian dude, and therefore the real bamboo border. And let me tell you, thank goodness I have a handy man for a husband, because we had to use the meiter saw to cut that stuff!

This lovely invention was all Dee's idea for her cake, who's anniversary is this week! 

Happy anniversary Dee and Zeb!

This pumpkin cake was for Luke's 1st birthday. Can't believe the little guy will be 2 in a couple weeks! AHH!

This is what happens when the handsomest man ever (i.e. my husband) comes with me to set up the cakes. "Let's take a picture of you with the cake...just one more, ....just one more..." But I think this is the only picture of me with my work other than Rachel's cake 12 years ago (or 13? whatever). This was for Blonnie and Joe's January wedding...thus the snowflakes. Miss you guys!

This was the last wedding cake I did in April for Jenna and Phil. Jenna picked out the flowers and ribbon. Simply lovely, don't you think?

One of my life goals is to have a real wedding cake business. How awesome would that be? You deal with sweet food, creative beauty, and the chance to make a couple smile on the happiest day of their life.

WIN WIN.

Perhaps next time I will post one of my favorite cake recipes...Until then, enjoy this beautiful time of year!

Dreams...

 "Having dreams is what makes life tolerable." Rudy (excellent movie if you've not yet seen it)

A bit of a pessimistic quote I admit. I want my dreams to make life more than tolerable. How about exciting, fun, abundant, joyful? This is what I've been thinking a lot about lately. Perhaps it's because often as a mother I feel my 'dreams' must be put on hold for the purpose of raising kids, taking care of a home and husband, etc. But this mindset of 'putting your life on hold' while so and so needs you, while this and that happens, may not be the key to living a full and abundant life. For someone may always need me, and this and that will never cease to happen. We will perhaps just end up bitter or unhappy with the good things that are surrounding us, because we never got to _____ (you fill in the blank). So...the question is: How do I live my dreams, i.e. my heart's desires, amidst the mundane toils of daily life?

Obviously, the answer is not found in ourselves. I looked up 'heart's desire' in Bible Gateway to refresh my memory of what the Bible says about such things. Surely He who knit us together in the womb, who knows our every thought, who forsees our every step, who created us in His image, would know the secret to this question. HE HOLDS OUR HEARTS IN HIS HAND! I hope these verses will comfort you, give you perspective and a fresh hope for today and every day.

Psalm 37:4-6 (New International Version)

 ⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this:
 ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Italics added)

2 Chronicles 1:10-12 (New International Version)

¹⁰ Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
 ¹¹ God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (italics added)

Deuteronomy 6:5 (New International Version)

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Psalm 139:13 (New International Version)

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

Isaiah 55:2 (New International Version)

 ² Why spend money on what is not bread,
       and your labor on what does not satisfy?
       Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
       and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. (italics added)


Now as I read these verses I was reminded of a very important lesson: our dreams need to be in alignment with God's heart, and his will, if they have any chance of becoming reality. Obviously if my dream was to smoke marijauna (which I assure you is NOT the case, but you get the idea) He is not under any remote obligation to fulfill it. God is not our genie. He is however our Father, Friend, Protecter, and Redeemer. He makes life livable!

So is my dream of one day being in a musical a bad one? (you know, 'CATS: The Remake' or something of that nature. Can't you see me jumping and dancing around singing at the top of my lungs "Jellicle cats are queen of the night, singing at astronomical heights, handling pieces from the Messiah,...")

What about playing the Rach 2 at Carnegie Hall? Ok that's a little far fetched, I'll never be that good, and I'm ok with that. But I would like to play a concerto again with an orchestra at some part of my life!

Or the desire to be in a square-dancish/ Irish music type band. How fun would that be??

I realize these aspirations may not be the most spiritual desires ever (we can save those for another day, babies are starting to cry for attention) but they are nonetheless part of who I am. And I think to deny that would be to deny the creativity and imagination and the unique qualities God instilled in me that make me who I am. So for now, amidst diapers, toys, and laundry, I will have to sing CATS by myself (but yay! with an audience of 2), listen to Celtic music on the CD player, and play a page from the Rach 2 here and there.

Besides, I bet in Heaven there will be plenty of singing, dancing, good company and good food to delight us far above what we could ever dream up on this earth. And so with that (and now screaming boys to attend to) I leave you. Until next time...

Something to wet your whistle...

This is a pie I've made 3 times in the last month, so I thought I'd share this new favorite with you. I would never have thought adding sour cream to apple pie, but on my last day at Shady Maple my coworker made this in honor of me (it was the beginning of October that I had to leave too, so prime apple season!) It's absolutely delicious and good warm or cold. Enjoy!

Sour Cream Apple Pie

1 unbaked pie crust
5 -6 apples, peeled and sliced (about 5 cups)
1 cup light or regular sour cream
2 eggs
1/2 sugar
2 TB. flour
pinch salt.
~ Combine sour cream and next 4 ingredients, then gently stir in the apples. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together:


3 TB. brown sugar
4 TB. flour
4 TB finely chopped pecans or almonds
1/2 tsp. cinnamon or allspice
3 TB. soft butter 
~ Sprinkle topping on partially baked pie and return to oven for another 30 -35 minutes, or until topping is nice and browned and apples are tender when pierced with a knife. Cool for an hour at least and refrigerate leftovers.

"I adore simple pleasures, they are the last refuge of the complex." Oscar Wilde

 

 Summer is officially over, and with it our several-times-weekly walk to our neighborhood park and playground. We still go, but only on the sunny warm days, which sadly are getting fewer and farther between. So today I thought I'd take you along with me on our little pilgrimage so you could enjoy the beautiful scenery we get to enjoy as we trot behind our house.

The scene below is why Luke's first word was duck. If he is walking, it takes about 2 minutes to get to this bridge overlooking the 'happenin' place' for ducks in this town. 

Cool side note: a couple weeks ago the lady that planted that willow tree (who lives right to the right of the tree) said she put it in only 5 years ago! It's huge!! It makes me think of Psalm 1: 1-3 in a fresh light:

¹ Blessed is the man

       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

This is our lovely wooden playground

This is the same stream that winds down from behind our house. This part is right next to the playground with a nice 'beach' that Luke can throw rocks from. He was busy doing this for over 1/2 hour when this picture was taken (while Evan slept peacefully in the stroller).

I'm glad you could take a virtual stroll with me =: ) But I love the real thing, so if you are ever able to walk with us, please do!

And last but not least, this is a current, 8 week old picture of Evan donning his fashionable ducky suit from auntie Rachel in Seattle. The first time he wore it Luke pointed out EVERY SINGLE duck on it =: )

Until next time....Peace and smiles to you and yours!

"Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start." The Sound of Music

So I have finally decided to blog... Not just so that my family members and dear friends, that are spread all over the country, can catch up on charisisms and pictures of my boys, but that I, after 4 years post college, can stimulate my brain. That's exactly what I need right now. MENTAL STIMULATION. I know you young mothers out there will agree with me that sometimes raising young children is entertaining, delightful, fun, challenging, and so forth, but let's face it: "Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger too" does not fall under the adult brain food category.


I want this blog to be a refreshment to your mind, heart, and soul, as well as mine. Everyone needs something fresh now and then, and so with pictures, stories, prayers, recipes, and whatever else pops into my head, I hope you will always leave refreshed from visiting this little part of the internet world.


And so it begins:


I would like to start with several things that make me happy, that bring me pleasure...

This man. Edward O'Connell, otherwise known as the handsomest man EVER!!! My best friend turned husband. How lucky am I?!

 Number 2: My dear husband who is in love with our first son, Luke. It always makes me smile when he teaches Luke something new. The fist pump is not new, but it was at one time pre-blog, and so I thought I'd include it. The shirt is an awesome find my dad picked up in Wildwood this summer.

Number 3: (this one is random, but hey) When a woman is in labor, it is the little things that make it bearable: Like ducky thermometers in the labor tub. Thank you, o birth center, for the smile =: )

So this picture doesn't necessarily bring me pleasure (at the thought of being so HUGE) but I'd like to share it for those of you who did not get to see me the day before little Evan entered this world. And to think I thought I still had a week to go! Thank you God! And speaking of little Evan...

Now how could a face like that not brighten your day? There is nothing quite like the smile of a child to bless one's heart. And so with this I will leave you...until next time =: )