All posts in Mama Heart Mushings

And WE Made Cookies!

by admin on January 6, 2012 in Adventure and Me, Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me, Mama Heart Mushings with No comments

Two things I have said that I retract… as of today…

ONE, I don’t make cookies and TWO, guess you have to be a chef or a baker and I am no baker anymore.  It is amazing what more time can do for a mom’s self esteem!  With HAVING to make our bread every week I couldn’t help but retain that skill, but with Garnet diagnosed with hypoglycemia I let my baking skills mostly slide.  Especially where cookies where concerned as I always found them such a struggle, so time consuming and so often a failure of mine.

With Garnet’s shoulders both damaged due to two different accidents of late I have been home bound while I let him use our only vehicle more often.  Before his shoulder issues he was commuting by bike YEAR ROUND.  This means I am feeling more domestic as I have no choice but to put off all the run around stuff I have been expected to do since moving to the city, and I am lov’n it!

With more time on my hands I decided we needed cookies.  My little man, who is three now, and I have the mornings alone together and we needed the together project as well as the treats that result from cookie making.  It all became necessary after yesterdays trips to two grocery stores.  He loves grocery trips, even asking when we don’t need to if I will take him anyway.  He loves grocery trips because I figured out what other mom’s apparently knew for years… the baker will let you child have a free cookie!  So he got a gigantic ginger snap from Superstore and a fat chocolate chip from Safeway.  I got a happy little man and a kick out of his deep deep pleasure in cookie eating.  I recalled how much I adored them as a child, pretty much all of us did right?!  I remembered how AMAZING my mothers home made chocolate chip cookies where… we needed home made cookies around here again!  And that!  That would be up to ME!!

Once home I also remembered how badly every single batch of my mom’s famous cookies turned out when I made them… doubt set in… uncertainty… apprehension… but my craving and my boys chocolate smeared smile pushed me through the haze of horrible memory flash backs and I GOT OUT MY BOWL TODAY!  Yes the cookie batter mixing bowl, and the spatula, and the ingredients!  I then called my mom for help and let her walk me through my rough spots over the phone

When I poured in the chocolate chips my boy cheered ‘You put in chocolate!  You are so good mommy’!  When I let him mix he exclaimed, ‘We do dis together Mama, US make cookies.  Iz you and me’!  And my heart glowed.

My tummy glowed too, as I munched down my first… well two first cookies.  My three year old got SOOOO quiet when I set two cookies and a glass of milk before him.  Ironically that spoke deeper then all his adorable praises as we prepared the cookies.

Today was a big day… today we made cookies!

P.S. Oops… burnt tongue…I never ever seem to remember to not put the stray chocolate chips straight into my mouth after removing hot cookies from the pan.  HOT CHOCOLATE!

TTFN

Christmas Eve Snippets

by admin on December 24, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, Feeling It (Thankful), Foodie Like Me, Holiday Messages, Mama Heart Mushings, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

Has been another day of cooking in the kitchen and yet, unlike so many previous years, I am happy there… prepping the ‘pigs in a blanket’ and the cake of ‘gingerbread’.  We will have a house full of family tonight for our Christmas eve ‘Scottish Tea Party’.  This is something we do every year with the kids and this year it just worked out that more people are coming.

 Has been a day of making sure the house is nicely prepared for guests and so I have less to do tomorrow.  New Christmas decorations (like the mitten garland) are up and the floors are sparkling. Fresh sheets are ready for the guest bed and clean towels.  For the first time ever we are also having a sleep over on Christmas!  My sister and her daughter will be with us since her man is away with work.  The home will be all the cozier with extra loved ones to shower with generosity.

Has been a day of receiving early gifts!  Our neighbors are always so kind, today was no different.  They stopped in with WINE and CHOCOLATE for us!  Later my mother arrived (the folks are staying at my big brothers) with my first lesson on my sowing machine AND a pretty box of sowing tools!  Grand moments of generosity sent our way!

The anticipation is building and the kids are almost bursting with cheer and excitement.  We had cornflakes for supper and it just added to their joy at how special holidays are!

I anticipate a lovely evening over tea and shortbread and then a reasonable early night so I can be ready for gifts, stockings and then a brunch with loved ones!

Thank GOD for holidays!

TTFN

Autumn Whimsy

by admin on October 19, 2011 in Adventure and Me, Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing, Mama Heart Mushings, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

As I work hard at living in the moment, seizing the day if you will, I feel an improvement in my mothering. More patient, more attentive and especially more involved with my kids worlds.

Children find the whimsy in just about everything. By playing with them more outdoors I am becoming better at seeing each seasons whimsy. Autumn’s is not very difficult to spot, even for the most serious adults. Spring has only started to be delightful for me now that I invested in pock-a-dot rubber boots and get into the muck and water willingly with my kids. Winter takes effort, but once you are out and looking there is a very intense whimsy to be found. Sitting in snow banks silently, slide down hills screaming my head off and skating under the stars, all inspired by my children’s heart desires for winter fun, make the whimsy impossible to ignore. Summer has water, swimming! Summer’s whimsy is vibrant and requires sunglasses and sun screen to take without burning but it too is worth embracing like a child.

Back to autumn, for that is the season that is my NOW. The gold and red trees are warm romance to my eyes. The sun is kind and happy. The wind in nippy in only a playful way and we all get to wear scarves, little mittens and cozy but not too puffy jackets of leather and wool.

Two days ago I felt the urge to do window shopping on one of my cities old school streets that is crammed full of vehicles and people. It is a tight little street and with no indoor mall centers, so you must be a hearty sort to shop it in the winter months.

My littlest fellow and I picked up his Grandma and found our way to this street and into one of its sweet flower shops. After my sister and her daughter meet us we followed our noses to one of the oldest bakeries in the city. Meringues and cinnamon twists where devoured by all in the friendly fall sun, on a red city bench. We chatted, we ate, we people watched and then we moved on. There was hat shopping and dress gazing and mostly just looking. We where more tickled with our own little group then with the ‘stuff’ we looked at… it was about being with one another.

Down one side of the street we went till we where stopped by a cafe and their warm frothy espresso drinks. A seat by the window was perfect for our morning and its dedication to fall. Before our morning was done we found a jewelry store to explore. As I walked in I spotted two Victorian chairs that where oozing gentle fall inspiration. As I walked out I carried one of them and my sister, Mirelle, had the other chair. No jewelry for me, but, a taste of fall and Victorian times for my sitting room. We where more then chipper as we drove home with my van a little overly snug, thanks to the gold leaf cover chairs. Rosy cheeked little ones waved farewell to their Grandma as she was dropped off. Mirelle, the children and I headed home for tea time, a perfectly suited way to wrap up a fall walk.

I am so thankful for sunny fall days, for family time, for provision. I am so thankful for the maker of the seasons and the maker of all whimsy. Thank you Christ for all that my children teach me… reminding me of what I new when I was little like them.

TTFN

Autumn Walks and Bearded Dragons

by admin on September 30, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Little Things, Mama Heart Mushings, The Pet with No comments
(Yes this is a picture from last fall… with no camera I have to try to enjoy my favourite season without picture taking and so I have been looking through last years collection.)


Baby Boy, Riddick and I walked the big kids to the bus. As the bus pulled up my littlest guy yelled ‘LOOK a clue!’… he had been watching “Blue’s Clues” just this morning so I suppose he was still hunting down clues. It was so lovely that we walked slowly home kicking at leaves and talking about the wind… Baby Boy doesn’t like the wind… “Iz nice out Mama. Iz windy dow.”

We had to kick around at home for a while before going for our walk. We had decided to go to ‘Tumble Weed’, a thrift store just down our street, but it wouldn’t be open till ten and we where home by 8:30. When we did head out Riddick had to stay home so we could shop. My boy lead the way and so we took it very very very slow. I was such a well behaved Mama today and even pointed out possible distractions for him. “Look honey a big bunch of leaves! Throw them at me!”
Some how we still arrived at Sherbrook half an hour before the store was going to open!

Thank goodness for Bonny and Clyde! They are the residents bearded dragons and are still little and very social. They where watching my little man just as much as he was watching them. The lady who takes care of them noticed how nice Baby Boy was being and so showed him how she gives them a bath. “It is more of a shower,” she explained as she sprayed them down with a little spritzer bottle. They obviously thought it was cold as she blinked at her and tried to get away from the spray. She then set out their morning salad and we enjoyed watching their sticky tongues pop out and snatch food. She then got them to jump for us, a cute trick of theirs and petted them and carried them cradled in her hand. You could tell they just loved her, for as soon as her hand was in the pen they ran and climbed up her, even rubbing at her wrist almost like a cat or dog would. One of the few lizards awake during the day and even friendly when wild I could see why they where a popular pet. We decided we will have to come visit them again.

We did a little shopping and my little man found a noisy 50 cent truck while I was tickled over the two pretty tea cups I got (only a buck each). As we left Baby Boy thanked the volunteer at the store and said good bye to everyone we passed. He is a very friendly guy to all the residents there and we will have to pop in more often.

Walking home was just as slow but also just as lovely. Crisp fall air, beautiful colors and me and my boy holding hands meant I was in no hurry to get home. By the way we where home before eleven and so still have so much more loveliness, in this day, yet to come.

TTFN

Monsieur Moustache

by admin on August 24, 2011 in Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Mama Heart Mushings with 1 Comment

While I wasn’t impressed that he decided to spend his last dollar on one of those cheep toy dispensers at the mall I must say he looked terribly cute walking around the mall with me, wearing his mustache. He got a lot of double take looks and it only encouraged him. He kept doing ‘the smolder’ and saying ‘well well (clearing throat) hello there, hello there’ while swaggering around like a very sophisticated chap.

TTFN

Check Out Adventures

by admin on June 16, 2011 in Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Mama Heart Mushings with No comments

My two year old has social skills, a style, all his own.

Yesterday we where at the check out with a weeks worth of groceries. He had been super patient. Talking with me sweetly and pointing out colors while the clerk ran everything through. Finally the clerk mentioned how good he was being and asked my little man how he was today. My son looked at him dead panned and yelled “GREAT!” The clerk laughed and said that was the most honest response he had gotten all day. He then asked what he had been up to today. My boy thought about it, and again with all seriousness burst out, “Been a super hero! Du-du–du–du“, the last bit being a superman like song and he threw his arms in the air in a taking off kinda flying position. I asked what super hero he was and he said “Du-du–du–du! SUPERMAN” with his arms still up in the air!

(Enjoying a mall play area.)

I must mention that the whole time this conversation was going on I had a four year old, in her own little world, dancing in a flow-y flower-y kinda way beside me singing nonstop, and not too quietly, “Float, flutter, FLY! Float, flutter, FLY”! We where quite the show for the clerk and the gentlemen behind us.

TTFN

Check Out Adventures

by admin on June 16, 2011 in Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Mama Heart Mushings with No comments

My two year old has social skills, a style, all his own.

Yesterday we where at the check out with a weeks worth of groceries. He had been super patient. Talking with me sweetly and pointing out colors while the clerk ran everything through. Finally the clerk mentioned how good he was being and asked my little man how he was today. My son looked at him dead panned and yelled “GREAT!” The clerk laughed and said that was the most honest response he had gotten all day. He then asked what he had been up to today. My boy thought about it, and again with all seriousness burst out, “Been a super hero! Du-du–du–du“, the last bit being a superman like song and he threw his arms in the air in a taking off kinda flying position. I asked what super hero he was and he said “Du-du–du–du! SUPERMAN” with his arms still up in the air!(Enjoying a mall play area.)

I must mention that the whole time this conversation was going on I had a four year old, in her own little world, dancing in a flow-y flower-y kinda way beside me singing nonstop, and not too quietly, “Float, flutter, FLY! Float, flutter, FLY”! We where quite the show for the clerk and the gentlemen behind us.

TTFN

Lasso The Moon

by admin on May 10, 2011 in Feeling It (Thankful), Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Mama Heart Mushings with No comments

They often sit like this, while I put the older three to bed. Daddy and our baby boy often need some one on one time at the end of the day. The days are full of chores and necessary tasks that lead to demands, require constant supervising and all this keeps a Mommy and a Daddy in work mode. This is not the ideal atmosphere for a creative two year old. An ideal atmosphere can be found sitting on his Dad’s lap, with no rush, no instruction, just plenty of time.

Tonight Dad’s reading time was interrupted when his boy spotted the moon in the not yet dark sky.

“Daddy, da mooooooon!” Daddy confirmed it was indeed the moon. “Daddy we gotsa get da moon,” ordered his little boy! His boy was already standing up and out of Daddies lap, bouncing on the couch, pointing with great enthusiasm out the window. As if grasping for the moon he got frustrated and said “I can’t weach it!” Daddy tried and insisted he too couldn’t reach it.

Baby boy was off the couch in a split second and running around the living room. “We need a rope,” he kept yelling! At this point I was already filming his little performance with the video camera. I piped up and offered him an imaginary rope I had in my pocket. “YES,” he yelled, with a big grin he grabbed the rope and ran back to the window!

One mighty toss and he threw it, presumably, right around the moon in a lasso like fashion. I giggled while he and Daddy worked at pulling on that moon for a healthy length of time, considering a two year olds attention span. They where having such a grand time everyone had forgotten about Baby Boys bed time looming.

You pay a little attention to children playing for any real length of time and I think it almost goes without saying that there is something beautiful about kids limitless imaginations. My boy assumed there must be a way to grab the moon and play with it. As a grown woman, a mom, I know my limits… I seem to find more all the time… and because of all these limits closing in on me I am so thankful I live through a limitless God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I will do as he requires me… I will enjoy obeying my Lord, besides my mountain of other reasons this one stands out to me tonight, he understands and created the heart of each imaginative child.

TTFN

A Strange Little Lump

by admin on May 10, 2011 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Little Things, Mama Heart Mushings with No comments
Lumps don’t like to go to bed,
even if they have the most sleepy head!
They hide about, often easy to see,
whispering wishes such as ‘you can’t see me, you can’t see me.’
They are prone to stifled giggles and wiggly toes.
A determined Mommy or Daddy are their most successful foes.

Hmmmm…. This sneaky lump is on the move.
“AHA and it has a face! OFF TO BED WITH YOU!
Don’t make me count, I am starting at TWO!”

TTFN

A.A.Milne and Me

by admin on April 26, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Book Flavor, Mama Heart Mushings, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

A.A.Milne, specifically his books of poetry for the very young, connects the women in this family of mine. My eldest daughter is reading through ‘While We Were Very Young’. She is focusing on a couple of her favorite poems to work on her recitation skills, in hopes that she can present some poems at a family gathering in the future. This is the first poetry book that really caught her interest and, largely, for the same reasons it was the first poetry book to catch my attention as a child.

The words roll off your tongue playfully and you can’t help but grin at the silliness. Oh how this father was so skilled at writing from the point of view of an imaginative child; this is the attraction to adults and children alike who cherish this author!

I felt great joy as I introduced this book to her. It brought me right back to the afternoon that I sat with Grandma and she introduced it to me. Christopher Robin’s prayer at the end of the book, ‘vespers’,was her favorite poem and both grandmother and I agreed with my mothers choice of favorite, ‘half way down’ was adorable and like jolly music when read aloud. As a girl I adored to sing talk the poem ‘hoppity‘ and now I find ‘teddy bear’ (the poem about Winny when he was still Edward) makes me stop and soak in childhood past. My daughter can’t get enough of the poem about the pet mouse and so this is the one she repeats with a cheerful heart.

It was Grandma who had also introduced it to her daughter (my mom) and although Grandma is gone I know a large part of the draw to this author; for my daughter, my mother and myself, is we have the pleasure in sharing this little bit of a book with Grandmothers memory.

TTFN

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