EGGS -- Hard-boiled 101

If you are anything like me, each year just before Easter rolls around, you madly figure out how to hard-boil eggs so your kids can enjoy dying some for the big day.

After many attempts (failed and successful), I have found a fairly simple method that produces an all-yellow yolk (I am not a fan of the yucky colored gray ones).

This method is also suppose to make peeling the egg a bit easier too.

I am happy to say it works.  Our eggs came out perfect each time.

Do you have a tried and true method for boiling eggs?  Please share!

Happy egg-boiling and egg-dying!

handfuls of spring

Little bits of spring found their way to my doorstep this afternoon...

little glimpses of change and awakening of bright green.

Yes, handfuls of spring are here..

pesky weeds to most but a delightful array flowers for her little bouquets.

Happy Spring!

"it 's always tea-time" -alice in wonderland

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Ah yes, tea-time.  In this house, it is always tea-time or maybe I should say, one must always be ready for tea-time.  Without a moment's notice, tea attire has been donned and the "real" tea set must be ready for a tea-party.  Odd combinations of clothing and dress-up clothes appear on this child of mine and she announces, we must have a tea-party.  Some days, tea is for me but most days it is for the royalty that will join us (princesses, kings and her-majesty, of course).

The care she takes in preparing the table with old dish rags, special treats and snagging the flowers off the kitchen table is delightful to watch.

Thank you for the most-royal tea today!

on the move?

It all started with this goofy little side pose...

Then the little goofy pose turned into a scoot-ch.

A scoot-ch that began with a reach and a little kick of her right leg.

Yes, today you moved yourself across the room on your belly.

A funny little army crawl of sorts.

You couldn't be happier....

I spent the entire day sorting toys and finally truly baby-proofing the room.

Your little face lit up when you made it to the castle.  You rummaged through all the Little People Princesses and claimed it as your own, that is until your older sister arrived home.

I am delighted to get down all the baby gates again!  They will most-definitely complete our room of bright colored plastic.  

hooked

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A few months ago, a dear friend mentioned Downton Abbey to me.  She thought I might like and promptly loaned me the DVDs.  Well, after watching all of Season 1 and Season 2, I am completely hooked.  I get lost in the wonderful costumes, story, scandals and scenery each time I see it.  I have fallen in love.

I believe Season 3 just ended.  I am madly catching up on PBS.com before the episodes are taking offline in early March.

Has the Downton bug caught you yet?  It is an amazing show and quite possibly one of my all-time favorite series along with Anne of Green Gables!

Thanks, dear friend, for mentioning it to me.  

time on the porch

Time outside on the porch is most important for these two.  Sharing an afternoon snack, playing an imaginary game, riding bikes or just painting the house (with water) are favorite activities out there most afternoons.  The unstructured time together without my ideas, suggestions or opinions does wonders for them.  Stepping back to let them discover and explore together has become an essential part of their day...

 

until the bickering becomes so loud I am afraid the neighbors might complain!

could you make those cookies with the pink frosting

When I was young, my grandmother always baked sugar cookies and frosted them pink this time of year.  She carefully packaged them up and sent them across the country to us for Valentine's Day.  Each year my siblings and I could hardly wait for that package to arrive in early February.

It has been quite some time since my grandmother's cookies have been made.
These eager little ones were ready to recreate the cookies we loved so much as children.

They rolled out dough and enjoyed stamping old cookie cutters.

When it was time to frost the delectable treats, we found no food coloring in the pantry.  We hunted for something to make the frosting pink {and purple--a request from this generation of cookie bakers and eaters}.  We ended up using jam mixed with the homemade frosting to make an ever-so-slight hue of pink.  My eldest thought blueberries would make a great purple color so we smashed and strained blueberries until we were left with a darker pink hued paste.  We mixed that with the frosting and came up with two very Valentine-inspired frosting colors. 

What will you be baking this Valentine's Day?