Hannah's Happy Hovel

Love is in the Air...

2012-02-13T07:40:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Whether you enjoy the rampant commercialized barrage of candy, stuffed animals, and dinner reservations, take a more off-the-beaten-path approach, or spurn the whole "love" thing in favor of "Singles Awareness Day," the fact that Americans have devoted one day a year to nothing but gestures of affection to those who mean the most to us is an interesting thing.
Many people seem to either love or hate Valentine's Day based on their on romantic relationship status, or lack thereof. Happily, I am not one of these people. As long as I can remember, my dear mother would make the day special for my brother and I. Many years she assisted us in planning a big sledding party for all our friends, and we would make scores of valentines notes and goodies to go along with it. Long before a certain man became my sweetheart, Mom had instilled in me a love for love.
Now that I have a husband and sweet baby, I like to think that I am continuing that tradition of plain and simple love. I don't decorate our house to the hilt, and we don't go out anywhere fancy, (maybe someday) but I do love spending a lazy day with my boys (since Ridge got the day off) doing whatever we please. This year we are planning the drive around the big lake to seek adventure, then come home and have lobster soup for dinner, followed by this cake.
Wishing you all love, in one form or another- I'm off to make a lit garland.

All's Jolly

2012-01-05T07:10:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and a happy celebration of the new year.
We went to the Mallery residence for Christmas Eve. There was dancing, visiting, singing, lots of little children, and lots of glorious food which I unashamedly gorged on.
This is our family Christmas picture. Beg pardon the caffiene-fueled cheer. It's hard to muster all that festivity without a few cups of joe.

The next morning, we had such fun giving Sean his presents. He especially seemed to enjoy the jingle bell ornament from the Takahashis.

Then we got him all duded up in his fancy suit, which, incidentally, he was bursting out of.

See his little paunch puffing out? Yeah....
We don't have any pictures from New Year's Eve, because we spent it quietly at home, with pizza, a pint of ice cream, and Get Smart (Steve Carell is Ridge's favorite comedian).
That's all for now; unfortunately, the plans with the house are taking longer than expected.
Catch you later!

I Count Myself Blessed

2011-12-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

Will become, becoming, became. Promise and fulfillment at once.

In this season when we celebrate the incarnation of our Lord, I have found myself more and more surrendering to introspect. It would seem that marriage and motherhood takes the simplest of women and renders them either hopeful philosophers or bitter cynics.
I purpose to be the former.

When I look back at the few past years, I have to marvel at all God has done in our lives. In a moment that feels like yesterday, we pledged our love to one another for this lifetime, and since then, the love that shone between us has been polished to a brighter gleam. A year ago at this time, (by my best calendar estimate) our dear Sean, though known only to our maker, had become a soul destined to join our family and bring us such joy.

Motherhood inspires such a passion for life that I fail to articulate. I love to gaze at my baby boy's face, in wonder at every intricate facet of his sweet form and dear personality. Cupid's bow is pressed gently into Sean's rosebud lips, while his eyelids flutter with the wind of his dreams. Every diaper I change, every wail I soothe, every load of soiled laundry I wash and fold, brings me a step closer in this task of forming a future man, and that reality leaves me in awe of the beautiful responsibility Ridge and I now carry.

My husband has loved me so well. His provision, protection, companionship, and devotion are more than I could have ever imagined in girlhood daydreams. Ridge asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I've had a difficult time deciding. Of course, there are myriad lovely things I might desire, but all pale in comparison of what I already have: him. His voice cheers me, his smile warms me, his presence comforts me tenfold of what it did before. We have been through what I consider quite a bit for just over a year of marriage, and though the actual honeymoon may be over, I am happy to say that my heart still races when I get his call on his way home from work, and I look forward to every morning that brings us a new day together.

I am so thankful to have such a wonderful husband, a beautiful baby, a dear family and family-in-love, old friends, new church, and.......
(drum roll)
a house that, if all goes well, we close on December 31st.
Just another blessing I thought I'd mention. :-)

But most of all, I have a Savoir.
Not a pompous and arbitrary god, but the Almighty Creator who lowered himself to give us what we would never reach for, a salvation from that which we neither knew nor cared was our destruction. Quietly he clothed himself in our mortal flesh, to live among us and call us his own. He is the gift from which all others stem.

Let heaven and earth rejoice, for our Redeemer and King has come!

Photo Shoot(s)

2011-11-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

The other day, before we took our walk down to the mail, I bundled Sean up in a fluffy suit Aunt Kathi had given him. It's a little too big just now.
Then, last night, while Ridge was editing video footage with Rem, I decided to take some more pictures of Bug in the bedroom. For not having much of a clue as to what I was doing, some turned out surprisingly well.
Why yes, I am obsessed with my baby- why do you ask?

p.s. to Mom and Dad: I'll give you guys copies of these tomorrow. :-)

Mr. McChubbins

2011-10-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

My baby is getting fat. Of course, being fat at six weeks old isn't a bad thing. His chubby face is that much more kissable, his doughy thighs more squishable, his belly rotund and just asking for tickles.
He's also a very expressive little man. Sean has begun to give us genuine smiles and giggles, and thereby melting his Mommy and Daddy.

Just watching him makes me laugh. :-)

Yep. I'm in love.

Healthy & Happy

2011-10-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

It has been almost six weeks since Sean was born, and I feel so blessed that he is healthy; gaining weight and making developmental progress. He's getting quite the little tubby tummy, enjoys his baths, smiles fairly frequently, and is a champion snuggler. We are having fun learning what songs Sean likes, and, though he doesn't watch anything else, he stares so intently while we watch Mythbusters that I really think he recognizes their voices from when he was still an inside baby. My days with him are such a delight, and I am treasuring our time together.

Besides my son doing so well, I have enjoyed a speedy recovery from pregnancy and birth. In the course of these six weeks, I have become a firm believer in nursing on demand. It takes a lot of time, and it isn't always very convenient, but the great benefits we have both reaped far outweighs its disadvantages. For one thing, I have a jolly, contented little man whose cheeks and thighs have plumped out very nicely.
For another thing, I give most of the credit for my recovery to it. Breastfeeding makes me ravenously hungry, but it's also given me a metabolism approximate to that of a fifteen-year-old boy. It took only a few weeks for me to reach my prepregnancy weight, and now I weigh a little less than when we got married last October. So, even though I could still use to tone up, everything is back to where it was previously, and my closet is much more appealing to me.
Yet another benefit I've found in feeding on demand is just how stress free and relaxed I have been. I just feed him when he needs it; I don't have to worry about anything else. Of course, babies can be unpredictable, but if Sean gets hungry while we're in the Radio Shack parking lot, so be it. If I am in the middle of reorganizing the laundry room, oh well. It just works for us that way.
Well, that's all I have time to write today; I'll try to post more pictures of Sean soon!

There and Back Again

2011-09-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the fall weather we've been having? It's been gorgeous; the perfect blend of sunny and chilly.
The fun thing about fall is that, when it comes to clothing, you can start to get really creative with layers and rich colors. Knits, cords, velveteens, and all the other lovely textures entice in a way no other fabrics can. And guess what?
Now I can take full advantage of them (or at least, as my budget permits).
I've recovered from pregnancy and birth pretty well so far; I never got stretch marks, and by the time two weeks had passed, I was within three pounds of my prepregnancy weight. Now it's just a matter of toning everything up again. I've had great fun playing dress up with my old clothes, and eyeing new pieces for my wardrobe.
Our little Sean seems to grow and change every day. I love it when we make eye contact and he responds to what I say. His favorite things to do include looking out the window, "talking" to Daddy, and snuggling in Mommy's soft robe. Sometimes, when something tickles his fancy, he'll even give a couple little giggles, and I think he knows that I live for his smile.
Am I smitten? You betcha.
We are excited to be planning a trip to Philipsburg celebrate our anniversary in October. I am looking forward to having Sean with us, and hopefully he'll be proof enough to the lady at the B&B that we were not running away from home last year (as she asked us when we checked in; she didn't think we looked old enough to be married).
Last year we made such happy memories, and this year we will make more, I am sure of it. :-)

So Thankful for My Husband

2011-09-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well, since I've written about my new little man, I see it only fit that I say a few words about the other man in my life.
Throughout my pregnancy, labor, and birth, Ridge was there for me every step of the way. He took me to every appointment, helped me prepare for Sean, and gave me his emotional support the whole time.
He spent untold hours rubbing my back and trying to ease the pain of labor for me, held me while bent epidural needles were discarded, and caught our son as he came into this world.
Now, a few days into parenthood, Ridge is a fantastic father. He loves taking care of Sean, and relishes the occasional reward of a sleepy half-smile he gets in return. We enjoy just reclining on the bed, with our Bug between us, and admiring what God has given us in this first year of our marriage. Ridge has been showing Sean Rubik's cubes and music, and every day, when he comes home from work, he makes sure to go and give our Bug a kiss (after he's gotten to me, of course!).

I am so happy that we are finally starting our lives as a family, and that we are back to a good mixture of "real life," (bills, need I say more?) and jolliness.
There is a lot of kissing, laughter and love going on at this little home.

My Boy is Here!!

2011-09-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I wrote, and my followers are probably wondering what I've been up to. If you haven't, that's okay; I know you all have lives. ;-)
This here is why I've been tardy. Getting ready for Sean's arrival, a false alarm, and general late-pregnancy laziness are my best excuses for not writing more.
Our son was born weighing 6lb. 14oz., at 12:51, on Saturday morning. We're kinda tickled that he came on 9/10/11. His birth took some unexpected turns, as after experiencing an exhausting labor for nearly three days, we finally resorted to an epidural. I had been dead set on doing everything naturally, but with Sean being post-date, and after discovering that my back had become too tense for his head to be born, we decided that was our only remaining option.
Thankfully, God is good, even when things don't go quite as we expect.

Just after he was born, Sean had to be taken to the nursery because he was unresponsive and had gunk down in his lungs. The next day though, he was doing much better, and by Sunday night, he could stay in our room.
Now we are home, and the up-all-nights have begun.

So far, Sean has been doing great. He took to nursing so well, and is alert and inquisitive about everything around him, including the Rubik's cube mobile his Daddy made for him.
We love the little Mallery God blessed us with!

The Changing Lights and Shadows

2011-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, but summer and my pregnancy are soon coming to an end. There have been a few days that were uncomfortably hot for me, but for the most part we've been enjoying this season of sun, no matter how late it came.
I even got to swim a little, down at Wayfarer's Park (a site that is famous among Mallerys for marriage proposals, I have been enjoying the lake there since I was a little girl). Swimming when you are eight months pregnant is very different than at three or four months. At that point, no one could even tell; I hardly could myself. But now... well, let's just say I had to improvise a bit with the swimwear. A stretchy top, and a skirt I usually only wear to church became my ticket to the water. I may have looked like a runaway funeral attendant, but I got to get wet, and that's all that mattered. Some gals may be happy with wearing a bikini while pregnant, but, issues of modesty aside, the sight of my white, never-seen-the-sticky-side-of-a-wax-strip thighs is something I think all of humanity would gladly be spared of.
It goes without saying that I am looking forward to unpregnant swimwear next summer. In fact, I'm getting all giddy over unpregnant clothes, period. I can't wait to wear a pair of jeans that actually fit my rear end, not to mention dresses with a waistline!
Yesterday, I put away stacks of tiny diapers, and began filling out Sean's baby book, starting with the very first image we saw of him, at sixteen weeks. I hardly felt different at that point, but I'll never forget that overwhelming feeling, seeing a real human being, wiggling his arms and legs in there. Fearfully and wonderfully is what the king David described our fabrication as being, and to experience it first hand has made that truth so much more real to me. And if cravings suggest "what baby needs," it's good thing we confirmed the fact that our child is human, otherwise, I might have begun to think that we were baking a fruit cake in there, with all the fruit I've been eating.
Well, that's about all for now. I know I said there would be more pictures, but the one above is one that Ridge took, while we were out on one of our evening walks. If you haven't taken a walk at sunset lately, you really should.

"Question," a parody of "Human" by the Killers

2011-08-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is a music video that Ridge filmed with his brothers & Mitch Underhill while I was out of town for the day. You can see that they have a lot of fun together.
We wrote the lyrics together last year, and it probably won't make a lot of sense. If you watch the original music video, ("Human," by the Killers) you might understand what Ridge wanted to get at here. His point is that, in an effort to sound philosophical, many artists have begun to just string together random thoughts and call it "music."
Anyway, hope you enjoy it!

I'm Here

2011-08-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the shortage of pictures and posts. Today Ridge showed me how to get the memory card out of his camera, (way harder than it sounds) so maybe I'll have more shots to show soon.
Anyway, it's so hard to believe that I have only three more weeks (give or take a few days) until our little Snugmuffin is here with us. Preparing for labor. Getting my post-bump wardrobe ready (how I've missed those clothes!). Wrapping up the last few purchases for Sean.
As much as I'm looking forward to sleeping on my stomach and wearing pants that actually fit my tush, (among other things) I'm also enjoying these last weeks of having my son so close. It's so funny when he gets the hiccups, which is once or twice a day, and Ridge and I have both had fun giving him a little poke & getting a bump back. It's a special time, and I am so blessed to have had no complications and relatively little discomfort with this pregnancy, and to have such wonderful support from my husband, family, and friends.
Well, like I said, I'll try to get some pictures on here soon, so check back and I might just have something interesting on here!

Showers of Blessings

2011-07-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

I had to add this cartoon afterward. I'm so glad I don't have to live up to these standards!I want to thank my mother, Carol & Megan Comstock, Barb & Anna Takahashi, and my aunt Kathi for all working together to make my baby shower so wonderful. The setting was so beautiful, the games were fun, and the food was yummier than it should be. Thank you everyone for making it such a special day for me!

More of Summer

2011-07-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday was our third trip setting up shop at the farmer's market. I have really enjoyed it, now that I kind of have the hang of how to set up the canopy and tables. Ridge has been making prints of his pictures, and we've sold a few so far.
What I really enjoy is all the people watching I get to do, and the time I usually spend knitting. Since the market is in the parking lot of Kalispell Center Mall, Ridge lets me go and shop for awhile, on the condition that I bring him back a soft pretzel.
Then, we sit and just enjoy the morning, drinking coffee, meeting friends, and talking with other vendors. This last time, the gal next to us was selling organic produce, so we got some strawberries & snap peas to munch on.
The market ends at twelve-thirty, which means we can escape the heat and maybe catch a few yard sales before going home. We usually run a few errands, then come home, make iced tea or lemonade, and kick back until Ridge heads off to Rosa's and I prepare for Sunday.
As much as I'm looking forward to meeting our little man, I've been savoring these last few weeks of Summer busy-slowness we have of just the two of us.

Adorableness!!

2011-07-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

I know what you must be thinking. Yes, I am just tickled that we are having a boy; however, I still love seeing pretty girl goodies. I found this adorable cardigan at ON, in size 0-3 mo. So cute! It just reminded me so much of Kath Kidston or ModCloth.
Now here is the fare for us! Men aren't known for going crazy for baby clothes, but lately, Ridge has been having a great time picking out togs for our little guy. As many of you might already know, Ridge has a fairly unique, not-your-run-of-the-mill style, and he is looking forward to dressing Sean in a similar fashion. Plaids, cables, argyle, cords, khaki, and all other vintage collegiate attire. Ever seen A Beautiful Mind? That's it.

Gotta love a man in a tie & sportcoat. I'll have two! :-)

8 weeks (+/-)

2011-07-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

My goodness! It's hard to believe that I am "officially" eight months pregnant! Of course, I think all women would love to throttle whoever said pregnancy lasts nine months, because human gestation (approx. 40 weeks) is really ten. So, even though eight months sounds like reason to pack my hospital bags, it really isn't that urgent, after all.
I'm not too antsy, but I will say that I am fondly looking forward to wearing my prepregnancy clothes again. At this point, spending a bunch of money on maternity clothes seems pointless, so right now my wardrobe is a little meh. Not to mention that it's too hot right now to really care what I look like (with one exception: my feet. I am still doing my pedicures, and I will never, ever wear Crocs, no matter how comfortable people say they are).
In the meantime, I've been enjoying my knitting. I looooove Caron's Spa yarn; it is soft and springy and perfect for making baby goodies. Socks, beanies, and little mitts.

Read Me a Story!

2011-06-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

As I finished registering for Sean's baby shower, I began to eye goodies on further horizons. I am looking forward to reading to my little boy, as well as teaching him to read, and the charm of books I enjoyed years ago has drawn me back to the shelf where they have sat, untouched, for years. When I look at the majority of the drivel masquerading as children's books these days, I am all the more sure that I want to give him these innocent and imaginative stories instead. Please excuse the "Look Inside!" graphics; I got the images off Amazon.

I'll Take 300 Square Inches Less Skin, Thank You

2011-06-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Before I got pregnant, I never paid much attention to maternity photography. It just seemed.....eh. I was much too preoccupied with wedding pictures. Now however, realizing that we literally do not have a single shot of the pregnant me, I find myself thinking that it might be something fun for Ridge & I to do together to celebrate our son's impending arrival.
So, I've done a little research.
Eeeeg.
I had no idea how popular it seems to be among pregnant women to go au naturel (or at least awfully close). Some people might say that it is to focus on the wonder of growing a life inside one's own body, or an artistic way of depicting a couple's anticipation and happiness, but as far as I'm concerned naked is naked, whether you're pregnant or not. Period. End of statement.
So, we'll have to come up with some ideas for sweet, fully-clothed pictures to commemorate this time in our lives. It's going by quickly.
Now, that's what I call art!

The Sun is Out...

2011-06-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

And today we went to several great garage sales. We found a baby carrier, bouncer, tub, and a Boppy pillow, all of which I had been going to register for. Hooray!
And today, for the first time ever, I had two complete strangers ask when I was due. I finally look pregnant (not just like I've been hitting on the donuts too often)! 'bout time, because Thursday marked seven months. So far, things have seemed to go by very quickly. It's hard to believe that, in a just a couple more months, little Sean will be here to meet us!

:-)

2011-05-31T15:29:00.000-07:00

Today I found these adorable tea towels, sold by the British company To Dry For.

I dare you not to giggle.

Easy Crock-Pot Gumbo with Brown Rice

2011-05-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here I am without a camera again. Oh well, pictures or not, a girl's gotta eat. Last month, I had gumbo for the first time ever at Cafe Max, and it was so good! Since I didn't want to pay $10 a quart every time I was craving yummy soup, I decided to come up with my own approximation of the recipe. I use brown rice instead of the traditional white, because I think it has better flavor, and I like to think the the rice I am eating is at least somewhat nutritious.

Easy Crock-Pot Gumbo
serves 4-6
2 chicken breasts
1 can tomato sauce
1 can cut okra, drained
2 3oz andoulle sausages, sliced
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
brown rice (I use Lundberg), prepared as directed, to serve 2-3 (1/2 cup dry)

Several hours before meal, place chicken breasts in crock pot with tomato sauce. Check in approx. 2 hrs, shred chicken with a fork. Add sausage, okra, and oregano. Let these all cook together for 1 hr (you can use this time to make your rice, if you like). Add cooked rice, salt & pepper to taste.

This makes a nice, hearty stew. You could also add diced bell pepper and/or cocktail shrimp to make it extra yummy!

Lemon & Thyme Game Hens

2011-05-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

I guess I need to start taking pictures of the food I make before we gobble it up. ;-)
Anyway, here is the recipe I made last night. It is so good- perfectly juicy and mild herb and citrus flavors.

Lemon Thyme Game Hens

time: prep=15 min, cook=1-1 1/4 hrs.
serves: 2- adjust by adding more birdies

2 Cornish game hens (thawed if previously frozen)
1 medium or large lemon
2 generous tablespoons thyme
olive oil for basting
a baking dish with at least "1 sides- this makes lots of juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut lemon in half, then divide one of the halves. Stuff the quarters into the body cavity of each game hen, then sprinkle most of the thyme in. Slice remaining lemon fairly thin. Using your fingers, gently separate the bird's skin from body; do not remove, but rather leave a "pocket." Carefully slide lemon slices into pocket, sprinkle hen with remaining thyme. Spritz or baste hens with oil, and bake for 1hr. (1hr. 15-20min. if you birds are bigger than 1lb. 2oz.) Remove from oven when juices run clear when pierced. Let rest 5min. and carve.

2/3

2011-05-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

In a few days, I will be "officially" in the third trimester of my pregnancy. It really has gone by so fast, and I can't believe that, in three months (+/-) we'll get to meet Sean for the first time.
So far, I've had excellent luck finding maternity jeans, and still am wearing non-maternity shirts. I have yet to get a dress that fits well, so for church I just go with separates.
I've begun planning a shower with my Mom, which will probably be in late July.
Overall, things seem to be going smoothly.

Lazy Cooking

2011-05-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Count me in!
I've read quite a few recipes for oven-fried chicken that require dredging in flour, cornflakes, etc., but here is my recipe for the easiest oven-fried chicken ever. We eat this a couple times a month, and it always turns out moist and flavorful. It's also easy to cook some potatoes with the chicken, or have green beans or salad for a side.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, one per person
small dish of milk
bowl of finely crushed potato chips- any flavor works, I've used original, sour cream & onion, and BBQ, all with great results
Pan suitable for number of chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each chicken breast in half, dip each half in milk, then press in chip crumbs to coat on both sides. Arrange in pan, and bake for 30 minutes.

Couldn't be easier, and gets rave reviews from Ridge every time. Almost makes me feel guilty...

Home Again

2011-05-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

We are home now, and had such a lovely time in Spokane & Moscow!
Ridge and I left early on Thursday morning, and arrived in Spokane shortly after lunch. We discovered that, in spite of Ridge's dread hatred of city traffic, we make a pretty good team of pilot & navigator (Megan might be surprised to learn that I am actually gaining a sense of direction. Inside joke.). We had a great time at Riverfront Park, and afterward went to Riverfront Square, which I think is the very most wonderful mall in the world. I'm not much of a mall girl, but who can resist Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, and criss-crossing escalators? Not I. And Ridge was mighty impressed by the three-story theater, too.
Then we set off to find the Lincoln Center, which it turns out, Google maps gave us directions to a statue of Abraham Lincoln, not the hall where Fernando Ortega would be playing. After a frantic call to my parents for help, we finally found it in the nick of time. After all these years, we got to see him in person, and for the cherry on top, he sang his version of "Great is Thy Faithfulness," which was the recessional at our wedding. We were tickled, and I think Sean liked it, too. :-) He's gotten very active of late.
In Moscow, we had a wonderful time with Rayia, Jonathan, Titus, and Adeline. In the course of our stay, we attended a really neat Renaissance fair in the park. It was far from authentic, but had lots of fun activities for kids. That night, we went out with Rayia & Jonathan to Nectar. It's a little restaurant with a limited seasonal menu, but soooooooooo yummy! Ridge & I split the Gruyere mac n' cheese & the nectar salad. Mmmm....
Sunday marked one year since the first day of our courtship, so we went out alone to walk around downtown Moscow, where we got hot bagel sandwiches and ice cream. Here I go about food again! We also got to attend Adeline's ballet recital, and that was fun!
So, now we are home again, and there are dishes and laundry and such to attend to, but we now have fond memories of a lovely vacation!

Favorite Strawberry Shortcakes

2011-04-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a blessed Easter! I know we did. Church was wonderful, and then we had a fantastic time celebrating with our family and friends.
And now I want to post the yummiest shortcake recipe I think I've ever tried. I brought a triple batch of these to Ransom and Jessica's on Sunday. (from MarthaStewart.com)
By the way, check out Ridge's YouTube channel. I have a link to it on my sidebar, and he is trying to get as many views on his movies as possible. :-)

Ingredients

1 3/4 pounds (6 cups) strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and quartered
1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons cold (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 cups heavy cream
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss strawberries with 3/4 cup sugar; let sit to bring out their juices.
In a food processor, pulse flour, baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar, and the salt until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal but with some pea-size bits of butter remaining, 10 to 12 times. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup cream and the eggs; pour over flour mixture, and pulse until some large clumps begin to form, 25 to 30 times.
Using a half-cup measuring cup, gently pack dough, invert, and then tap out onto a baking sheet. Repeat to form 8 biscuits. Bake until lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool, about 15 minutes.
Beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream and 2 tablespoons sugar with the vanilla until soft peaks form.
Slice biscuits in half horizontally. Spoon strawberries and their liquid over bottom halves. Spoon whipped cream on strawberries, and replace top halves of biscuits.

I Want It All (with a dash of everything)

2011-04-21T10:22:00.001-07:00

Pretty, isn't it?
If you are like most females, looking at lovely pictures and building imaginary dwellings of fine draperies, flooring, furnishings, and landscaping, is a pastime that can eventually become all-consuming. Certainly, looking at creative uses of furniture, fabric, and color, especially when contemplating a real project, like building or renovating a room/house, can be profitable. However, a real tendency is to start a cause-and-effect cycle that can breed discontent. We can easily slip from appreciating the loveliness to wishing we had something like it, and before we know it, we are finding every little thing that's wrong (or at least perceived as wrong) with our own houses and possessions.
And there lies the real problem (besides God's command forbidding covetousness). We follow an ideal that I strongly believe is God's best for families; and that is the single-income family. I rely on my husband for shelter and daily provision, and if, no matter how warm and well-fed I am, I persist in dreaming of what is not mine, imagine what a burden I could place on him! There is nothing wrong in having color and style preferences, but if I continually mention this or that wonderful thing I cannot have, the man who works 10 hour shifts most weekdays for my welfare is left feeling inferior to my expectations and unable to give me what I really want. What a horrible way to make anyone feel! In Ephesians, men are instructed to love their wives, (and wives to reverence their husbands) and Ridge has shown that he loves me very much. That's really all I need.
Life is full of opportunities to acquire lovely possessions, but if we blow our chances with relationships, it's hard to go back.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Wordle

2011-04-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

After seeing my cousin Aaron's Wordle, I had to go make one myself. I think it's hilarious that the word "little" made it front and centerClick the image to see it more clearly

Guess what this means?

2011-04-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Ridge and I got to see our son!! Of course, we had seen him last month, but we didn't yet know that he was a him! We had so much fun seeing him moving his little fingers and toes, and we got a good look at his face this time. The ultrasound technician said he appears to be doing very well, and estimated that he weighs about eleven ounces. We got a strip of wonderful pictures, and are looking forward more eagerly than ever to the day we get to meet him!

Oh, and the name?
Sean Wilberforce Mallery.

Pregnant, Petite, Peeker

2011-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

*the woman in the above picture is not me. Ok, glad we're clear on that.
Well, I'm almost to the half way mark in my pregnancy, and am finally approaching that dreaded point that every expectant woman reaches: facing the prospect of spending a good amount of money on clothes that you think are cute now, but inevitably you will hate by the end of your term. Add to that being petite, and it's become clear that finding comfy- yet stylish maternity wear is going to be a challenge. Am I up for it? Do I pledge to avoid polyester tent-like dresses like the plague? And to keep wearing my (modestly high) heels? And to eat (mostly) right, stay active, and exfoliate regularly? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
One of my main concerns has been my weight. When I was fourteen, although I never developed an eating disorder, I went through a phase of constantly weighing myself (3-4 times daily), and I know that I don't want to be neurotic like that again. I've always been slim-but-not-skinny, and given that and my healthy BMI, height, age, and maternal history, my goal for pregnancy gain is 20-25 pounds. So far, I'm right on track.
I'd say secondary to that is the concern of clothes. Right now, I finally fit the pair of CK sz 2's that were my too-big jeans prepregnancy. I already have a pair of maternity capris, and I plan on getting one or two pairs of jeans, three or four dresses, numerous tops, stretchy skirts, and the holy grail: a modest and relatively inexpensive swimsuit.
Ridge and I have finalized our choice for a girl name, so now we are prepared for either/or. My next ultrasound is next week, and we *might* find out the little M.'s gender. It's getting pretty tempting, and to be perfectly honest, I'm rather alarmed and appalled at the fact that we've succumbed so soon to the seemingly universal urge parents develop to check out their offspring's privates. Shame on us. Pervs.

Many of you might already know, but last Wednesday, our Jeep Cherokee was stolen. It was already having problems, and when it was found a couple days later, the engine was toast. We were able to get a '96 Ford Taurus on Sunday at the Creston Auction. Our mechanic, Mike Shelley, is going to replace the transmission, and then it will need only a few cosmetic fixes. We are so thankful to Jason Ferguson, for finding our Jeep, Dad Vestal, for letting us drive his Suburban while in limbo, Dad Mallery for bidding for us, Mike, for his expert advice and help, and most of all, to God, for making a way for us.
So that has been our life lately.
And now I need to fold laundry and unload the dishwasher.

A Year Of Style

2011-03-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

The 90's were an unkind decade for fashion. We all agree on that vital point. But I found this book by Frederic Fekkai that proves it wasn't all bad. Granted, it was published in 2000, but you might recall that we were all still in intense recovery from the previous decade.A Year of Style is a fabulous book, going through each month of the year, and giving tips on skin and hair care, makeup, health, wardrobe choices, and activities for each one. The bent toward simple elegance is highly appealing, (hey, he's French, after all!) and much of the advice is very achievable. Check it out at your library or order it today.

Peek-a-Boo

2011-03-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

On St. Patrick's Day, we went in to my midwife's appointment, and after the preliminary testing and paperwork, we got to see our new little person for the very first time. The midwife's assistant had kind of a hard time getting him* to cooperate, but after a couple attempts, we could see the little beating heart on the screen. With legs kicking and hands flailing around, Ridge insisted that he must be "dancing." The only thing the little M. seemed self-conscious about was his face. We got a couple glimpses of it, and a half-decent photograph of his profile. I'll scan and post it as soon as I get the chance.
With my lack of horrendous symptoms, sometimes I almost forget that I'm pregnant, but getting to see our baby was really special, and made it quite a bit harder to forget. :-)

*we don't plan on finding out little M.'s gender, but in the mean time, I don't very much like calling our baby "it" or "he/she." So I'm using male objective pronouns. If the baby turns out to be female, believe me, we will love her just as much!<3

Happy Birthday to Moi

2011-03-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

We celebrated my birthday yesterday, since Ridge works today. First, we slept in- no alarm going off at 5:30! Then we just sat around, played a couple games on Miniclip (yes, we are so mature) and then he let me open my present.
*sigh* I have wanted a pair of Danskos for years, no joke. And he got exactly the color and pattern that I wanted. He put them on me and they are soooooo comfortable! They will be perfect for making my pregnant arches and toes happy all year. He also let me take my pick of Smartwool socks at Sportsman. :-) I'm a tightwad with most stuff, but my feet are a big exception, and does he know it!
We had paninis for lunch at a chocolate shop in Whitefish, and found a great car seat for the baby! We spent a long time walking Whitefish, then went to the Kalispell Library, (leaving with a stack of books) the Kalispell Antiques Market, and got mochas at Colter Coffee. Before going home, we had dinner at Thai Palace. ***** (that's five stars) Back home, I took a long, relaxing bath, we watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, and went to bed early.
It was a great day, and tomorrow I get to see my friends and family, which will be lots of fun too!

Upon Another Year

2011-03-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
~ C.S. Lewis ~

Being eighteen really has been wonderful, and I am looking forward to what God has in store for us in my 19th year. Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family. For you all I am grateful.
(don't ask why I chose the little laughing kid. it just made me smile)

Wee Bit of Me

2011-03-10T06:55:00.001-08:00

{one} what color is your kitchen?since it's a rental, the walls are white, but I like sprucing it up with bits of apple green and cherry red
{two} do you have a good luck charm?
probably my Pampered Chef Mix-n-Scrape

{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?

always pen. especially Uniball. I love that smooth ink and perfect color. (black)

{four} can you use chopsticks?I usually only use them at HuHot or Genki, but I've gotten a lot faster with them lately

{five} do you prefer baths or showers?baths so I can relax, showers to feel clean and energized

{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?I prefer Ranch, but also really like sesame, and balsamic vinaigrette

{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?I've wasted my time in many ways; that is not one of them

{eight} do you have any allergies?not a one
{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?crunchy for my toast, creamy for recipes

{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?

I haven't; hope I won't have to, either

Hooray!

2011-03-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

This April, Ridge and I are going to see Fernando Ortega in concert! We have both been fans of his music for years, and have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. And now, along with my family, we will finally be going to his concert in Spokane! After that, we are heading south to Moscow to visit Rayia & Jonathan. We had so much fun with them in November, and can't wait to see them again!

Here are the lyrics to Fernando Ortega's song, Sleepless Night. These words have helped me connect to God in times that it seemed there were no words to encompass what I was feeling, and it is one of my favorite songs.

Another sleepless night
I'm turning in my bed
Long before the red sun rises

In these early hours
I'm falling again
Into the river of my worries

When the river runs away
I find a shelter in your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

Hear my anxious prayer
The beating of my heart
The pulse and the measure of my unbelief
Speak your words to me
Before I come apart
Help me believe in what I cannot see
Before the river runs away
I will call upon your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

Some Good Knits

2011-03-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

After reading Laurel's post, I was inspired to post on my favorite knitting books. I have been primarily a self-taught knitter. I was taught to cast-on and knit stitch, and everything else has been a very slow process of learning from books. These have been the most helpful.

Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby. I'll be honest: pastel yellows, pinks and greens make me want to puke. These doable designs are rendered in soft, earthy- yet still infant like- tones, and merino, cashmere, and cotton, instead of nasty acrylic. Currently in the works: shell pink "Matinee Coat."

Ridge bought me this one on our honeymoon. Written by Joelle Hoverson, of Purl Soho, there are lots of cute, practical designs in here, and they all seem to be intermediate level knitting. Can't wait to try the baby socks!

And lastly, a fabulous book for those who would like to try socks. Although I still don't have them perfected, trust me, they are much easier than they look.
Happy knitting!

I Love Yoooooooou!

2011-03-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dearest Spring,

I hope that you haven't forgotten all the lovely times we've had together, and I wish you would give some indication that you are coming soon. The snow and gray clouds here have become so dull, and I am longing for the excitement of your warm breath that brings all the soft grass and flowers back to our land. It's so wonderful every year to see the baby calves out in the sunny fields, and to place bare feet on the ground once more. Oh! And the fresh smell that lingers in the woods after your gentle rain is something no one can ever forget!
I want to watch the brown beds raise buds, and then stalks, and then the beautiful plants. I miss all the colors and smells of the flowers, and the the budding promise of Summer's fruits and vegetables. I can't wait to bask again in the sunshine, and to walk down the lane and find all the little hidden wonders that it brings to life.
Please don't forget to visit us. I hope that you will be here before long.
with love and anticipation,
Hannah

Peachy

2011-02-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

Is 'e really now? My baby bump ticker tells me that our child has grown to the size of a peach. Somehow, I don't quite buy it. If there was a peach-sized person inside, I think I would take due notice when bending over. True, some of my jeans are fitting a bit tighter, and I know my bladder senses something invading its space, but really? A peach? May be he or she is still a lime or plum. However big our little person is, I'm sure they are just fine.

BHLDN

2011-02-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of BHLDN, (pronounced "beholden") Anthropologie's new bridal line, you must go fall in love with it! I am smitten with Anthropologie, and even though I'm married, I still enjoy looking at sweet and fun ideas for dresses, accessories, and such. Here are a few of my favorites:
If you're the traditional type, this dress is the ticket! Elegant simplicity and subtle detail to let your gorgeous face take the spotlight!

Dresses with sleeves are either doomed to be tacky, or destined to soar with style and finesse. This one falls into the latter category. And check out the flowers and scalloped hem. It seems fresh and nostalgic at once.

This was my personal favorite. I love the tea length and appliques. And a diagonally shirred bodice never looked bad on anyone.

Oh yes. Cover-ups that don't say "oops, I have to be modest." No, rather more of "Grandmother's treasured heirloom."

And you know my thing for footwear. Oh love! Bright peridot heels for the bride, wedding party, or any girl who just wants her feet to feel fab.

And lastly, a demure, blushy pair. I love these because they remind me of my own wedding. And the dressmaker bow is so prim and cute. Irresistible.
So, what are you waiting for? Go see the rest.

1/3

2011-02-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Yay!! I'm almost done with the first trimester of pregnancy! Not that it's been all that horrible, just the normal food aversions/cravings, digestive malfunction, sleepiness, mild nausea, and a suddenly way-too-sharp sense of smell. I've been wishing for summer so much, and it would seem that many hold the same yearnings. Mental trips to cherry orchards and peach stands are intervened occasionally by dreams of cool grass and juicy watermelon.
I recently reread Mireille Guiliano's book, French Women Don't get Fat, for about the third time. She includes so many yummy sounding recipes, and lots of practical tips for a healthy lifestyle. One I tried today for the first time was plain yogurt with honey. Yum! And this afternoon, I'm making bagels.
Something else I've been up to is lots of knitting. My latest project is a little lacy pink baby cardigan from Debbie Bliss's book, Simply Baby. My knitting has come along way, but anything with "simple" in the title is automatically a running candidate as to whether I'd actually finish any projects. But why make girl clothes when we could be having a boy? Well, we decided long before that we want to keep our little person's gender a secret until the big day. So, to even things up, I'm planning to make a manly ribbed jacket from the same book, in blue or green.
One of each, just in case.

Our Valentine's Day Menu

2011-02-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

We wanted to make something extra special and yummy to celebrate Valentine's Day, (which, incidentally, Ridge has the day off! Yay!) so over the past few weeks, I've gotten together a few fantastic looking recipes.
First, of course, we'll probably start with a green salad, not unlike this one:Pretty basic.
Then, we'll dig into plates of lemon-garlic Shrimp Scampi.
(drooling) I already had decided on Shrimp Scampi, when Framed Cooks, one of the cooking blogs I follow, posted this delectable piece. Butter. Lemons. Garlic. Shrimp. Can you go wrong with that?
As a side goody, we'll have plenty of pomegranates!

Believe it or not, I had never eaten a pomegranate until Ridge treated me to one on our honeymoon. I wasted 18 years of my life unaware of the juicy red goodness in this fruit. Now I'm hooked.
You must have chocolate on Valentine's Day, right?
Also on our honeymoon, we enjoyed two evenings at the Silver Mill Saloon in Philipsburg. Fabulous food, decent prices, and since we came in the slow season, we were waited on in our own private dining room. Once the staff learned we were on our honeymoon, the chef had a made-for-two strawberry semifreddo brought out for us. This time, I'll make this dark chocolate recipe.

Well, I'm officially 11 weeks pregnant, but you could probably tell anyway, with how I've been obsessing over food. ;-)
Wishing you all a delicious Valentine's Day, whether you're single, newlywed, or old pros!

The Happy Pregnant Lady

2011-02-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

Spring greens in a bowl, with artichoke hearts, a sprinkle of parmesan, and drizzled with ranch dressing. A piece of dark chocolate for dessert. All eaten sitting in front of the heater while drying my hair. Heaven.
*additional benefit of eating oil-marinated artichoke hearts: afterward, my lips are so soft, I can skip lip balm.

Can I Live

2011-01-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of rap, but this music video is different. It's a song by Nick Cannon, and it's about a woman facing her choice in an abortion clinic.

It's based on Nick's life, and how his mother decided to keep him. It isn't very well known, but Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood and early pioneer of the Pill, was a vehement eugenicist and racist.
Today, African American women make up 36% of abortions, while blacks overall are only 18% of the American population. Looks like Marge got what she wanted.
Thankfully, the message in this music video is to girls of every color: their baby is a gift; either for them, or an adoptive family.

Two Years

2011-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

Wow. I can't believe it's already been two years since I started on Blogger (and almost three since I started my first blog). My very first blog was a birthday gift from my parents. They let me start it when I turned sixteen. I shortly moved to Wordpress, and after several months there, I finally relocated to Blogger. This blog has seen many changes in my life, and I'm so thankful to have a record of them, as well as all my wonderful followers. It's been a great two years!