Granola

I have been on a long quest for making my own granola for some time now, and I am finally happy with this recipe.  This quest started because over the years I have realized there are way too many prepackaged snacks.  What did mothers do 50 years ago?  Not only do I hate to think about all of the preservatives and empty calories, but I can't take all the packaging waste.  A box for the product and then all the wrappers.  It makes me crazy to create all the trash just for a few bites.  So I have slowly being trying to replace our store bought snacks with ones we make at home.

The two best things about this recipe is that it is very easy to make and you can substitute in and out your favorite nuts and dried fruit.

Preheat oven to 250

3 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut

1/4 brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cup chopped pecans (I used pecans because I love them and they came out of my Grandmother's tree)

1/4 vegetable oil

1/4 pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup rasins

Mix dry ingredients into a lagre bowl, keeping rasins a side.  In a smaller bowl mix all of the wet ingredients   Combine well together and then spread onto a cookie sheet with an edge.

 Place into a preheated over of 1 hour and 15 mins.  Turn the granola every 15 mins so that it will brown evenly.

Once it is cooled store in an air tight container.  I can not tell you how long it will keep because it is typical gone with in 48 hours.

This granola is fantastic on its own, on top of yogurt, but this our family's new go to breakfast cereal.

I will separate some portions out for snacks to be put in our pantry's snack box (more on that later)

Enjoy!

Robin-

Blog Reboot

I thought of my long forgotten blog the other day, so when I brought up my little space in cyberspace I was shocked to see people still visit my blog. So, I have decided to give another go at blog writing. Since 2010 my boys are grown older which has allowed me more time to pursue some intrest of my own.  I went back to school, and I discovered I loved writing.  I am not sure who is listening but I realized I loved looking back at how my kiddos have changed over the last two years and I was reminded of things they said.  So I am looking at this blog is an open journal to keep memories of our days.  

The List

"Bye Bye...See you lator"

"HOT!!!"

"Nooooo"

"Ma Ma"

"Daddy!!!!!!!!"

"More C-up"

"Kitty Kat"

Ryker what does the puppy say? "ruff ruff"

"all done"

"Heyyyyyy"

"shoes"

Sweet Ryker's ever growning list of words spoken at 19 months

My Sweet Son

My eight year old son is most of the time your typical boy. He is full of wonder and loves to explore and climb up anything he passes whether it is a rock, lamp post, or tree. He often complains about schoolwork, chores and picks on his little brothers. But I love the moments when you get a look into his heart, and this afternoon was one of those moments.

We were in the middle of his history lesson and he pauses and says, “Mom, do you know why I can’t wait to be a grown up?” “No son, why”, I said. I was waiting for him to say, you can stay up as late as you want, eat whatever you want, or buy whatever toy he would like to have. But no Seb replies, “I can’t wait to be a Dad!” I asked him why he wants to be a Dad. He said that will be so awesome just to love his kids and play with them. He will make their food and feed them when their Mom is sick. His face was so full of joy talking about this. My heart melted. I love being a mother and I feel so blessed that the Lord has sent three boys to me, but life moves pretty fast and more often than not I am focused on clean faces, clean house and what is our next meal that I do not think about who they are. I am so proud of the person that Sebastian is becoming! He has a heart for the Lord at age eight and is very mindful of that. He loves people and is always concerned for making them happy (almost to a fault like his mother)
He is always concerned for helping the underdog and thinking up ways to make the world a better place.

I don’t want to rush him but I am excited to see the man that he becomes.

I love you Sebastian!

just photos

I will write more tomorrow. For now here are some recent pictures!

Who Knew

Who knew that organizing our home school materials could be so pretty!

About two weeks ago while getting a latte at my usual coffee shop I spoted this chest in front of the resale shop next door. From the the moment I laid eyes on this beauty I had to have her! So, after a quick phone call to my husband she was in the back of the SUV and away we went.

Now from the pictures of my home I have posted so far I know you can tell that I love blue! When I first brought the chest home I was sure that I wanted to put her in my bathroom. Even though my bathroom is not even remotely decorated I knew the piece would fit perfect for the future plans I have in that space. But funny things happen when you put a piece of furniture in a holding spot. I had it sitting against a bare wall in the front room for the day (waiting on my husband to help me carry it up stairs) and my mind began to wonder.

You see, my dining room is not very big. I have always felt that the only thing that fits in there well is our big square pub style table. But, as I sat on the sofa in the front room staring at my latest treasure I realized that the color is the PREFECT compliment to the paint on the walls, window dressings, and artwork in the dining room. (which has totally been changed in the last 6 months)

So am happy to report that this beauty is working out wonderfully! I really did not have a great storage place for our mountain of home school supplies. Everything was kept in large baskets that I thought I would haul up and down the stairs everyday (which turns out only happened on Mondays and Fridays) So instead the kiddos can now help themselves to what they need and I get to have something pretty to look at while we work at the table.

I just love the feet!

The distressing is perfect for my taste. Plus I have never refinished furniture my self so having someone do it for me just the way I want , SCORE!!!!!

Oh BTW this sucker was on $40!!!!!! Double Score!

So, if you find a piece that makes your heart sing and you have no clue where to put it, I say get it!!!! You never know what you will come up with once it is sitting in your living room

Work in Progress

I have really been loving my new camera. I have taken way too many pictures, but I have quickly discovered that taking a million shoots is the only way to get a good picture. Taking good pictures really does take some practice and a lot of patience!!! Thankfully I have the best subjects to practice on.

Today is my birthday. It is a Monday so, last night I got to have dinner with my family on my husbands side. We went to California Pizza Kitchen (one of my favs) I had the Thai Chicken Pizza and cherry limeade and I have every bit of both!!! It was really nice to spend time with people that I care about and of course get some presents. And this morning I got a treat when I showed up at my regular coffee shop, taped to the ice cream case was a sign saying "happy birthday Robin, Love Mom" with a coffee card taped to it (keep in mind my Mom is over 2,000 miles away) Boy, do people know that way to my heart that is the 2nd present in 24hours that is coffee related.

After a GROSS GROSS weekend weather wise the Lord has blessed me with pockets of sun and no rain today.

On my birthday today I keep hearing

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not harm to you, plans to give you hope and a future." jeremiah 29:11

How wonderful to remember in all times that My God loves me and wants good for me! What a wonderful present!