Spring Surprises

We had a bunch of "freebies" pop up around the yard.

This bleeding heart is so lovely and I don't know how it got into our pot.


A sweet baby tree is a fun surprise...



This purple flowering plant (anyone know what it is ?) and the tiny azalea were both potted plants that I received last year and promptly killed and tossed out by the bushes to compost.

Both have rooted themselves and are producing wonderful blooms.

April Projects

April weather and our health have been about the same.
Good and bad and oh so Ugly.
We have managed to get a few projects done.

Iddy Biddy has been re-reading all the alphabet stories from Serendipity and decided she wanted to make a fairy house.



We cleared out the dead stuff from the kid's Marian Gardens and they are awaiting our new plantings during May.



Our weather station has been getting a work out and we got 2 inches of rain in 2 days after 2 weeks of dry weather.

Gluten Free Saint's Days- Papa's B-day

Gluten Free German Potato Salad.

OK so technically Pope Benedict is not a saint and hot potato salad is not a baked good but we celebrated our "Papa's"
Birthday today.

I had visions of a gf German Chocolate cake but ended up doing some unexpected babysitting. We celebrated with German Potato salad and Dill Yogurt salad instead.

My Great Grandma's version contained a 1/4 cup of white flour which would just about do in the celiacs in our family so here is my gf version for all you Catholic celiacs without German grandmas:

Boil 5 scrubbed fist sized red potatoes until tender but not falling apart. Cool and slip off peels. Slice and set aside.

Fry half a pack of bacon, reserve bacon and pour off most of the grease. Add about a TBS canola oil to the greasy pan and heat over med-low.

Saute 1/4 to 1/2 small chopped yellow onion.

Toss in potatoes and fry until sizzling.

Whisk together 2 tbs xylitol or sugar, 1 tbs corn or potato starch, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water.
(G-Grandma used 1 cup of vinegar and sugar each!!)

Pour into pan and gently mix and toss until potatoes are coated and cook until sauce is thick and bubbly.

Crumble bacon over the top and enjoy.

I thought it was as tasty as my memories of grandma's and probably healthier :)




The yogurt salad is just cucumber slices and mushrooms tossed with plain yogurt a sprinkle of dill and a dask of lemons juice.

Enjoy and Happy B-day to our German Papa!

Upon this rock...

Today after checking the computer to see what "Papa" is up tp today we made little rocks with the papal cross on them to add to our main Mary garden pot. We found the idea in this post at Footprints on the Fridge. Many thanks to Colleen.





We got the papal flag a few years back -its plastic and is still in great shape.

Just Like Mommy!

My bandanna collection is a constant source of amusement for my family and friends.

So I couldn't resist putting this little one on Blue Eyes- it matches her eyes just exactly.
She is the first kiddo to get mommy's curls too.

Biddy is feeling jealous though so I appears my spring sewing will include matching bandannas.

The Hamster Gene...

More than once my mother accused me of being part hamster as a result of my habit of leaving piles of paper scraps wherever I go.

My favorite gift is a stack of paper or fabric and some nifty scissors.

Iddy Biddy has inherited these genes and has spent the last few days in a frenzy of "stationary" making, paper doll dressing and of course envelope folding-you have to have a place to store your creations.

My "Hamster" side is thrilled, my "Housekeeper" side less so.

But we have been quite enjoying the notes she has been posting all about the house for us.

Oh and hint to the grandparents- we are dangerously low on decorative paper and glue :)

Nature Walk...

We had a two day break in the rain which happily coincided with two days of healthy kids.
We spent it all outside.

Some one is helping...

The grandparents have been wondering what we have been doing...mostly this last month we have been getting sick then trying to put the house back together afterwards-luckily Blue Eyes is prepared!
She can barely walk but boy can she sweep!
I remember when Monkey and Biddy liked to help but they have moved out of that phase!