Comfort Food

I had kind of a stressful day today. I emphasize "kind of" because it's not like I took any helicopter trips to the emergency room, but all the regular activities took more patience than they usually do: stoplights (because I was running late), Bible study (because I had nothing inspired to say), my mom group (because both kids were grumpy), etc.

When I got home I started to think about supper and realized I was out of ideas that didn't involve beans. We've had beans the last 3 nights, and I wasn't sure a fourth night would be good for our marriage. So I prayed for inspiration and God provided! I happened to glance at the squash shelf on our bookcase (we're a little short on pantry space) which triggered the memory of a soup I'd made last winter.

I started throwing it together and something about the smell added years back to my life. It was warm and cozy and comforting and put me in a darn good mood. So, since I can't bring everyone a yogurt container full of liquid love, I'll share the recipe. Here's to world peace!

Life Altering Squash Soup

2 T butter
1 onion, diced
cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice (or pumpkin pie spice)
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped
3 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 apple, seeded and roughly chopped
1 can coconut milk
4 oz cream cheese
salt

In a soup pot, saute onion in butter until translucent. Add 2 or 3 shakes of each spice and saute for a few seconds. Add squash, carrots, and apple. Pour in coconut milk and enough water to just cover the chunks. Simmer until everything is soft. Remove from heat and puree with a blender. Return to heat and stir in cream cheese and salt to taste. Serve with homemade bread if you have it sitting on your counter already. We added peas and sausage chunks (after pureeing) tonight, but I don't think those made it better. Let me know if you find the perfect chunks for it.

Unlicked

If you'd asked me a month ago, I would've said, "Yeah, I think Rolland's got the potty training thing pretty well licked." Which is why I'm glad you didn't ask.

My theory is that with moving to the new apartment, he figures all routines are up for grabs. Or maybe he's decided that sometimes he likes to ride his bike, and sometimes he likes to leave it lying in the middle of the living room; sometimes he likes to go in the potty and other times...not so much. Either way, he's been wearing a lot of afternoon diapers lately. I'm not an optimist, but I do like to start the morning with hope. The past few days have solidified my pessimism.

I started today with hope and a plan. I dreamed up a new incentive program featuring removable stickers and the promise of a "treat," until my foodie conscience got the better of me, and I tried to change it to a "toy," so now it's a "toy treat," whatever that is. It doesn't really matter since he was unable to achieve the 5 in-the-potty stickers necessary to earn it. Well, actually he did earn more than 5--it's just that he lost 3 along the way for "accidents" (a very generous term in this case).

Oh well, I'm sure he'll get it eventually. And we'll all be stronger for it.

Phew...

...we've been busy! On Oct 1 several friends from Sunday school came over and helped us move downstairs and across the parking lot to a 3-bedroom, ground-level apt where 1) everyone can go to sleep at his or her own bedtime, 2) we can grill off our deck, 3) Rolland can jump off the furniture at any time of the day, and 4) I can load up the stroller and roll it out the door without dealing with stairs. Thank You, Lord, for Your many blessings.

Our new livingroom "before".

(There is no "after" yet.)

Our new bedroom

Our new office area. The door is open to Rolland's room. Erika is eating a cookie.

Fortunately, the cuteness moved with us.

This Sat (one week later) we went to a farm that does harvest-themed stuff. It was 80-degrees. I got my first sunburn of the year. This is Rolland in the Pumpkin Train.

Rolland on Adeline. I have video of him waving his hat and yelling "Yee Haw!"

Pumpkins almost as far as the eye can see. (We're in peak color right now. I don't trust myself to drive with how distracted I get by the trees.)

The Corn Maze (of Death). Corn stalks cast surprisingly little shade, and Rolland's flip flops didn't allow him to do much walking. We didn't cheat...but only because we didn't have the opportunity.

After the farm we went on a relaxing, crowd-free hike. Aaaaaah, Autumn.

Opal has finally figured out the Jump-a-Roo and goes crazy in it (just like Rolland used it) only she prefers to prance on her toes. Somebody get that girl some pointe shoes!

Of course our lives aren't all fun and games. Next week maybe I'll take some more typical photos of our week: Dave working on lesson plans and me unpacking boxes while Rolland scatters toys all over the house and Opal spits up on the new carpet. Fun with the Sterkens!