Halloween Scenes

For the past several years, our block has had its last block party of the season on Halloween. It seems like Halloween is the time when everyone comes outside for one last hurrah before hibernating in their homes for the winter.

SiMi's mom, MJ, is fabulously creative. She found these plastic inflatable balls that have a sleeve in the middle where you insert a glow stick. It was quite a sight, seeing all these flashes of green light floating around the block!

Of course we cooked hot dogs over a bed of hot coals for the kids, but there was grown up food too, with more than a few soups and chilis to be sampled. Ali's curried pumpkin and apple soup was the perfect thing on a chilly evening.

The S.W.A.T. Team

A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Gray asked if there was anyone who hadn't yet decided on a Halloween costume. Drew and three other boys raised their hands. Mr. Gray said he wanted to talk to them after class to help them come up with ideas. The group decided to dress up as a S.W.A.T. team. The boys had so much fun at the annual Irving School Halloween parade! It was raining so the parade was held inside the school, through the halls and into the auditorium instead of outside on the sidewalk. This is such a fun tradition!

Irving Pride

One of the things I love about Southeast Oak Park is the sense of community. I consider it a privilege to live within walking distance of what I consider the best-kept secret in Oak Park: Irving School. I've been making the two-block trek across Ridgeland to the school for nine years now. Even after all this time, I am still amazed at the dedication of the teachers and staff at our school. Each one of my children is a better person because of their Irving experience. While the rest of Oak Park embraces diversity in theory, we successfully live it out in this neck of the woods, and our neighborhood school plays a big role in that.

So, it is with great pride that I have displayed an Irving School Fly Like an Eagle" sign on my front lawn. It's been loads of fun watching these signs spring up all over the Irving district.

Sister Love

Kelsey and Erin have a true sisterhood bond. They've got inside jokes. They love being silly together. They are fiercely loyal to each other. They inspire each other to strive for more. When they're both home, they're almost always together. It's a beautiful thing.

Fondue

Tonight we fondued for supper. Yes, I am aware that mainstream America has pretty much moved on, declaring fondue to be outdated, messy, and really, really bad for your health. I don't care. It's a family tradition I'm intent on passing along to my kids.

I grew up in the 1970s, when fondue pots were all the rage. I have fond memories of long, drawn-out suppers around an olive green pot that bubbled and gurgled with dangerously hot grease, fueled by a small pot of alcohol-based liquid fuel. It was a trendy way to eat but still a periodic treat, since the meat we used was top sirloin steak, not an everyday staple in a family of six living on a budget. Still, fondue night was one of my favorite meals.

When I first moved to Chicagoland, I lived with my dad's cousin & her husband. When they moved to Florida, I was the recipient of many things they didn't want to move. One of those was a fondue pot they had been given as a wedding gift. They'd never used it. I knew I wouldn't fondue just for me, but I kept the set through five moves. I knew someday I'd have a family, and I'd want to fondue with them.

Once my own children were old enough that I was comfortable having them stick forks into a pot of scalding hot, bubbling oil, I broke out the fondue set. All three kids loved it. And every now and then, when I'm feeling like I want a cozy supper, we huddle around the small table in the kitchen and stick bite-size pieces of sirloin onto appetizer forks with elongated handles, and listen to the sound of the meat sizzle and fry. Supper takes a bit longer, the conversation seems more lighthearted, and everyone lingers just a bit longer.

Sing to the Lord

The Sonshine Club, our church's children's choir, sang this morning. Drew was asked by the choir director to read a greeting, and part of Psalm 47 ("Sing to the Lord...").

Drew confidently read his part, and he did a great job singing too. I'm going to take this moment to "out" Drew as a budding singer. The Sonshine Club choir director and Drew's music teacher at school both agree that Drew has a fantastic singing voice.

Happy Birthday Drew!

It was Drew's birthday today, and we celebrated with a Wii gaming party. We borrowed a Wii from the Wangs, and several of the guests brought their DS games too. The boys connected the DS systems together so they could play games as a group.
Drew's guests were a diverse group of boys: a few from church; a few from t-ball this past spring; a few from this fall's soccer team; and a friend from Dominican University's summer program. Drew truly makes friends wherever he goes!

After Drew's party in the afternoon, our family headed to Tony's Chinese and American Restaurant on Grand Ave. just off of Naragansett. Drew's been there before and just loves the won ton soup.

We invited the Kudo clan to join us for Drew's family birthday meal. Great move on our part. Mrs. Kudo was born in China, and having someone in your party who can order in Chinese, on top of a birthday celebration, makes for quite a memorable meal! Tony's has amazing food served family style, and is about the cheapest, best-tasting Chinese food there is in this area. There were 12 of us and we ate for just under $100.

Tony's was generous in allowing us to bring in an ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery. There were two Chicago policemen who were dining in a booth nearby, and Drew offered them some birthday cake. They chatted with him for a bit, wished him happy birthday, and thanked him for the cake. Drew responded with, "Thanks for all you do for us!"

Drew has brought so much fun, love and joy into our lives. I'm so glad he's part of our family. Happy birthday, Drew! We love you!

Soup's On

One of my favorite committees at Irving School is the Staff Appreciation Committee. This committee is living proof that many hands make light work. We've been providing the teachers with soup, salad, bread and dessert on the Thursday of parent-teacher conferences for years now.
Jules and Mel coordinate this event, and it runs like a well-oiled machine. I contributed chicken noodle soup and cranberry almond crunch. Thanks DJ for the pics!

And I'm happy to report that both Erin's and Drew's conferences went well. We are so blessed to have enthusiastic learners in our home.

Sweet Dreams

To say that Drew can be a little bit mischievious is like saying the sun is a little bit bright. Take tonight, for example. We sat for a family portrait this evening, and Drew just couldn't keep it together. At one point he was laughing so hard he fell off the step stool he was standing on. When he was positioned to stand behind Kelsey, he pretended to pick his nose and wiped his finger through her hair just to see how she'd react.
Drew's a big contributor to the laughter, humor, and practical jokes that take place in the 5 ring circus. He has a zest for life that is inspiring. No matter what he does, he gives it his all. And when he sleeps, you'd never guess how intensely passionate he is about everything in life.
I've watched him sleep for almost nine years now, and I'm still amazed at how peaceful he looks by night versus how intense he is during the day. The contrast is profound and, I truly believe, one of the great mysteries of life.
Rest up, Little Dude. Tomorrow's another day to plan jokes and laughter and mischief. And thanks for making the 5 ring circus so much fun!

Caramel Indulgence

My love for all things caramel usually kicks into high gear in the fall. I decided today was a good day to indulge my craving.

Caramel Sauce:
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature

In medium-sized, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water. Stir until sugar and water are well mixed. Heat over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. If there's sugar clinging to the sides, put the lid on the pan for a minute or so, and that sugar will dissolve away.  Increase the heat to medium high and cook, until amber-colored, about 4 minutes. When sugar begins to look brown (about 300-310 degrees on the candy thermometer), stir gently and watch closely. Remove from heat when the sugar syrup turns to a light brown similar to the color of toasted breadcrumbs. Continue to swirl pan as it is removed from the heat.
Slowly stir in 2 Tbs. cream, 1 Tbs. at a time, stirring constantly. Using a bamboo (or wooden) spoon, stir the remaining cream into the caramel. Cook, stirring over low heat until combined, about 3 minutes.
Extra caramel can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Caramel-Balsamic-Glazed Chicken over Couscous
1/3 cup Caramel Sauce
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
4 skin-on chicken breasts (about 2 lbs.), bones discarded
salt and pepper

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425. In a small bowl, stir together caramel sauce, balsamic vinegar, cream and thyme. Place chicken on the Stoneware Bar Pan and season with salt and pepper. Brush both sides with the caramel mixture and arrange skin side up. Bake, brushing halfway through with the pan drippings, until golden-brown, about 20 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes; drizzle any pan juices over the top.
Meanwhile, prepare couscous as follows: boil 1 cup chicken broth. Add in 1 green onion with green tops, snipped into small pieces, 1 cup dry couscous and 1/4 cup dried apricots that have been quartered. Stir gently. Place lid on top of pan and let the liquid absorb into the couscous, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

I could have sworn I had dried apricots on hand for tonight's dinner, but apparently they were devoured as snack food over the weekend. I substituted Craisins instead and it worked just fine.

I served it up with carrots and a sprig of fresh thyme for garnish and it was a huge hit! The girls especially were going crazy over the chicken when I happened to mention there was apple crisp for dessert. Kelsey stopped mid-stab on a piece of chicken and said, "I can't believe you didn't tell us there was apple crisp! From now on, you're only allowed to make one amazing thing per meal!"

Apple Crisp
4 medium Granny Smith apples
¼ cup water
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
¾ cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup oatmeal
½ cup butter, softened

Using the Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer, peel, core & slice the Granny Smith apples. Place in 9" x 9" baking dish. Pour water over apples, then sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg on top. Blend other ingredients in using a pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes and serve piping hot.

There's nothing like hot, fresh apple crisp. When I make apple crisp for my family, I typically throw it together right before supper hits the table, and it bakes while we eat. I drizzle a bit of caramel on each dessert plate, throw down the apple crisp, top it with real whipped cream or ice cream, and drizzle a little more caramel on top.

And yes...the calories are totally worth it!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Today I got up with the dawn, dressed in pink and black, left the house early and headed down to Lawrence and the lakefront to participate in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5 mile walk along the lakefront. I had the privilege of being part of The Pampered Chef's team. I caught up with the two bus loads of Home Office staff on my way to the starting point.Being a Pampered Chef consultant in the Chicagoland area has its advantages, and the honor of walking with Dorris Christopher (founder), Marla Gottschalk (CEO), and Jean Jonas (Sr. VP, Sales) made the day extra special.

We couldn't have asked for better walking weather. The day was sunny, the sky was bright blue and the air was crisp. There was definitely a feeling of mixed emotions swirling around me. There were many who were walking to celebrate victory over this terrible disease, but there were many others who were walking in memory of someone who was no longer here.

I walked today because breast cancer has profoundly affected my friends, colleagues, and neighbors. I walked for those like Mary Ann, who are no longer here. I walked for friends like Jackie, Marlene and Peach, who have survived. And I walked for those many, many friends who have faced panic and uncertainty while waiting for a diagnosis.

I'm proud to be a part of a company that belives in giving back!

Heading Home

I left the farm mid-morning and started making my way back home. I wanted to allow plenty of time to swing by Cornell College in Mount Vernon and see my neice, El, who's a freshman there. Cornell's a small college just south of Cedar Rapids where you take your college courses one class at a time. I had just enough time to take a quick tour of the campus, treat her to lunch, and hand her the last of the chocolate chip scones leftover from yesterday's tea.

There are those who hate to take road trips by themselves. While I wouldn't choose to travel alone all the time, I've developed a bit of a ritual when I'm returning from the farm and I'm solo. I break out my favorite country CDs from the late 1980s and the early 1990s, crank up the volume, and I sing along at the top of my lungs to Suzy Bogguss' Aces, Clint Black's Killing Time, and Garth Brooks' No Fences. My absolute favorite album to drive home to though is Dan Seals' Rage On. This album came out in 1988, and since then almost every single song on it has spoken to me on a deeply personal level, so I play Rage On twice. I start and end my songfest with twangy tunes that talk about wanting out of a small town, economic hardship, losing land that's been in the family for generations, and love that's impossible to hold onto. Yeah, that about covers it!

As I hit the outer limits of Chicagoland, it occurred to me that singing my way through the journey makes the drive more manageable. I'm able to take a nostalgic look back while anticipating where I'm going. That's a healthy balance I hope to maintain throughout my life.

Afternoon Tea Class

Today my mom, her good friend Bert, and I drove to Wellsburg to teach a class on how to host a formal afternoon tea. It all started back in the spring when Mom and Bert stopped by The Brick Bungalow gift shop. Bert started bragging to EG, the store's owner, about the amazing baby shower tea we threw for my sister-in-law.

EG asked Mom if we would be willing to teach a class on how to host an afternoon tea, and of course she said yes. It was decided we'd teach the class on Columbus Day.

My mom's a fabulous teacher, and she taught the Wellsburg ladies the fine art of napkin folding.

It was such fun to watch Mom walk the ladies through the Lady Windermere's Fan, the Arum Lilly with Two Napkins, the Rose, and my personal favorite, the Bird of Paradise (shown here).

I spent about an hour talking about everything else related to tea: what makes formal afternoon tea special (real china, homemade food made with love, no coffee and no alcohol); the difference between high tea and afternoon tea (there's more protein in a high tea menu, and it's served more toward evening); a little tea history (tea bricks were used as currency in 15th century China); and what to serve (finger sandwiches and pastries). I demonstrated how to make cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese, red pepper and chives. I also taught the secret of making tea for a crowd by steeping 2/3 cup of loose tea leaves in 4 cups of boiling water for 5 minutes. This concentrate will keep for 2-3 hours and does not need to be kept warm. When you're ready to serve tea, combine 1/2 cup + 2 Tbs. concentrate with 5 cups boiling water into a 6-cup carafe and stir well. Transfer to a warmed tea pot and serve guests. This allows you to spend more time with your guests during tea, and less time waiting for the tea to steep.

As we enjoyed tea and good conversation with the ladies of Wellsburg, I realized how much I enjoy team teaching with Mom, and if we lived closer, we'd probably take this show on the road more often.

Country Roads, Take Me Home

When trees look like this...

...and ears of field corn turn down like this...
...and combines like this are spotted in the fields...

...it's time for a trip home.

I spent the afternoon driving back to my parents' house in Jesup, Iowa. I love going home during the fall harvest season! There's something almost spiritual in a pilgrimage home this time of year. Witnessing the gathering of another year's bountiful blessings feeds my heart and soul on a level few things do.

I used to make a point of heading home at least once every fall. My fall visits have been few and far between these last ten years, as all three kids play soccer on weekends from September to early November. Taking advantage of the long Columbus Day weekend, I traveled today so Mom and I can teach a tea class in Wellsburg tommorrow.

I refer to this room in my parents' house as the Americana Suite. It's a little piece of Midwestern Country charm. I don't know why, but even after being away for more than 20 years I still sleep better at Mom & Dad's than I do in my own home. I don't know if it's the pitch-black nights and the utter stillness of the country, or the childhood security of sleeping under the protective roof that my parents provided while I was growing up. Whatever it is, I always look forward to the deep, restful sleep that awaits me in this sanctuary.

Trecie's Short Life

Trecie's story is tragic. Put up for adoption at birth. Placed into the foster care system soon after. Diagnosed with a devastating disorder coupled with a crushing prognosis: "she probably won't make it to her first birthday."

But Trecie's story is also beautiful. In spite of her medical condition, R&M opened their hearts and lives to this sweet little girl and became her foster parents.

One of the tenets of the Christian faith is looking after those who are poor and weak. R&M are amazing examples of practicing what is preached. Their family is blended with their biological children, their adopted children, and their foster children, and there's so much love among them all, that of course there'd be room for Trecie. They spent the short time they had with Trecie giving her all the love a little girl could ever want, while seeking out the best possible medical care for her.

Trecie's quality of life couldn't have been better. She surprised the doctors when she made it past her first birthday and learned to walk. As she approached her second birthday, there was talk that maybe she had been misdiagnosed. Trecie enjoyed birthday parties, playing with her siblings, and being a flower girl in her oldest sister's wedding. When you saw Trecie smile, you knew she was blissfully happy.

Even once Trecie got sick, she hung on to her zest for life. When she could no longer walk she'd crawl. When she couldn't talk, she'd use her eyes to communicate. She died over the weekend, in her foster mother's arms, surrounded by her large family.

Trecie's story could have been a sad tale of an unwanted ward of the state who died alone, buried in an unmarked grave. Instead, 200 people gathered this morning to celebrate her short life. She had a profound effect on everyone who knew her. The pediatrician who treated her not only showed up at the funeral, but spoke about what a special girl she was.

Thanks, R&M, for taking Trecie into your lives, and for sharing her with the rest of us.