Saturday, April 24, 2021

Homemade Ravioli

 A couple of years ago, Mamaw got me a pasta roller for Christmas, and I have enjoyed making noodles many times since then.  Sometimes the kids want to help me crank out the noodles, but mostly, it's a thing I do on my own.  I am a huge fan of homemade pasta, and I have made various basic types, but I have never attempted ravioli.  Lydia got me a little ravioli cutter for this Christmas, and I finally decided to try it out.


I've discovered that the thinnest setting makes the best ravioli.  I did a cheese filling for these.

I also made a slightly spicy arrabiata sauce, which was delicious.

Overall, I am hooked.  I will have to make these again.  When the basil is growing, I think it would be excellent to make ravioli with pesto.

And here is a picture from Gyunay's first communion that a friend took.  



Monday, April 19, 2021

Gyunay's First Communion!

 


On Saturday, Gyunay celebrated his first communion.  
Three of his good friends also received their first communions that day, so we had a big party at a friend's house afterwards.  It ended up being nice outside, and the kids loved running around while the adults talked in our lawn chairs and ate lots of good food.

Gyunay has been looking forward to receiving the Eucharist for a long time.  He was all smiles all day.  


Friday, April 16, 2021

Chicken Math

 I'm sure by now you've realized that there is such a thing as chicken math, and I use it a lot.  

As in, if we have 10 chickens and could use maybe 4 more, why not buy 14?

So now we have 14 straight run chicks outside, along with the 19 meat birds.  They are doing really well in the newly refurbished chicken yard.  They love eating clover and running around.  They have lots of space, but they still tend to cluster together quite a bit.  We still have the heat lamp available for them because it's quite cold overnight, and the meat birds are not old enough to go without it.  

Also, the muchling has went well, and the tulips have now taken over.  I'm so glad Lydia and I planted so many last fall.  The daffodils were great, too, but they are done now.  And here is Elijah's sign:

He's on the home stretch now, with less than 2 months until graduation.  We will all be very happy to see this school year end, and it is finally going better for Elijah.  

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Book Review - Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon

 

I've enjoyed many of Irene Hannon's books, including at least one in this Hope Harbor series. The Hope Harbor series is set in a small town by the beach, with many quirky and caring inhabitants.  I don't think you need to read others in the series to read this book, but readers of past novels set in Hope Harbor will enjoy seeing some of the characters from earlier books, like Charley.  This book was not my favorite, though.  It is rather easy to put down, and I didn't feel that the reader got to know the main characters very well.  Overall, it was a good read, but not a great one.  I did like the way the author portrays the town, and especially the two pastors who are friends.  The book was very predictable, with a sweet, clean romance.  Actually, it includes another romance with secondary characters, too.  To me, this book was just ok; some of her other books are much better, and she is an author I do enjoy.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Revell, for the purpose of writing a review, but all opinions are my own.

Easter and More

We've been celebrating Easter, and we were happy to visit with both sets of grandparents.


We went to Cave Hill Cemetery, and Lydia loved the ducks.  They had quite a variety, and the ducks were very friendly and not aggressive.



The cousins enjoyed playing with the G.I. Joe zip line my brother-in-law installed.  We may have to do something like that around here.


And it's very hard to believe that she is 12 and he is 18.  

 

Thursday, April 1, 2021

March Harvest Totals

 Cabbage - 2.5 cups

Carrots - 2

Eggs - 208

And here is a fun picture of the kids that I never shared: