What I did this week

It's Friday and time for my weekly post. I am having a hard time thinking of something specific to write about so umm.... here are a few things I did this week. I wish I had some pictures. I never think of taking picture until I go to do a blog post.

My regular weekday schedule goes something like this: Go to work in the morning for a few hours. Ben comes to get me and we swap places. He goes to school and I go home with the kids. Then, depending on the day, we either switch places again or I take the kids to Grandma's while I go back to work for a few more hours. In the evening I am home with the Kids and Ben goes to work or has class. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a longer break in the middle of the day with the kids so I usually use that time to get some things done.

This week I have been getting lots of things done but not getting much sleep. Heber came down with a fever last night and was tossing and turning all night because of it. Eeva has been sick for a few weeks now and I wish they would both get better already. Sick grumpy kids are no fun. At least I get lots of time to snuggle my little ones. All they want is for mama to hold them and nurse them.

I finished knitting Eeva's dress. Now I just need to weave the ends in, sew a button on and knit up the booties to go with it. I think I will also make a matching headband.

I made a last minuet change in the toy I wanted to make for Eeva's birthday. I was going to make some nesting cubes but instead decided to make wool balls with different rattles/bells inside. I went to a whole lotta stores looking for round rattles squeakers and bells bud didn't find what I was looking for. I ended up using some pin pong balls that I cut it half, filled with rice and other stuff, and then tapped back together. For the wool I am using some white wool yarn that isn't twisted. Last night I had so much fun dying the wool different colors. I used food coloring and vinegar and it seemed to have worked really well. I will put together a post on this entire project once I get some pictures.

Lets see.... what else..... I went to the grocery store. I tried to make Cheese and it was a total fail. I successfully make Mozzarella cheese the first time I tried. The second time it was alright and I have never been able to get it to work since. I have used various methods and recipes but to no avail. I have tied at least 3 times now and I just can't get it right. I think I am making it too acidic. Someday I will learn to make delicious cheese. And we will get a milk goat and everything will be lovely. : )

Oh yes and the most important thing: Made the most delicious squash soup I have every had!!! It was seriously so so good. I want more right now but it is all gone.I made a few adjustments to the recipe found here. This is my version

Squash Soup

Ingredients:

• 8 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups apple juice + water if you need more liquid
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1-2 tsp fresh ground pepper (or to taste)
• 8 cups chopped and cubed fresh winter squash (I used acorn and butternut or you could use 6 cups canned pumpkin puree)
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 2 cups onion, chopped
• 4 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped
• 3 cup whole milk

Directions:
Add everything to a big pot except the parsley, oregano and milk. Cook until all the veggies are soft (about 30 minuets).  Add the parsley and oregano and cook for a few more minuets. Remove from heat and puree soup in batches in the blender. Add milk and enjoy. You could easily leave out the milk and it would still be delicious.

We sipped it from mugs and ate it with cheese toast. It was so yummy! Funny thing: While we were making this Heber kept asking about the "pumpkins" we were using. He carried the butternut squash around all day saying how much he liked his pumpkin. I told him it was called butternut squash. Concerned he asked "does it has nuts in it? I can't eat nuts, they make me sick." They today he asked if our butter had nuts in it. It makes me feel somewhat relieved that he can ask if something has nuts and know he can't eat it. I told him the other squash was called acorn squash which he says "eggcorn". He later told my sister that we were eating corn egg squash. What a cute boy!!

If you try the soup, let me know how you like it. Have a happy weekend!