“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal

into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our

past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~Melody Beattie

In the name of gratitude and truthfulness I’ve decided to post a little piece of reality here once a week. Likely just a single picture. See my original post here.

In a home this size with this many people, spring cleaning is a necessary (and not merely annual) event. But in a home this size with this many people, spring cleaning, despite our valiant efforts, does not uncover heaps of unrealized space. We did not, for example, discover an extra bedroom hidden behind the linens this weekend.

That being said I’m very thankful for the fresh feeling of some newly organized closets and bookshelves. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from dropping a load off at the charity shop. And my hubby who is (mostly) patient and understanding when it comes to my fabric and wool stash.

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If you’d like to join in with a reality check of your own, please add a link or note in the comments!

We started out with snow. It soon melted although we saw flakes come and go all weekend.

We ventured to the zoo, despite Dan’s deep wish to avoid the zoo on weekends and holidays. It was lovely. The threatening snow scared off the crowds, there was added Easter fun, and newly hatched butterflies. We came home with happy children and Easter eggs.

Dinner was made early in the day and waited in the oven while we took in the zoo sights. A kitchen cleaned spic and span by hubby before we left the house. Friends for dinner. Friends who are family. A surprise and very welcome addition at the table (in the shape of friend, not food). Peach pie from freezer to oven, dripping with the promise of summer.

A day of spring cleaning, from top to (almost) bottom, all hands on deck. The reward of a favourite dinner out egged us on. The impromptu park visit was a nice bonus.

A baby growing so fast. Too fast. Attacking crawling and tongue rolling with great zeal.

Late night knitting, adding beaks and wings, dreaming, and entertained.

Easter morning, sunny skies, blessings in abundance, joyful celebrations. An easter egg hunt, playing with friends, stolen moments with a book, tackling the leftover cleaning jobs, three girls/one hairbrush. Local ham, scalloped potatoes, and steamed broccoli, cooked by the man and shared with my aunt who joined our table. A plate passed over the fence to a neighbour.

And, maybe, more peach pie.

Peaceful, beautiful, perfect, blessed.

So good. So full.

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joining Amanda for weekending

Wishing you all beautiful beginning to your week!

Joining Amanda at Soulemama for this moment.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

Wishing you all many blessings this Easter weekend!

xoR

As I mentioned earlier in the week, we had a super fun day of cookie baking and overindulgence this week. I’m happy we’ve had visitors popping in this week to share in our cookie bounty but we still have had plenty to enjoy on our own.

When it comes to cookies I prefer mine chock full of oats, chocolate, and nuts. The kiddos aren’t too choosy but they do love the treat of sugar cookies. In this house sugar cookies mean cookie cutters and royal icing, cut and decorated by kids.

For her birthday last December, Amalia traded her gingerbread-making party for a visit to the chocolate factory. We missed (as did a couple of small friends) the messy cookie tradition we’d established. Easter seemed like the perfect excuse to gather sugar, flour, and friends for a sweet morning.

Sugar Cookies

recipe from Alton Brown

3 cups unbleached flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tbsp milk

In a small bowl sift together powder, flour, and salt. In a mixer with paddle attachment ,or in a bowl using a wooden spoon, cream butter and sugar until light in colour. Beat in egg and milk to combine. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until the dough begins to hold together. Divide the dough in half, wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate for two hours. *

Preheat over to 375° F.

Dust your rolling surface with icing sugar and roll dough to a 1/4″ thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters or the top of a glass. Spread cut cookies on a parchment covered baking sheet. Bake for 7-9 minutes until beginning to brown.

*When I’m preparing dough for a crowd of cookie-cutting children I prepare a double batch at a time (so as not to overdo it with my mixer). Once the dough is mixed I divide each double batch into six pieces. I roll each piece into a large round between two sheets of wax paper or parchment. I stack the rounds onto a baking sheet and refrigerate from one hour to overnight. If I’m really pressed for time, I’ll just pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes or so. After removing from the fridge the rounds may be stuck together, carefully peel them apart, and the dough is ready to be cut into shapes! 

Royal Icing

from Wilton

To be honest, I don’t prefer the flavour of royal icing, made from scratch or otherwise, but for decorating cookies (especially with eager children) it sets up nice and quickly. I haven’t found anything quite as user friendly.

3 tbsp meringue powder

6 tsbp water

4 cups icing sugar

Beat with a mixer until peaks form. A little extra water can be added if it hardens too quickly.

For this endeavour I separated the icing into four bowls and mixed a few drops of food colouring into each. Then I scooped the icing from each bowl into a small baggie, fastened the bag tightly with a clip and snipped off the very corner of the bag for a makeshift piping bag.

Decorate your heart out and call it art class. 

Although, if like me, you would rather enjoy your cookies without adornment, they are most delicious with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of tea. I’ve tried both. Just so you know.

They are also welcome at the end of a long morning of school, which has become a long afternoon of school.

Just the thing

Last year I thought too late about knitting a couple of Easter surprises for the little people. This year is not really an exception but I’ve given myself a couple of extra days thought on the matter.

I haven’t gotten up to much knitting this week but I have whipped up a couple of sweet bunny nuggets. The design is by Rebecca Danger and it is one of her free patterns on ravelry. And oooooh, are they ever cute! They are also so quick to knit up. Last year Sarah received one and this year I’m working up three more as buddies. They await stuffing and pom-poms but I shouldn’t have a problem getting them together in the next couple of days. I intend to use Jane Richmond‘s pom-pom tutorial.

If I get them done with time to spare (and if I can resist making more because I can’t seem to stop…) I might knit up another chubby chirp. Simon needs a friend for his little chirp.

As for reading, I have stacks and piles all over the house these days. Our current reads: The Garden Primer from the bookshelf to reference some organic seeds we picked up, The Locavore from the library to spur on my gardening/local food goals, Five Run Away Together for bedtime reading with ‘big’ kids, and Big Sarah’s Little Boots for the little S’s.

Are you knitting up any Easter gifts? Mine are very small but I know some of you are knitting up sweaters and dresses. Are you feeling the time crunch or do you have them blocked and wrapped already? 

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joining Ginny for yarn along