Early in the morning...

How quickly the time passed from when I shared a bed with my sister. I get lost in memories of those times and the sweetness of watching these two love each other so easily. I don't even mind so much that we parents get kicked out of our own bed and into the work of preparing for the day. I get to witness this - the foundation of their future relationship. Oh, my loves! I am so grateful.

Happy First Birthday, Charlie McCabe

True to his Gemini nature, our littlest man has two sides to his personality: silly and serious.

Ellis's World

The name of the Beatles drummer according to Ellis: Rainbow Star

Choices

All things prosper and fail in equal measures. In some things we see only prosperity, in others we see only failure. The only measure of control we have is in our ability to discern the most appropriate lens through which to view any given situation.

Caterpillars

Josh provided an excellent second set of eyes at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center this week. I got to shoot these very hungry caterpillars that he noticed along our walk. Judging by the huge number it seems that there should be a plethora of butterflies when we return in a little while.

Rhubarb Kuchen

The investment in perennials around the yard is creating some early payoff for our kitchen. How cool is it to grow things that you can eat in your own backyard? This years bounty, in addition to the well-established herbs out front, is a very healthy and very tart rhubarb plant. The strawberries are also ripening as we speak. We will need vigilant eyes to beat the birds to our harvest. Next year, our patient wait in harvesting the tender green asparagus shoots will be over.

Thanks to my former great aunt-in-law for this wonderful dessert recipe:

Rhubarb Kuchen:
Crust
Cream together in a bowl
1/2 c butter
1/4 c sugar
1 egg yolk

Add
1 1/4 c flour
1tsp salt
Blend with pastry blender. Pat into 7"x11" pan, working up the sides

Filling
3 c rhubarb cut into 1" pieces
Sprinkle over rhubarb a mixture of 3/4 c sugar and 2tbsp flour
Bake at 450 for 10 minutes
Remove from oven and turn oven down to 350
Mix together and pour over kuchen:
1 egg
1/4 c sugar
1 c half & half
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes

Joy!