Happy Birthday Canada!

To print your own Happy Canada Day bunting

see Lovella's post today on 

Mennonite Girls Can Cook

An Intersection in Life

In my own way, I'm processing these days gone by . . .

sorting photos, cropping, framing, keeping and deleting,

some in bright colors on my screen, others stamped in my mind . . .

from making up beds and meals

to holding the youngest babe in my arms

to sugar roll up pancakes and stories

to hosting care group friends

to pushing swings and playing games

to sending family off once more

to rejoicing at the wedding of a widowed brother

to a quick hike to the falls, the two of us,

to a breakfast and pedicure with a daughter

to lunch with mom, who took forever to make a ham sandwich.

And it's been one week . . .

Joy, delight, laughter, tenderness and pain

sweetness and tears

hopes and fears

combine to give purpose to this season of my life

where pictures may leave a thousand words unspoken.

My heart is full.

Jade's First Visit

This week marked a special moment as I watched the newest baby girls, being being held by the auntie or uncle, and introduced to each other for the first time. 

The rest of the cousins didn't skip a beat as shed toys came out to play . . .

 although I can only guess what thoughts may have been exchanged here.  

There is something about coming to Papa and Mimi's that is extra special
when cousins are there to play and eat with.

 Tender care for younger ones and admiration for older ones . . .

that is what I've seen . . .

 and it's so good to see siblings together! 

The evening was not complete without Papa getting his workout,

pushing five screaming kids around the yard!
There is a celebratory feeling in the air
that  may not come through in reading between the lines . . .

but if you could, you'd see that 

the most exciting part of Jade's first visit is that the goodbyes will be so much easier this time,

as plans are being set in place for a future move back. 

These Days

First swings and other backyard fun!

I'll be back with more!

Lunch Tribute to Kathy

On Thursday, last week, a number of us "Mennonite Girls" had the joy of following up on a beautiful invitation put out by Kathy's mother-in-law. It was a lunch party put on for no other reason than to honor her daughter-in-law. Who does this? I came away inspired!

This was the first time I met Eileen and her husband Bill.

They both greeted us at the door with such a warm and excited welcome

one could not help but be drawn into the warmth and beauty of their home.

I could tell this has been a way of life for them.

Eileen started us off with a toast to Kathy

by high-lighting the lovely characteristics she saw in her

and blessing her with a verse.

Someone had to hand Kathy a tissue . . .

The stemware that was brought out for this special day 

was over 100 years old, passed down in the family.

We were careful in our clinking.

The chairs were tied with sashes Eileen made for this day.

and not a detail was missed on the Victorian style table setting.

From stems of lavender tucked into our napkin rings

to garden roses adorning candelabras 

and petals strewn about candle stands with crystal pendants.

It was a table set for a queen!

After our delicious chilled raspberry soup, we filed into the kitchen to help ourselves to a variety of jello salads, fruit, vegetables and a savory sandwich loaf.

Have you ever had a sandwich loaf like this?

I believe they were popular to serve at showers in the 70's.

A loaf of bread is sliced horizontally and filled with a variety of fillings . . .

eaten with a fork like a slice of cake.

You could see her husband was proud of her, and rightly so, when

he said to me, "Ukrainian girls can cook too!"

For dessert we were spoiled with individual meringues topped with a custard and berries.

We were all spoiled on behalf of our sister/friend, Kathy
. . . acknowledged for being
Kind, Accepting. Talkative, Hard working and Youthful
. . . among other wonderful things . . .

 I came away encouraged by a woman who has decided
she is not too old to put out this kind of effort to

give of her time and gifts for the pure joy of blessing!

Early Summer Fruit in Season

Rhubarb was one of the first signs of summer coming from local gardens

and we've had our share of rhubarb bread pudding by now.

If you think you'd like this, check out the recipe on MGCC today.

We've also had a rhubarb bar that I have not posted yet and

since my rhubarb pie loving girl is coming next week,

I may need to make a pie yet.

I almost missed the strawberries this year as they were so early

but 80 pints of jam are now safely tucked away

to share amongst the family.

We love our strawberry jam!

Raspberries are now in!

As kids we were sent to the patch once school was done.

Lucky students probably get to do more interesting things now days.

I love them fresh in my cereal

but the main reason I picked them up

is to make raspberry syrup to drizzle on waffles with vanilla custard. 

Blueberries are also following the early lead,

and I need to get them yet.

They are actually quite fun to pick 

early in the evening, when the sun is not so hot anymore . . .

and they are the easiest berries to freeze to have on hand  to add to
salads, muffins, loaves, platz and crisps or porridge. 

I hope you get to enjoy some of this local goodness!