BLUEBERRIES . . . A FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITION

"TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD"

"Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing"
Psalm 34:8-9

Opening Day at Brandywine Farms, our local U-Pick. We all look forward to picking blueberries with almost as much anticipation as a child might wait for Christmas. We were only able to pick for a hour and a half, before leaving to pick up Joel from a Music Composition Camp in Columbia Missouri. (Poor Joel missed out.)(More on the C.O.M.P. camp later.) We hope to put more berries in the freezer before the season is over.

What a way to spend the morning . . . Kaplink, kaplank, kaplunk . . . I think Glory ate her weight in blueberries!

Nathanael filled a bucket-plus. Our new up and coming "champion-picker"!

And who is this handsome young man, picking berries?

It's none other than Adam, 18 years ago, the first time we picked berries at Brandywine Farms. We have not missed a year picking since 1990 (except when the berry crop was lost to frost).

MAKING A COOKIE!

Last Sunday evening, John decided to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I (Adam) was feeling slightly bored, and since I have had plenty of experience cooking for a lot of people, but have worried about learning to cook in small batches once I move away from home, I decided to start practicing. Since the smallest increment in the recipe was 1/2 tsp water (not really sure what difference a half teaspoon of water makes, but oh well....) I measured how many drops made a teaspoon of water. I found that if I divided the recipe by 48, I could still measure each ingredient fairly accurately.


Here is the butter and sugar in John's batch of cookies....

....and here is my batch.

John adds a half teaspoon of water....

....and I add a drop.

Flour added to John's....

...and to mine.

According to the chocolate chip bag, a serving size is 23 chocolate chips, and there are 30 servings in the bag. This makes 690 total. Dividing by 48 gives 14.375 chocolate chips. (Notice the 3/8ths of a chip on the bottom left.)

Nearly finished!

As it turns out, my recipe ended up being just enough to make ONE cookie!

It sat looking nice on the counter for a while, because of the novelty....

...but then Glory decided to make use of it.

So, for those of you who are living by yourself, and don't want to tempt yourself by having a whole batch of cookies laying around, here is a recipe for:

Chocolate Chip Cookie

1 tsp butter
3/4 tsp white sugar
3/4 tsp brown sugar
(cream together butter and sugar)
2 drops vanilla
1 drop water
1/2 tsp beaten egg
(I don't really have a good suggestion as to what to do with the rest of the egg.)
2 1/4 tsp flour
small pinch of baking soda (1/48th of a tsp)
small pinch of salt (1/48th of a tsp)
14 3/8 chocolate chips
1 tsp chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. Makes one cookie.

MIDWIVES WIN IN MISSOURI ! ! ! FINALLY ! !

All ten of these lovely children were born at home. And until this week, anytime we chose to employ a trained midwife to assist us, we were involving a possible felon in our birth. Missouri Law stated that "only a licensed physician may practice midwifery", and all others who assisted women in birth regularly were guilty of a felony offense.

During the 2007 Legislative Session, Language passed and was signed by Governor Matt Blunt that rectified this situation. However, the Medical Lobby immediately challenged the constitutionality of the language, and an injunction was enforced. This week the Missouri State Supreme Court ruled in Missouri State Medical Association, et al., Respondents v. State of Missouri and Missouri Midwives Association, et al., that the Medical Association had no standing. The majority opinion was authored by Judge Stephen Limbaugh (Rush's brother).

The bottom line is that Certified Professional MIDWIVES are LEGAL IN MISSOURI for the first time since 1956 ! ! ! Our thanks to the many extremely dedicated, brilliant people who have worked unselfishly for the last 20 years to see this come to pass. You are very dear to us.

To defend the "tocology"* language at the Supreme Court level has been very costly. Anyone wishing to help pay the midwives $33,000 bill from the lawyers can donate at www.FreeTheMidwives.org .

*Tocology is the science of obstetrics or midwifery for those who may not be aware of this term. It is a very special word to those of us who have lobbied long and hard for legal midwives. I can explain if you are interested.

COUSIN'S CAMPING TRIP -- SEA WORLD

The kids got to pet and feed the dolphins. I think that was a highlight for several of them.


WOW! From a design and composition standpoint, that fish is incredible.


The Orca Show with Shamu

When we found out that the guys were going to Sea World, I was very excited. I told them that when I had been to see Shamu back in 2000, that I cried. John asked "Why?" I told him that I was just so moved by the beauty of the Orcas. He replied, "Mom, . . . That's ridiculous."

In John's defense, he is my faithful herald of many beautiful scenes: sunsets, the first crocus, the morning sun on the dew, etc. He understands and appreciates beauty.

He just loves to tease me about tears. On movie nights, he quite often has more fun watching to see how soon I cry, rather than the movie itself.

HMMMMM?

This sign has been up for over a month, and I still don't get it. I wonder if they are trying to appeal to the mindset that automatically equates more money with a better outcome?

WILLIAM JAY'S "MORNING EXERCISES" JUNE 19

"It is to be lamented that we are easily dissatisfied where we ought to be content, and content where we ought to be dissatisfied."

"In temporal matters we should have our conversation without covetousness, and be content with such things as we have; but here, alas! we are avariciously anxious. . . But in spiritual things, with what trifling acquisitions are we contented! Yet here it is even our duty to be covetous, to be ambitious! And as before us lies an infinite fullness, and we not straitened in our resources, let us not be straitened in our desires and expectations, but ask and recive, that our joy may be full."

William Jay Morning Exercises June 19

PUPPIES ANYONE?

Nikki's puppies have been so much fun! They are now ready for their new homes, but the kids are really going to miss them.

YOU MAKE MY DAY

Kasie, our good friend in Tennesse, from The Chronicles of the Willi, has honored us with the "You Make My Day" Award. Thank you so much Kasie! Now we are supposed to pass this award on to five other blogs that make our day. Drumroll please . . .


The first blog I ever read regularly was Living With Leukemia , the blog of our dear friend Amy Martin Wilhoite. Amy is now with her precious Savior and we miss her terribly. Amy's writings were always honest, edifying, and excellently crafted, revealing a beautiful soul. If you haven't been to her site, it is definitely a blessing. Her husband, Brandon, is currently working on a book of her journals.

We have been honored to know Colleen Moeller for a long time as well. She is the epitome of sunshine. Her blog, Prayer Basket- the Journey Continues, was also started in response to her diagnoses of cancer. Colleen and her family reveal a depth of faith and love that is nothing short of miraculous. Her every word brings glory to God and encouragement to me.

We've know Candace English Jacobson since she was about 5 years old. She has always been creative and her blog, Gentlewood Cottage, is one more example of her many gifts. There you will find some exceptional photography, as well as Candace's wise and witty comments. It has been fun to watch Candace turn into the lovely woman she is.

Mary Ueland is another amazing person, combining more gifts and talents than I can begin to list. What is so special about her blog though, (other than her humility) is the depth of insight and commitment she brings to serving Jesus with every action. I am always challenged and convicted by her blog, At His Feet.

This last entry isn't really a blog, but rather a family anomaly. It does qualify as a site that "makes our day". The BUB (Box Under the Bed Online Museum) is a collection of found objects (specifically lighters) that was started by Keith's sisters, Donna, Margie, and Rhonda. It has evolved into a great and amusing, free family pasttime. The website carefully chronicles many family events by posting the story of each lighter's history, along with a photograph and a carefully cataloged identifying number. The BUB currently has a holding of over 3000 lighters. You too can join the illustrious group of contributors, just by finding your own little "objet du corbeille" (lighter). Spoiler: If you visit this important site, be sure to hold your curser over the "box" and also click on the red button of the lighter (try that multiple times).

REALLY EASY SUMMER MEAL

San Antonio Day 3 - Six Flags Fiesta Texas!

Group photo! It was easy to spot members of our group today.

Waiting in line - what Six Flags is all about.
(actually the lines weren't bad this time.)

Ready to get soaked in the round boat.

Going under the waterfall!

Ready to get wet again in the log ride. I actually stayed fairly dry on this ride until Japheth decided to take it upon himself to splash the riders behind him until they were sufficiently wet.

John and Micah thought this label was meant for them.

It's easy to pick out our group in orange, isn't it?

Some guy gave us this flag that he had won, but didn't want. Joel wore it as a cape for the rest of the day.

This was an interesting ride called the Frisbee. The whole disk spins around the arm which swings back and forth.

This ride was my favorite one of the park. You get launched up in the air until you run out of momentum and then fall back down. As you fall, it compresses a cylinder of air and so you end up bouncing up and down on the cushion of air, then they pull you up to the top of the tower and drop you for another bouncing session.

Sadly, we only found one lighter the whole day and it was in an off limits area and so we couldn't retrieve it. (BTW, for any who aren't aware of the lighter collection, visit: www.bublighters.com )

GREAT ON PANCAKES, BLUEBERRY SAUCE

This recipe is one of our favorites. It also works well with blackberries, peaches, or a mix of fruits.