Chicken Lentil Soup

Chicken Lentil/Barley Soup from Jan (Sewing - Nov 10/15)

4 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp rosemary
3 lbs chicken pieces, skinned (The recipe says to cook the chicken, bone-in, in the soup and cut up the chicken and remove bones when it's done. I often used leftover chicken.)
28 oz can diced tomatoes, with juice (I use my home-canned tomatoes)
1 bay leaf
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced potatoes
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 cup pearl barley or lentils

Cook all together until done. The longer you simmer it the better it gets! Remove bay leaf and bones to serve. Serve with Red Lobster biscuits. Yum!

Feel free to copy and print. :)

{WW} Bulging

{WW} Bulging

My heart is bulging

Full

Of Christmas memories

Singing

Boggle games

Mom here for two weeks

Reading to the boys

Family together

Breathing

Eating

And

My purse is bulging

With receipts

Gum wrappers

Baby wipes

Mini toys

But no diapers

(yahoo!)

Or money

(woops)

And

My mind is bulging

And spilling

Pieces of lists

Groceries

Sewing home-ec class

Appointments 

And

January’s annual purge

And restore

I don’t think

I’ll mention

Anything

About clothing

Bulging

Jo Esau Jan 15-2016

Home-Ec and Church Offices

So...

I promised I would teach the grade seven to nine girls sewing this year. Chris Boese and I are doing it together and we are so enthused! She came for a cup of chai this morning and a big long meeting and discussion on it all.

We're going to get the girls to sew a basic princess seam dress with an invisible zipper. We're planning to buy a basic pattern for each of them and measure and fit it to them so they have something to take home. Also, we're planning on doing the basic folder with many different swatches of fabric types and many different sewing techniques.

Here's our list:

1. Measurements
2. Cut & glue fabric
3. Sew in a square (around and around, practicing straight stitching)
4. Sew in a spiral
5. Plain seam, ironed open
6. Flat felled seam
7. Finished seam - overcast edge and zigzag edge
8. finished seam - serge
9. French seam
10. iron on interfacing - cotton & poly
11. dart
12. double pointed dart
13. graded seam
14. taped seam
15. pin-tucks
16. square and round collar - clipped, turned, under-stitched and pressed
17. bias neckline
18. stitch in the ditch
19. shirring
20. blind hem
21. hand hem
22. rolled top-stitched hem
23. loops
24. buttonholes
25. piecing four patch (matching corners)
26. elastic - in casing and zigzag
27. mitred corner
28. mend a tear with stitch witchery
29. zipper - regular and invisible

The school board ordered the CLE basic sewing course as well, so we are working together with that. Here's hoping eight classes will be enough!! I'm so very excited! This is just such a fun project!

And then there are some that aren't so much fun. We finally had our voting meeting for the year. We're finally done youth leaders and yup. Villa Board. And then lunch committee too! I cried. I honestly can't do it all. We found out that the sewing lunches all fall on the same weeks as home-ec for February and March, so we asked to be relieved of that obligation. I think lunch committee would be fun! BUT. We can't do everything. Amen.

Plus, I have random weird physical ailments at times which limit me at moments. (You probably know that about me but I don't like to talk about it.) I so very badly don't want to "crash-n-burn". Help us all!

So, anyway. I feel very very blessed to have a little bit of work to do. I'm very very thankful for a consecrated husband. I'm so very grateful for my health. I'm so thankful we have a working church. I lovety-love my little precious family and I'm EXCITED to teach home-ec this year.

The end.

For today.

Tell me please, what's happening in your realm?

{WW} Hello

WW} hello

Hello Gorgeous

By Jo – Jan 9/16

I was perusing the giftware in Winners one chilly day before Christmas when I came upon a lovely teacup. It was delicate, large and white. It had a dainty handle, tiny pink flowers trailing down the interior and the words HELLO GORGEOUS in a feminine font. I picked it up.

It was perfect for her.

I stood holding it, turning it over for a moment, reflecting on my friendship with Pat’s uncle’s wife. We’ve always had an understanding, a heart connection. She is dear, true blue, exceptionally open and conversational. And she has always met me with a hug and “hello, gorgeous!” or a text of “hello, beautiful! What’s up today?” or something down that line.

She’s had a tough year. Her brother died of Lou Gehrig’s Disease and she’s walked the lonely valley of grief with her family and yet not together. She’s watched another favourite brother walk the cancer road. She’s sent her oldest son into the world, to work and live as a mature nineteen-year-old. She’s conquered her own little health problems and kept her home a haven for her men.

I walked up to the till to make my purchases. The teller wrapped the mug in thick layers of tissue and I happily took it home, found a gift bag and sent it on its way to Linden with Jodi.

A few days later I got a text:

                Jo

                I pulled that mug outa the bag & the hello gorgeous was facing me

                & I could just see you saying it & laughing & it was almost like you

                were here & Jodi & I burst out laughing… was an awesome moment…

I grinned big as I finished reading her message. I don’t think she has a clue how she’s affected my life for the better, my beautiful friend with a gorgeous heart.

*Please don't pass this on but if you want to pray for Michelle that would be the best. She just told me that her brother with cancer is dying...

Mish-Mash and Jumble-Bumble

I'm thinking of quoting Elisabeth Elliot until you're all sick of me. Do ya mind? I have a little journal (along with many other journals of varying purposes) that sits in my kitchen and I jot down little random poetry and inspiring songs and quotes in it. My dear friend Kim gifted this exact journal to me and it's beautiful. I'll take beauty on every hand. :)

So here's my latest inspiration from Elisabeth Elliot:

• Turn around.
• Quit that indulgence.
• Do not pity yourself.
• Forgive that person.
• Pay back what you owe.
• Apologize.
• Tell the truth.
• Deny yourself.
• Consider the others well-being.
• Lay down your life.

And down a totally different line, I've found a WONDERFUL lotion for chapped hands.

Much as I love scented lotions, when winter gets long and dry I NEED something like this. I'd recommend it.

I also love love love menu plans and thought I'd share my week with you. We usually have eggs & toast in some form for breakfast. The boys often end up frying their own eggs. :) Lunches are usually leftovers as everyone is at their various area of work and school. So, suppers are our specialty. I actually planned two weeks (last week) and shopped for that and I'm so glad because I feel like - well, like, not much today.

Sun - pork roast (the one from Costco that you can get in a huge box for cheap, 9 large roasts for $70), mashed potatoes, carrots & peas, lettuce salad, apple crisp (like with what I put in the freezer in the fall) & ice-cream

Mon - sausage, potatoes & carrots with tomato soup, onions, etc.

Tues - chicken lentil soup with Red Lobster biscuits 

Wed - baked chicken (from the Hutterites), mashed spuds, gravy, mixed veggie casserole (ended up going to folks for supper)

Thurs - grilled marinated chicken breasts, baby potatoes with the topping mix, Laurie salad, apple crisp (one track mind here) and ice-cream

Fri - taco salad (ate in Delisle instead and that's a hysterical story for another time!!)

Sat - pancakes & syrup, leftovers

Sun- to the Villa, got out leftover turkey from mom for the men's lunches

Mon - Tater-tot casserole, veggie casserole (too tired to make more)

Tues - grilled pork loin, cheese bread, layered lettuce salad

Wed - crispy baked chicken, rice pilaf, spinach & strawberry salad

Thurs - chili soup, biscuits

Fri - chicken penne alfredo, ceasar salad, garlic bread

Sat - French toast, breakfast sausage

Hellooo?

Are you with me? 

Have a wonderful evening!! May tomorrow be better than today.

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! Yeah! I love January! Here are some of my inspirations:

• A new pretty weekly planner.
• Goals of walking and cleaning.
• Gorgeous prairie sunrises on my morning busing trips.
• Snow covering the grey-brown land.
• Sledding with little children.
• Hot chocolate around the campfire.
• Menu plans.
• Candles burning.
• Clean folded laundry to put away.

I have wonderful things to be thankful for. But the reality is that we've had a pretty tough week and a half here. There was a huge blow-up at the Dean Esau gathering that resulted in babysitting and having Trevor & Alex here a lot and at Jeffs and folks. Our last week of holidays was painful.

Yesterday Robin spent just three hours with me and it was enough. I can't see change happening - ever... but that's where I need to trust and leave things in God's hands.

I've been reading Discipline by Elisabeth Elliot and it's just such a wonderful inspiration. Just do the next right thing. That's all. And I don't always know what that is.

So with joy and happiness on one hand and overwhelming burdens on the other we face another year. I have no new year's resolutions. I just pray I will have discernment and energy to do and say the next right thing.

Question.

Do you think she'll ever have time to write anything worthwhile again?

She's having a writing slump.

For one thing, she's up to her eyebrows in youth practice and Christmas program and buying gifts and planning meals. It's just life, she know, but... it's exhausting.

Yesterday they took out the program for the first time and the very first person she talked to at St. Joseph's had tears in her eyes and shook her hand so gratefully and told her "Thank you for the message!" Well, that is why she's chosen to be a youth-leaders wife. She doesn't have many options but it does pay off! Just one person can make it feel worth the wear and tear and sweat and tears.

And yesterday they farmed out all three boys and went home for a quick lunch before leaving for Saskatoon with everyone. And one hour by ones self is truly amazing.

In the evening they listened to everyone's inspirations about conference.

Their revivals start tomorrow.

Maybe in the new year... she said hopefully. Maybe someday she will write some coherent thoughts again.

??

Conference Week

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has arrived! We are currently partaking of conference week! I just got a text from my sis that they were waiting at the Saskatoon Airport, tiny little place that it is, with no less than TEN other Mennonites heading to the big town of Tupelo! Let the fun begin!

I wonder if everyone got the news clip about Tupelo preparing for conference?!? Maybe only six times??

I really wish we could go.

But we're planning on having a whale of a time at home. My mother is here, flew in last Saturday, and she's babysitting Rennie's family while they're gone.  We're hoping to see them a bit amidst it all.

Today is another gorgeous day; no snow, temps between -5C and +10C and sunshine. We've had some luscious florescent sunrises too and with the days getting shorter we can enjoy the sunrises and sunsets without arising and retiring at unearthly hours!

I've been thinking a lot about the verse "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31) and that's my hope and prayer for us ALL this week, whether we're at home doing chores or babysitting or leading songs at conference or just sitting in the huge auditorium with ten thousand believers.

Let's have a little bit of heaven and rest a while at His feet.

Blessings.

Potty Training

Well, I too for one can say that I've had a seriously poopy week.

I started potty training Wyatt last Monday and this Monday I rejoiced with great joy and many cups of chai and coffee and such that it was not last Monday. There is always something grand to be thankful for!!

I also put on my new running shoes and walked my two miles on my treadmill with springy steps and bouncing boobs and jiggly hips. But I rejoice that I can walk! And new shoes are underrated!!

I ventured out of my house last Thursday afternoon to Linda's for tea with a dozen ladies. All sudden Bren said, "Jo-Jo, Wyatt's on the potty and the door is open, just in case you want to know!" It was a defining moment. His shorts were all wet but only because he didn't get on quick enough. He knows!!! Cheers!!

On Friday Pat & I took him to town, potty-chair stowed neatly beside the car-seat. I had all of five pairs of jeans, six shorts, two pullups and a whole roll of toilet paper along. And do you know I didn't use any?!? He happily went potty in every store I took him in, in the toilet even.

We bought a backhoe as a #2 reward. It worked. The first two times, anyway. Today I'm discouraged.

Yesterday we had Bob & Chris Goodnough, Alvin & Arlene Klassen and Greg & Liz Klassen over for dinner. I felt very Proverbs 31-ish. Until Wyatt came shuffling into the kitchen where we were doing dishes, needing help with getting his shorts and pants up. I trust that you won't judge.

Other than this all-consuming life change we've been keeping quite well.

I just finished reading Strawberry Girl aloud to my boys. I have two beautiful new Christmas pieces of fabric that are begging for attention. My mither-mother is flying out here on Saturday to keep Rennie's children next week while they go to conference. We are blessed, blessed, blessed!

So it's another gorgeous fall day! We're living on borrowed fall weather, for sure. But we're enjoying it immensely. Excuse me, I'M enjoying it immensely. My boys can't WAIT until the snow flies... I understand. Sort of.

Wanna come join me for some earl grey tea and mixed nuts? I know.. where are my pumpkin muffins and chocolate cupcakes?! Hiding! :) I'm being so so careful! Ha.

So... two weeks ago we rented a tree spade and moved 47 of our six to nine foot Colorado blue spruce to their respective spots on the yard. It only took us eight years! Not bad, eh? We're quick people, ha! It seriously feels so good! We have approximately 350 trees left to move and at the rate we're going we should have the whole thing accomplished in 56 years! Pat is hoping to build his own tree spade this winter and I'm looking forward to next spring!

And I've been sewing madly, mowing sadly. :) Pat's folks are planning on going to Window Rock as house parents for a year, leaving the beginning of January. This past week and a half I sewed dresses #4, 5 and 6 and cut dresses #7, 8 and 9. For mom, that would be. I quick did a dress for Bren in between but she cuts her own and I don't generally spend as much time on them.

So ya, folks are going to Window Rock! Isn't that exciting?! I think they'll do a fabulous job and we can hardly wait to go visit them! It's so much fun looking forward to things!

Last Sunday our Ukrainian friends came to visit us, bearing gifts of food as per their custom. Sergiy & Aryna Gryshchenko brought pomegranates, pickled peppers in a fancy oval jar, purple cabbage salad and devilled eggs on a devilled eggs platter with sprigs of parsley laid fancily on top. Oleksandr Karpenko (his wife was working, so she didn't come) brought black forest cake and black grapes. We love these dear people. Aryna told me all about their daughter Yulia, who just married a man 15 years older than her and had a baby. She's concerned for her...

Yesterday Pat went to help Merle on their new basement after we got home from town, so Melanie invited us for supper; Delisle pizza, Ceasar salad and fresh cinnamon rolls. Her girls printed off some mandalas after supper and we sat and coloured and visited.

Talk again soon.

What are you up to?