The Secret Life of a Babysitter

Lately

 

A little bit of the randomness that happens in my life; those bits that don't get recorded anywhere else, the little pieces that make up the whole.  Here are those pictures that don't really fit anywhere and could go everywhere.  These tell stories of the days I didn't take enough pictures of an event to deserve it's own post, and these tell stories of the days I took photos of seemingly nothing just because it seemed fitting.  Life has been hard, but these are some highlights.

Here there are inklings of spring.  Here are little things I wear or do or eat.  The matching outfits Madi and I own, the silliness of my cats, the pretty eyeshadow Danielle gave to me that I so love and the waterproof mascara that is what I wear in case of the all too frequent tears.

Here are a few of Sam's antics; including his discovery of taking pictures and eating cookie dough.  Here is the morning the kids spent the night here, the following teen scavenger hunt at the Greene where Calleigh and I shopped. Where Aly, Amy, and myself messed around with the camera while waiting to leave.  All followed by an evening celebrating Priscilla's 13th birthday, an old fashioned singalong with wonderful homemade food and wonderful voices.

Here there be the little beautiful things of life.

Chocolatey Muffins of Goodness

My number one talent in cooking is being able to read a book while I stir something in a frying pan.  Still, I like to make things; a sense of accomplishment is usually the motivation...or intense chocolate cravings.  Still, I found a recipe I was desperate to try: Nutella filled muffins.  You can find the recipe here!  Everything went as it was supposed to and I was seriously pleased with the result.  Yeah I know, how hard can muffins be, right?  Well, seriously, my cooking/baking talents have just recently developed past not destroying the food...or the kitchen.  This recipe was easy enough for me to follow.  I didn't measure out the Nutella exactly, using a spoon to scoop some in until it looked like there was enough.  Also, I didn't dip the tops in the cinnamon sugar mixture, but instead sprinkled it on the top.  Honestly, the whole process was not very difficult.  Having to spoon three scoops into each muffin tin instead of one (batter-nutella-batter) was more time consuming that is always convenient, and the actual mixing of the batter also took some time (because I used a fork, not an electric mixer.) Even though it was a little bit of a long process, it was all relatively easy!  Seriously, these should be checked out and made in the absolute near future!

The Long Winter

“October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces.” 

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It began snowing in October, on my 19th birthday.  It was a strangely beautiful day; quiet and light and peaceful, also quick and hot and fun. From talking on the phone to laughing to reading - from the warm light of the lamps to the red blanket to thoughtful birthday gifts - from the comfortable black dress I bought to wear that day to feeling happy to looking forward to the impending winter - winter came early.  

The cold air came in and hardly left.  I thought it was a lovely birthday gift, but the cold left it's mark and hasn't quite disappeared even now.  The brisk air I looked forward to lingers, the snow storms have been many, leaving myself a weary traveler through the icy season.  It was not the winter I anticipated; much longer and colder and  far more slippery.  I am ever so ready to see the sun again.

Born of cold and winter air

And mountain rain combining!

This icy force both foul and fair

Has a frozen heart worth mining!

Cut through the heart, cold and clear!

Strike for love and strike for fear!

There's beauty and there's danger here

Split the ice apart!

Beware the frozen heart...

- Frozen Heart, Disney's Frozen