In the Hole

While at the cottage earlier this summer, we made some sandy memories and spent some time simply messing about in boats.

We were also able to spend some time at the beach with nearby family.  Oliver had a blast playing in the sand with his cousins Katie and Justin.

They dug a big hole which became Oliver's favourite place to sit.

And he shook with delight every time that Katie poured in some water!

Splash!

Even Roxy was able to enjoy some beach time...

...and dashing Daddy too...

Oliver also found some fun with a football.

Catch, Daddy!

The beach is a great place to practice those football skills in the sand!

Touchdown!

And even though playing football is fun...

The best place to be is...

...in the hole!

Thanks for stopping by.

Simply Messing About in Boats

So yesterday I shared Oliver's recent adventures in the sand with you.
Today, let's get into the water... without getting wet!
While Ollie wasn't too keen on swimming in the lake this year, he sure enjoyed his very first rowboat ride.

Here he is all ready in his lifejacket...

The lake was incredibly calm that evening.

Grandpa Gary got the rowboat ready.

Now, we just have to wait for Daddy.

Time to set off.

It's just like the Chi-Cheemaun!

What a beautiful evening for a boatride.

Looks like it was lots of fun too.

Let's go back in the boat!

"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing

- absolutely nothing -

half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

- Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Thanks for stopping by.

Sandy Memories

What a difference a year makes!
Last year, Oliver would not even touch the sand at the beach.
This year, he thoroughly enjoyed playing in the sand during our recent trip to the cottage.

A castle in the sand

Oliver and Grandpa Gary sure had a fun time digging…

…and building a sand castle together.

The Canada Day pinwheel added the perfect finishing touch.

Fill ‘er up!

A big dump truck was piled high with sand.

And then dumped…

And filled once again!

And again!

Taken for a ride

Even “Lightening McQueen Bike” had some fun in the sun.

And from this seat, Oliver gave us his signature sly look and big smile.

A stone’s throw

Finding and gathering stones...

...and then tossing them into the lake was another amusing activity.

At the end of the day, only the sand castle was left behind as we took our toys, towels, and sandy memories with us.

Hope your Summer days are filled with fun in the sun and sandy memories too!

Thanks for stopping by.

Halfway There :: Our Latest Project

Hey there!  It sure has been awhile since my last post.  That's because I've been working on a new project.  I guess you could say that it's a collaboration with my husband, Chris.  The past few months of this project have really been taking a toll on me physically, but in the end it'll all be worth it...

...because in the end we'll be welcoming a new member of our family.  That's right, we're expecting!

Now, the unfortunate part is that pregnancy does not agree with me in the slightest.  Just like when I was pregnant with our son Oliver, severe nausea and vomiting have become a part of daily life.  And everything smells terrible!  The smell of the dog, cologne, soaps, the fridge, and even my own skin gets my stomach churning.

We are now halfway through the year of 2012 (can hardly believe it!), and we are also just past the halfway point of this pregnancy.  After our experience with miscarriage last year, I have found it difficult to be excited about the arrival of a baby, just in case it doesn't happen... until now.

A few days ago, we had an ultrasound and found out that they think we're having a girl!

Since then, all I can think about is decorating the nursery and how much I love the name that we've picked for her (although if it turns out to be a boy, that's ok too).

Oliver is going to be a fabulous big brother and already has a nickname for his little sister... "Oatmeal".

Even though I won't quite breathe a sigh of relief until she is born healthy and in our arms, it feels good to finally replace some of the doubt and pessimism with some happiness and excitement... and maybe even a little bit of joy.

I hope you are all experiencing some joy this summer too!

Thanks for stopping by.

Andrea

My Story of Grandma O'Donnell's Banana Bread

Today I'm going to share with you the most incredible banana bread recipe... ever.

This recipe holds a very special place in my heart not only because it was given to me by my best friend Meghan O'Donnell (given to her by her Grandmother, who is an amazing woman both in and out of the kitchen), but also because it was the first thing that I ever really baked on my own.

It was back when I was in college and at a time when I was absolutely hopeless in the kitchen.  I would set off the smoke alarm trying to heat up a can of soup!  Well, one day, I had a bunch of overripe bananas and decided to give this banana bread recipe a try.

Grandma O'Donnell's Banana Bread

3 bananas, mashed (sometimes I sneak in an extra one)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 to 2 cups chocolate chips (optional)

In a large bowl, cream together the bananas, eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla, and salt.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.  Add to wet ingredients.
Fold in chocolate chips if using.
Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes for 2 loaf tins, 20-25 minutes for muffins.



Much to my surprise, the end result was absolutely fabulous!  I realized that maybe I wasn't a complete dunce in the kitchen after all.  That banana bread was the initial spark that began my love affair with baking, cooking good food (and eating it), and building up my recipe box with the best tried and true recipes.

I can now hold my own in the kitchen and have learned a lot from my husband (a former cook), friends, and family members.  But I have found that the best way to gain knowledge is by doing.
So my own personal philosophy is this...

Try recipes.  Try hundreds... thousands... even millions of recipes.  Each recipe will impart new techniques, tips, and tricks to add to your set of skills.  If you don't know how to do something called for in a recipe, look it up.  Learn, attempt, experiment, and step out of your comfort zone.  You will find some fabulous recipes and you will experience a few flops too, but once you've cooked through a large multitude of recipes, you'll have amassed not only a great selection of recipes, but a collection of kitchen knowledge and confidence.

I like to find recipes on cooking shows, in cookbooks (our local library has a great selection), and online.  The comments and reviews found on most online recipes are excellent resources as well.  Some of these recipes can be found on my Recipe Box page (find the link at the top) and there are many recipes I have yet to share with you, so stay tuned!

And now, this banana bread recipe has become even more special to me.  A couple weeks ago, my son Oliver and I made this recipe together.  It was his first time helping in the kitchen and he loved it!  Since then, baking and cooking together has become one of our favourite family activities...

...and I'm sure it will be for years to come!

Thanks for stopping by and please visit

www.odonnellartstudio.com

to see the incredible artwork of my friends

Meghan & Katelyn O'Donnell.

A Fish Called Chips

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for the lovely and supportive comments for my last post.  As I continue to hear of others with similar stories on an almost daily basis, I've realized just how important it is to share our experiences and support one another.  Thank you.

Now, on to other things...

I've been meaning to introduce to you the little surprise that my husband, Chris, brought home a few weeks ago.  After he told me on the phone that he was bringing home something special for the family, the text messages went a little something like this...


ANDREA:  I'm curious about the family surprise... Lady & The Tramp on blue ray perhaps?
CHRIS:  Way off.
ANDREA:  Hmmm... Is it edible?
CHRIS:  Yuuuuuuuup.
ANDREA:  Candy?
CHRIS:  Way off.
ANDREA:  Chicken? (that was Oliver's suggestion)

Well, the surprise turned out to be something that may be served up at an event like the Stag & Doe for our wedding...

Chris after swallowing a goldfish.  Should have bought that "Goldfish Insurance!"

But here at home, I think we'll keep this off the menu.

At first, when asked what to name our new Betta fish, Oliver would say "no" or nothing at all.

Then, a few days later, when asked again, he said "Chips!"

I think he was actually requesting some chips to eat, but the name has stuck.  It's actually quite the clever name, especially if you take the popular meal of "Fish 'n' Chips" into consideration.  Although, please don't worry, I will not be serving this Chips for dinner.

Oliver loves to feed his fish.  After a few mishaps with the food pellets spilling everywhere, we've developed a good system.  I put the required amount on a plate, set it beside the fish bowl, and Ollie puts them in one by one.

Oliver then says, "Watch fish eat", peers into the top of the bowl, and says "Mmm" each time the fish gobbles up a pellet.

I've become quite attached to the little guy and I love how he comes right over and looks up at you. Despite my track record with fish and house plants (if you remember back to this previous post where I mentioned bringing the Front Porch Ferns inside for the winter... well... they're no longer with us), I'm determined to keep Chips alive for as long as possible!

There's no doubt about it, little Chips has quickly become a part of our family life... hook, line, and sinker.

Thanks for stopping by.

UPDATE:  Chips has since passed away.  He was a lovely presence in our home and lived a good long life for a beta fish.