First Snow Day

Wow, the snow has piled high today!  We have decided to enjoy it, a luxury that we are taking advantage of today as a homeschool family.  We might do a little tomorrow to keep on schedule, or maybe we won't...  

The kids and I took some time this morning to do our Friday chore and then scrounged around for all our winter gear.  We found almost everything we needed.  We found non-overall nearly too small snowpants for Mn and the boots from last year worked for the girls.  We geared up and headed out.  Snowshoeing, shoveling, sledding, snow angels, clearing off fences...  we tried it all.  By the time we went inside, the snow had covered the driveway again, and it is still falling.

I was also going to head to the library today, but - nope - those plans also changed!  I'm not going out in this!  I guess we get to go tomorrow with daddy!!  (which is much nicer anyways, because we have a wanderer)

For now, Mn is napping and the girls are sorting K'nex in the basement.  Off to some nice cozy reading or crafting! 

 

Oatmeal Pumpkin Breakfast Bars

• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1T flaxmeal/2T water (as an egg substitute) let stand for 2 minutes
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (oops, forgot)
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup sugar (decreased amount, original recipe had maple syrup, but I didn't have that yet)
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup flaxmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup raisins/dried cranberries

Bake in pan 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  I made a double batch and used a bar pan and a 9x9 pan.  They turned out well!

**for cookies:  Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch between cookies. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and solid. Let cool for five minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to a wire baking rack to cool completely.

Original recipe for Oatmeal Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies.

Occupying the Toddler

Mn has come to a point in his life where morning naps are not a guarantee.  This is a bit problematic for me as a homeschool mom.  We often start school on the living room floor or on the couch, reading and discussing History, Poetry and Bible.  We then head off to subjects that generally need less movement and more table space.

I'm not sure what to do with him during school.  He likes to sit on the books in my lap, mostly.  If I move the book before he sits down he looks around at me, "What did you do that for, Mom?"  I know that eventually he will get into the routine and it will all work out a little better, but for now, I need some useful occupation for him.  I had visited a friend a couple weeks ago and she had a rice bin for her boys to play with (much like a sandbox, but indoors).  She used spoons, cups and funnels to let them play in there.  So, I decided I might try that.  I have some of the pieces but not all, and the borrowed funnel has been useful in the sink with a few dishes.

Pumpkin Jam - For My Brother

(and the rest of us too)

Pumpkin Jam

5 lbs. pumpkin
1 lb. dried apricots (cut into 8ths, about the size of raisens)
1 lb. raisens
2 lbs. sugar
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. pumpkin pie spice (1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1/8 tsp. cloves)
1 T. ground ginger

Bake pumpkin, puree, add sugar, let set for 12 hours.

Add remaining ingredients, cooking slowly until thickened.

Seal in jars and process for 10 minutes.

I am not sure if this is the recipe that I made a few years ago, but I've used it a couple times this fall. 
Recipe from:  Food.com