Flash Flood

We "enjoyed" a little flash flood adventure on the way home from the library tonight. Before we left to go to the library, Kevin said, "20% chance of rain." L didn't want to wear her rain jacket and I told her she'd get soaked, but it was up to her. Kevin said, "Not soaked!" We all got a bit wet on the way into the library and the rains came down harder and harder.  By the time we were heading out the door it was pouring, flash flood sort of pouring.  Oh, yes, she and we all got soaked even with the jacket.  

We prayed our way home!  I was the voice wanting to say, "Turn back.  The library is safe."  But then kept reminding myself that I trusted my husband!!  I did, and he got us here.  We wondered if this was similar a hurricane (only of course without so much wind).

Kj takes these things as sort of adventure.  "Can I check the basement?"  L on the other hand gets a bit "freaked out".  "I'm not getting out of the van until the garage door is closed."  Mn just falls asleep, it was bedtime.  

I was getting the kids in bed, and sopping up the water that had come in their windows while we were gone and Kevin inspected the basement further.  In the laundry room, we had a nice little "fountain*" coming in the window and some constant dripping coming around and out of the electrical box.  Kevin and I did some investigating and deduced the probable cause of the trickle: 
full rain barrel and in general too much water, so it started coming in where the communication line comes in.  We disconnected the rain barrel and made a plug for it.

Well, the "rush" is over.  Our emergency candles and flashlights are gathered to be put away, the power is on.  Here I am trying to remember all the details. 

*fountain - think nice little fountain that you find at a florist shop.  Just a nice flow of water over bricks...so mesmerizing...

P.S.  We just found out that we were in the middle of the flood zone!!  I hope the librarians are safe where they are!  

Illustrator: Ted Rand

My mom's cousin recommended Ted Rand books.  I didn't realize that he was the illustrator until I got all my reserves from the library.  

Mailing May
Written by:  Michael O. Tunnell
Set in 1914, it is too expensive for May to take the train to visit her grandmother.  Her parents find another way to keep their promise to send May to visit.  They send her by U.S. Mail!

Anna the Bookbinder
Written by:  Andrea Cheng
Anna observes her father in his bookbinding shop.  Her father gets a very important order just before her mama is about to have her baby.  While her father and mother are busy with the new arrival, she goes down to the shop to finish her father's job on time.

Mama and Me and the Model T
Written by:  Faye Gibbons
Mama teachers herself to drive the Model T when Mr. Long says that the new motorcar is for the boys. 

Quinoa Enchilada Bake

Original recipe from:  Two Peas and Their Pod

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed,diced
1 red pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 orange pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

My version (changed due to supply in our kitchen)

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
Boil for 5 minutes, cook on low, covered 15 minutes

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
equiv. of 2 colored peppers, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed
1 can vegetarian refried beans
leftover hamburger (1/2 lb...)
1 small can crushed tomatoes
1 cup medium salsa
1-2 cups shredded cheese (part mixed in and part on top)
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

Saute veggies with oil and spices.  Mix together all ingredients, leaving some cheese out.  Bake in 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Top with remaining cheese, bake 10 more minutes.  Let set 10 minutes then serve with optional toppings.  Tortillas are nice as well if you want to make it into a burrito sort of thing. 

It will feed our family of 5 3 meals!  You could spice it up with additional salsa or switching the crushed tomatoes with salsa.  I have found though that the milder I make things the more kids take to it.  So, I have decided that we can add spice on the side!

Ladies' Night

My friend, April, has started to coordinate a ladies night with some church ladies. This last time she suggested that we do a craft project. There were a few different ideas, but we decided to paint. I took a canvas that I already owned, and painted all the color on the canvas at the gathering.  Then, not knowing what to do after that, I took it home to think and wait.  Got back from traveling with little Mn and decided to finish it off with a design.  Some of the others had chosen to apply letter stickers, paint over and remove the stickers to reveal a saying.

I used my typical random way of being creative instead of a chevron pattern that I had seen on someone else's post. 

The girls and I were out shopping for spray paint and other art supplies and Kj pointed out the glow in the dark spray paint.  I thought that would be interesting, as I wanted white and had decided that this would be the first and only decor for the kids' bathroom.  Well, it turns out that it doesn't actually spray out white spray paint as the label implies.  Therefore, I had to find some white semi-gloss paint that we had leftover from bathrooms and closets and sponge that on.  Then, spray some more. 

Took off all the tape strips and here is the final outcome.  Next time:  don't rush so much you can't go out and buy white spray paint...lines will be cleaner!

Playhouse - Repurposed Fence

We were having a great time this evening working on a playhouse for the kids.  Kevin had dismantled a section of old fence that ran alongside a chain-linked fence.  Instead of scrapping the whole lot of old boards we made a playhouse.  We have a natural playground in the backyard with lots of sticks, logs, flowers, buckets, etc.  And thought this would be a fun addition.  It is on an area of the yard that has yet to be grass seeded, so no harm to our green progress.

We bought Mn some grungy pants for crawling around in our yard, and they served him well today!  We started this endeavor while it was misting, we came in for supper while it was raining and we headed back out in the mud!  

Kj helped with planning and implementing and L was helping in a non-dirty capacity as she desired...she got nails out of the bucket, then told us to get our own. 

Those pants started the day light blue with a couple white paint spots on them...

After bedtime, Kevin and I played with the house.  We rotated it so it would sit diagonally to the yard and then layed the floor...more fence boards.  We're thinking of a fabric top, but aren't sure.  A door will be added as time allows. 

Unending Projects!

We have been in a rush of spring projects lately.  March all but disappeared with birthdays on the weekends, and April had other occasions to be away.  So, May is the time for rain barrels, rock sifter/cleaners, and gardens.  We also got in our next cabinet set in our kitchen remodel and realized that we had a few steps to finish before installing them.  So, despite the weather and with the help of Bumpa and Curl Grandma, we got a lot accomplished this week/weekend! 

"Barn" Quilt

It took me a while but I finally found a meaningful quilt block called the bright and morning star.   I do have a second square picked out in case I do one in the backyard.  It is called crazy house.  ;) 

Here is my process in pictures:

I still do not have it mounted, but this is where it will be on our house.  Originally, I was going to center it between the windows.  With the columns, I decided to offset it so that you can see it best from both sidewalk angles, despite the fact that it might be divided straight on. 

Here is the picture that my mom took of me beside it.