Treeschooling

Homeschooling has become so mainstream in recent years that Moriah, never satisfied with the status quo, took it up a notch today and did some treeschooling.

           Kids go a little crazy when it gets into the 60's--in March--in Maine.  Can't say that I blame them!

I find myself baking at least once a week, just to keep everyone's my sweet tooth satisfied.  But I rarely follow a recipe as written.

It's my own small rebellion against domestic boredom.

This time it was a variation on a cream cheese pound cake to give it a lemon twist, because I'm obsessed with lemons like that.

It was a success, but I am getting requests for something NOT lemon next time...

Snow Days

We woke up to snow this morning, 

a little reprieve from the mostly muddy winter,

and it seemed just the right sort of morning for gingerbread.  I remember my mother making gingerbread when I was little, and we ate it for dessert with whipped cream on top, and it was GOOD.
Mine is made for breakfast, and we skip the whipped cream and go straight for a lemon glaze poured over the top while the cake is still hot.  Lemon and ginger make fabulous companions.  And a delectable breakfast!

"And I had but one penny in the world. Thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread." – William Shakespeare, Love’s Labours Lost

Gingerbread

1 2/3 cups of flour (I like to use freshly ground wheat)
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
3/4    tsp cinnamon
3/4    tsp salt
1       egg, lightly beaten
1/2    cup sugar
1/2    cup molasses
1/2    cup boiling water
1/2    cup vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease and flour a 9-inch pan
Mix dry ingredients together into a mixing bowl, add the egg, sugar and molasses.  Mix well
Pour the boiling water and the oil over the mixture.  Stir thoroughly until smooth.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until the top springs back when touched,  35-40 mins.
While the gingerbread is still hot, pour the glaze (2/3 cup powdered sugar  and 3 Tbsp of lemon juice) over the top and cool in the pan.

A New Toy!

I confess, I am a kitchen nerd and I get excited about kitchen tools.

Here's my latest gadget, an Orange X Professional juicer, and yes, it makes ALL that with only two oranges!

                    Juice from a carton, no matter how fresh it claims to be, can never compare!

Orchids

Because every grey winter day deserves the colours of a summer sunset.

The Treehouse that Rick built.

Have I ever mentioned that my husband .never. does things by halves?  If something can be done, then surely it can be done better, or bigger, or...

And so we have not just a treehouse, but really, a house in a tree.  He tells me it is our someday retirement home, and that I'll be thankful then that it is well-built.  I think he is somewhat optimistic on the thankful bit, but in the meantime, the kids are enjoying it very much!

As in any real estate venture, and perhaps even more in tree real estate, the first three considerations are location, location, location!!

This tree seemed a likely candidate, and so the platform building began...

Phase two of the project took place in the more controlled and possibly warmer environment of the barn.

Once the building was completed, it was disassembled and carried down a piece at a time and hoisted into the tree.  After some trial and error, and a broken pulley or two, it was finally in place.
It's probably just as well that there are no photos of this process.

Once the walls and roof were in place, the railing was laced in with rope and the final wall and door built.    At last, the finished product!

Once spring comes, it will get the final coat of paint, and whatever other ambitious plans the kids have for it.

  The view from the back side...notice the windows...fully functional windows.  I think this might have something to do with the deer trail that passes by on the hillside below.  It remains to be seen who will enjoy this treehouse the most!

O Christmas Tree!

We finally made it out for our Christmas tree on Saturday afternoon.  We didn't have to go far, because this place is just down the road from us.  We even had a little bit of snow in honor of the occasion...very little.

 Many trees were inspected...

But only one was chosen.

I wanted to cut it down, but they took the saw away from me right after this photo was taken...?

So, Rick did the cutting, and I think everyone got in on the carrying/dragging/riding on the tree to get it back to the car.

And one of these days, I'll convince my kids to wear their winter coats.  You'd think snow on the ground would be a visible reminder, but no.

Merry Christmas!