HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Well, here it is Mother's Day Eve. My sister sent me a lovely written blog post on Facebook. I read it, I liked it, but the title bothered me: "A letter to the Motherless Daughter's on Mother's Day." My thought when I first read the title was "I'm not motherless." Clearly, it was not the writers intent to come across that way. However, it made me think and think I did...which led to journaling...which led to blogging...

So here it is a blog to all, especially girls and women (young and old) you DO have someone to celebrate, cherish, and appreciate this Mother's day:

I am not Motherless! My mom is with me today and everyday. She was with me when I sang my babies to sleep at night (although my voice was not as sweet as she), when I give hugs away, when I slave over a cake for family and friends, when I spend hours baking Christmas cookies, when I tend to my garden, when I stay up to the wee hours of the morning crafting a Halloween costume or altering a prom dress. She is there when I craft a special gift for a friend or family member. You see, I am my Mother's Daughter. I see it, I feel it, I live it. She taught me to pray, to be kind, how to love and give it away, to forgive (when it may not come easy), to nurture, to have patience (that came later in life ;) She was truly born to be a Mom or so it seemed.

I remember on vacation watching my mom stare out onto the ocean. Taking in the beauty of the great Earth.  She would often stare out in a dazed moment and I could not help but wonder, at the time, what it was she was thinking about. She was "lost in the moment" taking in all of God's grace, I am not sure I ever really asked her the "what" or "why" but today I think I may have the answer. 

Remember there is always someone in your life shaping you. Not just a Mom or Grandma, maybe a neighbor (in my case our beloved Ann who was like a Grandma to us), a mentor, a teacher...A woman who devoted her life to caring and loving a child/children as her own. You are also shaping the lives of others. Be a good example. Cater to the needs and desires of others and not just yourself. Find joy in the simple things. Someday you will be left with a memory. A memory that leaves a smile not a frown.  

I do miss my Mom, but her presence is very much alive. I thank her and praise her for leaving me much more blessed than I could have ever imagined when she physically left this Earth 21 years ago. 

Not just on Mother's day but everyday: I will honor her and celebrate the awesome grace-filled woman she was. It is a struggle at times but I strive to be more like her. To be the kind, gentle spirit she really was and to live out her legacy and pass on to my three daughters, as well. Live out your Mother's love she will smile and know she did a job well done. 

If you are fortunate enough to physically have your Mother here on Earth visit her, call her, text her. Do something! If you are not that fortunate continue to celebrate the legacy she left behind.  Revisit the past with her by wearing her jewelry, her favortite perfume, buy or pick her most cherished flower, bake her most treasured recipe for your family. Tell her favorite stories to others. Pass it on...her love and presence remain with you, always. 

Making Butter 101

Homemade Butter

 

Maybe you like science experiments, maybe you enjoy the simple life, maybe you always wanted to be Laura Ingalls, maybe you consider yourself a domestic goddess and making butter is on the bucket list. For me it's all of the above! If you have a stand mixer I highly recommend it. If you are into exercise or do not have a mixer, try a mason jar and shake for 6-8 minutes.

Let's get started!

Ingredients:

Heavy Whipping Cream

Salt

Just to be clear, this is simple butter recipe. You can add wahtever spices to your butter later to give it a desired flavor (e.g. cinnamon, honey, garlic, chives...endless ideas)

Pour your whipping cream into the mixing bowl. 

NOTE: You will want to make sure you DO NOT OVERFILL the bowl. Trust me on this. 

I cover my mixer with saran wrap, using tape to secure and make a "tent". Trust me you will want to cover with something. I recommend a clear view, because it is an amazing process :) Once you have it covered start mixing. With a mason jar start shaking! Now it will seem like it is doing nothing. You may question if you are even doing it right. You are...as long as you used heavy cream, poured in the mixer, and in fact turned on the mixer you are doing it right! I usually set mine to a medium speed. You will start to hear the mixer "churn." you may want to stop at that point, don't! As it starts to churn into butter it will eventually make a "splattering" sound. And it seperates, you will have butter (a soild) and...BUTTERMILk (the liquid)! AMAZING! In the picture below, I am draining out the buttermilk to use in pancakes for later, yum! I usually store it in a mason jar, in the fridge. 

You are not done. 

Take the solid (the butter) and rinse it under cold water. Squeezing out the milk. Wash it, squeeze it, repeat! You need to wash it, otherwise you end up with rancid butter. It is like playing with play doh.

Once you have the milk rinsed out of the butter. I normally put the butter back into the mixing bowl and add the salt to mix thoroughly. The amount of salt you add is entirely up to you. That is it, you have butter! 

For a variety of flavored butter: after you add the salt, mix, you can add your favorite herbs or spices.

Now my husband did not enjot this and did not find it as amazing as I did so be warned, not everyone may think this is amazing. Yes I paid $2 for heavy cream for eight ounces of butter. So worth it!

Enjoy!