11-4-10 Baked Oatmeal

Well, today was pretty routine as far as a school day goes; but there were several unique things that made the day more special. For one thing, the girls made baked oatmeal for breakfast which was a treat, hence today’s title. With strawberries and real whipped cream, I call it a dessert breakfast because it’s almost-but-not-quite strawberry shortcake. Mmmm!  Even before that, though, (actually some of the kids were still in bed, even), I looked out my bedroom window to the south and saw a coyote beside the evergreens there, 30 feet from the house! Needless to say, the whole house was on full alert immediately, and the kids watched it wander into the front yard, right in front of the picture window. It circled the entire farm before heading across the road into the pasture, at which time our observant (full alert) eyes caught sight of some deer!  Years ago we would often see deer in the field over there, but the last few years we haven’t seen many. So when they jumped the fence as deer do so amazingly – just jumped straight up and over, no running start or anything – everyone was pretty excited.  Oh, there was quite the excitement on our little farmstead this morning, I’ll tell you!  And then in the afternoon, a storm passed by a couple times before finally showering us with a little (very little) rain and sleet. It was amazingly beautiful – just clouds and sky, but oh how incredibly breathtaking. What an awesome Creator God we serve. 

Well, those were the highlights, but other nuggets abounded also. School meetings went well, kids did well on their schoolwork, ASK stopped by for lunch on her way home from Morton, I had a brisk walk with Karol, boys milked twice, AND…it was very cold…SO COLD, indeed, that for the first time this year we fired up the woodburner. Aaah, I love cozy winter evenings with all of us crammed into the warmest (smallest?) room of the house. What an incredible blessing. Bibletime – more on wisdom – and beds for all.

Found this on the camera – don’t know who took it.

Mr. Coyote is between the machine shed and the wood shed, looking at me with his yellow eyes shining.

Beautiful sunrise.

Trailer project is coming along…it looks great.

Studying memory verses.  (???)

Smiles.

Biology 101. (Winterizing the snapping turtles which means moving them inside.) Josh is SO CUTE about turtles – in books, at the nature center, every time he is taken into the shed to see these 2, he just tells everybody within earshot that he sees a “tuu-tle.” Many times he’ll say it in his precious baby voice.

 

Psalm 47:

 

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

Precious family time in the family room…beautiful nugget of winter.

In case you don’t recognize those knees, they belong to Jacob.

Josh loves to watch the slideshow.

I’m not sure what he was doing or thinking (wouldn’t it be great to peek inside a little tyke’s mind?)…obviously he’s pretty pleased though!

And…another recipe to remember:

Baked Oatmeal – (one of our family’s favorites)(except Dad who doesn’t like nuts).

4 1/2 cups quick oats

3/4 cup honey

2 cups milk

3/4 cup butter, melted

4 eggs

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

Mix all ingredients. Pour in greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, or until brown around edge. Serve with fruit of choice and milk or whipped cream. Mmmmmmmm!!!

That’s it!