He's here!!

We welcomed our newest grandbaby, and our first grand-SON!  The heir to the Harasick throne is here!

Duke Andrew Harasick was born on August 5th (his momma's birthday!) He weighed in at a hefty 8 pounds 2 oz and was 21 inches long.  We are praising the Lord for a sweet, healthy baby boy and healthy mama, too.  Have to say... he looks a LOT like his dada!

We got the alert early that morning that Stephanie's labor had started, and together with our dear friends, the Tubbs family, we kept vigil at the hospital until our newest little family member was born around 6:00 pm at night.   We got to go in and see him around 8:00 pm! 

The waiting room cheering team selfie!


 

The happy family!

Holding him for the first time!
 (yes...Rich felt it necessary to get a DUKE shirt)



Such a dream that we get to share this grandson with our dear friends Robert and Luci!



Nothing quite like a just born baby face!

 

The cutest and plumpest little boy!

 

The three Harasick men



Darsy meets baby Duke!



My kids holding each other's kids!  My heart!
(and don't forget, Emma's having grandbaby #3, a girl,  in December!)

 

Darsy is SO excited about her new cousin! Yay for Duke!

Grandbaby #3 gender!

I'm going to let my granddaughter Darsy announce the gender of her sibling-to-be coming in December!  Can you guess by all the PINK what it is???

 

Yep, another sweet girl!!  Hooray!!

A Tale of Three Chinas

Almost 20 years ago when my grandmother passed away, I inherited what remained of her china.  It was from the 1940's and mainly included just a few serving pieces.   I was glad to have it not just because it was something I had long admired, but because I really wanted something sentimental to remember grandma by.  I once heard a story that my mom, while pregnant with me, dropped a stack of fine china dishes that she was carrying to the kitchen for my grandma.  So that may explain why only some serving pieces survived!

Since eBay had just become a thing, I searched for more of the china, which I learned from the backside was called Noritake Nanarosa.  I was able to secure a beautiful tea pot and some plates, teacups, and saucers on auction.

Fast forward to just a few years ago when my brother in law, Dave Mickelson, was helping a buddy clear out his mother's garage.  He happened on a box of china, and when he opened it, he immediately thought it was my pattern.  He brought it to me, and while it was made by Noritake, it was not exactly my pattern.  However, it went well enough with my grandma's dishes, so I gratefully added it to my little collection.

Recently, my sister in law Kristen (Dave's wife and Rich's sister) received a box of china as a donation to the company she works with.  Lo and behold -   it looked like my china!  She sent me a photo to ask.  Again, it was not exact, but close.  Since the company had no use for it, she asked if I wanted it.  Um....YES PLEASE!

I was so thrilled to unpack PRISTINE plates of all sizes, two kinds of bowls (including soup bowls I have never owned), a beautiful divided vegetable bowl, tea cups, and saucers.  It made me wonder the story of how this china from so long ago could have been so safely protected all these years.  Regardless of where it's been since the 1940's, I'm happy it's found its "forever home" with some of its sisters :-)

Here are some photos of my updated collection.  
I'm not a keeper or a collector of much, but I truly cherish these dishes!

 A sample tea saucer of all three patterns from Noritake - so close!

Top: newest addition --"Mimi"

Middle: former addition (name unknown)

Bottom: Grandma's china, "Nanarosa"

The new collection:  oval serving platter, gravy boat, incredible divided bowl, dinner plates, soup bowls, sherbet bowls, teacups & saucers, a creamer and a lone sugar lid.

I'm so in love with this divided vegetable bowl!  
Look at that amazing condition - shiny and not a scratch!

 

The newly arranged collection on one side of my china cabinet.
Though I don't possess complete settings, I now have 30 dinner plates -- let's party!



I had to be strategic about the arrangement so that everything fit.  Sadly, the teacups had to be separated and join the crystal on the other side of the cabinet.
I also have a small collection of Fostoria Chintz (elegant depression glass) from my grandma.

The china on the middle shelf is my wedding china, which we never got any of at the time of our wedding, but that was a surprise 25th anniversary gift from Rich - see this post for the story).

Do you own any heirloom china? 
I hope to not just display this, but use it often.
 



 

Mother's Day Soap Sale today!

Did you know Mother's Day is fast approaching 

on Sunday, May 8th? That's less than 2 weeks away! 

At my soap shop, we have lovely sets ready for your gift giving! We are offering a natural cedar wood soap dish PLUS three new soaps made especially for Mother's Day at a special price.  We are also selling the soap dishes separately.  They are gorgeous and handmade by a local artisan especially for us!

Plus.... the rest of the shop is now 20% OFF! 

Quantities are limited!  

The sale starts at 9:00 am PST at

www.shadowhillshandmade.com

SOAP SALE TODAY!!

Good morning friends, I just wanted to alert you that I'm having a soap sale at 9:00 am PST TODAY!  You can take a look at what I'm offering at www.shadowhillshandmade.com. 

Quantities will be stocked at the sale time!

This is my last BIG sale for awhile, so feel free to STOCK UP!!

 

Praying for Lexi - please help!

Friends, I am putting out an urgent plea for help.   

Rusty and Summer Page are longtime friends of ours and a precious family in our church.   When Rich and I were first married, we met Rusty as a small boy as we attended Bible Study in his parents' home.   After Rusty and Summer married we continued that relationship. Over the years we have been blessed to have spent some time with them both in our home and theirs and have always been blessed by their sweet family.   Recently as the director for The Master's Kids, our church's mommy-and-me preschool program, I got to have Summer, Lexi and her brother Caleb in the program.  Summer was a patient and loving mama with them, and I have always highly admired their family and approach to parenting.

Yesterday, their 6 year-old foster daughter of over 4 years, Lexi, was abruptly removed from their home because the Pages lost a years-long court battle for the right to adopt her.  The Pages have taken her into their own home, provided her with the only mommy and daddy and siblings she has ever known.  They have provided not only stability and love but have FOUGHT HARD to adopt her.  It is very complicated, but Lexi is 1/64th (1.5%) Choctaw Indian by descent, which gives the Choctaw tribe in Oklahoma the right to dictate where she lives.  They chose to place her with a distant relative of Lexi's birth father (both her birth parents have long given up their rights).  These relatives are not blood related OR even of Indian descent, and she will not be raised in the Indian culture.  This is a terrible abuse of the intent of the Indian Child Welfare Act which eventually culminated in DCFS (Department of Children Family Services) coming to the Page's home yesterday with no designated appointment time.  Within about 10 minutes flat, 3 strangers removed a crying and distressed little child and drove away.  I can't think of anything that I've ever seen personally that has been more devastating than that.  How I wish I hadn't seen it.  It keeps playing over and over in my head.  It was beyond heart wrenching and a very rude reminder of the evil in this world.    

We as a church body, along with members of the community set up a peaceful demonstration at a corner near the Page's Santa Clarita home starting Sunday morning.   Groups gathered with their families to pray and sing hymns, and to stand with and encourage the Pages and one another.  It was a blessed time to bond together and focus on the truths of God that we know - He is sovereign and good no matter what.   He loves Lexi more than we do.  He knows what is best.  His plans won't be thwarted by evil men.  He has promised "in this world we will have trouble" but that He will one day rescue us from it.   Prayers were heartfelt and desperate as we depended on God's grace and mercy to protect Lexi and comfort our breaking hearts.

That said, I want to enlist as much help for the Pages that I can using the platform of my blog.  Please take a moment of your time to sign the petition below and PLEASE SHARE.   The Pages know this is not just about Lexi but the hundreds of children that are victims of this abuse of power.  Please help BRING LEXI HOME.

Here is the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/keep-lexi-home

Also, please follow along on these Facebook Page for updates and to see what you can do to help.

https://www.facebook.com/saveourlexi/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/TroyTheLocator/

This is a most thoughtful and accurate letter written by Matt Hand, Rusty's brother in law:

https://www.facebook.com/matt.hand.146/posts/10156705644035442

Thank you!

Gender Reveal for grandbaby #2

We got to find out the gender of our next grandbaby in such a fun way!

Drew and Stephanie had found out the gender about a week earlier at their ultrasound, and gathered both sides of the family together at our home to share the BIG announcement.  They got a big black balloon and filled it with the proper gender color confetti.   

First, to keep us in suspense even further, Drew gave a little speech saying how blessed they were to have so many loving family members to care for their new little one.  It was sweet and all... but we just wanted to find out the gender!!  Come on!! Excitement filled the air.

 

And then Stephanie popped the balloon and out came BLUE!!! 
Yay for little boys!!!  
It will be so fun to have one of each!!

Handmade Lotion Bars

A friend gave me a lotion bar for Christmas... and I loved it! It looks like a bar of soap (no wonder I like it!) but you rub it on your skin as lotion.  Brilliant!

I decided to try a recipe I found on Pinterest.  These couldn't have been easier! All you do is mix equal parts beeswax, coconut oil, and cocoa or shea butter.  I used cocoa butter because I don't love the smell of raw shea butter.   You just melt everything together on low heat, and pour into the moulds of your choice.  I used these silicon muffin moulds and the bars easily popped right out.  You can also add essential oil if you like.  I added some tangerine and they smell lovely. With such great ingredients, these will surely combat dry winter skin.

What a sweet Valentine's day gift these would be!  

Recent news...

BEST NEWS FIRST!  

I am SO happy to share that grandbaby #2 is on its way!  We don't know yet whether it's a little boy or girl, but we are extremely excited for Drew and Stephanie!  She is due early August.  

Darsy can hardly wait to have a cousin! (she's 9 months; the babies will be about 15 months apart)

And of course, we will now have an Auntie Em :-)

 

Speaking of Darsy, she eats pretty much anything but I'm especially glad she shares my affinity for good BREAD!  She will work a piece of bread for a LONG time.  Don't worry, Emma feeds her healthy otherwise :-)   I may be extremely biased, but I think she is quite cute.

 

Oh!  And speaking of BREAD... the Back Door Bakery in Sunland reopened! Hooray! They seriously have the BEST croissants on this earth.



So, let's just say I have been making a lot of soap these days... our January sale was spectacular and we're gearing up for a March one.  Also, I'm thrilled that my soap will be sold at the shoppe at Shepherds' Conference in March!
(This is a sneak peek at what's coming to our sale in March -- a new carrot complexion soap)

 

And lastly, we celebrated this lovely's birthday - I can't believe Kait is 23 and MARRIED!

WDW - Einkorn Wheat Pancakes & Muffins

I've made the switch recently from spelt flour to Einkorn wheat.   Einkorn is one of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat, which is beneficial since today's modern wheat has been hybridized to the moon and is problematic in many ways.  

Einkorn is higher in protein and is more nutritious overall.  Some studies have even shown that people who must refrain from gluten can more easily digest this wheat, since it has a lower gluten toxicity.  If you're interested more about the benefits of Einkorn, I recommend this article.

I made some banana muffins with it recently, and my daughter noticed how great they tasted with the Einkorn.  She then in turn purchased some (they have it ground at Whole Foods; I buy mine in berry form from Azure Standard and grind in my vitamix).   She made some pancakes with a recipe she found, and quickly sent me that recipe saying I must try it.  I just happened to be thinking about what to make for breakfast so I immediately gave them a try.  The pancakes were absolutely delicious!

Here are the two recipes!


Einkorn Banana Nut Muffins

1 1/2 cups Einkorn flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup plain yogurt, regular or Greek
3 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts (or use chocolate chips for all the nuts, or a portion)
1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place paper baking cups in 12 regular size (2 1/2-inch) muffin cups. Spray paper baking cups lightly with cooking spray.

Place flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir to combine; set aside.

Place egg, sugar, yogurt, oil, banana and vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix well. Add to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Stir in nuts and oats. Divide batter among muffin cups.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until browned and toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 12 muffins

Einkorn Pancakes

makes about 8 medium 

1 large egg
1 cup milk (I used almond; Emma said plain water worked fine)
2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
1 Tbsp. honey 
1 cup Einkorn flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt    

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately.
Pour wet into dry and whisk gently just until mixed.
Let batter sit 2 minutes before cooking on buttered griddle.