i have posted a new examiner article on where to start (towards financial independence)
corner view is a weekly photographic take on a theme shared by bloggers from around the world, hosted by jane of spain daily.
this week's corner view: coffee companion
corner view is a weekly photographic take on a theme shared by bloggers from around the world, hosted by jane of spain daily.
this week's corner view: coffee companion
bella, julia, and liz, april 2008 (yes, more than a little pathetic that i don't have a newer photo of quality!)meet liz. liz is one of the kindest, most grounding, smiliest women i have had the pleasure to meet. you know the kind of person you can say is just really nice? that's liz. and i get to call her friend.
we met when bella was 3 weeks old and mike and i were attending a new parent support group. i elbowed mike and whispered "isn't that the wife of josh, who used to work for your dad?"
asking her if she was indeed josh's wife (yes) broke the ice and the rest is history (the details of which are lost to me in the newborn/first time mamma whirlwind i was in at the time).
for a time after recognizing each other, we regularly ran into each (husbands and babies included) window shopping and sipping coffee on weekends. i suppose the frequent encounters doing similar activities helped cement a friendship. the clincher? our husbands and kids (she now also has lily, finn's best friend) like each other, too.
back in 2005, i knew we were friends when i was talking to her on the telephone and i told her it was my birthday, i was off work, and i had had to cancel the massage appointment that had been given to me because my mother in law had been planning to take bella, but was sick. her response: "are you crazy? call them back, reschedule it, and drop bella off with me and julia!" and so began the baby trades.
but back to current day. liz and i have a weekly ritual. it is generally short and sweet, but we still trade kids. different kids and now on a regular schedule. wednesdays, lily joins our little household. thursdays, finn joins hers. and always at drop-off, a cup of coffee and mamma chat is shared.
today is wednesday, so the coffee pot is set and ready to go.
liz, i am so glad to know you and to be your friend!
i wish liz had a blog, so she could share all her wisdom, advice, and creativity with all of you! instead, you will have to settle for her recipe, below. liz is generally known to be an incredible baker and cook and is very giving of samples, extras, and recipes!
granola bars
2 cups whole oats
1 cup wheat flour
2/3 cups dried cherries and apricots, chopped (or raisins)
1/2 cup unbleached cane sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans, chopped (or walnuts)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup canola oil
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
preheat oven to 350 F. mix first 8 ingredients (oats through pecans) in large mixing bowl. mix remaining ingredients in separate bowl. once well mixed, add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well with spatula. the batter will feel dry, but just keep mixing, as it will take a bit of mixing for the batter to moisten. press into a greased 8x8 or 10 x 7 pan (glass preferred). bake about 25 minutes or until the edges become golden brown. cool in pan, then cut.
(nicola's note, everyone, toddlers included, love these, and they are super portable and frugal.)
(do any other corner viewers have to think carefully each week about which angle to take on a theme. besides liz, my husband, dad, mom, brother, la pavoni, various sweets, and half and half all came to mind as good coffee companions!)
for more coffee companions:
