keeping the berries going!

Last night was strawberry shortcake, tonight strawberry shortcakes with roasted strawberries! I tasted roasted strawberries at Jeni's in Bexley and sure enough- pintrest gave me the recipe. Joe's says he likes the dessert with the roasted berries better than last night- I'm not there but it is good.  I do think using the roasted fruit on an appetizer with cheese will be pretty darn good, or possibly on a bagel with cream cheese.....I got the berries sliced and into their next phase at just the right time.  There were quite a few I had to pitch due to mush- no mold yet - phew!  Kids have had their fair share of simple eating from the baskets and that thrills me. June is a sweet strawberry month on Newark-Granville Road!

loving fathers......

So it is Father's day on Newark-Granville Road and I'm behind and I feel badly.  The Leithausers don't make hoo-has of holidays or better said special occasion days. The Stoners celebrate a bit more but keep it pretty simple. However days like this make me miss being able to drop off a card in person, make dinner for my parents and give my Dad a hug.  This year I did get a good card out to my mom on time...not the case for my Dad.sorry...but the book we've talked about it on it's way though!! You know my lack of on time gift delivery or card doesn't reflect how much I love, respect and appreciate you Daddy.  The picture above left is from a family photo shoot in 2008.  The beach photo sits on my desk and I adore- same situation- family photo shoot at the beach in 2011-Matthew, Mike, Greg and Joe.

Anyway I thought I'd take the time to share some sentiments, document it in my on-line journal of sorts...you know that is one of the reasons I blog- documenting things for the future. I've never been very good at keeping a journal going with this much regularity. And certainly some thoughts about my Dad and my husband- my children's Dad is a worthy entry.  So here to you, forgive me if I've blogged about this before- it is feeling familiar in my head but I didn't see anything as I scanned the past entries.

So many people say Joe and my Dad (Michael Watson Stoner) look a like- you know the old- you married your Dad kind of thing.  The funny thing is we think my brother in law- Greg- looks like my Dad as well- similar mannerism make it even more so.  And yes Matthew's darling wife resembles my mom- but today it is about the Dads.  The reality is I did marry someone quite like my father because my Dad and Joe are both very committed to their kids. Both Joe and Dad love their wives and the mother of their children and show their children that through word and action in intentional ways.  Both of these great men have made family a priority and careers allow quality family time. This is a good thing not only for me but my kids- they get not only a great Dad but a great Pap!  The better news is Joe's Dad is a wonderful Dad too so we're surrounded by wonderful fathers.  They both like blue grass music and good food and their wives cooking.  They like sports and enjoy sharing that love with Peter- makes for fun conversations when we are together. They both were collegiate athletes- yes Joe played JV at basketball at Denison and Daddy swam at Virginia Tech, at Mercersburg was All American. They like cross word puzzles and brain teasers. They take their kids camping (kids are sleeping out tonight on Newark-Granville Road in prep for MCC family camp out this week!!) I could go on and on but will wrap up tonight's blog. In closing-yes, they do look a like outside and inside and it is a very good thing for my life on and off Newark-Granville Road.

back to the strawberry patch!

 love to pick strawberries. I love to pick fruit and we've done a fair amount of that while living on Newark-Granville Road. Legend Hills in Utica is a great destination for this activity- strawberries in particular.  A friend asked me this week- have you been to Legend Hills yet? I replied no and she said- what- you're that kind of Mom- I'm surprised you haven't made it up there yet.  That is all it took- she's right. I am that kind of Mom.  When I looked back to find a photo from past quests for the red berries I found a few that made me smile.  The VBS shirts align with the timing of strawberries- often we'd go pick directly from VBS.

So this blog is about the why....why do I like to pick them?  Well I love the taste- love to eat them right there in the field when they're warm from the sun.  This year the reward was  very sweet berries and pretty big ones too- more on that later.  Love the fresh real flavor that you only get from local fruit. I love that we have to work a bit to bring home our food.  I love to support the farmers that are allowing us this gift to be in their fields and offer a hands-on learning activity.  I also love to be out in all that natural beauty- look at those blues and greens in the photos- the red bursts the perfect accents.  I also love the challenge. I start with an empty bucket and  have to fill it up and it gets to be a little addictive. I fill another one and regret not bringing another. I look for the biggest I can find, I don't want a lot of little ones...then I think about what I am going to do with all that is procured and I slow down...but I can't help myself as I come down from the hill I spy another real red, pretty big and I stoop to pick. I walk on- a cluster calls to me and I take the steps left and kneel to add to my lot....but duty calls and we have to get home.  Later when cleaning them and preparing next steps takes over an hour I'm glad I had a day that pulled me home and I'm glad I don't have too many tiny ones.  The plans for these babies- strawberry short cake- short cake made from flour and is more biscuit than cake- yum.  I like mine with milk not whipped cream, maybe I'll splurge and by cream....I put a number in the freezer for smoothies. I don't make jam.  I will try to do some roasted for a sauce...Jeni's inspired me....So that is they why about today's very fun traditional June activity in my life on Newark-Granville Road.

Bonus- the drive- love a ride in the country- in the convertible as bonus! Today we were behind a horse and buggy. I love the shadow that was cast and how it was in motion- I think of shadows as stationary things for some reason. I was struck by the simplicity of the spoke and wheel's movement, the horse's jaunts.  Beauty all around in this life and today it was everywhere!

has chocolate chip cookies......

Many of you know we've had our sitter challenges this year. I also want you to know we've had amazing ones along the way and currently do too- woo hoo!  It is VBS week and little things are needed along the way, coins for amazing effort to support Janet Greggory, a rock to paint and cookies for the wrap up picnic.  I had every plan to just buy cookies- boy am I glad a I didn't.  Without any prompting to me our sitter yesterday figured out the cookie need and so she and Sally baked chocolate chip cookies yesterday!

When I came home after a really wonderful day yesterday- there they were and boy they tasted good.  I'm so grateful for this new sitter in our lives for many reasons beyond cookies.  The care, sharing, identifying of a need represents the way this sitter has interacted with our kids from day one!  Our other sitter has been with us for years and is doing wonderful things with her life. I'm so grateful she jumped right back into our summer routines handling the crazy schedules like an air traffic controller- calm, cool and collected- relieving so much of my stress.

It has been a very good week.  Today's running song that took me to a very happy place is "Friday I'm in Love" The Cure! It is an all time favorite for many reasons and was perfect.  The week has had some ups and downs but love carries us through on Newark-Granville Road.

with and without Coffee

Another simple blog update....my brain just isn't in a place to dig deep. I also want to keep a balance of Susan rambling about her personal happenings and fyis about what is happening in our community and why I am placing it out here in cyber world.  So today I will talk about coffee.  Coffee plays a key place in our lives on Newark-Granville Road.  We're not fancy- we have a basic 12 cup coffee maker.  We don't get the one cup thing that is so hot right now.  We added a bean grinder this year and I think it does make better coffee.  We like to buy Dunkin Donuts Coffee, but the reality is we usually buy what is on sale.  We like a darker roast and I know we should really be finding a free trade coffee like what is avaiable at church or River Road.  We make coffee 3 or 4 times a week.  The other days we.....

1. Stop at Whit's.  Joe enjoys this ritual and occasionally when I really need coffee will do this too. Yesterday I never got coffee.  This isn't a day breaker for me, but my days always go a little better when coffee is in the start-up equation.
2. Stop at River Road- this is a huge treat for all of us.  The kids LOVE coffee shop runs and it is a sure way to get them out of bed.  They were raised there.  When I wasn't working it was part of the get out of the house for the stay at home mom.  Post exercise we'd go over...ahhh great times.  The kids still have their favorites- Peter's Medium Hot Chocolate with Whip Cream, Kid Temp makes him happy. And I have to say it is a great hot chocolate- rich with deep flavor but drinkable.  The girls like the smoothies- although Clare has moved to juice more. They also love the bagels...everything toasted with cream cheese.  Clare isn't loving the cookies since a change and for some reason isn't as drawn to the chocolate muffins as she use to be...her palate is advancing?  I adore the crisp well balanced biscotti- a treat every now and then...the olive oil ones are a savory treat.  Oh and back to the coffee..I get a latte- always Med- perfect balance. Sometimes I do soy, I love when I remember to ask for the amazing organic milk and always skim. Joe does tall dark roast no room for cream.

I love the whole coffee house/Batista culture that is now part of every community.  I love the decorative foam touch- hears make me smile.  I love the vocabulary and acronyms and meeting for coffee opportunities.

2b- drive through River Road....so nice to have this opportunity and it is on my way to work...love to take Granville Road into town, see the kids in their uniforms and the old houses.

3. Simply Rising Cafe- downtown coffee shop with amazing owners- everything is personalized and presented with care- the steamed milk on top of my latte is like butta......great place for lunch too!

4.The Sparta- Another great place to get great coffee that is free trade. This is also an amazing breakfast and lunch spot. Chris is doing wonderful social entrepreneurship work here plus keeping a historic special place happening- it is worth the tiny extra effort to stop here in the morning and a great place to meet folks.

5. Village Coffee in the Village of Granville....always something yummy- the Cinnamon roll muffin yum! I also love their Chai- afternoon pick me up!

6. I will do Caribou when I'm out that way and need a drive thru.....

That about covers the coffee...it is on my mind as I said- didn't get any yesterday.  If I arrive at work sans coffee I can usually make my way to the kitchen and Justin or Mr. Mike have it ready to go- such a treat.  And every now and then we luck out with coffee upstairs thanks to Jenna or those morning meetings....

And the last thing I'll say is I always prefer my coffee in porcelain. I really don't like it in Styrofoam, can do it in paper.  I'm not crazy about sippy cup lids and if you check my desk you'll find the collection of what I've used that week- the Lilly P cups are my favorite when traveling from home- right size, pretty, the thickness is just right.  Life on Newark-Granville Road enjoys coffee is better with coffee. It is best when shared with a friend.

needs Vacation Bible School

I love Vacation Bible School...no doubt I've blogged about this before.  It is hard not to be involved as I've spent a fair amount of time helping make it happen.  The best part of Granville's Ecumenical VBS- churches come together and make it work. Resources and efforts are pulled to unite us in our Christian faith. The promises of baptism radiate out during this week and the first newsletter home didn't disappoint.

Sally is our only VBS Leithauser kid but lots of wonderful community kids are involved.  It was awesome to hear Sally rattle off the names of kids she is seeing in this way.  I also loved hearing from friends that their older children are helpers!    The verse that made its way to me was summed up well by Sally's chatter: "Serve one another in love" Galatians 5:13 b and "Love the Lore God with all your heart, mind soul and strength" Mark 12:30.  Thanks to all involved to make this week happen to enhance not just our lives but many on Newark-Granville Road.

We all get pulled in many directions but boy life is better when we listen and apply this message.  I'm here to help others as I can and boy do I appreciate when others help me.  Tonight the coach waiting with Peter in the rain as I did the Newark-Granville Shuttling and other helping me make sure MCC swim team will fit into our crazy lives.   The Italian market who usually serves me during off hours.  What fun to talk with Sally about serving and have her see it in action all around our lives on Newark-Granville Road.  I have a good feeling lots of good lessons will continue this week- I'm ready.

what do the cows do.....

So I have not conducted a scientific study with empirical and measurable evidence but I'm feeling confident in saying: if cows are laying down, it does not predict rain.  I do hope you grew up hearing what I always heard...if you see cows laying down, it means rain.  I had many a Sunday drive, a drive to school through the country and would observe cows up and down in both fair and inclement weather conditions.

For whatever reason this week has allowed me to notice our cow's patterns connected to the weather.  They're really not our cows but we do feel a connection since they are down the street and we seem them often, and smell and hear them not quite as often (thank goodness).  Griffey and I have done our morning runs and noticed- cows laying down and guess what- no rain.  Tonight while walking the dog - in the rain- I share with you- cows were standing up.  In fact they were not only standing up they were shuffling, even frolicking.

Life on Newark-Granville Road is pleased we are able to share this information. The cows keep us connected to the country life and agricultural industry we value in both Joe and my family and personal histories.  Future blogging material no doubt!