I meant to post this early last week, or at least in a seven quick takes post, but never got around to it. It's been a busy and tiring time here, though we've been taking it fairly easy.

I finished four projects two weeks ago. First, I finished these two, the jacket on the 22nd of August and the hat on the 24th.



Then, I finished this, which has only needed the sewing for a long, long time, on the 25th.



Then I finished this on the morning of the 26th:



Mariam Beatrix was born at 8:08 a.m., via c-section, weighed exactly eight pounds and was exactly 21 inches long. She and I are both doing very well, though, of course, that is relative to having a repeat deep abdominal surgery in which they sawed me in half. My in-laws were here for a week and a half to help us out, and Rich has three more days of his two week's leave before I'm on my own during the day.

She is just one of the reasons I've been so quiet on the blog. I had a much more exhausting pregnancy this time, though all was well and healthy. I've been meaning to post all about our house projects, my crafting, the farm and the pregnancy, not to mention some more frugality posts, but just couldn't get motivated enough to think clearly and put words together. It's only because it kept me on track with our meals and grocery shopping and budgeting that I've even been menu planning.

I put several meals in the freezer and bought lots of things that would be easy for the children and Rich to put together quickly, and a new set of friends from church sent us home with two meals to put in our freezer right before the baby was born. We've probably overextended our use of favors from another family in town, who have watched our children on numerous occasions and painted our bedroom for us, but they are still offering to fetch and carry for us at any time we need it. Both these families honestly offered to be our emergency back up plan should I go into labor before the surgery was scheduled and we had an emergency trip to the hospital. Another family in the neighborhood has offered to take the older children to play with theirs once all the help is gone. Even the guys that work for Rich put together some cards and gifts to send to us.

One thing we've learned is that out here in the country, where our houses are no closer than a quarter mile, people think of each other as neighbors and friends in a way that they didn't in town. Folks we only see a few times a year have offered to help us, so even though we don't have the church family and years long friendships we had back "home" to come through, we have support and people who care.

I also learned that at least a few people know and think of us in this town. When Rich went to the farmer's market without us last week, everyone there asked about us and about the baby. The folks at the Grocery Outlet all wanted to see pictures when I went in (she was asleep in the car with Rich and the other children). That was nice, because it is easy to feel a little isolated and faceless in a new place, even one as small as this.

Needless to say, our meal plans will be a little eclectic over the next few weeks and definitely subject to change. Rich is taking care of meals almost all the time now, and will probably still handle dinners when he's back at work (along with his usual Saturday and Sunday morning breakfast duties), but the older boys will be taking care of breakfast and lunch most days until I am recovered enough to stand long enough to prepare meals again and am cleared to lift the pots and pans that hold enough food for this family. At the least, I will have a cadre of sous-chefs from Alexander to Jerome, who will help with the kitchen tasks and the heavy lifting. I am thankful that they are so capable and willing to help.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Granola and Milk, Sliced Apples, Water
  Dinner: Grilled Cheeseburgers, Jerusalem Melon


• Monday
  Breakfast: Waffles with Maple or Spiced Plum Syrup, Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Lasagna from the freezer, Garlic Bread, Sliced Cucumbers and Onions in Oil and Vinegar with Feta


• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Toad in the Hole, Plums, Hot Chocolate*
  Dinner: Grilled Steaks, Grilled Marinated Summer Squash, Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes and Onions, Rice Pilaf, Mixed Melon Cubes


• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins and Brown Sugar, Melon Slices, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Red Sauce with Olives, Onions and Peppers and Penne, Fruit Salad


• Thursday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese & Veggies, Toast, Plums, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Macaroni and Cheese with Mini Andouille Sausages, Fruit Salad, Veggie Sticks


• Friday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins and Brown Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Bolita and Cheese Enchiladas from the freezer, Tomato Rice


• Saturday
  Breakfast: Scotch Eggs, Toast, Plums, Milk, Coffee
  Dinner: Green Chile Pork Burritos (pork from the freezer), Sliced Apples

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up on Saturday.

Labels: Baby, Birthday, Fabric and Sewing, Family, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen