Graduation Day

Today was a very special day in our lives our oldest grandchild James graduated High School.

As those who follow the blog will know James has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and now at the age of 20 he has decided to end his High School education and move on to other adventures. 

His parents planned and executed a surprise graduation party for him at our home.  With the support of the school board James received from his High School principal a certificate of completion and principal’s honour roll certificate.  Also included in the school board presentation were letters from the local member of provincial and federal parliament who acknowledged his dedicated to learning in the face of adversity.

At the BBQ were teachers, educational assistants, a school superintendent and his family and friends.  What you will not know is that James has been home schooled for the past four years as the process of getting ready for school and being bused etc. was too much for him.  So the presence of so many from the school and school board was extra special.

As his grandparent we are very proud of him and though he was not able to complete the required number of credits to graduation we echo the words spoken today of his principal.

“James has shown a level of dedication and enthusiasm for learning that is rarely seen, he will continue his education now on his own terms”.

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Asparagus soup Vegan

Many years ago on some food network the name of which has been long forgotten we learned that in preparing asparagus you bend each sprig until it breaks.  The breaking point is where the  asparagus is beginning to get tough.  And we could just not bring ourselves to throw the bottoms on the asparagus away for we froze them until we have approximately 6 cups.

This weekend we pulled the asparagus end out of the freezer and put them in a large soup pot to cook slowing for about 6 hours.  We then whipped the ends as best we could and strained everything through a sieve.  What you are left with is a very flavourful asparagus broth and this became the base for our soup.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups asparagus broth
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 small head of cauliflower cut into medium sized bits
• 1 lb fresh asparagus cut into medium sized bits
• coconut oil
• 6 shallots chopped
• 4 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 lb fresh asparagus cut into bite sized pieces
• 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. Clean all your vegetables 
2. Pour the vegetables broths into a large soup pot add the cauliflower and first lb. of asparagus cook until tender
3. While the vegetables are cooking saute the shallots and garlic in the coconut oil until they begin to caramelize (this flavour adds to the soup)
4. Add the shallots and garlic to the cooked cauliflower and asparagus and blend with a hand blender until you have a smooth soup (keep this warm on low heat)
5. Steam the second batch of asparagus until they turn bright green do not over cook
6. Add these to the soup 
7. Add the lemon juice stir well
8. Salt to taste

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Crocheting The 2015 Sky

May 2015 

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The Merry Month of May

By Thomas Dekker

O, the month of May, the merry month of May,

So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green!

O, and then did I unto my true love say,

Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my Summer's Queen.

Now the nightingale, the pretty nightingale,

The sweetest singer in all the forest quire,

Entreats thee, sweet Peggy, to hear thy true love's tale:

Lo, yonder she sitteth, her breast against a brier.

But O, I spy the cuckoo, the cuckoo, the cuckoo;

See where she sitteth; come away, my joy:

Come away, I prithee, I do not like the cuckoo

Should sing where my Peggy and I kiss and toy.

O, the month of May, the merry month of May,

So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green;

And then did I unto my true love say,

Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my Summer's Queen.

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

The Birdhouse

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Mindfulness

Young children understands this! 

Look on the face of a child at play,

the world is theirs and they are alive in that moment.

Now as I enter my senior years,

Again I can get lost in joy and in those moment

I want for nothing,

Take a moment to find joy right now 

and in that moment you will have all that you need.

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015twosnydergirls

I Wait For The Lord

This week two wonderful men, brothers, husbands, uncles, fathers and grandfathers transitioned from the realm of impermanence to permanence ~ they died. 

From the family of the oldest man we heard stories of his desire to once again be with his long dead wife to know the joy of her spirit close to him.

The other a much younger man the family spoke of knowing he was now in a place of spiritual rest, of love and that someday they too would join him.  They grieved for the time that they thought they still had with him and they found comfort in knowing he was at home in Heaven.

Great Grandma Katharine was in her 104th year when she transitioned to her heavenly home. In the years leading up to this what she wanted for her birthday was to sit around the heavenly table with her family members long since arrived and sing praises of love to God. 

She was waiting for the Lord.

For many the transition to heaven will take too long, there being little value left in their human existence and for others it will come too soon before anyone is ready.  Yet for all the knowledge of a house built by God where we will reside for eternity bring comfort.

I desire to have many more years to spend here on earth with my family and friends and at the same time...

I wait for the Lord

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Swiss Chard and Watermelon Salad

With the warm weather back watermelons are back in the grocery stores and in our garden swiss chard has started to appear so taking inspiration from my recipes.com Watermelon-Cucumber Salad we made Swiss Chard and Watermelon Salad.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of watermelon cut into bite size cubes
• ½ a medium sized red onion cut into thin slices
• 3 cups cucumber cut into bite size pieces
• 2 tablespoons of mint (we used spearmint from our garden)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup feta cheese crumbled

Directions:

1. Place the first four ingredients into a bowl cover and place in the refrigerator
2. When ready to serve
3. In a separate bowl mix together the lemon juice and olive oil
4. Gently toss the salad in the oil and lemon juice
5. Top with crumbled feta and serve

We like this salad very cold and so have been known to place the salad dish on a bed of ice in a larger container.

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

A Garden of Iris

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Grandma Jiggles

Up roarious laughter explodes from the shallow end of the pool.

Grandma you jiggle!

"Yep Grandma jiggles and I love my jiggles"

Laughter spouts once again from our granddaughter.

"Each jiggle is a treasure to me.  

I love my jiggles!"

Laughter is replaced with open curiosity.

"My jiggles remind me that I have three wonderful children 

that I love and who love me.  

That I love baking cookies with my spectacular grandchildren...

Like me she breaks in!

Yes like you.

I love your jiggles too Grandma!

The rest of the day was spent laughing and doing our new jiggle dance.

I am a Grandma who loves her jiggles!

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Trinity Sunday

With the gifts of the Holy Spirit ensuring we are ready for the tasks the Lord is setting for us this year ~ God has our back!

When you hear the call how will you respond?

Will you be too busy.

Will you seek out someone else for the task.

Will you turn willfully deaf to the call of the Lord.

Will you believe yourself unqualified

Or

Will you go forth boldly and answer 

Here I am Lord send me!

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Parsnip Patties Gluten Free

What do you do when you have Parsnip and Carrot Mash leftover and it’s just too good to toss? 

You add two eggs and 1 cup of cornmeal and your make Parsnip patties!  

These are so good we will deliberately make a double batch of parsnip and carrot mash so there is enough to make patties to freeze.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of parsnip and carrot mash
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup cornmeal (gluten free)
• 3 tablespoons oil (we use coconut oil)
• Maple Syrup

Directions:

1. Mix the first three ingredients
2. Heat a frying pan and add some of the oil
3. Place a large dollop of the mixture in the hot frying pan and shape into a patty with a spoon
4. Fry on both sides until the cornmeal is a nice toasted colour
5. Place on a cookie sheet in a 350 oven
6. Repeats steps 1 through 5 until all of the mixture is used up
7. Serve hot with maple syrup

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

White Flowers of Spring

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Traveling with Children

Travel Journal

We have traveled a great deal with both our children and now our grandchildren.  Journaling is a wonderful way to remember and talk about a day of traveling and then to remember a trip taken together.  

As we prepared to take our granddaughters to visit Great Aunt Carla in Saskatchewan, we spent some time looking around Pinterest it see what it offered in new suggestion, activities when travelling with children.  There we came across numerous post that suggested covering scribblers with old maps for children to write in.

This idea was great and added a new twist on a travel activity we already embrace.

The girls had a great time covering their dollar store scribblers.  We used old maps and so we also used bright coloured duct tape to reinforce the spine of the books.

Using coloured markers the girls personalized their books and here we learned something new.

Emily was starting to spell out Saskatchewan and as she did she recited this rhyme “Sam And Sue Kiss At The Church Hall Every Wednesday After Noon” she learned this in school and never again will Grandma struggle to spell Saskatchewan!

Books done Emily opened her book and laughed she had placed her cover so that the book was upside down and with a true artist spirit laughed and proclaimed “I am unique!”

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

10 Things to Tell Your (Grand)children in May

1) In honour of Labour Day (Canada) talk to your (grand)children about your first job.

May is also Mental Health month so spend some time talking about mental health and your family:

2) Tell them about what worried you as a child.  Did you have a recurring bad dream? 

As a child I had a recurring nightmare that there were monsters preventing me from getting to school.  I also struggled at school with a significant learning disability.

 3) If you or someone within the extended family is being treated for a mental illness in age appropriate language talk about their struggle and how they have or are overcoming it.

 4) Talk to them about what concerns you now.

Retirement concerns me, I worry that I will no longer be relevant in the world.

 5) If you have teenage (grand)children talk with them about any experiences you have had with suicide: friends, family, or when you were a teenager.  Let them know you are always available to talk. 

Remember though teenagers do their best talking in the wee hours of the morning – be ready to listen.

Mother’s Day occurs in May:

 6) Describe to each of your (grand)children what you remember about their birth and how you felt to become their (grand)mother. (if in a mother role)

 7) Talk to them about what you remember about your mother and how you celebrated Mother’s Day with her.

Mother’s Day is celebrated with a trip to the greenhouse and the purchase of a beautiful outdoor plant for Mother.

 8) Remember your Grandmother to your (grand)children.  What is your fondest memory of her?

 9) Describe to the (grand)children in your life the type of (grand)mother you are striving to be. (if in a mother role)

10) Talk to them about your greatest struggle as a woman and how you over came it. (if female)

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Pentecost Sunday

While we sing God's praise take time also to listen to God working in our lives. 

What new skills, and wonders is God giving you this Pentecost season?

The Holy Spirit is still creating, making you equal to the tasks the

Lord has set out for you in the coming year.

Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit,

 we are always equal to the challenges set before us

God always has our back!

Inspired by Juanita Laverty sermon May 24, 2015 

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Parsnip and Carrot Mash

We love parsnip and needed a recipe to use up last years crop as we prepare to plant this years.  So once again we went to the crisper of the fridge and what we found was carrots and half a head of cauliflower and the combination with horseradish to flavour was wonderful.  Who needs mashed potatoes when you have parsnips?   

Ingredients:

• 3 to 5 parsnip depending on the size available
• 3 medium carrots
• 1/2 head of cauliflower
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons of horseradish 
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of coconut butter or butter
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of almond milk or milk

Directions:

1. Chop vegetables
2. Place vegetables in a large pot and cover vegetables with water
3. Add salt
4. Boil until vegetables are tender 
5. Drain 
6. Return vegetables to the pot
7. Mash vegetables either with a hand masher or electric beaters
8. Add butter and horseradish
9. Slow add almond milk until you have the consistency you like
10. Salt to taste  

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Black Capped Chickadee

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Knitting the Temperature

April 2015

Having returned to Southern Ontario in April 2015 you can see the temperatures were much colder than those we had in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, nothing above 19°C/66°F and many days the temperature did not get above 6°C/43°F.   Just a reminder I am knitting the temperature at 2:00 pm each day.

“April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” 

T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

A Peace Garden

Community gardens are becoming very popular as urban families seek out green spaces to grow their own fresh vegetables.  Our small Mennonite church decided that they would set aside a small piece of lawn for the children to grow food for our local food bank.

The garden is also a lesson in indigenous knowledge we are growing a Three Sister’s Garden.  (Clickhere to see our families Three Sister Garden from 2014)

Last fall we worked together to build the garden we hilled the four mound on which our sisters will grow and we planted oat grass as a green fertilizer.

Today we scrapped off the weeds and planted the first sister corn and dedicated our garden.

Members of our congregation will be able to purchase produce from our garden, the money and any remaining produce will be then taken to the food bank.

This is the children’s project and name a “Peace Garden” for until all people have access to healthy food we will not experience peace.

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Sautéed Mushroom Sauce

We use this recipe many ways, as a sauce over paste, chicken or just as a side dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion chopped
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 lbs of your favourite mushroom sliced
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper
• Grated parmesan cheese to taste
• Fresh basil

Directions:

1. Add oil to a large frying pan
2. Sauté the onion and garlic until onions are transparent
3. Add mushrooms to frying pan and sauté for 5 minutes
4. Reduce heat to medium low
5. Add vegetable broth and simmer until the broth reduces to the consistency of a thick sauce.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste
7. Top with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Grandma’s Closet

As a child I loved to sneak into the attic room at my Grandfather’s home to explore and play with the wonderful things found there.  I also loved to play with Aunties' beautiful brushes, combs, and blue enamel talcum powder jar, I sat on her bench looked in her mirror and brushed my hair.

What was I doing?  I was pretending to be an adult and getting to know the adults that I loved through their things.

Somethings do not change, when our granddaughters come to visit they often ask to play with my shoes, costume jewelry and scarves.  They playing dress up and playing at being adults.

What memories do you have playing at being an adult?

How do your (grand)children practicing being an adult?

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Growing Among The Rocks

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Crocheting The 2015 Sky

April 2015

April 2015

An April Night

By Lucy Maud Montgomery

The moon comes up o’er the deeps of the woods,

And the long, low dingles that hide in the hills,

Where the ancient beeches are moist with buds

Over the pools and the whimpering rills;

And with her the mists, like dryads that creep

From their oaks, or the spirits of pine-hid springs,

Who hold, while the eyes of the world are asleep,

With the wind on the hills their gay revellings.

Down on the marshlands with flicker and glow

Wanders Will-o’-the-Wisp through the night,

Seeking for witch-gold lost long ago

By the glimmer of goblin lantern-light.

The night is a sorceress, dusk-eyed and dear,

Akin to all eerie and elfin things,

Who weaves about us in meadow and mere

The spell of a hundred vanished Springs.

Compare 2014 to 2015 

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls