Remembering....The Day After

Nine years ago today we woke up to world that was completely different.  Nothing seemed as safe, nothing was as simple and nothing seemed ok.  On the day before we had witnessed planes crashing into buildings and fields, strong buildings falling to the ground and nothing would ever be the same.  As I rocked my two month old little girl, I wondered what kind of world is this?  I tried to explain to my 5 year old and 3 year old why that plane flew into the building.  I had no answers for that.....

On September 12th though, as the dust was still clearing and we waited with our breath held to see if they would find anyone alive.  Hope with every passing minute that there would be miracles.  I remember feeling very disconnected from the rest of the country during those days, weeks, months.  Thankful that I lived in rural Kansas.  But what was replaying over and over on my TV seemed too unreal to be real.  Was it really the same country?

Almost 9 years later, I finally fulfilled a dream to visit New York City.  That day,  9/11 became real to me .  The buildings, people and tragedy found depth and sadness in my heart.  I grieved 9 years ago, but understanding came 9 years later.

 But hope came too.  This looks like a piece of modern art but is really a mangled sculpture that was underneath the rubble of the World Trade Center.  It used to be a perfect globe.  It reminds me now of how we felt the day after.  Mangled, bruised and beaten.  Out of the ruble this was pulled and out of the ruble we stood up.  The scars are still visible, but that is what makes us stronger.  It is a monument to all of us that remember that day that we dust ourselves off and stand proud once again, scars and all. 

Plaque that sits with sculpture in Battery Park, NYC.

Freezer Cooking

Ok so for the month of September I am challenging myself to cook out of my pantry and freezer.  For some reason I have let these two places of my house get out of control.  I am ssssoooo sick and tired of throwing out freezer burned food lost in the black hole of the chest freezer and the two-years-past-expiration date  food from my pantry.  So in this challenge, my rules are simple....1.  The main ingredients for dish must come from one of these two places, 2.  Only main staples (flour, sugar, salt), milk (I have three growing kids), and produce will be grocery shopped.  I foresee that we will eat like kings the beginning of the month and by the end it might be some slim pickin's.  This will definitely stretch my culinary creative skills and my families flexibility to try new things! 

It was kinda cold and rainy here today and it just felt like a good soup day.  Here is a recipe that I came up with from two other recipes from the internet tonight:

Shrimp & Potato Soup

1/4 cup onion (finely chopped)
3 TBS butter
1 clove minced garlic
Salt & Pepper
6-7 med Yukon Gold potatoes diced with skin on
1 32 oz box of chicken stock
1/2 package real bacon bits
1 8 oz package cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat)
1 cup milk
1 cup frozen corn
1 14 oz package RAW shrimp (peeled, deviened & tails removed) (I had med size about 60 in package)

Melt butter in stock pot.  Add onions and cook until soft, add garlic cook for 1-2 minutes then add bacon, salt & pepper to taste.  Add potatoes to the pot and cover with chicken stockand cover.  Cook until potatoes are fork tender then add cream cheese and milk and corn.  Bring to simmer but do not boil, add shrimp and simmer until shrimp are pink.  Serve with grated sharp cheddar cheese on top, chopped green onion, and or chives.

Milestone

Misty Scmidt Photography

Today was a major milestone in the Geesling house.  Kayley, my oldest daughter, is growing up right before our eyes.  You see just a few short weeks ago she was determined and adamant that she was a tomboy.  I would beg her to comb her hair, wear something other than shorts and ratty t-shirts, take a shower more than every three days, and she would roll her eyes and say, "but I am a tomboy mom!"  But something has happened in these first few weeks of 6th grade.  It started with the hair....she was combing it and putting it in a messy bun.  She said, "mom how does it look?".  Then last night, she announced she was getting up early this morning to curl her hair before school (breaking out the hopeful Christmas present I bought last year).  She coordinated her outfit, shaved her legs and set her alarm to get up early.  WOW!  My tomboy is still there, but is slowing fading as this beautiful girl is blooming.  As she left the house this morning, my husband Eric turned to me and said have you noticed how much she has grown up??  I replied, "yes I have, you know she is going to be asking to wear makeup soon."  He groaned and shook his head as he walked out the door.  Yep, he is in BIG trouble!