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Backing up, and the joys of computer ownership.

Hello All, I am Trish.  I will be your guest author today and I want to talk to you about backing up your computer and the joys of owning a computer.

First off, who am I? I am one of Angela’s friends whom she has known since about 8th grade. When Ang went off to her College, We held tight our friendship and we tried to keep in contact as much as two people just out of high school can. Usually these bits of contact involved me trying to help her with her computer problems.

Today, this relationship continues.  I am the admin to her website as well as about 6 others, including my own company Lucky Lola studios, a wedding and portraiture company based in Columbus, Ohio.

This week, Angela, in dealing with ALL that’s going on in her world right now, seems to have lost her computer to the nastiest of all nasties in the computer world, Hard Drive failure.  (We are trying to get all her info off it currently, don’t despair yet, it might be repairable!)

Because of this, i wanted to reach out to all of her readers.

I personally believe that EVERYONE, in this day and age, should have a back-up system.  I truely believe that having an external hard drive is the best thing for all those digital pictures that we all take a million of.  If we were all honest with ourselves, we all know that 99% of all of our photos will never be printed.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t important.

Here is a GREAT website for purchasing external hardrives. Newegg is where i purchase all of my parts. I highly recommend them, for their reviews, and purchasing.

Next on my list of things to discuss with you is your Virus Protection and your ADaware Protection.

Please dont be snow’d. They are NOT the same…

Since this is a HUGE post, i will not clutter up the whole page with the information… I would ask that you continue by clicking the “More” tag below.

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Backing up, and the joys of computer ownership.Read More »

Asking for your patience.

 

Please continue to bear with me.  I have some yummy recipes, LOTS of knitting, and some fun homeschool crafts and books we’ve been exploring that I am excited about sharing, but we’ve all been under the weather, my youngest has been quite ill and we are trying to buy our first house this week.  Posting may be infrequent for a few weeks, but I hope to be back to regular posting soon.  I hope you are surviving February and enjoying the lovely, talented women (and a few men) that have blogs I have linked to in my sidebar.

Apologies

My apologies on the recent lack of updates.  We’ve been struck by chest cold after tummy bug after chest cold.  Also, my card reader decided to up and die on me, so I can’t upload any photos.  And we’re in the middle of house hunting.  Life is kinda crazy, to say the least.

  I hope to have us all well and my gadgets cooperating and get back to posting very VERY soon.

Sanibel

My favorite vacation desination – the beautiful sandy beaches of Sanibel, FL.  The shelling is the best in the world, and the water is clear and warm. 

 

We spent our time making a “beach fairy sand castle”, collecting sea shells, watching shorebirds.  The girls also went kite flying with their Grandpa.  

Wishing you a day just as sun-filled and relaxing.

Little Things

Some little things that have added beauty to my day:

A handmade, fair trade leather ring from 10,000 Villages here in Ft. Myers.

A startling little pitcher plant growing right outside my parents’ front door.

 

And most of all, a teensy fairy that Little Hen made for me.

Six

 

 

My apologies for the long absence.  We are settled in Florida and have been far too busy enjoying the warm, sunny weather and swimming in the pool to be on the computer.

We also celebrated my oldest daughter’s 6th birthday.  Her auntie’s birthday is two days before, so we had a quiet little joint celebration – Little Hen had angel food cake, and my sister had  mayonaise cake, and we all had a really nice evening.   

Happy birthday,  Little Hen.  Not so little anymore.  You can read and write, tie your shoes, scramble your own eggs, and you have such big ideas and creations.  Don’t grow up too fast, kiddo. 

Holly Berries

A few more shots from Monday’s card making session.  I kept the holly card for myself.  I couldn’t help it, I love holly, The Holly and The Ivy  is my favorite Christmas song, and this card was too darn cute with the spelling and all.

Local Harvest, Local Catch

We used to live on the Oregon Coast, and the girls were used to enjoying dinners of fresh caught salmon or steelhead, and sometimes even elk.  Now that we’ve moved back to the city, those days seem long gone.  The girls were very happy when, last evening, my hubby brought home some freshly smoked, locally caught, NW salmon from one of his students.   

Dinner was almost 100% locally produced – the exception being the rice, which was grown in California (so, at least it was all West Coast produced).  We had steamed rice, topped with tomatoes and peas (from our garden), and local shallots sauteed in butter.  A nice side of delicious smoked salmon rounded out the meal.  Easy, tasty, healthy, local(ish), all in one meal.

Other folks striving to eat local  – Mama Urchin,  Little Home Blessings, bottomland, and another Portlander – Enviromom.

Blow out the candles on your birthday…pie?

Yesterday was my sweet hubby’s birthday!!  He had requested a beef pot roast with carrots, onion, potatoes (my mom’s recipe, it’s unbelieveably simple and ridiculously tasty) and a side of egg noodles for his birthday dinner (This is a real treat – we only eat meat about one or two days a month, and then usually only a small portion). 

We are having cake later today with his family, so I made him a cashew pie (his favorite) for dessert.  Firecracker helped roll out the dough and she did the edging of the crust with a fork all by herself. 

Larksong’s Cashew Pie

One pie crust (see the recipe I use here), rolled out and chilled.

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup dark Karo corn syrup (believe me, it’s much better with dark instead of light)

1/2 tsp Penzeys sweet curry powder if you’re feeling brave  or 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup salted, roasted cashews

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Beat first five ingredients until well blended.  Gently stir in cashews.  Pour into prepared pie shell and bake for 50-55 min. or until pie is set and cashews are golden brown.  Let cool and serve with ice cream. (If you add the curry powder, consider serving with cinnamon ice cream if you can find it.  It’s a yummy combination.)

Happy 33rd birthday, Hubby!!  We love you very very much!

Grosgrain Giveaway – This dress is gorgeous!!

Grosgrain is having yet another giveaway – this time the dress is just beyond spectacular!  I can’t believe the amazing craftstmanship in this dress (i mean, just look at it!)!  check out the giveaway here.

A Peaceful Moment

Tuesdays lately are a mad dash for us – mornings are coffee out with ladies from church or homeschool group for art-day.  Then, a frantic dash home for lunch, homeschool, the usual housework, and a rush to bake something for our book study at a friend’s house in the evening.  After that, it’s a quick dinner, read the chapter for tonight’s study (because I forgot to read it earlier), a quick bath for the children, and then off to the study. 

This afternoon, I had a lot on my mind and a lot to do, but Firecracker asked that I make a pot of tea.  I was feeling like afternoon tea was just one more thing to tack on the to-do list for today, and I’d just as soon skip it.  But, after some consideration and the girls insistence, I made a quick pot of tea, got out the fall tea cups, cut some squash bread, and we all enjoyed 20 minutes of peaceful tea-sipping in the afternoon sunshine. 

Sometimes children have the wisdom to see what we adults can’t grasp -our little tea party was just the pause we all needed in the midst of our hectic day.

Not too much

I spent the day sick in bed, snuggled up with Tum-Tum, but Hubby and the girls went out to rake leaves and pine needles in the autumn sunshine, and then buy pumpkins for pumpkin butter  and more fall baking later this week. 

DawnatHome and SouleMama had autumn poetry on their minds the past few days, and so have we at our little home school. The girls have especially loved having me read this one over and over:

How the Leaves Came Down

by Susan Coolidge

“I’ll tell you how the leaves came down,”
The great tree to his children said,
“You’re getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown,
Yes, very sleepy, little Red.
It is quite time to go to bed.”

“Ah!” begged each silly, pouting leaf,
“Let us a little longer stay;
Dear Father Tree, behold our grief;
Tis such a very pleasant day
We do not want to go away.”

So, for just one more merry day
To the great tree the leaflets clung,
Frolicked and danced, and had their way,
Upon the autumn breezes swung,
Whispering all their sports among,–

“Perhaps the great tree will forget,
And let us stay until the spring,
If we all beg, and coax, and fret.”
But the great tree did no such thing;
He smiled to hear their whispering.

“Come, children, all to bed,” he cried;
And ere the leaves could urge their prayer,
He shook his head, and far and wide,
Fluttering and rustling everywhere,
Down sped the leaflets through the air.

I saw them; on the ground they lay,
Golden and red, a huddled swarm,
Waiting till one from far away,
White bedclothes heaped upon her arm,
Should come to wrap them safe and warm.

The great bare tree looked down and smiled,
“Good-night, dear little leaves,” he said.
And from below each sleepy child
Replied, “Good-night,” and murmured,
“It is so nice to go to bed!”

 

Oh, and Grosgrain is having a wonderful giveaway of yet another beautifully crafted girl’s fancy dress.  The contest is here if your’e interested.  Firecracker would LOVE this outfit, so fingers crossed.

Prairie Girls at the Farmers Market

The prairie girls make another appearance – at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market.  This time, they went for a more bohemian look, and were determined to sling their babies in some Indian scarves. 

We grow most of our own veggies, especially fall ones (kale, beets, broccoli, chard, rutabega, peas, potatoes, turnips, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots…you get the picture), but we do run to the farmer’s market for fruit and things I haven’t managed to put in the garden.  This trip was for butternut and acorn squash, and the last of the peaches for the year. 

My son is an addict.

Tum Tum is the sweetest, easiet baby I could ever ask for.  If all babies were like him, everyone would want 15 kids!  Unfortunately, as of late, he seems to be developing a bad bad bad habit. 

Now, I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was a thumb sucker, and my parents had a terrible time breaking me of the habit.  The girls never sucked their thumbs, their fingers, a pacifier, or had a security blanket.  I’m not sure how to handle Mr. Happy Finger Sucker.  Any advice?

Busy Days, Simple Dinners

Stirring Carrots into Black Bean Stew
Stirring Carrots into Black Bean Stew

For homeschool, we are exploring the letter “B” this week and butterfly crafts, blowing bubbles, beekeeping books, and butter making abound.   Little Hen suggested that we bake Banana Bread this morning.  I thought a simple dinner of the bread served next to Black Beans with carrots and Brown rice would round out the B theme nicely.  I love the nutty, rich smell of black beans cooking on the stove. 

Simple Banana Bread

Simple Banana Bread by Larksong

2 large bananas, mashed

3/4 C sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 C unbleached flour

1/2 C whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Butter a 9×5 loaf pan and preheat oven to 350F

Beat bananas, sugar, butter, eggs in a large bowl.  In a smaller bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Gentle stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix.  Pour into prepared pan and bake until knife inserted into the middle comes out clean (about 55 minutes).  Invert and let cool on a rack.  Serve with Black bean stew for dinner, or with peanut butter for a snack!

What to do with all those tomatoes??

Here in Pacific Nortwest, our tomatoes aren’t usually ready until September.  I’ve been reading other ladies’ blogs with so much envy as they enjoy salsa, tomato salad, panzanella, fresh pasta sauce.  Now my beefsteaks are ready, and I’ve been enjoying fresh tomato salad almost every day.  I have Better Boys and Brandywines from my own garden, and Green Zebras and Black Krim’s from a fried.  Throw in a few yellow beefsteaks from my sister and some cherry tomatoes, and i’m in heaven.

Easy Tomato Salad

Handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

5 large beefsteak tomatoes, cubed

1/4 lb mozarella, cubed

Handful of kalamata olives ( pits removed)

Italian salad dressing to coat.

Toss together and enjoy immediately.

Hoarding Tea Cups

I have a weakness for worn old tea cups that no one else wants, especially those with fading designs or teensy chips in the rim.  When i have a cup of tea in one of those cups, I think about what conversations they must have overheard or the comfort they brought on a chilly afternoon.  There’s a special beauty in their aged state and imperfection.

 Last week i scored some great tea cups at my local thrift store.  The tea cups were each 50 cents and their mix-n-match saucers were a quarter each!  They’ll enjoy a nice new life at my house – they won’t be forgotten here just because they’re well-loved.

Prairie Girls

 

 

Firecracker and Little Hen’s fascination with pioneers and prairie girls began last year when our homeschool group learned about the Oregon Trail for our Oregon History Days.  But lately, their interest in the subject has really blossomed as we read the Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Firecracker wears her bonnet everywhere, and Little Hen is begging me to sew a big, twirly calico prairie skirt. 

I forgot how wonderful the Little House books are.  How much they define an important part of childhood, especially for little girls who want to step into Laura’s life.  It’s even more magical reading them this time, enjoying the stories and examining the history with my girls.  Thank you, Marcela from unschooling group, for recommending them!

Grosgrain’s Giveaway

Check out Grosgrain’s giveaway here – it’s an uber-cute cowgirl outfit.  Firecracker’s “what i want to be when i grow up” of the moment is a horsefarmer/cowgirl.  Her birthday is on Halloween, and she would love love love to unwrap this little goodie and wear it trick-or-treating!  Fingers crossed!

Summer’s End

Little Hen picks peaches
Little Hen picks peaches

Sigh…we had such a beautiful summer.  Today was the first day it actually felt like autumn here in the Pacific Northwest, and i’m a little sad to see days of peach picking and making raspberry jam come to an end. 

Peach-raspberry pie with oatmeal crumb topping
Peach-raspberry pie with oatmeal crumb topping

I’ll just try to look forward to the pear butter, bread baking, and hours and hours of knitting that the short, dark, rainy days to come will allow.

Welcome to Lark Song Knits

Hello, and welcome to my blog.  i’m a knitting-obsessed homeschooling mother of 3 beautiful little children who hopes to count her blessings by using this blog to linger in the joyful, hopeful moments of each day.  Thank you for stopping by.