• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

small things

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Inspiration
  • F.A.Q.
  • Ravelry
  • Our Handmade Shop
  • Yarn Along

old tricks, new tricks

Beatrix is up to her old tricks.  The blue washed off, but then last night just before bed she appeared with a black beard and moustache-io (as she called it).  She also took a red crayon to the grout in the kitchen.  I think she’s getting stir crazy and we are only one month into winter.

I already mentioned that I need a haircut, and Beatrix is considering a bob (like this, and maybe with bangs again?) so I called today to make appointments for us with the girl who has been cutting my hair for about four years.  I’ve never been 100% happy with my cuts, but I think that’s more about my hair than the stylist.  Anyway, I was told that she is GONE.  GONE!  They offered to set me up with someone else, but no way.  After hanging up and explaining why I didn’t make our appointments, Beatrix told me that I should “try new people just like you should try new foods.”

Job has become a nonstop drooler.  I’ve never had a baby drool so much and so early.  I have to keep a bib on him all the time.  It also appears that he may become a thumb sucker.  I’ve never had a thumb sucker before either and I guess it’s not generally considered a good thing, but it’s so cute when he puts his little thumb in his mouth and curls that first finger over his nose.

Most of us have been struck with colds this week, even little Job, although he is handling it well.  My Mountain Rose order arrived just in time with dried elderberries for making elderberry syrup.  It’s so easy and economical to make your own (this recipe), and really necessary if you are giving it to a large houseful of sick people and don’t want to go broke buying bottles of it.

I’ve made several batches of Amanda’s leftover oatmeal muffins recently, substituting gluten free flour and adding cranberries, apples, walnuts and raisins.  They’re good!

I also braved a little baking with Silas and Beatrix yesterday.  They needed an afternoon snack and I wanted to make something yummy, but not super sugary and they were in the mood for adding ingredients.  We ended up making carob oatmeal cookies.  The result was a chewy, not too sweet cookie that my kids all loved.  I really like carob, always have because my mom fed it to me instead of cocoa when I was little.  My kids like it too, despite the fact that they are no strangers to chocolate.  Anyway, I guess you could substitute cocoa if you don’t like carob.

Carob Oatmeal Cookies:  1 1/3 cup flour (we used a gluten free flour mix), 1/2 cup sugar (we used sucanat), 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup carob powder, 2 tsp. baking powder, 2 eggs beaten, 1/4 cup milk or water, 2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter.  Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl, mix wet ingredients in another bowl, adding the melted/cooled butter last.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix.  Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Makes about two dozen cookies.

p.s.  Silas’ sweater is this one.

(the Mountain Rose links are affiliate links)

Related Posts

  • Shawl + StrawberriesShawl + Strawberries
  • small thingssmall things
  • Keeping them fed (black bean soup recipe)Keeping them fed (black bean soup recipe)
  • when it snows it snows {and my risotto recipe}when it snows it snows {and my risotto recipe}
  • Lunch Rotation and Checklists (and a little recipe)Lunch Rotation and Checklists (and a little recipe)
  • My favorite pieMy favorite pie

Filed Under: daily life, gluten free recipe, my children, recipes · · 57 Comments

Ginny

I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here...}

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tara says

    February 6, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    Job looks so much like Johnny!!

    Reply
  2. Noeh says

    January 31, 2014 at 5:07 am

    Hello Ginny!
    I greet you from Hungary, the origin-country of your ordered elderberries! Do you know where it is? A little country with 10 million inhabitants in the heart of the Carpathian mountains.
    I’m a permanent reader of your great blog, thank you for the photos, recipes, knitwear and everything. It does inspire me in our everyday family life with my great husband, 4 daughters, 2 cats.
    Thank you! Have a lot of healing hungarian elderberry syrup!
    Noeh

    Reply
  3. stephinie says

    January 29, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    The drooling made me giggle. My last was the same. His big sibling said he was like a snail when he learned to crawl…. leaving a trail wherever he went. They thought this was *so* funny.
    So good that you are making elder syrup. It’s so much more economical to diy!! Did you see our recipe? I love the ginger in it. My youngest doesn’t love it so much, but my other three do. He still drinks it. He says to me “mom, your syrup is weird. but my body tells me i like it. so i just drink it anyway.” I guess that’s a compliment? Here is a link to our recipe if you want to take a peek : http://www.gypsyforest.com/welcome_to_gypsy_forest/2013/12/our-elderberry-syrup.html
    xo~
    s

    Reply
  4. Katharina says

    January 29, 2014 at 7:38 am

    As usual so cute pictures! My brother was a drooling baby too. My mum always dressed him with a big army kershief from my dad when at home and a nice colorful bandana around the neck when we went out rather than a bib. It means a big more cloths around the neck to drool through and it keeps the neck warm in winter.

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    January 28, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    I just wanted to drop by and tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I check back often and look forward to your adventures in homeschooling. I am going to start homeschooling my little boy next year and my baby is the same age as your Job. My baby is quite the drooler already and also a thumb sucker. He was 10 lbs 15 ozs at birth so I certainly identified with your tough labor as well. Thank you for being an encouragement to everyone who comes across your blog.

    Reply
  6. Annie says

    January 27, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    We have been taking elderberry syrup in my house for colds this week. Do you give it to the baby? My twins are four months old and I can’t seem to find any information about giving it to infants. My syrup is honey free but I’m still wondering about usage, dosage etc? Thanks,

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 10:15 pm

      No, I don’t give him any. I take an elderberry supplement myself though, and hopefully he gets some benefit from that!

      Reply
  7. San says

    January 27, 2014 at 12:24 am

    I always love your hair! Funny how we are never satisfied with what has been given to us, I gave wavy hair and straighten it with flat irons!

    One of mine was a thumb sucker and grew out of it buy the time she was three and as for Bea she is a scamp! Mind you a very wise one, I loved her rendition of hairdressers and new foods, so funny.

    San x

    Reply
  8. Andree says

    January 26, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    Oh how I’ve missed photos of Beatrice’s beautifully decorated face and arms! She is fantastic!

    Reply
  9. Heather@To Sow a Seed says

    January 26, 2014 at 8:35 am

    I *know* we’re supposed to dread thumb sucking, but in truth, my 6th little one did it and he was such a content baby! He loved people watching, and was so amazingly serene and able to handle the inevitable chaos of large family living. He also broke the habit quite easily nearly on his own when he was 3.5. My two babes since have not been nearly so into self soothing, and people are always shocked when I tell them that I *wish* they sucked their thumbs!

    Reply
  10. Wendy says

    January 25, 2014 at 11:41 pm

    Oh my, does Job ever look like Jonny in that picture! Love the wisdom that Beatrix offers up (new foods, new people); when I couldn’t find something the other day, my five year old told me that I “just need to look more carefully” 🙂

    Elderberry syrup, yes–have been meaning to do something about that; thanks for linking to the recipe!

    Reply
  11. Emily says

    January 25, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    Baby Job looks so wise for his years in that pic!

    Reply
  12. Janet R says

    January 25, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    I wouldn’t worry about the thumb-sucking… it’s just a natural self-comfort and he’ll grow out of it when he needs to! 🙂 I so enjoy your photos of your family!

    Reply
  13. erin says

    January 25, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    Thanks for the recipes and website. Is that a percolator you use? For coffee, hot water, or both? Plug-in or stove-top? Tia.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 6:43 pm

      It’s a stovetop percolator that we use for coffee. We aren’t every day coffee drinkers–well actually I gave it up entirely after Job was born, and the percolator works well for us.

      Reply
      • Erin says

        January 28, 2014 at 8:53 pm

        Thanks, Ginny. I’ve been looking for an electric tea kettle that is all-metal inside. It’s been an impossible pursuit, so far! I’ve considered using a percolator.

        Reply
  14. melanie says

    January 25, 2014 at 9:21 am

    The muffins look so good! yum 🙂 x

    Reply
  15. Nahuatl Vargas says

    January 25, 2014 at 8:52 am

    Love the pictures.

    Reply
  16. Feather says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    Thanks for the receipes. The muffins are just what we need this weekend. My daughter is in her second year of art school now, and she still always has ink all over her hands and face. Enjoy it!

    Reply
  17. Stephanie says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    Thank you for the elderberry recipe link. Also, which gluten free flour do you use? I have a child with a severe wheat allergy and I haven’t lucked upon a flour she likes yet.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 6:44 pm

      I have been experimenting lately with Namaste gluten free flour (found it at Costco) with mixed results, and sometimes I make my own mixes using recipes from gluten free cookbooks.

      Reply
  18. Susan says

    January 24, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    I’ve been feeling a little discontented today thinking I “should” be able to keep up with child “projects”, feeling the lack of control.:) Your Beatrix story reminds me this is normal, life is good…. children are a blessing. I’m not sure you felt that the red crayon in the grout was a blessing… but I did:) Blessings. You have a precious family. I so appreciate you sharing your life!

    Reply
  19. Karen says

    January 24, 2014 at 7:23 pm

    i’m so happy to see a recipe for homemade elderberry syrup. $25 for a tiny bottle, though effective, is too much! i will certainly look into doing it your way. maybe 1/2 cup honey …. good honey is expensive and i use it in nearly everything it seems! the muffins look YUM> what GF flour are you using? i don’t need to be GF but sometimes I like to eat less grains. I don’t like most GF flours i’ve tried.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 6:45 pm

      I have been experimenting lately with Namaste gluten free flour (found it at Costco) with mixed results.

      Reply
  20. Ruby says

    January 24, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    I was an incessant thumb-sucker as a child through first grade. My mouth turned out fine, although I do still find myself with a pinky finger in the side of my cheek when I’m reading or concentrating….I also drool when I sleep, which is quite embarrassing as an adult, I guess! I think little ones who suck their thumb are just naturally soothing themselves & what can be wrong with that? 🙂 Love the photo of the kiddos outside building in the snow.

    Reply
  21. Megan says

    January 24, 2014 at 5:41 pm

    Silas’ sweater is just adorable!

    My two year old has been coloring on anything he chooses lately. Thank the Lord no one leaves permanent markers laying around!

    Reply
  22. CathieJ says

    January 24, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Don’t worry about the thumb sucker. He is comforting himself and will probably grow out of it. I had 1 1/2 pacifier suckers. The 1/2 is because my daughter only used it because her big brother did. The dentist told my son at age 3 that he had to stop and that was that. No more “binkies” in the family. My daughter had to be just like her brother. Incidently, Job is adorable.

    Reply
  23. Stephanie says

    January 24, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    Everyone looks great in their sweaters and you have a color theme going on between the 3 of you. 😉 I don’t make oatmeal much, but the muffins sound good. I’m slightly dreading the messy toddler days ahead, sigh. (sjn821)

    Reply
  24. Trista says

    January 24, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Job looks so much like his daddy! Are you going to be getting that Polar Vortex weather? It seems like where you are the winters are fairly mild and end early.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 6:46 pm

      Yes, we have the polar vortex weather!! I hate it!!!! Tomorrow is going to be really cold, but today we had a mild day in the 40s. So it was nice to have a break from the cold!

      Reply
  25. Nicole says

    January 24, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    I totally understand about hairdressers, I moved from VA to Colorado about a year ago. I had one in VA and loved her, she knew what I want, she was perfect. So I haven’t had a haircut in about a year…

    Reply
  26. Linda says

    January 24, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    Oh the fun times. Inhale them and go slowly for one day they will all be gone. The wet snow clothes, the messy, dirty hands and silly mustache-ios. You are living in the best of times.

    Reply
  27. Marie says

    January 24, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Col photos, cheers Marie

    Reply
  28. Melanie says

    January 24, 2014 at 11:36 am

    what are your favorite gluten-free flours. We are still pretty new to gluten-free and I will take any advice! We are still using spelt for our sourdough bread, which doesn’t seem to bother anybody. I use the same recipe for Elderberry Syrup as well. I don’t use the whole cup of honey either. This year I added a little ACV to have it last longer and add extra health benefits.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 6:50 pm

      I let my spelt sourdough starter die around the time Job was born 🙁 I need to start another. I have been experimenting lately with Namaste gluten free flour (found it at Costco) with mixed results. I’ve also used Pamela’s mix. There are some good recipes for basic mixes in a couple of cookbooks such as Gluten Free Baking Classics, and Cooking for Isaiah. I have a hard time with it because we weren’t eaters of white flour much before eliminating gluten for myself and my son Seth, but gluten free flours seem just as bad for you!

      Reply
      • Melanie says

        February 2, 2014 at 7:01 pm

        the same here. We weren’t eating much white flour as well. I haven’t found a super great mix yet, that’s why I thought I ask. I’ve made my own out of sorghum, brown rice, tapioca starch and sweet potato flour. We really like buckwheat, millet, quinoa, amaranth, sorghum and coconut flour. I try not to use to many starches, but if I do I use either arrowroot powder, tapioca or sweet potato flour. Let me know how you like the Costco mix. I might buy some. We will be going overseas for 6 weeks and I thought, I’ll grab the Namaste gluten free flour mix to take with me. Have you tried Bob’s Red Mill? If yes, do you like it better than Pamela’s? Thanks so much for your input!

        Reply
        • Ginny says

          February 2, 2014 at 8:35 pm

          I think the Bob’s Red Mill tastes bad–too strongly of chickpea flour. I don’t like the flavor of it at all 🙁 I think it’s really important with the Namaste that you don’t over mix it. It tends to produce gummy baked goods if you do.

          Reply
          • Melanie says

            February 6, 2014 at 10:31 am

            thanks for your the info!

  29. meghann says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:44 am

    I love that Beatrix is still up to her old tricks. Not that you have to clean it up, mind, but it warms my heart a bit to see her doing the same crazy things Julia does. If they’re not age-appropriate, at least there is another girl her age who does them… Have a lovely weekend! xo

    Reply
  30. Leanne New Zealand. says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:34 am

    I “GET” why you don;t want to try new hairdresser peoples!
    I’ve such a soft spot for your Beatrix.
    Love Leanne

    Reply
  31. Elizabeth says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:14 am

    love these pictures! I was a long time thumb sucker… like for sure after age 7!! My parents were always trying to get me to stop… perhaps it made me more persistent instead? I was born with small teeth that never needed any extra dental work… so I guess I would not be overly worried… 🙂

    It is hard to be stir crazy; and all with colds 🙁 so sorry for this. I will light a candle for you all today in my kitchen icon (and plants) shelf!

    I always love reading your updates! Blessings to you!!!

    Reply
  32. Rachel Marie says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:44 am

    oh- and I wondered the same thing about silas’ sweater.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 24, 2014 at 9:48 am

      It’s this one: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/GinnySheller/fishermans-pullover 🙂

      Reply
  33. Rachel Marie says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:43 am

    thumb sucking is so cute!! we had one thumb sucker and a finger sucker and several paci suckers. our youngest doesn’t suck anything and he is our LOUDEST baby. some would say it’s because he’s just trying to be heard around here, but i think it’s because he wants his mouth to be busy with something and he’d rather yell than suck. we sure did try to get him to take a paci or a thumb or something. in fact once in awhile he finds a paci and kind of plays with sucking on it and it is so cute 🙂 we’ve only had a hard time with one of our kids giving up the sucking- she’s 8 and STILL sucks her finger in her sleep sometimes – not so cute anymore!

    for the cookies would you use the same amount of cocoa as the carob?

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 24, 2014 at 9:49 am

      I’m not sure about the cocoa/carob conversion, but I would probably try the same amount.

      Reply
  34. jennifer says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:13 am

    That is the same recipe we use and it is great, but so darn sweet! I have been adding echinacea root and astragulus this winter for added immune boosters, it changed the taste slightly but has been helpful (I think).

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 24, 2014 at 9:50 am

      That’s funny-I must not have added the full amount of honey (didn’t really measure) because the reason my kids like it is that it isn’t as sweet as the store bought stuff!

      Reply
  35. Donna says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:09 am

    I love how the inner artist is Beatrix comes out! If it makes you feel any better I was a thumb sucker. For a long time (till around 4 years old) too. I didn’t end up with crooked teeth or need braces. My brother, who never sucked his thumb, is the one who needed braces! Guess you’ll be knitting up lots of bibs for Job. Enjoy your weekend!

    Reply
  36. Sara McD says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:06 am

    Ginny, I think your reason for liking carob is funny since I dislike it because my mother fed it to me as a child. I used to have a hard time with tofu for the same reason, but I’m getting over it. I like cous cous now, but I had to do some mental hurdles to get to that point. My mom tried so hard to feed me healthy food but I was always sneaking out and buying Doritos and those little foil-capped plastic bottles of colored sugar water.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 27, 2014 at 6:51 pm

      During my middle school years, I used to walk to the gas station near our house and buy a Milky Way candy bar everyday 🙂

      Reply
  37. Elissa says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:01 am

    Two of my five became thumb-suckers, much to my chagrin, having always been made to feel that it was a negative habit. It certainly allowed them to become good sleepers and self-soothers early on, but we did have to help coax the out of the habit around age 6. Both only sucked their thumbs when they had their teddy-bears, their associated sleep item in tow. I would say they’re no worse for the wear, and have also suffered no negative dental consequences either, which I was terribly concerned about.

    Reply
  38. Emily says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:00 am

    Thanks for the elderberry syrup recipe. I have been wanting to make my own for quite some time now…you have inspired me to just do it. I need to be ready for when the winter colds and viruses hit our household. I hope you are all feeling better soon.

    Reply
  39. karen says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:48 am

    Beatrix will be an artist one day, just you wait and see! Poor Job with the drooling, my second child started teething very very early as well as cut teeth at 5 months. Stay warm!

    Reply
  40. Ramona says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:30 am

    what is Silas wearing? (I mean, what pattern is the green sweater?) thank you!

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 24, 2014 at 9:50 am

      He’s wearing Bea’s old Fisherman’s pullover: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/GinnySheller/fishermans-pullover. 🙂

      Reply
  41. harleygirl says

    January 24, 2014 at 7:48 am

    That’s the exact recipe I used for my elderberry syrup and I thought it was too sweet. What do you think of it? I may try less honey next time.

    Reply
    • Ginny says

      January 24, 2014 at 9:51 am

      Ours isn’t very sweet, and that’s why my kids prefer it to the store bought stuff that they find too sweet. I guess I didn’t add a full cup of honey? I didn’t really measure.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Rachel Marie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

20131220-DSC_2160

Get peace, beauty & goodness delivered to your inbox

Sign Up for Emails

Hello! My name is Ginny. I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here…}

Small Things Sponsors

Little Spruce Organics naturally dyed yarn and fiber gifts wooden drying racks natural toys hand painted wood figures handmade wooden buttons
Join us the first Wednesday of every month!

Advent and Christmas reading

Footer

I write about

Archives

Looking for something?

Translate

Disclosure

I often link to resources that I and my family personally use and recommend. I participate in the Amazon associates program and if you enter Amazon.com through my blog and then make a purchase, I receive a small percentage of the sale. I never recommend a product or resource for the sole purpose of being compensated financially. If I write that we use or love something, you can trust that we do.

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2019 Small Things · Designed with Jeni @ The Blog Maven

»
«