Apple Brown Betty

Mollie was the little chef yesterday and she made Apple Brown Betty. I had a hankerin' for this simple dessert after my friend, Amanda and I reminisced about Flintlock Camp last week. Flintlock was the summer camp I went to every year from the time I was seven years old until I was fifteen. My big sister and I went together for several of those years and we would stay an entire month. Back then, in the early 80's there was no email or Internet and the only contact we were allowed to have with our family was through snail mail. Reading those old letters is such a fun thing to do. I'll post some of them when I get a chance. We were never homesick, although I always wrote my mother saying I was. I guess I wanted her to know I missed her. Flintlock was not a cushy camp. It was rugged as possible. We slept in platform tents in the middle of the woods on bunk beds with 6 fellow tent mates and one counselor. We fell asleep each night to the sound of crickets and frogs. We woke when our eyes filled with the sunrise and the sound of Revel re on the bugle. All 56 or so campers would head down to the Quiet Place by the lake and sit on wooden benches while the camp director named Bootie would read an inspiring devotional. Then we would jump in the lake for a quick dip called the Polar Bear Club. I do not know to this day a better way of starting one's day than this. After breakfast and tent inspections, we would spend the entire day doing horseback riding, arts and crafts, singing, playing games, going on hikes, learning about nature, and swimming. After lunch, we would have rest hour. The afternoons were just as busy and fun filled as the mornings and then we would all gather in the mess hall for supper. The food at Flintlock was delicious. I am not sure if it was because we were all hungry but everyone ate whatever was served. We did not have a canteen or snacks unless you found some berries or crab apples around the barn to pick. At supper, there was always a yummy dessert. My favorite was Apple Brown Betty. I am not sure what the Flintlock Recipe was, but I tried to make it from the memory of the taste and I checked out a few recipes in some old cookbooks. I don't remember Flintlock's having oatmeal in it, but several recipes I read included it. Any way, give it a try and enjoy!
Ingredients: 6 slices whole wheat bread cut crusts off and tear into bite size pieces, 3 Granny Smith Apples (peeled and sliced thinly), 1 1/2 Cups dark brown sugar, 1 stick of real butter (salted) Directions: preheat oven to 375. Grease a baking dish with butter (we used a 9 inch pie dish). Layer bread pieces, apples, and brown sugar, repeat layers until all ingredients are used. We made 3 layers. Then place pads of butter all over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes or until apples are fork tender. Serve with vanilla icecream or whip cream.

Beach Trip 2010

During our recent trip to Fripp Island, I didn't have any urges to jump out of a moving vehicle or get divorced, so, that must mean this trip was better than the trip we went on to St. Simons.

You see, when we had our car accident back in September, our portable DVD players got broken. I decided not to replace them having the mindset of one of those wonderful mothers who don't have television and help their children grow creatively. And having the mindset that my children are extraordinary children, they know how to behave in the minivan even during long journeys.

"Honey, do you want to replace the DVD player before our trip?" Adrian asked.

"Oh, heavens no, sweetie! We'll play 20 questions and I know like over 500 folk songs we can sing. Don't you worry, we'll pass the time doing math fact quizzes, the alphabet game and I'll even tell some of my famous funny stories!" I explained.

"Ok, whatever you say." Adrian noted.

"Don't worry, everything will be just fine." I assured him.

Well, scroll down to the Spring Break post and you can read all about that infamous road trip if you must. Or you can take my word for it that traveling with 7 people for 8 hours is utterly and completely hell. It is like getting a root canal because the little high pitched squeals they let out when their sister is touching them actually shoots nerve pain right up to your freakin' brain!

Well, as we were preparing for our next journey, Adrian came up to me as I was sorting through every one's belongings, (ie sniffing clothes to find out if they were too dirty to pack, cause let's face it, I do too much laundry as it is and suffer from carpal tunnel from pushing the start button 5 times a day) he gave me a hug, looked into my eyes and said,

"Baby doll, it is almost your birthday and I know you know 500 folk songs, but I would like to be friends with you this trip and I don't want to be dropping you off at a mental institution on the way there, and I think you are getting PMS, so I believe with my whole heart that we NEED a portable DVD player. Can we get one? Please?"

"Heck yes!"

So, we went to Wally World and spent $165.00 which practically pays for itself if you figure in the cost of sedating everyone for 7 hours there and 7 hours back.

This time, I also bribed with candy. We ate lots of candy on the way there. I discovered coconut M&Ms and I had an epiphany while I ate them.

Once we got to the beach house, we were greeted by my sisters and my brothers-in-law, my Mama, and my niece and nephew, AND we were reunited with our teenagers, Jolie and Sydney who had gone to Fripp the week before with my mother and were eagerly awaiting us to join them (not.) It was a sweet family reunion and I was so happy to be able to hug all my loved ones at the same time. And even though it made us all miss Boompa even more than usual, which is a whole bunch, being with everyone at this special place made me feel like he was enjoying it too. He would be happy we were at Fripp-his favorite place. And I think he would be happy we were all brave enough to go knowing our hearts would break missing him. I did little things for him in case he was watching. I rode some waves. I played in the sand without freaking out, throwing my sensory issues to the wind. We told lots of Boompa stories to the kids so they will always know how funny he was and how amazing he was.

The next morning, Adrian, Fischer, Madison, Jack, and Jennifer left bright and early to get on a chartered boat to go on a deep sea fishing adventure! Fischer caught a barracuda bigger than him! He also caught shark and lots of bait fish. In fact, he caught the black bass which he then used as bait for the barracuda. The other fishermen caught things too but they mostly let Fischer have the experience of a life time. Anyone who knows our little 9 year old knows what a fisherman he is. He didn't even get sea sick even though the boat ride was apparently choppy.

We celebrated my birthday and I am happy to be 36. I know you shouldn't trust a woman who tells her age, but I just feel like so much is behind me and so much is still ahead of me now. 36 is a pretty darn good age to be. I have grey hairs and the body of a woman who has had five kids and not like the freaky women who have had five kids and still look like they did in high school. I have reached the point in my life where I accept myself. I can look in the mirror and say, I am what I am and it's lovely enough for me.

We ate a lot of delicious food. We all took turns cooking and everyone showed off their skills. We ate some Spanish Mackerel which was caught by Uncle Madison, some shark caught by Fischer, and some crabs caught by Uncle Jack and Sydney. We ate Frogmore Stew (which doesn't involve cooking actual frogs if anyone reading this just gagged.) We ate enchiladas, mama's world famous (at least it should be) lasagna, and so much more. We even bought the cool cereal variety pack! I'm tellin' you, this was totally awesome. I remember my mother buying the variety pack when we were little and went to Fripp Island! All those cute little boxes filled with sugary sweetness! And if you put it in a bowl with milk, it can still be considered (by some) (me) a healthy breakfast.

We rode bikes, swam, jumped waves, caught sand dollars, found shells, played, read, relaxed, kayaked, observed various wildlife including a scary up close a personal experience with a raccoon, and much, much more.

The trip back home was just as awesome as the one there. All the kids were glued to the DVD player and their mouths were plugged with lollipops and sugar. Adrian and I got to talk the entire way, and by that I mean, having real conversations like normal grown ups get to have. Sometimes we didn't talk at all because sometimes we don't know what to say when we aren't interrupted every five seconds. I may not be a granola mother earth who protects her children from the influences of movies and sugar, but I am sane. And that's all I got to say for now. Peace! (scroll down for pictures)

Fripp Trip

Adrian and the kids on Father's Day

Jolie
Hosford pulling Nicholas

Mollie on the frog

Wo Jo and Mollie

Su Su and Hosford

Nicholas, Wo Jo, Mollie, Sydney and Fischer

Nicholas

I LOVE my sisters!

Mollie

Mollie is the fourth child out of five in this family. She is five years old and just finished kindergarten. She has a way with words and she cracks me up daily. We often comment on "Mollie-isms" but we have to be careful not to encourage her to be funny on purpose. She's just funny when she's being herself not thinking about it. Here are just a few highlights this week.

Fischer: Mollie, do you like Hannah Montana?

Mollie: Well, yes, but you wouldn't understand.

Fischer: Wouldn't understand what?

Mollie: I know you are going to say she is doing bad stuff but just because she's sexy doesn't mean she's not good. Any ways, I like being sexy. It's pretty. And she sings good too.

Fischer: Well, you know she dances on a stripper pole.

Mollie: What's a stripper pole?

Fischer: I am not sure, but I think it's bad.

Mollie: Mom, what's a stripper pole?

Me: Um, well, I think it's just a pole and some dancers swing around it and they take their clothes off.

Fischer: (laughs)

Mollie: Well, I wouldn't do THAT!! That is silly! 'Cause if you are swinging around a pole you could get really hurt. You might fall and then you couldn't be a good singer if you fall down and you'd be all like, 'Ahhh, I am so hurt!' "

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Yesterday, Mollie said her bedtime prayer in a British accent. I asked her afterwards if she thought that was reverent or not and she said (still in the British accent), "Of course it is! Don't be silly."

And I said, "I am not being silly. Talking to God is really sweet and He looks forward to hearing from you every day. He may not understand what you are saying with that accent. I think you should try again and be sincere this time, please."

So, she closed her eyes and was quiet for a minute. Then, she opened them and said, "I hope it is OK with you that I said a silent prayer that time."

"That's fine, honey. Sometimes those are the best ones."

"So, do you think God liked it?"

"I know He did!"

Then she started giggling as I was walking out the door.

I paused outside the room and I heard her say, "Nicholas, she doesn't know I can talk in a British accent in my own head!"

Goodnight, Mollie.

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Mollie woke up this morning and still had the British accent. She came upstairs and asked me, "What is for breakfast, Mother Darling, and can I please have an English Muffin?"

I asked her what the accent was all about and she said she was practicing for when she grows up. So, I asked her what she wants to do when she grows up.

"Well, Mother Darling, (as she sips her orange juice with her pinkie up) I would like to be a ballerina, which you already know, but I just found out yesterday I would like to be in the Army too."

"The Army? Really?"

"Oh, yes, Mother Dear. Yesterday Fischer told me girls can be in the Army and they have a cafeteria there with an ice cream machine and then Daddy told me you can get as much ice cream as you want. So, I am going to go there AND be a ballerina at the same time."

"That makes sense."

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Ohhh, I wish they could stay five years old for longer than one year. It is almost a shame they have to grow up and become people.

P.S. I removed the story about finding hope. I was only leaving it here temporarily for several reasons. Thank you for all the love which has been showering over me this week. I am such a lucky woman!