2 Weeks Left

Went to the doctor yesterday. Everything looks good. On schedule to have a C-Section on July 7th. JRD went to daycare, Daddy Paul is at "the office" (as she puts it), and Mama Nikki has been in a two day workshop on blogging. Hence, the new blog! So besides this big belly I'm lugging around all the time, the other things that we've been busy with include~

*family "Fun Fest" last weekend with our friends

*some sewing (clothes for JRD and gifts for a few friends)

*baking bread and pizza (based on Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day) SO GOOD!

*reading (lots of "wheels on the bus" with J, Daddy Paul is reading magazines and trying to finish T.Moss's book, and Mama Nikki is mainly reading Motherkind by Jayne Anne Phillips - a Literary Sojourn author and reviewing some of our newborn books to prepare for the new baby)

Also, made my favorite recipe for granola that I discovered and tweaked in May -

Best Granola Ever.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil

2 Tbs. water

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/3-1/2 cup maple syrup

4 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup wheat germ (optional)

4 Tbs. brown sugar (optional)

1/2 tsp. salt

4 Tbs. ground flaxseed

2/3 cup coconut shavings

2/3 cup pumpkin seeds (sunflower seeds can be substituted)

2/3 cup almonds (chopped or whole)

1/2 cup dried fruit of your choice

Adjust oven racks to middle positions. Preheat to 275 degrees. Coat two metal cookie sheets with cooking spray or oil and set aside. Bring oil, syrup, cinnamon, water, brown sugar to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Mix oats through almonds in a large bowl. Pour oil/maple syrup mixture over oat mixture and stir to combine. Add all extra goodies to the mix at this time. Stir well. Pour mixture onto two prepared cookie sheets. Working a handful at a time, squeeze granola to form small clumps - if you can. Bake for 30 minutes. Stir and continue to bake until golden brown, about 5-15 minutes longer. Watch this closely - ovens vary widely. Let thoroughly cool. Granola can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Enjoy! Makes (roughly) 2 quarts.