Heirloom Baking and a Recipe

Grandma taking care of the apples

There is nothing like baking to bring a little joy and warmth to our home but pair it with a baking day with grandma and well, it's just bliss! Today we did just that, we picked my 91 year old grandma up after breakfast and brought her home to bake some pies and teach this mama how to make her butter tarts.

These two will go in the freezer

Sweetpea was thrilled that she was old enough to help with the pies. First thing this morning she was practising - she put on her apron, grabbed an oven mitt and had her own apple pie in the oven before I even drank my tea.

The girls filling their second pie

I have been trying to learn how to make grandma's apple pie for about the last 6 years. I'm not terrible, but I just haven't been able to get the hang of working the dough by myself yet. Today I finally did it (and of course I tasted to be sure and... yep! I did it!).

The girls were excellent pie fillers... although if I'm being perfectly honest Ladybug did more eating than filling but that was to be expected (even Sweetpea told grandma "probably we will give Ladybug a bowl of apples to muck in but I will make the pie).

Ladybug eating more than filling

I've never tried to make butter tarts and I didn't realize how easy they were to make. Now I think I am in trouble! We called them heirloom butter tarts because we had 3 generations baking today and we were using my great grandma's tart cutter (so really, there were 4 generations present). Grandma still has all of her mom's baking supplies and we use them every time.

Great grandma's tart cutter circa 18?? Well over one hundred years old - crazy!

Tarts, pre-filling

Whats that? You want the recipe? Ok, well its a grandma recipe which means there aren't exactly measurements but I'll do my best.

Try to eat just one... I dare you!

Heirloom Butter Tarts
Makes 12 tarts
Using your left over pie dough roll and cut out 12 tart shells and gently fit them into muffin tins
Place 1/2 a crushed pecan and a few raisins in the bottom of shells

In a small mixing bowl melt aprox 2 tbsp of butter, combine with about 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 egg, a dash of vanilla and some corn syrup (there is where the recipe fails me, I used about 2 1/2 large 'globs' - which I think would translate to a bit less than 1/2 a cup). (You could also use fresh maple syrup for maple tarts)

Spoon the syrup mixture into the tart shells. They should be just under 1/2 full.

Bake at 425 for 8 min, then turn down to 375 and bake another 10 min, until shells start to turn golden brown. Allow to cool before removing from tins.

What makes your home warm and cozy? Did you make these butter tarts? Please let me know how they turned out, I love to hear from you!

Right Now

Right now I am loving:

The rising temperatures :: I know it won't last but at least its a sign that spring is coming

Baby toddlers who finally slept through the night last night

The sounds of laughter as the girls play together this morning

The sun that is rising as I drink my morning tea :: As opposed to the darkness that we have gotten so used to

Left over veggie stir fry for lunch today

This is for the Everythingmom.com book club!

The review books that came in the mail this week

What about you? What are you loving today?

Mama, can I help you?

Some days when I am in a hurry, stressed out or simply don't have time the words "mama can I help you" can send chills down my spine. This afternoon I was trying to get a little bit of work done for an upcoming show and Sweet Pea decided that she needed to help me. So she came upstairs with me and I thought, ugh, as long as she plays in her room I can still work. A few minutes passed and she wanted to sit on my lap and sew with me. The mama in me melted and wanted nothing but to scoop this precious little bean up and hug her until tomorrow... however I know that I have a deadline and no product equals no sales.

We made a compromise I grabbed a scrap bin and set it up at the foot of my chair (ahem.... remember I do not have a large sewing space so I'm giving up a lot to loose my foot space!) and she decided to use a manual air pump for an exercise ball as her sewing machine. As I was sewing along I realized that we were working together as she happily chirped along about her work, her "fa-bic" and her "hot sewing machine".

This is the reason that I am working so hard to make beebee buttercup and Bumps to Babies successful. This is the point of being a WAHM. She is one of the reasons that I happily sacrifice sleep, free time and reading for pleasure, for working, website maintenance, and administrative duties! These are the kinds of days that I hope she remembers when she grows up.

Find of a lifetime: The Perfect Picnic Basket

I have been on a quest since I was about 6 years old for the perfect picnic basket. It all started with a green, red and yellow plastic basket with decals on the side. I was so in love with this thing. I used to pack a snack and juice box and take the long, downhill walk to sit under the apple trees in my parents back yard. The trip never lasted long because a) my basket didn't hold much and b) I never thought to bring a blanket and didn't like sitting on the ground with squished apples (in my defence I was only 6!).

Now a little older, and hopefully a little wiser, every time I pass a store in the summer I can't help but look to see if they have picnic baskets. I am fully aware that picnic baskets are not hiding out there, and certainly there have been a lot of great contenders but nothing that really fit the bill and met my expectations. Until today.

Lady Bug and I were walking through downtown Fergus after dropping Sweet Pea off at pre-school and there it was sitting in a window all by itself. My perfect, extra-roomy, insulated, canvas picnic basket! Did you notice the matching cloth napkins? Fabulous! I would have loved to put it to use today but as we were walking into the store it started raining... so another day - soon!

Words cannot even express how excited I am about this here little treasure. The 6 year old in me cannot wait to take my girls out (with a blanket to sit on) and enjoy some meals under an apple tree (or pear tree, maple tree or open field).

Where I've been

I haven't been in this space much the last few weeks. This is where I have been

Getting close with my girls (photo credit SC Photography)

Sewing (always sewing)

Baking with Grandma (yummo!). I can finally bake her famous applie pie!

Teaching Sweet Pea and Baby S how fun a laundry basket can be!

Belated Show and Tell

I don't think that I ever posted about this sling. I made it a while back when it got warm (for about 3 days this summer... then it just rained or cooled off!) and am extremely happy that I did. Somehow lugging 2 16 and 23 lb babies around all day has injured my shoulder (shocker) so Baby S has been spending an awful lot of time in the sling or Mei Tai. Thank goodness she likes it (maybe for the chew-factor as much as the cuddle-factor).

I tried to get Sweet Pea (Baby C is hardly a baby anymore) to pose for a picture, but she had far more important things to do.

:: Accomplishments ::

Late last week I finished these: 3 personalized baby blankets and a little kiddie pack. They were an order from the neighbour of someone I made a blanket for.

And yesterday... well yesterday was a very exciting day around here because the littlest Baby Bauman figured out that her round pudgy little body was good for something other than eating... ROLLING! Way to go baby girl!

Days like yesterday make not sleeping for 4 months (ahem... I guess 20 months would be more accurate) straight completely worth it!

Time Machine

I was incredibly busy last week, and I don't see this week being any different so this week I'm going to post about what was keeping me up all night and having no free time. This week my blog will be serve as a time machine... its no DeLorean but I'm ok with that!

Lets start with the roses that Nick surprised me with on Friday. He got off work early to come home (with flowers in hand) so that I could get some studying done before I had to go to work. This is what happens when you let your 20 and 4 month old babies smell the roses... oh well - they had no thorns and it was really cute to watch (and I'll always have this picture to remember them!).

Baby C "If I make a really sweet face maybe you won't notice that half the petals are missing!"

Are you seeing what Baby S is doing?

What was left after the girls "admired" them

Everyday Blessings

It was 6am, I had just gotten baby S back to sleep but I was up for the day after having had less than 5 hours of broken sleep and baby C was starting to wake up (she is getting her I-teeth and has been a bear since Friday). I was getting grumpy already - not a good way to start the week. So I thought I'd check a few blogs while there is still an ounce of time in the day that actually belongs to me. And I came across this. Such a wonderful reminder to rejoice in today's blessings and be grateful for what we do have.

Ok, so I haven't had a solid nights sleep in 2 years and from the time the girls wake up until the time I go to bed I am on as chef, diaper changer extraordinaire, entertainer, cuddlier, nurse, disciplinarian etc. but at least I have these girls.

These girls have changed my life and if it weren't for them I wouldn't be the person I am today. I know that the sleepless nights and the days of them constantly needing me will not last and I am sure that I will desprately miss my time with them. 10pm with baby S when it is just the two of us... everyone else in the house is sleeping and she is nursing one last time before I go to bed for the night, mornings with baby C when she is so excited to play that she is absolutely vibrating, family walks in where baby C has so much fun she kicks her feet until the stroller shakes and baby S squeals with delight. These are just a few of the things that I am going to remember the next time I start to feel a bit sorry for myself.

Irish eyes were smiling

Those big blue (Baby C) and green (Baby S) Irish eyes were smiling today at the girls first ever Highland Games! I have gone pretty much every year since I was a baby (except those few years that it poured, including last year) and really wanted to take the girls. They were so good and had so much fun. Baby S spent a good 15 minutes absolutely squealing with joy before falling asleep in the Mei Tai for a good nap - who said a 4 month old baby can't appreciate her Celtic heritage? We did a lot this morning but Baby C loved the Highland Dancing most of all and was actually kicking her feel in her stroller to the rhythm of the bagpipes, I was impressed with my 19 month old that's for sure!

Who loves bagpipes? We DO! (Especially Baby C and mama)

Baby C's very first kilt - thanks grandma!

I wasn't kidding about the happy baby - just chillin' on the grass. What do you get when your babies have a Mennonite father and a Scottish/Irish mother? McMennonites! (My dad has a pretty good sense of humour)

A quick break at the Scottish Tea Garden - Baby C wanted to know what was inside that giant tea pot!

And now these little girls are having a very long sleep!

Long weekend on the farm

Me, Nick and Baby S (she was bundled because it was chilly, but she is there)


The sky was so blue it almost didn't look real! Baby C was so intrigued by the corn she wouldn't look at me.

Baby C and her older cousins "big ball"

Baby C on the run

We had a fabulous weekend on the farm for our annual reunion this weekend. We always look forward to the August long weekend because of the 'camperama'. We cheated this year and went home to sleep because camping with 2 babies under 2 is not something that I'm brave enough to attempt. Baby C was so much fun and thoroughly enjoyed the freedom she had as well as playing with her older cousins. As I was looking through my pictures of the weekend I realized that there really weren't many of Baby S because she spent the weekend in my arms behind the camera but I think that I might be able to find a few.

Its been too long

I have been dancing ever since I could walk but I haven't been in the studio for about 7 years. Tonight I am going to take class for the first time since I was 18, and decided it was time to dust off my old dance bag. I have carried this bag around with me to 5 different homes (we moved every year in university) and in each home it has always had a special place tucked just inside my closet door patiently waiting to be brought to life again.


I tried on my old shoes tonight and they were a bit snug (I blame this on the babies) and was surprised when the second pair I tried fit like a glove. I checked inside to see what the make was and realized they weren't my shoes. I must have grabbed the wrong shoes at my last show but it was a nice feeling to look inside and see Jenna's name written there. It was almost as if the time and distance had done nothing to separate us. When I look at these old shoes each scuff, tare, and hole reminds me of a class, dance, show, fall, or friend. My dance family has been a constant in my life ever since I was 4 years old and the same holds true today. Even though we haven't taken class together in years there is still a bond between us that cannot be broken. We are going to take class together for the first time in 7 years and I am so excited to see every one. Over the years we have remained in contact on an individual basis but nothing like what happens when we are in a studio together.

**Edited to add: Ouch... my body feels as beaten up as my old shoes look. Remind me not to wait 7 years before taking class again - it just might kill me! I am going to go wither in pain until the girls wake up.

What I love about fresh air

:: It calms even the fussiest of babies

:: It makes sisters "play" together nicely

:: The SMELL of that lovely field behind us

:: The baby sleep that it induces

I am enjoying the after effects of a few hours outside with the girls in the afternoon sun (and shade for baby). I can run away and have a few minutes to myself. What a JOY... I'll say it again - I love the fresh air!!!

Summer Days

We had a busy day today with lots of company....


:: We devoured a super yummy strata



:: Baby C discovered some grass clippings




:: And then stopped to smell the roses (well petunias)



:: Oh.. and I also entered a fabulous giveaway for a mama and child sized vintage apron from gardenmama - wish me luck!!!

Father's Day Baby Crafting

Baby C's first artwork... need I say more?

Right now

Right now I am loving...


:: This bonnet and the little girl who wears it





:: Sitting on the deck enjoying a tea and the view


:: The fact that we just celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday and she doesn't look (or act) a day over 75!


:: Sister love, it just melts my heart every day

"Making" Memories

We have been making a lot of memories around here these days. I will never forget my mom telling me "if I don't take a picture we will forget this" for the hundredth time as I rolled my eyes in the way that 8 year old girls can do oh so well. In fact my best friend's favourite memory of my mom is her chasing us around with a camera or video camera (at dance recitals, parades we danced in, birthdays, prom, trips to the mall... just about anything we did has been documented).

I was horribly embarrassed by this habit of moms when I was a kid but now I am so grateful that I have my entire childhood documented in our photo albums. And you know what? She was right! Without those pictures I would forget.... forget that horrible outfit I wore out on my first double date, forget that my prom night was also my grandmother's birthday and we took pictures together, or my fabulous first bathing suit (it was blue with ducks on it!).

I have decided that I too want my girls to be able to look back and remember those tiny seemingly insignificant parts of childhood even if it embarrasses them and earns me a few eye rolls. And I don't ever want to forget things like how their tiny little hands seem to fit so perfectly together.