mebane mischief.

I couldn't resist the organic beauty of county life in Mebane, NC. The rustic display of the years of life lived in this home secretly capture the life story of this family who has faced their fair share of complexity. If you look beyond the fresh young faces here, you'll see the history of this Mebane family. 

~ glimpses into the past hidden in the present.

thrifty eaters.

So, I did it. I made Kimberly's pretzels. They make for a fun snack. My first attempt was far better than my later. Yummy, they are, yet filled with carbohydrates. Zach recently saw a nutritionist and she said he needs more protein in his diet. Oops! In my "busyness" and in light of our budget, I confess I've been more of a pasta mama this past month. This hasn't helped my chubby cheeks either! Thus, I headed to Costco and bought some chicken for $1.99/lbs. A waste of packaging, but the right price. Ouch! It's our goal to live on $275 a month for food. I'll let you know how we do. If you have any thrifty protein-fused-meals, send them my way - we do lentils! I may hold off on another round of pretzels! ~ protein bound

chop chop.

Well, I've given in to the requests of photos of my new do...only because you live a nation away...here it is.  ~ here's to turning 30

   

summer reading.

I'm currently reading The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South. Zach read it last year for a program he did with Duke Divinity before school started and really enjoyed it. Thus far, I'm convinced it is a must read for anyone living in the Triangle Area, and for sure anyone living in Durham. More thoughts on my read to follow. ~ check it out.

apricot.

Dear Apricot,

Thank you for falling so easily off the pit. You make a great clean, yet juicy snack.

~ delightfully yours

out of the noise.

I think every once in a blue moon it is helpful for me to explain the title of my blog. 

...as we live in the kingdom that is here, but not yet fully here, we're surround by noise. The noise of sound, light, images, voices, icons, tvs, radios, computers, ipods, and more...noise in my life, which can clutter the voice of God. The voice I long to hear and follow. So here I am, escaping the noise, and entering into the place of stillness and expression to be a display of his splendor in word and action (and photo). I know it seems ironic that I would enter cyperspace (a place of noise) to do this, but this is the leverage I have been given, and I want to use it for the glory of the gospel. ~ join me

interesting here is what I wrote in November... (in retrospect, I might not use the word "magical")

...I chose this [title] after watching a documentary on monasticism. It was powerful for both Zach and me. I was reminded of how inundated we are with noise on a daily basis and how hard it is for us to just sit silently and soak up the tunes of life around us. Our senses are becoming desensitized to the wonders (color, sounds, feelings and smells) of our world. So much can happen internally if we were just to sit, silently and be with our self, our thoughts, our dreams and fears - AND the world right in front of us. I fear what will come of our generation and the next due to the ever increasing influence of internet and technology. Our generation gets bored all too easily. Oh my. Please join me by stepping out of the noise and back to relationship with the living world that surrounds us. It truly is a magical place. I leave you with those thoughts for now.  Funny how I am on the internet as I write these thoughts. 

~ oh, the paradox

hold me to it.

I've been wanting to make these since I asked my pal Kimberly for the recipe...hold me to it!

11/3 C warm water

1T dry yeast

1T sugar

1/2 t table salt

31/4C all-purpose flour

1 egg

1T water

2T coarse salt

Preheat to 425

grease cookie sheets

in bowl add yeast to warm water, let sit 5 min, then blend.

add 1C flour, table salt, and sugar.

add the rest of the flour 1/2 cut at a time.

roll out dough, break into 12 equal pieces.

shape pretzels.

brush with egg-water mixture

sprinkle with coarse salt.

bake 15-20 minutes.

photo taken by: Kimberly Baldwin

new life.

This is the birthing story of our friends living in Oakland, CA. It is a must read. It is the story of Caitlyn Camille's arrival. ~ enjoy  (click on her name)

first fruits.

I claim near failure in my attempt to start a mini garden from seed. Perhaps it was an ambitious act, considering I didn't even attempt to get a proper soil balance.  But, I had to try and I'll try again next year. The one plant we did start from a seedling (thank you Melinda) actually yielded a piece of veg. Our first and quite possibly only tomato! That said my Zinnas are doing much better, they're not gorgeous, but they're trying. Here is our token tomato. The cucumbers, radishes, and squash are trying their hardest but alas they yield nothing. ~ the kingdom of god is like a farmer who scatters seed

into the noise.

Well, I'm an auntie once again and oh - so - happy. Beautiful Chloe Ngoc Luis was born yesterday on July 10th weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and 18 inches. She looks just like mommy Phuong. I can't wait to meet her. ~ new life