Images and Reflections

Feeling Sheepish

sjbohall — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:41:27 +0000

This morning was the kickoff for our PARP (Parents As Reading Partners) program for the year. This year, our play is based on the popular children’s book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, so we got to dress as barnyard animals. I got to be Sheep. We all got to come up with our own costumes. I just sewed a bunch of stuffing to a men’s t-shirt and wore a black shirt and leggins underneath. I also covered my hands with black socks. My mom made some ears that we attached to a white hat. At yesterday’s rehearsal things didn’t go very well, but everything went welll this morning. We messed up a few lines, but the audience had no idea. The kids absolutely love seeing us in costume and don’t care that we aren’t the world’s greatest actors. For the next four weeks, we’ll really encourage parents and students to spend at least 20 minutes a day 5 times a week reading together. Each week, every child who brings back a signed slip showing they have participated will receive a prize. Any child who participates for all four weeks receives a free book. We’ll also be doing a closing show at the end.

At the Feeder

sjbohall — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:04:52 +0000

Turkey Talk

sjbohall — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:14:07 +0000

Over the weekend, I went out walking in the woods with my camera. I was concentrating on some interesting branches I was photographing when I heard a commotion behind me. I had unknowingly disturbed a wild turkey. It flew a few feet and then scrambled through some brush in search of a new spot. I took a few pictures, but I couldn’t get any very clear shots. I decided I’d disturbed the poor bird enough, so I continued on with my walk.

From Grandma’s Kitchen

sjbohall — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:52:56 +0000

As the holiday season approached this year, my father kept mentioning a recipe my grandma always used to make at Christmas time. I couldn’t remember Grandma having made them in my lifetime, so I decided to get in touch with my aunt to see if she knew what he was talking about. She realized right away that he was talking about German Sour Cream Twists, so she sent the recipe on to me. Living on a dairy farm, Grandma always used genuine sour cream since it was readily available. Aunt Barb said she wasn’t overly impressed with how they turned out with commercial sour cream, so she recommended using heavy whipping cream. To speed the souring process, add a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice per one cup of cream. I have now made the recipe 3 times, and I have been happy with the results. The rolling and folding are a little time consuming, but not difficult. I still haven’t mastered the twisting part, so they look a little funny. No one complains when they eat them.

German Sour Cream Twists

3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 packet (or a scant tablespoon) yeast
1/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup thick sour cream
1 egg plus 2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
granulated sugar as needed

>Sift together the flour and the salt and cut in the shortening and butter to a coarse crumb like consistency and set aside

>Combine the sour cream, the egg, egg yolks and the vanilla and set aside

>Dissolve the yeast in the water and add to the flour mixture

>Stir in the cream and egg mixture (use hands to mix well)

>Refrigerate at least 2 hours

>Roll half of the mixture, on a sugared board, to a 8″ x 16″ rectangle
(Keep other half of dough chilled)
>Fold ends toward the center until slightly overlapped at the middle

>Sprinkle liberally w/sugar and roll again to a 8″ x 16″ rectangle

>Fold again

>Sprinkle w/sugar again

>Repeat a third time

>Roll dough into a rectangle that is approx 1/4″ thick, sprinkle w/sugar (Mom used red and green for the final sprinkling @ Christmastime) and cut into strips 1″wide x 4″long

>Twist ends of each strip in opposite directions, stretching dough slightly

>Form crescent shapes w/ the twisted dough and place on ungreased baking sheets, pressing ends firmly to help retain shape

>Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

>Remove from baking sheets immediately and cool on wire racks

>Repeat with remaining dough

Storehouse of Snow

sjbohall — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:19:11 +0000

One of my favorite Bible passages is the final chapters of Job. Chapter 38 starts with these words: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements- surely you know? Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning starts sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?’” (Job 38:1-7). Verse 22 asks: “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow?” Chapter 38 and 39 continue to enlarge on God’s power and sovereignty. At the beginning of Chapter 40, Job is given a chance to speak. His response is as follows, “Behold, I am a of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” For two more chapters, God continues to explain who he is to Job. When Job once again speaks in Chapter 42: 1-6 “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

I thought of these words as I wandered through the snow today. Last winter, it seemed at times as if the whole storehouse of snow had been emptied on us. This winter, we’ve barely had snow that stuck around for more than a day. Weathermen hold forth on why the weather is behaving as it is. Some people are glad not to deal with the snow. Others are saddened by its lack. Today, I am content to realize that, whether we understand or not, God is in control of even the snow. I will simply appreciate its beauty.