7 Quick Takes Saturday (with a GIVEAWAY!!!)

07 December 2013

Joining Jen as I dust off the long forgotten blog today to pull some quick takes out of my magic bag of unproductivity.

-1 -
I just don't have any staying power anymore. I do things. I just don't finish things. So far I have about eight unfinished drafts in blogger. A half done baby bonnet and blanket for Lucy June. Four gifts for new moms in various stages of completeness (this one kills me...to those moms: when you have a nine month old and you get a target gift card in the mail from me, know that I had something much more personal in the works but it is still in three pieces and has unfortunately been consigned to the graveyard of my craft bag.)

- 2 -
Jacob just walked into our quiet house as I sit here blogging with a baby asleep on my chest and another asleep in a bedroom. He asked me how it was going, and I said that I felt badly that I hadn't blogged in so long.

"Yeah. Your readers are starving." And then he started cracking up.

He's always such an encouragement.

The other day I asked him to change a toddler diaper because I was a bit of an invalid after a kitchen mishap left me with an impressive gash on my left thumb.

He whisked the toddler away and said: "Remember when mama got an excuse on her finger?"

- 3 -
Update on Firstborn

Recently Jakeboy and I had the following conversation:

Jake (to me): "You don't have horns? You just have ears?"
Me: "No, I don't have horns."
Jake: "You're not a cow?"
Me: ...


- 4 -
Update on Secondborn

Lucy June has started smiling. It's the dearest thing ever and maybe we'll get a picture of it one of these days.
  



- 5 -
In an effort to tie some of the loose ends that probably only I care about in my little life. Here are the pictures from the Thanksgiving post I never wrote.

The carver and the vultures.
The gravy makers






Boston 2014
- 6 -
I did however get the lion's share of our Christmas shopping done by Advent. I'll just gloat about that for a second because it makes me feel like a rockstar. Admittedly, this has been a goal of mine every year since I got married, and I only managed to come close to the goal this year. So I probably should just get on down off that high horse, but I won't. Nope nopity nope. Because I've even started wrapping. Earlier this week I dusted off my crafty pants, and I tore apart and flattened some brown shopping bags and set the toddler to decorating them. Red white green paint + wine corks + potato stamp.









And here's how they turned out:



- 7 -
And finally. The giveaway. Today The Rhodes Log is hosting its first ever giveaway of some of Jacob's homegrown honey. I'm also throwing in some homemade chai tea mix because we're mildly obsessed with chai tea and it makes the honey seem more giftable.



A few months ago I had the charming idea to give some honey away on the blog, and then I thought -- like the good little Catholic that I am -- that we could give the honey away on the feast day for the patron saint of beekeepers. I discovered that the patron saint of beekeepers is the relatively well known St. Ambrose.


And his feast day is none other than today. The infamous December 7th. Which also happens to be the birthday of our very own beekeeper.

Happy Birthday, my love. I made you a pie.
I thought the coincidence was too good to pass up, so here I have pulled myself out of my diaper changing stupor to giveaway some honey. In honor of both St. Ambrose's feast day and my husband's birthday.

So if you want to win some of this magical honey and chai, just leave a comment on this post telling me how you would use it (put it in your tea, drizzle it in your yogurt, give it to your grandmother, etc). I even wrangled a Rafflecopter widget because I'm fancy like that.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now go visit Jen to catch the more timely takers.

50 comments :

  1. Is shoving it directly into my mouth with a giant spoon an acceptable form of "using" said honey? No? Too unladylike? In that case, I would dribble it lightly over some crumpets...then shove it directly into my face hole. ;)

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  2. Ooh ooh ooh! I would ... EAT IT! Mostly in tea, but we'd reserve the right to eat it by the spoonful too, especially for sore throats.

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    1. Perfect! (I use it as a facewash, so you should reserve that right while you're at it.)

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  3. Hi Katie! I just found your blog and just wanted to tell you how much I have loved reading it this morning while I sip my tea. You have a beautiful family. We have a kindred soul in "the crunchy life"... all my boyfriend's friends think I am an absolute crazy hippie for all the kombucha, water kefir, juicing and organic produce I insist on consuming. Keep writing... when you have time! Much love, Jennifer

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  4. ooo, it would go as the women's gift this year at my grandma's :)

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  5. That was so funny about the cow. I'm sure you feel like one too ;-)

    That honey would be the start ingredient in our Honey Cinnamon Butter that we slather on pancakes and waffles and whatever else is socially acceptable!

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  6. The wrapping paper looks great!
    The honey if not a gift will be a welcome addition to our breakfast.

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  7. I hope my rafflecopter went through. I hardly ever enter giveaways, but had to do this one. My kids love honey on their toast every morning. Love the wrapping paper!

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    1. Thanks, Kat! I got the widget fixed, so try try again!

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  8. I would definitely toast you and your hubby every morning as I sipped my honey chai.

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  9. First--I made an audible "oooOOOoooh!" when you appeared in bloglovin this morning. Second, what the heck, you're in the throes of newbornness and you're making wrapping paper with your little buddy, and super cute paper at that. Third, I'd use that delicious honey to sweeten the yogurt my little AMBROSE has for breakfast each morning. :) Or I'd use it to make my favorite: toasted gluten free sourdough bread with tons-o-butter and honey on top.

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  10. I would use it to make ice cream or Christmas cookies for our family :)

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  11. I would feed to straight to my girls. I give them a spoonful of raw honey every night to help with their allergies and it's magical!

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    1. None of the kiddos have shown any allergies yet, but it runs in my family, so when they rear their ugly head, I'll push the honey big time.

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  12. I love the wrapping paper! And the cow comment! And your honey!

    We don't need to win, because we haven't made it through the batch you gave us before you left. But I can totally vouch for the awesomeness of your homegrown honey!

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  13. Honestly, I would probably just eat the whole jar in one sitting... I like good honey. The tea wouldn't last long either.

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    1. If we were voting, you'd probably get my husband's vote. He likes his honey straight, and he doesn't believe in too much of a good thing!

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  14. Ok Kate this giveaway is RIGHT up my alley. I am such a honey snob now since having the raw stuff that I haven't bought any new stuff since running out of it months ago. I was waiting for Sean's parents' bees to produce...and along comes Kate.

    So I would put the honey in smoothies or morning oatmeal, and I would put the chai in a secret place that only I might be the only one to consume it. No chai for you Sean.

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  15. Those wrapped gifts look amazing, cutest idea ever. And that honey sounds sooooooo so good. Also, I heart chai so much.

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  16. I use honey for everything :-) In tea, to help with sore throats, cookies, on buttered toast :-) I LOVE honey :-)

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    1. Unsurprisingly, we use it a lot too. I'd be embarrassed to say how fast we can go through half gallon jars.

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  17. Hi Kate! I never comment (because I'm not in the blogging club) but I love your blog--is that creepy? I'm inspired to put Caroline to work on toddler wrapping paper now. And...honey in my tea or with a spoon!

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    1. Everybody in the blogging club started that way. So I'll venture to say not creepy at all.

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  18. I love honey plain, in baking, with oatmeal, yogurt, toast.....I really want to win!

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  19. We are big honey people over here - use it on everything! Tea, sandwiches, oatmeal, yogurt...the list is endless :)

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  20. Homegrown honey! You're killing me. I think I would use it on everything. But particularly, I would mix it with spicy mustard to dip sweet potato fries in.

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  21. toast and butter with honey sounds delicious!

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  22. Ooooo! I SO want that honey! I bake all my own bread and my main recipe calls for 1/4 cup of honey. I try and buy the most organic, whole honey I can find, but it's hard around here. Since I'm going to all the trouble to grind my own wheat AND bake the bread, I like to keep all the ingredients healthy.

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  23. And on a totally non-honey related note - the kitchen in those pictures is THE coolest ever. Is that your parents' house? I totally love the stone wall. And the picture of Lucy June yawning? Love!

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  24. Andrew officially knows you as my friend married to a beekeeper ;-)

    Now, honey from those bees kept by your husband would likely last a single week in my household... as it would get put on english muffins and buttered biscuits every morning, mid morning, and after dinner treat time.

    Luckily, I am the only one who loves chai tea so that might last a little longer...maybe two weeks.

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  25. I eat honey everyday. In my cereal, in my tea, on my toast. I would use this over and over. I'm really curious about it, too, since my dad kept bees while I was growing up. I really like tasting different regional honeys.

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    1. My father caught the beekeeping bug from my husband and now he gets honey wherever he travels and we line them up and taste them side by side. It's wild how different honey can taste!

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  26. Is it too late to apply? Because I will drizzle it on my coconut Christmas cookies!

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  27. All of the above! tea, yogurt, toast! Would love to share it with family and friends too!

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  28. SO COOL! It's a dream/goal of ours to get a hive! Love hearing about your bee adventures! Did you bring them with you?? But anyway, we loveeeee raw honey! SO GOOD. We'd use it plain. In coffee. In baking. ANY WAY... seriously, we love it. Did I mention that?! Thanks!

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    1. We didn't bring them with us. Actually the hive left about a month before we moved to Texas. We've been in an apartment since our move, but next month we'll be moving into a house and hopefully getting another hive going. I can't wait!

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  29. Yum yum yum! My husband laughs at my desire to have bees someday (probably because he's heard me shriek around bugs). I love honey on toast made from homemade bread.

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  30. Yum! Would totally use in tea and for spreading on fresh baked bread!

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  31. Fresh honey is sooo good! I would use it in tea and on fresh-from-the-oven biscuits and cornbread.

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  33. I do so love your blog! It feels like I'm talking to you :)

    Also, honey is amazing, and we use it with everything--toast, tea, and (my personal favorite) chicken.

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  34. Oh this is exciting! My dad has bees now, and I haven't tried the honey yet!

    I would eat it with honey, dark chocolate chips and chia seeds.

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  35. I've always wanted to keep bees...but the pesky stinging part really scares me.

    Sooo...no one has said smearing it all over naked bodies have they? Not saying I would or anything....but....

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  36. Spoonfuls for my toddler - my version of a daily vitamin? And jumping on the band wagon of tea, toast, etc. I MIGHT be more excited about the chai tea part of the giveaway!

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  37. I just found your blog via another! We use honey on PB sandwiches with a dash of cinnamon. It's yum!

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    1. Also, I LOVE your idea of letting your adorable toddler paint the butcher paper to use for wrapping paper! Just showed my husband and I'm pretty sure we will be doing that this weekend! THANK YOU!

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  38. Lucy's FACE!!!
    And the wrapping paper is awesome!

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