Now that's comfort

Mmmm. Lasagna cooking in my crock-pot since this morning is making the house smell so good! It's been raining all day. At noon the sun was coming out, and for about 5 minutes I thought it was going to stop... then more clouds rolled in and blocked out the sun. It seemed like night already, it was suddenly so dark in the house! My hard-working husband was washing windows today in this crazy weather - so I figured I'd surprise him with lasagna goodness when he got home. Lucky his job today didn't require use of the ladder - that scares me. I took a short nap with Lily because she isn't sleeping too well. She just started a cold, and when she doesn't sleep well - we don't either. I don't normally like to nap during the day - it just makes me tireder, but today it was so cozy to snuggle under my blankets with the sound and chill of the rain in my room. That extra hour will help me make it through tonight.

Lately Lily has randomly been turning to me and saying: "You good mom, mama!" I really hope it's true. It makes me feel good to hear it from the person I'm mom to. I love how happy and sweet this kid is even when she's not feeling good. I mean - yeah, you can tell she's not happy when her nose starts running and all, but she'll still dance around and be silly in-between times. No wanting to lay in bed for her! I took her out to the porch all wrapped in a blanket to look at the rain. I wasn't sure she'd remember having seen that much before. She watched for a few minutes, and then asked me to make it stop because she wanted to watch Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. Ha ha! "Turn it off, mom - make it go away, I'm done watching the rain!" She just told me she needed some chocolate milk "to feel better". 

 

 

A few minutes ago as she was watching the rain pour down out the window and said: "We need to get some rain boots, mom so we can go out and splash in the puddles!" We definitely do! My brother has a big beach umbrella up over his scarecrow in the front yard. It looks more silly than scary - it's fun :) Anyway, just thought I'd share the crock-pot lasagna recipe. It's too good not to share. I love that you don't have to pre-cook the noodles. I don't make lasagna any other way. 

Crock-pot Lasagna

1 large (16 oz) carton cottage cheese
1 egg
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 large jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce (1 lb+ jars)
Cooked ground beef or turkey, if desired
Sauteed onion & garlic to taste
Lasagna noodles (uncooked)
Grated Monterey Jack or Mozzarella
About ¼ cup warm water

Mix cottage cheese, egg, and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese together in a small mixing bowl.
Combine spaghetti sauce with cooked meat, sauteed onion & garlic.
Pour a little sauce mix in the bottom of the crock-pot (about one third mix).
Break some noodles to fit and lay in crock-pot – only about one layer.
Put a portion (about half) of the cottage cheese mix on those noodles.
Add another layer of noodles (place criss-cross from the first layer).
Pour more sauce on noodles (about ½ remaining mixture).
Sprinkle grated cheese on that.
Add noodles again (criss-cross), cottage cheese mix, noodles, the remaining sauce, and more grated cheese. Top with a little extra of the grated Parmesan.
Pour ¼ cup water over the top. Cover.
Cook on low about 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. 

Enjoy!

Rain Rain Here to Stay

At least for the week so the Weather People say.

Rain means vacation for Mike - can't exactly wash windows in a downpour. I certainly wouldn't want him to anyway. Not that Mike really considers it vacation. He updated our books and did taxes most of yesterday. So relaxing. :)

He did spend most of the morning playing with Lily, and then found some time before bed to build a fort for her with the cushions of my parent's couch. Her first fort! Mike is such a good dad.

 

 

 

I loved building forts on rainy days when I was a kid. And on nice days too, but then it was outdoor forts. We so rarely get rain here - it's kind of a treat even if it does put a damper on business.

The sun cast this golden glow through the grayness as it set yesterday, illuminating the world in a magical light. The world smells so fresh and good, I would just throw all the windows open if it wasn't so cold! We definitely find ourselves looking out of them often. The sound of the rain and the wind is so soothing, just like the sounds of the womb to a baby. It makes me feel like baking and filling the house with warmth, delicious smells, and (of course) yummy things to eat! I would go crazy with baking if I didn't have this little one to chase after. We don't need a lot of cookies and stuff around here anyway, but stew and homemade rolls is definitely on the agenda. For now, family time! On to the next rainy day adventure!