Empty Nest in the Midwest

How do you stay active after your children have left the nest?

JD

Banana Chocolate Chip Pecan Muffins for the Road (or maybe not)

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I had three overripe bananas on the counter. Since LC is heading back to college tomorrow and JD is heading back to Springfield, I thought I’d make some banana muffins. I asked LC if he wanted chocolate chips or pecans in them. He said both.

The muffins are cooling on the counter right now. One is already gone. So I’m not sure any of these will actually make it on the road with my traveling boys. But that’s OK if they enjoy them here also.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pecan Muffins

These banana muffins are a perfect snack or breakfast for your busy college student. The chocolate and pecan add extra comfort to this sweet treat.

Ingredients  

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 6 tbsp butter melted
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Line 12 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
  3. Stir the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
  4. Put the bananas in the bowl of your mixer. Beat until just mashed.
  5. Beat in the melted butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and milk until just mixed.
  6. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer. Mix until just combined. (Do not overmix)
  7. Fold in the pecans and chocolate chips.
  8. Spoon the batter into the lined muffin tins.
  9. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until set and lightly brown.
  10. Let cool. Enjoy!

Launched into Springfield

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Many people have been hit hard during this pandemic. As I said in an earlier post, we feel we are in a yacht during this storm rather than a boat. But it was hard for our oldest to be back home with us after losing his job. Happily he got another job pretty quickly and we have moved him to Springfield MO. He is enjoying being back on his own. And Springfield seems like it will be more fun for a young professional than Jeff City.

I feel we have so many things to be thankful for this year. We are thankful that JD found a job. But we are also thankful for the few months he spent back at home with us. We never expected to have him living under our roof again. It was an unexpected bonus to get to have more “family time” with him. I am thankful that so far we have been healthy. I am thankful that our family members are being very careful and staying safe. I am thankful that we are closer to a vaccine which will get this pandemic under control. I am thankful for all of the doctors, nurses, technicians, custodial staff, etc at our hospitals. I am thankful for all essential workers, many who were not considered that essential before Covid-19 came around. I am thankful to live in a country where we are free. I am thankful for my faith community which has supported each other through this difficult time. I could go on and on.

Have a good Thanksgiving!

We Are Not All in the Same Boat, But We Are in the Same Storm

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We are not all in the same boat, but we are in the same storm. Some of us are in a yacht. Others are in a leaky rowboat, barely keeping afloat. Many are somewhere in between. The current issues of institutional racism and the pandemic affect each of us differently.

This is a very different year for us. My younger sons came home from college in mid-March and finished their semesters via distance learning, which is not the college experience they were hoping for. DS graduated with degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering, but cannot find a job in the current market. JD – also with degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering – just found out he is getting laid off next week due to the company he works for in Jeff City downsizing due to lack of projects. ZD and LC would have been working at Cub Scout camp staff and living away from home this summer, but camp was cancelled so they are also at home.

So our nest is not so empty anymore. All four boys back home!

But we are in a yacht. We are able to provide for them and live comfortably. We have our RV to take off in when we want to get away. The boys are old enough to take care of themselves. And it has been an unexpected bonus having them home again. We play a board game every night at dinner. I really never thought we would have this kind of family time again and we are enjoying it. And I have hope that they will find jobs eventually, even though it might take a while.

So the question is, how do we help those who are in the leaky rowboat, on the verge of sinking. It might be difficult, but we have to look at how we can make life fairer for everyone. How do we throw a lifeline to those who are in danger? How to we patch up that boat and keep everybody safe?

One thing I support is a more even distribution of education funds. The way that education is funded by property taxes and the history of the discriminatory practice of redlining, the effects of which are still felt today, means that I live in one of the best funded school districts in the area. Meanwhile my neighbors who are just a few miles away have much fewer resources. I would support a unified school district or another solution even if it means my property value is not boosted by being in a certain school district.

I think it is also important to be willing to discuss the topics of white privilege and systemic racism. It can be very uncomfortable, but I have to admit that my experience is my own. I know that I cannot fully understand the experience of someone who has lived in very different circumstances than mine.

And we need to be willing to social distance and wear a mask for the sake of those who are at risk. The mask does not protect me, but it does protect my elderly neighbor from any germs I might be carrying.

These are difficult topics, and my own opinions on them. I also need to be willing to listen to others with an open mind and a loving heart.

Troop Court of Honor – July 2007

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Today’s throwback is to some photos I found from a Troop Court of Honor in July 2007. I noticed a few fun things here.

This is JD and DS. DS’s sash is practcally down at his ankles. I’m struck by how small he is in these pictures. But it looks like he is confidently acting as MC at the Court of Honor.
LC is quietly sitting on the floor, off to the side, but still paying attention to what is going on.
ZM managed to get himself up front and included in the action. The older boys were always nice to make him feel welcome.
The Husband always did a great job letting the youth lead the program and then thanking them.

And here are a few more photos from this Troop Court of Honor.

Boy Scout Summer Camp at Camp Sakima – July 2007

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Today’s throwback is to DS’s first summer camp. This was JD’s third summer as a Boy Scout so of course he was there also. Since I had been the den leader for his den (all of the first year Scouts) and The Husband (who was Scoutmaster at the time) was away on a business trip, I went with them for the first four days of the camp.. By that point I had completed Scoutmaster training and been registered as an Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop. The Husband arrived later in the week.

We went to Camp Sakima at S bar F Scout Ranch. The highlight at S bar F is Nim’s Lake, a 270 acre lake completely enclosed by the Scout property, which includes two other Scout camps (Famous Eagle and Gamble) along with Swift Base (a high adventure camp for Venturers, Explorers, and older Scouts). So of course there was lots of canoeing, fishing, and swimming. Interestingly this was the last summer that Camp Sakima was open for traditional Scout Camp. After that, it was dedicated to National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).

Canoeing on NIms Lake at Camp Sakima, S bar F Scout Ranch

Kayaking at Nims Lake, Camp Sakima at S bar F Scout Ranch
Fishing at Nims Lake, Camp Sakima at S bar F Scout Ranch
Swimming at Nims Lake, Camp Sakima at S bar F Scout Ranch

One thing I remember from this camp is that they built a tremendously large fire which they wanted to light. It was a “cabin” style fire and the middle was packed with kindling and leaves. I kept telling them no, because it seemed really large. So we would have a smaller campfire every evening. But after I left the dads, including Fireman Mike who I thought would say no, let them light the fire. From what I heard the fire reached about 20 to 30 feet up to the tree canopy. I’m glad I wasn’t there because I would have been panicking. 🙂

Anyway, the photo evidence seems to indicate that JD started building this fire structure early in the week. They all had a hand in in and thoroughly enjoyed wondering how high it would go.

JD laying the foundation for a fire

This was a fun camp and though we might have gotten ourselves into a little trouble here and there, we have some fond memories.

Is It a Limbo Snowman or a Disco Snowman?

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Since we’ve been having snow off and on this week, today’s throwback is to December 2010. The boys made this snowman in the front yard. It was great packing snow. But it was also warm enough that the snowman started to lean. We couldn’t decide if he was trying to do limbo or imitating John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

These are some of my favorite snow pictures of the boys. I remember they kept going out and patching him up to make him last longer. The weather stayed cold enough that he lasted several days.