Life With The Crew

Light in Many Forms

Today is the Winter Solstice and I wish I had a lovely snow dusted Winter landscape to share with you.  Or perhaps candles flickering warm light in a cozy indoor scene.  Alas, the temps are above freezing, the ground is muddy instead of frozen, and since I apparently have a compression fracture in my spine, I cannot bend down to take any artistic photos.  So this is what I've got.

A little bit of sunshine captured in the morning before the clouds rolled in.  (And I just love how there is even pet hair on my evergreen display.  Darn cats knock it over at night.)

Sugar cookies made with my grandma's recipe.  The original Sour Cream Sugar Cookie recipe calls for oleo and margarine, neither of which are things I use, so butter it was.  They did not have quite the texture of Gram's, but the sprinkles were the important part for the little babe.  For me, it is the memory of making them with my grandma, putting green and red sprinkles on some of them and cinnamon/sugar/walnuts on the others.  She kept them safely sandwiched between layers of wax paper in a plastic Tupperware container.

And since we have a new baby in the extended family, I had to make something to keep her warm.  I had yarn leftover from the sweater I just completed for the little babe and it was just enough for a tiny little cardigan.  

The toddler sweater is the Anders Kids pattern knitted in Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks.  The little sweater is the Baby Owl Yoke Cardigan, but instead of doing the owl cable pattern, I did fair isle hearts.

This whole compression fracture occurred when I fell off my horse on Sunday.  My last horseback riding fall was twenty years ago and apparently I am not as soft and flexible as I was back then.  It was a very uneventful fall - I wasn't cantering through the woods or jumping over something impressive.  Frank just spooked at a loud noise and jumped back to the left; I flew forwards to the right.  After clinging to his neck for several long seconds, I went splat.  The embarrassed gentleman did not run away, but stood there looking very much concerned.  (No anthropomorphizing here of course.)

So Happy Solstice everyone!  Let there be light in your life today, whether it be a flickering candle, twinkling fairy lights, a dinner with friends, or the smiling face of a loved one.  Light shines in many forms.

 

Thankful Tuesday - 11.28.17

Today I thankful for...

a holiday weekend filled with family time, good food, memories that made us both smile and cry, a beautiful day for picking out a Christmas tree, a steep hike on a brisk Sunday morning, objects in nature that make us pause and look closer, and neighbors that have become good friends.

(The object above is a praying mantis egg case.)

What are you thankful for today?

 

A Vegetarian's Thanksgiving A-B-C Poem

A Vegetarian’s Thanksgiving A-B-C Poem

 

Apple pie, Blueberry cake, Curried carrots – they all taste great!

Danish to start, Eggs for brunch, how about French Fries for lunch?

Goat cheese on crackers and Havarti would do; is it too early for Ice cream too?

Jams and Jellies on fresh baked bread, a Key Lime Pie as big as your head!

Lemon Lush, Marble Rye – so many yummy foods to try.

Nutty muffins, Olive bread, Pats of creamy butter to spread.

Quinoa salad and Roasted Red Beets, both are healthy foods to eat.

Squash in all forms – eat those vitamins up. 41% of your Vitamin C in only one cup!

Turnips – Undercooked and hard – vie for space with the Very bright chard.

Slices of Walnut Cake topped with EXtra ice cream – this Thanksgiving feast sure is a dream.

Yams, sticky and sweet, sit next to Zucchini Pie, also good to eat.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

That Time of Year - Repost

 

~This is a repost from two years ago, but it is still definitely applicable.  I feel even more strongly now about reducing the amount of material junk in our lives and making sure the things that we own are quality items that will last for a long time.~

I guess we are almost in it folks, that time of year again.  The Season of Giving.  Before the manic shopping event known as Black Friday occurs next week, I'd like to share some ideas for holiday giving that do not involve just buying stuff.  

-This post, written by Nourishing Minimalism, and shared on FB by Svenna of Stitch and Purl, caught my attention.  I have already shared it on FB, but wanted to share it here also.  It offers great gift ideas that take the focus off of a material "thing".  Memberships to museums, magazine subscriptions, paying for art or dance classes, making a coupon booklet for special outings, are just several of the ideas that are suggested.  It is a really great list!

-Buy from local businesses when possible.  Yes, they might be more expensive than the chain stores, but that is where the idea of quality, rather than quantity comes into play.  Does your grandchild need 5 new books or can you buy 2 from the local bookstore and then take him on a lunch date that involves a stop at the library? ~Or purchase used books on Ebay or Amazon.  There are great "old fashioned" books available for kids that are not available at the big box stores.

-Support companies that are using their profits to make a positive change in the world.  Patagonia is a favorite of my husband and I.  Yes, they are expensive, but that expense is the true cost of making a sustainable garment.  They are one of the few major companies that are walking, talking, and manufacturing in a way that my husband and I agree with.  Their newest initiative, to use goose down from geese that were never force-fed or live plucked is one that I am thrilled to support (when I need a new coat).  If you're not familiar with how conventional down gets from a live goose to inside your puffy coat or pillow, check this out.  (It is not graphic or gruesome, just informative.)  ~I also support Patagonia because they actively encourage their customers to either repair an item themselves or send it back to Patagonia to have it repaired, and to buy used Patagonia clothing (search on Ebay), rather than to buy a brand new item.

-When I can't find shoes at the local kids thrift store for the little babe, TOMS is where I shop.  For each pair of shoes purchased, they donate a pair to a child in need.  The shoes are good quality, they have fun designs, and how can you find fault with putting shoes on a child's feet?  If you're interested in finding out more, click here.  (Their pink glitter shoes were a big hit in this house!)

-If you would like to put your money to good use for somebody in need, you can make a donation to Heifer International.  Based on the "teach a man to fish" concept, Heifer doesn't simply give money to people in need.  They provide them with an animal that will not only provide their family with food, but also a source of income.  A cow will provide them with enough milk for their family's needs and they can sell the excess.  This money can be used for their children's education or for starting a business.  Each family is required to "pass on the gift" by giving the animal's offspring to another family, so your donation could kickstart a better life for an entire village.

-Not that I need to tell many of you crafty readers this, but if you enjoy making things, give them as gifts!  Since knitting is very en vogue now, get your needles out and start purling!  Maybe your dog-loving parents would appreciate a hand-sewn dog bed for their beloved furry family member.  For your chocoholic friend, make her several types of hot chocolate mixes.  Think outside the chain store gift box.

*I am NOT affiliated with or receiving compensation from any of the organizations and companies listed in this post.  

Valentine's Day Chocolate Recipe Party!!

Thanks for stopping by today to check out some new chocolate recipes.  I hope you're wearing something red!  Back in elementary school, I hated Valentine's Day.  Having to give a card to every kid - especially the smelly one and the super cute one - was too much stress for an elementary school girl.  Just one of the wonderful joys of growing up that I am hoping to prevent my daughter from experiencing.  But now as an adult, Valentine's Day just means a good meal with my husband.  We never do anything fancy, that's not our style, and now with the little babe here, fancy is not even remotely a possibility.  So a nice meal at home is what it will be.  And for a sugar boost throughout the weekend - Dark Chocolate Cookies.

These are super simple.  They are as easy to make as plain old chocolate chip cookies, but they have more of an adult flavor thanks to the dark cocoa powder and the dash of cinnamon.

Dark Chocolate Cookies

1.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2.  Cream the following:  1/2 cup of room temperature butter, 3/4 cup of white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla bean powder.

3.  Add the following to the butter mixture:  1 egg, 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup of Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa*, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

4.  Mix until smooth.

5.  Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips** and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans.

6.  Place on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 12-14 minutes.  The cookies will puff up slightly.  You want to take them out when they are still soft - they will firm up and deflate as they cool.

*Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa is a blend of natural and Dutch-processed cocoas.  It is definitely a darker cocoa than natural cocoa.

**I used Ghirardelli Premium Baking Chips 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate - much better quality than regular chocolate chips.

I'd love for you to share your recipe below!

 

Anyone Interested In Sharing Chocolate Recipes?

Next Saturday is that big holiday that involves chocolate and roses.  I don't do the rose part of it - pesticide sprayed out of season flowers aren't my thing - but I do love chocolate!  My husband loves chocolate also and we seem to have passed the habit onto the little babe.  So I thought it might be fun to host a chocolate recipe link-up party - I could use some new recipes!  I know that a lot of my fellow blogger readers are pretty healthy eaters, but would you care to join me on this one occasion to indulge in some chocolately sugar goodness?  Or if you have a chocolate recipe that has some healthy ingredients in it, all the better!  (I'm a big fan of chocolate beet desserts!)  

If you're interested in receiving some Valentine's Day blog love next Saturday, would you please let me know by commenting below?  I want to know ahead of time if I should buy myself a heart shaped box of cheap chocolate from the grocery store and eat it all alone during naptime.  I'd much rather be busy baking one of your yummy recipes for my two favorite loved ones!

Slow Down and Enjoy Life

With only five days to go until Christmas, I know that many people are rushing around in a holiday frenzy.  Whether you are knitting your fingers raw, pushing your oven to its limit baking trays of holiday goodies, or still trying to hang Christmas decorations, remember to slow down and enjoy it.  Some reports cite that the Saturday before Christmas is the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States, with more sales than on Black Friday.  It raises my blood pressure just thinking about entering a shopping mall, especially when everyone is stressed about finding that last minute gift because they feel they should buy just one more something for somebody.  If you find yourself in any of these scenarios, I have some advice - relax!  Enjoy the season, don't stress about it, otherwise it is not worth doing.  

The saying is "happy as a clam", but maybe snails are blissfully happy too because they can hide away from the fast paced frenzy of this world.

Recipe for the Weekend - Easy Easter Goodies

Under the influence of all of the pastel colored Easter treats in blogland this week, I almost broke down and bought some colored sprinkles.  But I just needed to take a quick peek at the ingredients to put me back on the right track.  I just can't do it - those chemicals should not be going into my body or my daughter's, despite the claims of those who say it is okay.   (Read this article with all of its scientific language and then tell me you haven't lost your appetite for a bright blue slushie).

But don't depair, we still have Easter fun around here!

Did you see them?  Want a closer look?

Yep, those are Easter Island moai - just the thing for Easter Sunday!  For Christmas, my husband received a moai shaped ice cube tray.  Just perfect for melted chocolate!

So the first super simple Easter treat:  buy some Ghirardelli white chocolate bars, melt them on low heat in a saucepan, then pour them into silicone ice cube molds.  (Silicone is not my favorite thing to use in the kitchen because of its plastic-like consistency, but I think it is actually okay.)  Put them in the refrigerator until they are hard.  Mine were done in 1 hour.  They came out perfectly (the noses got a little flat) - no need to grease the mold.  

The second simple Easter treat I made was homemade chocolate peanut butter cups.

The chocolate is not as soft as the real deal, but that is because it doesn't have any sugar or preservatives in it.  I made up a batch of my homemade peanut butter.  Then I took a cup of the pb and added about 3 tablespoons of 10x sugar.  (You wouldn't have to add any sugar if you wanted to be really healthy.)  I had two bars of Ghirardelli chocolate - one semi sweet and one 60% dark - and I chopped those up and melted them on low heat in a saucepan, stirring until smooth.  I had bought mini-cupcake liners and put those in my mini-muffin tray (so cute).  I put a dollop of the melted chocolate in the bottom of the liner, then added about a teaspoon on the pb, then poured more chocolate on top.  Pop those in the refrigerator to cool, and you're all done!  You can then choose to remove the liners or leave them on.  Since I was combining them with white chocolate in the same container, I chose to keep the liners on.  I also made some white chocolate hazelnut honey butter cups with the leftover chocolate from the moai.  They are okay.  I am just really not a fan of hazlenuts.

Then I put the three kinds of chocolate into pint sized mason jars...

added a pretty piece of fabric...

and you have prizes for the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday!  Yummy handmade goodness!  No pastel sprinkles required.

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, hope you have a wonderful day that includes some chocolate!

Happy New Year and My Word of the Year

Joining Maxabella Loves for her "one word" link party.

 

At first I thought, "Just one word?  One word to describe me?  How about a phrase?  I can come up with that."  But then I started thinking about it and there were lots of words that could be "my word" for 2014 - mom, frugal, natural.  Those are just one part of me though and I wanted something more.

 

So my one word for 2014 is AWARE.

 

According to Google, the definition of aware is "having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact."  I really like the synonyms for aware - "conscious of, mindful of, informed about".

 

-I want to be aware of the role model that I am being for my little babe.  She watches and hears everything that I say and I want to present her with a positive and caring image.

 

-I want to be aware of how quickly my little babe is growing up and to appreciate all of the new skills that she is learning each week.  She's a smart one!

 

-I want to be aware of the choices that I make as a consumer - where are the products made and by whom, what affect do they have on the environment, how will they be disposed of when I am done with them?

 

-I want to be aware of our budget as a single-income family - how can I be more frugal, can I make an item instead of buying it, can we substitute something less expensive, how do we tighten our budget but not give up our ethics (such as eating organically)?

 

-I want to be aware of the seasons and teach my little babe to appreciate nature - the geese flying north, the brilliant red bittersweet against the white snow, the times that certain flowers bloom, and the miracle of watching a seed sprout.  While she is too young to understand most of that, by talking to her about these things now, some of it will sink in and giver her a base to start with.  Much better than the background noise from a television.

 

I don't make New Year's resolutions.  If you really want to change something about yourself, then do it now and don't wait for a particular date on a calendar.  However, I do like the idea of keeping this word in mind as I move through the year.  So my small goal will to be "aware" of the fact that I want to be more "aware" about the important things in my life.

 

Happy New Year!

 

(These lights are as crazy as it got around here last night!  I'm loving these origami paper lanterns from Pipodoll - my little babe now has the coolest room in town!)

 

 

 

 

 

Light

Even the smallest light in the world makes it a better place.

 

(I don't know how to stop that weird extra "flame" in the picture.  A similar thing showed up when I tried to photograph the full moon earlier this week.  Ideas?)