Friday, February 28, 2014

~this moment~


Joining soulemama and friends
in appreciating the 
beauty of
ordinary days

Have a wonderfully
 marvelous
beautiful
Friday!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

there are

those days
most often after a break
that my heart yearns
to
stay in
where it is warm


hunker down
and give fresh attention
to those things
that have been a bit
overlooked


continue work on the
Sweet Spring Shawl
that after attempt number 5
is finally on the right track


do some baking
 cleaning
laundry
and take a field trip 
or two


but 
as i glance over at the 
time on my screen
it reminds me
today is not that day
and i must instead
warm the car
get readied
for work
outside the home
which makes me wonder
how much longer
can that
yearning
and
pulling of my heart
be ignored?

i will keep you posted






Saturday, February 22, 2014

they're coming!

for breakfast
and fun
while mommy and daddy
get their taxes done

so I am expecting my 
morning to look something 
like this

Afternoon in the Kitchen print

a Phoebe Wahl 
print that I have been eyeing up for my kitchen

I mean seriously?!
That woman in the house dress
screams
grandma jenny!
just like my little girls

who I was fortunate enough 
to have over yesterday
as well
we played like 20 games of
Guess Who?
and 
Trouble.

classics.

Kierstin found my camera
and started
snapping


That camera in front of Kaylee
didn't have any batteries
so it required
100% imagination
not much fun 
when sissy is playing around 
with the real deal


which explains this 
sad
sad
did i mention sad?
face.

I know I'm a little evil
but that expression 
makes me giggle!

It worked on Kierstin
who gave her the camera
to try out


what can I say...
she's got it!

I have to feel 
that when something like
goofing around with a camera
brings on such 
a play of emotion
especially one of pure 
joy
that grandma
should pay attention
and
encourage
such
behavior
even...especially
at such a young age.

(I think I just came up with
a birthday idea
that they will be sure to fight over!)

An excuse to buy two!

Gotta go cuz the
girlies
are on their way!

Enjoy your day.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

long nights

getting shorter



It's 6 pm and still light out!
declared sister Sue as she dropped me off
the other night

It's true...it's true!

Plus
 I've noticed my mornings
are getting brighter earlier

It's happening
but

we are still in winter's grasp
even with
today's weird weather pattern

rain and thunder

 50 degrees

melting mountains of snow

water pouring from the heavens

a forecast of
returning
cold and snow
by this weekend

 has everyone talking
about flooding
and
icy 
translate slippery
conditions

the drive home from work
was a breeze
compared to walking 
from my car to the backdoor

what is it about
slipping and sliding around
even with cautious baby steps
that has me feeling
like people are watching and laughing?

Probably a result
of growing up
in a family of seven
that found sheer pleasure
in witnessing
one of their own
in such a predicament

once safely
indoors
without any embarrassment
real or imagined
one thing was on my mind
(probably shouldn't admit that)

Black Gold 


Texas Tea
otherwise known as
Homemade Kahlua

Mark Lucarelli
from Al's Upholstery
shared this recipe with me at Christmastime
saying it was his favorite winter drink
As was already established
it is still winter
and those long nights
are so much more enjoyable
with a nice warming cup of
Kahlua

Had it straight up
for some real heat

Tried it in a cafe mocha...
fantabulous

My go-to after work moment
called for
a White Russian


Kahlua and Cream.

My cream of choice being almond milk.
One word...
yummbly.

You know it's good stuff
when you start making up words!

You too can become a neologist
(Is that a real word OR did I make it up???)
because I'm gonna share Mark's recipe
right here
right now.

Mark Lucarelli's Kahlua

1 1/2 Cups Water
4 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Instant Coffee
2 oz. Real Vanilla Extract

Boil water
Add sugar and return to boil
Add coffee and vanilla

Mix with a Fifth of Vodka
(filtered 2x's with a Brita)
Since I don't have one
 I filtered mine with
 wet coffee filters
placed in the filter holder thing-y
from my coffee maker
placed on top of a plastic pitcher 
to drain into.

It worked great 
but Mark tells me the Brita is best

I don't know about that


mine turned out
just fine.

Feeling warm and fuzzy.

Oh Happy Day...

a wee bit longer one 
at that...

Oh Happier Night!

:)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

it's gotta go

because
"if you keep the snowmen out
they feel far too
welcome,"
says sister Tina

and we can't have that!


 and so
I am making the final pass
around the house


with an eye out
for all things


that may be 
sending the wrong message

I'm almost embarrassed to admit
that I took these pictures
just 5 minutes ago

and I know what you're thinking


that I'm the culprit


that I have single-handedly
made winter
feel right at home
and it has made itself quite
comfortable

I take full responsibility
but then again
I have been
 quite enjoying it
but
then I found this



the Sweet November Scarf

from the movie with the
same name

it had me at sweet
because my version
will be
the Sweet Spring Scarf
in the prettiest 
shade of
well
here
let me show you


ah
like a breath of fresh
lovely
Spring air


in a cotton blend that
will take me right
through to those
cool nights of
Summer

maybe even the beach.

so
good news
this house has been cleaned
and I am determined
to create a new
vibe.

You're very Welcome!

So sorry for the delay.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

because sometimes you just have to

it's not like I want to

what
with another snowstorm
adding inches
to the under base

the Olympic games
playing non-stop

two new hanks
of warm weather yarn
in the prettiest shade
of blue

a Sweet November shawl
decided on

Oh
let's not forget
shoveling
work
homeschool
cooking

life

I can try to avoid it
but it waits 
for no one


regardless of the snow
Spring
is right 
around the corner
and regardless of when it arrives
the dust is already here

this cleaning calender
makes me feel like
I can do it all
yeah
I'll let you know how that
works out

with a little 
 delegation

we will get it
all done!

(my motto for the week)
(apparently!)



Monday, February 17, 2014

off the needles

Such an exciting moment
when you come to that
last stitch 
on the needles


and shout out with joy
I'm done!


All that's left
is weaving in the ends


and trying them out.

Such a soft wool
and
such a needed pair of
fingerless gloves.

Sister Tina
made me a pair years ago
(we were talking and it has been more
years than I thought...yikes!)
I wore the heck out of those
gloves
they started developing little holes
near the thumb
which proved to be
my driving force to get these finished.


Because 
once you own a pair
it is hard to turn back

they see you through
those cool fall nights


right until 
Spring chills

I wear mine all winter too

for quick trips to the store
and
well
just about every day.

The big daddy's are reserved
for shoveling
and
sledding
only.

With that sense of accomplishment
grabbing hold


I turned my attention to
Kierstin's Slouchy Hat


which will 
have to wait until her birthday
to be put on her 
cute little head

Those blues
are going to really make 
her baby blues
sparkle

the pattern is reversible
with a slight variation
in the design


here's the flip
side


don't look too close
there are a few
unique stitches
that I have come to embrace
with memories
of
mimosas.

I've learned to
 knit responsibly!

I may not be the
fastest knitter
or
the most proficient
(alcohol or not)
but for some strange reason
I enjoy having a project
on the needles


maybe it's because
when the snow falls
and oh
how it has been falling
and the guys are happily watching
another movie
I get antsy
and 
need to keep busy
doing something


I think I've decided on 
my next something.

Thank you
Tina
for sharing.

I'm heading to 
Vintage Yarn's today
and who knows
*warning*
you just might get some company
to get me started on the right road
to this bias loop.

Did I mention...
Tina is the proficient knitter
of the family
(no slam intended, Susie :)
and
it's always a good excuse to
stop for a visit!

Once yarn is in hand...
I'm gonna say it,

Let it Snow!
;)

Sunday, February 16, 2014



waking up 
and finding these
waiting for you



and these


with a sweet card
with sweeter
words


I love how chocolates
now come with a
road map
so 
you know exactly what you're
getting into
thereby
eliminating the need to 
stick your finger in them
or worse
take a bite
only to find there's 
a gooey cherry inside...
gag.

Now you know
which ones to
avoid
or give to the kids...
tee-hee-hee.

The other way
I show
love


yeah...
even after yesterday's post

Baking 
Good
Stuff


Lemon Blueberry Loaf


served warm
even though I was directed to
cool completely
drizzled with 
lemon glaze
for that perfect amount of
zing

In case you're wondering


it is vegan
and
this is all that remains
this morning.

Back to the kitchen
where I whipped up some

Apple Spice Pecan Muffins

(excuse my ugly oven
but I am writing as they bake)

a recipe
from my 
30-Day Vegan Workshop.

The house is smelling very
cinnamon-y.

They should be ambling down the
stairs 
any minute now.

Because

happiness is...
a warm muffin.


Saturday, February 15, 2014

saturdays

A pattern has developed

A nice comfortable
rhythm


I'll blame it
on the snow.


As good an excuse
as any!


Maybe
 I'm just 
frickin' hungry

like...
all the time

intensified by
Food Network's
Bobby Flay
Pioneer Woman
Trisha Yearwood

and the tools 
start coming out



ingredients
inventoried and assembled


cookin' up
a storm

Today's menu
features
Quinoa Chili

which will feed the flock
while watching the games

Anyone who braves my driveway is
welcome to a cup or bowl

Dinner done.
Time to get to breakfast
more like brunch
with
Tofu Scramble


served on a multi-grain tortilla
and topped with
tofutti sour cream & salsa


folded over


and held in place
with a toothpick


portable food
that eats well in front of the
tele

I'm not trying to pull one over here
 T-O-F-U
has become a four letter word
 in my house

not sure why
since all believed they were eating
real eggs
when I last made this

Good thing it refrigerates well
for quick go-to
breakfasts
all week 
long.

Their loss
my gain.

And yet I yearn
for the good ol' days when the
Joy of Cooking
was not only about
 the process
but
came from
making those you love
happy
oh...
how I miss their sheer pleasure
of coming to the table
without
a bazillion questions
like
What's in this?
Is it chili with real meat?
???

I'm not an all in...
my way or the highway
type of person
but with real health concerns in the family
and 
scientific backing
on my side
I would hope for a little
more cooperation
and
an adventurous spirit
where food is concerned.

I'm not trying to fool them
I'm trying to feed them
and
feed them well.

But that's another post.

Wow!
Where did that come from?

Saturdays...
you never know where there
going to take you!