~this moment~

Joining soulemama and friends

in appreciating the 

beauty of

ordinary days

Have a wonderfully

 marvelous

beautiful

Friday!

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

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

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.

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!

:)

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.

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!)

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!

;)

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.

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!