top of the muffin to you

La Leche League International

early promoters and supporters of

natural attachment parenting

through breastfeeding...

and beyond.

This "NEW" Whole Foods Concept

I have been embracing could have been

found on my kitchen shelf

since I first owned this book

in 1982.

But then again...

there is the reading and practicing

of it...

circa 2012.

One of my family favorites:

Basic Whole Grain Muffins

Mix 2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1 t. Baking Soda

1/4 C. Brown Sugar or Honey

1 t. Ground Cinnamon

1/8  t. Ground Cloves

1/2 t. Salt

1/2 C. Raisins

Make a well in the center and add

1 Egg

1 C. Buttermilk, Yogurt or Sour Milk

3 T. Melted Butter or Oil

Mix only until dry ingredients are moist

(I usually add a bit more milk at this point)

Looking for this consistency...

Fill greased (Pam sprayed)  muffin pans as pictured...

and bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven

for about 15 minutes or

until they spring back when lightly touched.

The fact that this is such a versatile recipe

is one of the reasons I love it...

don't like/have raisins...use dates, any dried fruit

or fresh berries.

Instead of 2 C. Whole Wheat omit 1 Cup and

add wheat germ, wheat bran, rye or soy flour...

or a mix of these.

Throw in some nuts...

go nuts with it!

Served with my first cup of coffee

and a bit of honey butter...

A good way to start the morning.

Happy Monday!

lovin

The fact that I walked into the kitchen and found these

on the counter...which means someone took the

time to empty the dryer, fold towels, and bring them down

to the kitchen. Didn't do the put-away, but 2 out of 3

ain't bad.

My newest Farmer's Market Maple Syrup...

fits right into my whole food kitchen.

A dream had me craving grapefruit...

something I hadn't eaten in years! It took

all those years to learn how to prepare and eat them well.

Heat in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Remove and drizzle with...

you guessed it!

Fresh Maple Syrup.

Amazing!

That I was able to make homemade...

I know what's in it...

granola.

Do you know what's in it?

Bingo...

Fresh Maple Syrup.

My newest favorite breakfast...

warm oatmeal with walnuts and dates and...

a swirl of

Fresh Maple Syrup.

Hmmm...is there a theme to this post?

Go to your local Farmer's Market

and get yourself some!

this moment

Joining Soule Mama and her many friends

in this Friday ritual. A single photo.

A simple, extraordinary moment from my week. 

A moment to pause, savor, and remember.

amen.

...crocuses one week...snow the next...such is March...

work

In my handy-dandy desk side Oxford Dictionary, two columns are dedicated to define this simple/difficult word. My favorites in this case: 1 -n application of mental or physical effort to a purpose; use of energy. 2 task to be undertaken. 3 thing done or made by work; result of an action.

9 physics the exertion of force overcoming resistance. 13 theol. meritorious act. -v1 be engaged in bodily or physical activity. 5 operate or function. 7 to toil. 8 bring about; produce as a result.

11 progress gradually with difficulty. 15 be in motion; engage in physical exercise or training. Bring gradually to an efficient or advanced state.

Or, work can be defined by way of photographic means.

On the road to independence.

Today, work is spelled with 5 letters...

R-E-H-A-B.

There is work in the doing.

There is work in the watching.

Each step taking you closer to being you...

again.

I love you Mom.
You are the strongest woman I know.

joy of now

Who would have thought

that this mild winter

would have me longing to

shovel?

A Michigan winter without (much) snow?

Plain weird.

Normally, this time of year

has me dreaming of

white beaches...

not white driveways!

Yet, here I am.

My first shoveling of the year.

Documented.

Sure it's March

but we are still smiling...

appreciating

 while we can.

The sun is shining brightly

its warmth is sure

to melt it quickly...

better get to

the shovel before there

is no need.

No need to bundle...

fingerless gloves

polar-tec shirt

jeans

boots.

 Almost put these

in storage

more like winter props

than anything else...

part of the outdoor decor.

Today...
actually put to use.

Soaking up the rays

after this small

probably unnecessary

task.

Walking in the door

to the sweet fragrance

of James' home-cookin

goodness...

Ah...

the joy of now...

the joy of snow.

Who'd of thought?

March madness defined.

this moment

Joining Soule Mama and her many friends in this Friday ritual. 

A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from

my week. A simple, extraordinary moment.

 A moment to pause, savor, and remember.

amen. 

real home

no facebook.

no twitter.

e-mail? yes.

but even there i've discovered

a strange phenomena.

 

not sure what to actually call it.

surreal.

artificial.

fake.

i'm not trying to be harsh

i know there are perfectly good

reasons to

have said accounts.

to keep in touch with faraway friends

and relatives...daily

because the actual writing of a letter

is so very time consuming

a phone call?

please!

too personal.

writing or calling

make it very difficult

to leave the

innocuous comment

without explaining yourself.

you know...

odd little one-liners

that leave the reader wondering

if something is wrong...

good...

unfortunate.

all the questions and

attention

that follow

somehow re-assure the

originator...

they have "friends"

it is a technique that has been

in my opinion

abused

almost feels like high school

all over again

give me real any day

someone to look me in the eye

hold my hand when i really need it

give me a hug

have a drink with

laugh and hear their laugh come back

you know...

real.

like having my stuff

around me

they make me feel

right at home

genuine

tangible

like my

comfy couch.

if i'm sad or happy or

somewhere in-between

they know it

because they really know

me

now there's comfort.

quick texting

may have its place...

on my way

help i'm stuck

kinda thing

but

i love you

is best served with

a hug and a kiss.

real can be scary

to open up and be yourself

they might not like that person

rejection

feeling like a misfit

getting picked last for the team

nobody wants to be one of

them

all i need is my guitar

my second-hand

beat up

a little bit hole-y

chair

my husband

mom

kids

sister

friend

they are real

present

honesty

i am a misfit

i am the occasional

outcast

often times i feel

left out

i am usually part of the out-crowd

on those rare moments in my life

that i have been briefly

welcomed

into the

in crowd

i get a bit itchy

Jesus made a habit out of

hangin with the likes of me

so i am ok with it

that is honest to goodness

true blue

shoulder to lean on

place of refuge

real

kind of

 comfort