This Morning

Good Morning blogger friends...

My days are rushing by, filled with yarn, crochet hooks, hot soups, books, kids who seem to be finding their stride, and hot coffee. 

The orders for hats has slowed a bit, not too much, and I'm thankful, thankful for all of the orders that have been made and thankful for the lessening of the crochet fervor that has gripped my house. More and more people are posting their happy hat pictures on my page for me to enjoy and there is an extreme satisfaction in creating something that makes others happy and warm.

Finnley has begun ballet/tap class and is so in love with it that she will be sitting on the floor watching Sponge Bob and stretching, doing all of stretches she learned in class, and some of the ones from P.E. class at school. Yesterday she went to her room to read for a bit and about an hour later she came out, completely sober faced walked up to where I was sitting and working and said "mommy I know what I want to be when I grow up, I want to be the Sugar Plum Fairy". As a mom my heart leaps with joy thinking that maybe she has found the thing that fills her with joy, and as an artist my heart went through the roof. I have for sometime wondered if either of my children would follow in my artistic ways and signs had been pointing towards no, but then ballet happened and Finn's young passion for it gives me hope!

On a side note we, my mother, Finnley, and I will be heading into Seattle Sunday to watch The Nutcracker, Finnley has seen multiple versions of the production on TV but this will be her first foray to the theatre and I am so excited and hope she falls head over heels for the arts like I did with my grandmother at that age. I'm sure posts will follow our trip and I have put a note up to remind myself to take my camera and document this bit of magic in my 6 year old's life.

Just added theses last couple of photos as proof to myself that given a bit of time and effort I can use my camera in functions that are in no way automatic.

Reese's Peanut Butter banana bread...

OK...so this afternoon I was doing something other than what I should have been and ended up making this...it is divine!

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

8 oz bag of Reese’s Mini cups

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Grease your loaf pan (I used an 8 x 4 pan) with butter or shortening.

3. In a medium bowl whisk together your flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.

4. In a large bowl stir together your bananas, peanut butter, oil and sugars.

5. Pour your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Batter will be lumpy.

6.  Fold in your Reese’s Mini cups and spread batter into prepared pan.

7. Bake for approx 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
8. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges of the pan with a knife and remove from loaf pan, transferring bread to a cooling rack.

big hit- sooo yummy! definite make again bread and a great go to dessert!

photo friday

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. (this is from the Soulemama blog and a great idea)

Right now I am...
marveling  at the change in the weather wasn't the pool up in the backyard yesterday

tired  from all the little preparations for the change in the seasons, flannel sheets, new jammies, sock shopping, and re-stocking the pantry with holiday and cold weather staples, like baking necessities, oatmeal of course, and soup basics

laughing at my daughter's latest silly serious statement "mom, my butt is dancing, I think it likes music" we were in the car-what a nut

overwhelmed by the feeling that there is so much to do and so little time before Christmas is upon us

pleasantly surprised by Iain's willingness to share every single second of his school day, compared to Finnley's stand by reply for how school was "I don't remember"

wondering if I should have made bread today, hmmm...

grateful that my husband will be home soon to help kid wrangle and do the "manly" jobs around the house

hearing the kids laughing loud tummy laughs at "the Archies" cartoons, yup from the "60s

going on another yarn run tomorrow- can't ever have enough yarn

planning meals of soups, and chowders, and stews, and chilis, ooo and oatmeal, love things you can eat that heat you up from the inside out

digging that I get to live vicariously through all of my currently pregnant friends, I love it, it's such a happy reminder of those days

yarning (crocheting in Iain speak) working currently on 2 blankets both gifts, 5 hats all orders, and one sweater also a gift

listening to old time Jewel Pieces of Me and such

saying hurry, hurry there never seems to be enough time in the day

inspired by friends and family, the weather, and most of all the season

happy my new fall sweater arrived- luv it's warm plummy colour

delighted  by the idea that your life if what you make it, it's like a bulletin board you can add and take away until what you see is what you want

waiting for bed time, always waiting for bed time, sigh

being at peace with my family, at peace with my little slice of the planet, and at peace with the changes I hope are to come

good night.

November 1st

This is it folks, yep we made it, Halloween is a thing of the past it is officially 100% verified, it is the Holiday Season! Soon we will be watching Charlie Brown Christmas and the Grinch and cooking turkeys and arguing over whether to have cranberries from a can (yuck) or the real burst of flavour in your mouth real thing (yum) and I can't wait. Christmas music on the radio, Ralphy on TV, pine needles on the floor, school projects with glitter and glue, and well everything. There is nothing about the holidays I don't like.

We have had a busy time of it lately, we went on a sock buying trip, we keep our home at a cool 66 degrees in the winter so we have lots of slippers and fuzzy socks around.

 We also made the painful switch from sleeping in t shirts and shorts to fuzzy fleecy head to toe coverage jammies.

Art on the back deck is a hard loss to deal with when the weather turns cold, but art on the living room floor is OK but only if the quilt is include. So specific these kids are!

A lot of yarning has been going on in the house, yarning is what Iain calls crocheting, hats seem to be flying off my hooks and out to the post office. I actually sent 3 hats to Oklahoma in the last week! That's the furthest I have mailed something I've made. Though admittedly I have found it a bit difficult to a lot my time in proportionate bits. It is sometimes hard to split between orders, house work, laundry (my nemesis) cooking, baking, and the art program at Finnley's school.  However I think I may finally be getting the hang of it, I hope...

So, I know this is an odd picture-maybe, but it is a picture of a quilt, that i have recently realized is about 15 years old, yes 15 years! When I was a teenager I had a friend whose grandma made quilts and between tons of sleepovers I ended up with custody of 2 of said quilts. I am starting to realize that I will probably have them till I die. What brought this on you ask, well Iain was laying in this particular quilt and rolling about on the floor as boys are want to do, when I heard it, the sound of a seam tear. Though happy to report that 10 minutes with the sewing machine has it functional again. It has been patched and re patched, and sewn and re sewn so many times I can't remember. Though I will keep it forever because when I'm curled up in it, it's a slumber party, it's snowing, and I'm 16, all over again.

the autumn and chicken noodle soup

This time of year is in every way my favorite. I love the cool and crispy bite of the air, and the leaves turning bright red and orange. I also love hearing the heat kick on in the morning and the coffee pot gurgling away. Every day holds so much potential. Sweaters and fuzzy socks around the house become the norm, the basket of books in the living room gets a Halloween/Thanksgiving/Fall makeover, and crocheting afghans becomes an easy way to stay cozy.

This has become my latest inspiration afghans backed with a warm material like flannel. I love the way it turned out and am so excited to make my next one, it is in the works but i have a lot going on. Crochet orders have been coming in like crazy and I love it! I love seeing something I've made being used!

The other things of fall that make life good are of course the baking, molasses cookies today, and pumpkin something on Sunday though I haven't decided what yet I just know it needs to be pumpkiny and cinnamony. My other favorite is the soup I love making soups, with lots of fresh fall veg and flavor!

Chicken noodle is by far my go-to favorite, warm, satisfying, and sooo yummy!

Chicken Noodle Soup

3 cups chicken, cut into small pieces (i use left-overs from a roast chicken or cook and cool chicken breast)

8 cups chicken stock

1 medium chopped onion

4-6 sliced carrots

4-6 sliced stalks of celery

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup flour

1tbsp. olive oil

1 box of pasta shape of choice

ok so this is how I do it...

1. heat olive oil and add chopped veg, let cook until soft but not squishy, i like to let it sit without stiring for a bit so it browns a tiny bit

2. add stock and heat to boiling

3. add cooked chicken, and noodles , boil until noodles are cooked through

4. in small sauce pan melt butter completely and add flour a little at a time whisking continuously (roux) once smooth add to soup and mix, the soup with thicken (this step could be eliminated completely if you like your soup thin and slurpy, but it does add a hardiness and lots of flavor)

5. add salt, pepper, garlic, and any other seasonings you enjoy

put in a big bowl and eat super hot! yummy!

the new days of fall

The weather here has taken a big swing for the colder and definitely the wetter. Though I do have to admit when my heat kicked on about 2 weeks ago in the morning I got that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with the autumn. Things here have become very routine Finnley in full-time school this year being a big 1st grader, and Iain in part time preschool, has broken our days down into compartments. Mornings are filled with backpacks, finding matching socks, brushing teeth, and the race out the door. How is it that we can live no less than 1 minute from either school and it still be a scramble to get there on time?

speaking of that fuzzy feeling here are some of the fuzzy things I've been working on...

Also my mom's birthday was last week and for her cake I made a new recipe chocolate chip cheesecake, and i do have to say yummy!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cocoa. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan. Set crust aside.
2. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk; beat well. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat on medium speed until smooth. Toss 1/3 of the miniature chocolate chips with the 1 teaspoon flour to coat (this keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the cake). Mix into cheese mixture. Pour into prepared crust. Sprinkle top with remaining chocolate chips.
3. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 1 hour. Turn off oven (do not open oven door) and leave the cake in the oven to cool in the oven for another hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Refrigerate before removing sides of pan. Keep cake refrigerated until time to serve.               

Cheesecakes have become my thing lately, I seem to make them for everything, I find them incredibly easy and everyone loves it.

Well, today's to do list...make bread, do laundry, clothes and linens, vacuum...o yes and of course the biggy, crochet...lol

being M.I.A.

So school started and that meant super duper busy here, Finnley started 1st grade, and Iain his very 1st day of school ever in preschool of course...

so far it's been a bit of an adjustment...iain still misses finn alot during the day when she's gone, and finn is exhausted by Wednesday evening...

the baking is still going strong-lol-we had mini raspberry topped cheesecakes at crochet club, though I forgot to do the pictures but that's the perfect excuse to make more right ;)

Here are a few early fall pictures to enjoy :)



totally hooked on sky pictures lately, something about the colours-loving it

and one fun picture-corners of my home starting with the epicenter a bit of the kitchen including my sink and window, one of my favourite places...

ok more later...

muffins, muffins everywhere

So today was a muffiny kind of day, and this is the most perfect, most easiest, most all day yummiest muffin recipe ever!

Morning Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, egg, and butter; mix until ingredients are moistened, do not over beat. Stir in fresh fruit. Spoon batter into twelve greased muffin cups.
2. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Serve warm.               

These muffins are so good, and such fast cooking you can make them on even a hot morning and the oven will be off before the sun really hits! And best of all any kind of berry works, we use blueberries (which theses are) raspberries, and blackberries, though I'm sure there are more that would be just fine, marionberries for example would be awesome...

This year's summer in the northwest seemed to take forever to come, it rained April, May, and July with single shiny days scattered about, but August has been our month to shine, it has been sunny and warm for weeks on end and I am actually happy to say today it's raining. Our yard needed a good natural bath and the birds that inhabit our big front yard tree seem to be having lots of fun. 

Finnley's shiner! Guess how she got that??? Iain and a baseball! I love it, how "Leave it to Beaver" is a baseball to the eye!

The lazy days of summer are so drifty, playtime starts early and ends late, and the times to eat all seem to run together. There is no mistaking the tan lines and extreme tiredness on the faces of my kids, and my extreme desire for them to sleep in every morning. My last 2 weeks with my husband home have been very speedy, racing by and making school loom large and near. This year is my 1st year with both children in school, Iain will be in pre-school 3 mornings a week, and Finn a full time 1st grader, all I keep thinking is "all this time what am I going to do???" Then I remember, oh, right the things i put off this summer, like painting the bathrooms, and my bedroom, oh, and those curtains I wanted to make. Oh, right and Finn wants to re-do her room too, the sewing the crocheting, the re-organizing, yep, my list is getting quite long. Hmm but summer is still here for 2 more weeks, I suppose the list can wait...

Friday

Summer Stars by Carl Sandburg

Bend low again, night of summer stars.
So near you are, sky of summer stars,
So near, a long arm man can pick off stars,
Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl,
So near you are, summer stars,
So near, strumming, strumming,
So lazy and hum-strumming.

A great artist is always before his time or behind it.

George Edward Moore

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
-The Beatles

Simplicity is the nature of great souls

-unknown

Blueberry Banana Bread

ingredients
1 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour (though you can use just all purpose)
1/2 c. cornmeal
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp canola oil
2 large eggs, beaten
1 c. blueberries
3 mashed, very ripe bananas

directions
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix second list of ingredients in a separate bowl. Add wet to dry, stirring just until moist. Using a 8x4in loaf pan (coated with cooking spray), cook for one hour at 350 degrees, or until pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool bread in pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire rack. Eat up.

this bread was a great use of all the blueberries I managed to hold on to lol, the only way to keep them is to hide them up high where Iain can't reach them.

I just had to add this picture, it just looks so good. This was our Full Circle Farm veg share this week, sooo good. The peaches lasted less than 24 hours!

So i have finally come to terms with my fresh egg obsession, I went to Terrie's Berries for raspberries this week and left with raspberries, blueberries, and a very full egg basket. I had been refilling my own cardboard cartons at home, but inspired by an episode of I Love Lucy I felt the need to have an egg bowl. So on the way home I stopped in a little antique store in Sumner. I had received a call from them about the red pyrex bowl I have been searching for but the one they had in wasn't the right one (the search continues). I was there anyways so a quick look around was definitely in order, as I made my rounds I came across this pyrex bowl, brown on the outside and a mauvey pink on the inside.  I knew immediately it was the perfect egg bowl, it's even egg coloured! I couldn't wait to get it home wash it up and fill it with my beautiful farm fresh eggs! So there it is, every time I open the fridge I'm greeted by a pretty bowl brimming with eggs and I get to smile.

Dad diaries...yesterday was beach day!

but more important Iain received his 1st real big boy bike-o happy day!