Welcome to my homestead. After writing about Grandma Hulda and sharing our family’s recipe for old fashion pinwheel date cookies I thought I would share another great recipe and such a classic; Chocolate Chip cookies!
Oh don’t you just love a freshly baked, still warm from the oven, chocolate chip cookie? It takes me back to my teenage years. I know you would think it would take me back to a younger time in my childhood but after my dad died when I was 6, I don’t remember my mom doing any baking for years. In fact, I was the one who would bake in our home, so hungry was I for baked goods. When I was around age 9 or 10, I started baking Biscuit dough from a box and I would stuff the center with mincemeat. Whenever we had guests I would make those but I cringe now wondering how good they really were. At the time I thought I was such an amazing cook. Ha!
When I was 12 my mom remarried a man named, Bud (John Ray Finch) who had been a custom’s officer in Campbell River on Vancouver Island. My mom met Bud at the Empress Hotel in Chilliwack, where she worked as a front desk clerk. Leaving my sister J behind to finish school, the three of us created a new family and moved to Creston, B.C, in the Kooteneys and started a new chapter in our life.
It was there in our large 100 year old, historic home on the hill that my mom started to bake again. I can remember coming home in the fall, my cheeks flush with cold and the smell of pinwheel cookies, or chocolate cookies, would rise up to meet me when I opened the back door leading to our homey kitchen.
I’d like to believe that I’m creating those same sorts of memories for our children and this blog is also another legacy to capture some of our family stories and our favourite recipes.
In my recent blog post I wrote about my grandmother’s Hulda’s life as a way to inspire those of us who live in more modern times but in the last 6 months as there is such political unrest in the States since the recent election of their new president and also power struggles throughout the world, I thought it is very timely that two of my favourite people in the world (Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Deepak Chopra) are providing a free meditation series called, “Hope in Uncertain Times.”
I laughed out loud when I saw the title of their new meditation challenge for it is aptly named and something I can totally relate to.
This is the invitation I received from the Chopra Centre in my email, since I have done other meditations challenges in the past.
Uncertainty can be scary, and with fear comes defensiveness, judgment, and “us vs. them” thinking. Fear tempts us to give up our power to others who only appear strong, whether that’s your boss, your partner or other leaders. But true strength lies within.
Starting April 10, you’ll learn to take back your power and discover the inner resources to find love, peace, and connection in even the most difficult situations with Hope in Uncertain Times.
If you have not participated in one of these events, (it starts on April 10, 2017) I encourage you to pencil this date on your calendar and register as it could change your life. At the very least it will help you align yourself with your true essence and help you create the life that you want. When I have invited a few of my friends in the past, some have said, oh, I don’t have even 15 minutes in my day to do something like meditate but that seems so backwards to me.
If we want to be more productive in our lives, we don’t just work until we drop. No we have to eat properly, to rest appropriately, which will give us the energy we need to do our jobs. Well, meditation is really the same, although it’s our soul’s alignment and when we are in harmony with our inner power then we can do ANYTHING….and you know in my small way, that is what Hope’s Homestead is really about. Yes, I want to inspire others to live a more sustainable life, to realize that living more simply is really living more fully, but more than anything I want that to come from a place of spirit.
This is the true homestead.
My hope is that it will touch millions and millions of people. If we are all hummming, or rather, ommmming, with a single thread of Hope as we move more deeply into the year 2017, imagine what we can accomplish. Fear will be banished and love replaced and when we live in a state of love, that is where miracles happen.
So please join me now in registering for this series. It’s absolutely free, no strings attached and I believe it’s a Win/Win for everyone who takes just 15 minutes out of their day to connect.
1-1/4 cups sugar 1-1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar 1-1/2 cups margarine or butter, softened 2 tsp vanilla (I play around with this…1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp almond extract or coconut extract) 3 eggs 4-1/4 cups of all purpose flour (I play with this too, sometimes add some oatmeal, ground flax seed) 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups of chocolate chips 1 cup of nuts or coconut, or dried cranberries…this is the fun part of the recipe and makes it different each time you make it. Also, the 2 cups of chocolate chips can be played with using white and dark chocolate Directions Heat oven to 375 F degrees. In a large bowl beat the margarine or butter until creamy and then slowly add the sugars until light and fluffy.
Add the vanilla and eggs, blend well. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, again, mixing until well combined.
The final step is adding the chocolate chips and the 1 cup of nuts or whatever you have decided to include. Mix all until well combined. Drop dough by rounded tablespoon 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 F for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. This makes a large batch of cookies. I often make a few dozen big and then a few dozen small for our little people but I probably get 5 to 6 dozen depending on the size of cookie I make Note: When the dough can also be frozen if you just want to make a dozen at a time…that way you will always have some freshly baked cookies on hand but in my house….yeah, the whole batch go in about 2 days!!! ….and my kids are just hoping and trusting that our cookie jar will ALWAYS be full. A final tip from my kitchen, I don’t know about your part of the world but nuts are extremely expensive in mine, so I always keep a basket of dried nuts in their shells for the kids to crack and for me to use when baking. Yes, it takes a bit of effort to crack a cup of nuts but somehow it feels so much more satisfying and you know it’s also meditative cracking nut after nut and watching a mound of nuts form in your measuring jar. Also, this is a good way to have a combination of nuts in your cookies….I’m sorry if you are allergic to nuts like my niece T is….I’m sure you can find some other yummy addition it that is your situation.
When I put these cookies on my mom’s old Forget Me Not China, it feels like we are having tea together again like our old days in Creston, B.C. (Her friends gave her this china when she left Creston btw)
Well that wraps another blog post. I’m so glad you came to visit and I hope you will be joining me on April 10th meditating on the thoughts of Hope In Uncertain Times
If you are unsure, join me in one of Deepak and Oprah’s past meditations from their “Perfect Health,” 21 day series….”Meditate it Forward”
Pass it on…….
Thank you as always, for coming to visit. Wishing you MUCH love, lots of peace…and Hope always!
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
My maternal grandmother died 30 years ago in 1987, and yet as I did some research and started to write this piece, it felt like she was across the room, moving rhythmically in her rocking chair and sharing her story in her sing songy, Swedish voice that I loved.
If you want to make a cup of tea and join me, pick a comfy chair and I will tell you a bit of her story, a peek into the past, a glimpse of what women 100 years ago experienced.. While daily, we move through our lives, mostly unconscious of their impact, the hardship they endured are etched in our bones forever more.
Hulda Adeline, was born on September 24, 1892 to Matilda (Koping) and August Snickars, (trade Carpenter) in Malox, Vaasa, Finland. She was their first child. Before she was even born, her father left their home to search for a better life in North America, and 6 years later her mother left her with an Aunt and followed her husband to the new country.
In 1904, when Hulda was only 12 years old she boarded a ship which took her on a long voyage across the Atlantic ocean and then traveled slowly by train across the United States, until she reached California to join her parent.
I can’t even imagine how determined and brave she must have been to take that trip. How scared and worried she may have been, not knowing for sure if she would be reunited with her family. The fact that my grandmother spoke Swedish and probably not a lot of English must have made that trip even more daunting.
She did find her family in Albion, California and promptly started working in a nearby hotel to help support their growing family.
Hulda Adeline Snickars~ 15 years old in 1907~
Her mother and father had 4 more children (Rose, Christine, Franz and another boy,) and then her father died. Her mother remarried a man with the last name of Nygard and they had one more child. A daughter, whom they called Violet but everyone called her Babe. Aunt Babe died a few years ago and was the last of that generation of strong and resourceful women.
Grandma met her husband in Albion, CA. August (Gus) Victor Herrling was born in 1882 in Canada. His father, Charles August Herrling (b 1826) had emigrated from the state of Hungary/Austria in the mid 1800’s and settled a homestead which is now called, “Herrling’s Island.” If you are ever traveling past Hope B.C. on highway number 1, you will see the sign for Herrling Island, across the Fraser River.
While on the homestead, his father had married an indigenous woman, Mary Dora, and had two children. Sadly, she died in childbirth with their child, so common during that time. I don’t know if their third child survived. The two children were raised by their grandparents and Charles then remarried another indigenous woman in 1876. With Mary Caroline Ling, great grandpa Herrling had 8 children and my grandfather Gus,was one of these children.
In 1915 Gus and Hulda married in Elk, California. While in California they had 6 children, Henry (1916), Charles (1918), Stanley (1920) and then they had two more children but I don’t’ know in what order. Harold died at age 2 from an infection and Patricia Anne only lived to 3 months and I think there was talk of her having heart issues.
Then in 1926 my mother, Ethel May was born in Oakland, California. I now understand why she was raised a bit like a princess with three older brothers watching over her and parents who hovered, probably scared that she too would die. She was followed by two more siblings. Richard (Dick) in 1929 and finally after emigrating to Canada from the States their last child, Rose Marie was born in 1932. Grandma was 40 when her last baby was born.
Hulda’s first husband and my grandfather, August Victor Herrling (Gus)
Gus and Hulda bought a farm in the Abbotsford area but during the depression years they moved to Campbell River where Gus and the older boys worked in the logging camp to earn a living and keep food on the table. The Herrling’s were a kind and generous family and even though times were tough, they always made a place for others at their table. In the late 30’s they returned to the Abbotsford area. Sadly, Gus was kicked by a horse and died of his injuries in 1946.
In those days it was hard for women to survive without a husband as being a single working woman/mom was not the norm, nor were there jobs to provide a decent living for women on their own and so in 1948, Hulda remarried Carl Brosch. They moved to Coquitlam and then finally together they bought another piece of land in the Abbotsford area. There is now a large mall complex on their land.
My grandmother Hulda and her second husband Carl.
Grandma Hulda lived at this location with Carl for many years. I can remember visiting them on their property and recognizing the value of growing your own food, having a compost pile, right in the garden. She taught me the gift of simplicity and using what you have. She would give me an old Sears Robuck Catalogue and a pair of scissors and I would make whole families and play with them for hours.
I loved when she would tell stories and act them out using animated expressions and actions. At the end of our visit, as the day darkened and the dinner had been cleared away, I would fall into a deep sleep with my head resting against her heart, listening to the vibration of her voice as she continues to visit with my mom in the kitchen.She didn’t have much money in her lifetime but when she came to visit us in Hope, I can remember her bringing little treats; orange crush pop and candies. Although I have decluttered a lot of my childhood memorabilia, even my precious Suzy and Cindy dolls are long gone, I kept one of the last birthday cards she gave me with a kitten and her written words, “love gram!”
When grandma was in her early 80’s she and Carl had a car accident and after that she started to age rapidly. In her last 10 years she deteriorated suffering from dementia and was in the Riverview Extended care home/hospital in Coquitlam, B.C.. In the last couple of years of her life she was in the Mission Hospital. The nurses apparently loved her and even though she was unresponsive, she still touched souls with her sweet nature.
Why did I tell you that story?
Well, for one, I don’t want the memory of this incredible woman, my grandmother Hulda to be lost. But another reason is to lift you up. If she could have lived almost 100 years, endured living through two world wars, one great depression, survived the loss of her first husband and two babies, and still retain her faith and hope, then we can do anything. We have more resources as women now. We live in a time when education and careers are possible. We live in a time when we are not pressured to marry or have children.There is a social safety net in Canada and government funded health care. We have come a long way since Grandma was born.
It’s true that the current state of the world is unstable with certain world leaders and ideologies in power but we women now have the right to vote. We are strong and powerful and most important of all, in most families, we still rock the cradle and can impact the next generation.We can teach our children to follow their hearts, listen from within and trust in goodness prevailing.By example, we can teach our children to be honest, live with integrity, take ownership for their choices, be respectful of others, work hard, have faith, but probably the biggest legacy is to be accepting and loving to all of our fellow humans, no matter their station, race, gender, religion, or colour.
But we still have far to go for not all women in the world are living in peace and freedom.
People, like Grandma Hulda endured so much so their children and grandchildren could have a better life and now it’s our turn to hold that space of respect and pass on the lessons of strength to the next generation on this earth. In 100 years from now, I’m holding the vision that there is peace on earth, (everywhere) that no one goes hungry and everyone is contributing to the world by using their own unique talents and gifts for the betterment of our earth. When you look back at everything Hulda experienced and how the world has changed, I don’t think my vision for the world is too grand. It’s possible….with Hope, anything is possible.
Well, that’s my blog story for today but before I go I wanted to share my family’s recipe for Pinwheel Date Cookies. I think it’s timely as this is a recipe passed down from my mother and I’d like to think it came from Hulda, although I will never know.
The appearance of this cookie has a yummy circle of dates going around and around. Just like a meditative medicine wheel. With each step around the wheel we become more grounded,—perhaps as we munch on our cookies, with each bite we will lay down strength and hope from generations passed. The swirling path of dates reminds us that life is sweet and history doesn’t have to repeat itself.
With conscious thought, we can choose a different path for a healthier world where the strongest vibration is love. Let that be my grandma Hulda’s legacy….and now mine.
Old Fashion Pinwheel Date Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
Filling
3/4 cup finely chopped dates 1/4 sugar 1/3 cup water 2 tbsp finely chopped nuts (we use walnuts)
Cookies
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup margarine or butter–softened 1 egg 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt
Directions In a small saucepan, combine dates, sugar and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until thick. Stir in nuts. Cool. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, margarine and egg until light and fluffy.Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt; mix at low speed until dough forms. Cover with tea towel or parchment paper, refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling. On lightly floured surface, roll dough into 16×8 inch rectangle; carefully spread with date filling. Starting with 16 inch side, roll up jelly-roll fashion; cut in half to form two 8 inch rolls. Wrap each roll in a tea towel; refrigerate at least 2 hours. Heat oven to 375 degree F. Cut dough into 1/4 inch slices. Place 2 inches apart on lightly sprayed cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool completely on cookie racks. Makes about 3 dozen cookies (We love these cookies so I double the recipe and freeze a container full of them) (Note, if you like the taste of orange, you can replace the water with orange juice and use some zest….also add a bit of cinnamon to the dry ingredients for a lovely addition)
I like to dust some icing sugar over the tops of the cookies when they are still warm from the oven
Thanks for visiting today. I hope something you read lifts you up and helps you on your journey and at the very least, you have added a new cookie recipe to your recipe box. As you know, I think life is more bearable with a jar full of cookies.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Happy Shrove Tuesday, dear blog friends and family!
Did you know that Shrove Tuesday is also called Mardi Gras?
And Mardi Gras is french for FAT TUESDAY???? I love learning new things. I always thought Mardi Gras was just a big party down in New Orleans (well it is) but it also refers to the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
And that’s tomorrow. So today is Fat Tuesday or celebration day and in many parts of the world it’s also Shrove Tuesday.
Now here is something I also did not know, The expression “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the word shrive, which means to absolve. Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics, who make a special point of self examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or area of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God’s help in dealing with.
It’s funny but when I was a child and attending church regularly,…and even as an adult? I don’t REALLY remember much ado in our Anglican derived services about Shrove Tuesdays and we certainly didn’t eat pancakes in celebration of such a day.
In my memory anyway….where are my sisters for their recollection?
Also, I have never been into gorging myself in anticipation of a great fast…but you know I really like the idea of the whole absolution thing….and preparing for a new season.
Something speaks to my deepest core about letting go….sometimes I feel it’s what my life’s journey is all about.
So today, my family and I are starting a new tradition and are celebrating Shrove Tuesday. We are feasting and celebrating and for dinner? Pancakes of course.
We are a big pancake family anyway. Every single Sunday since our children were tiny, my husband David gets up early, lets me sleep in, (do I love this man!!!) and makes our ever growing crew pancakes. He could now be blindfolded in the kitchen on Sunday morning and pull together a whopping plate of PERFECT, light and fluffy pancakes. Did I mention they are also golden brown?
NO matter how much I practice making pancakes they never turn out like his….mind you, he doesn’t leave the pan for a moment. He hovers over his griddle like the pancakes are his precious offspring. When I make them, they are not golden…more like dark brown!!! of course when I’m making them, I’m flying around, throwing a load of laundry in, unloading the dishwasher, and yeah…maybe treating them like my precious offspring. I’m always multi tasking to stay on top of everything and while I’m trying to attend to my pancakes, I’m usually making something to go with them at the same time….like a bowl of fruit salad and so yeah, they don’t turn out as great as his. (thankfully, our kids are beautifully GOLDEN!)
But anyway, I GOT SIDETRACKED….and that is why my pancakes don’t turn out like his!
We often eat pancakes during the week as well; if we are out and busy in the afternoons with music, dance, sports, or the other multiple activities our kids participate in. I will come home with a car load of hungry kids and unless I have made a casserole or a pot of soup or a big salad, all made, sitting in the fridge, the cry goes out for pancakes…..and while sometimes I do make them, we wait for Dad to come home, pull on his apron, and whip them up for us. A bonus for the kids AND me.
(who doesn’t like a night off from cooking?….and I’m happy to do the clean up!)
This morning as David was heading out the door he said, “we are on for pancakes right?” and as we were all hustling to get dressed and ready for the day, we gave all gave him the resounding thumbs up!!!
Yeah!
After the kids were all off to school….and even our oldest son is out of the house today as he’s working all week at the Science Centre….another YEAH!
I came home and was inspired to actually make myself more than my green drink and an apple.
Yep! that’s me most mornings…..BUT
This morning, I decided to try out a really cool, never thought about before, pancakes recipe that I stumbled over this weekend. I found a cool channel on Youtube, “Minimalist Mama of 10,” when I was googling large families, and minimalism. I know such a contradiction of terms but being on this road-less traveled, I’m constantly on the look out for my people. Yes, I know, I know, I live with “my” people but in many ways not really. While yes, they are living with me and I birthed 8 of them, they don’t all endorse my beliefs and philosophies….it’s more like they humour me.
A lot!
Thankfully….
They have come along on the backyard chicken road with me ’cause I think they were getting sick and tired of me spending all my time mooning over chicken coop plans on the internet and always having my nose in a book on chicken care.
They finally said, okay to chickens in our backyard. It felt like forever too. Have you ever wanted something so bad you could taste it but other people got in the way of your dream?
The cool thing is now our little ones have feathered pets and the big ones are loving our omega rich, organic eggs they get to eat….and they know the chickens are treated REALLY well! And then there is my veggie garden. Who doesn’t mind getting all that fresh produce from the garden, and the green smoothies and juices that I make for them, ’cause, yes, they all like being healthy and fit. But boy they scatter like the wind, when I start talking about double digging our garden, or turning over the compost bins. Well, except the little ones who are always in for playing in the dirt….maybe little people are MY PEOPLE!
For the most part they all agree in our constant move towards living a minimalist life and they all agree that they love the feeling they get after their bedroom has been combed through and organized. Almost as if a breath of fresh air has been whooshed into their space.
And it has.
Don’t you love new energy?
They also know deep down that the steps we are taking to walk a lighter path on the earth and help to heal our planet does make a difference. If we all join in we can clean up our home and keep it healthy. We are after all…..ALL family, living in the same house/planet.
And so today, we will enjoy a big plate of pancakes and think about all the experiences we have had this past winter, and tomorrow, we will start to cleanse, and fast, taking time to reflect and be conscious as we prepare for a new season of wonder and growth, TRUSTING IN THE MAGIC OF NEW BEGINNINGS.
Truth be told, when oldest daughter left to start teaching in Victoria at the end of January, I have started to de-clutter drawer by drawer, closet by closet. I didn’t wait for spring but that is an inner drive of mine to always be moving the energy in our home. Slowly, I’m letting go of what doesn’t serve our family any longer and giving it to others who may be in need. It feels good and with each space that gets cleared, new energy rushes in to give me even more energy to do the things I love.
Spend time with my people! in my house and outside of it….and you are included in that part because taking time to write my posts and connecting with you is important to me.
My greatest wish is that something I write will inspire you and help you on your path.
As the season of Lent is almost upon us, it’s a time to make a clean sweep and banish everything that is not working or assisting us and creating space for the experiences and life we desire.
I hope you join me in trying these pancakes this morning. Thanks Darci, my new Youtube friend, from the “Minimalist Mama of 10,” while our family doesn’t have any digestive issues with grains, (that we know of) it’s always nice to have a new pancake recipe for our family to try.
Here’s the recipe I got from Darci and her Youtube channel:
2 eggs
1 banana
Coconut oil or butter to spread on cooktop
Directions
1. Blend eggs and banana until frothy
2. Pour batter onto hot cooktop…..(brush on some coconut oil or butter on the griddle first)
3. Flip and when both sides are cooked….serve with syrup and fruit
This recipe was enough for two people
Okay, and while this first batch of mine was not golden, it was absolutely delish…loved the fruit and greek yogurt too!….now I have energy to do some fun stuff today….happy Shrove Tuesday!
Enjoy!!!
And if you need some inspiration to start banishing what isn’t working in your life and creating new energy and space for what you desire, check out this great book that I’ve been reading…or re-reading as is the case here.
The author Denny Sargent doesn’t miss a beat and covers each aspect of our lives when he wrote, “Clean Sweep.” He gets us to analyze each aspect of our life:
Body/Environment
Heart/Emotions
Mind/thoughts
Spiritual/Supernatural
As we look at each category, we can decide what we need to let go and what we want more of and slowly, with new daily practices we can create the life we want. I like starting with the body and our environment because when you start eating healthier, by cutting out sugars and processed foods, it will give you the energy to tackle your environment next. And when you have an environment that you love to be in, you have more energy to bring those you love closer.
This season of Lent….
Look at your living space, decide which items you want to surround yourself with. What do you love…what brings you joy? Everything else goes. In one of Darci’s (Minimalist Mama of 10) she talks about having a dream to move into a small log cabin somewhere rural. Now I can agree….only not on the cabin….I hate to dust….but a tiny house is something on my list…hopefully in the woods…but hey, we have a big family, so sometimes dreams have to wait, but we do what we can with what we have. And that is to be grateful, to live in a state of joy and in AWE for all that surrounds us.
Okay…here’s the book that I’ve been reading and maybe you will find it useful on your path.
And now a link to the YouTube video where Darci, “Minimalist Mama of 10” and her family makes the above pancakes….check her out, ’cause she is so funny and her family are lovely and inspiring.
If you can’t see the above, click on this hyper link to Darci’s video making grain less pancakes…love it!
It’s later…..after dinner and here are a few of our Shrove Tuesday pictures from our pancake dinner…..
My husband David making his golden pancakes….and yes, this is as big as he smiles
….note how light it is at 5:30!
While David was making his classic pancakes….I was trying my hand at Banana chocolate chip pancakes
The griddle pan for our newish stove works great!!!…so now we can have two griddles going for our big family
Guess which pancakes are mine?….yep…theo ones on the right….David’s are the golden ones on the left! Both were yummy though
The little girls still sit at their little table next to us….soon we are going to have to build a bigger table!…or kids are going to have to move out
About to say Grace…..From left to right..Harrison, Clark, David, Grace, and Will…I sit next to the little girls when I’m not behind the camera saying cheese
Will thought this Shrove Pancake dinner was the BEST ever…of course whipping cream and fruit doesn’t hurt!
Clark spent his day bringing in a new dinosaur exhibit to our Science Centre but he was happy to come home to pancakes, fruit and eggs
David’s classic pancake recipe for 8 people
Ingredients 2-1/2 cups of flour
1 tbsp of sugar
Pinch of salt
6 tsp of baking powder
2-1/2 cups of milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
6 tbsp of vegetable oil
Combine the dry ingredients first in a large bowl. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, slowly adding the milk, vanilla and vegetable oil. Slowly add the wet ingredients to dry but don’t over mix, just mix ’til lumpy is what David says.
Put large spoonfuls on hot griddle and cook until golden brown. Serve hot with maple syrup…fruit and whipping cream…or Greek yogurt is you have it…yum!
Before I wave a final goodbye, this post is dedicated to my beautiful mom, Ethel May, who passed away 5 years ago today. As Darci says, “See you on the flip side!” Love you always!
Thank you for visiting today…..
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browing 1806-1861
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Before this day of love flies by, I did want to stop, wave hi, wish you much love and share a delicious chocolate cake recipe. You may have a homemade classic that you love, but I have to say THIS cake recipe never fails to be rich and delicious. Even today, when I ran out of cocoa, and used Baker’s unsweetened melted squares in my cake mix AND my frosting…it turned out so GOOD!
It’s all in a good base.
And since it was Valentine’s day today, I decorated it with a little red heart made out of sprinkles. The kids loved it. I’ve never been a HUGE cake eater…and my family will tell you that chocolate cake was never my fav either. I know,
CRAZY!!!
but I had a bad experience when I was a child and was off chocolate cake for years.
Every year on my birthday I looked longingly towards having a vanilla or lemon cake and each year my mom would present me with a beautiful cake…but it would be chocolate. I know, that seems so rude, and so unappreciative, but hey, it was MY birthday. I know there are four girls in my family and maybe she really couldn’t remember who liked what kind of cake best but I think, when she went to buy my cake, because SHE loved chocolate soooo much, she just couldn’t understand why I didn’t and she ended up bringing me home what she liked.
….until I think I was 40, she finally clued in and you know what…by then, I had grown to appreciate chocolate and you know what, at the end of her days, she liked a light vanilla or lemon cake.
Go figure!
Judging by how fast this cake disappears…I mean the day I make it, it’s gone, I know this is a good recipe to share with you.
If you are looking for a rich, moist, delicious cake…a chocolate cake, then try this recipe…and there will be no going back to french vanilla again,
Well, until Easter anyway.
In the next month I’m going to perfect a homemade white cake, ’cause my mom’s bunny cake was ALWAYS a white cake and gee, that’s only a month away.
Once Valentine’s day comes and goes, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump before we are to spring. But, for now, I’m going to share this with you, make a pot of tea and go and see if there is one more slice left before the day is over.
Will (above) and our twins, Victoria and Kathryn, working on their Valentine’s day cards (thanks for the stickers Auntie B)
Let me know what you think…I would love to hear a comment. Is anyone reading my blog???
I made this cake last week and I didn’t even decorate the top…it was inhaled!
Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake
Ingredients 2 cup all purpose flour 2 cups sugar 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tsp baking powder 11/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp of instant coffee powder 1 cup milk (I used an unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it was yum) 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil….and if you have coconut oil that would be AMAZING 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 1 cup of boiling water
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt. Mix dry ingredients on low speed, until everything is well combined.
Slowly add the milk, oil, eggs, one at a time, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Boil 1 cup of water and add 1 tbsp of instant coffee powder to the water until it’s dissolved. On low speed, slowly add the boiling water to the mix, gradually increasing the speed until it’s on high for one minute.
Note: This mixture will be very thin and runny, after adding the water but don’t worry, that is the correct consistency and your cake will turn out to be rich and set beautifully.
Distribute the batter evenly, into two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes on middle rack in your oven. When toothpick comes out clean it’s done.
Let cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing the cakes, cool on a wire rack. Before icing, chill cake in the fridge for an hour or until well cooled.
Now the part my kids love the best, ’cause they love to lick the bowl,my spatula, the beaters, and hope there is a bit left…there always is a bit in the bowl just for them.
Chocolate Mocha Buttercream Icing
1 cup of butter softened 3 cups of powdered sugar 4 tbsp of cocoa powder or 2 ounces of bakers unsweetened chocolate squares, melted 2 tsp of vanilla extract 2-4 tbsp of heated milk and 2 tbsp of instant coffee dissolved in it
Whip butter in a mixer, add 2 cups of powdered sugar until creamy Add the cocoa or the melted chocolate squares Add vanilla extract Add the heated milk with instant coffee Add remainder of icing sugar until your icing reaches the consistency you desire to spread.
I whip it on high until the icing is light and fluffy
With butter knife, frost cooled cake and decorate with coconut, nuts, sprinkles, or as I did a few days ago when I was in the hurry…nothing. My family inhales this cake.
If you knew how little time I had to frost this cake and pull Valentine’s day together….but it can be done and you know what…it gets eaten so fast that it doesn’t have to look perfect….but boy did it taste delish!
And before I say a final goodbye, I just wanted to share something that has been going on around here…it’s always something.
In the last 2 weeks, our family dynamic has changed again. I’m going to write a blog post about our oldest daughter Alyssa leaving home, again well, in truth, she was only home for a long visit this last time but she is off on another life adventure. Working and living on Vancouver Island.
Our oldest daughter Alyssa up early to get going on her latest adventure…teaching and living on Vancouver Island
And our son Mitchell is also no longer at home, having chosen his University town to be his chosen place to call home.
Our number 2 son, Mitchell…home at Christmas time….love you wherever you are and whatever you are doing
As our family changes and shifts, I’m thinking a lot about love and letting go this year and I wanted to share a wonderful video by Dr. Maya Angelou on loving and letting go.
She shares a special message and reminds us that it doesn’t matter where your loved ones are, the message for them is…..”I love you…” And this Valentine’s day….it’s dedicated to my children, Mitchell and Alyssa…. I love you!
What a beautiful message. What a beautiful person Maya Angelou was. 1 Corinthians 13:13 ~And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.~ Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
“How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!” ~Thomas Wentworth Higginsons~
That quote was written by a man who was a minister, author, abolitionist and soldier. He lived from December 22, 1823 until May 9, 1911 and spent much of his life, devoted to fighting for the rights of freed slaves, women and other disfranchised people in America. (My kind of guy!!!)
Since he was almost 88 years old when he died, he experienced many winters struggling for the freedom and liberation of what were then, second class citizens of his era. He understood and recognized, without the hardships in our life, we are unable to experience the beauty of this world. What a profound metaphor winter is and don’t you agree that our seasons shine clarity on our life?
Living in our valley, in the interior of B.C., I have been blessed to experience the distinct variety of Mother Nature’s four seasons. On the hottest summer day, when I’m sweltering and limp with sweat, all I have to do is reflect that in a few short months, I will be curled up under a blanket, with a hot cup of tea, trying to keep warm as the temperature plummet and snow lays deep around me. I think this is the lesson of faith and is also what Thomas Wentworth Higginsons was talking about above.
When we draw on the changing seasons,
faith grows,
we grow.
We learn to be grateful for each chapter in our life.
This morning we woke up yet again to another frigid morning. As I snuggled deeper under the comforter, keeping my eyes shut tight, willing the night to extend, my husband David, always first to get up, went around like a quiet alarm clock, gently knocking on bedroom doors saying, “wake up kids and dress as warm as you can today. It’s 19 below F degrees this morning.”
Brrrrr!
I had the little ones skip their baths, wanting to keep heads as warm as possible and we were ready in record time, despite all the layers they loaded on before heading out the door.
I’m now home from doing my morning school drop offs and sitting with a cup of steaming chai tea in my hand, looking down at my snow covered chicken coop. I wonder how my hens are doing this morning. I’ve been promising to talk about winter chicken care for a while now, so I think today is the day.
Our chicken coop is in the far right corner of our yard
As you probably know this is my first winter caring for chickens (a long held dream come true) and before the first snow fell or the temperature dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, I had a plan; to keep my four beautiful girls dry and warm this winter and ensure they were comfortable, well fed and healthy.
To accomplish that goal, last fall I asked my handyman husband to close in their 4 x 12 foot run with plywood, outside of the hardware cloth walls. This way they would be out of the wind and have a warmer place to hang out during the day. Their smaller coop was already all closed in but the only time they are in this cozy spot, is when they are laying their daily eggs. They also have another small run area, 3 x 4 feet that is under their coop but is open to the elements but on a sunny day they can get their Vitamin C.
To keep the bigger run warm, I took the stainless steel heat lamp we had used for their brooder box and I placed a 100 watt, red light bulb, the kind that you may see in a reptile cage. (chickens ancestors were dinosaurs after all)
In this picture you can see their heat lamp and also their electric water font….and a strong of lights outside their run/coop
I also found a large water font that had a heated bottom that would ensure their water didn’t freeze throughout the winter. (I purchased this at Buckerfields) Finally, at our local livestock feed store, I found a large feed container that I was able to hang so their food can stay clean and dry. I was set. Two of our four hens are Rhode Island Reds and two are Easter Eggers. Both varieties have a small comb on their head and are known to be able to handle cold winters. Now I just needed to see how they endured their first winter.
It’s been a breeze, (a cold one) caring for them all winter and they have done really well despite the really frosty weather we have had. While they have their chicken pellets (Hi pro form, natural harvest, 16% golden layer pellets) always on tap in their large feed container, which I only have to top up once a week, each day I visit them, make sure they have fresh water and I take down a tray of food.
I have two trays I use for their daily feed and each day I bring down a new, clean tray and bring up the other one to clean it…this way they always are eating from a sterilized tray…above is their white tupperware tray
They love pasta and salad and appreciate any of our left overs from the night before. Some days, I don’t have any leftovers in the fridge, hey which happens in a house full of kids, so I whip up some special grub for them mid morning. My kids will often come in as I’m cutting up vegetables, making rice or pasta, and ask if I’m making soup for them, or is the food for the CHICKENS? They really don’t get it when I boil an egg for them….but hey…chickens needs protein too. I know they are spoiled! If I top the tray with sunflowers and raisins they are ecstatic.
I visit them for about 10 minutes each day and give them their special tray of food. Every other day I take down a bucket of fresh water, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in it (for their digestion) and check on their grit (needed to help grind their food since chickens don’t have teeth) and I also give them oyster shells (which provides the calcium they need to make nice hard egg shells) and then I collect their eggs.
About once a week, when I’m topping up their big food container with chicken layer pellets, I will also spread another layer of pine shavings. This is called the deep litter method of chicken coop care. In the spring, I will rake out all their winter bedding and drop it in the compost bin and in short order I will have rich compost for my garden. This was the reason I really wanted chickens. Have you bought good compost lately? It costs a fortune, plus it comes in plastic bags that you can’t recycle so knowing my chickens will produce gorgeous compost for my garden was the big draw.
The eggs are an incredible bonus and I never really thought I would find chickens to be like pets, but you know, I was wrong. They like to be picked up and have the softest feathers. Each has her own unique personality and likes and dislikes. All of them are beyond thrilled to see me coming with their red tray full of goodies each day and having such gratitude is heart warming.
This is the last part of the path to my chickens, you can see them waiting for me under under their coop
Delightful is a good word to describe being a chicken mom. (Remember 2 of my hens came when they were just days old, so I feel very connected to them)
Although it;s cold, the sunshine is glorious…for chickens and kids….(you can see the coop run to the right)
I never thought chickens would be so soft and sweet…but they are great pets WITH benefits
There have only been a few days this winter when the weather was unbearably cold and it was hard to do what needed to be done On those days, unplugging their water heater, to fill up their heated water font was difficult as my fingers froze in the process, and just opening the metal bolt latch to their various runs was difficult.
Then I thought of those prairie homesteaders, who had a rope tied to their house and one tied to the livestock barn and they would follow it along during a blizzard so they wouldn’t get lost in a snow drift and freeze to death. That shift in perspective made me appreciate the short 40 foot path I had to take to get down to our chicken coop each day. Perspective is everything!
It teaches me yet again to enjoy each season, for there is always something good in it and it reminds me to have faith that tomorrow will be a new day. If you have been thinking of opening up your home to chickens, I’d say what’s stopping you? It’s February and the perfect time to line up your order for a few sweet chicks this spring. (Just make sure they are female…or get 6 month pullets)
While I was caring for the chickens this morning, our cat sat observed from the hot tub….I think he likes them too but doesn’t get too close to them…..their feathers are as soft as our cat Ryuuki’s furry coat
Before going in to the house, I snapped a picture of the lake from our lower level…beautiful but COLD!
That’s my winter experience caring for chickens….pretty easy.
And as I often do, I was thinking it would be great to share making a raspberry crumble dessert for dinner tonight with you. I’m making a lentil loaf, with mashed pototoes, cooked veggies and fresh salad for dinner. I know a few of my kids are not thrilled with lentil loaf. After all, it’s the vegetarian version of the old meatloaf and my kids never liked that either when we were big meat eaters, so I thought raspberry crumble will be a good incentive for my little ones to EAT UP…..and
Also raspberries are good for everyone’s gut bacteria and don’t we need that in the winter time. So I’m off to head into our freezing garage to dig out some raspberries from the freezer.
Whoa….it’s cold out there!
Did you know the health benefits of raspberries are abundant? They are loaded with antioxidants and their high polyphenol content reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing platelet buildup and reducing blood pressure via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.There are numerous studies on other benefits as well since the powerful antioxidants and high potassium levels work against free radicals that cause cancer, and reduce inflammation.
One really hot day last July, my sister J, called to ask if I wanted any raspberries. She and her husband B, were caring for their neighbour’s new German Shepherd puppies while they were away and their neighbours encouraged them to pick from the raspberries patch which were ripening each day.
We have a tiny raspberry patch down by the compost bin and it’s only enough to put fresh berries on our cereal in the morning and really nothing much to freeze. Although it was hot that day and I didn’t really feel like picking, I did want to visit my sister and brother in law, so I called my two best workers still at home, my daughter Grace and son Harrison, grabbed some buckets and we went for a visit.
I’m so glad we did as we had a lovely visit and picked a TON of raspberries for our freezer. All winter we have been enjoying berries; in our smoothies, on top of ice cream and of course when I make a family favourite, this raspberry crumble recipe. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use any berries; blueberries, strawberries, blackberries….a combination would be really nice, but you know there is something so tart and deliciously simple about raspberries in this dessert.
(My chickens love raspberries in the summer time…. they know what is healthy!)
You can adjust this recipe to your size of family…but if you make less…you will wish for more!
Hope’s Raspberry Crumble
5 cups of raspberries (1/2 cup water with 1 tbsp of lemon juice….if using frozen raspberries) 2-3 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch 1 cup of sugar (I like my raspberries tart…if you want them sweeter, add more sugar) Dash of salt 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups of flour 1 cup of packed brown sugar 1 cup of quick oats 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup of butter optional: walnuts or pecans Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
1. If using frozen raspberries, as I was doing today, pour frozen raspberries into large saucepan. Add sugar, corn starch, salt, water and dash of lemon juice. Cook raspberries until hot, and mixture thickens. Bring off heat and mix in vanilla. Set aside
In a large separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, oatmeal, salt and nuts, if using. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter (or pulse everything in food processor) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add berry mixture to a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the flour mixture on top and bake for 30 minutes until the top is golden brown.
Serve hot with a dollop of ice cream or whipping cream…..even REALLY good with greek vanilla yogurt!
Oh, baby it’s cold outside! But it’s warm in our house…especially if we appreciate the beauty of each season of our life.
If you are trying this delicious dessert, maybe play this youtube video while you are cooking up your rapsberries….”Bing Crosby with Doris Day….Baby, it’s Cold Outside”
Thanks for coming to visit….stay warm.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Lately, my blog is turning into a reflective parenting place, where I have been discussing raising children more than talking about what is going on in in the back 40. But you know, it’s that time of year….still really cold and snowy in our little valley.
Another cold snap hit our area and so, staying warm, and baking in the kitchen is how I spend much of my time
In a few weeks I will be starting to chat about starting seeds and I also want to share with you what it’s been like to have chickens this first winter, for now, I wanted to share thoughts on growing children.
As I’ve evolved as a parent, I now see that our own nuclear families are really a world inside of themselves. When I tell my children to be kind and loving to their brothers and sisters, what I’m really saying is to be loving and kind to everyone and so, how we raise our children, and what we tell them, affects the whole planet. As our older children move out and start their own lives, I see how impactful what our children believe, has on the whole world.
When we are in the midst of diapers and starting to lay the foundation for how our children think of themselves, I don’t know if we give much thought to the messages our children are hearing. Often, we are just so busy keeping everyone fed, in clean clothes and all the bills paid. Often, how our children come to think of themselves, is how WE treat ourselves, how we treat others and the everyday words we use as we maneuver through our own lives. Much of that time is spent in an unconscious state and we are not aware of the impact on our actions and words.
This morning I was inspired to write this post from a video I saw on my Facebook page. It was a video message from Chen Miller, who is a special needs educator living in Israel. She tells a story of coming into a classroom and seeing a little boy sitting in the middle of the room with big eyes. He was cursing, spitting and screaming. She came closer to him and whispered, “I know you have a big heart, I know that you are clever, I know that you are a good boy.”
This went on for a few weeks, him screaming and her whispering positive affirmations into his ear. He told her that he was “disturbed”. Everyone had said so; his parents, his teachers etc and yet, she continued to tell him, “I know you have a big heart, I know that you are clever and I know that you are a good boy.” Finally he settled down and accepted her as his teacher.
Near the end of the school year he asked her how she knew children were good. And that is when she shared her secret with him. That by the Fifth grade she could not write, that she did not understand numbers. She thought she was stupid and yet, here she was finally a teacher. Here she was now capable of changing the system, the same system that wanted to give up on her when she was a child. That is how she knew.
WOW!
This story had me thinking about how we raise our children and while I know, just telling our children some positive affirmations isn’t enough as each of our children comes into the world pre-loaded with their own personality and set of challenges, we can still plant seeds when they are tiny babies and continue to whisper those words throughout their childhood.
I used to sing while I changed my babies diapers or when I was bathing them. Silly little songs using their names to rhyme with words of how sweet they were, how smart and brilliant they were, how beautiful they were. How MUCH they were loved. As they grew, and they headed out into the world, I would remind them to “let their light shine.” That little song I learned in church when I was a child had stuck and so I would hold my finger up to my children which they knew was my code word for, “let your light shine.”
In an era of knowing labeling is dangerous, we as a society continue to do it. It’s all over social media, our advertisements on television and magazines, and sadly, most of all, it’s coming out of some of the world’s elected representatives, in our political states of office.
How can our children’s seeds grow strong and healthy, if they go out in the world and are bombarded by toxic chemicals of judgement. You know what I’m talking about. We in North America, register our children in all sorts of activities from such an early age, so they aren’t left behind, so they can get into the best schools, so they can achieve a high level of education and ultimately, have the best paying careers. We have their hair cut in cute styles and buy them fashionable clothing because we want them to be popular in school and accepted by their peers.
And even if you aren’t actually saying anything to your child, what do you think the message is that they are hearing? I know a few of mine have heard the message that they aren’t good enough. That they aren’t smart enough. That they aren’t pretty or hansom enough. It just breaks my heart….and yet there is always hope.
We as parents and teachers, as citizens of the world, are capable of altering the course of this earth by what we whisper into each other’s ears. As Chen Miller transformed that little boy with the big eyes, we too can transform the world.
I’d love to share the video with you now and after you watch it, I hope you can join me in the kitchen where I’m making some Spicy Oatmeal Raisin cookies. It you read my last blog post called, “The Empty Cookie Jar,” you will know in the end, I always keep the cookie jar full and even though I may be kind of a control freak, making sure my kids have warm footwear, etc I always try to encourage them to believe they are capable of anything and learn how to fill their own cookie jar.
Here’s Chen Miller’s video. (if you can’t see it below, click on the hyper link) I hope you enjoy it and it inspires you too to reaffirm with love, kindness and inspiration. Let’s all keep that cookie jar filled with light.
What a remarkable story and teacher hey?
And now, can you join me in the kitchen? I’ll make you a cup of spicy chai tea and we can chat while I make some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Do you like raisins? If not, we can use alternatives…cranberries are great and a little bit of orange peel in the mix is a lovely combination with the spices.
Oh, what about dried apricots and pecans? Once you have a firm base, let your imagination be your guide to what you will fill your cookies with. PLAY around with it and maybe let’s call it our infinite possibility cookie recipe….kind of like us!!!
Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Ingredients 1-1/2 cups of butter or margarine (I like to use half butter and half margarine) 1 cup of white sugar 1 cup of brown sugar 3 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 3 cups of flour 3 cups of quick oatmeal 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp cloves 1/2 tsp ginger 1 cup of raisins 1/2 cup walnuts (opt) grated orange peel (Remember: the raisins, walnuts can easily be replaced with cranberries and almonds, or any kind of fruit….finely cut dried apricots and pecans would be delish too…use your imagination….’cause you are BRILLIANT!!!) Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 2. In a large bowl, combine the butter and margarine until creamed. Gradually add the white and brown sugar until well combined.
Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla. Mix until light and fluffy. 3. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and all the spices. 4. Slowly add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, beating until well combined. 5. Finally add the oatmeal, raisins and nuts…..or any combinations of add on you have chosen.
6. Scoop the dough, 1 large tablespoon, onto a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. 7. Gently press them down with a fork 8. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes….I bake until just golden brown as I like my cookies chewy….the longer you bake…well, the crunchier they are going to be.
Once done, allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes, as this will allow them to set up nicely before you put them on your cooling racks. Once well cooled, fill up your jar.
Also, play around with the amount of flour/oats….my recipe is the perfect combination that we like as the cookies come out firm, but are chewy from the cookie jar…but play around with the dry ingredients until you get it to the texture you like.
Also, this makes a big batch…fills my jar and a freezer container or some to share with those who may need a winter affirmation of love and kindness.
Are you ready for a cup of tea and to try these cookies filled with endless possibilities?
And before I say goodbye today, here is a lovey affirmation to say to yourself. One of the most powerful lessons I have learned while raising my own children, is to connect with my inner child and heal those recorded messages that have directed and dictated most of my life. While raising my own children, I’ve been able to erase those false recordings and replaced them with two simple words that I say to myself everyday.
It feels like weeks since we connected. How is life in your part of the world? The 2016 year is quickly coming for an end in my part of the world and I have so much to tell you. I went to pick my daughter Alyssa up this morning from her country retreat, where blissfully she is writing her novel, and I told her that I would give ANYTHING, to have endless peace and quiet in which to write.
Our daughter, Alyssa, thrilled to be starting her winter writing retreat in the country
Okay, mom, how fast can you go so I can start to write?
When you love to write, the words bubble gleefully to the surface, linking effortlessly into an exact image only the heart recognizes, and anxiously you search for a pen, pencil, ANYTHING, to capture that elusive essence into a lasting impression. If you are unable to, as I have been lately, those thoughts have to be suppressed. When that happens I am frankly, irritable.
In one breath, I would love to have the peace and time to write but then, if I didn’t live in the midst of chaos, life constantly flowing and changing, creating experience after experience, each one deeper and more powerful, I wouldn’t have anything to write about. Such a quandary, this life.
Are writers ever happy? Maybe that is why so many of them are internally tortured. And yet, at last when pen is in hand, we are blissful. So finally, I am here, sitting in my favourite chair, laptop waiting expectantly for brilliance to appear on the page. Then you know what happens?
Nothing of any significance.
My fav chair, although I rarely get a chance to sit down…today I got a new book from the library..don’t you love the library!!!
At least to my literary inward critic.
But here I sit and so I’m going to share some of what has been going on around Lakelin Reach. Did you know that is the name of our homestead? Years ago, I took a Feng Shui course at our local College and discovered the importance of giving one’s home a name. After all, it’s filled with energy just like people. And so, since our house often sounded, (and still does) like a music school, with our oldest playing piano and flute, and our younger boys playing violin, cello, guitar, sax and oh, you couldn’t miss the drums, we thought it would be an appropriate name. As you know from some of the pictures I post, our place sits above a beautiful lake and Lakelin, is Celtic and means, “Lake Song.” “Reach,” is a destination. Reminds me of the Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote that I love, “Life’s a journey, not a destination,” and so as a family we decided Lakelin Reach, would be a fitting name for a place where our much of our life experience occurs….in our home. Have you given your home a name? Do you ever leave the house and say goodbye…or greet it upon returning?
Today, as the afternoon wanes and soon, I will collect the children from school, I wanted to share a tiny glimpse into life at our home and also I really wanted, at last to share the most amazing, easy vegetarian meal. The last of my Meatless Monday meals….at least for now.
Falafals!
Have you tried them?
Do you love them?
I made these weeks ago for my meatless Monday final recipe but since then I think we have made them weekly as they are easy, healthy and delicious!!!
Alyssa had a friend from London visit and while Mark was here we made them, that is when I realized this simple dish is great when you have guests over as well. It makes a lot and you never have to worry if there will be enough food for everyone. (must be a big family thing)
Alyssa with her friend Mark, who she met when she was in London
As we move into the season of eating, I’m even more determined to feed my family vegetarian choices, for environmental reasons but also for health reasons. This is the time of year that most people indulge in too much sugar and other treats. so knowing my family are getting a lot of whole foods and vegetables makes me feel more comfortable with all the holiday baking we choose to do and partake.
But before we move into the kitchen, come and sit with me and we can chat a bit more. How was your November? Did it fly by as fast as it did in our house; a virtual blur of activities. The weather was mild for this time of year, so between several birthday celebrations, mine on the 8th, and then a few others scattered throughout the month, oh and then Remembrance day too, I was out in the garden performing my last bits of fall clean up. Having the chickens free range in our back 40, makes a bit of a mess but it’s so worth it.
Did I mention I love our chickens? We spent a bit of time getting them ready for winter….. all warm and toasty. David built panels for their run and we purchased a heated water bowl. We also hung a light to extend their day light hours and I strung a string of Christmas lights on the front side of their coop too. Chickens love Christmas too and this is their first winter on earth so I wanted them to enjoy this time of year too. Yes, decorations start early around here.
Since we have three children who have birthdays this month, Grace’s 14th, is actually today, I try to get our Christmas decorations done at the end of November.
Happy Birthday beautiful Grace….this year we made a candy cane ice cream cake
This year, David took a few days off to get some much needed work started on our attic conversion and I was able to convince him to take me up to the mountains to search of our Christmas tree. Clark took time off from studying for his LSAT exam, (which was on Dec 3rd) and Alyssa made some eggnog lattes and we headed up to a nearby provincial forestry site, where we had a permit to cut up to three trees.
We headed up the mountains but hadn’t traveled very far past the forestry permit area before we started to see potential trees. Lots of them. I think it helped that it hadn’t snowed much yet which made it was easier to see the trees, also to access them. David stopped the van and we all got out on an explore to find just the perfect tree for our holiday celebrations. As we searched, I trimmed the bottom of the large trees to collect fir and cedar boughs to hang around the house. They smelled so fresh and fragrant.
Me in awe….love trees, love the forest, love the country
Alyssa gathering greenery….oh so fragrant!
In the past I have felt bad about cutting down trees, and a bit worse after my daughter reminded me about all the carbon offsetting that occurs when one cuts down a tree. (Remember during my road towards minimalism a year and a half ago, I practically gave away our fake large, pre-lit Christmas tree?)
As we were touring the area, I felt better when my husband David said, “why don’t we take the little fir cuttings we receive each year from our rural district on Earth Day and come back to plant them close to where our Christmas trees are located. I felt a bit better and also it’s something we can do with the little ones. (When I was talking to my brother in law B about my feelings about cutting down trees, he did remind me that the trees are chipped afterwards and their mulch used to create new earth)
It was magical in the mountains. Quiet and peaceful, with only the sound of the occasional winter bird breaking the heavy silence blanketing us. This year, not one vehicle past us, not even a logging truck, even though it was during the work week. Finally, we found a few serious contenders and we carefully assessed them, judging shape, colour and size of each tree. We narrowed down our choices and finally turned inwards, to connect with that intrinsic feeling you get when you know you have found, “THE TREE.” You know, like Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in the movie, “Christmas Vacation,” when his family finally comes upon their tree and a light is glowing all around it, proclaiming, “I’m the one.” Unlike Clark, we did bring a saw..
David and Clark, who are both way over 6 feet…and our TREES!
We ended up with two beautiful 10 foot trees and somehow, David and Clark crammed them into our Honda Odyssey. Did I mention we have 8 foot ceilings in our house, except for our vaulted foyer, but we weren’t putting our trees in that location. (We would have to do some pruning)
As the last branch was tucked inside the van, Alyssa brought out the themos of eggnog lattes and we opened the box of Tim Horton’s Christmas donuts we had purchased for the event, and we raised our mugs to our two Christmas trees and to the occasion of being together this early holiday season. This is a special year for after two years away teaching in London, Alyssa is home for Christmas.
I know it is golden moments such as this that I want to create, as it may be the last year our older two children are in our house together. If all goes well for our oldest daughter Alyssa, she will be living in as seaside cottage in Ireland next year writing, or perhaps teaching and traveling abroad, which is her passion. And this time next year, if Clark’s vision comes to pass, he will be back East attending law school.
You just never know what will be around the corner so it’s best to enjoy the journey….
I have lived long enough to experience many magic moments and know this time will never come again and “this is the only moment that exist.” We clinked our mugs again and warmed ourselves with the nog, savouring each mouthful of our gingerbread donuts and apple fritters, knowing this was a special moment in time.
I’ve discovered at least for me, that it’s these simple moments that make life truly special. Going to a Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree, and enjoying their hot cocoa or hot apple cider, or taking the whole family to walk through a Christmas tree lot, oooohing and awing over trees, would have been nice, but that elusive wisp of of pure joy overcomes me when we do something that isn’t commercial. Being out in nature is certainly part of that feeling of peace and well being, but knowing we are going a bit farther; being creative, rather than just spending money, makes these moments even more pleasurable. As I’m experiencing that sense of contentment, I realize how breathtaking and mystical this extraordinary life journey is.
It was a great start to what I hope will continue to be a simple Christmas in our home.
This Christmas we are focusing less on the commercial aspect of the season and more on giving, being creative and just enjoying being together. When we came together a few weeks ago, to eat falafel wraps, Moroccan chick pea salad and sweet potato fries, it was another moment filled with good spirits..
Yes, my family knew I was taking pictures for you, my blog friends and family, but in a way, they have come to know you all as well and want to include you in our moments. It was interesting to discuss Middle Eastern food and culture and talk about what is street food to other people is really special to us.
Also, we had a chance to talk about what has been occurring is Aleppo, Syria and our thoughts and prayers are being sent to all the innocent people trapped in that battle. My heart goes out especially to the children and the parents who want more than anything to have a peaceful home to raise their families. (Also to those who have lost children this year)
Hopefully, soon, peace will come and again, Falafals can be their street food, sold in markets with children’s laughter ringing, like bells through the air.
With my mouth full of flavourful chickpea balls, I told my family, “my blogger friends are going to love this recipe.” They nodded in agreement, as their mouths were as full as mine, with tahini sauce at the corners of their lips. You may have discovered these balls already but I’m late in coming to the party. What inspired me to try these was again my oldest daughter who traveled to Greece and Turkey while in University. She decided to minor in Greek and Roman studies and boy was I glad. We have brought the other side of the world into our kitchen….in more ways than one.
I’d love to share this easy recipe with you as it was one of those meals that I thought would be complicated, ’cause I haven’t made them before, but they were a breeze to make. Don’t you just LOVE meals that are easy AND delicious?
So join me in the kitchen and we can whip up some falafel wraps.
Falafels Ingredients (I doubled this recipe for my family and there was enough for 10…with some left over for the next day)
1 cup of dried chickpeas 3/4 chopped onion 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 4 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp lemon juice 11/2 tsp salt Vegetable oil for frying 5 large pitas with pockets cut in half Optional garnishes: thinly sliced radishes shredded lettuce sliced tomatoes Tahini yogurt sauce 1/2 cup balkan-style plan yogurt 1/2 cup tahini1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 salt 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper Directions In bowl, pour enough cold water over chickpeas to cover by 1 inch soak for 4 hours or up to 24 hours. Drain well.
(I don’t usually shop at Walmart but since my son has been working there, when I dropped him off I often pick up this and that….I picked up some dried chick peas and what a deal….check it out for around $2.00 dollars you can make a boat load of falafals. In food processor, coursely chop chickpeas, onion, parsley, and garlic, about 30 seconds. Add flour, cumin, baking powder, lemon juice and salt; pulse until blended, 10 seconds. Shape by heaping 1 tbsp into 11/2 inch balls. Arrange in single layer on waxed paper, lined tray, refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 12 hours.
Pour enough oil into wok, or Dutch oven to come about 2 inches up side, heat to 350 degrees using deep fry thermometer. In batches, gently drop falafels into hot oil. Deep-fry turning once, until golden and cooked through, 3 minutes. Drain on paper towel-lined tray. (To reheat, bake on greased baking sheet in 350 degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Tahini yogurt sauce; Meanwhile, whisk together yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, parsley, oil, salt, and cayenne. Stuff pitas with falafels, 2 to 3 for large pita half (one if you are using small pitas) top with radish, tomato, lettuce and drizzle with tahini yogurt sauce.
It’s that easy!!!
And the Moroccan Chick pea salad….spicy and a lovely compliment. I was inspired when I went to our local health food stores deli…absolutely yummy and so I tried to replicate it.
Moroccan Chick Pea Salad
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of dried garbanzo beans, soaked overnight 4 scallions or green onions (I still had these growing in my garden so I used the later) 1 large roma tomato 1/2 either cilantro or parsley finely minced 2 garlic cloves 1 cup of grated carrot 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp of lemon juice 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp black pepper pinch of cayenne
Directions:…easy, mix everything together in medium bowl
And to round out this great dish, try making some……
Let’s go back to the living room and sit ’cause, before I go, I have to also tell you another story and it’s about our son William, who is 7 years old and is in grade 2 at school. One day when his class was out on a walking field trip, the kids noticed electrical outlets linked to the metal frames around the 19 trees planted a few years ago, along the sidewalk strip beside their school. The kids wanted to know if it would be possible to have Christmas lights put up on these trees. They thought it would make the strip more festive.
They found out that in order for this to happen, they would have to petition the municipal hall to request lights be purchased and installed. Before they took this next step however, they did a survey in their school to determine what the others children thought of the idea. They compiled the results and made up mathematical graphs and put all their gathered facts on a power point program. They decided that since the majority agreed with their idea, they would contact the municipality and ask to be placed on the upcoming meeting agenda.
Will was selected to be one of the delegates from the grade 2 classes but before the presentation, there was much discussion about the pros and cons of putting the lights on the trees in our house. Since his older brother was preparing for his LSAT, and his natural inclination lately is to think logically, taking all the facts into consideration, he and Will had animated discussions around the upcoming presentation, how to present the case and conduct himself. Also, it came to light that William was concerned whether it was a good use of resources.
Of the 400 and some students in the school, only 7 thought it was not a good idea. One for religious reasons as the lights were being called, “Christmas lights,” and another child said “no” because it was, “boring.” Will was conflicted once he found out it was going to cost several thousand dollars. He knew that was a large amount of money and there was a big part of him that felt the money could be better spent feeding children less fortunate. Also, he knew in the winter, there were many children who were not dressed properly for our cold weather and also some who wouldn’t receive gifts at Christmas time.
Even though he had grave concerns, he moved forward with the grade 2’s and helped to be one of the presenters. Thankfully, the council were all wonderful with the children and it was a good experience for them to see how democracy is conducted in our community and our country.
(If you want to read the news article, click this link)
The next morning I took him to school and he was absolutely THRILLED to see that the school had set out several large boxes around the Christmas tree in the foyer for collections of food and toys for children less fortunate. He turned to me with the biggest smile on his face and said, “Maybe we can do both things; bring light to the community and help the children.”
Tonight, as I was making our daughter’s birthday dinner, David came home from work early to take William and the little girls to the tree light up. They all came home in high spirits with stories of hot cocoa and each carrying candy canes.
Spirits bright at the tree light up this evening, Will and Kate with Tori up front left
Again, this little boy has come to teach me so much about love and compassion. He lives his life with such intense enthusiasm and joy for life but has the kindest heart. We can do both. It’s not one or the other and if we hold the vision of what is truly important to us, with focus, all of our dreams and wishes can come true, not just for us, but for the world. In our safe part of the world, where our biggest concerns are whether to put up Christmas lights or not, or in Aleppo, where the parents are just trying to keep their children alive.
Our house is a better place with this little boy in it, and the world is a better place for all of our children in it, for they all light the way for us to follow. They remind us to look inside and find that part of us that remembers how to love.
And with that, I will close my early December blog post to you.
I have so much to share but it’s a busy place around here, with Christmas parties and concerts, music theory exams and grade 12 transition interviews, so I can’t promise but I would LOVE to share a few things we are doing to keep this holiday simple. One is making homemade gifts so stay tuned as I have something for everyone.
Homemade board games
homemade blocks from leftover wood from renovation left overs…or from the forest
…kids love to build
(cool tie-dyed shirts….our sons love them and they are so much fun to create
and finally something everyone in my family loves…..
and
Caramel and spiced nuts
Thanks for coming for a visit today. I hope as December unfolds for you and your family, that you look for the magic in all the moments.
If you want more inspiration on keeping things simple this holiday season, check out the above video. Brittany Taylor shares some great ideas for celebrating the holidays in a new way, with the thoughts of the environment and our well being in mind. If you can’t see the above, click on this hyperlink, “Keeping it Simple for the Holidays.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbHuihREij0
(Thank you Tamara for all the Hope filled ornaments over the years!)
Until we connect again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Even though October is one of our longer months, it flew by for me in a blur. With Thanksgiving celebrations, my husband David’s birthday, getting ready for Halloween (my love affair with my sewing machine making a costume, see previous blog post) and subsequent parties, it’s all over; except the lingering sugar high.
Our son Will as Pikachu and his friend Scream
Kathryn the butterfly, making a monster craft
Victoria, our garden fairy with her new, rockin cherry pink glasses!
After a week of cold and rainy weather, it was glorious to see blue skies again today. Of course it would be like this though. Yesterday, all the kids came home from school with wet and cold feet. So after ballet class, I took our 4 youngest on a hunt for winter boots of which they all needed. (have you ever shopped for winter boots for 4 kids in one hour?) I felt so happy driving home knowing they all had new felt lined snow boots, along with winter coats we had picked up a few weeks ago. They were all so thrilled to pull on their new boots and coats this morning before heading off to school on this grey, chilly morning, but as I write this, it’s lunch time and the sun is beating in through my kitchen window. (See picture above!) I’m sure they are all wishing they had their hoodies and sneakers on right now. Oh well…..
Murphy’s law!
Who’s going to complain about gorgeous weather though? Not me. I know, even with global warming, our days will turn bitterly cold soon and snow will be flying and those coats and boots will be appreciated.
Before the kids come home from school today, I’m going out to plant the garlic my brother in law B and sister J gave me. It’s such a simple herb to grow and one I use abundantly in all our meals. I cleared and added compost to several spots in my garden on the weekend and am excited to plant another crop of garlic. It’s little things, like planting in my garden that make me happiest.
The downside of having free ranging chickens, is they love to dig and scratch in newly planted areas. I may have to lay some hardware cloth over my garlic to keep them out but oh, I love seeing how joy filled they are digging for bugs and worms. My chickens make me happy.
Here are Sadie, Cocoa, Clara and Annie, helping me in one of my garden areas on the weekend.
The other thing that came with November was a new meditation challenge.
Did you start Oprah and Deepak’s 21 day meditation challenge with me on Monday? If not, here is the link and you can still join me in registering and hear the first 4 days of guided teachings.
I have LOVED this meditation topic. “Creating Peace from the Inside Out~the Power of Connection.”
If you read my previous post, you know I believe we need peace in the world more than ever right now, with only 5 days left until the US election, heated debates, anger and fear is prevalent right now. In so many parts of the world there is unrest as well.
So I was really looking forward to starting a new meditation challenge.
From day one I was hooked when the centering thought was, “Ideal relationships are my intention every day.”
Each interaction we have with each other has a HUGE, or as Donald Trump recently said, a BIGLY, effect on each of us.
How we listen, what we say in response, what we think, how we conduct ourselves, how we treat each other, ALL has an impact on the world.The vibrations either towards dissent or harmony ripple through the world. If we don’t believe it, all you have to do is plug into the social media to feel the energy…negative and positive.
The greatest lesson I’m learning and we are only 4 days into the challenge, is that the most important relationship we have is with OURSELVES.
I always forget that.
When we learn to love and care for our true self, we are then able to extend that love, compassion and peace to others. This has taken me most of my lifetime to understand. I always thought putting others first was more important, but I understand now that when we neglect our true nature, we are unable to give fully to others BECAUSE we haven’t anything to give. We are empty.
When we learn to ask ourselves, “what do I want?” “what fills me up?” “what brings me unshakeable peace?” and we give ourselves what we need, it is then, when we tune in and learn to become attentive to ourselves that we in turn, can extend that same consideration to others.
When we take time each day to connect and build our relationship from within, give our authentic self what it needs, then we have the ability to really listen to those around us, make eye contact, respond appropriately, care about others and create peace in the world. It’s never been out there…no one else completes us or has the ability to make us happy or feel loved. We need to do it for ourselves.
Have you ever done a kindness to yourself and just felt buoyant? It makes us feel lighter and happier and when we are happier, then we are able to shine that light out into our other relationships and connections with others.
As a mom to 8 children, it’s a struggle to maintain a balance of THEIR needs and mine. There of course is endless work; shopping, meals to prepare, house to clean, yard work, laundry, laundry and LAUNDRY!
I knew having a large family would be hard but years ago, I felt that I wanted to really LIVE FULLY on this earth and not take the path of least resistance. I wanted to go into the areas that scared me and pushed me the most. Deep down, I knew I needed to learn the art of letting go and trusting. As an A type person, it would have been really easy for David and I just to continue to be career people, (two income, have anything material you want kind of lifestyle) and maybe we could have stopped building our family once we had the two token replacement children too, but oh, babies and children brought me such joy. Thinking about having more children was scary and quitting my job to be a Stay at home mom, even SCARIER!
I knew in the process, I could very well lose myself and definitely, what I loved to do (yoga, reading books, playing tennis, skiing, gardening) would take a back seat. Now looking back, I’m glad I lost myself for awhile, as finding myself has been such a joy. If you haven’t experience the depths of struggle, you never know the heights of joy. I now have this large group of people to connect with daily, my family. Little did I know, but our babies, and children would be my greatest teachers on this life’s journey.
The soul knows….
I’m glad I didn’t listen to my mother in law who said, “why would you want more than two children and why in HEAVES, are you quitting your job?” I’m glad I didn’t listen to a friend, who when finding out I wanted more children after 40 said, “Your crazy, you need to get a life.” If I had listened to them, I would have missed the most profound lessons of my life.
If you are a mom, you know what it entails to keep all the balls in the air daily and how easy it is to lose ourselves in the process. But at some point, we need to lay down those balls, take a deep breath and connect from within.
I’m thankful to Deepak and Oprah. They offer this 21 day mediation program for FREE and share wise, life changing lessons. Being inspired to take time, sit, breathe, contemplate my life, and connect from within is AMAZING!
Why don’t more of us do it?
IT’S SO SIMPLE.
Why do they not teach this in school? If we learned early, how to tune in and attend to our authentic self, our life path would be clearer and the world would be a better place. But it starts here. With each of us. And as a mom, I know this week has gone better with me Ommming on my yoga mat.
Blissful!
While I could easily dig deep into my to do list and believe me it’s LONG, instead this week, I’ve taken more time to say yes to me and no to other things. I said no to a Parent Adviser Meeting on Tuesday night and Yes to a meeting with me going to bed early one night with a good book. WOW!
Simple pleasures.
Also, even though our children came home from Trick or Treating with FULL bags of candy, we chose to say No to consuming any sugar during the school week. This, after a crazy, nutsy, bath time and evening on Tuesday, November 1st. They had had 3 pieces of candy after dinner on Tuesday and that was a mistake!!! Hence our new parenting shift, to save it for the weekend, when they can have a few pieces as a treat during family movie night.
I was really happy with that change in our parenting choice and so far, the kids are really okay with it. I think they were happy when we set limits because they consumed enough to know it doesn’t feel good to have a sugar flip out.
It will create simple pleasures for them as it will be a special when they do have a piece of candy and it also teaches them to to care for themselves first….being conscious about what they are putting in their body
Well, that is an update on what has been going on around here. Taking care of our inner selves, segue ways beautifully into the other reason for my blog post today.
And that is sharing something I love and made recently in my kitchen.
Pumpkin spiced lattes.
Yes, those lovely, spicy, nothing says fall better, drinks that only coffee shops makes deliciously.
I’m not a coffee drinker but a few years ago, when David and I were out shopping, I think on an early Christmas foray, all by ourselves (which hardly EVER happens!), we took a moment to recharge and treat ourselves. I chose a Starbuck’s pumpkin spiced latte. Oh the rich, spicy flavour was delectable. The little kick of caffeine wasn’t a bad thing either. Maybe because I’m not one to entertain such a luxury on a regular basis made it taste even better, but since then, what says, “Welcome November” to me now is a Pumpkin Spiced latte.
As soon as the leaves start to fall,…..
I crave it!
What do I do when I really love something but don’t want to pay someone for it” Well, learn to make it at home of course. It’s a no brainer and part of what this blog is all about. Learning to make things at home, being more self sufficient. Why should I waste fossil fuel traveling down to one of the many Starbucks in our little town (Yes I think we have 4 or so and I live in a small town)
Anyway, making it from scratch is so rewarding.
I love knowing it’s as good, if not better than what I could get from outside the home too.
I enjoy these simple pleasures in life and know they are something I can treat myself to, without it having a huge impact on our family’s pocket book. After all, I have made a choice to have a large family, to stay home to care for our children and things like new boots, coats, gloves, hats for our little ones are needed. My obsession with pumpkin spiced lattes are not in that same need category.
But hey, I figured out how to have it all.
That’s the cool thing about having more time as well, you can be creative.
Also, when you make it at home you can share your love of something with those you love. It’s a win/win right?
So getting back to the theme of my post, I was able to listen from within and ask myself, “what makes me happy?” “What do I want?”
And the answer was treating myself to simple pleasures, AND sharing that joy with my family.
Hey, and guess what? You don’t need a fancy espresso machine.
Nope!
Just a regular coffee maker that has an option to make a strong brew.
If one of the things you love in life is Pumpkin Spiced lattes too, then you have come to the right blog post today, as I ‘m going to take you step by step through the process. Welcome to my kitchen, let’s start by making a strong cup of coffee. We used Ethical bean, “Lush” from Costco.
While the coffee is brewing make up some pumpkin spice mix, unless you are able to find it already mixed for you in a local shop. We do not have Trader Joe’s in my part of the world. If I did, I think I would ask for a can of it for my birthday.
Here’s the recipe for Pumpkin spice mix
In a small bowl add the following ingredients:
3 tbsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp ground nutmeg 2 tsp of ground ginger 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/2 tsp all spice
Mix well and using a funnel, pour into a spice jar/label “pumpkin spice mix”
Is your kitchen smelling of coffee and spicy goodness?
Great…we are almost there.
Let’s make our lattes.
Pumpkin Spice Latte~ recipe for 2 but double the recipe if you have big mugs or want seconds, yum!
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 to 3 tablespoons sugar, depending on how sweet you like it
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for serving
1/2 cup strong hot coffee
Whipped cream, for serving Sprinkle of cinnamon for topping
Directions
Add milk, pumpkin puree, and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat.
Heat until hot, but do not boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and the coffee.
Divide the mixture between two mugs. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or just cinnamon.
Note: if you enjoy your coffee black (without sugar or cream), then you don’t need much sugar but since I don’t drink coffee at all, I used 3 tbsp for my recipe. Also, I have used it with Almond milk (vanilla) and it was great.
The older I get the more I realize I just need the simple things in life; a comfy home, good food on the table, (pumpkin spice lattes) and to be surrounded by the people I love.
It was nice sharing my passion with my oldest children, Clark and Alyssa
Our cat Ryuuki came up from his morning nap to say, “hey, where’s my cup?”
The school week ends tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to a weekend making lattes, raking more leaves, and guess what we started? David started working on our latest project…AT LAST…..a room over the garage for our 17 year old son, Harrison. I thought I would add a few pictures now and as we move along the process, I will share more. Maybe it will inspire you to look at your space in a new light.
Often, when we need more space in our homes, we will move to a bigger house but since we love our location, what we have chosen to do, is look at the space we have with new eyes and see if we can create more space or use what we have more efficiently. Here’s a few snaps of the first steps in this process. Using vertical space solves a lot of space issues.
Here are the stairs David built going up to the attic space over our garage. You can also see the new skylight in the roof which we had installed when we had our new roof put on in the summer
Here’s the attic space that we are working with. It will make a great room for our teenager. Stay tuned
Well, that’s a wrap. I hope you take a moment and go inward and ask yourself, “What do I want”” and you figure out how to create that for yourself. I think for most of us, it’s the simple things in life that makes us the happiest.
Today is not just the day my little candy hunters will head out in search of loot, but also my first day doing another 21 day meditation challenge with Dr. Deepak Chopra and Oprah. This one is called, “Creating Peace from the Inside Out~ the Power of Connection.”
Have you had a chance to do one of their meditation challenges yet?
Do you want to join me?
There is still time.
Click on the hyper-link above. It’s easy to register and it’s FREE! It’s also something we can do together and is just one more thing we can do to create a better world.
What I love about the idea of meditating on mass, creating peace from the inside out, is there was never a better time. With everything going on with the U.S. election, and the war on terrorism, nuclear testing in North Korea, etc, we need to tune inward to find peace, to shut out fear, which inevitably will touch each and everyone of us in the world, as we make connections with each other.
I need it right now too, as in my particular part of the world, with a house brimming of 7 children of various ages, developmental levels and personalities, if WE can live in peace, then I know there is hope for the world. It’s a constant, conscious choice and believe me, a daily challenge to be a mom and mentor of our group. I fail terribly some days…but
My greatest wish is that there be peace in my home.
That there be peace in the world.
For me to do this however, it takes inner reserves and abundant energy. I also need to shut out what society tells me daily with all sorts of messages that plunder my being. I need to shut out the fear that I’m not good enough, I’m not rich enough, I’m not brilliant enough, I’m not young enough.
I need to remember that just BEING, is enough.
Also,
at no other time in the world can fear spread as fast, and at no other time in the world, can light shine out from all of our souls. It’s our choice to choose love over power, courage over fear. Knowing we are enough just as we are. We are more than enough, we are perfect as we are, and so is everyone else.
What kind of world do you want to create?
Are you with me as we “om” daily for the next 21 days?
I’m so sorry I missed my last week’s meatless Monday. Oh, we enjoyed another great vegetarian meal. It was amazing and I wanted you all at my table. I made a middle Eastern dish; “Falafel wraps” with a Moroccan Chick pea salad and sweet potato fries.
You can bet I’m going to write a blog post about it but it will have to be for next week. Stay tuned. I have to tell you why I missed writing last week. I was having a love affair.
Ha! Well, it was more like a love/hate relationship.
With my sewing machine!
As I worked my way through the Pokemon Pikachu costume pattern, I kept thinking how I was making memories for my little boy William. Last year, he was a slurpee cup, which was a no sew costume, so this year I felt like I owed him a REALLY great costume. How many more years will he be 7 and want to dress up as a big yellow character?
Each night, once the kids were tucked away, lunches were made, school clothes were ironed, and yes, I still iron clothes. Probably because I leave them in the dryer too long and they are beyond wrinkled when retrieved. My sister B, knows all about my laundry woes…waving to you B. Thanks for all your help folding clothes over the years! Anyway, sorry I got sidetracked, after everything was ready for another busy day, I would bring out my sewing machine and with the T.V. on in the background, work my way through deciphering the pattern instructions. By the way, it was an EASY pattern, but for me it took ALL week.
Hence missing last week’s meatless Monday blog post. But hey…here is the completed costume.
At last!
And here it is on Will….at the Halloween party he attended on Saturday afternoon. He loved being Pikachu and if you don’t know about Pokemon, Pikachu is like a fluffy, Thor-like character…sending lightening and thunder to bad guys.
Doesn’t he look happy in his Pikachu costume? So it was ALL worth it.
So it’s Halloween tonight and if you know me at all, I really love the whole dressing up part of the occasion. The idea of being something or someone you admire, or desire to become, appeals to my creative soul. Often little ones can feel small and insignificant in our world, (big ones too) so this gives them one day of the year, they can be something that makes them feel brilliant and brave. We all need that experience in life.
It’s a time when they head out after dark, dressed in their finery, daring to be the person they most desire in the world. Plus the beauty gifts and prizes of treats doesn’t hurt either!
The part I don’t like about Halloween, and I think I blogged about it last year, especially since I’m a mom, is the sugar part. I spoke with several moms at our daughter’s kindergarten Halloween party this morning and they were all bemoaning the sugar aspect of the day. I was sharing a few tips I have learned over the years to minimize the negative experience. Personally, I think kids should experience the hunt….and maybe also what it feels like to have a sugar high…’cause it’s often a sugar low.
I mean really, it’s their one and only day of the year to head out and fill a bag full of treats they often are not allowed to eat (in most households now we know the downside of sugar) We have chosen to embrace the evening and use it as another teaching moment.
Of course in the days leading up to Halloween we do talk about the tradition and also about the treat aspect of the occasion. How we are not thrilled with how sugar negatively affects our health and well being. Also, it gives children the opportunity to make healthy decisions and choices.
But in the end, we parents do have the control.
I have heard some people choose to exchange the bag of candy for a longed for toy, or to allow children to eat all they want in the first night and then the treat bag goes away.
What we have done in our family over the years, is when our children come home from trick or treating, we have them spread all their loot on the floor and we check it over. Then we encourage our children to categorize and count their treats, if they choose. Kid’s naturally do this in most cases. You know, put all the chocolate bars together, bags of chips etc. This is great for using their math skills and at this point, they often negotiate a trade with their sibling.
Then we tell them to pick about three items, which they can enjoy while watching the fireworks put on by our local Fire hall. The fire fighters were down at the public lake dock early this morning, setting up all the various fireworks and when 8 o’clock strikes you can hear your first boom of the evening, as the light show begins in our part of the world. We are fortunate to have a wonderful view since our house is right above the lake and situated directly in front of where the fireworks explode.
The kids eat their treats and enjoy this display.
After that, we put the kid’s treats into the kitchen cupboard and each night after dinner, they are able to select something from their treat bag. This feels good to me, since I remember going trick and treating and recall how precious that candy was to me, but now from a moms perspective, I also know right after eating said candy, our little ones will be off for their evening bath and have their teeth brushed.
Knowing they go out before Trick or Treating with a healthy dinner, makes me feel great too with regards to the upcoming sugar dump. Tonight is no exception and it’s kind of cool that it’s Meatless Monday.
Tonight we are making a Vegetable Lentil Gardener Pie. It’s like a Sheperd’s Pie..without the meat..YUM!
I found it in a wonderful cookbook I borrowed from the library. It’s called, “The Vegetarian Collection,” written by Alison Kent and the Canadian Living Test Kitchen.
Love, love, LOVE, this cook book and I’m definitely going to find a copy to purchase.
I think this may be a Halloween traditional dinner since it’s something I can make ahead of time and just pop in the oven late in the afternoon so we can have an early dinner and get the kids into their costumes. It gets dark really early here, like at 5:00 o’clock this time of year, so they are out in their costumes walking up steps and knocking on doors REALLY early.
Are you ready for a dinner that is delicious and nutritious?
Okay,
Here it is:
Vegetable Lentil Gardener’s Pie
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion diced
1 carrot diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 and 1/2 cups dried lentils, rinsed and drained
1 pkg (375 g) precooked soy protein mixture (I used Yves Veggie Ground Round)
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp each salt and pepper
1 can of crushed tomatoes (I used a bag of frozen, already seasoned tomatoes)
2/3 cup of vegetable broth
1/2 cup dry white wine or vegetable broth
2 zucchini, diced
2 lbs of russet potatoes…about 4 large ones
2 lbs sweet potatoes…about 4
1/3 cup milk (almond, rice, or cow)
3 tbsp butter
11/2 cups of grated old cheddar cheese
2 green onions sliced thinly
A few of the ingredients gathered together.
Directions
In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat; fry diced onion, celery, carrot and garlic until softened, 6 minutes. Stir in lentils, soy protein, cumin, oregano and half each of the salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes
Stir in tomatoes, broth and wine, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered and stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add zucchini, cook, covered and stirring often, until thickened and lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel and cut russet and sweet potatoes in 2 inch chunks. In large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook potatoes, covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return to dry saucepan of boiling salted water, cook potatoes, covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return to dry saucepan; mash together with milk, butter and remaining salt and pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup of cheese.
Scrape lentil mixture into 13×9 baking dish; spread mashed potatoes over top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and green onions. Bake in 375 degree oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes
I took a really quick picture of this plate for the purpose of my blog. Frankly, I’m always so shocked that I have time to take ANY pictures because when my family knows dinner is about to be served it’s chaos in my kitchen. My oldest daughter said, “mom, do we really need a napkin?….and I assured her that in blog post world, yes I needed a napkin, when in real world, our kids often use their sleeves or the cushions on my window seat. No, I’m just kidding, but often we don’t use a napkin as that’s just creates more laundry. ha!
But for you, I have placed a napkin on the place mat.
Someday I will have to VLOG about a typical dinner being served at my house. “Crazy” could be one adjective or maybe more like an adverb. I’m hoping always for calm but it’s often a bit chaotic as everyone scrambles to dish up their dinner.
I did plate this quickly but afterwards, added a country bun to this dish, which was PERFECT and the little kids loved this addition to the Gardener’s Pie.
So there, another Meatless Monday meal for my repertoire and maybe one you too. This made a nice big meal so if you have a smaller family that I do, it’s great for 2 nights and what mom doesn’t love THAT! Or better yet, invite another family over and break some bread together.
So dear ones, my best wishes for a Happy Halloween. I hope the light of the season shines brightly, fear is shut out and love remains glowing in your home. That’s really what this season is all about don’t you think?
I hope you join me in meditating over the next 21 days. Perhaps it will help us remove the mask many of us wear much of the year and become more in tuned with our authentic selves.
All shall be well in our world.
Peace out!
Until we connect again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Blessings from Hope
P.S. I’m not paid or receive anything for endorsing the 21 day challenge. Like everything on my blog, it’s done with the intention to inspire others to move towards the light.
~ Namaste~
“As I embarked down the road, the path seemed endless, but with each footfall, the fresh, crisp air filled my lungs, allowing my feet to lift higher, my eyes rose to the trees above and the beauty from the coloured leaves gently falling along my path, overcame my senses. Suddenly, the road was not long enough.”~ Lee Reynolds~
Well, Thanksgiving is over for another year.
I found it humourous that the crafts and stories our children brought home from school last week were “turkey” related and here we are talking about another Meatless Monday dinner.
Helping our family be inspired, to live a mostly vegetarian lifestyle appeared to be a difficult journey at first, but now that we have developed a collection of family favourites, with a long list of recipes still to try, it’s now fun and exciting. Why we didn’t do this years ago, I don’t know. I suppose it was just easier when life was busy to fall back cooking meals that we were comfortable making and eating.
I love watching our older children relish eating healthier meals and I’m thrilled our younger ones have developed a diverse and sophisticated palate. I remember going to visit my Aunt and Uncle one summer for a week when I was around the same age Will is now, 7 years old. Their house was lovely, their children were perfect and my Aunt cooked gourmet type meals all served in their formal dining room. One evening my Aunt served spinach. I don’t remember how she prepared it, but even knowing Popeye the Sailor Man, loved spinach, wasn’t enough for me to eat it. My one and only bite made me gag so bad and if memory serves, I believe I fell asleep next to my plate, since that was the way you taught children to eat their dinner when I was young, or at least how my Aunt and Uncle taught their children to appreciate good food.
Guess what I made our family for dinner tonight? Greek Spinach pie, or Spanakopita.
Eating Greek food was inspired, when our oldest daughter went to Greece in her 3rd year of University for a month several years ago. She came home with a light tan, glowing skin and raving of all the colourful and flavourful dishes. Tonight we didn’t have anyone falling asleep next to their plate, (not that we do that in our house) instead, they were all vying for seconds. The only negative comment I heard from our kids was from William, our 7 year old son, who doesn’t care for tomatoes or red onions. While I encouraged him to try to bite of everything, when he shook his head over the tomato and onion in his salad, I remembered that spinach dinner many years ago and I gladly told him, “I’ll eat your tomato and onion,” of which he gladly relinquished. The repertoire of foods he WILL eat is immense compared to most kids his age and I know in time, he will learn to love all kinds of vegetables like the rest of us.
It’s all good!
What I really like about this meal is that it can be made ahead of time, put in the freezer and brought out when you want a really special dinner. I did make it after school today as we didn’t have anything going on. Laying phyllo dough, sheet by sheet, layer by layer is time consuming but worth every bit of work.
So if you want to blow your family away, with a yummy vegetarian dinner, try making this dish. Throw together a Greek salad, play the Greek music I have linked below and enjoy a delightful dinner, creating happy, healthy, vegetarian food memories.
Thankfully, some of the items are still growing in our garden. The chickens had left some spinach in our garden but it wasn’t enough for the whole dish, so I had to break down and buy some at Costco….but they DID give us the eggs for this spinach pie. The green onions are still glorious and crisp and the oregano and parsley haven’t been touched by our chilly nights yet. It’s such a joy to be able to go out into the garden and still find food to put on our table. (Now we just need a goat for the feta cheese)
Ingredients Filling: 2 lbs Fresh Spinach 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 large green onions (cut up even the bulb) 1 medium onion (I used a yellow onion from my garden) 2 cups cut up feta cheese 1 cup of ricotta cheese 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1/4 cup fresh oregano (can use dried oregano) 1/4 cup parsley (can use dried) Fresh dill sprigs or dried 1/4 cup nutmeg Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil for brushing; may want more if you are brushing each piece of phyllo dough 1 package of phyllo dough…ensure you keep a damp towel over the dough as you are working with it. Directions: Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pan on med/high heat, and slowly add the washed and dried spinach until it wilts. (2 -3 minutes) Take off the heat, let cool.
Saute green onions, medium yellow onion in 1 tbsp of olive oil until the onions are translucent.
Add the feta, ricotta cheese, the 3 lightly beaten eggs, the oregano, parsley, dill, nutmeg and salt and pepper to the spinach. Add the onions. Mix well. Grease 13×9 pan with a light brush of olive oil. Open the phyllo dough and spread it out fully. Cut it in half. Make sure you have a damp cloth to cover over the phyllo sheets as you work with it. Take one piece of phyllo dough sheets at a time and brush it with olive oil. Continue laying the dough down piece by piece and gently brushing olive oil on the complete sheet. When you have used 1/2 of the package of dough, spread the spinach mixture over the complete pan.
Continue adding the second half of the phyllo dough, brushing each sheet with olive oil. When you have used all of the phyllo dough, brush the top with the last bit of olive oil. Score the top sheet of phyllo dough with a sharp knife, not cutting through the dough, in the shapes you want to cut when it’s cooked…..a traditional way is in triangles. Cook in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes, until it’s golden brown. Let it sit for 15 minutes before cutting and serving. This allows the pie to set up before cutting.
Greek Salad Ingredients 1 head romaine lettuce- rinsed, dried and chopped 1 red onion thinly sliced 1 can of pitted black olives or kalamata olive 1 green bell pepper, chopped in large chunks (can use red or orange too) 4-6 tomatoes, chopped into large segments (best choice are the Roma with fewer seeds) 1 large long English Cucumber 1/2 – 1 cup of crumbled feta cheese (if you are using a salted feta…be wary of adding more in dressing) Dressing 6 tbsp virgin olive oil 3 tbsp lemon juice (or juice from a lemon) 3 garlic cloves minced 1 tsp oregano Salt and pepper Directions Mix all the chopped vegetables in a large bowl. Make and pour the dressing, tossing well. Serve
I have to laugh as I post these pictures, thinking back to when my family was circling our kitchen island at dinner tonight, where we do a “dish yourself up fashion,” and it was really hard for me to take a moment, dish up and snap a few pictures. I’m lucky I have any BEFORE EATING pictures!!! I’m sorry, my blog is just so homey, as you can tell from my pictures and set up… etc…. if you do any reading around the blog world you will see how basic it is…but hey, it’s real.
I hastily spread a bit of tzatziki dressing (which my oldest made from scratch) on top of my salad and poured a glass of red wine, left over from Thanksgiving (Thanks C and D) before the family swooped in and were swarming over this absolutely delicious and flavourful dinner.
Grateful hearts!
Happy Meatless Monday!
If you haven’t added a Greek dish to your family favourites yet, let this one be your first. Thanks for joining me today, and for making the world a better place.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful. Blessings from Hope
I missed writing on Monday. I’m not one of those uber organized bloggers, who have their posts written weeks ahead of time. I didn’t even know that is how things worked until recently, my oldest daughter Alyssa, who knows these things, informed me that most professional bloggers do all their writing on one day and then set their blog to publish their posts on subsequent days.
Wow!
sadly,
that’s not me.
Nope!
At least not yet. I’ve been too busy raising children, working in my garden, caring for our chickens and creating the life I want to live, to be THAT organized.
I’m living in the moment and blogging that way too. I hope you are cool with that. For now, that works for me as I try to keep things real.
Our Thanksgiving weekend flew by but I’m still glowing happily with the memories we made and how this year the emphasis was less on Turkey time and more on family, friends and enjoying these early fall days.
There is something magical about fall. How the leaves on the trees, turn from varying shades of green to jeweled tones of yellow, gold and oranges, then in their final glory, dry upon the branches and swirl to the ground, covering the earth in a blanket of warmth, finally fading away to create a layer of rich, organic soil for new growth to thrive in spring.
I’ve said this before but nature gives us clues on how to live our own life. How to let go and surrender to the changing seasons, knowing everything is connected and created for the greater good of all.
We are busy right now in our urban homestead; harvesting the last of our winter squash, picking and processing tomatoes, digging up sweet, crunchy carrots and making our last batches of kale chips. Our compost bins are bursting and leaves are dropping faster than I can rake them. Since my compost bins are overflowing, I’m gathering leaves and storing them in a galvanized garbage can to be used in next year’s compost, but I’m also trench composting in the garden with the leaves and kitchen scraps.
I’ve noticed our chickens, Sadie, Cocoa, Clara and Annie, are all getting big and fluffy. When I picked them up the other day though, I realized they are not any heavier, it’s only their feathers that are growing and their bottoms are full of downy, soft fluff. This weekend, David is winterizing their larger run, in preparation for the winter season ahead, when we are likely to get lots of snow. They will need a cozy place to hang out together on those coldest days. As I write this, I’m making them a late morning gruel of oatmeal, cooked grated carrots, broccoli, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Yes, our chickens are spoiled but gee, it was really cold outside this morning so I think they need a little something. We had our second day of silvery frost on the ground and when I took the kids to school, we could see our breath in the air.
Cocoa is one of our chickens who lays beautiful greenish eggs…she loves the camera too!
So life is busy around here. But not too busy, that when the alarm went off early this morning at a still dark hour, I didn’t jump straight up, but snuggled deeper under our down comforter, listening to the voice from within.
“Rest more,
be gentle,.
slow down,
be thankful for everything in my life.”
There is always, ALWAYS, something to be thankful for.
This last Thanksgiving weekend was different from others in the past. I had fully intended to cook a complete vegetarian meal but our older sons protested, LOUDLY, when they heard those were my plans. And then, when I learned our oldest daughter would be taking care of our neighbour’s children, as their parents left on a MUCH needed vacation, I thought, maybe they would appreciate a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and so, we bought a turkey, and a ham too.
But this year, the emphasis was not on a “turkey day.” The focus was on family, friends, on slowing down and being grateful. I cooked the turkey on Saturday and David carved it while watching Saturday Night live, and stored it in the fridge over night. That freed me to sleep in a bit on Sunday (normally I’m up early, making my cranberry stuffing and putting the bird in the oven) and it was easy as I relaxed listening to music, sipping tea, peeling and cutting vegetables, savoring the diverse colours of the veggies, the fragrant spices and the textures of the different nuts I used for the various dishes. Everything was so alive, fresh, and I was giving thanks to the produce from our garden and other farmer’s bounty.
I’d love to share the meatless dishes we prepared this year, and hey, if you are living in the States, even though I’m too late posting to inspire my Canadian reader’s for their Thanksgiving dinner, it’s not too late for you down south to think about how you may want to celebrate your Thanksgiving this year.
Before I get to the dishes though, I wanted to just chat about our other focus this Thanksgiving. I hesitated on whether I wanted to blog about this topic a few times, going back and forth, but finally I decided that if my blog is truly about H.O.P.E. which is my blog acronym for, “Helping Our Planet Earth,” then I want to speak up and share my thoughts with you. If you do not agree, let my words go, but if you are on the fence regarding what you think, maybe my words will resonate and for that I will be thankful.
I want to talk about what is occurring in the country south of us, after all we are cousins to the United States and what happens in their country affects us greatly, with regards to trade, travel, our economy to a degree, but with the bigger picture in mind, it affects world peace and the health of our shared planet. Also, since my mom was born in California and was originally an American, I do feel a bit like a cousin from the north. (and really aren’t we all related and connected on earth?)
Of course, you would have to be living off grid, in a yurt, without cell or internet service, and never leave your property (and probably not even then) to not know what I’m about to talk about….can you guess? Well, I’m wanting to chat about the Trump/Clinton run for the Presidency in the States.
I wonder if they know the world is watching as much as we are and making HUGE judgements which will have a lasting effect for years to come.
After our Sunday night Thanksgiving dinner, our family and friends headed to the family room where we watched their 2nd political debate. Every time I see how polished and poised Hillary Clinton is, how reserved she is able to conduct herself, with calm eloquence, and then I see Trump looking red faced and a bit slovenly,(despite his expensive suits) his hair frizzed around his head, and his contorted mouth spewing hatred and negativity, I’m at a loss to understand how he got so far in this race. Sadly, pathetically, he represents a good portion of citizens and they actually agree with his rude behavior, over the top racist remarks and disregard for common decency. I feel really sorry for those conservatives who do not share his views and even sorrier for the Clinton supporters who have to contemplate how their country would change if he were elected president.
Last night, I watched a clip of a speech President Obama gave recently referring to Trump’s words and behavior as, “not okay.” After the most recent scandal over released footage of him bragging about how he can do anything with beautiful women because he was a star, I thought, how can anyone support him now. But sadly, he still has supporters. What are they thinking, or are they in so deep that they don’t want to say that he is wrong. that they are wrong.
For some reason, many people in the world have lost their filter regarding what is an acceptable and respectful way to conduct themselves. They have also lost the basic sense of decency toward how to treat other human beings.
Why this is, I don’t know, but we need to have this discussion for the sake of our children. Would we like it if our children acted like bullies threatening others, throwing racist remarks loosely around and talking about how they touch others in personal and inappropriate ways? I don’t know about you, but I would be having a SERIOUS, face to face discussion with my children, if I thought they were even, THINKING in this kind of fashion. I’m perplexed as to how “some” Americans still think this type of person, would be the BEST candidate to represent them in their highest political office in their land???
I just can’t fathom it and I would be remiss, if I didn’t speak my mind, for the greater good.
The interesting thing is I believe the energy is shifting in the world right now and we are at a pivotal point for people to really look from within and ask a few poignant questions.
“Is this the world our fore fathers fought so hard for in the first and second world wars?
“Would they be proud of our behavior and conduct”
“Are we kind and living in a society where we think about our neighbour with love, kindness and acceptance?”
My belief is that when we lose a piece of ourselves, the part of us that has common decency, respect and kindness towards others, it creates an unbalance in the world. It’s up to each of us as part of our society to speak up when we see or hear in appropriate actions or words and say, “This is not okay,” and call instead for some basic kind, decent, respectful, behavior. We CAN return to working together for a better world.
The turning point is upon us and thankfully people like the current President of the United States is sharing his wisdom, and his wife Michele Obama is inspiring us to rise up saying such things as, “When they go low, we go high,” Also, prominent actors like Robert De Niro with his intense brown eyes and resonating voice, shares his feelings about Trump.
And while I winced at a few of his harsh words, I thought, well, someone had to say it and although I’m sure the Trump supporters didn’t blink an eye, as they seem to be conditioned to this kind of talk, it was needed to be said.
Those of you who are living in the States and can make a difference in the world, please get out and vote for Hillary Clinton. Make sure Donald Trump is not elected, for if he is, we will have turned in the wrong direction and world’s peace, kindness, and the health of our planet will be at stake. You have it in your hands to shift the balance to the greater good. I believe my cousins to the south are strong, brave and free and will rise to be their best selves. America already is great….but in your actions on November 8th you will be greater by ensuring Clinton is elected.
Personally, as I watched Trump move through the ranks to be the Republican candidate, I could only shake my head, but I was also listening from within, trying to figure out why I was so angry and bothered by words. I realized, even the most annoying and difficult people on this earth are here to teach me. He has shown me EXACTLY how I don’t want to be and is a guidepost to offer my children as a person not to admire or follow.
I’m sure, even he has some redeemable qualities, however I have never observed them over my lifetime of watching him in the news, on his reality T.V. show or at this time in history. Every time I see him, he shows me who is he with his words and his actions. And you know what Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, BELIEVE THEM.” Sadly, somewhere along his journey, he lost a piece of his soul. Maybe that happens to some people who live with great wealth, property and notoriety. Their EGO (earth guide only) gets so big that they lose touch with who they REALLY are…..love.
When we were talking about his negative qualities after eating a lovely Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, I apologized to my family for speaking poorly of him and my brother in law D turned to me and said, “don’t apologize, ’cause he’s an ass.” But still, this is a hard thing to talk about on my blog as I want to lift people up, and inspire, always moving with light filled energy. But maybe, we need to gently guide others and remind them to listen from within. Each person we come in contact with on earth are gifts…..and some give more than others.
Okay, I have to take a second here and breathe, maybe I will go outside and feed my chickens.
I’m back! It’s glorious outside. The air is crisp but the sun is warm. I’m going to wrap up my blog sharing my Thanksgiving recipes and get out and work in the garden. There’s still a lot to do in the garden; dig more carrots, and I see parsley is still looking great so I’m going to cut it along with some sage, lemon balm, and peppermint, before the cold nights kill them for the season. In the winter, it’s so nice having homegrown herbs drying in my laundry room.
Well, let’s move onto happier topics…FOOD and get talking about Meatless Thanksgiving Monday.
First, if I were NOT doing a turkey, I would have cut up a large squash, like a Hubbard, and dig out the seeds and stuff it with wild rice, quinoa, nuts, herbs, salt and pepper and roasted it. That would be my main dish. Sadly we didn’t do that…….NEXT year! Maybe you can do it though.
And to compliment that main dish here are a few of the vegetable dishes we made this past Monday.
The biggest hit with EVERYONE was the Sweet Potato Casserole, then the Green beans and Mushrooms, the Butternut Squash with Maple syrup and rum was my fav and everyone loved the Roasted Brussels Sprouts (Thanks B for giving them to me) Even the little kids enjoyed them. Finally, what would be complete without our family’s Marshmallow Ambrosia. (My mom would consider this the ONLY thing she wanted for Thanksgiving…miss you mom!)
Clark was in charge of making the mashed potatoes and he does a brilliant job….yummy, garlic, dill and sour cream! Yum! Thanks Clark!
So, without any further ado, here are the recipes. Grateful Blessings for sure!
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
4 to 5 cups of sweet potatoes cubed (I used 4 large sweet potatoes)
1/2 cup of white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp real butter
1/2 cup milk…I used almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup flour…I used whole wheat
3 tbsp butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1. Preheat oven for 350 degrees. Place cubes of sweet potatoes into a saucepan, cover with water and cook on medium high heat until they are tender and soft.
2. Drain the pot and mash the potatoes.
3. Add white sugar, eggs, salt, butter and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Pour potato mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
4. Mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter with pastry cutter until the mixture is coarse. Add chopped pecans and mix well.
5. Add this brown sugar, flour, butter and pecan mixture over the top of the sweet potato mixture.
6. Bake in oven on middle rack for 30 minutes until the topping is lightly brown.
Green Beans and Mushrooms
Ingredients
6 tbsp of butter
1 cup mushrooms
1 onion
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups of long green beans
2/3 cup of vegetable broth
Directions
1. Saute mushrooms in melted 3 tbsps of butter in a skillet for 5 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a medium size bowl.
2. Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in same skillet. Add onions and garlic and sauté until they are tender, about 2 minutes. Add the green beans and toss to coat them well with the butter. Pour veggie broth over green bean mixture. Cover and simmer until liquid evaporates and green beans are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes.
3. At this point, add the mushrooms. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place on platter and cover with tinfoil until other veggies are ready to serve.
When I’m cooking in the kitchen, Ryuuki, likes to hang out, usually he’s sleeping on our window seat but on Thanksgiving he wants to be OUTSIDE, so he’s trying to get my attention by sitting on the stair railing outside the kitchen…I’m so thankful for our cat….something about having a cat in the house makes it homey in my opinion
Butternut Squash with Maple Syrup and Dark Rum
Ingredients
1 whole butternut squash~peeled, seeded, quartered and cut into 1/2 inch slices or cubes
2/3 cup water
1/4 maple syrup
or dried cranberries
2. Reduce heat and simmer on low, stirring until the squash is tender…about 15 minutes
3. Remove the squash and place into a casserole or glass pan. Allow the liquid to simmer until it is reduced and it thickens…about 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Pour over the butternut squash.
5. Sprinkle with cinnamon and walnuts or cranberries, if you wish
Cover until the rest of the veggies are ready to be served
Thanksgiving this year was also my husband’s birthday so we had a lovely cake after dinner. HB David!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
3 to 4 cups of Brussels Sprouts
3 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground pepper
Directions
1. Add the above to a resealable plastic bag. Seal tightly and shake to coat.
2 Pour Brussels sprouts mixture into a glass pan.
3. Roast in a preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring the sprouts every 5 to 7 minutes to ensure even browning
And for the finale of dishes to accompany the veggies for Thanksgiving, our family’s favourite Ambrosia dish.
Ambrosia Salad
Ingredients
1 package of coloured mini marshmallows
1 tub of sour cream
1 can of pineapple tidbits
1 can of fruit cocktail
Coconut to sprinkle on top
Directions
Mix marshmallows and sour cream into a large bowl. Add the pineapple and fruit cocktail. Mix well until all are combined. Sprinkle coconut on top and cover. Chill in fridge overnight at at least 8 hours.
The lovely part of cooking all these dishes is that they really were all done about the same time, so within a short amount of time, you can prepare and then eat. WOW! That’s huge, from a woman who used to spend the WHOLE day in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day. That has to be another bonus for having a meatless thanksgiving.
Light the candles on the table and…..say Grace.
Thank you for coming today. As the season of fall teaches us to gracefully let go and accept the changing season, may we all surrender to the greater good and allow it to prevail.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Okay, so you’re probably wondering what homemade salsa has to do with mental health. Well, if you hang in there, I hope I can make the connection by the end of my blog post but first, I want to tell you what’s been going on around here. Did you know that October 2 – 8th is Mental Health Awareness week? Tomorrow is the last day for the heightened focus of this issue, but for me personally, it’s going to be a permanent fixture inside of my brain.
I’m a pretty typical person, in that yes, I’ve had bouts of anxiety and some depression in my life but it’s never been anything that is so dark, or debilitating that a certain amount of time and learned coping mechanisms didn’t solve. I really haven’t thought too much about mental health in the past, until this last year that is, because like cancer for instance, where there is only a 6 degrees separation from anyone affected, mental illness is the same. In fact, in my own family we have several members who are affected and suffer in varying degrees, and for each, it manifests differently. When I started thinking of it, are any of us truly immune from mental issues to some degree or another?
So when I heard about a Mental Health talk being given at one of our local high schools (Seaton) on Tuesday night, I was motivated to attend. Any further light that could be shed on this topic was only an asset in my opinion.Thankfully, a few of our older children were home and agreed to help with their younger siblings, so my husband David and I were both able to attend.
As it turned out, it was an inspiring evening but not in the way I had expected. I walked into the high school theater feeling still at arms length from mental illness and was stunned to realize I was walking out, not only better informed but realizing it was closer to home than I had thought. If I truly believe we are ALL connected, then this is right on my back door and knocking to be heard.
The main speaker, Sam Fiorella, was the father to Lucas Fiorella, who killed himself after suffering from depression in secret for a number of years.. Lucas was just 19 years old when he died. His passing was a great shock to his family and all who knew him, because Lucas was the most unlikely person to end his own life. He had three passions in his life: being a friend to those in need, snowboarding, and robotics. At the time of his death he was studying Robotics at one of Canada’s Ivy League Universities, Carleton in Ottawa. You would think that he would be in his glory studying at such a prestigious University doing what he loved, but the fact was, he had been silently suffering from depression for years.
After he died however, several high school and University students came forward to share with his family, how he had taken the time to recognize that they were suffering with mental illness and helped them in the process. In one instance, a high school classmate was contemplating how she was going to commit suicide. She decided she couldn’t do it at home since she had a stay at home mom, instead, she went to school and was just sitting in silence, trying to sort out what she was going to do when Lucas approached. He offered a simple hello and sat down to talk, but mostly listened to her. After she poured out her feelings and how she was planning to kill herself he said, “how about we go and tell your mom.?” Which was the beginning of saving that girls life. It started with “hello.”
“One’s life is not measured in years but by the positive contribution made to the lives of others.” ~Sam Fiorella~
Here is what the organization is trying to achieve:
“1: The Friendship Bench Our efforts are built around this iconic yellow friendship bench, which is installed at secondary and post-secondary schools. It serves as a permanent, physical, and year-round reminder to students to take a moment out of their day to sit, breathe, and talk (or think) about their mental health and that of their friends. It’s intended to inspire peer-to-peer conversations about mental health in order to reduce the stigma and encourage more students seek help.”
The Seaton high school had arranged for Sam Fiorella to come and speak, in conjunction with this Mental Health Awareness week but he was also there to present the school with a bright yellow bench that the 1996 Alumni group had fund raised for, in memory of their classmate, who also had committed suicide after struggling with mental illness.
The realization that this story could be mine, (Grace of God and all that) since we have a son who is also a top student, a high achiever in all areas of his life. Everything always seemed to be easy and natural for our well liked, straight A son, but little did we know he was experiencing episodes of anxiety, even as a young child. I always thought when he would wake up in the middle of the night, hyper-ventilating and unable to catch his breath that it was his allergies. We even took him to the Doctor to discuss allergies, because mental illness wasn’t even on my radar.
Over the years, he has learned to cope and he deals with his episodes of feeling disoriented and anxious by taking deep breaths and meditating, which helps to calm him. There have been times though where he’s told me he’s isn’t happy and he is just going through the motions of doing what he must do. Oh, my heart just breaks when I hear this, as I’m just like any mom, and my biggest wish is for my children to be happy. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? I’m glad he has been able to talk to us but it scares me at the same time. Even though he says he’s okay, when does it stop being okay and will we be there for him when it’s not?
Thankfully, the stigma against mental illness is breaking down, opening up and coming to light since mental issues does affect a lot of people and we are starting to talk about it. To break the down the wall further, we need to teach our children from a young age to recognize their feelings and share them. Thankfully, in our children’s kindergarten classes, they are teaching the Zones of Regulation, which is a huge step in self awareness and communication.
Our son has been telling us for awhile now that he’s not always doing great and after Sam Fiorella’s talk, we finally really took it seriously. (Although I have to say, we did encourage him to talk to someone, which he did. On his own, he went to speak with one of the school counselors but it wasn’t a very effective meeting) Why it took so long for us to actually take the reins and get directly involved, I can’t tell you. If our son had been suffering from a physical ailment, we would have made sure he saw a medical physician, so why is his mental state of health any different. The day after the talk we contacted our son’s University, and booked an appointment for him to talk to a clinical psychologist. Hopefully that will be the first step to help him deal with his mental issues.
All this week, I have been talking to people, via Facebook, friends, family, teachers, and now I’m blogging about it. I hope like a pebble in the pond, I’m doing a small part in changing society’s ideas about mental illness now, for I believe there is still a stigma. Why else didn’t I see it before now? I’m really sad that Lucas had to suffer in silence, and others like him who finally felt they had no option but to take their own life. I’m going to do something about it now….because you know what Maya Angelou says?
And now you are wondering what Salsa has to do with mental health….well……along with talking about mental health all this week, I’ve been making salsa. And while chopping tomatoes I’ve been thinking about my own mental health and the things I do personally to try to stay healthy. I was thinking how fortunate I am to be able to quit my career as an Insurance/Employment Officer with the Federal government and now be able to do what I love; raise children, care for our home and garden. It’s not always easy and we have had to make a lot of financial trade offs but I swear, digging in my garden, working in my compost pile and creating beauty in my yard, has saved me a number of times over the years. Those and the great hugs I get from my kids.
The most difficult thing about living in today’s society, in my humble opinion, is many people are not able to do what they love. We have set the world up for our children to have a certain expectation of what’s considered a successful life. Accumulations of wealth and property, is still the benchmark considered, for the measure of success. As parents, we try to give our children the best education and we expose them to all sorts of after school enriched activities, so they can compete to get into the best Universities, obtain the best jobs, and all the while, we have forgotten to look at them as individuals. Hey, I’m guilty of it ALL!!! But I’m hoping, with some conscious awareness, like Maya says, I will do better now.
Thankfully, our new school curriculum is moving in that direction. Recently, in our Province teachers have been trained to move in the direction of “inquiry based learning,” which allows children to follow their interests and the teachers act as facilitators in guiding them. There isn’t any score card or level of attainment. The children are the judge on what is individually successful. Yes, we all have a long ways to go, but with any journey, it takes a vision and the goal to create a healthier, happier society.
And back to my gardening, growing tomatoes, and making salsa…well, gardening has been my therapy.
A cute quote…but seriously, if you need a mental health check up…GET professional help!
Digging deep into the dirt, allowing some of my daily problems and concerns to be dug in and turned over, so I can contemplate my life and put my issues into perspective has been crucial for me, along with knowing the tiniest seeds I’m planting are growing into beautiful plants.
This is a heritage Brandywine tomato plant I put in the ground last May (plant your tomatoes deep is my advice)
In this picture you can see my tomato plants next to the pool fence which works great as a stake. I have just added grass mulch which improves the soil as it decomposes, keeps the weeds down and keeps the soil moist
Observing how graceful the changing seasons flow, also teaches me to look at the bigger picture in my life and know that this too shall pass when problems that may overwhelm me take hold.
Even when I’m stressed with house stuff, kid stuff, financial stuff, world stuff,… when I come back to the simple tomato harvest, picking, cleaning, chopping and cooking, it allows me to let go and realize how great a few jars of salsa feels to create. In the process of growing my tomatoes and peppers, my body received some exercise, some Vitamin D, and now will benefit from the Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium and lycopene that my spicy salsa provides.
If you have an abundance of tomatoes right now or want to buy some from your local farmer (I noticed in our local paper, farmers have U pick fields and the prices are great) and want to join me in contemplating mental health, while providing your families with a spicy salsa, check out how easy it is and yes, while it’s cheap to buy salsa….does anything compare to homemade?
Homemade Salsa for Canning Ingredients 20-30 med to large tomatoes…if you can use the Italian Roma variety, they have less seeds 3 onions (I used my homegrown yellow onions…..but you can use 1 yellow, 1 red, 1 white) 3 sweet peppers and again, if you use one of each green, red and yellow, that is a nice variety 3 to 4 hot peppers 1/2 cup of lemon juice 3-4 minced garlic cloves 1 tbsp salt 1 tsp freshly ground pepper 2 tbsp of chopped cilantro or if you don’t like the taste of cilantro..some people, like my oldest son think cilantro is soapy…you can use parsley Directions 1. Sterilize your canning jars, lids and rings. I put my jars in the dishwasher and time the cycle to end when I’m ready to fill the jars so they are still hot. The lids and rings I put in a saucepan, cover completely with water and boil for several minutes and then set aside to dry Modern canning advice says you don’t have to sterilize the lids and rings if you are using a water canner for over 10 minutes…but I’m old fashion and still like the idea of sterilized everything. Here’s a link to Modern Canning advice. 2. Clean tomatoes and place them whole into a large pot of boiling water for a couple of minutes. The time really depends on how ripe they are. The riper your tomatoes, the quicker the skins will start to split. Remove and place them in a colander, when drained well, place into a large bowl. I found I had to do this process about three times before I was able to boil and loosen the skin of all my tomatoes.
3.Now the big job of removing the skin on all the tomatoes and cutting and chopping them into chunk size pieces. Place all chopped tomatoes into the same large pot you used to boil them in. 4. Cut the onions and sweet and hot peppers into a large bowl. (Just typing about it now makes my eyes water and I start to cough. Something I find helpful is putting my onions in the fridge...there is something about them getting cold that helps to reduce the watering of eyes.) Add the chopped cilantro. (Some people use a food processor but I like to therapy of cutting up everything with a knife.
5. Add the lemon juice, the garlic and the salt and pepper.
6. Now add the onions, peppers, lemon juice and spices in the large pot with the tomatoes and heat them up. Bring to a boil and then simmer until ready to put them into jars. Stir really well. At this point, I do a taste test to check the spice level. If you want it hotter, add more pepper, or garlic but keep in mind that the processing of canning will increase the heat and intensify the spice. 7. When the jars are done in the dishwasher, fill them with the salsa mixture, leaving 1/2 inch space at the top of the jar. Wipe the top edges of the jars before putting the lids on, finally screwing the rings on tight…but not too tight.
8. Place filled jars into the boiling water of the water bath canner, making sure the water covers all of the jars by a few inches. Cover and boil for 15 minutes. 9. Remove the jars from water bath canner and cool them on the counter.
10. Before storing the jars tighten the rings and make sure the lids have sealed by pressing down on the middle of the lid…if they don’t move, it’s all good.
So that has been my week.
Whew! Big stuff!
Now the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend is upon us and I can only think, “how grateful I am.” Grateful for my family, my friends, for a peaceful country to live in, but mostly for the freedom to express my thoughts and ideas. Also, I’m thankful for Canada’s health care system, as we can get help and all it takes is a visit to a physician for a referral to a mental health professional.
I hope you share with me in spreading Lucas’s story and ensure the loss of his life was not in vain.
I’m also thankful to you, my readers for coming to visit me here. Thank you!
I open up the sun roof on our van, and we crank the tunes….and we all sing really loud, “Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough baby…to keep me from getting to you.” I hope they are taking in the words really well…and we are singing loud enough that their big brother away at University hears them and knows, we are there for him.
Listen baby, ain’t no mountain high,
Ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough baby
If you need me call me no matter where you are,
No matter how far; don’t worry baby
Just call my name; I’ll be there in a hurry
You don’t have to worry,
Oh baby there ain’t no mountain high enough,
Ain’t no valley low enough,
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe
Remember the day I set you free
I told you you could always count on me darling
From that day on, I made a vow,
I’ll be there when you want me,
Some way, some how
Oh baby there ain’t no mountain high enough,
Ain’t no valley low enough,
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe
Oh no darling
No wind, no rain
Or winters cold can stop me baby, na na baby
‘Cause you are my goal
If you’re ever in trouble;
I’ll be there on the double
Just send for me, oh baby, ha
My love is alive
Way down in my heart
Although we are miles apart
If you ever need a helping hand,
I’ll be there on the double
Just as fast as I can……..
Let’s be there for one another and start talking and LISTENING….. That is my HOPE!
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Hi! Welcome to my blog and thanks for joining me for my third Meatless Monday meal. This week, I thought I would make an Italian classic, but when I did some research, I discovered that Ancient Greeks were responsible for making this pasta out of long strips of dough they called, “laganon. Fast forward, several more centuries and Italy claims they perfected the delicious layers of meat, vegetables with these long pasta strips. To complicate the origin of this dish further however, the first cookbook with a lasagna recipe was found in Britain in 1390.
So wherever this recipe originated, I’m sure over the centuries each country contributed their own flair to the dish and while I used to stick to a classic meat lasagna recipe, in the last 10 years my family has enjoyed my vegetarian twist. Maybe that is how in this day and age, we are re-shaping the classic lasagna. As we contemplate eating less meat for many reasons, health, environment, ethical treatment of animals, I personally find this recipe more delicious than my old meat version, as the vast array of vegetables contributes to a layer of delectable flavours.
This is also a meal that can be prepared in advance and frozen if you wish for a small gathering or a large. Or better yet, make one to eat now and one to freeze.
Join me out in my garden where I have to dash to pick some tomatoes, some carrots and basil and oregano.
While this isn’t my large Roma (Viva Italia) tomatoes, which are perfect for this dish, it’s a picture of my cute Juliets…definitely needed in any tomato garden
This year, I planted carrots all over my garden, wherever I had a spot ’cause you can never have too many carrots. They get even sweeter with the crisp fall days and are delicious fresh from the garden
Go outside and our girls are ALWAYS wanting to get in a photo shot…here’s Cocoa cruising in the kale
Are you ready to cook with me today? Okay, let’s go inside.
Find your cutting board and a sharp knife because the biggest part of making this dish is in chopping of vegetables. Here we go…..
Homemade Hearty Vegetarian Lasagna
Ingredients
Lasagna Dry Noodles (I prefer whole wheat for the higher fiber content) I’m using a large Lasagna pan and I cook 14 noodles (I use 12 for the dish, 6 on each layer, but always cook a few extra…great for dipping in the sauce, yum) 1/2 tsp salt 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion chopped finely 3 garlic cloves 1 small green pepper 1-1/2 cups of sliced carrots 1 cups of sliced mushrooms 1-1/2 cups of sliced zucchini 5-6 large tomatoes cut into quarters (if you don’t use fresh tomatoes, you can add another jar of sauce) 1 large jar of tomato sauce 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil and oregano or 1-2 tbsp of dried herbs 4 cups of lightly packed fresh spinach or 2 packages of frozen spinach 454 grams of partly skimmed Ricotta cheese 2 eggs 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese 2 -3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (add more if you want a really cheesy top
Directions
1. Cook the lasagna noodles in a large pot of salted, boiling water for 7 to 9 minutes. Drain water and rinse with cold water, drain again and set aside.
2. In a large pot, saute onions, garlic and green peppers in olive oil. Cook several minutes. Add carrots, zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook several minutes allowing vegetables to soften. vegetables are soft.
3. Add fresh chopped herbs to the vegetables, then add the jar of sauce stirring and cooking for several more minutes. If you are wanting a rich taste, you can also add some dried oregano and basil. When I cook this in the summer when I have fresh herbs, I use fresh AND dried herbs. Let simmer for at least 15 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, the Parmesan cheese, the eggs and the spinach.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F 6. Now layer 1/2 of the tomato/vegetable sauce in the bottom of your pan…most people use a 13×9…but mine is a bit larger
7. Lay 1/2 of the lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
You need two eggs for the ricotta/spinach layer…here is Victoria with our new egg basket, which we had to start using since the girls like to collect the eggs and bring them in IN their hands…but earlier today we had a slip up and lost two eggs, ooops! hence our new egg basket
8. Lay the ricotta cheese/spinach/egg/Parmesan mixture on top of the lasagna noodles
9. Lay the other half of the lasagna noodles on top of the ricotta cheese/spinach mixture 10. Now spread the 2nd half of the tomato/vegetable sauce on top and finally layer this with all the mozzarella cheese…..if you want a lot of cheese use 3 cups but I found 2 full cups enough and then I sprinkle a bit of Parmesan cheese on top
11. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. I place some tin foil on top to keep it hot…..and allowing it to sit helps it to firm up when you are serving the pieces. Note: If you want the sauce to be hearty…you can use even more vegetables than the above….I know when we have served this to some of my children’s friends, they have not appreciated the mushrooms but they really do help to make the sauce thicker and heartier.
Sorry for the glare…the rear of our house faces south and on a nice day, at 6ish the sun shines right into the back of our house…lovely but not great for pics
The little kids love lasagna
We are missing Alyssa and Harrison tonight. Alyssa has agreed to do some childcare/house sitting for our neighbours who are gone for a week, and Harry is at his part time job….Lasagna warms up really well and is better on day 2
And you know what seems to go really well with lasagna?…Carrot Cake. Have you tried my recipe?…well it’s actually my sister C’s recipe, which is awesome and we have tweaked over the years. Try it and see what you think.
And I think our cat Ryuuki must have known it was Meatless Monday, ’cause as soon as our son Clark got up to go and get something from the kitchen, our sweet little guy jumped up into his seat and settled in, soaking in the rays from the sun. When Clark came back, he let him hang and he pulled up another chair. Our pets remind us to go where there is love and FOOD.
Are you still on the fence regarding choosing a vegetarian lifestyle? If so, check out Graham Hill’s TED talk video, “Why I’m a weekday vegetarian.” Any steps we can take in the direction of choosing meatless meals, helps our planet earth. (if you are unable to see the link below, click on the hyper-link above)
Well, thanks for joining me and my family today and I hope this lasagna recipe inspires you to choose it as another vegetarian meal for your repertoire.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful Blessings from Hope
Welcome back to my second Meatless Monday. It’s a gorgeous day in the Okanagan and what I want more than anything is to get outside and harvest some more tomatoes. I have been doing that almost daily and after the kids are in bed at night, I’m either cutting them up and putting them in the freezer, or I’m making salsa and canning it. It’s been a GREAT tomato gardening season! We eat a lot of tomatoes in the winter, as I add them to so many meals. Stay tuned for my Salsa making/canning experience later this week and let’s get cooking with an Asian inspired dish, for our Monday Meatless dinner. Do you have places to go too?
Stay tuned….and join me in making some salsa later this week
You know what I love about “Smoked Tofu and Vegetables?” They aren’t just a healthy, MEATLESS, combination, but they are SUPER EASY TO PREPARE. Perfect, if your Monday is like mine and kids are flying in and out of the house, off to after school activities. I like them to have something filling either coming or going.
The little girls are off to ballet after school which makes dinner time more hectic
For years, my kids, especially my older ones, would protest when we had a meal with tofu. As soon as they arrived home after school the question, “What’s for dinner Mom?” would be asked, with hopeful anticipation and I would reply with dread, “tofu,” knowing a groan would be their response. What about tofu makes kids groan? And why did I always reply to their, “what’s for dinner question,” with the protein choice of the meal? Why didn’t I say instead, “we are having, Squash, Carrots, or Broccoli?” You know why, because in many parts of the world, meat and potatoes is still the way people want to eat, choose to eat, like to eat. They probably don’t know any better. We used to not know better. It was the way I was raised to a degree, and also many comfort foods were associated with meat centered meals. Meals like; meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and pork chops with orange slices.
“Sigh,”……that’s me.
I know 20 some years ago, when I started cooking with tofu now and then, my kids felt TOFU was synonymous with vegetarianism ,and anything with the word “vegetables” in the title, was not good in their books. KIDS!
Thankfully~
Times change~
Palates Evolve~
And I have grown up too~
I have a more discerning desire to feed my family healthier choices and as a side benefit, it helps the earth. (Although if I was really smart, that would be my number one reason to become a vegetarian, since, if I help the earth, I help ALL the children in the world)
Whatever my children’s perception was, the bottom line is that tofu is a good source of protein when choosing a meatless meal and maybe it didn’t hurt that I found a yummy smoked tofu that everyone likes. It’s meaty, savory, and of course, it has a great smokey taste. It just adds another flavour dimension to our meals.
If you have a busy Monday, or any day of the week, the biggest part of making a stir fry is cutting up the vegetables but make it easier on yourself, and do it the night before, placing the veggies into a large container and store them in the fridge until you are ready to WOK with them. Okay, poor pun, but speaking of woks, you don’t need one to make this meal, just a large frying pan will wok, I mean work. (sorry, I couldn’t resist)
Having said that, once you have used a wok and experienced how fast it cooks, while maintaining the texture of your food, you will want to purchase one for your kitchen. I have an electric wok, but I have always wanted to do the hanging wok from the ceiling thing, which says to me….
dinner in a sec.
and good cooks live here!
Okay, ready to start chopping? by the way, you don’t have to limit the vegetables to what I have chosen. You can add anything you have in your fridge, the more the better, the brighter the colour, the healthier. I have chosen kale as my main green vegetable, as that’s whats in the garden right now but broccoli works great and would be my other number 1 choice.
Meatless Monday #2 – Smoked Tofu and Vegetable Stir Fry
Ingredients Rice, thin egg noodles or Spaghetti Squash (we chose the later for this dinner as it’s in season)
Marinade: 2 cups of vegetable broth 1/4 cup dry sherry 4 Tbsp of low sodium Soy Sauce….my number one choice is the Bragg’s variety when I have it 1 Tbsp honey (or sugar)…this is optional 3 teaspoons of cornstarch 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp powered ginger Opt: 1 tsp red pepper flakes
Now for the rest of the ingredients – vegetables, etc: Note: If you cut the veggies in strips, more of the vegetable can absorb the spices and it will improve the flavour of the dish
2 tbsp of sesame oil 3- 4 cloves of garlic 1 tbsp of grated ginger 1 chopped white onion 1 stalk of celery sliced 1 red hot pepper cut finely (optional…even our kids are starting to like things SPICY and even though I also have red pepper flakes in the marinade, I like layering my spices) 1 orange, red, or green sweet pepper, sliced 2 to 3 carrots sliced 2 cups of red cabbage..sliced 2 cups of kale or broccoli, cut up 1 sliced small zucchini 1 cup of mushrooms, sliced 1 package of smoked tofu cut up in cubes Garnish of green onions, sesame seeds or almonds
Directions:
Cook the rice, noodles or spaghetti squash, as we have done, before you start your stir fry, as that part of the meal takes the longest to cook. Once you start cooking with the wok, dinner moves fast!
I had this cooked in the afternoon and Harrison just scooped the spaghetti squash and put it in a casserole while I stir fried…I also had rice cooking on the back burner..I use brown rice which takes 40 minutes
1. Heat oil in wok, then add, onions, garlic, ginger, celery and red hot pepper
2. Add tofu and mix well with the above spices and vegetables, Cook for several minutes 3. Add the vegetables that will take the longest to cook, saving the softer veggies for last
Cook these for a bit, stirring well, then add the last of the vegetables, in this case the mushrooms and zucchini….leave the more tender veggies until the end to avoid mushy veggies 4. Add the marinade to the vegetables and mix well with vegetables. If the heat is too high, turn down to medium low, and cook with cover on, stirring occasionally, checking often to see if the vegetables are cooked through, don’t let them get too soft, not a nice texture in my opinion.
When the kids start circling the island, (that’s what they do in my house when they are hungry) then serve on a bed of rice, noodles, or like we did today with rice AND spaghetti squash. I topped it with green onions but you can garnish it with sesame seeds or do what we do often, a handful of almonds
Wished I had cut up my green onions a bit smaller, but hey, you should see them in my garden..they are HUGE…also, this dish is for William and he likes his food separate…so it’s not plated for an adult…but he eats like one in amount!
For my blog sake, and because Will has to head off to swimming right after dinner, I dished him up first.
He told me to tell my blog friends that the spaghetti squash was a nice touch
Well it’s that easy.
Sometimes we make things so hard in life but choosing to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle is quick and really perfect if you are a busy mom too. I’d like to think that when my grandchildren ask their parents, “What’s for dinner?” someday, and my kids tell them, ” Grandma’s Tofu with Vegetable Stir fry, they will say, “Hooray!” I’m holding the vision for someday having grandchildren AND a world where everyone has food on their dinner plate. and peace in their heart. Join me as I end this blog post with one of my son William’s fav songs. In the evenings, after bath time, teeth have been brushed, stories are read, after I have said goodnight, sleep tight to his twin sisters, Will often asks, “can you come and lie with me for awhile Mom?” When I shut out the evening work of making lunches and cutting up and processing more tomatoes, and accept his offer, it’s the BEST time of my day. “It’s a choice to make a better day…”
Will starts singing the first song on the CD with his sweet, clear little boy voice. Sometimes he talks about his day with me and sometimes he asks me about my day….he’s very mindful that way. He asks about children all over the world. As his body relaxes and his breathing slows, we both drift on the wings of the music. I remember a time, being little like him. A 7 year old in the 60’s. My Dad had died in a truck accident 2 years before and I can recall feeling so small, so insignificant in the world, and yet, there was this tiny part of me that was BIG. I didn’t know it then, but I believe it was my shining soul energy. Even though times were often tough, I held onto that golden cord connected to this loving part of me, and I knew, if I had the opportunity to grow up, I would try to make a difference.
I’d like to think with my writing I make a dent on this earth, and by raising children who are conscious of their own golden cord, that we will all weave a thread of love and peace around the world. IT’S MY HOPE. Here’s the song that Will sings from his, “KIDS FOR PEACE, ” CD, called, “We are the World.” It’s a good song to sing on Meatless Monday! If you can’t see the youtube video below, click on this hyper-link, We are the World.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful. Blessings from Hope
I love the beach, the ocean beach to be precise. The waves, rolling in and out, with the clock-like tide, the screech of sea gulls overhead, and the endless sand all beckon me to come and sit in peace.
My family used to go to Rathstrevor beach in Parksville, Vancouver Island, B.C. every summer for years, when our older children were younger. We would rent a cabin at “Tigh Na Mara,” with 2 bedrooms and a large open family area with a cozy wood burning fireplace. The cabin was in the woods, well back from the beach, which created a deep and quiet refuge in the evenings, but was only a short walk until one could hear the rhythmic, rumbling of the waves, crashing onto the shore.
Vancouver Island, is also home to some of the oldest trees still standing on the planet. Each summer, our holiday was not complete, without a visit to the old growth forest called, “Cathedral Grove,” or our long and winding trip across to the most western side of the Island where Tofino and Long Beach are situated. It was there, when standing on the edge of the ocean, with toes digging deep into the sand, that my whole being would exhale releasing pent up energy, and inhale all the beaches negative ions, restoring me with the grace of nature. I would be transformed into a relaxed, peaceful woman, if not until the next yearly trip, at least for many months after our holiday.
We would end our day trip with a delicious dinner at the Sea Shanty in Tofino, which has been run by the same, First Nations couple since 1994. The view of Clayoquot Sound from the patio (perfect for kids!) is intoxicating. At the end of the day, I would drink in the ocean, like the landlocked woman I was and know my soul was being restored. There is something poignantly special, about sitting amongst your family and knowing, life doesn’t get any better life than this. The fact that the food was AMAZING didn’t hurt either.
I’ll never forget our first trip, our oldest son Clark was around 5 years old. A precocious 5 year old, I might add, who was already reading with a larger than life personality. “Mom, there is nothing on the kid’s menu that looks good. Can I see your menu?” Passing it over, he carefully read all the dishes and then declared, “I’d like the Seafood Platter please.” Of course he would I thought, it’s the most expensive dish on the menu. “But Clark,” I said, “that dish is for adults, do you think you can eat it all? “I’d like to try, besides I want to taste every kind of seafood on one plate.” His Dad and I exchanged looks over the table and finally we both nodded in agreement. He was so happy to dig out meat from the crab legs and dip his lobster in the butter, relished over the grilled salmon and enjoyed the scallops with a “mmmmmm, this is so good.” He even shared as I recall. He STILL remembers that experience to this day. (Mind you, he usually remembers every adventures in relation to what we ate along the way)
There is also something so pristine about that part of the world, that propels me to promise to care for the earth and do EVERYTHING I can to honour it, by keeping it clean and healthy.
This summer we took our younger children back to Vancouver Island for an end of the summer holiday. Part of the reason was to get our son Mitchell, who was starting his 3rd year at the University of Victoria, stocked up with food before the semester started. Personally, I really needed an ocean fix. Every pore of my being was dehydrated and needed to be refreshed, BEFORE we started a new, endlessly busy school year. It was delightful watching our younger children experience the ferry ride with all the ocean sights for the first time. I was reminded yet again, we are always creating pathways for our children, teaching them to walk the earth more gently and be TRANSFORMED with grateful hearts.
Recently, I wrote a blog post about choosing a vegetarian lifestyle, and if you are unable to do it full time, then starting with one dinner a week is a great first step. After writing that post, a friend of mine asked me how I have gotten my family converted to eating mainly vegetarian meals. I thought about how we have been moving in that direction for a long time and what the process was and realized, we are STILL not where I would like to be, fully vegetarians, but we are in the process. In order to achieve your goal, taking steps in the direction of that goal is sometimes what’s most important and also appreciating how far you have come and being okay with it. I tend to be too hard on myself, so looking back on what used to be on our dinner plates was an awesome realization for me.
Each day that we consciously choose to buy food that is not just healthy for us, but good for the environment too, has to be enough right now. At least we are moving in the direction of change and many days I can say we are there. (One of these days, we will totally stop eating bananas too, since it takes a lot of fossil fuel energy to bring them to my part of the world) That reminds me of Barbara Kingsolver’s book, called, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,” where she and her family chose to eat local, LONG before it was cool. In that book, she chronicled their experience. If you are wanting to be inspired, I recommend reading this beautifully written book.
Anyway, back to my friend’s question.
“How does one move in the direction of becoming a vegetarian?”
Well, first, you start making one vegetarian meal, then two meals and then three meals and before you know it, you have a complete repertoire of food your family loves, or will grow to love. Something we have done for years now is reduce our consumption of meat in the meat meals we eat. For instance, when the recipe calls for 1 lb of meat, you cut that in half. For more inspiration, here is what another blogger wrote about how to become a vegetarian.
Just like when we are trying to sneak more vegetables into our family’s meals, (you know hiding carrots, broccoli and zucchini into everything), you do the reverse with meat and slowly, you have cut out the amount of meat you add to your meals, until you replace it with an alternate source of protein; tofu, quinoa, beans/rice, almonds, etc.
Another way to move in that direction is to give a vegetarian alternative for the family members that do choose to eat solely vegetarian. It’s that old, try a bite of everything and before you know it, your meat eating family members have acquired the taste buds for a fresher, more alive, healthier choice. Their bodies will tell them what feels better after they have eaten a vegetarian choice.
I’d like to share a delicious soup I made recently for my family last week, when we had another cold and rainy day. It’s a long time favourite of my oldest son’s who was the one who ordered that Seafood Platter years ago. It’s my Clam Chowder Soup but instead of adding three cans of clams, like the original recipe calls for, I only use two. It tastes great, and no one notices the lack of clams. Actually, my “totally vegetarian” daughter asked if I would be offended if she picked the little clams out of the soup…and her brother gladly said, “I’ll take them.”
Okay, so it’s a life time process, especially if you raised your children to be meat eaters. I try also to not talk too much about food in general, no sermons about how eating meatless is better for our world. I call everyone to dinner and part of the enjoyment of the food is knowing we are only together for a short time. I know better than most moms since I have grown children and still little ones, how fast childhood flies and before we know it, our children are out in the world and making their own food choices. I hope they will have some favourite, comfort foods that will continue to nurture them with fond memories of home and holidays, long after I’m gone.
If you are cooking with me today, join me in listening to this great song, full of flowing harmony and easy beachy rhythm, “Tofino,” by Old Man’s Beard.
(If you can’t see the link below, check on the hyper-link above to hear this cool song)
And as we are groovin, here’s my Clam Chowder recipe
Hope’s Clam Chowder
Ingredients
2 cans of baby clams ….(the recipe originally called for 3 cans of clams) 4 strips of bacon (this recipe also originally called for more…you can use vegan bacon) 1 minced white onion 1 minced celery stalk 3 minced cloves of garlic 8 medium cubed chunks of potatoes 2 medium sliced carrots 1 cup of frozen corn kernels 3 tbsp of whole wheat flour 6 cups of vegetable stock 2 cups of whole milk 2 tbsp of dill (if you have fresh, chopped and add…..the more the better) Salt and pepper to taste garnish with parsley
(Note; adjust the stock and milk based on how much liquid you like in your soup and also how creamy you would like it)
Directions
Cook bacon in large soup pot, drain off the fat, add the onion, celery and garlic. Cook until translucent. Add the chunks of potatoes, sliced carrots, flour, salt and pepper and mix really well.
I am always amazed when I grow potatoes, beneath that dirt, it’s always a bit of a miracle to see food appear.
Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender.
Drain the clams and put the reserved juice in the potato mixture, bring back to boil, and add the corn, the clams, and milk. Season with dill. Heat well and then serve with parsley and a nice big bun. (link to my homemade bun recipe)
(Tip…..We often have a bit of left over Salmon or other fish in the fridge. It’s not enough to feed my family so when this happens I will add it to this soup, making another whole meal…if doing this, you can reduce the clams to just one can…and call it a Seafood Medley)
It’s ALL good!
Thank you for visiting today. I try to give my blog content to share with my readers some of the things I stumble upon in my day to day life moving in the direction of living on this earth more consciously and of course being mindful to care for our home. If you want to listen to an awesome Youtube video on caring for our oceans, which when you think about it, is really the earth….since land is actually on top of the ocean….and most of our planet is water…anyway, check out Sylvia Earle’s prize winning, Tedtalk video called, “My Wish.” Click the hyper link if you can’t connect to the video below.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Mmmmmm, I love black olives. They fill me with thoughts of sunshine, earth and balmy breezes…and my mom, who could eat a whole can in one sitting, although she also liked to share, hence my love of them too. As I was chopping up whole pitted olives just now, to put in the Mexican Casserole I’m making for my family tonight, I was thinking how much I love humid, warm ocean climate foods. Foods from Mexico, Greece, Italy, oh anything Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, well, you get the picture.
This is what the weather looks like outside my kitchen window as I cook. September has certainly not been warm and sunny this year. More like cold and rainy. I even put a tarp around my chicken’s covered run, to give them relief from the wind and rain. (see blue in right corner of our lower back yard.)
And here are a few pictures of the little ones as they took the bus for the FIRST time, brrrrr, early this morning (except for William, who is an old hand at this form of transport)
(And off they go for the W H O L E day….inside I head to have a cup of tea and decide, what’s for dinner?….I like to get it out of the way early so I get sink into a few projects…decluttering is on the list)
And you may ask, why in heaven’s name, am I not living in a warmer clime with some yummy cultural dishes???? What is Canada’s cultural dish anyway? Well, I guess we are a diverse, hodge-podge of many countries. The only thing off the top of my head as I type is, Smoked Wild Salmon, Maple Syrup and Bacon. Oh and of course in Eastern, particularly French speaking Quebec, Canada they love poutine, but when I think about French Fries, covered in cheese curd and gravy it makes my arteries cringe.
Anyway, chopping up the olives just now got me thinking, I would really like to do blog posts that makes a difference in the world. I know it’s been said before, but what if we did start making veggie dishes every Monday? Imagine…. if everyone in the world did that? Choosing to start the week with a vegetarian meal is delicious, may help you continue the week on a healthier note, and of course by taking that one step helps to decrease your environmental footprint on the earth.
So, stay with me, what I was thinking is that every Monday I’d like to write a blog post, highlighting a vegetarian dish from around the world. At least for 7 weeks which would give me/us a vegetarian meal for each day of the week and get my family, maybe yours too building a repertoire of meatless meals as we head into fall.
The side benefit for us obviously is this is a healthier, greener choice and who knows, maybe we can lose a bit of weight. Another BIG reason for me is that I have little ones who are learning to make good food choices. I’d like to share my love of eating vegetarian meals with my children, so like my mom, sharing her beloved can of olives with me so many years ago, my children will grow up and have fond memories growing vegetables in our gardens and eating favorite dishes from all over the world. This is another way of helping the earth and staying connected to other cultures, feeling connected to everyone on this earth.
I hope you will join me in choosing some around the world veggie dishes for your family.
Since I’m making a Mexican Casserole, let’s start with that dish. I know on a chilly September day, it’s a great way to nourish my family. Hey, and a side benefit, is this meal is relatively inexpensive, especially if you are harvesting your peppers and tomatoes from your garden, as we are doing right now.
Hope’s Mexican Casserole (Makes a large 9×13 casserole dish….great for a large crowd of 8) Ingredients 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil 3 cloves of garlic 1 large minced onion 1 stalk of celery 1/2 cup of sliced black olives…more is you like them like my mom and I 1 Red hot chili pepper (I’m using a “Hot Portugal” from my garden) but if you only have dried, use 1 tbsp of chili powder 1-1/2 tsp of dried cumin Salt and pepper to taste 1 can of pinto beans (I’m using dried and cooking them) 1 can of black beans 4-5 large tomatoes chopped or you can add a large can of drained tomatoes 2 cups of salsa 4 tortilla wraps 1 cup of crushed taco shells or taco chips 1 cup cheddar cheese (I didn’t have a cup…so I used 1/2 cheddar and 1/2 mozzarella)
I cooked my pinto beans early this morning, you don’t have to soak them overnight, Rinse them, bring them to a boil, then continue to cook them on low heat for 2 hours. Finally. let them sit until you need to add them to the pot)
Directions: Heat oil in large pot, saute onions and celery until translucent, add garlic and red pepper, cook for a few minutes. Add the rest of the spices, stir well. Add the tomatoes and allow to cook for about 5 minutes to 10 minutes, and finally add the cans of beans and the 2 cups of salsa. Cook and heat through well.
Prepare a 9×13 pan by laying two tortilla wraps on the bottom.
Add 1/2 of the above bean and tomato mixture over the wraps. (at this point, if you wish, you can layer some cheddar cheese on top, if you want the dish really cheesy, but I didn’t do this as I didn’t have enough cheese today)
Now like a lasagna, add another layer of 2 tortilla wraps and finally top with the remainder of the bean and tomato mixture. Top with crumbled taco shells, or taco chips and finally sprinkle the top of the whole pan with cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes While the casserole is baking, make a green salad of your choice.
My garden is abundant with kale, red cabbage, carrots and tomatoes….make what you have on hand, anything green is great
To plate, place a large square of the casserole, top with sour cream, add the salad and some taco chips of your choice. Serve with a “Provecho”….enjoy!
This is a favourite of our family as it’s easy for me and the kids think it’s a “fun” meal.
This is what our cat Ryuuki thinks of this gloomy Monday…but the family is going to LOVE dinner tonight
Oh, and did I mention one of the BEST things I can think about when making it a meatless Monday? If you love animals like I do, this is just a humane way to walk the earth. Here’s a great link to the Vancouver Humane Societies page and an article on “Meatless Monday.” Have a look and I hope you join me in eating this way, if not all the time, then at least once or twice a week. We can make a difference!!!
Before I say goodbye, I’d like to tell you about my little guy Will, “Will I Am, Where there is a Will there is a Way, Will Power.” He’s got a powerful, and peaceful name. He loves people. He loves the earth. He loves animals. He also has this strong belief, that we can all do something to make the world better for everyone. The seed is in each of us, but we all have free WILL to make it grow. Yeah, maybe Meatless Mondays are just a humble step, but with each little thing we do, we do make the world a better place.
Here’s a link to one of his favourite videos. Interestingly, William was born on June 25, 2009, the same day Michael Jackson left the earth. I sometimes wondered if Michael didn’t whisper something to Will in passing. When I tuck Will into bed at night, lately he’s been playing this CD, (Peace in the World) and he likes to drift off listening to songs like Michael’s, “Man in the Mirror.”
Click on the hyper-link above to see this Youtube video.
“If you want to make the world a better place, then take a look at yourself and make the change.”
Thank you for coming today and joining me in my kitchen.
I’d love to hear what your favourite veggie meal is for your family. Drop me a comment below.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
For there is no friend like a sister in calm and stormy weather. To cheer one on the tedious way, To fetch one if one goes astray. To lift one if one totters down, To strengthen whilst one stands ~Christina Rossetti~
The above piece was written by an English poet, who lived during the Victorian era in London. Christina Rossetti was ahead of her time, being born almost 200 hundred years ago, she became a leading feminist, as she was able to support herself with her craft, when class and gender bias was rampant. When I read about women such as this, it inspires me to keep going. It’s not always easy to be a mom to a large family. It’s not always easy to be an older mom to young children. People have such huge judgments about what is right, ethical and proper. If she could overcome society’s ingrained beliefs back then, then I can keep going in the 21 century, trying my best to open people’s eyes to our true nature.
We aren’t our gender, our colour, our religion, our class, our marital status, our sexual preference, our religion, our political party membership, or our age. We aren’t the house we live in, the car we drive, what we do for a living or how much money we earn. We are, what is deep inside each of us. And for each of us, the journey within can take a lifetime. Some never discover their true self.
Summer was flying along on the wings of butterflies and was carrying me breezily through my days. The children were busy going to camp, taking tennis and swimming lessons, and I was happily in the garden, digging in the dirt, laying mulch and tending to our new chicken flock. Every spare moment was gloriously full. I lose myself outdoors, in the garden, in a forest, on the beach or in the country. Being close to nature keeps me grounded and connected to all things. It feeds my soul, allows my heart to sing and makes me feel peaceful.
My lazy summer reverie was shattered two weeks ago.
After having a busy week at home, I stopped in for a visit at my cyber parenting board and discovered a horrendous tragedy had happened to my dear board bud and her family. I have been fortunate to share my parenting path with a group of wise and intelligent women for several years now and I never thought anything negative would occur being actively on the internet. Yes, naive on my part but the need to connect with other women who are walking a similar path, was a strong pull.
Don’t we all feel more comfortable when we find “our people.” You know a bosom buddy who just gets us. Someone who shares many of the same things in life and understands how rocky and wonderful the path can be at times. Living in the 21 century affords us the technological luxury to connect quickly to like-minded friends all over the world. It’s such a blessing and now I also see the negative side as well.
I am not going to go into the tragic event that occurred, as it’s not my story to tell. What I want to share is what happened to me and my other board buds who were shocked and grieving for our friend and her family. This is the side tragedy that often accompanies painful events. Anger is one of the first emotions that rises up after a horrific loss and the reaction often is “who can I blame.”
We had unwelcome guests coming on our board (which has always felt like our safe, private living room) spewing hate and horrible judgments towards our board friend and us as well. It shook me to the core, as I have not experienced that level of hatred and abuse in my life. I always look for the best in others but sadly, I see that there are those who do consciously choose to harm with intent. The fact that they feel their judgment is the righteous one, does not make their hateful remarks justified or above reproach.
These people lurk in the shadow of anonymity and must derive some sort of satisfaction from stirring up controversy. It gives them a sense of power, perhaps and also feeds their ego when they create havoc. “Sick, and perverse,” is all I can say about this kind of behavior. All the things that they “claim” are wrong about everyone else, is something they should recognize in themselves.
I am not going to get caught up in this drama though, since I have a life to live and I have children to lead. At the end of my days, I hope I can look back on my life and say, I didn’t waste any moments by being negative or intentional mean. What is gained when we travel that path? There are going to be great times of grief, that is part of life, but knowinghow to observe the feelings without reacting is a powerful tool and then flowing through the emotions with the least amount of resistance is key to healing. Yes, things will never be the same again, but with each experience we grow wiser.
What prompted this blog post today was watching nature and realizing it has much to teach me. Recently, we had a summer storm. The sky became dark and the clouds opened up, spilling torrential rain, like the tears I’ve shed for my cyber-friend and her children. Winds whipped up, filling our house with penetrating cold air.
The kids were transfixed, sitting safely on our window seat in the kitchen watching the changing sky, and the swirling lake below our home. They watched as buckets of water rolled off our decks to the gardens below. It occurred to me they were still young enough to have not experienced this kind of extreme weather pattern in their life. Certainly not too many summer storms since first, they have only lived a few summers and 2, we don’t experience this kind of weather disturbance in the summer in our valley.
Suddenly, I heard them get excited and as they opened the french door and raced out to our deck, I followed them. There they were, ooohing and ahhhing over the double rainbow in the sky.
Mother nature is always teaching me how to walk this earth and my children are reminding me to live in the moment, to enjoy the experience and always, ALWAYS look for beauty and joy.
This morning I woke up to another beautiful summer day. The sky couldn’t have been more blue. I’m still grieving for my friend and her family, I still feel tremendous pain and hurt from the recent personal attacks towards my board buds and myself, but I’m not going to spend precious life moments being concerned about what others think of me or my friends.
I know judgments are largely fear based and if you know anything about me, I try really hard not to live in that place. It’s too dark and it’s also only a matter of perspective. What we don’t understand, what we have been taught to believe, we are scared of. It’s human nature. I think about Christina Rossetti, the poet who lived in a time when women didn’t choose to remain single and work for a living, doing what they were most passionate about. What did her peers say during that time?
With the advent of the latest tragedy, and the attacks on the internet, instead of breaking me down, I have been inspired to rise up and be the best “me” that I can be. Can ANY of us ask anything more from ourselves? or others in our lives?
And so today is a day of healing. A day to move forward, for even though I’m grieving, (and some days grief is continuous on this earth don’t ya think?) I need to help all my children continue to stay in a place of being conscious and in the moment. I don’t want them to lose this gift from childhood. It’s a choice…I will keep getting stronger, despite grief and sadness and I will follow my children’s lead and look for the beauty in our world. And perhaps I can help others move through life always with hope in their hearts.
And what do children love more than fun….it’s when it’s fun and SWEET. Join us in making some old fashion ice cream. It’s easy and delicious.
Our oldest son has worked at the local Science Centre throughout his University years. (he recently received his Science degree) He was originally hired as a summer student to plan science programs for kids but they kept him on throughout the year and he’s been making ice cream, flubber, mento rockets, etc off and on for 4 years during Saturday Serious fun at the centre. Our younger kids are so lucky to have this Science geek big brother as he LOVES teaching and experimenting with his younger siblings. It’s the joy of having kids all sorts of ages in our house.
Here’s what you need to make Homemade Ice-cream
The kids with ice, cream, salt, cocoa, freezer bags….oops where is the vanilla?
Ingredients and Supplies
1. 1 Large Freezer Bag
2. 1 Medium Freezer Bag
3. 1 cup of half and half/whipping cream (or even whole milk works)
4. 1/2 cup of salt
5. 2 tbsp of sugar
6. 1 tsp of vanilla
(to make chocolate use 2 tbsp of cocoa)
7. Big bag of ice
Directions:
Add the half and half, the sugar, vanilla and the cocoa into the medium freezer bag. Zip well, making sure most of the air has been removed
Put the medium freezer bag into the large one and surround it with ice and salt. Zip the bigger bag, again removing excess air.
Now the fun begins and you can pass the large freezer bag around, shaking and turning the larger bag while pressing the medium bag around inside of it. Keep checkingthe bag with the cream until it becomes the consistency you want your ice cream.
Here’s Clark checking to make sure the excess air is out of the bag
While the kids were taking turns making the ice cream, I was finding toppings…..the skies the limit but we used raspberries, chocolate chips and crumbled chocolate cookies we had made the day before for our toppings. This was just simple fun and again taught another sustainable lesson. Now we just need the cow!
On my journey to growing our family and becoming an older mother, I had lots of moments to think about who I am and what I can offer my children. It was while I was sitting in quiet contemplation when most of the insights came to me. Sitting on my yoga mat and thinking, “Be Still And Know I AM.”
If you are experiencing a tough time right now, or everything in your life is dark, take a moment, sit quietly and just BE Still. Stay present with your breath, allowing it to move in and out, in and out. In time, you will discover you are a piece of everything; loving, limitless, ageless fearless. And peace will come.
As the last days of summer close, join me in singing a song my kid’s (especially my William (Will I AM) loves to sing in his clear, sweet voice.) Click the hyperlink if you can’t get to the video below. Here’s Will i am, singing, “What I am.”
Want to sing along with us? Here are the lyrics….keep on reaching high!
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful,
Blessings from Hope
“What I Am”
If what I am is what’s in me
Then I’ll stay strong – that’s who I’ll be
And I will always be the best
“me” that I can be.
There’s only one me, I am it
Have a dream I’ll follow it
It’s up to me to try.
Oh! I’m a keep my head up high
Keep on reaching high
Never gonna quit
I’ll be getting stronger.
And nothing’s gonna bring me down (no!)
Never gonna stop, gotta go.
Because I know
I’ll keep getting stronger.
And what I am is thoughtful
What I am is musical
What I am is smart
And what I am is brave
What I am is helpful
What I am is special
There’s nothing I can’t achieve.
Because in myself I believe in oh…
Gonna keep our heads up high
Keep on reaching high
Never gonna quit
Just keep getting stronger.
For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands. Christina Rossetti
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/christinar165077.html?src=t_weather
The long, lazy days of summer are still with us but our roosters are not. It was a sad day when we had to say goodbye to our three roos. Knowing they were going to a good home in the country made us feel marginally better.
Our two remaining hens, Sadie, (aka, Sweet Girl) and Cocoa seemed to breathe an audible sigh of relief as the three rambunctious boys left the coop. I thought they would be sad to see their brothers go. I felt so bad, so on the following day of saying goodbye to the boys, I finally let them out of their coop/run to free range our yard for the first time. If they felt any sadness, it was soon forgotten as they explored the yard, nibbling on fresh kale and jumping at butterflies.
We happily watched them become brave adventurers. Each day they ventured farther afield, to the playground, under the trampoline, up the stairs to our kitchen garden where sweet herbs and a few lettuces were trying valiantly to grow despite the mass families of quail visiting our yard this year. I had to laugh one day when our sweet Sadie chased some quail out of our yard. As she ran with her wings straight back, she seemed to say, get out of MY yard. (There really is enough growing for all)
Sadie and Cocoa check out the playhouse
And that got me thinking about adding a few more hen friends. One of the reasons for adding to our flock was that chickens are social creatures and they do well in groups of at least three. In fact, I don’t think you can say you have a flock of chickens unless you have three. Also, even though the nights are balmy now, I know in the not too distant future, it’s going to get very cold in our part of the world and we are going to need several chickens huddling together in the coop to stay warm through the winter.
It took a week for us to find new sisters for our girls. I put the word out on Facebook with a chicken loving friend who is also into sustainable living. Also, we tried to contact a local hatchery but after several phone calls and even an email, our request for two hens must not have been enough to warrant a call back. Finally, I found a Kijiji ad offering 6 month old Rhode Island Red hens for sale.
Perfect!
I contacted the owner and he was happy to sell two hens to us. I gathered together my laundry basket and D secured some hardware cloth to the top and we headed out to the country. A lovely flock of 10 Rhode Island Hens were happily scratching and clucking in a shady run. How does one go about finding two hens from a group of constantly moving chickens?
I told the owner, we would like hens who are in the middle of the pecking order so we don’t bring home two bossy boots. Also, I was hoping to get the darkest red hens I could find as I LOVE this breed of chicken and I thought they would fit in nicely with our girls. Our beautiful girls are both a rusty dark red and although I’m not a chicken expert, since they both came from greeny blue eggs, they are what is called Easter Eggers. This is a mixed breed with one parent carrying the coloured egg gene.
I’d like to say we chose our two new girls, but really I think destiny chose them. We took the first one I picked up and the owner’s daughter, Haley chose the other one. I would have loved to have brought all 10 hens home, as I knew the owner was moving and needed to find homes for them all but two was a good number for us and our urban setting. It’s a good idea, if you are introducing new hens to bring at least 2 from the same flock so they have a friend as they adjust to their new surroundings and new coop mates.
David carrying our new hens into our backyard and the kids are beyond excited
You can’t just let them run loose with your existing birds, due to potential health issues and also of course the whole pecking order has to be rearranged in a controlled situation. Thankfully, we have a hardware cloth door that can be closed to create two runs and we let the new girls have the larger run. There is a nice roost in this run and I put a pet carrier inside for their nesting box since the new chickens are laying eggs. (Yipee)
After three days we had 1/2 dozen eggs from our new hens
Our girls, who were free ranging when we brought their new sisters home came running over to see what we had in the laundry basket. They were very interested and excited but I’m glad we had them separated as the new girls were larger and I was worried about our 15 week babies/adolescent birds. After all, these new girls were used to being in a larger flock and dealing with the pecking order, and our girls had put up with 3 big brothers but no big bossy hens. Another tip, in introducing new chickens to the flock is to make sure they are all about the same size as the smaller ones will get picked on for sure.
Here are the new girls moving into the run for the first time.
In the first week, I made sure they had a lot of greens and lovely things to eat to make them feel welcome
After a week of keeping the new girls, who we finally named, Clara and Annie, in their run/coop, one beautiful afternoon, I let them out to join Sadie and Cocoa. Since there was lots of space to explore, there was no confrontation, although both sets were wary of each other. That night I separated them in the coop/run again but the next day I let them out and they have been free ranging and sleeping in the run/coop without any barrier. The new girls did stay on the run roost each night up to now but tonight when they were all starting to settle into their respective places, I picked the new girls up and moved them into the coop with our younger girls. There was some unrest but then they settled down obviously too tired to worry about who was sleeping where. I will get up nice and early and let them out to avoid any issues.
I have heard that there can be vicious attacks but so far, there has only been a move towards a peck, which has been avoided since there has been the space for all to roam. I think that is the key with adjusting new chickens into an existing flock; to give them space so they don’t feel stressed. If there is no stress for food, or roost space, or places to scratch and move, then there really is no issue. They can easily transition into a comfortable pecking order without any violence.
Reminds me a bit of bringing home a new baby to join an older brother, sister, or more. If the existing child, or children feel that they are not losing anything, just gaining a sweet brother or sister, then the adjustment is easier. In fact, our children all felt we had given them something very special instead of anything being taking away. That shocked me as I had never thought of it that way. I was worried they would feel as though they were losing a bit of their relationship with their mom and dad and then I realized, they were being given a new relationship that WE were not a part of in any way. I’ll never forget our oldest daughter oohing and ahhhing over her baby brother the first time she met him.”My baby brudder,” she said as she held him in her tiny arms.
Here’s our daughter Grace feeding one of her twin baby sisters. She was so excited to finally have not just one baby sister but TWO
Here’s Clara, one of our new hens exploring her new yard..so far she is the BIG SISTER and realizes there is enough to go around for all the hens, food, room to explore, attention, and companionship
Victoria getting to know the new girls, Clara in front and Annie in the back
There is a lot of room for the hens to roam on our 1/3 acre urban lot, here you can see the two separate runs/coops we have set up. The one on the right is the one our older girls lived in as we adjusted our new hens to their surroundings. The new girls lived in the run on the left. There is a nice roost and a nest box in that run. Hopefully, after tonight they will all sleep together in the little coop space in the upper run
All of this has been going on at our homestead while we were also saying goodbye to our oldest son, who left for London mid July to spend the summer with his sister traveling around the U.K. The same sister who taught me there is always enough love to go, when we introduced HER baby brother to her. Now they are all grown up and are traveling partners in life.
Before Clark left though we harvested our strawberries and our rhubarb and made a delicious crumble. I’ve been waiting to write a blog and share this recipe with you but it’s been a really busy summer. Are you finding it’s flying by too? Our second big crop of rhubarb is about ready to harvest again.
Ingredients 3/4 cup of whole wheat flour 2/3 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup of white sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup quick oats 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or toasted almonds 3 cups of cut up strawberries 2 cups of chopped rhubarb 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon Pinch of salt Directions
Combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix in with a pastry cutter. Add nuts and mix with a fork. Set aside this topping for the crumble.
Mix the strawberries, rhubarb, white sugar, and vanilla and place in the bottom of an 8×11 inch pan. Sprinkle the topping on top of fruit mixture. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 40 minutes Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top…delicious
Although this crumble went fast in our house…it’s easy to make so there is always enough!
Saying goodbye to our oldest as he heads off for his summer adventure to the U.K.
~There is no lack. There is always enough~ I hope to see you again soon,
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Blessings from Hope
P.S. The girls slept together well last night and seemed to be even closer this morning as they roamed around the yard together rather in two separate groups. Also, BIG News, there was the usual two eggs, one in the coop area they slept in last night and one in the old nesting box which is still in the run. The BIG news though is that I found two shelless eggs which means our younger girls, Sadie and Cocoa are revving to lay REAL eggs soon. Exciting day and a big step towards having a harmonious flock.
Before you were born I carried you under my heart. From the moment you arrived in this world until the moment I leave it, I will always carry you in my heart. ~Mandy Harrison
What devoted blog readers you are to come and visit today.
Thank you!
I’m sorry I haven’t been posting much this spring and early summer. As you may know, if you are a follower, I was blessed again to be rehired back at my gardening gig for 8 weeks this spring. Between work and my mom/homestead duties, my days have been blissfully, abundantly full.
As much as I enjoyed every single moment of my time at the gardens, (I have amazing work buds, waving “Hi”if any of you are reading today) it’s nice to take a moment to contemplate life, my dreams and the summer ahead. Before another season flies by though, I wanted to take a moment and tell you about our baby chicks.
They are not sweet, fluffy ‘lil chicks any longer. Nope! But they are sweet big pullets and cockerels. Yes, that’s right, it looks like we have cockerels, as in roosters. I was pretty sure a few were turning boyish, as they were growing alarmingly fast and getting red combs and wattles. Also, having raised 8 kids myself, I know the chance of having boys is usually a 50/50 chance. In my case, for many years an 75/25 chance, until Grace and our twin daughters evened things out. Anyway, we took the risk that we may have a few roosters, as we did the “hatch a chick program” at my son’s grade 1 class. As far as I know there isn’t a way to determine the gender before the egg has hatched.
The inevitable happened this past Monday morning. I was half asleep, pouring breakfast cereal for my three little ones when, “Cock a doodle Doo” floated in loudly from our open kitchen window. Now, this wasn’t an adolescent learning to crow. Oh no, this was a full blown doodle. For a moment I smiled as this is what I would love to hear IF, I were living in the country but no, the reality is that I don’t live in the country. I live in an urban type yard and I needed to muzzle that sound or we would quickly be discovered as having chickens. Even hens are not a welcome backyard pet in our area….yet.
Ahhhh! I quickly, pulled together an enticing tray of yummy food for our chickens; rolled oats, raisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, some left over brown rice from our dinner the night before and then as I flew down to the coop wearing nothing but my nightie. I gathered a few strawberries along the way and some herbs; parsley, lemon balm, oregano, thyme and finally sweeping by my lower garden gathered up some of their fav grub; kale leaves. I was figuring a chicken eatin’, ain’t a chicken talking. When I arrived at the coop all in a flap, my 5 chickens were all gathered at the door, looking innocent. No one particular was fessing up over calling the alarm for breakfast. Every day since, our roos voices are growing stronger, thankfully never at the same time. Sadly, it looks like we are going to have to say goodbye to our three beautiful boys. I will not be able to keep them in our urban backyard much longer. (Thankfully, I may have a country gal willing to take them)
Bittersweet really.
I have wanted chickens for so long. I’ve read everything I could get my hands on regarding their care, that I thought I would enjoy the experience but I had no idea, I would LOVE just being close to them. They are meditative of sorts and funny to watch as they have big personalities in their little feathered bodies. It’s interesting as they go about their day eating, socializing, scratching, being curious about the world and what is going on around them.
The little dark one we called Coco Chanel and it looks like she is going to be one of our hens
Aren’t they the cutest! Here they are all 5 of them, spending some morning time with the kids in the family room…they are getting their little feathers
Will just loves holding them and it has been interesting to see how the various fluff balls matured over the last 3 months. They really do grow up FAST! Those aren’t droppings on the paper towels, just little pieces of parsley.
Our little fluffy feathered babies remind me why I love being a mom to little kids so much ’cause little ones are the same in so many ways. They love to experience eating new foods, socializing, making new friends, and are curious and interested in everything happening around them. Watching babies grow is like discovering the world for the first time through their eyes. Magical!
Here they are at last out of the house and into their new home. It’s been such a ride. They lived in our laundry room in the brooder box for about a month as it was cold outside when they came to us at the end of April. Then we moved their brooder box into the garage for another couple of weeks and finally at 6 weeks old we moved them out to the coop. They were fully feathered and getting really big at this point.
Here’s a picture of the two roosters enjoying their new coop with the cool birch branch roost my husband D made for them…the white one we called, “Pearl” but it looks like she is Captain Pearl now.
Here’s the new coop and run. Since our yard is sloped we had to build it in two sections. The first section holds their coop which is really cool and has some easy to clean features. This was put in place first and then D built the run to the left. For those of you who are interested, I am going to do a post soon ALL about the construction of the coop, as when I was in my quest for chickens, where to put them was a biggie You can see how big they are now
As our chicks turned a month old, our twin daughters, Kathryn Mira and Victoria Hope turned 5 years old on May 20th (The Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada). As I write this they are 5 years and 2 months old yesterday. I’ve been meaning to write this blog for 2 months! I can’t believe my babies are growing up and will be off to kindergarten in the fall. It just seems like the other day I was carrying them around in each arm.
Sadly, I’ve lost a lot of baby pictures of the girls (on a flash stick somewhere) but here is one sweet picture. Victoria is on the left and Kathryn is on the right…back then they were almost identical
Here’s Victoria still snuggling into her twin. Kate is on the left here and Tori on the right 5 years old
Kathryn and Victoria on their birthday….a kitty for Kate and a puppy for Tori are in their new bike baskets
So this blog is really about how fast our chicks grow up, enjoying the journey and celebrating the moments.
When my family celebrates an occasion we usually do so with a dessert and I thought this was the PERFECT time to share my lemon square recipe. I started making this years ago when our older kids were in our local Carriage house string Orchestra. The moms would take turns bringing snacks for their “break bread” and socialize aspect of their practice. When it was my turn to feed the 20 something group of kids, I always brought healthy veggies, hummus, fruit, taco chips and various dips but the big hit was always when I brought my delish brownies (stay tuned as I don’t think I have posted this recipe) AND these lemon squares.
I’ve had so many people over the years ask for this recipe so I thought I would finally include it in this blog, even though it’s not the healthiest of desserts. Sometimes dessert is just SWEET. Summer time is also THE perfect time for lemon desserts don’t you think? Light and tart….goes great with Greek type food. If you are looking for an easy dessert square for a special occasion, check this recipe out.
Ingredients 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour 1/4 cup granulated Sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine 2 eggs 3 tbsp of lemon juice 1 cup sugar 2 tbsp flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 cup coconut 1/4 tsp salt First layer: Crumble first 3 ingredients until mealy. Press into un-greased 9×9 pan Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes Second Layer: Beat eggs slightly. Stir in remaining 6 ingredients. Spread over first layer. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes until set in the center and light brown in colour. Cool and frost. Frosting: 1 1/2 cups of confectioner’s sugar 2 tbsp butter 4 tsp lemon juice and if you like you can add some real lemon zest
Directions: Combine all together in small bowl Beat well, adding more lemon juice a bit at a time as needed for easy spreading. Spread over cooled bars. Allow to set. Cut 36 small squares.
Thanks so much for coming by for a visit. Before I close though, I wanted to share a song/vid that I have loved for years now.
WAY back before our daughter Grace was born, I wanted another baby. Hopefully another daughter. We had our oldest, a daughter and then were blessed with 3 beautiful boys. Our oldest daughter asked for a baby sister for every birthday and holiday. It was a LONG journey though, as I was over 40 at that point and my fertility had taken a nose dive. We lost a baby along that journey and after that loss, I realized ANY baby would be welcome, not just a daughter. So many people have preferences over gender and having a loss made me realize that boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. Our babies are precious gifts and teach us so much about life. (And I guess that is why I love my Roosters so much too) I just wanted to be pregnant again and hold another baby in my arms. When I heard this song by Leanne Womack before we finally got pregnant with Grace, I cried and cried. I was surrendering my dream of having anymore children and yet the Universe had other plans.
Now I am the blessed mom to 8 children. Four beautiful boys and four lovely girls and all I want for them is to live fully and experience all this world has to offer them. I want them to dance.
Our girls dancing together through life
The girls had their very first ballet performance in June. The theme was circus and they were dancing ponies
I hope the experience I went through losing a baby, trying to conceive for years, also influences all of our children. They know they were wanted long before they ever came to earth. Hopefully, that energy flows from me and feel deeply loved and wanted.
So before you close my post, check out Leanne Womack’s video, “I hope you Dance.” If your dream is to have chickens, get chickens….best experience EVER. And if your dream is to have a child but you are facing infertility, hold your vision and move in the direction of your dream, staying positive and trusting the Universe to show you the way. WHATEVER your dream, “allow miracles to happen,” move in that direction and most of all, I hope you dance. That is what I wish for you today. (if you can’t see the video below, check out the hyper link above)
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
The light is changing in my part of the world. The days are getting longer, warmer and I am opening gently, like the first blossoming flowers in spring. I’ve watched the changing seasons for many years now, the lines on my face etched like a wrinkled road map, showing all the places I’ve traveled, but it never gets old. There is something magical about the in between times.
And as I dream and plan about my garden, and dream and plan about my life, I remember another time, when the smell of lavender evoked memories long buried. Memories now lifted, like the new earth in my compost bins and ready to be laid creating a rich and fertile life.
Summer mornings are my favourite time to be out in the garden, as the air is fresh and moist, after waking from slumbering under a blanket of cool darkness all night long. My flowers are heavenly scented, with a sweet romantic perfume, their heads a profusion of vibrant colours and drops of glistening dew lay peacefully on their verdant leaves. As they see me, with watering can in hand, they joyfully nod in anticipation of receiving their first drink of the day. I brush against my blooming English lavender and the calming, woodsy scent fills the air, taking me back in time.
It was the summer after my dad died and I was 6 years old. I went to visit my Grandma Clark, for a few days. Grandma was my Dad’s mom. I felt very special, since I had never been alone with her before, as my 3 older sisters and hordes of cousins were always at her house when we visited.
Grandma came out from the porch when our car pulled up, her arms out stretched towards me, long before finally sweeping me into a warm embrace, smelling of clean linen and fresh lavender. After mom bid us goodbye, thanking grandma, making me feel even more special, since I was the object of all that gratitude, Grandma smiled at me, her blue eyes twinkling and asked, “Do you want to help pick some raspberries for our dessert tonight?.”
I nodded shyly, forgetting the correct response but I knew “you bet, ‘cause I love dessert,” wasn’t right. Grandmother had been a school teacher and I had heard mom say, she liked to hear the Queen’s English, whatever that was. Mom had reminded me before dropping me off, to remember my P’s and Q’s, so I felt stilted, the words, like fluff in my mouth, and my brain all fuzzy, searching for the most polite response.
Grandma and I walked quietly side by side, her carrying a small bucket and me trying hard to resist the urge to skip. My sister J, a real ballet dancer, had recently taught me this joy filled way of moving but I suppressed it and we continued to plod along.
I stopped dead still, forgetting all about dessert, engulfed by a floral potpourri aroma, lifting me into an euphoric state. Grandma’s perennial garden was a profusion of jewel toned colours and rich textures. The array of blooms was overwhelming, but the smell was transcendent, taking me delightfully back to another place and time, long forgotten.
“Debbie, would you like to meet a faerie?,” my grandma asked as she knelt next to the edge of the garden. Wide eyed, I dropped down to the ground and watched as she gently picked a happy looking, purple flower with a bright yellow center. “This is a pansy and is the home of garden faeries,” she said, as she slowly picked off the petals and put them into my hand. When the last petal had been lifted, she held the stem towards me and said, “Faerie, I’d like to introduce you to Debbie.” Mesmerized, I marveled over the tiniest little girl, wearing a crimson red bonnet and a soft yellow flowing dress. Tentatively I said, “Hello?”
Grandma, the faerie and I sat peacefully for a long time, rocked gently by the hum of the earth. Beneath the sweet scent of flowers, we were enveloped by wisps of freshly mowed grass and pungent, decomposing matter, giving birth to new dirt. Butterflies lightly danced on the stage of rose petals and birds swoops to join the performance, gleefully chirping their songs, while the insects clicked and buzzed to the beat. The whole world was filled with the rhythm of life. A magic I had forgotten.
“Mom, can we pick some raspberries?” I turn from my reverie, to see my three youngest children, still dressed in their summer cotton jammies, holding bowls expectantly, looking like bright eyed faeries, and said, “ Sure I’ll race you to the patch.”
That is a glimpse into my time capsule, which I recently unearthed of my grandmother, teaching me to love the world again after the death of my Dad. Reminding me that magic is everywhere and often unseen by those who don’t take the time to look.
My Grandfather Robert and Grandmother, Florence Clark in their garden
The next time you are in the garden, gently pick the petals off a pansy, and if you are attune to magic, you too will meet a garden faerie.
And no memory is complete without the sense of taste to accompany it. Raspberries also remind me of my Grandma Clark, and so I thought I would share my recipe for Raspberry Yogurt Pie. I found this recipe YEARS ago from the La Leche League’s, “Whole Foods for the Whole Family,” cookbook when I was involved with our local LLL chapter. I hope you like it and add it to your repertoire of desserts.
Raspberry Yogurt Pie
Ingredients
1 cup cream cheese, softened 1 cup yogurt 1/4 cup dry milk powder 1/2 cup honey 1 recipe of graham cracker crust…recipe below
Directions
Blend cream cheese and yogurt in a bowl. Add dry milk powder and honey; mix well. Spoon into pie shell. freeze until firm. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before servicing. May top with 1 cup of raspberries. This is a very quick and easy dessert.
Yields: 8 servings Note: Any berries can be substituted…or mix them up using a strawberry yogurt and top with blueberries.
Graham Cracker Crust
Ingredients
2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cups wheat germ 1/4 dry milk powder 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/3 cup of melted butter 1 tbsp of molasses
Directions
Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl; mix well. Stir in melted butter. Add molasses, mix well. Press firmly over the bottom and sides of a greased 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes. cool before filling. May substitute honey for molasses. Yields 8 servings
Take a piece out into your garden and in joy!
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful. Blessings from Hope
We all experience pivotal moments in our lives. Moments we cross the threshold of believing a certain way, and suddenly an event occurs in our lives and we are inexplicably changed forever. One such event occurred in my life, four years ago today, on February 28, 2012.
I was at my son Harrison’s grade 7 basketball game, cheering loudly, when my cell phone rang. My 16 year old son, Mitchell said, “Mom, I’m so sorry, but Auntie J just called to say, Umma has passed away.” This was the moment I had dreaded my whole life, ever since my Dad had been killed when I was 5 years old, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop; losing my mom. My heart was hurtled through the abyss of no return and yet, like any preordained destiny, I continued through that black hole towards inevitable pain.
On the drive to my mother’s new care home, where she had been moved only 4 days prior, after being in the hospital for 2 weeks due to a fall, memories of her, like the vintage 8 mm family movies my Dad would play on his clicking Kodak projector, ran through my mind.
On the screen, Mom was the star, moving faster than real life time. The scenes flashed, showing a beautiful woman with a slim body and long legs dancing and laughing, then another, was of her, surrounded by children, smiling proudly, like a mother hen all puffed up over how smart her baby chicks were at finding juicy worms. In all the pictures she moved gracefully, even when she was peeling potatoes. She was stunning, with soft, wavy brown hair circling her head, her eyes were hypnotic green cat’s eyes and her face had hints of Slavic ancestry, from the invading Mongols centuries before. Her smile was gentle and kind but often sad, as she moved on a trajectory of grief, loss and struggle.
My mother was raised, smothered in fear by her parents,, who had lost two babies before she was born. They hovered over their princess, Ethel May, and panicked each time she uttered a cough or had a fever. As a result, she came to view herself as delicate, perhaps she was, I’ll never truly know, but that shadowed her whole life and mine too. She was encouraged to play quietly, developing a rich, creative dream life, cutting out whole families from the Sears Roebuck catalogue and spending hours reading books. She loved animals and told stories of her pet bunnies disappearing, coincidentally around the same time the family had enjoyed a Sunday night Chicken dinner. Sadly, her childhood was layered with scarcity during the Great Depression and as a young woman, she perfected the art of worry and anxiety, while living through the Second World War.
Her face remained unlined for years, despite becoming a widow with four daughters at age 39 and then again at age 59. Even though hardship and depression had been her companions in life, she strove to be happy and looked for opportunities to help others with a kind word, or encouraging smile. She was generous and loving to all who knew her, and you never left her house empty handed.
Finally arriving at the Care home, I drew closer to the looming precipice of my existence, tightly wrapped in that of my mother’s, and consciously noticed my senses were heightened, as the automatic doors to the Creekside Extended Care Home whooshed open and I entered a building, quiet as cotton batting in the ears and smelling of stale air.
When I walked into mom’s room, she was lying peacefully in her bed, her arms crossed over her stomach, her eyes were closed and her face was relaxed. She appeared to be lost in a deep sleep, however, I knew my Mothership was empty. The vessel I had arrived on earth in, was broken and I would have to find a new way to return home.
My sisters were standing, like protective sentinels next to her bed. They turned to greet me with sad smiles, and I joined them, standing next to my mother’s left shoulder. As my sister J, who had been with mom when she had taken her last breath, started quietly sharing mom’s final afternoon, I began stroking the hair off mom’s forehead.
J told how mom had been on her way to thank someone for a kindness, so like her, when she had suffered a massive stroke in the hallway and died suddenly.
As I had been listening to this story, my senses were acute, every fibre of my being alert, as I knew I was experiencing something that would alter me forever. J finished the story of mom’s exit scene but I said, “She is still with us. Come and feel her head.” Light, tingling waves of energy emanated, haloing her head and I was in awe, swept up in the current of her ultimate vibrating message, “I am still here and I love you.” She had waited to say goodbye.
Instead of falling off the cliff that day, my mom birthed a new belief in me. I woke and started to really live for the first time in my life being freed by so many fears and earthly concerns. Feeling her energy in that moment gave me the realization that death is not the end, it is simply the casting off of a beloved overcoat that has served its purpose, allowing us to move onto the next stage of existence. I had dreaded this moment my whole life and although yes, I was sad to know I would never hear her gentle voice again, I was also buoyant with joy and gratitude. I was so proud over how regally, like a queen, she had traveled the last bit of her life on earth, giving us time to settle into the idea that the end may be near, and also the easy and graceful way she left.
If there ever was a life lesson she taught, and she taught me many through the years, about over coming difficulties with dignity and integrity, this had to be the most illuminating lesson. She had released me from an old way of being, of thinking about life and dying and who we truly are.
That was a turning point for me in so many ways, with regards to my spirituality and my life goals. It really was the moment when I knew I had to start writing too; something I had put off, thinking I was too busy raising our family. This blog is just one way that I’m living my new life.
But back to the story and my last memory of mom.
Since I knew mom was still very much with us, she gave me one final gift and that was the chance to whisper, “goodbye and, I love you too.”
Join me in hearing the song “Smile” by Nat King Cole.…my mom loved music, she loved to dance but most of all she loved to smile and make people feel happy.
And before I leave you, hopefully uplifted because you know, there is no such thing as dying…which seems to be everyone’s worst fear…so funny really….what we should be most fearful about, is not really…. living. Being creative beings full of love in this lifetime.
Part of living is eating, and boy my mom loved anything lemon, so today, in honour her I thought I would make my lemon pound cake that she enjoyed when she came to visit. It’s easy…which she would appreciate, never wanting to make work for anyone.
And so delicious.
It’s perfect to take to any event, or when you have loved ones coming for tea. So without further ado….here is my Lemon Pound Cake recipe, dedicated to my mom, Ethel May Herrling, Clark, Finch. A wonderful mom, a beautiful person, and a delightful spirit.
Hope’s Lemon Pound Cake
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 cup orange juice 3/4 cup oil 2 tsp lemon extract, or concentrated lemon juice and grate some lemon zest 4 eggs Glaze 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup lemon juice Directions Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan. In a large bowl, combine all cake ingredients. Bend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into greased and floured pan.
Bake at 325 F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until the toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean. Remove cake from oven. With a long tined fork, poke deep holes every inch. In a small bowl, blend glaze ingredients until smooth. Spoon half of the glaze over the hot cake in the pan. Let stand upright in pan for 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Spoon remaining glaze over the cake. Cool completely, and serve.
And enjoy!
I’m so happy you came to visit today….life is so good and I’m thankful I have been able to record some of my life stories on this blog and also share some of our family’s recipes with you.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
“Deep quiet encircles, covering us in a soft blanket of endless peace and warmth, but underneath, something is stirring, inspiration is growing and soon it will shine it’s light.” ~Lee Reynolds~
January is still very much with us, with it’s endless cold days and drifts of snow covering our world. We are out almost daily. Work, school, after school activities, grocery shopping, all do not stop, even though my inner voice says to be quiet, still, restore myself, and listen from within. Yesterday, I heeded that call, and thankfully, it was Saturday and the day was completely ours.
There was food in the house, no birthday parties to attend, no Saturday skating lessons, no basketball practice, and my husband David was out of town on business, and not beckoning the kids to ski with him. Besides, a few of the kids have had an annoying cough that lingers and lingers. I had kept Will home from grade one on Thursday and Friday to see if he would recover faster. A day relaxing, doing whatever our heart desires was appealing. And so we all went with it.
After Harrison”s successful bread making session the previous week, and our children’s quick consumption of said bread, I decided it was my turn to create some comfort food. I didn’t want to make plain ‘ole bread again though. I wanted something even more memorable. That is when my eyes found the cinnamon in the spice cupboard.
. “The spirit of delight comes in small ways” ~Robert Louis Stevenson~
Memories of Christmas holidays past flooded through me as I recalled baking cinnamon buns with our oldest daughter Alyssa, who for the last 2 years has been in London on her grand adventure. Ever since she was a year old and still small enough to fit in my kitchen sink, we have been baking cinnamon buns together on Christmas eve. Watching her delightful smile as she bit into the first mouthful of bun, made the day long baking effort worthwhile. When I think of her, I think of books, cats and cinnamon.
My mom Ethel was a lover of cinnamon too. I can remember as a teenager, mom taking plain old bread, spreading butter on top, sprinkling sugar and cinnamon and toasting the pieces in the oven until the house was rich with a spicy aroma. She would cut the bread in strips and I would dunk pieces of cinnamon toast into decadent hot cocoa. Those were the days we lived in a century old home in the Creston Valley. Some of my favourite childhood memories were from my days living in the Kootenays.
From experience, I know it’s those simple things that create a memorable childhood. Something I desire to create for my children. And so, while we don’t live in an historic house, just a 25 year old California rancher, that has been renovated to appear “old school” inside, we can make lasting memories.
I know we can still create that feeling with food, music, candles lit at dinner time, and old fashion entertainment, like playing cards, telling stories, curled up in bed reading books and something my kids did all day yesterday afternoon as I baked….building with blocks.
If you want to join me in making 3 loaves of cinnamon raisin bread, scroll down, but before we start to bake I wanted to share a few exciting events that have come across my path in the last week.
Moments of Inspiration
While at the little girls “Strong Start,” program last week, I was talking to the teacher and was asking her what she had planned for the upcoming Spring. One of the things she was excited about was a program called, “Hatch a Chick.” With funding money, she has arranged for fertile eggs to be brought into the class where they will stay warm in a table top incubator. The eggs remain in the class for 21 days, until they hatch. Once the chicks have hatched, they are put into a brooder box with a heat lamp and they remain in the classroom for 5 days to allow the kids to observe them. At that time, the farm from where they originate, takes them back. I had heard about this program last fall and I have been hinting, STRONGLY, that this is something I wanted to do. (our local Teach and Learn store provides these kits)
Later that same day, I went in to pick up William from school and I started chatting with his grade one teacher. During the conversation I happened to ask if she knew about the, “Hatch a Chick” program and she became very excited and motioned me over to her laptop computer. On the screen was a sticky note that said, “order chicks.” I had to laugh over the timing. It never fails to surprise me when the Universe presents an opportunity that will bring a dream of mine to fruition.
I went home and asked David if we could purchase the program for the grade one class (saving Will’s teacher from having to ask for funding and maybe being turned down) AND if we could keep the chicks for our urban homestead once hatched. He was not thrilled. Sadly, he doesn’t share the same urban homesteading dream that I do. Yes, he likes the idea of growing more of our own food, he likes helping our environment by using less water, less non-renewable energy resources, he likes us composted our garden and kitchen wastes and recycling materials. He likes when we really think about our needs from our wants and consume accordingly. But when it comes to living animals….he is a reluctant urban farmer. It’s true the kids want pets but they aren’t thrilled about cleaning kitty litters or feeding their animals.We don’t have a dog but I’m sure it would be a fight to get them to walk one. When I assured him that I would be responsible for the chickens, he agreed. Sometimes your inspiration may effect other people and you have to figure out what they need to make it work for them.
So dear blog readers….I am excited to say, we are going to finally move a bit closer to becoming even more sustainable by having chickens in our urban backyard. FINALLY! Our subdivision is actually in a rural part of our larger city and the motto is, “rural living at it’s best.” I don’t exactly know what that means. Bigger lots perhaps, more privacy maybe, but for me it’s going to mean space to have some CHICKENS.
I will blog about it more of course as we are now talking about chicken coops and appropriate chicken runs, cool automatic watering systems and feeders. I have about 50 books on hold right now at our local library and I’m excited to plow through them all. I had no idea there were that many books even written about urban chicken keeping. The chicks are due to arrive around the end of April to the first of May…hopefully plenty of time to get a home built for them.
Another moment of Inspiration
The other thing that came up last week, is a writing workshop that I read about in our local paper. Right away, I was intrigued and knew I had to attend. When I read the facilitator is from Hope, B.C. (where I was born) and her writing has been inspired from that locale, that clinched it for me. The current book I’m working on was inspired by my time living in HOPE. Literally and figuratively.
In addition, the premise for the workshop will assist me in getting down and finishing my novel. But you know in your gut when things are right and everything is lining up don’t you? I felt little bubbles of joy bursting forth as I read the day of the workshop is on the day when the little girls schedule is free. For 4 year olds they are very busy. Swimming, skating, ballet, kindermusik and usually a morning at their Strong Start program as well.
Now all I needed to arrange was someone to care for them. I forwarded the workshop information to my husband and when he came home from work that night, he had not only booked off work so I could attend the workshop, but he had signed me as well.
Then there was a hiccup and I thought it wasn’t going to work for a bit. I received an email saying I was on the wait list. The promoters had apparently received more interest than they had planned so they finally decided to run a second session but the day I was interested in was totally booked up. I was sad but hopeful and finally, I received word that one participant had decided to move to the other day, freeing up room for me. I was JUBULIANT! Things work out when they are meant to be.
Then there was one more moment when I knew everything was perfect. Why I still need this sign I don’t know but David and I had gone to Harrison’s basketball game mid week. We had dropped him off early and we had a 1/2 hour to kill before the game. I suggested we drive over to a local coffee place and pick up a coffee for him and a latte for me. Now, this may not be a big deal for most people but we don’t treat ourselves normally. I was thinking how we could better spend the money. It all adds up. I was thinking about the deposit I had put on the chicken program, on my writing workshop and frankly I was concerned about money.
With these thoughts swirling in my brain, David and I returned to the high school gym and looked for a place to sit on the bleachers. The first section was already full when we arrived, so I motioned where we could go with my latte cup in hand. We climbed to the top of the bleachers so I could sit against the hanging gym mats and that is when I noticed something silver and shiny, sparkling behind my seat. It was a dime. Of course!
For those of you who don’t know me or who haven’t read my blog, I have to tell you that when I was de-cluttering and on my minimalism path last spring, I was finding dimes, EVERYWHERE. I took them a sign from my angels that we were moving in the right direction and money was always flowing into our lives. When I picked up this dime and showed it to David he just smiled. The next day David found out that he would have to go out of town for work on the weekend and of course, that would mean extra money coming into our home. Again, I am never surprised by how the Universe is ALWAYS working for the greater good, sending me inspiration and signs along the way that I am on the right path.
Everything that’s created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Your words come out of this void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.
~Dr. Wayne Dyer~
Interestingly enough, I have been reading a book that my sister C had recommended last year. It finally came available from our local library and again, I couldn’t be more surprised over the timing. The book is called, “Big Magic,” and is written by Elizabeth Gilbert, who you may remember is the author of the popular best selling book, “Eat, Pray, Love.”
I loved that book. Recently, listening to CBC, I heard that some people thought it was too “navel gazing” which I thought was interesting. Maybe I’m not such an intellectual reader, as I thought it was uplifting and a sweet story.It made me want to cook authentic Italian food, and learn to speak the language, it made me want to meditate for long stretches and practice my yoga, it made me want to appreciate the love of my life a little bit more because, unlike Elizabeth who had to travel to Bali to find her love, mine has been walking closely beside me for most of my life. Sometimes we have to look into another person’s life to see what is in our own backyard.
Anyway, like “Eat, Pray, Love,” I am enjoying, “Big Magic”…..creative living beyond fear.” What is most timely about this book is that I’m currently reading it while living in the deep peace of winter, quiet and calm, but open to any and all opportunities the Universe is sending my way. Inspiration is always at my doorstep. Always knocking, asking, do you want this, experience that, adventure there? It’s up to me to be grateful for these opportunities and remember to always be thankful. To graciously say, “No, that isn’t for me,” or “yes, yes, YES, I wish to do or have that.”
I believe we are souls first, living an earthly experience. We have free will to make choices but if we stay connected to our soul, and shut out our ego, we are able to tap into the most creative part of ourselves while following life’s inspirations. We can be our best selves and live our greatest life.It’s all up to us.
Living IN SPIRIT is the true magic.
And now, it’s time to bake. Years ago, we had a bread maker which I thought was the cat’s meow….does that expression date me? It was great when we had a family of 4 but now that we have a family double that size and more, one tiny loaf of bread doesn’t go far. I gave our bread maker away years ago, as it was just sitting in my cupboard. I have learned to make homemade pizzas, homemade dinner buns, and over the years I would occasionally bake some bread, but I never found the perfect recipe, UNTIL recently. I have now moved into the realm of baking bread ever since Harrison made it last week for our family. Those four loaves of bread went faster than Will sledding down our driveway. .See my post called, “Sledding Soup and Homemade bread.” for the recipe.
Yesterday, I made something that I know will become a family favourite. I found the recipe on Foods.com website. When it was called the best Cinnamon Raisin Bread and received 5 stars, I thought that is exactly what I have been looking for. I was not disappointed……..here’s the link, “World’s Best Cinnamon Raisin Bread.”
I’ve written out the recipe on my blog with pictures so you can easily follow along….if you haven’t baked bread yet and want to make something that will surely be a winter comfort food, I hope you try this recipe….BE INSPIRED!
1 cup warm water (must be between 110-115 degrees)
2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
3 eggs
1⁄2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup raisins
8 cups all purpose flour…I used 6 cups of white to 2 cups of whole wheat)
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted (approx.)
Directions
Warm the milk in a small sauce pan on the stove until it just starts to bubble, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat.
Let cool until lukewarm, about 120-125 degrees.
4. Dissolve the yeast in warm water with 1 tbsp of sugar…..yeast doesn’t activate without sugar) and set aside in a warm place until the yeast is frothy, about 10 minutes.
5. Then mix in eggs, sugar, butter, salt, raisins, and add the cooled milk slowly so you don’t cook the eggs.
6. Add the flour gradually to make a stiff dough.
7. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, until the dough is smooth…a bit glossy
8. Place in a LARGE, buttered mixing bowl and turn it to grease the surface of all sides of the dough.
9. Cover with a damp dish cloth and let rise in a place without drafts. I allow mine to rise on the counter next to our stove…under our upper cabinet lighting….they give off a warm glow….allow to rise for 11/2 hours until the dough doubles
10. Once it has risen…..roll out on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a large rectangle, 1/2 inch thick.
11. Moisten the dough with 2 tbsp of milk and rub all over the dough with your hands.
12. Mix 1 cup of sugar and 3 tbsp of cinnamon and sprinkle mixture evenly over the top of the moistened dough.
13. Roll up tightly,…the long way.
14. The roll should be about 3 inches in diameter.
15. Cut into thirds, and tuck ends under and pinch bottom together tightly.
16. Place the 3 loaves into well greased pans…9×5 size and lightly grease tops of the loaves…..you can use Crisco or butter to grease the pans and grease the tops
17. Let rise in a warm place, uncovered, again for about an hour (This recipe can make 4 loaves as well….I just baked another batch and rolled it out a bit longer and cut the dough into 4 sections….it made 4 nice size loaves…great…..as it gets eaten REALLY fast)
18. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (the original recipe called for a 45 time but my new oven is efficient and did the bread perfectly in 30 mins….WATCH CLOSELY…if I had waited for 45 minutes my bread would have been really dry) or until loaves are lightly browned and sound hollow when tapped.
19. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack
20. Melt butter and spread on the tops of the loaves with a brush.
21. After about 20 minutes, lay the loaves on their sides and remove from pans.
22. Allow to cool completely before slicing….one loaf was almost gone by the time I remembered to take a picture for my blog…..these loaves go fast! and 22 steps is WORTH IT!
My older son said this bread reminded him of our cinnamon buns…..so I think we found a winner. As I write this, we are down to our last loaf….and the kids are looking forward to having cinnamon raisin toast for breakfast tomorrow morning. Wish you were here for breakfast!
Want future inspiration? Over Christmas I stumbled across a cool couple who are living with their family of 5 off grid. Recently, the homestead wife, Esther, made bread and you can watch her on their Youtube channel. Their site is called, “Fouch-o-matic Off Grid.” I’d love to introduce you to this lovely couple who make me happy and inspired whenever I watch one of their videos. Check them out and help support them by subscribing to their channel.
If you can’t see their Youtube video below, click on this hyper-link…..
Oh sweet January. In past years, I haven’t embraced it as fully as I am doing this year. Each month seems bittersweet and the days are flying by all too fast for me. I thought I would slow things down a bit and say yes more.
Yes, to staying in bed on Saturday mornings, luxuriating in the slow pace that I have created. Yes, to curling up in my favourite chair, sinking into a good book, while my little ones are engrossed in playing a game of their choosing. Yes, to letting all the kids head outside for one more play in the snow, even though they “should” be practicing cello, piano or doing home work.
I can hear them laughing and shrieking with glee as they slide down our driveway. It’s snowing too hard to stay on top of shoveling it. I can nest inside, making a pot of aromatic chicken and wild rice soup….and maybe there is still a loaf of homemade bread to accompany it.
This feels so good, savouring another winter month and experiencing all the senses of the season. Shorter days, full of white and dark. Magical moments watching the snow gently fall, feeling the excitement bubbling from our little ones as I bundle them up for another adventure making snow forts, snowman, and of course, their favourite, sledding in our yard. Does life get any better than this?
No matter where you live in the world, you can choose to make the days richer. Slow them down by saying yes to what you love.
Today, I made the most delicious chicken and wild rice soup. It was amazing. Now I make a lot of soups. Almost every week in the winter I make at least one big pot and lately, I have been experimenting with whatever we have in the house, THAT, is what goes in the pot. This makes for some interesting combinations. Today, since a few of our family members have had a persistent cough, I thought what we needed was an old fashion chicken and rice soup. Easy on the tummy and apparently, chicken soup is good for colds.
It was just what we all needed. I pulled out the last loaf of bread Harrison made on the weekend. He had made 4 loaves and there is one loaf left…. it’s only Monday. Then I threw together a green salad and voila…dinner was served. So say yes to sledding….or whatever you do in your part of the world and say yes to making a big pot of heart warming soup with homemade bread. It’s really that easy.
Hope’s Chicken and Wild Rice/quinoa Soup
Ingredients
*1/4 of extra virgin oil * 3 chopped garlic cloves *1 finely chopped onion *1/2 cup chopped celery *1 cup sliced carrots *3/4 cups all purpose flour *10 cups of chicken broth *3 cups of wild rice/quinoa *1 cup of cooked and cut up chicken *1/2 tsp chili powder *1/2 tsp cumin powder *1/2 tsp mustard powder *1 tsp dried parsley *1 tsp dried basil *Sea salt…to taste *Ground pepper to taste *2 cups of milk Optional….I used what I had in the house….but had I had some fresh mushrooms and broccoli….I would have chopped them and put them in….use what you have……what you LOVE.
Directions
1. Throw one chicken breast into the oven and cook for 45 minutes at 400 degrees
2. Cook 1 cup of wild rice/quinoa…equates to 3 cups once cooked
3. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot, stir in garlic, onion, celery, and carrots. Saute for 5 minutes until onions are translucent. (If you have mushrooms….add them next…saute for another few minutes.
4. Add flour to the pot and stir well. Gradually add the 10 cups of chicken broth.
5. Heat well, bringing almost to a boil…reduce heat and simmer while the chicken and rice and quinoa is cooked.
6. Add the cooked wild rice and quinoa, along with the chili powder, cumin, mustard powder, parsley, basil, pepper and salt.
6. Once the chicken is cooked, cut up into small pieces and add to the soup pot.
7. Add 2 cups of milk and heat through…simmer until you are ready to eat.
And now for the recipe for the bread that my 17 year old made on the weekend…..he is taking Foods 11 on line and this was his first foray into bread making….the loaves turned out beautifully!
Harrison’s Homemade Bread
Ingredients Lots of flour….roughly 5 cups of white….1 cup of whole wheat…keep mixing until it’s the right consistency 5 tablespoons oil 1 tablespoon salt 4 tablespoons active dry yeast 1/2 cup of sugar 4 cups of lukewarm water Directions: (note these are Harrison’s directions) Add 4 cups of lukewarm water to bowl, add ½ cup of sugar.After mixing water and sugar together add 4 tbsp. of yeast.Let proof for 10 minutes.
Once yeast is bubbly and frothy… add 1 tbsp. of salt, 5 tbsp. oil, stir, then add flour 1 cup at a time, until you reach the desired consistency of dough you are looking for.
Now turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead until you get a smooth ball of dough that is not sticking to the table at all.
Next, grab your second bowl, lightly coat it in oil, and place your ball of dough into it.Cover, and let rise for 1 hour.You are looking for your dough to at least double in size.After the dough has risen, you will punch it down, and turn it out onto a floured surface again.This time we are going to divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll them into a log shape to fit in the bread pans.
Grease your bread pans with butter, place your dough in the pans, cover them and let rise for half an hour.Then put your bread in the over at 375F for 25 minutes.Flip them out of their pans, and apply a very light coat of butter to the crust of the bread. This is to keep it soft, and to not dry out.
The little ones came in from sledding and had their hot cocoa with Harrison’s homemade bread….January is SWEET!
Our oldest son said this was one of his fav soups…high praise!
While the soup was simmering, I made a batch of oatmeal/raisin cookies, full of spices. The house smelled marvelous!
Sledding in new snow, baking bread and making soup……..
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Happy New Year dearest friends and family. Today is a new day. Today is the beginning of a new year of endless possibilities. It’s thrilling to contemplate, especially if one is of the mindset of feeling limitless. What is that quote by Goethe? “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” That is the place I choose to reside and the perspective I choose to take in life.
If you are interested in the Homemade Eggnog portion of my blog, scroll down to the bottom, but if you are interested in reading about receiving miracles in life, read on. Of course, I believe each moment we are on earth is a miracle but we are living a human experience and that often gets in the way of viewing our life as a sacred journey. We get caught up in the world and listen far too much to our ego. Dr. Wayne Dyer used to say our ego is our “earth guide only,” or our way to “edge God out.” Day to day, it’s easy to get sucked into what we think is reality and we forget the expansiveness the Universe provides. We just need to tap in.
Even though I live in a state of gratitude and have observed miracles happening all the time in my life, I still was amazed when another one happened on Christmas Eve. We have been having problems with our stove since our Canadian Thanksgiving in October. This is a big deal for our family, since we rely solely on homemade meals. It is a rarity that we bring in a pizza or go out to eat. So when an error code kept coming up and my oven was shutting down, or over heating whenever I would cook, it was a big concern. David googled the problem and thought he had solved the sensor detection issue and for at least the last 2 months, my oven has been working pretty well. Then I started to do my last minute Christmas baking.
On the night before Christmas eve, with a fridge full of sugar cookie and gingerbread dough, and right in the middle of baking a batch, my oven started to emit that loud annoying beep, and on the stove top panel, a familiar error code was flashing in red again. I wasn’t so concerned about my cookies, as we could live without them. What was a bigger issue, was early the next morning I would have to decide whether to take the turkey out of the freezer to thaw for our Christmas day dinner. I didn’t want to be in the middle of cooking the bird and have my oven shut down, or worse over heat.
Throughout the evening of the 23rd, Grace and I put batch after batch of cookies in the oven. Some came out under cooked and then as I continued to bake, the remainder came out well done. At the end, as I opened the oven, a flood of smoke filled the kitchen, setting off our piercing smoke alarm. Then the oven didn’t cool down, even though I had turned it off. Our sweet daughter Grace, who is 13, told me later that she thought our house was going to burn down. She also told me that she was sending forth prayers for all to be well.
Our sweet daughter Grace, who is learning a lot about faith this year
David, who had been doing our last bit of grocery shopping, came home to the chaos and said the sensor panel would probably need to be replaced. Who in the world had that part and would be able to install it on Christmas eve? We went to bed with heavy hearts the night before Christmas eve. We had worked so hard getting ready for Christmas. David had gone out of town the month before on two separate occasions, which meant long days and no breaks, as both times he worked 10 day stints. The extra money was making Christmas possible for our family but there wasn’t any extra.
We were almost there. In the last month, I had bought a few gifts and done some baking that would be sent with my sister J, who was going to the U.K. for Christmas and had generously agreed to take them to our oldest daughter in London. We had celebrated 3 of our children’s December birthdays with thoughtful gifts and special dinners for each. The kids had participated in donations to the local food bank after raiding my lazy susan, and had also happily put together shoe boxes for children less fortunate in other countries. We had dropped money into our local Salvation Army kettle at our grocery store for local families. Finally, the children had participated in all the year end Christmas concerts, recitals and parties, of which there were many and of course, something was always brought as a contribution, usually my baking, and a small gift for each teacher.
A few nights before the stove incident, David and I had spent the whole evening wrapping and labeling the gifts we had squirreled away for our children. I had spent a lot of time looking at their wish lists, reading the flyers in the local paper and doing on line comparison shopping. David and I had battled the shopping crowds on several occasions to select the perfect gift with equal fairness in mind for each child. Then there was the grocery shopping which seemed endless. I was done. But happily done. The only thing left to do was a bit more baking for our family and attend our church’s candlelight service on Christmas eve. But what to do about our oven.
With my venture towards minimalism, a desire to live a more sustainable life, and move in the direction of eating mostly vegetarian meals, I thought it was interesting that a broken stove was in front of me. I felt blessed to have a working microwave, and although I personally try not to use it to heat food, much preferring the slower stove top method, it WAS in our kitchen. Also, if we filled our propane tank, we had a working barbecue, although David didn’t think it would be an effective way to cook a turkey with our plummeting outside temperatures. Still, we had options and I wanted to focus on that. Also, maybe this holiday we could eat a plant based diet. All these thoughts and ideas swirled around as I went to sleep that night but my final thoughts were, I put it in your hands God.
Now, some of you may have wondered why we didn’t just go and buy a new stove, but with two children in University and others to care for, this isn’t an easy option for us. Also, we haven’t used our one credit card in years…I don’t even have one in my wallet any longer. We save it for life emergencies only and a broken oven doesn’t factor in that category. This is where the miracle comes into play though, because if we had been able to just go to the store and throw down our plastic or even had the cash, God/the Universe/, whatever feels comfortable to your ears, wouldn’t have been able to show his hand. The next morning, David got up early as he had a number of projects to complete at the office. I awoke to our younger ones, excited for Christmas voices. We had breakfast and then we got dressed. After that I decided to call David to see if he had come up with a solution. He told me to leave it with him a bit longer. A short time later, he called back and asked me to take the turkey out of the freezer and also if I could meet him at Parnell’s Appliance store, which is a small appliance retail outlet in our little town. I hurriedly asked our older children to get up and get dressed so they could watch the little ones and I flew out of the house with expectation.
When I arrived David was already talking ovens with a salesman. He had a big smile on his face and as he greeted me, I sensed a lightness about his shoulders. We talked about the various benefits each stove featured and finally, I settled on the one that really excited me. It had a convection oven, which meant I could cook on all three racks at the same time and there was also a warming tray. Another bonus, was the moveable griddle that could cook pancakes, etc on the stove top. Our old electric griddle was ready to pack it in. Another bonus, was all the stoves were marked down with boxing day special prices. When Brad, the salesman, went to see if this stove was in stock, I whispered to David, “but how are we going to pay for it?” And that is when he smiled, telling me he had been given a bonus at the office that morning. It would cover the cost of the stove.
We weren’t expecting any bonus since the company had just started a program which would reward staff members with accumulated safety points and various products could be purchased with the redeemed points. Safety, is a big theme right now in all industries but especially the electrical industry where David works. In past Christmases, the company had thoughtfully given gift cards from Walmart, the Super Store, Boston Pizza, the Movie theatre, etc. but with the new safety bonus program, we thought that would be it for Christmas. What makes me believe in miracles is that this bonus was totally unexpected and it couldn’t have been timed more perfectly.
Miracle!
What is an even bigger miracle, is Brad came out of the back room to say, they not only had the stove I wanted in stock….but they could deliver it a few hours later. Wow!
Merry Christmas!
We called home to tell the older boys to clear the drive way as we had had another snow fall throughout the night and flakes were still softly falling off and on. When I got home they had cleared the drive way and the steps going down to our house too.
The boys have shoveled a lot of snow this holiday season….Christmas eve was a big dump
I came into the house and everyone was so excited. A new stove would be arriving soon and we would be eating our turkey with huge gratitude.
Saying a sad goodbye to my old oven…all the memories of past Christmases, birthday cakes, soups, pizzas travel with it.
A few hours later, two delivery men wearing Santa hats arrived at our door. Nothing was sweeter than seeing our new stove.
The delivery mat was still in place and I had to capture the moment….joy filled
And while this oven is very much of this earth, it represents a tangible miracle this Christmas.
I couldn’t have been given a better gift this Christmas. It came first as a miracle wrapped in a much needed stove but continued after that with my eyes wide open. Later, when our family filled a whole church pew and I looked down to see them all singing,”Silent Night,” with candles glowing in their hands, I was over whelmed with the miracle of the season. When the clocked struck midnight on Christmas eve and I was able to connect, via Skype, with our London based daughter, again the feeling flooded through me. Even though we are so far apart, I could wish her a Happy Christmas, see her beautiful face, listen to her voice. Someone had to dream BIG to be able to make it possible for us to connect in such a way.
As my pumpkin pie cooked on Christmas Eve, David read the book I have had since I was small, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” to our little ones but our big ones were listening too.
It’s not Christmas without my classic pumpkin pie….I use the recipe on the “Libby’s” Pumpkin pie can…and use the Tenderflake pastry recipe for the crust…the star is my personal touch…of HOPE
David with the book, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”….it was given to me on my 2nd Christmas.
Harrison and our Siamese cat Ryuuki listen to the classic Christmas Eve story…..this after hearing the one about baby Jesus at church an hour before
Then a few hours later, I was up early, preparing the dressing and stuffing the turkey. This year I was in a state of pure gratitude for the turkey and for the oven that would roast him. For everything that fell into place perfectly.
It’s going to be a beautiful Christmas day!
Christmas morning….me up early getting the turkey in….I used all my dried baby’s breath on the tree this year…simply beautiful and even though last spring I did a mass declutter in the name of minimalism, I cut our holiday decorations in half….we really didn’t miss anything….some greenery, some fairy lights, a few memorable tree decorations….oh and a poinsettia…the house was lovely
Then, holding the little ones back no further, they stopped for a picture and rushed to see what Santa had left them in their stockings and under the tree.
After my stove was delivered, everything was just as bonus and it got me thinking about life and how I walk my path. Over the holidays as time allowed, I was able to connect with some of my cyber friends, some whom, are still trying to have their first baby, or to complete their family. One of them said something really impressive to me, considering all she has endured on her path. She said, “One of my mantra’s I hold close is ” my life is none of my business” I try to remember to just show up and let life just take care.” I loved that because I think we get too caught up in what seems like the BIG things in life and we try to control too much. In doing so, we block the flow of miracles into our life. If we just remember to show up, that is all we really need to do…..and if we show up with gratitude, I think that is the key in living a miraculous life.
So we are at the beginning of a new year. A time when dreams are fresh and our heart is strong. If we listen to our heart, and trust it is life’s rudder, we can’t go wrong. I don’t know about you but I have big dreams, and little dreams. My little ones are by becoming more sustainable and also environmentally conscious. I want to use less packaging and rely less on other people to make what I love. One thing I love at Christmas time is eggnog. I have always wanted to learn how and this year my dream came true. I didn’t buy one eggnog latte while out shopping…..instead, I learned to make eggnog from scratch and made my own lattes.
It was so easy and delicious. I don’t know why I haven’t made it before. I learned to make eggnog latte’s last year, which accompanied my cranberry bliss bars (inspired from a trip to Starbucks) but this year, I’m happy to say, that I made everything from scratch and while it is more expensive to make the homemade variety…the taste is well worth it. Absolutely no comparison, so if eggnog is your thing….maybe try making a batch.
Chances are you already have everything you need in your home…. all you may need to buy is some “whopped” (our little girl Kathryn calls it that) cream, and some sweetened condensed milk.
So grab a pot, an apron and come join me in the kitchen…….for Hope’s Homestead Eggnog
“Eggnog may have originated in East Anglia, England; or it may have simply developed from posset, a medieval European beverage made with hot milk; eggs were added to some posset recipes. The “nog” part of its name may stem from the word noggin, a Middle English term for a small, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol.|”
Here’s what you need to make egg nog…behind my cinnamon is the “whopped cream”
Non-Alcoholic Eggnog
Ingredients
4 cups of milk
1/2 tsp of cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sweetened, condensed milk…I use the light one if I can
8 egg yolks…the fresher the better
1 cup of granulated sugar
2 cups of whipping cream….full strength, the heavy stuff
2 tsp of vanilla
1 tsp of nutmeg…plus more for garnish
Opt: 1 can of whipped cream…and a few cinnamon sticks for stirring….kind of old fashioned too
Instructions
1. In a large sauce pan heat milk, cloves, cinnamon, and the condensed milk over low heat. Slowly increase heat until mixture is just about to boil….be careful not to boil.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the 8 eggs with the 2 cups of sugar, then using an electric mixer, combine mixture until it’s light and fluff….it will have a lovely soft yellow colour.
3. Slowly add the hot milk mixture, 1 spoonful at a time to the sugar and eggs……(I ladled the last little bit)..once about 1/2 of the hot mixture is introduced and it has tempered, add it all back to the sauce pan and cook over medium heat for about 3 to 5 minutes. When the mixture thickens it is done.
3. At this point, slowly add the 2 cups of whipping cream, nutmeg and vanilla and heat through. do not bring this to a boil. You are getting close now to tasting a delicious, thick, nog…yummy! I really love being able to choose how much spice to add as well.
4. At this point, you can either use the mixture to make eggnog lattes, or you can find a jar with a sealed lid…..I put my eggnog into several mason jars with screwed lids and cool well before serving.
We made lattes when the eggnog was still hot. Use some canned whipping cream and sprinkle some nutmeg on top for a garnish…serve with a cinnamon stick.
This batch of eggnog made enough to make four eggnog lattes and 4 cups of plain nog for the kids
I don’t mind if I do
When I called, “eggnog is ready,” everyone came for a taste test
I was so engrossed with making my eggnog and then drinking it that I never noticed my Santa apron was inside out….as David said is doesn’t matter, either way, it says, “the holidays are here.”
As 2016 unfolds for you and your family, I hope you allow miracles to happen.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
I’d like to share a story I wrote several years ago. This is the 50th Christmas since my Dad left the earth and it seems like a fitting tribute. This is for you Dad, my shining star and for my mother, who has now joined him and also guides me on my journey.
Hope is a Star
The Christmas I remember most poignantly, was wrapped in deep sorrow and sadness. It was December 1965 and I had just turned 6 years old. My family and I lived in the small town of Hope, B.C., on the west coast of Canada. My three older sisters had been heard to say our little town was, “beyond hope, as there wasn’t a lot for children and teenagers to do. Still, I loved our quaint little town, nestled next to tall, forested mountains and I felt safe and happy in the white clapboard house that my father, (and mother) had built for us, adding on piece by piece over the years as our family grew. It glowed with the happy hum of a loving family. But that Christmas lay quiet and dark.
My father, Marvyn Clark, had been killed in an Esso company, truck accident on the Hope Princeton highway the September before. He had left my mother alone, struggling to care for myself and my three older sisters. Since I was young, I didn’t comprehend the depths of despair or grief but I felt it. It lay heavy on me, like when I would burrow under a pile of fake fur and wool coats thrown on my parent’s bed when company arrived. I couldn’t breathe.
Wonderful smells of cinnamon and ginger didn’t waft from the kitchen and there weren’t sounds of tissue rustling or my mother’s sewing machine creating magic into the wee hours of the night. There was no trip to the mountains to choose the most perfectly shaped and fragrant fir tree, nor was there any adult laughter or music coming from our living room after I had been tucked away for the night. When my dad was alive, I would often fall asleep listening to him tapping away on his typewriter, or playing his violin and oh, the deep comforting smell of his presence; rich pungent with a hint of pipe tobacco and gasoline, I missed that the most.
A friend of my mother’s took my sister, J and I, to the big city to see Santa. While it was an adventure to leave our small town, and the sweet peppermint candy cane I received after sitting on Santa’s lap was delicious, a piece of me had been shattered and knew, not even Santa could bring what I longed for most. My Dad.
J and I visiting Santa the Christmas after Dad was killed, 1965
That Christmas Eve stands out as a pivotal shift among the stillness of the season. I wore a red, hand me down dress with scratchy crinoline and white tights, that annoyingly needed to be pulled up every few moments. We attended our family’s United Church candlelight service and listened to the story of how God’s love illuminated the world with a star and a baby.
As we walked home in the crisp, cold evening, our boots crunched on the newly fallen snow. I looked up into the black velvet sky to see the brightest star. It seemed to follow us on our path home and no matter which way we turned, it hovered over head. Finally, we arrived at our darkened home and my mother and sisters stepped into our little front porch, stamping the snow off of their boots but I hung back. I hesitated to look up for fear the star had vanished but then, a sense of peace poured through me as I scanned the sky once more, only to find it still shimmering with brilliant light right above my head. I was sure it was glowing, just for me.
At last, I could bear the bone chilling air no longer, I took one last look and joined my family. Warm light was spilling out our front door and I could hear the hum of voices within.
~The End~
Merry Christmas!
I have held HOPE in my heart ever since that Christmas and like that special star, it never wavers. I KNOW we are loved and cared for. We may not understand why life has to be so hard at times but we need to just trust and let go, knowing, all shall be well.
Please join me in going down memory lane with some photos from Christmases in Hope
MY Dad, Marvyn and my mom Ethel Clark
Here, I am as a little one, Debra Lee…aka Hope
A typical Christmas morning while my dad was still alive…Dad, my sister J and myself in the kerchief…pin curls in my hair
While we were not well off, we were wealthy in so many ways…rich in hard work, integrity, honesty and love
My sister C was a teenager when Dad passed away…this was from a happier Christmas
The Four Clark girls, that’s me on the left, then my oldest sister B, then J and finally my second oldest sister, C
My family…the Clark’s
I love this picture of my parents…Dad looks so happy and notice my mom touching his hand…they loved each other so much
My Dad and my sisters and I with the snowman we made in front of our house…I think this was the last winter before Dad died
Well dearest blog family, I hope you enjoyed going down memory lane with me and I hope that you remember, the real Christmas magic, is holding hope in your heart. It lights us up, allowing us to live a richer life full of meaning and most important of all, and what God gave us so many Christmases ago,…………………………………………………………. LOVE
Before I go and get my family ready for our family pictures today, I wanted to share with you my own fruitcake recipe. After we come home from our candlelight service on Christmas eve, we light a single white candle on the cake and we sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. It helps to keep the true meaning of Christmas foremost in our minds before the gift giving portion the following morning. Maybe, if you share the same sort of belief as I, you can add it as one of your family traditions. There is something about mixing a big bowl of fruitcake that takes me right back to Christmases with my mom….and my Dad and helps me keep our house humming.
Hope’s Baby Jesus Fruitcake
Ingredients
1/4 lb of sliced almonds 1/2 lb (about 11/2 cups) of dark raisins 1/2 lb mixed peel or glazed fruit 1/4 cups glazed or well drained maraschino cherries..sliced 2-1/2 cups pre-sifted all purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1-1/4 cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp almond extract 1 tsp grated lemon rind 1- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice 4 eggs (cooking oil to grease pans)
Directions
Grease and line cake tins with 3 layers of heavy waxed paper or 2 layers of brown paper. Grease each piece of paper with cooking oil. Blanche and halve the almonds; then toast in moderate oven. Combine in large bowl with raisins, peel and sliced cherries
Measure 1/2 cup flour without sifting and add to fruit, stirring until fruit is well coated. Measure remaining 2 cups flour without sifting, add baking powder and salt and stir thoroughly to blend Cream butter until fluffy, gradually add sugar, mixing until creamy. Add flavouring and then the eggs; one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in dry ingredients until well combined. Blend in fruit and nuts. Fill Cake tins 2/3. Bake at 325 F for 1 1/2 to 2 hours….when toothpick comes out clean. Happy Birthday Jesus!
Yummy!….but then I’m kind of old fashioned.
As I leave you, I am singing the lovely hymn our United church sings every Christmas eve. If you can’t see the YouTube link below…click on the hyper link to hear, “Hope is a Star.” (it’s really catchy and you may find yourself humming it over the holidays)
1. Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
Refrain:
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.
2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth,
giving a promise of safety and worth.
3. Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn,
telling the world that the Saviour is born.
4. Love is a flame that burns in our heart.
Jesus has come and will never depart. I hope your holiday is filled with the magic of the season and you hold the true meaning of Christmas in your heart for the whole year through.
The little reindeer on our mantle is a treasure from my childhood…as long as I can remember it was in our home
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful. Blessings from Hope
~There is always enough, when love is present~
