sweetly growing...

It is when we least expect it that our children shift into newer aspects of themselves. It is not that they don't grow when we are watching, when we are teaching and learning. It's simply that some of the largest jumps of growth seem to need privacy to bloom. 

It is exciting to bear witness to the new comical bent of my 19 month old. His new found sense of abilities that don't require (and do not want) momma or daddy help. He has suddenly taken a keen interest in dressing up, he likes to roar at all of us like a lion or a dragon (and yes each one has a different growl and body language to go with it). He speaks in these crazy 1/2 baby talk sentences that sound so sweet I wish I could translate or speak his tongue. He loves his music and will sing along to himself strumming a guitar or playing (with adult like rhythm) on one of the many drums in our house. He is brilliant!

This weird plastic raspberry thing was found in our yard after the storm...it's person came and claimed it but what a weird thing to find in the yard.

It is when my 7 year old comes to me asking questions on physics that I look at him and wonder where my cuddle bug baby has gone. Always a supremely intelligent child, he still manages to bring me to a place of awe and wonder. As science, for his chosen homeschool work, he is studying my college astronomy and dad's books on solar panel installation. He is fascinated by electronics theory and is a man of many business ventures. He has his own business name "Lazure Inc (a combination of his and his sister's names) under which he creates t-shirt logos, invents new types of smart phones, designs cars that won't harm the planet and much more I am sure that I am even unaware of. He is still my avid cuddler and I love to sit down with him and just be...something he loves to do when the others are sleeping. He is a boy existing in genius and loveliness!

We must not forget my sweet little girl. At 4.5 she is gentle and kind. A bit on the shy side she none the less is friendly and willing to play with anyone who needs a playmate. She adores her animals and love books on being a veternarian. For her to own a farm one day is one of her dreams and it is a goal I know she will reach. 

So sweetly they grow. Learning, changing and yet remaining somehow the same. It is beautiful to be a part of this dance into adulthood. 

{this moment}

{this moment}- A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. (Inspired by Amanda Soule of SouleMama)

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in this moment

I am...

:reading a really good book; Your Farm In the City by Lisa Taylor and the gardeners of the Seattle tilth:

:staring a stack of "sew me" projects down with ecstatic determination:

:taking over the kitchen table...my work space is getting small:

:creating a new menu for the household; I think I need a few new cook books, any suggestions?:

:debating 10 more minutes in bed this cold damp morning:

out and about

 His newest love...crab apples! Just the right size to make a little one feel big.

My big boy is so filled with love! Best Big Brother Possible!

There are the days when projects must get done. Days when chores are on the table and can no longer be put off. And there are days when you look around at your pile of W.I.P's (works in process), the stacks of laundry, recycling that needs sorting, dishes crying out for attention and you climb in the car and head for the hills. This was just such a day.

 Loki's foray into photography; he's really into the self portrait right now.

 The artist as the subject...spinning!

 Makes me dizzy just looking at the picture.

 After the ride.

 What's funny is while he might look like a child having a meltdown, this is how he likes to ride the baby swings now. He has graduated to normal big people park swings (proud mama!!!) so this is like a novelty.

This was taken by my 18 month old! He loves his big brother.

White Chocolate Blueberry Brownies

White Chocolate Coconut Blueberry Brownies with Peppermint Whipped Cream

The Brownies...

Ingredients:

11/3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

11 ounces white chocolate chips (1 bag)

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

11/2 cups evaporated cane juice or palm sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

5 eggs at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup shredded coconut 

1 cup  blueberries (or more as desired, fresh or frozen)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Butter a 9x13" pan and set aside. Melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler (or a ceramic bowl over boiling water being careful not to get the contents of the bowl wet).When it is completely melted, turn it off and scrape contents into a larger bowl. Mix the sugars and stir until well blended. Add 3 eggs and mix. Add the remaining eggs and the vanilla and mix. Pour the flour and salt mixture, the coconut, and the blueberries into the chocolate mixture and gently stir until well combined. Pour the mixture into the buttered pan, place in the oven, and bake for 40 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a tester (toothpick or knife) poked into the center of the brownies comes out clean. Cut and enjoy.

The Peppermint Whipped Cream...

Ingredients:

1 small container of heavy whipping cream (larger if yo wish to make lots of whipped cream)

1 tablespoon evaporated cane juice, light agave, or palm sugar

2 drops peppermint extract

Directions:

Put the heavy whipping cream, the evaporated cane juice (or agave or palm sugar), and the peppermint extract into a blender. Blend on medium until the whipping cream forms peaks (becomes stiff enough to scoop). Scoop large dollops onto the brownies (and into your mouth) and enjoy!

playing in the dirt

There is the occasional time that I start a project with a picture in my mind and gusto in my heart but without a full array of the know how needed to complete said project. Creating a permaculture/ edible landscape and combining it with a playscape (child wonderland of nature) has proven itself to be one of these times. While I understand the nuances of creating a garden, I do not simply wish to have a garden. I wish for my yard to tread gently on this Earth while providing a bounty of beautiful fruits and veggies for my family to eat and share with friends. I want the yard to be a lovely wonderland filled with little fairy houses hidden near tree trunks (fairy doors in knots of trees), crawl through earth tunnels, and play houses more tree than house but still perfect for a tea party. So far we have succeeded in breaking ground and halfway accomplished uprooting a very stubborn grape vine root. Here is our progress. Any suggestions?

{this moment}

{this moment}- A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. (Inspired by Amanda Soule of SouleMama)

best laid plans

As I sat at the end of the day yesterday, I took note of the fact that not one thing I had set forth to do that day had been accomplished. No sewing was touched; in fact my projects in process pile has gotten as tall as my four year old. No dishes were washed nor any laundry cleaned folded or put away. And the yard work was woefully neglected. Yesterday morning my well shut down and halted all other projects until we could figure out what happened. Turns out two pumps were down and we had a leak in the line. Since we had to wait for the problem to be fixed and wanted the children out of the way of the person fixing the problem we went miniature golfing! And yup I forgot my camera...oops! So now that this is fixed today I set before myself the same challenge as yesterday. I am sure that most of my things will get done this time but if not well there's always tomorrow!

 My tragically neglected work area :)

merrily working

First I want to start by saying that I am sorry I have not been posting daily. As I move forward in writing my books and making our home the place we wish it to be (we are finally getting our bearings since we moved in in October) I have been distracted and forgetful. This means that I have missed some prime picture taking moments as well as not writing down the topics I wish to speak on while they are fresh in my mind. I am grateful for the patience you all show in returning to read even in my inconsistent moments.
Today, we are tearing up the yard! I am beyond elated to get a jump on our garden areas. The weather has been pristine and perfect for playing out doors and I am going to take full advantage of this time to create the space for our food source; for our fruit trees and 1/2 barrels of fruits and veggies galore. And we can not forget creating the chicken tractor for our friends the chickens!
How is the weather in your neck of the woods? Any suggestions for food to plant in my garden?

to another year

The sweet and loving man in my life just turned 32 and in celebration of this momentous occasion...a bonfire!  

Good friends, barbeque, a Vanilla Passion Fruit birthday cake, and the yummiest White Chocolate Coconut Blueberry Brownies I have ever made (recipe to come)! All in all the most beautiful day with the family with a gorgeous moon to end it! Happy birthday honey! Hope you all enjoyed your day as much as we enjoyed ours!