{ this moment }

a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. inspired by soulemama. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!
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( this moment )

{ early morning beach walk before school }

{ Afternoon stroll through the Dunes..we have been blessed with some great weather this week!}

"Surround Yourself with High-Energy People
Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see the greatness in you, who feel connected to God, and who live a life that gives evidence that Spirit has found celebration through them."

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer ~

Have a Blessed Weekend!

~ Pumpkin Butter ~

::Ingredients::

28-oz. fresh pumpkin puree

(split, gut & steam sugar pumpkins for about 40 minutes,

scrape out the flesh & discard the rind...mash)

3/4 cup apple juice or cider

2 teaspoons ginger ( I grate fresh ginger)

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon mace

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1-1/2 cups organic brown sugar or local honey

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for 35-40 minutes, or until mixture thickens.

Fill Mason jars and refrigerate for up to a month.

Pumpkin butter can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

Yield: 3 cups.

Snow!!!

This is THE most magical day of the year,

The morning we wake up to the seasons 1st snow fall.

7am brought shrieks & screams

& children jumping on my bed.

Snowpants on, digging through the hat/scarf basket & out the door they ran.

This morning called for a pot of hot tea & warm quinoa porridge.

Savoring the stillness of it all before the busy day ahead.

Looking out at the vastness of white

Snow had fallen throughout the night

Footprints in the virgin snow

From whom they come I do not know

Winter it has come at last

Can’t even see one blade of grass

Ice it forms on the lake

But not thick enough to take ones weight

Soon the kids will be here

Sleds out and snow ball spheres

Making angels in the virgin snow

And having fun wherever they go

The day goes and darkness comes

Kids gone home to there mums

The snow falls throughout the night

Erasing all that days snow fights

A clean sheet in the morning light

Ready for that days snow fight.

May you find stillness & beauty in your day!

Three cheers for SNOW!

{ This Moment }

This week, I am grateful for...

~ The man in front of me in line at Red Cup that paid for my coffee.

~ A client called me after his massage to thank me again & tell me tell me to stay blessed.

~ A friend in pain that allowed me to help her even though she is feeling vulnerable & wanting to be alone.

~ A friend making it through a rough surgery who is now on the road to healing.

~ A teacher sent me an email thanking me for raising a wonderful child.

~ A lovely champagne brunch for one of my best guy friends wedding shower.

~ A weekend that was full of parties celebrating birthdays & halloween..all the amazing circles of friends that were brought together at each event.

~ The kindness of a couple friends & my mama who listened to me as I broke down exhausted & at the end of my rope with this single mama gig. They listened to me & heard me.

~ This great group of new friends I've made through creating this natural parenting group.

Little bits of kindness scattered through the days..♥

Infinite Love & Gratitude... Pass it on..

What are you feeling grateful for this week?

~ This & That ~

This week...

My Mama came by with several boxes of canning goodness for me.

Passed down by her Mother & my Dads mother.

Old enamel pots, ancient mason jars (and some newer ones), a sieve,

funnels, an apple peeler & more.

What a treasure!

It was so fun to unpack those boxes & put the equipment to use again!

I started reading these two lovely books.

The Big Book of Handspinning is on my Christmas wish list. :)

I bought some beautiful alpaca roving at the last farmers market that
I can't wait to get on the spinning wheel!
I also started knitting a new baby hat for the Mothering by Nature store
in a lovely purplish kettle dyed Peruvian cotton.





Two sneaky children ran off with my camera to take photos of their lego creations
(and some silly shots of each other!)

I woke up at 3am worried about a friends surgery

& not being able to fall back asleep,

made the most of it by canning

3 jars of apple sauce & 8 jars of raspberry jam

from the berries I froze that we picked this Summer.

Tried a new breakfast recipe (a winner!) out with the kids.

Creamed Quinoa

1/2 c. quinoa(rinsed)

1 c. milk ( I used rice milk)

1 pat butter

Heat the milk to boiling and reduce flame.

Add quinoa and butter.

Reduce heat to low careful not to let

the milk boil over (as it tends to do).

Cover the pot and check every few minutes

to stir and test the texture of the quinoa.

Fully cooking the grain should take about 10-15 minutes.

Scoop the quinoa into a bowl.

Pour a tad of cream on it if you'd like.

We scooped a dollop of our pumpkin butter on top.

Next time, I'd like to add fresh chopped pears or

apples...maybe walnuts

My children loved it without any sweetener but I'm sure some maple syrup or honey would be delish drizzled over the top.

This is a fantastic warm before school breakfast.

What's new in your home this week?

Pumpkins!!!

This Week in my Kitchen..

I know I am not the only one & in the spirit of keeping it real on here, I have to admit..

When I am stressed, I cook.

I keep my hands busy & the people around me nourished.

It brings my mind down from the threat of over thinking.

This week, my kitchen has been a busy place. There was Apple Sauce made after one last trip to the orchard to pick what was left of the Fugi & Braeburns.


Pumpkin Butter was experimented with. This batch turned out pretty good using local honey in place of sugar. The littles loved it mixed into pancake batter, warmed and slathered on top of those cakes, in their morning oatmeal & on toast.

We made what I have to say was the yummiest quick bread I have ever made in my life.

So yummy, in fact, that I never even got a photo of the end result.

It is ( or shall I say was... *ahem*)

Honey-Walnut Bread

from The Tassajara Bread Book.

Do whatever it takes to get this cookbook into your kitchen.

You won't regret it.

There were also plenty of soups, stews, breads and some homemade pasta made & topped with the pesto I canned a couple weeks ago. While I admit, all this cooking has not been all that good for my hips...something about tying a vintage apron around your waist & taking a deep breath..inhaling the aroma of whatever is bubbling away on the stove.. it helps.

It really does.