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Best Made Plans

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Yesterday morning I rose early to head to the grocery store before dawn, before my girls woke up, and before my “To Do List” really got moving.  I returned home at 6:30 am, with arms full of groceries, and two little girls with pink eye. How quickly all those plans on my “To Do List” were put on hold, and a new (much better, I must say) plan developed.  Cookie-Baking Day.

The girls felt great, but still unable to attend school, dance class, and tumbling lessons, so we just stayed close to home and had ourselves a wonderful little day.  It’s these moments spent with my little ones in the warm embrace of our home that I will remember most as the years move on.  I will never forget their baking experiments with flour strewn all about the kitchen, their voices in the play room as my seven year old reads fairy tales to her little sister, or the tiny fists full of cookies being shoved as quickly as possible into their smiling mouths.

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Winter Sewing

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My sewing machine spent it’s summer and fall days collecting a nice little layer of dust in my basement.  I never really felt overly drawn to it during those months.  I’m guessing because my time and attention focused on all of the outside work that needed to be done, and sewing never really seemed to fit with that particular rhythm.

But now all of that has changed.  It’s darker earlier, it’s colder outside, and it’s time to begin sewing again.  I have quite the stack of projects in the works, because I couldn’t decide on just one project to start.  It all seemed so fun!  I have forced myself to get a bit more organized in the past few days, and I’ve now completed a pair of nice flannel night gowns for my two favorite gals.  My little ones much prefer to wear night gowns than any other form of pajama, and I’m happy to oblige.  For is there anything cuter than a little girl snuggled up in a warm comfy night gown?  I cannot think of anything better.

The Good Stuff

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You know those moments in your life, that as you are experiencing them, you know you will never forget?  This week is shaping up to be one of those weeks, that come around every once in a while, and is sure to be locked away in my memory bank for many years to come.

My husband decided to take vacation this week.  Not to go on a tropic vacation, but to stay close to home, and participate in the Thanksgiving preparations that are all abustle in our house right now.  Monday, while our girls were at school, we traveled up to Madison, Wisconsin to go to Whole Foods and grab those cuts of organic meat we were unable get locally.  We then found ourselves in a little pub, on a beautiful snowy afternoon, sipping some local brews and enjoying some quality one on one time.

Yesterday, after the girls arrived home from school, we spent some time hand-dipping our own candles for the Thanksgiving table (more on this crafting adventure in next week’s posts), sharing stories of our day, and just relishing in the fact that the next five days would be filled with many quality hours with family and dear friends.  This is truly the good stuff of life.

So now down to my “To Do List” for today and tomorrow.  It’s sure to be a little crazy, but a whole lot of fun.

At This Moment

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At this moment, I am…

~recalling a fabulous weekend of crafting and fun.

~returning from a very early trip to the grocery store for our first round of Thanksgiving dinner shopping.  A five o’clock (in the AM my friends) arrival time is a sure fire way to beat the crowds at the ole’ grocery store 🙂

~glancing at my stack of Christmas cards, and thinking I may be able to get them in the mail on Friday.  Fingers crossed.

~looking forward to a short two days that my girls are in school this week.  I cannot wait to spend five full days with my babies!

~preparing for my favorite holiday of the year.  A day filled with family and food. What could possibly be better?

~hoping to get some sewing projects wrapped up this week.

~wishing each of you a wonderful start to your week.  Have a great Monday!

My Pause

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Good morning, friends.  This space has been quiet for a few weeks, and I do apologize for that.  I felt a pull in my life to take pause and just focus on the two precious little girls within my care, and kind of let all else go for a few weeks.

Around the time that my oldest turned seven, I realized my time home with both of them is nearing it’s end, and I needed to just take a step back and absorb all that my little girls bring into my life.  Isn’t it strange how we go through each day, so consumed with menial tasks, and then lay down to sleep in the evening wondering where the time has gone?  On one such evening, I placed my head upon my pillow and thought to myself, “Soon both of the girls will be in school all day, and I will not have the ability to snuggle in bed in the middle of the day and read stories for hours with them, or go for a walk with them when the sun is at its highest.  I want to create wonderful memories of my girls.  I want to remember the way their voices sound as they waft up the stairs while they play dress up.  I want to commit to memory the way their little hands hold a crayon as they create their very own works of art.  I want to pause and truly remember the stories they weave together so brilliantly.”

So, I’ve got to say, my house is an absolute mess, the laundry is piled a mile high in the basement, and the counters are strewn with all sorts of paperwork. But, the moments I have encapsulated in my mind can never be erased.

And now I am so excited to be back in this space with all of you, sharing what we have been up to, as we move into our most loved of all seasons.

Happy Wednesday!

Dash to the Finish

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Every year it happens.  The mad dash to get anything and everything in the garden harvested and indoors before temperatures dip below freezing for the first time of the year.

That day came on Monday, when the evening’s forecasted low was 27 degrees.  So, I spent my day entangled amongst the tomato and cucumber vines, and bending over the multiple herbs remaining in the herb garden.  Each year I say I will do this all sooner, so I’m not rushed come late fall when cold temperatures are eminent.  But each year I find myself in this position, racing against time.

But I must say, I’m growing to enjoy this dash to the finish line.  Because at this time of year, when I’m weary of harvesting, canning, freezing and drying, I see ahead of me a time of rest.  A time spent nestled inside, surrounded by projects and crafts.  It is at this time of year I am grateful to live in an area where we experience all four seasons.  When there is a natural break, and a chance to rest and recharge for the next growing season.  This time of rest is so close now.  I feel the subtle pull inward, and I cannot wait to embrace all that it has to offer me in the days, weeks and months to come.

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Grandma’s Three Bean Salad

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Isn’t it just fascinating how food memories work?  One morsel of food touches your tongue and you are whisked away to times gone by, to the exact moment when you consumed that particular piece of goodness.  That’s why each time I task three bean salad, I am brought back to Zanocco family 4th of July celebrations.  With this annual celebration always came laughing children singing (and yelling) the words to “Miss Mary Mack”, throw-and-pop firecrackers and sparklers, olive dip, and of course, three bean salad.

I dug through my recipe box last week and found Grandma Zanocco’s three bean salad recipe.  Looking over the hand-written recipe card, I wondered if I could perhaps make it a bit healthier, while maintaining the integrity of the dish.  With a bit of tasting here, and help from my sous-chef there, I think I’ve done it.  I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we did, and I hope it helps to create some wonderful new food memories for all of you 🙂

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Grandma’s Three Bean Salad

(You can use canned beans, or dried beans.  Just be sure that if you use dried beans, they have already been soaked and are fork tender.)

4 cups kidney beans

4 cups pinto beans

4 cups black beans

Pour all of your beans in a large bowl and set aside.

In a food processor, pulse 1 cup diced yellow onions.  Then add 1 cup olive oil, 1 cup Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 3/4 cup raw agave syrup.  Pulse the mixture a few times in your food processor until you have a reasonably smooth dressing.

Pour your dressing over your bean mixture, and allow to sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving.  You can garnish your salad with a little oregano or parsley if you wish.  Enjoy!

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*A note about all my recipes:  I use all organic ingredients, local when available.  I use non-homogenized milk, and all of the dairy we use is from animals raised on pasture. I also use oils that are non-GMO verified.  All our meat is raised locally on organic feed, and our beef is grass-fed, grass-finished.  All our spices and cane sugar are fair-trade certified and purchased through a cooperative.

Weekending

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This weekend was one of those that will be looked back upon with fondness.  While we normally spend our weekends close to home, this one brought us on many adventures.  One where  the hustle and bustle was completely embraced, and fun was truly had by all.  Our hours were filled with alpacas (it was National Alpaca Weekend after all), pumpkins and retro amusement park rides.  Yes, quite the eclectic combo.

Here is a glimpse into our two days of fun…

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I hope you all enjoyed a lovely weekend as well.  Have a wonderful week my friends!

Basil Lime Gimlet

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Date nights do not often happen these days.  Crazy schedules, shifting demands of the workplace and caring for two young children make it difficult for this mom and dad to have a few spare moments alone.  That is why this past weekend was quite a celebration.  We enjoyed a date night.  With just the two of us.  Alone.

We spent our time at an early evening movie, followed by wonderful Vietnemese food, and all wrapped up with homemade garden-inspired cocktails.  It was a perfectly wonderful evening.

We wanted to incorporate our garden bounty in our cocktails in some way, so here is our best attempt to embody late summer garden freshness in a glass.  We hope you enjoy this little treat as much as we did!

Basil Lime Gimlet

1 cup lime juice

1/2 cup water

7 fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup sugar

Place the above ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Stir the mixture constantly until the sugar is dissolved and begins to bubble.  Turn off the heat, and allow the mixture to steep with the lid on for at least an hour.  Remove the wilted basil leaves and pour into a glass container and place in the refrigerator until chilled.

When you are ready to enjoy your cocktail, fill a pint-sized Mason jar with ice.  Add 1 oz. vodka, 2/3 cup of the basil lime simple syrup above, and 2 fresh basil leaves.  Now, for that rustic chic charm, attach a lid and rim to your Mason jar and shake away.  I’m telling you, it’s the coolest martini shaker on the market these days 🙂  Once your cocktail is properly shaken, remove the rim and lid, serve and enjoy!

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*A note about all my recipes:  I use all organic ingredients, local when available.  I use non-homogenized milk, and all of the dairy we use is from animals raised on pasture. I also use oils that are non-GMO verified.  All our meat is raised locally on organic feed, and our beef is grass-fed, grass-finished.  All our spices and cane sugar are fair-trade certified and purchased through a cooperative.