Storybook Woods

Brown Sugar Covered Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

    Even though it is still wintry here, I have decided my ice cream maker is collecting too much dust. Time to start making ice cream again. Last year Mrs. Staggs asked me if I could make an ice cream like the strawberries you dip in sour cream and then brown sugar (which is one of my favorite things in the world by the way!) Well I have not forgotten Mrs. Staggs (sorry it took me so long to get to it. I do not know which way is up)!!

     I played with the recipe a bit and tried adding the brown sugar to the ice cream itself but the only problem is the sugar melts. One of the things I love about strawberries dipped in sour cream and then brown sugar, is the sugar crunch. I wanted to keep the crunch!!!

    So an easy solution, sprinkle the sugar on top of the ice cream. I like it! You can try mixing in 1/2 cup of brown sugar at the very end of making the cream and see how you like it? One should aways play with a recipe to suit their palate. Thank you Mrs. Staggs for the suggestion, it was a yummy challenge xox

 

Brown Sugar Covered Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream 

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

2 cups strawberries *

1/2 cup sweetener

pinch of salt

1 TBL. light rum **

brown sugar for garnish

Blend all ingredients in a blender except brown sugar until smooth. Then pour mixture in the ice cream maker and mix for 30 minutes. Transfer ice cream to a container and keep in freezer.

Notes

* I like to use frozen strawberries and let them partially thaw. If you let them fully thaw then all the juices runs out of the strawberries and changes the texture of the ice cream. So I let the frozen strawberries sit in a bowl on my counter about 30 minutes before using.

** Rum is optional. A little bit of alcohol in your ice cream keeps it softer but is not a have to.

 

Just Becuase It Makes Me Happy

This week's Pinertrest is ideas for your garden!!

1. Grow your own celery  and another post you can also do this with romain lettuce, 2. Recycled soda bottle sprinkler, 3. DIY berry picker, I think this is the most brilliant thing on this list!! 4. Square-foot template, 5. Use a pallet as a raised bed , 6. Seed starter soil blocks, 7. Lemon peel seed starter , 8. Make your plants leafier, greener, larger , 9. Bike rim pole bean trellis

Lastly a great tip from LaTeaDah  (thank you xox). Type in your zip and find out what seeds you can plant this week!!

From a Skirt To a Shirt and Back Again!

Chloe will be 16 in a little less than a month and she is turning into to quite a fashionista (and a lot like her mother but do not tell her that. I mean she is wearing my red heels!!). She loves to stretch her wardrobe and find new ways to wear her clothes. She came downstairs the other day in this ensemble and I had to share!

I was impressed. She took a skirt and pulled it up  under her arms. But pulled the back down just a little more than the front. Added a little shell sweater and a wide belt.

And wah-laa, a cute peplum top. Great reuse Chloe and you can always use it as a skirt again!!

Just Becuase It Makes Me Happy

This week's Pinterest, is a colorful bedroom. I always crave color at the end of winter. It is soo gray here in Washington. I am thinking I need to look at my home and see where I could add a pop of color. Maybe your home could use some color too!!

Make The Most of Your Fridge

    Well my house is in HUGE chaos. I have no ceiling in my kitchen (we have to replace the upstairs toilet but first have to level the floor). Half the time all the walls in the kitchen are covered in sheets of plastic, I have a makeshift kitchen in my living room, there is furniture and stuff everywhere. Plus it will be like this for a couple of months. My wonderful hubby does beautiful work but is veryyyyy slow. 

   However in the mist off all this craziness, I got a new fridge!! A LG 31 cu. The fridge part is 20 cu. It is so big and bright (see the lights on the side, as well as the top?). I have only had dumpy hand-me-down fridges in the past, so this is very exciting for me. The fridge has it's own air filtration system. Plus I have never had a fridge with water and ice!  And when I can cook in my kitchen again :-0 I will have a wonderful fridge to hold everything.

   As you can see, I have my little bouquet of fresh sag, in my Tasha Tudor pink luster-wear pitcher. I think Tasha would approve. Well of the bouguet at lest. There is cooked artichokes, raw milk,  candy cane syrup, ranch dressing from TJ (a treat for the girls. I think mine is better but I will not argue with them), grapefruits (I am addict to them right now) and my bad hubby's bottle of coke. Shock :-O All my jar jams corralled in a plastic bin and as you can see, there is so much more.

    Now you have a peek of my life. Here is some fun fridge ideas to help you make the most of your fridge xox

Picture 1 Fridge dill pickles, Picture 2 S`mores refridgerator cake, Picture 3 Magnets, Picture 4 organize and clean, Picture 5 Make it colorful, Picture 6 spicy nectarine fridge pickles, Picture 7 soft refridgerator rolls

Just Becuase it Makes Me Happy

I know another Pinterest garden picture but I am sorry, at this time of year, this is all I think about. Ohh and a glass of riesling strawberry slushie. Wouldn't these be perfect for an Easter brunch?

image from

Marinade Onion Smoked Salmon Salad

   A couple of weeks ago was my mothers birthday. My sister, the girls and I always have lunch at my mother beautiful home. My mother has huge dietary restrictions, so I was a bit challenged creating a recipe she has not had before. My sister made a lovely butternut squash/apple soup and I decided to make a salad with marinaded red onions, smoked lox and dried apricot stuffed olives (our local store carries these in their olive bar). I have not tried marinading onions before and I have to say they were yummy.  I let them marinate for two day before using them.

    This is a cheap and easy way to bling up a simple inexpensive food as onions. I want to experiment some more with this idea. Maybe adding some herbs from my garden this summer. I have to say the salad was a big hit. So were these Paleo Fudgy Brownies I made!! Happy belated birthday mom. I loveand admire you xox

Marinaded Onion Smoked Salmon Salad

Serves 2

Smoked salmon or lox

Marinated red onions*

olives, I used dried apricot stuffed green olives

assorted salad greens

vinaigrette**

Dress greens in vinaigrette. Garnish greens with slices red  onions. Then add smoked salmon flakes or lox rolled into a rosettes. Cut whole olives into two pieces to make leaves for the rosettes.

* Marinated Red Onions

1 red onion, thickly sliced

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Toss all together in a tightly covered dish. Refrigerate at lest a day.

 

**Vinaigrette

1/2 cup good olive oil

3 TBL of the balsamic from onions

1/4 tsp of a sweetener (I use maple syrup)

salt and pepper to taste.

Whisk all together and adjust to your liking. I do not like my vinaigrette's to vinegary.

 

 

Happy Valentines Day

Becuase I love you xox

Image From

Come Read Tasha Tudor Newsletter

I am so excited, I kept hearing about the Tasha Tudor Museum newsletter but was sad I could not read it. I just discovered it is on-line. So grab a cup of tea and enjoy the winter issue!!

 

Image from MayaMade

Valentine Couch Picnic

My Pinterest  this week is a sweet idea from All Things Annie. A couch picnic! I mean valentines is a perfect time for a couch picnic becuase there is nothing better then snuggling up on the couch with my sweetie !!!

Jewelry Candle

    I was given at the most beautiful 1930's French souvenir bracelet as a Christmas gift from a dear friend (thank you, you know who you are. I am besotted!!) I love this bracelet soo much and did not want to put it away when I was not wearing it but I also wanted to be able to easily retrieve it when I did want to wear it.

    I came up with a simple way to display the bracelet. Taking an old candle, drapping the bracelet around it and pinned it to the back of the candle with push pins.

    I can simple pull out the pins, when I want to wear the bracelet and pin it back when I want to display it. A simple, easy way to make the most of what I love!!

Just Becuase It Makes Me Happy

I have been dreaming about when I can dine outside and this Pinterest image makes me so happy!!

Hobby Farm Home

"It is important to make my outdoor-kitchen space attractive so I'll want to be there."

 

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by Lisa Kivirist about outdoor kitchens for Hobby Farm Home Magazine. It is such a fun subject, Lisa was great to chat with (it turns out we have friends) and something we all need to make the most of. I wanted to thank Lisa (and Hobby Farm). I already knew Lisa as I have read several of her articles and heard about her amazing B & B, Inn Serendipity. She just came out with a new cookbook Farmstead Chef. It is a really interesting look at sustainable living and cooking. I want to try her Beer Cheese Soup  recipe soon. I recommend it!! By the way, the article says I live on 100 acres, I wish! I live on an acre and half but I will take 100 acres :-) If you get a chance check out the cooking alfresco article!!

 

A Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Soy & More Elimination Diary

    As many of you know, last summer Chloe was having severe abdominal pain. We thought she might be allergic to gluten, so we put her (actully all of us) on a month long elimination diet. No diary, eggs, soy, chocolate (that was a hard one), night shade veggies and citrus. It is hard to be 15 and not eat pizza or pasta with red sauce. Chocolate and cheese were the foods she missed the most.

    Still I was determined we would all eat well. This was not going to be a month of loss but of gain. We would look at this as a new challenge and would eat well. Boy did we eat well! I cooked my butt off even though we found out hubby had shingles and then the girls got chicken pox. We survived, they did well and healed quickly.

    Anyways, I kept a diary of all the dinners we ate. Even though it ended up Chloe is not allergic to anything (thanks goodness and has been pain free for months!!) we are still making some of the recipes and incorporating a more gluten free diet. I thought I would  share with you our diary and links to some of the recipes we used. I hope it inspires anyone with has to go on an elimination diet or anyone who wants to eat a more healthy!!

PS. It was quite a snow storm last week. Poulsbo did not get the ice but lots of snow. This is a view out my bedroom window at 7:30 in the morning. Can you see the lights reflecting off the water?

It Just Makes Me Happy

  Good day everyone! I wanted to say hi because it sounds like we are in for some serious snow. Although one never tell around here! There are so many zones and micro climates in this area, it can be very different 5 miles down the road. Actually, I would LOVE to get snowed in. Today is our Friday and hubby is home for the weekend.

  My Pinterest this week is this wonderful snow print! Well if I am not around, I am out making snowballs xox

Italian Pumpkin Meatball Soup

It has been cold and clear here lately, so we are enjoy a lot of soups. My family use to hate soup but suddenly they love it, thank goodness!This soup is one I post about on FB and someone requested the recipe. Really you could add any veggies to it but I like the combo of pumpkin and kale. Enjoy!!

Italian Pumpkin Meatball Soup

Cooked Meatballs*

8 cups broth, any broth will do but I love veggie broth for this.

4 minced garlic’s

½ cup white wine

2 bay leaves

2 cups of pureed pumpkin or winter squash (or 3 cups of cubed, peeled uncooked pumpkin)

3 cups chopped kale uncooked

2 cups cooked white beans, I cook big batches of cannellini beans because they are creamy and thin skinned. Then I freeze them in one cup increments for future use.

1 14oz can roasted tomatoes, chopped (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

 

1, in a large stock pot add broth, garlic, bay leaves and wine. Then add pumpkin and simmer 10 minutes. (If using uncooked pumpkin, simmer broth until the pumpkin is tender. Pull out bay leaves and puree the pumpkin or leaved cubed, if you like.)

 2, add kale, beans and tomatoes. Simmer five minutes or so, until kale is cooked. When ready to serve add meatballs. Garnish soup with parmesan cheese.

 

*Meatballs

¾ cup ground beef (or any meat)

2 eggs

½ cup bread crumbs

3 minced garlic cloves

¼ cup or more if you want it cheesy of parmesan cheese

1 TBL. salt

2 tsp. pepper

½ tsp. fresh grated nutmeg. If you do not have fresh nutmeg just leave it out.

 

Pre-heat oven 350°F.

In a bowl mix all ingredients above. Roll the mixture into very small meatballs, about the size of a large marble. Set meatballs on a baking tray and bake 20 minutes or until cooked.

It Just Makes Me Happy

My Pinterest inspiration this week (image from). I do think I ate paste. I remember being sent to the principle's office in 1st. grade because I kept chewing on green yarn :-) Speaking of being creative, check out these simple baskets  made from paper plates. I love ideas that use common everyday items!!

Wishes

    Do you like my "water" bottle David bought me? We were in Oregon, lost in pinot-land, I did not want to come home :-) I cannot think of a lovelier way to spend ones days, than going from one beautiful winery to the next, tasting and discussing wine!

    January always feel like a wakeup call to me. Which is good (I say with a monotone voice) but who really wants a wakeup call? I am really not one for New Year resolutions but I do feel the need for a fresh start. We are on sugar overload (although I am sure that will pass quickly!!), the steampunk theme is so four weeks ago, my freezer is barren and I have a wish in my heart that is lagging. As I said I am not big on resolutions but I am for making ones dreams come true. For me it is easy to know what my dream is, which is finishing my second Wren book but it more of an issue of finding the time to do it. So I am planning on carving out more time to write and less time running around. Not really sure if it can happen but that is my wish. So do you have a wish you carry in your heart? Are you working on making it come true?? It is all in the baby steps. Do not feel like you have to do something big. Just move forword, one step at a time, not over thinking it. Forward gets you to someplace new!!

    By the way, do you notice me using the word wish a lot? It is the theme of this next book. Having wishes but holding them gently. Not all our wishes will come true but they will never come true if we do not wish them!

We Wish You

"Those wishes in her heart were more than mere dreams; they were the strings pulling her towards the path of her life."

    The snow lightly drops icy, delicate flakes around Wren. Each one a masterpiece, telling the power and creativity of their creator.

    “How? Why, would someone put such thought into a tiny speck of water?” Wren ponders to herself as she sits by the frozen lake. “I mean, they could just be tiny balls of ice and leave it at that.”

    Lily and Wren have been reading about a gentleman, Mr. Wilson Bentley of Jericho, Vermont, who has been photographing snowflakes for over 30 years. After taking Lily to an exhibit of his work, both of them are fascinated with snowflakes.

    Again a reminder of the importance of observing nature! How the tiny details in the world around us are worthy of our time and observation! Mr. Bentleyunderstands this. His passion and dedication to his subject is humbling to Wren. It seemed to her, Mr. Bentley’s eyes lit up as he spoke of his work at his exhibition. Wren is not sure, if like him, she could stand for hours and hours out in the snow with hopes of capturing one photo of a perfect snowflake.

    Was she focused and determined like Mr. Bentley? Was she giving her full heart and attention to what she was created for? Those wishes in her heart were more than mere dreams; they were the strings pulling her towards the path of her life.

    With Christmas here and the end of the year around the corner, Wren makes a promise to God and herself to seek her wishes with a full heart and clear determination. She reminds herself not all her wishes may come true but she will have faith and do the hard work necessary.

 

 

Wren, I and my family (the girls say hi!!)

would like to wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy Holiday and a blessed New Year.

Every New Year is filled with opportunities, challenges, blessings and trials.

I pray you are filled with wishes and a determination this New Year xox

 

ps. I am taking a little break and will be back in two weeks (unless I am dying to tell you something) !!

Image from All The Beautiful Things

 

Mini Steampunk Tree

I have one more steampunk craft to share with you. I always like to have a small trinket at each place setting for guests to take home. This year I made mini trees. These were not hard BUT a lot of little steps.

I made a paper cone and covered it in one inch circles. Added a gear to the top for a star, cut and painted a wooden dowel which I glued to the tree. The base is cooper painted chipboard gear. The dowel just fits in the center hole but I added some glue on the bottom for stability. The final touch is randomly placed glitter made from tiny metal balls.

I am really happy with these and I think my guest will be too. I am off to get ready, our Christmas eve is tonight. I think I need to chill some Champagne for Santa ;-)

Christmas Menu

Good day, I have 3 days left until our Christmas eve and do not feel too behind!! Thought I would share our menu's. I am quite thrilled because normally we could never afford a prime rib but we bought half a cow (grass feed!!) this year. So it is quite a treat! This is the tree in our library and where I hide out!! I love to displaymy red transferwear in it. So what are you cooking this Christmas? xoxo

Christmas Eve

Grilled tuna with a Lemon Caper sauce

orange/pomegranate salad with a simple vinaigrette

french bread and brie cheese

Olive Wreath

sparking white wine

cookies and candies we have been making

 

Christmas Morning

Overnight Potato Sausage bake

Overnight eggnog french toast (made with almond milk)

Fresh fruit

tea

 

Christmas Dinner

Mushroom soup garnished with sour cream and sherry

Prim Rib

Yorkshire pudding

Creamed spinach

Roasted fennel with onions and bacon

Peppermint chocolate filled crepes

Brandy mincemeat pie

pumpkin pie (dairy free and gluten free)

 

Simple Wreath

Sometimes the simplest things work.

Keeping in our steampunk theme, I took an old rusted wheel, wired on some holly from our property with copper wire. Yes, sometimes simple is best!

Smoked Salmon Brie Hand-Pies

I mentioned on Facebook, I was making these hand-pies for a get-together and promised I would post the recipe. I have to say they turned out really good!!

 

Smoked Salmon Brie Hand-pies

makes about 2 dozen

2 pie crusts, room temp. Soft enough to cut and fold over without the dough cracking but not so soft it is mushy.

a wedge of brie, cut into ½" cubes

a piece of smoked salmon, broken into pieces about the same size as the brie

caper

1 large lemon, zest lemon onto a plate. (You will only need the zest, not the lemon.)

 

Cut pie crust in circles with a glass. I used a glass with a 3 ½" circumference. Take two pieces of brie and set them in the zest to pick up some. Not lots of zest, just a little. Set brie, salmon and about 5 capers in the center of the circle. Fold circle over and press edges down firmly. You can come back with a fork and press the edges but be careful not to poke holes in the sides. Then prick the top with the fork.

Set hand-pie in fridge for at lest an hour to firm up crust. * note below

Pre-heat oven 375°F  Grease a cookie sheet and bake hand-pies 25-35 minutes, until cooked and edges are browned. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.

 

* They can be made a day ahead but cover with plastic wrap with the dough will not dry out.

It Just Makes Me Happy

I do not know about you but I need a little serenity today! It is hard to not feel overwhelmed this time of year. Our Christmas is early, I only have 6 days left! Not one package wrapped, I do not have my menu nailed down. We were suppose to make candy yesterday but ended up running errands. A good friend of mine is helping her 101 yrd. Grandmother move into a nursing home!! Life is busy and there are soooooo many things we want to do, need to do. Gosh I had some girlfriends over the other day and I served store bought cookies and used pre-made pie crust for the hand pies. (Shock, thank goodness for Trader Joes).

I am trying to embrace what I can do and let go of what I cannot. I am trying to stop and enjoy the season. I spent a half an hour last night, just staring at our Christmas tree. I sat as low as I could on the couch looking up at our 9 foot tree, remembering how as a little girl I loved to lie under the tree and look up in it branches. So my Pinerest photo today, will hopefully give you a moment to stop, take a breath and remember to let go of perfect. Enjoy these next few weeks. I am off to make candy and if something happens, oh well, I can buy some good chocolate. Love you  xoxo

 

Altered Pocket Watches

The last thing I wanted to share was our favorite ornament we made, altered pocket watches. This one is Auberne`s.

This is Chloe's and below, is mine. I have to say, I am so glad I take the time and money to do these projects because it creates memories. The girls and I will carry forever the love that goes into these Christmas themes. Each Christmas we pull out different trinkets and "we remember the year we did such and such." Instantly it bring us back to that time, what was happening, what we loved, what disasters we created. These are memories that hold us together as a family.

I also have to share the wonderful pocket watches Linda made us. It is amazing because Linda had not seen ours but look how hers so reflect what we were doing. Linda was in WA and came for tea with her hubby (Hi Jim!!). She was able to see our steampunk tree and how beautiful her ornaments looked with ours. Thank you Linda for the presents but mostly for you love and friendship. We adore you xox

Gears and Clockfaces

We also decorated gears and clock faces. The gears are chipboard's I purchased at Etsy's, which made them easy to paint and glitter.

Linking to Ruby Jean !!

Steampunk Keys

We decorated old keys for our Steampunk tree!!

Clock Snowflakes

The most interesting thing we did for our Steampunk theme was making ornaments for our little tree. Each day I will share what ornaments we made.

First we made clock snowflakes. All we did is punch a 1" circle from some thick scrapbook paper. We glued the hands from a clock on the circle and blinged up the center. Believe it or not, I used Fabri-Tac glue and it worked great!!

A Breakfast Tea Menu

I have a week of parties at my home coming up this week. A soup and bread lunch with a dear friend, a afternoon appetizers and muled wine party with girlfriends and a simple breakfast tea with a sweet friend and her hubby. With a bit of planing, a simple menu and a bit of creativity, having others in your home does not have to be stressful (well at lest the cooking part does not, it is the cleaning part that is stressing me ;-) xoxo

Scotch Eggs

Maple Scones

Fresh Fruit w/ Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Chocolate Cherry Fruitcake

Apple Spiced Tea

Picture from

Steampunk Cabinet

This is our cabinet. I have to say the girls told me it was not steampunk enough for them ;-) but I said I still wanted it to look like Christmasy !! Ended up with a combo of Santa's, a crown, Christmas candy, top hat, etc. I was soo thrilled when I found the red, green and cooper tartan wrapping paper. Such a small thing can make such a big difference.

I had to share my Christmas House find with you. I LOVE this Victorian pitcher. It is full of cracks but was also $12.00. A real find!!

A Steampunk Wreath

So our theme this year is, taadaa, steampunk! Actually I did not have a theme this year (shock, because I have had one every year, for like forever) but about two months ago, the girls and I were talking and they said they thought a steampunk Christmas would be fun. I said what the heck. I did a Victorian Christmas a couple of years ago and though I could use some of that, with a lot of tartan plaid and the girls steampunk stuff, it would make an intersting theme.

The first thing I have to share with you is our wreath this year. It is my favorite thing we made. I love the steampunk angel wings Auberne` made for her costume. I knew I had to use them somehow. I took an old, rusted wheel, added some ribbon, a glittered chipboard gear and Auberne`s wings. Whaalaa, I think it is soo sweet and cool all at the same time!!

Save on Wren

Hello dear readers, I do not normally post about Lulu sales but they are really putting them out right now, so I thought I would share a few Lulu deals on my books.

PS I do not think these can be combined but you could try!!

Buy 2 and get one free. At checkout enter code BUY2GETONE305  expires December 7, 2011 at 11.59 pm Pacific time.. Maximum saving $25.00.

Next, free ground shipping code, SLEIGHRIDES305   expires December 6, 2011 at 11.59 pm. Maximum $50.00.

Last is 25% off code, BUYMYBOOK305    expires December 14, 2011, 11.59 pm, Pacific time. Max saving $50.00.

 

 

It Just Makes Me Happy

My weekly Pinterest inspiration is a perfect appetizer for Christmas. I think this olive/rosemary wreath is such charming, simple idea and it just makes me happy!!

Raw Sesame Truffle, gluten/sugar/dairy/egg free

 

Oh my gosh these are so good, so decadent, a little goes a long way!! Which is good, you will not eat a lot! During Chloe’s elimination diet, I was determined we would eat well. The list of what she could eat was so limited, it was real challenge but I have to say we ended up with some really good recipes and these are one of them. With Christmas coming, I want some gluten/sugar/dairy/egg free treats to have on-hand and these will do the trick.

There are several raw sesame truffle recipes out there but mine is a little different because I added a pinch of cinnamon, ginger and some vanilla beans. I found without these the truffles were a bit flat. Now you do not want to taste the spices too much, you want the sesame and cashews to sing. The spice should be more of a back note but add a pinch, taste and adjust to your liking. Also these have a fair amount of salt but I think it is important to the taste. I think these would keep in the fridge for a good two weeks, if well wrapped but enjoy at room temp!!

 

Raw Sesame Truffles

These are a revision of Elana’s Pantry truffles

 

½ cup cashews

¼ cup tahini (if you have raw, that would be great)

1/3 cup mild honey

1 vanilla bean, scrapped and use the soft beans inside (you can use vanilla extract but it will  not be quite as yummy)

1 pinch of cinnamon

1 pinch of ground, dried ginger

1 tsp. salt

Sesame seeds

 

1. In a food processor, process cashews until you get a course, sandy texture.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, except the sesame seeds. Process until all comes together. Taste and adjust to suite your liking. I like it a bit salty, sweet. You really do not want to taste the cinnamon and ginger. It is just a back (subtle) note, to up the flavor. Process again for a few seconds.

3. Refrigerate mixture, 2 hours.

4. Roll mixture into little balls and roll the balls in sesame seeds and enjoy!!

Will keep two weeks in fridge, if well wrapped.

A Corner of my Home

I thought I would share a corner of my home this fall before I jump into Christmas decorating. I admit I have been keeping things simpler but I loved my back and white this fall. I think my china cabinet turned pretty charming.

 and it went well with my candles,

My paper feathers,

and my gingerbread corner. Now off to decorate for Christmas. We have a fun theme this year. I will share soon xoxo

 

Blessed Thanksgiving

I hope no matter who you are with today or what you are doing, you can see your blessings and are thankful. I know I am thankful for you xox

 

Image from Rebecca Cooper

A Daydream Morning

It is a very dark, drizzly day at my house. Leaves are EVERYWHERE. I should be getting ready to run errands, instead I am daydreaming.

About shopping in a little French shop instead of Trader Joes.

Enjoying a cup of lavender hot coco!!

Then baking

A loaf of pull apart herb bread 

or a caramel apple cake but alas I have to stop dreaming and go out in the pouring rain xox

It Just Makes Me Happy

I thought with Thanksgiving only 5 days away, we could all use a little Pinterest inspiration. How about setting up a cider buffet in a corner of your home!!

A Pumpkin Pie Reminder

 

     Wren sits at her worn, wooden table making a Thanksgiving list. She has learned that her lists are usually too ambitious but she is determined to be organized this year. “Let’s see.” She hums to herself. “Well turkey of course. Seth and Devlin will go hunting this Saturday for a wild turkey. I am so glad Seth will be smoking it. He does such an amazing job with his prized hams. Oh, I need to remind Thayer to get some fresh oranges for me when he is in Boston for the brine. I harvested plenty of shallots. With the fresh orange juice, I think it will make a wonderful brine for the turkey.”

     She stands and pulls the singing kettle off the stove. Then pours the hot water in a cup filled with fresh apple peels, a dash of grated nutmeg and a sliver of candied ginger. Her new favorite tea! With all the apple dishes she has been making, it is a nice way to use the peel. Covering the cup with a small plate, she continues on with her list as the peels steeps.

     “Devlin wants me to make stuffing with apple-sausages and chestnuts. I think I will make some rosemary bread for the stuffing. Mash potatoes and gravy is a must! The boys will be so sad if we do not make any. I am making Mimi’s cranberries in port wine tomorrow. It will keep for a week. I think steamed green beans with olive oil and lemon zest will brighten up the meal a bit and a salad of bitter greens to clean the palette is in order. Mary is making an apple/cheddar soup and buttermilk pie for dessert.”

     Straining out the peel and spices, Wren adds a dash of honey and takes her cup to the front sitting room. She sits down at Grace’s table with the floral mother of pearl inlay and looks out the window. This has been her favorite spot lately. She looks out over the fruit orchards, which is bare now, but she can see the lake and the rolling hills beyond filled with deep reds and flaming gold. Autumn is putting on a quite a show this year. Wren can see the cows out in the field and the steam coming from their nostrils. They will get culled apples for Thanksgiving. Last year Lily put a bow on each apple, which the cows ate. Seth was not happy!

     She continues to write. “Lily and I are going to make apples stuffed with dried cranberries, walnuts and butter. Add some maple syrup and cream drizzled on top, yum! So what can I do today? I baked and pureed the long pie pumpkins yesterday. I think I will make a double batch of pumpkin pie filling and freeze it in the ice house. That and the pie crust. Then on Thanksgiving all I have to do is pull out the crust and filling, defrost and bake away. Plus I will have extra for another night. Or maybe I will take a pie to Miss. Larkin? She always has a wonderful book for me to check out of the library.”

     After making a reminder to cut herbs from Grace’s garden early Thanksgiving morning, Wren feels like she has a plan and that helps her to relax. After a delicious dinner of ham, apple, potato pie with a cheddar crust, Devlin watches Wren glue slips of paper’s around feathers. She writes the name of a person on the paper.

     “What are you doing my dear?” Devlin is always amazed at how Wren uses what she has.

     “They are for the Thanksgiving table. I thought each person could write what they are thankful for this year on the back of the paper. Then they would have a keepsake.”

     She looks him with those wide, gray eyes, waiting for him to laugh at her. Instead he leans over, kissing her neck and whispers. “I know what I am thankful for this year!”

Dear readers, this is a great time to make pie filling and crust for the holidays. One to-do, checked off your list xox

Image from Dustjacket Attic

It Just Makes Me Happy

I confess I am addicted to Pinterest. Not only is it fun but I find really valuble. It is an easy way to file, catagorize and share ideas. Plus I find it is the newest and hottest ideas are on Pinterest, since other blogers are pinning, as they post. So I am starting a new serises, once a week I will post an image, idea, recipe or something I found on Pinterest that just makes me happy. I hope it makes you happy to. This week is wonderful images Doe-C-Doe shares from the French Marie Claire Idees mag. Just charming!!

A Thanksgiving Feather

I always like to have some small keepsake for my guests at holiday dinners. A sweet reminder of the day. Well I am sick, stuck on the couch. I do not feel to bad as long as I do not get up or try to talk (Akk, it is hard not to talk.). So what do I do, I craft! I was inspired by these paper feathers. I used paper from an old book, that with some glue and wire, easy peasy. I changed the shape of the feather a bit. I will write the year on the back of the feathers and I am thinking each person can write one thing they are grateful for on the back of their name.

As I made these feathers, I have been thinking what am I thankful for? Something besides the big stuff we are all thankful for. Something small, something I overlook all the time and it came to me, my bed. Gosh I spend almost half my life in it. I tell you, every evening when I climb in under my rose covered sheets and sink down in my cozy nest, pulling my down comforter over me, I AM thankful. I always sigh a happy sigh. Add the cold weather and my heated mattress pad, oh yeah baby, my bed is what I am giving thanks for this year. So what is a small, simple thing in your life you are thankful for??

 

Linking this post to Free Pretty Things For You

Chocolate Cherry Fruitcake

 

Well it is time for a fruitcake reminder!!! There is only a few items I make year after year and my cherry chocolate fruitcake is one on them. It is a favorite and if you do not like fruitcake, you will love this one. This fruitcake has both sweet and sour cherries, dried figs (because they have a bit of a cherry flavor themselves), a hint of orange to perk things up and hunks of bittersweet chocolate to gild the lily. I find the reason most people do not like fruitcake is because of the candied citron. This recipe does not have citron but it does have candied orange peel. If you do not like candied peels you can leave them out and use the zest of two oranges instead. Feel free to play with the combo of fruits, just end up with the same total amount, 2 cups. The same goes with the nuts.

I like to use bittersweet chocolate and sour cherries to make up for all those sweet candied cherries. Even though they are very sweet, they are Christmas'y to me. Of course the better the chocolate you use, the better your fruitcake will be. I use port wine because it mirrors the taste of dried cherries, figs, raisins, etc. and helps add a depth of flavor. You can use good old rum or brandy too. I have gotten a lot of feedback since I first posted this recipe 5 years ago and I have gotten nothing but rave reviews. So I encourage you to give it a try xox

Chocolate Cherry Fruitcake

Makes 2 loafs or 4 mini loafs

¼ cup golden raisin

½ cup sour dried cherries, cut in half

½ cup candied cherries, cut in half

¼ cup dried figs, cut in small cubes

½ cup candied orange peel or the zest of two oranges

1 generous cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped or chips

½ cup hazelnuts, toasted, skinned and chopped

½ cup pecans, toasted and chopped

½ cup (one stick) softened butter

2 eggs

¾ cup sugar

1 TBL. vanilla extract

¼ cup port (or milk)

¾ cup milk

1 ½ cups all pourpus flour

¼ cup coco powder

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

bottle of port

Pre-heat oven 350˚F

1. In a large bowl mix all fruit, nuts and chopped chocolate.

2. In a mixer bowl cream butter and sugar together.

3. Then mix in eggs and vanilla, scrap down sides.

4. Sift in separate bowl flour, coco, baking powder, and salt.

5. Mix milk and port together.

6. Add in half flour mixture to the butter. Then add milk, then the rest of four. Now add fruit and nut mixture to the batter.

7. Spoon into greased 2 -8 inch round pans or 2 loaf pans or 6 mini loaf pans (that is what I use). Bake until center when poked comes clean, 60 minutes or so. Let cool 10 minutes then un-mold.

When cakes are completely cooled, wrap each fruitcake in piece of cheese cloth and set in container to keep. Brush top and sides with port. Next day turn over and brush bottom with port. Next day turn over and keep repeating for a week. Once a week brush with port, unless you feel the cake it feeling too wet then stop.

Keep covered in a tight container until you are ready to enjoy. The cakes will keep about three months.

Steampunk Girl and Edward Elrik

Auberne` and Chloe got invited this weekend to a Steampunk/Cosplay dress-up party.

I present Lady Willowet of Atheta. Auberne`, as you can see, had so much fun with the whole steampunk look, which is a look she loves.

Can you see her copper painted goggles? Which are really plastic welding glasses.

This is Lady Willowet's ray-gun (All ladies need a ray-gun ;-). Auberne' spent the summer making it. You really cannot see all the detail but it is amazing.

And aren't these the sweetest fairy wings? She is my steampunk fairy !!!

I also present Edward Elrick. This is Chloe's favorite Animie character from Fullmetal Alchemist.

I tell you I am impressed how I can just buy Chloe some fabric and with no pattern at all, hand sew a jacket with a hood!! Another matching jacket, trimmed out in seam binding, plus stenciled, all by herself. I have nothing to do with any of these costumes.

Gosh girls, I swear each year you outdo yourself. I am very impressed with your creativity, effort and craftsmanship. Thank you dear readers for letting me share xoxo

Mason Jar Love

1. Wreath, 2. Float a Candle , 3. Ornament, 4. Display a Photo

5. Light Fixture, 6. Chocolate Cobbler, 7. Salad , 8. Pin Cushion and turn that into a sewing kit

9. Printable, 10. Wine Glass, 11. Tea Kit, 12. Tarts

13. Candy Jar, 14. Pourable Jar, 15. Storage, 16. Paint a milkglass lantern or buy one

Tea Gingerbread with Cream Cheese Frosting

I think my favorite thing about fall is baking. I am so inspired right now to fill my freezer with on-hand unbaked items. It is nice to have unbaked items in the freezer, in case a friend is sick or you get invited to an impromptu tea party for two!! Chloe adores gingerbread and so we tried a different version. I was inspired by Jam Hands cold-tea gingerbread. I did tweak it a bit.

I used oat and whole pastry flour. Added a dash of whiskey!! Also do you remember my baking trick of using a butter/oil combo? Butter adds flavor and oil adds moisture. Gingerbread's can be dry, so I upped the the butter/oil amount a bit. I added different spices for a more complex flavor. This gingerbread is not real gingery. It is almost more of a spiced bread but with the tangy cream cheese frosting and yummy tea in the batter, this is a real winner. One we will be baking again.

 

 Tea Gingerbread with Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup oat flour * a tip, if you do not have oat flour, grind up rolled oats in a food processor until you have a powder.

¾ cup whole wheat pastry or all purpose white flour (I think you could easily make a gluten free version too)

1 tsp. dried ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. fresh ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup mild flavored olive oil or raw coconut oil

1/2 cup rapadura or brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup steeped tea, I like earl grey because of the orange flavor the bergamot oil gives

1 tsp. baking soda

2 TBL. whiskey or brandy or apple juice

1 egg, beaten

 

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Coat a loaf pan with vegetable spray.

Sift together all dry in ingredients.

Melt butter or coconut oil, molasses and rapadura on low in a small sauce pan. You do not want to boil the mixture, just melt together and pull off stove.

In a large bowl add sifted flour, make a well in the center of the flour and add melted butter miture and stir together. Then add tea and whiskey, mix together, then add egg and mix together.

Pour batter into prepaired loaf pan. Bake in center of oven for 35-45 minutes, or until tester inserted into loaf comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and invert cake to cool on a rack. Frost when cool.  

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese at room temp., pull out when you make the gingerbread.

¼ cup evaporated cain or sugar

Pinch of salt

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 cup or more of cream or whole milk

 

With an electric mixer cream together cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add salt, vanilla and 1/8 cup of cream. Mix, scrape down sides of bowl and mix again. If the frosting is not cream enough add bits of cream, mix and scrap until you get the constancy you want.

Cut loaf in half and spread half the frosting on the bottom half of the gingerbread. Then set the top on the frosting and frost the top.

Autumn Gathering Spriggs

Oh I am so excited Heather new autumn issue of Gathering magazine is out. It is stunning and full of inspiration. You must check it out!! Beautifully done Heather xox

So What is Apple Day?

 

I always get e-mails this time of year asking when and what is apple day? I guess it is a bit confusing, since it is a holiday my family made up. We tend to do that a lot ; -) So here is a few answers.

 

1. What is apple day? It is a day to enjoy apples. Actually I think it really is about more than apples, well on a deeper sense. It is a day to celabrate the fall harvest and to be thankful. It is a day to enjoy the last moments outside before the cold, and in our case, before constant rain kicks in. It is a day to make family memories. Mostly it is a fun day to bound our family and eat well (I am being honest here!!)

 

2. Why apples? Apple day started when a now defunct farm opened up in the island selling dozens of amazing heirloom apples. There were so many to try, we set aside an apple night to enjoy them all and it grew from there.

 

3. What day is apple day? Well it is not a set day because it is important to me we do it on a day where we are not crazy and grumpy. Usually we celebrate at the end of October or the beginning of November, but mostly on a happy day.

 

4. What are you suppose to do on apple day (and does it have to be a whole day)? Well do what sounds like fun and no it does not have to be all day. For us, every year is different (except for a few rules, look below). Sometimes we spend the day getting apples and cheese, making sauce and canning, or making apple fritters, then dinner. Some years it is just dinner. When the girls were little, we would do crafts but they are too grown for that now. Someday I will have grandbabies to craft with!!!

 

5. What are the rules? Well these are our family rules, I think you should have your own ; -) but here they are. First NO lights, only candles as soon as it gets dark. Read the same harvest picture book’s we have since the girls were babies. Everyone picks thier favorite from the stack. We have the same meal every year, which is different apples (all labeled, so we can talk about how each one is different from the others), good cheese (especially some sage cheddar), bread, apple sausages, cider and some apple apple dessert. Actually it is a simple holiday but one my girls would never miss, even though they are now little anymore. You can see what we have done in past years here. I hope it inspires you to have an apple day. Ohhh and come back and tell me about yours,I love to hear what others are doing xoxo

Scalloped Paper Candle Holders

 

I wanted a simple, clean centerpiece for my coffee table. I also wanted to use what I had on-hand. This wass so easy. I punched out 5 scalloped 3" circles. I laid them in a row, overlapping them, ran a strip of double sided tape down the center and then taped the row around the glass container.

 

Tied it off with some thick, black perle cotton embroidery thread. I also found some old miniature spoons and tucked those into the bow. To keep the beeswax candles up, I just use a ball of sticky wax at the bottom and pour in a bit of water, when I light the candles to catch dipping wax. By the way, do you love my vintage mirror. I got that for my birthday, when we stayed at the ocean. I am besotted!!

 

Girl Interrupted or How Can One Be on Both Sides of the Road?

 

Well I cannot tell you how happy I am to see October here. This past month, well ... summer has been a very hard one for me. And September was the tough cherry on the tough cupcake of these past couple of months. I have, as all mothers do, struggled with meeting my family's needs and my own needs at the same time. I find my creativity comes to a halt, when I am stressed and running around a lot. The conundrum is my family needs me and I need to create. The two do not always mesh. Since I have discovered I like to write :-) I am finding myself, expressing what is in my heart through writing more and more. I thought I would share this little piece I wrote about the past few months. I am sure many of you know exactly how I feel but if you are like me, it is nice to know I am not the only mother who struggles!!

 

Girl Interrupted or How Can One Be on Both Sides of the Road?

     I am standing in the middle of a long, winding road. The sun is shining down on me but there is a crisp breeze, that whips my skirt around my legs. On one side of the dirt road is my family, my heart! They are calling me, pulling me to them. They are hurt, in need and are looking to me for help. Which is my job and what I want them to do but on the other side of the road is a girl, who very much looks like me. She is calling to me, needing me, asking me to not forget her. I stand there arms outstretched, leaning, looking to one side of the road, only to look and lean to the other side of the road. I am torn, both sides need me and I need both sides. But how can one be on both sides of the road?

     I am the heartbeat of my family and they take their cues from me. In times of trouble, they look to me to sooth their wounds, to make the sun shine on black days, to set the beat of our home. This is my job and one I gladly accept. Except, I need that girl on the other side of the road to do my job. She helps me be me, to find the energy, creativity and grace I need to do my job. So I run to one side of the road helping my family, caring for their wounds, diligently loving them until I am empty. Then I run across the road, to the girl and we sit, resting. We chat about inconsequential things like does my plaid jacket really go with my flora skirt. I braid her hair and she shares her chocolate with me. I am refreshed and run back across to my family, ready to cheer and love them on in their struggles and success. And so it goes, one side of the road, to the other side.

     I feel like a girl interrupted! Torn in half! Part of me is on one side of the road and the other part, on the other side. I run back and forth, fourth and back, until I stop in the middle and drop. I cannot keep up this pace. I look to God and ask, “Help me please. Help me be all I need to be for others but myself too!” The breeze gently dies, the sun brightens a bit more and a whisper fills my ear, “Bring them together. Bring them in the middle of the road with you”. Together, I think? How? Again that whisper, “One step at a time.” I reach my hand out to my family and beckoning them to stand in the middle of the road with me. Then I reach my hand out to the girl on the other side of the road and she steps forward, taking my hand. I am still unsuure how to move forward but we start to stroll down the winding road, one step at a time!

Not Alone by Chloe

 

Okay braggy mom post warning. Chloe wrote a wonderful and interesting post, called Not Alone. I am hoping the mean monster, is not me withholding pizza from her this whole month ;-P Well done Chloe. You are gifted writer and I hope you write more xoxo