And a Good Morning To You...

Making a Change...

A change in paint color, that is. When in need of some change to motivate me and push me to meet my challenges, I find myself with paintbrush in hand. A calming sort of chore that I always love. I can change my perspective and feel by simply changing the color I live in. When at home, my family lives together in the dining room. Meals, art, home work, game night, sewing...it all happens in this one room. It had been a cranberry red for four years and the white trim showed the battle scars of the five years it endured daycare. Moving forward was sure to be jump-started by changing the color of this one room.

A fresh and motivating start...simple as changing the way we view the sun as it enters the space we call home.

Breathe...

Trying to find my groove after a spell of un-grooviness. Trying to breathe slowly and meaningfully. Trying to move forward and not lose focus. Trying to be strong when I really just want to head back to the beach.

I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...Breathe

Thrift-Spinner Magic...

More Thrift-Spinner magic happening over at Craft-Crazy-Thrift-Spinner...

Simple Goodness...

Christmas should be simple. Full of family time and warm wishes. When so much of this Holiday has gone commercial, I felt the need to simplify our Christmas holiday as much as possible. Yes, we still had many a festive time, but all was based on the idea of quality time spent with ones we hold close to our hearts. Not the gift giving and silly obligations society has attached to this once sacred of holidays.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we didn't exchange gifts at all, just simplified in a big way. And as a mom who loves to sew, it was super easy. The tradition of Mama-Made jammies gift to open on Christmas eve...flannel bottoms and a custom t-shirt. When I needed to finish the gift with a top, I gave Ausha a piece of the flannel and asked her to replicate it on the computer (I must tell you, Ausha does amazing artwork on the computer). After printing her work on fabric transfer print paper and simply ironing it on, I had a Mama-Made gift my girls now love. Not to mention the surprise and satisfaction on Ausha's face when she saw her artwork on a T-shirt.

That's what Christmas is about...the heart felt, simple goodness we all possess.

You Like Oysters?

My family enjoyed a seafood Christmas, complete with a yummy seafood bisque and Oysters Kilpatrick. Now I am not a oyster fan, never have been, but the rest of my family...oyster lovers to an almost insane level. I may not like to eat them, but oysters done Kilpatrick style smell good and look pretty all dressed up...You like oysters?

Oysters Kilpatrick:

Ingredients (serves 4)
2 cups rock salt
24 oysters, shucked
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
175g thin rashers rindless bacon, diced
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
lemon wedges, to serve
Method
Preheat grill on medium-high heat. Place rock salt, in a thick layer, on a baking tray or heatproof plate. Arrange oysters (in their half-shells) on rock salt.
Sprinkle Worcestershire sauce over oysters. Top with bacon. Grill, on the salt, for 5 to 8 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with lemon.

Better Late Than Never They Say...

Yes, better late than never...A Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Happy New Year and all that Jazz. Whichever it was for you, I hope it was enjoyed to the fullest.

As for me, I am still in vaca-mode and am trying to get my brain around the idea of going back to work next week. This is proving difficult. The house is a disaster, there are chores to be done, rooms to organize...but all I want to do is sew. And now that Christmas is over, I can't use the excuse of Holiday deadlines to get my sewing fix in. Guess I better get busy with my chores so I can sew again. Hey wait! The kids need warm Levi coverlets for their winter bedding...Guess I found my new excuse. I gotta keep that thermostat set to 60 Ya know. OK, complete honesty. Sometimes I push it to 64, but only when nobody is looking...

Flobots - Handlebars

A new favorite...introduced by my brother this Christmas.

Hope your are as busy with life as I am. I plan to will return to a normal blogging schedule soon...Cheers!

**If you are not able to view this fine clip, search Flobots Handlebars in the top search bar.

Thrill Ride...

I had never been in a helicopter before this week, and let me tell you...what a thrill! Such a view, many beautiful -but also many discouraging. From the dairies to the cheat grass(Downy Brome -an invasive plant species taking over our desert)to the many sub-divisions that also come with their own bank of storage units. I would have to say, the huge homes also in need of storage units to hold all their crap, was the most discouraging. How did it get this way? At a time when I feel the need to simplify, there are others out there filling up storage units with more and more superficial happiness...What a sight to see, just in time for the holidays.

"That Long"

Hey there. The month of November was a flurry of life happenings. From sewing to a lovely holiday on the beach...I can still hear the waves crashing on the shore.

And, since it has been been that long since I last posted, I must give a shout out to Obama!! I raise my glass to you and the American people.

American Stories, American Solutions

Tears of hope and joy hold me to every word he says...

Compost Happens...

It seems to me that some people take their compost bins very seriously. Don't get me wrong -we put everything possible into ours and believe that if everyone composted, the world would be a better place. I think when you start composting, you become more aware of what you are wasting and how your purchases/food waste impacts our environment. Check this amazing guy who pretty much spells it out for you, Jonathan Bloom, at Wasted Food.com. Just imagine the amount of wasted food found in your local landfill...

Our compost isn't very scientific, we throw whole corn cobs, butter wrappers and all kinds of food items, non-chopped, into our compost bin. If it looks dry, we water it. If it needs a good turn, it gets turned. That's about it. It has never stunk enough for me to say, "Man, that compost stinks!". Composting this way may take a bit longer to really "live" -as I like to call it- but seeing how we are still town folk, and aren't in need of an abundant amount of fresh compost to liven up our large garden space, it works.

My dream/future compost area will contain three large bins and a nice big chopping block. When needed, I will make my way out to the compost bins in my muddy boots, pick up my big ol' knife -I like to think of it as a machete- and chop away at the weeks compost collection. After doing this, I will so lovingly turn it into the composting compost.

Yep, that's my dream compost. You may think this seems a little odd, to dream about future composting, but my compost dream represents so many life changes. Changes that include acres and a yearning for self-sufficiency. A life that provides what is needed and teaches us what truly is needed. The life that is so pressing to get to, I feel at times I am not doing enough to get there. I constantly have to remind myself that these things can take time and the right time will come for our family.

Until I have my dream composting area, I am happy with our system and will stick to it. Because, wouldn't cha know it, compost happens...even when you aren't looking.

Now Humanure...that a whole different ballgame we would love to get scientific about.

Spiced Plum Jam...

Nothing says fall like the smell of spiced plum jam cooking on the stove. The second it hits my taste buds, I am transported back to being five years old, coming home from kindergarten and watching my grandmother and mom jammin' away. The afternoon would end with hot toast and a dollop of the spiced goodness. How very happy it makes me to do the same for my girls now.

Spiced Plum Jam

3 lbs. ripe plums (unpeeled)
1/2 c. water
Juice of one lemon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
7 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 bottle Certo

Halve, pit and cut up plums. Mix with water, lemon juice and spices. Put in saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Measure 4 1/2 cups of plum mixture into a large saucepan. Add sugar and mix well. Over high heat, bring to full rolling boil. Boil hard one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in Certo at once. Stir and skim for 5 minutes, using metal spoon. Ladle into sterilized jars, filling to within one eighth inch of top. Seal with paraffin. Yields: 8 to 9 pints.

Bday Surprise...for Me

Birthday surprise from my husband...a carriage ride through the old-town of Twin Falls. Complete with warm blankets, a bottle of wine and good company. The ride ended at a local pub, where a jazz band happened to be jammin'. Lance, you have set the bar high for next year...good luck!

Apple Mash...in the Snow

I was surprised when I woke to snow on the garden last weekend. But even more so when it continued though the day and night. A great backdrop for another apple cider party. Good friends, fire pits in the snow and the sweet smell of cider. Could you ask for anything more on a Saturday evening?

In addition to processing the cider, I kept the press mashings and made "Apple Mash". After pulsing a bit in the food processor, I kept the mash at a good 150* for 40 minutes and then canned 14 qts of the yummy stuff. A hearty base for apple sauce, apple muffins and apple scones. My favorite part? Using every bit of the apple -minus the stem, I did pick those out.

The girls love it warm, with a dash of cinnamon and drop of maple syrup.