Sunday, November 29

grey cup munchies

It's Grey Cup Sunday here in Canada. Saskatchewan and Montreal are playing for the title (or so I've been told). I'm not really into football, but hubby loves it... and Blue Rodeo are playing the halftime show (I have loved them forever), so I'm watching as I type. And like on any good sports day, dinner has been replaced with a finger food feast eaten in front of the television. We're having mini veggie rolls, chicken bites, pot stickers and a veggie tray with dip. And since there was a sale on mushrooms and Italian sausage at the store this weekend, we're also having a yummy dish of stuffed mushrooms.
Stuffed Mushrooms

-Around 25 fresh mushrooms
-Olive Oil
-1/2 cup Italian sausage, crumbled and cooked
-1/2 cup Mozzarella cheeses, shredded

Clean mushrooms and remove stems (save and use another time). Brush mushrooms with olive oil and place on broiler rack, top side down. Broil for about 5 minutes. Press sausage into caps and sprinkle cheese on top. Broil 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese is melted. YUM!
Enjoy your week!

Saturday, November 28

coffee and memories of papa

"The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration
about it which the cheering influence of the
afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce."
~Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr~

I think one of the reasons I love coffee in the morning is because it reminds me of my Papa. Every morning he would be up at the crack of dawn making coffee in the old percolator coffeemaker. He would sit there at the kitchen table with the morning paper and a cup of the best coffee you have ever tasted. Nanny would wake soon after and start breakfast... usually fried eggs with bacon and biscuits. And on nights when I stayed over in that little four room house on the hill, I would wake to these smells surrounding me like a comfortable blanket. As clear as if it were just yesterday, I can still take a deep breath and smell their home.

Tuesday, November 24

a year of blogging

It has been one year since I started this blog of mine. I remember the day I decided to begin this little journey... I was riding in the car with two of my dearest friends, heading to a small town east of us to go scrapbook shopping. On the way we talked, we laughed, and we all decided we were going to start blogs.

And so we did.

What started out as a place to share my crafty creations has turned into so much more. Though I still post about our crafty times together and the yummy food we have made, it seems I have also found a place to talk about all kinds of other wonderful things. A place to share our love of nature, a place to write about special family times, a place to store a memory of my little boy growing up and of our old dog in her golden years, a place to share a quote that touched my heart, a place to 'wreck it' with other creative souls, a place to explore writing and seeing and feeling. And a place to just be... I know it sounds silly, but this little blog of mine feels like home.

But I think maybe... just maybe... the most wonderful thing about this blog has been the people I have met through it. I was already fortunate enough to know some of you and call you friends, like Jennifer, Jodi, Amber, Karen, Lisa, Michelle, Jenn and Jo-Ann. But most of you I have never seen in person. I have never had the chance to shake your hand or give you a big hug and tell you how much you mean to me. But I know you... and you know me... and that means something. From Stephanie, Mon and Denise who's blogs were some of the first I visited and fell completely in love with... to Holly, Ciara, Cinner and Nettles who's words always touch my heart and open my mind to all kinds of magical things. From Beth and Tabitha, who's love of God inspires me... to Amber and Erin who's outlook on life and family warms my heart. Amazing moms like Sherry, Ladybug Zen and Madeline and their special little boys, who remind me so much of my own. And whimsical and creative blogs like The Magic Onions, A Peace of Bliss, Frontier Dreams, Cottage Garden Studio and 5 Orange Potatoes, who fill me with inspiration each and every day. Not to forget all of the wonderful blog friends I found through Jamie Ridler's blog (the 'Wishcasting Wednesday' and 'Wreck It' group of ladies and gents). Of course there is nienie... who is living proof that life does go on, and that life can be so very good. And to all the other blogs I follow or that I have visited (there are so many that I absolutely love). Thank you all... and I look forward to continuing to read all of you and to finding new little treasures out there in blog land.

So... on to year two. I can only imagine what is in store...

Monday, November 23

shoe boxes, jingling doors and cranberries

It's happening... the Christmas spirit is slowly creeping up on me. Usually by now I am in full blown Christmas mode, but this year it is taking a little longer. Not sure why... maybe the warmer weather, maybe the busy times right now... who knows. But now, finally a little of that joy of the season is making it's way through.

"He who has not Christmas in his heart
will never find it under a tree."
~Roy L. Smith~

J and I packed up a couple of shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Pencils, papers, crayons, some stickers, little books, socks, toothbrushes and a couple of tiny toys went inside. And J wrote a little note for the recipient of each box. In the big scheme of things, I know this isn't much. But I hope that it is enough to make a little boy or little girl smile.

We managed to do a little crafting over the weekend as well... door jingles, as we call them.
There is nothing like the sound of jingle bells to get you in the spirit.

And here is a great little recipe for cranberries. You can use these for a festive garnish or for a tasty snack.
Frosted Cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon pasteurized egg white or liquid egg substitute
  • 1 (12 ounce) package fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup white sugar
In bowl, mix together water and egg white until blended but not whipped. Coat cranberries with this mixture. Spread the sugar out on a baking sheet, and roll the cranberries until they are coated. Dry at room temperature for 2 hours.

That's all for tonight. Sleep tight.

Friday, November 13

of being busy and finding time

As my son has gotten older I have found that I yearn for something... something of my own I guess you could say. Volunteer work has filled that space where the yearning resides... being out of the house, getting to know other people, helping others and making a difference. And recently I have had the opportunity to start working (as in being employed) in a wonderful organization where I can do all of that. So I took the job... and soon after that I was offered another position in another such wonderful organization... so I took that job too. Both part-time and flexible. And thus... I am a little bit busy these days. But I feel great! And as time goes by I am learning to adjust to this new lifestyle. I'm organizing my time, meal planning, and doing all those things that need to be done to make life just a little bit easier now. I'm enjoying the challenge and really enjoying life right now.
In the midst of everything else going on, I am trying to get two of the above Advent calendars made for friends of mine. I made this one last year out of an old cookie sheet... don't you just love it? And I have two friends that asked me to make them one this year. Oh the things I do for my friends.
And a rummage through the bargain bin at Michaels has left me with a few other Christmas things to be crafty with. Now to find the time... I will.

All is good... hope you all have a great weekend. xoxo

Saturday, November 7

and so it goes...

My beautiful willows are now bare... all the leaves fallen from them. I miss them already. But with the falling of the leaves and the cooling of the air will come a great and wondrous season of snowflakes and sledding... magical walks through a wood covered in snow... and cozy nights spent sitting by the fire. I know this... but I am still a little sad to see the leaves go away.
I spent a good majority of the day today and yesterday out in the garden... raking, digging, bagging and preparing for the coming Winter. It felt good to be outside. It seems to have been weeks since I've had a nice long time outside. But today... it was perfect. I feel renewed.
My raised beds are now empty... no more vegetables and fruit to be had. They served us well over the course of the Summer and early Fall. And my perennials are all cared for and ready to wait out the Winter. I am looking forward to seeing them rise in the Spring.
Bags of leaves and branches are ready to go to the recycling centre. They will be made into compost for the city's use. We have way too much for our own compost.

And so it goes... another year is slipping away. In some ways I am sad, but in most ways I am looking forward to the coming Winter months... Christmas, the New Year and all that it will bring. And to that time once again in late March, when I see the first sign of a bud coming forth. The cycle of life...

Friday, November 6

I feel like Autumn today

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content."
~Lin Yutang~
I feel like Autumn today...

Sunday, November 1

Goodbye October

Halloween has come and gone, and with it so has the beautiful month of October. As hectic as October is for us, it is a favourite month in this house. It is the month both my husband and my son were born, the month that we celebrate one of our traditional Thanksgivings, the month of Halloween, and the month of enjoying the beauty which is Fall is Alberta. A wonderful month indeed.

Here are a few pictures from last night to share with you...Enough candy and goodies to last a year. Some will be going back to J's school, for there is a local dentist that will donate a certain amount of money to the school for each pound of candy that is brought in. And we will be keeping some of our favourites... tootsie rolls, peanut butter cups and various others.

I will have to apologize for not blogging much lately. I have started a new job that has been taking up some of my time. It is part-time, only during school hours. But I have been doing quite a lot of research at home as well. I am settling well into the position now, so hopefully it will allow me more time to craft and blog. It feels good to be settling in... the newness was very exciting, but the settling feels good. And I miss my crafty time.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Saturday, October 24

October 24, fall leaves and under the weather

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."
~Emily Bronte~
The leaves from our willow trees have finally fallen. The deck was clear last night, but we had a quick but heavy/wet snow fall this morning, and down came the leaves with the snow. I'm going to wait a few days before raking them up... this is a lovely part of Fall. But once these leaves have been raked and bagged, our Fall will be almost over and Winter will soon arrive. Autumn is over too soon up here.

We've been feeling a little icky around here. Seems our house has been struck by a sickness... not too bad but still leaving us all feeling under the weather. Coughs, sneezes and general ickiness. I find when I am feeling unwell that tea always helps. I think my favourite tea when I am sick may be Lemon Ginger tea. Or even a black tea with a strong hit of lemon and honey.

Here's a little something special that might make you feel better if you're feeling a little icky.

Blueberry Tea

1 ounce Amaretto
1 ounce Grand Marnier
Orange Pekoe Tea
This tea smells wonderful. Make sure you're not taking any other medication that might react with the alcohol.

Hope you are all feeling well out there. Take care.