hurrayic

Enjoying

Happy Last Day of October! 
Happy Reformation Day!
Happy Snow Day (for family & friends on the East Coast ~ hope your power is back on!)
Happy Monday! (well, okay, perhaps this is going too far...)

I'm enjoying...
Making a double batch of Sprouted Chickpea Burgers (from Heidi but tweaked with a few ideas from Beauty that Moves and baked instead of cooked in a skillet)  Would definitely make again but would add in a little more salt than what I had omitted this time around.  And I would cook them in a skillet!

Sewing buttons (long overdue) onto a finished pebble 'dress' for a friend's new baby.

Watching with fascination as he picks up each peanut.

Waiting (and fending off children and husband) for another batch of coconut chocolate granola bars to cool down enough to handle without crumbling.

Discovering a few thrifted goodies in a children's grammar book, bits of wool yarn and the sheen and colors of two tarnished dishes.
Smiling as my daughter agrees to model the Travel Shawl...finished! 

Liking (in small doses) the 70's colors of this thrifted bowl.

Learning the hard way that liquid and solid ounces do not equal the same amount per cup!  (Tried this recipe again but quadrupled it wrongly resulting in something that resembled more pudding than fudge, and wondered what to do with the 'flop' that needed to be used in a few hours.)

Turning the 'flop' into a tasty dessert.  Filo cups to the rescue!  A little dusting of cocoa powder...good to go.

Being in awe of our wonderful Creator who spoke all things into being and with such artistry!  What glorious colors for the season...

What are you enjoying now?

{this moment}**

Hoping to do more of this this coming weekend! 
(taken 2 weekends ago at the end of our nature walk/hike)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~ Soule Mama

{this moment}** a single photo with a few accompanying words ~ hurrayic

What do you hope to do more of this weekend?

Nature Study: Webs & Cookies

I took these photos (above) several years ago.  Had no idea then what they were called, but decided to include them in this post since we've since learned more about spider webs. That garden spider spun those extra squiggly lines to give the web more stability!

As we began a spider web lesson from Handbook of Nature Study, I thought this one should be rather easy to spot.  We have quite a number of - ahem - cobwebs in and around our house. (By the way, we learned that cobwebs are abandoned spider webs, and you usually don't see them until dust settles on them.  No problem there - lots of dust in our house!) 

We walked around our yard and went on a few more nature walks specifically looking for webs (amongst other things). We found no tunnel (or funnel)webs.  Too bad. They would have been interesting. 

But we did manage to find many orb webs like these:

My daughter (who has a great interest in nature photography) took the following 5 photos of webs that she found on our hunt:

In addition, we spotted a few sheet webs:  some with drops of water and some with leaves...

Since we decided not to study the spider portion, we filled out the simpler Cobweb worksheet provided, and I printed out a few photos from the internet about different types of webs (for our notebooks).   One son is particularly afraid of spiders ~ an irrational fear, really ~ so this was NOT a good study for him.  I did encourage him and 'push' him a bit to try and work through his trepidation.  He doesn't mind looking at webs if there is NO spider on them or near them.  But that's something you never know...

Things we learned and found interesting:
not all spiders make webs
only certain parts of the web are sticky
parts of the web are elastic and other parts are not
certain spiders like to make a 'back door' on their web so they can escape
some spiders like to hang out in the middle to 'see' (feel) all the action (vibration)
other spiders like to stay off to the side and wait patiently for insects to land
many spiders will build a new web every 24 hours

Then of course...we decorated homemade cookies to look like spider webs!  I think that was the best part.  Originally, I chose a soft pumpkin cookie but it was too pancake-y, lacked flavor and very hard to spread into a good cookie shape so I won't include the link.  Not wanting to waste our icing, I turned to our favorite rolled cookie recipe...Cocoa Spice! 

Instead of rolling these out and using cookie cutters (which is usually how I make these), I rolled them into balls, squashed them flat and baked them.  Then we decorated them.  When I first said that we would be making spider web cookies, my daughter imagined using real spiderwebs. Yuck!  Too imaginative!

Yarn Along - October 26

Love joining in for Ginny's Yarn Along... I finished sewing buttons on 2 projects this week (long overdue) and just need to photograph them, I'm still weaving in ends for the Travel Shawl (yes, I'm slow) and I'm continuing with the Sheepy Pants and Annabel Sweater.  I was hoping to get farther along on the Sheepy Pants, but then realized that my size 7 -12" circulars were already in use...

...holding the 2nd sleeve of my hourglass sweater!  I vacillated.  I could buy another set ($) or I could use dpns (didn't want to).  I could hold the sleeve with some scrap yarn and 'steal' them to use on the pants (eh...sort of like robbing Peter to pay Paul?  Where is that idiom from anyway?  Wonder what the etymologists would say?) or I could bite the bullet and actually work on the hourglass so maybe I could wear it this year instead of next?  Hopefully this week the hourglass will be complete and then the Sheepy Pants can be finished.

As for reading...this seems to be in a constant state of either being put on hold or observed with just a cursory glance.  School books take priority right now.  And after that?  I find I'd rather read and look at (and drool) over cookbooks and knitting books and non-fiction stuff because they can be applied to our everyday at the moment.  However... I just began a non-fiction book for only me.  I love Beatrix Potter's work, and after seeing Gigi's post with a book on the artist, I decided to not only put that same book on hold at my library, but also the one above: Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature.  Hopefully I can actually finish this one and not give it just a cursory glance.

What are you reading and/or knitting or crocheting this week?

Cooking and Guinea Pigs

butternut squash, apple, garlic & red onion waiting to be roasted

In my kitchen, it's either feast or famine in terms of cooking... Usually I love to try out new recipes and turn my family into guinea pigs as they test out a new soup or salad or ...(fill in the blank).  Sometimes, they love a recipe and sometimes they give it a thumbs down.  Also, I discover that one recipe leads to another. 

freshly toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) with curry & garlic powders

butternut squash, apple & bacon soup with the toasted pepitas

For example, last week, I made a triple batch of Roasted Butternut Squash, Apple & Bacon soup like I had done last year.  It's delicious!  I served one batch and froze 2 for later.  I used the toasted pepitas as a topping on the soup. 

By the way, I just read this week that Beauty that Moves has a wonderful Butternut Squash & Apple soup too!  Go over & see.

More toasted pepitas: this time with garlic and sweet smoked paprika.

The toasted pumpkin seeds were so good I made a 2nd batch.  If you want to make a batch yourself, you'll need some raw pumpkin seeds (I got mine from Trader Joes).  An added bonus?  As the seeds cool, they sound like crickets!  If you've done this before, what spices have you used?

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp of combo:  curry & garlic powder, smoked paprika & garlic, lime juice & garlic, chipotle...

Combine in small bowl.  Spread seeds onto a parchment (or foil) lined cookie sheet and bake in a 400 F oven for about 10-15 min.  Just watch so they crisp up but don't burn.  Stir if needed. 

Toasted pumpkin seeds are also very yummy as a salad topping.  Kristen gave me a sweet dressing recipe usually used with strawberries, almonds & spinach, but here I used it with mixed greens, carrots, scallions, and feta instead. I did adapt the recipe just slightly.

Sweet Dressing:
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil
2 Tbsp chopped scallions
fresh ground pepper

Put all into container with lid.  Shake. 

The salad I served with Lentil & Mushroom soup recipe from Everyday Food November 2011 edition.  I have to say, it was NOT a great winner in our house.  It lacked flavor!  And the texture of the mushrooms were not appreciated by many of my guinea pigs.  Taking out the mushrooms and using broth instead of the water might help it, but truly?  I think just sticking with this lentil soup recipe would have been a better idea.

Anyway, what made the soup at least palatable was the homemade guacamole on the whole grain baguette (no, I didn't make the bread). 

Or perhaps I should have made another batch of this wonderful White Bean and Kale Soup from Feeding the Whole Family that I made the week prior?  Most of my guinea pigs enjoyed it very much! The recipe makes only a small batch, and sadly, I only made a single batch.  I adjusted a few things & used my immersion blender so I didn't quite follow the directions.  I'll list the directions in the book just in case you don't have an immersion blender.  It was so tasty that next time I'll quadruple the recipe! 

White Bean and Kale Soup
adapted slightly from Feeding the Whole Family

1 bunch kale, ribs removed, finely chopped
2 Tbps evoo
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 cans cannellini beans, drained
2 1/2 cups veggie or chicken broth
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried sage (it called for 4 fresh leaves but didn't have any)
1/4 tsp salt
freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Parmesan or other cheese for topping (not necessary in my opinion)

Heat oil in large stockpot.  Saute garlic briefly over medium heat.  Add about 1/2 beans and half stock.  Puree the remainder of the beans, stock, tomato paste & sage in blender.  Stir in pureed bean mixture into pot.  Season with s&p.  Mix in kale and simmer until kale has wilted.  (about 10 min or more) Add in lemon juice and enough water to make the soup a desirable thicker or thinner consistency.  Adjust seasonings and serve with cheese if desired. 

So what am I having tonight?  What will my guinea pigs be enjoying at dinnertime?  I have NO IDEA!  As I said, it's either feast or famine...

What recipes do you like to test out on your family? 
What's been a hit? 
Or what will you not make again?

Enjoying

Short & sweet this Monday morning...

This weekend was super busy.  Too much squeezed into only 2 days.  Enjoying a tiny bit of quiet down time before the new week begins...

What will you be enjoying this week?

 

{this moment}**

I guess studying math can cause premature aging? 

This was his beard that he made this weekend.
He's only wearing the fleece hat he said
because a recent haircut made his ears cold.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~ Soule Mama

{this moment}** a single photo with a few accompanying words ~ hurrayic

Enjoy your weekend!

Warm Autumn Salads to Try

Two weekends ago, I needed to go to the grocery store but never got there.  We had milk in the house, so really, it didn't matter too much.  My produce was lacking, but I did have a few things handy.  However, the too-oft-question of what to have for dinner (usually asked at 5 or 6 o'clock unfortunately) was the question at hand on Saturday. The natives of course, were getting restless after having spent most of the day cleaning, organizing, putting away mounds of folded clothing (and folding the mounds first), speech prep, typing said speeches, cutting an overdue lawn...that the idea of ordering pizza was quite a temptation. Until I glanced at the cover of the October issue of Whole Living. 

Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils. 

Either it was the rumbling in my stomach or the not wanting to settle for pizza (or both) that made me quickly set to work.  And it didn't disappoint.

What's nice about the recipe, is that you can add/subtract according to what you have available.  That, and I love French lentils.  I used 3 of the 4 little squashes that I bought earlier in the week. To those I added several red onions, a small red cabbage, a package of baby carrots left whole, a double portion of lentils and a double portion of the apple cider vinegar/mustard mixture.  My husband helped lend a hand so that dinner would be done a tad more quickly. 

We enjoyed it while finishing Season 2 of Lark Rise to Candleford  which, by the way, we watched online since the library's copy was already taken and didn't mind starting & stopping to click through to the next part of each episode. Dorcas is now in charge of Mr. Dowland's son while he is away (poor choice on his part) and Laura is (maybe) learning to grow up.  If only she would truly appreciate what a good man Alf is...

Next time I make the salad, I might add in some brussel sprouts...

On Sunday, I chose another autumn salad from the same magazine.  Crispy Broccoli Rabe, Chickpeas and Fresh Ricotta Salad.  I had all the stuff (or at least a stand-in for the rabe) once again.  It was broiled as opposed to roasted.  I added in a 2nd can of chickpeas because we love chickpeas and substituted broccoli rabe with a larger package of broccolini that I had purchased from Costco. Only a pinch of red pepper flakes was sprinkled on the serving platter since my daughter dislikes anything even remotely spicy.  But for the rest of us?  A tiny bowl of extra red pepper flakes was at hand...


Crispy Broccolini, Chickpeas and Fresh Ricotta Warm Salad
1 large pkg or 2 bunches broccolini (ends cut off, sliced in half lengthwise if thick)
2 cans chickpeas, drained
5 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil for drizzling
salt & pepper
juice from 1 large lemon
1 cup ricotta*
crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
Heat broiler.  Toss broccolini, chickpeas & garlic with oil and salt & pepper.  Spread on 1-2 rimmed parchment-lined baking sheets. (I used one)  Season with salt & pepper.  Broil for 2 min.  (I broiled longer - until if was closer to fork tender but still crisp.)  Remove from oven.  Toss with lemon and red pepper flakes if using.  Top with ricotta (which you might have to use a spoon to drop on top or pull apart with fingers.) Drizzle with a bit more olive oil and serve with extra red pepper flakes if you like.

*I'm thinking of using ricotta salata or feta next time & omitting the salt

The weather on Sunday had warmed up so we ate outside again.  Although beautiful, I do hope we see a downward shift with the temperature.  I love cooler weather. 

Have you tried any good Autumn salads or side dishes?  Do you have any meal planning tips?

Yarn Along ~ October 19

Joining in again with Ginny for her Yarn Along!  Why don't you join in too? 


Can you believe we're over the mid-way mark for October already?  Whew! 

Reading:  I really should show you my most recent library basket.  It's overflowing. There's no way that I could ever lift it by myself...just to give you some idea of how many books I have on my to-read/look-at list.   I just picked up books on John Singer Sargent for our upcoming picture study.  (We've completed 1 artist so far and are enjoying the 2nd one right now.  Sargent will be our 3rd artist to enjoy.  I love his work (and this coming from someone who loved Modern Art for a long time...).  The other book is The Tassajara Bread Book.  The recipes look surprisingly simple so I hope to try out a new loaf or two this week or on the weekend.  Have any of you tried recipes from the book? 

Knitting:  I have good news on the knitting front:  I finished my Travel Shawl and am now weaving in the ends and need to block it!  (Any tips on blocking?)  Next week, I hope to show all of you, and if I get up enough nerve, I may actually model it. In addition, I knit a few rows more of my charcoal hourglass (which at its present rate might get done NEXT spring? ha!) and I began 2 new projects:

A pair of sheepy pants in a muted heathered aqua (the photo makes it look a bit more blue) for a friend.  Cascade calls it "summer sky" (9452).  And the Annabel Cardigan in Crow.  I love black.  And I love a cardigan just for layering and for the convenience that it offers with all the fluctuating temperatures outside (and inside).  I pulled out my black cardigans that I basically wear year-round: one is faded and has a rip at the shoulder seam (thrifted cardigan), another is getting thread-bare near the elbows (have had for 10+ years) and the third is still 'okay' but it shrunk when I accidentally put it in the dryer.  We'll see how this pattern progresses.  I like that it's in the round and that it uses thicker yarn and a bigger needle.  I hope to lengthen it just a tad so it covers my...ahem...stomach, hips, derriere...basically my bottom half a little bit more than the pattern shows.

Another project is one that's been on the needles much too long.  A pair of Picot Edged Socks.  Please don't notice that they were cast on in February.  Oh well. 

I started working again on the 2nd sock and lo and behold, I noticed something wrong with the yarn.  Can you see it in this photo?  The dyeing must have been off kilter.  The colors are congregating in certain areas rather than evenly throughout.  Not sure what to do.  I have another skein of this and could just restart, but then again...I'm not too crazy about the yarn anyway, so perhaps I should just finish it and wear it as-is.  No one will see the differences beneath a pair of pants...

Nature Walks with Older Kids - Part 2

My last post about HOW to take nature walks with older children was a bit lengthy.  Okay, very very long. So if you have returned today to read Part 2, I thank you and applaud your stick-to-it attitude.  Seriously, I thank Barb for a little kick in the pants.  Her wonderful blog has helped given me incentive to actually do nature walks. 

Part 2 is simply an answer to another question I asked myself: 

WHY take nature walks with older children? 

Isn't it too late? 

I should've done more when they were young...

Aren't there more 'important' things to fit in?

found a hiding place

Certainly, taking nature walks has allowed us fresh air and exercise (which we all need).  It has made us more aware of our surroundings and has begun to hone our observation skills.  We're learning about new plants, trees, insects, birds (etc).  Really, a weekly nature walk has been a valuable and eye-opening experience for us.

We are being blessed in many ways by studying nature, and I've already seen, in a short bit of time, a growing interest in my children (and me). They ask questions about what a flower or a mushroom is called, they get excited when they spot a bird at our bird feeder (and ahem...take every 'opportunity' to get up from their math or grammar to 'investigate').  My youngest recently found a cicada shell and brought it home with him to add to our nature area.  My oldest commented that he just simply enjoys making time for our walks.  We've spotted quite a number of different types of mushrooms along the way, which I'll post about at a later date!  Amazing mushrooms, and we've only scratched the surface.  Little by little, we're learning a few Latin names for various plants and animals.  They wonder what insect made that hole in the leaf, or they're amazed at the intricacies of a flower's design.  They begin to notice the funny little quirks of a wild animal or bird.

We're also learning patience and diligence through studying nature outside.  We're learning what things smell like and sound like and that nature all around us is overwhelming beautiful (even with all its maggots).  We're learning the need to be quiet and still so that we don't scare off wildlife.  Can you imagine the time investment and patience of a naturalist or scientist or nature photographer who has to sit alone, waiting for that 'perfect shot'? 

We're learning things in a way that a book cannot teach.  It reminds us of our infinite Creator...

they were watching a chipmunk and squirrel scamper about

Nature walks affords us time together, doing something fun and meaningful.  I see my children recall details they've learned from books and other experiences and apply them while on a walk, or on the other hand, how something new (to them) causes them to crack open a book we've had on the shelf for far too long.  What you discover on a nature walk can affect other 'school' areas too:

:: stirs the imagination for writing poetry or stories
:: causes a more in-depth science study
:: can encourage an interest in history or social studies
:: can teach you foraging and cooking skills
    (this should obviously only be done with an expert and lots of 2nd opinions!)
:: is a perfect setting for art (think landscape or still life paintings and drawings)
:: is a perfect lead in to studying famous artwork
:: can even be used to practice math skills or first aid skills

Experiencing a nature walk can open up deeper conversations about life in general.  I hope it is the beginning of a life-long path of learning, love and appreciation for all things in God's wonderful creation.   Not only for them...but for me too.

So, thank you Barb, for letting this amateur nature lover ramble on. 

Nature walks: it's never too late to begin.