Friday, January 27, 2012

Best Dinner Ever!!!!

                            Roasted Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions and turkey bacon!


{this moment}~Indoor Fairy Village

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. - Amanda Soule





Thursday, January 19, 2012

Just for Dad~

Captain Jean Luke Picard commanded it and it was so!  I hope you are having fun out there with your rare washingtonian snow days!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Beyond Beautiful~

She who surprises me daily with her thoughtful insights into this busy world.
She who has a way with all living things animal, human, or otherwise.
She that can can speak volumes with only her huge doe-like brown eyes.
She the very reason that I strive to be so much more than I ever feel capable of.
She is the light in this life that I am blessed enough to have helped create.
She is a friend like no other that I cherish more and more as she grows.
She is all feeling and depth and spirit that dances across this earth with magick in her soul.
She the believer that anything is possible and that all exists if only you can but imagine it.
She is beyond beauty in my eyes and will forever be my reminder of what it is to truly live.
She is my Raine and I am so very proud to be called her mother~


Friday, January 6, 2012

{this moment}

(Final Christmas Packeages Sent)
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. - Amanda Soule




Thursday, January 5, 2012

My Morning Glory Muffins

My recipe adapted from Pam McKinstry's Original Morning Glory Muffins (mine's healthier)

Ingredients
11/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup all purpose wheat flour

2 tablespoons ground flax seed / flax meal
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
3/4 cup raisins
1 large apple, peeled and grated
8 ounces (1 cup) crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups grated carrots
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
3 large eggs
1 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
How to make it
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

Sift or whisk together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.

Add the coconut, raisins, apple, pineapple, carrots and nuts, and stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the oil and vanilla.

Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and blend well.

Spoon the batter into muffin tins lined with muffin cups, filling each to the brim.

Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Cool muffins in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to finish cooling.

Note

May also be made in a loaf pan for a coffee cake loaf.

They freeze extremely well.

Monday, January 2, 2012

O Christmas Tree

This year we were lucky enough to be given a beautiful 7 foot tall tree by some wonderful friends, which was much more extravagant than we had originally been thinking of getting.  It took up the space by the window so beautifully and has to have been one the the best trees we've ever had! 
Raine has really been into christmas this year and as I was pretty sure this is the last year that she will still believe in the big guy, I really wanted to make it a special one. Needless to say, Santa must have heard her wishes because he really went all out!  There were presents galore, stockings stuffed to the brim, and magick in every corner of the house. 
Even the fairies stopped by to leave my darling girl a special gift and oh was it wrapped pretty!
 The cats got into the festive spirit,
and the chickens followed suit.
All was merry and bright,
and the warmth of a gifted fireplace added toasty light.
It was a completely wonderful and busy holiday season and we are all happy and exhausted and ready for the slow shift into the sleepy winter months to come. I hope that all of you had an equally lovely holiday and happy new year!

Laundry Robot

I asked Raine today if she would please match and fold the socks out of the clean clothes basket.  A few minutes went by and in walks this funny looking character...
She then informs me in a monotone robot voice, " I am a laundry robot and I don't fold laundry!"  This kid watches way too much sci fi! LOL