Reading & travels

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of blog posts on reading and knitting.  A win-win situation in my opinion as they are two of my favourite things!  No, I lied.  I cannot knit.  But if I could, it would be right up there!  

In fact, I think it's time knitting made it into my repertoire.  I love the look of pearl stitches - each flowing gracefully into the next.  Crocheted stitches seem chunkier to me in comparison, which I love in say hats or blankets.  But it would be so nice to know how to knit.   What can I say?  Some have more adventurous bucket lists than others...

Anyhow in the spirit of the times... I am currently reading The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball.  I just started it.  I am simultaneously (and perhaps too ambitiously?) reading Sayings & Discourses by Dorotheos of Gaza.  I have been on that one for a while.  I mean, how much can you read when you have 3 monkeys running around?  Plenty!  If you don't mind having your house trashed that is.  (Still trying to figure out why my boy is so drawn to boisterous play...)  I read in the evenings, or at nap time.  And since both of those periods require me to sacrifice sleep to so do, I am not very consistent.  

M off adventuring

The grape vineyard and fruit orchard

We were in Montreal last weekend visiting dear friends.  The children had a wonderful time... especially with the horses.  Part of me is happy we were so busy enjoying our time there that we didn't take pictures.  Another part wants to have those souvenirs to show the little ones as they grow.  

D carrying a bushel of carrots

The horse-drawn plough resting after an afternoon of ploughing

We worked in a sort of leisurely way while we were there.  D had the honour of shoveling horse poop.  No biggie - just 2 horses and 3 ponies.  Seven tubs later...  

And he picked carrots.  Lots of carrots.  Bushels of carrots.  

The kids just shuttled back and forth between activities.  J especially enjoyed all the attention she was given.  I rarely saw her on Friday and Saturday.  She was too busy scuttling from one person to the next.  And didn't they just spoil her!

They had the woodstoves going during our stay.  The cold is settling in for the season it seems.  That is not an altogether terrible thought, though, for some reason, it takes some getting used to.  

After a restful night, we woke up on Saturday to this...   

D: Um, Alexa, look out the window.  

Me: (with three kids hanging off of me) I'm a little busy.  

D: No really, look out the window.  

Me: Can't you just tell me?!  

D: You won't believe me.  

Me (looking out the window): You're right.  I don't believe you.

Our first snowfall of the season!

(Pardon the blurry picture, but I did take it in the comfort and warmth of our little cabin window.)

The snow melted by afternoon and the rain washed away any residue.  But it was there.  Winter is coming!  Enjoy the rest of Autumn while it lasts!

PS - If you're looking for a way to capture all the beauty of the season, there's a Canon EOS Rebel giveaway here at DIY Dreamer.  Wish my luck would hold out for one of those!

Time

I am struck by the realization that while time passes so quickly for me, it passes slowly for my children.  Yes, I slow down by being home with the children and living in the moment, but days string by like beads and I can't believe how quickly they are gone.  Whereas to my little ones, 10 minutes is too long.  I wonder why that is?  Does age bring with it a sense of time passing faster?  What is it about grown-ups that changes our perception of time?    

We went apple picking again today.  It was a kind of spur-of-the-moment excursion, and I'm so glad.  We took M out of school early and made the trek up to the orchard.  40 lbs of mutsu apples later...

And yes, they will be eaten rather quickly if you're wondering.  We love apples around here.  Especially crunchy ones.  :o)  Come over and we'll share!  (But you better come soon...)

Some great little odds and ends that have come my way this week...

• This clafoutis is going to be made tomorrow.  Oh yes'm.  
• Possibly the mecca of yarn patterns?  I am in heaven!
• A touching video that really slams the message home...
• I have to learn how to make these darlings!  Aren't they fabulous!?

Post-turkey

Well, I finished this lovely Thanksgiving weekend with a sweet surprise.  I won something!  Ginny over at Small Things held a giveaway for a small handmade toy company called Simply Playing.  Now I'm not usually a lucky gal, but I've had my moments.  I consider my husband a pretty great catch, and while I didn't catch them, my 3 monkeys are more than I could wish for too.  Those two aside from several other blessings of course.  And now this!  It seems I have more to be thankful than I realized.  Hope your Thanksgiving was as full.

In other news, I have put aside my granny square project in favour of a more interesting (or at least more immediate) one.  Another little baby hat.  :o)  My little ones have theirs for the winter, but I am itching to do another one.  Possibly an elephant?  They don't take as long as a blanket, so the satisfaction of finishing one in a few days is more immediate.  Besides, it's been so long ago that I've done one and I'm afraid I've forgotten how!  This is definitely exhibit A of "I need to get more organized" syndrome.  *sigh*

Wish me luck with the hat...

Apples and tidbits

Ah apples.  How my heart leaps for joy at the sight of you.  So elegant in your various coloured robes.  So crunchy.  So full of flavour.  You hit all the right notes.  Sweet, sour and a light, tart in-between chord.  (Incidentally, if you've never tried Jona Gold apples, you are in for a real treat!)

I don't believe apples were the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, though who am I to say.  They are just too good and wholesome for me to think of like that.  Nothing brings me greater pleasure than watching my kids purposely open the fridge, take an apple carefully from the drawer and bite into it with relish.  The crunches and munches up the cute factor.

So.  Carl Laidlaw Orchards.  Best decision we made this week!  Between the tractor rides, the large sand box filled instead with corn and play tractors, the orchards, the river, the smell of those baking pies, watching the kids chow down on apples they picked themselves... none of us can decide what part we liked more.  It was such a happy family day.  

As you can tell, we are enjoying a rather long weekend together - made longer by the fact that D is between contracts.  And by the extra day off M has from school.  It's not even Saturday and our weekend has been fairly bursting with sweet moments.  

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."  (George Eliot)

I will leave off here with a few tidbits...

• Maple apple chips.  Can you think of a better way to go?  Not me!
• This sugar and creamer set is so pretty.  Christmas anyone?
• I love the fabric on this bag.  I might have to buy it just for that!  Actually, I'd rather find the fabric and make a bag myself.  But hey, my project queue is pretty long as is...  Seriously, can you imagine a cuter bag?
• I love this business idea waaay too much... and the name of course.  In fact, I would love to open up my own little shoppe once I have my own flock.  (A gal can dream...)
• It's been a while since I've had a really plumy cake and this cake tickles my fancy.  If you've ever tried it, let me know how it was.  Just in case I can't make one soon...

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the cusp

I was wrong.  Autumn has not passed me by.  

I see tree tops dipped in gold, red and orange.  I see verdant and sometimes frosty green foliage laced with sprays of wildflowers lingering for a last farewell to summer.  I see  gorgeous sunrises revealing the little snails and slugs climbing the sides of our building.  I see abundant earthy root vegetables at the market.  I see the apples.  Lots of apples everywhere!  Mostly I see the colours at the cusp of change - slightly timid, not quite explosive yet.   

I've really dying to share this zucchini bread recipe.  It's become a kind of go-to recipe in my home.  And it's not too sweet - it walks a fine line between meal and dessert.  It's been our snack, dessert, and breakfast countless times.  I love it with a smear of butter.  Or honey.  I am sorry to say that I have no idea where the original recipe came from.  :o(  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  

ZUCCHINI BREAD (dairy-free)

3 cups flour

1/2 cup oil

2 large zucchini, finely diced (or pureed)

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla

1/3 - 1/2 cup water

Grease and flour two loaf pans.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.  Pour into pans and bake at 350 F for about 45 minutes or until done.  Let cool before serving or storing.  (Stores excellently for months in the freezer!)  Serve warm with fruit, butter, spreads or on its own.