When a Tree Falls in the Woods....

It seems it has been a long hiatus ...unintentional at first, followed by disappointed resignation. It is just not possible to do everything! I had hoped to continue writing in this space after returning to work. This sort of happened, until school started again! Oh dear. If all goes well, I will be finished my masters degree by Christmas ...something I am really looking forward to as university stresses me out. I am making a personal resolution to start back up in January and at least visit more frequently in the meantime. I miss you guys!

So..you know the saying...

When a tree falls in the woods...

Nope. We didn't hear a thing. I can't believe we slept through this. This very big tree is close to the house. In fact, it would have crashed right through the dinning room had the wind been blowing the other way. As it is, it barely missed the coop. The poor chickens probably thought the sky was falling. They are still a little spooked.

It also missed the clothesline, which is a little ironic. We've had such bad luck with that thing. It seems it takes nothing to bring it down, but it did survive this tree!

Oliver has some fence patching to do, but nothing serious. The big job will be removing the large tree... and the smaller one it took down with it.

At least everybody is safe and sound.

{this moment}

Hello long lost friends. In the process of adjusting to our new schedule that includes me working 30 hours per week is still ...well, in process. Although I have been absent from this space, I have not stopped thinking about it. One of my New Years Resolutions is to prioritize time to write. I really miss it! How will I fit this in when I'm also headed back to school this semester? Does anybody have any tips for me? How does one do everything?

I'm home with a cold today and sans children, which is how I'm able to get on here to participate in one of my favorite weekly blogging traditions.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual from Soule Mama. In her words: A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

laundry room reno

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

The Liebster Award

I must thank the lovely Nev at A Lime Less Ordinary for nominating me for a Liebster Award. I am feeling just so honoured!

I did a search in Google, but didn't have any luck discovering the origin or creator of this award. It seems that Liebster is a German word meaning dearest or favourite, and the award is given to up-and-coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. If you receive the award, you should:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to, forward it to their five favourite bloggers and keep it going!

Here it goes... 

The Artsy Ants Sylvia and Simona share their creativity by posting great tutorials and beautiful images. I also really love the overall design and look of their blog. 

Unplugged Sunday is an idea that has actually changed my life. Our family has been participating in this movement for a while now and we are enjoying the time we spend every week disconnected from the web and connected to each other. 

Clover is inspiring quotes paired with great photos, lots of recipe ideas and knitting love. Plus that Tracey is just so darn sweet!

My So Called Life and Other Lies is smart and quirky. I love Debbie's photos and her crafty, vintage, eclectic style.

Keep Calm and Carry On is written by an artist I know from craft school. Denise gives an intimate peek in to a life of pottery, gardening, renovations, and teenage children. Her anecdotes about her sons are especially funny. She regularly leaves me laughing aloud at the humour of everyday life. 

By the way ..this was very hard. There are so many great blogs that I enjoy reading.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual from Soule Mama. In her words: A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

the birthday baby

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual from Soule Mama. In her words: A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Today I'm cheating a little by posting three pictures. Here's my littlest guy being helped to a bath by his favorite aunties. 

 

I hope you all enjoy a peaceful and contemplative Remembrance Day. 

Check out my current giveaway

yarn-along

If my pictures are all looking a little devoid of natural light these days it's because we have been getting home so late! Photos taken at almost 11pm don't look quite the same, do they?

I ran out of yarn! for this frog suit. Arghh. It is so close to being done. all I have to do is sew up an arm hole and a little ribbed edge around the hood, and some eyeballs of course. I have to drive to Briggs & Little to get the yarn and since they are not open on weekends, I have to wait until m day off on Monday to go. That means this project will sit for a week longer. It's the frog suit that never ends. It wasn't ready for Halloween ...maybe for his birthday then?

Until then, during my very few free moments these days, I am finishing up some other long overdue projects. there is this i-cord for my Juliette capelet that I worked like a maniac to get done and for some reason gave up on in its almost-done state. It is certainly time for something warm around my neck in the morning, though.

My reading time has consisted of ... settling in to bed to read and putting the book (still Trauma Farm) right back down again as I realize I can barely keep my eyes open.

Cole, however, was just so exited that the fourth book in a favorite series was released yesterday. I just caught him with his light on ...again ..long after his bedtime. What a sneaky one.

I wish you all the loveliest of Wednesdays, and Thursdays for that matter (I'm posting pretty late.)

Don't forget to pop over to visit Ginny and the rest of the yarn along crew. 

I hope you all take a moment to enter my current giveaway. Stay tuned as I will be posting anew one every week.

Sundays are for ...

Unplugged Sundays are great for ...

:: baking four types of bread ~ rosemary, sun-dried tomato-olive, whole wheat, and pumpkin

3 cups cooked pumpkin ~ I roasted mine, but you could steam it too.

1 1/3 cup sugar ~ I used organic sugar from crystallized cane syrup

2/3 cup melted coconut oil

2 tsp vanilla

4 tbl freshly ground flax seed

12 tbl water

3 cups whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 scant tsp ground cloves

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease either two loaf pans (8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5) to some muffin tins.

Mix pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix the flax seed and water together and then add to the pumpkin mixture.

Stir in remaining ingredients. If you want, you can add in 1/2 coup of nuts or even 1/2 cup of raisins. I don't, but only because Cole can't have nuts at school and he hates raisins. 

Divide batter evenly in to the two loaf pans, or one loaf pan or your muffin tin. I do half of each.

Bake about 15 minutes for shallow muffins, and about 40 minutes for the loaf. Watch carefully since it seems to depend on your pumpkin. Check for 'done-ness' with a toothpick or fork. Remove from pans as soon as possible and leave to cool on a rack. Delicious! 

:: trying biscuits yet again with no success. I have never been able to make nice biscuits.  These ones are very flat, but Cole discovered that they still taste great filled with honey. Do you have any tips?

:: stocking up on snacks ~ this granola recipe, and bits and bites

:: Creating variations of a new favorite ~ peanut butter or soy butter, oats, ground flax, dried fruit, rice crisps or millet puffs rolled in to a healthy ball covered in coconut. Yum!

:: listening to the Vinyl Cafe, and dancing to Michael Franti

:: finishing the new chicken pen ~ although some little tricksters already figured out how to escape.

:: fending off zombie attacks!

Be sure to check out my current giveaway!