Festive Findings

Lots of busy, bustling, fun filled days......we went across the Golden Gate yesterday,and it was gorgeous out! Lots and lots of sunshine.













Busy times at the sewing machine, making pretty gifts. I can't show anything much before Christmas, so hopefully I will do some holiday posts later on. Hope you are having fun, festive days and lots of sunshine and cheer.

Hello, December!

You have blown in like a lion, and the sun doth shine so brightly!







We spent the entire day hanging out in this fabulous city!



View from the bottom



View from the top



My flash went off in this one, but I love how it caught the reflection of the tower in the background. Yes, we went took the elevator to the tippy top of Coit Tower! One perfect evening for a fabulous view! So sparkly clear, you could see for miles!

We played past sundown.

Feeling Thank FULL

for........

my family
faith in God
friends
good health
TWO tables full of family and friends at my house for Thanksgiving dinner
a cozy, warm house
my new white sheets
lots and lots of yummy food
my sewing machine
my oven
a kitchen full of organic ingredients to cook and bake with
and so much more!





Had fun sewing this pretty new table runner ....... still loving Laura Gunn's fabric.









I had a lot of fun making little burlap bags, and stamping everyone's name on them. We filled the bags with nuts, chocolate coins, ginger chews, a mandarin orange, and bouncy balls for the kids.



We ate way, too, much! Lots of fresh, delicious homemade goodness! We always follow up with dessert and fun games. What a wonderful, memorable time!

Feeling Thankful

Today I am so thankful for life, and what matters most to me!



On Sunday afternoon we went for a long walk around a little lake. I love being surrounded by trees and nature.



The leaves were gorgeous, as the afternoon light filtered through the trees and sparkled off the water.



Looking up to the light, through the Bay trees. I always collect a few of these aromatic leaves to add to my soups and stews.



Paddling away, across the water.....Mr. Mallard appears to be gliding along the surface of the water.... but underneath the water, his feet are moving as fast as can be. A good metaphor for life, and many other things.

Once in a lifetime

11-11-11

What did you do today?! We ran errands, upon errands. Stop after stop, and shopped 'til we dropped. After I came home, I looked at my messy work area and then walked away. It really needs a good cleaning. What is your desk like? Clean or messy. I think I am like Einstein lately........not so much with the smart factor, but with the more going on the better. No time to clean off the desk, because there are so many things on the go. Sometimes I am inspired with total chaos all around me. Yes, a clean desk feels good and is nice to gaze upon. However, I could spend my whole day cleaning, or I could get on with more important things. Check out this neat video called "the desk".



So, did you stop and take a moment out of your day today, to take a photo at 11:11am?

We did! It was so much fun! Thats the child in me.....always up for fun and new adventures.

Happy Wednesday

Happy Wednesday.....just checking in.............



This photo does not do the view justice! It was so spectacular Sunday morning around 10:00am. From the top of Grizzly Peak. We were on our way somewhere, and I just happened to have my camera on me! So glad I did! Breathtaking views!

Feels like Fall, and Pumpkin bread

Yesterday, a storm was brewing. The day before that, the wind blew like a mini hurricane! Today, the storm has past, and the sun is playing hide and seek behind the clouds.





When the weather chills, I head to my kitchen to do some baking!



Pumpkin Bread sounds good!



Rising bread



All baked and ready to slice





Pumpkin Bread

2 eggs
1 package of yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/8 cup sugar
3 tablespoons potato flour
3/4 cup rice flour
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup millet flour
1 tablespoon honey


Crumble topping:

1/4 cup almond meal
1/4 cup rice flour (you can add a bit less if the mixture is too dry)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar

Mix all ingredients and set aside for later.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Mix all ingredients with mixer on medium speed, until blended. (no lumps in the dough). Cover and let dough rise for 2 hours. Transfer the dough to two greased and flour dusted loaf pans. Cover and let rise until the dough just about reaches the top of the pan. Once the dough has risen, you may sprinkle the crumble mixture on top of the loaves. Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until done. (knife comes out clean from the center of the loaf). Once baked, remove from oven. Let the loaves completely cool before removing from the pans. When the loaves are ready and cooled, gently remove them from the pans and place on cooling racks. Let set for about an hour before slicing. Note: Pumpkin bread is moist, so it may take a few hours before the loaf slices without crumbling. This bread tastes delicious for up to two or three days. Make sure you cover it in a sealed container, so it does not spoil. You can freeze the slices if you like, and microwave them when you are ready to eat.

Happy Weekend!

What are your plans for this weekend? We're enjoying 70 degree weather at the end of October!





Apple cider press, making apple cider!



Patterson House



Gorgeous detail work on the house!



Picking Indian corn was so much fun!

A couple of weekends ago, we spent all afternoon at Ardenwood Farm! The Fall Harvest Festival is absolutely wonderful! If you haven't been, mark it on your calendars for next year! Corn picking, apple cider press, homemade ice cream, pumpkins, corn husk doll making, magic show, quilt making, hay rides, and much more! After touring through the Patterson house, I felt like I had just stepped back in time.



Here is a sneaky of the back of my latest quilt. I just put the binding on it. Waiting to get some good photos of the finished quilt, so I can show you!

The best weekend!

Isn't this the cutest house pillow?! It was a wedding gift I made for some of our friends who just got married. It's hard to tell how large it is, but the dimensions are 20 x 20". I added a cute little button for the door handle on the house.



We headed over to Tiburon for the wedding reception.......



....and this was the stunning, spectacular view from the backyard of our friends home! Nothing but blue skies and 80 degree sunshine!



After the reception, we drove down the hill to the Tiburon waterfront, and walked along Paradise Drive! Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!





...........more sparkling views of the Bay, looking towards San Francisco.

Can't wait to go back and take the ferry to Angel Island! Haven't been there for a few years.

Figgy Friday

It's fig season! I think figs are something you either love or dislike. They are full of wonderful vitamins and nutrients. Did you know they are a flower?







Since I have been eating gluten-free for the past eleven years, I have not had a fig newton cookie! Yesterday I decided I would make some! They are so good, and you must try them for yourself!

Fig Newton Cookie Bars

FILLING

1 cup fresh figs (I scraped out the insides only, with the exception of the last two figs I diced into small pieces)
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (gluten-free)

DOUGH

2 - 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
3/4 cup amaranth flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (gluten-free)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 F.

For the filling:
Place the fig mixture into a blender, along with the fig filling ingredients, and blend for about thirty seconds. Pour the mixture into a pan. Boil on medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Make sure it comes to a rolling boil.

Set aside.

Grease a glass baking pan (7 x 11")
Press half of the cookie dough firmly on the bottom of the pan. (thin layer)
Pour the fig filling slowly, over the surface of the cookie dough.
On a clean surface, press/roll out the remaining dough to the same size as the pan. Using a large spatula, gently lift up the pressed out dough and place it on top of the fig filling. Gently pat it down and smooth out the corners, gently pinching the corners down, so the filling will stay between the layers. (It's okay if it's not perfect)

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool completely (at least one hour) before slicing and serving. This way the cookie bars can set up.



Here is what the filling looks like, while you are boiling it on the stove top.



Fig Newtons! (the best part, is they are gluten-free)!!!!! Woot, woot!