Best Mother's Day ever!

Mother's Day is one of those holidays that just can't be celebrated in one day. I want to celebrate Mother's Day everyday. I believe that being a better mother myself, makes for a happier family, happier home life. This is what I strive for each and every day. I want to be the best mother for my children. To laugh with them, to love them, to cherish the good with the bad.



I am so thankful for my own mother who taught me how to love and to be a giver. It's my mother that gave me my first sewing machine(s), taught me to bake bread, to cook, to garden, went for walks with me before I could even walk! Took me across the street to feed the neighbors Shetland ponies.

I made my sweet Momma this vase cover, that I fell in love with, over here. It's a great way to use up your gorgeous scraps that you just can't throw away. I ironed my fabric pieces onto fusible interfacing. (The stiff, heavy kind of interfacing.)



I hope all you mother's had the best Mother's Day weekend!

Apple Granola Bars

Apple Granola Bars

3 apples, peeled, pulsed in a food processor
1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup raisins
2 tablespoons brown rice flour
1/4 cup maple syrup or agave or honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/4 cup raw oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Preheat oven to 345 F.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Grind the almonds in food processor until crunchy, not quite almond meal. Mix all ingredients by hand, in mixing bowl. Take a fist full of the mixture and shape into bars on baking sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes, and remove from oven. Let cool on baking sheet. Remove from sheet once cool, and place on wire cooling rack. After ten minutes have gone by, place the entire rack of cooled granola bars still on the cooling rack, on top of the baking sheet. (be sure to remove the parchment paper). Bake for 6 more minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Granola bars will harden some, when cooled. Mine were the consistency of power bars. Delicious! Next time I will be adding some raw, shredded coconut and chocolate chips.



Make sure you are using gluten-free oats. The package will say whether they are truly gluten-free.



All packaged up and ready to share.

Swan

I heart swans......they are so graceful, with their long necks, as they glide along the water. To me, they symbolize royalty....they are so regal!

I decided to photograph one of my favorite swans......next time I will be sure to capture a photograph of the black swan with red beak.



Feathered friends

For more swan goodness, I've been following sweet Kim's swan family story......over here. She has the sweetest swan family, in Florida!