{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by Amanda Soule. 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.

From peaches to jam

Two weekends ago we were at the farmer's market (did I mention that I love that place?!) ..... we were on a mission. We needed a bunch of peaches that were just right. Perfectly ripe for jam!





These are what came home with us. So ripe that the smell of sweet peaches filled the car as we drove home. I always buy enough for a batch of jam, and some to snack on.



These sweet peas came home with us, too. They're sneaky like that.





There is something satisfying about standing over a big pot, stirring this bubbly peach goodness and watching the transformation take place. From peaches to jam. Oh, and did I mention the heavenly smell that wafts up in your face as you are stirring meditatively away?! So far I have two batches of peach jam. (I got more peaches this past weekend and did it all over again) Oh yes I did! Next time around it will be peach syrup to pour over waffles and pancakes. Delish! Now that I have the peaches covered, we can move on to the raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and plums....anything else?



Why do I bother to make jam you ask? When I can go to the store and buy a jar of jam off the shelf? For the same reason you sew a quilt, make a dress, sew a bag......any one can go pick one up at the store. It will even cost you less to buy than to make, but there is no replacement for the rewarding process involved. I enjoy the process. The slow, rich, and rewarding process. I can walk into my pantry all Fall and Winter and smile as I look at my shelf full of gorgeous jam.

Heirloom delights

Are you tired of tomatoes yet? We're not!



Waiting for their turn...........



....on the chopping block...........





You know it's gonna be good, when you see the juices oozing from the ripe tomato, as you chop away.



Are you wondering where the tomatoes went? They were sautéed and seasoned with minced garlic, fresh olive oil, fresh herbs, diced purple onions, and some sea salt. Then tossed over steamed brown rice, and to liven things up, I added some cauliflower, green beans, black beans, green onions, and diced bell pepper.

......and if you like to sprinkle cheese on top like my kids, help yourself!

Raining on June the first

Rain, rain and more rain......



Aren't these the cutest little rain boots, and homemade dress! Walking about in the purple lupine.

We are so glad for the sunshine that comes after the rain! We went away last week, and it rained.every.single.day! We were camping! We still had a wonderful time, in spite of the weather conditions.

Here it is, June first, and it's still raining.





Over hill and over dale.....riding along.......

Soup, soup, and more soup.....but thats ok, because we love hot veggie soups!



....and rainy days are perfect for a bowl of piping hot soup!

Saturday pancakes

Breakfast time



Piping hot! So hot that you can see the steam on the plate. Yummy!
We love our lazy Saturday morning breakfasts. What do you like for breakfast on the weekends?

Rainy day, rainy day

Rainy day, rainy day, come and wash our germs away..........take away the flu germs from our house, today!



We've been using fresh lemon juice in our cucumber, vegetable juice. I love having a juicer! The extra bit of clean up after juicing is so, so worth it. Vegetable juice is packed with vitamins and alkalinity to keep healthy. This morning we threw in a cucumber, carrot, parsley, and a few drops of fresh squeezed lemon juice. You can add garlic, and pretty much anything fruity, greens, or vegetable related that you have on hand. I can already feel the cleansing effects of the juice. We're fighting nasty, cootie germs in our house. Ear infection, bad cough, fevers. More juice please! I'll take a double!

Meanwhile, the rains are freshening up the air, and making our rolling hills more green! We like it that way! This kind of weather makes us in the mood for hot soups. I've used my crock pot almost every day this week.

Yesterday we stayed in all day (sick day) and made doll clothes. Our favorite patterns are from Patty Young's Mod Kids series. Yesterday's dress was the Mini Frida pattern.



Lucky Julie dollie girl has a pretty new dress, just in time for Spring!




Check out the adorable clutch made all by Julie's little mommy! ALL BY HERSELF! No help, folks! This kid knows how to install zippers, no less! Thanks for letting this mommy brag for a moment!

Gonna go and snap some shots of the freshly fallen snow on the hills around here. Snow is not something we see in our neighbor hood very often. Let me repeat, very seldom!

Setting the table

Here we are on Saturday morning...........a cold, gray morning.....getting ready to rain. Cheery holiday place mats freshly made......homemade pancakes, buckwheat cereal, almond butter, homemade jam, butter, persimmons, hot cups of tea on the way.



Try my recipe for Oat pancakes!

Oat Pancakes (gluten-free)

3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup oat flour (gluten-free)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon baking powder

Beat all ingredients, and pour batter by spoon fulls onto pancake griddle. Flip pancakes over once bubbles form.

Serve and eat immediately! Yummy!
We love to pile ours with butter, jam, fresh fruit and whipping cream.

Signs of the season

Fall. I just love this time of the year!

Colorful season for leaves........veggies, etc....first rains of the season to freshen the air. A crispness in the air. Wood burning fireplace smell outdoors. Pumpkins! Just a few of my favorite things.



Our supper cooking on the stove top. Yummy beets, celery, butternut squash, zucchini, garlic, savory onions.



Making Halloween treat bags for some lucky kids.

Summer lovin

Today, I'm lovin' my sunflowers more than ever! Every weekend I have picked up a fresh bouquet of sunflowers from the farmer's market! I especially love the ones with the dark centers......they remind me of velvet and the velvety green leaves are so gorgeous, in contrast with the bright yellow petals. Flower love.





Pretty face



Had several rounds of these pudding cups, throughout the summer. A layer of tapioca pudding, layer of cooked fruit (we like peaches) or whatever is in season..... and then a layer of homemade granola, and then fresh whipped cream. Oh yeah, and if your kids insist, a cherry on top makes it perfection.

I heart toast

What a fun way to eat your toast and egg, all in one! We used gluten-free bread! It was top notch..........just ask my kids!



With Valentines Day on it's way, we decided to add a little fun to our food. It's easy, and fun to eat! You simply take a heart cookie cutter, and punch out the center of your toast. Put the bread into a frying pan on your stove. Add a tablespoon of butter....turn on the heat to medium....melt the butter. Scramble an egg, a bit of spinach if you like, green onion, parsley, or whatever sounds good to you. Some ham bites? Pour the scrambled egg filling into the heart. Cook halfway, carefully turn over the toast and cook the other side.........be sure to cook both sides of the heart cut out as well. These are delicious with your favorite jam or honey~

Have yourself a heart for breakfast!

Colorful Wednesday

Making oatcakes on Wednesday........just because we wanted some. Delicious!



Oatcakes heading to the oven.....



Ruffles coming out of our ears.........well, not quite~ What is it, your thinking? This ruffley creation is the Nie Nie skirt! We just love this skirt, Chelsea! Thank you for creating such a lovely skirt, and for naming it after sweet Stephanie. We'll post more pictures of the girls wearing the skirts, soon!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday feels like Almond Butter Cookies

Just because!
Monday feels like Almond Butter Cookies!



Almond Butter Cookies (gluten-free)

1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
3/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup brown rice flour

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
Roll dough into one inch balls, and flatten on baking sheet. Press flat, using the palm of your hand. Push a few slivered almonds on top of each cookie.

Preheat oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake for 8-10 minutes

Makes approximately 18 cookies







Go brew yourself a cuppa tea and enjoy!
Happy Monday, my friends!

Gobble, gobble, it's that time of year!

Can it be November already? Is there really one more month, and the end of the year is upon us?
Oh my! Today I'm going to share with you my special cornbread stuffing recipe.



Do you like cornbread? If the answer is YES, then you'll love this cornbread stuffing recipe. No reason to miss out on eating the stuffing this year at Thanksgiving. Why not make it gluten-free!!?! Everyone will be happy! The happy thing about this recipe is, you can make the cornbread a day or two in advance, and sneak a piece or two of the cornbread, making sure to save at least half of the batch for the stuffing.

Cornbread

One and a half cups cornmeal

1/2 cup cornflour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk OR buttermilk

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter, melted

3 teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons honey

Mix all ingredients thoroughly, and pour into greased pan: 8”x 8”

Bake for 30 minutes at 350, or until knife comes out clean.

Cornbread Stuffing

Once the cornbread has cooled (you can make it the day before), cut into small bite-size squares.

3 apples, diced
1 small purple onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 head of celery, chopped
1 fist full of cilantro, chopped
a few leaves of fresh sage, chopped
a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, chopped
one teaspoon salt
one teaspoon cracked pepper, or red pepper

Mix all ingredients together, and stuff inside of your turkey!
Scoop out of the cooked turkey, once it's all done baking and simmering together. Serve as a side dish with your turkey dinner. It is delicious!

Nesting....Fall is here in thought ..... but not in temperatures

Couldn't resist these pretty new pink pearly bowls ............... my bowl cupboard is getting pretty full to the brim, now.



We're still enjoying bottling it up for the Winter.........I am gathering the ingredients for pickles.....just need to find the time, now. Just look at this amber colored goodness! Peachy jam goodness ~





This was our supper the other night........a Shepherd's Pie casserole. I added a layer of cheese and then mashed potatoes on top.........baked it for half an hour and oh yum! An all time favorite around here. Oh yeah, there is ground beef in there, carrots, red cabbage, bean sprouts, onion bits, peas, whatever you feel like layering............then the cheese goes on top.........and then the mashed potatoes! For fun you can throw in a yam or sweet potato with the regular potatoes, and then mash 'em up with buttermilk, butter, salt and garlic powder.....it adds a pretty, peachy-orange color to the mix of mashed 'taters.

Whats the weather doing in your neck of the woods? It's been really, really hot, here! Like in the triple digits. A tad bit cooler today......thankfully! Makes it painful to exercise out in the heat..........this is quite normal though for California weather. It won't cool off here, 'til after October! So much for Fall...............my favorite season, if only I could wear nice woolly, sweaters and tights.......just.waiting.for.our.turn.



A peek at one of the three toddler skirts I made this past week.......They are ohhh so sweet. For now, we will wear them with chocolate brown tank-tops.

Happy Thursday!

Wishing I had my own peach tree.....an apple tree, and maybe an apricot, or a plum.....yum~ Growing up, we had several fruit trees on the hillside....but it was always a fight with the deer and squirrels, to see who would get the fruit.

Thanks to our neighbors.....we've been well stocked with peaches this summer.

Just need to find some more jars......can you believe my local grocery store did not have any jars? Hello!  Great big 'ol Safeway....and they did not get any jam jars in this summer.  Pooey on them.

Still watering my lovely little tomatoes.....they are the gift that keeps on giving......so yummy...

I love cooking with herbs....my new baby Sage.....she looks so sweet tucked into this vintage coffee pot.
On the sewing front, I've been sewing a bit here and there, and plan on re-stocking my etsy shop this Fall. Some fun bags, quilts, etc.... I can't wait to show you what I've been creating.

Happy Tuesday!

Dinnertime celebrations

Celebrating the best things in life............family, love for God, each other...........celebrating happy 40th anniversary to Mom and Dad!



Love you, Mom and Dad!


I'm off to tidy up the messy beyond words studio.........
listening to these a Capella ladies while I work away. They are so easy to listen to!