Snow Days: A Mostly Pictorial Post

 

Winter days are made much better by playing in the snow when uncles come to visit. Or when it's just been a long day inside and really, the sledding hill is just across the road and the delight it gives my little girl is worth all the trouble and fuss of snowsuits and two girlies and one mummy. They're made much better when you stop and take deep breaths of the cold crisp air, feel the rush of the wind as you zip down the hill and then trudge up through the snow to do it all over again. There's moments of quiet reflection at the sun sparkles on the snow and peeps through the trees and there's moments of wild laughter and fun as we all piled on the big sled. 

And of course there is piping hot cocoa and marshmallows to finish off the day.

How do you enjoy snow days?

Peaches and Cream and Enjoying the Simple Things

Sometimes when we go away it's all about the food. We take ingredients to make some of our favorite special meals, we plan out menus complete with appetizers and desserts. We make time to create delicious food and memories together. And then sometimes we don't. We eat simply, we nibble throughout the day, and we make do with what we have. 

On our recent trip to the mountains, it was all about simplicity. Even the kitchen was simple, outfitted with the very basic of dishes and utensils. There was a kettle and pretty plates and two mugs, the perfect shape for wrapping our hands around after a brisk walk. 

Time was our friend and so we decided to have a leisurely brunch of pancakes, freshly whipped cream, peaches and eggs. And coffee, of course. 

 The pancakes came together quickly with the homemade mix.

The peaches came from a jar, sealed in the heat of summer and tasting of the sunshine that we will see again, soon, I hope. 

And the cream, it was whipped by hand by my awesome husband. He's the kind of guy who believes that there is a solution to every problem. You just might have to work a little harder and dig a little deeper but the answer is always there. I flipped pancakes, set the table, and ground coffee while he whipped cream. It was worth it. Totally worth it. 

Tips for  creating your own special breakfast:

Work with what you have- use a big pot to mix up pancake batter if there's only one bowl.

Make it a good experience  for everyone- let the toddler nibble on pancake while you bustle around making everything else. Especially when she's already been awake for several hours.
 

Enjoy the details- fresh coffee in mismatched mugs, tiny table crowded with good food, sunlight streaming in through windows that give an incredible view of the mountains.

Make it pretty- take a few extra minutes to plate the food or sprinkle cinnamon on your coffee.

 A simple breakfast but made so much more enjoyable but slowing down, enjoying the whole process and savoring each bit.

What do you do to make meal time special?

Project 365 - Week 4

The Lovely Ordinary. Simple Beauty. Moments Captured. 

1. Khaira is such a sparkly baby, her big eyes are full of light and sparkles when she's happy which is most of the time. I feel blessed. 

2. I took some time to finally make Kilmeny's deepest wish (on that day) come true. We went sledding on the perfect sledding hill just across the street. She was delighted. 

3. Authors, the game of choice when my younger sisters in law come over. They baby sat for us on the weekend and spent the night so we could have some girl time of shopping, a tea party at which we ate tons of scones and giggled, and played Authors. It was a good day. 

4. Jared's brother had a birthday and we got to share in the cake and well wishes. A late night but totally worth it. 

5. An unexpected gift-time at Starbucks without my girls. I had to deliver a food order and a friend was watching my sleeping girlies. I was early for the delivery and got to enjoy a salted caramel mocha and people watch. Lovely. 

6. Middle of the winter blahs are made much better by fun food. 

7. Khaira is definitely sitting up now, by herself and very happy to be doing so.

 Enjoy your weekend, friends! All the lovely, messy, and unexpected moments.

If I Just Have Today

I snuggled her a little closer, savoring the way her body still fit in my arms. I rocked and I sang, watching her little chest breathe. In and out. Her breathing slowed, she sighed. Contentment. Peace. I kissed her little cheek, so soft and round, whispered in her ear, 'I love you, my little Khaira Tatiana Monique'. She stirred just a bit as I laid her down in the cradle made of wood, made with love by her Grandpa. 

Moments earlier I had covered her older sister up, all cozy with blankets and dolls, whispered 'I love you' as I closed the door. 

 

 I want to remember these moments. These ones that everyone tells me go so fast. I don't want to blink and miss it all. 

If I just have today, I want to hold my baby and just drink her all of the little details about her. She's almost 7 months, where did that time go? If I just have today, I want to tickle my toddler and watch her as she giggles, mouth wide open, eyes all crinkled. I want to hear her say ' 'ix it, Mummy' when I still can, when all that is broken is a little toy easily put together again. I won't always be able to fix it, I won't be able to always just kiss away all her owies and right her little world again. 

There are no guarantees.

Children hoped for but still the cradle sits empty and the heart aches with grief and questions. Death, sudden and totally unexpected. He was so young, my brother's age, living a life full of possibility and now, he's gone. A grandma, called a queen by all those who knew her, tall and stately has said goodbye to her husband, leaving him to walk alone with his memories of a lifelong love.

We hope for fullness of life, we wish it for others, we sometimes take it too much for granted.

I watched parents cuddle their little son earlier this week, laughing together in the way parents do until their laughter was interrupted by the doctor. And the reality that they live with every day hit me. I heard the gentle rocking and whispering of a mother soothing her little one and was amazed to see all the tubes hooked up to such a little body. I watched two sisters chatting with each other, sharing another one of life's moments and deepening their friendship. The older leaning on the younger for support. I saw a beautiful girl just on the brink of womanhood, eyes still hopeful and bright but with a battle ahead of her as her body fights and her soul trusts. 

And so I take time. I lie on the floor, making direct eye contact with my baby and ignore the fact that the carpet desperately needs vacuuming. We make funny faces and take pictures. Our laughter fills the room. All that they say about having floor time with your toddler is true, it really is one of the most important things to do each day. 

I feel the fear subside. I breathe. Asking for peace for myself and for others. 

It comes. 

Heartache doesn't vanish overnight. 

Gut-wrenching grief isn't just wiped away. 

But there's a promise of peace in the valley, a light in the darkness, and God's presence to hold onto in the rocky storm. 

Orange Cranberry Muffins: A Recipe for Wintry Days

 Oranges and cranberries. They're a favorite pairing right now. Right along with sun dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts. It may have something to do with the fact that it's the middle of winter and garden fresh vegetables robust with flavor are still months away. Oranges are in season right now along with all their relatives in their citrus family. My new favorite orange variety is the blood orange. The flesh is a deep red color, the flavor sweet and tangy. I feel all gourmet when I slice them up for an afternoon snack.

 Here in Northern Alberta, we have (to the best of my knowledge) two opportunities to stock up on fresh cranberries. Thanksgiving and Christmas. I missed the very small window in October and made sure I stocked up in December. I freeze the bags of tart, red berries until I want them. They make a lovely addition to scones, biscotti, or muffins.

I've tried a couple different orange cranberry muffins but I've never quite been satisfied with the end result. I want to taste the zing of the cranberry and the zip of the orange. And so I made modifications after modifications until the results tasted like what I had been trying to create. Kilmeny and I made these one morning during Khaira's nap. Kilmeny is just getting to the age where with a lot of patience (on my part!) she can actually be a help to me as I bustle in the kitchen. She can crack eggs with great proficiency, zest oranges, counts along with me as I measure, and is a top-notch dumper of full measuring cups. And she makes a great taste-tester!

                                                        
                                                           Orange Cranberry Muffins

 (a vintage box creation)

2 c flour (I used a mixture of spelt, hard red and soft white wheat flours)
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c cranberry sauce
3/4 c sugar
1/2  c unsweetened applesauce (if sweetened, lessen sugar amount)
1 orange, peeled and minced
4 T orange zest or peel of an orange
 1 1/2 c cranberries (fresh or frozen)


Mix dry ingredients together. Mix wet ingredients together. Combine and add fruit, stir until moistened. Spoon batter (will be lumpy) into greased muffin tins. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 or until they test done. These are best served warm but they also freeze well, perfect for a little something with a cup of steaming tea!

Project 365 -Week 3

It's been a busy week, in fact it feels like a bit of a blur. I've been working a lot in the kitchen this week preparing food for clients which is fun but rather exhausting at the end of it all. I'm just so grateful for a husband who helps me wash mounds of dishes and for the fact that some of that kitchen work results in meals in the freezer for us as well. 

 Can I just say I love my iPhone? I have it with me all the time and use it almost all the time now to take pictures. I love how handy it is for snapping moments. 

1. This is probably one of my favorite pictures from last weekend and perhaps of this winter. Kilmeny has gotten so many comments on her bright red coat that we picked up for a few dollars at a thrift store. She's my little bundle of energy but with quiet moments like this one when she's enthralled with something new. 

2. We just got given a bunch of basically new cloth diapers and here's my little Khaira baby modelling one of the diapers. I do get the girls dressed each day but this was just too cute. 

3. Play dough at the kitchen table has been a sanity-saver this week. 

4. I love seeing Khaira's personality come out more and more! 

5. Kilmeny and Khaira. Kilmo's going through 'that stage' of faces for the camera, this one just makes me laugh. 

6. My little 'hope of spring' plant from Grama Ardron. I'm hoping I don't kill it off since I love ivy plants. 

7. We love Olivia books here, I've already started the girls a collection of the books by Ian Falconer. The simple illustrations and witty text gets me every time. 

 

Mountain Refreshment

We had a little getaway last weekend. We found a cabin in the mountains that had great winter rates and a wood burning fireplace. We had a long weekend and we retreated to the mountains. 

It was wonderful. It was what we needed. It was where we could breathe.

It was just a little cabin with a wood stove and stocked woodpile. The fire was burning nicely when we arrived, the smoke making silvery curls against the black night sky. I loved waking up there, seeing the snow-covered mountains against the brilliant blue sky, sipping coffee and snuggling with the girls on the couch. 

We explored Jasper one day, indulging in raspberry white chocolate scones at our favorite bakery and scoring a super deal on makeup at a little spa. But mostly we just hung out at the cabin. We took time to visit the horse and the dog and the cat which were definite highlights for Kilmeny. She loved to stand at the glass door, peering for any sight of the animals which she would then call for by name, at the top of her lungs. 

One afternoon we visited some friends, driving down a gravel road to their log cabin and being awe-struck by the beauty of the mountains and the snow. And being stopped by a massive herd of big horn sheep, we both whipped out our phones and took pictures, the sheep don't look that friendly where they are a mere foot from your (open) window and you can see all the details on their (massive) horns. 

We had time to be quiet, time to be refreshed, time to talk after the girls went to bed and our phones were turned off. No distractions, no subtle city noises, no to-do lists asking for our attention. We walked along the frozen river, we jumped on the trampoline, and we just chilled. Reading stories, watching the girls, sipping tea. We didn't read any of the books we brought or write down copious notes in our scratch pads. But our souls felt refreshed and uplifted, ready to continue on with the life that is ours. 

Where do you go to be refreshed?

Project 365 - Week 2

We spent this past weekend in a little cabin in the mountains. It was lovely, refreshing, a literal breath of fresh air. Just what we needed. In all the bustle of getting everything together I didn't get a chance to put this post up before we left so I'm doing it now. 

Week 2: February 13- 20

1. Khaira sleeping with her little rosebud lips.

2. Kilmeny sleeping. The girls haven't been sleeping all that well lately during the night, colds and upset schedules seem to be affecting them. Naptime has been slightly hit and miss as well so on one of the days when they both slept at the same  time, I had to take pictures. To remind myself of these days and to remember just how precious they are. Even when we're all a little tired. 

3. Kilmeny loves to be 'just like Mummy' and so she had to read some magazines I picked up from my midwife. She loves to 'read' anything she can! 

4. In a quiet and contemplative mood. For about 5 minutes. I love my little spunky girl!

5. A community Valentines party provided the perfect excuse to wear my red shoes. I just love them, they make me feel like a well-dressed lady. ;-)

6. A little Valentine's inspiration along with my to-do list to make my dinner plans come together on time on the 14th. 

7.  We  were out and about last week with a couple different play dates which provided some new scenery and good conversation over coffee. Khaira's totally into these duplo blocks, I would be as well, the colors are fantastic. 

8. And a little shopping trip brought us to a store that had a beautiful display of jasmine plants which I had to take a picture since it's my niece's name. =)

Blue Roses and Red Daisies

 It was my turn this year. It often is when we have a new baby in the house around Valentine's. With two little girls, the tradition isn't that old but it's still a tradition. It happened as all good traditions start, unplanned. One year we were enjoying a dinner cruise around the Sydney Harbor as newlyweds, the next we were eating dinner by the fire with a fussy baby who was not going to sleep by herself. Last year my husband surprised me with dinner and an overnight at a local hotel. And this year found us at home, enjoying each other's company and that of our little 6 month old baby. 

I purposely planned a simple menu taking inspiration from the Italian antipasto platters. My whole goal for the evening was quiet, relaxed, and simple. I knew I would want everything just perfect when my husband walked in the door from work but I also knew that he wanted a happy wife more then everything perfect. 

Decorations were simple (sensing a theme yet?)- pictures of us, a few scattered silk rose petals, and candlelight to give atmosphere and cover up all the little spots on the carpet and the dust on the shelves. 

 I framed our wedding vows and made them a focal point for the evening.  He brought home red gerbera daisies for me, he knows I love them more then roses. Earlier in the week, he bought me a single blue rose for the romance in the reality of life.

Kilmeny was fed, the kitchen was reasonably clean, and the dessert was finally put together. I had forgotten whipping cream and so sent Jared out to grab some, minutes after he got home. He's sweet like that. 

We nibbled our way through homemade focaccia bread, Romanello and Havarti cheeses, a winter salami, artichoke hearts and stuffed manzanilla olives. We dipped strawberries in chocolate, one of the few times I'll buy strawberries out of season is for Valentine's Day. Red and heart-shaped they are perfect for celebrating. 
We sipped tea and ate cinnamon meringue with chocolate mousse, topped with cinnamon whipping cream. We talked. We took pictures with our iPhones, they're still a novelty being only 2 weeks old. We talked. We made our baby laugh. We talked. We put our toddler back to sleep. We re-lived old memories. And we embraced this season of being parents to little kidlets and sharing in the reality of life. It's not always perfect and roses and stardust. It's hard, there are tears and meltdowns but it is beautiful and I really wouldn't have it any other way. 

linking up with Rebekah with  Dinner at Eight

Counting the Gifts

427-440

short nights with a stuffed up little baby

lots of cuddle time during the night and the day

a toddler who keeps me moving all day long

the way she laughs and loves to help me with everything

the look of satisfaction and delight as she cracked yet more eggs "help you, Mummy!"

the vocabulary that is increasing on a daily basis for my Kilmo-girl

the humbling realization that I have two little people constantly watching me

 

my husband's grace when I'm short on patience and sleep

a community Valentine's party 

a chance to dress up and go out together

family close by to watch our little ones

 Starbucks coffee on a Sunday morning

stimulating conversation

seeing smiles through grief and hurt

a blue rose for all the reality and the romance of the life we share together from my warrior-poet

worship and letting everything else fade away