Sneak Peek

My friend, Emily sent me a picture of a little corner of her home. The little women poster all framed up!

Thanksgiving for Warm Weather

Indulge me for for the beginning of this week as we recount the last weeks' celebratory days.

The this particular week in November marks so many good things for us. Birthdays and Anniversaries, Thanksgiving. 

This year, we traveled to California leaving behind icy roads and welcoming sunny days-- and strange looks at my half naked children worshiping the water and sand. While my dad stood near by bundled all the way up in a parka.

Ice cream and wet clothes finished off our excursion.

Maple Pumpkin Butter and other thoughts.

As I type, I'm sitting nestled in my granny shawl. New, just made woolen fingerless gloves adorn my wrists. And I'm contemplating what to wear tomorrow that I won't freeze in. But I'm still holding on to this gorgeous fall. On a walk, we all picked out our favorite leaves and even though they don't have anything to do with the post, I thought I'd show them to you anyway.

Shh. Don't tell Izzo and I watched The Santa Clause 3 or that I sewed up a storm for Christmas this weekend. We spent most of the weekend doing puzzles, playing games, resting and baking. It was a well needed sabbath. We all took naps and took care of ourselves. A empty weekend is such a blessing.

I made this amazing Maple Pumpkin Butter. It was actually a lot like making apple butter or pear cardamom butter.


Maple Pumpkin Butter: In a medium sized, heavy bottomed pot add 1 cup good-quality apple cider and 1 cup pureed pumpkin (canned or baked then pureed). Add a generous sprinkle of cinnamon up to 1/2 a tsp or to taste. And equal sprinkles of nutmeg, ginger, allspice. Then add 1 to 2 tblsp of good-quality maple syrup. Bring to a gentle bubble, then turn down to low. Cook stirring continuously until thick about 10-15 minutes. Place in two clean pint size jelly jars and keep refrigerated or frozen.

Eat immediately on anything... if not before!

Our second snow...

Usually there is a clean break between fall and winter, but this year we've had both in fits and starts. Cold then warm, warm then cold. One day I think for sure, I feel snow coming. And the next day, it will be 70 degrees.

Saturday, they forcasted snow and uncharactaristic of this year-- it actually snowed. Just wet snow that was melted and gone by the afternoon. But it afforded about 45 minutes of playtime to two little ones-- who were aching for it.

Things to think about...

The fall has been particularly glorious this year, I can't remember another year in which 74 was forcasted for the second week of November (and I've been here almost 9 years)!

And thanks to a large group of awesome friends-- we painted our house this weekend-- more pictures and stories to follow.

And we had two kids with the flu-- no pictures to follow.

So here are some things I've been thinking about (other than grey paint and trim and uh... changing the sheets)...

My friend, Melissa's Apple Rolls look soo good, I wish I could pull up a cuppa and sit with her for a few hours.

While relaxing last night. Ahh bless you extra hour! I caught a bit of Lidia's Italy and she made this Chicken with pine nuts and olives. My mouth was watering-- and then I put it on my meal plan for next week.

This post makes me love fall even more.

Give me dreamy Polaroids.

Cozy thoughts about warm clothes. And warm wrists. Snow is forecasted for the weekend.

Moccasins. Need I say more?

I'm going to try and make toddler backpacks for Christmas. And I am swiftly running out of time!

Do you think about the creativity unleashed at your desk?

Halloween

They dressed up as Cinderella and her mouse Gus-Gus. Isabel pulled all the items for their costumes-- princess Must wear teacher glasses! And Mice MUST wear soft shoes. All Truman requested a Gus-Gus hat. A little felt and hot glue go a long way!

So exciting!