dream

My kitten

     One of my dear friends passed away this past week. He was the type of person to dream big and live big. He never did anything half way, and his life was a reflection of that. He always told me to love every moment of life, to do what I loved, and suffering was optional. Make a choice, then live it. If it doesn't work change.
   Starting today I will be thankful for all that I have, I will find beauty in what is around me and I will choose to see the glass half full.
   Two that made me smile today, my little beast of a kitten and my lemon tree in full bloom.
  I hope today you found something to be thankful for as well.

Oh how I love Polaroid pictures, and lemon trees!

"Now that was something!" Sid Wolf

clouds of winter

There comes a point in winter where the clouds and grey are intolerable. The only way to get through the days is to dream of spring. Spring starts to creep into our heart and everywhere you look, from Pinterest to the seed catalogs that arrive in the mail. It is a collective dream, and though the first green buds will not show themselves for months to come it seems that the new life is starting to stir.

For now I will have to settle for the memory of sunshine. And what a beautiful memory it is when it is slathered all over buttermilk pancakes.  Sunshine that was made by one of your lovely sisters!

Pancakes, kittens, a mug of tea and a warm fire, not a bad way to spend a cloudy Sunday.

supper

It seems that about this time each year I run out of things to make for supper. Another bowl of soup feels like torture when all I want is something fresh. What is a girl to do when she has a ripe avocado and a very hungry husband?
Triple bean and artichoke salad.
Problem solved.
I found the recipe in an old vegetarian times cookbook from the library, and of course turned it on its head. Enjoy!

Triple Bean and Artichoke Salad
Serves 6 (or in my case 2 with leftovers for a light lunch)

1 15oz can of white beans, rinsed and drained
1 15oz can of  black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 15oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 14oz can of artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
2 ripe tomatoes, cubed
2 good sized shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 or 4 leaves of Lacinato kale cut into thin ribbons
1 ripe avocado, cubed
3 table spoons olive oil
3 table spoons balsamic vinegar
a little dried basil
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything together in a big bowl and let sit for and hour, if you can wait that long.
I served it with gluten free croutons (two slices of bread saute in olive oil until crisp) and  glass of wine.

skys of the past year...

13

An amazing idea: 13 things that you are thankful for this year. I will have to work on my list...

its already here...

it must be January!

...The new year that is. Happy 2013!
How have you been?
There were so many changes this year I feel that I am still catching up, taking note, and trying to figure out how to get Internet out at the small farm.

And then there is the farm, not really a farm just a small blue house that is starting to feel like home and a yard filled with tumble weeds, not to mention the horse shed that is falling down. It has dreams tucked into every corner, along with sawdust and a list of things to fix so long I can't see the end.

Oh, and there is also the kitten.

sleepy Gus

Need I say more?

This year we made homemade gifts for the family. My mum is one of the most amazing people in the world, she made Bitters for her daughters. Last night we dressed up, put on red lipstick and made grown up mixed drinks complete with local whisky and gin (I wish I had made some of this to go with it). It was the best night of laughter I have had in a long time. Maybe this is the dawn of a new age of old fashion nights...

orange bitters and 1920's decanter

Happy New Years my sweets, may it be filled with laughter, love and good food.