change

What a perfect time of year to experience change. The weather is certainly changing...the leaves are past their peak and each morning less grass is visible on our lawn. In a few days the excitement of Halloween will be over and the next season will bombard us from every direction. This morning Jesse and I watched city workers string Christmas lights at our local park. Life is never dull. Our little family will also be experiencing our own change. (No, we are not having a baby!) After 7 1/2 years out of the work force, I am slowly making my way back into the world of paid employment. An amazing opportunity was offered to me and although I wasn't considering going back to work for a few more years, I just could not pass it up. I will be providing counseling at a local bible college for 6 hours a week. The amount of time is perfect as it provides me with a new challenge but hopefully won't disrupt our family life too much. I am anticipating a huge learning curve but have received so much support from colleagues, friends and family that I am ready to push myself in this new direction. I hope I can still keep up with all my interests...I may need to cut myself some slack and let go of some things. Change is good.

picture challenge

Perhaps it was looking at old photos from when I was a kid plus sitting outside Jesse's room last night staring at the fridge that helped me come up with this idea. I knew I wanted to get a picture of what the outside of our fridge looks like in 2009. I am sure that fridges will look very different in 25 years and I wanted to capture this snapshot today. Yes, it will definitely be my photo for today. It shows the beautiful art work that comes home from school and church or is created at our kitchen table. Note that most artwork ends up out of Jesse's reach, although he is probably out of the ripping stage now. It also shows our multitude of magnets. Jesse was playing with all the truck magnets this morning. Every once and a while Nathaniel will pull off a number to represent something in his life. It showcases awards for good work done at school.

If you're feeling up for a challenge, look around your house and document something that represents your life right now. Maybe it will be your fridge too. Or your computer desk. Perhaps your collection of shoes. Who knows, it may mean a lot to someone in the future.

red kidney bean curry

I have been wanting to make this dish for a number of weeks. I wish I had done it sooner. It is quite easy to whip up on a weekday and all but Nathaniel loved eating it. (He didn't even give it a try. Something about the smell turned him off.) I made a quick side dish of glazed carrots and this meal was ready in no time.

Red Kidney Bean Curry - adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Serves 6

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh ginger

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 plum tomato, diced

1 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric

8 ounce can of tomato sauce or 8 ounces of one of your choice (make sure it does not have Italian spices added)

3 cups boiled red kidney beans or 30 ounces canned red kidney beans, drained

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley, if you’re cilantro-averse)

Heat oil in a deep sauce pan over medium heat for one minute. Add ginger, garlic, onion and let sizzle for one minute. Add the tomato sauce, salt and remaining spices and cook for an additional five minutes, stirring frequently. Add the kidney beans plus 1 1/3 additional cups of water, and tomatoes. Bring it to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and let cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Garnish with cilantro.

Serve over rice or with naan. A dollop of plain yougurt on top is heavenly.

from halloween past

Now I'm beginning to understand where my boys get their fascination for tigers and lions. Chris and Dan - I apologize for having to bring you along on this trip into the past. Any idea where that cool clown costume every went?

appreciating beauty

You are never too young to appreciate the beauty of nature.

fall hike

We had a glorious afternoon for hiking on Sunday. Our church met at Huron Nature Trail and explored the many paths and ponds there. I was very busy taking pictures and loved the beautiful setting to get lots of scenery and people shots. Most I can't show here since I don't like posting photos of friends without getting their permission. But here are a few of our family and the gorgeous fall colours.

This one is my favorites from the day.

The colours are almost at their peak.

One group shot. I figure most people are so far away this picture should be ok.

I didn't see Abigail or Nathaniel for most of the hike. This is one of the few times that I did walk with Abigail. My kids love the older boys at our church and were hiking with them most of the time. I love our church for how wonderful the older kids are with the younger ones.

Jesse was so excited to have found a caterpillar. Andrew was thankful that it did not end up on his head as he let Jesse ride on his shoulders.

I ended up at the end of the hike after stopping for my scenery shots. I didn't get many pictures of people actually hiking, but I did get one of two of my guys.

Despite not napping before the hike, Jesse remained happy throughout the afternoon.

Some dogs also joined our walk. My boys were completely taken with this puppy, Holly. Jesse really wasn't happy unless he was holding onto Holly's leash. He will make a very good owner some day. He was very stern in his directions "Doggie, SIT!"

Yes, fall is a wonderful season.

golden cheddar cheese soup

A friend asked yesterday if I had a good recipe for a butternut squash soup and I knew I needed to post this recipe. I am actually going to be making this for supper tonight. I've made this recipe many times but added butternut squash the last time I made it and really liked the combination of flavours.

Golden Cheddar Cheese Soup - adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home

1 cup chopped onions

2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil

3 medium potatoes, thinly sliced

3 medium carrots, thinly sliced

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 inch dice

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

pinch of turmeric

3 cups vegetable stock or water

2 cups milk

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

salt to taste

Saute the onions in the butter or oil for about 5 minutes or until the onions begin to soften. Stir in the potatoes, carrots, squash, black pepper, and turmeric. Add the stock or water and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the milk and cheese. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor. (I use an immersion blender.) Gently reheat. Add salt to taste. Serves 6.

refocus

I am feeling awfully grumpy today. I'm tired and becoming increasingly annoyed at the craziness of the mudroom and how the kids have turned the whole upstairs into one big playzone. I figured I needed a bit of refocusing on the simple things in my day. I just discovered this little exercise from The Simple Woman's Day Book. I need this today.

For Today: October 16, 2009

Outside my window... sunny and cold.

I am thinking... about and getting excited for this coming weekend. We'll be with Andrew's family Saturday and enjoying a fall hike Sunday afternoon.

I am thankful for... my mother's optimism in the face of cancer.

I am wearing... black tights, black crewneck shirt, pink sweater, black socks.

I am remembering... that I need to purchase Abigail's Halloween costume soon, before it gets too late.

I am going... to miss our local food club. Today is our second last weekly pickup. I have loved being able to support local farmers and bakers. I am proud that we have been able to support our community and feed our family so well this past growing season.

I am reading... 'In Defense of Food' by Michael Pollan - I actually finished it Wednesday night, but haven't started another book since. Such a good book.

I am hoping... to print off some pictures in the next week or so. I am so behind in our photo albums and my photo a day album.

I am hearing... the sound of construction vehicles on a nearby street.

I am creating... a scrapbook page that talks about Jesse's sunny personality.

From the kitchen... whole wheat crepes with maple syrup, blueberry sauce and fruit smoothies.

Around the house... the signs of winter have begun. The humidifier was pulled out of the front closet yesterday. The kids have already started playing with the buttons. The winter mitts and hats bag is sitting on the bench in the mudroom, ready for our cold morning walks to school.

One of my favorite things... Jesse wearing his pumpkin hat. He gets so many compliments from passersby.

A picture to share...

Today at lunch my boys wanted to help prepare the edamame we bought at the grocery store this morning.

monday

we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with my family. We had high hopes of going to the Oktoberfest parade in the morning, but the thermometer made us think twice. 2 degrees C. is not very inviting. I am thankful that the kids didn't seem to mind. Abigail and Nathaniel still have pretty bad coughs and the last thing I wanted was the cold air to get their coughs going. Next year.

The kids were very excited to finally go to Grandma and Grandpa's. We arrived in time to share lunch together. As a vegetarian, I always struggle with the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. It is obviously based around meat and not terribly exciting. Anyone out there ever do something radically different for the holidays? I remember a friend of mine mentioning that one year she abandoned the traditional turkey and prepared an entire meal based around global dishes. Her brother-in-law had a difficult time putting aside the tradition of the bird.

After our lunchtime meal, the kids quickly went outside to play in the leaves. On your mark, get set...

Go!

The kids occupied themselves most of the afternoon. The cool temperatures didn't deter them at all.

He was happy to watch the jumping.

Nathaniel's favorite part is the raking of the leaves. He was happy to prepare the pile before the next run.

Loving this photo.

A word of warning...this is what can happen to you when you spend too much time with your "Crackberry".

Unfortunately there aren't many pictures of Jesse. He did get outside for some soccer and sandbox time, but the camera did not follow. Here he is having a late afternoon snack of chips and dip. The shrimp were "yucky."

I got focused into this game for quite a while. I remember playing this at my Opa's house when I was young. He had the trick all figured out. I do not. Perhaps this is how he kept his mind so agile for all his life. Who needs Nintendo DS when you have these kinds of games?

thanksgiving 2007

We woke up this morning and definitely needed winter coats for our ride to church. The temperature is around 6 degrees (Celsius) this afternoon and not very welcoming for outdoor activities. I know that some of you are dealing with snow (yikes) so I should be counting my blessings. I couldn't help but reminisce about how we spent Thanksgiving 2 years ago. We hit the beach. With Jesse being just a baby, we didn't get to the beach that often in the summertime. I was feeling the need to see one sunset from the beach and thankfully received very hot and humid weather.

The kids were thrilled with the thought of time spent in the sand...

and in the water.

The beach was mostly empty. Which is a rare thing for Grand Bend.

Jesse practically lived in the sling during his first year of life.

I love looking at pictures of my kids from years ago.

An attempt at taking a picture by myself.

I would have much preferred spending our Thanksgiving this way.

apple cake

Rainy days usually mean one thing. Baking. And with a drawer full of apples in the fridge, apple cake was on the menu. The boys were quick to drag over their chairs and watch me peel and chop all the apples. I put in some extras to peel to accommodate my snackers. It was a wise choice. Nathaniel ate a whole one while watching.

This was another easy recipe. I changed things a bit in the recipe. Next time I might substitute some whole wheat flour for the all purpose. I also used the orange juice that was called for. I might use apple cider the next time to boost the apple flavour. Feel free to make these changes yourself.

Apple Cake - adapted from Smitten Kitchen
6 apples, I used a variety of what I had on hand (Macintosh, Paula Red, Gala)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar
2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup applesauce
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional) - I didn't add any

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tubepan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, applesauce, orange juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean.

we've been hit

by whatever bug is making the rounds. Andrew had it before his NASCAR trip. Abigail was sick Fri - Sun. Nathaniel started with a fever Sunday night and still isn't back to normal. I felt awful yesterday but am feeling a bit better today.

It's just Jesse that is relatively healthy. (I'm not counting the slightly runny nose and occasional cough.) He was feeling so well that he played tree cutter yesterday morning. The couch cushions got stacked and the ear muffs were put on. He climbed his "tree", got out the chain saw and started trimming. This new game is one of the reasons why the boys were so excited when this happened at noon today.

I was standing by the kitchen sink and noticed some branches falling into our yard. The heavy winds were too much for our neighbour's tree. How perfect that it landed right on our bonfire pit. Whose up for a huge marshmallow roast? Not so perfect that it took down some of the fence. Nathaniel's immediate response was "Awesome, now I can cut wood with Daddy!" Guess what project will be worked on this weekend?

utensils

I was secretly happy when Abigail had a fever this morning. It meant we could stay in our pjs, relaxing at home all day. It was around 9:30 when I realized that my boys needed to get some fresh air. Especially Nathaniel. Of course the rain started falling shortly after my boys started getting a bit squirrelly. We were stuck. Thankfully Nathaniel set up his drive thru window and started talking orders. My chefs insist on using my utensils to make all of their yummy food. Both boys are able to reach my jar full of ladles, tongs, whisks and spatulas that sits on the counter. They have been playing with them for 2 days straight. This morning was no exception. If it means they are occupying themselves and not jumping all over the furniture, I generally don't mind. Except for when I reach for a spatula and have to go searching the family room for one. Or when Nathaniel uses the pasta fork to try and take out the plug in the wall. Yes, you heard me. The lights flicked off quickly and he dropped his utensil. Thankfully he didn't get a shock. But my reaction probably deterred him from ever trying that again. Remind me again why we buy our children toys.

turn it off

It's a bit depressing when I think of the hours that I have wasted watching tv. Don't get me wrong. I do watch some tv. But what I don't do anymore is sit flicking between stations not finding anything that I want to watch. If I don't find a show that I like I turn off the tv and do something else. Sure, there are lots of series that people enjoy watching. There is SOME good tv out there. But I don't need to watch it all. My life isn't less full or enjoyable because I'm not in on the "it" shows. I also don't feel the need to watch the news everyday. I can't even say that I watch the news once a week. I realize that this can be a hard one for people. We want to stay informed with what is happening in the world. We want to be able to participate in conversations about current issues and have some knowledge of the world around us. We don't want to seem ignorant. But again, I am not losing out by missing the horrifying and shocking news topics that get covered day after day. Does it really add value to your life? Are you more happy because you sat and watched the news? Did it strengthen your personal relationships? Did it make you more creative? Did it help you make more healthy choices?
I think the key for me is having an alternative. There needs to be something that I would rather be doing. Something creative. Something that makes me happy and adds to my life and my family's life. I am thrilled that at this stage of my life I have so many other things that I WOULD rather be doing than watching tv. I hope you find yours.