THE END OF MARCH

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines
 hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the 
light, and winter in the shade.” 

~ Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Today begins spring break in my home
and I am thrilled. I know I am home
most days, but there is something about
knowing we are on spring break that is
freeing.

I have been taking a little bit of time each
day to play with my 'big' camera, shooting
photos in manual mode and just enjoying
the fresh air and all the flowers that are
blooming around my yard. 

I hand sewed a little felt case for my 
crane scissors and found if I put two
wee marks on my thumb nail my stitches
were a lot more consistent. 

I cast on another knitting project, a secret
one that shouldn't take too long to complete.

There was a little playing in the kitchen trying
out a simple roll recipe [ link here ] and the
vote in my home positive! I like that the recipe
only made 12 so I didn't have a huge pan of
rolls sitting around for days. 

I have been making sure to check in each
day to see the babies on the  DC Eagle Cam
that Donna shared, they are quite addicting
and so cute!

May your Easter is filled with peace and
love.

Much love,
Tracey
XO

BITS FROM MY WEEK

"Learning to ignore things is
one of the greatest paths
to inner peace."

~ Robert J. Sawyer

I have been trying to get outside as
much a possible and enjoy the
cooler temperatures. Well, cooler
for here anyway as I know many
of you are in sweater heaven and
a lot cooler temps.  I am still waiting
on that magical day when I can
build a fire,and I have already
begun my yearly wishing that this
will be the year of snow, hope
springs eternal!  Being outside,
whether at the beach, the woods
or just a dirt road always brings
me a sense of peace no matter what
is going on in the world, does it
have that effect on you?

The rain came again and with it
more flooding so when  I was
house bound I baked several batches
of cookies, [I won't confess to just
how many I ate] and I cooked up
a few pots of applesauce making my
kitchen smell so good. There is some-
thing about autumn that draws me
to the kitchen.

After the clouds and rain moved on
it was amazing to see the sun as it
showed it's face for a few minutes,
the sky was stunning.

I spent today in the bean patch picking
beans and then arriving home to begin
the process of putting them up for the
winter months. I do like working with
beans,  they aren't messy like tomatoes
or corn and I can make quick progress
with them. I roasted a huge pan tonight
for dinner, just rubbing them with olive
oil, sprinkling salt, pepper, garlic and
onion powder and roasting at 425 F for
30 minutes.

In the evenings I have been working on
a pattern design, just a simple fingerless
glove, and doing a little hat knitting, but
since it's a Christmas gift I can't show you
yet.

Remember that this is the weekend we turn
the clocks back.
Have a great time.

Much love,
Tracey
XO

PERSONAL EFFORT

Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.
You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and
sometimes even travel around the world looking
for it. You have to participate relentlessly in
the manifestations of your own blessings.

~ Elizabeth Gilbert

It's a new week and a new attitude
for me, no more pity party, there is
a life to be lived and I want [need]
to do it with peace and Grace.

I was asked about bible journaling
and the best way I can tell you about
it is to just show you as I am still
learning this medium too. I am a huge
fan of Pinterest [after resisting for so
long] and now have a Bible Journaling
page that is quickly filling up. I draw
each morning after my bible reading,
picking a verse that speaks to me at
the time. To me this is not about what
kind of artist you are, it's about furthering
your relationship with your God.

The elderberries are ripe and with winter
not that far off [I can hope] I am storing
berries in the freezer to make this.

I made 'healthy' almond joys which
may or may not be good thing. I know
I didn't eat them all,that was someone
in my home,  but I did eat my fair
share, ahem.  [recipe below]

I'm trying my hand at making more buttons,
this time out of clam shells. I do love the touch
of lavender and now need to knit a sweater
to put them on, but first I am going to finish
knitting my hat.

Clover's Almond Joys

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup raw cocoa powder
1/2 cup almond/coconut butter [or whatever butter you like]
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped raw almonds
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients well, pour in mini muffin cups
and put in the ice box until solid.
Store covered in ice box, eat through out the day. :)

ACCEPTING MYSELF

To be beautiful means to be yourself.
You don't need to be accepted by others.
You need to accept yourself.

 

I realized that the fifteen month
journey to growing my natural
hair out is almost done; except
for about one to two inches on
the side top layer my hair is almost
completely silver. I must confess
during this journey there have
been times I 've been in tears,
missing my long hair, my dark
hair! Wondering if I've made
a terrible mistake. What is it about
hair anyway? It doesn't define
who I am or what I stand for.
 But as my hair has grown out
I don't think I have made a mistake.
I like the 'new' me, both inside and out.
I'm healthy, kind, sensitive, hardworking,
creative, loyal, and peace loving..
It has taken my 51 years to get here and
I'm excited to see what the next
65 years will hold [ oh yes, I plan
on living to be 116].

I wear a Garmin Vivofit 2 and just
received my million step badge
which is pretty motivating to keep
walking, even in this suffocating
heat! I get at least 10, 000 steps in
every morning before breakfast
and  sometimes even 12, 000!

I played with a dragonfly this weekend.
While I have been trying for months
to just get a photo of a pink dragonfly,
the blue ones like me to hold them.

There was more wonderful mail in
my box, the dottie angel frock pattern.
After waiting months for the pattern's
release then not being able to get my
hands on it a very dear and special friend
found it and sent it my way. I am forever
thankful. My son Alex took one look at
the cover and said, 'yes, that looks like
you'.  Ha!

I knit a swatch and met gauge, but before
casting on I am trying to finish my shawl.
I'm not sure of my will power this time,
I think I'm floundering, but having two
wip's isn't too bad, right?

I tried out a new recipe [but I used crunchy
almond butter] and this may have been a
mistake, they are really good.

How was your weekend?

Joining Karen

SOMETIMES

Sometimes smiling is the greatest act
of defiance, & sometimes asking for
help is the most meaningful example
of self-reliance.
Sometimes the best medicine is to
just laugh until you cry, & sometimes
the greatest wisdom comes from
accepting you will never know why.
Sometimes just going to bed is the
best antidote to trials and tribulations,
&sometimes just being blessed to
get up again and face it all, for one
more day, is worthy of celebration.

~ Pinterest

Sometimes life is just hard.
Sometimes the trust you place
in others is taken advantage of,
sometimes, even if it's very
frustrating, you just have to
let go and have faith that in
the end everything will work
out the way it is suppose to.

I have spent my week dealing with
insurance companies, doctor's that
were suppose to send referrals and
didn't,  a phone call informing me
that my doctor [the one I was
suppose to  see June 1] just up
and left the practice, and the list
goes on and on, and on.  Exhale.

Despite all the stress from outside
sources, there has been my usual
walks,  working in the garden, the
return of summer heat and humidity,
Alex finishing the last of his school
work, my knitting that brings such
comfort, and homemade lemonade.

Happy weekend to you.

Love,
Tracey
xo

Honey-Lemonade
1/2 honey
1 cup warm water
1 cup fresh lemon juice
   [about 6 lemon}
4 cups cold water

Stir honey and warm water
together until blended.
Add lemon juice and cold
water. Chill. Perfect after
an afternoon of garden work.

MY WEEK AND A SIMPLE RECIPE

“I wish I could describe the feeling of being at sea,
the anguish, frustration, and fear, the beauty that
accompanies threatening spectacles, the spiritual
communion with creatures in whose domain I sail.
There is a magnificent intensity in life that comes
when we are not in control but are only reacting,
living, surviving. But for me, to go to sea is to
glimpse the face of God. At sea I am reminded
of my insignificance, of all [wo] men's insignificance.
It is a wonderful feeling to be so humbled.”

~ Pinterest

WARNING:: snake photos below

 

 

 

This has been a busy week
and I am tired.

Alex is almost complete with
all his lessons for the year, just
an essay and he is done,so I have
paperwork to turn in to the home-
school association, I detest
paperwork.

On Wednesday with the threat of
a tropical depression heading our
way My Mike decided we needed
a beach day just in case we got rained
out on Sunday.  This was an incredible
gesture on his part because as much
as I love the beach, My Mike does
not, he prefers the river;  opposites
really do attract.

It was a glorious day. We walked
from one end to the other, staying
until the sun was setting, then picked
up sushi for me and pizza for them
to eat at home.

See the snake on the pine tree? That
is the chicken snake we saw as we
were parking, it's not poisonous,
but then today I was picking dandelions
to make salve and our little dog Alice
would not stop barking...thank goodness,
not two feet from me was a copperhead,
[very poisonous] that I would never have
seen if not for her.  Have a mentioned
that I am not a fan of snakes?

I had another recipe I planned to share today,
but with the wind and rain I am trying to get
this post up in case my power goes out so
I am sharing an easy cracker recipe that is
quick to make, but delicious to eat. Next
week I will share my Spaghetti Genovese.
Do you have a recipe to share? Please
leave a comment so we can see.

I want to wish all the mama's out there
a Happy Mother's Day and to all a
great weekend.

Love,
Tracey
XO

Simply Crackers

1 1/2 cups flour of your choice
  I use gluten free baking flour
  with 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup water with 2 Tablespoons oil olive added
1  or 2 Tablespoons:
flax seed, sesame seeds, chai seeds or hemp hearts

Mix well until dough holds together. Roll thin
on parchment paper, then transfer to a flour
dusted baking sheet and bake at 400F for 10
minutes or until golden.

Tastes really awesome dipped in homemade
Ranch dip...
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 diced garlic clove
1 teaspoon dill
2 Tablespoons chives
1/2 sea salt
freshly ground pepper to taste

Process in blender until smooth.