GRATITUDE WEEK: FRIDAY

 When we are alone on a starlit night,
when by chance we see the migrating birds in
autumn descending on a grove of junipers to
rest and eat; when we see children in a moment           
when they are really children, when we know
love in our own hearts; or when, like the
Japanese poet, Basho, we hear an old frog
land in a quiet pond with a solitary splash -
at such times the awakening, the turning
inside out of all values, the "newness,"
the emptiness and the purity of vision
that make themselves evident, all these
provide a glimpse of the cosmic dance.                                 

~Thomas Merton 

                          



I am grateful for:

 

-My husband, Mike

-My daughter Erin, her
husband John and their
wee one Emerson.

-My son, Michael and his
wife Jordan

-My son Charlie and his
wife Ashley

- My sons Peter and Alex.

-and I am grateful for
You...

-as we float along on
this journey called life,
it's a beautiful feeling
to know there are so
many fantastic people
traveling with me.
I'm having a blast!

Have an awesome weekend.

UpDate: Ooops!
I am very grateful for my
mom and two beautiful
sisters!

GRATITUDE WEEK: THURSDAY

The world has enough beautiful mountains
and meadows, spectacular skies and serene
lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered
fields and sandy beaches. It has plenty of
stars and the promise of a new sunrise
and sunset every day. What the world
needs more of is people to appreciate
and enjoy it. 

~Michael Josephson

Today I am grateful for:

-quilts on beds, it turned
a little chilly here last
night.

-waking to the sound
of raindrops on the roof

-bread rising on the
counter and dinner in
the crockpot

-time yesterday to play
at the marsh, to take
in the sights, smells,
feel of it all.

-not missing a single
day of juicing all
month

My morning juice recipe:

1 head Romaine Lettuce
Huge bunch of Kale
1 large Apple
1 Lemon
1-2 inch piece Gingerroot
1 Tablespoon Breakfast Blend

GRATITUDE WEEK: WEDNESDAY & YARN ALONG

I thank you God for this most amazing day,
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and
for the blue dream of sky and for everything
which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. 

~e.e. cummings

                                                                 

   

I am grateful for:

-This place I call home.

-Pine trees Mike and I
planted together almost
eighteen years ago.

-Learning to knit,
although I really think
I was a knitter in a past
life ;)

-The body of one
Annabel almost complete,

-and the casting on of
the last one which
will complete almost
half of my Christmas
list.

-Project Stash: KAL
and many pairs of
mittens and fingerless
gloves off the needles,

-and another pair just
taking shape.

-Audible books. I am really
enjoying Gone Girl's story
line even with the garbage
mouth language. I wish
people would realize there
are so many lovely words
that could be used instead
of trash.

-Yarn Along each week,
which keeps me motivated
and inspired.

 

 

GRATITUDE WEEK: TUESDAY

Gratitude is the fairest blossom
which springs from the soul. 

~Henry Ward Beecher
 

I am grateful for:

-The forecast of rain-
very needed in these
parts.

-Volunteer flowers
scattered about the
fields

-Learning to make my
own coconut butter

-A messy studio, it means
I've been hard at work

-All the ceiling fans
in my home-cleaned!

-Fresh greens from the
garden to make juice
with for breakfast

-Today and all the
possibilities it brings

A WEEK OF GRATITUDE: MONDAY

As each day comes to us
refreshed and anew, so
does my gratitude renew
itself daily. The breaking
of the sun over the horizon
is my grateful heart dawning
upon a blessed world. 

~Terri Guillemets

 Today's gratitude list:

-the sunshine through
my bedroom windows

-hot coffee in my favorite
cup, even if it doesn't have
stevia

-an early morning run
as my family sleeps

-the smell of pine needles
in the air

-son's who make me laugh
at myself

-new art work on my
kitchen wall and a
new book on the
nightstand

-a just laid egg warm
in my hand

-a husband, father,
father in-law, brother
in-law and now a son
in-law who all protect[ed]
our country, thank you.

Happy Veteran's Day!

-

THIS MOMENT

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Joining with SouleMama. xx

 

 

YARN ALONG

Everyone must take time to
sit and watch the leaves turn. 

~Elizabeth Lawrence

 Autumn did arrive
here in the south
and I am loving it,
sitting outside as
much as I can,

and finishing another Annabel.

This time A Pink Annabel is

 off the needles,

 just waiting on
buttons and a good
blocking.

 The wind has really
been blowing,
.

covering the ground with

the prettiest leaves, cool

sea breezes and no humidity,

making it hard to go inside,

instead still sitting  at the

outside table knitting needles

in hand, concentrating on

finishing The Brown Annabel.

After this one is finished,

I will only have one more

to complete by Christmas,

then I really need to get

some mitts finished for all

my guys.

 

I finished Home and loved it,

and now am falling into

The Bean Trees.

Linking up with Ginny.

 

 

APPLES, APPLES, APPLES

If you have an apple and
I have an apple and we
exchange these apples
then you and I will still
each have one apple.
But if you have an idea
and I have an idea and
we exchange these ideas,
then each of us will have
two ideas.

~ George Bernard Shaw

-A gift from Virginia
-A recipe I think I
got from Ellen [it
not, and it was from
you, please let me
know]
-The need to put
some nervous energy
to use
-All resulted in a nice
surprise for my guys.

Do you have an idea or
recipe to share for the
fall months?

APPLE CAKE

6 Apples
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
5 Tablespoons Sugar

2 3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Cups Sugar
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
2 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
4 Eggs
1 Cup Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a tube pan.
Peel and chop apples into chunks, toss with sugar and cinnamon,
set aside.

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.  In a separate bowl
whisk together oil, juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix into dry ingredients.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well.

Pour half the batter into prepared pan, spread half the apple mixture
over the batter. Pour remaining batter over apples then arrange
remaining apples on top.

Bake 1 1/2 hours or until tester comes out clean.

WEEKENDING

Having a place to go - is a home. 
Having someone to love - is a family. 
Having both - is a blessing. 

~Donna Hedges

 

My weekend started Thursday

with the arrival of my favorite

person in the whole world.

We played, baked, colored,

read books, and more books,

me reading to her and her

reading to me. I watched

her write her name  and cut

out paper leaves without any

help. We gathered acorns to

'plant a forest' and had races

up and down the drive. I collected

as many hugs as I could and

when she left Friday afternoon

I cried.

 

Saturday was a very disappointing

trip to the thrift store and leaving

empty handed. I spent the

rest of the day knitting, knitting,

knitting. Except for the buttons

the Sunday Sweater I have been

working on is done! I am so

thrilled with how it turned out

and when it's done blocking

I will post pictures. The sweater

was a great pattern to knit

and I see myself cast on another

one soon.

 

Sunday has started off slow and

once again there are no plans

for the day, just letting the

moments flow. While the weather

outside is 86 degrees and humid,

tonight the temperatures are

suppose to be in the high 50's!

I know it won't last, but at least

for now I will enjoy weather that

actually feels like fall.

 

Joining with Amanda once again

for Weekending.

 

 

 



WEEKENDING

The foliage has been losing its freshness
through the month of August, and here
and there a yellow leaf shows itself like
the first gray hair amidst the locks of a
beauty who has seen one season too many. 

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

I saw a falling leaf Saturday
as the temperature climbed to
88 degrees and the calendar
said the Autumnal Equinox
had arrived, ahem!

There was a trip to the
LYS to just pick up a
smaller circular needle to
knit sleeves for my grey Annabel,
I am hoping for more speed
compared to dpns, and
leaving with yarn to cast
on Wingspan. My goodness,
the yarn store is just as bad
as the bookstore and I just
can't help myself! ;)

There has been a lot of
food this weekend...
sushi, olive salad with pita
bread, portabella mushrooms,
and peanut butter cookies
are baking in the oven right
now.

My home has been given 
it's weekly deep clean loving,
school lessons have been
mapped out, the weekly
menu is planned and the
rest of the day is up in the
air so I am just going to
roll with it.

I hope you are enjoying
this day wherever you are
and that you are sharing it
with someone you love!

Joining with the ever lovely
Amanda.