NOURISHING

Nutrition is not low fat.
It's not low calorie. It's
not being hungry and
feeling deprived. It's
nourishing your body
with real, whole foods
so you are consistently
satisfied and energized
to live life to the fullest.
After all, isn't that what
this life is all about?

~ Skinnyms.com

I am a foodie, although when I
was younger I didn't know that
was the correct term, I just knew
I loved cooking and reading
cookbooks just for fun.

I love to cook foods from all
over the world, mostly foods
with a 'kick' as I don't have much
of a sweet tooth, [except for cheese
cake, which I never turn down].
Most recipes I never follow to a
tee, I add, subtract, and change
to suit what I have on hand.
While I am a vegetarian, my family
is not, so each day I cook a wide
range of foods. 

This past winter I kind of lost my
groove in the kitchen and fell into
a rut, just cooking the basics in order
not to starve, but nothing that I was
thrilled to prepare.

With the change in the season, the
gardens starting to produce and
inspiration from Heather's class,
I have my spark back and have spent
every day this week playing in the
kitchen with my food.

I wondered if any of you need a spark
to reignite, or perhaps ignite, your food
love? I would like to host a recipe
swap next Friday and share with you
one of my favorite recipes and you
could do the same on your blog, leaving
a comment so we can all visit and
expand our menus, what do you
think?

Today I will share a dish I prepare for
my son who does have a sweet tooth....

Banana Chocolate Almond dairy free 'ice cream'

2 frozen bananas
1/4-1/2 cup coconut milk [canned]
1/8 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Place all ingredients in a blender and
blend until smooth. Top with crushed
raw almonds.  Easy

LOVE KNITTING

It's not how much we give,
but how much love we put
into giving.

~ Mother Teresa

 

One row at a time my Stonecrop is



growing. I had originally planned
to only knit nine repeats of the
pattern, but now I am thinking I
will just knit until I am almost out
of yarn and then complete the top
boarder. Since this wrap is the first
of my 2015 Christmas gifts I do not
feel any reason to rush,   I am enjoying
myself too much, putting love into
each and every stitch.

As much fun as knitting Stonecrop
is I will be putting it aside for a little
while to cast on the hat I am knitting
for the Mystery Hat Swap. It took
me a few days to decide on a pattern,
and then I went digging deep in my
yarn trunk for some special yarn I
have been saving and I think this is
the right time to use it.

My reading this week is Beaded Hope.
a book from my church library. While
I am finding the story line a little too
'soap operaish' I do the love the concept
of helping women from anywhere in
the world inspiring and empowering.

Linking with Ginny



SUMMER BLOG SWAP GIFTS

 Ride the energy of your
own unique spirit.

~Gabrielle Roth

I started before I knew who my new
friend would be, but finished once I
knew her name.

A knit cotton dish towel to hang in
her kitchen,
a cloth to wipe down her counters.

Jam sealed in jars to be opened
at her table.

A gourd, cut, sanded, painted and
sewn just for her.

A market bag, that while I didn't sew
[and if you know me you know that's
a good thing],  but I did sew on the
buttons selected from my special jar
of buttons that I collect.

Now to find a box and they are on there
way, enjoy my new friend, it's been a
pleasure poking around your blog,
getting to know your spirit, I hope
you like the gifts.
XO

Summer blog Swap

AMANDA IS HOSTING A BLOG SWAP NUMBER 2

 

 I wanted to let you know

Amanda of SweetPotatoClaire

is once again hosting a blog swap and you

can find all the details here.

 

I participated in the last swap and

am looking forward to this one too.

You can read about my part here

and here

SNAIL MAIL

Some people come into our lives and
quickly go. Some stay for a while,
leave footprints on our hearts, and
we are never, ever the same.

~Flavia Weedn

 

Most days I get very little mail,

I am paperless all the way,

but not long ago my box was

over flowing with special wonders.

First to arrive was a box from the

beautiful and sweet Katie. I won

a giveaway she was hosting, a

giveaway of the most lovely

bows made from a recycled

calendar. I can do a lot of things,

but bow making isn't a skill

I was blessed with so these

bows will come in handy.

 

Next came a package all the

way from Denmark from a

Snail Mail Country Swap I

participated in that Vibeke

hosted. My partner, Mette,

outdid herself. I love everything

she picked out from the tea,

the turtle necklace, the candy,

to the yarn, but my favorite

is a print that I have named

Lorraine because she reminds

me so much of my Granny.

'Lorraine', which I named her

after my Granny, now hangs in

my kitchen where I can see and

talk with her daily ;)

 

Katie and Mette, thank you

for coming into my life, You

both touched my heart and

I am forever changed.

 XO

 

KINDNESS TOUCHED ME

How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!

 ~George Elliston

As you know I participated
in a Blogger Swap hosted by
the beautiful Amanda [ SweetPotoatoClaire.]
I showed you the gifts that
I made and sent off and now
I would love to share what I
received in the mail last week.
My gifts were made by the
very talented and lovely
Mackenzie from While the Water Boils.

 Perfect for me as I am always
getting little burns when I
am in the kitchen and we
won't mention the cuts. ;)

 Smell so good I want it eat it!

Lavender and lemon are both
favorite scents of mine and this
lotion feels amazing.

I can't wait to use these
 bath salts.

I love all the gifts, but I think
my favorite are these pillow cases.
Aren't they pretty?
Since I don't sew it never entered
my head to make pillow cases,
and I think they are amazing.

Amanda and Mackenzie,
thank you both for giving
me a beautiful day and making
my life a little brighter.
I am touched by the kindness
and look forward to the next
swap.

WEEKENDING

Women are always beautiful.

~Ville Valo

Saturday I rose in the dark to
get ready for a trip to Charleston
with my future daughter- in -love,
her sister, mother and grandmother.
We were on a mission to find the
perfect wedding dress and we found
it! There really is something about
putting on a wedding dress that
turns every girl  into a princess
and Shaylin was more beautiful
than ever. I am so happy she is
going to be part of my family.
Now if I can just find my dress!

We had lunch here, talked non-
stop. In my life I am not often
surrounded by women so this was a
fun experience. When I arrived home
I was exhausted, but in a good
way.

I received an email from my
Blogger Swap partner telling
me the box arrived and she liked
the gifts, what great news
to end my day.

This morning the sun is shining,
I am still in my pajama's, there
is a hot cup of chai beside me
and I have been spending time
browsing a new to me site, it
makes my book loving self happy.
I have plans later to bake an
apple pie because I need to do
something with a huge bowl of
apples, knit a lot and watch the
closing ceremonies for the Olympics.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful
weekend wherever you are in the
world.
XO

I HOPE SHE LIKE THEM

The wings of hope carry us,
soaring high above the driving
winds of life.

~Ana Jacob

The gifts for my blog swap partner

are complete...

 

:: Cosy Cup

 

::Leaf Coasters

 

:: A gourd bowl

 

:: A bag of Almond Rosemary Toffee [ART]

 

The box is addressed and waiting to

be delivered to the post office tomorrow.

It has to make a trip across the country

and then hopefully I will find out if

she likes the gifts. My fingers are crossed.