Briana Blackwelder

Briana Blackwelder (at my son's birth) from David Perry on Vimeo.

Oh Briana, my heart aches and my words are lost 

I will miss you my friend 

::

You have taught me so much 

We have learned so much 

I miss our time together 

We have had some truly amazing experiences together and witnessed some incredible things

Changed forever by these experiences

:: 

You are loved Briana

 Very loved and you will be missed

::

Thank you for the love that you have given the world

It has truly been a gift,  being your friend

::

As we all go into the world of birth 

Watch over us 

May your spirit be with us and your hands guide us

through the times of great joy 

 the times we are scared

when we are tired

when we pray for strength 

or need divine answers

::

It feels like your work is just starting

Sending you love...

::

Peace

Spring...where are you?

The Great White North is wearing me down.
The winter will not end.
We are weary, we are tired and we need the spring to come.
It has tried, but every time it does....winter comes back. Not sure what is going on. But it is cold and snowy.
Normally, by this time I am starting to work in my garden and prepare for planting in May.
I am usually planting last years potatoes by now. My potatoes are trying to escape the basement....they really want to be planted.
We have started most of the plants and are getting excited....now I am getting anxious....it is looking grim in the garden.

No this is not a visit to an Arctic Lake, this is a visit to the garden. There is still 4 or 5 feet of snow and a lake in the middle.
Polar dip anyone?
Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful spring...

Quote of the day

Wanna fly? You've got to give up the shit that weighs you down.

~Toni Morrision

Balance

Balance....What a concept....I am working hard on this. 

It seems like no matter how hard I try...Balance  is my biggest challenge.

To much school, not enough cleaning.

To much cleaning....not enough playing with children.

To much knitting....not enough school work. 

and on and on.

::Balance is my mantra::

Now...What to do? 

Schedule everything? Go with the flow? Checklists? 

I wish I knew the answer. 

So...I made a daily checklist of everything that I should or would like to do in the day. 

I am going to start there. 

I am determined to learn Balance.

Breathe... Balance.

Quote of the day

And in the end, the love you take

Is equal to the love you make

~Paul McCartney

Enjoy the journey

School.... It seems like I am so focused on getting to the finish line, and getting it done,  that I am not exactly enjoying the journey. I feel like the more I rush it...the less I am learning.  


There is so much to learn...
I don't want to be Good... 
I want to be Great.


So I am going to stop trying to get There and just BE on the journey. 


When I get there it will be alright. It may be later then I planned.... but I will have enjoyed it.


I promise myself to "enjoy the journey".

Sewing for Sylvia

A Skirt for Sylvia! 

For her 1st birthday.

Mailed today.

It is a Lazy Days Skirt by Oliver and S found here.

Oh how they grow.....

Dear boys, 

You are getting so big!!

Where has the time gone?

I know that you both desperately want to be bigger.

Enjoy being little for a just a while longer.

Please stop loosing teeth.

Luv, Mama

Check out this post by Anthromama: Teeth and Rebirth.

5th month

And she grows...

5 months old.

Weekending

We weekended  in the city. 

It was a full weekend.

It was full of museums, waterslides, pizza, chips, pop and knitting supplies. 

We had a great time. 

Glad we are home.
Were exhausted!

So much for small projects...

So I said that I was going to work on small knitting projects...ahemmm.


Well I may have a larger project on the needles....as of last night. I just could not resist..Right! 


It is an easy pattern once you get going...but I am feeling a little challenged when you change directions.


Here is what I am working on a Big Herringbone Cowl. with some very lovely bamboo/silk yarn in a dark chocolate brown.


I can't wait to wear it.

Cold day knitting

I completed some cold day knitting.  It felt really great. I had temporarily suspended knitting. Crazy right! With all that has been going on, I have put it to the side. I think it was the wrong choice...so I am filling the basket again. But just with small project. Little treasures I can make when I need a Break.

I am very excited about this little treasure. It is part of a birthday present for my niece who will be turning 1 on Valentines Day. The Pattern is baglove  found on yarn zombie. I altered it to make it flat on the bottom by putting a few purl rows before I decreased. So cute for little hands.

Welcome February

February is the longest,  

shortest month.

..... it lingers. 

It is cold and stormy.

It is true Winter on the Prairies. 

I love February. 

I love...

the name, that it is short, the valentines.

I love...

The seeds that arrive in the mail.

Planting the first seeds indoors.

I love that...

The days get longer.

The sun gets stronger.

School takes a winter break.

The groundhog decides our fate.

Wishing a warm and lovely February to all.

Baby its cold outside

Its Cold!!! 

When I say cold.. I mean it!!

It is take your breath away cold.

The bus driver called and school is cancelled because it is so cold. 

As a child I wished for days like this...living in the city....but it seems like in the city life never stops even for the cold.
But is the country...its another story. 
It is not a snow storm, we are not snowed in...its just cold!
So how cold is does it have to be to cancel school?
-45 C. That's how cold it is. FYI..that's -49 F. 


So today will be spent curled up with the furnace pumping nonstop, wishing for a fire place...
I have already been on Ravelry today looking for a knitting project...
It feels right to relax, drink teas and knit on this cold day... and make soup....we need soup!!
::Keep Warm::

Soul Food

This weekend was cold. We spent most of the time huddled up, drinking coffee, tea, watching movies..in pajama's.  The kids did go outside a few times...but it was just to cold to enjoy.

Oh how, I wish we could say we were cuddled up by our fire.....but we were not.....we are still "working on it"...oh how we wish it was finished on days like these. It really is not a process for a cold winter day...it requires a huge hole to be cut in the roof...Burrr.

The mercury has dipped. No more +5 days. We have dipped to -20 C in a matter of minutes. This is no surprise...it happens every year...we are after all,  on the Prairies. Even in the Banana Belt of this flat wonder...it is cold. 

Warm thoughts to everyone else who is colder!!

On these cold days we are comforted and warmed by food. Hot food. Comfort food. So, this weekend we cooked and warmed our soul with food down here on our little farm. 

Recipes to share:  

(I adapted some of these Recipes from my own and Robin Lim’s Book After the Baby's Birth. which Is very lovely I might add.)

ENJOY!! We did a few times...

Dahl

2-3 TBSP Butter/Ghee/oil--whatever you have

1 large Onion

2 TBSP of Curry Powder(I made my own)see below.

5 C or more Water-I had to add more as I went along.

2 C small red split lentils

1 TBSP Salt

2 cloves of garlic...chopped/squished

1 lemon juiced...you may add more..depending on your lemon.

1TBSP of honey or brown sugar. (or more)
1 Carrot grated

::Fry the onion in a few tbsp of butter.Sweat the curry- Add a little butter, add curry and cook it in the oil/butter or Ghee. The onion seeds will pop. Add water to onions and spices. Add Lentils and Salt.Cook until tender. Add remaining ingredients. Add a grated carrot. Adjust seasoning...Enjoy.

Note:It cook for about an hour or less...make sure you keep checking it and stirring it...add more water if needed...It should be soup consistency. 

::Serve with cumin yogurt and Naan Bread

Curry Powder

3 TBSP  Ground Turmeric

3 TBSP  ground Cumin

1 TBSP  ground Coriander

1 TBSP ground ginger

1 TBSP ground cardamom

1 TBSP brown mustard seeds

1 TSP ground black Pepper

1 TSP ground asafoetida

:Mix in a jar, seal with a lid.

Cumin yogurt

1 cup Plain Yogurt

a few pinches of cumin

use it to top the Dahl

Bread Maker Naan

100ml of water

60 ml Plain yogurt

1 2/3 cups flour

5 ml cumin seeds

1 tsp salt

2 tsp honey

1 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp dry yeast.

::For Bread maker..add ingredient in order. Put it on DOUGH setting.

::Divide dough into pieces...about 6-8 ish. You may want bigger or smaller pieces. Role them all out. Place a few at a time on a cookie sheet. 

::Bake: 450-500 F until it slightly browns  and gets air pockets...Watch it cooks quickly!

Note: I made this by hand too...it actually faster...bread machines are great..but they take a long time. Make it like you would make bread, Proof yeast, make a sponge, add flour, kneed,  let in rise until it doubles and then roll it out and Bake it. It's really nice!! 

I hope you had a weekend full of soul food and family. 

Seeds

Seeds...

Seed Catalogues...

Oh.... for the love of seeds.

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeds.

It's time to order.

This weekend we will finalize our seed orders here on the farm.

We will cozy up and make it final.

We have tried all kinds of seeds, during our time here.

Our favorites you ask?

West Coast Seeds

Prairie Garden Seeds

Richters

Happy SEED hunting!!

We would love to hear your favorites.

Surrender to peace

This week...

::I surrendered to the flow of life.

::I enjoyed the beauty around.

::I took a break from school work.

::I have decided I should not worry.

::I tried not to react.

::I gave love.

::I projected love.

::I create peace.

::I filled cups.

My vision was to shift everyone in this home... to love more. Move to a new place...of peace. I am changing the way I react, the way act and engage. It is changing the way I feel. It seems to be affecting everyone around here. I am seeing the subtle changes....its working.

::Peace::

Gratefuls and Heartfuls

As I sit in the loveliness of the sun pouring in the window...I am grateful...My heart is happy...My Heart is full...I receive.

I am grateful for the little lovelies in and of the world. Grateful for those very small things that have the ability to move you, to fill your heart and to make you smile. Those things that connect you to the past by a smell, a sound or a taste. Those very little things that heal you heart and make it smile and sing.

::My gratefuls and heartfuls::

::ice cubes and water::

::homemade soup::

::french press coffee::

::whipped cream::

::warm blankets::

::feather beds::

::fresh peaches::

::noisy boys::

::baby smiles::

::sunshine::

::wool::

::the smell of spring::

::the scratchy sound of vinyl records::

::sweet Music:: Cat Stevens, Michael Franti, Anne Murray, Raffi::

::fresh bread::

::beautiful things::

What is your list of gratefuls and heartfuls?

A brand new day

It is a New Week!

When I woke up this morning I was determined to really make it a "New week". It kind started out the same...I stopped myself.

Last week was.....well its history. Thank goodness. Last was a non stop fighting, bad attitude, chaos, colds, behind on school work, sick dog, snowed in, stuck in the house, house trashed,husband working long days, cold, Frustrated, Sad, Disorganized, tired crazy kind of week. Somebody call the the “whaaambulance”!

So now it is time to let go of last week...I cannot change it.

I am making this week wonderful and fabulous.

If I can change my attitude...I am finding that I can completely change the outcome. I have been experiencing this more and more.

I have a mantra that I say when I want to overreact, jump and stamp and have a fit....which I do....more than I like to admit. I say it when I feel that surge of “oh no you didn’t”, go through my body and I want to spit cherries and blurt out the first thing that comes to my mouth...which usually makes the situation worse....fuels the fire.

Mantra: “You have control over your reaction”. Cheezy...kind of...effective YES! This is surprisingly comforting....it works really well. It allows you to think before you speak.....What a concept.

I am noticing more and more that, I really have the ability to make a situation bad or good with the way I react. It can either send a child running from the room crying or getting a hug and being helpful. I am starting to think before I speak. This is HUGE.

So....

With the sun shinning, news of a warm winter week, a full heart and good intentions.I move forward and make this week so very wonderful. I am ever grateful for the opportunities that present. As I search for new ways to simplify, keep everyone happy, provide opportunity for growth. There is no doubt that this is and going to be a very busy and intense year. My intension is to glide through with grace. Pick myself up and start over. What else can we do but...Breath and try again.

So this week I am going to take a moment to be grateful everyday for what I have. A wonderful family, life, home and farm. I am grateful that I can sleep in warm bed, stay warm in a warm house, eat. The list, goes on and on.

I will clean and tidy my house, spend time with my children, spend time with friends, do something for myself, catch up on school work. I may even throw a creative project into the week, I have a few on the go that need some finishing. I will enjoy life. I will chase my dreams. I will wait for good news. I will be patient. I will love.

:: After all::

::All you need is love::

How will you make your life wonderful this week?