Monday, November 9, 2015

Fall Here

Burning leaves in our backyard

I just stepped back inside from a short walk and decided I absolutely MUST share a bit of our Fall here in the Pacific Northwest.  It’s my first “real” Fall.  “Real” in the sense  where I can feel that “thing” in the air that marks the severing of summer and fall.

Everything is now more muted.  The sun still shines (except perhaps on the rainy days) but with less intensity, dropping more readily behind the hills and skyline as I watch.  Those same hills are mottled with varying shades: pale oranges, golden yellows and a few maple blood reds ….all set amidst the Evergreens that pervade the landscape.  Summer’s long weeds and grasses now stand lop-sided and dusty brown at the roadside and fence line.  The cultivated gardens and orchards appear bald and abandoned with old vines and plants gathered into piles while the fields and open spaces sport fresh green fuzz, a gift of the periodic Fall rain storms.  Sometimes the air pulses faintly with the drum of a helicopter as the nearby Christmas tree farm harvests trees on the hillside.  Other times the air is still and calm, with only the smoke from the burn piles be-lying the fall-time activity of our neighbors and nearby logging sites.  

There is a special “delightfulness” for me outside. My blood is slowly thickening and finding it easier to slip into a little sweatshirt before going outside to feed the chickens or to walk the quarter mile down the driveway to the mailbox.  My breath accompanies me in little puffs and vapors on my morning and late afternoon activities.  There is a quietness and calm…a misty, leaf-crunching “settling” that has begun. 


I am guessing winter may be a different story for me but so far I have adapted fairly well to the seasonal changes.  Let’s hope for the best! Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the nieces playing in my leaf piles, learning how to start fires in wood stoves, and bringing the color of pumpkins and squash inside the house.  

Friday, October 30, 2015

Foodie Friday: My Most Favorite Muffin


The recipe I am about to share is the muffin of all muffins for me. It is the muffin of all muffins because it is healthy, versatile in the flavor, and personal.  You can make one muffin at a time.  Yes.  In a cup or mug or ramekin.  So you can eat it all by yourself when you suddenly realize that you would really like a muffin for breakfast or for a hearty afternoon snack.    I say "hearty" because it is crammed full of  metabolism -loving, nutrient-dense ingredients.  It contains about enough yuminess and goodies to make a small meal (which is what I often eat it for....breakfast).  

The original recipe was taken from Trim Healthy Mama's website under their free recipes.   I don't necessarily subscribe to how they do things, but this recipe is wonderful!! This recipe is for 1 serving only.  I often double it to make one for Hubby and I on Saturdays or Sundays but I have actually increased it by a factor of 10 to make 20 regular-sized muffins (since muffin tins are smaller than the ramekins or dessert cups used in the microwave version).  

In the recipe, I added some ideas or add-ins.  Personally my favorites so far are the extra spices, shredded coconut, apple and carrots.  Pumpkin though is perfect for fall and cranberry N ginger or orange will be brilliant for winter!  Also, the original recipe calls for Stevia which is nice for some and completely exchangeable for folks who aren't into that.  I normally use a little squirt of honey or maple syrup instead of Stevia.  Whatever you do and whatever variation you try, hopefully you will be as delighted as I have been! Let me know how it works!


Cinnamon Flax Seed Muffin in a Mug

Ingredients:
3 Tbs. Golden Flax meal (or 2 Tbs. Golden Flax meal + 1 Tbs Almond Flour)
1 Tbs. Cinnamon
1 Egg
½ tsp Baking Powder
1 Tbs Water
3-5 mini spoons of Stevia powder or coconut sugar (I have used a splash of maple syrup or honey)
Splash of Vanilla
Additional, optional add-ins
-Shredded (unsweetened coconut)
- 1 Tbsp Hemp seeds
- Shredded carrots
- diced apple or dried fruit
- Blueberries
-1 Tablespoon Pumpkin puree
- nutmeg, ginger and all-spice

Optional Frosting Ingredients
1 flat Tbs. ½ less fat cream cheese
2 heaping Tbs. plain Greek yogurt
½- ¾ tsp vanilla or a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice or concentrate depending on whether you want vanilla or lemon flavored frosting

Instructions:
Muffin
1.     Crack egg into a coffee mug or a ramekin and whisk it well with a fork
2.    Add all other ingredients, whisking vigorous with your fork (it does not matter if the coconut oil is hardened, just stir it all in very well.
3.    Microwave for 1 minute (then check and cook for another minute as needed) OR bake at 350F in a ramekin for 10 15 minutes or until done.  You can also use a regular muffin tray and fill two holes to make two medium muffins out of this mix.  Pour water into the rest of the holes and this helps the muffin!
4.    Dig in and enjoy (unless you are making the frosting in which case you…)

Frosting
1.     Put cream cheese and yogurt into a small bowl.
2.    Add rest of ingredients (if using a stevia blend be sure to grind it first in coffee grinder so your icing will be smooth, not gritty).
3.    Stir all ingredients very well with your fork, taste to for desired sweetness an add more stevia if needed.
4.    Top muffin generous with all the frosting.





Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Hurting My Own Feelings

There are many lessons that one learns when newly married.  Many lessons.  In fact, that is the “one thing most necessary” (I believe) in becoming a new bride (and a new groom)—being a Humble Learner. 

Lately my learning experiences have revolved around my willingness to hurt my own feelings. 
Whaaa? 

I am talking about the hurt feelings that bubble up after you have exercised a measure of self-discipline and just used a powerful word on yourself.  The word… “NO.” Ever experienced the sting of that word as you said it to yourself?  Yeah, it hurts huh?

For the newly married person, it hurts because you have just challenged your subconscious entitlement mentality and/or your sense what-was-normal-when- I-was single.  You really hadn’t thought you carried inside yourself a demanding attitude but you were surprised at just how hard it was to say that “NO” to your wants simply because that would be the wisest choice right now. 
My latest “NO” that I am referring to, involved where and on what to spend of portion of the paycheck.  I need to start out by saying that my husband and I are not destitute and do not truly suffer want in any way, shape, or form.  My husband works hard and faithfully to provide and he does so wonderfully!!!!  I have NO complaints.  From the start, (as of 3 months ago when we got married) we set up certain goals and put some extra restrictions on ourselves in an effort to be conservative until we get more history of household spending.  And for a time, we made the commitment to work in cash. 

So as I portioned out the money this month and made my mental calculations I realized that when faced with “needs” and “things-that- are important-to-me-and-I really-would-like-to have-but-are-still wants,” I would have to make a choice. And I made that choice.  It was a good choice that, like I said, hurt my feelings.   It was a choice that I am glad I am able and willing to make.  Because honestly, how much better it is to hurt now then to not be able to purchase that unexpected thing you didn’t know you needed or being unable to give a little tangible encouragement to someone, or to have that “little bit extra” for later?  How much better to stick to very reasonable goals that you and your husband have committed to than to only please yourself by buying something you wanted?  How much more satisfying and unifying to work hard to steward as much as possible what your sweet, hardworking Hubby has worked hard and faithfully to earn?  How much better to trust God for the definition and provision of your needs and wants?

I am so thankful for the wise, frugal and you-gotta-work-hard sort of upbringing that both my husband and I experienced growing up.  How much more difficult would it be to say “NO” to oneself if you have always had the history (and likely thus expectation) of always getting what you want.  I am thankful for my growing up experience but I find I am still on the path of learning these things myself.  I am also so thankful for God teaching me.


So for you singles out there… do what it takes to develop and cultivate an attitude of giving and of being willing to say no to yourself.  It’s not a sin to wisely enjoy the freedom you have as a single person BUT don’t make things extra hard on yourself and your spouse later by buying what you want, when you want and put NO restrictions on yourself.    It’s just a little piece of practice.  Trust me, you will be smiling later.  :D

Monday, September 21, 2015

Hitched!!

Unbelievable it seems to me that I have not written in 11 months!! (Ok, maybe not so unbelievable if you look at my blogging history!) .  But the most unbelievable things are all the events that have happened since I last blogged.  I'll give you a quick rewind/fast-forward version of my life in those 11 months... Two months prior to my last post I began dating a wonderful man (my sister's brother-in-law to be precise) who I had admired and silently prayed about for some time (a long time!).  That November he flew down to my family to visit and in January 2015 we were engaged.  Six months simultaneously flew and crawled by until June 6th 2015 rolled around and we were married! (It's horivle of my to fly so quickly over a good love story.  And believe me, this one is a good one.  Details to come later).  Honestly, our wedding day was one of the best days of my life as I celebrated God's kindness and design and said goodbye to friends and family alike. Good byes?  Yes, I had to say many goodbyes as my new husband was taking me to a completely different state and way of life!  This City--born girl with a Country-heart has now been transplanted and is living in the country!
We landed back into our new home at the beginning go of summer which, as I came to discover, is one of THE busiest times in the life of any Country person.  Chickens, gardens, roses, weeds, unpacking, figuring out a budget, learning new geography and places to shop, family events, cooking and housecleaning, digging out old bushes, wedding thank you notes, canning and freezing produce....the list goes on and on.  It was like jumping into a whirl wind.  But is was wonderful and my Husband was (and continues to be) great at helping me transition and giving me the needed space to do so.  Now that fall has arrived, things are slowing down.  The boxes that were set aside for the canning and freezing activities (and summer fun!) are now almost finished being unpacked. A more steady routine is setting in.  As we look to the delights that fall has to bring, we are also trying to decide the wisest use of my time in this season of our marriage.  Work? Volunteering? While we figure all of that out, I thought that it was about time to get back to blogging.  Hopefully, I can stay steady enough so that another 11 months will pass with more that one or two posts in the archive!
While, I normally don't post pictures of myself or family, I felt compelled to post this one as it is one of my absolute favorites from our wedding!  It says so much of the bright blessing and joy of the day!