Thursday, September 26, 2013

A Favorite Quote

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” 

― Pablo Neruda100 Love Sonnets

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Lately









1. Hanging out with Pop
2. Peach preserves I made with my Granny
3. Wearing Pop's glasses and reading his magazine in his favorite chair
4. Pushing Hazel at the park
5. Coffee milk
6. Picnics. Matilda's (and my) favorite
7. Happy girl
8. Digging in dirt always
9. She is happiest when she is free to crawl and move

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

What Made Her Strong






























I saw this tonight on Lindsay's instagram feed and had to repost it here. This is who I want to be. I don't want to be someone who speaks harsh words - I want to be the kind of person who speaks happiness and joy into people's lives. This is my challenge to myself to learn how to bite my tongue (or my fingers when it comes to text messages and emails), count to 10, and respond in grace. 

::I found the photo on pinterest, but couldn't find the original source - would love to credit if someone knows where it is from

Monday, September 23, 2013

White Bean Soup

I found this recipe on pinterest just recently, and adapted it based on what I had on hand. It turned out delicious, and something I will definitely make again. 

1 lb dried navy beans, soaked overnight
Enough veggie stock to cover, 6-8 cups
8 carrots, sliced
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 t oregano
1 T parsley
1 T olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Add oil to pot, and cook onions and carrots until onions become translucent. Add garlic and cook for additional minute, being careful not to burn. Add beans & veggie stock, plus the rest of the spices. Cook for 2-3 hours, and add salt & pepper at the end.

I served mine with some southern style mustard greens (cooked and cooked and cooked some more with a little bit of salt pork) and some cornbread. 

Enjoy!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Hello Fall


Y'all. I love fall. 

(Yes, i'm one of those people blogging about their love for fall.)

It has always been my favorite season, mostly because I can finally be outside without sweating, because I HATE sweating. Oh so much. And because I know it is leading into cooler weather. Give me 40-50 degree dreary days and I am a happy woman. 

Also, there's all that yummy pumpkin stuff EVERYWHERE. We won't even talk about how much money I've spent on Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks already. 

We decided to have a little fall dinner, complete with chocolate cake, because Matilda requested it. She was so cute when she asked that I couldn't not give in, especially since I thought it was a great idea too. 



Even Hazel agreed. She also loved her very first taste of roast. 

Monday, September 16, 2013

First Day of Homeschool







We started some preschool at home last week, and had so much fun on our first day. The beauty of homeschooling is that the world is literally our classroom, so we took our classroom to my parents backyard and spent the morning swimming, and then doing some nature study once Hazel went down for a nap. 

Matilda and I walked around my parents backyard and picked flowers, leaves and herbs and then brought them all together and discussed their similarities and differences, what they felt like and smelled like. It was so much fun just picking her little brain, and seeing what she came up with. I love that I have the ability to teach her and shape her world. 

We are starting to go through this book this week, and I'm hoping she will enjoy it. She has been talking nonstop about learning to read and doing school. I love how excited she is, and I hope that attitude continues. 

Any tips on homeschooling from those of you who have been doing this awhile? I would love to hear/read your suggestions! 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Splash Pad Fun







As happy as I am about cooler weather and scarves and boots and pumpkins and snuggling under covers on cold mornings, I will miss this. I took these on the last day of splash pad season, when we went on labor day with our favorite Wilson family. 

I don't know that a week went by this summer that we didn't spend at least one day splashing around, eating snacks, and getting to play with our friends. 

I definitely don't want to rush fall and winter, but I look forward to the first day that the splash pad reopens next summer. 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Rediscover Adventure

{image by Ruby Taylor}

Lately I have felt the tug at my soul for adventure. Not the traveling, seeing the world type of adventure (though, I admit, I wouldn't turn that down) but the kind that happens in the day to day. A new cooking adventure. A traipsing through fields and looking at leaves and bugs and flowers with my girls adventure. A starting a new blog adventure (hence how this one and its name came into existence). A starting to delve into homeschooling adventure. 

So, I am embracing this need to discover new things, this desire to show Matilda and Hazel just how amazing this incredible life we are blessed with can be. Seeing life through their eyes - one who is learning to do things for the very first time: standing on her own, eating new foods on a daily basis, figuring out cause and effect - and the other, who is a little older and is yearning for her own adventures on a daily basis is a magical thing. I can't even put into words how blessed I am to be their mama and to get to spend day in and day out with them, teaching and guiding them - I will never take this sweet time for granted.

We are starting homeschool preschool on Monday, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Matilda has told me she wants to learn to read, so I ordered this highly recommended book, and seeing where that leads. I am incorporating a lot of reading, nature study and art into our days as well, because those are all things that she loves to do. Not really sure how this will all work with Hazel around, but hopefully we will be able to fall into a rhythm that works for our family. I have a Pinterest board that I have been bookmarking curriculum sites and different homeschooling ideas that might work for our family. We don't have enough space for a school room, so we will be using our dining room table and the great outdoors for our homeschool room. I'm currently looking for ways to store all of our supplies that doesn't make that room look overcrowded. Thinking a small locker that I could install shelves in could be a fun addition. Any tips would be appreciated. 



Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Hazel - 9 months






Sweet Hazel, I cannot even believe how big she is getting. Only 3 more months and we will be celebrating her first birthday, which is just crazy. I still remember her birth like it was yesterday (posted here, if you want to read about that magical day), and am having a hard time coming to terms with my baby growing so fast. 

I was told so many times before Matilda was born to really enjoy my babies because they are only little for a short time and it flies. I would kindly nod, but in the back of my head be saying, right, whatever. But you guys. IT FLIES. Especially with the second one. I feel like I blinked and 9 months flew by. 

Hazel is currently eating any and all things, and preferably not served in pureed form. She is crawling so fast, pulling up on anything that she can, and cruising around furniture. She is already standing on her own without holding onto anything. She high fives, waves hi and bye bye, and says Mama. It makes my heart so happy every time she looks at me and says mamamamamama. 

This girl is pure joy, and I am so thankful that I get to be her mama. She is loved by her big sister so much, and I can only pray that their relationship continues to blossom as they grow. There is nothing sweeter than a best friend who is also your sister. Believe me, I have the best of the best!!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Black Bean, Corn and Zucchini Tacos



We eat mexican food A LOT around here. I seriously think I could eat it daily I love it that much, and I'm always looking for ways to make it new and different, as well as a way to get some veggies in, because I always have a hard time figuring out vegetables other than avocados or a salad to go with Mexican food. This recipe came about by just randomly grabbing things out of my fridge and hoping they worked. I was able to give my 9 month old this as well, and she fully approved. Enjoy! 

Black Bean, Corn & Zucchini Tacos

1 red onion, chopped
1 can black beans
1 ear of corn, kernels removed
1 zucchini, chopped a similar size to beans
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
dash of hot sauce
1 Tablespoon cilantro
Juice from half a lime

In a few tablespoons of your favorite cooking oil or butter, cook the onion on medium high until translucent and then add the corn and zucchini and cook until softened. Add the garlic, cook for an additional minute, and then add can of black beans and spices, hot sauce and cilantro. Simmer for about 15 minutes, add lime juice and serve.

I served mine on fried corn tortillas with a little cotija cheese, hot sauce and guacamole.

Let me know if you try this and how you like it - it's definitely going to become a meatless staple around here.