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 Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets

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

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

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!

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. 

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! 

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.