Merry Christmas friends. May your hearts be filled with the spirit.
xoxo
PS... thank you Faerie Moon Creations for the link to the above video. :)
Friday, December 24
Tuesday, December 21
everybody needs beauty...
"Everybody needs beauty...places to play in and pray in
where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike."
~John Muir~
where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike."
~John Muir~
On this first day of Winter, my thoughts are here. Beauty in it's purest form. My rugged Rockies and the foothills leading to them are my places to play in and to pray in. And now it has become my son's place as well... oh how I love to share it with him. How massive it all is... yet I have never felt more safe.
The energy within these waters is undeniable. They have come so far to be here, yet they are here for only a moment before they are on their way again. Listen and they will tell you of their travels.
Happy Winter Solstice everyone.
I hope you can get out and enjoy this most beautiful season.
xx
* photos are from a daytrip we took previously*
Friday, December 17
baking, with nanny close by
I did some baking this week. I volunteered to make a few dozen cookies for our school bake sale and of course waited until the last minute to start baking. But once I got started there was no stopping me. Ginger Spice Cookies... the best cookie in the world. It is true... I make the best cookie in the world. :)
My Nanny passed away three months before J was born. During her long and happy life, she was a great influence on me. Some of my earliest and best memories are of her... birthday parties at her house, going to church with her on Sunday mornings, sitting on lawn chairs in front of her house talking to the neighbours. She taught me to crochet, to play rummy... and to cook. She was a master home cook. Everything she made was the most delicious thing I ever had. I couldn't pick a favourite if I tried... maybe her chicken fried steak or banana pudding or those black and white cookies (white did she call them?). So many wonderful things came from nanny's kitchen.
And at no other time do I feel her presence more than when I am in my own kitchen. She is there with me... guiding my hands and filling me with warmth and love. I feel her there.
One more reason to love the holidays... being in the kitchen with my Nanny.
By the way, here is the recipe for the cookies. I shared this a couple of years ago but they are so good I will share again. Take care friends!
And at no other time do I feel her presence more than when I am in my own kitchen. She is there with me... guiding my hands and filling me with warmth and love. I feel her there.
One more reason to love the holidays... being in the kitchen with my Nanny.
By the way, here is the recipe for the cookies. I shared this a couple of years ago but they are so good I will share again. Take care friends!
Ginger Spice Cookies
3/4 cup Butter flavored Crisco
1 cup sugar, plus more for rolling
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. (I used my Pampered Chef cookie sheet... worked perfect as always!)
Combine shortening and sugar and cream until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the egg and the molasses and beat until completely incorporated. Sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and then add to the mixture. Stir until combined. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
1 cup sugar, plus more for rolling
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. (I used my Pampered Chef cookie sheet... worked perfect as always!)
Combine shortening and sugar and cream until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the egg and the molasses and beat until completely incorporated. Sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and then add to the mixture. Stir until combined. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
Tuesday, December 14
through the weeping birch...
Beauty... found just outside my window the other evening. Such glorious gifts we are given. But so often I miss all of this. I make myself too busy with day to day things, and am blinded to what beauty there is right in front of me. But not this day. This day I breathed every last bit of that sunset in, and breathed out a peace I have longed for.
PS... how do you all like the bigger pictures on the blog? Does it look okay or was it better the other way? Thanks.
PS... how do you all like the bigger pictures on the blog? Does it look okay or was it better the other way? Thanks.
Saturday, December 11
Monday, December 6
they were free
I spent some time watching people ice skate outside my window today. Sometimes I do that... just sit and watch people around me.
An elderly man and woman came to the lake earlier today. The man was very quiet and stared at the floor most of the time. He was fidgety and seemed anxious about something. I found out later he lives with Alzheimer's. The woman seemed tired. She moved slowly, shoulders slumped over slightly, and her eyes were filled with sorrow. She was taking care of him, helping him get his skates on and find his balance. Every once in awhile he would get frustrated at the process, and she would take hold of his hands and look into his eyes and he would calm. Once they had their skates on, they slowly made their way out of the building and onto the small path leading to the ice. She held his hand tightly as they walked. He looked fragile, as did she. At the edge of the rink she stepped onto the ice and then turned to assist him. His feet were unstable... he put his hands out to balance himself.
Then without hesitation, he pushed away and glided onto the ice. He was a picture of grace as he skated around that rink. The breeze danced through his white hair and a smile spread across his weathered face. Her eyes softened as she stood at the edge for a moment just watching him... then followed behind. They giggled each time their eyes met out there.
They were free.
An elderly man and woman came to the lake earlier today. The man was very quiet and stared at the floor most of the time. He was fidgety and seemed anxious about something. I found out later he lives with Alzheimer's. The woman seemed tired. She moved slowly, shoulders slumped over slightly, and her eyes were filled with sorrow. She was taking care of him, helping him get his skates on and find his balance. Every once in awhile he would get frustrated at the process, and she would take hold of his hands and look into his eyes and he would calm. Once they had their skates on, they slowly made their way out of the building and onto the small path leading to the ice. She held his hand tightly as they walked. He looked fragile, as did she. At the edge of the rink she stepped onto the ice and then turned to assist him. His feet were unstable... he put his hands out to balance himself.
Then without hesitation, he pushed away and glided onto the ice. He was a picture of grace as he skated around that rink. The breeze danced through his white hair and a smile spread across his weathered face. Her eyes softened as she stood at the edge for a moment just watching him... then followed behind. They giggled each time their eyes met out there.
They were free.
Friday, December 3
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