Daisies

Daisies

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Weekending

We have been having a beautiful weekend here in the mountains, quite chilly but at least the sun has been out. You might be wondering why I am doing a "weekending" post on a Saturday and not after the weekend is over, well here is the deal. I work most of the day tomorrow and have a major exam on Monday, so I will be swamped with studying for the rest of the weekend. This is my quick study break post. We started the weekend with a beautiful sunrise.
 
I also was able to sit and observe the flurry of SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) for a bit, all by myself.


Later on in the day, I went home and picked up the rest of the family so that we could enjoy the lovely animals.

 
Sweet baby alpacas.
The softest fiber.

SHEEP!!!

Loved this Rastafarian dreadlocked fella.

Rian and my favorite sheep; Icelandic variety.

Had to share this picture one more time. He really fell in love with these two Icelandic beauties and was quite heartbroken when they couldn't come home with us.

After we all froze half to death at SAFF, a nourishing hot meal was in order. I whipped up an Italian Orzo soup/stew. It had garlic, onion, carrots, celery, Italian seasonings, orzo, can of diced tomatoes, kale, sweet potato, vegan Italian sausage, s&p, and veggie broth in it. The soup/stew turned out to be yummy and exactly what we needed on a chilly night.
Well, time for me to get back to studying...I will be back at some point next week.
Peace, Yasmin
 
 































Friday, October 25, 2013

{This Moment}

...Joining Amanda at SouleMama for {this moment}...
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 
A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Peace, Yasmin

Thursday, October 24, 2013

I Heart Life

 
 Simplicity is really a beautiful thing, isn't it? I have been spending a whole lot of my time in the kitchen these days, to cook nourishing food for my family and to keep warm from the heat off of the oven and stove. Yes it has been quite chilly, in fact we finally caved and turned on the heat last night. Tonight the low is 29, Brrrr. Ok back to the kitchen, I do believe that is exactly where I belong.
 
 
 
 
Apple Pie and naturally, apple pie a la mode.
 
 
Quiche made with broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, vegan sausage, and cheese.
 

 
Healing Cabbage soup for my sweetie. I am going to save this one for my "one day cookbook", but I can give you an ingredient list.
Carrots
Garlic
Onion
Ginger
Celery
Napa Cabbage
Can of chopped tomatoes
S&P
Cayenne Pepper
Tumeric
Smoked Paprika
Veggie Broth
 
A living foods stuffed Poblano Pepper from WFM. It was pretty yummy, but I think I prefer my Poblanos roasted rather than dehydrated.
 
 
Veggie yellow curry with brown basmati rice.
 
 
Cornbread infused with corn off the cob and cheddar cheese.
A sweet little man finally starting to read, yay!
 



Soccer practice on a frigid fall day followed by the best Australian caramel hot chocolate and a hot shower.
 
Friendly card playing indoors when the weather is just a bit too chilly to enjoy the outdoors.
 
 
Yes, we have been enjoying lots of low-key time indoors. I really do like to keep life simple and am enjoying the natural slowing down of life that comes with the colder weather. We have two more weeks of soccer and then we will be on break from any sports activity until Spring time, which I am kind of looking forward to...the break, not Spring yet. I will be going to SAFF this weekend and if there are any locals reading this, I encourage you to go even if you are not a knitter, spinner, or some other fiber artist. The colors and textures are amazing. Time for bed.
Peace, Yasmin

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Comfort

As the temperatures drop, we seek more and more comfort at home. There has been lots of snuggling and a whole lot of yummy comfort food. We have been enjoying dishes with pie dough on the bottom or on top and all I want is more hearty food in the coming days...I swear that I am getting ready for hibernation, quite like a bear would. I better start kicking up my exercise routine so that I don't gain a million pounds as well, but oh this comfort food is so so so good, how can one resist, right? Coincidentally, everyone in this house has been feeling slightly off in some way or another, so comfort is exactly what we need right now.
Quiche with vegan sausage, mushrooms, broccoli, and cheese.

My new tablecloth that I am totally in love with.


Yummmm.

The kids helping with peeling potatoes. They really love to help with kitchen duties and I think it is about time that I start teaching them how to cook so that they can be responsible adults when it comes time.


Vegetarian Pot pie...holy moly, this is definitely going to be a staple from now on. It was incredibly yummy and the kids gobbled it up like it was the best thing ever. Yay! I made it with potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, peas, mushrooms, and vegetarian meatballs. I should also mention that the Pie Dough recipe is the "All Butter Pie Dough" out of Ashley English's "A Year of Pies"...definitely one of the best pie dough recipes I have ever used.

I'm also joining in with Ginny for the "yarn along" to share what I am knitting and reading right now. I am still working on Rian's scarf, which is coming along very quickly for me. I did end up picking another Megan Sefton knitting mystery book, I just can't stay away from this series. Now I am off to bed as I start another mini-mester  tomorrow, this time an English class.
Peace, Yasmin

Sunday, October 13, 2013

A week in review (in pictures!)

Due to the fact that I took Psychology as an 8 week mini-mester and we are now halfway through this semester, I have been extra busy with end of class exams, presentations, and papers. Which means not much blog updating time, so here is our past week in pictures.




A Saturday full of Indian food, soccer, and a visit to one of our many breweries. I enjoyed a cold pint of Gaelic Ale on that unusually hot day.



We enjoyed coloring and snuggling.


Handsome boys in snuggly fall clothes.






We have been enjoying lots of hearty colder weather food. Miso Soup, Smoked Poblano Corn & Potato Chowder, Vegetarian Chili, and Pumpkin Bars with cream cheese icing (which turned out so yummy by the way).


Little boys enjoying fun new guitars (thanks Anita & Justin) and older sisters (dressed in her Sunday best) sharing her toys. It has been a slightly chaotic couple of weeks, but we still try to focus on all of the lovely moments.
Peace, Yasmin