Archives for September 2009
Dear Seamus,
We are so glad you are here! We were all so eager to meet you. Your Mama worked so very patiently and hard to bring you into the world. I feel so blessed and honored to have been invited to be at her side during your birth. I remember watching your mama in awe of her beauty, strength, confidence, patience, courage, and peacefulness. I have never felt more connected to her than I do now. Your papa’s love for your mama brought tears to my eyes. He also was in complete awe of her and I could tell he had found a new level of love for her. Your birth was was one of the most peaceful, beautiful events that I have ever witnessed and I will never forget it. I love you so very much and look forward to getting to know you. Welcome little one
Love auntie Amy
My girls and their neighborhood friends are true entrepreneurs. They are always thinking up new ways to make some extra money for whatever they might be saving up for. And it is forever changing. Right now Hannah is saving up for her very own camera. Norah just loves the whole sale thing in general and is in fact more of a customer than a sales person. She uses her own money or sometimes Mama’s or Papa’s to buy from her own sale. Yesterday an impromptu lemonade, banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, cherry tomatoes, kale, and herb sale happened out on our corner. Considering it was a quiet Sunday on a holiday weekend the girls did pretty well. And it’s the fun of it all that really counts… sign making, cookie baking, setting up, pricing, and counting money…. what a fun learning experience. I have included our banana chocolate chip cookie recipe. Enjoy!
banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
3 ripe bananas
2/3 cup almonds
2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
lots of chocolate chips
few handfuls of chopped pecans
Grind in food processor almonds, oats and coconut into a meal. Transfer to mixing bowl.
Mash up bananas and add with rest of ingredients. Stir to mix well
Drop on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes
I have had the pleasure in helping to start up a little grass roots group called Media Green Exchange. The mission is to build a community that enjoys not only food exchange but also working together to turn possible underutilized space into food growing opportunities.Today my family met in town to share in each others’ harvest! People can bring anything from their garden they may have an abundance of such as fruits, vegetables, flowers or herbs and swap with someone else. They can also feel free to bring other garden related items as well to exchange…. plants, seeds, coffee grounds for the compost pile… or some old gardening tools laying around not being used. It is swap only, no money exchanged and the items must be from the garden or home. Although I was personally unable to attend due to something as equally fun and important, I did enjoy packing up our wagon with rudbeckia plants, string beans, eggs, peppermint, oregano, and parsley. I sent the family off to the swap and came home to hear tales of fun had by all. I was met with raspberry plants on the porch as well as swiss chard, jalepenoes, cherry tomatoes, a butternut squash, and some bay leaves in the kitchen. The best part of all was that Norah wanted to make something with the bay leaves, so her and Papa made a huge batch of tomato sauce. I came home just in time for the taste test. YUM! What a fun day. We can’t wait for next week’s swap.
Happy Birthday to our very special friend Ella. Today she turns 5! We had fun making her a bag with a sweet horse fabric since she likes “Black Beauty” and a Heidi headband since she loves “Heidi”. It is so fun and satisfying to make gifts for those you love.
There was a little gnomey in my garden today. She was the cutest little thing I ever did see. I quick got a photograph before she ran away!
Gnomey hat pattern from Living Crafts. Have already started one for Hannah and now Papa wants one too.