Lovely Spring.

Spring is the time of year when I begin to fall in love with my kitchen all over again. Produce stands are open and fruits and vegetables are overflowing! Cold Lentil salads and fresh flavors start to make appearances once again! I feel excited to try new exciting menus... However it is still delightful to enjoy a wonderful Lavender earl grey with some vanilla coconut milk.

Good Morning Bella!

Sweet Bella got up early with me to make the family some delicious 'Spiced up pancakes'. I found this recipe on ohsheglows.com. I didn't have everything the recipe called for, so instead of pumpkin pancakes, we had spiced pancakes with some quick homemade blueberry syrup. It was splendid! Thank you Angela for the recipe! For those of you who want to give it a try I'll attach the recipe to the end of this post.

Another delicious dish, I love to throw together is this Soba Salad with fresh veggies and a yummy citrus peanut sauce! Spring makes our kitchen come to life!

Even with all the exciting things happening in our kitchen, our Garden is the most exciting spring event of all!!

Elina and Seth planted some little starters to eventually transplant into the garden! Starting your plants in an egg carton is a wonderful thing! when you are ready to move to the garden, you just plant the whole 'egg'.

Look Closely! You can see one of our little seeds coming to life!

Out to the garden we go! I don't know what excites Elina more than gardening with Seth. Even princesses do not top it. She loves watching the plants grow, checking on them daily to see if they are alive yet. Also she gets to work with her fun garden tools form Aunt Amy and Uncle Matt. Thank you!

Even Bella came along for our family day in the garden. Since we live on a corner lot, she had to watch from the safety of her stroller.

Along with this new exciting season, we are exploring a new way of cooking and eating. My hope is that as I discover new lovely recipes, that I will share them on here. Maybe even inspire someone along the way. who knows. :D

Pancakes: http://ohsheglows.com/2010/10/07/spiced-up-stacked-pumpkin-butter-pancakes-for-one/
Soba noodle salad: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2008/06/sesame_soba_noodles_with_cucumber_bok_choy_and_mixed_greens

my girls.

I love them.

Pumpkins!

Today we want pumpkin picking with our great friends, The Waltons.

Piggy Faces.
Elina loves Claire very much.

canning season!

Salsa Base in the making.
Fresh Cherry tomato bruschetta & homemade bread.

Corn Relish in the making!
Corn relish!
Cherry Tomatoes.
Chard stems & Beets.
Dilly beans & dried kale.

With Our Garden in full swing, it is time to start preserving! We have discovered the JOY of canning!!

Also the Democrat Herald did this fun little article. Check it out.

http://democratherald.com/news/local/article_2b31386a-de77-11e0-9d35-001cc4c03286.html

Delicious.

Crepes!!

This morning I woke up and realized that I really wanted some sweet time with my big little chica! So we decided to make crepes for breakfast!!

Elina was very helpful in mixing the ingredients for the crepe batter!

And she was very helpful at cleaning it up!

Can't have crepes without the homemade whipped cream!! (Heavy cream, vanilla, and Evaporated cane juice!!)

Elina Holding the cup for me While we whipped the cream!

Elina got nervous while whipping the cream and let go of the cup, and the cream went flying. :D

Whipped Cream!

We cut up some strawberries and finished cooking!!

Crepes are her favorite! Probably because it is one of the only times I'll give her cream and sugar!! :D

The Finished Product!

What a wonderful time with my Elina. And they were delicious!

The likeness of a tree.

My emotions like the Branches of a tree. Strongly attached to the core of my being, yet when a storm hits they seem to thrash in the wind. And on the occasion a branch will break off and crash to the ground leaving a slivered raged open hole.
My body feels worn and tired. My womb like a hollowed out hole in my trunk, inhabiting a small babe, creating the perfect nest safe from the cold winds and rage of the outside. My skin becoming calloused with time showing signs of wear. The carvings of my family and loved ones have been cut deep into my bark for all to see. From my head grows wisdom, like fruit, growing more abundant and sweet with years. As I move from the shade of my mothers covering, my hair like leaves grows more wild and untamed, covering my own children. The seeds of my fruit fall over them and take root. My unborn children, like the saplings who have died at my roots, leaving rich nutrients in my soil, helping me to grow stronger and taller with each passing day. My feet like roots remain firmly planted in the soil without sway. And my bark, my God. For without my bark I would be left standing alone, naked in the cold storm of life.
This is who I am. Who I have become. Time only aiding my journey through life. Reminding me that the scares and callouses only add to the beauty of the creation. And only speaks to the wonderment of the creator.