my mind is on autumn

So much has happened in the last year, but I had not forgotten about these fruit that Nicole was working on a year ago that she shared on her blog. Seeing that I’m all out of knitting projects at the moment and ‘tis the season for me to finish up some sewing projects that have been lying around, I really am resisting the urge to go yarn shopping these days. But when the knitting urge strikes . . . well, there’s not much to do, but find something, some-thing to knit. I recently chatted with Nicole and she pointed me here to get her patterns for these sweet sweet knitted fruit and basket that was featured in the 2010 Winter issue of one of my favorite craft magazines – Living Crafts. Yesterday, as I cast on and worked the first couple of rows, honestly, I wasn’t seeing how I could possible knit these tiny stitches, but I stuck with it and 20 minutes later, had this cute apple. What a fun little and satisfying knitting project to get me in the mood for the upcoming season, as I am so ready for Autumn this year!! And making more of these of course!

this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

weekending ~

We're been doing some great "weekending" around here, how 'bout you?

this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

in the kitchen

In the kitchen today making peach jam.

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tomato sauce

This week, I made tomato sauce from this bowl of home-grown tomatoes. This is the space I like to keep records of recipes that I've adapted or created in my kitchen and wanted to share this with you as well:

{if you are unfamiliar with "blanching" tomatoes, this site is a good source!}

1. core tomatoes

2. blanch tomatoes in small batches, then put into an ice bath

3. peel tomatoes

4. In saucepan, saute: olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, onion, fresh herbs {oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil}, green pepper

5. add 1 teaspoon sea salt

6. puree 1/2 of tomatoes in food processor

7. add pureed tomatoes and remainder of tomatoes to sauteed veggies and herbs

8. cook down for about an hour, then puree everything together for a smooth sauce.

9. serve with angel hair pasta

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No pictures taken of the sauce {sorry!}, but surely I'll be making this sauce again as more tomatoes come in!

this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

peach picking ::

On Saturday, we drove about 60 miles west into the mountains to pick peaches. It was a gorgeous day, not too hot, excitement was in the air, and peaches were the talk of the day. Actually peaches, doughnuts, and ice cream were the talk of the day! How my kids love going to fruit farms, so many goodies to be had! There is already talk about going apple picking in October! That's a trip, I'm looking forward to myself!

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{For anyone close to Charlottesville, VA, we went to Chiles Orchard in Crozet. They said they will be open for another two weeks, so hurry!}

A few thoughts & our Nature Journal ::

As much as possible, I start my day outside enjoying whatever I can find that brings joy. Sometimes if I’m lucky, the first thing I see as I close our front door is a beautiful spider web, especially our familiar barn spiders that build webs near our front door this time of year, I really love those. One of my favorite collections that have massed to many just this Summer have been feathers, I am finding them everwhere! {If anyone has found a neat way to display feathers, I’d love to know.} Nature is wonderful.

For 4 years now, I’ve kept a nature journal using a 5x7 file box with index cards, one card for each day of the year. It’s the best way I have found to record events from year to year and be able to compare when certain events happen or to track patterns, when certain flowers come up each year, temperature changes, when we had to turn on the heat or air conditioning for the first time each year, seasonal storms and on and on.





Having these incredible minute little details in my daily life to focus on each day has helped me keep my mind thinking positively. I’ve found, that by starting my day off seeking positivity, more positivity comes in my day! It starts a positive chain reaction, it’s quite lovely!

weekending

This moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}::

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.